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| Subject | Date Asked |
| Fireplace Gas Valve | 2/11/2012 |
| Q: Our 30-year-old gas valve is leaking - not from the body and into the wall, but allowing gas to go ... A: I believe these types of valves are typical "compression" type globe valves which means they have a ... | |
| Pipe Leakage | 2/5/2012 |
| Q: I would like to now ,if it is possible to have a slow leak in a pressurized water pipe ? I know ... A: To answer your first question, Yes, it is possible. It could be a seepage type leak rather than a ... | |
| Our very old steel water pipe cracked | 2/2/2012 |
| Q: Our very old steel water pipe cracked To Dana Bostick: Our very old steel water pipe 3/4" that ... A: Depending on the length of the split, a standard 2-bolt repair clamp might do the job. Try to clean ... | |
| Cold water overflow | 1/31/2012 |
| Q: I have a water heater tank downstairs on the bottom level of a 3 story townhouse. The tank has a ... A: I can think of no reason for this. There should not be an "overflow" line. The TPRV drain will ... | |
| Sewage odour in Kitchen | 1/30/2012 |
| Q: hope you are well. I know that you have asked for system info but I'm not sure what info you will ... A: Remodeling can be tricky. When plumbing is originally installed, none of the wall finishes like ... | |
| stinky kitchen | 1/24/2012 |
| Q: my kitchen drain (both sides) smells real bad. i do not have a garbage dispoal or dishwasher. i need ... A: There are a couple of things that might cause this problem. 1. A build up of debris lining the ... | |
| Bathroom sink | 1/23/2012 |
| Q: Dana, I have question regarding my sink and vanity that I just replaced this past weekend. It ... A: The piece of piping between the sink drain fitting, called the pop-up assembly, is called a ... | |
| Plumbing Toilet Shut Off Valve | 1/22/2012 |
| Q: I have a push button type shut off valve on my toilet water supply (push off-pull on or vice versa). ... A: Okay, I see the issue now. These are push on style fittings similar to "shark-bite" fittings used on ... | |
| Sewage ejection pump vent | 1/20/2012 |
| Q: Recently a plumber installed a studor valve on the vent stack of our basement bathroom. The vent ... A: The Studor vent should be fine. The purpose of a vent is to allow air in to the system which the ... | |
| plugged shower drain | 1/17/2012 |
| Q: Dana Daughter has stopped up shower drain. Upstairs of two story house with full basement. House ... A: Tub/shower drains are a bit tricky to clear due to their design. One does not snake them through the ... | |
| Plumbing Toilet Shut Off Valve | 1/16/2012 |
| Q: I have a push button type shut off valve on my toilet water supply (push off-pull on or vice versa). ... A: You need to determine what the piping system is made of in your house. If its copper (likely if the ... | |
| Water pump | 1/16/2012 |
| Q: I am in the "beautiful" country of afghanistan. Our site water with a lage take and pump. The bottom ... A: This looks like a pressure booster system. They are designed to take available water pressure and ... | |
| water pressure | 1/15/2012 |
| Q: Are there Federal or State laws controlling the flow of water thru faucets --- I know there is a law ... A: This is a local or State regulation, not Federal. Yes, in most places, water conservation measures ... | |
| hot water tank | 1/11/2012 |
| Q: I've noticed that when the hot water tank goes on, sometimes it shuts back off fairly quickly (5 ... A: They run on a thermostat that senses the temperature of the water inside the tank. Every time you ... | |
| Manufactured home shutoff valve under sink stopped | 1/10/2012 |
| Q: Dana - I have a manufactured home and wanted to update my bathroom sink fixture, which btw had a ... A: Do the same testing at other fixtures to determine if it is a system problem or just at that ... | |
| bath faucet wont shut off | 1/9/2012 |
| Q: in giving my youngest a bath last night, I noticed I still heard the water running after I turned ... A: Plumbing repairs, while not that hard can be a challenge for someone not familiar with them. Over ... | |
| plug in drain line | 1/7/2012 |
| Q: .this house was built in the 1970's and i am forever calling plumbers over here to power auger a ... A: Either there seems to be some confusion of terms or misunderstanding. There are no traps on the ... | |
| Brass Craft toilet fill valve | 1/5/2012 |
| Q: After working fine for months, my Brass Craft toilet fill valve suddenly stopped cutting off the ... A: According to the pdf from Brasscraft, the top of the fill valve is "twist n'lock" type for "easy ... | |
| Toilet | 1/4/2012 |
| Q: I replaced the wax ring on a basement toilet. I used a closet flange to mount the toilet, but i did ... A: The closet flange (toilet ring) is typically secured to the drain pipe AND fastened to the floor. ... | |
| Dishwasher Air Gap | 1/4/2012 |
| Q: To your knowledge does California's plumbing code require the use of a sink top air gap for ... A: A physical gap or at least one inch (air gap) is required for any discharge to a sanitary waste line ... | |
| Toilet Leaking? | 1/3/2012 |
| Q: I think one of my upstairs toilets is leaking. The toilet is over my kitchen, which has a false ... A: How long has this been going on? You may just be hearing some residual water dripping down the drain ... | |
| leaking fixture | 1/1/2012 |
| Q: Dana, I have a common (cheapo) Delta single handle kitchen faucet, the kind with the stainless steel ... A: The swing spout o-rings must be installed with no twists and properly seated in the respective ... | |
| Bathroom sink plunger | 1/1/2012 |
| Q: Under my bathroom sink, I have a leak. I discovered it was all due to the sink stopper. It is ... A: This entire assembly is called a "pop-up" and it is available separately. It includes the drain ... | |
| water tank burst | 12/30/2011 |
| Q: have turned pilot light out do I have to shut off the water supply or is it automatically turned off ... A: Yes, absolutely turn the water off at the top off the tank and bleed of any residual pressure by ... | |
| difficult clogged drain | 12/29/2011 |
| Q: I washed some sheetrock tools. I thought it was liquid enough that it would not clog anything. Well ... A: It sounds like the vent line from the roof is the only workable option in your case. The plumbing in ... | |
| air gap - water backing up | 12/28/2011 |
| Q: We have not used the dishwasher for a couple of months - perhaps more. We used it today and water ... A: The air gap is a pretty simple device. Discharge from the dishwasher is pumped up and then drains ... | |
| difficult clogged drain | 12/28/2011 |
| Q: I washed some sheetrock tools. I thought it was liquid enough that it would not clog anything. Well ... A: You should be able to disconnect the drain lines under the sinks and snake through the pipe going ... | |
| need advice for cleaning yard from sewage water residues | 12/23/2011 |
| Q: I have a question on cleaning our backyard. A week ago or so our city had a problem and several ... A: In my view, this is technically a "hazardous material" spill situation that should be handled by the ... | |
| water filtration leak | 12/17/2011 |
| Q: OK, so I'll ask this question in a general way, not requiring that you be familiar with the GE ... A: That looks like a threaded fitting into the housing. It can probably be redone with some fresh ... | |
| Hot Water Suddenly Kicked On After Going Cool | 12/13/2011 |
| Q: First, thanks so much for doing this. I've been an expert in other areas on here and appreciate the ... A: Several thing come to mind. The most likely given the symptoms is a problem with the shower valve ... | |
| plastic easter egg in bath drain pipe | 12/10/2011 |
| Q: A half of a small (1"?) plastic easter egg was pulled down the bath drain. The bath drained slowly ... A: Bummer! From where are you snaking this drain? Down the overflow I hope, that is the correct way. A ... | |
| Kitchen Sink Problem | 12/9/2011 |
| Q: I have a problem with my double-basin kitchen sink (disposal under left basin, dishwasher mounted to ... A: When I get these questions, I can only take my best shot with the available information. There are ... | |
| hot water tank | 12/9/2011 |
| Q: I have NO idea who to ask about this but here goes. I live in a friends house, I have been here ... A: This is pretty straight forward, the water heater is starting rust out on the interior of the tank. ... | |
| Kitchen Sink Problem | 12/6/2011 |
| Q: I have a problem with my double-basin kitchen sink (disposal under left basin, dishwasher mounted to ... A: The problem is likely in a fitting called a "baffle tee" located in the cross pipe between the left ... | |
| Follow Up Question: Water filled up toilet and tub | 12/4/2011 |
| Q: I live in the basement of a 2 level house. My small bathroom is below the top floor bathroom, as ... A: since you are on the bottom, you may continue to get overflows in the lowest drains like toilet and ... | |
| Water filled up toilet and tub | 12/4/2011 |
| Q: I live in the basement of a 2 level house. My small bathroom is below the top floor bathroom, as ... A: The problem is likely a clogged or partially clogged main line that is common to all the fixtures. ... | |
| Replace or Fix Leaking Bathtub Faucet | 12/1/2011 |
| Q: I have a really bad leak (more like a flow)in my bathtub. The faucet is fairly old, so I was going ... A: This is likely a Moen brand faucet. It can usually be easily repaired by replacing the cartridge. ... | |
| 1.6 gallon toilet | 11/28/2011 |
| Q: I've had a 1.6 gallon toilet for the last 6 months. Since that time I've had roto rooter in twice ... A: Many people experience this problem with the advent of these low flow toilets. These days, that is ... | |
| Plumbing question... | 11/24/2011 |
| Q: Dana, I've got a toilet that has a very small leak coming from the cutoff valve that sticks out of ... A: Working with soldered fittings is not easy if you don't have the right tools and skills/experience. ... | |
| Rusty Flange | 11/20/2011 |
| Q: I've been spending the last few days trying to replace my garbage disposer. The old one was ... A: About your only option at this point is to cut them off. I know the room is tight, try using a ... | |
| Hot Water Heater | 11/17/2011 |
| Q: I recently evicted my tenant out of a single family home. He had the hot water heater turned up to ... A: Running the heater at max, while not the best thing to do for energy efficiency, should not cause ... | |
| My shower diverter doesn't divert to shower head | 11/16/2011 |
| Q: I have a Pfister Price three knob bathtub faucet (could be from original '60's construction or '80's ... A: There are actually two parts of a compression type faucet. The stem & washer part and the valve seat ... | |
| water heater blanket | 11/14/2011 |
| Q: I want to install a water heater blanket myself. All the descriptions and diagrams I have seen show ... A: Typically, the insulation jacket is installed and then the heater is strapped. In a way, this does ... | |
| leaking shower in clawfoot tub | 11/13/2011 |
| Q: I have a shower attachment on the faucet of my clawfoot tub. To activate shower you pull up on a ... A: When only the tub spout is running water, there is little or no back pressure in the valve and ... | |
| Water continuing to pour out of refill tube after flush | 11/11/2011 |
| Q: and thanks in advance for your help. My Briggs toilet (manuf. 2006) has recently started having the ... A: It sounds like the valve seat is worn or has some debris or a nick on it. It might be possible to ... | |
| afraid to flush toilet after wek-long power outage | 11/6/2011 |
| Q: I'm in Connecticut and just got my power back tonight after not having electricity and my well water ... A: Tough problem there. If the toilet is over full of feces, you might need to manually remove some or ... | |
| smelly drain | 11/5/2011 |
| Q: I had a sink that is closest to the vent pipe which would smell for a few seconds on first use. We ... A: It sounds like the water seal in the p-trap might be being siphoned out some how, breaking the seal. ... | |
| Dishwasher water pipe rusted out and water everywhere | 11/5/2011 |
| Q: We discovered today that our water line to our dishwasher completely rusted out and broke in ... A: Bummer! Yes, unless you have the broken pipe fixed, it will continue to flood the place if you turn ... | |
| Knocking water heater | 11/4/2011 |
| Q: I have a 40-gallon, natural gas water heater. For the past month or so it has been making a ... A: Water heaters usually only "knock" when hot water us used and the burner fires up to reheat the ... | |
| Shower Handles | 11/3/2011 |
| Q: I want to replace shower handles but I can't get the old ones off. I have identical handles on a ... A: The picture was not very clear so it's hard to tel exactly what you have here. (Tip: If you are ... | |
| Shower Handles | 11/2/2011 |
| Q: I want to replace shower handles but I can't get the old ones off. I have identical handles on a ... A: They are probably stuck on by hard water scale. Try wrapping a vinegar soaked rag around the back ... | |
| rust from tub faucet | 10/31/2011 |
| Q: I recently had the tub & shower faucet converted from 2 handles to 1 center handle (Moen ... A: This will happen if the plumber used steel nipple(s) to install the tub spout. They should be brass. ... | |
| New sink drains very slow | 10/30/2011 |
| Q: We live in a second floor apartment and have just replaced our old (above counter) bathroom vanity ... A: That's one whacky looking setup! It's an "S" trap which is illegal in most places. It will siphon ... | |
| connecting disposal | 10/28/2011 |
| Q: I had a new sink installed. It is deeper and therefore lower than the old sink that it replaced. I ... A: Ah, pre-planning prevents problems. This is a typical DIY "gotcha". Sorry to say, the only real ... | |
| t13420 delta velv problem | 10/27/2011 |
| Q: problem that i have is that when u turn the water to cold is fine hot is fine but, when is in the ... A: Difficult to say. sometimes the pipe sizing to the shower head and spout are critical. If they are ... | |
| Replacing a Faucet on a Pedestal Sink | 10/26/2011 |
| Q: Would you be able to give me advice on how to change a faucet on a pedestal sink. There are only a ... A: Typically, the faucet and waste pop up assembly and tailpiece is installed prior to mounting the ... | |
| toilet noise when filling | 10/26/2011 |
| Q: after the toilet is flushed and is filling, it makes a whinning sound. This only happen about half ... A: It is likely that the toilet fill valve, called a ball cock, is starting to wear out. It may be ... | |
| Pop Up Drain Assembly Removal | 10/24/2011 |
| Q: I am removing a faucet along with the drain pipe assembly and could use a couple of suggestions on ... A: The tailpiece for the drain fits into a slip joint connection at the top of the trap. It should ... | |
| Pop Up Drain Assembly Removal | 10/24/2011 |
| Q: I am removing a faucet along with the drain pipe assembly and could use a couple of suggestions on ... A: The drain trim in the sink has conventional right hand threads. Viewing from the top, it turns ... | |
| Pop Up Drain Assembly Removal | 10/24/2011 |
| Q: I am removing a faucet along with the drain pipe assembly and could use a couple of suggestions on ... A: It's probably stuck in place by hard water scale. It's threaded on and difficult to get a grip on. ... | |
| hot water flow | 10/21/2011 |
| Q: I live in a two story 3 bdr. 2 1/2 bath, 25 year old home in Seattle. Our gas water heater is 10 ... A: Odd situation. I suspect it has something to do with the piping and the way it is routed. Not a lot ... | |
| low water pressure in bathtub hot water only | 10/20/2011 |
| Q: Hot water heater is less then 5 years old. Faucet is a two nob setup, one for hot and one for cold. ... A: Here is something you can try. Shut off the hot water at the water heater by turning off the cold ... | |
| Mansfield air assist toilet | 10/19/2011 |
| Q: It won't flush! It says in the tank that it's a model #1 - can't find it on Mansfield site. If I ... A: Pressure assisted toilets rely on a pressurized bladder inside the "big black round box" inside the ... | |
| gas fireplace shut off valve | 10/19/2011 |
| Q: the other day we smelled gas in the house--called gas company--they inspected--found the cause was ... A: These valves are difficult to access for repair due to location. It may just need the packing nut ... | |
| Dryer Vent Relocation | 10/19/2011 |
| Q: I have moved my dryer in a pantry which is like an addition on to the existing house.It has a ... A: Yep, venting under the house is definitely a bad idea. Excess moisture under the house can cause ... | |
| knocking gas pipes | 10/16/2011 |
| Q: I have natural gas service to my house which fuels my Central heating/forced air and water heater. ... A: I have answered this question before on AllExperts. Personally, as both a general contractor and a ... | |
| water heater | 10/15/2011 |
| Q: my home has a oil boiler in the basement for the floor heat and it hooks up to a watermate water ... A: Not that familiar with boiler systems, we don't use them much out here. If the boiler is just acting ... | |
| No hot water | 10/15/2011 |
| Q: I have a gas hot water heater; have cold water, but no water coming out of hot water faucets. The ... A: A few obvious questions........is the valve at the top of the water heater open? If not, no hot ... | |
| smelly sink/drain | 10/14/2011 |
| Q: I have two bathroom sinks/drains that stink. I've cleaned out the traps and tried to clean the gunk ... A: There is one area you have not dealt with, the overflow for the sink. There is a channel or pathway ... | |
| ejector pump | 10/12/2011 |
| Q: We were flooded by Hurricane Irene. We had 5 feet of water in basement. I have an ejector pump in ... A: Ejector pump systems are sealed units. It might be able to be serviced and cleared if it has not ... | |
| Grey Water Question | 10/9/2011 |
| Q: We recently had the "grey water(just the water from our washing machine)" switched from our lateral ... A: If this system works or not depends on several things. Not all ground percolates the same (absorbs ... | |
| plumbing, takes too long to get cold water at tap | 10/7/2011 |
| Q: We are new construction plumbers. We have a unique situation with a large new home. We have ... A: If you did not insulate the hot lines as the tankless manufacturer recommends, you're screwed. You ... | |
| toilet | 10/7/2011 |
| Q: the hose behind the toilet keeps turning and turning and now my toilet won't flush. its not filling ... A: I am unclear about the problems here. Do you mean the shut off valve for the water supply on the ... | |
| Locating sewar gas smell | 10/6/2011 |
| Q: I purchased home in May. Broken sewar pipe replaced prior to purchase under back bathroom.(Plumber ... A: Sounds like the soil is saturated from the old leak. The soil will need to be treated with lime or ... | |
| Corrosion on Faucet | 10/4/2011 |
| Q: I have a vessel faucet with a brushed nickel finish that was installed 4 months ago. Recently, I've ... A: Unfortunate situation. Most faucets that have a decorative finish have some type of coating on them ... | |
| long term high water pressure effects | 10/3/2011 |
| Q: My husband and I are considering purchasing a home which was built in 1974. Our inspector tested and ... A: 105 PSI is well within the range of pressure that the piping system can tolerate without problems. ... | |
| Laundry tub draining | 9/30/2011 |
| Q: Recently purchased a home with a laundry tub but no drainage system. Can it legally drain directly ... A: Laundry waste is considered "grey water" and is fine to to the sump. Many people actually use it to ... | |
| tools needed to replace a sink | 9/30/2011 |
| Q: I am replacing a 5 hole Elkay 3 bowl stainless steel sink with a new one. I'm on the fence about ... A: This is not too difficult. If you have done other work on the sink, it is a doable DIY project. The ... | |
| snake 1 1/2 pvc | 9/30/2011 |
| Q: Have you ever had luck trying to run a snake in a 1 1/2" pvc line? A round snake - a coiled wire, ... A: If whomever installed the pvc lines did not use "dwv" fittings (drain/waste/vent) then you will have ... | |
| Mansfield Toilet noise | 9/27/2011 |
| Q: We have a Mansfield toilet that makes a very loud screaming noise that's becoming more frequent. ... A: Check your water pressure. The maximum allowable pressure that fixtures are designed to handle is ... | |
| Whole House Piping | 9/27/2011 |
| Q: My husband and I are in the process of purchasing a 1955 house. There have been two inspector ... A: In most jurisdictions it is illegal for a licensed contractor to do this type of work WITHOUT ... | |
| Whole House Piping | 9/24/2011 |
| Q: My husband and I are in the process of purchasing a 1955 house. There have been two inspector ... A: Yes, as a home inspector and former plumbing contractor, I would say it's time to repipe this house. ... | |
| downstairs toilet overflow | 9/24/2011 |
| Q: I am in Houston, Tx with a 1932 two story house. Upstairs are 2 apartments each with bathtub/shower ... A: The problem is somewhere past the toilet downstairs. Likely the main line is breached by tree ... | |
| Water lines | 9/24/2011 |
| Q: My wife inherited a property with a home and outlying buildings on an Acre lot. WE have old ... A: Try a plumber with a sewer line camera. They should be able to locate the septic lines and might be ... | |
| Bath tub drain | 9/22/2011 |
| Q: the drain pipe that connects to the the bathtub basin does not appear to have a basket that i can ... A: This part is called the "tub shoe" and it connects to the vertical overflow pipe where the trip ... | |
| tub faucets/shower wands | 9/22/2011 |
| Q: Dana, I have small B&B with three little cabins. Each has a largr whirlpool tub with twin handle ... A: In my experience, the problem is getting access under the tub. Once you do, re-configuring the ... | |
| low-flow toilet question | 9/21/2011 |
| Q: I am considering buying a low-flow toilet for my condo. My question is this: I live on the 18th ... A: I understand. This situation was considered when these low flow regulations were first developed. A ... | |
| low-flow toilet question | 9/20/2011 |
| Q: I am considering buying a low-flow toilet for my condo. My question is this: I live on the 18th ... A: Low flow toilets have been the norm for many years. They are mandated in most areas and you cannot ... | |
| Drain/waste pipe venting trouble | 9/19/2011 |
| Q: I have an old home that was constructed before plumbing was common in homes. The home was ... A: In most jurisdictions, an S trap is not legal. They tend to siphon dry and allow sewer gas into the ... | |
| cast iron pipe | 9/15/2011 |
| Q: I would like to put an extra bath in my basement but all the plumbing at that level is cast iron. It ... A: You have a bit more to deal with than connecting a waste line to cast iron. Any drain connection ... | |
| Leaking Mansfield toilet from tank to floor | 9/14/2011 |
| Q: I have a Mansfield toilet that is 5 years old that is leaking from the tank to the floor. When I ... A: There could be a number of issues here. 1. The "donut" gasket between the tank and bowl could be ... | |
| water temp issues | 9/12/2011 |
| Q: We have a bathroom in our house that we put in a spout with a handheld shower attachment. the ... A: Tricky problem. Not sure why its happening. The spout is a simple diverter system that just blocks ... | |
| No hot water in shower | 9/10/2011 |
| Q: Ok I have had a little bit of experience with plumbing, to start out with experience. My problem is ... A: It could be clogged galvanized pipes, the hot ones will show it first. Pull off the shower head and ... | |
| Problems after new water heater installation | 9/8/2011 |
| Q: Dana, I had a new gas 40 gallon water heater installed last week. The old one was a 30 gallon, and ... A: Changing a water heater does not usually create a situation that causes water hammer. This is ... | |
| Slow drains | 9/7/2011 |
| Q: I have main level bathroom and a basement bathroom. The sink in the main level bathroom and the ... A: The lines will need to be cleaned with a sewer snake to clear them. This is normal maintenance that ... | |
| Basement bathroom | 9/6/2011 |
| Q: How to install under floor piping. A: Some question ya got there! Care to expand with a bit of info about your situation? This is sort ... | |
| Leak at base of toilet | 9/2/2011 |
| Q: I noticed that the toilet in the master bathroom started to rock slightly when sat upon. There was a ... A: Nice to have backups! I just had to reset ours and its the only one we have. There are some tricks ... | |
| New Tub Faucet Dripping | 9/1/2011 |
| Q: I installed a new American Standard Cadet 1675 anti-scald tub and shower faucet ... A: The shower head trickle may be related. How is the shower activated? The problem may be with the ... | |
| Amercan Standard 1.6 water saving toilet | 8/31/2011 |
| Q: I am having the same problem that Craig wrote you about the American Standard water saving toilet. ... A: I have answered hundreds of questions and I don't remember any particular one unfortunately so I ... | |
| Cold water question | 8/30/2011 |
| Q: We recently moved to SoCal and bought our first house, which was built in the 50's. We were gone for ... A: It seems that you are the victim of the water pipes in the attic taking on a lot of heat. This ... | |
| Water pressure gauges | 8/29/2011 |
| Q: I live in England, but as I cannot find any web advise on my question, I have gone further afield. ... A: Your methodology sounds workable. By the way, we use PSI measurements here - (pounds per square ... | |
| faucets in house | 8/28/2011 |
| Q: warm water is coming out (normal flow) on cold water side for kitchen and bathroom sinks and shower. ... A: There are a number of possible causes: 1. It's SUMMER and the pipes run through the attic where the ... | |
| Leaking Toilet | 8/25/2011 |
| Q: My toilet has a leak and as a result every 5 minutes or so, it refills. I know this is not caused ... A: I'm not aware of any connection between the fill valve and refill tube and the filling of the tank. ... | |
| Leaking Toilet | 8/24/2011 |
| Q: My toilet has a leak and as a result every 5 minutes or so, it refills. I know this is not caused ... A: Why do you say its not the flapper. It is the most likely cause or water dropping in the tank ... | |
| sump pump | 8/22/2011 |
| Q: i would like to replace a sump pump that i installed around 16 years ago still working but like to ... A: To make this easier, check this out. ... | |
| hot water tank | 8/20/2011 |
| Q: In short, the pilot light on my hot water tank keeps going out. This hot water tank will be two ... A: Very frustrating problem I'm sure. If the mechanisms such as the burner and pilot are okay, things ... | |
| Plumbing - Toilet | 8/19/2011 |
| Q: The toilet in the upstairs bathroom (30 years old, separate tank and bowl, tank is near the ceiling) ... A: Since I'm in Los Angeles and you are in the UK, I'm thinking that I would have little chance on ... | |
| Toilet Flush Noise | 8/19/2011 |
| Q: Just recently, when I flush an upstairs toilet, there is a "gurgling/rumbling" noise in the tub ... A: It's a little hard to diagnose from a distance but is sounds like a venting problem. On a side ... | |
| flushing toilet | 8/18/2011 |
| Q: The house is barely two years old. The toilet is a Sterling 6 litre. When I run water in the sink ... A: Odd symptoms. Do you mean the water runs like the tank is filling? Or does it actually flush water ... | |
| Fill Valve Just Trickles to Refill | 8/17/2011 |
| Q: The fill valve in my bathroom recently started to only "trickle" when it re-fills the tank after a ... A: That depends on how "handy" you are with this kind of stuff. Obviously, it will cost nothing to ... | |
| Fill Valve Just Trickles to Refill | 8/17/2011 |
| Q: The fill valve in my bathroom recently started to only "trickle" when it re-fills the tank after a ... A: The valve may be clogged with debris from the pipes or elsewhere. It can probably be taken apart and ... | |
| Kitchen Faucet Question | 8/17/2011 |
| Q: I have a leaky kitchen faucet...waiting for my brother to come and replace for me in the meantime, I ... A: Yep, the angle stops often fail after many years and will not turn off the water flow. Makes ... | |
| plumbing-vent | 8/16/2011 |
| Q: Can a 6" Waste & 6" Soil stack installed in a shaft of a high rise building (having 20 levels) take ... A: The standard I have always followed says "the aggregate area of the venting has to equal the ... | |
| Sink overflow smell | 8/11/2011 |
| Q: My bathroom sinks have a rank odor. I pulled out the stopper rod, cleaned of hair and soap residue, ... A: This is not uncommon. Cleaning out this area is tough since it is so small/narrow. Hard to get ... | |
| Water Pressure | 8/10/2011 |
| Q: Recently the Water Pressure from all faucets in the house (sink, tub, kitchen etc.,) have come ... A: The solution for the pipes unfortunately is to replace them. There is no reasonable way to clear ... | |
| Water Pressure | 8/10/2011 |
| Q: Recently the Water Pressure from all faucets in the house (sink, tub, kitchen etc.,) have come ... A: Was this a sudden thing or gradual? Two different causes. Sudden could be from the failure of a ... | |
| Problems uninstalling copper compression nut on angle valve for toilet | 8/10/2011 |
| Q: We're in SF Bay Area and are trying to replace the angle valve on our toilet, as it's leaking. We ... A: "Houston, we have a problem" This is a "compression" type angle stop. Under/inside that nut (and ... | |
| Laundry remodel - UPC plumbing code | 8/8/2011 |
| Q: I have posted a question with attached plumbing sketch on the Terry Love Plumbing blog. You can see ... A: You are welcome According to my version of Code Check the distance for a 2 inch trap arm is 8 ft per ... | |
| Kitchen Sink Odor | 8/7/2011 |
| Q: Purchased single family home in 1987 that was two years old. After short time noticed odor in ... A: The biggest problem is the "S" trap. They are illegal in most places. They tend to siphon empty and ... | |
| Laundry remodel - UPC plumbing code | 8/6/2011 |
| Q: I have posted a question with attached plumbing sketch on the Terry Love Plumbing blog. You can see ... A: Looks pretty good overall. Two areas are questionable: 1. The vent take off from the drains cannot ... | |
| Unstable water pressure reading | 8/6/2011 |
| Q: My current water pressure regulator was replaced in March 2008. Recently I noticed that the water ... A: Many thing have an effect on water pressure. The pressure in the city system varies throughout the ... | |
| rough in valve to cpvc lines | 8/2/2011 |
| Q: Had to laugh at your 'what is a well'... Hmm being from a wonderful lil community on the beach in ... A: Although in wide spread use, I've never been a fan of PVC/CPVC distribution systems. It's main ... | |
| Water heater exhaust pipe | 8/1/2011 |
| Q: I drilled a hole into the center of the wall about 6 inches from the top of a 8 ft high wall in my ... A: Oops! If you hit electrical wires, you would have know it. Lots of sparking and arcing! Drilling a ... | |
| Water Tank Noise | 7/31/2011 |
| Q: About 2 days ago, a loud siren/foghorn type noise has started to come on from the water tank in the ... A: This type of sound is usually caused by a vibration of a washer or diaphragm that is loose of worn. ... | |
| replacement bath tub | 7/28/2011 |
| Q: I am going to replace my bathtub. Most all the tubs indicate "will fit the standard 60" opening. ... A: The specs are for a "rough opening". "Rough" means from wall stud to wall stud, not to the finish ... | |
| Outdoor water faucet | 7/25/2011 |
| Q: I have a leaky sillcock? I believe it is. I've been to the hardware store and I purchased a new ... A: Glad you got it sorted out. As I said, the connection is buried so its hard to tell. Based on the ... | |
| Moen faucet | 7/25/2011 |
| Q: Caldwell model faucet: Instructions 9B for plastic waste drain. There is not enough effort holding ... A: Yes, design problem likely unless there is a washer missing. All too many manufacturers are going to ... | |
| Los Angeles Code for venting tankless water heaters | 7/24/2011 |
| Q: We are building a big 2-floor house in Malibu. I had thought of using 2 tankless heaters, one for ... A: Building codes can be a bit confusing. Malibu is it's own City and it has it's own codes. If you ... | |
| Outdoor water faucet | 7/23/2011 |
| Q: I have a leaky sillcock? I believe it is. I've been to the hardware store and I purchased a new ... A: Changing out a frost free faucet is not really something you should attempt as a DIY project unless ... | |
| Low Flow Toilet and Natural Cleaning Tablet | 7/22/2011 |
| Q: I just bought some Bio Pac Automatic Bowl Cleaner Tablets and went to put it in one of our toilets ... A: The problem is if it becomes dislodged and gets stuck in the water passage of the tank. As long as ... | |
| under sink leak | 7/19/2011 |
| Q: I have discovered water puddleing around my sink in the small bathroom. I have found a leak that ... A: Water is a funny thing,it will go where it wishes and it may not be leaking where you think. it ... | |
| Broken shower lever | 7/17/2011 |
| Q: I have a Briggs shower lever (about 15 years old), the kind that you turn counterclockwise to turn ... A: I was not able to find any more info on this faucet to see a parts breakdown. From the picture, it ... | |
| water heater replacement | 7/13/2011 |
| Q: Moved into a duplex and landlord is having a hard time replacing the H2O heater. It has less than 5 ... A: At 10 years, the current heater is at the end of it's useful life. Earthquake strapping is a local ... | |
| No Cold Water | 7/8/2011 |
| Q: I live in Phoenix, AZ and I am not getting, or rarely get cold water from any of my faucets. ... A: Ask you neighbors, maybe they have just not said anything. Don't assume. Pipes in attics in very ... | |
| loud banging and clicking noise from pipes | 7/5/2011 |
| Q: We live in a 2-story track home built in 1998. About two years ago, the pipes started making loud ... A: Well, your house is either haunted or you are the victim of a typically poor quality "tract house" ... | |
| Smells coming from dishwasher | 7/4/2011 |
| Q: Hey Dana, Last week I repaired broken pipe that connects to sewer line that goes from garbage ... A: Dishwashers are supposed to be drained through a device called an "air gap" fitting so there is no ... | |
| reconnecting sink drain | 7/2/2011 |
| Q: You graciously answered a previous question of mine regarding connecting pblue to copper. I have ... A: LOL, okay, got it that time. There is enough room behind the wall fitting to cut it off just behind ... | |
| temporary connect sink | 6/29/2011 |
| Q: I recently replaced my kitchen sink base. The supply lines that come through floor appear to be ... A: As far as I know, SharkBite fittings work on both copper and PEX. And they are removable and ... | |
| Older bathtub valves | 6/28/2011 |
| Q: Recently the bathtub faucet developed a rather severe drip. The valves and faucet are wall mounted ... A: You should be able to find a 3-handle rough-in set with adjustable centers. This most likely will ... | |
| Water hsmmer problem | 6/27/2011 |
| Q: I've experienced water hammer in my home and about 2 years ago arresters installed. That seemed to ... A: It may be that the installed arrestors are "flooded", meaning they have become full of water and ... | |
| Leak Sealing | 6/26/2011 |
| Q: I own a 2 floor home (have owned it for 7 years) and lately I have noticed a leak in the ceiling in ... A: Try to isolate exactly where the leak is coming from. First, Fill the tub and see if it leaks then ... | |
| diverter repair bathtub shower | 6/24/2011 |
| Q: I have a 1965-ish price-pfister 3 handle tub/shower. Need to replace the diverter (low or split ... A: it is not unusual for these handles to become stuck on the spline. It is caused by a buildup of ... | |
| Cutting cast iron and using snake | 6/24/2011 |
| Q: hey Dana, My under the house sewer line from the kitchen is cracked and about seven inches of ... A: Sounds like you have a mess on your hands. I'de be dealing with the main line clog as the top ... | |
| Cutting cast iron and using snake | 6/23/2011 |
| Q: hey Dana, My under the house sewer line from the kitchen is cracked and about seven inches of ... A: Working with cast iron can be a pain in the rear. It's difficult to cut without the proper tools ... | |
| Update link to my website | 6/23/2011 |
| Q: Could you update this link? On this page ... A: I'm not sure I can make changes after the fact. I'll look into it and change it if I can. Bummer ... | |
| terra cotta toilet drain & flange | 6/20/2011 |
| Q: What would be the best way to repair or replace an extreme bend and broken flange with terra cotta ... A: Sorry for the delay in answering, this question seems to have gone astray and I didn't become aware ... | |
| Leak Sealing | 6/19/2011 |
| Q: I own a 2 floor home (have owned it for 7 years) and lately I have noticed a leak in the ceiling in ... A: Hard to say exactly where it is coming from without further investigation. Water can leak in one ... | |
| loose kitchen faucet | 6/18/2011 |
| Q: Is it reasonable to ask the contractor to return 8 months later to fix a loosened Grohe kitchen ... A: As I remember, most trades are unionized up there and that would jack the price up quite a bit. I ... | |
| loose kitchen faucet | 6/18/2011 |
| Q: Is it reasonable to ask the contractor to return 8 months later to fix a loosened Grohe kitchen ... A: I would at least confront them about it. Remind them that it took them several attempts to get the ... | |
| Replacing jetted tub fixtures | 6/16/2011 |
| Q: We purchased a home that is about 12 years old. I've attached a photo of a fixture we want to ... A: I agree, stupid to put fixtures that might need replacement somewhere with no access. If you are on ... | |
| Can a main line have a clean-out above the closet arm? | 6/15/2011 |
| Q: I have a 100 yrs old house that has presented special plumbing problems. Can the closet arm have a ... A: As long as they are vented as you show, the lavs can be connected. I'm still a bit confused about eh ... | |
| Plumbing nightmare | 6/14/2011 |
