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Plumbing in the Home/Questions Answered by Expert no longer answering questions
| Subject | Date Asked |
| root killer | 12/12/2011 |
| Q: I have a big pine tree in my front yard and the main pipeline is being clogging with its root every ... A: You should save up and have the pipe replaced, those foaming things really don't work and ... | |
| pipes leaking | 6/5/2011 |
| Q: I live in Hollywood Fl, Recently I had laminate flooring put down over my tarazzo flooring ... A: Possible leak under the slab. To repair this is no easy job and EXPENSIVE. I live in Miami, I can ... | |
| 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: Are you on well water and septic tank? If you have a well pump look for a well pump person. As far ... | |
| shut off valve under kitchen sink leaks | 1/7/2011 |
| Q: we were replacing our dishwasher and the water supply line that goes into the shut off valve under ... A: Sounds like a packing nut needs tightened. This takes 2 wrenches or channel locks, 1 holds the part ... | |
| Main Water Supply Replacement | 6/27/2009 |
| Q: I have to replace the main water supply line. The line is approx 60 feet long and will be buried in ... A: about 1,500 is fair. 800-1,500. all they will do is use a ditch-witch to dig the trench. the only ... | |
| Plumbing venting | 6/22/2009 |
| Q: Where do I start in finding the solution to the following. I have 2 bathrooms and whenever one ... A: Maybe a vent issue. If so diagnose whether it is needing to move air out or if it is sucking air ... | |
| hot water pluming | 6/12/2009 |
| Q: how do we install a trap to ensure that the wind does not blow out the pilot light out A: you dont. just try to eliminate drafts in the room or have the burner assembly serviced. if its not ... | |
| Removal of sprinklers (indoor fire) | 5/30/2009 |
| Q: As our home was being built, a bylaw was passed requiring buildings over a certain height to have ... A: i wouldn't remove them, i actually installed some in one of my houses a while back. the heat from a ... | |
| Residential Plumbing Vent | 5/18/2009 |
| Q: Are all vent pipes required by code to come to single outlet point? If not, is there any ... A: usually if a vent is more than 20' from where another vent is than a new vent will be popped through ... | |
| Upstairs bathroom toilet leaking to downstairs ceiling | 5/16/2009 |
| Q: We have tried everything. The toilet in upstairs bathroom is leaking into the ceiling on 1st floor. ... A: I have seen that a few times. Sorry, but you're gonna have to cut the ceiling. have someone upstairs ... | |
| New Construction Plumbing | 5/12/2009 |
| Q: Can you tell me if it will be a problem if my PVC drain pipes are installed in soil that has been ... A: the pipe should be anchored and have sand around it before the dirt is put back. most of the time ... | |
| upflow toliet | 5/5/2009 |
| Q: I have a toliet in basement bath, but need to move [very close to tub]. I'm considering an upflow ... A: Depends on how old and fit you are. Me personally, I'd just jackhammer the floor up, put my pit, ... | |
| Water Heater | 5/4/2009 |
| Q: I recently replaced the water heater. Now the hot water takes a long time to reach the taps. The ... A: you probably disrupted some rust inside the pipes. this is common, you or someone else will need to ... | |
| Water pressure | 5/3/2009 |
| Q: We recently purchased a older farm house with a new well.. This was installed in June of 2008(Well) ... A: ask someone about wells. I don't have much experience with them. From what I do know about them ... | |
| bath tub | 4/30/2009 |
| Q: the overflow opening of the tub. Ours seems to leak into downstairs. Tried to replace the caulking ... A: its usually not caulk, it's usually a gasket. you may need to have it replaced. this usually takes 2 ... | |
| Drain Noise | 4/2/2009 |
| Q: My home is a single family freehold brick built house and is 6 years old. Recently noises within ... A: I'd have to be there to really say anything. If you are hearing every time they use something ... | |
| basement sump pump | 3/22/2009 |
| Q: My sump pump in the basement seems to run quite a bit during dry weather and even more so when it is ... A: hey Erich, sorry dude, you probably do have a high water table. here are some options for ... | |
| Leaky Shower | 3/17/2009 |
| Q: I have a basement bathroom with a shower in it that leaks, but it only leaks about 15-20 minutes ... A: You can ry to take the shower head arm out of the wall,it turns counter clockwise to back out, apply ... | |
| Hot water | 3/15/2009 |
| Q: A few years back my water softener went out and soon after my water heater went out. I replaced my ... A: you have rust particles from inside the pipe that have broken off and migrated out to the fixtures. ... | |
| shower faucet | 3/10/2009 |
| Q: I have a stand up shower, and in the last 2 months the hot water does not stay hot for longer than 2 ... A: if its an electric water heater an element or thermostat maybe that went bad, gas or electric water ... | |
| Washer drains into tubs | 3/4/2009 |
| Q: I am a first time home owner. I moved in just a few weeks ago and have discovered when I run the ... A: sorry, but you need to check your septic tank if you have one and if it is full have it pumped out, ... | |
| raw sewage smell | 3/2/2009 |
