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.
Q&A /
Judy H. lives in OH. She had a great question. "Hi, Tim. Hope you can advise me. We have an original porcelain bathtub (57 years old). In 1990, we had it glazed by BathCrest, who are no longer in business. The glaze has now started to peel around the drain. I'd like to keep the […]
I'm a master plumber as well as a builder. Crazy but true. I've been one for over 35 years. Gary, who lives in West Memphis, Arkansas, is remodeling his bathroom and has a question about walk-in shower drains. "I removed a bath tube and going to install a walk in shower. Do I need to […]
DEAR TIM: I’m remodeling my bathroom and want the WOW factor when I see it each day. Regular square tile seem so boring. What would you suggest to create a look that will put someone’s head on a swivel when they see it? What are the best practices, in your opinion, when it comes to […]
Ruth Ann, who lives in Lincoln, MA, wrote to me about grab bars. Here's what she had to say: "We are installing safety bars in our tiled bath, tile over rock lath plaster (1927). The installer plans to use wall anchors, not toggles or into studs. He insists this will hold, been doing it for […]
DEAR TIM: I’ve decided to do a major bathroom remodel job. One of the things that needs to be demolished is a full ceramic tile shower with a seat and a concrete mud floor. I’m feeling pretty good about removing the tile from the walls and ceiling, but I don’t know the best way to […]
DEAR TIM: We are about to remodel our master bath and have a round stained glass window over the current tub. We want to remove the tub and have a large shower put in it's place. I would love to keep the stained glass but, as it is not energy efficient, would like to have […]
Clare Horvath and her husband live in Newtown, CT. She wants to tile over her acrylic shower base. Read what she sent me: "We have a shower stall that the previous owner added an acrylic floor to. It does not flex and appears to be very solid. Can I tile it? As you can see the […]
Kelsey Rogers has a musty smell when anyone takes a shower in her Chattanooga, Tennessee house. Here's the situation: "For about the last two weeks in our home we have had a mysterious mildew/musty smell. Usually the time we smell it is during or right after someone has taken a shower or bath. We can smell […]
Paula Lange has a slippery shower floor in Carmel, IN. The shower base is cultured marble. Let her tell you the rest. "I have a cultured marble shower floor with slightly raised pattern ( supposed to make it not slippery). It is very slippery. No bathmat will stick because of the pattern. I have been looking […]
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