A correctly designed and installed home plumbing system is practically trouble-free. But  even the best systems can develop problems from time to time – everything from burst and  leaking pipes to clogged drains. Here are some of the most common home plumbing problems and suggestions for dealing with the unexpected trouble:

• Shut off the water. When you see water leaking from a pipe or coming through a wall,  shut off the water to prevent serious damage. Similarly, when a toilet or dishwasher  overflows, the first step is to stop the flow of water.

Most plumbing systems provide numerous shutoff valves. Sinks and lavatories have  individual shutoffs for hot and cold water. Most are located just underneath the fixtures  they control;  some are in the basement, utility room or crawl space below. Leaks or  overflowing that cannot be stopped at a fixture can always be stopped by closing the main  shutoff valve that controls the flow of all water into the house. The shutoff is usually  located near the water meter or at the wall where the main enters the house. Close all  shutoff valves by turning their handles clockwise. Be sure to familiarize yourself with  all shutoffs in your house – especially the main shutoff – so you can get to them without  delay in an emergency.

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Simple plumbing jobs, such as replacing a washer in a faucet or unclogging a sink, do not require a lot of skill. However, for larger jobs you may need not only some basic know-how but also a permit or license.

Home plumbing involves two systems: the water supply system and the drain-waste-vent (DWV) system.

Water enters the house through a main service pipe. Near the point of entry you’ll usually find the main shut-off valve and often a water meter. Inside the house the water travels under pressure through hot and cold supply pipes. Attached air chambers cushion the pressure-driven water when a faucet or appliance is turned off.

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When outdoor temperatures drop, many homeowners’ blood pressures rise. Burst plumbing  pipes remain close to the top of cold weather worries list. You can protect your home  from burst pipes by keeping a small amount of water running through all faucets when  there is danger of a freeze.

Insulating all outdoor conduits also guards against freezing water. But if a pipe does  burst, there is one proven alternative to calling the plumber. Polybutylene (PB) pipe and  plastic plumbing connections can be used quickly, easily and effectively to mend broken  copper, galvanized iron and CPVC plumbing systems.

There are no soldering tools, toxic adhesives or threading equipment to worry about – the  connections are made with compression fittings which require only wrenches or pliers for  installation. The pipe can be cut with a sharp knife.

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• Porcelainized cast iron is an extremely durable and attractive finish for sinks and  tubs and can keep water warm for long periods of time. It’s extremely heavy, however, and  a tub may require extra floor support.

• Enameled steel doesn’t wear as well as cast iron but is especially good for remodeling  because, it’s light enough to move easily.

• Stainless steel is light, durable and unaffected by household chemicals. Used primarily  for sinks, it tends to collect spots from hard water and soap residue.

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