Plumbing upgrade: specialty valves plumber, Homeowner advice, Building owner maintenance tips

Upgrade Your Plumbing: Understanding Specialty Valves and When to Call a Pro

24 May 2024

If you’re a regular DIY warrior, you’re probably comfortable with projects like replacing a leaky faucet or installing a new toilet. These are plumbing staples, and there are countless online tutorials to help you get the job done.

But plumbing is about far more than what’s visible above the floor. Hidden within your walls and under your house lies a network of pipes, valves, and fittings that keep clean water flowing in and wastewater flowing out. Understanding some of the less common components opens up new possibilities for improving your home’s plumbing system in ways that go beyond basic repairs and replacements.

What’s a Check Valve?

Think of a check valve as a traffic cop for your plumbing system. Its primary job is to make sure water flows in only one direction. This simple concept has big implications for both safety and preventing costly problems. Imagine if dirty water from your washing machine could backflow into your clean water supply – that’s the kind of contamination a check valve helps prevent.

Common places you’ll find check valves include on sump pumps (to keep the water you just pumped OUT from flowing right back into the basement!), irrigation systems (to maintain pressure), and on well pump setups (to protect the pump itself). These valves come in various types and sizes designed to fit different applications.

“One-Way” Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All

It might seem like a one way check valve for water should be a simple purchase, but there are a few factors to keep in mind. Firstly, the material matters. You’ll find check valves made from PVC, brass, and even stainless steel. PVC is the most affordable option but lacks the durability of metal valves. Brass is a good middle ground, while stainless steel is typically used in commercial or high-pressure applications.

Just as importantly, you need to ensure any valve used on your drinking water lines is certified as lead-free and safe for potable water. It’s also wise to double-check your local plumbing code. Some municipalities have strict rules governing the types of valves and materials allowed, even for seemingly straightforward DIY jobs. A quick call to your local building department could save you from having to redo work later.

Mixing Valves: More Than Just Comfort

Most of us have experienced that unpleasant jolt of scalding hot water when someone flushes a toilet while we’re in the shower. A thermostatic mixing valve helps put an end to those temperature fluctuations. These clever devices automatically blend hot and cold water to deliver a consistent, safe temperature at the showerhead or faucet. While temperature comfort is a major plus, the safety aspect of mixing valves is even more important.

Mixing valves are essential for households with young children or anyone with limited mobility. These individuals may not be able to react quickly enough to avoid scalding if the water temperature suddenly spikes.

It’s worth noting that there are different grades of mixing valves. Residential models are readily available at home improvement stores. Commercial mixing valves are designed for higher volumes of water and are often found in schools, gyms, or other facilities with multiple showers.

The DIY Limits

There’s a certain satisfaction in tackling your own plumbing projects. However, knowing where to draw the line between DIY and calling in a professional is crucial. Simple tasks like replacing a leaky check valve on an easily accessible line – like the one under your kitchen sink – are generally within the realm of most DIYers with basic plumbing knowledge.

On the other hand, any work that involves your main water supply line, where a mistake could leave your whole house without water, is often best left to the pros. The same goes for jobs requiring soldering copper pipes. While soldering itself isn’t overly complex, the potential consequences of a leaky joint in a hard-to-reach spot can be severe. Additionally, it’s important to be aware that local plumbing codes vary widely. What might be a legal DIY project in one town could require a licensed plumber in the next.

Lasco and Beyond

Lasco is a well-known name in the DIY plumbing world. Their products are readily available at most big box home improvement stores and offer a good combination of affordability and decent quality for many common plumbing needs. If you’re looking for a basic check valve or a standard shower mixing valve, Lasco plumbing wares is a perfectly reasonable place to start your search.

However, for more specialized valves, high-end fixtures, or those hard-to-find replacement parts, you might need to explore beyond the home center. Plumbing supply stores cater primarily to professional plumbers, but they’ll happily sell to homeowners as well. These stores tend to carry a wider range of brands and higher quality components than what you’ll typically find on the shelf at a big box store.

Conclusion: Confidence vs. Competence

There’s a difference between confidence and competence. Even the most seasoned DIYers occasionally encounter situations where their skills or knowledge fall short. Don’t let pride get in the way of seeking professional advice when you’re out of your depth. Sometimes, a quick phone call to a plumber can answer your question and prevent a minor issue from turning into a major plumbing disaster.

Remember, water damage can be incredibly costly to repair. If you have any doubts about your ability to tackle a particular plumbing project safely and correctly, the price of a plumber’s visit is likely far less than the cost of fixing extensive water damage caused by a botched DIY attempt. Knowing when to ask for help is a sign of a truly smart homeowner.

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