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Plumbing

Plumbing

1080 Followers | 1434 Posts

It's so fun to do plumbing projects! Just kidding! We know that plumbing projects are tricky, and that a minute percentage of the population actually knows how to do them. That's OK, because on Hometalk, you can talk about plumbing projects with people who have done them before, and can tell you what works - and what doesn't. Search Hometalk for professional plumbers in your area. Or, browse photos of DIY plumbing projects to learn how you can do-it-yourself too. Plumbing projects are easier when you have Hometalk on your side.



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Home Maintenance & Repairs: What causes hot water from my faucets to look brownish and should I flush my hot water tank. It is about 10 years old.

I wanted to flush my hot water heater because I recently noticed that my hot water has a brownish tinge to it. I have never flushed the hot water tank and had just recently learned about ...»
this process. Since I am seeing the discoloration in the water, I am wondering what your thoughts are. It is a traditional hot water tank.

Joyce Jones
Joyce Jones Waltham, MA on Mar 24, 2013
5 Comments | Post Comment | 158 Views
  • HandyANDY Home Renovations All Repairs, LLC
    HandyANDY Home Renovation... on Mar 26, 2013
    more than likely you have galvanized pipes....just a guess! It doesn't hurt to drain and flush ...»
    a water heater periodically.

    Great response HO

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  • Do you have one of these in your house? This water pressure regulator keeps water pressure under 80 psi which in turn helps extend the life of your copper pipes & appliances.
  • Use a water pressure gauge to measure your, ummm, well water pressure :)
  • Old supply lines and shutoff valves like this one should be replaced before your spring a leak that can cause you quite a bit of aggravation and money.

Water Leaks: 3 Plumbing Tips that Will Help You Avoid Problems

Our house has suffered from its fair share of water disasters. And unfortunately we've come home to find water leaks in our ceiling just above our kitchen (this happened as we walked ...»
through the door from a red eye flight back from Seattle, NOT FUN!).

I've also handled numerous calls from our tenants that have dealt with overflowing toilets, faucets leaking, washer hoses bursting, you name it.

So after my neighbor had to replace his water pressure regulator I decided to share easy plumbing tips that you can act on today or over the weekend that will help prevent water leaks:

+Test your water pressure with a $10 gauge and make sure it's not above 80 psi

+If your water pressure is too high have a licensed contractor install a regulator

+Adjust your existing water pressure regulator to reduce pressure to 55-75 psi

+Replace old supply lines with the steel braided variety

+Replace old shutoff valves in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms with quarter turn ball valves-they are easier to use and rarely break compared to older valves

It's much cheaper to avoid replacing a collapsing drywall ceiling then actually having to hire a contractor to fix it :)

For more pictures and a video on how to adjust the water pressure in your house you can visit my latest blog post http://www.homerepairtutor.com/water-leaks-3...

Have a great day!

#Bestof2012

1 Hour Moderate
Home Repair Tutor
Home Repair Tutor Pittsburgh, PA on Sep 12, 2012
6 Comments | Post Comment | 1147 Views
  • HandyANDY Home Renovations All Repairs, LLC
    HandyANDY Home Renovation... on Mar 25, 2013
    Shut-off valves are usually forgotten.....it's a good idea to fully open and close them every ...»
    6 months....otherwise, they tend to deteriorate and fail when you really do need to use them.

    It's also a good idea to check the drain lines at your water heaters....if it feels warm, it likely means that TPR valve (temperature pressure relief valve) is leaking. This is another valve that should be tested periodically...just don't do it late at night...as sometimes older valves will stick open when tested. A leaking TPR will not only cost you a ton in wasted energy costs but it usually indicates that the house water pressure is too high. The TPRs are pretty sensitive to this. We had about a 1-year run on TPR repairs with our Gwinnett County HandyANDY clients as a result of the country doing a ton of work on the water infrastructure. These valves are pretty easy to replace and are readily available at home depot or lowes

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Plumbing: Tank that uses salt or newer version for hard water issues

Thinking about adding water softener to plumbing. Any recommendations
Adelina Benny Lopez
Adelina Benny Lopez San Antonio, TX on Mar 22, 2013
2 Comments | Post Comment | 70 Views

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  • Historical Renovation by Titus Built, LLC
  • Make sure your windows aren't costing you money this winter. Ck for loose caulk or deteriorated weather-stripping, and then repair or replace it. Consider installing replacement windows, which are relatively inexpensive. Titus Built
  • Enjoy your fireplace w/ complete peace of mind by having the chimney checked and cleaned by a certified chimney sweep. It's vital that the chimney be examined for blockage that can cause dangerous carbon monoxide build-up. Titus Built
  • Roofs should be examined for any cracked, broken or missing shingles, and at the points where pipes, vents and chimneys come through your roof (where most leaks occur). Also check for blocked gutters- Titus Built
  • The longer & darker days make exterior lighting more essential than at any other time of year. Ck all your bulbs & add timers or photoelectric sensors. For spotlights, replace incandescent bulbs w/ halogens for improved clarity. Titus
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Take Care of Your Home This Season

Winter brings a unique set of challenges for home maintenance. Take care of your investment wisely ... here are just a few simple tips: ...»

