If your remodeling job requires that a water pipe be shut off or relocated, don't just cap it off. Solder a ball valve into the line. This will allow you shut the water off and reconnect the sink easily without having to shut off all the water. You will have to remove a short section of the copper pipe to make room for the valve. This is normally about 1-1/4".

Cut the pipe, clean both ends and the inside of the fitting, flux it and solder it in place. Then you will be ready to keep moving forward on the kitchen remodeling project.

Once the pipe is cool to touch, take a rag or a paper towel and wipe the area soldered to get all the flux off. If you don't, the flux will corrode the copper pipe over time and cause a leak.

Clogged Drain

Clogged drains can be easy to clear if the drainpipes are designed properly. If you need to make a 90-degree bend, don't just do it with a standard elbow. It may be too hard to get a snake down past this hard bend. Instead, use a gentle bend elbow. The bend is larger to make it plumbing snake friendly.

Another option is to use two 45-degree elbows with a short section of pipe in between. The further apart the two elbows, the easier for the snake to get through.

To help with clogs in the future, when installing the drains, use a Y fitting and a 45-degree elbow. The Y fitting has the first part of the turn and the 45 degree elbow completes the turn. On the straight section of the Y, insert the clean-out fitting. Now you have access to the drain without having to disassemble any connections. Remove the clean out plug and you can gain access to the clogged drain.