Helpful Tools. Having a couple of standard tools on hand can significantly reduce the chances of drilling into wiring or plumbing. The first and simplest tools are a tape measure and a piece of masking tape. Generally speaking, the sheetrock used for wall application is ½ inch thick.
You'll likely know if you drill into a water pipe in your home. If the sound of a screw cutting into something other than wood and plaster doesn't tip you off, the leaking water will. Depending on the hole's size, the water will burble out or stream-line out.
Yes, stud finders are designed to find any obstruction in the wall including the water pipes. You can rely on a new model of a stud finder to help you detect water pipes for use around the house. Stud finders are quite affordable and reliable too when it comes to plumber work.
If you don't have a drill or rotary tool, all is not lost. Since PVC pipe is so soft, you can make small holes with screws or nails. Just drive them in with a screwdriver or hammer, and voila! Pipe punctured.
For example, if you drill through a wire on the lighting circuit, it should trip the fuse or breaker for all of the lights. Finally, your most up front sign that you've drilled through an electrical wire will be the bang and possible flash as the wires short out.
In most cases, the heating pipework will be installed beneath the radiator.
You can save yourself a lot of trouble if you simply get your hands on self-drilling screws. Look in your local hardware store and just use a normal screwdriver. These are the four most commonly used replacements of your drill tool. More handy tips on tool replacements are coming up, so standby.
If you're dealing with a minor leak, rubber and silicone repair tape is a simple solution. Like fiberglass resin tape, rubber and silicone tape come in a roll that can be wrapped directly around the PVC pipe. However, instead of adhering to the pipe, the repair tape adheres directly to itself.
A metal punch can be used to make holes in thin mild sheet steel, using a wooden block (not metal, otherwise the punch cutting edge will be damaged) and hammer. Due to the force of the hammer blow required when using the punch, this process really only works when using a relatively small diameter punch.
Copper pipes carrying hot water can enlarge, but when they ultimately reduce in size again, this makes them scrape against a house's joists, studs, or support brackets in the walls, resulting in loud noises. If this happens, you'll probably hear something that sounds like shaking or rattling going on in your walls.
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) — This method can be effective for finding underground water pipes, because it can locate both metallic and non-metallic objects.
A burst pipe is one of the worst plumbing emergencies one can imagine. A pipe bursting in your wall can wreak havoc in your home, causing major flooding that is expensive and time-consuming to repair.
If you hear a vibrating, banging or pounding noise when taps are turned on or off it's usually due to hydraulic shock in your plumbing pipework. Hydraulic shock is more commonly known as “water hammer”.
Use epoxy putty or pipe putty as a temporary fix to a leaky pipe. Pipe putty is designed to harden at room temperature and seal the hole or crack.
Yes, pipe leak tape can fix a leak. The adhesive is strong and can hold for years. While silicone tape is a temporary solution to a leak, pipe leak tape can be used long-term. Although it is still advisable to call a professional plumber to provide a more permanent solution to your pipe leak.
Can a hammer drill be used as a regular drill? The majority can, though it is important to turn the hammer action off. That feature is designed for drilling holes in concrete, brick, masonry, etc., and punches a particular type of drill bit into the surface.
Never use a screwdriver as a pry bar, chisel, punch, stirrer or scraper. Always use a screwdriver tip that properly fits the slot of the screw.
This is because the heat in the room is easily lost through the thin glass which creates a cold area close to the window surface. By placing a radiator directly underneath the window, hot air is produced and released, which then rises to hit the cold air from the window.
Avoid drilling near light sockets or outlets
Wires in the wall often connect vertically and horizontally behind outlets and sockets and can lead to electrocution. Hitting a pipe in the wall can cause flooding. A simple rule of thumb is to avoid drilling anywhere near where there may be electrical hookups or piping.
Set out bowls of water.
Place a few around your house and the water will evaporate into the dry air. One step further, if you have radiant steam heat: place a water bowl on top of radiators to heat the water and aid in evaporation.