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

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

Plumbing - Piping
How To Install a Toilet
How to install a toilet is not as big a question as you might think it is. It requires moderate skills and you must install the piping to code. Failure to do this could lead to serious health problems.

Plumbing - Piping
Sewer Gas Smell

Sewer gas and its smell is obnoxious. The heath risks of sewer gas are significant if you breathe it for an extended amount of time. The best plan is to locate the break in the pipe or pipes and stop the sewer gas in the house.

Plumbing - Piping
Shower Drain Odor

A shower drain odor can be very unpleasant. The source of the drain odor is often above the water level of the trap. Look at the sides of the drain pipe for biofilm.

Plumbing - Piping
Clog Free Vent Pipes
Plumbing vent pipes can clog causing problems such as sewer gas in your home. Vents need to be checked for clogs. Your vents should be checked by pouring water into them to see if they are clear.

Plumbing - Piping
Drain Cleaner Debate
Drain cleaners are not all the same. Some liquid drain cleaning products should only be used by professionals as they are extremely dangerous. The off-the-shelf drain cleaners found in grocery stores rarely harm pipes but they can harm you if you are not careful.

Plumbing - Piping
Sewer Gas and Sump Pump
Sewer gas is noxious. The smell is often unmistakable and most people find it highly offensive. There are significant dangers associated with sewer gas as it contains explosive methane gas and sewer gas can deplete oxygen in a room or a house. In other words, don't ignore sewer gas!

Plumbing - Piping
Removing Clogs From a Bathroom Sink

Remove the sink stopper from your sink to get at tough clogs. If you remove the P trap under the sink and water is still sitting in the bowl, what do you do?

Plumbing - Piping
Install a New Plumbing Drain Line

Adding new plumbing drains through a line is not as easy as you might think. Your PVC piping should be sized right to avoid clogs. You will also need three fittings to create a new drainage line. Follow these tips for leak-free piping.

Plumbing - Piping
Soldering Water Valves
Should you solder water valves when they are open or closed? Correct soldering depends on the type of valve.

Plumbing - Piping
Hot Water Recirculating Loop
Hot water recirculation creates instant hot water throughout your home. Installing a hot water return loop is fairly simple. Do you have one in your home? Are your builder and plumber the best for the job?

Plumbing - Piping
Eliminate Future Plumbing Problems
A new home may experience plumbing problems. A builder and plumber can do things now to eliminate those. Drain lines made of PVC piping, replacement faucet cartridges, ball valves and exterior hose bibs are things to keep in mind.

Plumbing - Piping
Old Water Pipes Must Go

Many older homes still have old galvanized iron water supply lines. Eventually they clog with deposits and water pressure and volume drop. Installing new copper tubing or CPVC tubing is easy.

Plumbing - Piping
Select Proper Material for Quiet Plumbing
Drain lines in your home don't have to be plastic or noisy. Plumbers can now use new easy to work with cast iron piping.

Plumbing - Piping
Caring for Water and Drain Lines

Grease can clog any drain line connected to a septic system or city sewer line. Mix the grease with lots of soap and hot water for a minute. This will emulsify the grease and prevent clogs. To prevent other clogs, drain and water lines need periodic maintenance for good drainage.

Plumbing - Piping
Properly Size Your Water Lines
Pipe sizes and pipe thicknesses have a hand in the water flow rate and noisiness of your home. Your plumber or builder can do things while building to prevent plumbing problems in the future. The main water pipe into the house should be at least 3/4 to an inch big.

Plumbing - Piping
Household Drain Clogs - Fixes and Prevention

A plunger really works well to unclog drains. Before calling a plumber, know how to use simple fixes like a plunger or chlorine bleach.

Plumbing - Piping
Hot Water Recirculating System - Installation Tips
A hot water recirculating system can give you instant hot water, but you must mind some important safety tips! Follow this guide for proper installation of your recirculating hot water system.

Plumbing - Piping
Hot Water Recirculating System
A hot water recirculating system will give you instant hot water - no waiting. But installing them is easier in some homes than in others. Hot water recirculating systems give you instant gratification - steaming hot water at the fixture.

Plumbing - Piping
Retro- Fit Recirculating Pump Comparison
Wondering if one home recirculating pump offers advantages over another? Before you set up a hot water recirculating system, this information may help you decide.

Plumbing - Piping
Hot Water Recirculating Pumps

Gravity return loops can be installed to supply hot water to all your fixtures. Hot water recirculation pumps will please your whole family.

Plumbing - Piping
Plumbing Photos - Vent and Drainage Systems
These plumbing photos of vent and drainage systems help you understand the workings of this important sanitation network.

