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Be ready for surprises in home and commercial plumbing

By Scott Rodgers

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 25Jul2009 Word count: 589 Viewed: 106 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

Although the average day for a plumber might not include anything more than some basic hot and cold running water, that's not always the case, as many experienced pros will tell you. Being ready for the unexpected is in fact a large part of residential or commercial plumbing, and having the right tools and mindset will prevent a plumber from being overwhelmed by some nasty surprises. More than a few plumbers will tell you similar stories about walking into a certain house for the first time, assessing a situation that doesn't seem quite right, and then getting involved up to their eyebrows in something that they had never expected. Many times, these types of situations involve either a stagnant water situation, where a plumbing problem has not been addressed for many days or weeks, or a situation where a trapped line has become unmanageable over time. Aside from technical issues of finding trouble spots and clearing them, there's also the issue of dealing with a bacteria build up that can have some pretty bad consequences for those who have to work in the immediate area.

You don't have to see this in a job site to appreciate how it might be an obstacle. Just imagine what happens to waterlogged food or similar materials over a period of days. Then think about all of the situations, such as foreclosures, estate situations, and condemned building situations, that plumbers may be called out to work in.

A few basic tools can help when addressing a situation where trapped lines have caused the tape material to build up in a plumbing system. A pair of gloves is a good idea, either some basic latex gloves, or some thicker work glove models.

It's also not a bad idea for those who are faint of stomach to bring along some type of mask that fits over the lower face, such as those that may be worn in construction trades. Face masks are good for preventing germs and bacteria from getting into the body.

It's also good to have a container that can handle anything that may come out of a line or pipe. This is standard gear for any type of job, but it's not always the first thing that a professional thinks about for a smaller job. Even a basic line for a sink or garbage disposal can dump out an amazing amount of water and other material, and when all of that combines in a soupy mixture, the person on the receiving end wants to make sure that there is a place for all of this stuff to go other than all over the floor.

Good ventilation can be an important strategy in dealing with a situation where decayed materials have made a plumbing fix extremely unpleasant. Some basic box fans can also be a tool for pushing "bad air" toward a window or away from a workspace.

In the end, these kinds of situations require on-the-job creativity, expertise, and problem-solving abilities. A good plumber should always be thinking one step ahead in a job to see what's on the horizon and what tools may be needed to prevent messes that result from clearing a pipe or line. Forward thinking is more than just part of the job, it protects plumbing professionals from having to deal with a lot of advanced fallout from a basic task, and gets them on their way to the next job quicker. That's why it pays to be prepared for eventualities with clogged lines and other scenarios.

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