A smelly basement can start with one small floor drain. In many Brooklyn rowhouses, an areaway sits outside the basement door. This sunken space often has stairs leading down from the yard. At the bottom, there may be a floor drain. That drain helps move rainwater away during storms. But it can also let sewer… Continue reading Basement Drain Smell? Fix It Before It Spreads
Tag: drain
Stuck Sink Drain Pipe? Try This First
Question I was removing my sink trap to clean it. While doing that, I broke the pipe at the bottom of the drain assembly. Now I need to replace the drain assembly. The big nut at the bottom is loose. But the drain pipe will not break free. I have tried pushing it. I have… Continue reading Stuck Sink Drain Pipe? Try This First
Did This Pop-Up Drain Cause a Leak?
A bathroom sink leak can be confusing. It gets worse when the drain looks correct. This problem often happens after installing a pop-up drain. The drain has two slots near the top. Those slots are usually for a sink overflow. A sink overflow gives extra water a path out. It helps prevent the bowl from… Continue reading Did This Pop-Up Drain Cause a Leak?
Fix Copper-to-PVC Sink Drain Leaks
A leaking bathroom sink drain can feel confusing fast. That is true when old copper meets newer PVC pipe. The hard part is not always the repair. The hard part is buying the right coupling. Question I have a leaking copper drain pipe for a bathroom sink. I want to replace part of it with… Continue reading Fix Copper-to-PVC Sink Drain Leaks
Pump Runs But Won’t Drain? Check This
A pump that runs but will not drain is frustrating. It can also be a messy plumbing problem. This is common with sealed pump basins. It can happen with sump pumps. It can also happen with sewage ejector pumps. In this case, the pump sits inside a sump casing. The discharge line connects to a… Continue reading Pump Runs But Won’t Drain? Check This
Rubber Grommet Drain: Is Putty Needed?
Question: If a drain has a rubber grommet, do I need plumber’s putty? Answer: Usually, no. If the drain uses a rubber grommet, that gasket is meant to make the seal. You pulled the drain apart to clean it. You also found old plumber’s putty there. That can be confusing. Many older drain installs used… Continue reading Rubber Grommet Drain: Is Putty Needed?
Leaking 2nd Floor Kitchen Drain Fix
Question My second-floor kitchen drain is leaking behind the wall. The drain is a 2-inch galvanized pipe. The leak is between the first and second floors. An inspection camera showed a seam opened about 1/8 inch. Should I wrap the pipe with epoxy tape or replace the bad galvanized drain with PVC? Answer The safer… Continue reading Leaking 2nd Floor Kitchen Drain Fix
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
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
Can I Run Bathtub, Kitchen Sink, and Vanity on One Drain?
Can I Run Bathtub, Kitchen Sink, and Vanity on One Drain? When running plumbing in a back-to-back bathroom and kitchen setup, it’s essential to understand how to route the drainage properly. Here’s a breakdown of whether you can run your bathtub, kitchen sink, and vanity on a single drain line and how to manage the… Continue reading Can I Run Bathtub, Kitchen Sink, and Vanity on One Drain?