For questions regarding the room where one bathes or uses the toilet.
2
votes
1answer
147 views
How can I repair my bathroom cabinet?
I've got a Medium-density fibreboard (MDF) sink cabinet that is at least 30, if not 50 years old. The bottom has gotten wet a few hundred times from a shower that was near it, and it is flaking apart ...
6
votes
3answers
5k views
How do I retrieve a detached plunger from a bathtub drain?
I have an old bathtub drain assembly that is similar to this:
As far as I can tell, the linkage broke off completely due to old age. If I unscrew the trip lever and cover, it's not attached to ...
1
vote
0answers
104 views
How to remove flex hose from a single-control, tall faucet?
I have a faucet that is leaking down the flex hose. The one flex hose unscrewed easily. The second is turning but not coming out. I assume the nut has become separated from the crimp on the hose. ...
2
votes
1answer
125 views
How can I repair this broken bathroom tap?
So we had a bathroom tap that looks pretty much like this:
the red lines I drew are where the tap has a kind of screw joint that separates the head from the side hot/cold taps. The problem is the ...
1
vote
2answers
164 views
How do I apply the same texture to the bathroom wall after patching a hole?
My repair guy patched some holes with drywall mud on walls that had been painted with semi-gloss; we went eggshell. He then painted over the area after the mud was supposedly dry. The area did not ...
4
votes
2answers
427 views
Is it wrong to connect multiple J-bends (traps) together?
My tenants recently told me that they have constant clogging problems with their bathroom sink and had me come take a look at it. I found the following 3-trap configuration:
This was done because ...
3
votes
1answer
126 views
Can an alcove tub be installed with most of it behind a wall?
Please forgive the quick sketch for the concept, but I'm wondering if the following is prohibited by code, or failing at that, a bad idea in general. I have a small (6'8" x 9'3") bathroom that needs ...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
How can I stop exhaust fan vent condensation problems?
So, our bathroom fan leaks when it is cold. In the attic, the PVC pipe connected to the exhaust is uninsulated, and frosted -- shock!
So, my question is, what is the best way to fix this? Do I cut ...
1
vote
1answer
208 views
How can I remove a tub spout with a stripped hex bolt/machine screw?
I have a slip on tub spout with a stripped hex nut. I need to remove it but I don't think it is wise to use the traditional method (drill into the bolt, hammer in an extractor,etc) put the space is ...
4
votes
1answer
363 views
How can I disassemble this old bathroom faucet to fix a leak, without damaging the decorative chrome piece?
Update 4: Once I followed Michael's suggestion I was able to remove the cartridge. Closest match was a Moen 1224, 131222. Inlet and outlet were very different, and rotation of valve was much greater ...
1
vote
1answer
419 views
How can I wire this replacement bathroom extractor fan?
My old bathroom extractor fan motor burned out, so I got a new one to replace it, I was trying to wire it up earlier and I've hit a bit of a snag... I don't seem to have enough cables.
The old ...
15
votes
7answers
777 views
Which home improvement projects produce the highest return on investment when selling?
I am looking to put my home on the market in the next few months (in Ohio). Which home improvement projects produce the highest return on investment when selling?
Should I invest in exotic ...
6
votes
4answers
625 views
Should I install an inline water heater for my bathroom?
It takes 3-4 minutes of the shower running before the hot water reaches my upstairs bathroom. I'd like to not have to waste all that water and time. My initial though was to install an inline water ...
1
vote
1answer
237 views
Why won't my shower fully heat up?
I have a thermostatic shower, but I can only get it to be luke warm. The aquastat is set at 60, boiler at 165. The tap water in wash hand basin beside shower is very warm. I have taken the cover off ...
3
votes
2answers
137 views
Can I connect a combination heater/fan unit to the existing bathroom wiring?
I have a dedicated 15A circuit for a top-floor bathroom fan with heat lamps which draws much less than capacity. There is nothing else on this circuit.
I know that code for a 15A 14ga circuit at 80% ...
3
votes
1answer
165 views
How Can I re-attach my bathroom fixtures which are hanging loose from the wall?
Please see the two pictures below. I'm trying to re-attach the two faucets so that there is no gap between them and the wall. These faucets work perfectly fine its just that they aren't attached to ...
