41
votes
Can Teflon thread tape be reused?
You should remove the tape and replace it, a small roll at a big box store is less than a dollar.
- 102k
38
votes
Accepted
What is this plumbing part?
It appears to be a Plastic Water Softener Air Gap...what ever that is!
https://www.homedepot.com/p/KEENEY-2-in-Plastic-Water-Softener-Air-Gap-PP855-69/204374532
- 6,196
38
votes
How long do modern flush toilets last?
There are reasons to replace a whole toilet, but generally, if it was a functional toilet, it can remain one for many years.
I replaced a functional 40 year old toilet with one that used about 1/3 the ...
- 201k
28
votes
What should I be aware of in buying second-hand sinks and toilets?
I applaud your effort at frugality and environmentalism. The "throwaway" mindset peeves me to no end. Many folks change out fixtures just to change the look or size, and there are plenty of good units ...
- 129k
26
votes
How do I tighten this bathroom faucet?
Turns out the two smaller "threaded" bolts are actually springs. Red herrings.
Luckily my architect remembered the (discontinued) line "Brizo Quiessence" and was able to find the ...
- 1,135
25
votes
Accepted
Outside hose bibb with very fine thread?
What you see there is a vacuum breaker spigot with its pants down. You'll need to try and procure the parts or just replace the whole works.
More on that
- 129k
23
votes
Any special precautions when turning off water to a property?
In addition to what FreeMan stated, if you have an electric water heater you want to turn off the breaker that feeds it. Depending on your plumbing, turning on some hot water faucets to finish some ...
- 78.7k
20
votes
Accepted
Can I still be sold plumbing fixtures that contain lead?
If you go to your local hardware store, no. Products sold in the US have to be lead free, since 1996
In 1996 Congress further amended the Safe Drinking Water Act, requiring plumbing fittings and ...
- 24.2k
20
votes
Accepted
Can't re-attach bathroom sink drain pipe
Time to cut your losses...
As little as a new P-trap assembly costs, it might just be worth going to pick one up and replacing everything here.
As noted elsewhere, the metal nuts will chew up the ...
- 43.1k
19
votes
Can Teflon thread tape be reused?
I agree with Ed Beal that you should replace it, but if you're in a pinch you certainly can reuse PTFE tape, assuming you recover enough of it and it's not totally shredded.
Carefully unwrap it and ...
- 129k
18
votes
What should I replace this broken condensate line connection with?
That is a simple brass hose barb.
I'd carefully unscrew it from the pipe, being sure not to twist and damage the PVC. Then I'd take it to my local hardware/big-box store and purchase one in a matching ...
- 43.1k
18
votes
Can't re-attach bathroom sink drain pipe
First off, it's a bad idea to use metal slip-joint nuts on plastic drain parts which most certainly didn't come with metal nuts. Slip-joint nuts are not all the same, and are not necessarily ...
- 2,538
16
votes
Accepted
When to replace a toilet's wax ring?
You only have to replace the wax ring if the toilet leaks. It's wise to replace it whenever you remove the toilet, though. It's not a matter of age, but the fact that a wax ring is intended to be a ...
- 129k
14
votes
Any special precautions when turning off water to a property?
I've turned the water off at the meter for our house more than once - I even bought my own "curb key" to do it. We've had a small variety of leaks and issues requiring this.
The water ...
- 43.1k
13
votes
Accepted
How do I increase the water pressure in my shower in spite of water-saving hardware?
If Jeff's suggestions don't fix the problem, it could simply be that the water-saving showerhead doesn't allow the pressure / flow rate you want. This was the case in all of the apartments I lived in; ...
- 538
13
votes
Accepted
What type of bathroom sink supply plumbing is this?
Chrome-plated copper. They will last virtually forever, unlike "modern" flex lines. The fittings either are, or are compatible with, compression fittings.
The 5/8" pipe from the wall is ...
- 201k
12
votes
How to use alternate flush mode on toilet
It's not an alternate mode, per se. Those values are the minimum and maximum tank volumes based on float setting. [Correction: These values seem to apply to High Efficiency (HE) and Ultra-high ...
- 129k
12
votes
Accepted
How do I connect my sink to the drain in the wall?
Go to your local big-box store (or even better, a locally owned plumbing supply place) and get a standard P-trap kit.
It will include all the pieces you need as well as instructions on how to install ...
- 43.1k
12
votes
Is tightening this nut impossible?
The installation instructions show a rubber washer in that T connection to the toilet inlet, so once you have it finger tight, it should only need another 1/4 turn or so with the wrench to make a seal....
- 4,356
11
votes
Can elbow fitting be used to line up drain tailpiece with trap
The best repair for this problem is to cut the trap from the drain pipe, glue on an ABS 1 1/2 inch (or same pipe diameter as existing pipe) coupling and than a short section of new pipe long enough to ...
- 10.9k
11
votes
Accepted
Stop Pipes From Pulling Through The Wall
To expand on Jack's good answer:
There is approximately 3" from the inside of the drywall closest to the camera to the side of the plumbing closest to the camera.
It appears that the plumber used ...
- 43.1k
10
votes
Leaking saddle valve
Turn the water off, and remove it. Those things are rubbish, and always leak eventually.
If you need a valve there, cut out the damaged section of pipe, and install a proper tee and valve. If you don'...
- 131k
10
votes
How long do modern flush toilets last?
I've never heard of the body of a newer toilet being the cause of replacement unless it cracked or had some other physical damage. I have, however, replaced entire toilets because the "jetpac&...
- 78.7k
9
votes
Can Teflon thread tape be reused?
As an additional answer alluded to by Nelson, it also somewhat depends on the use case. If it's a shower head (as in this example) where a drip really won't make any difference, if you don't have new,...
- 3,773
9
votes
Stop Pipes From Pulling Through The Wall
That anchoring job looks pretty weak. You need to determine exactly where the movement's coming from. I think you need to install a 2x4 horizontally between the studs to the right and left of your ...
- 78.7k
9
votes
Washroom Drain is Smelly
Pictures of the setup (edited into your original question) will help you get better answers that apply specifically to your situation.
The general answer is to properly slope all drain pipes so they ...
- 43.1k
8
votes
Can I still be sold plumbing fixtures that contain lead?
There are plenty of plumbing fittings used for non-potable water that are still being made which contain lead in the brass alloy. The lead free ball valves usually have a NSF icon on them.
Ball ...
- 954
8
votes
How do I tighten this bathroom faucet?
The implication of what you found is that the above counter trim must be removable to expose a part of the bolt that can be tightened. It will, of course, be subtle as to HOW it's to be disassembled ...
- 201k
8
votes
Was this shower pan installed correctly?
Did you Read The Functional Manual?
Concrete
or plaster is not recommended.
It will be necessary to push the shower base until ... the front edge is contacting the rough floor along the entire ...
- 129k
8
votes
How long do modern flush toilets last?
It is always hard to say whether new things expected to last 100 years will last as long as the ones made 100 years ago.
Sometimes in hard water areas very old toilets become so calcified internally, ...
- 34.3k
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