Windows

Make sure your windows aren't costing you money this winter. Check for loose caulk or deteriorated weather-stripping, and then repair or replace it. Consider installing replacement windows, which are relatively inexpensive and will save you money on heating costs in the long run.

Chimney

Enjoy your fireplace with complete peace of mind by having the chimney checked and cleaned by a certified chimney sweep. It's vital that the chimney be examined for blockage that can cause dangerous carbon monoxide build-up. Leaves, sticks and sometimes even animals can plug up a chimney.

Roofs and Gutters

Roofs should be examined for any cracked, broken or missing shingles, and at the points where pipes, vents and chimneys come through your roof (where most leaks occur). Also check for blocked gutters, which can cause problems when water freezes inside and creates ice dams. When the ice and snow melts, it can get into your home and cause damage.

Lighting

The longer and darker days make exterior lighting more essential than at any other time of year. Check all your bulbs and add timers or photoelectric sensors. For spotlights, replace incandescent bulbs with halogens for improved clarity. Add or adjust motion detectors for safety and security.

Sharon Bothwell
Sharon Bothwell Redding, CT on Dec 12, 2012
9 Comments | Post Comment | 1167 Views
  • RockfordChimneySupply
    RockfordChimneySupply on Mar 19, 2013
    When it comes to the chimney, not only are you looking for blockage but also looking for ...»
    cracks in the tile or brick mortar where carbon monoxide and other gasses can leak into the home.

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Plumbing: Septic drain clogged?

When we moved in this house 3 years ago, we had to dig up the septic tank, empty it & replace the drain pipes from the toilet to the septic tank. Well it just started backing up quite ...»
badly again. When we flush it, the bowl fills up but takes a few hours for the water level to go down. We dug up the septic tank today and there's hardly anything in the tank, so it's gotta be in the lines. Is there any way to fix this without digging up the lines?

Rachel Z
Rachel Z Shippenville, PA on Mar 18, 2013
9 Comments | Post Comment | 110 Views
  • Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com
    Woodbridge Environmental ... on Mar 19, 2013
    Well it is great even if you think he does not want to hear it. I had parents the same way. ...»
    But deep down inside they are grateful for your help. Just do not give up.

    As folks get older (yuck) we often get set in our ways thinking that we can survive without any changes. Often it has to do with money. They worry to much about running out so they live in conditions that most would not tolerate. Very common, I see this all the time when family's call me in to help them with a parent. So your not alone.

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  • Replacing the Kitchen Sink Spray Nozzle

Replacing the Kitchen Sink Spray Nozzle

Winston Varn
Winston Varn West Columbia, SC on Mar 07, 2013
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Plumbing: How to unclog a sink

SEEM TO HAVE BUILD UP IN THE U OF THE PIPES, BUT DON'T WANT TO USE CHEMICALS.
Melissa Meyer
Melissa Meyer Black Mountain, NC on Mar 01, 2013
1 Comment | Post Comment | 96 Views

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Plumbing: Hot water is coming out of both handles on my bathroom faucet.

Persnickety
Persnickety Manassas, VA on Feb 27, 2013
1 Comment | Post Comment | 67 Views

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Home Maintenance & Repairs: Ummm.... I think I have a problem under my bathroom sink...

Details here in this post: http://imnotatrophywife.com/2013/02/um-this-...
Laura
Laura on Feb 21, 2013
10 Comments | Post Comment | 481 Views
  • Hamtil Construction LLC
    Hamtil Construction LLC on Feb 25, 2013
    Thanks Laura and best of ...»
    luck on the leak. Good to hear we have a local connection! St. Louis is a great town.

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  • Oil Rubbed Bronze faucet by Delta with hard water deposits.
  • White Vinegar for cleanup or not?

Faucet Handle Cleanup-Suggestions for Hardwater Deposits?

I installed this oil-rubbed bronze Delta faucet 3 years ago and it has hard water deposits on it. I was going to remove it and soak it in a bath of white vinegar to remove the residue. ...»
But does anyone have a better suggestion or encountered the same problem. Thanks everyone. www.homerepairtutor.com

Home Repair Tutor
Home Repair Tutor Pittsburgh, PA on May 13, 2012
11 Comments | Post Comment | 1140 Views
  • Jean Lingle-mosher
    Jean Lingle-mosher on Feb 24, 2013
    Thanks I have the exact same problem with my kitchen faucet. Will try the vinegar trick.
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