home sectionhome sectionConcrete block walls, frequently used as foundation walls or retaining walls, perform important functions for many homeowners. However, such walls may suffer significant damage if water collects around and penetrates their surfaces. A proven method to direct excess water away from block walls involves using a system called a drain tile or French drain. These systems typically incorporate plastic pipe to run water away from the blocks, preventing any dangerous accumulation of moisture.
Gray water is used waste water from bath tubs, bath lavatories, washing machines and showers. The most common and trouble-free method of collecting gray water is from the washing machine drain. You can collect this machine's waste water and reuse it for irrigating landscape plants or diverting it into a dry well. With this system, gravity will draw the drain water from the appliance and send it to a sump pump well or basin. Once the basin is full, the sump pump will turn on, channeling your gray water through an exterior distribution pipe.
The tub drain in your bathroom sometimes requires alteration when renovating your bathroom. The drain connects to a series of pipes that safely removes your tub water from the home. The pipes also separate sewage water from regular waste water to prevent bacteria contamination. Redirecting a tub drain requires careful work to ensure the job follows local building code. Have the finished product inspected by a professional upon completion to verify everything is legal and safe.
Replacing drain lines in concrete adds a layer of complexity to an already-challenging job. The process of breaking up the concrete must be completed before you can attend to the drain lines, which will then need to be buried in new concrete to replace the surface you were forced to remove. Whatever your drain lines are made of, you can replace them with PVC pipe for a low-cost fix.
The Liberty SumpJet SJ10 water-powered backup sump pump system is a secondary device used for eliminating excessive water on an emergency basis. It uses the municipal water supply system to remove water from the sump well and is not intended to replace the main sump pump. The Liberty SJ10 uses a convenient "push-in" pipe fitting. To install, connect a municipal water supply pipe branch to the SJ10 inlet valve and attach a PVC pipe to the pump's outlet valve.
Sunken tubs provide a luxurious, romantic feel to your bathing. In the 1970s it was popular to simply drop a tub in, with or without shag carpeting, below the bathroom floor. Bathers had only to step -- or sometimes stumble, if they weren't careful -- into the tub. Modern versions of sunken tubs are often mounted a little higher in the floor, sometimes even inside a platform, instead of flush with the floor. With age and misuse or even just to update your bathroom's look, removal and replacement becomes necessary.
During reinstallation of a sump pump on an LG DS5811 dishwasher, the rubber gaskets that help keep the pump sealed can sometimes slip. When this happens, the seal can block the bolt holes and keep the sump from sealing properly. One way to keep the seals in position is by applying a few drops of silicone sealant to keep them in place during the sump assembly process. The silicone sealant not only helps to keep the seals in place, but also aids in creating a watertight seal.
Grease traps are rarely installed in home kitchens, but are required in all restaurants or commercial cooking facilities. They are simple devices, which use the basic principles of separation of water and oil to remove what the industry calls FOG -- fat, oil and grease. Large kitchens, those serving 50 or more meals a day, usually have extensive grease traps outside the building, often in the ground, serviced by commercial companies that collect the grease and sell it. Waste grease is used to make soap, cosmetics, fertilizer, various lubricants and other products. Removing grease also prevents clogging of sewer pipes.
Leaks around the drain and shower pan often require replacing the shower drain. Some shower drains are brass and thread into the drain below the shower pan. Over time though, sediment and lime build up, making it difficult to turn the brass shower drain. When this happens, it's necessary to cut a notch into the shower-drain flange -- so you're able to use a chisel and hammer to rotate the shower drain. Cutting a brass shower-drain flange with a Dremel makes quick work of this project.
Installing a new composite granite sink usually involves installing a new sink drain line complete with a P-trap. The P-trap portion of the drain line helps prevent large objects from making their way to the main drain and holds water to keep sewer gases from coming up through the drain pipes. Installing a P-trap in a composite granite sink is the same as any other type of sink. Always follow the manufacturers instructions for the sink drain basket installation when putting in the sink.
After a number of years, most showers will begin to look dated and worn. Replacing the shower provides a number of remodeling options. You can, for example, install a glass or tile shower. You also can buy a pre-made acrylic shower unit to fit the space as well. Consider a variety of options before making a choice. Good design doesn’t necessarily cost any extra money. Materials used in artistic ways with interesting colors can add significant value to your home.
When finishing a basement, many homeowners run into two problems. The first issue deals with flooding in the basement, which can be remedied by installing a sump pump to drain water from the basement. The second issue involves the fact that many basements tend to be cold due to being inside the ground. Installing an in-floor heating system can warm up both the floor and the basement itself, making it more comfortable.