1
vote
3answers
146 views
Could my wall have been damaged while the painters were painting?
I recently had my bathroom renovated. Before the renovation I had noticed some minor cracks in the ceiling. The building is 1962 and the walls are plaster. I had semi gloss paint used which I know can ...
0
votes
1answer
70 views
how can i fix my bath tub
When I turn the water on to take a bath the water don't run it just drips and takes hours to fill the tub or I have to add pots of water is there a way for this to be fixed or do I have to call a ...
4
votes
1answer
272 views
Can I ask my contractor to redo a tile job I'm not happy with?
Click on photo for full size
I had my bathroom renovated while I was away last week. I'm not happy with how the floor tile came out. I assumed the contractor would lay the tile out in a uniform way ...
0
votes
3answers
771 views
How can I wire an exhaust fan to turn on from multiple locations?
I just bought a Panasonic FV-20NLF1 inline bath exhaust fan that I planned to used to exhaust 2 different bathrooms. I want each bathroom light switch to control the fan, so when the lighting turns ...
5
votes
4answers
434 views
How can I protect my hardwood floors from water damage?
I just bought a home with hardwood floors everywhere, including the bathrooms. While this is nice, I worry that they will be damaged by constant exposure to water. Is there anything I can do to ...
4
votes
2answers
979 views
Should light bulbs above showers be “steam proof”?
In replacing the lighting in my apartment with LED bulbs, I noticed that the recessed can lighting above the shower (to be fair, the light is centered on the shower curtain) does not appear to be ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
GFCI buzzing on same circuit as dimmer
Ok, is please bear with a little explanation:
My girlfriend had the master bath in her condo remodeled, and asked her contractor to install a new (GFCI) outlet. He apparently pulled it from the ...
1
vote
0answers
293 views
What new technology replacements are available for incandescent globe light bulbs for the bathroom vanity light?
I have a bathroom vanity light fixture with a row of exposed globe light bulbs. They had been burning up recently, and I was wondering if there are reliable CFL or LED globe bulbs available as a ...
4
votes
2answers
206 views
Should I remove nailed-down plywood before laying tile?
In my bathroom there is vinyl on top of plywood, which is nailed to the sub floor. Should I pry up the plywood before putting down cement backer board for tile, or can I go over the plywood?
6
votes
1answer
273 views
How do I stop grout in the corner of a shower from cracking?
I moved into a newly remodeled home. The walk-in shower walls are grouted. Now the corners have started to crack.
How do I slow down the cracking? Should it be caulked, or would that be a bad idea?
11
votes
5answers
454 views
Is it dangerous to run electrical cords through heating vents?
I'm living in old apartment and my roommate has fed electric cords through heating vent from living room into bathroom. I see this as a double hazard and illegal. The heating vent exits on wall behind ...
9
votes
3answers
16k views
Does a bathroom exhaust fan have to vent to the outside?
Is it normal and\or up to code where bathroom exhaust fan just vents to attic?
I've seen this a couple times now, and the first time I saw this I thought it was very odd.
But I mentioned this to a ...
0
votes
0answers
61 views
How can I repair a split bath tap pipe?
I've removed the tap and tried to reseat the pipe. I look in to see a large crack/split on end of the pipe.
Is there anyway I can fix this/reseal it with out ripping the house!
1
vote
4answers
138 views
How do I to choose a new light fixture for the bathroom?
I've got a bathroom that has a single 75 watt bulb light fixture. It's wall mounted. Unfortunately, it's old and there isn't enough light. I'd like to replace it with a sconce that has 2 or 3 bulbs. ...
1
vote
1answer
295 views
How can I remove the tile from this wall?
Doing a tile removal on our master tub/shower. I'm pretty sure the tile is original to the house, which is 34 years old (1978). It's a 4 1/4 inch tile, that has been backed by dry wall. When I was ...
4
votes
1answer
171 views
Are these walls prepared properly for tile?
My sister and I are doing our bathrooms in our condos. I am seeing her job and am concerned they aren't doing right.
They used the concrete sheetrock for her shower but it didn't go to the top. So ...
2
votes
1answer
731 views
How do I install a bathroom exhaust fan?
I need to know how to wire a bathroom fan with a light and night light. The wiring has a black/white red/white blue/white and green. The bathroom has a light switch for the light fixture over the ...
