There are some DIY projects we write about because they’re vital to your plumbing system, and there are some we want to bring to your attention because they pluck our plumbers' heartstrings.
Making a visual temperature gauge for your faucet? Not the most practical DIY upgrade – but definitely cool, and surprisingly easy!
Ready to test your sink’s water temperature without a chilly shock or unwelcome burn? All you’ll need is blue thermochromatic pigment (available on Amazon or in many hardware stores), clear nail polish, and a little bit of red paint.
Just remove the nozzle from your sink and paint it red, taking care to not get any paint on the inside of the ring (for a practical guide to painting your bathroom fixtures, check out our handy list). Mix the thermochromatic pigment with the nail polish, then paint this mixture over the dried red paint and carefully reattach the nozzle.
So how does it work? Thermochromatic pigment is designed to change color in response to changes in temperature. So, when your faucet is neutral, you’ll see the blue coloring; as the water streaming through heats the metal, the pigment will fade to clear, exposing the red paint underneath. Turn the water to cold, and your nozzle will shift back to blue.
And that’s it! No fancy monitors, no wires, no clean up required, and you’ll never need to wonder about your water temperature again. And who knows? Maybe this will help you and your family think about your usage and conserve water down the line.
Have any other DIY plumbing solutions you think our team would love to know? Looking for help with a major system overhaul or repair? We’d love to hear from you! Drop us a line, day or night, for all of your plumbing , water leak, sewer and gas line needs.
