In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey demonstrates some common plumbing mistakes and how to avoid them.
Steps:
1. To prevent pliers and wrenches from scratching the finish on plumbing fixtures, use a strap wrench.
2. Wrap the flexible strap around the fixture, securely lock the strap in place, then slowly pull on the handle to turn the fixture.
3. To prevent a pipe wrench from deforming a pipe, be sure the wrench contacts the pipe in three places: at the top jaw, at the bottom jaw, and at the back of the wrench.
4. When fastening plumbing fittings, such as radiant-floor heat plates, to the underside of a subfloor, be sure the screws or nails aren’t too long or they’ll poke through the surface of the finished floor above.