| Q: Sometimes I detect a raw sewage smell upstairs in our house. I can't detect where it is coming ... A: have someone check the plumbings vent system. it sounds like a trap(U shaped fitting or combination ... | |
| Toilet leak at the base | 2/4/2009 |
| Q: I have 25 year old house. About a year ago my toilet in second floor started leaking around the base ... A: if u looked under the toilet in the ceiling while it was constantly being flushed and didnt see ... | |
| Clear Water Under My Jacuzzi Bathtub | 2/4/2009 |
| Q: I have a tile enclosed jacuzzi bathtub, and have recently noticed clear water on the rug in front of ... A: you have to look at it, note when it leaks, does it leak when the faucet is off, does it always ... | |
| Clear Water Under My Jacuzzi Bathtub | 2/4/2009 |
| Q: I have a tile enclosed jacuzzi bathtub, and have recently noticed clear water on the rug in front of ... A: ive seen the jets leak, the drain leak, faucet parts leak, fittings leak. the only 3 things i can ... | |
| Toilet leak at the base | 2/3/2009 |
| Q: I have 25 year old house. About a year ago my toilet in second floor started leaking around the base ... A: its not your toilet. its either the plumber needs to use 2 wax rings, or your house probably has ... | |
| Toilet | 2/3/2009 |
| Q: What would cause water to seap from the small holes in the toilet bowl? I've replaced the ballcock ... A: if you're talking about the small holes around the rim of the toilet bowl, these stream a little ... | |
| banging kitchen pipes | 2/2/2009 |
| Q: OK, here's the deal. The house was built in the late 70's early 80's.. on a crawl space. Kitchen ... A: water pressure loss can be a number of things, and they depend on age, type of pipes, and what kind ... | |
| toilet positioning and pipes | 2/1/2009 |
| Q: I want to turn my toilet 45 degree so that it is in the same place but facing the other way. Can i ... A: they are called fittings, they come in 22.5, 45, and 90 degree bends. toilet flanges come normal or ... | |
| Joint into Cast Soil Stack | 2/1/2009 |
| Q: I have a 1940's property with a Cast Iron Soil Stack. We now wish to drain Washing Machine and ... A: okay, have someone help you, use something to secure the upper part of the pipe after the cut so it ... | |
| pex main | 2/1/2009 |
| Q: my home inspector said I need to have a relief arch where the 3/4 main go's through the foundation ... A: different cities/states have different codes, my experience is in indiana, kentucky, and florida. i ... | |
| low hot water pressure | 1/31/2009 |
| Q: I just bought my first home, and it was built in 1956. I have excellent cold water pressure, but my ... A: hey, thanks. the average life span of a water heater is 10 years. all the really end up doing is ... | |
| Faucet Problem | 1/31/2009 |
| Q: Recently, I was washing some dishes in my kitchen sink and was rinsing with warm water. I turned ... A: it sounds like you have debris in the supply tube, or shut off under the sink. try replacing it, or ... | |
| Replacing valve seat | 1/31/2009 |
| Q: I tried to replace the valve seat in a 30 yr old Gerber bath assembly (three knobs) in a rent house. ... A: well, 1st when u insert the seat wrench always tap on the end outside the faucet, this drive the ... | |
| a profession clearing drains..is is right? | 1/31/2009 |
| Q: ..my bathtub is running slow and so is my toilet...these 2 have been a problem for 30 years..so ... A: no it wont push anything into the house. it's also a better way to get the most out of the sewer ... | |
| Increasing water pressure | 1/30/2009 |
| Q: My home is six years old. I have noticed a slight difference in using various faucets around the ... A: you have already done the best thing for the system with the thermal expansion tank. since u have ... | |
| Increasing water pressure | 1/30/2009 |
| Q: My home is six years old. I have noticed a slight difference in using various faucets around the ... A: the pressure gets high from thermal expansion inside the water heater. install a thermal expansion ... | |
| Rid-X and regular plumbing | 1/30/2009 |
| Q: I know Rid-X is created for use in septic systems, but can I use it in my regular toilet? I live in ... A: rid-x is just an enzyme, it wont help or hurt anything in ur situation. you have 2 options: 1. wait ... | |
| auto vent | 1/30/2009 |
| Q: my wife's aunt just moved into a older module house,with copper lines,but under kitchen sink ... A: no good deed goes unpunished, lol. i'd say use a real drain machine for starters, it sounds like ur ... | |
| Water pressure regulator noise | 1/30/2009 |
| Q: I have a wierd situation. Almost every day at 6:00 AM I get a noise that lasts about 5 seconds and ... A: well, i'm not there and this sounds like something that you would need a technician/plumber to check ... | |
| Water pressure regulator noise | 1/30/2009 |
| Q: I have a wierd situation. Almost every day at 6:00 AM I get a noise that lasts about 5 seconds and ... A: sounds like thermal expansion which occurs when water is heated, then i would wonder if u have a ... | |
| Water slow coming into commode tank | 1/17/2009 |
| Q: Tank takes forever to fill. I took supply line off and there is a build up of white mineral gunk in ... A: please dont use any acids. replace the supply tube(braided steel ones are the easiest to work with ... | |
| Sewage Smell from Washing Machine | 1/17/2009 |
