Plumbing How To

Snake a Plumbing Drain Backing Up

2013-07-19T21:07:00.001-07:00

Tips on using a Roto Snake

Snaking your own plumbing drain can be a great way to save you money. There are some things a homeowner should know before they dive into using a plumbing snake. These machines can be dangerous if not used properly. It is always a good idea to have another person with you while you operate the snake. You will need auger mitts to operate the larger plumbing snakes. An auger mitt will prevent the auger from breaking a finger or damaging your hands. Do not snake a plumbing drain without auger mitts. Before starting the plumbing snake make sure both you and the person with you know how to shut the plumbing snake off in case of emergency.

For Your Safety

Have another person with you while you operate the snake.
Do not snake a plumbing drain without auger mitts.
know how to shut the plumbing snake off.

Locate A Clean Out To Snake Through

You will need to run the plumbing snake through a clean out or an opening in your plumbing drains. Plumbers always look for a clean out. A plumbing clean out will typically be a threaded cap. In some cases they will be bolted on in older plumbing systems.

Notice that in the picture to the left a 3" clean out is shown. This particular drain pipe is located in the basement and a clean out has been installed before the drain enters through the concrete and then out to the city main plumbing drain. If you are having water back up in a floor drain, than this is a good clean out to use. The plumbing snake will pass by the floor drain line, on the way out of the home.

Locating your clean out is up to you. If you have any questions about locating your clean out or tips on how to find yours leave a comment below and we will be quick to respond.

Remove The Clean Out Cover
Now that we have located the plumbing drain clean out we need to remove the cap or cover off the plumbing drain. If you have a threaded cap than turn the cap counter clockwise with a pipe wrench or adjustable pliers.

If you have a plumbing drain clean out with bolts than remove the bolts off the clean out. Try to make sure not to wreck or damage the gasket on the clean out. When a plumbing drain, drains. The gasket is what stops water from exiting through this type of clean out.

Prepare The Plumbing Snake
The first thing you will need to do is insert a section of the snake coil through the snakes "whip". Insert the coil through the whip to the front of the snake. Using a tool for disconnecting coil lengths you will need to disconnect the first coil from the other coils.

Once you have a section of coil through the whip and in to the plumbing snake you will need to select an auger head. There are many different auger heads to choose from depending on what your dealing with.

Selecting an Auger Head
In this particular snaking we went with a root cutting auger head. We did this because we know that in the past this drain has roots growing in it. A good auger head to use is your not sure is an arrow head. An arrow head will get the drain at least up and running.

Insert the end of the coil with the auger head into the drain. Keep your snake only a 2-4 feet away from the clean out. To much coil out may result in the coil getting wrapped around your arm or hand.

Running the Plumbing Snake

Put the plumbing snake in forward when you are snaking down the drain. You can use reverse when you are trying to remove the snake from the drain. The snake should not turn the coil when the machine is on. If the machine turns the snake coil than there may be something wrong with the machine and it may not be safe to use.

Once the snake is in forward place one hand on the snake coil USING AND AUGER GLOVE and the other hand place on the lever coming off the snake.

Depress the lever down to make the snake catch the coil and start to turn the coil. Use the hand on the coil to manipulate the snake down the plumbing drain.
Let off the lever and pull out more of the coil. Depress the lever again and keep repeating this process until you have hit and removed the blockage.

You can test the drain by removing the snake from the clean out and running water down the drain.

Plumbing Services in Denver- Review

2013-06-16T11:36:00.000-07:00

Plumbing Services in Denver- Review

Mr. Rooter Denver

Hours:

Open Daily 24 Hours
Open 7 Days
Open Holidays About Mr. Rooter Denver

Whether you live in Littleton, Denver, Boulder, Loveland, Greeley, or anywhere else along the Front Range, we are just around the corner to deliver reliable plumbing services by expert professional plumbers who really enjoy their work and are dedicated to delivering exceptional customer service.

Services:

Home and Business Plumbing Repair, Drain Cleaning and Installation
Plumbing & Drain Cleaning Services * Clogged Drains and Pipes * Septic Tanks * Tree Root Removal * Video Inspection * HydroScrub * Trenchless Replacement Technology * Plumbing Installation & Repair * Copper Pipe * Kitchen/Bath Faucets and Sinks * Fixtures * Garbage Disposals * Gas Pipes, Meters & Vents * Septic Lines * Water Pressure & Leak Detection * Rusty Water Diagnosis * Backflow Prevention * Water Heater Installation & Repair * Water Pipe Installation & Repair * Water Softeners * Wells & Water Treatment
Maintenance Products * Bio-Choice ES * Grease Away Plus * Urine Away Plus * Commercial Plumbing Treatments
Services available at participating locations only. Please call for details.

Price Range: Set price according to task.

Done! Plumbing and Heating

Hours:

Open Daily 24 Hours

Open 7 Days

About Done! Plumbing Denver

Honesty is our top priority. We have been family owned and operated since 1999. That means we are Denver Plumbers with the belief that we should treat each customer as we wish to be treated—fairly, courteously and with the utmost integrity. This policy has served us, and our customers, very well. We are Denver Plumbers that know the havoc that issues with your plumbing can cause. We know how important it is to get our work done efficiently so that you can get on with your busy schedule.

Services:

24/7 Emergency Service
Commercial Building Plumbing
Drain Cleaning
Financing Available
Fixtures (Installation & Repair)
Garbage Disposal
Gas Pipes (Installation & Repair)
Home & Home Improvement
Plumbing Fixture Installation
Plumbing Repairs
Rusty Water
Septic Line (Installation & Repair)
Sewer and Water Lines
Sewer Back Up and Cleaning
Water Heater (Installation & Repair)
Water Pipe (Installation & Repair)
Water Pressure Problems
Wells & Water Treatment

SURE DRAIN Plumbing and Drain Cleaning

Hours:

Open Daily 24 Hours
Open 7 Days

About Sure Drain Plumbing Denver
“Professional Service” This is a one man company with exceptional service. He came out within an hour and a half and was knowlegable friendly and explained his services plus quoted price over the phone was what he charged, no surprises as with big companies that are always trying to make a bigger buck. Would not ever use a big company again and he guarantees his work. No one likes to have an unexpected drain problem but he made it affordable and not an unpleasant experience. If you have a drain problem, call this company as you will not be disappointed.

Services:

Sewer and Drain Cleaning:

Clogged Main Sewer Lines
Clogged Sinks
Clogged Showers & Tubs
Backed Up & Clogged Toilets
Jammed or Broken Garbage Disposals

Plumbing Repair and Replace Service:

Faucets and Fixtures
Leaky or Burst Water Pipes
Toilets and Urinals
Garbage Disposals
Water Heater

Sewer Repair / Replace:

Sewer Excavation
Clogged Sewers
Broken or Leaking Sewer Lines
Root Damage from Trees

Honest Plumbing

Hours:
Daily 8am-7pm
Appointments Available
24 Hour Emergency Service Available

About Honest Plumbing Denver

With over 17 years of experience solving plumbing problems, Honest Plumbing are the folks to call when you have plumbing problems here in Denver. Since 2010 we've been providing our customers a full line of plumbing contractor services to include, drain cleaning, , leak detection, rooter services, gas and water line installation, and water heater repair and replacement.

