A leaking main shutoff valve can make any home repair harder. If the valve will not stop water fully, repairs become stressful fast. This is common with older gate valves. A gate valve uses a rising gate inside the valve body. Over time, that gate can wear, corrode, or collect grit. When that happens, the… Continue reading Leaking Main Shutoff Valve? Fix It Right
Was This Fridge Valve Job Too Expensive?
Question: What Should This Small Plumbing Job Cost? A homeowner recently bought a new refrigerator. The new fridge did not include an ice maker. Still, the old ice maker water line remained under the sink. That line had no separate shut-off valve. It was tied into the cold water shut-off under the sink. That valve… Continue reading Was This Fridge Valve Job Too Expensive?
Urinal Water Line Too Low? Fix Options
Question: Can A Low Urinal Water Line Still Work? A homeowner had a plumber rough in a water line for a urinal. The rough-in was based on a Kohler valve already purchased. Later, the homeowner installed the urinal himself. That is when the problem became clear. The water line did not look high enough. Now… Continue reading Urinal Water Line Too Low? Fix Options
Will This Grease Trap Smell Up The Kitchen?
Question: Does This Grease Trap Need A Vent? A property owner has wanted a grease trap installed for about a year. She hired a licensed plumber to start the job. The plumber set the grease trap on the floor. Then the job stopped. He has been very busy. He keeps saying he may return next… Continue reading Will This Grease Trap Smell Up The Kitchen?
Best Pipe for a 100-Foot Irrigation Well?
Question: What Pipe Should I Use In A New Well? A homeowner recently had an artesian well drilled. The well is about 100 feet deep. The system will be used for irrigation only. The planned flow is about 12 gallons per minute. The homeowner calculated a total dynamic head of about 240 feet. That number… Continue reading Best Pipe for a 100-Foot Irrigation Well?
Dripping Water Heater Union? Read This First
A small drip near a water heater can feel harmless. But old galvanized pipe can change that fast. This home has a water heater installed in 2019. Now the hot side dielectric union is dripping. The leak is about one-quarter to one-half pint daily. The house is 98 years old. It still has 3/4-inch galvanized… Continue reading Dripping Water Heater Union? Read This First
Can Moen Flo Hurt Your Well Pump?
A smart water shutoff can protect a home from leaks. But well systems need extra care. A home with city water is simple. A home with a well pump has more moving parts. This homeowner has a submersible well pump. The system also has an 85-gallon bladder tank. The pressure switch appears to be a… Continue reading Can Moen Flo Hurt Your Well Pump?
Bad Drain Pitch? Fix Bathroom Pipes Right
Bathroom drain work can look simple at first. Then you open the floor and see the real problem. Flat pipe, wrong slope, and tight fittings can cause trouble. That is common in older bathroom layouts. This drain system serves two nearby bathrooms. The hall bath has a lav, toilet, and tub. The master half bath… Continue reading Bad Drain Pitch? Fix Bathroom Pipes Right
Off-Grid Water For 3 Homes: Will It Work?
An off-grid water system can work very well. But adding more homes changes the whole design. More homes need more flow, storage, and pump power. Long pipes also add pressure loss. This setup starts with two 500-gallon water tanks. The tanks are filled by a well when needed. A house pump feeds a 60-gallon pressure… Continue reading Off-Grid Water For 3 Homes: Will It Work?
Phoenix Condo Softener: Replace It or Skip It?
Hard water is a real problem in many Arizona homes. It can leave scale on faucets, shower doors, pipes, and water heaters. That makes this question fair for any Phoenix condo owner. Should you replace a broken water softener if you plan to sell soon? The answer depends on cost, risk, and how long you… Continue reading Phoenix Condo Softener: Replace It or Skip It?