| Q: We just moved into a new home...built about the 60's. We've actually have lived in it for about 2 ... A: As a Home Inspector myself, I always recommend a sewer camera for just this reason. The Inspector ... | |
| Can a main line have a clean-out above the closet arm? | 6/14/2011 |
| Q: I have a 100 yrs old house that has presented special plumbing problems. Can the closet arm have a ... A: I'm having a bit of a problem visualizing the set up. A sketch or picture would be great. As long as ... | |
| PVC pipes are popping | 6/14/2011 |
| Q: There is a loud popping noise in the plumbing when water from our main level bathroom drains. We ... A: This may be from expansion and contraction as the pipes heat and cool from hot or cold water running ... | |
| hot water heaters | 6/13/2011 |
| Q: do I need a permit for a hot water tank A: The answer to that question lies with your local building authority. It's not consistent ... | |
| Water pressure | 6/9/2011 |
| Q: I have a fairly new home. I want to increase my water pressure.How do I go about doing that? I know ... A: As they say "Anything is possible if you can write the check!" LOL The answer depends on what type ... | |
| Water keeps overflown in the bathroom sink | 6/7/2011 |
| Q: I have problem with a bathroom sink in the house that keeps raising a very clear, cold water up in ... A: In order for this to happen, there has to be a clog somewhere downstream in the drain line. Since ... | |
| Replacing Delta Monitor 1300 Series Shower Faucet Handle | 6/7/2011 |
| Q: I took a shower and when I was done, turned the water off and it kept coming out. I replaced the ... A: You have discovered the problem with "Universal" replacement parts. They sort of work on many ... | |
| Water keeps overflown in the bathroom sink | 6/6/2011 |
| Q: I have problem with a bathroom sink in the house that keeps raising a very clear, cold water up in ... A: Sounds pretty strange but maybe it's a simple problem. I'm missing a bit of information I need to ... | |
| Hot Water Heater Gas Leak | 6/1/2011 |
| Q: Last week, there was a strong gas smell in the basement and we had excel energy come out. The ... A: The service people for water heater companies are usually just a local plumber that they contract ... | |
| Whole-house Plumbing -- Water Pressure | 5/30/2011 |
| Q: Dana-- Over the past couple years, we have noticed a problem with the water pressure in our house. ... A: Sounds like the plumbers or someone didn't think about servicing this reg. Turning the adjusting ... | |
| Whole-house Plumbing -- Water Pressure | 5/30/2011 |
| Q: Dana-- Over the past couple years, we have noticed a problem with the water pressure in our house. ... A: On reading your description, the first thing that popped into my mind was pressure regulator ... | |
| Remove Delta faucet Cap Spout Cap | 5/30/2011 |
| Q: How do you remove a Delta spout cap from a Delta 2402 faucet? The cap seems to be stuck. Thank ... A: It's hard to tell by the parts diagram if it unscrews or just prys off. They can get stuck from ... | |
| toilet stack vent | 5/28/2011 |
| Q: My query is concerning a vent stack that is situated directly behind the present toilet. And we have ... A: The "rough-in" dimension is standardly 12 inches these days. It used to be 14 inches. that distance ... | |
| toilet stack vent | 5/28/2011 |
| Q: My query is concerning a vent stack that is situated directly behind the present toilet. And we have ... A: This is not really something that lends itself to resolution by emails. There are too many ... | |
| Gas Hot Water Heater | 5/26/2011 |
| Q: Live in New Jersey and have a gas hot water heater. Our AC guy was servicing our AC today and ... A: A water heater is basically a steel tank with insulation around it and a sheet metal cover over that ... | |
| plumbing odor | 5/26/2011 |
| Q: We had our master bathroom remodeled 3 years ago and in the last 6 months, it has developed what can ... A: As I mentioned previously, every fixture has a trap with a water seal. The seal is provided by ... | |
| plumbing odor | 5/25/2011 |
| Q: We had our master bathroom remodeled 3 years ago and in the last 6 months, it has developed what can ... A: The first thing that comes to mind is the unused tub. Every fixture that has a drain connected to a ... | |
| plumbing ethics | 5/25/2011 |
| Q: We recently had a plumbing problem, two months ago, near L.A. It was resolved, but I think we might ... A: Backups into a bath tub usually mean a stoppage in a main line. The tub is the lowest drain in the ... | |
| septic field | 5/23/2011 |
| Q: I live on an acerage in central Alberta Canada. The house we live in is approx 24 years old. The ... A: Private disposal systems is not one of my areas of expertise. I have little or no experience with ... | |
| Pipe Size for a 5/8 | 5/23/2011 |
| Q: This is a follow-up question. I have a 5/8" water meter. The Water Co. told the contractor that is ... A: Yes, the 5/8th port in the meter is the choke point and controlling factor for all practical ... | |
| Sillcock | 5/23/2011 |
| Q: I installed a Mueller quarter-turn anti-siphon frost-free sillcock and it buzzes when I open the ... A: You are are right. That is just the reverse of my experience. Something is not right. The reason for ... | |
| howling pipes | 5/22/2011 |
| Q: I have a delta scald guard valve for my shower/tub. When I run hot water, the pipe start to howl. ... A: Howling is caused by vibration. Vibration is caused by rapidly opening and closing of a component in ... | |
| Pipe Size for a 5/8" Water Meter | 5/22/2011 |
| Q: This is a follow-up question. I have a 5/8" water meter. The Water Co. told the contractor that is ... A: Pipe sizing is a somewhat complicated calculation and is a function of: * the pressure delivered ... | |
| sewer smell | 5/22/2011 |
| Q: I have been having a problem with a sewer smell coming from the pipe that my washer drains in.It ... A: There are a couple of possible causes. Every drain system needs a p-trap to hold a "water seal" ... | |
| Water main line | 5/20/2011 |
| Q: I hired someone to replace the main water line to my house. He said he would replace with copper. I ... A: This type of work usually requires a city permit and inspection to assure that it is done per local ... | |
| Low Flow Toilet Flush Problem | 5/20/2011 |
| Q: I was not aware that you could not put a bleach tablet in a low flow toilet until I dropped on in ... A: It sounds like the tablet went down into the water way of the flush valve in the center of the tank. ... | |
| Mister causing spicket to whine | 5/18/2011 |
| Q: Recently installed a pretty inexpensive misting system for my back yard patio. Basically the ... A: Most likely there is an anti-siphon or back flow device on the hose faucet. They are required by law ... | |
| Temperature of Water | 5/18/2011 |
| Q: I have two waters heaters that seem to be working properly, they work together not individually. In ... A: If the cartridge is faulty, that can happen even if the valve is closed. Turning off the hot water ... | |
| Temperature of Water | 5/18/2011 |
| Q: I have two waters heaters that seem to be working properly, they work together not individually. In ... A: It is possible for hot and cold to mix in a single handle fixture if it is by-passing internally due ... | |
| Sillcock | 5/18/2011 |
| Q: I installed a Mueller quarter-turn anti-siphon frost-free sillcock and it buzzes when I open the ... A: Yes, it is the anti-siphon device making noise. It has a small diaphragm in it that will vibrate at ... | |
| Upstairs Bathroom Sink Overflows Downstairs Kitchen Sink | 5/17/2011 |
| Q: We have a two story town home located in South Florida. For the past two months, the downstairs ... A: First, I don't recommend chemicals as they are too harsh and can damage the piping. This is ... | |
| Gas odor from gas hot water tank regulator | 5/17/2011 |
| Q: I have a 40 gal. Bradford White "Defender Safety System Energy Saver"Natural gas hot water tank ... A: Yes, it's a problem. There should never be any gas leakage, something is wrong. I would make a ... | |
| kitchen faucet | 5/17/2011 |
| Q: I want to replace my old kitchen faucet. It is a standard faucet with half inch supply lines. The ... A: Unfortunately, changing out the angle stops (the push-pull shutoff) might be needed. These old ... | |
| valve stem issue? | 5/16/2011 |
| Q: There is a water valve in my laundry room that controls the water to an outside spicket on my patio. ... A: It sort of depends on how old the valve is and if you can find parts. All things considered, it ... | |
| valve stem issue? | 5/14/2011 |
| Q: There is a water valve in my laundry room that controls the water to an outside spicket on my patio. ... A: It sounds like the gate valve may need to be rebuilt or replaced. The stem operates a sliding ... | |
| plumbing | 5/13/2011 |
| Q: We have a brick house. Everytime we run the washing machine and it gets to draining it backs up in ... A: The backup indicates a clog in the main drain line somewhere. Getting dirt in one of the sinks also ... | |
| Commode is not filling up | 5/12/2011 |
| Q: All of a suddent my commode is only filling up about 1/3 to 1/2 of the way after flushing. The tank ... A: Check inside the tank to see if the little hose from the fill valve has not come loose from the ... | |
| Main Water Pipe leaking under cement slab | 5/12/2011 |
| Q: I live in CT. There is a sound like water running in the main water pipe below the meter and a wet ... A: First, I am not comfortable with using unlicensed people for serious work. It leaves you with no ... | |
| Tile bed restoration | 5/11/2011 |
| Q: Our rural septic tank and tile bed system has been overused for many years and now is not working ... A: The field of on-site or "private" sewage disposal in whatever form is not an area of much knowledge ... | |
| toilet slow to refill | 5/10/2011 |
| Q: after flushing my toilet it is very slow to refill and instead of a constant flow of water into the ... A: I would first check the flow from the shut off tap and the supply line that is feeding the toilet. ... | |
| home water pressure | 5/10/2011 |
| Q: Im at 2500 ft and have low water pressure, from the hose outside both the back and front yard, do ... A: The low pressure issue depends on a few things: First, do you mean low pressure or just low flow? ... | |
| Fluctuating Shower Temperature | 5/9/2011 |
| Q: I just moved into a new apartment. When I shower, if someone flushes the toilet or uses the sink in ... A: This is a classic sign of old, plugged up galvanized steel water pipes. The only cure is to repipe ... | |
| shower stall repair | 5/8/2011 |
| Q: I have a single standing shower stall that has developed a crack about 4-5 inches long right where ... A: The question is "Why is it cracking?" Fiberglass shower stalls are pretty tough. If there is a ... | |
| "Frost Free" faucet | 5/6/2011 |
| Q: I have a frost free faucet that was leaking and when I removed the shaft to replace the washer there ... A: I don't recognize it right off. The main manufacturers of frost-free hose bibs are Woodford, ... | |
| toilet | 5/5/2011 |
| Q: When I turn on the feed line valve for the toilet to fill no water comes out of the supply line.I ... A: First, if the supply is the vinyl flex style, try changing the actual supply line. I would use one ... | |
| Stuck washer in frost free faucet | 5/2/2011 |
| Q: I have a frost-free faucet on the outside of my house. It is the kind that is about 18" long and ... A: It's a crap shoot. You might be able to fish the washer out with a long hook wire. Hopefully, it ... | |
| auger for access line | 5/2/2011 |
| Q: .i was thinking to get a power auger rental from home depot and ream out the access line, which is ... A: Using a big, powerful main line power snake is a job best left to a professional. They can be very ... | |
| Copper Piping | 5/2/2011 |
| Q: I am at the end of a project re-copper piping my house (2 bathrooms, 1 kitchen, laundry room). A ... A: Sweating copper is an art that takes much practice to master. I've sweated 1000's of joints from ... | |
| Toilet will not flush all the time | 5/1/2011 |
| Q: When my husband or I go to the washroom, sometimes it will flush and take everything with it, other ... A: I think it a problem with an American toilet and Canadian water! LOL, just kidding. This problem ... | |
| Faucet Stem problems | 4/30/2011 |
| Q: We just installed a mixet faucet stem in our tub/shower combo (the one we removed was also a mixet ... A: It would seem that the cartridge/stem is not oriented properly. It should have had some notches or ... | |
| Water leak | 4/29/2011 |
| Q: I am installing a new toilet and when I took up the floor due to hearing a water leak, I see that ... A: Angle stops are usually cheaply made valves unless you spend the money for a good quality one. ... | |
| dirt and lint | 4/29/2011 |
| Q: .every several months i have to call a plumber here to come over and use a 100 ft. power auger to ... A: The best place is probably on line. Amazon has them listed here: ... | |
| bathroom sink smell | 4/28/2011 |
| Q: Help!!! Hi, I just purchased and installed a plaster type molded sink top and vanity to replace an ... A: This is called "out gassing" and is fairly common with molded synthetic products. It will dissipate ... | |
| dirt and lint | 4/26/2011 |
| Q: .every several months i have to call a plumber here to come over and use a 100 ft. power auger to ... A: You may just be suffering from "old" pipes. As a system ages, more and more buildup occurs and this, ... | |
| Bathtub backed up | 4/25/2011 |
| Q: We were away for the day and when we returned, all of our bathtubs and shower rooms looked like ... A: I think you are correct that the main has a blockage. The tub and shower drains are the lowest inlet ... | |
| TANK DOESN'T DRAIN | 4/24/2011 |
| Q: Tank kept leaking...plumber came-replaced flapper...came-replaced flush valve...leaked part ... A: All toilets available these days are "low flow" models. This means they are designed to use only 1.6 ... | |
| shower arm | 4/24/2011 |
| Q: My shower arm ends in a ball, can this be taken off and a new shower head attached straight to the ... A: The ball end cannot usually be removed. If you want to switch to a different head, you can replace ... | |
| vent problem | 4/22/2011 |
| Q: When I shower, The toilet bubbles as does the sink. I have a septic system and it has been doing ... A: you are correct, this does sound like a venting problem. Without a proper, functioning vent, the ... | |
| bath tub drain | 4/22/2011 |
| Q: I have the lever style drain and the rod and stopper came loose. How can i fish it out? it is in ... A: This is a trial and error situation. You may be able to grab the end of the rod with a pair of ... | |
| Water Pump shuts off frequently | 4/19/2011 |
| Q: I have a standard water pump for my home & there is a peculiar problem that we have had occur with ... A: Pressure pump systems can be a problem now and then. A properly installed system should have a ... | |
| Required to fill dap-out by code? | 4/19/2011 |
| Q: We are finishing a basement in a valley where every spring can see a good amount of water. We ... A: I'm not familiar with this term, "dap out". I think you are talking about the hole in the slab left ... | |
| Clogged Drains | 4/18/2011 |
| Q: Recently, our kitchen drain was clogged. We called a plumbing company. They first tried unclogging ... A: The problem may be related but I don't think its something you can hold them accountable for. Maybe ... | |
| Ceiling Leak | 4/17/2011 |
| Q: Last night I noticed 2 bubbles forming on my first story ceiling area (see picture). The one was ... A: Tracking water leaks can be tricky. One needs experience and construction knowledge. First, it ... | |
| Plumbing | 4/17/2011 |
| Q: I'm a renter of a duplex and never had any plumbing issues until my sink clogged one day and the ... A: The plumber could be right. Once roots get into a waste system, they will grow back pretty quickly. ... | |
| Toilet drain angle | 4/17/2011 |
| Q: I'm going to install an in wall toilet tank for a wall hung unit on a second floor bath. I'm one ... A: If you use the proper drain fittings, slope the drains at least 1/4 inch per foot, provide proper ... | |
| replacing a cast Iron shower drain | 4/16/2011 |
| Q: back ground: I am replacing a tiled shower because of leaks. I have removed everything down to the ... A: While it is possible for an experienced DIY'er to do this, I don't recommend an inexperienced person ... | |
| Plug pex line | 4/15/2011 |
| Q: I need to disconnect a 1/2" pex cold water line. I intend to plug it with the proper brass plug.can ... A: It somewhat depends on the manufacturer of the PEX. There are different techniques that each ... | |
| Frozen fitting | 4/13/2011 |
| Q: I have a slow draining bathtub that I have tried cleaning with products like Drano, plungers, baking ... A: Frozen fittings can be tough. First, WD-40 is not penetrating oil, its a water displacement product. ... | |
| ALL DRAINS IN HOME ARE SLOW!! | 4/13/2011 |
| Q: My husband and I own a condo on the 14th floor. We noticed soon after purchasing that our bathroom ... A: I'm not in favor of using chemicals, they tend to be pretty harsh and can damage the piping. The ... | |
| washmachine drain | 4/12/2011 |
| Q: I am putting a washmachine in my basement right next to the main sewer line to the road. THe main is ... A: The height of the main you want to use is a problem. A washer drain's stand pipe needs to be at ... | |
| hub donut | 4/9/2011 |
| Q: When placing a pipe hub donut. How far should the PVC go into the donut? Should you put the donut ... A: These gaskets or donuts are also generically called "seal tights". Make sure the hub is clean and ... | |
| woodford model 17 | 4/9/2011 |
| Q: I have woodford model 17 frost free sillcock, when i attached my garden hose to it to clean off my ... A: It's the vacuum breaker dumping the air as it is designed to do. It should stop when the pressure ... | |
| How to identify a leak | 4/9/2011 |
| Q: I have owned my house for two years now, and ever since I bought it, I noticed that there are some ... A: Yep, San Diego would be a bit out of my area. The travel charge would be tough! LOL I don't ... | |
| toilet whining randomly | 4/7/2011 |
| Q: A while back I kept hearing this noise that sounded almost like a scooter driving by outside. I ... A: Your water pressure may be excessive. It should not be over 80 PSI which is what plumbing fixtures ... | |
| How to identify a leak | 4/6/2011 |
| Q: I have owned my house for two years now, and ever since I bought it, I noticed that there are some ... A: There is no set price. Here in LA I charge $300 for a normal leak inspection. Since yours is a ... | |
| How to identify a leak | 4/4/2011 |
| Q: I have owned my house for two years now, and ever since I bought it, I noticed that there are some ... A: Obviously, the shower pan is suspect as having leaked in the past. It may have been repaired. If ... | |
| Refill valve question | 4/4/2011 |
| Q: I am trying my hand at simple plumbing repairs and have diagnosed our toilet as needing a new refill ... A: Good Job at dealing with this pretty simple repair. You saved yourself some money. There are two ... | |
| Thermocouple change | 4/3/2011 |
| Q: The pilot light on our water heater went out and I can't get it back on. After some Googling, I ... A: The thermocouple is a small tube with a thicker end and a threaded fitting on the other. When the ... | |
| Dishwasher | 4/2/2011 |
| Q: I bought a new dishwasher and live in a mobile home that never had one. So, with not much cabinet ... A: It actually only needs electrical hookup, a hot water supply and a proper place to drain. For ... | |
| Overflow drain on bathroom sink smells | 4/1/2011 |
| Q: In both bathrooms, I have sinks with overflow drains. The hole is at the top of the sink and there ... A: The overflow connects to the drain of the sink through an internal passageway. This passageway can ... | |
| slow running bathtub drain | 4/1/2011 |
| Q: i have a bathroom that is used for guest only and the shower/tub has not been used for sometime ... A: When drains are not used regularly and cleaned by the scouring action of passing water, debris tends ... | |
| groung sinking between house and street | 3/31/2011 |
| Q: We have live in this house 15 yrs. and the ground is sinking where the plumbing goes out to the ... A: Sounds like a broken sewer main is saturating the soil and causing it to settle. You have two ... | |
| Sealant in bath area | 3/31/2011 |
| Q: I've tried four or five adhesives trying to adhere the plastic spacer that holds shower glass in ... A: Okay, now I understand what you are dealing with a little better. It is possible but difficult to ... | |
| What is the sticky grease inside faucet cartridge? | 3/30/2011 |
| Q: I disassembled the cold water bathroom faucet cartridge. It is a ceramic disk type. I took out the ... A: The best source for that information would be the manufacturer of the faucet. It may be silicone ... | |
| plumbing | 3/29/2011 |
| Q: How do I determine what the spill line for a washing machine or hand sink is? Thank you A: Not sure of that term. The trade term for what you are saying is, I think, "flood level rim" and it ... | |
| Gurgling sound in kitchen drain | 3/28/2011 |
| Q: Whenever our dishwasher drains there is a loud gurgling sound in the kitchen sink. It doesn't last ... A: The dishwasher actually drains through the kitchen sink drains, usually though a hose connected to ... | |
| undersink filter , valve leak at sink | 3/28/2011 |
| Q: I have an Aquasana undersink filter going both to the refrigerator and to a spout on the sink. ... A: These can be difficult to diagnose. The wrong filter may have been installed or if a carbon filter ... | |
| Shower | 3/28/2011 |
| Q: Please provide any information you can on options, resources, and DIY for converting my claw foot ... A: There are valve units made for this application that include the shower riser. Obviously, you will ... | |
| Kitchen sink gurgle | 3/28/2011 |
| Q: I have a sump pump in my basement. When it turns on and pumps water from the pit, my kitchen sink on ... A: There might be a venting issue on the kitchen drain. The sump pump may not have a properly ... | |
| plumbing Kitchen drain backup | 3/27/2011 |
| Q: My inlaws live in a double Wide 2 bathrooms and laundry room . The kitchen sink drain keeps backing ... A: Typically, plumbing drain systems are designed so that smaller "branch lines" like from a kitchen ... | |
| things that should not be flushed | 3/25/2011 |
| Q: What happened as I flushed the toilet a wooden pencil aprox. 6 inches long fell into the toilet. ... A: The toilet usually drains on a 4 inch line. The pencil is probably caught are the first 90 bend. ... | |
| leaking rainshower head | 3/25/2011 |
| Q: An unusual problem. I have multiple shower heads. The overhead rain shower works well and turns off ... A: Odd situation! With multiple shower heads controlled by a diverter valve, the issue is often head ... | |
| basement drain | 3/25/2011 |
| Q: this house is thirty years old and the furthest floor drain has clear water coming up when there is ... A: After 30 years, the ground water drainage system and the exterior waterproofing has probably seen ... | |
| hot water dispenser | 3/23/2011 |
| Q: i have an insinkerator instant hot water dispenser. The toggle all of a sudden became loose and ... A: Most likely lime scale deposits are causing this problem. Pretty common for these units. Using some ... | |
| Under Sink Leak Source | 3/22/2011 |
| Q: My roommate and I were renting an apartment. We never went under our bathroom sink, but one day ... A: I think you are correct that the leak was a drain leak rather than a supply leak. It's always a good ... | |
| Tankless Heater Recirculating Pump | 3/21/2011 |
| Q: What is "normal"? In our newly constructed home in Sothern California (Wild fire rebuild) we opted ... A: Making a recirc system work on a tankless can be tricky. They depend on flow to trigger the burners ... | |
| Cast Iron Plumbing | 3/21/2011 |
| Q: We have an old house that has had various plumbing problems. Last year I had a clog in the sewer ... A: When the cast iron waste begins to go away it's only a matter of time. It deteriorates from the ... | |
| Leaking Faucet Cartridge | 3/19/2011 |
| Q: My kitchen faucet is having some problems with water flow. Every other faucet in the house is fine, ... A: It is hard to say exactly what to do without knowing the model of the faucet. Most of the Home Depot ... | |
| septic piping in the home | 3/18/2011 |
| Q: I,ve had some problems at the house i currently rent with the septic system.I would like to know ... A: That does sound a bit strange. Typically, there is only one main waste line going out to the septic. ... | |
| Washing Machine hookup to waste line | 3/17/2011 |
| Q: I live in a Levitt house ( on a concrete slab) in NY. Our washing machine formerly drained into a ... A: It might be possible. It depends on the length of the run and the amount of fall you can get to the ... | |
| Septic Tank Backup | 3/15/2011 |
| Q: My septic tank is backing up. I had a problem with my leech field but now that is fixed. When I was ... A: There are several reasons that septic tanks can fail. A broken cover on a clean out cap is not ... | |
| fixing a "remuddled" bath sink drain | 3/13/2011 |
| Q: I began swapping out an ancient pedestal sink in my 1911 home's many times "remuddled" bathroom. ... A: This might take a pro with the proper tools. The 1-1/2 inch drain nipple needs to be replaced most ... | |
| Moen faucet | 3/13/2011 |
| Q: This is regarding a Moen Monticello bathroom sink faucet, 4inch spread. Was trying to remove ... A: PB Blaster is just a penetrating chemical that the pros use to free up rusted parts. You should be ... | |
| Moen faucet | 3/13/2011 |
| Q: This is regarding a Moen Monticello bathroom sink faucet, 4inch spread. Was trying to remove ... A: The Moen site is down for maintenance this morning but it looks like it mounts from under the ... | |
| Moen faucet | 3/12/2011 |
| Q: This is regarding a Moen Monticello bathroom sink faucet, 4inch spread. Was trying to remove ... A: There are several models. It's hard to tell without a model number. The Monticello is shown as a ... | |
| Cost/difficulty of installing pedestal sink | 3/10/2011 |
| Q: We just bought a home with one of the older, lower vanities in the powder room. We tore it out and ... A: The waster and water will probably need to be relocated to meet the needs of a pedestal lav. You ... | |
| water pump | 3/6/2011 |
| Q: Do you need a bladder to turn off the water pump. the pump is not turning off and the tank we have ... A: Your question is a little short on information. What are you talking about here? If this is a well ... | |
| follow up to angled sewer stub | 3/6/2011 |
| Q: My question is two parts. Quick refresher: My problem is determining if I need to tear my floor up ... A: The angle does not see too bad. The clamp-on closet ring should work fine. You might need to break ... | |
| Sewer Trap Question | 3/5/2011 |
| Q: In our front basement room, there is a square hole (2' x 2' with metal plate covering it# where the ... A: This could be a couple of things; A whole house main line trap with access covers for cleaning or a ... | |
| Circulating pump causing excessive sediment? | 3/4/2011 |
| Q: my brother has a 2 story home with 2 full baths on top floor, a kitchen, washing machine,and full ... A: 1. Probably not since it is probably connected to the piping inside the walls. 2. The recirc pump ... | |
| Identifying Farthest Sink From Water Heater | 3/4/2011 |
| Q: How can I identify the farthest sink from my water heater? I just added a recirculating pump and ... A: Difficult to say since most of the piping is in the walls or under the house. If you can get under ... | |
| Loud Knock in Pipe | 3/4/2011 |
| Q: first thank you for being here. I live in a Ranch Style Condo, our water independent from other ... A: Down with the flu here. Just because the expansion tank is new does not mean that it is not ... | |
| Circulating pump causing excessive sediment? | 3/4/2011 |
| Q: my brother has a 2 story home with 2 full baths on top floor, a kitchen, washing machine,and full ... A: Some of this answer depends on how the recirc system is set up. Typically, they are designed to have ... | |
| Tub Drain | 3/1/2011 |
| Q: We have a problem with our tub drain stopper. It has a slow leak that is quite annoying, so I ... A: Without measuring it, I would not venture a guess. Single o-rings of a specific size can be ... | |
| Plumbing | 3/1/2011 |
| Q: Our master bathroom was an addition to the house before we bought it. We have lived in the house ... A: There can be several reasons for this. It is usually a venting problem but the problem with the ... | |
| dripping sounds | 2/28/2011 |
| Q: My master bathroom has 2 sinks, a shower, and a toilet. When we use any of these, I can hear ... A: If you hear dripping but see no evidence of a leak showing up it may just be dripping inside the ... | |
| Drain issues | 2/28/2011 |
| Q: I am having the same kind of issue as the other fella. When it rains the city sewer backs up into ... A: There really is not "flapper" you can install in the drain. It's against code to restrict any drain ... | |
| Plumbing | 2/28/2011 |
| Q: My tub has been making a gurgling noise. This only happens when our air conditioner is running. I ... A: When an A/C runs, it produces water condensation. This need to be drained away somewhere. This one ... | |
| stool installation | 2/28/2011 |
| Q: I'm putting a 3/4 bath in my basement. The stub coming out of the floor is not exactly 90 degrees. ... A: It's hard to tell from the photo but if it's not too much out of perpendicular it might still work. ... | |
| Loud Knock in Pipe | 2/27/2011 |
| Q: first thank you for being here. I live in a Ranch Style Condo, our water independent from other ... A: Tough problem. There is no specific thing that I'm aware of that will cause this. It does appear to ... | |
| toilet bubbles | 2/27/2011 |
| Q: I have lived in my house for over a year, it is a row house in the suburbs of philadelphia. It is a ... A: This generally indicates a venting problem. The vent for the upstairs toilet is restricted or ... | |
| Shower | 2/26/2011 |
| Q: this morning my daughter was turning on the shower and pulled the hot/cold nozzle so hard it fell ... A: Sounds like it might be a Moen valve. They are pretty common. It's also common for the screw to work ... | |
| plumbing washing machine -dwv | 2/26/2011 |
| Q: I am doing a renovation and need to know how to vent and drain the washing machine. The machine is ... A: The basics are; 2 inch drain, 1-1/2 inch vent. The weir of the trap cannot be farther than 3 feet ... | |
| Dryer | 2/25/2011 |
| Q: I am not really sure of how to ask this but the other day we thought that our dryer had stop working ... A: The water is not unusual to see. After all, what does a dryer remove? And where does it go? Cold ... | |
| White Ribbon in Regulator Valves | 2/24/2011 |
| Q: I recently noticed a significant drop in water pressure, mainly hot water, in certain rooms of my ... A: Sounds like the water heater is committing suicide. The plastic is from the liner that they put ... | |
| Basement laundry room pump? | 2/24/2011 |
| Q: Our basement laundry room in our 100+ yr old home has some problems. The washer outputs into utility ... A: You need a pumping system that is designed to handle this chore. Look at these: ... | |
| Water heater expansion tank clicking | 2/23/2011 |
| Q: I have a expansion tank ,ltherm x span ,on top my residential h2o heater in my condo. At various ... A: It's possible that it is "flooded". These tanks have a diaphragm inside to separate the water from ... | |
| Delta 622 single handle shower faucet - low cold water pressure inside chamber | 2/23/2011 |
| Q: Greetings, first and foremost I appreciate any assistance you might be able to provide me in helping ... A: This is a diagnostic problem. Where exactly is the problem? To find out, you need to trouble shoot ... | |
| Bathtub drain sewer smell | 2/23/2011 |
| Q: I am getting a sewer smell from my bathtub drain only. I have used bleach, but still can't stop it. ... A: Wow, very persistent ice! Just kidding. Something must be breaking the trap seal, the water that ... | |
| Drain vent in bathroom rough-in | 2/23/2011 |
| Q: I am in the process of finishing a basment. I had a plumber rough in the drains for toilet, vanity ... A: Not sure where you found this "plumber" but that rough in looks strange to me. Rather than the 45 ... | |
| Replacing a toilet | 2/21/2011 |
| Q: Im replacing my toilet and when I removed it and the wax ring, I noticed that the metal mount that ... A: If the metal part of the closet ring is too corroded, it should be replaced. As you say, it supports ... | |
| plumbing | 2/21/2011 |
| Q: i live in western Maine, i think my septic tank needs to be pumped out it is due this summer ,but ... A: If you need to, you need to. The main issue in freezing areas is that hydrostatic pressure caused ... | |
| tub spout dripping | 2/20/2011 |
| Q: I have a tub/shower valve that will not stop from dripping. It is a slow drip but I have changed the ... A: What kind of tub/shower valve do you have? Is it the typical three-handle style? Do you happen to ... | |
| Basement floor drain overflow | 2/19/2011 |
| Q: We have a basement floor drain that's been overflowing over the last few weeks. I had assumed it ... A: I suppose anything is possible as far as the previous owner. Any drain connected to a sanitary sewer ... | |
| brown algae coming from my faucets | 2/17/2011 |
| Q: i live in austin, tx and my water service comes from the city. i have what looks like brown algae ... A: I think it's more of an annoyance than a health issue. From what I can find, it's harmless. ... | |
| Water Heater | 2/17/2011 |
| Q: I just moved into a tri-level townhouse with the water heater located at the top of the third floor. ... A: Both system accomplish the same result. The installation location is really the only difference and ... | |
| Hot Water Heater | 2/15/2011 |
| Q: My hot water heater is leaking around the relief valve. I replaced the relief valve thinking that ... A: That would be a very bad idea. Putting water under the house can have all sorts of bad consequences ... | |
| Stem for bathtub faucet | 2/15/2011 |
| Q: Our bathtub faucet(cold) is leaking badly. I know I need to replace the stem but I have no idea ... A: Not sure what you mean "I can't use a screw driver". why is that? Clearance problems for the tool? ... | |
| Stem for bathtub faucet | 2/15/2011 |
| Q: Our bathtub faucet(cold) is leaking badly. I know I need to replace the stem but I have no idea ... A: This faucet set is indeed the original. Nice condition too as far as the picture shows. The trim ... | |
| Hot Water Heater | 2/14/2011 |
| Q: My hot water heater is leaking around the relief valve. I replaced the relief valve thinking that ... A: I'm a bit unclear. Is it leaking around the threads where it goes into the tank? The plastic ring ... | |
| Ticking from Cold Water Line into Water Heater | 2/14/2011 |
| Q: There is no pattern to when the noise starts or stops. Whether or not the faucets are on has no ... A: It would seem from your description that it is flow related if it stops when the inlet to the heater ... | |
| Water Filtration Systems | 2/13/2011 |
| Q: I'd like to get a water filtration system just for my kitchen sink, but since I don't have room ... A: An "air gap" is a device that provides a physical separation between the drain lines and the potable ... | |
| Water Filtration Systems | 2/13/2011 |
| Q: I'd like to get a water filtration system just for my kitchen sink, but since I don't have room ... A: Yep, just tell the fabricator where you want the holes and what they are for. They will do the rest. ... | |
| gas smell from traps | 2/13/2011 |
| Q: We have a vacation condo in South Carolina that we visit every two to three months for the last ... A: You are correct, the water in the traps is evaporating and allowing sewer gas to escape. Try putting ... | |
| Water Filtration Systems | 2/12/2011 |
| Q: I'd like to get a water filtration system just for my kitchen sink, but since I don't have room ... A: Since you have access from below in the basement, it should be pretty easy to run the cold supply ... | |
| Propane Gas Line in Pennsylvania | 2/11/2011 |
| Q: I need to install a gas line outside from a propane tank through a wall and to a free standing ... A: You'll probably need to check with the local code people. There are codes involving gas lines of ... | |
| vibrating pipes | 2/7/2011 |
| Q: When my upstairs toilet shuts off the water supply the pipe vibrates for about 20 sec. This started ... A: Good work tracking down the loose pipes. If this just started out of the blue, something may have ... | |
| Bathtubs | 2/6/2011 |
| Q: I am going to remodel my bathroom and now have a shower/tub surround unit which I am tearing out and ... A: I'm not familiar with the Viktrell brand. I have used the Americast. The Amercast is plastic over a ... | |
| leaky tub faucet | 2/4/2011 |
| Q: I have water leaking from the spout in the bath/shower while water is turned off. Unit is ... A: The spout only gets water when the valve lets it through. The problem is there, not at the spout. A ... | |
| Bathtub faucet | 2/4/2011 |
| Q: I had a problem with the single-handle faucet on my bathtub not shutting off. When I turned pushed ... A: At 16 years, the water heater was likely at the end of its life. The industry average is 8-12 ... | |
| Tub spout broken inside wall | 2/2/2011 |
| Q: I have an all-in-one, fiberglass bath/tub unit. It is situated on the second floor with a closet on ... A: Tricky business. It might be doable. There are tools called "easy outs" that are available in sizes ... | |
| No pressure for bathtub & sinks in upstairs bathroom | 2/2/2011 |
| Q: I have a no pressure problem in my upstairs bathroom sinks and tub, but the shower and toilet in the ... A: Is the shower separate from the tub? The toilet is a pretty low demand so it would not exhibit the ... | |
| PEX to vinyl. | 1/31/2011 |
| Q: My house is plumbed with 1/2" pex pipe. My reverse osmosis water system uses a 1/4" OD vinyl tube ... A: There should be a valve designed to transition from one to the other. Like this one: ... | |
| grey water usage | 1/30/2011 |