| Q: We are experiencing an intermittent sewage smell from our washing machine. The machine is about 3 ... A: from the limited history and information on hand about it, i'd guess that it only happens when ... | |
| mobile home plumbing | 1/17/2009 |
| Q: i had a water pipe break under my mobile home and i cant figure out what it goes to it branches off ... A: not really without being there. fixtures closer to the outside walls are going to be more at risk. i ... | |
| lost cold water pressure in kitchen sink | 1/17/2009 |
| Q: This morning I suddenly found that I had no cold water pressure in the kitchen sink. Hot and cold ... A: the line maybe froze. leave it barely open all the time until it thaws to minimize the risk of it ... | |
| No water thru hot water faucets | 1/17/2009 |
| Q: My son's house is not getting any hot water at all. The water heater is hot, but the pipes coming ... A: the pipes are frozen somewhere. call a plumber. look at some of my recent answers please. a lot of ... | |
| possible frozen pipes | 1/17/2009 |
| Q: after a very cold night I have no hot water in my upstairs bathrooms only cold water. downstairs I ... A: call a plumber to come out and thaw the lines. in the mean time open the faucets up. sometimes the ... | |
| Plumbing - Moen Faucet | 1/16/2009 |
| Q: I recently had a problem with my guest shower where the hot water was not working, but the cold was. ... A: ah, u have a positemp. replace both of the plastic peices on the sides. u probably didnt slit the ... | |
| Plumbing - Moen Faucet | 1/16/2009 |
| Q: I recently had a problem with my guest shower where the hot water was not working, but the cold was. ... A: well, the 3 things i would worry about would be: is the new cartridge damaged, did i damage the ... | |
| frozen pipes | 1/16/2009 |
| Q: I live in Pa.mobile home, had my water in kitchen and bath dripping over night. Got up this morning, ... A: im sorry, you will probably need to have a company come out and place a heater under there to thaw ... | |
| Adjusting Water Pressure Regulator | 1/15/2009 |
| Q: How do I adjust the water pressure coming into my home? I had some home improcvements done. The ... A: you may have debris in the shower heads or aerators that broke loose during the work u had done, ... | |
| sink drain to stand pipe | 1/15/2009 |
| Q: I would like to install a washer stand pipe in the drain that used to be for a kitchen sink. There ... A: yes, use ferncoe couplings to transistion the piping. use either snap cutters or a ... | |
| shower valve | 1/15/2009 |
| Q: In a rental unit,tenant in for last year or so.She has a shower valve that when turned on,runs ... A: any of the above. u didnt tell what kind of faucet it is so i dont know what kind of diverter it ... | |
| loss of water after low pressure | 1/14/2009 |
| Q: I was experiencing low water pressure off and on for the past 2 days and now have no water. My home ... A: pressure tank maybe water logged, pressure switch problem, or something else. i'd recommend asking a ... | |
| low hot water pressure in sink | 1/14/2009 |
| Q: I have an older home with reasonably good water pressure. The hot water pressure in my second floor ... A: 110% i hate to admit this, but i contracted part time for a water softener co in ind. they told ... | |
| low hot water pressure in sink | 1/14/2009 |
| Q: I have an older home with reasonably good water pressure. The hot water pressure in my second floor ... A: unless u plan to repipe the whole system along with installing the water softener,, ur not really ... | |
| sink drain to stand pipe | 1/14/2009 |
| Q: I would like to install a washer stand pipe in the drain that used to be for a kitchen sink. There ... A: 2" is ok for that as long as its vented. you can turn fittings with threads, if its a lead joing, it ... | |
| Water meter installation | 1/14/2009 |
| Q: I own an eight unit apartment bldg. in Atlanta. The entire bldg has 1 water meter. I pay the water ... A: maybe, maybe not. if the building was designed to be an apartment complex the water main coming in ... | |
| Preventing frozen pipes | 1/14/2009 |
| Q: I live in a brick row-house in Boston, where the forecast is for temperatures near 0 for much of ... A: good question. get some electric heat tape to wrap the outdoor plumbing with that is ... | |
| tub/shower mixer faucet | 1/14/2009 |
| Q: I have one of those single-handle faucets in my tub/shower which you rotate counter-clockwise to go ... A: replace the cartridge. if it's a moen, they are sometimes hard to pull out. just keep pulling. if it ... | |
| Water Softener | 1/12/2009 |
| Q: Last July I had to replace our hot water heater. While I was doing that I had the water softener ... A: that salt is ok. the salt plus the water form brine. the brine is what makes ur water softener ... | |
| Slow sink and tub, but not toilet | 1/12/2009 |
| Q: One of our bathroom tubs has always been slow since we moved in 5 years ago, but we never use it. ... A: sure, call around at ur local drain cleaning companies. get some quotes. have the cheapest company ... | |
| plumbing | 1/12/2009 |
| Q: I had a leak in a hot water pipe that was found in the wall and under the slab. The water was ... A: u can scrape away any visible mold, and spray a 1/10 bleach solution on the area to kill the rest. ... | |
| hot water tape | 1/12/2009 |
