For questions relating to the water system of a home or other building, including plumbing and fixtures, water heating, water filtering and treatment, and irrigation/sprinkler systems. Questions regarding swimming pools and spas should have the additional tags "pool" or "spa".
0
votes
1answer
70 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
612 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, ...
2
votes
3answers
724 views
Will insulating pipes shorten the time it takes for hot water to reach the faucet?
Ok, so I took a few weekends and totally insulated all hot water pipes I could get access to from the water heater. Now, I still wait approx 90 seconds for hot water to reach the farthest faucet from ...
2
votes
1answer
239 views
How can I cover water stains on this wall
During sandy storm I had some water leakage in my home. The damage isn't much in the sense that the drywall is still hard. It just has water stains that I'd like to get rid of.
Here is a pic of what ...
3
votes
5answers
184 views
How can I fill a large container in a shallow sink?
I'm moving into a dormitory building and the bathroom sinks are very shallow. I want to be able to pour water into my Brita water filter but it doesn't fit beneath the tap. I was thinking of getting ...
1
vote
1answer
480 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 ...
2
votes
0answers
116 views
Why has my water filter made my water less clean?
A few years ago I installed a Whirlpool under sink water filtration system that I purchased from Lowes, as part of a kitchen renovation.
I've just replaced the filter again (following the ...
3
votes
1answer
43 views
What should I look for when shopping for a kitchen faucet water filter?
I'm looking for a kitchen faucet water filter that I can install, and found several online. My main goal is to have easy access to clean water in my apartment, and to also have a method of filling 5 ...
4
votes
4answers
10k views
How do I cut and cap copper water tubing cheaply and safely?
In my basement I have copper water pipes that look like they hooked up to an old shower. Now they don't hook up to anything. I want to prune these pipes where they come off the main water line (so I ...
2
votes
1answer
225 views
What could be causing water pressure to build up after changing my under sink filter?
After I did a routine under sink water filter change, I am getting a powerful burst of water when I turn on the water dispenser that goes through the filter. It lasts only a second or so then the ...
1
vote
4answers
113 views
What type of common materials can I use to detect water infiltration/leaks?
I am trying to find the source for a water leak in my car when it rains. The answer here should also be good for hard to find water leaks in a house.
Is there a material I can use which tells me the ...
3
votes
1answer
135 views
What should I keep in mind when extending downspouts?
I am considering extending/connecting the downspouts of my house to some pvc piping which I will run underground. What are things that I need to keep in mind?
Specifically, I have the pvc piping but ...
2
votes
1answer
140 views
How to determine if a faucet is plastic or metal?
On the first picture below I am pretty sure the grip is made of plastic because it feels very light, when I lift it.
On the second I have no idea.
Question
How do I tell if the grip of a faucet is ...
2
votes
1answer
385 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 ...
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 ...
0
votes
0answers
46 views
Is it normal for the steam-out of a electric thermo pot to melt down over time? [closed]
A few days ago, I discovered that some bars of the steam-out of my electric thermo pot (which has been used for about 2 years in my house) have been melted down.
(Note: This is not the photo of my ...
5
votes
3answers
2k views
How can I repair a flexible hot water supply hose that is leaking at the nut?
The hot water supply hose under my sink started leaking after I replaced the popup drain on the sink. Apparently I disturbed the hose in some way. It is leaking from just above the nut where it ...
8
votes
3answers
2k views
Did the plumber hook up my water heater backwards?
I just had a plumber install a new 50 gallon water heater, but the cold water pipe is installed to the hot side (the left pipe when facing the front of the heater) and the hot water pipe is installed ...
0
votes
1answer
148 views
Can I get a smaller toilet installed? (picture included)
At the bottom is a picture of my toilet, where you can see the toilet pipe that enters the floor and that there is ~7 cm of space between the water container and the wall.
Question
Does there exist ...
4
votes
3answers
2k views
What could be causing my water heater inlet pipe to corrode?
There is corrosion forming on the inlet and TP valve connections to my water heater; the outlet seems to be fine. More specifically, the nipples are what is corroding. I have read the copper pipe ...
2
votes
3answers
4k views
Why is my hot water baseboard heater not heating?
I have classic cast iron radiators in my house and then one "modern" one pictured below. It was installed in the 80s from what I know. It doesn't seem to produce much heat at all.
It is properly ...
0
votes
0answers
102 views
Heating time with a Baxi Luna 240i
I live in a building with 4 floors and 2 boilers.
3
2 boiler
1 boiler
0 <-- i live here.
When in the bathroom if i want warm water in the washer i have to also turn on the bidet hot water on ...
0
votes
0answers
640 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
How can I prevent water from getting behind the gutter?
A friend of mine is having a water problem; the water is coming down behind the gutter. It turns out the drip edge isn't covering up the gutter completely on the one side for a considerable length of ...
2
votes
3answers
582 views
Can wind force rain into the soffits?
There is 1 and only 1 leak (thank God) that is driving me crazy. When the wind blows from the south and hits the house from that side, there is a drip that develops and comes from above the top of the ...
5
votes
1answer
284 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 ...
5
votes
3answers
3k views
How can I add a carbonated water tap in my kitchen?