Plumbing - Piping
Plumbing System Vent - Simple But Vital
Understanding your plumbing system vent and drainage systems can help you tackle problems that arise. Read and be forearmed.

Plumbing - Piping
PVC Pipe vs. Cast Iron Pipe
PVC pipe and cast iron pipe both have two sides of virtue. Cast iron pipes have been given a false bad image.

Plumbing - Piping
Cast Iron Pipe Tips and Suggestions
Cast iron pipe is very easy to install and it lasts. Consider these tips and suggestions to help you install cast iron pipes with ease.

Plumbing - Piping
How to Solder a Water Supply Line Installation
Learn to solder with proper material and method to install a water supply line. Replacing water supply lines can be done by the DIY'r with proper knowledge and focused care.

Plumbing - Piping
Cast Iron Drain Lines are Easy and Quiet

Cast iron drain pipes are superb. They are quiet. Plumbing does not have to be noisy like plastic pipe systems.

Plumbing - Piping
Solving Low Water Pressure Problems

Low water pressure problems can be checked easily. Water shut off valves need to be checked indoors and out. Your local water works people can do a bypass check.

Plumbing - Piping
Water Pressure Loss
Water pressure loss is not only frustrating, but can be dangerous. Low water pressure can be remedied. Fixing low water pressure means either removing scale, increasing the size of water lines, or finding a leak. Follow these tips for remedying your residential water pressure.

Plumbing - Piping
Soldering Copper Water Lines
Copper water lines are "glued" together with solder. Soldering copper pipe for water supply lines is clarified here with these tips and instructions.

Plumbing - Piping
Calculating Water Pressure Loss
Need to determine water pressure loss in your home? Low water pressure is fixable. Follow this formula to find your home water pressure.

Plumbing - Piping
Custom Hose Bib Photos
These photos and tips show and tell the only parts you need to install a custom hose bib.

Plumbing - Piping
Avoid Water Line Problems - InstallationTips
Avoid water line problems when fixing or replacing water supply lines. Plan the job ahead, determine and obtain parts needed in advance and be sure to stock up on ball valves for the job!

Plumbing - Piping
Chlorine Bleach vs. Oxygen Bleach - Drain Cleaning
Chlorine bleach kills bacteria quickly, but is strong and can cause septic tank havoc. Other chlorine bleach hazards can be sidestepped by using oxygen bleach, an effective and friendly alternative.

Plumbing - Piping
Cleaning P Traps,Tailpieces and Drain Lines
Cleaning drain line p traps and tailpieces is not a favored task, but necessary at times. Read these tips to make the job go more smoothly.

Plumbing - Piping
Sewer Lines and Tree Roots

Sewer line roots cause clogs. The tree roots in a sewer line are one of the top ten plumbing problems. After finding your sewer line, install vertical pipes that let you poison the soil. You will never again have roots in the sewer line!

Plumbing - Piping
Avoiding Sewer Back Ups From Tree Roots
Plumbing problems from a plugged sewer line can be nasty. Sewer back ups from tree roots in sewer pipes can be avoided. Sink some pipes near the offending tree roots and add chemicals to make the soil distasteful to the trees.

Plumbing - Piping
Stop Tree Root Growth in Sewer Lines - PVC Casing Installation
Plumbing problems with sewer back up caused by tree roots in sewer pipes can be eliminated. Install PVC casings where the roots enter the sewer pipe and add copper sulfate.

Plumbing - Piping
Earth Auger Sources
Finding an earth auger to drill holes for PVC casing installation may not be easy unless you live out in the country. Here are some places to check for a hand or gas powered earth auger.

Plumbing - Piping
CSST is New and Revolutionary
CSST is fairly new. Corrugated stainless steel tubing is easier to bend, cut, and work with than other gas tubing. CSST tubing is positioned to be widely used in a matter of years.

Plumbing - Piping
Manufacturers of CSST
CSST is unique and nifty, and still fairly new. Corrugated stainless steel tubing is versatile and will likely outpace the use of black iron pipe. Watch for CSST gas tubing to become less expensive and used more frequently.

Plumbing - Piping
Cost Comparison - CSST, Copper, Black Iron
Need to determine the most cost effective gas line installation? CSST might win over copper or black iron. Here is a comparison chart to help you decide.

Plumbing - Piping
Flexible Gas Lines- Are You Serious?

Stainless steel tubing installation is the way to go for gas lines. It takes less time to install & minimizes gas leaks. Professional installation should be done.

Plumbing - Piping
Drain Cleaners - Thick is Good

Drains need to be cleaned occasionally. Clogs are build up from soap film, body oil and other chemicals. Drain pipes can be cleaned with thick drain cleaners.

