A heated bidet seat sounded like a simple upgrade. My elderly clients wanted more comfort in their toilet room. The seat itself was not the hard part. I had the bidet seat installed in about ten minutes. Then came the real job. The seat needed power near the toilet. There was an outlet on the… Continue reading Why This Bidet Seat Kept Tripping Power
Author: Plumbing
How Close Can AUTOCUT Cut Copper Pipe?
Cutting copper pipe under a bathroom vanity can be tight work. This is even harder when the fitting is soldered in place. A torch may not be safe in that small space. That is why many homeowners look at an AUTOCUT-style pipe cutter. Question I need to cut a 1/2-inch copper pipe for a bathroom… Continue reading How Close Can AUTOCUT Cut Copper Pipe?
Deep Main Drain? Wet Vent This 3-Fixture Bath
You have a tough bathroom rough-in. The layout is shower, toilet, then sink. The 4-inch main drain runs under the toilet. It is also about 4 feet deep. You are thinking about horizontal wet venting. That can work for many bathroom groups. But the details matter. Quick Q&A Q: Is a 4-foot vertical drop from… Continue reading Deep Main Drain? Wet Vent This 3-Fixture Bath
Old PVC Outside? Safe to Use for Vent Pipes?
You found a 2-inch Schedule 40 PVC that sat outside for years in NYC. It was a makeshift gutter runoff on a shaded wall. It saw cold winters and wet weather. Now you want to reuse it for plumbing vents. Quick Q&A Q: Can I reuse old outdoor PVC for my vent pipes? A: Maybe,… Continue reading Old PVC Outside? Safe to Use for Vent Pipes?
Toilet to Stack: San-Tee or Wye? Best Pick
You are tying a toilet drain into a vertical soil stack. The toilet is separately vented. You keep reading two answers. Some say use a sanitary tee. Others say use a combo wye and 45. So which one is “right”? Quick Q&A Q: What is the preferred fitting for a horizontal toilet branch into a… Continue reading Toilet to Stack: San-Tee or Wye? Best Pick
NaviCirc Setup: Do You Need an Extra Pump?
You have a Navien tankless water heater. You want to add a NaviCirc recirculation valve. You also want faster hot water at the tap. Your home is new and single-level. It is about 100 feet from end to end. The heater is about 30 feet from one end. The kitchen and laundry sit near the… Continue reading NaviCirc Setup: Do You Need an Extra Pump?
No Threads? How to Test Faucet Water Pressure
You want to check the water pressure at a faucet. But the spout has no hose threads. A standard gauge will not screw on. Good news. You still have several easy options. Quick Q&A Q: How can I measure pressure without faucet threads? A: Use an aerator adapter, a clamp-on faucet gauge, or test pressure… Continue reading No Threads? How to Test Faucet Water Pressure
The $5 Fix for a Leaking InSinkErator Disposer
Your InSinkErator has been working for decades. It came with the house about 25 years ago. It is an Essential model at 3/4 HP. A plumber says the unit is still in good shape. But you have a small crack and a steady drip. The crack is at the “anti-vibration tailpipe” area. You do not… Continue reading The $5 Fix for a Leaking InSinkErator Disposer
Water in the Den? Slab Leak or Pipe Above?
You’re looking at a house as a rental. You walk in and find water in the den. The break is “underneath,” but the source is unknown. It could be a supply line under the slab. It could be a drain line in the slab. It could also be a pipe above the slab. Quick Q&A… Continue reading Water in the Den? Slab Leak or Pipe Above?
Dishwasher Leak Exposed a Drain Disaster
A former neighbor in Michigan had a dishwasher leak. It started as a small mess under the sink. Then it turned into a full tear-out. They decided to rebuild the kitchen anyway. It was long overdue. During the demo, they found something shocking. The old two-bowl sink had two separate drain lines. Each line was… Continue reading Dishwasher Leak Exposed a Drain Disaster