| Q: In my bathroom the hot water tape just lost pressure, there is some water coming out but not a lot. ... A: debri in the supply tube or hot water shut off under the sink. replace the supply tube, that should ... | |
| plumbing | 1/12/2009 |
| Q: I had a leak in a hot water pipe that was found in the wall and under the slab. The water was ... A: u only have to sleeve water lines usually. did they confirm that there were no other leaks in the ... | |
| ejector cord insulation cracked | 1/12/2009 |
| Q: I Pulled our ejector pump from the sump pit to clean out because I have a flooded basement. Found ... A: when i was an apprentice, i took apart a regular sump pump out of curiousity, these pumps are filled ... | |
| tub faucet water pressure low shower and shower head is ok | 1/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a 3 knob faucet in my main bathroom. Of late I have a problem because when I turn on both the ... A: no, i hope not, thats expensive, like 400+++. it probably just needs the washers and seats replaced, ... | |
| tankless hot water recirculation pump/loop | 1/12/2009 |
| Q: we just installed a paloma/rheem tankless gas hot water heater (from Home Depot-- 7.4 gpm I think) ... A: if i got called out to ur house for that kind of estimate or job, i'd have to call rheem and ask ... | |
| Sewer pipe exiting basement WHISTLES | 1/11/2009 |
| Q: I've lived here 10-years without having any reason to pay any mind to the thick black pipe that ... A: ive never encountered that. ive heard whislting from water pipes. its not under pressure though, its ... | |
| constant water sound | 1/11/2009 |
| Q: I hear water running I turned off the main water line & the sound stopped. I could hear the sound of ... A: sorry, but that sounds like either a faucet is running if ur lucky, or u have a leak in the slab. u ... | |
| shower knocking noise | 1/10/2009 |
| Q: 2 year old house. American Standard fixtures. There is a knocking (quite load, sounds like something ... A: sounds like the diverter is bouncing around. there should also be shock arrestors on both the hot ... | |
| replacing plastic washer in bathroom sink hot water handle | 1/10/2009 |
| Q: how do I remove the handle to get to where the plastic washer needs to be replaced? A: if its a single handle faucet, first, close the drain so nothing accidentally ends up down there. it ... | |
| Toilet mounting question. | 1/10/2009 |
| Q: I have replaced toilets in my home before and I have a qustion. I am wondering hw tight I am ... A: no no no no. be careful plz. lol, when we are apprentices we are allowed to break 1 toilet,lol. ... | |
| tub/shower valve noise | 1/10/2009 |
| Q: When I turn the water on for the shower, the hot side works, the cold side works, but when it is set ... A: if u have an access panel behind the shower valve u can open it up, they usually have shut offs ... | |
| tub/shower valve noise | 1/9/2009 |
| Q: When I turn the water on for the shower, the hot side works, the cold side works, but when it is set ... A: my bad. turn the woater off to the house, then take that valve apart paying attention to the order ... | |
| about a toilet being moved? | 1/9/2009 |
| Q: "I have a weird set up in my bathroom. We want to move out toilet from where it is now and put it ... A: sue, the toilet needs to have a flange set in the floor to mount to and into. these are a minimum ... | |
| Kitchen sink | 1/9/2009 |
| Q: I have a constant musty smell in my kitchen sink disposal .I try to put lemon and disposal, I tried ... A: replace it with one that has a stainless steel grinding chamber. stainless steel resists corrosion, ... | |
| pvc to copper splice | 1/8/2009 |
| Q: I have a connection that has come loose on the right side of a T, and it is in a place that is too ... A: pvc should never be used inside the house. sorry, but this how plumbing apprentices get so many burn ... | |
| plumbing backup(tiolet,sink,shower) | 1/8/2009 |
| Q: we live in mobile home-there is a 't' where the lines from one end of the trlr come together.on that ... A: so its a drain? ok, yea u could. for just 30$ more u could pay a cheap drain cleaning company. the ... | |
| plumbing | 1/8/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could answer a question. My home was built in the late 40's. We have a ... A: 2 things, install a thermal expansion tank, these absorb a lot of pressure in ur water line system, ... | |
| Gas supply line | 1/7/2009 |
| Q: Want to install gas range. Gas is all ready in the house. A 3/4 in line supplies gas furnace ... A: buy flexible gas tubing, wardflex, trac pipe, or whatever there is where u are. run the line from ... | |
| plumbing ie; TOILET | 1/6/2009 |
| Q: I laid a new floor in my bathroom and I replaced the toilet ring, and was hooking the water value ... A: ok, 90% of toilets have standard float valves, flappers, etc. some are pressure assist, or just have ... | |
| no water pressure in shower | 1/6/2009 |
| Q: Joe, I have new house w/ all pex pipes. After three months I had no water pressure in my shower. I ... A: hey, congrats, ur my last case. try taking out the guts and turning the water on to better flush out ... | |
| Smell coming from toilet tank | 1/6/2009 |
| Q: I have noticed a strong foul odor coming from the toilet tank in the bathroom in the basement. I ... A: if the smell is coming from the toilet, and its a smell other than urine that missed the bowl, etc. ... | |