Plumbing - Piping
Liquid Drain Cleaners
Liquid drain cleaners come in varied formulas, using either alkaline bases or acids to dissolve clogs. Drain cleaners can be harmful to you and your drains and caution is necessary. Never mix chemicals or products -serious burns and eruptions can result!

Plumbing - Piping
Drain Cleaners - What Works / What Doesn't
Drain cleaners are not all the same. Thicker drain cleaners stick to the offending biofilm and do a better job. Different products use different active ingredients and determine the effectiveness of drain cleaners. Here's a review of what works and what doesn't.

Plumbing - Piping
Minimize Clogged Drains - Plumbing Installation Tips
Clogged drains can be minimized by using special plumbing techniques and and properly sized parts. Read and use these tips to avoid an unsavory chore.

Plumbing - Piping
Water Hammer
High water pressure can cause noisy booms, or water hammer, in your water system when taps are turned off. Unless this water pressure is relieved, piping can sometimes burst or leaks develop. Water hammer arresters include installing a pressure reducing valve and/or expansion tank, or, increasing the size of piping. Stop the noise ...and potential problems.

Plumbing - Piping
Installing a Pressure Reducing Valve
If installing a pressure reducing valve to reduce water hammer, there are several things to keep in mind. Pressure reducing valves can also go bad, and you need to watch that your inside house pressure is not reduced by the pressure reducing valves you add.

Plumbing - Piping
Water Heaters - Expansion Tanks
Water heaters can be fitted with expansion tanks to capture expanded water and prevent water heater malfunction. Sizing expansion tanks is easy for hot water heaters, and adding a hot water expansion tank can be done within 30 minutes.

Plumbing - Piping
Stop Water Hammer

Water pressure causes noise problems. Water hammer is due to water pressure against faucets, valves or sidewalls of pipes. Solve it with larger piping.

Plumbing - Piping
Gravity Hot Water Recirculating Loops
Hot water needed now? Hot water recirculating systems work best with a gravity loop.

Plumbing - Piping
How to Solder Copper Pipe - Information Sources
There is a wealth of information on solder and how to solder copper pipe. Books and associations can supply loads of help with soldering copper tubing or piping. Here are some ideas.

Plumbing - Piping
Plumbing 101 - How to Solder Copper Pipes
Soldering copper pipes should not be intimidating. Leak free is a possiblility with a little knowledge and practice.

Plumbing - Piping
Copper Plumbing - Aggressive Water Damage
Copper plumbing can be damaged by aggressive, or corrosive water. Drinking water can contain varied dissolved chemicals and minerals that cause leaks in your plumbing. Ask questions about your water source and aggressive water treatment, and consider copper plumbing alternatives if the water proves corrosive.

Plumbing - Piping
Copper Water Pipe Corrosion - Aggressive Water

Copper pipes can corrode due to aggressive water, chemicals and poor workmanship by your plumber. The plumber may leave excess flux on pipes and pipe fittings.

Plumbing - Piping
Copper Plumbing Alternative - CPVC Manufacturers
Quality cpvc contains a superior resin. Cpvc pipe is produced by plastic piping manufacturers listed here. Check their websites for cpvc piping and fittings information and the nearest distributor.

Plumbing - Piping
Water Pressure Problems
Water pressure drop is based on what is happening in your home. Two plumbing fixtures can cause reduced water flow. Plumbers can use larger pipe as main feeder pipe.

Plumbing - Piping
Virtues of Cast Iron Pipe
Cast iron pipe is superior to pvc in noise level, is cost effective because it lasts, and is environmentally friendly. Sources of more information and manufacturers of cast iron pipes are listed here.

Plumbing - Piping
Cast Iron Plumbing Pipe - It's Quiet!
Plumbing pipes do not have to be the noisy PVC type. Cast iron plumbing fixtures are much quieter.

Plumbing - Piping
Plumbing System Vent
A plumbing system vent is integral to a successful home sanitation system. Plumbing vents supply air for the escape of noxious fumes and equalize pressure within plumbing systems. Plumbing system vents are vital features that keep your plumbing drainage systems working right.

Plumbing - Piping
Plumbing Vent Pipes - Can They Be Relocated?
Relocate ugly vent pipes on your home. Plumbing vent pipes are a necessity but they don't need to be on the front of the house.

Plumbing - Piping
Plumbing Books & Publications
Looking to understand plumbing in more detail? There are great plumbing books and publications that offer much detail. Plumbing system vent and drainage systems are covered with particulars along with a variety of topics. Check out these books on plumbing to get a great start.

Plumbing - Piping
Noisy PVC Plumbing Drain Pipes - Cast Iron Solution
PVC piping in your home can be noisy. Cast iron may be the type of piping you need. Plumbing replacement work is not for the DIY'r.

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