| Q: We are having all sewer lines redone underneath the house, and have asked the plumber to leave the ... A: I'm not totally up to speed on the grey water scene, at least not the details like treatment. There ... | |
| dual toilets | 1/30/2011 |
| Q: Two toilets sitting back to back in separate bathrooms with a wall between them. Both are American ... A: That might help. They need to be above the flood level rim of the fixture they are serving and might ... | |
| Toilet flush poor! | 1/29/2011 |
| Q: My toilet flushes a full amount of water and drains down ok, but just will not flush anything away. ... A: There can be a couple of reasons for this. 1. If water will go down but any solids or paper backs ... | |
| dual toilets | 1/29/2011 |
| Q: Two toilets sitting back to back in separate bathrooms with a wall between them. Both are American ... A: It really depends on the configuration of the vent and its size. Toilets require a 2 inch vent. If ... | |
| septic boost pumps | 1/28/2011 |
| Q: Hey Dana, Here is the nightmare i am in. I live in a subdivsion in northern New Mexico. In this ... A: The typical way to handle this issue which is similar to when a home's sewer outlet is below the ... | |
| Light in Shower Stall Leaking Water | 1/26/2011 |
| Q: I have a recessed light in my bathroom in the bathtub/shower area. I just noticed that it is ... A: I would guess that you likely have a roof leak. Water will travel until it finds a way in such as a ... | |
| Light in Shower Stall Leaking Water | 1/26/2011 |
| Q: I have a recessed light in my bathroom in the bathtub/shower area. I just noticed that it is ... A: Water and electricity do not play well together. Any light fixture in a shower or bath stall must be ... | |
| No hot water pressure in the kitchen sink? | 1/26/2011 |
| Q: i have hot water pressure in my bathroom, but not in the kitchen sink, 3 days ago my water pipes ... A: It's possible the some debris broke loose inside the pipes when they froze. It might be clogging up ... | |
| Vent issues | 1/25/2011 |
| Q: Dana, I have serious drain problems. I attached a poorly drawn sketch. My downstairs toilet either ... A: You've got one interesting plumbing system there. From the looks of it per your drawing, there ... | |
| Commode tank overflowing | 1/25/2011 |
| Q: my commode tank is over filling. A friend replaced the fill valve and I thought it was fixed ... A: The most likely cause is excess pressure. The plumbing fixtures are designed to handle 80 pounds of ... | |
| Toilet bowl water level keeps decreasing | 1/24/2011 |
| Q: Just moved into a house. I have a 1/2 bath that doesn't get used all that often (every 2-3 days). ... A: A couple of possibilities come to mind. The toilet itself is faulty and has an internal crack in the ... | |
| leak under kitchen sink | 1/23/2011 |
| Q: I have a Price Pfister one handle faucet with a sprayer. It's about two years old. Yesterday we ... A: The diverter is attached at the bottom of the faucet where the hose for the spray ataches. It could ... | |
| kitchen sink drain leak | 1/23/2011 |
| Q: I have a leak in my kitchen drain and would like to try to fix myself if possible. Problem is ... A: Sorry, I had not noticed that. This is an 1-1/2 inch "Y-branch" tailpiece with a 3/4 inch branch. ... | |
| kitchen sink drain leak | 1/23/2011 |
| Q: I have a leak in my kitchen drain and would like to try to fix myself if possible. Problem is ... A: This piece is called a "flanged" tail piece. The "couplings" are called slip joint nuts. The slip ... | |
| Old tub with clog | 1/23/2011 |
| Q: My wife and I just purchased a home built in 1919 with all original plumbing and tubs. On the second ... A: I think the pull-up part is the stopper. I would advise caution snaking any lines in this old ... | |
| copper tubing | 1/22/2011 |
| Q: Can I use solder for gas or does it need to be flare fitting. Thanks, Dan A: No, soldiered joints are not permitted. Joints are required to be brazed with materials that have a ... | |
| Slow running hot water faucets all over house | 1/22/2011 |
| Q: I have 2 bathrooms, washing machine, and kitchen sink. All the hot water at all locations runs very ... A: This is usually a sign that the old galvanized steel pipes are starting to clog up with hard water ... | |
| Replacing Copper Pipes | 1/20/2011 |
| Q: We are currently in the process of determining liability for the following situation: On Friday of ... A: In defense of the plumber, he could not have known that the house is ungrounded or improperly ... | |
| Replacing Copper Pipes | 1/20/2011 |
| Q: We are currently in the process of determining liability for the following situation: On Friday of ... A: Nice mess you've got there! It sounds like the original electrical panel was not properly installed ... | |
| hot water issues | 1/20/2011 |
| Q: We built a house in Southern Nevada 5 years ago. We have 2 electric hot water heaters and a water ... A: There are several possible causes for this. 1. Deteriorating galvanized steel pipes, either in the ... | |
| will this plumbing configuration work? | 1/20/2011 |
| Q: I decided to make a bathroom from scratch and am really concerned about the configuration of the ... A: 3" drain allows for air space for venting above the flow line of the pipe. This is how they "flat ... | |
| will this plumbing configuration work? | 1/19/2011 |
| Q: I decided to make a bathroom from scratch and am really concerned about the configuration of the ... A: While not to code, it should work okay. The toilet should have it's own vent. Using the upstream ... | |
| Banging niose in pipes | 1/18/2011 |
| Q: every time I turn on the shower or the faucets in the master bathroom, as soon as the water starts ... A: There are two problems that could be causing this. When pipes heat or cool, they expand and contract ... | |
| 3 story home with backup issues | 1/18/2011 |
| Q: OK.. Where to start. Bought 4 level home(including above grade basement) that was about 90% ... A: I know this can be very frustrating. Sabotage came to my mind as well. I've seen it on my own ... | |
| washer hose connection | 1/17/2011 |
| Q: .an easy one for you here im sure! after years of having a washer connected to the faucets, when a ... A: I typically use "channel lock" type pliers with curved jaws that conform to the shape of the fitting ... | |
| bathtub drain trip lever screws broke off | 1/16/2011 |
| Q: When removing the bathtub drain trip lever, the screws were so rusted that they broke off, and 1/2 ... A: Ouch, tough situation. Not much room to work. If you cannot get the screws out, you will need to ... | |
| Washer Hookup | 1/13/2011 |
| Q: Yesterday I disconnected my washer hot water in order to hook up a hose to use hot water outside. ... A: I would just replace the washer in the end of the hose. After being used for several years, the ... | |
| upstairs leak | 1/12/2011 |
| Q: i recently changed a trip lever and the rubber gasket behind it on an upstairs bathtub. Since then ... A: Getting a new foam gasket in place this way is tricky. As I said, they are tapered and must go in ... | |
| Toilet Overflow Tube Height | 1/12/2011 |
| Q: Dana, I may have figured out how my "toilet from hell" can be fixed, but I can't seem to find a ... A: The system is designed by the manufacturer. There is no "recommended" height for the overflow tube ... | |
| Toilet Overflow Tube Height | 1/12/2011 |
| Q: Dana, I may have figured out how my "toilet from hell" can be fixed, but I can't seem to find a ... A: Most areas of the country have adopted the low flush toilets that only use 1.6 gallons per flush as ... | |
| upstairs leak | 1/11/2011 |
| Q: i recently changed a trip lever and the rubber gasket behind it on an upstairs bathtub. Since then ... A: Did you change the entire trip waste, including the drain part called the shoe? Did the leak occur ... | |
| water heater safety tank | 1/10/2011 |
| Q: I have an amtrol pro flow water heater safety tank that is full of water ,its weight is putting ... A: This should be a diaphragm type tank. If you are getting water from the air fill valve, the ... | |
| Leaking cast iron pipe/pvc conection | 1/9/2011 |
| Q: I have had trouble eliminating a leak where a 2" PVC horizontal waste line goes into a 4" vertical ... A: At this point, I would break out all the previous attempts at patching and try to wire brush around ... | |
| toilet and shower back up | 1/8/2011 |
| Q: I've had a slow drain in my shower (upper level) for a couple of weeks. Last week my toilet (lower ... A: Your slow drain problems may or may not be related. On a two-story house, there are several paths ... | |
| need iron-to-copper transition fitting on water intake | 1/6/2011 |
| Q: I am working on 1906 brick house. The incoming water line is 3/4" iron. Want to install new ... A: As you probably know already, contact between dissimilar metals creates electrolysis, a transfer of ... | |
| leak from upstairs bath,to downstairs ceiling | 1/6/2011 |
| Q: How do I fix leak from upstairs bath to downstairs ceiling/already cut ceiling to look for ... A: You will likely need to open the ceiling and possibly the backside of the wall at the head end of ... | |
| Water Heater Clearance to Drywall | 1/4/2011 |
| Q: I own a condo in Chicago that I am attempting to sell to my relocation company. They completed an ... A: The manufacturer's installation instructions always supersede the code. The allowable clearance ... | |
| Glacier bay kitchen faucet "lost" Pressure after using PUR Water filter | 1/3/2011 |
| Q: Bostik, we had a PUR water filter attached to the glacier bay faucet. After that water filter ... A: All plumbing fixtures are designed to handle up to 80 PSI pressure. If your pressure is higher than ... | |
| im lost | 1/2/2011 |
| Q: mr. bostick, apparently i have a freeze-up somewhere in my ... A: Bummer! Just to be clear, are we talking frozen as in ice? Assuming that it is..........as you have ... | |
| help | 1/2/2011 |
| Q: my toilet water is going to my bathtubs.what is going on.i need help please,!!! A: You have a stoppage in the sewer line that is causing a back up into the tub. The tub drain outlet ... | |
| very slight drip from valve | 1/1/2011 |
| Q: I recently helped to replace a bathroom faucet, where we disconnected the supply lines with wing-nut ... A: Yes, I understand. That is exactly what I'm talking about. Those shut off valves are called angle ... | |
| Wobble Of Toilet Tank | 12/31/2010 |
| Q: Replaced seal ring and bolt gaskets on toilet tank. All are tight, and tank is not leaking, but tank ... A: You are correct, the tank should not wobble. It's a fine line between over tightening the bolts and ... | |
| Water heater vibrations | 12/30/2010 |
| Q: Mr. Bostic, great web site! I have a question for you: Is it normal to feel vibrations in the gas ... A: I've never noticed any significant vibration from units like these. I suppose there is some to be ... | |
| Leak beneath sink | 12/30/2010 |
| Q: There is water that leaks beneath the faucet where it sets on top of the sink. It leaks into the ... A: Yep, those little details are relevant. Yes, the water is going through the faucet and out the open ... | |
| Water pressure in kitchen faucet | 12/30/2010 |
| Q: recently replaced Moen 1225 cartidge for the single handle kitchen unit. The cold water now has a ... A: There are a number of possibilities: 1. Mis-installation of the cartridge. It is only supposed to ... | |
| New Shower, Toilet, & Vanity | 12/29/2010 |
| Q: One of my kids is moving back home(economy) and I do not want him in the house. Need our peace and ... A: There are a lot of "it depends" attached to this answer. It is possible but....... Where is the ... | |
| in wall washer Pea trap and vent | 12/29/2010 |
| Q: My objective is to install an in-wall pea trap to the existing drain and vent,and install an Oatey ... A: Washer drains are supposed to be 2 inch, per code with 1-1/2 inch vents. Older ones from the 40's ... | |
| Leak beneath sink | 12/28/2010 |
| Q: There is water that leaks beneath the faucet where it sets on top of the sink. It leaks into the ... A: The leak could be coming from around the base of the faucet trim plate. In that case, the faucet ... | |
| pipe connection to washer | 12/28/2010 |
| Q: .to prepare for a new washer, i am trying to take out the hoses that are currently connected to it. ... A: Congratulations on the new washer. I think you will find that the new ones use a lot less water. ... | |
| flooring under kitchen sink | 12/28/2010 |
| Q: I have seen stainless steel sheeting on the floor of cabinet under the kitchen sheet. It is dimpled ... A: I'm not aware of any pre-made metal floor inserts. I would check with a local sheet metal supplier ... | |
| WATER PRESSURE | 12/26/2010 |
| Q: Happy holidays, my name is Todd Bradley and I live in a 4 story town hm. @ 2800 sq.feet. The hot ... A: It's as easy as doing a search on "pressure booster systems domestic" Here's one out of 119,000 ... | |
| Connect a washing machine to an unthreaded tap | 12/26/2010 |
| Q: We live in a rented apartment and were trying to figure out how to connect our washing machine to ... A: H Mia, These are not easy to find but here's one that might work for you. ... | |
| WATER PRESSURE | 12/24/2010 |
| Q: Happy holidays, my name is Todd Bradley and I live in a 4 story town hm. @ 2800 sq.feet. The hot ... A: The building codes recognize 40 to 80 PSI as an acceptable pressure. Anything more than 80 PSI is ... | |
| Wax Ring Leak? | 12/23/2010 |
| Q: I have a bathroom toilet question about a possible leaking wax ring. The toilet was installed on a ... A: Where are these screws that you can pull out? In 1979, toilets were typically fastened down to the ... | |
| air in water line | 12/22/2010 |
| Q: is there some kind of device that can remove air from the water lines on the cold side. i have a ... A: Why do you think there is "air in the lines"? Does air come out when you use a faucet? Do the lines ... | |
| cprice@msandorffy.com | 12/20/2010 |
| Q: We are considering converting our attached garage to living space. I am wondering if it is possible ... A: It might be possible. As they say, anything is possible if you can write the check. Most garages ... | |
| plumbing | 12/20/2010 |
| Q: I am currently finishing my basement and I am at the point were I have to run my drain for the ... A: Plumbing School 101 - Start: Every fixture connected to a sewer drain line needs to have a P-trap to ... | |
| air in hot water line | 12/19/2010 |
| Q: I have a water softener in our house and it seems that latley we have been getting a fair amount of ... A: How is this manifesting? Are the fixtures sputtering when used or is it "milky" water on the hot ... | |
| electric hot water heater | 12/18/2010 |
| Q: We had an 80 gallon Rheem (82MXR52-2) electric water tank installed on Jan.25, 2004. It failed ... A: Unfortunately, something odd is going on here. This should not happen. Hot water tanks have "anode ... | |
| Black beads in faucet | 12/17/2010 |
| Q: I believe my softener have gone bad, I have low water pressure in small black beans in my sinks. Is ... A: In my experience, water softener resin beads are amber, not black. It may be something else. Try ... | |
| Leaky pipe under kitchen sink - how to secure the circular nut properly | 12/15/2010 |
| Q: Bostick, I was wondering if you have suggestions for how to secure these pipes under the sink? For ... A: These are called "slip joints" and they rely on friction to stay together. The threads do not ... | |
| Pressure Switch (pumptrol 9013) | 12/14/2010 |
| Q: I bought a Pumptrol 9013,the fixe settings is 20psi to turn ON,and to turn off is 40psi,i made and ... A: According to the data sheet, these pressure control switches have a range of 20-65 psi. 10 psi may ... | |
| Sump Pump Problem After Shower Insltalation | 12/14/2010 |
| Q: I had a shower installed in the laundry room which is located on the ground floor over the basement ... A: It is very hard to diagnose this issue remotely. I can't see or hear what is going on. One thing ... | |
| Sump Pump Problem After Shower Insltalation | 12/14/2010 |
| Q: I had a shower installed in the laundry room which is located on the ground floor over the basement ... A: Ear plugs? Just kidding. Without seeing the installation it is hard to determine what to do. It ... | |
| Sump Pump Problem After Shower Insltalation | 12/14/2010 |
| Q: I had a shower installed in the laundry room which is located on the ground floor over the basement ... A: It sounds like the "plumber" has drained the shower into the sump pump basin or piping either ... | |
| gas line | 12/12/2010 |
| Q: I just finish my in simi valley ca I need to install a gas line and I need to know how deep is I ... A: Ventura County follows the 2007 California Plumbing Code until 1/1/2011. That code specifies 12 ... | |
| stink pipe | 12/11/2010 |
| Q: how do you clean out the stink pipe? A: I'm not familiar with that term. if you mean the plumbing vent pipes, they can be snaked (usually ... | |
| New Hot Water Tank Leaking | 12/11/2010 |
| Q: Just installed a new State Water Heater Model No. ES650S0lSG and it leaks at the Hot water threaded ... A: I believe the plastic rings are just to identify the hot and cold inlets and outlets making it ... | |
| toilet tank fill up | 12/9/2010 |
| Q: I replaced the flow valve in my tank,when I turn on the water if I open the water valve to much the ... A: The time that the tank takes to fill is really sort of inconsequential unless you are waiting to ... | |
| Hot water heater | 12/8/2010 |
| Q: His hot water heater just quit heating water. He replaced the heating elements and the theromstats . ... A: This is difficult to diagnose without actually being there. Basic troubleshooting procedure applies. ... | |
| Shower access panel | 12/7/2010 |
| Q: Dana, I replaced our shower faucets a while back and had to break/chop through metal lath and wet ... A: First, replacement of in-wall valves is rarely needed. All the serviceable parts are accessed though ... | |
| Leaky valve steam faycet | 12/4/2010 |
| Q: *<shower >I'm not familiar with steam faucet. I just talk to a lady and she mentioned once the ... A: I'm not really sure what you are talking about here. Is this a steam shower"? There are several ... | |
| leaking shower valve/knob | 12/3/2010 |
| Q: My husband tried to stop a leak in the shower faucet by replacing the washers in the shower valves. ... A: It depends on the make and model of the valves but most of these kind have some system of tightening ... | |
| Drain from washing machine | 12/2/2010 |
| Q: The drain for my washingmachine is overflowing when the water empties from the machine. I have used ... A: I think you need need more snake. You have not reached the restriction yet. Have the drain snaked ... | |
| Milky water coming out of one hot water faucet | 12/2/2010 |
| Q: I have an issue where, on only one hot water faucet in my house, the water comes out milky white, ... A: Does the water go clear after sitting for a while? It may just be excess aeration. Try removing ... | |
| Broken Toilet Flange | 12/1/2010 |
| Q: Recently tried to repair a broken toilet flange. I own a home that was built in 1992. The toilet ... A: Drilling concrete can be hard or easy, it depends on the tools used. The best way is to use a hammer ... | |
| Moved Washing Machine from downstairs to upstairs | 12/1/2010 |
| Q: We recently had a handyman move our washer and dryer upstairs. We have a bi-level house and the ... A: You have got a lot going on here. Most handymen have enough skills to get themselves into trouble ... | |
| Kitchen Faucets | 11/28/2010 |
| Q: I have had several kitchen faucets "go bad" on me. They either leak or the swivel spout becomes ... A: I would stick with the major brands like Kohler, Delta, American Standard or Price Pfister. They ... | |
| order of plumbing components | 11/28/2010 |
| Q: We are lucky enough to have our own well and enjoy excellent water. After storms the water was ... A: This appears to be a problem with filter capacity. The one you installed is too small/fine and does ... | |
| Gas Dryer Hook up | 11/24/2010 |
| Q: I had a gas leak in the flex pipe that brings the gas to the dryer. PG&E turned off the gas at the ... A: It depends on the age of the dryer. Older ones may have to have the pilot lit. Newer ones have ... | |
| Washer/ Utility Sink on same drain | 11/22/2010 |
| Q: I would like to install a utility sink on the other side of the wall from my washer. Can I put a ... A: This is getting technical. What you want to do is called a "wet vented drain" and it technically ... | |
| gas water heater | 11/22/2010 |
| Q: My natural gas water heater is leaking off and on from my pressure relief valve, I replaced it and ... A: Your system needs an expansion tank installed on the hot water pipes at the heater area. It ... | |
| URC toilet | 11/20/2010 |
| Q: I have a question about my Universal Rundle toilet flush system made in the early 80's. My model ... A: The spigot should not run all the time. That water is just going the bowl and down the drain ... | |
| bathroom shower clogged up | 11/20/2010 |
| Q: "My bathroom shower drain is clogged up.. It drains a little its not completely clogged up but ... A: The most likely cause is hair. Try removing the the grill top and and pulling out the gob of hair ... | |
| Toilet Clog - Possibly a Wash Cloth | 11/19/2010 |
| Q: A toilet in my parent's condo is clogged. My mom thinks (but is not certain) that the clog is from ... A: There a lot of "depends" here. It depends on the condition of the drain pipes; old, rough and ... | |
| Smell when running bath water | 11/19/2010 |
| Q: for about the past month or two every time we run the bath water in my daughter's bathroom there is ... A: The only source of chlorine in the water that I'm aware of is from the city water system and then it ... | |
| Toilet Clog - Possibly a Wash Cloth | 11/19/2010 |
| Q: A toilet in my parent's condo is clogged. My mom thinks (but is not certain) that the clog is from ... A: I think that while possible, it's very unlikely that a washcloth would clog a toilet. The opening ... | |
| Kohler K310 Finial Traditional Widespread faucet | 11/17/2010 |
| Q: We bought a new home and it has these Kohler faucets which are leaking. We want to replace the ... A: This is often a problem with oddly shaped decorative trim, especially if they are tapered like these ... | |
| Sewage drain in my basement | 11/17/2010 |
| Q: There is a sewage drain in the middle of my basement. It is covered by only the carpet. I am doing a ... A: The drain needs to be kept available. Yes, it's a good idea to pour some water down it once a week ... | |
| new Brass Craft Anti-Siphon Fill Valve "leaks" | 11/17/2010 |
| Q: My old valve was occasionally "dripping" inside the tank. Being conscious of our water consumption i ... A: There are two parts to a toilet flushing system, the fill valve or ballcock that lets the water in ... | |
| pipes rattling. | 11/17/2010 |
| Q: I installed a Grundfos recirc pump on my water heater a year ago. I installed the valve in the hall ... A: I don't think the two are related. Most likely cause is a worn/loose washer in the shower valve. ... | |
| Kohler K-10412, can't remove bonnet | 11/16/2010 |
| Q: My faucet leaks, appears to be a cartridge/o-ring issue. Very small leak from under bonnet when ... A: It's probably just grunged up with hard water scale. Try soaking it by wrapping a rag or dish towel ... | |
| Noisey Pipes | 11/15/2010 |
| Q: I recently replaced the PVR in our 1975 built 4/2.5 slab house. The PVR was located sheetrocked in ... A: If you used pre-manufactured fittings for the transitions it should be fine. This situation is a ... | |
| Noisey Pipes | 11/14/2010 |
| Q: I recently replaced the PVR in our 1975 built 4/2.5 slab house. The PVR was located sheetrocked in ... A: Nice little project. I should mention a couple of tips here. Any plastic to metal transition should ... | |
| Mark IV Ballcock | 11/14/2010 |
| Q: Sporadically, the ballcock opens for 2 - 3 seconds, then closes. It is intermittent, but goes on ... A: This is usually the symptom of a leaking flapper in the fill valve at the bottom of the tank. It ... | |
| 1B1 Master Mark IV Ballcock | 11/13/2010 |
| Q: I have a 1B1 Master Mark IV Ballcock in my toilet with no tube from the valve nipple to the ... A: yes, water should come out the nipple and be directed to the overflow. This is what refills the ... | |
| water leak | 11/13/2010 |
| Q: i have installed a new fiber glass tub two months ago and the water is leaking around the ... A: When you install a new tub the tile backer and waterproof membrane is supposed to go down and ... | |
| Shower/tub | 11/12/2010 |
| Q: I have a shower/tub combo valve.I want to do away with the tub spout and make it shower only.Is this ... A: Yes, that will work if you have the type of spout that turns on the shower by pulling up on a knob ... | |
| Moen single handle faucet | 11/12/2010 |
| Q: I changed a moen cartridge because it drips , that fixed the problem but the faucet won't stay open ... A: Not sure why this is happening. Possibly the wrong cartridge got installed? I'm not aware of any ... | |
| Plumbing Issue | 11/11/2010 |
| Q: Water backs up into one of our 2nd floor bath tubs when it rains. The line has been snaked a couple ... A: This is very strange. I'm afraid that this is something that someone locally will have to sleuth ... | |
| Smell when running bath water | 11/11/2010 |
| Q: for about the past month or two every time we run the bath water in my daughter's bathroom there is ... A: I'm not sure what would cause a "chemically" smell. Smells from drain traps are usually from ... | |
| Water Pressure | 11/11/2010 |
| Q: I put a guage on the water valve near the pressure relief valve, the guage read 138 psi when I ... A: A static reading like the one you made is only part of the story. If you are on a "city" system, ... | |
| Toilet gurggles and bubbles | 11/10/2010 |
| Q: I have a toilet that when flushed, it acts like it's going to overflow. When it fills back up, there ... A: There is a good chance that there is a partial clog in the lines somewhere. Liquid will pass but the ... | |
| toilet tank leak | 11/7/2010 |
| Q: I have leaks in my toilet tank from around the three bolts holding the tank to the bowl. The seals ... A: About the only way if the bolts are frozen is to use a hack saw blade to cut them of between the ... | |
| Sewage drain in my basement | 11/7/2010 |
| Q: There is a sewage drain in the middle of my basement. It is covered by only the carpet. I am doing a ... A: The drain is there for a reason so it's probably not a good idea to seal it off. It is there to deal ... | |
| Septic Problem | 11/3/2010 |
| Q: I recently finished a down stairs bathroom. I have a basement. I found the septic tank and connected ... A: The usual reason that one gets sewer gases coming back into the house is problems with a missing ... | |
| Pipe sizes | 10/31/2010 |
| Q: Can you please tell me what size plumbing is used where the Shower Rose connects to the plumbing in ... A: Not familiar with that term "shower rose". Can I assume you are talking about the shower's spray ... | |
| discharge. | 10/29/2010 |
| Q: do i need increase the height of my overhead tank to have my shower discharging.though some shower ... A: With a gravity type water system that you are describing, the height of the source determines how ... | |
| Need to move washer to another drain. | 10/28/2010 |
| Q: I have 2 drains in my basement a main and a secondary. My washer currently drains into the ... A: Proper snaking should have cleared the line. If you did it yourself, you may not have done a good ... | |
| Water pipe hammer | 10/28/2010 |
| Q: Toilets on the main floor and the basement initiate a staccato hammer at the onset of filling that ... A: I suspect the problem may be with the old regulator. It has a spring loaded diaphragm inside to ... | |
| Garden tub faucet, would like sprayer attachment | 10/24/2010 |
| Q: I live in a mobile home that has a garden tub in the master bathroom. The garden tub does not have ... A: The spouts of spa tubs (garden tubs) are unique to the whole valve assembly. A replacement spout ... | |
| Backing up into my tub... | 10/24/2010 |
| Q: We just moved into a House , And 2 days ago I did 2 loads of Laundry and a sink of dishes and My son ... A: Bummer! Being Sunday, you will pay a premium rate to get a rooter guy out there. There is a ... | |
| cooper pipe split | 10/23/2010 |
| Q: We have a well and the cooper pipes going to and from the holding tank and water heater split. They ... A: Splitting copper is usually from freeze issues. If this in not the case then there may be water ... | |
| Fluidmaster 400 Toilet Fill Valve | 10/23/2010 |
| Q: Is the small rubber washer inside a Fluidmaster 400 Fill Valve necessary? My toilet was noisy and ... A: Rubber parts deteriorate from chlorine in the water. I would assume that Fluidmaster does not put in ... | |
| water leak | 10/22/2010 |
| Q: we see a wet spot in the ceiling of the family room right below a bathroom. We hear a drip but ... A: Opening the ceiling may be the only way to actually find what is leaking. It may not be directly ... | |
| water sound behind upstairs wall. | 10/22/2010 |
| Q: Upstairs I hear water rushing behind the shower wall. I opened the wall and found everything dry. I ... A: Very strange. Is this sound from the waste and vent lines like water is draining? Or is it coming ... | |
| Drain in concrete shower stall | 10/21/2010 |
| Q: I've got a shower stall in a bathroom. The sink drain and toilet are roughed in, and I thought the ... A: This space may have been intended for a tub at one point and then changed. Shower drains only need ... | |
| Drain in concrete shower stall | 10/21/2010 |
| Q: I've got a shower stall in a bathroom. The sink drain and toilet are roughed in, and I thought the ... A: This looks like a typical "box out" that is done for a tub. In these, the stub-out would come from ... | |
| bathroom sink handle spontaneously popping off? | 10/20/2010 |
| Q: I was out of town for 2 days and got a call from my landlord that there was flooding coming from my ... A: Neither have I! Very strange. The stem (the part the handle is attached to) in held in place by a ... | |
| Mobile Home water pressure | 10/19/2010 |
| Q: What would cause the water pressure to be low only in the kitchen and laundry room cold taps? When ... A: Low flow rates at fixtures can be caused by several things. The most common when it is not ... | |
| outside water pressure | 10/19/2010 |
| Q: Over the past month or so I have noticed that the water pressure is very low when trying to water ... A: Any regular plumber should be able to handle this problem. It may just be a faulty hose faucet. It ... | |
| Mobile Home water pressure | 10/19/2010 |
| Q: What would cause the water pressure to be low only in the kitchen and laundry room cold taps? When ... A: The most likely problem is a clogged aerator on the end of the spout. Try removing it and see if the ... | |
| Singing Pipes | 10/19/2010 |
| Q: I have a "singing" pipe (quite loud) coming from under one of our bathrooms faucets only when the ... A: From your description this is likely being caused by a loose or worn washer on the cold faucet. ... | |
| outside water pressure | 10/19/2010 |
| Q: Over the past month or so I have noticed that the water pressure is very low when trying to water ... A: Are you using a sprinkler system or a hose from a faucet on the house? If it's a sprinkler system ... | |
| Toilets, tubs gurgling; Toilets not draining | 10/18/2010 |
| Q: and thanks for taking the time to read this question. This morning, we woke up to find that when ... A: Since this appears to be happening throughout the house, I suspect that there is a main line ... | |
| 1978 Mobile | 10/18/2010 |
| Q: I have a 1978 Ranier mobile home. Both bathtub faucets have rusted clear through the bottoms and its ... A: Given the fact that you have all this rust happening, you probably have galvanized steel pipe for ... | |
| shut off valve | 10/17/2010 |
| Q: I cannot seem to turn off water to my condo using the supply line shut-off valve located in the ... A: Unfortunate situation. Gate style valves can often fail. I prefer the lever type ball valves for ... | |
| Plumbing Diagram of Bidet Installation Next to the Toilet | 10/14/2010 |
| Q: I just read your response about the installation of the Bidet. Could you please include a diagram? ... A: A Bidet plumbs exactly like a lavatory sink. The only difference is that it is closer to the floor ... | |
| shower pressure problem | 10/13/2010 |
| Q: My renters have been complaining that the water pressure in the shower drops during the middle of a ... A: Odd problem. This is something usually associated with single handle, pressure balancing type ... | |
| Leak in bathroom | 10/12/2010 |
| Q: I hope you can help me. After I got out of the shower this morning (upstairs bathroom), my bathroom ... A: You are correct, if it is a water supply pipe that is under constant pressure, it would leak all the ... | |
| water under tub | 10/11/2010 |
| Q: ok well there is a small door that we can open (in a closent) and there is alot of water sitting in ... A: No, there should not be any water in that area. If there is, something is leaking and needs to be ... | |
| oil in sump pit | 10/10/2010 |
| Q: Where in the world would oil that comes into our sump pit be coming from? The screen is caked with ... A: It would not seem that laundry residue would smell like crude oil. I s this pump for waste water or ... | |
| Sewer/Baffle | 10/8/2010 |
| Q: when do not need to put a baffle in when you care connecting to the sewer (San Mateo county, CA) A: I'm not sure what you mean by "baffle." If you mean a backwater valve or check valve in the sewer ... | |
| mixit diverter | 10/7/2010 |
| Q: I tried to replace my Mixit faucet and the piece that holds the screw to the diverter handle came ... A: So it's the actual stem and cartridge you replaced. I'm not sure what controls the rotation of the ... | |
| mixit diverter | 10/5/2010 |
| Q: I tried to replace my Mixit faucet and the piece that holds the screw to the diverter handle came ... A: I'm not real clear about which part you need. Here is a link to the parts breakdown for a Mixit ... | |
| Slow draining sink, I've tried all the basics, what now. | 10/1/2010 |
| Q: I have a slow draining kitchen sink. It is a double sink with a garbage disposal and dishwasher. I ... A: Don't you just hate it when you "fix" something and it gets worse? ;( Have you snaked the drain ... | |
| dribbling slip joint | 9/30/2010 |
| Q: I am trying to install a basin type sink on top of a custom vanity top that i made with ceramic ... A: Alignment can be an issue with slip joints. The won't tolerate much out of line. You know you can ... | |
| Toliet - Bubble When Flushed/Incomplete Flush | 9/30/2010 |
| Q: When I flush the toliet it does not completely flush with minimal paper in it. Also, when the ... A: It is possible that the toilet is faulty. Everyone makes mistakes and it could have a bad casting ... | |
| Hot Water Tank Setting | 9/30/2010 |
| Q: I have a a new home boiler instaled and the hot water is scalding. The engineer has set the ... A: That's way too hot and poses a scalding danger, especially if someone comes in that is unaware of ... | |
| pipe noise | 9/24/2010 |
| Q: after we run the water the pipes start vibrating and make alot of noise what could be wrong thankyou A: There could be several problems here. It could be thermal expansion caused by heating water which ... | |
| pipes in the wall | 9/22/2010 |
| Q: I am going to put shelves on the wall that is between the dining room and the bathroom. I want to ... A: There are two types of pipes inside the walls. Usually metal like galvanized steel or copper for ... | |
| Sink too low. Drain too high. | 9/16/2010 |
| Q: Swapped out the old vanity top with a new one from big box store. The sink depth is greater than ... A: Yes, I do understand. Been there, done that, as they say. Leaving everything as it is now will just ... | |
| Air in my Waterlines | 9/15/2010 |
| Q: What's the best way to remove air from my waterlines servicing 3 exterior spigots? I have weak ... A: What makes you think that there is air in the lines and that it is causing the low pressure? Is it ... | |
| Water pressure | 9/15/2010 |
| Q: I have a 1 inch supply into the house. Installed a 1" house filter. Prior to this I noticed the ... A: While 41 PSI is technically still within the range of "usable" pressure, it's not very good or ... | |
| hudie rim | 9/15/2010 |
| Q: Where can I purchase a hudie rim for a 19inch oval cast iron bathroom sink A: A plumbing supplier should have this item. A hardware store or big box store like Home Depot or ... | |
| Shower pressure suddenly stopped | 9/14/2010 |
| Q: In the shower tonight, in mid shower the water pressure goes to about a third of what it was. Still ... A: It sounds like something may have gone wrong with the shower valve itself. If it is a "anti-scald", ... | |
| Sewer clog: am I being ripped off? | 9/13/2010 |
| Q: I have a very old home (150 years, give or take), and don't have a lot of information about when the ... A: There is always the possibility of damage resulting from jetting. It's pretty aggressive. But, ... | |
| Sewer clog: am I being ripped off? | 9/13/2010 |
| Q: I have a very old home (150 years, give or take), and don't have a lot of information about when the ... A: The cost for installing a clean out really depends on the conditions at hand, and the depth of the ... | |
| running water in toilet bowl | 9/12/2010 |
| Q: I've had water trickling into the toilet bowl for a month and my bill went up $40! Today I replaced ... A: The way to test if the water is leaking from the tank, through the flapper is to put a bit of food ... | |
| noisy water flow | 9/11/2010 |
| Q: I have a single story, slab house with the water heater in the attic over the bathrooms. The ... A: The noise from water flow is a function of how the pipes were installed and the type of material. ... | |
| compression fittings | 9/11/2010 |
| Q: Can a compression fitting be reused after it has been installed once? Specifically I have a shut ... A: It depends on the kind of pipe and fitting. If it is copper pipe, you cannot usually reuse the brass ... | |
| leaking (new) pop-up assembly | 9/10/2010 |
