Plumber

Plumbing Tricks of the Trade for Weekend Plumbers. More than any other type of home improvement job, plumbing can drive a Di Yer crazy. Problems arise, projects grow, frustrations multiply. Even pros are not immune. But one way to manage the frustrations and achieve a successful plumbing project is to allow plenty of time-at least twice as much time as you think the project should take. Another smart step is to learn some tricks of the trade. Here are a few of our favorites. Reheat Solder When You Can’t Cut a Pipe The best way to disconnect a soldered pipe is to cut it. But sometimes you can’t—either because you can’t get a cutting tool into the space or because cutting would leave the pipe too short to make a new connection. The solution is to heat the joint and pull off the fitting as the solder melts. Have a wet rag handy and immediately wipe away the molten solder before it hardens. (Wear gloves to prevent burning your fingers!) Sometimes a quick wipe will leave th...

Toilet Shopping Tips Want to buy a new toilet? There are an array of options. We offer these tips for the next time you go toilet shopping. Next Project Sick of your old, leaky, water hog of a toilet and want to buy a new one? You'll find water-efficient toilets with an array of options. Our friends at Maximum Performance (MaP) Testing make a living putting toilets through their paces and offered these tips for the next time you go toilet shopping. Insulated tank If summers are humid where you live and you don’t have air conditioning, you’ve probably noticed your toilet “sweating” quite a bit. Condensation forms on the outside, which can drip down and make a mess or even rot out your floor. Some toilets are available with insulated tanks to prevent condensation problems. Bowl height This is the distance from the floor to the top of the toilet bowl’s rim. The standard height for toilets used to be 14 to 15 in. But today, you’ll find toilets that are...

Drainage and venting pipes are required by code to be pressure tested after installation. An improperly installed joint in a drainage pipe or vent could allow unsanitary conditions to occur inside a building as well as allow toxic gasses to enter. Testing drainage and vent pipes(DWV) is usually done after the rough-in, by sealing off all trap arms and the building drain using plugs or inflatable balls. There are four main tests that may be performed on the DWV system; which are: Ball test A ball test doesn't check for leaks, but instead insures a proper grade in the drainage pipes. At the local plumbing inspectors discretion he may use a ball to check for adequate grade by inserting it into a fitting; if all is well, the ball will make it to the clean out. Water pressure test When the rough-in drainage and vents are installed a water test can be performed by filling the system with at least 3 meters of water. All rough openings must be sealed and the main tightly plu...

DIV systems maintain neutral air pressure in the drains, allowing free flow of water and sewage down drains and through waste pipes by gravity. It is critical that a sufficient downward slope be maintained throughout, to keep liquids and en trained solids flowing freely towards the main drain from the building. In relatively rare situations, a downward slope out of a building to the sewer cannot be created, and a special collection pit and grinding lift "sewage ejector" pump are needed. By contrast, potable water supply systems operate under pressure to distribute water up through buildings, and do not require a continuous downward slope in their piping. Every fixture is required to have an internal or external trap; double trapping is prohibited by plumbing codes due to its susceptibility to clogging. Every plumbing fixture must also have an attached vent. The top of stacks must be vented too, via a  stack ve...

In this article you will learn the steps and plumbing information required to rough-in a toilet(water closet). Roughing in a toilet is not recommended for the average homeowner and should only be done by a licensed plumber; however, as long as you obtain a permit and have your work inspected, you should end up with a functional installation. The standard 12" rough-in measurement for toilets will accommodate 95% of the toilets on the market; however, there are many models available that require specific rough-in measurements. If you have a specific water closet in mind or space constraints that would not allow for a standard toilet, ensure you read the manufacture's specifications and installation instructions first. What we need Plumbing permit and possibly a building permit A variety of plumbing and carpentry tools Pipe and fittings Rules for toilet drains and vents * Always check with your local plumbing authority before attempting any project yoursel...