For questions about the supply and removal of water and liquid waste.
2
votes
1answer
211 views
How can I replace a Delta 1400 shower valve cartridge?
I have a delta 1400 shower valve that I had to replace. The existing one was full of sediment. When I put everything back together water just comes out the tub spout as if the valve wasn't there. When ...
3
votes
0answers
57 views
How can I locate an odor emanating from the kitchen/laundry area?
I live in South Florida. My home is a one level, 2400-sq ft, u-shaped with bedrooms on one side and kitchen/laundry on the other side. I have a consistent odor but it's not constant. It comes and ...
2
votes
1answer
238 views
Is it safe to shut off cold water entering water heater?
I have a pretty bad situation at my place. I have a leaky shower faucet which has gone from drips to a steady stream. I calculated the flow at .3 gallons per minute. My very old home has no private ...
6
votes
4answers
664 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 ...
2
votes
3answers
1k views
Why do some free-standing ice makers need floor drains?
I am about to begin a bar installation project. I need an ice maker. There appear to be two kinds of free standing ice makers - those that do and do not require drains.
Why does one type need a ...
1
vote
1answer
251 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 ...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
Toilet does full-blast, one-second refill every hour or so
I wouldn't lose sleep over this, except the unexpected and fierce sound startles my girlfriend and cat every time.
So I just replaced the refill valve on our toilet (using a kit, so everything from ...
3
votes
2answers
763 views
How do I fix a leaky spigot on a rain barrel?
I created a rain barrel using an old plastic 55 gallon barrel and a brass spigot. I drilled a half-inch hole in the side of the barrel for the spigot, wrapped some plumbers tape around the threads, ...
2
votes
1answer
111 views
How can I stop veggie garbage from coming out of my basement storm drain?
I keep getting onion and tomato peels coming out of my basement storm drain after doing any sizable cooking and putting it through the garbage disposal. The kitchen is on the 1st floor, the drain is ...
1
vote
1answer
66 views
Where could this green residue that is clogging fixture screens be coming from?
I have a big problem with green residue clogging fixture screens. There has been no recent(for the last 2 years) plumbing work in the house so it is not flux/solder residue. I have two 50 gallon tanks ...
0
votes
0answers
196 views
Why is there no hot water in the kitchen?
I have hot water everywhere in the house but the kitchen sink. I have cold water but no hot. It will trickle in the middle but still cold. Does that mean its frozen or is there something else to ...
2
votes
2answers
103 views
What kind of valve is this and how do I disconnect it?
So, I have a leaky faucet. I am in the process of disconnecting everything so that I can take the faucet out and inspect what's going on with the leaky faucet. However, when disconnecting the faucet, ...
0
votes
0answers
61 views
Laundry tub faucet water stays flowing while hooked up to washer
It has the pipes that come out above the actual faucet that washer is hooked to so the faucet needs to turn off but doesn't even when handles are shut off. I currently have a outdoor hose sprayer ...
4
votes
1answer
605 views
How do I cap off an unused refrigerator water line?
I am installing a new refrigerator. The new one doesn't have an ice maker in it and the old one did. I need to turn off the water, and when I do it will shut off all of my water. This is a rental ...
3
votes
1answer
247 views
How can I remove an anti vandal tap head?
I have almost identical problem this one except that it's a shower tap...
How can I remove stuck anti-vandal rings in tap head?
The drama is that the shower won't turn off all the way as the washer ...
1
vote
1answer
79 views
What could cause my water heater to pulsate during cold water usage?
I have a well and a pressure tank. I lost water pressure last night and thought everything was frozen but it wasn't, however, the regulator was not engaged. I engaged the pressure regulator and the ...
2
votes
1answer
153 views
Why did my tub drain start running slowly after going unused for a little while?
I recently moved into a new apartment and quickly found that the tub drain ran pretty slowly. I wasn't able to fix it myself, so eventually a plumber came in and fixed things up — the drain ran great ...
0
votes
1answer
71 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 ...
5
votes
4answers
629 views
Why is the first shower of the day is colder than the second?
Description
Since I've moved into this house, I've noticed that the first shower of the day is colder than the any subsequent shower. More specifically, if no hot water has been used for a while, ...
6
votes
1answer
574 views
How do I install a washing machine when the drain is 7.5 feet high?
My washing machine drain is 7.5 feet from the floor. I plan on researching my washer and making sure it can pump that high. I want to hook it up to a 1.5 inch PVC pipe drain. The 1.5 pipe is above ...
0
votes
1answer
60 views
Is there any way to make a sink connected to a garborator drain faster?
In the kitchen there are two sinks side by side which share a common drain. One sink has a garborator. It drains ridiculously slowly. The other sink drains faster but I've been told it doesn't ...
4
votes
2answers
112 views
What could cause poor drainage in the kitchen and baths?
After having my septic system (tank) cleaned about a month ago, I've noticed a foul odor in the bathroom of the master bedroom. I've also noticed the smell outside near the master bedroom. It's not ...
2
votes
1answer
17k views
What could cause bubbling toilet when the shower or sink is running?
One of the two toilets in my rental house is bubbling when the shower or sink in that master bath area are on. In the past, about 6 months ago, I have had plumbers and rotoruter out and they could ...
11
votes
10answers
6k views
Why is my toilet constantly backing up?
I've been in my new house for a few months now, and I end up plunging one of our two toilets about once a week - they tend to swap turns on which one gets to be finicky each week. Is there a more ...
4
votes
1answer
181 views
How do I turn off this sprinkler valve?
We just purchased our home this summer, so I've never gone through the process of turning off the sprinklers for the winter (we're in Utah, so hard freezes are possible). The stop-and-waste valve is ...
2
votes
3answers
2k views
What are some causes/solutions for poor drainage?