Services:

Honest Plumber is your full service plumber. Problems with your plumbing system are intrusions that need to be resolved quickly and professionally. It is our job to make those problems disappear when they occur. Call us, we'll do our part to restore your home to the comfortable and safe place you want it to be. We exist to make problems disappear. We are equipped to respond quickly and professionally to plumbing problems at your business or commercial properties. Honest Plumbing renders high quality service, with integrity, in a professional manner, at a fair price. We have experience diagnosing and resolving all your plumbing problems; we'll handle it all! And when your project is complete, we are still not done; your complete satisfaction is our top priority. Residential and Commercial Services We are the Plumbing Professionals to call if your home or business has: * Basic Leaks and Plumbing Problems * Water Heater Problems * Natural Gas Line Problems * Sewer Problems * Drain Problems * Septic Problems * Plastic Waterline Problems * Blue Poly Leaks We also specialize in Water Heater and Gas Line installations. For all of these jobs, we will travel to your home or business at no charge, assess your problem and deliver options to best serve your needs and price range. Your Satisfaction is our Top Priority for Every Project It can best be summed up as our vision to consistently deliver uncompressed excellence and customer service.

Air Admittance Valve (AAV) Problems

2013-04-08T16:25:00.002-07:00

Are Air Admittance Valves Safe?

(Air Admittance Valve = A.A.V)
There is debate on whether or not air admittance valves should be used in plumbing systems. Most codes will allow the use of an air admittance valve as long as the AAV is certified by a safety comity such as C.S.A. The do sell non approved air admittance valves in hardware stores. The difference in cost is typically a lot. For example a CSA approved AAV could cost anywhere from $40-$50 whereas a non approved AAV sells for around $5-$10. Many people cheap out on the AAV and it's not really where you should try to save money. There are some problems that can occur with an AAV that could harm your health.

What Problems Can an Air Admittance Valve Cause?

The most common problem that occurs with an AAV is that the check valve inside the device can get caught open. When the check valve inside the air admittance valve is stuck open there is nothing holding back sewer gases from entering your home. This is a pretty obvious health issue in your home. There are noxious and dangerous gases in the sewer pipes that can potentially be harmful. This is why you want to spend the little extra and purchase an AAV that is CSA approved. the check valves in a CSA approved air admittance valve function better , they are tested, and less likely to get stuck open.

Another air admittance valve problem is they often times covered up behind drywall or hidden. An AAV should always be accessible. The vent should be maintained regularly to prevent failure of the device. a homeowner should check the device monthly to ensure it is working properly.

How to Test an Air Admittance Valve

To test an air admittance valve make sure that the AAV is accessible. Fill a sink that the valve is venting to the top. Let the sink drain and listen to the valve as the sink drains. You should be able to hear the AAV pulling in air from the room. You can even put your hand over the valve to make sure. Once the sink has finished draining the check valve in the AAV will close. If the check valve closes than the air admittance valve is working properly.

If you are still not sure if the AAV is working or not you can remove it from the pipe. Once removed hold the valve straight up and blow into it with your mouth completely sealing the bottom. If you can blow air out of the air admittance valve than the check valve is not working and you should replace it. (clean the air admittance valve before putting your mouth on it).

Recommended Air Admittance Valve From PlumbingHow.com

Toilet Backing Up in the Basement

2013-03-27T21:38:00.000-07:00

Why is Your Basement Toilet Backing Up?

There are a few different reasons that your basement toilet could be backing up. When it comes to plumbing problems, situations can vary depending on the circumstances involved such as how your plumbing drains/ leaves from your home out to a sewer or septic tank. Here we will go over possible scenarios why a basement toilet would be backing up. Keep in mind that it really depends on how your plumbing drains are ran, also situations vary from problem to problem. If at any point you think you may be over your head it is always good to call a licensed plumber to come inspect the plumbing issue. We will start with the cheapest fix or less cost and work our way up to more costly repairs.

The Toilet is Backing Up

Could it just be the basement toilet that is backing up? Often times the repair is as simple and cost effective as that. You do not need to call a plumber for a backed up toilet. There are several ways to unclog a toilet that any home owner can do themselves. The two easiest ways to unclog a toilet are below.

Use the correct plunger to unclog the toilet.-People make the mistake of buying a fancy plunger so it matched the shower curtain and paint. But do yourself a favor and your guests and keep a proper toilet plunger in your washroom. Below are our recommendations for a proper toilet plunger
Use a Toilet Snake To Unclog The Toilet- Toilet snakes are a specially designed auger that anyone can learn to use easily. The toilet snake will go all the way through the toilet and clear any blockages along the way. Below are our recommendations for a quality toilet auger.

Something Went Down the Toilet- Kids Toys?

This is common especially if you have young children. Kids unfortunately love to flush anything within their reach down the toilet and watch it disappear. If something went down your toilet like a toy and you had no luck with a plunger or toilet auger than odds are that the object is now stuck in your plumbing drains. This problem requires you to remove the toilet and either auger it out and try to push the toy into a larger plumbing drain further down stream or get your drain inspected with a sewer camera by a plumber to see what has got itself stuck in your sewer drain. At this point it is recommended that you call in a professional if you think you are over your head. A plumber will inspect your drain and give you a cost on how much it would be to fix it. If you attempt to do it yourself just be aware that you can make it much worse and much more expensive. Below is our recommended plumber in your area.

Main Sewer Line is Blocked or Broken

Sewer pipe Broken

This is unfortunately all to common. The reason your basement toilet is backing up is because the basement toilet is the lowest fixture downstream in your home along with the floor drain. When a sewer drain starts backing up, the first place you will see it is at the first place it can exit the sewer. Because the toilet flange is flush to the floor the sewer pipe fills up and naturally blocks the toilet off not allowing water to go down. Often times the sewage water will start to come out the bottom of the toilet base. You can try to pull the toilet and rent or buy an auger and free the blockage yourself. Most plumbing companies charge anywhere from 150-250 to auger a sewer drain depending on the plumbing company.

Keep in mind that sewer problems can vary a lot and can get very costly depending on the situation and damage to the sewer pipe. It is always recommended that you get a plumber to come give you a sewer inspection and education on your sewer drain. Seeing the problem yourself gives you a better understanding of the situation and what is involved in repairing the sewer.

Please leave us with your questions or stories of your basement toilet backing up.

Sewer Drain Repair - What You Need To Know

2013-03-16T21:31:00.002-07:00

Is It Time To Replace Your Sewer Drain?

