Ask The Builder - Home Building, Remodeling and Improvement Information Page

Updated: Wed, 31 May 2006 15:19:59

Plumbing - Fixtures
Low Water Pressure in Faucets

Low water pressure in faucets is a very common problem. The source of a slow or clogged kitchen faucet can almost always be found inside the faucet. It usually takes a small amount of effort to get the water flow back to normal.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Shower Head Leak
Shower head leaks happen if you fail to use pipe thread compound or teflon tape when you attach the shower head to the gooseneck pipe that sticks from the wall.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Water Heater Anode Rod
Adding a second water heater anode rod will often double the life of a common water heater. The additional anode rod takes the place of the plastic dip tube that is found inside the cold water inlet of the heater.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Garbage Disposal Smell

A garbage disposal is a wonderful kitchen appliance until such time as it starts to smell. The odor can be very hard to remove if you try many of the remedies I have seen in books and on the Internet. If you have a smelly garbage disposal, I know a way that really works to get it clean. Once it is clean, it is easy to keep it odor-free for years.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Low Shower Head Water Pressure

Water pressure that is inadequate in shower heads and faucets might not always be a water piping problem. The source of the problem is often sediment that is clogging the tiny holes in flow restrictors that can be found in the tips of the fixtures.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Lazy Toilet
A toilet that flushes slowly may be clogged, have a faulty toilet flapper valve or have lime build up.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Foul Odor From Shower and Sinks
If odor emanates in the shower or your sinks, or drain odor from the disposal, there is a simple fix. Stop sewer smell with oxygen bleach.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Choose the Right Garbage Disposal
A garbage disposal of stainless steel is ideal. Garbage disposals vary in quality and need to be run correctly to make them last.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Toilets Just Keep Getting Better

Buy the right toilet to avoid problems. A well engineered toilet will flush right and not waste water.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Leaky Washing Machine Valves are Quick to Fix

A washing machine may spring a leak at the water shut off valve. Simple remedies work, but replacing with a ball valve is worth the time.

Plumbing - Fixtures
New Water Heaters are Safer

Water heaters fueled by natural gas and other fuels have been safety concerns. Newer hot water heater designs have safety devices built in.

Plumbing - Fixtures
A Toilet that Flushes Up!

A toilet in places where no drain lines exist is still possible. New toilets that flush up solve the problem.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Deluxe Shower Doors and Enclosures
Shower doors and shower enclosures sport many lovely designs today. Glass shower doors have variety and are now easier to clean.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless water heaters may not be as energy saving as you think. A tankless water heater has a large gas appetite. These heaters are sometimes called on demand water heaters. What's more, some people who buy a tankless water heater end up using more hot water and fuel since the heater never runs out of hot water. This tends to erase all of the projected energy savings.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Leak Free Toilets

Toilet problems may stem from a leaky toilet flange. You can repair a toilet flange, but be careful or you may cause more toilet leaks.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Handicapped Showers

A shower that is wheelchair accessible can be built in existing homes. Install a handicapped accessible shower with qualified professionals.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Adding a New Tub or Shower

A shower or tub is best installed with the help of a pro, even if plumbing is in place. Install a bathtub or shower to code.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Paint a Toilet? Sure!

Hate your toilet color? Need to match toilets to new paint? Try painting your toilet for that needed color change.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Leaky Outdoor Faucets

Leaky outdoor faucets are best repaired with ball valves. This outdoor faucet repair also allows more water flow for the garden hose.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Newer Toilet, Better Toilet
Toilet mechanics have changed and the resulting toilet performance as well. Where toilets are concerned, the newer, the better.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Toilet Installation Instruction
A toilet looks intimidating, but is actually quite simple. If you're looking to change your toilets, step-by-step instruction for toilet installation is explained here.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Fixing Toilet Drainage Problems

A toilet that leaks often centers on the toilet flange. If your toilet moves, you can repair the toilet flange and stop toilet leaks.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Installing Automatic Ice Maker

New refrigerators offer icemakers. Connecting an ice maker to your refrigerator is best done with ball valves and standard tee fittings.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Ice Makers - Installation
Connecting an ice maker is not hard. Basic plumbing tools and patience are needed. How to install ice makers is explained here.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Solder Tips for Copper Tubing
Learn to solder copper tubing correctly. These soldering tips will help you do your own quality installation.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Ice Makers - Connection Photos
Installing ice makers may be made simpler by viewing these photos. Compression fittings for ice makers and flare fitting couplings are shown. If you're looking for how to install ice makers, start here.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Sewer Odors in Bathroom

Bathrooms with odors that smell like a sewer may need a simple sewer gas barrier of water to stop the odor.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Leaking Shower Pan - Membrane Failure

A shower leak to the floor below may be due to a damaged shower pan liner, or shower pan membrane.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Simple Toilet Tips - How Toilets Work
A toilet gets a lot of hard use in the average home. Understanding how toilets work can help you know what to do when something malfunctions. Here are some toilet tips.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Toilet Repair Instructions for 10 Common Problems
A toilet gets a lot of hard use and often abuse. Fortunately, toilets are simple mechanisms, but toilet problems are bound to arise in a mechanism that gets used so often. Many toilet repairs can be handled by the homeowner. Instructions for do it yourself toilet repair are explained here for ten common toilet malfunctions. If fixing toilet problems is on your agenda, roll up your sleeves, and start here!