| air in the focets and hot water not lasting | 1/6/2009 |
| Q: when i turn on my faucets in the house i get burst of air throught them and in the shower i only get ... A: it sounds like a thermostat and/or an element is out on ur water heater.or the dip tube is messed ... | |
| backed up floor drain | 1/5/2009 |
| Q: Every couple of months our floor drain in the basement backs up. Whenever we flush the toilet, run ... A: i would have asked for the video if i were u. its ur main line, it may have become offset somewhere ... | |
| Joining bronze and copper pipe | 1/4/2009 |
| Q: I'm installing a pump (that installation/design was answered by another expert earlier for me). The ... A: u can connect the copper directly to the "bronze" or brass. copper has some brass in it. the ... | |
| water softener | 1/3/2009 |
| Q: I have Kenmore Ultrasoft 175 water softener. About a year after installation it began to leak water ... A: water softener parts are proprietary to the manufacturer. kenmore is relatively cheap compared to a ... | |
| Tick tock noise water pipes in winter | 1/2/2009 |
| Q: Since we got to our cabin this past weekend we've been having a periodic tick tock sound in what we ... A: yea, the water in a water heater is hot and this causes precipotation amongst the minerals in the ... | |
| adding water shut-off | 12/31/2008 |
| Q: I need to add a water shutoff above my hot water tank. It's old steel plumbing with no unions so ... A: use sharkbite adapters where the steel ends were. sharkbites come in all kinds of configurations. ... | |
| drain for upstairs washing machine | 12/31/2008 |
| Q: i want to put a washer and dryer in my master bedroom closet. my only problem is a drain. would it ... A: thats possible, but if u live someplace that freezes this may end up making a severe mess. it would ... | |
| pipe leak underf oundation of thirty year old home | 12/27/2008 |
| Q: We have just found that we have a leak in the hot water pipe under the concrete. While we are ... A: that smell could be from the leak making the area of the slab where its leaking start to get musty, ... | |
| 1B1 Master Value Mark IV replacement | 12/27/2008 |
| Q: I am trying to replace the 1B1 Master Value Mark IV in the toilet of my house. After flushing, the ... A: usually the float valve has a nut just under it on the outside of the tank. look up that toilet, and ... | |
| waterflow issue in kitchen | 12/26/2008 |
| Q: I recently replaced the faucet in my kitchen. The water has been flowing fine up until a few days ... A: You have debris in the aerators, supply tubes, or in between.(inside the faucet body). start with ... | |
| Loss of pressure on well tank system | 12/26/2008 |
| Q: I recently installed a new pressure tank on my home submersible well system. I also replaced the ... A: make sure none of your toilets are running from their flappers, or floatvalves. make sure none of ... | |
| kitchen sink smells | 12/26/2008 |
| Q: i have noticed a smell coming from my kitchen sink. at first i thought there was just food ... A: just check out the venting stuff. it may be rusted apart, or somehow otherwise letting sewer gas ... | |
| Odor in water | 12/25/2008 |
| Q: I live in SW Florida and have very hard municipal water. I installed a water softener to remove ... A: i live in miami, i do side work too. this sounds like u should replace the anode rod in the water ... | |
| cast iron soil stack repair, renovation | 12/24/2008 |
| Q: I have read your comments about the use of neoprene gaskets for conversion from PVC to existing cast ... A: i think you're talking about a donut type of "o" ring. it slides into the fitting with the pipe. ... | |
| Replacing a 1-3/4" Brass Clean-out Plug?? | 12/24/2008 |
| Q: 1960 Brick Ranch in Denver. 2" steel (or at second look, it may be lead) pipe from kitchen sink ... A: try getting an expanding test plug for it. these come in either steel or plastic. i recommend the ... | |
| cast iron soil stack repair, renovation | 12/24/2008 |
| Q: I have read your comments about the use of neoprene gaskets for conversion from PVC to existing cast ... A: i dont think they are neoprene. fernocos are all rubber with a metal strap at both ends and shouldnt ... | |
| frozen pipe breaks behindtub | 12/23/2008 |
| Q: A a frozen pipe broke behind the bathtub, I think its the cold water pipe. but reaching my hand down ... A: You may have to cut numerous holes, it depends on what kind of pipe it is and where it's located. ... | |
| Grohe Shower Valve | 12/23/2008 |
| Q: I have a Grohe shower valve that has one dial for the water temperature and another for the water ... A: What model is it? I carry a book in my van for almost all faucets; if I come across 1 I don't have a ... | |
| intermittent hot water | 12/22/2008 |
| Q: Recently in my home whenever you turn on the faucet, you only get hot water for about 7 seconds then ... A: The dip tube needs replaced probably. This is on the cold inlet side of the water heater, it carries ... | |
| Black flakes in the hot water | 12/22/2008 |
| Q: I bought my townhouse 1 year ago, the units were built in 1985. We all pay water out of our HOA so I ... A: Did he check the anode rod and dip tube? I've seen it from the dip tube falling apart. For now, try ... | |
| intermittent hot water heater | 12/22/2008 |