There are multiple reasons why it may be time to replace your sewer drain. There a plumbing companies that make there living off sewer drain replacement so do not feel like you are alone when you start having sewer issues. It is unfortunately a common problem that a lot of home owners face at one point or another when owning a home. There are options when it comes to replacing a sewer drain that we will go over in this article. It is always a good idea to get a couple of different quotes from different plumbing companies as it can be costly. If you have any comments or questions on this article please leave them bellow.

Why do Sewer Drains Fail?

There are multiple reasons why a sewer drain could fail. While the problems are usually in the same catagories , every situation is different because not all sewer drains are installed the same. When it comes to fixing or replacing a sewer drain a licensed plumber should inspect your drain to find the source of why the sewer drain has failed and give you options on a solution. The following list are some of the reasons why a sewer drain could fail.

Root Intrusion- Roots have entered the sewer drain and blocked it off.
Sewer Pipe Collapse- The walls of the sewer drain have collapsed and waste can not pass.
Sewer Pipe Shift- A section of the sewer drain has shifted causing the pipe to slope in the wrong direction or break apart.
Sewer Drain Blockage- The sewer drain has become blocked by something going through your plumbing drains.

The first step a homeowner needs to take when they start having a sewer drain issue is to contact a plumber to come inspect the sewer drain.
Plumbing contractors have sewer cameras that allow them to travel down the entire length of the sewer drain and locate the exact source of the sewer drain problem. This takes all the guess work out of detecting the problem and allows the plumbing contractor to give an accurate quote to the homeowner and also give the homeowner options on how to repair the sewer.

What Options Does a Homeowner Have When Fixing a Sewer

There are several options available some have been used for years by plumbers while other newer technologies have started to surface and plumber have been having great success with them. As mentioned before every sewer drain is different so options will vary depending on the situation. Some factors include

How damaged the sewer drain is
What type of soil the sewer pipe is in
Where the property is located
What type of sewer pipe was used
The depth of the sewer drain

Once a plumber has inspected your sewer drain he/she will be able to give you a better understanding of what has happened to the sewer drain and what needs to happen to get the drain back up and running. Again it is always a good idea to get a couple different opinions and quotes before you start digging up your lawn.

How can a Sewer Drain Be Repaired
While every situation may the following list are typical ways of repairing a sewer drain. Costs will depend on the situation and the labour and material involved to perform the repair. Again always get a couple of different quotes and opinions oh how to fix the sewer drain before you sign with the first contractor that comes to your door. Unless this plumber has performed work for you in the past and you trust there opinion.

Have the sewer drain augured- Most cost effective way of getting a sewer drain up and running agin. Not always an option though if the sewer drain is in bad shape auguring could just make it worse.
Dig up the sewer drain and installed a new one- This is a very labour and material oriented which means money. However if its the only option than it is what it is.
Have the sewer drain hydro scrubbed (pressure washed)- This can cut roots out of the drain or remove blockages. If roots have entered your sewer drain than this is only a temporary fix but will buy you time to save the money to replace the sewer drain.
Spot Dig- This involves digging up a small portion of the sewer pipe and replacing just a section of sewer pipe. If the pipe is not to deep this task can sometimes be dug by hand.
Trenchless Sewer Drain Replacement- This involves no digging, a liner is installed in the sewer drain. Cost will vary on this installation. A liner will save you from having machinery tear up your front lawn and turning your house in to a construction zone. For more info on liners see the link to your local plumbing companies website.

Rooter Rooter Plumbing Review

2013-02-27T19:47:00.000-08:00

When drains start to back up most people think "rooter-rooter", however they are getting this confused with the two most popular rooter rooter companies, which are either Mr. Rooter or Roto Rooter. Both plumbing companies offer very similar plumbing services. When someone is thinking rooter rooter it typically means that they need a drain in the house augured or cleaned. What some people do not know is that both rooter companies Mr. Rooter and Roto Rooter offer full plumbing service not just drains.

Are Rooter Rooter Plumbing Companies Better?

Is rooter rooter better? Not necessarily , while they do provide industry leading cutomer service it does not give them the title of the best plumbing companies. If you do not know a plumber or any plumbing company than a rooter rooter company is a safe bet. The last thing you want is a fly by night plumbing company coming over to your home and not knowing what to expect and just hoping for the best. With a rooter rooter company you can be reassured that a qualified licensed plumber will come to your door and be courteous and respectful of you and your house. This is one of there main selling features which keeps customers coming back to rooter rooter companies.

Mr. Rooter Vs Roto Rooter

Comparing Mr. Rooter to Roto Rooter is difficult. Both plumbing companies offer very similar services. The main selling point of both plumbing companies (aside from actual work) is the commitment to customer service. Both Mr Rooter and Roto Rooter are companies that focus on keeping the customer happy.

Drop Sheets
Prompt Service
Friendly Plumbers
24 Hour service
Plumbing Maintenance Packages
Shoe Booties

It is difficult to say which rooter rooter company is better because they are so similar. What it really comes down to is the plumber that these two rooter companies send to your home. Its a great skill to provide fantastic customer service and put on a good song and dance for the homeowner, however a good plumber is a good plumber no matter which company he/she works for. It all comes down to how good your plumber really is. Some plumbers are just better and more knowledgeable than others.

In Conclusion
Both Mr Rooter and Roto Rooter are among the top plumbing companies in North America. Choosing one of these two companies will give you piece of mind that a professional will service all your plumbing needs. There is no definitive answer on which rooter rooter plumbing company is better its a case of which rooter rooter company in your area has the best plumbers on staff.

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Sink Wont Drain? 3 Options for Clogged sink Drains

2013-02-20T20:54:00.002-08:00

Everyone has been in this situation at one point in there lives. The moment that slow sink drain wont drain anymore. You've watched the sink drain slowly get worse and worse and now it has completely stopped draining. So now what do you do to get the clogged sink drain draining again? Here we will go over a couple options you may have in order to drain your sink again. These options are organized from easiest to more difficult so start with option 1 to unclog your sink.

Unclogging a Sink Drain Options

1.Clean the P-trap and pop-up assembly
2.Use a Sink Plunger
3.Auger The Sink Drain

Clean the P-trap and Pop-Up assembly

In many cases when a sink drain is clogged the culprit is in either the pop-up assembly of the sink drain or the p-trap on the sink drain. Many plumbing service calls are as simple as disconnecting a customers pop-up assembly and removing the p-trap and you will find all sorts of things in there. Both the sink drain pop-up assembly and the p-trap can cleaned quickly and easily.
To learn how to clean the pop-up assembly and p-trap see How To Easy Fix Bathroom Sink.

