Home Services Plumbing
How To Flare Copper Tubing (Step-by-Step Guide)
Making connections can be easy when it comes to social media, but it is getting more and more complicated in the real world of building. There are so many connections needed when you are building or repairing something around the house and some of them have to do with copper tubing, which can be a pain to work with sometimes.
Does Homeowner Insurance Cover Burst Pipes?
Most homeowner insurance providers cover the cost of a burst pipe. However, it’s important to look up whether or not your provider includes that. If not, it’s worth switching to a provider that covers burst pipes, especially if you live in a cold area.
Green Sewer Pipe Vs. White: What Are The Major Differences?
Modern plumbing is as advanced as it has ever been, and that makes it hard to wrap your head around. The color of a particular pipe may simply seem cosmetic, but it signifies its purpose and certain properties. So, what is the difference between green and white sewer pipes?
How Many Watts Does A Well Pump Use? (Find Out Now!)
If you get your water from a well, you probably already know that when your power goes out, your water does not work either. As if it isn’t bad enough to have no electricity, now you have no water either. You should consider getting a generator for the well pump then.
How To Dissolve Hair In The Shower Drain
Hair will always land in your shower drain unless you use a hair catcher. It’s an annoying part of being a homeowner or renter, especially when clogs form. That’s why you’re not alone if you’ve ever wondered how to dissolve hair in the shower drain.
2 Shower P-Trap Alternatives (That Can Work)
P-traps are an integral part of plumbing, particularly when it comes to showers. They can prevent sewer odors and wastewater from seeping out and into your home. They aren’t always an option, so what are the best shower P-trap alternatives?
Can Sewer Lines Freeze? (Find Out Now!)
Sewer lines are responsible for taking the used wastewater away from our homes and directing it to the local municipal treatment plant. Sewer lines are just like any other pipe and usually have liquid coursing through them. However, cold temperatures and harsh winters can make it difficult for liquid to move through the pipe without freezing.
Cost To Install A Shower Valve (Labor & Materials)
Your shower is one of the most important parts of your home. You wouldn’t be able to keep yourself clean without one. That’s why it’s important to prioritize the maintenance of your shower.
Can A Sump Pump Drain Into The Sewer? (Find Out Now!)
A sump pump is a wonderful way to help protect your home investment and keep your property safe and dry. In the event of heavy rains and potential flooding, a sump pump helps to pull water out of your home and direct it safely away from your home. Finding an area to channel the excess water can be a challenge for a new sump pump installation.
Water Heater Thermal Switch Keeps Tripping? (Possible Causes & Fixes)
Water heaters are essential in modern homes, and luckily, they are usually easy to rely on. However, they are made of several parts that work together, and just one malfunction can throw the whole system off. So, what should you do when your water heater thermal switch keeps tripping?
Is Cast Iron Plumbing Worth It?
Cast iron plumbing is known for its durability, but it’s also quite expensive. This makes some people think twice about whether it’s worthwhile, especially when building a new house. So, is cast iron plumbing worth it?
How To Tell If A Hot Water Heater Is Full (Quickly & Easily!)
Water heaters can be found in virtually all homes and businesses these days, and this is mainly because humans need access to hot water many times throughout a single day. Knowing the ins and outs of how water heaters work is very beneficial, as you’ll never be without hot water and your system will last a long time.
What Is The Best Way To Seal A Leak On A Threaded Pipe?
No one wants to deal with leaky pipes; it wastes water, makes a mess, and just looks bad. But, when you have connections that use fittings and threaded pipes, you can inevitably end up with leaks. Primarily, leaks occur because no one used the proper sealant (or no sealant) during installation or the sealant’s worn out.
How To Install Slip Joint Washers In Plumbing (Quickly & Easily!)
Plumbing rough-ins, repairs, and installations can be intimidating even to experienced builder-owners. There is a lot that goes wrong if you don’t ensure a proper seal to prevent flooding with components like slip joint washers. With that said, how do you install slip joint washers to keep your PVC pipes from leaking water?
Mobile Home Water Heater Vs. Regular Heater: What Are The Differences?
Imagine a situation where you just installed a water heater, but you found a mobile home that is much more in your price range. You don’t want to lose the value you put into this water heater, but you also can’t use it in your mobile home. When it comes to a mobile home water heater vs. regular heater, the two have significant differences.
How Can A Pressure Tank Break After A Freeze?
