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How to use plumbing correctly. Cleaning and maintaining plumbing fixtures Repairing a damaged sink

Bathtub and toilet, sink and sink, faucets in the bathtub and kitchen - things are familiar, and seemingly invisible to us, city dwellers, but have you ever tried to do without them for at least one day?
This is almost impossible, and you need to urgently contact professional plumbers to correct the situation. For example, to the specialists of the company "Aquarius", here is the website. In order for your plumbing equipment to serve you properly and for a long time, you must follow some operating rules, which we will discuss in this article.

Operating rules

Plumbing fixtures such as bathtubs and toilets require special attention, so we’ll talk about them first.

Bathtub operation

Today, there are a huge variety of bathtubs, of various shapes and sizes, and they can be made from a wide variety of materials.
The most popular materials for making bathtubs are:
  • Cast iron;
  • Steel;
  • Acrylic.
Caring for a cast iron bath

If rust stains or mineral salts have deposited on the surface of a cast-iron bathtub, you need to use special cleaning products to clean the bathtub, and if these are not available, you can use baking soda or lemon juice.
Never use abrasive or acidic cleaners.


If you have pets at home that need to be washed regularly, for example cats or dogs, especially large ones, before washing them, place a mat on the bottom of the bathtub to prevent damage to the enamel of the bathtub by the animal’s claws.

Also, do not pour dirty water into the bathtub after washing the floors. Dirt and dust particles can act as abrasive particles on the enamel and damage it.

Some people prefer to stock up on water when the water supply is turned off in the summer by pouring it into the bathtub. My advice is to buy a couple of cans for this. Leaving water in the bath for a long period is fraught with the appearance of plaque on the enamel, which will be difficult to remove.

Steel bath care

The rules for caring for a steel enameled bathtub are no different from the rules for caring for a cast iron bathtub. It is also worth protecting the enamel from rough physical influences, impacts, exposure to sharp objects and abrasive cleaning agents.

An acrylic bathtub will never develop rust or corrosion because acrylic is a polymer. However, an acrylic bathtub also requires care and compliance with operating rules.

To care for such a bathtub, it is enough to regularly wipe it with a sponge and soapy water and dry it. However, the quality of tap water in a centralized water supply system, unfortunately, is far from ideal, and no one is immune from the appearance of limescale. If plaque appears, to remove it, use one of the special products that are now in abundance in stores - “Triton”, “Mr. Chister”, “Akrilan” and the like.

Toilet care

Toilets need to be washed before the dirt on them becomes very noticeable. Use a brush and special detergents for plumbing fixtures.
If the moment is missed, and strong, difficult-to-remove stains appear on the toilet, you can use a solution of hydrochloric acid (5 percent). This is an extreme measure, and you should not constantly use the solution to clean the toilet.

However, as in the sink and bathtub, strong solvents and caustic substances should not be poured into the toilet. This may not cause damage to the plumbing fixtures themselves, but siphons made of plastic may be damaged. Alkalies can also damage PVC pipes and the sewer network.

Plumbing measures in the home can be divided into three types:

  • Maintenance work, for example, fixing a leaking faucet or clearing a clogged shower drain;
  • Work to replace pipes or broken equipment;
  • Installation of new plumbing and pipeline communications.

Routine plumbing repairs are not regulated by any regulations or standards. However, measures to replace pipes or install new plumbing equipment will necessarily entail the need for coordination with the relevant organizations, which will require strict compliance with the rules for installing plumbing fixtures in accordance with current standards.

The motivation of bureaucrats is simple and clear:

  • The transfer of utility networks and the installation of plumbing fixtures in a new location is called redevelopment, which may entail changes in the configuration and size of the room, requiring changes to the apartment’s registration certificate;
  • Relocating plumbing fixtures is also a remodel.

Naturally, it is easier to do everything according to the letter of the law, then the preparation of technical documentation for housing will not cause problems.

  • SNiP 2.08.01−89* “Residential buildings”;
  • SNiP 2.04.05−91* “Heating, ventilation and air conditioning”;
  • SNiP 3.05.01−85 “Internal sanitary systems”;
  • SNiP 2.04.01−85* Internal water supply and sewerage of buildings.

The modern market of plumbing equipment is represented by a wide range of bathtubs, showers, sinks and sinks, toilets and bidets, valves and mixers. Despite all the variety of devices in terms of functionality and methods of controlling their operation, the methods of connecting household sanitary equipment with residential pipeline communications are completely unified and “submit” to the requirements of GOSTs and SNiPs.

