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".
15
votes
2answers
8k views
How do I fix a leaky toilet that only leaks from underneath?
I am noticing some water spots on my concrete in my (unfinished) basement. When I look up for the cause of the water I can see water dripping around the hole that is used for the sewer pipe for the ...
0
votes
2answers
833 views
What could cause a shower to give warm water for a few seconds, then only cold water?
The house has four bedrooms. The 40 gallon gas water heater is about 60 feet from this
shower. The house is a one story house in flat terrain. I have already changed the mixing faucet for the shower, ...
5
votes
4answers
599 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
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
2answers
373 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
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 ...
1
vote
0answers
294 views
opening water pipe/tap has hissing noise throughout the house [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How to eliminate the “whooshing” sound of water running though pipes.
I have a 3 story townhouse. Any time when I open a tap, even very slowly that water is ...
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 ...
4
votes
3answers
374 views
Are hot water returns worth putting in?
Once I saw on an episode of This Old House that they were putting in hot water return lines: pipes that recirculate idle hot water back to the heater so you get hot water right away, instead of ...
8
votes
3answers
4k views
Why will my pilot light on the gas water heater not stay lit for more than 15 minutes?
The pilot light went out on my gas water heater. I followed the instructions and had it lit three times now for about 15 minutes each time but it wont stay lit. Not sure what to do at this point?
7
votes
3answers
2k views
How do I remove (food) oil stain from a wood table?
Spilled some oily salad dressing on a wood table that was not varnished or sealed in any way. Not sure the type of wood - it almost looks like teak, but I don't believe it is.
We used water on the ...
5
votes
2answers
970 views
Resetting fence posts in very wet condtions
This winter the Minnesota frost heaved up 5 fence posts in my yard.
I've pulled out the 5 posts, and have found basically puddles of water and very very wet mud. I shop-vac'd out the standing ...
4
votes
4answers
2k views
Is there a way to trace water pipes through walls?
I recently purchased my house and I am trying to find my internal valve to turn on my external faucet.
Unfortunately the previous owner put in a bathroom in over where the water line enters the house ...
4
votes
5answers
2k views
Do external faucets have an indoor shutoff valve somewhere indoors?
Spring is here! So I decided to see if I could draw some water for watering the plants outside and... no water and no pressure at my outside faucet.
I just bought my house (1948 victory house in ...
3
votes
1answer
544 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
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
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
639 views
Why is my third floor hot water pressure so low?
The hot water pressure in our 3rd floor shower is very low. The 2nd floor shower however, has very good pressure. The problem is not the shower head, which actually produces great pressure when ...
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
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 ...
1
vote
1answer
54 views
How can I fix this broken connector piece on my Symmons shower Knob?
I was trying to get the knob off so I could potentially increase the amount of hot water getting mixed and it seemed to be coming off nicely but then snapped. By nicely, I mean it was a steady ...
1
vote
1answer
293 views
A boiler and a hot water tank … what is this configuration? (UK)
I'm a west-coast American living in London. I grew up with baseboard and central forced air heating. I'm currently living in the UK where water radiators are common (if not pretty much the ...
