For questions about the supply and removal of water and liquid waste.
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 ...
4
votes
1answer
92 views
How do I replace a drain stack?
So I had just had a shower upstairs this past weekend and went downstairs to do the laundry and I discovered that the floor near the pipes was wet. See photo
I immediately went and bought some GOOP ...
3
votes
2answers
191 views
Can't seem to find solution for vinyl tube to copper tube connection
Its been 6 months and I can't quite seem to find the parts I need for this.
I Need to attach a 1/2" OD (5/8" ID) tube to a 3/4" Copper Hydronic Baseboard Element. One end the Element is enlarged to ...
5
votes
2answers
363 views
What could cause my toilets to bubble and clear water to come out of the clean out pipe?
Manufactured home installed 1996 but septic tank is from 1973. I live on a hill and have had no septic back ups. Two weeks ago my toilets started bubbling and it appeared they were sucking air. I ...
7
votes
3answers
1k views
How proud can a toilet flange sit above the floor?
Related to How do I replace this cast iron toilet flange?
I've removed the cast iron and am dry fitting the replacement parts. I used a 4" - 3" reducing coupling, 3" pvc and a 3" 90 to line up where ...
12
votes
2answers
2k views
How do I replace this cast iron toilet flange?
I have a big old gawd awful cast iron (at least I think it's cast iron, the house was built in 1940) toilet flange that is in sorry shape.
See?
There will never be a better time to replace it - as ...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
How can I fix this persistently leaky shower faucet?
Several weeks ago water began slowly dripping from the shower head in our master bath. Also, the underside of the hot water faucet is wet long after the water has been turned off and the shower has ...
3
votes
4answers
772 views
What is the most effective way to remove epoxy plumbing putty?
At some point in the past, I used epoxy plumbing putty to seal a joint going into the faucet on my bathtub. It's now leaking again (seeping out past the putty) and I'd like to get the putty off so ...
0
votes
1answer
142 views
How do I make sure that a new washing machine doesn't overflow?
My house suffers from a chronic lack of planning on the part of the designer. For example: the piping to my washing machine is both too small, and angled so that the water has to run uphill. This ...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
What could be causing water to drip from the relief valve of my new gas water heater?
My old hot water tank met its maker about two or three weeks ago, and since then I have installed a new Kenmore 50 gallon gas water heater to replace it.
The new water heater seems to work fine, I ...
5
votes
3answers
3k views
Connecting a P-trap to a female drain connector in the wall
I am replacing a bathroom vanity and while I'm doing that, I'm also replacing the p-trap for the sink (mostly because I want one with a drain, but also because I have to raise the height a couple ...
6
votes
2answers
677 views
What could cause my sink to drain slowly?
Sometimes our bathroom sink will drain so slowly (with the water running) that the water will fill it faster than it can drain.
However, after shutting the water off and letting it completely ...
1
vote
1answer
971 views
How do I connect my refrigerator water line to the house line?
My GE fridge has a 1/4 in OD line, but the connection on the house is larger, and I'm not sure what exact size it is. What is the standard sized connection for the wall valve water supply line?
7
votes
3answers
2k views
Handheld showerhead backflow preventer
Every year my rental house is inspected by the city. Last time the inspector told me to add a backflow preventer (one-way check valve) to the handheld showerhead in the bathroom. The showerhead is ...
4
votes
2answers
6k views
Why is my new hot water heater making a clicking noise?
I have a relatively new water heater (installed by previous owner). I've only been in the house a few months and did not notice this noise until after being there a few weeks. What happens is after ...
2
votes
1answer
178 views
I have two unconnected drain lines in the kitchen. If I start using one, can I just put a stopper on the other?
There is a 3/8" drain line by my refrigerator. I hooked up a reverse osmosis filter to the refrigerator which drains through the 3/8" line. Lo and behold, as soon as it started draining, I discovered ...
8
votes
1answer
238 views
Can I reduce or eliminate water hammer without plumbing?
I have a friend who lives in an apartment with terrible water hammer problems which the management is unwilling to fix.
