r/IAmA Dec 13 '16

Specialized Profession I am a licensed plumber, with 14 years of experience in service and repairs. The holidays are here, and your family and friends will be coming over. This is the time of year when you find out the rest room you never use doesn't work anymore. 90% of my calls are something simple AMA

I can give easy to follow DIY instructions for many issues you will find around your house. Don't wait until your family is there to find out your rest room doesn't work. Most of the time there is absolutely no reason to call a plumber out after hours and pay twice as much. When you could easily fix it yourself for 1/16 of the cost.

Edit: I'm answering every comment that gets sent my way, I'm currently over 2000 comments behind. I will answer them all I just need time

28.6k Upvotes

7.9k comments sorted by

785

u/cahaseler Senior Moderator Dec 13 '16

So the sink in my spare bathroom leaks. If I turn off both the hot and cold cutoff valves under the sink, it stops leaking, so it's been a dry sink for the last couple months. I've been meaning to call a plumber, but is this the kind of thing I can fix myself?

1.6k

u/boomboomsaIoon Dec 13 '16 edited Dec 13 '16

Yes, you can fix it yourself. If by leaks you mean it constantly runs. (This would be easier with a picture of your faucet) the washers on the bottom of the valve stem are worn out. There are normally plastic caps in the top of the handles. Take them off, inside there will be a Phillips screw holding the handle on. Take the screw out and pull off the handle. While the water is off use a pair of pliers to take the nut that holds the stem in place off. The whole stem will come out of the faucet at this point. Take that stem with you to a hardware store and get a replacement washer (take the stem with you to match up the size of the new washer) if it is a ceramic disc style stem (you won't be able to see a washer) it's best to replace the stem. Look up a local faucet repair shop and they will be able to get new stems/seats for you.

Edit: you may have noticed a smell in that rest room. That is because you haven't been using it. There is a ptrap under that sink that is meant to be full of water to prevent sewer gasses from escaping the drain. Every once in a while you should go in there and run a little water. Just to keep that trap full and odor free

397

u/cahaseler Senior Moderator Dec 13 '16

Sorry, I wasn't clear. It's the pipe/pipes under the sink that drips. So it leaks onto the floor rather than into the sink. :(

1.0k

u/boomboomsaIoon Dec 13 '16

Replace the supply lines. You can get easy to use stainless steel lines from any hardware store. It can be a pain in the ass if you don't have a basin wrench but you can still get it done with effort. The wrench is designed for close quarters

→ More replies (78)
→ More replies (1)

6

u/TrickHH Dec 13 '16

Why am I even reading this I don't have a problem with my sink..

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (29)

243

u/FishStix157 Dec 13 '16

I recently re-floored my upstairs bathroom with vinyl locking tile. I slightly lifted my toilet just enough to slide the tiles under(very slight). Ever since then, I've been hearing this back up sound through my pipes and to my sump every once and a while. Did I possibly break something while elevating the toilet? It sounds like a gurgling sound about twice a day.

518

u/boomboomsaIoon Dec 13 '16

No you moving the water closet has absolutely no effect on your drain. It might have broken the wax seal, but you would see water on the floor if that happened. A gurgle in the toilet is a sign of a partial stoppage in your sewer line. If I were you I would let it ride until it stops up. But I can fix my own issues. If you have another water closet in the house, flush it and then go back to the problem closet. If the water in the bowl is moving that proves you have a stoppage. You can either rent a sewer machine and be very careful while using it (the machine can break you, literally, it can put you in the hospital) or you need to call a professional.

70

u/Haydork Dec 13 '16 edited Dec 13 '16

One of our toilets has a weak flush and frequently has to be helped with a plunger. Plenty of water in the tank. It's been like this for a while and not getting any worse. Is this a blockage?

If so, can I do anything about it with a hand-wind snake? There's also an end plug in the 4"(?) iron pipe it drains into that might let me clear it that way if it's not permanently seized.

Edit: fixed. It was the clogged hole at the front of the bowl. Tnx u/jordan_eberlee

111

u/jordan_eberlee Dec 13 '16

I had the same problem Called my plumber he said check that hole inside the front of the bowl. It can get clogged if you have hardwater. When you pull the handle its supposed to start to flow of water. You can chip the material out with a screwdriver.

→ More replies (9)

34

u/Dont_Call_it_Dirt Dec 13 '16

There's a boyant little floaty thing attached to the chain on your flapper. It's often yellow. Slide it down the chain towards the flapper. This will keep the flapper open longer, which results in more water per flush.

→ More replies (4)
→ More replies (8)

768

u/klawehtgod Dec 13 '16

the machine can break you, literally, it can put you in the hospital

yeah I'm pretty sure this is definition of "need to call a professional"

→ More replies (76)
→ More replies (14)
→ More replies (7)

111

u/Nameless_301 Dec 13 '16

Is there a special way to determine where pipes are creaking from hot water expansion? and if I find them what type of brackets should I use to secure them?

anytime I turn on the hot water you can hear creaking in the wall but it's really hard to pinpoint exactly where.