| Q: Hey Joe, I have an Apollo Hydroheat hot water heater. I have owned the condo since it was built in ... A: Hey, I remember those. I would have to be there to diagnose it completely. I'm sending you a check ... | |
| deep well | 12/22/2008 |
| Q: Joe, I have a deep well and when the pump would come on you could hear the air volume control ... A: i am very sorry, i am not familiar with air sniffers,etc. I dont know about air sniffers. i know ... | |
| Bubbling Toilet | 12/21/2008 |
| Q: I have 3 1/2 baths in my house. I replaced the toilet in the Children's bathroom with a more ... A: what kind of flushing mechanism does it have(flapper,or other kind& decribe) if it's a regular ... | |
| Bubbling Toilet | 12/21/2008 |
| Q: I have 3 1/2 baths in my house. I replaced the toilet in the Children's bathroom with a more ... A: I need more information, but bubbling up, like the level rising really high before going out can ... | |
| waste line | 12/21/2008 |
| Q: Is the builder responsible for installing a P-trap in a second floor bathroom? Original material ... A: how old is the house? the plumbing company may cover it. All fixtures have their own P-traps in ... | |
| no water flow from kitchen faucet when flexi-pipe is attached | 12/21/2008 |
| Q: Our pull-out faucet worked fine until we replaced the sink. We hooked it up and no water comes out. ... A: I think you have something in the hose or valve somewhere. It should probably be taken apart. from ... | |
| Water draining from pressure tank | 12/20/2008 |
| Q: I am on a well with a pressure tank. The pressure tank drains to zero. I can set the pump to fill ... A: If installed correctly it's going to have a check valve on top of the pump. It sounds like it maybe ... | |
| elec. hot water heater | 12/20/2008 |
| Q: I know a heatinting element is out but how do I find out which one as not to relace aii the ... A: it should only have 2. you have drain it anyway, by the time you bought the instrument to test them, ... | |
| cast iron sewer pipe | 12/20/2008 |
| Q: I have a 96 year old house. The plumbing was added after it was built. I've been having an ongoing ... A: Cast iron can be cut with snap cutters or using a carbide reciprocating saw blade. You transition it ... | |
| Bsmt. Plumbing | 12/19/2008 |
| Q: I am planning to finish my bsmt., and include a full bathroom and kitchenette. The plumbing waste ... A: I would recommend putting a sewage ejector pump in the basement floor. It's not really that hard. ... | |
| Low water pressure | 12/19/2008 |
| Q: It had been quite cold 20 or so and my water pressure is low through out the house. I'm on a 145 ... A: You can check the breaker, click it off and on. That is probably too easy of a fix. So your water ... | |
| Sump Pump Problem | 12/18/2008 |
| Q: My sump pump has always worked fine have been at home for 2 years now never had a problem! Just ... A: BEFORE ANY OF YOUR APPLIANCES OR PROPERTY GETS DAMAGED CALL A PLUMBER TO COME OUT AND REPLACE IT. ... | |
| Kitchen Faucet | 12/18/2008 |
| Q: I replaced my kitchen faucet after 10 years. I thought I had bad hot water pipes because the ... A: Yes, it could be rust stuck before the actual shut off. The hot water supply lines always corrode ... | |
| shower head and faucet both on | 12/18/2008 |
| Q: I went to take a shower this morning, as I try to do on a weekly basis :) and had something ... A: The diverter is broken in it. I recommend calling a plumber because you may need some tools that ... | |
| water pressure/water line leak? | 12/17/2008 |
| Q: i live in a rural area and we pull our household water from a creek using a jet pump and i have ... A: do you have an amp meter? its the multitesting device for electrical current. actually, im sorry but ... | |
| Kitchen Faucet | 12/17/2008 |
| Q: I replaced my kitchen faucet after 10 years. I thought I had bad hot water pipes because the ... A: buy 2-long braided steel supply tubes, and a basin wrench if you dont have 1. use a pipe wrench to ... | |
| house static high pressure dangers | 12/16/2008 |
| Q: I have installed a new water pressure regulating valve that regulates within 5 psi during dynamic, ... A: please install a thermal expansion tank in the line somewhere after the prv you have already ... | |
| Odd drain problem | 12/15/2008 |
| Q: I recently helped a friend install a new bathroom sink in his basement bath to an existing roughin. ... A: and thanks for giving me a shot at this. If you have access to the trap for the fixture, and enough ... | |
| plumbing noise and loss of pressure | 12/15/2008 |
| Q: when one of 3 showers is turned on a "thumping noise" begins with a pulsing of the shower water. ... A: It sound like you should take the faucet apart, paying close attention to the order in which the ... | |
| driping faucet (RT6-AMCK) Price Pfister | 12/15/2008 |
| Q: Aloha, I have Price Pfister Roman Tub faucet that is dripping. I took off the top handle (part ... A: 941-037 should unscrew also. please copy/paste this address to see a diagram. I'm sure you know ... | |
| Replaced cold water cartidge, still leaks | 12/14/2008 |
| Q: I have a walk in shower in a 40/50 year old house, one handle cold/one hot. To my knowledge the ... A: if you have anymore problems with the faucet, and you dont want to risk ruining the valve; go ahead ... | |
| Kitchen faucet hammering | 12/14/2008 |