Use a Sink Plunger

A sink plunger works different than a toilet plunger. The main difference between a sink plunger and a toilet plunger is that a toilet plunger your trying to push the clog through, where as a sink plunger your pulling the clog out. When using a plunger on a sink I have always had much better luck pulling the blockage out of the sink as opposed to pushing it into the drain.
Here is an article on the best sink plunger to use and how to get one The Best Sink Plunger

Auguring The Sink Drain (also called snaking)

Auguring a sink drain is not overly difficult if your comfortable with power tools. If you are not comfortable with using a power tool than you will need to call a plumber unfortunately. If you are comfortable using a power tool than auguring the sink drain will get you up and running. Auguring a sink drain involves sending a cable with a specific head attachment down the drain that spins and forces its way through the clog. There are hand augurs available that do not require power however more often times then not they do not work or do a poor job and the sink is back to draining slow in no time.

In Conclusion
many people go straight to drano or other chemicals to get a sink draining again when a small amount of knowledge about sink drains is all they really need. I personally would never use any chemicals to get a clogged sink drain flowing again, the three options above will get a clogged sink drain draining again in no time. You May also have a venting issue with the sink drain.
For more information on venting a sink drain see How To Vent a Sink

Recommended PlumbingHow.com Articles

Waterline For a Refrigerator

2013-02-18T19:31:00.001-08:00

How to install a waterline for a refrigerator. Many refrigerator's now come with a water tap and an ice maker. Here we will show you how you can install a waterline for a refrigerator. When installing a waterline to a refrigerator it is always a good idea to check the install manual you received when your purchased the refrigerator.

Installing a Waterline for a Refrigerator

You need to locate the nearest cold waterline to the refrigerator.
Once you have found the nearest cold waterline you need to install a valve in the cold waterline for the refrigerator line.

Installing A Valve For a Refrigerator

SharkBite Fitting
Online $12.53
Hardware Store $16.89
You Save $4.36

When Installing a valve for your refrigerator the most popular way to do this is to just solder in a valve. However many people are not that comfortable with soldering. If you are someone who is not comfortable with soldering than you can install a sharkbite fitting for a refrigerator. Sharkbite fittings for refrigerators a very simple to install, basically your just cut the copper and push the Sharkbite fitting on to either end of the copper and they hold every time. I always recommend sharkbite fitting for someone who is not comfortable with soldering. why take the chance when it comes to water damage.

Installing a Waterline From Valve To Refrigerator

Waterline at back of refrigerator

Once you have your valve installed on your cold waterline for your refrigerator you will need to install a waterline to the refrigerator. There are 3 different types of materials you could use for this either plastic, cross linked poly or soft copper. Plastic is cheaper however can be punctured easily. Make sure if you use plastic to ensure nothing can puncture the line.

Waterline For Refrigerator
Online $22.98
Hardware Store $34.43
You Save $11.45

On the back of the refrigerator is a connection for you waterline. you will need to run the waterline from your cold shut off to your refrigerator and make the connection at the back of the refrigerator. Below is a kit that you can buy that will have everything you need to hook up a waterline for a refrigerator.

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The Best Sink Plunger

2013-02-11T19:39:00.003-08:00

Waxman Sink and Drain Plunger

The Best Sink Plunger has got to be the Waxman Sink and Drain Plunger. I use this sink plunger personally on service calls all the time. Homeowners pay a lot of money to have a plumber come in when there kitchen sink, bathroom sink is backing up. Homeowner's will save a lot of money by having one of these sink plungers at home. The sink plunger is inexpensive especially when you take into the account how much a plumber is going to charge you to come over to your house and use this exact sink plunger to unclog your sink. This is the sink plunger I uses to unclog your backed up sink drain.

Why Is this Sink Plunger So Good?

What makes the Waxman Sink and Drain plunger the best for unclogging sink drains is the design of the sink plunger. The rubber base creates a tight seal around the drain. Its not so much when you press the plunger down as it is when you pull the plunger back up. The sink plunger pulls everything out of the drain when you pull the plunger after depressing it down. You will be amazed at how much will come back out of your drain that is causing the sink to clog up.

Where To Buy a Waxman Sink Plunger

List Price: $43.89: Price: $25.30
You Save: $18.59 (42%)

Brand:Waxman
UPC:028905505956
Availability: 13 in stock, Order Now!

I bought my sink plunger from a website called Plumber Surplus. It cost me around 20-25 dollars for the Waxman sink plunger which is about a quarter of the price a plumber will charge to come and plunger your sink for you. I have included a link to there site. There are others on the market that look a little similar however all the sink plungers I have tried in the past are a distant second to this one.

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Plumbing How To Solder

2013-02-10T02:23:00.001-08:00

How To Solder Copper Pipe

Learning to solder copper pipe is very simple. At one point in every homeowners life there comes a time when you need to solder copper pipe for one reason or another. Here we will show you how to solder copper pipe in your plumbing system.

Plumbing How To Solder Copper.

Use grit cloth (or even sand paper works fine, something gritty), you need to clean the section of copper where you will be soldering the copper pipe together. You must clean the copper pipe to remove the oxidized coating on the copper pipe. You will not get a proper solder joint if you skip this step or do it poorly. Make sure the copper pipe looks new where you will be soldering.
Clean the copper fitting that you will be soldering. Again you need to sand off the oxidized coating on the copper pipe or you will not get a proper solder joint.
Apply Acid Flux to both the copper pipe and the copper fitting. Joint the copper pipe to the copper fitting. The acid will further clean the copper pipe when the copper pipe is heated. failure to add acid flux to the copper will result in an improper solder joint.
Light your torch and begin to heat the fitting not the pipe. You want the fitting to receive the most heat as the solder will pull into the fitting.
As you are heating the copper fitting, touch the pipe to fitting joint with your solder wait for the solder to begin to melt and pull into the copper fitting.
Allow the copper pipe to cool down and test for leaks.

See Our Article on Problems Soldering Copper Pipe if you are having problems.

Watch Our video from PlumbingHow.com on how to solder copper pipe for a visual demonstration. Thank you for visiting our site and please leave any feedback you may have.

Air Admittance Valve Installation

2013-02-06T02:46:00.000-08:00

air admittance valve installation

There are a few things you should know about an air admittance valve installation before you start cutting plumbing drains. Air admittance valves are an easy way to vent a fixture however there is one thing to mention before we get into the air admittance valve installation. Make sure you purchase an air admittance valve that has been approved. They make cheap air admittance valves that you can buy at your local hardware store or online. Do not cheap out on this device, cheap air admittance valves fail and when they fail they let sewer gas into your home.

Air Admittance Valve Installation

When installing an air admittance valve the valve is installed after the ptrap. The air admittance valve lets air into the plumbing drain when a sink is draining. This device is installed to protect the ptrap of the fixture its serving. Without a vent of any kind a drain can not only make a glugging noise and drain slow but also the water out of the ptrap can be pulled out letting sewer gas into your home.
During the air admittance valve installation ensure that the air admittance valve is installed no further than 4'11" from the ptrap pf the fixture it is serving. any further than 4'11" and the air admittance valve will not function properly.
Install the air admittance valve vertically. The valve will not function if it's installed in any manner other than vertical.

