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".
3
votes
1answer
541 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
2answers
1k views
How can I make a mixer shower more powerful?
The Mira mixer shower has variable temperate settings from 1 (cold) through 10 (hot), plus the extra bit for hot water only.
I normally shower at 3 and was thinking there must be a way to let more ...
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
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 ...
3
votes
2answers
753 views
How do I improve hot water pressure from a gas combination boiler?
I have a gas combination boiler (no hot water tank). The hot water pressure isn't very good though - the showers and hot taps come out with maybe half the pressure when compared to the cold straight ...
3
votes
1answer
134 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
287 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 ...
3
votes
0answers
52 views
What should I do about a potentially bad repair of a leaking pipe?
In our apartment, the ceiling began leaking in 2 places. One of the places, the water was brownish and had multiple droplets, the other the water was clear. We called maintenance at 8 am and no one ...
2
votes
5answers
7k views
How do I approach new water stains on my ceiling?
I am a brand new home owner with almost no experience with DIY stuff. There was a few days of significant rain and now my wife noticed some stains on our 2nd floor ceiling that we are pretty sure ...
2
votes
2answers
465 views
Why am I getting a lot of condensation in new shed?
I just got a new shed built with concrete blocks and a metal roof last month and thing is dripping with condensation from the roof. There is absolutely no insulation in the shed.
How would I get rid ...
2
votes
3answers
721 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
2answers
1k views
What causes a water heaters relief valve to discharge water?
I have a Gas Reliance Water Heater 1212. I found recently (in winter) there is a water dip through the relief valve into a 5 gallon bucket. Sometimes, it can fill the whole bucket. Sometimes, it has ...
2
votes
2answers
953 views
What could cause tap water to become smelly after a while?
I keep two glass bottles filled with tap water in a small fridge in my bedroom. The tap water smells fine out of the spout. A few days ago I noticed that the tap water begins to smell bad after ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
Showerhead with “backflow prevention”
I bought this Delta showerhead almost a year ago. I remember the packaging mentioning a "backflow prevention" feature. Every time I turn off the faucet water streams from the area I've circle below, ...
2
votes
3answers
1k views
Sump Pump Vs. Radon mitigation?
I have a full basement in a cold climate (North Dakota). The previous owner had a raw hole broken out of the cement floor that must have served as an emergency sump pump hole. We haven't had water ...
2
votes
1answer
792 views
What would cause my filtered water to have a thin transparent film suspended in it?
I have a filtered water dispenser in my Whirlpool refrigerator door. Lately I've noticed when dispensing water into a clean glass, that there are patches of a thin transparent film suspended in the ...
2
votes
1answer
127 views
Is it normal for tap water to turn brown/blue when the pipes freeze?
In our old apartment, the pipes would freeze during the winter during the night, and in the morning sometimes the water that came out of the tap was blue at first. We spoke to a plumber, and he ...
2
votes
2answers
182 views
How to best insulate an exposed waterpipe during the cold season
i have an exposed (out of the ground) water pipe and during the night freezes over. What is the best way to insulate it so it does not freeze?
2
votes
3answers
581 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
How to prevent odor in clay pots, resulting due to drinking water storage?
We use clay pots to store drinking water in summers. Clay pots keep the water cool.
The water lasts for 2 days and then I wash the pot with soap and fill the water again. There is no tight lid for ...
2
votes
1answer
533 views
Why would I run out of water for a few seconds and then get full pressure back
When I turn the water on for a few minutes I get great pressure and then the water totally stops. After 2-30 seconds the water comes back on and seems fine for the duration. At first I thought it ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
How can I prevent sudden increases in shower water temperature
I assume, but am not sure, that this is caused by someone else in the house competing with the shower for cold water.
I'm guessing an anti-scald valve might be necessary but perhaps there is a way to ...
2
votes
1answer
233 views
My water softener has a setting for KCl (Potassium) / NaCl (Sodium), what does it do exactly?
I'm having some trouble with a relatively new water softener (<2 years). It seems like it is cycling when it should as the salt level is definitely going down, but the water is still hard.
While ...
2
votes
1answer
411 views
How high should the siding be above ground level?
To word the question another way, how much of the foundation wall needs to be exposed below the siding? My neighbor isn't the best at home projects and decided to install a brick pad so that the soil ...
2
votes
1answer
411 views
How to turn on a ballofix / ball valve?
When I turned the valve off, it was as if it made a small click, as if it had reached a locking position.
Now I can't turn it on again.
I have one other just like this one, and that one can I turn ...
