Questions tagged [plumbing]
For questions about the supply and removal of water and liquid waste.
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When should pipe dope vs thread tape be used?
For threaded plumbing connections, you typically use pipe dope or thread tape (aka teflon tape). Are there situations when one is preferred over another? Does the size of the pipe, type of pipe, part ...
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8
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Why do my toilets flush slowly and often incompletely?
I have three toilets that all flush slowly and incompletely. I've adjusted the chain to ensure the flap raises completely. I've raised the float to ensure the tank fills nice and high. Yet I have this ...
- 780
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4
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What temperature should I set my water heater to?
When adjusting my water heater, what temperature should I set it to? Is the answer different if you have:
Concerns about diseases
A dishwasher
Young children or elderly that can be easily burned
...
- 42.5k
12
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7
answers
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Sink tailpiece doesn't line up with trap
After installing a new bathroom sink, the drain tailpiece doesn't line up with the trap coming out of the wall. I've seen flexible accordion hoses for this, but I think that violates code (P3002.3.1)....
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5
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How do I eliminate the "whooshing" sound of water running though pipes?
At every faucet and toilet in our house, when water is running, it creates a loud wooshing noise in the walls. I'm not sure how else to describe it, but it's like the normal "oh I can hear the sink or ...
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21
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What is the advantage of PEX pinch clamp vs. crimp rings?
I just saw these for the first time today at Lowe's:
The advantages I can see over the crimp style are:
A single tool can work with multiple PEX sizes
That single tool is cheaper than a single-size ...
- 9,284
18
votes
3
answers
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How do I replace this cast iron toilet flange?
I have a big old gawd awful cast iron (at least I think it's cast iron, the house was built in 1940) toilet flange that is in sorry shape.
See?
There will never be a better time to replace it - as ...
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2
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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 ...
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2
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146k
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Does a plumbing vent need to penetrate the roof? (Can it penetrate a wall?)
We're going to move our washer/dryer to the garage (the front loader needs to sit on concrete to keep it from shaking our house to the ground).
I'll need to add a washer drain to the garage for the ...
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4
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Toilet does full-blast, one-second refill every hour or so
I wouldn't lose sleep over this, except the unexpected and fierce sound startles my girlfriend and cat every time.
So I just replaced the refill valve on our toilet (using a kit, so everything from ...
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What goes on threads first: tape or dope?
Should the dope be applied directly to the male threads or should the tape go on first?
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11
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4
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What causes a water heater's 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 ...
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8
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How do I pressure test a natural gas line and what do the valve pressure ratings mean?
I'm planning to add an appliance to my house, and will want to do a pressure test of the newly installed gas lines. My main shutoff says 175 PSI, but most of the appliance valves say either 1/2 or 5 ...
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3
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Is PVC Schedule 40 pipe safe to use in a potable water supply?
I have not had a problem for nine years and never noticed what my plumbing pipes used. My hot and cold water feed away from heater use "Bristol 1120 Schedule 40 PVC. 480 PSI 73 deg."
Is there strong ...
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1
answer
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How do you control what angle plumbing joints go in at?
I'm an electrical engineer, working on repairing a somewhat complicated pneumatic system, but I figured this would probably be the best place to ask. This is probably a very basic question to anyone ...
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1
answer
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How to identify an old compression stem in order to find a replacement
I have an old (circa 1920s) bathroom faucet with a compression stem that started to leak unless tightened extremely tightly. When I took out the compression stem to replace it, I found that the screw ...
- 172
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2
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Water Pressure Regulator not regulating after rebuild
I just rebuilt my Zurn Wilkins 600XL 1" pressure regulator, but it still is not controlling the pressure after rebuild.
One thing I notice is if I measure the pressure immediately after closing a ...
- 349
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10
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How can I improve the water pressure in my shower?
I recently purchased my first home. It has two bathrooms and the water pressure in both is less than ideal. What are some steps I can take to increase the pressure?
- 1,135
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5
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How do I fix a "water hammer" problem?
When I shut off a water faucet or right after the toilet tank refills after flushing, I hear a vibrating sound in my pipes. It last between one and two seconds.
On the interwebs, I found out that it'...
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5
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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 ...
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5
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Why does the shower get cold when I flush, and how can I prevent it?
When the shower is running and someone flushes a toilet, why does the shower get cold (or sometimes hot) in some houses, but not others?
More importantly, would fixing that require replacing the ...
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6
answers
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Should a gas water heater be shut down if the water main has to be turned off?
I have a brand new AO Smith 50gal gas water heater. Today there was a burst pipe from the cold spell we're having currently, so I had to turn off the water main to the house until the plumbers get ...
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9
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How do I "fix" a bad sweat (solder) joint?
I tried soldering some 1/2" copper (to make something like this) and some of my joints are horrible.
I tested it with water and some of the joints leak.
What is the best way to fix the joints?
...
- 391
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2
answers
3k
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Why is the water pressure in my home clearly less than my neighbors?
I own a relatively new home (3 years old) in a new development. I have a PEX water system, which I love (as do all my neighbors).
So, I put out the "fan" sprinkler in my yard, and it shoots an ...
- 193
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votes
5
answers
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What causes tub drain to gurgle when toilet flushed?
Recently, the drain in my second floor tub makes a gurgling sound when I flush the toilet, which is located right next to the tub. They are obviously on the same drain line. I know that there is a ...
- 33.5k
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6
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What do I do about a toilet flange that is too high?