| Q: I just installed a new brass pop-up assembly in my bathroom sink because the older plastic one was ... A: Very frustrating. This is a threaded tail piece. It has very fine threads that screw into the bottom ... | |
| water tank pressure | 9/8/2010 |
| Q: My new tank used to go to 40lbs and shut of, coming back on @20lbs. Inside tank pressure is 28 ... A: This is not my area of expertise but there are a couple of things to check. Is the tank "flooded" ... | |
| Kitchen sink leaking | 9/7/2010 |
| Q: but not when it is off. I know I need a top repair kit as it leaks from the faucet when turned on. ... A: This is difficult to diagnose without actually seeing what is going on. There could be many places ... | |
| Snaking a toilet | 9/7/2010 |
| Q: My toilet seems to be lacking in pressure when I flush. Even if I hold the handle down until it is ... A: It is possible that the line has become clogged. Due to it's design, it cannot easily be snaked ... | |
| leak | 9/6/2010 |
| Q: Have moisture and mold in basement. Cannot see where it enters. Water companies want to dig trench ... A: Water intrusion issues can be a problem and often difficult to pin down. Having them occur in ... | |
| Washing Machine Drains/Kitchen Sink Drains | 9/5/2010 |
| Q: I have an old 60's ranch home, and the washing machine water sources and drain are in the garage, ... A: The washer and kitchen sink are often on the same drain line. You need to have the lines ... | |
| Adding a faucet (outside) | 9/4/2010 |
| Q: I have a faucet on one side of the house and would like to install another one near the front ... A: You are correct, PVC or most other plastic piping (PEX, PB, ABS) does not handle UV very well and ... | |
| random gurgling sound from drains from different part of the house | 9/4/2010 |
| Q: I have been hearing a lot of random gurgling sound from the drains in different parts of my house. ... A: This sounds suspiciously like a "phantom flush" situation. This is caused by a worn out flapper in ... | |
| slab leak/hot water | 9/1/2010 |
| Q: the tile floor in bathroom is hot for days or weeks %26 it is near the hot water heater. What ... A: Under slab leaks are a major pain. Worse yet, they are a symptom of things to come. Some are caused ... | |
| Toilet woes | 8/31/2010 |
| Q: Dana, thanks for taking my question. I've just replaced the flapper in my toilet tank. My problem ... A: Such minor problems can be a major annoyance. The solution depends on the flush system used in your ... | |
| ejector pump | 8/31/2010 |
| Q: Is it unusual that the kitchen sink and garbage disposal use the basement ejector pump? The ... A: There would be some expense. How much does it cost to replace the ejector pump every few years, not ... | |
| Noise from pressure tank. | 8/30/2010 |
| Q: I have municipal water. There is a small tank - probably 2 gallon that is attached to the waterline ... A: As far as I am aware, there is no "pressure reducing tank" system available. This is probably an ... | |
| polybutylene pipes | 8/29/2010 |
| Q: In your experience, how likely are homes built in the late 1980's with polybutylene pipes to ... A: There are too many variables here to give you a potential cost without actually seeing the ... | |
| leak in upstairs shower HELP!!!!!!!! | 8/29/2010 |
| Q: I need some help with a mysterious water leak in my second floor shower that is leaking into my ... A: Perplexing problem. This would be something a local tile expert should investigate. It's not really ... | |
| polybutylene pipes | 8/28/2010 |
| Q: In your experience, how likely are homes built in the late 1980's with polybutylene pipes to ... A: Early implementations of PB pipe were problematical. Factors contributing to system leaks include ... | |
| Cost to install tankless water heater | 8/27/2010 |
| Q: A local plumbing company is offering to sell and install a Rinnai R75LSiN Tankless Water Heater for ... A: That model is available for $921.xx on Amazon with free shipping right now ... | |
| heat tape for freezing sewer line | 8/27/2010 |
| Q: Is there a heat tape available that can be buried under ground next to a shallow sew line to keep it ... A: I have not found any heat tape that is usable underground. All the brands I looked at such as ... | |
| toilet is hissing on flush and refill | 8/25/2010 |
| Q: My toilet makes this kind of hiss as it refills. I read someone else had this question and the ... A: The noise may just be some small debris caught in the angle stop (shut off valve)near the floor that ... | |
| cast iron clawfoot tub | 8/25/2010 |
| Q: We want to install a vintage clawfoot tub in place of our ceramic shower stall. My husband thinks ... A: Installing a claw foot tub is all about the "look" rather than function. Yes, it can be used. ... | |
| installing a cast iron sink | 8/24/2010 |
| Q: We want to install a cast iron kitchen sink but are wondering if we need to have a stand or support ... A: It should not be a problem. I've installed dozens of these in laminate counters. The critical part ... | |
| Plumbing Chemical Coming into Kitchen | 8/23/2010 |
| Q: A plumber fixed a leak by replacing PVC pipe in front of our house this morning. 2 and 1/2 hours ... A: It was probably a solvent he used to clean the pipe before gluing it. Guess he was a bit sloppy in ... | |
| eurostream faucet | 8/20/2010 |
| Q: can you replace the washer seats in mod 12a234cp eurostream bath tub faucet is so what tools do you ... A: That model number returns no results for Eurostream bath tub faucets. If it is a single handle ... | |
| faucet odor | 8/15/2010 |
| Q: i installed a cheap chineese kitchen sink/faucet combo which i got from lowes, 8 months ago. i ... A: Without doing a chemical analysis it's hard to tell. You are probably right. Something in your ... | |
| kohler k6350 leaking on handle | 8/12/2010 |
| Q: two month old kohler K6350 keep leaking on handle when turn on and off replace the new valve kit ... A: Comes a time when you have to cut your losses. I think the faucet is faulty. They should replace ... | |
| kitchen faucet | 8/9/2010 |
| Q: Everytime I turn the direction of my kitchen faucet it makes a squeaky sound. How do I fix this ... A: There is a special grease called "stem grease" that is used on this area. The faucet needs to be ... | |
| backflow valve | 8/8/2010 |
| Q: installed irrigation system.installed back flow valve.when irrigation system shuts off water sprays ... A: It sounds like the pressure on the irrigation system may be too high. Most normal anti-siphon valves ... | |
| About the business of plumbing... | 8/7/2010 |
| Q: Dana: I do not know if my questions are appropriate for this site, but it is information I need from ... A: I'm not a plumber, I just play one on TV! LOL Actually, I am a General Contractor with subs in ... | |
| Hooking up a garbage disposal | 8/5/2010 |
| Q: I just purchased a Waste King Sink Disposer, 1/2 Hp SS2600 and I going to try to install myself and ... A: I feel your pain! LOL, kitchen sinks can be a real headache to get it all right. It can be done but ... | |
| toilet flushing problem | 8/5/2010 |
| Q: I have to hold my toilet handle for the entire flush (5+ seconds). How can I fix this so I just push ... A: The "flapper" portion of the flushing system is what controls this. There can be several things ... | |
| slab leak | 7/31/2010 |
| Q: We recently bought a 5-year old slab house. It is couple of months that we have noticed the ground ... A: Sewer leaks are a possibility. There would usually be a smell associated with that. The wast lines ... | |
| slab leak | 7/30/2010 |
| Q: We recently bought a 5-year old slab house. It is couple of months that we have noticed the ground ... A: It certainly sounds like there might be a leak. Gravity will cause the water to move down and, ... | |
| drains | 7/29/2010 |
| Q: I'm installing a new sink in the bathroom. The plumbing is already in the wall. So I'm going to ... A: Standard lavatory sink drains are 1-1/4 inch a the sink outlet. Normal plumbing drains are 1-1/2 ... | |
| noisey pipes | 7/29/2010 |
| Q: after returning from a vacation, when we turn on the hot water on the kitchen faucet we get a loud ... A: "Making noise" is pretty generic. What kind of noise? Banging, moaning, shrieking like a banshee? ... | |
| Shut off valve below the bathroom sink | 7/28/2010 |
| Q: I'm trying to shut off the water below the bathroom sink because I'm installing a new vanity. My ... A: There in lies the rub! With old fixtures/valves/systems one never knows what one will run into. ... | |
| Shut off valve below the bathroom sink | 7/28/2010 |
| Q: I'm trying to shut off the water below the bathroom sink because I'm installing a new vanity. My ... A: Yep, the valves are older than dirt. LOL This is not an uncommon problem with old systems. At this ... | |
| Water Heater Vibration | 7/26/2010 |
| Q: I live in a 2- story townhouse. We have a two year old GE 38 gallon gas water heater. This problem ... A: Good name! LOL What GE is talking about is when a cake of hard water deposits develops in the bottom ... | |
| Replacing Pewx Fitting with Conch Clamps | 7/26/2010 |
| Q: I live full time in a 36 ft fifth wheel RV. The OEM plumbing is a combination of 1/2" pex with ... A: PEX pipe connections are very finicky and many systems require a proper cinch clamp and tool set at ... | |
| Basement drain/trap | 7/25/2010 |
| Q: I have an OLD basement drain/trap and the rubber check valve is not sealing to stop water from ... A: Removing the screws should allow you to remove the top and access the flapper mechanism. Even then, ... | |
| Shower delivers no hot water NEW INSTALL | 7/24/2010 |
| Q: I had a Belanger Shower faucet installed by a person who says he is a plumber 3-4 years ago. Had ... A: First, This appears to be a Canadian brand that I'm not familiar with. It looks like a normal ... | |
| faucet in the tub does not turn off the water | 7/23/2010 |
| Q: I'm purchasing my first home, and the home inspector when turning on the water from the main source, ... A: It's good that you had the inspection. Some don't do this and are surprised when problems arise. Not ... | |
| Shower runs, loud noise occurs and then it stops... | 7/23/2010 |
| Q: I live in a 2 bedroom townhouse/villa and recently my shower has started to play up. Basically I ... A: It's unclear by your description what type of valve you have. The symptoms are of a single handle ... | |
| Lawn irrigation with well | 7/22/2010 |
| Q: I share a well with our neighbors. The well is set to come on at 30lbs and off at 60lbs. Our ... A: This is essentially a question about well systems that I am not familiar with. The basics are: if ... | |
| Toilet noise | 7/22/2010 |
| Q: My toilet makes a load bellowing noise when it is flushed. The valve in the wall vibrates when this ... A: The most likely cause is a worn out fill valve that needs replacing. Over time, they deteriorate ... | |
| toilet makes a high pitched noise | 7/22/2010 |
| Q: Dana, Whenever we flush our toilet it makes a high-pitched, siren-like noise. It doesn't last ... A: The fill valve, called a "ball cock" is probably worn and is causing the noise when the water runs ... | |
| outside faucet | 7/21/2010 |
| Q: We've moved into a new house and tried to water the garden for the first time by attaching a water ... A: Not sure what this is. Sometimes there is a vacuum breaker attached to outside faucets to prevent ... | |
| water well pipe size | 7/21/2010 |
| Q: having a well drilled. I have existing 3/4" pvc to the house. I am changing from a galvanized tank ... A: This is not an easy question to just answer straight out. Pipe sizing depends on many factors: ... | |
| Water heater plumbing | 7/19/2010 |
| Q: We are buying a house and when the inspector was there he says the water heater needs to be ... A: Actually, the cold water is supposed to enter near the bottom of the water heater. This is usually ... | |
| Toilet clogged | 7/17/2010 |
| Q: We think that our three year old flushed the whole roll of toilet paper cardboard and plastic holder ... A: Oh the joy of small children! I only have dogs that eat my furniture. Ultimately, snaking the line ... | |
| valve replacement | 7/17/2010 |
| Q: The first set of shutoff valves for the main hot water line running from our boiler to the rest of ... A: Valves are still made from brass. It is pretty corrosion resistant. A soldiered valved is called a ... | |
| Regarding your answer (related to city code) | 7/16/2010 |
| Q: While I was reading your answer to a previous question ... A: Minor repairs usually do not require a permit. Re-routing a gas line would. Notching studs doesn't ... | |
| noisy swing check valve | 7/15/2010 |
| Q: I to replaced a swing check valve. After it was installed homeowner said he had a rattle in his ... A: Nope, not significantly. As long as the size is not appreciably smaller that the pipe, it should not ... | |
| Groaning Pipe | 7/15/2010 |
| Q: The pipe that the water comes into the house has been "groaning" for a few days. Nothing seems to ... A: It's not difficult to do IF you can find the parts. The regulator is usually on the main water line ... | |
| noisy swing check valve | 7/15/2010 |
| Q: I to replaced a swing check valve. After it was installed homeowner said he had a rattle in his ... A: Just pipe as an expansion chamber does not work very long before it's flooded. The commercial ones ... | |
| Running a gas line | 7/14/2010 |
| Q: Dana- This question is similar to a previous one you had back in March. I live in the SF Bay Area, ... A: Your "plumber" is not much of a plumber and cares little about the codes. Steel gas line must be ... | |
| Sand in water | 7/14/2010 |
| Q: I recently purchased my first house and moved in about 6 weeks ago. For the first few weeks we ... A: This problem may be from the city's pipes and if so, the only solution is to install a whole house ... | |
| no hot water in house except at the washer and kitchen | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: My water heater is working properly. The burner comes on when cold water is being added to the water ... A: Determining the exact cause would require a detailed examination of your particular system and how ... | |
| no hot water in house except at the washer and kitchen | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: My water heater is working properly. The burner comes on when cold water is being added to the water ... A: How is the flow rate at the fixtures? This sort of thing is usually associated with water pipes ... | |
| Vibration in plumbing | 7/11/2010 |
| Q: Two things seem to be happening. 1) When the top floor showers are turned on there is a vibration ... A: The first thing I would suspect is that the water pressure is too high. This can be from lack of a ... | |
| proper use of tub overflow drain | 7/10/2010 |
| Q: My wife and I disagree on the intended use of the tub overflow drain. One of us suggests it is for ... A: They are called a "waste & overflow" fitting and are designed to prevent an overflow should the tub ... | |
| replace faucet | 7/9/2010 |
| Q: I am going to replace a Pegasus brand bathroom sink faucet with Moen (both 8" wide spread). Moen ... A: The different brands are not compatible as far as trim goes. Moen valves require Moen trim and ... | |
| water pump | 7/9/2010 |
| Q: my home water pump is running, the water comes on normal but dies out completely in about 10-15 ... A: As is stated in my profile,wells are not one of the systems I'm familiar with but it sounds like the ... | |
| no hot water flow | 7/5/2010 |
| Q: I have a Valley single handled pressure balanced shower fixture (installed 14 years ago) that I have ... A: The cartridge is probably worn out and needs to be replaced. The "adjustment" screws are actually ... | |
| water noise in pipe connected to toilet tank | 7/5/2010 |
| Q: There is a hissing/vibrating/pressure noise at the water pipe that supplies water into the tank- a ... A: My best guess is that you have a toilet flush valve that is not closing all the way. This could be ... | |
| drain bubbling | 7/4/2010 |
| Q: what would make the drains, including the toilet, bubble when the washing machine is going? they ... A: This is usually a sign that a vent line is blocked somewhere. If a vent is blocked, the system tries ... | |
| Toilet bowl does not hold water | 7/3/2010 |
| Q: My downstairs toilet bowl does not hold water. The toilet flushes and fills normally then after ... A: You might have a bowl that has a flaw in the casting. It happens sometimes. The "water spot" size ... | |
| Internal shower shut-off valve | 7/3/2010 |
| Q: I have a Kohler k-306 single handle shower faucet. The pressure balancing unit went bad, so we are ... A: The key word here is "plastic" screwdriver stops. Why they would make a part that is supposed to ... | |
| Buzzing sound - vibrating pipes | 7/2/2010 |
| Q: Lately, after I take a shower (on second floor), there is buzzing, humming, vibrating sound coming ... A: One thing comes to mind, thermal expansion. Water being heated in the tank after a shower, when the ... | |
| Huge leak from my shower in unit to the unit belows bathroom | 7/2/2010 |
| Q: For the past 3 years now there has been a slow leak (only happens when have a shower and there after ... A: Not to be too obvious but if you have eliminated all the rest, the only thing left is the shower ... | |
| Explosive Floor Drain | 7/1/2010 |
| Q: Dana, This morning, the toilet seat and lid were wet (with clean water) and the water level in the ... A: At this point, it's a big mystery as to why this is happening. I would consider having a "backwater" ... | |
| Closing under slab plumbing | 7/1/2010 |
| Q: Is there a proper method of closing an under slab pipe? I re-routed my hot water plumbing through ... A: Any non-functioning water piping can just be abandoned. It does not need to be capped other than to ... | |
| Nat. Gas Hot Water Heater | 6/30/2010 |
| Q: Last night my garage was flooded with water and I discovered that water was POURING out of the TOP ... A: Water out the top is not good. The tank is a sealed unit with no openings other than the in and out ... | |
| finding outside drain pipe | 6/29/2010 |
| Q: i've been digging to find the outside drain pipe for my house; but I can't find it? I have been ... A: Somewhat random digging is not likely to be successful. There are a couple of methods used by the ... | |
| Popping in water heater | 6/29/2010 |
| Q: We got a new water heater, but occasionally I hear a popping noise coming from it. We got rid of our ... A: Water pressure can build up in a closed system like a water heater when the water is heated. It's ... | |
| shower clog | 6/28/2010 |
| Q: First off, thanks for taking the time to read my question. Our upstairs shower clogs very easily, ... A: Possibly but probably not. First, I don't recommend drain cleaning products due to their harsh ... | |
| Popping in water heater | 6/27/2010 |
| Q: We got a new water heater, but occasionally I hear a popping noise coming from it. We got rid of our ... A: Yes, the usual reason for popping or crackling sounds is a buildup of sediment in the bottom of the ... | |
| grease and dirt coming up into one bathtub | 6/26/2010 |
| Q: Why would dirt and grease be coming up only into our master bathtub? It seems to only happen with ... A: The tub drain is the lowest drain opening in the system and any blockage in the system will usually ... | |
| shower mixing valve | 6/24/2010 |
| Q: I have a single handle mixing valve that is constantly running internaly you can here the water ... A: Single handle valve cartridges can develop what is called a "bypass" condition in which water flows ... | |
| Explosive Floor Drain | 6/24/2010 |
| Q: Dana, This morning, the toilet seat and lid were wet (with clean water) and the water level in the ... A: If your main sewer line is compromised the only way to really tell is to have it viewed with a ... | |
| Sump Pump Will Not Shut Off | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: Some time tonight our sump pump decided not to turn off. The pump "well" is fairly dry, but still ... A: Hmmm...I guess it was stuck. When they have external float systems, I just operate it by hand to ... | |
| Sump Pump Will Not Shut Off | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: Some time tonight our sump pump decided not to turn off. The pump "well" is fairly dry, but still ... A: It sounds like the pump is "hosed" and may need to be replaced. They are usually not worth trying to ... | |
| water hammer since water heater was replaced | 6/21/2010 |
| Q: I've been reading what I can on water hammer and expansion tanks and am still not sure what to do ... A: It is possible the the check valves in the hot water tank inlets could be causing this problem. They ... | |
| over flow issues | 6/20/2010 |
| Q: My mother has a condo on GA on a cement slab. In her laundry room, there is a drain pipe that the ... A: It would seem that there is a problem in the original, below slab waste pipes or there is a broken ... | |
| Hot water stopped running | 6/20/2010 |
| Q: The hot water stopped running in my bathroom sink the cold water runs good, it is ok in the other ... A: There can be a number of reasons for this. There could possibly be some debris stuck in the faucet ... | |
| Pipes shaking in bathroom | 6/15/2010 |
| Q: I'm trying to determine what is causing the pipes in our bathroom to have issues. In the shower, ... A: What usually causes pipes to shake or hammer is something that is causing the water movement to stop ... | |
| plumbing venting | 6/14/2010 |
| Q: I have four vents (Including the toilet) coming into the attic. Can I combine the four so I only ... A: This should not be a problem. as long as the total vent cross sectional area of the venting equals ... | |
| Kohler PBU Replacement | 6/13/2010 |
| Q: However, the unit leaks horribly, and I'm wondering if (a) I needed to use the additional ... A: Not sure what is wrong here. Kohler makes many models and you did not say which yo have. I would ... | |
| Delta bath shower faucet is dripping after it is turned off | 6/12/2010 |
| Q: I had a Delta Multichoice bath shower faucet installed in February 2010. About a month ago, we ... A: Per the Delta site, this unit is guaranteed for life. I would contact the plumber to come check it ... | |
| adding a house gas line | 6/7/2010 |
| Q: I live in the state of washington. I have a gas water heater and furance. I would like to run a new ... A: You cannot just "run a new line" from an existing line that is already sized to handle the demand of ... | |
| well water pressure | 6/6/2010 |
| Q: I rent a home with well water. Recently the water pressure has been dropping. After not using ... A: Nice name! LOL Wells are not my area of expertise per my profile. I have very little experience ... | |
| shower head and pipe replacement | 6/6/2010 |
| Q: The shower is separate from the tub but shares the same common wall for plumbing. My shower head ... A: The situation is a bit unclear to me. If it is the typical installation, the tub and separate shower ... | |
| Washing Machine Draining | 6/4/2010 |
| Q: We remodeled 5 years ago and had the washer drain relocated. It drained to slow so the plumber put ... A: First of all, the drain for a washer is required to be 2 inch AND vented. Whomever moved it did it ... | |
| Rough-in plumbing | 6/3/2010 |
| Q: I'm searching for a book or books on roughing in plumbing. I'm in the process of building a new ... A: There is a saying in the industry: All you need to know to be a plumber is Sxxx flows down hill, ... | |
| Clunk in plumbing system | 6/2/2010 |
| Q: I have a well system with a submersible pump at 400 feet. The house was built new and is 9 years ... A: Clunking or what's known as "water hammer" can occur when a fast acting valve like a sprinkler valve ... | |
| Hot water heater | 6/2/2010 |
| Q: my hot water heater's exterior is extremely hot to the touch. Should I be concerned? My wife and I ... A: It should not be that hot on the exterior. The flue pipe might be if it is single wall pipe. The ... | |
| how can i get my toilet to seal? | 6/1/2010 |
| Q: Hi I took my toilet of for bathroom reno's and then replaced the wax seal but now it is not sealing ... A: Sometimes, if the floor is uneven, you need to use two wax rings. I use one with the plastic horn ... | |
| Why does my water tap stay on Low Flow? | 5/28/2010 |
| Q: I would like to know why my water tap stay on Low Flow even when the handle is turned on full. I ... A: There can be a couple of reasons: 1. The aerator is plugged up or is a low flow aerator. Remove the ... | |
| water pipe condensation | 5/25/2010 |
| Q: We are almost finished with the kitchen remodel. Our house is on a slab and it’s finally gotten ... A: There should only be a problem with condensation on the cold pipes. There is a sliding scale of ... | |
| Hot and Cold Water Mixing | 5/25/2010 |
| Q: I have a 2nd floor master bath that was added to our house 4 years ago. The bathroom contains a ... A: It is not uncommon for a cartridge in a single handle valve or a mixing valve to fail and allow the ... | |
| Drain hole for tub | 5/24/2010 |
| Q: I make copper tubs and send them to customers. They are large, deep, expensive. We normally just put ... A: if the drain plumbing is properly installed and is properly vented, the tub should drain fine. The ... | |
| water pipe condensation | 5/23/2010 |
| Q: We are almost finished with the kitchen remodel. Our house is on a slab and it’s finally gotten ... A: If it is truly condensation, insulating the pipes might help. I suspect otherwise. If there is ... | |
| toilet renos | 5/23/2010 |
| Q: can you help me on a small renovation problem. I want to convert my closet into a small bathroom. ... A: While this may be doable, its something best left to a professional that can access the situation ... | |
| plumbing vent stack | 5/22/2010 |
| Q: I'm the culprit of my own poor planning. We decided to move our kitchen from the front of the house ... A: Quite the project you have going there. Retrofitting all this into an already existing building with ... | |
| Kitchen sinks backed up | 5/19/2010 |
| Q: Everything was fine this morning..when I got home at 4pm both my kitchen sinks were backed up and I ... A: I don't usually recommend chemical drain cleaners. They tend to be pretty harsh and can damage the ... | |
| noisey pipes | 5/18/2010 |
| Q: my shower faucet was leaking so I replaced the valve of the hot and cold handles. That solved the ... A: The part you changed was probably the valve stems. If you did not check that the washer screws were ... | |
| Washing Machine Drain Overflow | 5/17/2010 |
| Q: I went on roof of house and used a snake(about 20 ft.)to try & unclog vent.This had no effect. I was ... A: A "blow bag" type water jet can work but it does not really "clean" the line very well. If you are ... | |
| Water Pressure Regulator | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: Over the past year my sprinkling system has been causing some loud banging noises near the point ... A: Yes, that likely is the problem. Any quick closing valve like a sprinkler control valve, a ... | |
| High water pressure | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: I had a plumber come to the house yesterday and tell me that my toilet is running all the time ... A: Two things: 1. the code standard that all manufacturer's design for is 40 to 80 PSI working ... | |
| kitchen sink | 5/11/2010 |
| Q: I have a difficult question, so if you are unable to answer it definitively, I won't hold it against ... A: He may be right. The only way to actually know for sure is to have the line in question looked at ... | |
| Water Heater Still Won't Drain | 5/11/2010 |
| Q: Dana My water heater(GE model GE50MO6AAG) problem keeps getting stranger. Decided to turn off water ... A: This is a closed system and unless some air gets into it somewhere, it will not drain. That's why I ... | |
| shut off valve | 5/11/2010 |
| Q: i am looking to replace a bathroom sink. i turned the cold water valve off but when i turned the ... A: Yep, that's a problem when you live in a multi-unit condo. Check with the management company and ... | |
| Leaky outdoor faucet | 5/9/2010 |
| Q: I have a 18 year old home with a leaky outdoor faucet. It says Nibco on it. Water is dripping from ... A: The faucet is probably on the house system so turning off the water to the house should kill it. ... | |
| smell after wc tank overflow pipe was capped off and pipe leading to it cut off? | 5/9/2010 |
| Q: A new flush system was installed inside the WC water cistern. This has the overflow built in - ... A: The water that goes down the overflow usually goes back into the bowl via the rim jets. I guess it ... | |
| howling outside water pipe | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: I live in a condo. When my neighbor or myself turn on our outside water bib there a loud howling ... A: There are probably anti-backflow or anti-siphon devices on the hose bibbs. Most places require ... | |
| water heater will not drain completely | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: I have a 50 gal GE water heater in home, model GE50MO6AAG, mfgd 12/05. Purchased from Home Depot ... A: Very strange problem! Start at the basics: Is the shut off valve actually on the cold inlet side? ... | |
| air coming out when first turned on | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: air when faucet is turned on and I have had a new washer installed. It seems to be hit only but I ... A: I'm not very clear on what the problems is here. You are getting some air from the faucet when you ... | |
| We have low water pressure - should we even bother installing a dishwasher? | 5/1/2010 |
| Q: We recently bought an 80 year old house, and it has terrible water pressure. If someone is washing ... A: As far as I know, dishwashers fill via float system so the pressure or flow rate shouldn't matter ... | |
| Drains | 4/30/2010 |
| Q: There are two pipes opened up in the front yard. when i moved in, one was capped, the other was just ... A: These are the access pipes for a two-way clean out. Not common and may indicate past problems with ... | |
| Bathroom sink cold water faucet | 4/28/2010 |
| Q: My house is about 8 years old and is in Southern California.This just started yesterday. There are ... A: There are basically two types of faucet: Compression style with a washer and the newer "washerless" ... | |
| heating and air | 4/28/2010 |
| Q: we just moved in a house and there was a wall heater and when they did it the took the old gas pipe ... A: First of all, you should never allow any work on your house to be done without permits if they are ... | |
| Shower leak | 4/28/2010 |
| Q: During a recent home inspection on my 2007-built home, the inspector found evidence of water on the ... A: The builder does not understand how a tile drainage system works. The grout is NOT supposed to be ... | |
| Knocking sound in pipes | 4/26/2010 |
| Q: We have had various issues with high water pressure in our home (we live in So. California, 10 year ... A: An expansion tank is a "Thermal Expansion Tank". It's purpose is to handle thermal expansion of hot ... | |
| drain gurgles | 4/26/2010 |
| Q: In my bathroom vanity it has duel sinks. Both drain real fine, they are not slow at all however, one ... A: A P-trap's function is to provide a "water seal" in the drain line to prevent sewer gas from coming ... | |
| Glacier Bay Tub and shower facuet | 4/26/2010 |
| Q: I just installed and Glacier Bay Single handle faucet with intergrated stops. Now that I have it ... A: Glacier Bay is an inexpensive knock-off of Delta made for sale in discount houses like Home Depot. ... | |
| drain gurgles | 4/25/2010 |
| Q: In my bathroom vanity it has duel sinks. Both drain real fine, they are not slow at all however, one ... A: As for both sinks, it really depends on how they are plumbed. This does point to a problem local to ... | |
| In sink erator(badger 5 1/2 horsepower) | 4/25/2010 |
| Q: What can I do when water is coming out of the disposal. This is when water is run in the sink or the ... A: Messy business! Like setting off a cherry bomb in a can of water. The disposer must be able to ... | |
| drain gurgles | 4/25/2010 |
| Q: In my bathroom vanity it has duel sinks. Both drain real fine, they are not slow at all however, one ... A: This usually means that has a bit of a venting problem and the sink is trying to relieve the vacuum ... | |
| leaky faucets and running toilets | 4/25/2010 |
| Q: I had a toilet that continued to run - when I replaced parts for the toilet so it quit running, all ... A: I think your plumbing is haunted! LOL, just kidding. It could be just age and wear and it is ... | |
| Outside faucet | 4/25/2010 |
| Q: When I turn on my outside faucet the water will stop flowing for no reason. when I turn the faucet ... A: Sounds like the compression washer inside has come loose and is no longer attached to the end of the ... | |
| Main Line Clog | 4/23/2010 |
| Q: Live on a slab, everything in my house flushes and drains fine but the shower. It's closest(lowest) ... A: The only really way to tell if you have a main line failure is to scope it with a camera. That will ... | |
| replacing old galvanized pipes | 4/23/2010 |
| Q: Dana, I have an small old raised home built in 1940's. The hot water flow is weak. I guess the ... A: It sounds like your place is definitely a candidate for a repipe. It has the typical symptoms and ... | |
| AO Smith water heater problems | 4/22/2010 |
| Q: I have a 7 year old AO Smith, natural gas, model # FCV-50-100 water heater. The problem began with ... A: A "peizo igniter is simply a spark creation device. When you push the red button down, a spring ... | |
| AO Smith water heater problems | 4/21/2010 |
| Q: I have a 7 year old AO Smith, natural gas, model # FCV-50-100 water heater. The problem began with ... A: There could be several reasons. Are the inner and outer draft doors in place? A stray draft can ... | |
| Hairline crack in toilet tank | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: I was having problems with my toilet with the flush valve, and took off the tank to replace it. ... A: Of course the safest thing is to replace the tank. The result of a failure is not worth taking the ... | |
| residential plumbing | 4/19/2010 |
| Q: I have a client with a Temptrol mixing valve for the tub/shower. The valve handle is able to turn ... A: I've installed many of these units. They are a good quality temperature balancing valve made by ... | |
| hot water heater | 4/19/2010 |
| Q: Our heater is about 3 years old and really only handles one bathroom so the work load is minimum. ... A: You failed to mention if this is a gas or electric heater. At three years, it should still be under ... | |
| kitchen sinks | 4/19/2010 |
| Q: This may be a silly question, but I am remodeling an old kitchen, and to save money my father is ... A: Drop-in or top mount sinks are obviously designed to be top mounted and have the glazing applied all ... | |
| Water leak in basement | 4/18/2010 |
| Q: I have had a strong smell coming up from my basement over the past 8 months. I have had 6 plumbers ... A: Yes, that would be the overflow place. If you have not observed an overflow when the washer is ... | |
| Water leak in basement | 4/18/2010 |
| Q: I have had a strong smell coming up from my basement over the past 8 months. I have had 6 plumbers ... A: I see the problem. This is not rocket science. It can only be water intrusion from the outside or ... | |
| Installing a new bath on the second floor of a residence | 4/17/2010 |
| Q: We live in Virginia. We have an upstairs room 14x35 feet, that was added to the existing home back ... A: The scope of this project is far beyond what I am willing to address in this forum. There are way ... | |
| Sand in Tubs | 4/16/2010 |
| Q: Our cottage is in a very sandy area, and I would like to know if it's harmful to the pipes and/or ... A: I totally understand this issue. I own 3 Otterhounds. They are a rare breed and are long haired ... | |
| Rerouting ABS vent pipe for medicine cab | 4/16/2010 |
| Q: You helped me out with a tub replacement back in January. I am continuing our bathroom work. I am ... A: That should not be a problem. 1-1/2 inch ABS requires a 1-5/8 hole minimum. Try not to cut the stud ... | |
| Dishwasher installation leak | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: I just purchased a Whirlpool dishwasher #GU225XTVY1 and am installing it myself. I also purchased a ... A: Teflon tape is inert and should not cause problems with the plastic fittings, it couldn't hurt. Sort ... | |
| Loss of Water Pressure | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: I hope you can help me out with a puzzling problem. I live in your neck of the woods - San Diego - ... A: Intermittent problems are hard to diagnose. There are several possibilities that come to mind. ... | |
| stubbed in plumbing | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: We bought a home that had not finished the basement bathroom , the basement was new to this home ... A: Terminology is tricky. Unless you are a pro, it can mean different things to different people. In ... | |
| Toilet issues | 4/14/2010 |
| Q: We've been having toilet issues for a long time. I can't quite remember how they started, but what I ... A: Toilets can be a bit of a problem when they don't work well. Things that cause them to flush poorly ... | |
| Foghorn noise from pipes | 4/14/2010 |
| Q: There is a horribly loud foghorn noise coming from my pipes. I live in a 5 bedroom apartment. My ... A: There are two thing that are probably causing this: A leaky flapper on a toilet allowing the water ... | |
| leak under sink from dishwasher | 4/13/2010 |
| Q: Everytime I use my GE dishwasher there is some water under sink. I keep paper towels there to catch ... A: It's usually not the hoses that leak. The downstream larger rubber hose will get clogged though. The ... | |
| leak under sink from dishwasher | 4/13/2010 |
| Q: Everytime I use my GE dishwasher there is some water under sink. I keep paper towels there to catch ... A: Dishwashers should drain through an "air gap" device. Newer ones have them built in but older ones ... | |
| Shower connecting to floor drain | 4/12/2010 |
| Q: I am currently remodeling my downstairs bathroom, and I have hit a few "snags" that I can't figure ... A: Step away from the pipes! LOL! You are dealing with a bad "bootleg" installation. The only proper ... | |