I'm curious if there is a product or device that would attach, for instance, to ...
4
votes
3answers
5k views
How tight should threaded brass pipe fittings be?
I'm working with 3/4" brass fittings, which seem pretty robust.
Some plumbing fittings should be only finger-tight. My friend said I should use 2 wrenches to make these as tight as I can, and then ...
1
vote
3answers
1k views
Why does water surge out of the shower head after being turned off?
This can happen 30 minutes later or even many hours later after a shower is taken. The new shower fixture installed didn't solve the problem. Can anything be done to correct this and prevent this ...
3
votes
3answers
707 views
Is temporarily reducing the water supply line an option when installing a water softener?
I am installing a water softener in my house. Currently we're getting the water supply from 1" PEX that has a service loop in the garage.
I built my own 1" PVC bypass system for a GE water softener ...
0
votes
0answers
642 views
Adjusting a Mixer Tap Hot/Cold Mix
I have a Twyford mixer tap on my bathroom washbasin (Exact model here).
As it stands the Hot/Cold mix I can get out of it is either very hot or very cold, with a tiny area in the middle giving a ...
5
votes
3answers
299 views
Does water run through a kitchen faucet sprayer when the faucet is off?
I was attempting to replace my faucet sprayer and hose today and discovered that the hose I bought was not compatible with the faucet. I bought a hose that screws on, the one on the faucet has some ...
2
votes
1answer
307 views
Why can't the plumber fix my kitchen sink?
I had a professional plumber out today. He spent about 3 hours trying to unclog my kitchen sink. Finally he said there's something wrong with the drain because he can't get it fixed. So here I am with ...
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 ...
5
votes
3answers
4k views
Can I use a PVC cleanout plug in a Cast Iron Cleanout?
There's a cleanout plug on this pipe that I simply can't get loose. I've tried liquid wrench, PB blaster, heating up the area with a torch, everything I can think of. All that's really left is to go ...
3
votes
1answer
723 views
What could cause my showers hot water to not work well after water main work?
We had some work done on the mains cold water feed into the house. At first everything worked just fine but after about a day when the top floor shower is now switched on there's a rapid banging noise ...
6
votes
1answer
202 views
What is a quick and temporary fix for a cracked toilet waste pipe?
Somehow the porcelain waste pipe of the toilet has cracked and has started leaking. We're about to replace the whole bathroom so I just need a quick fix. Will wrapping the crack in duck tape work?
2
votes
1answer
118 views
What could be causing our shower fixture to not work properly?
All of the sudden, we can't turn our Symmons shower fixture to 12 o'clock. It stops around 10 o'clock in it's off position now. We've noticed that when we turn the shower on lately it makes a really ...
1
vote
2answers
819 views
Why does my toilet overflow during my washer's spin cycle?
Whenever I use my washer, the toilet makes a gurgling noise and then over overflows. I have to turn the washer off until the water in the toilet recedes. I have noticed this during the spin cycle. It ...
2
votes
2answers
119 views
How can I rebuild/repair/replace this garden faucet
I recently bought a house that was built in 1978, and it has a couple of garden faucets. These are not frost-free faucets, and that's not a huge concern for me because the house is located just south ...
5
votes
1answer
288 views
Should a curtain drain be covered/back filled?
I do some light maintenance and yard work in exchange for rent.
The building had some problems with flooding. We have an extensive drain system, but it was a bit clogged. Even after the plumbers ...
2
votes
2answers
245 views
How can I get a coat hanger out of a drain pipe?
I have a horizontal drain pipe running from my kitchen/laundry area, which I had been unclogging with a metal coat hanger.
The end was screw fittings I could remove myself, but the part that the ...
2
votes
3answers
227 views
Can I alter the 'timing' of my toilet flush?
I have a standard, normal flow toilet, with a problem. When the toilet is flushed, it seems to start refilling the bowl with water from the tank too soon, before the waste has had a chance to drain ...
8
votes
3answers
990 views
What is this thing next to my sink? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is this component that connects to the garbage disposal?