| Q: We living in a 1963 house. There's been no problem with the kitchen sink faucet hammering until ... A: it's more than likely a worn diverter. what kind of faucet is it? the spray hande issue, you can try ... | |
| toilet is not flushing properly | 12/14/2008 |
| Q: when we flush, the water doesn't swirl at all, just raises up until it is almost flooding and then ... A: Anne, it sounds like there is a blockage either in the toilet or the drain line going to the toilet. ... | |
| no hot water from bathroomtub/shower single fixture Moen,ca 1995 | 12/14/2008 |
| Q: I am selling a home and it has not been in use for several months and the inspection found no hot ... A: remove the handle, there is a copper color, U shaped pin with a very small sqaure part sticking up. ... | |
| Sink, Tub and Toilet gurgle and leak | 12/13/2008 |
| Q: I had some remodeling done to my home. I have 2 1/2 baths and installed 2 new toilets. The third I ... A: The "white thing" is called a flange. use 2 wax rings per toilet. use 1 regualar wax ring, and 1 wax ... | |
| Water Pressure Surges in Home | 12/13/2008 |
| Q: About 6 months ago our problem started. The water pressure would surge when turning on a faucet and ... A: get one installed. they absorb pressure surges from either the water heater heating water and it ... | |
| Damaged Clean Out Plug | 12/13/2008 |
| Q: We were experiencing some slow sink drains and backed up toilets at our house, and also sewer gas ... A: ok, he tried to remove the c/o plug and couldn't, so he just left it pierced? the cities sewer ... | |
| kitchen faucet sprayer | 12/13/2008 |
| Q: My kitchen faucet sprayer recently stopped working. I have had the faucet apart and everything ... A: what kind of faucet is it. model isn't really that important, i need to know the manufacturer, and ... | |
| Water Pressure Surges in Home | 12/12/2008 |
| Q: About 6 months ago our problem started. The water pressure would surge when turning on a faucet and ... A: a thermal expansion tank may stablize ur water pressure. everytime the toilet goes to fill itself ... | |
| toilet tank not level | 12/12/2008 |
| Q: I installed a new toilet (two piece) and the tank is not level. I'm concerned about over-tightening ... A: well, it's up to you. i broke a toilet when i was 18(im 30 now) and it happened not long after the ... | |
| toilet tank not level | 12/12/2008 |
| Q: I installed a new toilet (two piece) and the tank is not level. I'm concerned about over-tightening ... A: As far as i have seen, not really. some toilets come with them, and some do not. apprentice plumbers ... | |
| plumbing line | 12/11/2008 |
| Q: Our line that goes from our house to the sewer keeps getting stopped up every few weeks.. When we ... A: sorry it took me so long to respond. usually most places that rent tools like sewer machines, also ... | |
| loss of water pressure | 12/11/2008 |
| Q: when water is turned on (hot or cold)pressure drops to nothing then slowly builds up. pressure ... A: are you on well water? if so inspect your pressure tank. it maybe full of water. if so call a well ... | |
| sewer gas smell | 12/11/2008 |
| Q: I own an old building circa 1930s possibly. Some where along the way the toilet was moved and the ... A: look for a floor drain that is not in use, the trap may have went dry in it, maybe a vent come loose ... | |
| Smell in recently remodeled kitchen | 12/11/2008 |
| Q: We have purchased a new home with a recently remodeled kitchen and now are experiencing a smell in ... A: replace the vent. some of them are glued and some are screwed. the mechanism has a flap in it that ... | |
| apartment | 12/11/2008 |
| Q: I live in a coop apartment building in NYC. I am putting in a new tub surround myself. Do I need to ... A: what's coop mean? do you own your unit? do you know where the main water shut off is for your unit? ... | |
| Blue green stains when water is softened | 12/10/2008 |
| Q: I'm trying to help out some people with copper in their water. They have a recirculating hot water ... A: i don't think so. are they on well or city water? it's probably not the soft water dissolving the ... | |
| Replaced cold water cartidge, still leaks | 12/9/2008 |
| Q: I have a walk in shower in a 40/50 year old house, one handle cold/one hot. To my knowledge the ... A: for your own time savings, anytime you do a faucet repair go ahead and do the hot and cold. the hot ... | |
| Water pressure | 12/8/2008 |
| Q: My tenant informed me of leak that was discovered last night in the bathroom. He had drained the ... A: the flush valve inside the toilet should let any water that gets too high drain in to the bowl if ... | |
| Copper Pipe condensation in winter | 12/8/2008 |
| Q: I live in an appartment building (5th floor) where the bathroom (just the toilet) is in a tiny nook ... A: usually you get condensation on pipes that are cooler than the ambient air. the humidity in the air ... | |
| Leaking Well Storage Tank | 12/7/2008 |
| Q: I am in a 6 year old house and have never had a problem with my well or well pump. Now, I have a ... A: probably hire a well or plumbing company to come out and fix it. it could be the connections under ... | |
| plumbing woes | 12/6/2008 |
| Q: and thank you in advance for reading my question. Recently, our water heater quit working and it ... A: the tub faucet may need disassembled, and parts replaced, or at least rinsed out due to debris, one ... | |
| water lines and heater | 12/6/2008 |
