PanSol · Home Care Manual
REV. 2025-A · Home Care Tips Series
Plumbing & Water Complete Manual
๐ Contents · Table of Contents
01
Understanding the plumbing system
You can only manage what you understand — how water flows in your home
Home plumbing divides broadly into a supply system and a drainage system. Understanding both structures lets you instantly judge, when a problem arises, where it occurred and whether you can fix it yourself.
Supply system (path clean water comes in)
| Location | Role | Self access | Caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water meter box (main valve) | Shut/open whole-building water | OK | Clockwise = close |
| Sink·basin lower valve | Shut off individual zone water | OK | T-shaped handle |
| Boiler connection pipe | Hot water supply | Pro | Pressure check required |
| In-wall piping | Connects to each faucet | Pro only | No access without construction |
Drainage system (path used water goes out)
| Location | Main problem | Prevention |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom floor drain | Hair·soap residue clog | Install strainer, check weekly |
| Kitchen sink drain | Grease·food residue hardening | Never pour grease directly |
| Toilet drain | Foreign-object clog, faulty packing | No wet wipes or foreign objects |
| Trap (U-pipe) | Odor backflow, clog | Monthly hot-water flush |
TIP
Right after moving in or once a year, be sure to note the main valve and individual valve locations. In an emergency, 5 seconds saves hundreds of thousands of won.
02
Regular inspection checklist
Essential check items by cycle
Monthly check (approx. 15 min)
MONTHLY CHECKLIST
Watch the water meter for 5 min (any leak)
Clean bathroom·kitchen drain strainers
Check faucets for dripping
Any moisture under the sink piping
Any running toilet water
Pour 1 L hot water down each drain
Quarterly check (approx. 30 min)
QUARTERLY CHECKLIST
Check main·individual valve operation
Wall·ceiling water marks·discoloration
Any veranda drain clog
Remove limescale from shower head
Any change in faucet water pressure
Check washer supply hose connection
Annual check (pro, 1–2 hours)
ANNUAL CHECKLIST
Full pipe pressure test
Silicone condition at pipe joints
Clean entire trap and drain piping
Exposed-pipe insulation (before winter)
Replace old faucet packing
Meter and valve operation status
03
Leak self-diagnosis procedure
5 minutes finds a hidden leak
WARNING
If your water bill jumped 20%+ over last month, or the floor·wall is damp for no reason, run a leak diagnosis immediately.
Procedure P-01: Water-meter leak diagnosis
1
Fully close all faucets·valves in the house
Close everything, including the basin, bathroom, kitchen, and washer supply valves. Closing the toilet tank valve too makes it accurate.
2
Open the water meter box (outside the door or basement)
The blue star (☆) or round dial next to the meter number is the leak detector.
3
Observe the meter for 5 minutes
No movement = normal. Very slow movement = minor leak. Fast movement = serious leak.
๐ธ Photographing before/after 5 min makes comparing the number change easy.
4
If leak detected: narrow the location
Check the toilet first. Put food coloring in the tank; if color appears in the bowl after 5 min, the flapper packing needs replacing.
5
Narrow the scope: open zone valves one by one
Open individual valves one at a time and watch the meter. If the meter moves after opening a specific valve, that zone has the leak.
| Leak type | Meter reaction | Est. monthly extra bill | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Packing minor leak | Very slow spin | ₩5,000–15,000 | Self OK |
| Pipe micro-crack | Slow spin | ₩15,000–50,000 | Pro |
| Joint leak | Moderate spin | ₩50,000+ | Pro |
| Pipe burst | Fast spin | ₩100,000+ | Shut main now |
04
Faucet care·replacement
Self-fix for the most common plumbing problem
Diagnosis and action by symptom
| Symptom | Cause | Difficulty | Action | Est. cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dripping (even when closed) | Packing wear | Easy | Replace packing | ₩500–2,000 |
| Weak pressure | Filter clog | Easy | Detach·clean tip filter | ₩0 |
| Weak shower pressure | Limescale clog | Easy | Soak 30 min in vinegar water | ₩0 |
| Loose handle | Loose screw | Easy | Tighten with screwdriver | ₩0 |
| Water leaking from body | Joint packing | Medium | Pro repair | ₩20,000–50,000 |
| Full faucet replacement | Aging | Medium | Pro installation | ₩40,000–80,000 |
Procedure P-02: Self packing replacement (lever faucet)
1
Close the zone valve
Turn the T-valve under the sink·basin clockwise to close. Open the faucet to release residual pressure.