Recap for an Air Admittance Valve Installation

Install the air admittance valve after the ptrap.
Install the air admittance valve no further than 4'11" from the ptrap.
Install the air admittance in the vertical position.

Air admittance Valve Installation

Top 3 One Piece Toilet Review

2013-01-31T21:59:00.000-08:00

Our review of the top 3 one piece toilets in 2013. One piece toilets have become more popular again in the design of today's bathroom. We have been seeing the demand for one piece toilets go up over the last decade, but what makes the one piece toilet so sought after is its sleek design and lower maintenance on toilet parts.Here we will look at our favorite one piece toilets of 2013.

Kohler San Raphael

Kohler one-piece round-front toilet with concealed trap

The Kohler San Raphael one-piece round-front toilet is a very modern and sleek one piece toilet. Kohler is known for there exceptional quality when it comes to manufacturing toilets so quality of the toilet is no question. The Kohler San Raphael one piece toilet looks great in any bathroom and the concealed trap makes cleaning of this toilet simple. The toilet delivers complete 3.5-gallon performance in a 1.6-gallon package.

Elongated Toilet

American Standard Cadet 3 One-Piece

The American Standard Linen Cadet 3 has got to be in this plumbers opinion the top pick for a one piece toilet on the market. I say this because of a few reasons, the price of the one piece Cadet 3 is significantly lower then other one piece toilets on the market. The lower cost does not affect the quality of the product in the least. Call backs are a plumbers nightmare and with the American Standard one piece cadet 3 it is very rare for me to receive a call back which puts this one piece toilet at the top of my list.

American Standard Tropic One-Piece Elongated Toilet

The American standard Tropic one piece toilet made our top list because of its visual design a s well as quality manufacturing. The American Standard Tropic is a visually pleasing toilet that will demand attention when you walk in to the bathroom. With exceptional quality in the mechanisms in the one piece toilet it is low maintenance easy to clean and plumbers don't get call backs. We highly recommend the American Standard Tropic for your new bathroom.

Plumbing How To

Discount Plumbing Fixtures - STOP here first

2013-01-15T18:30:00.000-08:00

Plumbing How To -Here we have compiled our top list of websites that offer big discounts on plumbing fixtures online. The following websites have 1000's of plumbing products that can be purchased by the home owner. Please leave us any feedback on these following sites, all of these sites have a very high customer approval rating.

1.PlumberSurplus.com offers its customers thousands of home improvement and plumbing products in a variety of categories. With tens of thousands of products available, there knowledgeable staff can help answer customer’s questions quickly and easily online via email or live chat, or on the phone. PlumberSurplus.com is my personal go to website for buying plumbing products online. This website features all the top brands at must go prices ( Moen, Delta, Kohler, American Standard...etc). If you can't find the faucet, sink, bathtub, toilet or what ever plumbing product your looking for on this site than it does not exist. I find most plumbing products at least %30 off regular store price. All in all very professional company free shipping and big savings on plumbing products.

Coupons for PlumberSurplus.com

Save up to 60% on Brand Names for your Kitchen, Bath and Remodel at PlumberSurplus.com
$10 off at PlumberSurplus.com - use coupon code PSCJAFF0RLHUM

2.eFaucets With over 40 top brands, discounts on fixtures, offers like low prices, free shipping*, same day shipping, real-time inventory, media rich shopping - eFaucets is a very trustworthy site and was a 2007 BizRate "Circle of Excellence" award winner. efaucets has very low prices much lower than hardware stores and also offers free shipping so you save much more then going to your local hardware store and you don't even have to leave your house. With all the top brands like Moen, Kohler, Delta and many more, efaucets is worth the time to look.

Coupons for eFaucets

3.Modern Bathroom is an online leader in bathroom remodeling products, including vanities, sinks, faucets, bathtubs and storage solutions in modern and traditional styles. We are proud to offer the best brands in bathroom remodeling, along with our own Modern Bathroom and Wyndham Collection product lines.

FREE shipping on all orders
Factory-direct discounts of up to 70% off retail price
Wide selection of bathroom remodeling products from brands like Virtu, Design Element, Toto, MTI, Danze and more
Visually appealing and easy-to-use website Informative product reviews on most items
Special eco-friendly and clearance shopping sections
Discount Plumbing Fixtures

Coupons For Modern Bathroom

Save up to 10% on select brands at Modern Bathroom's Thanksgiving Sale

Discount Plumbing Fixtures

Bathroom Sink Draining into Bathtub

2013-01-07T19:56:00.002-08:00

Sink Draining into Bathtub

Plumbing How To -When the bathroom sink drains it comes up in my bathtub. The bathtub has dirty water coming up...This is a common plumbing problem and can be fixed with the proper understanding of why it is happening. Here we will talk about how the plumbing for the bathroom is plumbed in and how you can fix the bathroom sink draining into the bathtub.

Water is Coming up Bathtub

The most probable reason that water is coming up the bathtub is that there is a blockage in your plumbing drain. The reason that dirty water from the bathroom sink is coming into the bathtub is because the two fixtures are tied together at some point. The blockage is after the point where the bathtub and sink connect. The reason the water comes up the bathtub and not the sink, is simply because the bathtub drain is much lower than the sink drain.

Stop the Sink Drain Coming up the Bathtub

Bathroom Drains

Auger The Drain

To stop dirty water from draining into the bathtub you need to auger either the bathtub drain or the sink drain. Because the blockage in the plumbing drain is after where the two plumbing drains tie together you can auger either one. For more information on how to auger a bathtub or a bathroom sink see the following articles.

How To Auger a Sink - PlumbingHow.com
How To Auger a Bathtub - PlumbingHow.com

Where To Buy An Auger for Bathtub or Sink

There are many places to buy an auger for cleaning out your drains in your house. Auguring a drain can be done easily by the homeowner and can save upwards of $125-$200 in calling a plumber to do it for you. They can be purchased online cheep. Our recommended augers for cleaning out plumbing drains are below.

Plumbing How to Solder Copper - Videos

2012-12-29T09:25:00.002-08:00

Plumbing How To Solder Copper

Plumbing how to solder copper pipe video and tips on problems soldering copper pipe. Learn to solder copper pipe in this video from plumbinghow.com. For information if you are having any problems soldering copper pipe see our article below the video for more information on problems soldering copper pipe.

How To - Problems Solder Copper Pipe

How To Copper Solder Problem: Solder will not melt into the fitting.

You have not completely cleaned the copper and removed the oxidized top layer. Copper pipe will oxidize over a short period of time. You can clean off the oxidized copper with an abrasive material, if nothing else basic sand paper will work. Make sure if you are soldering a fitting (i.e. 90, 45, tee) that you also clean and remove the oxidized layer where the copper will enter the fitting. Always remember that the cleaner the copper the better the solder joint.

How To Copper Solder Problem: Solder will not melt into the copper fitting
You did not brush on “Acid Flux”. Soldering flux is formulated to remove a film of oxides from the metal and make the solder and metal more able to dissolve in each other. It is an absolute must for getting your solder to take.