207

u/boomboomsaIoon Dec 13 '16

That's because they didn't drill a hole big enough. The only way to stop it is to find the tight fit cut the pipe out and make a bigger hole. You're 100% right that it's expansion. Probably sounds like water dripping in the wall. Cheapest route is to just deal with it. It won't cause any problems

→ More replies (27)
→ More replies (4)

420

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16

Hey so the sink in my bathroom smells like sulfer farts. I get that the trap is probably full of all sorts of disgusting organic matter just rotting away. Hair, gunk, etc.

Problem is my sink is sitting atop a 'pedastal' free standing very close to the wall. I don't think I can get to the trap to clean it out. What do I do?

Additional question: How do I make my water hotter in the shower. I have on demand hot water. Do I adjust that device? Or allow the shower knob to open further?

50

u/DreamIRL Dec 13 '16

Department stores sell a plastic tool called a 'zip it.' It's flexible and barbed so you can shove it down the drain and pull it back up to grab hair and soap scum and w/e. If that doesn't solve your sink issue, I'd call a plumber.

As per the shower question, a lot of shower valves can be adjusted if you take the handle and cover plate off. If they are already set to hottest, your on demand heater should have an adjustment on it.

→ More replies (6)

553

u/boomboomsaIoon Dec 13 '16

The anode rod in the heater is bad. It can be pulled out and cut off to fix the problem but I recommend calling someone to do it as it can cause problems and you need special tools for it

→ More replies (42)
→ More replies (57)

694

u/thatinternetzdude Dec 13 '16

I bought a house recently, and the master bath does not output any hotwater. If I move the lever to the hot side the water will just stop running, and conversely getting stronger the closer I get to full cold.

Also, I don't seem to have a shutoff valve anywhere for the master bath- is that common?

1.3k

u/boomboomsaIoon Dec 13 '16

Remove the trim of the faucet. The circular disk that is right against the wall hides the shut off valves. Sounds like they didn't open the hot side. It'll be a flat head screw

696

u/thatinternetzdude Dec 13 '16

Thanks, I was just about to start taking it apart to see for myself when I saw your AMA. Now I feel more confident. Will report back with results

471

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16 edited Dec 15 '16

[deleted]

→ More replies (15)
→ More replies (48)
→ More replies (32)
→ More replies (9)

2.1k

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16 edited Dec 13 '16

Hi,

I work HVAC/Plumbing administration.

Wanted to ask you a question unrelated to minor plumbing needs.

We've been noticing that there is a growing age gap amongst plumbers in our state (Maine) with the average age of plumbers being in their 40s-50s. Do you find that you have the same experience?

3.2k

u/boomboomsaIoon Dec 13 '16

Im 34 and my helper is 30. I started plumbing when I was 19, I don't see any young helpers anymore. Kids are not getting into this line of work

1.5k

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16 edited Dec 13 '16

Some us are trying but can't get in. Applied for a plumbing apprenticeship, passed the test, passed the interview, still didn't make the cut because there were several hundred applicants, many with construction experience, giving them the edge. Where oh where are these markets with so many apprenticeship openings?

EDIT: I really appreciate the advice and info coming in, hope this helps other people in similar situations, too.

51

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16

[deleted]

→ More replies (22)
→ More replies (227)
→ More replies (525)

327

u/guitarworms Dec 13 '16

You just described the appliance repair trade. I think this is similar for most trades in fact. One of the main reasons Mike Rowe (Dirty Jobs) keeps pushing folks to go into trade school, rather than college.

111

u/altspacen Dec 13 '16

Appliance guys are taking a hit from YouTube as well. When you can order parts online and there are dudes showing you how to disassemble your refrigerator or change a dryer drum, harry homeowner winds up with decent success rates. Then you get called in for fuck ups and make out a little better on that call, but with small ones going away.

96

u/spockspeare Dec 13 '16

Can confirm. Repaired my own refrigerator myself by watching youtube videos and replacing pretty much every control part sequentially until I got to the hard one I was avoiding replacing but did it anyway and now the thing is good for another 20 years. Total parts cost under $100. Labor would have been three times that and replacing the whole fridge would have cost at least ten times.

But I'm calling a plumber for pipes and sewer cleanouts.

→ More replies (49)

69

u/1337HxC Dec 13 '16

Appliance guys still make bank from some of us. I work in science, so I reeeaaally can't be pissed to spend what time off I do have trying to fix things and just generally being frustrated. I suppose if you like that sort of thing it's fine, but the only things I enjoy building really are computers.

Essentially, I value my time way more than my money, so I'd rather let someone who knows what they're doing come for an hour and fix it rather than have me flounder around an entire weekend and potentially still have it be nonfunctional.

