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Plumbing Articles

Iron Pipe Repair
Repairing (Splicing) Malleable Iron Pipes

Many old houses still have some malleable (cast)  iron pipes. Many years ago, 4-inch drainpipes were used to attach the house drain system to the main sewer line or septic system. These lines are extremely durable and can last a hundred years if the ground does not shift. Although the pipe is slowly eroding, most people have a bigger problem with buildup in the line. The use of chemical drain cleaner is very harsh on metal pipes and ...

Kitchen Faucet Installation
How To Install A Kitchen Faucet Most kitchen faucets now have single-handle control levers and washer-less designs that rarely require maintenance. Connecting the faucet to hot and cold water lines is made easier with flexible supply lines made from vinyl or braided stainless steel (the stainless is just a sleeve over the vinyl). Plastic (PVC) is inexpensive and easy to install, so where local codes allow, use plastic piping for drain hookups. You can find everything you need at your local Lowe?s, Home Depot, or other ...
Clogged Sink Drain
Clogged Drain: How To Remove A Clog

There are about as many ways to unclog a drain as there are ways to clog a drain. The best strategy for unclogging the drain will be based on the location (kitchen sink , bathroom sink, ...

Garbage Disposal
How To Repair A Garbage Disposal Garbage disposals are one appliance that definantly simplifies your life. Large horsepower disposals are maintenance free for years and save cleanup time at every meal. As long as you keep hard materials (bone, glass, metal) out of the disposal, it can last for 10 year or more. Garbage disposals use a spinning disk (flywheel) or impeller to grind food into small pieces that are pushed down the drain with force generated by the spinning components. Many garbage disposals have metal cutters on ...
Toilet Leak Areas
How To Fix a Leaking Toilet A leaking toilet (WC) is a serious problem that needs to be fixed as soon as possible to prevent any moisture damage to your bathroom?s subfloor. There are 4 location where you could see a tioilet leak. A. Leak at the shut off valve B. Leak at the water inlet to the tank C. Leak at the tank / base joint at the rubber gasket D. Leak where the toilet attaches to the floor with a wax ring (see photo) There may also be a leak that allows water to escape the tank and drain into the base. ...
Gas Hot Water Heater Installation
How To Install a New Gas Water Heater Water heaters unfortunately do not last forever, at some point you will probably need to replace your old or broken water heater. A water heater that leaks needs to be replaced immediately to prevent any possible water damage. A new gas water heater requires a 6" clearance around the unit for ventilation. If replacing an electric water heater, be sure the voltage of the new heater is the same as the old one. Water heater tanks range from 30 to 65 gallons, while a household of 4 typically ...

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