| Slow flushing toilets | 4/11/2010 |
| Q: We have a condo unit in a 4 story building circa 1980 that has 2 toilets. The toilets are very slow ... A: There can be a number of things that can cause this problem: -Faulty casting and debris in the ... | |
| Ejector pumps | 4/10/2010 |
| Q: I have an ejector pump in my basement and I have city sewer no septic. There is a floor drain for ... A: "Ejector" pumps are usually for sewage and are sealed and vented systems. You should not be able to ... | |
| Kitchen Faucet Hammer Noise | 4/9/2010 |
| Q: I'm having a problem with my kitchen faucet creating noises and now the water flow just stops ... A: There is a usually diverter assembly or back flow preventer device built into any faucet that has a ... | |
| Water behind Washing machine | 4/9/2010 |
| Q: I seem to have water coming in behind my washing machine. The block wall behind the washing machine ... A: Due to the silt, I would suspect that this is a waterproofing failure of the wall. The exterior ... | |
| Shut Off Valve | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: I had to turn the main water shut off valve off to fix a problem. It was off for approximately 18 ... A: This type of leak is usually caused by the packing around the stem which hardens over time or "takes ... | |
| leaking braided water fauct lines | 4/6/2010 |
| Q: I recently purchased a vessel sink and faucet for my bathroom. It is beautiful. The lines that ... A: It's hard to say exactly. Many lines supplied with sinks are of cheap quality. I have always used ... | |
| venting a half bath follow-up | 4/6/2010 |
| Q: My old house has an unvented lavatory on the first floor. Since I'm doing a gut renovation on the ... A: It depends on the layout in the room. Often he toilet vent can go straight up the wall and penetrate ... | |
| 1.5" vent pipes through studs | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: My old house has an unvented lavatory on the first floor. Since I'm doing a gut renovation on the ... A: The code standard is 40% bore for bearing and up to 60% for non-bearing framing members. Don't ... | |
| Lack of Hot Water | 4/4/2010 |
| Q: Our condo is one of four within a building. Recently, our unit has been getting only luke warm water ... A: LOL, you have a lot going on here! I don't see how the washer drain problem could be related but ... | |
| Lack of Hot Water | 4/4/2010 |
| Q: Our condo is one of four within a building. Recently, our unit has been getting only luke warm water ... A: A "mixing valve" can be several things. It's sort of a generic term for a faucet or tub/shower ... | |
| squealing faucet | 4/4/2010 |
| Q: I have a one handle faucet that started squealing no matter what water temperature you have it at. ... A: It sounds like this faucet needs a new cartridge. It should be available fro PP or a local plumbing ... | |
| bubbeling toilet | 4/2/2010 |
| Q: When I drain my kitchen sink,the toilet makes gurgling sounds. then when you go to flush the toilet ... A: This is a sign of a blocked vent pipe on the waste system. It can be a blockage of the main drain ... | |
| bathroom tub related leakage | 4/1/2010 |
| Q: Directly to the front side of bath tub next to the toilet, the drywall is completely corroded ... A: The existing tub should be fine if the finish is not damaged. Tile can be a good surround material ... | |
| bathroom tub related leakage | 4/1/2010 |
| Q: Directly to the front side of bath tub next to the toilet, the drywall is completely corroded ... A: This is not uncommon to find. You are correct, there may be damage behind the tub surround as well. ... | |
| Replacing tub spout - pipe has fitting on end. | 4/1/2010 |
| Q: Ok, I am attempting to replace a tub spout in a condo that is about 35 years old. There is a pipe ... A: You should be able to tell if it is copper by scratching the surface. Galvanized will show silver or ... | |
| Recurring shower leak | 3/31/2010 |
| Q: I hope you would take the time to look at my problem. I made a mistake about a year and left the ... A: Water expands when it freezes. About 11% or so. The plastic pipe did't break because it is ... | |
| Water leak or something else? | 3/30/2010 |
| Q: Since you work in S.California I am guessing you encounter water systems that have to be pumped up ... A: Everything out here is "city" water" and there are very few booster systems needed. There are a ... | |
| Lack of hot water | 3/30/2010 |
| Q: There are two of us. We have a 40 gal. gas hot water heater. Part of the time we do not get ... A: I have a couple of questions about this. When you run the dishwasher or laundry is that water hot? ... | |
| Water from trap primer valve continuously running | 3/30/2010 |
| Q: Recently noticed that water was being drained into our basement floor drain. Traced the path back to ... A: These units are designed to deliver a small shot to water to a p-trap to keep it from going dry from ... | |
| leaking faucet | 3/29/2010 |
| Q: I have a Moen bathroom faucet, one-handle lever design, that leaks badly when it is turned off and ... A: This faucet probably needs a new cartridge. The internal O-rings are shot and need to be replaced. ... | |
| Delta Universal Valve Cartridge | 3/29/2010 |
| Q: During shower remodel I installed new Delta single control hardware which includes a P type ... A: All shower heads these days are restricted to 2.5 GPM for water conservation. Some can be ...(ahem) ... | |
| shower won't turn off | 3/28/2010 |
| Q: Recently, my cold water knob in the shower stopped turning all the way and I can no longer turn the ... A: This valve needs new washers at the minimum. Possibly new seats as well. These are called ... | |
| Toilet vent problem | 3/27/2010 |
| Q: I have a toilet vent situation. The toilet is in a 1st floor bathroom that also has a tub and a ... A: It sure sounds like a venting problem. There does not seem to be a free flow of air to relieve the ... | |
| washing machine drain | 3/27/2010 |
| Q: We have a washing machine in our basement and it drained into our basement drain that runs into our ... A: To avoid breaking the floor etc., You will need to install a basement sewer ejector pump system. ... | |
| residual water leak? | 3/26/2010 |
| Q: I have tried to fix my girl friend's dripping shower faucet but can't seem to get the job done. It ... A: There is always a little water left in the head. It will drip until that is gone. That is normal. ... | |
| plumbing | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: I have installed a new pedestal sink (remodeling an old bathroom). I cannot get the water supply ... A: Move? LOL, just kidding! I have used stainless steel flex line up to 3 feet long. They are ... | |
| DRAAAAAINAAAAGE!!! | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: My bathroom sink and tub are not draining properly. When I take a shower, for instance, even with ... A: First thing is to stop with the drain cleaner. They are very caustic and will damage the pipes. What ... | |
| Ticking sound coming from wall | 3/24/2010 |
| Q: I am hearing either a dripping or ticking sound, which is repeating at regular intervals over and ... A: Not usually. It depends, some areas have aggressive water conditions that degrade the pipes faster. ... | |
| Loss of water pressure after new toilet install | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: We live in a 20 year old house that had the original toilets (3 of them--two upstairs and one on the ... A: This is a classic sign of undersized or deteriorating pipes. Galvanized steel pipe will get a ... | |
| Ticking sound coming from wall | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: I am hearing either a dripping or ticking sound, which is repeating at regular intervals over and ... A: If the noise is constant and you are smelling mold, there is a good chance you have a leak. Finding ... | |
| Tub valves | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: I have a mid-80's roman (garden) tub. I would like to update the trim on the tub. The existing ... A: Changing 30 year old trim can be difficult. Much has changed since it was first designed. There ... | |
| bath spout | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: there is no srew on spout to take off how do i do A: There are two types of tub spout, a screw on type and one that is used on a copper pipe stub-out ... | |
| running gas line for bbq | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: i am in so cal as well and i am preparing to build a bbq in my back yard. it is a straight shot of ... A: Any gas line coming up from or going down into the ground must be metal for 18-24 inched below grade ... | |
| loud knocking noise when water is turned ON | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: Lately when we turn the water on, there is a loud, knocking noise. It will stop when the water is ... A: Knocking or "water hammer" is caused by the sudden stopping and starting of moving water in the ... | |
| pb plumbing | 3/21/2010 |
| Q: Looking into buying a home that had poly butylene plumbing in the attic and was replaced with ... A: Unless there was a specific reason not to, all the water piping in a house is normally the same ... | |
| Water backflow in basement floor drain | 3/21/2010 |
| Q: I have a basement floor drain that overflows when the washing machine empties a load. It does not ... A: I lost you on "these devices". What devices? You didn't say. There are back flow valves that could ... | |
| maximum 2" drain run | 3/20/2010 |
| Q: I'm building a new kitchen in my home and I'm needing to run a new line to the 4" main which is ... A: As long as you maintain 1/4 inch per foot of fall, properly support the pipe every 4-6 feet to avoid ... | |
| toilets | 3/20/2010 |
| Q: i have three baths toilets in the house all three are slow draining when one is flushing right the ... A: I think that is the longest single sentence I've seen in a while. LOL All plumbing drain systems ... | |
| Habitually slow draining bathroom sink - venting? | 3/19/2010 |
| Q: Our home is 11 years old and I've battled a slow draining bathroom sink virtually the entire time. ... A: This is something that is going to need to be diagnosed locally by someone that understands the ... | |
| Clogged Hot Water Valves | 3/19/2010 |
| Q: I had to replace a gas Hot Water heater that had its dip tube deteriorate. I went around and either ... A: Those valves are called "service or apartment stops" and are there to shut of the water to the ... | |
| Habitually slow draining bathroom sink - venting? | 3/19/2010 |
| Q: Our home is 11 years old and I've battled a slow draining bathroom sink virtually the entire time. ... A: It could be a venting problem. Can you track/see the vent pipe in the attic? On the roof? I have ... | |
| Shower issues | 3/19/2010 |
| Q: I recently asked you a question there last week about my shower. Now I replaced all my copper pipe, ... A: Flow rates can be a tricky proposition. Flow rate in GPM (gallons per minute) are determined by ... | |
| Cutting wood from behind bathroom sink | 3/18/2010 |
| Q: During our bathroom remodeling (on 2nd floor), the contractor cut a (vertical) wood behind a ... A: Up to 40% of a non-bearing framing member may be notched or drilled. 25% if it is a bearing member. ... | |
| garburator clogged | 3/17/2010 |
| Q: our garburator is clogged, standing water in the sink. the motor sounds like it is working properly ... A: That's a new term for me. Here we call it a garbage disposer or just disposer. The usual place ... | |
| shower presure | 3/16/2010 |
| Q: My bathroom shower has lost its presure. When you turn on the water it comes out hard in the tub but ... A: Take the shower head off temporarily. Does it get better? The head may be clogged up with hard ... | |
| toilet flush issues | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: about 2or3 times per month my toilet will not flush, most times the bowl will not overflow but ... A: It could be a venting problem. Even if one is present, it can become restricted by various problems. ... | |
| Shower valve update | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: I have an old Delta faucet in the tub that has a dual motion on it. You have to push the big glass ... A: There is no retrofit kit that I know of. This is the typical Delta configuration used on all of ... | |
| Washing machine water hookup | 3/14/2010 |
| Q: I am trying to do some updating in my laundry room. Currently the water hookup for the washing ... A: This is "possibly" a DIY project. It really depends on your skills and the type of piping that you ... | |
| loose Grohe kitchen faucet | 3/14/2010 |
| Q: We have a Grohe single stem kitchen faucet with a pull-out spray. Although it is supposed to swivel ... A: It sounds like the swing spout has become stiff from hard water scale build up and lack of ... | |
| Shower issue | 3/14/2010 |
| Q: I've had this problem with my shower since me and my wife bought this house. I run the cold and hot ... A: It sounds like there is an obstruction valve body or the shower riser pipe. Have you tried taking ... | |
| Washing machinge and bathtub drains | 3/13/2010 |
| Q: When I run my washing maching and it drains, it drains into the bathtub (which is next to the ... A: I understand about the lots of money. You are probably right that the discharge from the washer is ... | |
| Washing machinge and bathtub drains | 3/13/2010 |
| Q: When I run my washing maching and it drains, it drains into the bathtub (which is next to the ... A: With clay in the lines, it's quite likely that the line under the slab is broken. Depending on how ... | |
| Flex Pipe | 3/12/2010 |
| Q: My mother home need to be repiped. The plumber wants to use Copper Flex pipe to run up wall not to ... A: Technically, it is permitted but is not good practice unless there is no other way to do it. Piping ... | |
| Combo Tub/Shower leak | 3/12/2010 |
| Q: Dana, I have a combination Shower/tub unit about 25 years old.Just lately with the water handle shut ... A: The valve will need to be rebuilt. It may just be washers or as much as new stems and seats. This is ... | |
| septic drainfield | 3/12/2010 |
| Q: I have a septic system with 3 septic laterals. I think my drainfield is failing, especially in the ... A: This is happening a lot due to the high water tables this year. There might be something you can do ... | |
| Shower pan | 3/11/2010 |
| Q: we recently had a leak and the plumbing company replaced the shower pan in our 1959 home. They used ... A: (How's James Bond these days? LOL) There may be some residual water left in the liner but not much. ... | |
| plumbing | 3/11/2010 |
| Q: I have got a problem with my hot water pressure. I have a Kenmore electric water heater model # ... A: The water heater may not be the problem. At 5 years, it is still within it's expected lifetime of ... | |
| broken water pipes | 3/10/2010 |
| Q: We live in No. Calif and our public water source is from ground water. Our 20+ year old home has ... A: that is correct, repiping is done overhead in the attic and down the walls. When you do repipe use ... | |
| leak in basement after draining a bath | 3/10/2010 |
| Q: After a bath we have a leak in our basement, it usually lasts about two days after the bath. ... A: There is probably a leak in the waste pipes that only occurs when the bath is drained due to the ... | |
| Tankless Water Heater | 3/9/2010 |
| Q: I live in Southern California in a single story home, 1750 sq. ft. 4 bed, 2 bath. I live alone and ... A: Electric is certainly an option, especially since you have an unused 220 circuit available. That ... | |
| Tankless Water Heater | 3/9/2010 |
| Q: I live in Southern California in a single story home, 1750 sq. ft. 4 bed, 2 bath. I live alone and ... A: Picking the proper unit for this house based on only your use might be a bit short sighted unless ... | |
| gas pipe | 3/8/2010 |
| Q: I am installing a gas fire pit in my patio area, and I wanted to know how deep I should bury the ... A: Per the code, metal pipe should be buried 18 inches down at minimum. If you are using plastic, 24 ... | |
| WATER FLOM ON KITCHEN FAUCET | 3/7/2010 |
| Q: i HAVE A DELTA FAUCET IN KITCHEN WITOUT HANDLES FOR COLD OR HOT WATER.iTS A SINGLE LEVER HANDLE ... A: This could be several things. If you have older galvanized steel pipes, they may be starting to ... | |
| Water Softener | 3/7/2010 |
| Q: 1.) Does the cold water main (prior to hot water heater) typically get softened so that all the ... A: Softened water is good for the plumbing system so all the pipes and fixtures will benefit. It does ... | |
| Kohler 306 shower valve leaking | 3/6/2010 |
| Q: I have a kohler K-306 valve that is leaking and I have replaced both seals on either side of the ... A: By process of elimination, it would seem so, assuming the repairs were done correctly. There is a ... | |
| Connecting PVC to cast iron | 3/6/2010 |
| Q: I recently had an old lead and cast-iron drain line from a shower replaced with PVC. The plumber I ... A: Soldiering plastic? That's a new one on me. Plastic to Plastic can be solvent welded or heat ... | |
| No water after tee installed | 3/6/2010 |
| Q: We are redoing an upstairs bathroom, and have pex installed for all of our plumbing. We have two ... A: Water pipe sizing is a tricky thing. Flow (in gallons per minute) is determined by interior pipe ... | |
| Frost Free Faucet | 3/5/2010 |
| Q: I have a outside frost free faucet that no water will come out. It was working fine before winter ... A: Does the handle turn freely in both directions or can you tell if it is open or closed? It may have ... | |
| Wall mounted air gap? | 3/5/2010 |
| Q: It seems to me, with people spending thousands of dollars on fancy countertops and installing ... A: I understand. They don't seem to make them anymore. They used to, I've seen them in older homes ... | |
| bathroom leaked into dining room | 3/4/2010 |
| Q: Approximately a week ago I noticed a wet spot on my dining room ceiling. This 'spot' has now grown ... A: Leaks can be hard to find but since it seemed to stop when the house water was shut off, that sort ... | |
| Toilet Drain | 3/4/2010 |
| Q: Can a toilet be easily placed on the drain where a tub/shower once sat? A: In a word, NO! A toilet requires a minimum of a 3 inch drain pipe. A tub shower is only 1-1/2 inch. ... | |
| Hose clamps on PEX fittings | 3/4/2010 |
| Q: I am working on a basement remodel and plan to install new hot and cold water lines using PEX. I ... A: Do you really want to "cheap out" on something that will be buried in the walls and ceilings and is ... | |
| shower on cement basement floor | 3/3/2010 |
| Q: I will be setting a one piece shower unit on cement floor. How do I set the P trap (glue to existing ... A: Sorry you got confused by the jargon. There is a lot going on here and some of it does not look to ... | |
| water line to fridge | 3/2/2010 |
| Q: I just got a new fridge with ice and water dispenser. We have never had this before and when the ... A: Installers can be pretty limited sometimes in their abilities. If it is not a straight forward ... | |
| leaking faucet | 3/2/2010 |
| Q: I have a Kohler model R10412 single control kitchen faucet that is leaking where the handle and ... A: You will need Kohler parts. You may not need to get them directly from Kohler, there may be a parts ... | |
| caulking in shower | 3/1/2010 |
| Q: How long should you expect silicone caulk to last around a shower/bathtub (two adults, one shower ... A: Technically, you should not need to caulk that joint. It's supposed to be grout that is porous so ... | |
| Toilet discoloration at base | 3/1/2010 |
| Q: Our toilet was repaired in 1997 when we move in and a new seal was put in. There had been some ... A: It certainly looks like something is leaking and damaging/staining the hardwood. Probably the seal ... | |
| Upstairs Bathroom / "Wet Stack" | 2/28/2010 |
| Q: I would like to install a toilet and a sink in an upstairs room, directly above my downstairs full ... A: You can tie into the vent for the upstairs fixtures. You MAY NOT use the downstairs fixture's vent ... | |
| shower on cement basement floor | 2/28/2010 |
| Q: I will be setting a one piece shower unit on cement floor. How do I set the P trap (glue to existing ... A: It's a bit unclear what I'm seeing here. It doesn't look like it would meet any plumbing code I'm ... | |
| Water leak from 2nd floor bath to 1st floor | 2/28/2010 |
| Q: we have noticed that after the family showers, water leaks into the 1/2 bath below on the main level ... A: This leak should have been handled as soon as it was discovered. Serious consequences could result ... | |
| pressure release valve | 2/28/2010 |
| Q: The prv on my 15+ year old gas water heater was leaking. I replaced it and reconnected the drain ... A: Your neighbor may be partially correct. The first thing you should do is check the incoming water ... | |
| Water Softener Drain Tube was Frozen now need solution | 2/27/2010 |
| Q: We live in cold Wyoming, where we had a water softener finally installed last summer. But of ... A: Never assume! LOL There are all types of heat tape for different applications. I've used this ... | |
| leaking hose on a pull out faucet | 2/27/2010 |
| Q: Have a Kohler K-6350 pull out faucet. When pulled out and water on the hose(metal) leaks back down ... A: It's either duct tape of get a new hose from Kohler. LOL The hoses are lined with rubber and the ... | |
| Installing a Bidet | 2/26/2010 |
| Q: I want to install a bidet in my home. I have not been able to find a diagram to do the drain rough ... A: The rough in dimensions should be included in the installation instructions for the bidet you ... | |
| Red water in bathtub | 2/26/2010 |
| Q: Lately I have noticed that when I fill my bathtub the water has a dark reddish hue to it and there ... A: All the pipes are the same age in have been used the same amount of time. You could do a partial ... | |
| Vent stack | 2/25/2010 |
| Q: I have a large metal chimney next to my brick chimney. I was told that this is a vent stack, and it ... A: It's pretty hard to tell what I'm looking at here. Blowing the picture up is not helping. It's not ... | |
| Red water in bathtub | 2/25/2010 |
| Q: Lately I have noticed that when I fill my bathtub the water has a dark reddish hue to it and there ... A: This is iron oxide (rust) from deteriorating pipes. I would suspect that your piping system in this ... | |
| Popping from hot water heater | 2/24/2010 |
| Q: I knew my water heater probably had mineral buildup, but is it normal to hear popping sounds when ... A: Not sure why it is popping when not in use. Water heaters do get limed up and need to be cleaned by ... | |
| Extending Water Line | 2/23/2010 |
| Q: For my bathroom renovation, I'm taking out my single vanity, knocking down the wall behind it, and ... A: Unless you have access to pipe threading equipment, it will be tricky. It can be rented. For ... | |
| Tunnel | 2/23/2010 |
| Q: I need to repair a drain line under my peer and beam home and have to dig a tunnel for a crawl space ... A: Umpa Loompas with hand trowels? LOL I know of no quick way that would be as cost effective as hand ... | |
| new bathroom - water in tub/shower won't get very hot | 2/23/2010 |
| Q: We have just renovated a house. In the bathrooms, (all gutted and redone) we have Kohler faucets fr ... A: The new valves are probably "anti-scald" types and are set too low for the incoming temperature. ... | |
| Using a check vent on a toilet? | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: Right now, my first floor toilet is wet venting through the 3" vertical stack that goes to my 2nd ... A: My only comment is that a toilet requires a 2 inch vent. For PVC/ABS pipe, that's a 2-9/16 hole ... | |
| Outdoor freeze proof faucet | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: We have an outdoor freeze proof faucet that often does not dispense water. I can turn it all the way ... A: It sounds like the faucet is malfunctioning and needs to be repaired. As I mentioned, this is not an ... | |
| Using a check vent on a toilet? | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: Right now, my first floor toilet is wet venting through the 3" vertical stack that goes to my 2nd ... A: My question is why? Is it not working? It should vent fine through a 3 inch vertical line. 2 inch ... | |
| Outdoor freeze proof faucet | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: We have an outdoor freeze proof faucet that often does not dispense water. I can turn it all the way ... A: Is this a free-standing "yard hydrant" or is it attached to a building and disappears inside the ... | |
| Clicks/pops from attic after shower | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: my girlfriend and I just moved into our first home. It is a California style bungalow built in the ... A: The noise is probably from the copper pipes expanding and contracting from the hot water. It is ... | |
| Iron Residue in Copper Water Supply Pipes | 2/21/2010 |
| Q: I have a tremendous amount of iron in my well. So much that there is actually a 'mud' like residue ... A: Sounds like something is making the iron precipitate out. I'm not aware of anything that will ... | |
| Procedure To Replace Shower Stall Valve | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: I have a single handle shower stall facet. As many have already stated, I too am getting "warm" ... A: Is it that your are "running out" of hot water too soon? It could possibly be a faulty cartridge in ... | |
| kitchen taps | 2/19/2010 |
| Q: When I turn on either hot or cold taps in the kitchen sink, the water just weakly flows out. Other ... A: Have you removed the aerator to see if it's plugged up? Do you get better flow with it off? If not ... | |
| WATER TANK | 2/19/2010 |
| Q: THE TOILET TANK FILLS VERY SLOW ABOUT 20 MINUTES. iT IS THE NEWER TYPE,WHERE THE FILL SHAFT HAS ... A: There is no real reason that it should be filling slowly unless the water supply is restricted ... | |
| Leak under the sink | 2/19/2010 |
| Q: Good Evening, We have a leak under the kitchen sink. We think we have it isloated to this part. ... A: Good picture! I usually get one taken from across the room, in the dark, with the cat in the way, ... | |
| inline cold water valve for water heater | 2/19/2010 |
| Q: As a typical do it yourselfer, I have a problem. My hot water in the house suddenly had very low ... A: That's a bummer, I've had it happen to me too. You probably have a gate valve and the gate has ... | |
| garbage disposal | 2/18/2010 |
| Q: we are reinstalling a garbage disposal into a new sink. Will any flange work with any brand of ... A: Hopefully you salvaged the old flange from the original sink. They can be cleaned up and reused. If ... | |
| Toilets gurgling | 2/18/2010 |
| Q: we recently had a slow draining tub, a plumber came out and snaked it, it works fine. Since then, ... A: It's a venting problem. Plumbing vents are designed to equalize the air pressure in a system so that ... | |
| washer box | 2/18/2010 |
| Q: im instaling a washer box . can i stack my kitchen sink sand tee on top of my washer box sand ... A: Possibly. This would be considered a "wet vent" (a vent that also serves as a drain)system and may ... | |
| Iron Residue in Copper Water Supply Pipes | 2/17/2010 |
| Q: I have a tremendous amount of iron in my well. So much that there is actually a 'mud' like residue ... A: The problem here, believe it or not, is bacteria. The bacteria actually use the iron in the water ... | |
| Toilet stink | 2/17/2010 |
| Q: its been there for at least 3 weeks, and happens at random times during the year. ive tried every ... A: This smell is probably sewer gas, called methane. Every fixture, including toilets, have a water ... | |
| Water hammer | 2/17/2010 |
| Q: Dana, Thank you for taking the time to answer my question. I have a whole-house cartridge filter ... A: Water hammer is NOT caused by air in the lines. That is a misconception from the old steam heat days ... | |
| shower flow restricters | 2/17/2010 |
| Q: I have a Moen one handle tap with hand held shower. The shower flow valve on the faucet does not ... A: The solution would be to rebuild the valve and replace any faulty parts and seals. Everything is ... | |
| Backwater backflow preventer valve placement | 2/16/2010 |
| Q: The city's lateral sewer drain enters the back of my house below my basement floor (about 9 ft below ... A: A backwater valve is required IF the sewer main and manhole are higher than your lowest fixture ... | |
| flushometer on toilet | 2/16/2010 |
| Q: i have a flushometer on my toilet in my residential home. when i flush it, it is slow to flush and ... A: This unit probably needs to be rebuilt. There are kits available to do this, new springs, seals and ... | |
| Tankless water heater outta control! | 2/16/2010 |
| Q: Help! I have a SETS electric tankless water heater that feeds into a 30 gallon tank heater ... A: These units, both gas and electronic, are like a small computer. There can be many things that are ... | |
| garbage disposal leak | 2/16/2010 |
| Q: I have an Insinkerator 444, 3/4 HP [in other words a top of the line] garbage disposal that is about ... A: It''s probably a seal on the inside between the motor and the grind chamber that is leaking. ... | |
| water softener | 2/15/2010 |
| Q: My water is 27 hardness. I cannot believe all the systems available! There is no chlorine, 7.2 PH ... A: Softening is not filtration. Two different things. Softening removes minerals through ionic action, ... | |
| Noisy toilet | 2/15/2010 |
| Q: When I flush the upstairs toilet its fine until it hits the pipes and then it sounds like a jet ... A: Noisy when the toilet tank fill valve starts working then? This could be from excessive water ... | |
| Tankless Water Heater & Reciruclating Pump | 2/15/2010 |
| Q: ..I had a plumber install a Noritz tankless water heater & a GrundFos recirculating pump. The ... A: In my experience, the circulators are almost silent. They are usually only 1/25th HP. It depends on ... | |
| water softener | 2/15/2010 |
| Q: My water is 27 hardness. I cannot believe all the systems available! There is no chlorine, 7.2 PH ... A: Systems can be had for as little as $300-$400 plus installation. The installation is an open ended ... | |
| Burping toilet | 2/15/2010 |
| Q: My spare toilet starting burping a couple weeks ago and since it doesnt get used I didnt see for it ... A: This is usually a sign that the venting system is blocked and air is being forced back out through a ... | |
| dripping device on water inlet | 2/14/2010 |
| Q: There is a device inline on the water supply into my house, just after the meter, that is dripping ... A: Look at the piping closely. Try to determine what feeds what. A second regulator is sometimes used ... | |
| toilet bubbles when Tub emptys | 2/14/2010 |
| Q: Today when my son emptied the tub upstairs, the down stairs toilet bubbled a few times. No smell, ... A: Bummer! The sink is supposed to have an overflow to prevent this happening. It must be clogged up. ... | |
| dripping device on water inlet | 2/14/2010 |
| Q: There is a device inline on the water supply into my house, just after the meter, that is dripping ... A: They come pre-set from the factory. Read the instructions for adjustment. Typical range is 40-125 ... | |
| clogged drains | 2/14/2010 |
| Q: Well it started in the kitchen sink, I tried to run the garbage dispoal and suddenly the sink filled ... A: I understand your frustration. I really do not recommend drain cleaners, especially lye, as they are ... | |
| toilet bubbles when Tub emptys | 2/14/2010 |
| Q: Today when my son emptied the tub upstairs, the down stairs toilet bubbled a few times. No smell, ... A: Isn't this nice weather great? Hard to believe its been in the mid-70's for the last couple of days ... | |
| dripping device on water inlet | 2/14/2010 |
| Q: There is a device inline on the water supply into my house, just after the meter, that is dripping ... A: From you description, this is a pressure regulator for reducing the incoming pressure to below 80 ... | |
| Re-piping House | 2/13/2010 |
| Q: I live in Florida. Temps can be 19 degrees in the winter and 105 in the summer. Copper piping has ... A: PVC/CPVC is fine and in wide use as well. There are some that feel that the PVC can leach chemicals ... | |
| Delta Tub Faucet Diverter w/o Shower | 2/13/2010 |
| Q: I have a single handle Delta tub faucet w/o a shower. The faucet diverter for the non-existent ... A: I would just quit messing with it and replace the spout. It's either a screw on or compression type ... | |
| Re-piping House | 2/13/2010 |
| Q: I live in Florida. Temps can be 19 degrees in the winter and 105 in the summer. Copper piping has ... A: The answer somewhat depends on what the local building authorities will allow. Not everything is ... | |
| toilet drain pipe | 2/13/2010 |
| Q: Help, we just took our 2nd floor toilet off to check why flush was slow. we found water just about 6 ... A: The line needs to be properly snaked, probably farther than you could reach. It is unlikely any ... | |
| Hot water tap, basement bathroom | 2/12/2010 |
| Q: My wife and I purchased a home, knowing that the homes plumbing was done by the previous resident. ... A: This is very weird! I've never heard of such a thing. I think its time to have a professional look ... | |
| cold shower | 2/12/2010 |
| Q: How do i adjust the water temperature in a Peerless single handle shower faucet? It's still too cold ... A: This is probably an "anti-scald" valve. You may need to adjust the scald guard feature due to ... | |
| Plumbing - stub removal | 2/11/2010 |
| Q: How does one remove an old, galvanized bath sink drain stub. Only the threads are on the room side. ... A: Now you see why the plumbers get the big bucks! LOL PB Blaster might help. Also, tighten it first, ... | |
| Shower vapor barrier | 2/11/2010 |
| Q: Hey i've got a bathroom with 3 interior walls and one exterior wall that is on one full side of a ... A: I would question him about why that is or ask to see the code he is following. Maybe he is ... | |
| Sayco shower facuet drip | 2/11/2010 |
| Q: I have replaced the seat and stem on my Sayco shower faucet. But it still drips when shut off. When ... A: Seat and stem should handle it. These look like conventional compression stop valves. I have had a ... | |
| cold water pipe noise | 2/11/2010 |
| Q: Recently the cold water pipes in my house have begun to make a lot of noise, we cannot have several ... A: Water hammer is caused by the sudden stopping of moving water. All the kinetic energy of the moving ... | |
| Broken stop valve | 2/10/2010 |
| Q: The end of the stem(washer/nut?)broke off the stop/flow valve for the main water supply to the house ... A: That's unfortunate! Seems odd that you would have water to some things and not others. I suppose it ... | |
| Low flow from kitchen faucet | 2/10/2010 |
| Q: The water flow in my kitchen faucet is really low. It used to work great, house is less than 5 yrs ... A: There is a diverter valve built into the faucet, usually on the feed to the spray hose. If this ... | |
| Low water pressure in shower | 2/9/2010 |
| Q: Over the past couple months the water pressure in our shower has been getting lower and lower. It ... A: Sounds like there is a problem inside the valve. Some debris may have gotten into the cartridge. You ... | |
| water shortage | 2/9/2010 |
| Q: My area experienced low water pressure problems over the weekend and for two days the only running ... A: I would first check with the local utility company to see if there is still a problem in the system. ... | |
| Cross flow in shower/tub faucet | 2/9/2010 |
| Q: I recently had my house renovated with completely new plumbing (CPVC supply lines) and a new heating ... A: There really should be no pressure differential between hot and cold. It is, effectively, all one ... | |
| washer drainage problems | 2/9/2010 |
| Q: I just read your email from a question I sent you. the water from my tub is not backing up, however ... A: At some point, all the drains connect together into one 4 inch pipe that goes out of the house. If ... | |
| shower mixing valve | 2/8/2010 |
| Q: I am getting hot and cold water to my shower valve, but I am not getting water from my shower valve ... A: Okay, at least I know that much, single handle. Remove the shower head and see if you get any flow ... | |
| water backing up | 2/8/2010 |
| Q: everytime I wash a load of clothes, when it drains it backs up into the bathtub. Washing just one ... A: First, I do not recommend drain cleaners, they are very rough on the pipes. They contain lye that ... | |
| Kohler Mixing Valve | 2/7/2010 |
| Q: I just bought a house two days ago and turned the water on today. The shower faucet was running so I ... A: Being a single handle, the cartridge is probably reversed as I mentioned. Try pulling it out and ... | |
| pvc connection from camper to ground | 2/7/2010 |
| Q: we recently bought a 17 year old camper. We put it at a campground as a seasonal. We did something ... A: Can you even find the connection buried in all that snow? LOL This is difficult to diagnose without ... | |
| Low water pressure in shower | 2/7/2010 |
| Q: Over the past couple months the water pressure in our shower has been getting lower and lower. It ... A: There can be several reasons for this. The most likely is that there is something restricting the ... | |
| Kohler Mixing Valve | 2/7/2010 |
| Q: I just bought a house two days ago and turned the water on today. The shower faucet was running so I ... A: I'm a bit confused. From your repair description, this is a 2 or 3 handle valve but the problem is ... | |
| WATER HEATER | 2/6/2010 |
| Q: Need help I have a gas water heater and for some reason sometimes it starts to hum but loud. This is ... A: AT 4 years old, the heater should not need replacing yet. They typically last at least 10 years. ... | |
| water heater made loud noise | 2/6/2010 |
| Q: why would my water heater make aloud noise and after that my water preasure drop A: There is not enough information in your question to answer. There are many possible reasons. When ... | |
| Floods! Everywhere! | 2/6/2010 |
| Q: I am having flooding issues everywhere. I have a septic tank (don't know if it is relevant). My ... A: This sounds like a combination of a saturated septic drain field or failed septic system that is ... | |