Depending on the location of a home or vacation home, there may not be municipal water lines that run into the property. When this happens, there is usually a well system that is built to provide water to the home.
Did You Buy A Money Pit?
When you hear “money pit,” do you instantly think of the comedy classic starring Tom Hanks and Shelley Long? (If not, it’s worth a peek for a lot of laughs -- or maybe a cautionary tale if you’re house hunting.)
Hot Water Heater Not Getting Hot Enough? (Possible Causes & Fixes)
Few things are more inconvenient than a water heater that can’t heat water properly. When your water heater is acting in this way, you won’t have access to hot water for showers, nor will there be hot water to clean dishes with. And if you live in a home where demand for hot water is high, a water heater’s inability to produce hot water can be especially inconvenient.
Is A Water Softener Worth It?
Hard water is common throughout 85% of the United States, and it’s often just a minor inconvenience. However, it can be quite troubling if your home sits near lots of natural calcium, limestone, magnesium, and iron. So, is installing a water softener worth it?
Why Does My Shower Water Smell?
Nobody wants to bathe in water that smells like rotten eggs, but it’s more common than you may think. That’s because the water supply is vulnerable to a few chemicals and bacteria that can create that stench. For example, your water supply may be corrupted with hydrogen sulfide, which is exacerbated by heat.
Why Is My Tap Water Rusty?
Plumbing fixtures are prone to rust, as they’re typically made of metal and contain water. This creates the perfect storm for rust to form after years of heavy use. That’s especially true if the pipes in your home have been there since long before you moved in.
Should I Replace My Garbage Disposal?
Because most people don’t necessarily peer into their sinks at their garbage disposal, it’s easy to forget about it. That said, you’ll likely think about your garbage disposal when you realize it doesn’t work nearly as well as it once did. You may then wonder, should I replace my garbage disposal?
Sanitary Tee Vs Wye Pipes: What Are The Major Differences?
Putting together your own plumbing setup is not something an amateur should do. But, some folks still give it a shot and get fairly decent success. Part of their ability to succeed is that they know which fittings to use to distribute their water flow adequately. In order to do this, you will need to know what a sanitary tee is, what a wye is, and how to use each one.
Can Too Much Rain Cause Septic Problems?
If you live in an area that experiences frequent rain, it is natural to be concerned about your septic system. During heavy rain, drainage systems often get overwhelmed and streets flood. But can the same be said for your septic system?
Hot Water Tank Not Filling Up? (Possible Causes & Fixes)
Water heaters are essential in modern homes, but they are as prone to problems as any other modern commodity. Nothing is worse than when your hot water tank won’t fill up when you need it most. So, why is your hot water tank not filling up?
Why Does It Sound Like Water Is Constantly Running?
Your plumbing pipes travel through your home, including behind your walls, above your ceiling, and under your floors. You’re literally surrounded by water and drain pipes at all times, no matter where you are in your house. As a result, you might notice the sound of water running nonstop but can’t pinpoint where it’s coming from.
Is Your Toilet Coupling Nut Leaking? (Fix It Now!)
If your toilet is leaking, it can quickly create a disaster in a bathroom. Not only can a leaky toilet create a problematic situation in your bathroom, leading to mold and mildew, but it can be costly to waste water, which can cause sky-high utility bills. Luckily, most toilet leaks are easy to identify and simple to repair, requiring just a few standard tools that most DIY homeowners have.
Can You Put A 90 In A Sewer Line? (Find Out Now!)
Working on sewage lines can be tricky. That’s why most homeowners hire professional plumbers. But can you put a 90 in a sewer line, or should you figure out something else? Here’s everything you need to know.
How Far Apart Are Septic Tank Lids? (Find Out Now!)
Homeowners need to be knowledgeable and careful if they want to keep their septic tanks in good condition. The things you know could help save your household’s septic tank from unnecessary damage. Among the things worth knowing is the distance separating your septic tank’s lids.
Is 30/50 Or 40/60 Pressure Switch Better for a Well Water System?
Many people who have a domestic water well system are confused about the difference in pressure switches. Pressure switches are at the heart of your water well system. Its purpose is to tell the water pump that delivers water to your home when to turn on and cut off. The question often comes up about which one is the right choice for your home, a 30/50 or 40/60 pressure switch?
Can You Put A Power Vent On Any Water Heater? (Find Out Now!)
When people think about water heater upgrades, they tend to want all the bells and whistles. A well-running water heater means lower bills, better safety standards as well as piping hot water. What could be better than a well-ventilated water heater, right? If you are a home improvement fan, you probably are wondering what you can do. Is it possible to put a power vent on any water heater you could have?
