plumbing solutions

"Plumbing Pipes And Practical Know How"

2008-03-11T19:44:00.000-07:00

Plumbing Pipes and Practical Know How
Most people panic when there is a plumbing emergency or general repair that needs to be done. This panic is unnecessary if you have the practical plumbing knowledge. Getting help can be obtained in various ways it can be a phone call to a plumber for a fee or help from a do it yourself book if you are the handyman type or if your lucky you will have a friendly neighborhood plumbing/hardware store that can assist you with all your repair needs.
Water Leaks 101
If at any point in time you notice water in areas that water does not belong the first and most important thing to do is turn off the main valve. This is located at meter or in your home where the water line comes into the house. If you do not know where this is start by looking in your crawl space or basement. Once water has been shut off locate cause of leak determine diameter of pipe and material the pipe is made of ie copper or plastic or steel. You can remove a part of this to take with you if need be. Match up pipe or fittings needed to repair leak. If it is a threaded steel connection make sure you put thread seal on all threaded connections and tighten as snug as you can get it. This would be done by using pipe wrench or channel lock style pliers. If it is a copper connection you can use solder fittings or compression style fittings ( the easiest style for a novice). There are 3 types of plastic pipes used PVC, CPVC, and PEX. PVC and CPVC can be glued together with appropriate solvent. PEX pipe is either clamped or a grabber style fitting is used.

Clogged or Slow Drains
If drain is moving slow or completely clogged cleaners are not always a great solution. If the drain is slow moving a cleaner may help to make move freely. If it is completely stopped up a snake should be used to remove obstruction. If your home has old steal drain lines you might be fighting a loosing battle. I suggest to cut out and remove steel pipe and replace with PVC. Generally, the vertical pipes do not build up the same amount of debris or sludge the same as the horizontal pipes. If you are making a transition from steel to plastic make sure you use a approved coupling to make the transition. If it is a PVC to PVC connection use appropriate solvent.

That Leaky faucet
When your faucet develops a leak it is important to fix as soon as possible to save extra damage to the part from forcing it to shut off. First thing to do is to shut water off to faucet . Shut off valves are located below sink. Remove handle then locate the nut that holds the faucet stem in faucet body, use wrench to remove take to local plumbing shop or hardware store to match replacement gaskets or sometimes the complete stem. If faucet is not able to be repaired and you decide to replace it is important that you purchase a new faucet from a reputable manufacturer.

Toilet Woes
If toilet is leaking at the base it could be a wax seal needs to be replaced, or the mounting flange may be cracked. If it takes a long time for the tank to refill after you flush it is the ball cock that has failed. Sometimes this can be repaired with a replacement gasket if parts are not available replace complete ball cock. This is also the solution if it will not shut off. If you hear your toilet refill without flushing it the flapper assembly needs to be replaced.* there are lots of different style flappers used make sure you take your old one with you to match.*

Everything But The Kitchen Sink

2008-03-06T20:02:00.000-08:00

Whether you are building a new home or remodeling your 1930's bungalow, selecting the fixtures for your home can be a stressful and tiresome task. With so many new products on the market, it's hard to know what is the truth and what is hype. Are the "latest and greatest" really that great, or just modern day snake oil?
The area of the home that tends to get the most attention these days is the kitchen. Everyone has heard the expression "everything but the kitchen sink." Well, often times, when it comes to design, homeowners and designers give a lot of thought to "everything but the kitchen sink." In reality, the sink should be one of the first items selected. The early selection of the sink allows you to select from a much wider variety of sizes and styles of sinks. So many in fact, that it's hard to know where to start.
Stainless Steel: There are many varieties and qualities of stainless steel sinks. However, stainless steel is one of the best materials available for a kitchen sink. Stainless steel is affordable, won't rust, melt, crack, stain, or chip. However, there are few things to keep in mind when shopping for a stainless steel sink. 18 gauge stainless steel is th lightest gauge of steel that you should consider, but 16 gauge is preferred. A polished finish sink will look beautiful at first, but even small scuffs and scratches will show up. Therefore, a brushed or satin finish steel is your best choice. Stainless steel sinks are available in many styles such as drop-in, undermount, apron front, farmhouse (or farm sink).
Porcelain: Porcelain coated sinks can be a great choice, but special care must be taken to protect the finish. The less expensive brands will certainly have very thin layers of porcelain which can chip and crack. Once the finish has chipped, the cast iron will begin to rust and discolor the sink. If quality of the glazing on the porcelain is also very important. If the glazing wears off, the porcelain is prone to staining from coffee, juices, etc. Porcelain sinks tend to be very heavy and pricey. They are typically seen as drop-in, and farm front sinks.
Manmade Materials: Composite materials are finding their way into the market, and some are better than others. One of the biggest complaints that I have, is their inability to stand up to high heat. Who hasn't taken a hot pan off of the stove and set it in or on their sink. If you were to do that with some of the composite sinks available, you would have a ruined sink on your hands.
No matter what type of home you have or are building, the kitchen sink will be the heart of your kitchen. Don't let the selection of your sink be an afterthought.