2
Remove the handle cover
Lift the small cover on top of the lever with a screwdriver. Undo the screw and pull the handle up to detach.
๐ธ Photo before disassembly recommended
3
Check the cartridge or packing
Lever type uses a cartridge; older type replaces a packing set. Bring the old part to a hardware store to buy the same item.
4
Reassemble in reverse, then test
Confirm assembly is complete before opening the valve. Open the valve slowly and check for leaks for 10 minutes.
CAUTION
Always leave replacement of faucets coming directly out of the wall to a professional. Mishandling damages the in-wall piping too.
05
Drain clog prevention·fix
What you can try before calling
Prevention rules by clog cause
| Location | Main clog cause | Prevention | Cleaning cycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom drain | Hair, soap residue | Strainer is a must | Weekly |
| Kitchen sink | Grease, food residue | Never pour grease directly | Twice a month |
| Toilet | Wet wipes, foreign objects | Nothing but toilet paper | When abnormal |
| Washer drain | Lint, detergent residue | Clean filter monthly | Monthly |
Procedure P-03: Step-by-step clog response
①
[Step 1] Pour hot water (5 min, ₩0)
Slowly pour 1–2 L of boiled water to dissolve grease·soap residue. 60% of light clogs are solved this way.
②
[Step 2] Baking soda + vinegar (20 min, ₩2,000)
Add 1 cup baking soda → wait 5 min → add 1 cup vinegar → after 15 min rinse with hot water.
③
[Step 3] Use a drain brush (10 min, ₩5,000–15,000)
Physically remove with an S-flex brush or snake drain cleaner. Effective for heavy hair clogs.
④
[Step 4] Call a professional
If all 3 steps fail, high-pressure equipment is needed. Forcing it can damage the trap.
Fair cost: ₩30,000–80,000
WARNING
Use commercial chemical drain cleaners with care. Strong alkaline components can corrode PVC pipes. Check the pipe material before use.
06
Pipe lifespan by material
Know how long your home's pipes stay safe
PVC pipe
30–50 yr
Most used now. Light, no corrosion
Stainless pipe
50–70 yr
Top durability. Used in recent builds
Copper pipe
20–50 yr
Used 1980s–2000s. Weak to acidic water
Galvanized steel
15–30 yr
Pre-1970s buildings. Watch rust·clogs
INFO
If you live in an apartment·villa built before 1990, galvanized steel pipe was likely used. If reddish rust-water appears, have a pro inspect the pipe condition immediately.
| Pipe age | Condition | Recommended action | Replacement cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–10 yr | Good | Maintain with regular checks | N/A |
| 10–20 yr | Normal | Annual pro inspection | N/A |
| 20–30 yr | Caution | Focused leak monitoring | Prepare partial replacement |
| 30–40 yr | Warning | Consider full replacement | ₩0.5M–2M |
| 40+ yr | Danger | Immediate pro inspection | ₩1M–5M+ |
07
Seasonal care procedures
Pipe-care points to focus on each season
| Season | Main risk | Essential action | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| ๐ธ Spring (Mar–May) | Post-winter cracks surface | Full leak check, meter diagnosis | HIGH |
| ☀️ Summer (Jun–Aug) | Monsoon backflow, drain overload | Drain check, verify backflow guard | MEDIUM |
| ๐ Autumn (Sep–Nov) | Leaf clog, freeze prep | Clean veranda drain, check insulation | MEDIUM |
| ❄️ Winter (Dec–Feb) | Freeze burst of iced pipe | Insulate exposed pipes, keep boiler on when out | CRITICAL |
Freeze-prevention procedure (on winter cold-wave alert)
1
Check insulation on exposed pipes
If pipes near the veranda or outer wall lack insulation, wrap them with old clothes or insulation tape.
