For questions about the supply and removal of water and liquid waste.
6
votes
5answers
261 views
Which floor should be done first when updating a multi-family residence?
I'd like to renovate a 3 family rental property but don't know which floor is best to start on. The house was built in 1896. The electrical was recently updated prior to purchasing it in 2008. The ...
3
votes
1answer
591 views
Why is there green stuff on my heater pipe?
No, really the baseboard heat is made of copper and is constructed of a series of pipes with fins. they look like heat sinks, or dissipation helpers. Well, was cleaning the carpet by the baseboard ...
3
votes
2answers
897 views
How to patch this PVC elbow connection?
I bought a home about 3 months back, and recently discovered a slow leak under a wall in my utility room.
I ended up removing that part of the wall to get to it, and the leak is coming from the feed ...
4
votes
1answer
162 views
Why is water only coming through the handheld hose?
I have a hose at my kitchen sink, installed alongside the cold water faucet. Every once in awhile when I press the hose trigger, it becomes stuck and will not return to the off position ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
Proper way to attach tapered, threaded connections?
I've been ripping out the PB water line throughout my house and replacing with PEX and a bit of copper piping. However, the few threaded fittings each have very slow leaks.
Above the water tank I ...
2
votes
1answer
575 views
How to fix a leaking faucet aerator
I removed the aerator on my kitchen faucet and attached a hose for a time and cleaned the aerator. Now I cannot get the original one to screw back into the place without it leaking (well spraying ...
1
vote
1answer
226 views
How do I diagnose a hot water recirculation problem?
We have 2 ganged gas water heaters in a 10-year-old house. Professionals installed them last year to replace the 10-year-old pair. I'm pretty sure they are hooked up to a recirculating pump.
This ...
5
votes
1answer
637 views
What alternative methods exist to correct a belly in a clay sewer line?
In the first 18 months of living in my house, I've already had 4 sewage backups in my basement. Luckily the basement is not finished and I've caught the backup each time before it became a large ...
1
vote
3answers
311 views
How can I find a replacement aerator for this faucet?
We have the following faucet, which is missing an aerator. I don't see any identifying marks, nor anything to unscrew at the end of the faucet (i.e., it doesn't seem to be a standard screw-in ...
4
votes
1answer
102 views
How can I prevent a faucet retaining nut from freezing to a steel washer?
My real question, after several hours spent removing the old faucet (progressing from tapping the basin wrench with a mallet, to an overnight soak in penetrating oil, to cutting it off with an air ...
6
votes
1answer
115 views
What will I need if I remove a broken garbage disposal from my kitchen sink?
I have a dual sink tub, with a broken garbage disposal attached to one drain. I just want to take the disposal off, and hook the dishwasher to the sink drain. Will I need to buy any extra tubing and ...
4
votes
1answer
484 views
Should central heating pipes through internal brickwork have insulation?
My house has old (large diameter) steel central heating pipes. These travel through the basement before passing up through the house. My concern is that when they pass through internal walls they are ...
3
votes
2answers
286 views
Can (and should) I replace the hose connecting a cold water expansion vessel to the cold water supply myself?
We recently had a small flood in our apartment. I found that the metal-sheathed rubber hose connecting the cold water supply to the blue cold water expansion vessel had a wide split in it. The water ...
2
votes
2answers
486 views
How do I loosen my bathroom stopper pivot nut
I'm trying to remove my bathroom sink stopper so that I can clean out the drain.
I found these instructions for doing so but they talk about a pivot nut that can be loosened. Under my sink, in the ...
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 ...
5
votes
1answer
452 views
No water after reopening main water valve
I closed the main water valve for simple repairs. After reopening it there's barely any water doesn't even register in the meter. The valve doesn't feel broken but I can't think of what could be ...
4
votes
1answer
2k views
How to fix a bathtub faucet that leaks only when the shower runs?
I just moved into an apartment and the faucet in the tub is fine when all of the water is off. It leaks when I turn on the water and switch it to the shower head. What could be the problem?
It's a ...
1
vote
0answers
46 views
Funny Plumbing sound [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How do I eliminate the “whooshing” sound of water running though pipes?
Good morning, just a quick question for you, if you can help me?
Just recently there ...
6
votes
3answers
239 views
How can I locate the pump in a wet open-vented central heating system?
Lost: One Central Heating Pump. Reward offered (in reputation points ;)
I have a wet open-vented central heating system, and I've turned it on after six months to find the radiators aren't getting ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
How do I open the back of a gustavsberg toilet?
Our toilet is flushing every 20 minutes, and it's visibly leaking into the pot. We live in Iceland, water is cheap here, but it's really annoying. Problem is, I can't seem to open it and it's plastic ...
6
votes
9answers
7k views
Why might our washing machine cause our clothes to smell damp when dry?
Recently we've noticed that our clothes smell damp once dried. It doesn't matter if we tumble-dry them, hang them outside or hang them indoors. This leads me to believe it's our washing machine. We ...
0
votes
2answers
136 views
What is the minimum drill voltage/power required for a plumbing snake bit?
In particular this one Cobra Products 25Ft Power Drain Snake.
Will a 12-volt cordless be strong enough?
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
1answer
835 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
617 views
How can I fix a sink drain stop which won't hold water?
I have a bathroom sink & fixture which are about a year old. The drain has worked fine, until about a month ago. Recently, any water I try to hold in the sink slowly leaks out. This is mildly ...
4
votes
3answers
881 views
What sealant should I use for the base of a sink faucet?
