Plumbing

If you are a home owner taking up minor DIY plumbing projects around your house is a very cost effective way to maintain your home at an optimum condition all the time. As most major plumbing...

Sooner or later we all need to call a plumber. A plumber can be expensive and there's no way around that. But, there are a variety of ways to get the most value for your money.

Fiber powder, known for its ability to expand, can cause clogs if too much ends up in your drain. Facing a clogged drain can be a costly frustration if you have to call in a professional. Plumbing...

Plumbing tape, also known as Teflon tape, is used on pipe threads to help prevent leaks. The tape is a polytetrafluoroethylene product used as a sealer, as well as a lubricant, between the threads...

Plumbing shutoff valves allow you to turn off the flow of water to a section of your plumbing so you can perform maintenance or repairs. Most homeowners find they need to install additional...

PEX tubing is piping that is made from a "crosslinked polyethylene" and can handle extreme cold and hot heat without cracking. It was first used in the U.S. in the 1980s, and has become more...

Commode, water closet and toilet sound sound like different appliances, but there is no difference when it comes to installing the rough-in plumbing that makes them work. Each one requires a cold...

Insulating plumbing hot water pipes will keep the water two to four degrees hotter than water traveling through uninsulated pipes, according to the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE). Insulating...

Air bubbles in toilet plumbing may be an indication that you need to take action immediately. Normally, air in the toilet indicates that there is some kind of blockage. Getting rid of the blockage...

Plumbing fittings -- whether copper, PVC or threaded -- come in many shapes and sizes. Purchase fitting sizes from 3/4 inch to 4 inches, and fitting shapes, such as tees, couplers, elbows and...

Plumbing stub outs are used to extend pipe installed below slabs or inside walls out of the structure and into the room so that you can return later and connect the rest of your plumbing to the...

Plastic pipe comes in many forms including PVC, ABS, and Polyethylene. PVC is rigid and is mainly used as pressurized water lines and electrical conduit. ABS pipe is used for compressed air lines...

Working on plumbing that runs beneath a concrete slab is a challenging job, whether you need to access the plumbing for testing or repair, or to add a fitting for a new line. Plumbing is rarely...

Plumbing is never installed horizontally through a concrete slab-on-grade--a slab that is on the ground. All plumbing lines are run beneath the slab at varying depths and pitches in the soil. The...

A clean, reliable water supply is essential to health and hygiene. When plumbing becomes problematic, the water supply can become contaminated with pathogens and chemicals, or water can be...

Knowledge of a trade such as plumbing can pave the way to a successful career, as long as you have patience and are dedicated to your work. While a master license often is the highest level for a...

No matter where you live in the United States replacing your water filter to your refrigerator normally every 6 months will allow you to have great tasting water out of the refrigerators water...

One of the most popular DIY projects of all-time is bathroom remodeling. Many homeowners are taking it upon themselves to replace outdated shower, or add new units. Often, they buy prefabricated...

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plumbing is becoming an increasingly popular material in both residential and commercial construction due to its many benefits and ease of use. For the average...

Whether you're replacing your old water heater or installing one in a new house, you will need to do some plumbing. For the sake of clarity, the steps below will assume the use of CPVC pipe. CPVC...

Before doing any sort of work in the kitchen that involves making adjustments to the plumbing, it is important to ensure that the water valves are closed. Failure to do this could result in a...

Installing plumbing drains and vents for your waste system can be quite a challenging process. Nonetheless, you can do this project on your own if you pay special attention to common mistakes and...

Old showerhead arms can sometimes corrode and spring leaks. When this happens, it is beneficial to know how to replace a showerhead arm with a new one. Showerhead arms are available at hardware...

Water hammer is a specific noise that occurs in plumbing when a water faucet is turned off too fast and the suddenly stopped water flow creates a shock wave that travels through the plumbing pipes...

Customer testimonials are often the best way to learn about a business. After all, word-of-mouth advertising--or warnings--can be valuable tools in finding a plumber. And having a plumber you...

A master plumber is a licensed plumbing professional who has passed a state's rigorous testing and certification process for plumbers. To earn this designation, a plumber has to not only pass the...

More than likely, every property owner will need the services of a plumber at some point in time. So it's good to have the name of one on hand in the event an emergency arises. And quite often...

A traditional hot water heater holds hot water in a tank and keeps the water hot, even when it's not in use. A tankless hot water heater, by contrast, heats water only when it's needed. A tankless...

An air distribution system for your shop can allow you to move that noisy compressor outside and clean up the tangle of hoses that seems to have taken up residence on the floor of your work area....

Galvanized steel pipe is coated with a thin layer of zinc to protect the steel against rust and corrosion. Galvanized steel pipe was predominantly used for indoor plumbing, but minerals in water...

Plumbing problems are often a home owner's worst nightmare. How the water goes in and out of our house is a mystery to most of us and for the most part we only care when it's not happening or...

Repairing waterlines in a mobile home can be easier than you think. Learn how to identify different types of pipe and make simple plumbing repairs yourself.

Not all plumbing repairs are done because of damage. Installing a new faucet or shower head can be done purely for aesthetic reasons. Whether the repair to the plumbing is because of aesthetics or...

The term "bottle trap" is used in the plumbing industry to describe part of a sink's drainage system. While functional, bottle trap materials have evolved so that plumbing fixtures can be...

Painting and staining exteriors, basements and beneath sinks often brings about an unexpected problem. Difficulty lies in figuring out how to remove spilled and spattered paint or stain from...

An air admittance valve, or AAV, is a device used in plumbing. Not every home plumbing system has an AAV, but having one installed has many benefits.

Deciding to replace your bathtub can be a costly choice, and many people are unsure about their options for refinishing or reglazing existing tubs.

Plumbing vent pipes need to be straight in order to keep the proper air flow into the plumbing system.

Repairing a broken or cracked copper fitting doesn't need to be a frustrating experience. Once you know the secret, getting a watertight fit on an elbow, "T" fitting or in-line connector is easier...

Plumbing a home can be simple with proper advanced planning. There are three main areas that must be integrated in your plan: incoming water, waste drain and plumbing ventilation.

Plumbing repair is one of those costs that you do not think about until you need it. Usually it is a service that is needed quickly to prevent further damage. Here are some tips on how to save on...

Copper and plastic are popular materials used in the creation of water pipes and fittings. Copper has been the material of choice for the past few decades but plastic has come to challenge...

Rusty water is an issue that most of us hope to never deal with in regards to our home. Water that has rust in it is a sure indication of one thing: somewhere in the plumbing system there is a...

Plumbing repairs and remodeling can be very expensive, but they can be beneficial to your home by increasing the value of the property and giving you peace of mind. While your standard plumber may...

There are few things that can ruin a day faster than a clogged drain, especially in a bathroom. Whether it's caused by a build up of hair, grease or an errant toy, drains sometimes require more...

Unclogging a bathtub drain can range from simple to difficult, depending on the clog. Usually, you can remove clogs with everyday household items, but the job may require a trip to the store for...

This is article five in a series of articles on how to install your plumbing like a pro. This article is about adjusting the water in your toilet so it will flush properly. If your toilet has been...

This is step four on a series of articles on installing plumbing like a pro. I have been told by friends and people I have met that installing a sink or a lavatory sink can be a real time consumer...

There are quite a few basic plumbing jobs that require you to turn off your home's water supply. Whether it is a job that involves plumbing repair, a bathroom addition or installing an automatic...

This is part three in a series of learning how to insure your plumbing is installed or repaired like a pro. All of these articles are intended for you the reader to repair your plumbing in your...