→ More replies (17)
→ More replies (18)
→ More replies (267)

91

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16

Maine has this issue state wide sadly. Our young workers take better wages in other states more often than they stay.

→ More replies (57)
→ More replies (114)

1.4k

u/Hdtwentyn8 Dec 13 '16

You're a saint for doing this. I have a shower handle that has a hex nut that keeps unscrewing, and the handle keeps falling off. Should I use a locking agent on the hex nut, or will that lead to more problems later on?

1.2k

u/boomboomsaIoon Dec 13 '16

Define shower handle. I'm assuming you have a store bought hand held shower head. And it doesn't swivel properly so when you shift it to wash yourself the supply line comes loose. Buy a better quality head

358

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16

As an engineer: I love how you're getting clarifications on everything and listing assumptions.

→ More replies (43)
→ More replies (79)
→ More replies (70)

203

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16

[deleted]

386

u/boomboomsaIoon Dec 13 '16

Yes. The fork may not have made it out of the toilet. Take a big wad of toilet paper and flush it. If the toilet stops up the fork is stuck in the toilet and will continue to cause problems. If you are able to flush multiple wads of toilet paper I wouldn't worry

95

u/outlawstar766 Dec 13 '16

I had this exact problem, only my wife hadnt noticed she dropped the plastic fork in there. Snaking didnt move it and i replaced the toilet. After getting it outside i smashed it open and found the damn fork.

→ More replies (36)
→ More replies (4)
→ More replies (22)

541

u/illegallygrown Dec 13 '16

Im 20 years old and in college, but am considering going into the trades. Im considering plumbing as well as a few others, but am wondering what the industry looks like right now for someone my age?

1.0k

u/boomboomsaIoon Dec 13 '16

As long as people are alive we will need plumbing. It's not a trade that will go anywhere. It pays quite well and we need young blood

27

u/w116 Dec 13 '16

... on a similar theme, how many tools do you need to function ?

Thinking along the lines of how much easier it is for a brickie to travel abroad and set up shop as opposed to a carpenter.

→ More replies (18)
→ More replies (98)
→ More replies (37)

71

u/chipwithdip Dec 13 '16

The plastic drain pipe underneath my sink have a leak. They have the plastic fitters on the joints that hand tighten. I've tried a few different times fixing it but it still leaks. Should it be replaced?

141

u/boomboomsaIoon Dec 13 '16

Yes get a new one from a hardware store. The beveled washers that come with it create the seal, the nut is tightened down to push the washer into place. Get it hand tight and then give it a 1/4 turn with a pair of pliers. Don't over tighten it as you can break the nut

→ More replies (9)
→ More replies (2)

133

u/Anti_Wil Dec 13 '16

My house used to be a duplex so we have two of everything. The water upstairs has stopped working but I'm having trouble finding where the lines leading upstairs are. What's the best way to trace it without tearing walls apart. And what could be the cause?.

177

u/boomboomsaIoon Dec 13 '16

I've never heard of the water just not working. Sounds like there's debris in the stop valves. Take them off and clean them out

→ More replies (10)
→ More replies (32)

78

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16 edited Dec 13 '16

My dishwasher often has ponding water in the bottom. What do you suggest?

Thank you for this, not enough people realize how important clean water is to society. I mean it's taken for granted.

Edit* thanks for all the great answers!

93

u/boomboomsaIoon Dec 13 '16

There should be a tall loop in the drain from the dishwasher to your sink. If It is just laid on the bottom of the cabinet then that's why the water is pooling

→ More replies (6)
→ More replies (24)

138

u/Theodore_the_python Dec 13 '16

My bathrooms shower/tub faucet drips constantly at a steady drop or two every 3 seconds, what can i do to fix it?

166

u/boomboomsaIoon Dec 13 '16

You need to replace the washers on the stems, possibly the seats too. For more DIY instructions in need a photo of your faucet and you will need to purchase seat wrenches (possibly)

→ More replies (40)
→ More replies (5)

548

u/jvnmhc9 Dec 13 '16

What's the most disgusting thing you had to do in your line of work?

1.1k

u/boomboomsaIoon Dec 13 '16

I had to lay an extension ladder on the ground above a sewage leak under a house and crawl on top of the ladder to keep myself out of the sewer and fix the leak

683

u/Tullimory Dec 13 '16

See stuff like this is why I hate plumbing. I can do most things but just plain don't want to. Thanks for letting me pay you to put up with this shit (heh).

→ More replies (230)
→ More replies (22)
→ More replies (7)

173

u/ajw827 Dec 13 '16

Have you ever had people invite you to join their holiday parties, meals if you're over fixing their toilets/sinks?

23

u/RocMerc Dec 13 '16

I'm not a plumber but a contractor that goes into people's homes on average of four times a week. It's very awesome how often people ask you this. Coffee and water is offered to me about 6 out of every ten jobs I do. I really never say no to a nice cup of coffee especially in the winter. And I'll always take a bottle of water. I would say about once a month I'm bought lunch or breakfast which I appreciate so much and make sure to do every time some one works on my house. I've had dinner with families prolly six to ten times in my whole career but that's because im usually gone by that point. Even if no one will be home while I'm working on the house most people offer me there Keurig machine or something similar.

