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 ...
- 78.8k
21
votes
In what situations could "dirty water leak into" municipal water pipes besides a catastrophic loss of pressure?
When there is no flow in an underground water supply pipe under pressure, a small crack or a loose joint in the pipe can only leak water. Contaminants can't get in.
However, as soon as there is flow, ...
- 10.9k
19
votes
Low water pressure on a hill solutions
If there's 55 PSI at the bottom of a 35 foot rise, and no pressure at the top, there's got to be a leak between those points, or the height is (much) greater than guessimated, or the pressure is (much)...
- 203k
17
votes
Accepted
How can I stop water flow in a pipe if the valve isn't working?
If you remove the blue handle, then there should be a shaft with two flats or a square end.
Turn that with a suitable spanner or adjustable. Some will suggest pliers but then you can end up rounding ...
- 26.3k
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
Corroded Water Shut Off Bolt/Lever - Is this okay for now?
That's a ball valve and they are pretty good valves. At this point, I'd just wire brush all the rust off and clean up the valve. Then test the valve to make sure it operates smoothly and totally turns ...
- 78.8k
13
votes
Low water pressure on a hill solutions
I believe the idea of the tank at the top of the hill is that you feed the low pressure water line into the tank via an automatic shutoff valve. The automatic valve is designed to sense the water ...
- 64.1k
11
votes
Why is flow from a holding tank diminishing after a few seconds?
The overflow being "clogged" could easily cause a (partial) vacuum in the supply tank that would have this effect, if the overflow is also the only vent on the tank. What happens if you run ...
- 203k
10
votes
Low water pressure on a hill solutions
Check for air locks.
If the pipe goes up and down repeatedly, there can be air trapped in each “hill” that reduces the pressure.
To Test
If the line is still accessible you can pick up the pipe at a ...
- 1,458
9
votes
In what situations could "dirty water leak into" municipal water pipes besides a catastrophic loss of pressure?
Backsiphonage and backpressure
The situation you ask about in your question is called backsiphonage, where pressure demand (suction) in a line that isn't adequately pressurized pulls in contaminants. ...
- 81.8k
9
votes
Any risk in installing a one-way valve?
You might start having problems with water hammer after installing a valve. If a valve* is turned off suddenly, it can cause a spike in pressure in the pipe behind it. Without a non-return valve, ...
- 3,758
8
votes
Accepted
Is it possible to control water pressure using a ball valve?
To answer your question; A ball valve only controls flow not pressure. A few seconds after water is flowing a ball valve will limit the pressure based on the flow. A pressure regulator requires no ...
- 102k
8
votes
Accepted
Can I connect two soaker hoses with a normal garden hose in between?
I have something like this and it works just fine. (I have only one soaker hose in each bed, and both soakers are the same size.)
The flow rate involved is very slow, so the hose and connector sizes ...
- 14.2k
8
votes
Can I replace a shower cartridge with the water on by forcing it against the water pressure?
If you had an old faucet with just a valve stem and flat washer, possibly. You could open the old valve and the new valve stem and remove the old one. The water would gush out but when you inserted ...
- 78.8k
8
votes
How can I stop water flow in a pipe if the valve isn't working?
From the pictures, that looks like UK plumbing, i'm going to assume that it is indeed UK plumbing.
First off as solar mike says it may just be the handle that is broken, try removing the handle and ...
- 4,998
8
votes
In what situations could "dirty water leak into" municipal water pipes besides a catastrophic loss of pressure?
Here happened that a factory (wine bottling facility) pushed pollutant (wine in our case) in the city water mains. Authorities said the pressure used by the facility was higher than the acquaduct's ...
- 2,377
7
votes
Any risk in installing a one-way valve?
and then strong air pressure kept the water meter running
That wasn't air pressure. Where would the air even be coming from, unless you have a constant leak??? Or left a faucet wide open after ...
7
votes
Why is flow from a holding tank diminishing after a few seconds?
Sure sounds like a partial blockage somewhere in the feed pipe. Could be some debris, a buildup of scum, mineral deposits, rust buildup, or other growths inside the feed pipe, or even possibly a ...
- 3,803
6
votes
Corroded Water Shut Off Bolt/Lever - Is this okay for now?
The trace of white corrosion product indicates no problem at all with the valve. The zinc coating ( or less likely cadmium ) has apparently been wet, likely from condensation of humidity, and corroded....
- 8,271
6
votes
Accepted
combining water pressure regulators to achieve a higher pressure
The pressure at the regulated side will be 50psi.
Shunting several regulators can help regulate the pressure under high flow when there would be too much pressure drop through one regulator's orifice ...
- 15.8k
6
votes
Accepted
How can I find out why water pressure decreases over days in my UK flat?
If the "sealed loop" portion of a hydronic boiler system is losing pressure, there's a leak. There's typically a small variance between cold and hot, (so it goes up a bit as it heats and ...
- 203k
6
votes
Low water pressure on a hill solutions
So the tank idea is simple.
You put a tank above your property at just below the limit of head available. Then the supply has 24hrs to fill the tank per day.
The idea is that you size this to use less ...
- 26.3k
6
votes
Why do I have low water pressure at the house from a tank located 100 feet up?
If you have 100 feet of head, it is physically impossible not to have 50 PSI at the house when in-house flows are stopped. If the gauge is accurate, the 15 PSI reading tells you exactly where the top ...
5
votes
Accepted
Why are many shower hoses "explosion proof"?
I suspect you're seeing the result of poorly-translated product descriptions from China and elsewhere. For example:
Advantages: Withdrawing life greatly improved. Should not damage the leaking. The ...
- 130k
5
votes
How do I use this valve properly?
It's called a pressure reducing valve (PRV)
That's a PRV with a shut off and set point. The knob on the bottom is the shut off and the bigger knob with the screw is the set point. Now that you've ...
- 6,314
5
votes
Accepted
anatomy of Kohler handheld showerhead - flow restrictor
I have a Kohler shower head. Different model but the flow restrictor assembly is likely the same. There's actually a series of parts behind the steel retention ring in your photo. The yellow that ...
5
votes
How can I use drain motor as aquarium motor?
Pumps function by providing sufficient pressure to overcome what's called the "static head" at a desired rate of flow. Static head is the weight of the water in the height of the pipe as it rises ...
- 14.8k
5
votes
Accepted
How does cold water pressure get used by a hot water heater to produce hot water pressure?
The "overflow pipe" in the diagram is not an overflow pipe.
The water heater is fitted with a relief valve which remains closed against the usual water pressure in your plumbing, but which will pop ...
- 14.2k
5
votes
Accepted
Why is my Water Heater Leaking only when I open the Pressure valve?
Check the age of the tank. The lining is most likely leaking. The pressure vent doing what it is suppose to do, When you manual release the pressure through that valve, water is allowed to escape. ...
- 2,744
5
votes
Accepted
Why does my toilet overflow when I turn the sink tap on?
Great question good video!
The valve seat rubber may be worn so the slight pressure change causes it to flow, replacing that fill valve would only be ~10$ at home desperate even the specialty stores ...
- 102k
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