For questions about the supply and removal of water and liquid waste.
0
votes
2answers
23 views
What is involved in replacing leaking iron drain pipes in a house with a concrete foundation?
I noticed cracks in the walls getting larger and called someone to check on the foundation. The foundation is fine (it's previously been repaired) but the center of the house is sinking. I plugged the ...
0
votes
1answer
11 views
Can we install an aeration unit in an older septic system?
Our home was built in 1957. We have had problems for years with having a wet drain field and keep having our septic pumped. Today (of course my husband is away), I have done a couple of loads of ...
0
votes
2answers
43 views
Why does wand shower head drain at unusual times?
We recently moved from using a stationary shower head to a new version that has a wand. While I love the new one we have noticed that the wand shower head will release water at random times.
For ...
0
votes
0answers
28 views
Where to get oversized Trip Lever assembly?
Example
I need a 3.5 inch trip lever to replace old one. I have looked at local big boxes and online and they are all around 3 inches. I even ordered one on amazon and it said it was 3.5 but was ...
1
vote
1answer
55 views
Is it normal for water to drip from a shower head for a bit after a shower?
Water drips from new large shower head for a while after shutoff. Is that normal?
1
vote
4answers
64 views
How do I clear a drain pipe clogged with dried soap?
I think we have a clog of dried soap in our pipes, past the U-bend and down the pipes from upstairs to the drain at ground level.
How do I clear them?
4
votes
2answers
162 views
How can I join two lengths of flexible 1/4" copper pipe?
I have found a leak coming from under my refrigerator, after pulling it out to get behind it I found the 1/4" copper pipe that supplies the water for the ice maker and water in the door was severed ...
0
votes
1answer
47 views
How can I connect a portable dishwasher to laundry hookups?
I just moved into new duplex that has a decent sized laundry room. During my move I brought my portable compact dishwasher (very similar to this one). I don't have counter-top space to position the ...
2
votes
1answer
32 views
Do I add calcite or magnesium first to my new acid neutralizer?
So I am replacing a smaller acid neutralizer with a larger one. Bought it at the local water store, had a nice chat with Wolfgang. He loaded 3 bags of calcite and one box of Magnesium mix. He told ...
3
votes
1answer
67 views
How do I keep water from getting in and out of a dishwasher drain air gap?
I have no idea what this is called, so I apologize for the vague title. If someone knows what it is, feel free to edit it.
When I turned on my dishwasher (just moved in), water started spewing from ...
5
votes
3answers
130 views
How can I brace a bathtub faucet without tearing out the tile wall?
I pulled the trim off of my bathtub faucet to grease a sticky cartridge and I saw that the plastic brackets that were used to secure the pipes to the studs were broken. My shower is tile, so I don't ...
2
votes
3answers
87 views
Should galvanized steel pipe be used as a tub spout?
I have a 90 degree fitting coming down from my shower valve. Also have a screw on tub spout trim. Right now there is a 6" galvanized pipe that connects the 90 to the tub spout trim. Is the ...
3
votes
2answers
106 views
Can/Should I Move These Pipes?
I need to fix a broken ball valve (luckily the valve doesn't leak until I turn it on) that runs to an outside faucet. Also, all of these pipes are CPVC.
When I looked at replacing it, they seemed to ...
5
votes
4answers
149 views
How do I get these toilet shut off valve out?
As title says I am trying to figure out how to remove the old shut off valve from the pipe. I've been watching lot of videos, reading up on articles and all seem to deal with compression fit type but ...
2
votes
1answer
120 views
How do I calculate the takeoff for a 45 degree elbow joint?
I'm trying to install a 45° elbow joint in PVC. I've found several suggestions online, but frankly, they are incomprehensible to me and seem contradictory of one another:
...
2
votes
2answers
111 views
Are flexible PVC couplings rated for direct burial?
I need to repair a severed 1 1/2" PVC drain line.
I have a Fernco flexible PVC coupling laying around, and I figured it will be much easier to use the flexible coupling instead of a rigid ...
-1
votes
0answers
33 views
Should I use a separate pump for my solar pool heating system?
I just got the solar panels and have an extra pump. Instead of messing with all the PVC on the filter, I was just going to use a separate pump and put hoses in the pool. Figure run it while at work ...