As I mentioned in a previous post, I recently moved to a new place and I'm still trying to figure out what ...
5
votes
1answer
219 views
What is this component that connects to the garbage disposal?
I am trying to install a new faucet with a soap dispenser. I removed my old facuet; however, where the soap dispenser is supposed to go, this is here:
It has pipes that go to the sink erator under ...
4
votes
2answers
614 views
How can I fix a toilet that is backing up with sink water?
I need help. I would like to avoid calling a plumber. The toilet in our downstairs bathroom keeps backing up.
Here is what I have tried and/or observed:
I tried using a good plunger. I cannot even ...
6
votes
2answers
611 views
How to install Water Heater drain pan to sump pit?
I want to replace my electric water heater. The current water heater does not have a drain pan. I'd like to add one with my new water heater. This is all in the basement.
Our basement does not ...
2
votes
2answers
593 views
Should I install a hot water recirculating pump before or after the thermostatic mixing valve?
Per the attached picture, I'm going to install a Grundfos comfort pump next to the solar hot water system. Supposedly it's half price on amazon, and it gets pretty good reviews.
My question is ...
1
vote
2answers
1k views
How to run an interior gas (LP) line
I need to run a gas (LP) line from outside the house to a cooktop in the kitchen. Here's what I think I need to do:
drill a hole in the exterior wall and the header (from the attic) of the same wall
...
5
votes
2answers
737 views
How can I install a frost-free outdoor faucet with very little space?
On one side of my house, the previous owner frequently forgot to shut off the outdoor water during the winter. Given that my house is in Minnesota, it gets cold during the winter, and he had to ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
What are the standard sizes/clearances for bathroom elements?
I expect to be asking several more questions about this project; but I'm starting with a general one, and will get more refined as things develop.
We are working on finishing our basement, which ...
1
vote
4answers
216 views
What DIY tools are very critical for plumbing works and repair?
From my understanding, besides the pipes, I would need the following:
Screwdrivers
Pipe Cutter
Pipe Wrench
Piler
Nut Driver
So, are there other DIY Tools that are missing from my above ...
3
votes
1answer
636 views
What could cause water to come out of the faucet when the shower is on?
I'm having a problem with my shower. The water is not all coming out of the shower head, but out of the faucet. The type of shower I have switches to the shower by pulling down on the faucet head. ...
1
vote
1answer
213 views
When should I change / replace my water pipe?
I was wondering when should we change our indoor water pipe? Should we change every 5 years or every 10 years?
This is because recently, I notice that the water quality is not getting that good ...
6
votes
2answers
3k views
How should I configure my plumbing with PEX?
I have a house built in 1940, which has a mix of copper, PVC and galvanized pipe for its plumbing at present. I am going to be gutting the upstairs bathroom in the near future, and have access to ...
3
votes
2answers
541 views
How can I reconnect a compression joint without replacing the olive?
We had a leak from our water storage tank and in order to replace the platform that the tank was on, I disconnected all the pipes from the tank. There are three 22mm pipes that connect at low levels, ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
How do I diagnose weak water flow from tub faucet and shower?
I have a shower that has very low flow from the hot and cold water and also from the shower when you turn the valve to switch it to the shower. All of the other fixtures in the house have strong flow ...
3
votes
1answer
564 views
Should I use PVC or ABS pipes for a swimming pool control system?
I live in Southeast Idaho, an area with all four seasons. I have an in-ground pool with PVC plumbing which was sort of hacked together by the former owner. The system includes a solar heater on the ...
6
votes
2answers
2k views
Which type of PVC for exposed outdoor use?
I'm looking at hooking up some rain barrels using PVC piping. Is there a certain type of PVC that would be best to use for this, considering that it will be exposed to sun/rain/heat/cold? Lots of ...
2
votes
1answer
944 views
Can air in pipes cause a faucet to catastrophically fail?
For about two weeks, I have been hearing a vibration and loud noise very time I turn on the kitchen faucet, mostly on the hot water side. If I turn to cold water it stops but periodicly when running ...