I guess the title says it all. =) I'm planning to replace my kitchen sink faucet. What type of sealant should I use for the base of the new sink faucet?
0
votes
1answer
290 views
How to connect primer tubing to non-laundry faucet?
The previous owner of my house didn't know what the trap primer tubing was when he installed an expensive kitchen faucet and stainless sink in the laundry room, so left the tubing dangling. Is there a ...
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 ...
4
votes
1answer
593 views
Is there a shower drain pipe in this picture?
I'm certain the 3" pipe on the left is the toilet drain (it is about 12" form the wall and has a rounded cap on it). I'm guessing the shorter 2" capped pipe on the right, up against the wall, is the ...
1
vote
1answer
186 views
Flood safe/auto-shutoff hose triggering for no reason
The hot water line to our kitchen sink has one of those flood safe/auto-shutoff hoses. It has started triggering and cutting off the water whenever we turn the hot water on more than half way. I took ...
28
votes
4answers
18k views
Why does my dishwasher back up into the sink, but running the disposal allows it to drain?
When my dishwasher runs the kitchen sink backs up. I have a two tub sink and only the side nearest the dishwasher with the garbage disposer backs up. Running the disposal for a few seconds causes the ...
2
votes
1answer
132 views
How do I increase the capacity of a small humidifier?
I'm trying to increase the humidity in our house, as it gets extremely dry in the winter. I have a small second hand humidifier that I have modified to suit my interests, however there is one thing ...
5
votes
1answer
906 views
Why is my shower faucet turning itself off?
My shower has a wall mount single lever faucet similar to this: http://www.cn-faucet.com/Wall-Mount-Single-Lever-Faucets-141.html
Over time, it has become more sensitive and now, in most angles, ...
8
votes
1answer
295 views
How can I stop a running toilet?
I have a really weird issue: my toilet is running water, but it's not in the tank. It seems like there's a neverending small flow of water entering the bowl of the toilet from the left side of the ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
Should a circulator pump be installed on the supply or return of a forced hot water heating system?
I currently have a forced hot water heating system with 3 zones, all of which have the circulator pump on the supply side of the line. I need to install a 4th zone and am being told that putting the ...
3
votes
1answer
669 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
432 views
Do I need to install the grounding clamp on a water softener if both input and output are PEX?
We are installing a Whirlpool water softener in a new home with PEX water lines. The installation manual says to place the supplied ground clamp over both inlet and outlet water lines. As I mentioned ...
2
votes
1answer
330 views
What does the Plumbing Code say about securing a bathtub faucet to the studs?
My son is renting an apartment. It looks as if the bathtub faucet (spout and valvehandle) are only secured by the grout of the tile and haven't been properly secured at all to the studs. I know that ...
4
votes
3answers
3k views
Stuck, leaking water shutoff valve to toilet
The problem...
I recently replaced the fill valve and the flapper in one of the toilets in my house. When I turned the water back on using the shutoff valve below the toilet, a slow drip had ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
What are some tips for soldering brass fittings to a copper pipe?
Over the years I've soldered several remodels worth of copper pipe (water and hydronic heat). I'm not great, but I get the job done, until I have to add a brass fitting. For some reason, I can't get ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
How can I clean hard water buildup from pipes?
I've basically confirmed that my overall plumbing problems are down to hard water buildup. My softener has been out of action for about a month or two (waiting on a part), so I have at least that much ...
3
votes
1answer
300 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
115 views
Design and Build Sprinkler Head
How would you go about fabricating a sprinkler head for a general use sprinkler system? I'm talking about the sort in your front yard.
The basics of what I'm looking for:
Design which can be ...
4
votes
3answers
650 views
Should I test the water in my house for contamination?
I live in a house that was built in the 1930's. I'm paranoid that the old pipes for hot and cold water(for the kitchen, shower, etc..) are contaminating the water. Is this something I should be ...
2
votes
2answers
256 views
What tools are required to unclog sink drain with garbage disposal?
So yesterday someone in my family put some celery stalks (with the hard stems included) down the garbage disposal, after which our drain drained much slower. I tried filling up the sink with water ...
2
votes
1answer
363 views
Snake drain gun vs compressed gas drain gun vs liquid - which is better for what?
I borrowed a powered snake style drain gun for some toilets and shower stalls, from an HVAC guy who said that liquid drain cleaners were next to useless. The short version is that the drain cleaner ...
2
votes
2answers
992 views
Do pressure reducing valves also function as check/one-way valves?
If installing a pressure reducing valve, is there any sense in installing a one-way check valve in series, or would it be redundant? (i.e. does the PRV also act as a one-way valve?)
5
votes
1answer
1k views
Why is my kitchen faucet dripping even after water is shut-off?
Kitchen faucet (two separate handles, pull-out hose, Price-Pfister Catalina model) is dripping from the faucet itself. I shut the water from below the sink, determined it's a cold water, unscrewed the ...
2
votes
1answer
518 views
How do I unclog a clogged swimming pool vacuum?
I have a swimming pool which I was vacuuming the other day. Unfortunately, I accidentally vacuumed some larger items (leaves, paper, etc) which caused the whole mechanism to clog, i.e., I can no ...
2
votes
1answer
221 views
Why would the pressure in my kitchen faucet drop overnight?
The kitchen faucet has just noticeably decreased in pressure. No leaks anywhere. It did get a lot colder overnight, but that's the only thing that changed.
Any ideas?