Is Inch PEX Pipe Big Enough For A Shower? (Find Out Now!)
Whether renovating a current shower or building a new one entirely, it is important to ensure that the water wiping is up to proper standards. That means using the right materials for piping water into your bathroom.
Should I Turn Off My Tankless Water Heater If The Water Is Off?
If you take a look at most of our plumbing guides, you’ll notice that one of the first instructions we add involves shutting off the water. It’s simple, right? Well, sometimes you might want to think twice. You might want to know if your water heater needs to be shut off too. This is doubly true if you own a tankless system. After all, it’s important to do it all the right way, right?
Why Your Heater Pressure Relief Valve Is Leaking
Your water heater’s pressure relief valve is there to help keep you safe and reduce the risk of having your heater burst due to excess pressure. When you replaced your valve, you expected it to help keep your boiler safe. Instead, it just started to leak, right after you switched it out. Feeling a little lost, and wondering what gives? You aren’t alone there.
How To Remove A PEX Crimp Ring (Do This!)
Plumbing connections inside the home can be secured in a variety of ways. If the connections inside your home are relatively new, you may find that various kinds of PEX fittings have been used. That’s due to PEX emerging as a popular alternative in recent years.
Can You Transport A Water Heater On Its Side? (Find Out Now!)
A water heater helps to heat the water in your house, so you can shower with warm water or use hot water to clean your dishes. Although a water heater is a major appliance, these units do not have a long lifespan, with many only lasting about ten years. Replacing a water heater is a simple job, but moving your new water heater is the hardest part of the entire water heater installation process.
Water Heater Keeps Running? (Possible Causes & Fixes)
Water heaters have become essential at-home appliances. Modern water heaters are now equipped with a range of useful, high-tech functions, which means delivering hot water consistently has never been easier.
How Much Does Sewer Cleanout Installation Cost?
A sewer cleanout isn’t something that everyone is familiar with. In fact, many homeowners are unfamiliar with what a sewer cleanout is, what it does, where it’s located on your property, and how much it costs to install one. Oftentimes, a sewer cleanout only becomes a relevant topic when something goes wrong.
No Water Pressure After Turning Water Back On? (We Have A Fix)
You had a small plumbing repair to make, such as a broken supply valve under a sink. You followed all the guides and turned off the main water supply valve. With the repair complete, you opened the main valve. Now there is no water pressure at the sink where the site of the repair.
How To Install A Water Softener In A Pre-Plumbed House (Do This!)
Regardless of how it gets into our home, we source the water that we use to drink and bathe through groundwater. The thing is that the water picks up soluble bits of the ground as it passes through and into our pipes.
2-Wire Vs. 3-Wire Submersible Pump: What Are The Major Differences?
The time has come to replace the submersible pump in your residential water well. There are a variety of options to consider. Of the options, there is one that confuses homeowners more than any other? Which is the better option? A 2-wire or 3-wire submersible pump.
No Hub Couplings Vs. Flexible Couplings: What's The Difference?
No hub couplings and flexible couplings may look a lot alike. However, the surface similarities mask the real differences between these two types of plumbing couplings. Flexible couplings and no hub couplings are different, with different applications and meeting different standards.
What Causes A Water Heater Relief Valve To Open?
Water heaters are not as simple as many people believe. The controls and safety mechanisms built into modern water heaters prevent catastrophic accidents common in homes and businesses with older style water heaters. Many people wonder what causes a water heater relief valve to open.
Rheem Vs. AO Smith (Which One Is The Better Water Heater?)
In finding the best water heater company, both Rheem and AO Smith are easy contenders for the top. Both of them have a couple of hundred years of experience under their belts. They have also produced an impressive line of products. But when comparing the two, which of these water heater companies is the best?
What Is Wet Vent Plumbing? (Find Out Now!)
When people start talking about plumbing, it’s easy to feel like you’re hearing a bunch of gibberish. Flange? Macerating toilet? Yeah, it’s a lot to take in at first, especially when you’re just dipping your toes into the water. (Sorry, had to add a pun!) Wet vent plumbing is one of the lesser-known terms that’s just starting to catch on in parts of the country, but what exactly is it?
Can Heavy Rain Cause A Sewer Backup? (Find Out Now!)
