For questions about the supply and removal of water and liquid waste.
3
votes
2answers
119 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 ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
How to remove rusted remains of kitchen sink tailpiece?
While taking out an rusted tailpeice it broke and you can see what was left in the pvc pipe.
How can I remove the rest of the tailpiece?
Update: Also how would I know which tailpiece size to replace ...
3
votes
1answer
226 views
What does “1/4 turn waterless ceramic disc valve” mean — will the handle only turn 1/4 way?
I am purchasing a replacement faucet/spout a for very old (1940s) kitchen sink with a curved backsplash. The backsplash limits the turn space of the faucet handles -- they may bump into the back at a ...
3
votes
3answers
125 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
195 views
What causes hammering from a new diverter when other faucets are quickly turned on and off?
We're doing a minor remodel of our master bathroom, and I have replaced the 30+ year old diverter and nearby pipe with a new one from Delta. Now when any faucet in the house is turned on and off ...
3
votes
1answer
147 views
Whats the difference between black, blue and red PEX pipes sleeves
I'm using PEX pipes for water tubing, but I'm not sure which sleeve type should I use for hot and cold water pipes.
Whats the difference between black, blue and red sleeves? and which should I be ...
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. ...
3
votes
1answer
821 views
How to stop a whistling hot water tap which also has a mind of its own?
The hot water tap in my kitchen whistles quite loudly when it is in a certain pressure range -- at very low and high pressures it is fine, but within the sweet spot it whistles away.
It also seems to ...
3
votes
1answer
525 views
How can I tell if slow drainage is caused by a problem in the main sewer line or the venting system?
I recently had the plumbing get backed up and snaked out. Things are working much better now, however, there are certain conditions (notably the use of toilet paper in conjunction with a shower or the ...
3
votes
1answer
162 views
How can I fix this leak?
There's a water leak in the tube coming out of my heater. Yet the bolts look tightly put.
I'm not sure how to fix it. Any idea ?
3
votes
1answer
675 views
Is there a way to increase toilet flush pressure to prevent clogs?
My toilet seems to be a little, well, underpowered when it comes to flushing. It often "chokes" and "coughs" when flushing only liquid, which seems to indicate that the water pressure isn't high ...
3
votes
1answer
302 views
How can I fix a broken shower elbow?
The shower elbow in the shower broke off at the copper pipe in the wall, leaving some of the plastic inside the copper pipe's threading. There seems to be some sort of sealant. How might you go about ...
3
votes
1answer
199 views
How do I dismantle a faucet assembly to replace a leaky valve?
A bit embarrassed asking this, but...
I'm trying to replace a leaking valve off my faucet assembly, but am unable to unscrew the faucet cap. Here is the faucet assembly -
Taboret® widespread lavatory ...
3
votes
4answers
1k views
Can a plumbing vent go “up” and then back “down” to the connection with the vent stack?
I am changing the location of all the fixtures in my bathroom. This move will put the toilet and sink on the opposite wall from the stack. I was originally planning on running a vent up the wall ...
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
1answer
207 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
961 views
What are the relative merits of stainless steel vs. granite composite sinks?
I am about to begin a project to install a bar sink. I am debating between granite composite, such as the Blanco, and a conventional stainless steel sink. In either case, the sink will be mounted ...
3
votes
1answer
968 views
How many vent stacks should a house have?
I just purchased a 1948 pier-and-beam in Austin. The pest control guy came to deal with rats, and asked me to locate my vent stacks. We seem to have one for the washing machine, but none is visible ...
3
votes
1answer
325 views
Is there a name for PVC pipe that's approx 1/2“ ID and 5/8” OD?
I have a PVC pipe that supplies water to a valve, and then goes to my toilet. It's approx 1/2" inner diameter, and 5/8" outer diameter; it's stamped on the outside of the pipe that it is 1/2". The ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
Do waste water pipes for kitchens and bathrooms require a minimum slope to avoid clogging?
When I had a dishwasher installed, the plumber refused to install the waste water pipe horizontally, saying that this would get it to clog all the time. He left a roughly 1:10 slope on it. I thought ...
3
votes
1answer
549 views
Increasing water pressure with pump
I live in Karachi, Pakistan. We have underground water tanks and use motors to transfer the amount of water required to overhead tanks that then supply the house.
I get lower pressure in my house's ...
3
votes
1answer
838 views
What could cause low pressure in both hot and cold water lines after flushing hot water tank?
I just drained my water heater to flush out any sediment that may have accumulated at the bottom of the tank. When I filled it back up, I suddenly am lacking water pressure, both cold and hot, at all ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
What might be causing our cistern to fill very slowly?
We have a toilet cistern with a concentric float valve fill mecanism. Earlier this week, it suddenly started to take much longer to fill after flushing (ca. 15 minutes instead of less than 1 minute ...