2
Insulate the water meter box
Fill the box with styrofoam·newspaper and seal the lid with tape.
3
Keep boiler at 10–15°C when away long
Never fully OFF. Away mode (10–15°C) prevents freezing and saves energy at once.
4
Below -10°C cold wave: leave water trickling
Let water flow thread-thin from the coldest faucet. Moving water doesn't freeze.
08
Emergency response SOP
Stay calm and follow the order to minimize damage
CRITICAL
In an emergency, shut the main water valve first. It's inside the meter box. Turn it clockwise all the way to close.
SITUATION · 01
Pipe burst · water gushing
- 01Shut main water valve immediately
- 02Trip the breaker (flood prevention)
- 03First cleanup with towels·buckets
- 04Request PanSol emergency dispatch
- 05Notify the unit below at once
SITUATION · 02
Frozen pipe · no water
- 01Keep the faucet open
- 02Heat the pipe slowly with a hair dryer
- 03Never use open flame (lighter·torch)
- 04If not fixed within 2 hr, call a pro
- 05If a crack appears, shut the main now
SITUATION · 03
Backflow · sewage rising back up
- 01Stop all water use immediately
- 02Never flush the toilet
- 03Block backflow with a drain cover
- 04Contact the building office at once
- 05Call a pro high-pressure cleaning firm
SITUATION · 04
When notified of a leak downstairs
- 01Shut main water valve immediately
- 02Check bathroom·veranda floor moisture
- 03Pro inspection within 24 hr is a must
- 04Ask for photos of the downstairs damage
- 05Notify landlord·building office at once
09
When to call a pro
This one table decides self vs. pro
| Symptom | Self OK? | Reason | Pro cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faucet dripping | Self OK | Simple packing swap | ₩20,000–40,000 |
| Weak shower pressure | Self OK | Remove head limescale | N/A |
| Slow drain (early) | Try self | Solvable with hot water | ₩30,000–60,000 |
| Toilet keeps running | Self OK | Replace flapper packing | ₩20,000–40,000 |
| Moisture under sink | Pro advised | Needs accurate joint diagnosis | ₩30,000–80,000 |
| Sudden bill increase | Pro required | Needs hidden-leak detection gear | ₩50,000–150,000 |
| Water marks on wall | Pro required | Possible in-wall pipe leak | ₩200,000–1M |
| Pipe burst / backflow | Pro now | Shut main, then emergency dispatch | ₩200,000–800,000 |
| Downstairs leak notice | Pro now | Fast repair before damage dispute | ₩300,000–1.5M |
10
Cost reference by service
2025 average market prices, Seoul, Korea
๐ฐ Plumbing·water service cost reference (Seoul · daytime rate)
Faucet packing replacement
₩15,000–30,000
Full faucet replacement (part cost extra)
₩25,000–50,000
Drain cleaning·unclogging (high-pressure)
₩30,000–80,000
Pipe leak detection (with gear)
₩50,000–150,000
Pipe leak repair (joint)
₩50,000–150,000
Toilet replacement (standard)
₩150,000–350,000
In-wall pipe replacement (partial)
₩200,000–600,000
Night·holiday surcharge
base × 1.4–1.8
PanSol beta brokerage fee
₩0
COST TIP
The same job is 20–30% cheaper if inspected in spring·summer (off-season) vs. winter. Planning annually and getting preventive checks in the off-season is the most economical.
๐ท PANSOL · Partner connect
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exactly by this manual
Pipe check · leak detection · faucet · drain · emergency dispatch · completely free during beta
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