How To Copper Solder Problem: Solder will not melt into the copper fitting.

There is a small trace of water getting into the pipe. Water can be a big problem when soldering for the obvious reason that the torch will not get the copper hot enough for the solder to melt. Here is a small list to check off before you go any further.

1.Make sure the Main valve coming into the dwelling is not letting a small trace of water through.

2.Open your highest fixture in the dwelling and lowest to ensure that the water is not being trapped in the lines.

3.Blow in the line with your mouth to push any standing water out of the lines.

PlumbingHow.com Related Articles

How To Install a Bathroom Sink

2012-12-20T18:07:00.001-08:00

How To Install a Bathroom Sink

Learn how to install a bathroom sink with this easy to follow video from plumbinghow.com. In this video we go over how to remove a cracked bathroom sink and replace it with a new sink. The video includes how to remove the faucet from the old sink and install it on the new sink. The video also includes how to remove and install the sink drain from the old sink to the new bathroom sink.

How To Basement Bathroom Plumbing

2012-12-16T15:32:00.001-08:00

How To Basement Bathroom Plumbing

New Bathroom Plumbing

If you are looking to add a bathroom and plumbing in your basement than there are a few possible scenarios to look at as far as running plumbing for the bathroom goes. Here we will go over different situations in which your basement bathroom can be successfully installed. The first thing we need to look at where to discharge the waste from the plumbing fixtures we will be installing. The two big factors to start are..
1.Plumbing for the house in under the basement floor.
2.Plumbing for the house is above the basement floor.

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You will need to find out if your drainage for your plumbing runs underneath the basement floor or if the drainage for your homes plumbing is above the basement floor and leaves the building through the basement wall. This is important to know before you start planning your basement bathroom.

Plumbing for the house is above the basement floor

If your plumbing for the house is leaving the building above the basement floor than you will need to install a pump to discharge the waste from the new bathroom you are adding. There are a couple options when it comes to pump systems for basement bathroom plumbing. A pump system is your only option when it comes to running your basement bathroom plumbing, because your plumbing drain is higher than your future plumbing for your basement bathroom than you will need to install a pump to discharge the waste to the level that your current plumbing leaves your house so it will be able to drain by gravity.

Recommended Pump Systems

Click For Price and Info

An external unit is a macerator or grinder that is installed behind our toilets. As every installation is different, we have various models. Some models can be installed behind the wall (using an extension pipe), some are used with standard toilets (Sanigrind) and others require Saniflo's toilets.

Their lifting ability allows you to install toilets or a complete bathroom wherever you want them, from the basement to the attic, working around any obstacles.

Click The Toilet Image for more information and cost of a saniflo system.

Click For Price and Info

Liberty Pumps introduces the new Ascent™ macerating toilet system. Now you can have the freedom to install a bathroom easily where gravity drain lines do not exist without breaking floors. Perfect for remodeling or home additions, the system features an attractive elongated ADA comfort toilet with a macerating pump that pumps the waste to an existing gravity sewer line in the building. The pump can perform to vertical heads of 15' and runs of up to 150' horizontally. The system is shipped complete in one package

Click The Toilet Image for more information and cost of a Liberty Pump system.

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Plumbing- How To Fix a Toilet Videos

2012-10-28T19:07:00.000-07:00

Plumbing- How To Fix a Toilet Videos

Toilets can make different noises when they are not working correctly. Here we have found many different videos on how to fix a toilet. These are great plumbing videos that will explain how to fix a toilet.

How To Fix a Fill Valve

Great video on how to fix a fill valve. The fill valve is what fills and controls the water going into the tank of the toilet. If you need help with your fill valve than this is a great video on how to diagnose and replace a fill valve for a toilet.

iugyu

How To Fix a Toilet Handle

Great video on how to fix a toilet handle. If your toilet handle has become dislodged or is broken and needs to be replaced than this video will help you get your toilet back and flushing properly.

How to Replace a Bathroom sink

2012-10-08T21:50:00.000-07:00

How to Replace a Bathroom sink

Plumbing How To - Replacing a bathroom sink can be a rather inexpensive job that can add value and looks to any bathroom. By the end of this you should have no problem replacing your outdated or old bathroom sink. You will need to shut off the water to your sink in most cases. If you do not have shut offs for the sink or do not know how to shut the water off than see our article on shutting water off to my house.

How to Replace a Bathroom Sink – Types of Sinks

Here we will be discussing how to replace two types of bathroom sinks. The first sink we will talk about how to replace is a steel sink. Steel sinks are your cheapest way of replacing a sink. The second type of bathroom sink we will talk about how to replace a porcelain sink. If you are not sure what type of bathroom sink you have than refer to the pictures in this article. A porcelain sink is the same material as your toilet.

How to Replace a Steel Bathroom Sink

1.    Turn off the water to the bathroom sink, open the faucet to relive the pressure after the water is shut off to the bathroom sink.
2.    Disconnect the supply lines from the shut offs. Use a small container to catch the excess water in the supply lines to the bathroom sink.
3.    Steel bathroom sinks are fastened with mounting clips underneath the bathroom sink. Using a drill or a screw driver back these mounting clips off the steel bathroom sink.
4.    Once you have all the mounting brackets off the steel bathroom sink than you will need to disconnect the sink drain. There should be a trap adapter nut on your sink drain. Back this nut off to allow the sink to be pulled up and off the vanity.
5.    Now that you have the sink pulled out of the vanity you will need disconnect you faucet and drain off the old steel bathroom sink and install them on your new steel bathroom sink. See the following links for information. How To Easy Fix Bathroom Sink and Changing a Faucet in Your Home.
6.    When the faucet and drain are installed on the new steel bathroom sink than simply reverse what you just did. Remember to put your steel mounting clips on the steel bathroom sink before setting the sink back into the vanity.
7.    Tighten the nut back on to your drains trap adapter.
8.    Tighten your water supplies back on to your water shut offs. Turn on the water and test for leaks.

How to Replace a Porcelain Sink

1.    Turn off the water to the bathroom sink, open the faucet to relive the pressure after the water is shut off to the bathroom sink.
2.    Disconnect the supply lines from the shut offs. Use a small container to catch the excess water in the supply lines to the bathroom sink.
3.    Porcelain bathroom sinks are usually mounted with DAP or caulking. You will need to use a utility knife and carefully cut the caulking around the sink. Take your time.
4.    Once you have the sink loose you will then need to disconnect the sink drain. You can do this by loosening the trap adaptor nut on the sink drain.
5.    At this point you should be able to completely remove the porcelain bathroom sink from the vanity.
6.    Now that you have the porcelain sink pulled out of the vanity you will need disconnect you faucet and drain off the old porcelain bathroom sink and install them on your new porcelain bathroom sink. See the following links for information. How To Easy Fix Bathroom Sink and Changing a Faucet in Your Home
7.    When the faucet and drain are installed on the new porcelain bathroom sink than simply reverse what you just did. Remember to put your DAP or caulking on the porcelain bathroom sink before setting the sink back into the vanity.
8.    Wipe off excess DAP or caulking from the porcelain sink.
9.    Tighten the nut back on to your drains trap adaptor.
10.    Tighten your water supplies back on to your water shut offs. Turn on the water and test for leaks.
11.    When using DAP or caulking make sure you do not get the DAP or caulking wet for the recommended time on the back of your tube. Typically 24 hours.