| Replacement of PP 3204 | 2/6/2010 |
| Q: I have the same problem as the gentleman that you have helped on 4/12/2009 ( ... A: PP could possibly mean Price Pfister, now a Black & Decker company. Replacing the stems only may not ... | |
| leak | 2/5/2010 |
| Q: When I purchased a new hot water heater I was told due to new codes that I had to have an exterior ... A: ANY leaking or discharge is a sign of a problem that should be corrected. What seems to be a small ... | |
| leak | 2/5/2010 |
| Q: When I purchased a new hot water heater I was told due to new codes that I had to have an exterior ... A: Chances are he's right. The pressure may be too high. Plumbing fixtures, including water heaters ... | |
| on-demand hot water unit for washing machine | 2/5/2010 |
| Q: We are moving our washer and dryer to a new location and will have to install a separate hot water ... A: You are correct in you concern about price. Tankless units are very expensive. You would be better ... | |
| bathroom faucet - water only trickles | 2/4/2010 |
| Q: I'll try to let you know in detail what is happening; I have never had any kind of plumbing ... A: Good chance its a plugged up aerator. Unscrew it and see if you have flow without it attached. If ... | |
| Iron in water from a well | 2/4/2010 |
| Q: We had a well on the property it is about 30 yrs old. It has a strong amount of iron in the water ... A: When iron exists along with certain kinds of bacteria, problems can become even worse. To survive, ... | |
| Tub Drain | 2/4/2010 |
| Q: I am roughing a new bathroom in the upstairs of a two story home. The part I am not sure about is ... A: Access to plumbing is always a problem. it is usually handled by installing access doors or panels ... | |
| Air Gap | 2/3/2010 |
| Q: Single sink in a coffe shop. Health Inspector said I need an Air Gap because of washing foods for ... A: Yes, any commercial food prep sink must be drained via an "indirect waste". This is common for any ... | |
| Intermittent Shower Leak | 2/3/2010 |
| Q: I had a new bathroom fitted 3 years ago. About a year ago it started leaking and we re-did the ... A: 4 people at once? Wow, big shower. LOL There is basically something wrong with the original ... | |
| Gurgling noise in laundry sink | 2/3/2010 |
| Q: I have a laundry sink in the basement that gurgles all the time. When we put a cap on the tap,(not ... A: The tube is probably a "trap primer" to maintain the water seal in the floor drain trap. It squirts ... | |
| water gurgling in bathtub | 2/1/2010 |
| Q: Dana, I have an old house built in 1910 and I know the vent pipe is cast iron but most of my ... A: Every drain system needs to be properly vented to atmosphere to prevent a siphon/vacuum from being ... | |
| plugged aerators in faucets | 2/1/2010 |
| Q: In the kitchen and master bath (sink only) what looks like pvc particles are plugging the aerators. ... A: Odd condition! Are they kind of amber in color? Do you have a water softener? Sometimes water ... | |
| Leaking bathroom sink wall pipe | 2/1/2010 |
| Q: I have a dual-sink vanity that had a bad clog. I called a drain cleaning company and he cleared out ... A: Yes, it is possible. Not easy but possible. The 1-1/2 inch galvanized nipple can be unscrewed but ... | |
| Water flow through shower head | 1/31/2010 |
| Q: I have had a new Moen Villeta (L82383)shower head, tap and single handle water control, recently ... A: 1/2 inch ID (inside diameter)pipe is the minimum standard for a shower or tub/shower setup. Since ... | |
| toilet tank 'howling' on refill | 1/31/2010 |
| Q: In the past couple of months, our toilet tank has begun to make noise as the filling after a flush ... A: Sounds like someone replaced your "toilet owl" with a toilet hound dog! LOL The problem is a worn ... | |
| Basement shower drain | 1/31/2010 |
| Q: I am installing a shower in my basement. I already have the drain pipe stubbed up through the ... A: I need more info about this. Can you send a picture of the drain pipe out of the slab? Is this a ... | |
| Kitchen Sink drain | 1/31/2010 |
| Q: My sink (double sink)wasn't draining so I took the elbow off to clean it.Its all clean but for some ... A: It depends on the way the pipes are set up. In many double bay sinks there is a "baffle Tee" where ... | |
| Kitchen Sink Overflow overflows | 1/31/2010 |
| Q: We had a new dishwaser, new double sink, new overflow and new disposal installed by a plumber. The ... A: Every new disposer has the inlet for the dishwasher's air gap drain but NOT EVERYONE has a ... | |
| toilet valve replacement | 1/30/2010 |
| Q: I am in the process of putting in an anti-siphon fill valve brass craft model 2000 to replace the ... A: Yes, you break them apart. The cone goes on the bottom of the fill valve before you put it through ... | |
| muddy water filter from well and water surges | 1/30/2010 |
| Q: I use a well and have an water filter set from the storage tank to the hot water tank that filters ... A: Heavy rains can effect the water table and cause turbidity. The filter is doing it's job. The ... | |
| Good pressure but no hot water | 1/29/2010 |
| Q: While checking out a house I might buy, I found that the there was no hot water coming from the ... A: There are a couple of things that can cause this. The pipe that feed the kitchen faucet could be ... | |
| Shower flow | 1/29/2010 |
| Q: I have begun to experience the following problem with the shower in our main bathroom. The shower ... A: Try removing the shower head for a test. If the flow is fine, the problem is a clogged head. Clean ... | |
| Drainage backup | 1/29/2010 |
| Q: Where I live we are still on a well and septic system and lately in the last few months when I wash ... A: The prices vary everywhere. You can check locally. I've seen offers here for $25 for any drain but ... | |
| noise from bathtub when flushing toilet | 1/28/2010 |
| Q: I just read your response to a very similar question but in that case the bathroom had been ... A: Good Job or researching the question before hand. If there is not leak below the tub, indication a ... | |
| bath tub flushing noise | 1/28/2010 |
| Q: A couple months ago I had my second floor master bathroom completely remodeled: replaced a toilet, a ... A: Several things come to mind; No p-trap, the p-trap water seal is evaporating because it is not ... | |
| Washing Machine plumbing | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: Does the drain pipe need a "P" trap inline before it drains into the 3" main sewer line in the ... A: Yes! Any connection to the sewer piping requires a p-trap. It's function is to provide a water seal ... | |
| Kenmore Thermocouple | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: I have a Kenmore Power Miser 6 and the pilot won't stay lit, I had a tech come out and look at it ... A: I'm not familiar with the "little safety device" attached to a thermocouple. Did you use a Sears ... | |
| Hand held shower head leak | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: I have a hand held shower head and it drips constantly. I replaced the Moen cartridge, no change. If ... A: Does the drip continue or eventually stop? It could just be gravity draining the remaining water ... | |
| Drainage backup | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: Where I live we are still on a well and septic system and lately in the last few months when I wash ... A: There is some point of connection of the laundry drain and the bath tub drain that is restricted. I ... | |
| Gas Water Heater | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: Two questions about symptoms I am having w/ my water heater. (1)The pilot light was not staying lit ... A: By-products of a gas flame contain a lot of moisture. When you first fire up a system, this exhaust ... | |
| Septic backup in baths | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: I have a house with a septic tank, I have had problems for the past several years, I have had the ... A: This sounds very much like the leach field is flooding or saturated or has failed completely. The ... | |
| Sink & Kitchen Countertop | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: I just bought a new condo on the first floor and I noticed a area under the sink with a hole. I'm ... A: Dis-mounting the counter top is not an easy job. They are usually glued down pretty well. Holes in ... | |
| Water heater | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: I have a 14 year old 80 gal electric water heater that after two showers(totaling 25 minutes) the ... A: At 14 years old, this water heater is at or near the end of it's expected life. The industry average ... | |
| shower hot water pressurer | 1/25/2010 |
| Q: my shower hot water is coming out slow and it was spliting out small rocks plus when i turn on the ... A: It's hard to tell by your description. Is this a three handle valve or is there a lift-up knob on ... | |
| Solvent Welding PVC Pipes | 1/25/2010 |
| Q: We are having all of the cast-iron drains in the house replaced with PVC pipe (this is being done as ... A: As I said, I agree with your Dad, it doesn't look like much if any primer was used. I have ... | |
| Solvent Welding PVC Pipes | 1/25/2010 |
| Q: We are having all of the cast-iron drains in the house replaced with PVC pipe (this is being done as ... A: I agree with your dad. Get the local building officials to look at the work. Joint assembly ... | |
| Loss of hot water pressure | 1/25/2010 |
| Q: Recently the hot water volume in my 7 year old house has dropped dramatically to the point you can ... A: Oil fired system are not my forte (don't use them out here much) but any boiler system needs to be ... | |
| faucet problem | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: I'm having a problem with low water flow from a kitchen faucet. It has separate controls for ... A: The screw unit is probably the diverter for the hand spray. It may have some debris in it or be ... | |
| slow drain issue | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: WE just purchased a older home, 60 years old. The vanity and the sink in the bathroom seem fairly ... A: This type of drain is called a "grid" drain and is usually seen in commercial restrooms. It ... | |
| leaking at shower head-old plumbing | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: My mother's house is about 40 years old. The shower is leaking water out the shower head. The hot ... A: This can be a DIY project but it is a bit more than "minor" repairs. In order to get the stems out ... | |
| anode or dip tube | 1/10/2010 |
| Q: kenmore 80 gallon tank is no longer producing hot water; i can't even hear the tank elements ... A: There are many components in an electric water heater. The anode rod is a "sacrificial" metal rod ... | |
| Hot water heater leak | 1/10/2010 |
| Q: seems when my wife gives our baby a bath in the tub, the hot water heater leaks by way of the ... A: I understand. An expansion tank should be a part of every W/H install as a good practice. The TPRV's ... | |
| Water Heater Installed Backwards | 1/10/2010 |
| Q: I believe the subject says it all. A friend of mine's Water Heater was installed with the cold water ... A: That's the winner of the day! LOL The tank is LABELED hot and cold on the inlet and outlet. In ... | |
| Secondary Cleanout | 1/10/2010 |
| Q: In 2005 plumbers snaked outside my home using 50 & 100 ft snakes. They found tree roots and sais ... A: By "secondary clean out" they probably mean one located near the property line at the street. This ... | |
| rerouting plumbing | 1/9/2010 |
| Q: i purchased a new double sink i am not putting the disposer back on.. i need to connect the pipes ... A: You will need to re-do the waste pipes under the sink per the sketch I have attached. This is the ... | |
| suspected frozen pipe - no water dripping | 1/9/2010 |
| Q: We are having cold temps here in Katy,TX (just west of Houston) for the past 2 days. Except for our ... A: I suppose the water piping systems in Katy, TX are not designed to handle the freezing temperatures ... | |
| Faucet Leaks | 1/9/2010 |
| Q: When I take a shower, one of the faucets in the bathtub leaks, which I think is causing low water ... A: It is probably leaking leaking around the valve stem. While not usually a big deal, it can travel ... | |
| frozen pipes | 1/8/2010 |
| Q: Mr Bostick I hope you can help me. Seeing as you live in Calfifornia, I'm not sure. We live in ... A: Absolutely, and wrap that with plastic or other moisture barrier to keep the insulation dry. There ... | |
| water pump | 1/8/2010 |
| Q: our water pump keeps running when we use the water.the pump turns off and on alot i am afarid it ... A: The answer depends on the tank itself. Not all have diaphragms or bladders and not all those that ... | |
| shower faucet | 1/8/2010 |
| Q: can I replace a shower only faucet that does not have pressure/volume control to one that does? or ... A: There are no "retrofit kits" that I'm aware of for an existing faucet. There are in-line pressure ... | |
| Poor pressure in 2nd story shower | 1/7/2010 |
| Q: Greetings from Tennessee, I have a home built in 1929 that is basically a craftsman style. We are ... A: There are a number of things that can have an effect on pressure and flow rate: Pipe sizing, ... | |
| frozen pipes | 1/7/2010 |
| Q: Mr Bostick I hope you can help me. Seeing as you live in Calfifornia, I'm not sure. We live in ... A: Although I do currently live in SoCal, I spent 10 years in Lake Tahoe, above 6000 feet in the ... | |
| How water | 1/7/2010 |
| Q: Having issue with a 5 year gas hot water heater. Getting black sediment from all hot water faucets ... A: A 5 year old water heater should already be a "glass lined" unit. Pretty much everything is these ... | |
| Installing a new bathtub | 1/7/2010 |
| Q: I am replacing the all-in-one fiberglass bathtub/shower that was built into the bathroom at the time ... A: Cast iron is the tub of choice, I would stay away from the enameled steel. They chip too easily and ... | |
| Plumbing problem | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: Our raised ranch home has a septic system which was last pumped four years ago. We have always had ... A: This is generally a symptom of a venting problem of some sort. When water goes down a drain, it can ... | |
| Hot water heater leak | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: seems when my wife gives our baby a bath in the tub, the hot water heater leaks by way of the ... A: Water heaters usually just work until they rust out and start to leak from the tank, usually the ... | |
| using vent line as drain line for new toilet | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: I want to add a bathroom/toilet on my 2nd floor bonus room. Since there is no pipe planned for this, ... A: Without seeing the actual conditions, it would be a dis-service to guess at a price. A local plumber ... | |
| I hear a drip... | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: I hear a drip in the middle of my kitchen floor and I can't find any water. Do you have an idea of ... A: If you can locate the leak, by all means fix it. Things to check: the base of the toilet, the joint ... | |
| Hot water heater leak | 1/5/2010 |
| Q: seems when my wife gives our baby a bath in the tub, the hot water heater leaks by way of the ... A: Expect an explosion only if you block off the relief valve. It's doing what it is designed to do, ... | |
| using vent line as drain line for new toilet | 1/5/2010 |
| Q: I want to add a bathroom/toilet on my 2nd floor bonus room. Since there is no pipe planned for this, ... A: Do you mean other than being a Code violation in several ways? LOL The minimum size for a toilet ... | |
| duration of freezing tempertures to freeze pipes | 1/5/2010 |
| Q: Could you please tell me how long "freezing" temperatures must remain in order for pipes or water ... A: There really is not just one answer to this question. There is a lot of "it depends" involved. Are ... | |
| I hear a drip... | 1/5/2010 |
| Q: I hear a drip in the middle of my kitchen floor and I can't find any water. Do you have an idea of ... A: H Samantha, I suppose anything is possible. As I said, water will travel and it may not show up ... | |
| Water Pump Problems | 1/5/2010 |
| Q: I'm having a problem with my water pump and was wondering if you would help me? my water pump only ... A: Wells systems are not really my area but a couple of things come to mind. Most systems have a ... | |
| low water flow | 1/4/2010 |
| Q: visited in-laws over holiday and as tried to remember not to flush toilet, run dishwasher, wash ... A: It could. Seems rather odd way to pipe a main water line. Why would one add a restriction in the ... | |
| bathroom sink | 1/4/2010 |
| Q: My bathroom sink will not drain. Ive taken the trap out and snaked directly to the drain. Found ... A: Hmmmm....Maybe the pop-up is not opening far enough. Possibly the overflow drain near the rim is ... | |
| disposer flange spring | 1/4/2010 |
| Q: i purchased a new sink and already have a Kenmore disposer. The sink is a Pegasus and the Pegasus ... A: A model number of the disposer would be helpful so I can look it up and see the part your are having ... | |
| Washing Machine Drains to Fast | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: My Washing machine is in the same room as my shower and when the washing machine pumps it causes ... A: Me thinks you would be better off have the drains properly cleaned. Washer drains and kitchen ... | |
| Loss of Hot Water to Kitchen Faucet | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: I am not getting any hot water from my kichen faucet. I still have hot water to all other faucets ... A: It may be a clogged pipe due to rust and/or deteriorated galvanized steel pipes. the hot side is ... | |
| bathroom sink | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: My bathroom sink will not drain. Ive taken the trap out and snaked directly to the drain. Found ... A: It's likely a hair clog caught in the pop-up mechanism. The small rod that lifts the pop-up stopper ... | |
| I hear a drip... | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: I hear a drip in the middle of my kitchen floor and I can't find any water. Do you have an idea of ... A: Most mobile homes have a "wind barrier" installed over the insulation to prevent damage when it is ... | |
| removing my airgap | 1/2/2010 |
| Q: I recently had a new cast iron sink, faucet, and garbage disposal installed. The sink did not have ... A: Well......I don't know about the crazy part, maybe just misinformed. LOL The air gap is there for a ... | |
| Showering | 1/2/2010 |
| Q: We have three handles in our tub - the middle one for the shower. The mechanism is about a year ... A: It shouldn't make any difference which order you use. If the spout is still leaking after the shower ... | |
| Toilet drains when bathtub drains | 1/2/2010 |
| Q: When my bathrub drains, the toilet next to it makes gurgling sounds and empties. What could be ... A: This is caused by a blocked vent pipe. Drainage systems need to have an air vent to break the vacuum ... | |
| Low hot water pressure | 1/1/2010 |
| Q: When I increase the temperture of the shower the water pressure gets extremely low. I have replaced ... A: Okay, this is a process of elimination. LOL Yes, water heaters are supposed to be flushed every ... | |
| Low hot water pressure | 1/1/2010 |
| Q: When I increase the temperture of the shower the water pressure gets extremely low. I have replaced ... A: At 10 years, the heater is at or near the end of it's useful life by industry standards. (8-12 ... | |
| follow-up Q, Delta shower mix valve | 12/31/2009 |
| Q: Dana. Thank you for taking my question. Sharon instructed me well on how to look for problems in ... A: That does not sound right. The cold to hot part is right. That's the way they are supposed to ... | |
| Gas water heater with built in combustion air | 12/31/2009 |
| Q: I'm building an addition to my home. I have already purchased a Bradford White 50 Gal water heater ... A: These are called "direct vent" units. They have co-axial vent pipes (one inside the other) and no ... | |
| Drain Problem? | 12/31/2009 |
| Q: For the past few weeks, whenever I flush the first or second floor toilets, there is a loud gurgling ... A: It sounds very much like a venting problem. The system is trying to get air through the traps ... | |
| Toilet is disconnected and debris fell into drain | 12/31/2009 |
| Q: We have had continual problems with the plumbing in our house. We think most is caused by the big ... A: You might try a "jetting" service to clear the main line. They us a special type of snake that uses ... | |
| basement water leakage | 12/31/2009 |
| Q: We noticed our basement tiles seeping glue around them. Upon further investigation, we found water ... A: It's a basement, they are supposed to be dark and damp, right? <grin> It may not be plumbing. It ... | |
| Toilet Leak @ Base | 12/30/2009 |
| Q: I am a landlord. A tenant was complaining of her toilet leaking substantial water (2+ cups) from ... A: It can happen if there is a clog that backs the water up to the wax ring and it is not sealing well. ... | |
| two shower heads | 12/30/2009 |
| Q: how can i control two shower heads independently. A: There are several ways. The expensive way is to install an in-wall, 4-way diverter valve as part of ... | |
| tankless hot water temperature flucuates | 12/30/2009 |
| Q: We have a tankless hot water heater that is about 4 years old. It is used for our 1 upstairs master ... A: Yep, guys don't "do" baths. Just give him a beer and tell him it's a hot tub! LOL It sounds like ... | |
| plumbing | 12/30/2009 |
| Q: ok i am a NYC plumber working my question is i am venting a grease trap on the ground and their is ... A: I'm a West Coast guy. I can answer "general" code questions only. As you probably know, the cities ... | |
| debris in toilet drain | 12/29/2009 |
| Q: I am renovating my bathroom. I had removed the toilet and sink. While pulling up the tile in my ... A: Oops! Now you know to cover the drain when working with the toilet pulled. That small tile should ... | |
| Water Heater Problem | 12/29/2009 |
| Q: About a week back, my water heater started tripping its breaker. I decided to start with the easiest ... A: It sounds like there is a short to ground in that circuit that occurs when the stat calls for power. ... | |
| Shower Diverter | 12/29/2009 |
| Q: I have a three-handled shower, and when I take a shower water still comes out of the tub faucet, ... A: The best way is to replace the diverter stem and washer. While your are at it, put new washers in ... | |
| very intermittant drip sound from attic to ceiling with no evidence of water | 12/29/2009 |
| Q: In this case,the house is 2 story wood construction built 2008. We have a forced air system with ... A: I suspect it might be condensation inside the ductwork. Warm, moist air (from inside the house) ... | |
| PVC Drain Pipes | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: When we had our home built three years ago near Cleveland, OH I had the contractor rough in floor ... A: If he glued them on, it's going to be a "flint stone" job to get them off. Some careful work with a ... | |
| toilet whistle | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: I recently had some plumbing work done due to a water leak- flex hose going to the toilet. That was ... A: Now that's annoying! Any noise is essentially a vibration. A whistle is just a faster vibration. ... | |
| washer | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: I have my washer drain line overflowing. we snake it out to about 10ft.the tiolets,sinks&bathtub ... A: Okay....and your question is? LOL Maybe a bit longer would be in order. Obviously, 10 feet is not ... | |
| sewer smell in kitchen | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: For the last couple of weeks I have had a sewer smell like rotten eggs in my kitchen that seems to ... A: A couple of things come to mind: 1. There is a venting problem and the P-trap is getting siphoned ... | |
| Washer backs up into the bathtub | 12/27/2009 |
| Q: I live in an older house... We remodeled about a year ago and replaced a lot of the pipes in the ... A: The bathroom drains all share a common drain pipe at some point and ultimately the whole house ... | |
| plumbing | 12/27/2009 |
| Q: hot water in my cold water pipe. steibel tankless water heater A: You are a little slim on information here. Sort of hard to answer. When does this happen? What are ... | |
| sump pump discharge | 12/27/2009 |
| Q: I have a sump pump in my basement where the discharge comes up to the floor joists above and runs in ... A: Noise is essentially mechanical vibration. It is transmitted through direct contact and through the ... | |
| Toilet is disconnected and debris fell into drain | 12/27/2009 |
| Q: We have had continual problems with the plumbing in our house. We think most is caused by the big ... A: Oops! Obviously, you now know to cover open drains! You might be able to get the insulation out by ... | |
| Septic Tank and Leach Lines | 12/26/2009 |
| Q: We just had to have our septic pumped (after living here just about a year) and the guy told us our ... A: That's a bummer. Go ahead and check with the other experts to make sure but it sounds like the ... | |
| proper threaded pipe length | 12/26/2009 |
| Q: How do I determiner the proper length of pipe. A friend who is familar with plumbing mentioned the ... A: This is a skill gained from experience. Screwing it up can teach you a lot! LOL Plumbing pipe ... | |
| slow flushing toliet | 12/26/2009 |
| Q: I noticed that sometimes when we flush, the water will move very slow and not flush all the way. ... A: Unfortunately, there is no "magic bullet" for this. I don't recommend drain cleaners due to the ... | |
| slow flushing toliet | 12/26/2009 |
| Q: I noticed that sometimes when we flush, the water will move very slow and not flush all the way. A: You may just have a batch of slow water on those times! LOL Just kidding. This usually means that ... | |
| water pressure in bathroom sink | 12/26/2009 |
| Q: Dana, I moved into a home built in the 70's. It has had some cosmetic remolding done, but the water ... A: A home built in the 70's may still have its original galvanized steel pipes. These can be starting ... | |
| what first? | 12/24/2009 |
| Q: We plan to do a kitchen remodel in a 50 year old house on a raised foundation with galvanized pipes. ... A: The water pipes are a major system of any house and are very important for both obvious reasons and ... | |
| Shower remodel | 12/24/2009 |
| Q: We are planning to replace our shower base with a new one and looks like most of the newer shower ... A: This depends on access to the plumbing. If you can get to if from under a raised foundation, you ... | |
| P Traps | 12/24/2009 |
| Q: I live in Los Angles CA, I am having my bathroom remolded and decided to replace the bathtub. When ... A: There is normally a hole in the slab at that location anyway. It's called a "box out" and it is ... | |
| Toilet | 12/24/2009 |
| Q: i want to know if I can rotate my toilet 90 degrees using the original cast iron drain pipe flange ... A: You may need to change the flange. Standard flanges have the holes set at the sides only. Toilets ... | |
| slow water flow | 12/23/2009 |
| Q: Recently had hot water heater replaced. Since they did this my water pressure out of my shower ... A: Some debris from the pipes probably got broken loose during the work and made its way down the ... | |
| Shower remodel | 12/23/2009 |
| Q: We are planning to replace our shower base with a new one and looks like most of the newer shower ... A: If the drain does not match any available pans you will need to do this as a "hot mop" pan. They ... | |
| Bubbling water in the yard | 12/23/2009 |
| Q: We have a slow bubble of water out near the horse barn. The barn sits on a small hill. There is a ... A: Underground leaks and springs can be hard to locate and pin down. The water could be originating in ... | |
| cleaning enameled sink | 12/23/2009 |
| Q: What is the best product to clean the gray metal marks in a white enameled kitchen sink. The marks ... A: Per their website: Bar Keepers Friend® One can do it all! The best professional powdered cleanser ... | |
| myers water pump | 12/22/2009 |
| Q: Older Myers water pump comes on then 5 seconds later shuts off.This is continuously happening ... A: You may have one of the older style tanks that does not have a diaphragm between the water and the ... | |
| Noise in hot water recirc line check valves | 12/22/2009 |
| Q: This regards a residential hot water piping system, all 1/2 and 3/4 copper tubing and supplied by an ... A: I mis-spoke, you cannot use spring checks on a gravity system. I've put in many pumped systems and ... | |
| Replacing ceiling sheet rock due to water damage | 12/21/2009 |
| Q: We recently had an overflowing toilet issue (luckily it was mostly clear water) from our second ... A: As long as it was not seriously saturated and has dried, there should not be a problem. It really ... | |
| low water pressure | 12/21/2009 |
| Q: I have a question and realize that there might not be an easy answer. I live in Indiana, have a ... A: Two things come to mind. Pull the shower head off and see if the flow is still too low. It might ... | |
| leak under sink | 12/21/2009 |
| Q: The large copper pipe under my sink that runs behind my stove and up through the roof is leaking. ... A: If it is the vent line, it should slope slightly BACK to the kitchen drain line on the horizontal ... | |
| Water Hammer with a Tankless | 12/20/2009 |
| Q: I have had a Rinnai tankless for about three years and have only started experience "water hammer" ... A: I looked at the blog. There is still a lot of confusion about these "new fangled" units although ... | |
| banging pipes | 12/20/2009 |
| Q: In my master bedroom at night about every 2 hours the pipes go pop pop pop pop pop one right after ... A: This sounds suspiciously like pipes creeping due to thermal expansion. It could also be a big ... | |
| leak under sink | 12/20/2009 |
| Q: The large copper pipe under my sink that runs behind my stove and up through the roof is leaking. ... A: From your description, it's hared to tell what this is. How large is it? 1-1/2 to 2 inches? or ... | |
| frozen pipes | 12/19/2009 |
| Q: Nice to meet you. Here's hoping you can answer my questions. I live in Maine. Trying to move to ... A: having lived above 6000 feet at Lake Tahoe in the Sierras for ten years, I'm very familiar with ... | |
| water hammer in bathroom plumbing | 12/19/2009 |
| Q: When I turn on the hot water in the master bathroom, there is a loud hammering when the flow of ... A: Cool about the stained glass stuff. I've done that before. Lots of fun. Unfortunately, my ... | |
| Tempreture | 12/18/2009 |
| Q: I installed a single handle Tuscany fixture in the bath, and one in the shower. Water temp. is good ... A: After some digging, I was able to track down the manufacturer. It's LDR Industries, Inc. in Chicago, ... | |
| high pressure 2-5 seconds out of faucets | 12/18/2009 |
| Q: how can i fix high pressure problem? my house is 3 1/2 years old. when you use any faucet or toilet ... A: It is possible the cold weather would play into this scene. I HAVE lived in snow country before so ... | |
| high pressure 2-5 seconds out of faucets | 12/18/2009 |
| Q: how can i fix high pressure problem? my house is 3 1/2 years old. when you use any faucet or toilet ... A: This is a symptom of thermal expansion of water in the water heater. The water expands when its ... | |
| leaking airvent | 12/17/2009 |
| Q: Last year I installed a vent so that my kitchen sink would drain faster. Now water is leaking from ... A: These Air Admittance Valves are called Studor vents or "cheater vents" since they don't go out above ... | |
| clogged toilets | 12/17/2009 |
| Q: why do my toilets keep clogging up? A: LOL, not a lot of info here Doug. There are numerous reasons for toilets to clog. Other than the ... | |
| Tempreture | 12/17/2009 |
| Q: I installed a single handle Tuscany fixture in the bath, and one in the shower. Water temp. is good ... A: I believe Tuscany is a style name, not the manufactures name. Who made the valves? Kohler? Price ... | |
| Commercial oven | 12/17/2009 |
| Q: I am purchasing a restaurant and am having problems with one of my ovens, it does not work. It is a ... A: A thermocouple is a small device that generates electricity when heat is applied. They are part of ... | |
| water flow | 12/17/2009 |
| Q: I am losing pressure from one end of my house to the other and I have no leaks. It is a new modular ... A: Your first question provided little or no information or details. Just a statement that you "are ... | |
| water pressure | 12/16/2009 |
| Q: I am losing pressure from one end of my house to the other and I have no leaks. It is a new modular ... A: Is it actually the flow rate you are seeing a drop in? This is usually what most people notice. The ... | |
| Water runs then stops on bathroom faucet for both hot and cold... | 12/16/2009 |
| Q: Dana, The water in the bathroom at the sink runs until you open the faucet about 75% then make a ... A: Sounds like the pressure regulator might be messing up. Some of them have a check valve in them. ... | |
| Replaced Shower Spigots and now having temperature control issues | 12/16/2009 |
| Q: I couldn't turn off the shower and it constantly dripped. So, I decided to replace the spigots. I ... A: Two possibilities come to mind. You were given the wrong stems or the galvanized steel pipes are on ... | |
| Howling plumbing | 12/16/2009 |
| Q: Our pipes howl. It is only 3 of the 4 toilets and is almost non existent in warm weather but as ... A: If I had to guess, it is related to the fill valve and possible high pressure in the system. The ... | |
| Clogged in the main line.. | 12/16/2009 |
| Q: I have a clogged in the main line. My toilet and tub are flooded. I cannot find the main drain ... A: Without a clean out just outside the foundation, you will need to have the main snaked through the ... | |
| Septic tank pump keeps failing | 12/15/2009 |
| Q: Help! We have replaced 4 pumps in just 4 years of living here. The system was all new in 2005. ... A: I'm not that familiar with this type of system but my first source would be the provider of the ... | |
| gas piping load | 12/15/2009 |
| Q: I have an external 2 car garage built alongside a 350 sf small home office. This home office has a ... A: It does not appear so per the gas tables. If you look at the table, is shows 455 Cubic Feet per ... | |
| second toilet | 12/15/2009 |
| Q: Create a second bathroom and install a second toilet in an adjoining room behind the existing toilet ... A: This need to be done properly and per Code. There's more to it than just connecting the dots. The ... | |
| connecting PVC to Terra cotta sewer pipe | 12/15/2009 |
| Q: .. here's my question... I have a 1925 house down in Florida with a root problem. Seems some oak ... A: Clay pipe (actually vitrified clay) is quite hard to cut without the proper tools. It is used from 2 ... | |
| Rough in basement | 12/15/2009 |
| Q: I have 5 pipes in my rough in for a bathroom, I have no idea which is for what. I have attached some ... A: I'm honored that you think I'm a magician! LOL First, AllExperts only allows one picture to be ... | |
| Clawfoot Tubs | 12/14/2009 |
| Q: I'm not sure if you know much about clawfoot tubs but i have a question and hope you can help me or ... A: I have no idea what it might be worth. it depends on the style and the condition of the finish I'm ... | |
| kitchen clog | 12/14/2009 |
| Q: "here's as much info as i can fit. we are on a city water system. our kitchen sink is clogged for ... A: This sounds suspiciously like what is called an "S" trap without a vent. I'm surprised you have not ... | |
| kitchen clog | 12/14/2009 |
| Q: "here's as much info as i can fit. we are on a city water system. our kitchen sink is clogged for ... A: First, with the drains going down through the floor, there is a question of proper venting. Through ... | |
| second toilet | 12/14/2009 |
| Q: Create a second bathroom and install a second toilet in an adjoining room behind the existing toilet ... A: It is possible to do. It depends on several factors. Distance to the existing drain pipe for the ... | |
| Sound of Running Water | 12/14/2009 |
| Q: We live in a 4 unit condo, three floors i.e. basement, main floor and upstairs ... A: This sounds a lot like the "phantom flush" issue. Water and pipes are a very good conductors sound. ... | |
| gas piping load | 12/13/2009 |
| Q: I have an external 2 car garage built alongside a 350 sf small home office. This home office has a ... A: 100 ft of 1-1/2 pipe should be able to supply 500,000 BTU at typical gas pressures of 7 inches ... | |
| Foul odour coming from the drain in my bathroom sink. | 12/13/2009 |
| Q: I live on the third floor of an older apartment building. My bathroom sink became plugged and when I ... A: Just flush it as best as you can with the hot water first. Then a cup of bleach should do it. If ... | |
| Slow Leak | 12/13/2009 |
| Q: My toilet is leaking water from the tank because every 6 to 8 minutes I hear it kick on to refill ... A: The float is to keep the flapper open long enough for a decent flush. Chlorine in the water can ... | |
| Foul odour coming from the drain in my bathroom sink. | 12/13/2009 |
| Q: I live on the third floor of an older apartment building. My bathroom sink became plugged and when I ... A: Chances are that it is coming from the overflow channel built into the sink. Try to run some very ... | |
| Well water tank | 12/11/2009 |
| Q: I have a well for water. my water flow is gradually getting lower. How do I pressurize my tank? A: Typically, the tanks are pressurized with air. Most contain a diaphragm or bladder between the air ... | |
| commode | 12/10/2009 |
| Q: I have a hundred year old home. I have recently discovered a problem with the commode and the ... A: If your 100 year old house has 100 year old waste lines as well, you may have a problem. Among other ... | |
| sewage and soap water backup in bathtub, bathroom sink, and kitchen sink | 12/10/2009 |
| Q: we live in a condo. A month ago, sewage started backing up into our bathtub and bathroom sink (at ... A: I don't think a check valve is a proper substitute for a trap. It might "solve" the problem but it ... | |