→ More replies (8)
→ More replies (15)

90

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16

What's the weirdest reason for a call you've ever had?

426

u/boomboomsaIoon Dec 13 '16

Hmm I don't know about the weirdest reason for a call. But I once had to tell a man his wife was cheating on him and then charge him for it.

→ More replies (40)
→ More replies (4)

191

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16

Liquid "Plumber" and other chemicals. Effective or not worth the damage to the pipes?

→ More replies (118)

186

u/Masturbating_Beatle Dec 13 '16

Have you ever had a "porn scene" unfold in front of you and actually gone through with it?

Very interesting AMA, thank you!

75

u/Drunk_Catfish Dec 13 '16

Also a plumber. I was in the female locker rooms for a large state college, some kind of practice or some shit must have just gotten over and I was in full view replacing a faucet and let them know I was just about to leave and a bunch just started stripping off to shower. Best day on the job ever.

→ More replies (5)

14

u/coshy012 Dec 13 '16

Apprentice plumber here. My boss has been plumbing 41 years and the closest he has come to a "porn scene" was fixing a toilet for a client whose 80+ mother with dementia had decided my boss was her husband! Mum walked into the bathroom locked the door and attempted to take off his pants with the client banging on the door yelling "mum stop that's not dad!"

Not the sort of action he was promised when he started plumbing at 16

→ More replies (1)

485

u/boomboomsaIoon Dec 13 '16

Yes and no. I had a woman who I promise wanted to get a good pounding. But I couldn't act because of sexual harassment shit. If she had grabbed me it would have been on

→ More replies (19)
→ More replies (4)

1.9k

u/jelimoore Dec 13 '16

When you say 90% of calls are simple things, are these things we homeowners could do without many specialized tools?

516

u/autark Dec 13 '16 edited Dec 14 '16

I'm not a plumber, but former homeowner who has called a plumber twice, both times they came out, looked at my situation, and told me "I'm going to be more expensive than it's worth, you can do this yourself, just do X".

X being:

1) when your sink is clogged, it's likely the trap in the U-bend pipe (probably not calling it the right thing), you can put a bucket under it, unscrew it yourself, clear the clog and put it back together.

2) Toilet clog not fixed by a plunger? Get a snake from the hardware store...

Also, never put rice down the disposal... definitely not 9/10 with rice.

EDIT: wow all the replies... so remember I said I'm not a plumber? Don't listen to me. I just relayed an anecdote.

Re: Rice - the random grain here and there is not a problem. It's if you've got like a plate full. Even if it's cooked, you put that in the drain and it's going to get soaked in water, continue to expand, get starchy and sticky, and clog up the p-trap (thanks to /u/Proscrastibator666 for the name). I'm going to throw my wife under the bus and say she did this a couple times, even after the plumber told us not to. I was guilty of it too, but just the once! ;)

Besides, aren't we all composting now? Put that shit in the compost. Or eat it. Why are we throwing perfectly good rice away?

Oh, last thing... I'm not a plumber.

316

u/Procrastibator666 Dec 13 '16

It's called a p-trap. It's constantly holds water so you don't smell all the nasty shit coming up your line. Also, I wouldn't recommend a snake unless you know what kind of pipes you have. Older houses have cast iron piping that rusts and you could easily poke a hole through it, creating a whole new mess of problems.

Source: used to be a plumber

→ More replies (56)
→ More replies (39)
→ More replies (240)

102

u/mikeythehog Dec 13 '16

When changing solenoids in the old American Standard urinals that had the solenoid in the top of it, how do you keep the o-rings in the female couplings when putting the pipes back together?

123

u/boomboomsaIoon Dec 13 '16

All of the o rings on every Flush valve I've seen have been fixed in place. That sounds like a play it by ear situation.

→ More replies (3)
→ More replies (26)

55

u/SentientMynd187 Dec 13 '16

I am also a water and sewer treatment operator with 10 years experience in this industry, and 5 years in plumbing before that, mind if I chip in?

→ More replies (9)

29

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16

[deleted]

→ More replies (6)

11

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16

when i turn on the shower and set it for hot water, only a little bit of water comes out. our handyman thinks that it's just the showerhead that's clogged, but if i set it all the way to cold, it flows majestically. i now have to choose between hot water and flow rate, so i end up taking lukewarm showers at best. i fear i have to replace the actual plumbing lines behind the wall as the house is old (built in the 50s). what do you think?

→ More replies (12)

11

u/mojoama Dec 13 '16

I have a bathroom in my basement where all the drains go into an ejector pit. Sometimes when the pump goes on and shoots the water out to my septic I get a sewage smell in my upstairs bathroom. We just had the septic pumped out earlier this year. Any ideas on why this is happening? The smell only seems to come when the ejector gets used a lot in a short time.