Heavy rain and storms can cause several problems for your home, and many homeowners dread a flood in their basement. Not only can heavy rains damage your plumbing and foundation, but heavy rains can also cause a sewer backup to occur, creating a whole slew of additional problems.
Are Eljen Septic Systems Any Good? (Here Are the Details)
Overall, no homeowner budgets for repairing or replacing a septic system that fails. Installing a new septic system can range anywhere from $4,000 to upwards of $20,000 when you factor in the costs of install. When the system is not properly maintained, a number of problems can arise and rebuilding a failed septic is an expensive burden to bear.
Are Water Heater Blankets Worth It? (Find Out Now!)
Water heaters are not exactly the first thing that people think of when they want to upgrade their home. I mean, they are a major part of your water system but that doesn’t mean that people go out of their way to outfit them with new doodads. That’s why most people don’t really discuss water heater blankets, but maybe, they should. They could be well worth the money people pay for them.
Where Does Shower Water Go?
When people take a shower and then use sinks and toilet facilities at home, the water appears to vanish, never to be seen again. If you’re wondering where that used shower water goes and whether it will be discarded or recirculated, you’ll be relieved to know that the majority of the water is reused and recycled. The forms of treatment are straightforward but fascinating.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of A Hot Water Recirculating Pump?
If you ask anyone who’s hip to the jive, going green is important. Everything from water conservation to creating new ways to be energy efficient is on the table. That’s why more people are starting to look at unusual ways to save money on the basics. That’s why people are starting to install hot water recirculating pumps. But, are they really worth it?
Does Homeowner Insurance Cover Mold?
Homeowners insurance typically helps costs associated with mold due to sudden events that are covered. For example, your insurance provider will likely cover the mold remediation in a basement where a pipe froze and burst. Most homeowner insurance providers cover sudden, accidental, unavoidable events.
Hot Water Heater Pressure Relief Valve Keeps Opening? (Do This!)
Your hot water heater is perhaps one of the most important things inside your home. Keeping warm water flowing, is essential, for living. If your hot water heater’s pressure relief valve keeps opening, we have some tips that will help you fix it.
Can You Snake An AC Drain Line? (Find Out Now!)
When your A/C drain line becomes clogged, a plumber’s snake may be the most cost-effective option. With the right type of snake, snaking a drain line is a straightforward task.
Can Tree Roots Penetrate A PVC Pipe? (Find Out Now!)
PVC pipes are an excellent choice whether you’re planning any kind of home DIY project or you’re a professional contractor looking to do a job well done within a budget. PVC is remarkably sturdy, yet it’s far cheaper than many alternatives, such as galvanized steel or copper.
Hot Water Heater Not Filling Up? (Possible Causes & Fixes)
Hot water is something that all homes and most businesses need access to these days, and this is the main reason why hot water heaters are indispensable fixtures to both home and business owners. Just think about how many appliances depend on hot water in a home: the dishwasher, the washing machine, the shower, the kitchen and the bathroom sinks.
Cast Iron Vs. PVC Sewer Pipe: What Are The Major Differences?
Plumbing has completely changed the way we live in our homes and has brought about an element of sanitation and convenience all in one. Plumbing systems can vary between commercial and residential applications, but usually, cast iron or PVC pipe are the materials of choice for contractors worldwide. While each pipe has its advantages, one pipe is superior to the other.
Water Pipes Making Humming Noise? (Possible Causes & Fixes)
If your water pipes are making a humming noise, this could be due to several reasons. In some cases, homeowners describe this strange humming noise sounding like a foghorn, as it usually reverberates.
Washing Machine Water Backing Up Into Bathtub? (Here's What You Can Do)
Watching dirty washing machine water back up into your bathtub can be a confounding experience for some. It can be difficult to pinpoint the source of the problem if you are not experienced with drainage systems. As a result, it is common for people to think that the problem is more serious than it really is.
What Is A Sewer Tap? (Find Out Now!)
Connecting to the main sewage line from your house is a convenient and modern way to handle wastewater. Not only is it convenient, but it requires very little maintenance to keep a secure connection from your house to the city’s wastewater treatment plant. To secure a strong connection, a common plumbing component called a sewer tap is used.
What Is The PVC Pipe In My Yard? (Find Out Now!)
If you own a house and have spent any amount of time in your yard, you’ve probably noticed some strange pipes sticking out of the ground. You’ve probably also asked yourself what in world is it for? It’s likely an obstacle and an eyesore that you’d rather do without and want to know if you can get rid of it.