| sewage and soap water backup in bathtub, bathroom sink, and kitchen sink | 12/9/2009 |
| Q: we live in a condo. A month ago, sewage started backing up into our bathtub and bathroom sink (at ... A: It is odd that it backed up into the sink and not the bathtub at the same time. The bath drain is ... | |
| Sewer smell | 12/9/2009 |
| Q: When we moved into our home 9 years ago, I noticed that every time I ran water in the kitchen sink, ... A: It is possible that the cheater/quick vent has stopped working as it should. It may be able to be ... | |
| Kitchen Faucet | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: My kitchen faucet is only running hot water currently, the cold water will not run. It is the type ... A: If it is only the kitchen faucet that is doing this, it is in that pipe or the faucet itself. There ... | |
| bathroom vent pipe smell. | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: is there something used to find leaks in vent pipes.Do i need to take wall apart near toilet.Did ... A: About the only non-destructive way is by smoke testing. All the roof vents but one are capped and ... | |
| Sputtering and gurgling faucet | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: We purchased a Kohler "Stillness" Pressure-Balancing Bath and Shower Faucet. The diameter of the ... A: I'm not sure what is going on here. Possibly the valve is malfunctioning. The "Stillness" name is ... | |
| single-lever shower | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: I am trying to adjust my single lever shower to increase the hot water. I can't figure out how to ... A: LOL, it would be useful to know the brand. There are dozens of makers and they are not the same. If ... | |
| basement floor drain | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: Hope I'm in the right category. I rent a house. My washer/dryer is in the basement. The dryer is ... A: Sorry to tell you, this will not work. The floor drain has a trap in it that contains water (at ... | |
| Very little flow from eljer tub faucet (hot side) | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: I have a tub shower with a 3 handle Eljer valve (hot,cold,shower). I am getting very little flow ... A: It sounds like something has gotten into the actual valve body hot ports. A plumber may be able to ... | |
| sewage smell reappears in cold weather | 12/7/2009 |
| Q: I have a 3 yr old home, in Austin, TX. As the season turns colder a sewage smell keeps recurring in ... A: As you have discovered, this is sometimes not an easy problem to solve. The most common reason ... | |
| bathroom remodel | 12/6/2009 |
| Q: I am remodeling my bathroom. I have all of the sheetrock down and all pipes exposed for both ... A: The copper should be fine unless there is evidence to the contrary like signs of pinhole leaks. ... | |
| Basement Bathroom Question | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: We have a full bathroom in our basement. There is a lift pump that pumps from the sump to the ... A: Most toilets currently available are water savers and use only 1.6 gallons per flush (10 liters). ... | |
| All 3 toilets whine without flushing | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: I have a split level home with 3 toilets that are all making a high pitched whining noise that ... A: In that case, ignore the well comments. They don't apply here. Back to the issue of excess pressure. ... | |
| All 3 toilets whine without flushing | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: I have a split level home with 3 toilets that are all making a high pitched whining noise that ... A: This sounds very much like excess pressure in the water system is over riding the flush valve. ... | |
| Air Admittance valve problem | 12/4/2009 |
| Q: The kitchen sink in mobile home took two days to drain. Tried standard drain opener gel. No better. ... A: To be totally frank, a hand powered snake is pretty lame. They have their uses but they are limited. ... | |
| Lot drainage | 12/4/2009 |
| Q: I had a house inspection done and the inspector noted that a drain on the outside of the house does ... A: I would assume they went to the trouble of putting the drain in for a reason so it should probably ... | |
| Hot Water Recirculation not working correctly | 12/3/2009 |
| Q: I have a whole house recirculation pump for the hot water under the hot water heater. Recently I ... A: Air might have gotten into the recirc line and the pump. This will stop the circulation. Bleeding ... | |
| Help! | 12/3/2009 |
| Q: So I was goofing around in my shower. I lifted the net thing that prevented things from falling in a ... A: Two things; It may just work its way on down to the bigger pipes and flush on out (but not real ... | |
| leak in sewer pipe in basement ? | 12/2/2009 |
| Q: So My tenant calls and says his closet in his room has a thick black pipe and is leaking a little. ... A: I may not have been leaking when inspected. Hard to say. An inspector can only report what is seen. ... | |
| Sewer smell in basement laundry room | 12/2/2009 |
| Q: Frequently I notice a sewer-like smell in our basement laundry room. There is a floor drain that ... A: It's probably the floor drain. Every drain has a trap that holds a certain amount of water to act ... | |
| leak? | 12/2/2009 |
| Q: So My tenant calls and says his closet in his room has a thick black pipe and is leaking a little. ... A: This is probably the main sewer stack from that bathroom. Don't taste it! LOL From your ... | |
| water hammer | 12/2/2009 |
| Q: In the early morning i experience a water hammer type noise that seems to resinate from my inlet ... A: The water company was likely right. These are the typical items that cause water hammer. The ... | |
| Low water pressure | 12/1/2009 |
| Q: For the last few days, when we first turn on the shower in the morning, the water pressure is low. ... A: To my knowledge, there is no way to adjust the flow switch of the tankless. It is designed to ... | |
| gurgling toilet | 12/1/2009 |
| Q: I have a new house with main bath and master bath. There is one 3 inch vent stack from roof down ... A: There is a restriction somewhere in that toilet drain line that is causing the drain for the toilet ... | |
| smelly vents | 12/1/2009 |
| Q: We have a very strong sewage oder coming from three of out vents when the heat kicks on. I read a ... A: Ahhh, you didn't mention that. I assumed gas. Where does the cold air return get it's air? It could ... | |
| water heater replacement | 11/30/2009 |
| Q: My 75 gal gas water heater is coming up on 10 years old. I have always drained and flushed it every ... A: There are only about 5 major makers of water heaters in the US, and some of them actually outsource ... | |
| Ejector Pump | 11/30/2009 |
| Q: I am having a problem with a SJE Rhombus ejector pump in my home. The model number is 1221W114H. The ... A: The alarm means the pump has stopped working. This is a sealed system and the lower floor fixtures ... | |
| No pressure in hot water lines. | 11/30/2009 |
| Q: I just bought my first home from HUD. The property was winterized and we went ahead and checked all ... A: I think you have a "flow rate" issue, not a pressure issue. It's a common misconception. Flow rate ... | |
| smelly vents | 11/30/2009 |
| Q: We have a very strong sewage oder coming from three of out vents when the heat kicks on. I read a ... A: I'm a bit confused. There should never be any perceptible oder coming from heating vents. All gas ... | |
| bathroom sink drain | 11/30/2009 |
| Q: I recently installed a new bathroom vanity composite counter/sink. When installing the new ... A: Almost every pop-up drain I have ever seen has drain holes in it that allow this water to drain into ... | |
| Water softener | 11/29/2009 |
| Q: I used pellets in my water softener last time and now they are a mushy mess and the softener is not ... A: I would reach for my handy 25 gallon wet/dry shop vacuum and suck it out. Failing that, it is going ... | |
| smelly drains | 11/29/2009 |
| Q: 1)I have a basement single sink in a small craft room that is used infrequently. I know that to ... A: This is a problem in many commercial establishments. It is handled by installing what are called ... | |
| Kitchen Drain | 11/29/2009 |
| Q: I have attached a pic, I would like to know how to finish this drain connection #1 with ptrap just ... A: Getting creative here! The diagram you sent along is not the proper way to do this. Installing the ... | |
| water softener overflowing | 11/29/2009 |
| Q: I own a water boss water softener with the serial code 02191355. I woke up this morning to the ... A: Congratulations on the new baby! It certainly appears that there is something wrong here. It should ... | |
| Toilet handle squeaks | 11/28/2009 |
| Q: When flushed, the toilet emits a loud, short squeal, typically as the handle is pushed down. I have ... A: As long as you are sure there is not a mouse in there, I would guess it was the fill valve starting ... | |
| Sewage smell | 11/28/2009 |
| Q: I live in CT and at times there is a sewage smell in both my daughters closet and sons closet. In ... A: The plumbing venting system is supposed to take any sewer gases outside to avoid this problem. if ... | |
| Burping toilet | 11/28/2009 |
| Q: I have a 15 month old, 1 story ranch home with 3 toilets. All are American Standard (2-Cadet 3's ... A: It sounds like there might be something wrong with the flush mechanism. Also, some toilets have ... | |
| toilet gurgling | 11/28/2009 |
| Q: Similar to a post from a woman named Nora, this is the third time I have heard a gurgling sound ... A: First, I'm not sure what you mean by the "overflow pipe" in the toilet. I'm also not sure about any ... | |
| Hot water recirculating pump | 11/27/2009 |
| Q: I have a Grundfos UP 15 10B5 and until recently it worked just fine. The only thing I can identify ... A: It's possible that there is still air in the pump. Can you hear any whooshing or cavitation when ... | |
| tub overflow | 11/26/2009 |
| Q: Is the tub overflow in my upstairs apartment suppose to flood my down stairs neighbors ceiling? Very ... A: Definitely not! The overflow is connected to the drain and should not leak. This is something you ... | |
| tub/shower faucet | 11/26/2009 |
| Q: How do we fix the tub faucet? The problem: when we turn on the water (a rotating handle) it starts ... A: Single handle faucets are supposed to start out cold. It is designed that way as a safety measure ... | |
| Knocking Gas Pipe? | 11/26/2009 |
| Q: I have a central forced air heater. When it turns off or on there is a knocking pipe sound coming ... A: It is possible but unlikely. At least not for the same reason that you would get knocking from a ... | |
| tub spout diverter | 11/26/2009 |
| Q: I have a wall mount tub spout diverter, that I pull when I use the shower. It is now stuck and will ... A: The mechanism is probably jammed up with hard water scale. Try tying a bag of CLR or other lime ... | |
| Wet venting | 11/25/2009 |
| Q: I am installing a half bath on our first floor and intend to tie it into the waste stack from the ... A: Technically No. Per the code, the fixtures must be on the same floor. But....it will probably work ... | |
| Dryer vent | 11/25/2009 |
| Q: Recently, my tenants have been complaining about their clothes not drying. We heard the sound of ... A: Your only option would be to go up into the attic and out if it is a single story building. If not, ... | |
| Water heater question | 11/25/2009 |
| Q: A picture is attached as a follow-up response. In the picture, what is the small copper pipe that is ... A: The picture did not come out very clear and it's hard to tell. The larger valve sticking down from ... | |
| Dryer vent | 11/25/2009 |
| Q: Recently, my tenants have been complaining about their clothes not drying. We heard the sound of ... A: It sounds like the dryer vent was not installed very well. This is a builders defect. 1. It should ... | |
| Water heater | 11/24/2009 |
| Q: My son has an electric water heater. On the cold water inlet, there is a 1/2 inch copper pipe with ... A: It may just be a way to drain the cold lines ahead of the heater for some reason. Not a standardly ... | |
| Air Admittance valve problem | 11/24/2009 |
| Q: The kitchen sink in mobile home took two days to drain. Tried standard drain opener gel. No better. ... A: It's not likely that you damaged it with the snake. It is not in the path when you clear the line. ... | |
| Is a maserating toilet my solution | 11/23/2009 |
| Q: I live in Florida and I recently purchased a home built in the early 60s. The previous owner added ... A: Macerating toilets are designed for basements so they do not drain down. I doubt you have the fall ... | |
| Toilet Water Connecter Line | 11/23/2009 |
| Q: When installing a new toilet at the corner in the powder room, my contractor put the water connector ... A: Yes, it looks like crap but it is not against the code. He is just a cut corners type of guy I ... | |
| toilet flapper | 11/23/2009 |
| Q: I would like to know how often do I have to change a flapper because I've already changed it twice ... A: You may have a high level of chlorine in your water. This will deteriorate the rubber parts ... | |
| Removing old bathtub caulk | 11/23/2009 |
| Q: I would like to remove old caulk from my bathtub but I am having a difficult time with it. What is ... A: I'm afraid that I don't have any magic trick. It just needs to be dug out by hand. It's doing what ... | |
| removing a jacuzzi bath tub and reusing in another bathroom | 11/22/2009 |
| Q: We would like to remove a corner jacuzzi bath tub and relocate it. Is this possible if the tub was ... A: It can be done but I don't envy you the job! The mortar bed is needed to support the tub, especially ... | |
| Air in water system | 11/22/2009 |
| Q: I have been at this this house for 20 years; I have a submergible pump with a bladder tank that was ... A: Well systems are not my forte but air in the water is usually from cavitation. The pump impeller may ... | |
| Push-button toilets | 11/21/2009 |
| Q: I am living in the Philippines and had two toilets installed in June of this year. They are the ... A: I've seen these several times here in the states. They are supposed to save water by having a "half ... | |
| Ceiling leaking from bathroom into dining room | 11/21/2009 |
| Q: So we bought a brand new townhome in june. Brand new, never used everything up to code, blah blah. ... A: If this was an overflow from a clogged toilet, you are on your own as far as the builders warranty ... | |
| Replacing Toilet Flange | 11/21/2009 |
| Q: We are trying to replace a toilet flange in the basement (concrete). We are wanting to change the ... A: Sounds like they used a glue on fixed flange. Not a lot you can do about that without breaking the ... | |
| clogged toilet/auger question | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: I have a clogged toilet that I was able to clear last week with a borrowed auger. It is clogged ... A: Yep, we call those "white rats" in the plumbing trade. LOL you should see some of the stuff I've ... | |
| leak repair | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: In the crawlspace of my house where the drain pipe goes out to the septic there is cast iron pipe ... A: Hub and spigot Cast Iron has lead and oakum joints. Tarred rope called oakum is pounded into the ... | |
| water tank leak | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: I have a duron censible state water heater. There are two spots on the top of the water heater where ... A: The nipples into the tank are probably starting to corrode and leak. Replacing them is a fairly ... | |
| sound proofing existing water pipes | 11/20/2009 |
| Q: I am writing with a question in regards to my salon/spa business. I am in a new commercial building ... A: Soundproofing is a tricky project. It somewhat depends on how the pipes are attached to the ... | |
| Low Flow Aerator for a Grohe faucet? | 11/19/2009 |
| Q: I have a Grohe Eurosmart faucet (part #32709) with a 2.2 gpm aerator. The flow rate really ... A: I'm not having any luck either. Try contacting Grohe directly here Phone: +1 800 44 GROHE. Maybe ... | |
| Water heater flames / soot | 11/19/2009 |
| Q: What can you tell me about this? causes? remedies? It is an AO Smith 75gal propane (supposed to be ... A: This is a sign of improper combustion. It is either not jetted for propane, has a restriction of ... | |
| Kitchen faucet | 11/19/2009 |
| Q: I have a Whitehaus model 32169 faucet. It has been installed for approximately 2.5 years. Recently ... A: I can find little information that is useful on this faucet. It appears to be a typical single ... | |
| Fixing a toilet mount | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: The toilet in my master bath is loose on the floor. I've already had to pull it twice and replace ... A: Yes, those $2.00 wax rings do add up! LOL There are rings that can be retrofit to the existing ... | |
| What to use for PEX connections | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: I am in the process of finishing a basement and will include a bathroom. My home is ~18 years old ... A: Nothing wrong with DIY manifold. Sweating pipe is a good skill to have. Yes, the crimp fittings are ... | |
| Problem with water feed on toilet | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: In my guest bathroom, we noticed a high-pitched hum, almost a singing sound. I noticed the water in ... A: You have two different problems here. The noise is coming from the fill valve inside the tank. it ... | |
| Toilet Bowl water level | 11/18/2009 |
| Q: I just noticed a problem with a toilet I installed about 5 months ago. The water level in the bowl ... A: Sounds like there is a partial clog. It is interfering with the vent and the line is creating a ... | |
| noise in pipes | 11/17/2009 |
| Q: I have a terrible moaning in pipes anytime the water hot or cold is turned on or used exam: ... A: This can be from a couple of things. Since it both hot and cold, and happens from many fixtures, it ... | |
| Water Heater Flow Is Reversed | 11/17/2009 |
| Q: Dana, My water temperature at all taps and showers is only getting up to luke warm, at best. I ... A: Two things; the dip tube inside the water heater has fallen off. It is a plastic tube that directs ... | |
| Kitchen PVC Pipes Loosening | 11/16/2009 |
| Q: Our house was built in 2005, all the pipes under the kitchen sink are pvc. The pipe connected to the ... A: These are called 'slip joints' and the plastic ones are hard to get tight enough without breaking ... | |
| Poor Water Pressure | 11/16/2009 |
| Q: Here is my problem. I recently noticed that the water pressure in our home is very poor, yet all our ... A: You have a flow rate problem not a pressure problem. You can have the same pressure from a 1 inch ... | |
| overflow valve for dishwasher | 11/16/2009 |
| Q: We have a 2002 GE Profile dishwasher that has worked fine until a couple of days back when the ... A: That is not an "overflow" it is an "air gap" fitting to provide a physical separation between the DW ... | |
| outside shower wall moist | 11/16/2009 |
| Q: we are suspecting a leak from my shower because I noticed wall beside shower is moist and paint has ... A: There are several ways that water can get into the walls around a shower. The piping in the wall ... | |
| Low Flow in Moen Cartridge Faucet | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: In my bathtub, I have independent hot and cold Moen faucets. These are the cartridge type faucets, ... A: There is not a lot to go wrong here. I can't think of anything specific about these faucets. Moen ... | |
| Shower Mixing Valve Replacement Water will not Shut Off | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: I am really hoping you can help me. My Kohler shower mixing valve stem broke the other day, so I ... A: This can be very frustrating. I understand. Are you replacing the entire valve in the wall or just ... | |
| How to get rid of major toilet clogging | 11/15/2009 |
| Q: Besides toxic/poisonous chemicals and before we use a snake, what will dissolve a major toilet clog? ... A: There can be a number of reasons that a toilet clogs frequently. 1. Older toilets tend to get limed ... | |
| Kohler faucet removal | 11/14/2009 |
| Q: Hey, there: I have a Kohler faucet in which I want to replace a diverter. To do so, the faucet must ... A: Try adding a wrap of something between the strap and the faucet body that will grip both. Rubber? ... | |
| Leak | 11/14/2009 |
| Q: I have a leak from the pipe coming from the wall to my toilrt .It leaks before the shut-off valve. ... A: Sounds like you have some corroded piping that needs replacing. That's the only fix that I know of. ... | |
| sump pump | 11/13/2009 |
| Q: I was cleaning the impeller of my Wayne 1/2 hp sump pump and the oil all leaked out.was wondering ... A: From what I can find, this does not appear to be a user serviceable pump. Since it is a submersible ... | |
| Hot Water | 11/13/2009 |
| Q: I have very hot water available at all of my sinks in my house, however frequently we find that the ... A: There a couple of things that come to mind: 1. old galvanized pipes starting to clog up. The hot ... | |
| misconnection of hot and cold water | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: I'm wrking as mech engg. In my site, am facing a serious problem. Here i'm getting hot water in both ... A: That's a bit inconvenient to say the least! There are a number of possibilities. With single handle ... | |
| Lukewarm H20 after gas fireplace install | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: Our fireplace was set up for gas but we didn't use it the past 5 years. We investigated inserts or ... A: When gas pipe sizing is done, we use a table of standard demands. It may be that the new gas logs ... | |
| Lukewarm H20 after gas fireplace install | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: Our fireplace was set up for gas but we didn't use it the past 5 years. We investigated inserts or ... A: There are a couple of things that may have caused this. Did you use a licensed plumber or installer? ... | |
| house repipe | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: how should I choose the pipe size to a four bathroom house? A: This is a bit of a skill. Not a simple question. Various calculations are required to determine the ... | |
| cavco mobile home 1983plumbing | 11/11/2009 |
| Q: I re-sighted my home off grid, needed a pump to get the water in, plumber installed pump, switched ... A: That's a bummer. All normal plumbing systems are designed to handle well in excess of 60 PSI so I ... | |
| Proper hook up of toilet drainline into septic tank. | 11/11/2009 |
| Q: I am wanting to hook a toilet into an existing septic tank. Just need to know what size pipe, elbow ... A: I'm a little unclear about what you want. Is this an existing waste system with plumbing connected ... | |
| shower hot water fades | 11/11/2009 |
| Q: We just moved into a 52 year old house with a 40 gal. gas hot water heater. Scenario: You step ... A: There are a couple of things that can cause this. 1. As the valves heats up, parts expand a bit and ... | |
| Mobile Home sewer odor | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: 1)My son and his wife live in a single unit mobile home with one bathroom. The unit was brand new ... A: Here are a few possibilities: That "opening next to the faucet where soap seeps out" is called an ... | |
| Kitchen sink hot water | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: Brand new home built in May 2009. Electric hot water heater is located about 25 feet away. Water ... A: The "standard" I follow says that you should have hot water at any fixture in a minute or less. if ... | |
| shower faucet | 11/9/2009 |
| Q: I'm not able to get the screw out. I've tried several sizes of Allen wrenches, but with no luck. ... A: The instructions I found do not mention the size of the Allen wrench needed. If you can't get one to ... | |
| drainage system | 11/9/2009 |
| Q: Both toilets won't drain and they both gurgle when when somebody is taking a shower or the washing ... A: I'm thinking you should not see water. If the pipes are properly sloped, they should drain ... | |
| Shut-off valve | 11/8/2009 |
| Q: My shut-off valve to the toilet does not work. When it is turned off, it starts to leak so I think ... A: You have PEX or some other type of plastic piping. These valves are crimped on using a compression ... | |
| bathroom drain installation | 11/8/2009 |
| Q: We gutted and are remodeling the bathroom. Hubby is putting a floor drain outside the whirlpool in ... A: There are several types of drains. Please send me a picture of the one you are using so I can see ... | |
| Kitchen Sink not draining | 11/7/2009 |
| Q: Our normally-reliable kitchen sink (w/ an insinkerator disposal) stopped draining today after ... A: The problem is probably in the "baffle Tee" where the drains from each side come together ahead of ... | |
| eurostream bath/shower faucet | 11/7/2009 |
| Q: hubby would like to know how to adjust the hot & cold water on a single handle balance control ... A: I'm not finding any information on this. Everything points to a steam cleaning system, not a bath ... | |
| plumbing | 11/7/2009 |
| Q: A: If you mean the turn off valve, called a "stop", it is probably leaking around the stem that comes ... | |
| Leaky Kitchen Faucet | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: When I turn off the hot water the handle will not stop and the water keeps running. I have to pull ... A: Sounds like you need a new cartridge for the faucet. You do not need to replace the whole faucet. I ... | |
| stubbed basement bathroom | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: my basement is unfinished, but they did stub in for a bathroom in one corner. My question is, why ... A: No, not a problem. Every home on a slab foundation has this condition. As I said, the tub will ... | |
| stubbed basement bathroom | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: my basement is unfinished, but they did stub in for a bathroom in one corner. My question is, why ... A: This area might be what is called a "box out" and it is used for the tub drain. The end of the tub ... | |
| toilet flange/leaking around flange on subflooring | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: i am having what appears to be a small leak around the toilet flange with wet moist subflooring ... A: Yep, you're on the right track with the double ring. When I have experienced this problem, I use one ... | |
| WATER HEATER PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE | 11/5/2009 |
| Q: I WANT TO REPLACE HOT WATER TANK IN MY MOM'S HOUSE. HAD LOWES SEND A INSTALLER TO GIVE ME QUOTE. HE ... A: The valve is a "Watts 210 Gas safety valve" The valve costs about $200 by itself, but $675 is a bit ... | |
| low water pressure | 11/5/2009 |
| Q: I live in the country and have a well that is about 700 feet away from my house. The well house has, ... A: There are two factors to consider with water flow. Pressure, and flow rate in gallons per minute. ... | |
| draining/water heater | 11/4/2009 |
| Q: I figured that as long as I had the jet much less the regular auger here to see about clearing out ... A: Hey Nathan, Tub drains are cleaned by snaking down through the overflow after removing the stopper ... | |
| plugged pvc bathroom sink | 11/4/2009 |
| Q: I have a 1970 Detroit mobile home. I put some things down the bathroom sink drain that I should not ... A: Nathan, What the heck did you drop down there? It sounds like something hard that has gotten ... | |
| Hot water heaters | 11/4/2009 |
| Q: Purchased a Whirlpool hot water heater in June 2004. About 6 months later had to replace the thermo ... A: Bummer deal! I would stay on Whirlpool's butt big time while looking for another brand. Contact the ... | |
| sewer smell and gurgling drains | 11/3/2009 |
| Q: I have a sewer smell outside the house and occasionally in the bathroom, also gurgling sounds coming ... A: You're on the right track. There is a vent somewhere that is not working properly. When this ... | |
| Plumbing | 11/3/2009 |
| Q: Dana. While my washing machine was draining forcefully,my commode bubbled forcefully.What could be ... A: Either the washer drain or the toilet is not vented properly or their vents are restricted or ... | |
| moving shower drain | 11/3/2009 |
| Q: Remolding a bathroom on a slab. I understand moving the toilet is a major deal. How about a shower. ... A: Moving any plumbing waste under a slab is a big deal. You will need to break the slab, re-work the ... | |
| plugged pvc bathroom sink | 11/3/2009 |
| Q: I have a 1970 Detroit mobile home. I put some things down the bathroom sink drain that I should not ... A: Bad boy, go to your room. LOL Snaking through the trap is tough. What is happening is that you are ... | |
| cast iron plumbing | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: I live in Houston, TX. I am a first time home buyer and have found a home that I really like. The ... A: I highly recommend the sewer scope. It's the only way to see the condition of the underground ... | |
| Water softener resin beads in cold water supply | 11/1/2009 |
| Q: Last night while our family was brushing teeth and getting ready for bed, we heard one of the ... A: That's a bummer! I have seen it happen a few times. Cleaning out the beads can be a big problem. ... | |
| double sink problem | 11/1/2009 |
| Q: I have a double sink and when I drain one it backs up in the other sink. Only one sink has a trap ... A: Nope, you can't do that. Only one trap is allowed per drain line. The draining water is taking the ... | |
| double shower | 11/1/2009 |
| Q: Dana: I have a shower where I installed a regular shower head as well as a hand held one. The valve ... A: There are valves, called diverter valves, that will do this but they need to be installed inside the ... | |
| sewer vent problem? | 11/1/2009 |
| Q: Our one toilet is draining slow and it used to flush great- when we remodeled our laundry room we ... A: Sort of sounds like the Studor vent is messing up to me. They do tend to have problems now and ... | |
| shower mount | 11/1/2009 |
| Q: I am replacing a hand held shower head. My old shower head was mounted on a standard wall arm. A ... A: You can buy chromed pipe nipples and many lengths. Maybe that would serve your purposes. you will ... | |
| Tankless water heaters, sand and grit | 10/31/2009 |
| Q: Dana, I have the same issue as Angie (1/9/2009) with grit and sand coming from my tankless hot ... A: I would have your water tested for mineral content. It's probably pretty high. The rapid heating ... | |
| Drain Clogged | 10/31/2009 |
| Q: In my attempt to unclogged the bathroom sink, I used Drano. After using drano, the water drained ... A: Drain cleaning products are pretty harsh. The chemicals are very aggressive and can damage the ... | |
| Toilet size | 10/31/2009 |
| Q: We have a very small bathroom which we redid when we bought the house 20 years ago. Shortly after ... A: There actually is a size for toilets. It's called the "rough in" size. They come in 10", 12" and ... | |
| Shower bodie/Head | 10/31/2009 |
| Q: I installed a grohe shower bodie W/tub outlet. When I turn water on water sort of pours from shower ... A: Using PEX should make no difference on the supply inlets but..... See here: ... | |
| Bathroom Remodel | 10/30/2009 |
| Q: I'm about to remodel my master bath. I cut a section out of the flooring to see what the plumbing ... A: Quite a project you are contemplating. First, if you build a "hot mop" shower pan, it can be any ... | |
| drainfield on different property | 10/30/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I are househunting. There is a house that we're interested in that has a septic ... A: I don't know how they do it in your area but around here that would be a huge problem. Is this ... | |
| Shower bodie/Head | 10/30/2009 |
| Q: I installed a grohe shower bodie W/tub outlet. When I turn water on water sort of pours from shower ... A: Grohe probably said no PEX on the tub spout due to lack of support for the spout. People tend to ... | |
| Replacement shower door catch won't catch | 10/30/2009 |
| Q: H-E-L-P. I'm a handyman hobbyist, have a fully equipped workshop, and can fix most things inside ... A: Frustrating isn't it? Have you tried adjusting the hinge side? If you kick the hinges out a bit to ... | |
| Jennaire Downdraft Range | 10/30/2009 |
| Q: Does this have to be vented to the outside? We have a microwave above with a vent that vents back ... A: You could but since the microwave vents back to the kitchen, you would end up with effectively no ... | |
| pex repipe | 10/29/2009 |
| Q: I have an older house with galvanized plumbing. I am planning to replace it with pex. All of the ... A: I suppose it wouldn't hurt to bond the old pipes to the existing main or the metal waste system just ... | |
| converting a washing machine to attach to sink | 10/28/2009 |
| Q: I've just been given a washing machine, which I would really like to be able to use, but don't have ... A: It can be done with a little ingenuity. Washers have two water feeds, Hot & Cold. Since you do not ... | |
| pex repipe | 10/28/2009 |
| Q: I have an older house with galvanized plumbing. I am planning to replace it with pex. All of the ... A: There are a number of ways electrical systems are grounded. Sometimes it is not visible. Look for ... | |
| Washing Machine Drain Clogged. | 10/28/2009 |
| Q: I would like to ask, why when the washer drain doesn't Drain, I live in a Ranch house, and the ... A: It would seem that the drain is clogged and needs snaking OR since it is in the basement, is there ... | |
| Cleanout plug | 10/27/2009 |
| Q: Our 22-year-old track home has a PVC cleanout plug behind the washing machine in the garage, which ... A: Now that weird! Looks like someone cheated. There is a clean-out required in both places if they are ... | |
| water & sewage comimg out of pipe in side of house | 10/27/2009 |
| Q: we just moved into a very old house and the water was not going down the drains well so we put ... A: I think you have some serious problems here. This is a big health issue that should not go ... | |
| slow flow... | 10/26/2009 |
| Q: recently, our faucets are producing low-flow streams of water and if one faucet is running, the ... A: The problems with the water softeners that I have seen are with the bypass valve being too small (a ... | |
| Is there an alternative to copper lines for an icemaker? | 10/26/2009 |
| Q: I have an island sink in my kitchen and a house with cement floors. In order to run a line to my ice ... A: Absolutely! Ice makers are typically installed with polyethylene plastic tubing feeding them. Ice ... | |
| Laundry Pump/Pit | 10/26/2009 |
| Q: I hope you can help me. I had a sealed laundry pit installed with a pump installed this past spring. ... A: I suspect that this is a lot more than "pipe sweating" going on. Given that it happens most when it ... | |
| plumbing repair | 10/26/2009 |
| Q: I just baught a condo/townhouse (quadruplex) that was recently flipped by the seller. I just found ... A: Note: I'm NOT a lawyer, I don't even play one on TV! I have been the President of an HOA a couple of ... | |
| shower/tub faucet handler snapped off | 10/26/2009 |
| Q: My tub/shower faucet handle broke off while the water was running. I can not get the handle back on ... A: That's too bad. Most tub/showers do not have separate shut off valves like sinks or toilets ... | |
| washer and sink | 10/25/2009 |
| Q: .this house was built over 20 years ago. when the sink and washer empty, they empty out through the ... A: it is common, due to location of the fixtures, to tie the kitchen sink and the laundry drains ... | |
| Vacuum breaker on outside hose bibb | 10/25/2009 |
| Q: I have a freeze proof bibb coming out of my house to my back yard and it has a short vacuum breaker ... A: Yes, they design them this way on purpose. You are not supposed to remove the vacuum breaker. They ... | |
| Watts water pressure regulator | 10/25/2009 |
| Q: I have a water pressure regulator question. First I need to say that I have an engineering with a ... A: The industry and code standard is 80 PSI in the house so it's probably not a big issue if you do ... | |
| Bosch Tankless Water Heater High Pitched Squeal | 10/24/2009 |
| Q: I have a Bosch 2400 E LP tankless water heater and it wouldn't work the other morning. I followed ... A: Was there an error code? It appears that they self diagnose to some extent. I'm not veryfamiliar ... | |
| Freezing water supply lines | 10/24/2009 |
| Q: Because of the very unusual heavy freeze we had last winter,a 2" PVC Sch 40 line broke that supplies ... A: I would recommend PEX pipe. PEX is cross-linked polyethylene. PEX 's flexibility and strength at ... | |
| Refrigerator ice maker | 10/23/2009 |
| Q: I notice an orange-colored residue after the ice cubes from my Hotpoint ice maker melt. Do I need to ... A: It probably wouldn't hurt to clean the system. Do you have a carbon filter on the line? That might ... | |
| toilet runs when other water on | 10/23/2009 |
| Q: i put in a new toilet, but now everytime i use another water source, the toilet runs (e.g., turn on ... A: A toilet is not a very complex system unless it's one of the pressure assisted units with a pressure ... | |
| toilet runs when other water on | 10/23/2009 |
| Q: i put in a new toilet, but now everytime i use another water source, the toilet runs (e.g., turn on ... A: Keep the door closed! Sorry, old joke. This is quite strange. Sounds like it might be related to ... | |
| Hot Water To Shower | 10/23/2009 |
| Q: Here's my issue.. I have a single faucet shower, and i get no hot water. I do, however get hot ... A: A couple of things come to mind. The internal cartridge is shot or has gotten clogged with debris ... | |
| leak in kitchen sink | 10/22/2009 |
| Q: ok i found a major leak after running the garbage disposal the other day. now when i run water it ... A: That gasket is usually a pretty thick rubber one. If the disposer body is badly corroded, even that ... | |
| drippy shower head | 10/22/2009 |
| Q: I have an early 80s single knob shower valve which continues to drip from the shower head after ... A: Isn't that frustrating? I'm a little unclear, did you replace the shower valve? That's a pretty big ... | |