What are some causes/solutions for poor drainage?
It seems that our house tends to drain water very slowly. The bathroom sink could probably overflow if the water was left on, the bathtub also seems ...
1
vote
1answer
503 views
How do I choose the correct size pump and pressure tank?
I'll have a 3000 gallon water tank (around 8 feet tall) located at the same elevation as my house.
The distance between my house and the tank will be about 90 feet, with the water traveling through a ...
6
votes
2answers
289 views
What to look for in a new/replacement toilet?
I have a slow/weak flushing toilet and it's not the tank or flapper, etc. Shirlock says in an answer to a related question, that it's "time to spring and spend 200 bucks for a new Class 5 toilet. ...
4
votes
2answers
513 views
Is this shower trap better than a P-Trap?
Here in Brazil almost all shower and floor drains are made using a device that translate as "siphoned box" and work as a trap collecting water from the sink, tub and shower.
Is that any better ...
0
votes
1answer
347 views
Why does my toilet still leak after replacing the wax ring?
I just replaced the wax ring under my toilet. Now when you flush, it leaks worse than it did before! I am so confused! Is there something else that needs to be replaced?
1
vote
3answers
641 views
How can I repair a slow drip at the main water shutoff valve?
I noticed a slow drip and wondering if solution is to turn the nut clockwise to solve. I normally would give it a go but since this is the main water shutoff I figured it'd be smart to get some ...
1
vote
2answers
425 views
How can I purge air from a baseboard heating system with the spigots on the wrong side?
My (new) baseboard heating system is causing a racket, and I've been trying to figure out a way to properly purge the air from it. Following the flow of water through one zone of my four-zone system, ...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
When should pipe dope vs thread tape be used?
For threaded plumbing connections, you typically use pipe dope or thread tape (aka teflon tape). Are there situations when one is preferred over another? Does the size of the pipe, type of pipe, part ...
0
votes
2answers
123 views
Why does the pressure, attached to a submersible well, keep increasing?
I have changed the pressure gauge, a Square D switch, and checked the pressure (from 40 psi) to 28 psi. Within 3 to 4 days the pressure increased back to 40 psi. I called a plumber who lowered the ...
2
votes
2answers
282 views
What goes on threads first: tape or dope?
Should the dope be applied directly to the male threads or should the tape go on first?
2
votes
2answers
629 views
Can I use flexible tube to replace a segment of copper pipe?
I am installing 1/2" copper pipes to supply water to my own new gas heater. The pipes need to pass around corners that are full of obstacles. I am not a professional plumber but know that I normally ...
0
votes
1answer
278 views
Is it possible to fix a leak in PP-R piping by injecting some type of substance?
I have a central heating system based on PP-R piping and radiators. The PP-R piping goes under the floor. The problem is that the pressure is droping 0.2 atm / week and I am sure there's a leak ...
3
votes
2answers
373 views
Is it wise to cut a long trench in concrete slab foundation?
I've got a two-car garage (4-inch concrete slab on grade) that I'm turning into living space. I want to put a bathroom out there but I need to get plumbing through the floor. I didn't think it was ...
3
votes
0answers
209 views
What could cause this rhythmic clicking/drumming sound in my bathroom sink pipe?
Why is my bathroom sink making a rhythmic drumming/clicking sound after I used a small plunger to help make water flow more quickly down the drain?
2
votes
1answer
108 views
Why does my water heater stop after a few minutes?
I have a Junkers (European water heater) that works for a few minutes and then stops. Anyone have experience with this/know how I can troubleshoot?
Or, would a regular plumber be able to fix it?
3
votes
1answer
611 views
How do I trace a water leak inside a stud wall?
There is (maybe was) a slow water leak in the wall behind our shower.
While tracking down an issue with the floor, I removed the frout panel from under the shower tray and noticed it was very wet ...
2
votes
1answer
390 views
What would cause the water pressure to be too high for just a second?
Lately when I turn on any faucet in my house the water comes rushing out at about twice the normal pressure for about half a second and then drops to normal pressure. I am worried the pressure is ...
-2
votes
2answers
61 views
Does anybody have a source for epoxy putty (for plastics) in black color? [closed]
I need to seal a broken plastic ring, but it needs to stay black - all the epoxy putties I find are grey or white. Thanx!
8
votes
2answers
3k views
Why do I have blue water coming out of the faucets?
We have an upstairs bathroom that we've gutted and are having some contractors remodel. The toilet is the only thing that hasn't been touched. We had a plumber come and redo all of the source and ...
4
votes
4answers
1k views
Why does my kitchen faucet cut out intermittently?
Sometimes when I'm running water from my kitchen faucet, it will cut out for no apparent reason. It doesn't seem to matter if I'm running hot or cold water (or a mixture), but does seem to happen ...
5
votes
4answers
5k views
Can p-trap be installed higher than drain entry?
I have p-trap entry in drain at 16" above the floor. However, vanity that I got has lower drawer which has top at about the same height. There is also about 4" clearance behind drawer.
I was told that ...
5
votes
1answer
573 views
Should second trap under kitchen sink S-trap be there?
My kitchen sink drains through an S-trap immediately below the sink to another trap (a P? a U?) in the basement below. The drain pipe then runs along the wall till it meets the main drain pipe shortly ...
1
vote
1answer
1k views
Should a kitchen sink S-trap be replaced?
Everything I see mentions P-traps. I seem to have instead an S-trap. What are the downsides of this, and is it something that should be fixed?
10
votes
4answers
4k views
Safe way to close gaps around copper pipes?
I have baseboard heaters in my main living space. I can't see for sure without taking the covers off (which I haven't done yet) but it appears 2 copper pips come up from the basement (through the ...
2
votes
1answer
719 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 ...
