Every toilet and sink in your home has water supply lines that connect to the home’s freshwater system. A toilet will have one supply line and every sink has two – one for hot and one for cold.  Plumbing experts encourage homeowners to inspect and replace older, outdated water supply lines sooner than later.  Here’s why:

Older homes used somewhat flexible all-metal/copper lines when they were originally constructed. These lines are ridged and can be challenging to work with during installation and maintenance. They also wear out easily and/or can kink if you’re not especially careful when handling them. If you look under your sink or toilet and see these types of lines, you’ll want to target those lines first for changing.

When replacing these water supply lines, you’ll want to use braided steel lines with brass nuts.  The braided steel lines are so much easier to work with, don’t kink and the brass nuts are much stronger and provide an extra level of protection.

There are some braided supply lines that have plastic nuts. We’d like to warn you to NOT use those at all. They are a huge false sense of security, as the plastic is much weaker and can burst. If they burst while you’re at work, or even worse while you’re on vacation, you’re going to come home to an awful mess and lots of water damage.

Keys to Success for this Plumbing DIY Project:

• Water Shut-off Valve: Be sure to turn off the main water line outside your house BEFORE you begin.
• Drain your whole home’s water lines: Once you’ve shut off your home’s waterline, go to the lowest faucet in your home and open it to drain the water from the pipes.
• Once you’ve removed and replaced your lines, be sure to thoroughly test for drips and any leaks.

Key Supplies:

• Small bucket for draining and catching drips
• Plumbers Teflon tape, wrenches, and possibly channel locks
• Rags/towels for any spills and cleanup

If you have more ambitious home projects, such as a kitchen or bath remodel, contact E5 Home Loans to get a rate quote on a cash-out refinance loan. Access the equity in your home without a bunch of crazy fees.

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source: Rosie On The House