BKR Pros | Find Local Businesses by Zip Code
"Find top prescreened local companies in your zip code"
  • Home
  • Remodeling
    • Kitchen Remodeling
    • Bathroom Remodeling
    • Shower Remodeling
    • General Contractors
  • Tree Trimming
  • Screen Repair
  • Home DIY Blog
    • Recent Home Improvement Articles
  • Zips

Capping Pipes

12/16/2012

 
In some older houses where the plumbing has not been modernized, it may be necessary to turn off the main water valve to change a fixture.  If this is the case in your house, you need not leave the water turned off completely while you work.  After you have turned off the main valve, disconnect the fixture as instructed on our site.  Then cap the supply pipes and turn the main water supply back on, so you have water in the rest of the house while you work.  Three kinds of caps are in general use: threaded, unthreaded and plastic.  All three kinds should be available at your hardware store or home improvement center.

Thread caps fit threaded pipes.  Some short iron pipes and connectors are threaded on the inside rather than the outside.  These pipes require threaded plus that screw into them.  Make sure you buy a cap of the right size - measured by the pipe's inside diameter - and of the same material as the pipe.  If you have iron pipes, stay with iron.  However, if you have copper, stay with copper.  Unless you have a special connection, joining two dissimilar metals will cause corrosion.

Some copper pipes are unthreaded and caps must be soldered on.  This task requires a large propane torch and a solder flux.  Both the fitting and the pipe must be thoroughly clean.  If you have little experience soldering, this may be one of several plumbing tasks you want to hire out.

Plastic is increasingly common for drainpipes, but it is rarely used for supply lies.  If you have any plastic pipe, it will probably be unthreaded.  In newer American homes capping the pipes will not be necessary because most modern plumbing fixtures have their own local shutoff valves, also known as angle stops.  Those with both hot and cold water faucets have two valves.

Angle stops are located uner your washbasin on either side of the large drainpipe.  When you turn the faucet-like handle to the right, you close off the water supply to your washbasin.  The toilet's single supply valve is located in a similar spot.  Before working on any fixtures, close all valves.

We have added new cities:  San Jose Shower Remodeling
Indianapolis Shower Remodeling
Jacksonville Shower Remodeling

Comments are closed.

    Remodeling Tip Blog


    Freshly-updated remodeling tips and advice from BKR Pros - we also now repair broken phone screens across the US.

    SAAS Venture Capital Blog

    My Google+ Profile

    Archives

    September 2021
    May 2021
    June 2020
    March 2017
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    August 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012

    Recent bathroom and shower articles:  Basin Buying Tips  |  Toilets and Bidets | Shower Choices and Styles | Sink Taps and Fittings | Choosing Flooring & Lights | Flooring tips for bathrooms |  Bathroom Wall Tips | Designing With Tile | Dimensioned Stone | Piping Tips | Bathroom Lighting  | Learn More About Hiring Bathroom Remodeling Contractors | Bathtub Removal How-To | Japanese Bathroom Tips | Building Contractors vs. Remodeling Contractors | Removing Shower Walls | Mosaic Tile Installation | Cabinet Ideas | Bathroom Fixtures | Tampa Shower Tips | Boston Shower Remodeling | Seattle Shower Remodeling | Sacramento Shower Remodeling | San Antonio Shower Remodeling | San Jose Shower Remodeling |
    Indianapolis | Jacksonville | Staten Island Shower Remodeling | Colleyville Kitchen Remodelers | Provo Bathroom Remodeling | Charlotte | Fairview TX Tree Trimming |

    Categories

    All
    Building Materials
    Electrical
    Kitchen
    Site News

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.