I just had the floors in my bathroom replaced and now the flange is too high. When I put the toilet on top, the front touches the floor, but the back does not. The flange and piping are PVC, and the ...
- 1,290
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6
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Why does my shower head drip when the tub faucet is on?
I just installed a new tub fixture set:
There are two controls - one for temperature and one for volume. The large handle is volume.
When the diverter valve is engaged the shower sprays properly ...
- 25.8k
5
votes
1
answer
25k
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What's that dripping sound I hear in the attic whenever we turn on the water?
Obviously it has something to do with water, but I haven't been able to track it down.
Basically, whenever someone turns on the water in my house, I hear a dripping sound coming from the ceiling ...
- 391
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4
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Effect of changing the size of a pipe
I've had a couple questions above the sizing of a pipe, but I'm still a little confused and can't find an easy answer.
I'll use this image to get a representation of what I'm looking to have answered....
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1
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Why does my water pressure fluctuate?
When I run the shower, mostly hot water, the pressure will run normal for a minute, then raise for a minute, then repeat. My home is supplied by a well. What is causing this?
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1
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How can I install a sink/dishwasher in basement?
I am looking to finish my basement and as part of the renovation, I'd like to install a bar complete with a sink and dishwasher (and beer taps of course). Attached (once I get enough rep) is a ...
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1
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How to seal a pipe pass-through in a basement wall
My house is 15 years old, and ground water has suddenly started to leak into the basement around a pipe that passes through the poured concrete foundation. The method of installation complicates the ...
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1
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No water coming out of kitchen faucet!
Yesterday, our kitchen faucet suddenly stopped working. Water pressure has always been fine, but now there is only a trickle. It's a single handle faucet and both the hot and cold will not work. I ...
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8
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How can I pull a wire through a pipe that has too many turns for fish tape?
I need to replace a sump pump, but have run into a problem. The route for the cord goes through a 2" pipe with two 90 degree bends, and fish tape is ineffective. The pipe appears poorly jointed as ...
- 10.6k
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7
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How to reinforce a joist with plumbing running through it?
After removing the sub floor in my bathroom in order to extend the sewer pipe for the toilet (it's too close to the tank-side wall), I found that the floor joists have extremely large holes cut in ...
- 615
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6
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How do I wrap pipe threads with teflon tape?
When wrapping pipe threads with teflon tape (thread seal tape), what is the direction and recommended number of times to wrap the tape around the threads? Any other recommendations or tip/tricks when ...
- 8,132
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10
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Are toilets supposed to be caulked to the floor?
I've heard that in some cases toilets are supposed to be caulked to the floor. I replaced both toilets in the condo I moved into last week, and one was calked to the floor, and one was not. One ...
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14
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Does Pex tubing have any advantages over copper?
What are the advantages/disadvantages of Pex tubing? How does it compare to copper?
- 130k
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3
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5k
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Why would you use copper over CPVC or PEX?
Are there any advantages to using copper rather than CPVC or PEX?
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2
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When is pipe dope/tape needed?
When is it appropriate to use tape, dope, or nothing at all when connecting pipe fittings? Several advised not to use any product when I posed this question. What is the purpose of each product, and ...
- 1,418
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4
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How can I tell if these pipes are gas lines or water lines?
I recently moved into an in-law unit of a large old house. In the kitchen, there are two pipes coming out of the wall (one protruding out a little more than the other). I had assumed they were gas ...
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Best way to keep a PEX run in an attic (above a foyer) from freezing?
I plan on running PEX pipes both hot and cold across 16 feet of unheated attic space above a foyer. The foyer is 16' long and is off the kitchen, it isn't heated directly but is part of the house; it ...
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What can I do about a toilet flange that is 1/4" below the finished floor?
I used two wax seals to set my toilet since the flange is 1/4" below the new tile. At first it seemed to be water tight but after a few flushes I noticed water seeping and pulled it out. As can be ...
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9
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How tight should threaded brass pipe fittings be?
I'm working with 3/4" brass fittings, which seem pretty robust.
Some plumbing fittings should be only finger-tight. My friend said I should use 2 wrenches to make these as tight as I can, and then ...
- 11.7k
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4
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35k
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Do I need a vent for extending a drain to a new bathroom addition?
I am building a new full bathroom on what used to be my back porch. I am planning to extend the existing drain at a cleanout and to run it outside the house underneath the floor.
I need to know if I ...
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8
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How to fix stinky bathroom sink?
It smells like really musty water, but the water itself does not smell or taste bad at all. Only happens when I run the water, so it doesn't make the room smell, just when you fill something up or ...
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2
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What to look for in a new/replacement toilet?
I have a slow/weak flushing toilet and it's not the tank or flapper, etc. Shirlock says in an answer to a related question, that it's "time to spring and spend 200 bucks for a new Class 5 toilet. ...
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8
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Pros and Cons of buildings permits
We live in a single family home and are doing a renovation of our kitchen and adjoining room. We are not making any architectural changes. For the kitchen, we are adding electrical circuits and ...
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5
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What is causing these water heater pipes to rust/corrode?
This water heater was replaced by a plumber 4-5 years ago. Within about a year, all the new connections were rusting/corroding.
Did the plumber not sufficiently tighten the fittings?
Is this perhaps ...
- 651
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2
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3k
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How long must the horizontal run be to make an S-trap a P-trap?
In this fantastic bit of MS Paint artistry, I've shown an S-trap and a P-trap. In my humble opinion, the only difference between them is the horizontal run between the top of the upflowing bit of pipe ...
- 38.1k