There are a number of different things that you can do to help a stinky bathroom sink drain. Learn what you can do to help a stinky bathroom sink drain with help from a maintenance professional in this free video clip.
Standing water not only makes it difficult to navigate a basement, but also invites mold. If you have a wet basement, you could hire a professional to put in footer drain tiles that move the water away from your foundation. But this is an expensive remedy. You might be able to keep your basement dry by just installing a sump pump. If you're relatively handy, you can do this job yourself.
Concrete pipe is the strongest material for subsurface drainage, with a service life of more than 100 years. The inherent structural strength of a concrete pipe means there's less reliance on the quality and compaction of the surrounding soil. Installation requirements for backfill material and compaction depend on the type of pipe used, and the application. Reinforced concrete cylinder pipe is used for conditions with difficult soils and where heavy loads and internal hydrostatic pressures are expected, and where pipe failure would have serious consequences to life or property.
Hydro System designs and manufactures a variety of showers, tubs and whirlpool systems. The tubs are prefabricated and ready for installation over an existing drain. The Hydro System tub drain is installed similar to any other type of tub. Installing the drain requires only a few tools. Proper installation of the drain will ensure there’s no leaks.
When installing a new faucet in your bathroom, you can also take the opportunity to overhaul the drain and drainpipe as well. The minimum size required for a drain trap and pipe in a bathroom is 1 ½ inches, but if you have a very old sink, it might not be that large. Widen the drain pipe in the vanity by replacing the trap and the trap arm.
Sinking or sagging floors are common problems in older homes. They are usually caused by settling joists or rotting subfloors due to aging materials. Assuming the problem isn't structural, you can usually repair the problem yourself if you have access to the floor joists underneath. The repairs are made by raising the floor where it sags and adding supporting joists. If the problem is structural, you will have to call a contractor to check your framing.
The home’s drain, vent and waste system (DWV) depends on gravity and airflow to carry waste and water to the main drain. Drainpipes all slope downward and vents introduce air into the drainage system to prevent water locks. If you’ve ever siphoned water out of a tub with a hose, you know that you can put your thumb over one end of a water-filled hose and lift it out of the tub. The water will remain in the hose until you remove your thumb. All the hose needs is a little air, and the water drains right out.
Whether you are moving into an older home that has a shower drain that you don’t like or you have a shower drain whose gasket is leaking or something has cracked over the years, sometimes you need to replace the drains. The process of removing and replacing a shower drain is the same regardless if you are working with a concrete slab or a plastic shower pan, since the drain itself is merely screwed onto the pipe stub coming up out of the slab. All you need are some basic tools and you can quickly and easily replace the drain.
Zakum is the single most difficult multi-part boss monster in the MMORPG "MapleStory." At level 140, it usually requires a party of players to defeat. Because of its high stats and health and the ability to deal multiple physical and magic damages simultaneously with each of its eight arms, make sure you have enough accuracy to deal damage to Zakum and its arms whether you're a dagger thief of another job type.
Toe testers are found on showers without tub spouts. The toe tester enables you to test the water temperature with your toe before switching a diverter to turn on the shower. If your toe tester leaks, it must be replaced. The biggest issue often is finding a replacement. Toe testers are not as popular as they once were, but they are still available at some home-improvement centers, as well as directly from faucet manufacturers. Replacing a toe tester is the same as replacing a tub spout.
Footing drains are a major component of the foundation drainage plan, in conjunction with waterproofing and surface drainage. Drain tile, or perforated plastic pipe, is placed beside the footings to intercept water before it penetrates the foundation. On flat sites, the water exits to a sump pit in the basement, where a sump pump discharges the excess water outside. The pipe is wrapped in geotextile cloth to keep silt and debris from entering the pores and clogging the pipe. Sock drains are produced with a removable polyester fabric attached to the pipe instead.
One sure way to shorten the life of your sump pump motor is to operate it with an insufficient power supply. Providing the optimum power feed to any motor allows it to operate at peak efficiency. Knowing the wattage requirements of your pump helps you calculate your energy consumption requirements as well. While many manufacturers may omit the wattage information from the specification plate found on any consumer-grade electrical motor, they do provide the information necessary to perform the simple calculation that gives you the answer you need.
The sump pump in a water fountain forces water from the basin under pressure through a nozzle to create the effect of cascading water. Hidden pumps are submersible within the water and fit in the center of the basin. Hidden pumps typically use suction cups on the bottom to hold the unit in place as well as to absorb vibrations when the pump is operating. Installing the pump involves draining the fountain. The project typically takes less than an hour.