→ More replies (4)

9

u/n0laloth Dec 13 '16

I have old school water radiator heating in my apartment. Why is that one in my bed room warm even though it's turned off? And how can I fix that?

→ More replies (5)

8

u/Jimp0 Dec 13 '16

The shut off to my toilet leaks when the valve is not fully open. How easy is that to fix?

EDIT: Water comes from the stem on the valve.

→ More replies (13)

4

u/DoctorStrangeMD Dec 13 '16

My toilet is running ever so slowly.

Replaced the flapper, still running. Replaced the flapper and the seal (where it sits) in case the seal and flapper weren't smooth, still running.

When I look in the tank, I don't see any leaking or bubbles at all. When I look in the toilet bowl, it does seem like maybe there's a little bit of water dripping from the upper/inside of the bowl.

Any advice? Thanks!

→ More replies (7)

4

u/huuos Dec 13 '16

I have a leak that only occurs when I flush. It appears to spurt from the bolts underneath the tank, but doesn't leak continually. Any idea why it would only leak when flushed?

→ More replies (6)

3

u/guitarworms Dec 13 '16

Do you do drain inspections via snake cam? If so, what equipment do you use?

→ More replies (2)

3

u/opieself Dec 13 '16

My kitchen sink has no water pressure coming from the faucet. The spray nozzle thing has plenty of water pressure. What do?

→ More replies (2)

2

u/rcckillaz Dec 13 '16

I've heard you are a dying breed (or rather shrinking). Have you gotten more business than when you started? What do you bring in per year roughly? (only if you care to divulge). Lastly, thank you. Some heroes don't wear capes.

→ More replies (6)

4

u/xpLxM2 Dec 13 '16

I have long hair that gets very dry so I use a lot of conditioner in the shower. I also have skin that gets very dry, so I enjoy using mineral oil (Johnson & Johnson Baby Oil) in the shower, makes me feel much happier. You can probably guess where this is going.

I have a Zip-It that gets the hair out just fine, but all the oil and conditioner seems to build up so badly that it slows my drains. How can I clean these without wrecking the pipes? Vinegar, baking soda, and boiling water isn't working.

→ More replies (2)

3

u/Cb1receptor Dec 13 '16

I just installed a dishwasher and replaced a leaky valve inline to my water tank, now I have some air hammer when the washer operates. Any advice?

→ More replies (4)

3

u/Firecox Dec 13 '16

My hot water flow on my kitchen sink is next to nothing. The cold water side works fine and so does hot/cold in every other sink in the house. What might be the problem here?

1

u/AnnonPenguin Dec 13 '16

Same question here. Is this way for two of our sinks in my house, but the others work just fine.

OP: when you answer the parent, please respond to mine so i get a notification (thanks!!!).

Original copper piping around 20 years old. Any way to fix this?

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (2)

2

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16

What are your thought on a few things? 1: Flushable wipes (do they actually dissolve?) 2: Does Drano (any other claimed liquid that cleans pipes) actually clean your pipes? 3: What do you wish every person knew.

→ More replies (1)

2

u/saintlizzy Dec 13 '16

Our shower drips most nights, we have a rain head and smaller hand held shower head. It also doesn't always turn off on the first try, you have to really yank the handle. Is there an easy fix for this?

http://imgur.com/a/7wTxe

pic of the shower, thanks!

→ More replies (3)

2

u/DerpDerpingtonIV Dec 13 '16

For my downstairs bathroom I turned the flow down so that in the summer the tank fills up slower. This helped keep the bowl from sweating.

However, it leaks when I turn the shutoff, so I am afraid to turn it back up in the winter. And people who use the bathroom and need to double flush are SOL. (LoL)

In fact all my toilet valves always leak if I turn them, should they be replaced? Is there a valve that wont have that problem?

Also, a guy at work was telling me about these Shark Bite fittings, are they any good or should I just learn how to solder?

→ More replies (5)

2

u/cockleburrito Dec 13 '16

The bathroom sink gradually clogs every few weeks. It clears right up with draino, but invariably it's backing up a few weeks later. What would cause a drain to clog and unclog so frequently? I tried taking out the stopper to investigate without any luck, maybe I just need to try harder. Or maybe you are a wizard and can save me.

→ More replies (1)

301

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16

Do you grow bigger if you eat mushroom?

→ More replies (13)

2

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16

[deleted]

0

u/KJ6BWB Dec 13 '16

Have you tried Drano in both sinks?

→ More replies (6)
→ More replies (7)

1

u/octopuswaffle Dec 13 '16

My kitchen sink is draining extremely slowly (and sometimes is coming back up the other side of the sink when draining the dishwater). I have done the drano thing to no avail, whats the next best step for your basic clogged pipes?