It is recommended to install household plumbing after installation of utilities before finishing the room. Water connections for installing appliances must end with water sockets, which are a mandatory attribute of a home’s water supply system. Water outlets are specially rigidly fixed to protect the water supply system from vibration effects that occur during the operation of connected household plumbing fixtures.

The distance between the axes of the outlet fittings provided for hot and cold water must be strictly 15 cm.

Instead of sockets, it is allowed to use elbows, tees, couplings or manifolds for connecting mixers or other types of taps.

Another general requirement for the installation of plumbing fixtures is to ensure free access to the equipment, for which SNiP stipulates the size of the free space around each type of fixture (bathtub, washbasin, etc.).

The height of placement of plumbing fixtures is regulated in clause 3.11 and clause 3.15 of SNiP 3.05.01−85 “Internal sanitary systems”, and pipeline fittings to the devices are installed in accordance with clause 10.5 of SNiP 2.04.01−85* “Internal plumbing and sewerage of buildings."

Requirements for installing plumbing equipment in the bathroom

Until recently, the only plumbing fixture placed in a bathroom was a small cast-iron bathtub. Now shower cabins and hydroboxes are installed in the bathroom, automatic washing machines are connected to the bathroom communications, and winding heated towel rails are placed on the bathroom walls. However, the SNiP standards adopted in the last century have not changed:

  • The free space in front of the bathtub or shower stall is at least 70 cm (SNiP 2.08.01−89 “Residential buildings”);
  • The distance between the sink and the bath or shower must be at least 30 cm;
  • The space in front of the washbasin must be 70 cm wide and 110 cm long;
  • Shower faucets are mounted at a height of 120 cm;
  • The shower head is most convenient at a height of 210−225 cm;
  • The height of the installed bath is 60 cm to the top of the side;
  • The height of the sink or sink is 85 cm to the top of the side.

The figure shows the optimal dimensions for installing a washbasin in the bathroom.

Requirements for installing plumbing equipment in a bathroom

By analogy with the bathroom, there must be at least 60 cm of free space in front of the toilet and bidet and 25 cm on each side. The standard distance between the toilet and the bidet is at least 25 cm.

The height of the toilet without a lid is 38−41 cm from the floor with a length dimension of 60−65 cm.

The variety of sanitary products offered, produced by manufacturers according to their own internal standards, makes compliance with the given dimensions irrelevant. However, no one has canceled the requirements of the standards, so the approval of the redevelopment will be guided exclusively by the current standards.

The concept of “plumbing equipment” includes all items used in the bathroom and kitchen: sink, etc. They should serve us well for more than one year, so it is important to make the right choice when purchasing.

Quality, safety and comfort are the main criteria that must be followed when purchasing plumbing equipment. The quality standard mark guarantees the quality of the product, that is, that its resistance to detergents, mechanical strength and ease of use have been tested. Therefore, such plumbing equipment requires minimal maintenance and repair.

Regardless of its quality, any plumbing equipment requires constant maintenance. For example, it is necessary to regularly change the sealing gaskets in faucets, and the mechanisms often leak. Mechanical damage to ceramic sinks is possible. Also, don’t forget to regularly clean the filters and aerators in your faucets. Not to mention regularly cleaning all plumbing fixtures from limescale.

To update bathtubs, sinks or sinks made from acrylic fiber, there are special environmentally friendly cleaning compounds. They eliminate microcracks in the acrylic surface, give it shine and revitalize the color.

Care of taps and mixers

Metal taps are often covered with limescale. You can restore their shine using special means for removing limescale, just do not use abrasive powders and pastes - you will ruin all the shine of the metal elements.

Repairing a Damaged Sink

If , no problem! You can try to fix it using special mastic. These mastics are usually white in color and consist of two components: a resin and a hardener. They are mixed in a 1:1 ratio.

To repair a plumbing product, you need to degrease and clean its surface, sand the gluing area and apply thoroughly mixed mastic to it using a spatula. The surfaces to be glued must be secured with adhesive tape. Within a few hours of drying, you can polish the hardened mixture with fine-grit sandpaper and water.

Enameled plumbing fixtures look great and are easy to use. However, enamel does not withstand mechanical stress well and is often scratched. To eliminate minor defects, use special products for repairing enamel surfaces.

Thoroughly clean the area where the coating will be applied with fine-grit sandpaper, taking care to polish out any cracks. Using a brush, carefully apply the product in several layers. Each subsequent layer is applied after the previous one has completely dried.