4
votes
2answers
178 views
How can I replace this unusual kitchen sink drain pipe?
I'm trying to replace a broken 1-1/2 inch L-shaped brass pipe under my kitchen sink, as in this picture:
At one end, it's connected to the sink drain, which if I'm understanding the terminology ...
0
votes
1answer
153 views
What is the name for this round metal drain cover?
Rainwater drains from an acre uphill from us into an underground system that has been in place for 50 years. It works fine, except that the 16-inch round metal cover for the drain has rusted through. ...
3
votes
2answers
109 views
Why isn't there hot water in the shower, when there is hot water in the rest of the condo?
I moved into a condo two days ago, and found that while the rest of the plumbing in the house has hot water, the shower when turned to hot just has a cool trickle emanating from the tap. The cold ...
2
votes
2answers
88 views
How do I fix this leaking tub faucet?
I have an old tub/shower with 3 handles in it (hot/cold/shower on) that are all twist knobs. The hot or cold can not fully disengage because they are a bit older and have some sediment built up in ...
0
votes
2answers
126 views
Plastic or metal pipes? what do you recommend? [closed]
I need to install piping for hot and cold water, do you suggest plastic or metal pipes?
3
votes
3answers
138 views
Is it a problem that my toilet flange is 3/8" below the surrounding tile?
My tile setter had to elevate the tiles around the toilet hole in order to make up for some unevennesses. As a result, the toilet flange is approx. 3/8" below the surrounding tile. Can that be ...
3
votes
3answers
121 views
Why does it take a second for water to come out of the kitchen faucet?
Starting about a week ago, our kitchen faucet has exhibited some odd behavior. When you lift the handle for it, nothing comes out for a second. You can hear air or water flowing, but nothing comes ...
0
votes
0answers
28 views
What do I do if my expansion tank doesn't have a drain valve?
What do I do if my boiler expansion tank doesn't have a drain valve? It just has a cap on what I believe is the drain pipe.
2
votes
1answer
57 views
What are my options for installing a water softener on the opposite side of the house from the main water supply?
Background Info
My main water supply on my home is located on the east wall of the home, whereas my garage is located on the west side of the home. There is no water softener loop in the home, and in ...
2
votes
2answers
63 views
What could be causing low pressure in my new faucet?
My dad recently bought a new faucet (Moen 87690SRS) and installed it fine. I was home visiting, and he asked me to look at it because the pressure is really low compared to the old faucet. He said he ...
1
vote
0answers
66 views
If I use (2) 3/4“ inlet PEX manifolds (hot/cold), do I need 1” PEX supply from the meter?
I am replacing all the plumbing in my house and to the meter. I will be using PEX. I have manifolds for hot and cold with 3/4" inlets and 1/2" outlets at the valves. Do I need to use 1" PEX tubing ...
1
vote
1answer
76 views
How to resolve a drainage issue with aerator lower than the original outlet
I have an issue with the drainage of a new kitchen sink I installed.
The old sink outlet was higher up (it was a more shallow sink) and more to the right. The same aerator was attached and the ...
1
vote
1answer
91 views
How can house hot water pressure be kept stable if more than one hot tap is open?
We have a Vaillant Ecotec combi boiler in the loft. When showering, hot water pressure is fine. But if someone opens any other hot tap in the house, it massively reduces the hot water coming into the ...
2
votes
1answer
89 views
Can a lack of oxygen cause septic tank deterioration?
After 2 years I had my 8 year old septic tank pumped out for the second time. When we looked inside we found that the area above the outlet had concrete deterioration. Whatever happened ate through ...
0
votes
2answers
123 views
How do I get even water pressure from a bathtub mixer faucet?
I just bought my house and noticed there is a problem in the bathroom tub faucet and that is: the valve starts from the cold toward hot and as it goes toward the hot the water pressure increases and ...
7
votes
3answers
324 views
What could be causing a urine smell in our bathrooms?
I live in a home built in 2006. We are a clean family and have no pets. In ALL three of our bathrooms I am smelling an odor of "old urine". I do have a 3-year-old son so at first I thought he was ...
1
vote
2answers
232 views
How can I repair a slow leak in my concrete fountain?
