Julian Cassell's DIY Blog

Unblocking drains is never the most enjoyable of DIY jobs, and in many circumstances you may need to get the professionals in, but simple blockages (if there is such a thing!) normally have a fairly straightforward quick fix. In order to be prepared, shown below are three pieces of equipment I always have to hand should a blockage occur, somewhere in my waste and drain system. The good news is that none of these items are expensive, and all of them could save you a lot of money on calling out the pros to deal with your blocked drains. read more »

Plumbing isolation valves are quite simply some of the most useful devices that a DIY enthusiast can find in their home. These small valves allow you to turn off the water supply in one area of the plumbing system, so that you don’t have to drain down the whole system in order to carry out some work on a plumbing fixture or fitting. read more »

Creating watertight plumbing joints has always been an area that can stir up a little anxiety in even the most proficient DIY enthusiast, and rightly so as there’s always that moment when the water gets turned back on, and you sit staring at your newly made joint, with fingers crossed, and praying that all remains dry. Therefore in this guide, I want to provide you with a few pointers when you’re making plumbing joints, and detail what I consider to be the best joint options for DIY plumbing. read more »

When fitting guttering, base decisions on which way a run will flow according to the position of gullies and drains, because this is where the downpipes must be directed. Some downpipes will terminate above ground and others underground, so take this into account when deciding whether you need a downpipe shoe at the bottom, or just to let the pipe run directly into the drain. read more »

Making a push-fit plastic joint is one of the simplest techniques for joining plumbing supply pipes in your home. Plastic pipes are now commonly used for  both water supply, and heating pipes. Because they are joined using push-fit joints, makes them a popular option for the DIY market. One type of plastic pipe is shown below – there are others and so always check manufacturer’s guidelines on approved methods of connection and how joints may be disconnected for adjustment. read more »