| clawfoot tub shower | 10/22/2009 |
| Q: I have a clawfoot tub with hot and cold faucets (no model name on unit) with diverter to showerhead. ... A: A faucet is a faucet is a faucet. The stem and washer/seat set up is no different no matter the ... | |
| sewage smell | 10/21/2009 |
| Q: We are having a horrible problem with sewage smell coming into one of our rooms that is located next ... A: The grinder pump sump canister is supposed to be sealed and have a vent pipe going to the exterior. ... | |
| remove & replace shower drain from pre-formed floor | 10/21/2009 |
| Q: I have a fiberglass shower sitting on a concrete foundation. The drain flange broke and now I'm ... A: I've not used either the Davke or the Wingtight but both look like viable solutions. The Wingtight ... | |
| toilet repair | 10/21/2009 |
| Q: I am trying to repair an older toilet. When I flush, I have to hold the flush handle down or the ... A: Assuming the flapper is not deteriorated, the easiest way it to attach a small chunk of Styrofoam ... | |
| bathroom vessel sink overflow drain problem | 10/21/2009 |
| Q: vessel sink overflow not draining into Pegasus overflow drain, water runs to the exterior of drain ... A: It's either miss-matched,(not the correct drain for that sink) miss-installed or defective. These ... | |
| Moaning Pipes | 10/21/2009 |
| Q: I have a 4 year old house. Whenever a faucet or shower is turned off (or a toilet finishes filling), ... A: This is probably caused by a small pressure surge in the system when you turn off the water or a ... | |
| Kitchen Faucet Vibration | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: I just bought an old mobile home and had to install a new kitchen faucet, single-lever with separate ... A: The faucet is acting too positively and stopping the water flow too suddenly. This is creating a bit ... | |
| Hot water recirculation system | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: I just moved into a house that has a Taco timer and pump recirculation systems. It looks like the ... A: That is a possibility. It could also be a broken "dip tube" inside the heater. This is a plastic ... | |
| Hot water recirculation system | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: I just moved into a house that has a Taco timer and pump recirculation systems. It looks like the ... A: Water piping, especially copper, is a very good conductor/radiator of heat. If all the hot lines ... | |
| water heater problem | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: I live in a one rm apt. that is part of a 4-plex. At least 2-3 times a week I have little or no hot ... A: I agree, your power bill should not be that high. How is the landlord apportioning the electric or ... | |
| odor in bathroom | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: I wrote you a question back in Feb. regarding our new church hall bathrooms and you answered my ... A: Yes, the weather can have an effect on plumbing systems. The lower atmospheric pressures during a ... | |
| water heater problem | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: I live in a one rm apt. that is part of a 4-plex. At least 2-3 times a week I have little or no hot ... A: This all depends on how the are piped together. If they are in parallel,(all the hots and all the ... | |
| plumbing question | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: when i flush upstairs toilet (close coupled), i get a very loud noise, which seems to be coming from ... A: The "trapped air" thing is a problem in old steam heating systems, not water piping. Actually, ... | |
| toilet flushing noise | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: I recently replaced the wax seal under my toilet. Since then, when I flush the commode I hear a ... A: Did you change anything else in the toilet, like the fill valve (ball cock)? This noiseis usually ... | |
| Smelly drains | 10/18/2009 |
| Q: We have a home on a concrete slab about 7 miles inland in NC. We have public water and sewer and the ... A: This could be a venting problem. Every drain is supposed to have a trap to provide a water seal to ... | |
| Moving washer and dryer | 10/18/2009 |
| Q: We want to move our washer and dryer from our very small mud room located on the main floor to the ... A: I think you are going to a lot of trouble for a "just in case in 10-15 years" situation. You are ... | |
| plumbing | 10/18/2009 |
| Q: Our double bowl kitchen sink will not drain unless you plundge it. I don't think it's clogged ... A: No, a baffle tee probably will not help. They are primarily found when there is a disposer in one ... | |
| plumbing | 10/17/2009 |
| Q: Our double bowl kitchen sink will not drain unless you plundge it. I don't think it's clogged ... A: This sort of sounds like a venting problem although it might not be. The waste piping under most ... | |
| Basement Drains | 10/17/2009 |
| Q: I have floor drains in 3 corners of my basement, the fourth corner has my sump pump...I am ... A: All the floor drains probably feed the sump pump pit. Covering over two of them is going to reduce ... | |
| bathtub drain pipe | 10/17/2009 |
| Q: Dropped a shampoo bottle LID down the bath tub drain. Therefore, the bathtub will not drain. Will ... A: It might. It is probably caught on the stopper mechanism where the drain shoe from the bottom of the ... | |
| plumbing | 10/17/2009 |
| Q: how to run a hot water line from my house to garage? its not attched to house its about 20ft. A: This project depends on a lot of things. Location of the water heater in relationship to the ... | |
| drain system | 10/17/2009 |
| Q: We live in an older 2 story home every once un awhile the toilet in the downstairs bathroom Burps ... A: Yes, this sounds like a "plugged stink pipe" also called a plumbing vent. When you drain water down ... | |
| water running | 10/16/2009 |
| Q: We can hear water running in our bedroom wall which is next to a bathroom. The meter is moving ... A: Time for some detective work. Start by turning off the shut off valves to the toilets (most likely ... | |
| Flushed something metal in the toilet | 10/16/2009 |
| Q: I accidentally flush a bathtub stopper (metal thing that you screw in the bathtub drain for baths) ... A: oops! It should not be a problem. The toilet drain lines are the largest in the system, 3 inch or ... | |
| Grout Leak | 10/16/2009 |
| Q: Dana: This is the question I asked Anthony, who is now on vacation and his answer is below. My ... A: Without being too harsh, the job was not done correctly in the first place. Attempting a band aid ... | |
| water spigot leak | 10/16/2009 |
| Q: the water spigot in my kitchen is leaking from the hole on the spigot under the switch to turn it on ... A: These are pretty "universal" parts. The counter top spigot can easily be replaced. These are ... | |
| Extra Natural Gas Shut Off Vavle | 10/16/2009 |
| Q: I'm having a plumbing contractor install a gas fire pit in my new patio in 2 weeks. The gas line ... A: I'm not aware of this restriction. I would think that it might be unsafe to create a situation where ... | |
| Hanging pvc from foam | 10/15/2009 |
| Q: I have to attach about 60 feet of a PVC condensate drain along existing vertically sprayed on foam ... A: Very carefully! Actually, I would contact a local spray foam installer and ask them what to use. ... | |
| moen leaking kitchen faucet | 10/15/2009 |
| Q: It is a Moen single handle single hole kitchen faucet. After searching on the Moen site, it looks ... A: First of all, the faucet should have been sealed to the counter top so it could not leak through. ... | |
| shower not hot enough | 10/15/2009 |
| Q: price pfister one handle knob in shower & water temp too cold A: Not a lot of information here. I'm going to take a shot; your shower valve may be one of the ... | |
| Ice maker | 10/14/2009 |
| Q: Dana, Thank you for helping. I want to hook up the ice maker in our new fridge. The old one had a ... A: If you know how to sweat copper correctly, this is fairly easy. Here is a link to a video if you ... | |
| Slow dripping sound from attic. | 10/14/2009 |
| Q: I Live in Texas my home was built in 1982 Single story. My problem is I hear a constant drip, drip ... A: I guess your house is haunted! LOL The noise could quite possibly be condensation driping back down ... | |
| water pipe "bang" | 10/13/2009 |
| Q: When I first turn on one of my faucets or flush the toilet, I hear a "one time" bang within a couple ... A: It's possible that the tank is malfunctioning. These have diaphragms in them and it may have burst. ... | |
| Flushmate back flushing | 10/13/2009 |
| Q: Dana. I have a Gerber Sloan Flushmate series 503 toilet that's only about 1-2 years old. Model # ... A: I'm not at all familiar with these units. I did find some information on this site: ... | |
| project | 10/13/2009 |
| Q: which uses more water a bath or a shower A: There are several variables involved so there is no one answer. How big is the tub? How full do ... | |
| natural gas pool water heater | 10/13/2009 |
| Q: i have a small above ground pool that fits nice in our small yard.the problem is the water is always ... A: Gas lines are done with coated black pipe. It's called "Fletcher coat or X-True Coat, either green ... | |
| water at home is not cold | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: all the sinks in my house spill out warm water there are no cold water. We think it has something to ... A: Now there's a mystery! LOL Two things come to mind; A malfunctioning recirculation system ... | |
| stinky kitchen drain | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: My house is on a slab and 55 years old. The kitchen drains stink real bad. I do not have a garbage ... A: Whatever the smell is coming from, it should be from the drain piping that is located BEFORE the ... | |
| DWV line location | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: Dana, Good day! I know that DWV line (pvc) can pass through the foundation of a monolithic slab, ... A: Although the codes may not apply in your case, it would be best to follow them anyway. They are ... | |
| hot/cold water | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: While someone is taking a shower the cold water from all of the other faucets in the house is ... A: This sounds like you have a single handle shower valve. When they start to wear and need ... | |
| help | 10/11/2009 |
| Q: I live in a building and in the building next the water pump in enclose in a room with a ... A: That's a tough problem. Yes, ventilation of the pump for cooling might be a problem. Soundproofing ... | |
| PVC Cap in Iron Pipe | 10/11/2009 |
| Q: Yesterday I had a drainage issue which resulted in an emergency plumbing call. The main septic line ... A: It's possible that the threads were damaged when the cap was removed. They might be salvageable by ... | |
| Toilet replacement | 10/11/2009 |
| Q: Good evening Dana, I have just purchased a 1950’s house in Houston, Texas. I want to replace a old ... A: The "pressure flush" part is only happening inside the toilet. It is a way to get the best flush ... | |
| Leaking bathtub | 10/11/2009 |
| Q: Recently my shower/bathtub is causing a leak into my bedroom. I live in 1 story house that was built ... A: Given the age of the house, the pipes are probably steel. The leak is likely NOT the drain pipes. On ... | |
| Running Toilet w/New Guts | 10/10/2009 |
| Q: I have an American Standard Plebe toilet. No idea how old it is - it was here when we bought the ... A: There is no reason you can't add some washers to the bolts under the bowl rim between the nuts and ... | |
| Running Toilet w/New Guts | 10/10/2009 |
| Q: I have an American Standard Plebe toilet. No idea how old it is - it was here when we bought the ... A: Lots going on with this toilet! There are several possibilities for the flapper: 1. The water coming ... | |
| Leaking bathtub | 10/10/2009 |
| Q: Recently my shower/bathtub is causing a leak into my bedroom. I live in 1 story house that was built ... A: You did not mention if this house is on a slab or raised crawl space foundation. Also, is this a ... | |
| Water Heater | 10/9/2009 |
| Q: Last week I had a new water heater installed. After the plumber left water was continually released ... A: The TPRV is rated at 150 PSI and 210 degrees. If you are not getting anything out when you open it, ... | |
| Water Heater | 10/9/2009 |
| Q: Last week I had a new water heater installed. After the plumber left water was continually ... A: You should most definitely have the pressure regulator installed. The pressure in the house should ... | |
| shower valve not braced | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: I bought a Symmons shower valve (s-4002) to be installed in my shower before a retiling job. The GC ... A: Bummer! It is the plumber's job to properly secure his work. Did you get permits for this work. ... | |
| Backup garbage disposal waste | 10/7/2009 |
| Q: I live in a two bedroom apartment. When I use my garbage disposal the liquid waste backs up into my ... A: The dishwasher is incorrectly installed. It is both a health code and plumbing code violation. It ... | |
| Hot Water Heater | 10/7/2009 |
| Q: The drain valve seems to be so clogged with sediment, I was wondering what to do to remove the water ... A: Yep, if you take your finger off the end of the straw, the water will come out. Opening a hot faucet ... | |
| Hot Water Heater | 10/7/2009 |
| Q: The drain valve seems to be so clogged with sediment, I was wondering what to do to remove the water ... A: That does happen. The valves they put on water heaters have small openings. Therein lies the ... | |
| Shower mixing valve | 10/7/2009 |
| Q: After a very hot shower or a series of multiple showers the water will not turn off. If you push the ... A: It's very unlikely that you would ever need to replace the entire valve. Without knowing the make, ... | |
| Installing a shower stall drain | 10/6/2009 |
| Q: I am building a shower stall and will be installing a shower stall drain supplied by 'Oatey' ... A: Pea gravel is just small gravel about the size of a pea. What they are trying to accomplish it to ... | |
| Shower leak from upstairs washroom | 10/6/2009 |
| Q: Recently we noticed water leak from the upstairs shower. The water dripped from the ceiling and I ... A: yes, trapped water is no joke. If the area got saturated, the ceiling should be opened and all ... | |
| venting | 10/6/2009 |
| Q: I recently inspected a house that when the toilet flushed the kitchen sink that has an air ... A: Well, it certainly is not a conventional way to do it but it should work. I would suspect the AAV. ... | |
| Plumbing Smells | 10/6/2009 |
| Q: I live in a 3 year old home and have lived there all 3 years. Recently the Laundry Room (first ... A: Strange things happening at your place. Not sure what it could be if not the traps gone dry. ... | |
| toilet that won't scour flush | 10/6/2009 |
| Q: have toilet that doesn't flush -just spins water for a min or so - has no vent or drain problem- ... A: Toilets are pretty simple. Things that could be wrong: Limed up rim jets, faulty flush valve, ... | |
| installing plumbing in a dirt floor | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: a friend of mine bought a very old adobe house that originally had a dirt floor. Sometime in the ... A: While not the ideal scene, it also not a problem. All the plumbing is buried under a conventional ... | |
| Shower mixing valve | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: After a very hot shower or a series of multiple showers the water will not turn off. If you push the ... A: Sounds like a Moen valve. If it is, you can replace the cartridge for about $20. The friction of the ... | |
| Proper Bathroom Faucet Placement | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: We purchased a Brizo wall mount lavatory faucet, Trevi is the style name. The sink we would like to ... A: There really isn't a "standard" height. It can be what ever is most convenient or comfortable for ... | |
| Disposer Operation | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: Does it matter if you run hot water or cold water when using the home disposer? A: It's actually better to use cold. It keeps the grease in suspension better so it gets flushed down ... | |
| AquaSource bathroom faucet and drain pain | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: I recently purchased a couple of new AquaSource faucets for my bathroom sinks to replace the old ... A: I know what you mean. I'm totally disgusted with the crap plastic parts they put out now. But at $29 ... | |
| water heater, expansion tank & water pressure regulator valve | 10/4/2009 |
| Q: I live in a condo which is about 22 years old. Recently our condo assn. told us that we should have ... A: Yes, it is a totally separate device and it is usually not actually attached to the heater. It is ... | |
| gas lines | 10/4/2009 |
| Q: my tenant calls me and says that the gas company is jackhammering the front concrete porch and ... A: Oops! It's hard to say on the regulators, they would need to be tested. I suppose once everything is ... | |
| Toilet Drain | 10/4/2009 |
| Q: what is the exact drop a 4" toilet drain must be angled at when running it? This is under concrete ... A: Not sure in Canada but here; 3 inch and under must slope at 1/4 inch per foot. 4 inch and above can ... | |
| gas lines | 10/4/2009 |
| Q: my tenant calls me and says that the gas company is jackhammering the front concrete porch and ... A: I'm afraid I don't have good news for you. An old gas system will never hold a test. It may not leak ... | |
| water heater, expansion tank & water pressure regulator valve | 10/3/2009 |
| Q: I live in a condo which is about 22 years old. Recently our condo assn. told us that we should have ... A: That would be news to me and I work in the industry. Never heard of such a thing. I suppose it's ... | |
| up stair bathroom water pressure in of two falsest | 10/3/2009 |
| Q: I have low water pressure in one of my falsest in my up stair master bathroom. This started when I ... A: Seems to be a "local" problem to that faucet. Try removing the aerator on the end of the spout and ... | |
| water heater, expansion tank & water pressure regulator valve | 10/3/2009 |
| Q: I live in a condo which is about 22 years old. Recently our condo assn. told us that we should have ... A: The plumber is probably right. A pressure regulator, obviously, regulates the pressure. The ... | |
| noise when watersoftner cycles | 10/3/2009 |
| Q: When our watersoftner cycles it causes a pinging noise in our toilet. It is loud enough to wake us ... A: Off the top of my head, I can't say what it might be in the softener that is doing this. There are ... | |
| moen faucet | 10/2/2009 |
| Q: my bathtub moen faucet cannot shut off. if you turn the knob to the shut off position water still ... A: I'm not recognizing this faucet by your description. Try contacting Moen directly at their 800 ... | |
| Pulsating sound in kitchen faucet | 10/2/2009 |
| Q: I have an on again off again pulsating sound from my new faucet I just installed with a new ... A: This may be a pressure problem. If the pressure in the house is over 80 PSI, the sprayer diverter ... | |
| Washing Machine Adapter/Convertor | 10/2/2009 |
| Q: Is there a kit to adapt a full size washer to use a kitchen faucet, i.e. part to connect hot and ... A: There are faucet adapters that will accept a hose thread. But they only accept one hose. You would ... | |
| water hammer | 10/2/2009 |
| Q: we have water hammer when the water is not being used. you can see the flexible lines for the ice ... A: A problem like this can sometimes be hard to pin down. Have you checked your water pressure inside ... | |
| Repairing ceiling damage from water leak | 10/1/2009 |
| Q: We moved into our 1970's townhouse about a year ago. Within a couple of months, we noticed some ... A: You are right to be worried about mold. Continuous wetting over time of an area that cannot easily ... | |
| Kitchen faucet water pressure | 10/1/2009 |
| Q: I am renting a 100 year old house and the water pressure in the kitchen sink suddenly got much ... A: Your landlord is not thinking straight. LOL Putting something down the drain WILL NOT fix a water ... | |
| Hot water in toilet | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: Our toilet fills with boiling hot water but for 3 years after it was installed, it worked fine. We ... A: Contact the manufacturer of the shower valve. Some can be reversed within the valve without ... | |
| Hot water in toilet | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: Our toilet fills with boiling hot water but for 3 years after it was installed, it worked fine. We ... A: I suppose it could be nice on those cold mornings! LOL The only thing I can think of is a that a ... | |
| vent for kitchen sink | 9/30/2009 |
| Q: I am remodeling the kitchen in our log home. I have just discovered that the last person who ... A: The correct size for a kitchen sink vent is 1-1/2 inch. But consider this: Look into an AAV (air ... | |
| Any way to increase low water volume from municipality? | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: Is there any way to increase a low water volume problem from municipal water supply. Pressure is ... A: This is mainly a pipe sizing problem. The flow rate in GPM is determined by the size and condition ... | |
| Tankless hot water heater | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: we have a paloma/rheem tankless, 7.4 gpm from Home Depot, and it seems to take a very long time to ... A: As for the cleaning, yes, maintenance is required. Read the installation manual. The time it takes ... | |
| Tankless water heater ignores shower | 9/29/2009 |
| Q: We have a tankless water heater and one shower (no tub) with a Moen Monitor valve and fixture, but a ... A: It sounds like a flow problem with the tankless system. These systems use a flow switch that senses ... | |
| kitchen faucet | 9/28/2009 |
| Q: can you tell me what this is. A hose from the dishwasher and the garbage disposer attaches to it ... A: It is called an "air gap" fitting and it is required to provide a physical separation of the ... | |
| Replacing Sprayer with Faucet | 9/28/2009 |
| Q: I recently purchased a portable dishwasher. It leaked under the sink on the first go 'round, but I'm ... A: The first thing it to determine where the leak is coming from. Is this a counter top unit? Or, a ... | |
| Cast Iron to ABS sewer system | 9/28/2009 |
| Q: I have a 4" cast iron horizontal sewer pipe entering into my crawl space with 2ea 4" castiron hubs ... A: The cast iron can be cut with a angle grinder with a carborundum grit blade. That is about the only ... | |
| tankless heater, dedicated gas line | 9/27/2009 |
| Q: It sounds like "having a dedicated gas line" for a tankless water heater means that the natural gas ... A: I have run into this problem myself. The issue is, the new line must be sized properly for the ... | |
| Shower & Tub Problem | 9/27/2009 |
| Q: The house is built in the 50's. I replaced the shower with a new one. The water comes out of the tub ... A: Unless you have repiped the house, (you didn't mention) the pipes are still the original galvanized ... | |
| pressure balance valve | 9/27/2009 |
| Q: We have a problem with hot water pressure....If you want to take a cold shower you are fine but as ... A: Unless you have done some recent remodeling or have a newer house, it is not likely that you have a ... | |
| Moen faucet low pressure | 9/27/2009 |
| Q: I have a Moen kitchen faucet Model 7560 and after 1 year the pressure is very low. I cleaned the 2 ... A: Yes, in older piping systems, debris can clog up a cartridge and reduce the flow. To get it out, try ... | |
| Hot and cold shower faucets | 9/27/2009 |
| Q: We want to modernize our master bathroom with new brushed nickel fixtures. No problems with our ... A: The only real way to go is to know the manufacturer and then contact them or search the Net using ... | |
| bath plumbing | 9/26/2009 |
| Q: I'm trying to plumb a bathroom sink. Coming out of the floor is 2" pvc. The drain for the sink is 1 ... A: One of the most feared phrases a professionals hears is "You can do it, we can help". (Home Depot's ... | |
| moving a washer & dryer | 9/26/2009 |
| Q: Our existing washer & dryer hookup is in the middle of our kitchen, sharing / backing onto the ... A: There are a number of issues at play here. Depending on the distance involved, it may be difficult ... | |
| kitchen faucet takes its time turning off | 9/26/2009 |
| Q: I have a two handle kitchen faucet that does not turn off immediately. It takes about 6 seconds. ... A: Very strange! There is very little space between the seat of the shut off valve and the spout for ... | |
| Pipe size verses flow rate | 9/26/2009 |
| Q: I have a 55 gallon drum. I have 80 PSI. I have a 3/4" copper pipe and a 1/2" copper pipe. I have a ... A: LOL, civilians! Gurrr! Most places in the country require flow restriction in all fixtures to save ... | |
| Main water line install | 9/26/2009 |
| Q: Looking for best way to hook up main waterline to run 230' up a 45 degree hill to my shop and house. ... A: You probably will not have the 120 PSI up the hill. There will be "head" loss as well as friction ... | |
| Question | 9/25/2009 |
| Q: After I lit my water heater, and turned the temp dial from the low setting to the one I wanted, I ... A: This is called "roll out" and it is a dangerous condition that needs to be corrected. It is usually ... | |
| Blow torch hissing from pipes | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: For the past 3 days there is now a loud hissing sound in my downstairs area coming through its ... A: Very odd! Maybe it's haunted? LOL I would check the thermostat on the heater to see if it is set ... | |
| low water pressure | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: I have an issue in my 2 bathroom very old house. When I'm in the shower and the toilet is flushed ... A: Pipe sizing seems to be a mystery for many. It's not rocket science though. You most likely do ... | |
| toilet repair | 9/23/2009 |
| Q: There is no water flowing into my toilet from the valve in the wall at the back of the toilet. When ... A: It could be a bad fill valve in the toilet tank. It's called a "ball cock". If you turn off the ... | |
| residential sewage lift station | 9/23/2009 |
| Q: I own a duplex that has a sewage lift station. I had some issues with it overfilling recently and ... A: The check valve is called a "backwater valve" and it is supposed to prevent city sewage from backing ... | |
| mobile home plumbing | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: My question is: As my washer pumps the water out of the washer into my drain it makes my toilet ... A: This is usually a sign of poor or partially blocked venting of the fixture. Running water down a ... | |
| Main drain clog damage control | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: I'm going to have a professional out tomorrow, but wondered if you might give me quick answer for my ... A: I would leave the cap off for now. If the line is collapsed and will not drain, the sewage will back ... | |
| check valve knocking | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: No matter where the cold water is being shut off in the house (interior or exterior), there comes ... A: These little noises can be very annoying. I would consider changing the swing check to a spring ... | |
| Loud noise from water heater | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: Lately, I've been hearing a loud noise coming from the water heater occasionally. It sounds like a ... A: Water heaters can make some noise as they heat up and cool down due to expansion and contraction. ... | |
| Bad dip tube | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: After living with this for years I have finally done enough research to determine I have a bid dip ... A: Okay, we are getting into an area of a crap shoot here. At 12 years old, your water heater is ... | |
| Bad dip tube | 9/21/2009 |
| Q: After living with this for years I have finally done enough research to determine I have a bid dip ... A: The reason I said it is not hard is that many jobs like this are done by homeowners themselves. If ... | |
| Bad dip tube | 9/20/2009 |
| Q: After living with this for years I have finally done enough research to determine I have a bid dip ... A: The industry average for water heater life is 8-12 years. Your is on the long side of that and ... | |
| 3 knob shower facuet system | 9/20/2009 |
| Q: but I do not know if I can remove the facuets to clean out any debris that may have gotten lodged in ... A: Yes, absolutely the water must be turned off to the home. Tubs and showers do not have individual ... | |
| 3 knob shower system - water doesn't divert to shower head | 9/20/2009 |
| Q: We have a 3-knob LDR shower/tub faucet (washerless) purchased from Aubuchon hardware. When the ... A: LDR faucets are distributed by: LDR Industries, Inc. 600 N. Kilbourn Ave., Chicago IL 60624 ... | |
| toilet and shower not draining | 9/19/2009 |
| Q: I have two bathrooms- one upstairs, one down. Upstairs is fine, but the downstairs bathroom is ... A: Plumbing systems can be a mystery to someone that does not understand them. In your situation, the ... | |
| noise and thump under floor | 9/19/2009 |
| Q: what is thr loud bang noise sounds like from outside wall of bathroom and felt thump at same time on ... A: Frankly, I have no idea! If it is not happening when the plumbing system is being used, it's hard to ... | |
| plumbing vent coming out of side of house | 9/19/2009 |
| Q: I purchased an older home to rent out. The wastewater vent on one side of the house that serves the ... A: I have used them to "blow" lines. They come in various sizes. Some are rubber and some are made out ... | |
| plumbing vent coming out of side of house | 9/19/2009 |
| Q: I purchased an older home to rent out. The wastewater vent on one side of the house that serves the ... A: I have a couple of thoughts on this issue. If the line you describe is coming out below the sink, ... | |
| water pressure | 9/18/2009 |
| Q: i have really poor water pressure coming out of all taps in my house especially if a try to run 2 ... A: The pressure in most well systems is controlled by the pressure tank. By adjusting the air pressure ... | |
| Noise | 9/18/2009 |
| Q: we replaced the moen cartridge for our shower on and off tap,and now we get a noise like when there ... A: It must be the Canadian water! LOL It's odd that this should start after working on the shower. i ... | |
| No hot water from one faucet | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: Our kitchen faucet is 8 months old. It's the type with a flexible pot-filler hose/nozzle and a ... A: Construction debris is not uncommon to find in piping systems if the lines were not properly flushed ... | |
| humming pipe | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: I changed out my hosebib & vacuum breaker at the back of my house, and now I get an intermittent ... A: Yes, it sounds like it's the vacuum breaker. Although they are typically required by local codes, ... | |
| humming pipe | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: I changed out my hosebib & vacuum breaker at the back of my house, and now I get an intermittent ... A: Does this happen when you are using the hose bib? It can happen when the water is running very ... | |
| moen tub/shower | 9/16/2009 |
| Q: Why does a Moen tub/shower kit leak out of the shower when you want to run a bath only? A: It probably needs a new cartridge and/or diverter. The diverter is leaking past and allowing the ... | |
| No hot water from one faucet | 9/16/2009 |
| Q: Our kitchen faucet is 8 months old. It's the type with a flexible pot-filler hose/nozzle and a ... A: Demand (or tankless) heaters operate via a flow sensing switch. If there is no flow, the heater ... | |
| Service Line Leak | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: My current service line is blue plastic pipe of the last 1970 in Bellevue WA. I am able to put a ... A: Lots of questions here. Plastic piping for water has its advantages if you live in freezing areas ... | |
| clogged incoming water | 9/14/2009 |
| Q: I have friend that is on well water. We have fixed several water problems but keep coming up with ... A: It sounds like you need to install a whole house filter on the line where the water enters the house ... | |
| water leak with upstairs shower | 9/14/2009 |
| Q: Our home is about 70yrs old but the people we bought the house from added a new bathroom upstairs ... A: Since this only happens when the water is actually on for a long period of time, it is likely that ... | |
| clogged kitchen sink | 9/14/2009 |
| Q: our kitchen sink (dual sink with disposal) has been clogged on and off for about a couple of weeks. ... A: Kitchen sinks can be a bear. At 50 feet, you are probably well into the main drain already. A ... | |
| Kitchen faucet is loose | 9/13/2009 |
| Q: I have a relatively new (it was installed about a year ago) ball faucet (I think) with a single ... A: These type of faucets are usually held down by a slotted circular bracket and nut/washer set up ... | |
| drain cleaners | 9/13/2009 |
| Q: What is the best product to use to keep drains flowing and reduce clogs? Thank you for your ... A: I'm not really in favor of chemical drain cleaners. Environmental issues aside, most contain lye in ... | |
| shower water temp. | 9/12/2009 |
| Q: briefly,the kitchen has it, both bathroom sink has it, but, both showers hsve zero warm/hot water.I ... A: There are several possible causes for this. 1. Badly corroded and blocked galvanized pipes ... | |
| broken pipe under house | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: We just had a plumber out to look at our washer drain that was backing up. He determined by running ... A: Bummer! Not fun to have to break the slab. Is the washer on an outside wall? possibly the line ... | |
| water coming out from the base when turned on | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: I have a 4" 2 handle Price Pfister lavatory faucet. Originally, it was dripping. So, I took out the ... A: the faucets are made pretty cheaply these days and it does not take much to damage them. It is ... | |
| toilet flushing problem | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: Six months ago I used a plunger to clear my toilet bowl. It cleared and worked as it should.A few ... A: It sounds like the problem is farther down the main line than just the toilets trap arm. Waste ... | |
| lead bend | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: i have lead bend in toilet, needs to be replace, how do i go about it, i have idea, but not sure, ... A: 1. Pull the toilet. 2. Remove any screws holding the closet ring to the floor. 3. Cut out the lead ... | |
| Bathtub Stopper Removal | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: My apartment bathtub stopper works as follows - rotate it less than one turn and it drops into the ... A: These are a bit tricky. Since they are designed to spin, it difficult to take them out completely. ... | |
| Wet vent drain | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: What the maximum allowed height you can wet vent for a sink. I'm currently looking at installing a ... A: Oops, can't do that. A wet vent can only serve fixtures on the SAME floor. the correct way to do ... | |
| Kitchen sink drain | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: We bought our house with the current kitchen sink. I don't think I need to be very specific about ... A: The correct term for the sink drain body is "3 inch basket strainer". There are also stainless ... | |
| Rusty water in bathroom only | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: We bought our house about 7 months ago and the water in the bathroom did not begin turning ... A: This usually comes from having steel piping in the system somewhere. If the piping system is still ... | |
| potential tub leak - apt. below | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could tell me how my tub might be causing a serious leak to not the floor ... A: When you operate the diverter, it creates a certain amount of back pressure in a normally open pipe. ... | |
| kitchen faucet | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: I have a Delta two handle kitchen faucet that is 11 years old. The faucet was leaking from the ... A: It is not hard to miss-install the cartridge assembly on a Delta. They are "keyed" so it is not ... | |
| potential tub leak - apt. below | 9/7/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could tell me how my tub might be causing a serious leak to not the floor ... A: Neither of those things by themselves would cause leaking unless there were something faulty in the ... | |
| how to remove a rusted drain | 9/7/2009 |
| Q: how can i remove a rusty drain in a steel bathtub i want to install a new popup drain stop i tired ... A: These can be a bear. Not as simple as it may seem. The drain top (in the tub) screws into the "drain ... | |
| Hairline crack in Toilet Tank | 9/7/2009 |
| Q: I have found a small hairline crack in the tank of the toilet (from the outside). It appears to ... A: Yes, it can be sealed. The inside of the tanks are not glazed so silicone or the like will bond. ... | |
| water heater valve | 9/5/2009 |
| Q: There is a cvc pipe that runs from the water heater valve to the outside of our house. There is hot ... A: The valve could be easily changed. They are not expensive. They tend to get limed up and leak. That ... | |
| natural gas pipes | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: I have replaced our gas service line with PE and the ends have a metal (do not know what type of ... A: I used to own a house in Camarillo back in the early 70's, nice area. The bury depth for plastic ... | |
| Ceiling Leak | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: When my daughter turns on the water to her upstairs bathtub, water drips from downstairs ceiling and ... A: It is possible that there is a leak behind the valve handle but not that likely. The water system ... | |
| Ceiling Leak | 9/4/2009 |
| Q: When my daughter turns on the water to her upstairs bathtub, water drips from downstairs ceiling and ... A: It sounds like the tub drain may be leaking. The ceiling under it should be open | |