DIY plumbing to prevent leaks is an important venture, since insidious leaks are hard to detect, but left unattended can cause serious (and expensive) damage to flooring, drywall and the wood studwork in your home. Slow leaks are sometimes detected by a musty smell caused by mildew or unhealthy black mould that grows on dark wet surfaces, especially porous surfaces like wood or the underside of cabinets. When connecting valves for faucets, sinks and drains, stop potential leaks in plumbing joints by using a sealing Teflon tape on the threaded adapter. Wrap the plumber’s tape clockwise around the threads then add a layer of pipe joint compound. This compound looks like white glue, and ensures a tight seal. Use two wrenches to tighten the connection over the joint tape and compound.

We recommend you regularly check your appliances for leaks, especially at product end-of-life. After years of use, your seals wear down or break. Check around your washing machine, dishwasher and hot water heater. Pull items out from under your kitchen, bathroom, and utility room sinks and check for leaks under the sink or around pipes. The leaks may be small, but over time, drip by drip, they can build stagnant water pools underneath cabinets, where rot and mould develop.

Do you have an automatic water shut-off system? These systems monitor water flow in the pipes, or in the floor with radiant heating, and shut off if water levels rise too high or become irregular. This is the perfect solution to preventing holiday mishaps that would be solved if you were on premise. Even during a regular eight-hour day, a burst hot water tank or broken dishwasher seal, can pour hundreds of gallons of water onto your floor.

If DIY plumbing is too daunting for you, call the professional plumbers at Quality First Plumbing in Penticton. We install plumbing systems that you can depend on for new homes or renovations, whether your build is small or large. Hiring a professional plumber for home redesigns is recommended, so you can relax and enjoy your home without the worries of haphazard DIYs and future disruptions.

Our professional red seal plumbing services:

We offer 24-hour emergency services at affordable rates. Our goal is to serve our customers with the highest level of expertise in the plumbing industry. We have earned the trust of our customers with over 37 years of experience. If you have a plumbing emergency, we can help. Phone (250) 493-8886.

Quality First Plumbing and Heating Services has been serving the community since 1980. We work with general contractors, home and business owners to design, install, and repair plumbing and hot water systems. We have the highest certifications in our industry including back flow prevention BCWWA, Class B gas fitting, and red seal designations. Our service area includes the entire South Okanagan district including Penticton, Summerland, Okanagan Falls, and Naramata. We invite you to contact us to get started.