Do-It-Yourself Plumbing
For Landlords

While "do-it-yourself plumbing" may sound like spending a Saturday afternoon crouched under a kitchen sink, the fact is that with a little time, patience and knowledge, you can accomplish most of the repair tasks that were once only left to plumbers. As living proof, Home Depot is the true epitome of the successful "do-it-yourself" homeowner.

Basically, the plumbing system in a residential rental property consists of all the cold water service pipes, the hot water supply pipes, and the drainage pipes. All three piping systems are separate from each other, and the overall system functions as follows...

The cold water enters the residence under pressure from the water utility (street pressure). It is then distributed to all the plumbing fixtures (sink faucets, showers, bathtubs, toilets, hose bibbs, wash machines, and heating equipment) by the cold water piping network.

The hot water supply pipes carry hot water from the heating equipment (hot water tanks) to the sink faucets and bath tub / shower units. The water in these pipes is also under pressure.

The drainage piping system carries waste water from all the plumbing fixtures in the house and disposes it into a private or public sewer. Water in the drainage piping system in not under pressure and flows by "gravity" only. Therefore, these pipes all have to pitch downward in the direction of water flow.

Common Problems that Develop with Plumbing Systems

In residential rental property, the most common do-it-yourself plumbing problems that landlords may face are as follows…

• Clogged drains - The buildup of hair, soap scum and other materials can buildup in a drain pipe over time and cause it to drain slowly or not at all. Typical solutions to this do-it-yourself plumbing problem for sinks are chemical drain openers or sink plungers. If the problem is a toilet drain that is backed up, then a toilet plunger should be used. If the pipe is particularly plugged, then it should be broken up using a plumber's snake or toilet auger.
• Leaking Faucets - A faucet can either be a "compression faucet" or a "washer-less faucet" type. A leaking compression faucet is usually the result of a worn compression washer. Replacing this washer with a new one typically solves the problem. On the other hand, a leaking washer-less faucet depends on its specific style (ball, disc, or cartridge) to find the problem causing the leak.
• Leaking Shutoff Valves (Gate valves) - Shutoff valves are located throughout the hot and cold water piping networks to stop the flow of water should a break occur or to allow work to be done on the system. The most probable culprits causing a gate valve to leak is a loose compression nut or worn out stem packing. Tightening the compression nut or replacing the packing will normally stop the leak.
• Leaking Drain Pipe Connections - Drainage pipes are normally constructed from copper, brass, or plastic (PVC). Each can be connected to sink drains using compression nuts and "ferrules". If the nut is loose or the ferrule is worn or missing, the connection will leak.
• Defective Toilets - These problems can range from a toilet tank that runs continuously, to a toilet that won't flush at all. The problems are usually attributed to a faulty "flush mechanism" or "tank stopper" that are located inside the toilet's flush tank.

For more in-depth information about do-it-yourself plumbing, please visit The Landlord's Library book collection. You'll find detailed, step-by-step instructions that feature numerous drawings and charts on how to make a multitude of plumbing repairs. It's a great resource that will definitely save you money and maximize your success as a residential landlord.