Quick Column Summary: How to remove adhesive/thinset from brick fireplace Try adhesive removers Thinset must be chiseled off Danielle Torkensen is a new homeowner in Bloomington, California. She inherited a mess where the previous homeowner, well let her tell you: "I am a recent new homeowner & the previous owners messed up our brick fireplace. […]
Quick Column Summary: Sewage smell in yard Plumbing was cleaned out City sewers are clear Find problem with peppermint oil test Deb Schwartz, who runs a restaurant in Eagle Rock, CA, has a perplexing problem with a sewage odor in here Craftsman house that's now a restaurant. Let her tell you all about it: "We […]
Quick Column Summary: How to prevent pot filler pipe from freezing Insulate the wall cavity Caulk all the gaps Keep pipe on warm side of insulation Tom Chan wants to install a new pot filler faucet in an outside wall. But he's got a problem. "I want to install a pot filler faucet. How do […]
Sewer Gas Smell When Sink Used Quick Column Summary: Sewer smell from vents after master sink used Probably biofilm Clean with a bottle brush Use Stain Solver, oxygen bleach J. A. Coffey, Jr. has a stinky problem when he runs water in his master bath sinks. His problem was featured in the July 16, 2014 […]
Quick Column Summary: Rotten egg smell in plumbing Is it in all the faucets Is it the municipal water supply An anonymous person named Free who lives in Lancaster, CA moved into a new mobile home park. He or she's got a problem with water odor: "My toilet smells like rotten eggs. The shower water […]
Here are two pipe wrenches representing Ridgid's 75 years. One's a 10-inch and the other is a 14-inch wrench. They're in mint condition and have NEVER been out of the foam casing. They've never kissed a pipe. The plumber in your life will love these. Or maybe you're simply a tool collector. I have no […]
Septic Tanks and Oxygen Facts Myths about septic systems Facts about septic systems Oxygen is needed in all septic systems There's a big misunderstanding about how septic tanks work and whether it's a good or bad idea to add oxygen bleach to a septic tank. Let's clear the tank, er air, now about all this […]
Quick Column Summary: Unclog sink drain without chemicals Start with pliers How to remove stopper and clean it DEAR TIM: For a month, it’s been taking longer and longer for the water to drain from my bathroom sink. This morning the murky water is just standing there not budging and defying my commands to exit […]
DEAR TIM: My wife wants me to build a wood table our family could gather around for feasts. She desires a contemporary design using ceramic tile with the tile inset into the center of the table. Have you done this before and what should I be aware of? Can I grout the ceramic tile since […]
Quick Column Summary: Toilets badly stained Clean without damaging toilet Reasons for staining Use an oxygen bleach DEAR TIM: I've moved into an existing, but new to me, home. When we inspected the house a month ago, the toilets looked good. But now, they're stained. They look horrible. This house is on a septic system […]
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