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Toilet Leaking From the Base

2012-10-02T14:14:00.001-07:00

Toilet Leaking From Base

Plumbing How To - This is a very common plumbing problem when the toilet leaking from base occurs. Here we will go over how to fix this plumbing problem and how to correctly install the toilet so the toilet leaking from base does not happen again. The first thing we have to go over is that were assuming the toilet still flushes and is not backing up. If it is backing up and toilet leaks from base then see Sewer Water Coming Into Basement.

Why The Toilet is Leaking From Base

The toilet is leaking from the base because there is a seal typically wax (could be rubber also) that seals your toilet to the flange in the floor. The reason the toilet is leaking from base is that your seal has been compromised and needs to be replaced. The reasons a seal could have been compromised are as followed.

Why a Toilet Leaks from the Base

Wax Seal on Toilet Leaking from base

Improper Installation from the start.
Toilet wasn't fastened down properly and was rocky.
Wax or Rubber Gasket has broken down
Toilet base is cracked
Toilet flange is cracked or broken

How To Fix the Toilet Leaking From Base

You will need to replace the seal or gasket as it is called in order to stop the toilet leaking from base. To replace the gasket it will require you to un install the toilet from the floor flange via the two or four bolts that fasten it to the floor. For instructions on how to install a toilet again see
HOW DO YOU INSTALL A TOILET

Should You Caulk Around the Toilet?

No this is not a solution but only will create a much bigger problem for you as it wont stop the toilet from leaking it will only either flood your house or destroy your sub floor underneath your toilet. For information on caulking a toilet please see our article on Should you Caulk around a Toilet.

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Toilet Leaking From Base

Run a Plumbing Drain

2012-09-30T20:49:00.002-07:00

How To Run a Plumbing Drain

Plumbing How To : Here we will talk about how to run a plumbing drain in a studded wall. When you plan to run a plumbing drain in a studded wall there are a few things to know before you start drilling holes through your studded wall. We will be mainly focusing on how to run a plumbing drain for a vanity or pedestal sink. Please leave us a question if you are unsure of anything in this post.

What Slope to Put on a Plumbing Drain

A plumbing drain will need to be sloped at 1/4" per foot of pipe ran. So if you need to run 4 feet of pipe you will need to have 1" of slope. How to run the plumbing pipe with slope. The following steps are a good guideline when you plan on running your plumbing drain. Typically sink drains are stubbed out of the wall at 18" unless you have a specialty sink that requires other wise.

Mark the stud where the sink drain will come out at 18" off the floor
Measure from that stud to the lat stud you need to drill
Subtract the distance from 18" at a 1/4" per foot (e.g) 2 feet = 17-1/2" or 4 feet = 17"
Put a 4" level on the 18" mark you made and on the subtracted end where the plumbing drain ends
hold the 4' level against the studs and mark all the studs you need to drill

How to Drill the Studs for the Plumbing Drain

When drilling studs for a plumbing drain plumbers typically use Hole Hawgs which are expensive drills to the average home owner who just needs to run one plumbing drain. A cheaper way to go about this is to just buy a hole saw. You can buy hole saws in kits or just one size. For 1-1/2" drain pipe you will need to buy a 1-3/4" hole saw to drill for the plumbing drain. You can purchase a hole saw from Ebay cheep.

How To Run a Plumbing Drain Tips

SMASH PLATE

Once you have the plumbing drain installed in the studs you have cut out, you should put smash plates where you drilled the drain in through the stud. A smash plate protects from anyone drilling through your drain or putting drywall screws through the plumbing drain.
Make sure you have glued all your plumbing joints that you have made. This would be much harder to fix later on.
Make sure you have stubbed the drain out the wall at center where the sink will be.
Cap off the plumbing drain you stubbed out so that sewer gases will not enter your home.

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How To Install Pex Plumbing

2012-09-29T02:50:00.000-07:00

PEX Plumbing How To

Plumbing How To install Pex Plumbing. Pex plumbing pipe has become more popular in new construction and renovations. Pex stands for cross-linked polyethylene pipe it feels and looks like plastic. People sometimes call it plastic pipe however PEX is the plumbing terminology of it. similar to copper waterlines it is used to distribute liquids. It has also become the way to do in floor heating.

Here We Will Go Over

Plumbing Pipe - Brands of PEX Systems and How To Use Them
Advantages of installing PEX plumbing systems
Disadvantages of installing Pex plumbing systems

1.How To Install Pex Plumbing - Brands of PEX Systems

There are a few types of PEX plumbing pipe on the market today. Some are better then others for different reasons. The three types of PEX plumbing pipe we will talk about here are "Uponor or (wirsbo), Rifeng and Superpex.

Uponor or Wirsbo plumbing pipe is the same pipe they changed there name at one point some people still call it Wirsbo. Wirsbo plumbing pipe is very commonly used. It is very easy to use with only a few minutes of training. PEX Plumbing How To-The system works by inserting a ring over the pipe and than expanding the end of the pipe and pushing it over top of a barbed fitting.The Wirsbo plumbing pipe will go back to its original size in a matter of seconds and seal on to the barbed fitting. This system has proven itself to be not only reliable but efficient to install saving time and money. Unfortunately Wirsbo is not sold at your local hardware store however you can find it online at Ebay. See the Ebay link below for pricing.

Rifeng plumbing pipe is another type of PEX pipe. This piping system typically joins fittings to PEX by a threaded joint. This system is again a popular in plumbing pipe systems. Not used as much as Uponor/Wirsbo. PEX Plumbing How To-Using a threaded joint as opposed to the expanding joint (Wirsbo) tends to take a little longer and has more chance of there being a leak because it requires a little more attention when installing the plumbing system. The actual plumbing pipe is similar to wirsbo its how it joins to the fitting that is the main difference. There is a crimping system also available for Rifeng piping. This system can be found at the HOME DEPOT check the online store for pricing.

Superpex plumbing pipe is the third type of pex plumbing pipe we'll talk about. This type of PEX can be found online or at your local hardware store. It is much cheaper cost wise then the previous two types of PEX. It is a reliable source of PEX piping however it is not structurally as good as the previous two piping systems. Pex Plumbing How To-This system uses a crimp style system in which you put a ring over the pipe and then on to a barbed fitting. You then compress the ring with a special crimping tool to make the sealed joint. Superpex is good for running an outside tap or small plumbing jobs and its low cost.