General requirements. Persons who have passed a medical examination, are trained in safe methods of performing work and have an appropriate certificate of knowledge testing are allowed to carry out work on the installation of sanitary installations. Safety knowledge testing is carried out annually.

Plumbers who are at least 18 years old, have a second profession as a welder, an appropriate certificate and at least II qualification group in safety are allowed to carry out welding work.

Plumbers who are at least 20 years old, have a qualification of at least 4th category, and have worked in installation organizations for at least 3 years are allowed to work with a mounting gun.

Mechanics working with electric and pneumatic tools must be trained in special courses, know the rules for handling tools and have the appropriate certificate for the right to work.

A newly hired plumber is required to undergo an introductory briefing on familiarization with the general safety rules in construction (SNiP Sh-A.11-70) and instruction directly at the workplace.

It is prohibited to carry out sanitary and technical work simultaneously in two or more tiers along the same vertical line, if there are no interfloor ceilings and safety devices.

Work at height (outdoors) is not allowed in wind conditions exceeding force 6, icy conditions, heavy snowfall, rain and thunderstorms.

It is prohibited to stand under a lifted or lowered load or use lifting mechanisms to lift or lower workers. When installing in close proximity to mechanical equipment, the latter must be turned off.

When working near live electrical wires and electrical equipment, it is recommended that you take precautions to avoid electric shock.

Requirements for tools and mechanisms. Before starting work, the mechanic must check the serviceability of the tools and mechanisms.

The heads of hammers and sledgehammers must have a smooth surface without gouges, bevels, burrs or cracks. When working with a chisel and other hand tools for cutting metal, a mechanic must wear safety glasses.

Wrenches must be selected according to the size of the nuts. It is prohibited to unscrew and tighten nuts with a large wrench, placing metal plates between the edges of the nut and the wrench, and to extend the wrenches by attaching another wrench or pipe.

Files, screwdrivers, hacksaws must be firmly secured in the handle with a ring. Do not use this tool without handles.

Pipe wrenches should be selected depending on the diameter of the pipes being assembled. The jaws of the pipe wrenches should be well knurled to prevent them from slipping or rotating on the pipes or fittings. It is prohibited to lengthen the lever of the keys by putting a piece of pipe on the handle of the key to increase the forces on threaded connections.

Grinding and sanding wheels must be enclosed in metal housings and tested for tearing before installation. It is prohibited to work on a sharpening machine without a tool rest, safety glasses, a protective screen, or with the cover removed. The distance between the upper edge of the support and the stone should not be more than 3 mm.

Before starting work with a power tool, the mechanic must check its serviceability, paying attention to the fact that there are no exposed wires, their kinks, and that the grounding and switch are in good working order. Do not hold the power tool by the cord or drill bit, or insert or remove the drill bit from the chuck while it is in use. If there is a power outage during operation or a break in operation, the power tool must be turned off. The body of the power tool must be reliably grounded through special plugs and plugs.

It is prohibited to operate electrified and mechanized tools from ladders and sliding stepladders.

Safety precautions during installation. Bending, cutting, cutting, and other pipe processing work should be performed in specially designated areas. When bending pipes with heating and cold methods, it is necessary to use support stands for long pipes, and when cooling heated pipes with water, buckets with an extended handle must be used. Pipes, parts and pipe blanks are not allowed to be leaned against the wall. They must be laid horizontally.

Before going down into a well, a plumber must check for the presence of explosive and poisonous gases in it with a gas analyzer or using a safe miner's lamp. Poisonous gases found in the well must be removed by ventilation. To do this, you need to open two adjacent wells. To speed up ventilation, use a portable fan. After ventilating the well, you must again check the absence of gas with a gas analyzer, and only after the second check can you go down into the well. Work in the well should be in the presence of a draft or an active fan.

Before descending into the well, the mechanic must put on a belt with straps and a rope firmly attached to the ring of the belt. The second worker must hold the end of the safety rope and maintain contact with the worker in the well. If necessary, he should immediately pull the worker out of the well and provide him with assistance.

Manhole covers for inspection wells can only be opened with special hooks.

Boilers, tanks, pumps and other equipment should be lowered down special ladders using two winches under the supervision of a foreman or workman.

Winches for equipment installation must only have a gear or worm drive; winches with a friction or belt drive are not allowed. Hand winches must have safety handles, a double braking device consisting of a ratchet and a band brake, and be secured with anchors.