Understanding Plumbing Better Three Items Plumbers Know How to Fix

Threaded standoffs

According to the Daily Mail, archaeologists working with the Israel Antiquities Authority have excavated intact plumbing from the garden of a wealthy family that dates back to the 10th century AD. Not only have these findings illuminated some of the ingenious plumbing methods used to create fountains and water displays at the time, but they also indicate that pipes of the time were built to last.

Today, most of us are lucky enough to have plumbing as a part of our home. Sometimes, though, things go wrong with these systems, and knowing what different parts and sections accomplish can help you keep your home well maintained without necessarily having to call a plumber. Here are three common items that every plumber would understand how to use.

1. PVC Plug

When water or waste travels through your plumbing system, it moves through pipes. At some point, though, pipes often need to be capped in order to stop or limit flow to certain areas. For this reason, there are PVC plugs. PVC plugs cap the ends of pipes and are produced to be strong, rigid, and resistant to corrosion. When plugs are interacting with water used for drinking, they need to be NSF 61 certified.

2. Cap Nuts

Not surprisingly, the cap nut gets its name from its resemblance to an acorn nut. Cap nuts are used to secure the ends of exposed threaded standoffs and lend a finished appearance. One place you might be used to seeing cap nuts, for example, would be your sink.

3. Plastic Washer

A washer looks like a flat ring, and it’s used to distribute threaded fastener loads. They can also be used to help reduce vibration. In plumbing, washers are often used in faucets and drains to regulate the flow of water. If you have a leaky faucet, one common solution is to replace your washers. Drain issues can be solved similarly; a functioning washer creates a watertight connection when experiencing pressure from connection forces.

What tools or items do you usually encounter in plumbing? Let us know in the comments! To see more, read this.