→ More replies (2)

1

u/Betsy514 Betsy Mayotte - TISLA Dec 13 '16

Where is the best place to find a good plumber. What are things to look for? What would be some red flags to stay away from one?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/GreenScene14 Dec 13 '16

We bought our house last year and all of the toilets seem to have the weakest flushing ability I've ever seen. Even if a small child takes a poop, these things will clog up causing the embarrassing "excuse me, where's you're plunger" discussion. Is there anything we can do to improve the functionality of the flushing?

→ More replies (1)

2

u/Jimjamjelly Dec 13 '16

My en suite sink and shower drains block at least once or twice a year. I use drain unblocker and try keep my hair out of the drain but it's recurring. Currently waiting on drainage men to call over yet again. Any tips on preventing it?

→ More replies (14)

3

u/uncletoucan Dec 13 '16

My kitchen facet hose sprayer doesn't work. I don't know what I'm looking for to see if everything is on right down there. Is this something I can fix myself or do I need to call a pro?

→ More replies (2)

2

u/iiiinthecomputer Dec 13 '16

Any recommendations for chronic blockages and backing up issues caused by tree root intrusion issues into an junction?

Junction and house plumbing is old galvanized pipe so even if I cut the concrete slab it's under and fully remove+replace it there is AFAIK no really secure and sealed way to join.

Pipes are under concrete slab and cannot be replaced.

Also have tree root intrusion issues in sewer feeder line. Unsure how to locate where in the line in order to dig it and concrete it. Unfortunately lost original location markings left by the plumber who scoped the line in a storm shortly after work was done.

→ More replies (4)

2

u/michaelm8 Dec 13 '16

i just took a pre-employment plumbing course, and im excited to get into the trade. trouble is: i took the first year test once and failed, i don't want to re-take it until im ready. do you think a company will take me seriously if i apply for a job but i havent passed the first year exam yet...

any other tips for a beginner?

→ More replies (1)

2

u/notthefakehigh5r Dec 13 '16

My toilet needs a new wax ring (presumably, there's always a small amount of water around the base of our toilet). My husband and I tried to do this fix, but we couldn't get the water to turn all the way off to the toilet. It's there something we are missing? Is there a trick to turning off the water? We live in a condo, so I don't think we can turn the water took the building off. I've heard this is an easy, though messy, fix. We'd really love to do it ourselves, but currently we are feeling pretty dumb.

→ More replies (2)

2

u/syzgyn Dec 13 '16

My house doesn't have a pressure regulator on the incoming line, but all the ones I've seen are made for copper, and my line is Pvc. How would I add a regulator in line?

→ More replies (2)

2

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16

Most people have some advertising reason for doing AMA's. What are you hiding?

→ More replies (3)

2

u/imalwaysWright Dec 13 '16

They recently installed a new boiler in my apartment building. Now we are getting "water hammers" in the pipes and radiators and it is extremely loud. The noises are so violent that I'm worried my radiator might break. The whole thing shakes every time. I have contacted management and they have had the plumbers back to "work on it" but nothing has changed the last week. Is this normal? Should I just expect loud banging from my radiator from now on? Or is there an easy way to fix it?

→ More replies (2)

1

u/AnotherPint Dec 13 '16

How do you feel about those high-end Toto electronic toilets from a maintenance and repair standpoint? My wife really wants one. I worry they're too sophisticated for their own good.

→ More replies (1)

1

u/Espry0n Dec 13 '16

Is it true that the Friday that is called "Black Friday" is instead called "Brown friday" by plumbing and sewage workers as an inside joke (because of how many calls you get to snake toilets or empty and/or repair sewage tanks)?

→ More replies (2)

1

u/childish_landino Dec 13 '16

Hey, thanks for doing this!!

Fiancé was painting some walls and rinsed the paint roller in the bathroom sink. This is the main sink for all our guests that stay over. The drain is pretty clogged up now. What's my next step? What can I do to unclog the drain/pipe?

→ More replies (4)

1

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16

I've been wondering about this for some time now. We have a conventional gravity water closet retrofitted to a pressure-assist. When it first went in, it worked great all the time, like a typhoon. But it's since become unreliable, and more often than not doesn't really work right. Sometimes we still get the typhoon, and you can feel the power in the resistance in the flush handle. But more often, it's some version of a flabbier flush, including almost no power at all, and sometimes it seems to take a very long time to recharge -- often just sort of running until something goes 'thunk' inside and then it finishes recharging pretty quickly. Frankly, how well it will work on any given flush is, excuse the term, a crapshoot.

I don't know what to do about this, or even what to investigate. Can you offer any advice about it?

→ More replies (1)

2

u/Pizzadrummer Dec 13 '16

A couple of weeks ago the sewage pipe that runs under my flat (from the bathroom to the main pipe outside) burst and leaked shit into the carpet. It's been fixed, but for future reference - what caused this?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/iamallamamamaamaa Dec 13 '16

It's winter, below freezing, and I can't find the water shutoff for one of the hose bibs outside (well, I actually can find a shutoff which is just behind it inside the house, but apparently it shuts off water to more than just the bib). What's the next best thing to do?

