At Whipple Plumbing, our plumbers are available 24/7 to help with any plumbing needs you may have. There are a few basic areas, however, that many homeowners generally can perform maintenance on themselves to save time, money and any future problems that might result from negligence.

You don’t need much to perform some of these basic tasks, but one thing you do need is a basic general understanding of a few important plumbing fixtures in every home. Let’s look at a few important components you should be familiar with before doing any tinkering.

Water Meters

Water meters are a tracking element in the home that will give you an overall read of your system’s general health, including water levels and any contamination. It can detect leaks in pipes and give you water usage information to check against your utility bill at the end of the month.

Water Pressure Regulators

Water pressure that’s too high or too low can be a serious issue for certain parts of the plumbing system, and if left unchecked can lead to leaks and other problems. Water pressure regulators track water pressure at all times, and are programmed to alert you anytime pressure needs to be raised or lowered in a given area.

Water Main Valve

Installed during home construction, the water main valve is in charge of water flow throughout the entire house. It’s typically found in the basement or crawl space of a home – if you plan to ever do any plumbing work in your home, you have to know exactly where this valve is. In the cases of a leak or a burst pipe, the water main valve is where you’ll go to shut off water quickly before major flooding or water loss takes place.

Cut-Off Valves

In addition to the main valve, cut-off valves are present to cut off water to a single area rather than to the entire home. If the toilet leaks, you can use cut-off valves to cut this flow off before it send unsanitary water elsewhere in the home.

Gas, Electric and Hot Water Valves

These are additional valves that control specific areas and can be shut off at your discretion.

Want to learn more about basic plumbing components, or interested in any of our plumbing services? Contact the experts at Whipple Plumbing today.