Plumbing - Fixtures
Forceful Toilet Flush - What's All the Flap About?

Toilet parts need maintenance. Toilets that have lost their �power� flush may have a flapper valve leak. Toilet repair can be simple.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Electronic and Magnetic Home Water Treatment
The virtues of home water treatment with electronic or magnetic water softeners have been reviewed and found to be effective in some instances, not in others. The debate and study continue.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Traditional Water Softeners vs. Magnetic Water Softeners
Water softeners for home water treatment can make hard water more tame and save appliances from hard water scale damage. Attributes of traditional and magnetic water softeners are weighed here.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Water Softeners - Magnetic or Water Powered

Water softeners for hard water save you many problems. Home water treatment with magnetic water softeners has been studied.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Take a Tour of Your Toilet
If you understand your toilet and its simple workings, you will be prepared for the sure malfunctions to come. Toilets are heavily used ensuring toilet problems to be dealt with. Much toilet repair can be done by the average homeowner, and fixing toilet problems can be simplified. Read this!

Plumbing - Fixtures
15 Toilet Tune Ups
Toilets need to be regularly maintained. Toilet problems can be way up on the frustration scale, but toilet repair can often be tackled by the average homeowner. Here are 15 how to tips for toilet repairs commonly needed.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Toilet Troubles - Catching The Phantom Flusher

Toilet troubles vex, but are usually easy to fix. Toilets may leak, make noise or flush with lost force. You can do simple toilet repair.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Steam Showers and Baths - Simply Soothing

A steam shower or steam bath will relax and soothe. Steam showers and steam baths require moderate skills to install.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Steam Bath Check Up
Is your steam bath acting up? Or not working at all? A common thread in steam baths is that everything must be right for a steam bath generator to function properly. Give this check up to your home steam bath.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Steam Bath Unit Companies
If a soothing steam bath is on your wish list, check these companies and these questions about steam baths. Find the right steam bath generator for you.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Steam Room Construction Tips
Before you can enjoy your soothing steam bath, you need to understand how to properly construct steam rooms, or there may be problems. Home steam rooms need to be built correctly, or moisture could be a major problem in these steam room enclosures.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Septic Tank Maintenance
A septic system can serve you over 200 years if you size the septic tank and system properly and regularly provide maintenance. Follow these tips for treating septic tanks right.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Septic Tank Garbage Disposal
A garbage disposal will not harm your septic system! In fact, it can be an advantage to helping your septic tank function well. Size your septic tank system correctly and maintain it regularly, and your septic disposal will do its job right.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Garbage Disposal for Septic Tank - Manufacturer
Your septic system can handle a garbage disposal. Here is one long time manufacturer of an excellent garbage disposal for your septic tank.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Safe Septic Tank Additives
Septic systems can be harmed by putting certain additives in the septic tank. Septic tanks need bacteria to function properly. Harmful additives can kill the bacteria and cause major damage to septic systems, leading to costly septic tank problems, dysfunction of septic drain fields, and pollution of ground water.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Disposals Harm Septic Systems - Garbage!

A septic system and garbage disposal DO mix. Garbage disposals actually help break down the size of waste to help bacteria take over.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Installing a New Tarnish Free Brass Kitchen Faucet

Faucets can be installed with simple tools. Special high kitchen faucets, and brass faucets add beauty and practicality.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Sump Pumps - Basement Guardians
Sump pumps can save lots of damage dollars. A sump pump can fail due to faulty sump pump installation, debris, or shifting, size, etc.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Stainless Steel Sinks - Great Choice!
Stainless steel sinks vary in design and thickness. Stainless steel kitchen sinks can be kept shiny by avoiding harsh chemicals.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Dishwashers and Electronics
Dishwashers can be quiet. A dishwasher can now "spy" on us to save energy and get dishes cleaner. Installing a dishwasher can be a DIY project.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Water Saving Toilets - Pressure Assisted Flush Devices
Water saving toilets came about in 1994. Toilets have steadily improved since then. The newer the better.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Septic Tanks - How They Work
Your septic tank will work for years with proper septic tank care. Septic tanks need proper sizing and to be kept free of harsh chemicals.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Water Softeners - The Basics
Water softeners protect plumbing from hard water. Soft water makes cleaning easier and deters scale buildup in pipes and appliances.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Acrylic and Fiberglass Tubs And Showers
Fiberglass and acrylic bathtubs and showers compete well against cast iron fixtures. Read about the care and repair of these units.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Anti-Scald Tub and Shower Faucets
Faucets now come with anti-scald features. Temperature and pressure differences can be adjusted on them.

Plumbing - Fixtures
Hot Water Heater Failure
Hot water heaters can have short lives. Corrosion from moisture and oxygen damages the tank and fittings of the heater. Plumbers can add a backflow device to help.

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