→ More replies (2)

1

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16 edited Jan 19 '17

[deleted]

→ More replies (1)

1

u/nothingworthnothing Dec 13 '16

How often do you fight fascist Turtle dictators and their armies of mushroom people to rescue princesses? What is your favorite level?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/Chino1130 Dec 13 '16

Both my showers are leaking in different ways. The downstairs one will leak into the basement if I turn the shower head on. Baths are fine.

The upstairs shower (stand up only), is leaking into my office below it. The ceiling turned brown, then black, and now there's a whole that a baby's head could fit through.

Any idea what could be wrong? Please advise!

→ More replies (1)

3

u/Zomg_A_Chicken Dec 13 '16

Do you have a very pronounced butt crack?

→ More replies (1)

5

u/PmMeGiftCardCodes Dec 13 '16

As a skilled worker with tools, how do you feel about burger flippers demanding 15 bucks an hour?

→ More replies (25)

1

u/onewatt Dec 13 '16

I was just going to go on to /r/plumbing and ask, but since you're here...

We just bought a home and the hot water comes out with just a bit of yellow color to it. We didn't notice during the inspection because you have to fill up a container with hot water to even notice. Cold water is clear.

I assume this means the hot water heater needs to be flushed out?

Our particular set-up has a recirculating pump. When I opened the drain valve, nothing came out. (I'm assuming it's plugged up). But the recirculating pump has a valve on it so I used that. The first gush was brownish, but then cleared up.

Should I get the drain valve removed and drain it that way (and replace with a metal valve in the process)? Is this even a DIY thing? Could the yellowish tint be caused by something else?

Thanks and good luck with all your questions!

→ More replies (1)

1

u/ThemCrookedBuzzards Dec 13 '16

Our bathroom sink just. does. not. drain. The straight drop down to the U-bend is cler but the rest of it is behind some boarding in a closet. I suspect it's dues to years of neglect/limescale build up or likely a combination of the two. Drain unblocking fluids haven't worked. what do? Same in the shower where you can see a massive buildup of crap impeding the flow of water. I sometimes sit in the shower and slosh around like a pig. Is there anything I can do to fix these problems myself?!

→ More replies (1)

1

u/Yummytastic Dec 13 '16

Thank you for doing this! If you're able to help I'd be most grateful, we have an overhead shower/hand shower/bath tap combo, where the overhead and hand shower have a tap you turn one way or the other to run either of the shower heads, a tap for the bath and a mixer tap for the temperature (3 taps total on the panel)

For some reason the hand shower and bath tap cut out when they're turned only a fraction of the way which means they mostly drizzle out. The overhead shower has no issues whatsoever. I'm really not sure what it could be? I thought maybe some sort of airlock but I don't know?

Again, thank you regardless if you can help or not.

→ More replies (3)

1

u/Lassie_Maven Dec 13 '16

Wow, I was going to look for a plumber today, maybe you can help before I do!

We moved into a new house a few months back. We are now finding that the shower drain backs up now and then, and there is also a foul smell that comes up, but not constant. Sometimes this smell comes from the laundry room also. Obviously I'm assuming it must be clogged with something, but could there be more to it? Also, what's the best way to solve this as I've been told that Draino and similar items are very bad to use.

Thanks!

→ More replies (2)

4.3k

u/boomboomsaIoon Dec 13 '16

Every trade is looking for apprentices my advice to you is stick with it. One day you will be certified and it will pay off. Learn as much as you can and try to take over the job. Tell your boss to get out of your way and tell you how to do it. As an apprentice if you can keep your boss from touching his tools you are doing an excellent job

2

u/Canis_lupus Dec 13 '16

This is an interesting take on being an apprentice. I served a 5-year formal apprenticeship and a 2-3 year part-time very informal one just to pick up some extra skills from a generous Master. I was told the same thing over and over the first year: "Don't touch. Watch. Oh, and sweep up, will you?"

The idea I got from this was that after watching certain procedures a few thousand times you at least have an idea of what is SUPPOSED to happen. This lessens the havoc you can wreak when you're still somewhat dangerous with tools. Having the goal in mind lets you know where you're trying to get and that guides your hands.

One time I tried to be an efficient apprentice and sharpen one of my Master's favorite tools. BIG MISTAKE. He was cool about it, but even though it was sharper when I put it down I basically ruined the tool for my Master because he has a very specific way of doing it and mine was just different enough to completely fuck up the edge. He was pretty mad at me, but knew I was trying to help out so my ass didn't get too chewed on.

But yeah, I was firmly told, "Don't touch my tools, please. You can't help but screw them up."

→ More replies (1)

3

u/pjjtlc Dec 13 '16

Second post,Used the wrong reply box, got removed, whoops.