3
votes
2answers
932 views
Why is my toilet humming?
After one of my toilets is flushed, and it fills the bowl back up, I sometimes get a loud thrumming/humming noise.
It is the flusher stacky thingy making the noise. I turned down the volume of ...
3
votes
4answers
2k views
How can I prevent or remedy “bio slime” accumulation in a sink drain?
The drain in the sink which we use for mouthwash consistently gets clogged by a very repugnant slime. I've tried all the common drain unclogging products (Drano, Liquid Plumber) as well as some ...
3
votes
1answer
388 views
Shower head washer woes
I was installing a new shower head (Brand: Niagara Earth), and apparently overtightened it, cracking the washer in the process. Unfortunately, it seems to be a specialty type of washer that has an ...
3
votes
1answer
3k views
Why won't my toilet's water valve not turn off?
I need to replace my wax ring on my toilet. To do that I need to turn the water off that fills the tank.
When I go to the valve that is by/under the toilet it will turn a bit more than a quarter ...
3
votes
2answers
3k views
Why does my toilet make a loud rumbling noise when flushed?
When I flush my toilet it makes a very loud rumbling noise that can be heard from other rooms, what could cause this?
The sound cannot be heard from the
bathroom.
There is no sound when the tank is ...
3
votes
1answer
245 views
What is the order of tasks when refitting a bathroom?
I need to completely refit my bathroom, including the following tasks:
Replace an old boiler (involves removing an immersion heater from the first floor, adjusting gas supply and changing pipe work)
...
3
votes
1answer
3k views
How do I fix a shutoff valve that isn't opening?
My dishwasher started leaking over the weekend. I turned off the water at the shutoff in the basement, it's a standard faucet type in the copper piping.
I then replaced the rubber heater hose used ...
3
votes
2answers
622 views
Will I be able to replace the tub and shower fixtures in my [apartment] home myself?
I live in a roughly-50 year-old apartment building and would like to renovate the bathroom myself. I've tiled and replaced sinks and toilets in the past, but I'm unsure about replacing the tub and ...
3
votes
1answer
70 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
113 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
225 views
How do I easily separate unglued PVC pipe from joints?
I've been retrofitting an existing PVC irrigation system around my house. Part of that work requires that I work in shallow holes adding T joints and elbows in places where there were none before. In ...
3
votes
1answer
239 views
Could sound insulation around copper pipes cause condensation?
A leak in the bathroom, above the kitchen, started as a small water stain on the ceiling. I opened the ceiling and determined insulation (2 insulation pieces), that was placed to absorb the sewer ...
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 ...
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 ...
3
votes
1answer
941 views
How can I replace my main water shutoff valve?
I just recently purchased a house that was built in 1979 with galvanized plumbing. The water main just outside the house looks like this:
I'm planning to replace it, but I want to make sure it's ...
3
votes
1answer
107 views
How can I repair a sticking temperature gauge on heating valve?
The plumbing for my building heating system has temperature gauges on the outlet and inlet pipes. One of these gauges sticks - I can make it show the correct temperature by tapping the gauge quite ...
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
3answers
154 views
Refrigerator Knocks
I have an older refrigerator (~10 years?) that came with the house I bought 2 years ago.
It's always made occasional noises, which I chalked up to the motor and/or ice maker starting.
Lately, the ...
3
votes
1answer
259 views
How to drill and waterproof a hole in cinder block for PVC drain?
I have a new electric hybrid water heater that emits condensation from a drain tube (normal) which is a bit different than a traditional electric water heater. Right now I have a bucket under the ...
3
votes
1answer
87 views
What kind of pipe insulation is appropriate for sun exposure?
I want to insulate a water line outdoors, where it will be exposed to sun. I expect that UV light will damage many foam pipe insulations over time.
Is there a type of insulation that will tolerate ...
3
votes
1answer
615 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
566 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
292 views
Can I bury a 1 1/2" shower/tub drain pipe in an earthen floor?
We are building an earthship and our bathrooms will feed a greywater system. We've spec'd the usual 1 1/2 drain for the tub...but we plan to bury it in an earthen floor in the bathroom (our code ...
3
votes
1answer
135 views
How to protect plumbing to an outbuilding from freezing?
I'm planning plumbing to an outbuilding.
When I splice in to the water line, I'm thinking I should insert a shutoff valve with a weep hole ("stop and waste"). Then, if I leave for the winter, I can ...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
What's the purpose of a cold water expansion vessel?
My rented flat (in the UK) has 2 expansion tanks behind the boiler, one red, one blue.
From googling around I can find lots of references to hot water expansion vessels; the purpose seems to be to ...
3
votes
4answers
775 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
3k views
How can I stop my shower turning too hot and too cold?
There's something wrong with the plumbing, because the shower temperature simply will not stay constant. It gradually changes to either scalding hot, or freezing cold while it's running.
The ...