Advantages and disadvantages on How To Install Pex Plumbing

2.Advantages of PEX plumbing systems (pex plumbing how to)

Cheaper than copper pipe
Easy installation especially for the do it yourself plumber
No soldering
Easier to run pex pipe as opposed to copper
Easy fasten
Saves Time, Saves Money

3.Disadvantages of PEX plumbing systems (pex plumbing how to)

UV- Ultra Violet rays, will damage the pex pipe so it can not be used outside.
Punctures easier than copper
Not as nice to look at as copper
Piping can kink while installing

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PlumbingHow - How To Plumbing

2012-09-26T13:00:00.000-07:00

PlumbingHow - How To Plumbing

Welcome to PlumbingHow- How To Plumbing, this is a website dedicated to helping out you the homeowner with all your plumbing how to problems in your home. Here we offer everything from fixing a bathtub drain to roughing in a new bathroom, to what to look for if you need to hire a plumber.
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Please leave us your questions or comments. If you cant find what your looking for just ask and we will get to your question as soon as possible. Our editors are licensed plumbers and trained to answer your questions.

SEARCH PLUMBING HOW TO

Read through our many articles to the left if you cant find the problem your having please let us know.

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Sewer Smell in the Basement

2012-09-24T17:27:00.000-07:00

Sewer Smell in the Basement

Plumbing How To Why do I have a sewer smell in the basement? There are a few possible reasons that we will go over on why your basement may have a sewer smell. The sewer smell in the basement typically comes from a floor drain however there are a few other reasons that you have a sewer smell in your basement. Sewer smell does contain high levels of methane gas which under the right circumstances can be explosive and generally unhealthy for you and your family. You should contact a plumber if you can not locate the sewer smell in the basement.

Sewer Smell in the Basement From the Floor Drain

This is the first place to look for a sewer smell in the basement. You should have a floor drain (by building code) located in your basement some where, typically the floor drain is located in the furnace room. The floor drain has a P-trap on it. Just like the P-trap on your sink. The P-trap holds a certain amount of water in it.This stops sewer smell from coming through the floor drain. What can happen is the P-trap on the floor drain can loose the water in it and let the sewer smell escape in to the basement.

-An easy way to fix the sewer smell is to just pour water down the floor drain on a monthly basis, or whenever you notice the smell.
-The right way to fix the sewer smell is to run a condensation line over to the floor drain from the furnace. The condensation drain from the furnace will keep a constant stream of water going in to the floor drain. This will keep the sewer smell in the basement away because it will keep the P-trap full.
See Bathroom Plumbing Drains in Basements.

Sewer Smell in the Basement Coming From Clean Out

Another reason you will get a sewer smell in the basement is through a clean out. Clean outs are installed in your homes plumbing drain system to provide access for cleaning or inspecting. You will have a clean out located where your main plumbing drain comes through the concrete. What happens is either this clean out is not threaded all the way in or the gasket on it has become deteriorated. Locate all your clean outs in your plumbing drains.

-An easy way to fix this is to back off the clean out cap and apply silicone to it and thread it back in.

-The right way to fix it is to either replace the threaded cap or the gasket.

Sewer Smell in the Basement Coming from Sewage Pit

Not all basement have a sewage pit. A sewage pit has a cover on it with screws and a gasket. Over time this gasket will become deteriorated. Take the screws off the sewage lid and check to see if the gasket has become deteriorated. You will be able to tell if it the gasket is brittle or sometimes is pretty obvious that it could not keep out an odor.

-An easy way to fix this is to silicone the lid back down
-The right way to fix it is to get a closed cell gasket and replace the old one.

Sewer Smell in the Basement Coming from Hole in Vent

When people hang pictures on walls or drill through walls to hang anything from time to time they drill through a plumbing vent. Even a small hole can give a sewer smell in the basement. This is a very tough problem to locate. If you have hung anything on your walls or drilled through your walls lately, than you could have drilled in to a plumbing vent or a plumbing drain and this is the reason you have a sewer smell in the basement.

Water Coming up Floor Drain

2012-09-19T21:47:00.002-07:00

Water Coming up Floor Drain

This is a very common problem unfortunately, many people experience the day when they walk downstairs and see water coming up they're floor drain. The reason the water is coming up through the floor drain is because either your sewer is backing up in your main sewer line to your house, or it has backed up at the city side of the sewer. If you have a septic system then the water is coming up from the floor drain because your septic tank could be full. Rarely, it always seems is the problem on the city side unfortunately, so fixing the water coming up the floor drain is usually your responsibility.If your not sure how the plumbing looks in your basement see Bathroom Plumbing Drains in Basement.

How To Fix The Floor Drain Backup

4" Clean Out

If you have a read a little about floor drains backing up than by now you've found out that you need to auger the drain. An auger is a tool used by plumbers to free blockages. You will need to either call a plumber to auger it or go rent an auger and try it yourself (Can be a dangerous tool if used improperly). If your going to try to auger it yourself than you can't auger through the floor drain as it has a P-trap that the auger can not get through. You will either have to look for a clean out that will be 3" minimum in size or go through a toilet. Going through the toilet will require you to pull the toilet off the flange. Auguring a main building sewer is not for the inexperienced, you should have some general trades knowledge or have experience with basic plumbing or you could end up just calling a plumber to free up the floor drain in the end.

Risks Involved When Auguring/ Snaking A Sewer Drain

When auguring your own sewer drain there are some risks involved such as

Gas Line drilled through your Sewer Drain. Hitting the gas line with an auger has caused explosions.

Broken Sewer pipe. Pipes can become crushed or broken, auguring a crushed or broken pipe will usually just make the problem much worse to the point where it will have to be dug up.

Auger can seriously injure you if you are not careful and informed.

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Whether you live in Littleton, Denver, Boulder, Loveland, Greeley, or anywhere else along the Front Range, we are just around the corner to deliver reliable plumbing services by expert professional plumbers who really enjoy their work and are dedicated to delivering exceptional customer service.

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How to Replace a Bathroom sink

How to Replace a Bathroom sink

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How to Replace a Bathroom Sink – Types of Sinks

How to Replace a Steel Bathroom Sink

How to Replace a Porcelain Sink

Toilet Leaking From the Base

Why The Toilet is Leaking From Base

Why a Toilet Leaks from the Base

How To Fix the Toilet Leaking From Base

Should You Caulk Around the Toilet?

Run a Plumbing Drain

How To Run a Plumbing Drain

What Slope to Put on a Plumbing Drain

How to Drill the Studs for the Plumbing Drain

How To Run a Plumbing Drain Tips

How To Install Pex Plumbing

PEX Plumbing How To

1.How To Install Pex Plumbing - Brands of PEX Systems

Advantages and disadvantages on How To Install Pex Plumbing

2.Advantages of PEX plumbing systems (pex plumbing how to)

PlumbingHow - How To Plumbing

PlumbingHow - How To Plumbing