I have a painted concrete fountain whose bottom well slowly leaks over about 2 days.
My area gets to ~-20c (-9ish F) in the winter, so I worry that trapped water is slowly destroying it.
I suspect ...
2
votes
1answer
97 views
Why is my electric water heater making an intermittent groaning noise?
My 8 year old electric water heater started to make a strange rattling noise a couple of weeks ago. The noise happens at random and lasts for only a few minutes. Short bursts of noise about a minute ...
1
vote
1answer
91 views
Why does my bathroom shower have too much water pressure?
I have the same shower head, nothing has changed except the pressure. It sprays so hard that it hurts, and in 10 minutes the hot water is almost gone.
What can I do to fix this?
1
vote
1answer
127 views
Should I attempt to get to a potentially damaged trap and check it out myself?
I have a back up in my garage drain. I mopped it up and today I returned to see the same, nasty smelling liquid had returned to almost the exact same level and quantity that was previously there. ...
2
votes
1answer
87 views
Is this water heater drain configuration safe?
I've just replaced my water heater and for the first time my house has a water heater drain pan. The washing machine waste line is nearby and I'd like to connect the water heater drain pan to this ...
2
votes
2answers
155 views
How can I replace the bleed plug for my towel rail?
I have a very similar type of radiator as this:
However doing a bathroom refit, I have somehow lost the radiator bleed plug which is shown in the picture above. So if I turn the radiator on, it ...
2
votes
2answers
104 views
How can I fix this leaky water heater?
I have an electric Water heater and it is starting to leak from what I believe to be the pressure release valve. I just wanted some tips on how I can fix this before the leak becomes unmanageable. The ...
2
votes
1answer
152 views
How can I replace cast iron sewer drain that goes through the basement wall?
I have a 4" cast iron sewer drain going through my basement wall. I want to replace all the cast iron drain to PVC pipe. If I would to cut the cast pipe pipe going through the basement wall flush with ...
1
vote
1answer
152 views
Do I need to add a vent when moving a toilet drain across the bathroom?
In working on finishing our basement, I've come to the bathroom. It was originally plumbed with the plan of having the fixtures share a common wall (vanity, toilet, then tub). so there is already a ...
3
votes
1answer
199 views
Can I use SharkBite connectors on a copper stub out?
Is it possible to use a SharkBite male adapter on a copper stub out for a bathtub faucet?
I am not well versed in soldering plumbing fittings and I would rather not have to buy the gas, a torch tip, ...
3
votes
1answer
114 views
Can you identify this seal?
I have a slow-filling cistern and, having disassembled all the pipes inside I've identified a ripped seal. Assuming that I didn't cause that myself just a moment ago, I'm hopeful that replacing it ...
0
votes
3answers
286 views
Why is the water pressure so high from my overhead water tank?
We have recently rented a house and it has normal taps fitte, and a normal
overhead water tank, but the water pressure is very high. The water comes out
with so much pressure, that if I am trying to ...
1
vote
0answers
50 views
How can I fix a shower faucet valve that is sticky?
I have two bathrooms that have been completed in the last year. Both have the same Price Pfister rough-in valve. One is sticky and requires a bit of force to turn on the water (turns on by pulling). ...
0
votes
1answer
67 views
How can I find a replacement external tub drain if the original has no identifiable markings?
We are rebuilding a bathroom in a house in Long Island, New York. We would like to replace this external tub drain with the same. It has no identifiable markings. We need the make or model, or even ...
2
votes
1answer
171 views
How can I attach a sink drain to a drain that is higher than the sink?
My home is pre-plumbed for a water softener -- whole house water filter. Meaning I have a main water pipe that comes out of the wall, makes a u-turn, and goes back into the wall. Just below the ...
-1
votes
1answer
78 views
What are some easy to do DIY money saving projects? [closed]
I am always looking for ways to improve efficiency and save money around the house. Some of the things I have done are
Install energy efficient light bulbs all throughout the house
Replaced all ...
2
votes
1answer
418 views
Why is my main water supply shut off valve leaking even while closed?
While prepping to install a new kitchen faucet, I went to shut off the water supply to the house since there were no valves under the sink. I mistakenly chose to turn the city-side (gate valve) supply ...