Drainage outdoors can be just as important as drainage within a structure. Water left to drain naturally may make its way into your structure’s foundation, weakening it, or it can collect in pools, stagnating and potentially causing health hazards or destroying landscaping. Installing a French drain can help you direct water away from structures or manicured landscapes. Making the drain with concrete that rests on the grounds surface is a quick way to create French drains, as it alleviates the need for digging deep trenches and laying pipe with gravel for, as is necessary for underground French drainage systems.
Replacing a single sink vanity with a double sink requires an entire new drain system between the sinks and the house drain pipe coming from the wall. This is because the house drain most often does not line up with either of the sink drains. Installing offset drain pipes for bathroom sinks requires a T fitting that joins the pipes connecting each drain. The T fitting attaches to a single P-trap to direct water from each sink to the house drain pipe. Purchase PVC drain pipe as it is more user-friendly than metal.
Installing a sump pump in your basement will help reduce -- or even eliminate -- basement flooding. A sump pump has a basin that collects the water; when the water reaches a set level, the pump turns on and sends the water out of the house via a pipe. Installing a sump pump is a relatively straightforward process, but it may involve cutting into a cement slab on the basement flooring. A jackhammer will make breaking up the cement easier than using a sledgehammer.
In most homes, kitchen and bathroom drains merge into a larger sewer main that handles waste water and sewage for the entire house. Where the kitchen and bathroom connect to the same branch of the sewer line, a clog downstream backs water up through the lowest point, such as the shower drain. Kitchen drains fitted with garbage disposals feed more solid waste into the drainage network than shower drains do, but bathroom drains also contribute to clogs.
Water can leak from the bottom of a refrigerator drain for a variety of reasons. Ignoring the leak can damage the appliance and kitchen floor. Most common refrigerator leaks can be repaired without calling a repair technician. Repair technicians can cost a lot of money, and usually cannot come to a home immediately to fix an appliance. Instead of calling a repair technician, inspect the appliance closely to determine whether you can fix the problem to save time and money.
The concrete footings on a house are at each corner underneath the foundation. Footings are set deep into the ground and provide stability for the foundation. If the footings shift or are damaged, the entire house can become misaligned. Fortunately, the footings are set strongly and deeply enough that making a hole in the foundation floor with an electric jackhammer should not harm them in any way.
The Frigidaire FWT647GHS0 is a front-load washing machine. That means the access door is located on the front of the unit, rather than the top. When you close the door to the unit, it seals and holds the water inside. This is due to the gasket. The gasket is a rubber seal on the inside of the door. If you have a damaged gasket, you should replace it immediately; if you don't, it could lead to leakage.
A sump pump prevents a home's basement from flooding by pumping groundwater away from its foundations. While the sump pit that the pump sits in can be left open, enclosing the sump pump ensures that nothing falls into the pit and damages the pump. Enclosing the sump pump also hides it from view and gives the basement a neater appearance.
A sump pump helps remove water from a basement during heavy rain or flooding. Water flows down into a pit where the pump draws the water out to outside the building or into the sewage line. In some cases the pump might fail either due to loss of power, a breakdown or overloading. Continued water accumulation can rapidly cause damage and basement flooding, and the water needs to be removed. There are a few ways to remove water from a sump pump pit if the main pump fails.
A splash guard on your sink ensures the faucet water stays contained, without getting the adjacent counters and such soaked. A splash guard can also prevent the garbage disposal from kicking up pieces of chopped food as it grinds them down the drain. If your splash-guarded drain does not appear to be draining optimally, there may be a clog restricting the water flow.
A splash guard or splash back adds built-in style and texture to your kitchen, protecting surrounding finishing and the wall behind the sink from water and oil splashes. However, replacing the splash guard becomes necessary when it is slightly damaged or when you wish to update its style. In such a case, remove the existing guard carefully to avoid damaging the wall, and replace it ceramic tile that matches the color or theme of the surrounding space. The tile not only spruces up the sink area, but also protects the wall.
Pedestals add a classic charm to bathroom sinks. Inside the pedestal's hollow interior, a drainpipe and P-trap divert wastewater from the sink. The drainpipe connects directly to the underside of your sink. The P-trap, meanwhile, joins at one end to the drainpipe and the other to an “arm” extending from the wall. Proper replacement of the drainpipe and P-trap ensures that water flows cleanly through the drain without leaking between the pipe joints.