3
votes
3answers
4k views
What is the best way to repair a cracked bathtub?
Close examination of the floor of my bathtub has revealed a long, thin crack in the bathtub itself. The bathtub is one of the common plastic-feeling variety (though I am not sure if it is actually a ...
4
votes
2answers
384 views
can i paint my bathtub wall?
One of our bath walls is green Sheetrock with a white semi gloss paint finish.
As you can see on the pictures attached, the paint has started to bubble and strip.
What can we do now?
shall/can ...
2
votes
1answer
138 views
How to determine if a faucet is plastic or metal?
On the first picture below I am pretty sure the grip is made of plastic because it feels very light, when I lift it.
On the second I have no idea.
Question
How do I tell if the grip of a faucet is ...
1
vote
2answers
477 views
Exhaust fixture for venting bathroom fan through roof
I'm planning to install a roof vent for a bathroom exhaust fan I'm putting in. I'm thinking about using one of these:
but I was wondering if I need to worry about it getting blocked by ice or snow? ...
5
votes
3answers
2k views
How can I repair a flexible hot water supply hose that is leaking at the nut?
The hot water supply hose under my sink started leaking after I replaced the popup drain on the sink. Apparently I disturbed the hose in some way. It is leaking from just above the nut where it ...
5
votes
3answers
424 views
How can I locate and repair a leak?
We recently bought a 100 year old house that stood uninhabited for 18 months prior to our move. Everything had been properly winterized for the cold winter months (Temperatures can reach -40 C) and ...
2
votes
1answer
713 views
Under bathroom sink piping (exposed)
We are looking at setting up the piping for under our wall mounted sink (no vanity, ie, piping will be exposed). And after our contractor finished putting the wall we noticed that the hole from the ...
7
votes
3answers
5k views
Why is water leaking near my bathroom's exhaust fan?
This weekend when the snow started melting on my roof, I noticed a small water spot developing around all three bathroom exhaust fans in my house. I'm guessing the water leaked in around the exhaust ...
0
votes
1answer
148 views
Can I get a smaller toilet installed? (picture included)
At the bottom is a picture of my toilet, where you can see the toilet pipe that enters the floor and that there is ~7 cm of space between the water container and the wall.
Question
Does there exist ...
3
votes
3answers
669 views
What paint do I use to paint wood in a bathroom?
I have a lot of wood in my bathroom, some in worse wear than others, its really ugly.
So I want to paint it. My question is what paint do I use, do I need primer/ undercoat/ special bathroom paint?
...
2
votes
3answers
515 views
How can I remove hair dye stains from a porcelain sink?
Anyone have any suggestions about how to do this? I've tried Comet, bleach and windex, all applied with plenty of elbow grease, but the stains aren't budging.
Any other ideas?
2
votes
1answer
89 views
What length of finishing nail should I use?
I just re-tiled my master bathroom and plan to put wood trim back up around the perimeter soon. How do I know what length of finishing nails to use?
I see 2" and 1.5" nails - does it really matter?
2
votes
2answers
531 views
Is it possible to install a pump to fix a slow drain?
We have a combination shower/tub enclosure in our bathroom here in Norway. The floor drain in our bathroom was placed in a very unfortunate location, such that the water draining from the tub/shower ...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
Is it safe to use Greenboard drywall in a shower?
I've seem a lot of people telling that greenboard drywall SHOULD NOT be used in bathroom and wet areas. However, in Brazil (where drywall is kind of a novelty yet) the manufactures recommend ...
2
votes
1answer
224 views
How should I remove this bulb?
My bathroom bulb died and I am trying to replace it, but before I can figure out what sort of bulb to buy I want to remove it so I can take it with me to the store and get an exact one. However I've ...
2
votes
1answer
91 views
How can I repair the carpet around a new shower?
I just had a new shower put in, and the existing carpet doesn't quite go close enough to the bottom of the shower. It looks uneven. Is there something I can buy to make it flush?
9
votes
5answers
6k views
Why does my shower switch keep burning out?
I have a Mira Shower 10.8 kW.
My switch is a 45A switch. I have a 50A fuse for the shower. The shower uses 10mm2 cable.
9 months ago the switch sparked and refused to turn off and the fuse ...
