re: Hints, tips & secrets of plumbing - No Banter please!
Understand how the water works and know how to turn it off in an emergency before you tackle a job. You don't always have to turn the water off to do every job (e.g. change a ball valve) but if something goes wrong (and it does) you need to know how to control the situation.
When cutting through a pipe/changing washer, drain down by opening a lower tap. For example, if changing a bathroom tap washer, turn off water then open downstairs tap then open bathroom tap. If you hear a suction noise, then you know the water's drained.
When turrning back on, check for air in each tap you've opened so customer doesn't get wet after you've left. If the water is cloudy it means there is still a potential for an air lock so keep stopping and running the water until it's clear.