Overtime and repeated uses, your garbage disposal, including the splash guard, becomes a stinky, disgusting mess. The splash guard, a black rubber piece found under the sink’s drain, becomes covered with dirt, debris, scale and grime, preventing materials from reaching the disposal unit itself. Clean the garbage disposal’s splash guard safely and without the need for chemicals to keep the unit running smoothly.
With worldwide headquarters in Kohler, Wisconsin, Kohler is a privately-held company that manufactures a wide product line, including kitchen sinks and accessories. The kitchen drain plug is actually a Kohler sink strainer, with a basket inserted into the strainer after the strainer is installed into the sink drain and connected to the drain tailpiece. Although it is unusual for it to happen, the basket can become vacuum-sealed to the drain and extremely difficult to remove. Use care when removing it to avoid damaging the finish.
The Maytag Performa PAV3200AWW is a top-loading automatic washing machine manufactured for home use. The tub bearing keeps the washer tub stable and properly aligned when it is spinning or rotating. One possible sign of a bad tub bearing is a banging sound or high-pitched squeal when the washer is running. Replace the defective tub bearing with a new part to restore the Maytag washing machine to proper working condition.
Frigidaire stackable washing machines are manufactured as part of the Frigidaire laundry center appliance line. They can be installed with an automatic dryer connected to it or as a stand-alone unit. The washing machine is equipped with a tub seal that keeps the connection between the tub and door sealed and water-tight. If the seal is damaged, the washer may leak. Replace the tub seal with a new part to keep the Frigidaire stackable washer working properly.
Sump pumps serve a valuable purpose when they remove water from in or near a home or other structure and redistribute this water a safe distance from the structure. In most situations, the sump pump must discharge within the landscape rather than into municipal lines, as this would overwhelm the sewer system. Excessive or continuous discharge from a sump pump could potentially lead to erosion at and around the discharge site. Certain steps may be taken to eliminate or minimize erosion from a sump pump discharge.
Roof drainage is a major concern in many areas of the country, especially in communities where flat roofs are common. In these communities, lawmakers generally pass ordinances that require a certain level of roof slope to account for roof drain pipes. The amount of the slope can vary by location, but in general, there are some basic specifications to follow that can be helpful.
Homeowners who need a cost-effective solution to direct rainwater away from the foundation of their home or patio frequently build a French drain next to the problem area. The drain is a gently sloped trench filled with sand and gravel that captures the runoff and directs it to a nearby ditch or into a pipe installed under the drain. For French drains to be effective, they must have the proper size and configuration of stones.
Tethered float switches signal when water levels have reached a desired level. Once these switches have activated the pump starts pumping. Improperly adjusted switches will allow a pump to continue running even when water levels do not require pumping. This excess activity wastes electricity and runs down a pump's motor. Fortunately, adjusting a tethered float switch is an easily accomplished task.
Having your kitchen sink drain with a centered drain has its pros and cons, as does having it drain with an offset drain. The difference in the space under a counter with either type of sink drain is not so much a difference in the overall amount of space, but where that space is located. When considering whether to opt for a center or back drain for your sink, keep a few factors in mind.
If your plumbing suffers from a defect, you may hear a knocking, banging, hissing, whistling or rattling noise while using the bathroom sink. The sound may originate from the sudden shut off of the faucet's flow or defective pipes. Air in the water line will also cause banging noise. Old homes often suffer more from noisy plumbing pipes, according to the Benjamin Franklin the Punctual Plumber.
You can often perform home plumbing alterations using standard tools and a copy of the home's building plans. The addition of a pipe to a drainage system can be performed without consideration for pipe capacity, because drainage pipes are installed with the understanding that other items may later be added to the drainage system. Connecting a newly installed tub to a drainage line requires few tools and little plumbing skill.
The tub bearings in your Maytag washing machine can fail over time, which will cause the washer to not function properly. The purpose of the tub bearings is to ensure the washtub spins and agitates correctly. Save yourself some money by replacing the tub bearings yourself instead of hiring a repair technician. Before you begin the repair, consult the warranty information included with your Maytag washer. Repairing the washing machine yourself could void the warranty.
Sump pumps are installed in basement floors where water tends to accumulate. These devices prevent flooding by pumping water out through a hose or PVC pipe. If not buried, sump pump hoses can ruin the look of your lawn; they also must be moved whenever you need to mow. Your sump pump's drain line is susceptible to freezing during the winter; thus, you'll need to know the frost line in your location and dig your trench to that depth.