2
votes
2answers
124 views
How can I turn off the power to an outlet if a water alarm is triggered?
I'm installing a dishwasher on a second floor, and after having 3x dishwashers leak during their run cycle during my life, I'm understandably hesitant.
I will definitely be installing a water alarm. ...
2
votes
1answer
380 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
2k views
What is causing my gas water heater to squeal?
I have a gas water heater. Starting yesterday, when the flame is on, the unit makes a squealing noise of moderate volume. The noise stops immediately when the flame turns off. This means it is not ...
2
votes
2answers
141 views
Why do my toilet valves seem to have started running at the same time?
I had a bad toilet that started running last year. This was in a bathroom that is not used at all (guest bedroom). So, i just closed the valve to that toilet and decided to look into it later. I ...
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 ...
2
votes
2answers
552 views
How can I mask water damaged ceiling drywall with faux painting?
My tub upstairs leaked a large portion of water directly above the middle of the kitchen ceiling. The ceiling drywall doesn't have a hole in it, and the paint isn't bubbling. However after I fixed the ...
2
votes
1answer
799 views
What are some options for a small electric water flow control valve?
I'm looking for an electric water valve for a DIY project. I need to be able to close it partially so as to control the water flow rate. The exact details of how to control it are not important; I'm ...
2
votes
1answer
236 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
224 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
129 views
What to look for in a new water radiator?
The water radiators I have under each window are 50 years old, and I would like some new ones. They measure HxLxD 50x100x20 cm.
The new ones I would like should be as thin as possible.
I live in an ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
What could cause low water pressure in tub and no water coming out of shower head?
Water pressure in tub has suddenly dropped and water will not come out of shower head at all. I can hear what sounds like water running up the pipe to the shower head when I have the tub faucets on, ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
How can I repair water damage under the kitchen sink?
I found out that our kitchen water connection had somehow loosened up and was leaking water on the floor underneath the sink. Now the particle board cabinet floor is warped quite a bit. I was thinking ...
2
votes
1answer
436 views
Could water temperature fluctuations be caused by new plumbing?
I'm having a new bathroom installed. I hired a plumber to do all the water works. He ran all the lines; he is now waiting on sink and toilet to arrive to finish installation. Since he ran new line, we ...
2
votes
2answers
369 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 ...
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
My hot water stopped working in one bathroom, what can I try in order to fix it?
I have an electric water heater from 2004. The hot water works in all other areas of my house (kitchen, other bathroom and washing machine). The sinks and shower in my master bathroom are not ...
2
votes
1answer
232 views
How can I check for possible damage after water leaking into loft chimney?
I had a loose tile on the roof in front of the chimney breast and noticed that in the loft the internal chimney breast was a bit damp. Since then had it repaired (i.e. the tile tapped down and the ...
2
votes
1answer
593 views
What could cause condensation on a ceiling after painting with a roof sealer?
I am renting an apartment and the tenants recently complained about water droplets on the ceiling in one of the rooms. The apartment is on the first floor and surrounded by plants (we live in a ...
2
votes
2answers
468 views
Would replacing old mortar for new prevent water from seeping through brickwork?
Would replacing old mortar for new prevent water from seeping through brickwork?
I have included photographs just in case this is a special case:
2
votes
1answer
477 views
Water Hammer in kitchen faucet
I just installed a new sink and faucet and get really bad water hammer when I run the faucet. I never had this trouble before. I made sure the water supplies from the copper to the faucet is as short ...
2
votes
3answers
2k views
Combination boiler pressure zero after heating
I generally don't notice a performance problem with the boiler, but after I run the heat to the radiators and turn the boiler off, after cooling down the the pressure gauge shows zero. I can easily ...
2
votes
2answers
104 views
How can I fix this leaky water heater?
I have an electric Water heater and it is starting to leak from what I believe to be the pressure release valve. I just wanted some tips on how I can fix this before the leak becomes unmanageable. The ...
2
votes
1answer
419 views
Why is my main water supply shut off valve leaking even while closed?
While prepping to install a new kitchen faucet, I went to shut off the water supply to the house since there were no valves under the sink. I mistakenly chose to turn the city-side (gate valve) supply ...
2
votes
1answer
130 views
How to clean a calcified bathtub outlet that I can't dismantle?
Because the tap water in our area is extremely heavy in calcium, our faucet filters calcify quickly. I regularly remove all the faucet filters in the apartment and soak them in vinegar overnight, but ...
2
votes
1answer
139 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 ...
