--- title: 5 Plumbing Tips You Need to Know description: 5 Plumbing Tips You Need to Know --- ![ThompsonWhite.png](https://www.thompsonremodeling.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/2017%20Site%20Images/ThompsonWhite.png?width=315&name=ThompsonWhite.png "ThompsonWhite.png") [![ThompsonSimpleLogo.png](https://www.thompsonremodeling.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/2017%20Site%20Images/ThompsonSimpleLogo.png?width=314&name=ThompsonSimpleLogo.png "ThompsonSimpleLogo.png")](https://www.thompsonremodeling.com) ** Gallery ** contact # 5 Plumbing Tips You Need to Know Posted by [Ben Thompson](https://www.thompsonremodeling.com/new-blog/author/ben-thompson) on 08.6.09 Last week on the Home Improvement Show Pat, Sandie, and I did a segment on 10 Common Plumbing Tips and we rated them based on how practical, beneficial, and probable people are to actually benefit from these tips. Here is my list of the 5 essential tips, nothing more: 1) Main Shut off Valve - everyone in the house needs to know where the main shut off valve is just in case something goes wrong. 2) If the toilet is overflowing, immediately remove the cover and push down on the "flapper" to stop the water from flowing into the bowl. 3) The type of plunger you need are the ones shaped like a trumpet mute (i.e. - bell shaped, see above). 4) When you plunge a bathtub or sink, use a standard light duty plunger or a RowPump   (typically only pros will have one of these pictured left) and also use a rag to cover the overflow (front of the sink) so that you can create suction. 5) Please do change the filters in your home's various filtration systems (e.g. - refrigerator, drinking water, softener pre-filter, humidifier pads). If you stick to these basics you'll be just fine. 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