General Home Repair

Home plumbing repair is easy by using solder-less connectors or epoxy putty. For 1/2-3/4" incoming copper or PVC, use solder-less connectors. On cast iron, bronze or PVC drains, use epoxy...

Galvanized metal piping is coated with zinc in order to prevent corrosion. Before assembling the pipes, further insulation is required to avoid leakage and friction that could contaminate a...

Stainless steel pipe threads are protected by sealant in order to prevent leakage, contamination and weathering. Sealing stainless steel threads also provides lubrication for easy assembly of male...

Plastic pipes require just as much maintenance and reinforcement as other galvanized piping. Sealing plastic pipe threads prevents leakage, contamination and friction that can result in an...

This article will help you save money and it will teach you how to do it yourself on keeping your pipes from clogging up.

Whether it is gas or electric, every dryer will need to have both sufficient ventilation and a good exhaust system in order to operate safely and efficiently. The installation process for running...

Pipe threads are the most common end-connection found in the industry. They are well understood, standardized and relatively simple to make up. A good tapered pipe thread always requires a sealant...

Detecting an air leak in a pipe can be done in about 20 minutes or less depending on the size of the pipe. The easiest way to do it is to make a salve to coat the pipe with. The salve makes...

Oil seals come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They are often referred to as gaskets, o-rings, packing, or swivel seals and can be made of such things as rubber, cork, composites, and even...

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) first gained notice in the late 19th century, according to the book "PVC Pipe, Design and Installation," but it wasn't until much later that the use of PVC materials...

A common problem in homes is a clogged sink or one that will not drain. Usually, the clog is in the waste trap, or P trap, so named because the pipe is shaped like a letter P. This pipe keeps...

A leaking or dripping faucet wastes our planet's natural resources. This will result in higher water bills and/or energy use. Repairing, replacement or disconnection of an existing outside water...

Performing your own home repairs is always satisfying, but sometimes, you can find yourself in a difficult situation. One such tough spot is when you are faced with cutting a pipe in a confined...

Cutting pipe in a confined area has never been easier with a Dremel tool and the right-angle attachment. Complete a professional-quality plumbing repair using these helpful do-it-yourself tips...

Steel tubing is used in numerous places in home construction, from plumbing to electrical conduit to structural applications. Cutting stock tubing to the correct length is easy with a side grinder...

You walk down your basement steps. It's dark as you try to flick the light switch on. You take one more step and suddenly your foot is soaked. When you turn the light on, you notice water is...

Preparing a well for the winter is an important task to accomplish if you want to keep your pipes from freezing and busting. Following are a few simple steps to take to adequately prepare your...

The best possible option for do-it-yourself drain care is prevention. However, if you are faced with with a clogged drain, there are a few things you can do in order to remedy the problem by...

We usually think of cement and concrete structures as large expanses, such as streets, driveways, and patios. The easiest way to deliver this volume of concrete is with a cement truck. But...

Even though it's easy to walk into a hardware or plumbing supply store and buy pre-threaded pipes in almost any length, they may not fit your needs exactly and will mean that some other part of...

If you lift the knob on your bath tub spout to start the shower, and water still comes out of the tub spout, you probably have a leaky diverter. The diverter blocks the opening of the tub spout,...

Drip...drip...drip... There's nothing quite as annoying as hearing a dripping showerhead. The sound combined with the knowledge of water wasted is enough to drive anyone insane. Add a hefty...

If you're like me, most shower heads don't work that well. I am 6' 2" tall and I hate having to bend over to rinse my hair. Here is a way to reinstall the shower head and put a hand held...

When a home foundation/basement is installed into the ground, there are many problems to overcome. The water that is naturally found in the dirt that surrounds the basement will work to find its...

There are many reasons for a basement to remain wet all of the time. The main reason stems from poor construction procedures. Failure to install drainage pipe along the outside of the basement or...

A longer lever-arm will apply more torque to things that are hard to turn.

A ventilation fan replacement may be in order if you are having a difficult time keeping mold and mildew out of the bathroom. Years of moisture from showers and build-up of dust and grime will...

Cleaning your dryer vent not only helps prevent fires, it also helps you dryer work less when drying clothes. Dirty vent ducts can increase the drying time needed for one load of clothes. Learn...

There are many reasons for gluing PVC pipe. Repairs are the most common reason, but people also glue PVC pipe in order to make basic structures and art installations. This article will tell you...

Install a Jacuzzi cartridge pool filter for easy maintenance and sparkling clear pool water. The filtration process operates on water pressure. The pump pulls the water from the pool and pushes it...

Stainless steel tubing comes in various thicknesses. Flexible stainless steel tubing has thin exterior walls and is easily bent or formed into shapes. Thicker-walled tubing or pipes can be welded...

In most cases, the pipe that is going to be bent for home modeling and repair is a thin pipe called conduit, which is usually used for electrical purposes. Find out how to use a pipe bender to...

Pipe wrenches come in a wide range of sizes. For general purposes, an 8-inch or 10-inch wrench will work. Purchase pipe wrenches, which are made of steel or heavy-duty aluminum, at home...

No matter what size of construction project you are working on, tower or shed, there is usually a need to cut metal or a plastic pipe to fit. If you are fortunate, you have discovered the need to...

PVC piping is commonly used as a plastic conduit in concrete or through mortar and a brick wall. The mortar can be stubborn to remove from PVC piping after it has dried and cured. It's a simple...

Occasionally, when doing electrical or plumbing work in your home or on the job, you will have a need to bend piping to fit the dimensions of your project. Rather than searching for the exact pipe...

A four-way log splitter saves time and back-breaking work. With four blades, the splitter will cut a log into four sections in one stroke. It's an ingenious way to make wood splitting faster, even...

Determine the type of spout that is needed. A careful look under the spout may reveal a setscrew. You may need a flashlight to get a good look. Once you have spotted the setscrew, you will need to...

A sump pump is a device that removes water and pumps it elsewhere. Sump pumps are usually in the basement of a house or other building where water often gathers, especially if the ground is near...

If you have water collecting in your basement, installing a sump pump can solve the problem. A sump pump removes collected water and deposits it far from the house. Installation of a sump pump is...

Over time, the water pipe on your central heating and air conditioning unit can become clogged with debris and algae.Clogged water pipes on air conditioning can affect the cooling performance...

A sump pump is a device that pumps collected water out of the lower level of buildings. In a residential area, channeling the water to a safe location can be especially challenging. In the past,...

Aluminum pipe, used in construction, automotive projects, and in many other uses can easily become dirty and smudged. By polishing it completely, you can revitalize your project and make it look...

As with anything, installing a gas heater is so much cheaper when doing it yourself. You want to make sure you can do it yourself, because if anything goes wrong, you will pay much more for...

Tools can be very expensive. Here's a few ways to manage this expense and still get your projects completed.

So you have a busted water main or line to an outside tap (because you forgot to shut off the line and it froze). The original pipe is copper and it's the only one without heat tape. Here's how to...

Flux and solder are commonly used when soldering copper water pipes. Flux is an acid that you use on copper before soldering to remove oxides and prevent the metal from oxidizing further when you...

Installing a trap for a bathtub requires a little planning. If you have one in place the change over can be quite simple, provided you have the access and the tools.

The basement is the first place in your home where water will flow to, whether it be water leaking into your home from a storm or from a water line bursting. The best way to prevent water damage...

All hot water heaters come with a pressure valve. Basically, this valve is there to keep your hot water heater from blowing up. You see, heat and pressure can build up inside the water heater...