I love carbonated water, but am sick and tired of buying it in bottles. There are home water-carbonating appliances like SodaStream, but I prefer not to have another countertop appliance. Can I ...
1
vote
2answers
1k views
How can I tell if stains are caused by a ceiling that is drying out, or if there is still a leak?
Historically we've had a leak from our shower in our bathroom which has leaked into the neighbour below's bathroom and kitchen (this has gone though the bathroom wall to the kitchen which is ...
0
votes
2answers
537 views
How do I repair this leaking toilet supply nut?
I've got a leaky toilet that I'm trying to fix (and in the process making worse). The leak seems to be coming from the brass nut on the right of the photo here:
This nut has a washer in it so ...
0
votes
0answers
142 views
In a Concrete and steel building, how do I jack up my basement apartment and isolate it from the rest of the building?
I am living in a concrete and steel apartment building in Saint Louis, MO. The walls and floors of the first floor (read basement) are falling because they were built on the dirt in the basement ...
4
votes
4answers
1k views
Can I install a hot water recirculation pump if I have a reverse osmosis filter?
I'm considering getting a "comfort pump" which will pump water from the hot line to the cold line under a sink so that there is no waiting for hot water, as well as saving the wasted water.
My ...
3
votes
1answer
628 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
211 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 ...
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, ...
0
votes
1answer
332 views
How can I stop a stainless steel drinking water tank from leaking?
I have stainless steel drinking water tank that is leaking from the weldings (few pin holes).
What is the best way to stop these leaks, without draining the tank?
Welding could be option but I have ...
4
votes
2answers
130 views
Pumping water using a small electric pump, does it need to be potable?
I am doing a little DIY project where I need to pump 4-5 gallons of water that is less than 100'. I need the pump to be able to run dry as it starts to pull the water, then it would pump the water.
...
3
votes
1answer
548 views
Is it possible to use a hot water recirculation pump with a PEX home run system?
I am interested in getting a hot water recirculation pump installed so that I can get hot water faster to each of my faucets.
From looking at the picture and researching I believe I have PEX in a ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
How to keep two water tanks have maintain the same water level?
My home has two water tanks (side by side), one used by the owner and one used by us. Unfortunately for us, the owner has a good supply of water and we don't. I have asked him to connect the two tanks ...
10
votes
5answers
1k views
How can I prevent water from pooling in the street in front of my house?
I have a problem with water pooling in front of my house. Between my Sprinklers and the rain there is always a puddle where my lawn meets the street.
What do you think is the best way to stop this ...
7
votes
2answers
183 views
How can I prevent water from being fed to my foundation through the gas-line ditch?
I recently had a gas line installed, and now there is water leaking into my basement about six feet below grade. It is not surprising that the 130-year-old fieldstone foundation is porous, but until ...
1
vote
0answers
86 views
Can I use a small pond with a water source heat pump? [closed]
I want to use a water source reverse cycle heat pump AC for a 8000m2 aged care facility.
Location has moderate summer (22 deg C max) and cold winter (<0 deg c).
On site pond is only 400m3. I ...
4
votes
4answers
1k views
What to do with leaky sink?
Our kitchen sink has been slowly leaking for several months, and as of yesterday, it is finally leaking so bad we can't use it until it's fixed. I'm generally handy, but when it comes to plumbing of ...
2
votes
2answers
377 views
What could cause a new pressure release valve to drip water?
Installed a new pressure release valve on electric water heater because old valve was dripping water on floor. New valve also dripping water. Any ideas? Suggestions? Water temp set at 110F, so it's ...
7
votes
3answers
272 views
Options for fixing outside cement staircase?
We have a below-grade basement and a exit door. There are concrete steps to the door, parallel to the house (so on your right is the house) and on the left is a brick wall. The steps appear to have ...
6
votes
4answers
2k views
What sort of things should one look for in a water-softener?
Hard water (from a well) at the house, and I was wondering what to look for in terms of getting a water-softener, or things to avoid.
2
votes
1answer
110 views
If I fit a water softener, will I run out of on-demand water via bath/shower-use?
I'm interested in fitting a water-softener (specifically, the Twintec S3, which is a dual-cylinder unit developed in the UK, apparently) to my home. My home is over 3 stories, with a bathroom on the ...
0
votes
2answers
742 views
What could cause smelly water in the bathroom sink only?
We put in a new sink/tap and plastic piping in bathroom about a year ago. Ever since, the water from that tap smells. Have tried plugging the drain and it still smells. Doesn't smell in the kitchen or ...
6
votes
2answers
244 views
How can I monitor my mains water use?
I'm in a debate with my water company about usage. Are there any methods to verify that the reading on my water meter outside my house is increasing at the proper rate?
4
votes
3answers
266 views
How to make water move in a square bed
Say I have something similar to the image below:
Now, where you see the rocks, I want to put water that goes a little higher than the rocks, and I want the water to move in one direction all around ...
2
votes
2answers
296 views
How do I force a tight globe-valve water shutoff to fully close?
I tried to close off the water valve (a multi-twist globe-valve) leading to my back-yard water supply (the shutoff valve is inside the house) but it will not twist fully shut. Is it safe to give the ...