Little Drip Big Problem

2008-03-04T17:31:00.000-08:00

With the nuisance that a leaky faucet brings, and the ridiculously high costs of plumbing works, it is imperative you learn how to fix a leaky faucet by yourself. Gone are the days where you have to call up a plumber and stare wide-eyed upon the receipt of a billing. All you have to do is follow these simple and easy to understand steps in fixing a leaky faucet.For as long as you have the right tools and materials, learning how to fix a leaky faucet can be very easy. The basic materials and tools that you'll need will comprise mainly of a new washer (get one that is suited to the type of faucet you have at home), some rags, a wrench, and a screwdriver.
But before you start pulling your faucet apart, turn off the main water supply first. This can be done by turning the shutoff or control valve counter-clockwise (off). If you don't know where your control valve is, you can try looking under the sink and tracing the pipes.
Other than that, you also have to plug up the drain with the use of rags. By doing so, you are preventing small parts like washer and screws to go down the drain.
Once that is accomplished, you can now start repairing the leaky faucet. But first, be informed that these steps should be followed only when you have a conventional faucet. Other unconventional faucets might be more complicated, and you might use specific repair kits for it.
1. Just below the handle, where the faucet stem is attached to the water pipe, is a nut. Use a wrench to twist the nut counterclockwise to remove it. Turn the handle counterclockwise until you are able to remove it completely.
2. Once you have detached the handle, you will see a rubber-like washer that is held down by a screw. This washer is probably very old and falling down to pieces, which could be the reason why your faucet is leaking in the first place. Remove the old washer by unscrewing it, and then install the new washer. Remember that the new washer's size should just be similar to that of the old washer. Tighten the screws on the new washer to secure it in place.
3. Reassemble everything. Replace the faucet handle (turn it clockwise), and tighten back the stem nut to its original location.
4. Do the checking. Turn the water back on and see if the faucet still leaks. If it still is, either you need to screw things more tightly or, you need to buy a new faucet rather than a new washer. And if all else fails, seek professional help and call a plumber.
And there they are - easy to follow and simple steps that will guide you about how to fix a leaky faucet. Now you can do it by yourself! There's no need for you to call a plumber, or even your handy neighbor to help you around a leaky faucet. By doing it yourself, you free yourself from irritating dripping sounds, nasty sink stains brought upon by long-standing drips, and water wastage due to constant dripping. Put these steps close to your heart and you will never be in distress again.

we all have plumbing problems eventually

2008-03-03T20:43:00.000-08:00

Whether it's fixing that leaky faucet or unclogging the commode, plumbing home remodels can be quite a chore. It's amazing how much damage just a small amount of water in the wrong places can do. So, if you're faced with plumbing home remodels, make sure to do your homework before you begin the project. Prevention is always better than trying to solve a problem.
If you're planning plumbing remodels as part of a total remodel, it's a great time to improve and thus prevent future plumbing jobs. Whatever project you're about to attempt can be accomplished easier if you do your homework first by simply doing a bit of evaluation and planning.
One important step to use when doing plumbing home remodels as part of a total remodel is to make sure to install cut-off valves at each area of water use. All sinks, faucets, tubs, water heaters, and commodes should have a cut-off valve at their location. This can save a bundle should leaks or overflows occur.
Another factor that's important is the location of your pipes and fittings in the scheme of your plumbing home remodels. It's important to plan the layout for ease of access as well as water travel for the hot water.
If you have plumbing remodels scheduled to prevent or eliminate problems, start with locating and finding the source of the problem. Easy access is not usually the rule. Often plumbing pipes are hard to access. Don't be surprised if you have to cut portions of a wall or flooring to access your trouble areas. This is especially true if your home has been constructed on a concrete slab.
For a leak, start by identifying the area that has the most moisture accumulation. By locating as nearly as possible the exact source before you go into a crawl space or start going into walls and ceilings for an upstairs leak do your best to isolate exactly where the problem begins.
For a stopped up drain, grease is often the culprit. Sometimes using a hair dryer at the low point of your pipe can melt the problem. After you"ve heated it well, try running hot water for several minutes to assure the grease is gone from your pipes. You"d be surprised at how many times this saves a costly plumbing bill.