| Q: First, thank you for taking the time to consider my question (dilemma). I'll start off with us ... A: just run the new water system paralell to the old one. when youre ready to make the connection to ... | |
| hot water pressure to 1 shower | 12/5/2008 |
| Q: The hot water to one shower is very poor. I have 2 1/2 baths on 3 different levels. The shower of ... A: sounds like a peice of rust in the valve body. since im a professional, and can do it easily, i'd ... | |
| water lines and heater | 12/5/2008 |
| Q: First, thank you for taking the time to consider my question (dilemma). I'll start off with us ... A: older houses usually have had numerous owners, and been around through all the advancements in ... | |
| Bathtub Backup | 12/4/2008 |
| Q: when I run the water in my bathroom sink, water will begin to backup into the bathtub. What is the ... A: if its just the sink backing up in the tub then a small cable can be used to clear the line. if the ... | |
| showerhead drip and hard to turn off handles | 12/4/2008 |
| Q: My showerhead has a constant drip, no matter how hard I turn off the water at the handles. They ... A: yes, the stems, washers, and seats probably need replaced if it's an old brass faucet. either way ... | |
| FLOOR DRAINS | 12/4/2008 |
| Q: THE FLOOR DRAIN IN OUR UTILITY ROOM HAS A PLASTIC FLOATING BALL IN IT. WHEN OUR WATER SOFTENER IS AT ... A: How is the water softener discharge set up? Does it lay in/beside the floor drain? Put the softener ... | |
| Moen tub/shower faucet | 12/3/2008 |
| Q: I have a Moen tub/shower faucet that is really annoying me. It uses the single cartridge 1200. I ... A: John, Moen faucets are ok, Delta are the best and easiest to work on though. Do you think you ... | |
| Bathtub Plumbing | 12/3/2008 |
| Q: I am in the middle of a bathroom remodel and have recently set the tub and installed the plumbing. I ... A: use wing ells that you can screw to a backing board and install backing boards behind the the wing ... | |
| plumbing woes | 12/2/2008 |
| Q: and thank you in advance for reading my question. Recently, our water heater quit working and it ... A: either you have the p.r.v. set too low, or more likely you have debris in all of your fixtures. you ... | |
| Water Pressure Surges in Home | 12/2/2008 |
| Q: About 6 months ago our problem started. The water pressure would surge when turning on a faucet and ... A: just curious, who was the company? let me make sure i understand this, the water pressure surges at ... | |
| No flow on new shower | 12/1/2008 |
| Q: I installed a Delta faucet and shower head in a cabin I'm building. I only have cold water running ... A: is it a shower only? try taking off the shower head and turning on the water and if u have good ... | |
| 14" rough-in??? | 12/1/2008 |
| Q: I have an old home, and what I think was the original toilet has finally bit the dust. I've been ... A: replace it with a kohler low boy tank toilet. this will eliminate anyone getting comfy and leaning ... | |
| unknown faucet | 11/30/2008 |
| Q: I have a double sink in my bathroom that was purchased off ebay with the faucets. There is no brand ... A: to avoid yourself all the runs to the hardware store i'd call your local plumber(not roto rooter, mr ... | |
| Washing Machine Drain | 11/30/2008 |
| Q: This old hose was build in 1953, using the floor drain in garage as the drain, drain now has a room ... A: that's all out of whack. accesss the first ferncoe, disconnect it, snake it out real good, repipe it ... | |
| Kitchen Sink P-Trap Not Sealing | 11/29/2008 |
| Q: I had to replace a garbage disposal. Therefore, I replaced the fittings and washers as well. I ... A: if it's slipping then it's broken. get new parts, new trap, new everything with threads on it, slip ... | |
| plumbing in the wall | 11/28/2008 |
| Q: I have a old cast iron tee used for the vent and drain line, and it was poured in concrete, can I ... A: cast iron is good for sound deadening in walls, but pvc can be just as good with some insulation. ... | |
| ice maker water line | 11/28/2008 |
| Q: I have installed an icemaker but the water line is connected to the hot water. Is that ok, or do I ... A: no, it may not be ok. a lot of ice makers have filters that hot water can damage. my first answer ... | |
| presuure pump fails | 11/28/2008 |
| Q: my home pump is along with the pressure tank and now a days its pressure is too slow. before it was ... A: possibly the bladder in the pressure tank is bad or the pressure switch. please call a well ... | |
| Toilet repair - watertight seal under tank | 11/28/2008 |
| Q: I just replaced the overflow valve system on a fairly basic toilet, and when I went to let water ... A: its not putty, its a gasket. there are 2 main ones from the bowl- up. at the bowl tank connection ... | |
Plumbing in the Home
Answers by Expert:
no longer answering questions
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
unless you are in miami or ft lauderdale i can no longer give advise. i charge 40$ for the trip and flat rate prices on repairs. estimates are free, diagnosing is considered a trip charge.
Experience
if you are in southern florida email me at joeperkins11_78@yahoo.com and i will get to you on that day, once a rapport has been established i can be available for 24/7 service 365 days a year
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