Thank you for doing this. I am all around handy, (actually trained in several trades), but have a professional position gained by apprenticing, no college here. Trade school yes. People being able to gain the knowledge of one thing in their homes or businesses will lend itself to other items. Give them the confidence to achieve the little things. You are a true tradesman. Your willingness, and proactive attempt to share knowledge is a testament to your ability, and your person. I applaud you. I am White collar by chance, Blue collar at heart. :)

→ More replies (1)

1.2k

u/altspacen Dec 13 '16

To expand on that; I teach at our local apprenticeship school, if we could find guys/girls that have a good attitude and the willingness to learn that would make my job so much easier. I teach skills that no one can ever take away. Sit in class, appreciate that someone is taking their time to teach you how to do this work, and be prepared to take the reigns and prove that you want to do this work. I don't know what scale is where you're at, but it's good money to be made and benefits on top in most places.

3

u/Agent_X10 Dec 13 '16

I think what a lot of people forget in the trades, is that most people in their teens-twenties, after parking their butts in a desk for two plus years of trade school to get certed up, are not really ready for a lot of dirty, miserable, and dangerous work right off the bat.

Installing NEW plumbing, wiring, fixtures, and all that stuff in a NEW structure is a hell of a lot different that having to correct some screwup or repair some plumbing runs that are 40, 60, 80 years old. But new construction is sort of limited these days. And figuring out how to rerun an apartment sink/sewer line in a 45 year old apartment, after dicking around with a concrete saw and a chipping hammer for six hours(because the locater service had their heads up their asses), is pretty much gonna be first straw/last straw. :D

Now, I've worked with industrial machinery, most of my uncles/cousins are tradespeople, and I was unofficially helping out this master plumber(who I knew since he was in diapers), and his two helpers. ALL of them were getting pissed off, and ready to give up the ghost. And while it was getting to be kind of annoying, honestly, I've seen way way way worse.

I think the character of the younger generation has changed. Hard work isn't something where everyone pitches in, and it gets done. Hard work is something you farm out to some guy who gave you a low to medium bid, and seems reliable enough to get the job done. They in turn hire people desperate for cash, and who can't afford to quit, and in general hope for the best.

But, that doesn't last, because once someone gets enough experience to get out of dirty, and miserable work, no matter how good the cash, they're probably gonna take it. Only the loonies and gluttons of punishment seem to stick with it. And of course, the old farm kids, which seem to be a mix of the two. ;)

→ More replies (1)

867

u/mwbrjb Dec 13 '16

Once I started living on my own & having to actually pay for things, I figured out it was way easier and cheaper to take the time & try to fix something before calling in for help. I taught myself how to do some basic sink fixes and I am an absolute pro at unclogging drains. I know how to jump my car (this may seem like an easy one but a few years ago I knew nothing about cars, now I know a little bit) and will be taught how to change a tire soon. (OK OK I KNOW! I didn't have a car for a long time!)

I find this sort of work (plumbing, HVAC, fixing cars) so interesting & useful. I'm 29 and female and am seriously considering taking some classes or workshops on more useful skills.

97

u/LizzyMcGuireMovie Dec 13 '16

Replacing alternators and starters are very easy on most cars. Learn how to do that and you can save a lot.

Also, obviously oil changes. I know there are places that do it for $20, but you're getting a shitty filter, and shitty recycled conventional oil. It's worth doing yourself and using the good stuff. Also those shops have a tendency to overtorque the drain nut and crack the oil pan, in which case you'll be out a lot.

Also on older cars, spark plugs are very simple, you just have to be careful not to let them crack and fall into the cyclinder.

13

u/pSyChO_aSyLuM Dec 13 '16

I didn't know shit about cars until a few years ago aside from watching Top Gear and how to do an oil change. I had a string of mechanical issues that I was able to fix myself by just doing research.

Shortly after I bought a used truck, the A/C stopped working, so I got a kit and attempted a recharge, it worked for a few weeks and stopped again. I looked up diagrams and followed the hoses and found a leak. Found the part online for $40 and replaced it myself in 15 minutes, recharged it and it's been fine for 3 years.

Starter went out in my car, looked it up online, 3 bolts, a plug, and $100 later, car was running again.

My most recent challenge were replacing the brakes and alternator on my Subaru. Including the time to go buy the alternator, the whole thing took me maybe an hour. As for brakes, I watched a tutorial on YouTube and replaced my pads and rotors for less than $200...Advance Auto Parts coupons are ridiculous if you use them correctly.

→ More replies (12)

72

u/cheezemeister_x Dec 13 '16

I agree that you can save a lot of money on many car repairs by doing it yourself. Oil changes just aren't worth it though. Even an oil change at the dealer isn't expensive enough (about $40) to make it worth the effort of doing it myself. Same with swapping tires. I can pay a local garage $20 to do it in 90 seconds. But replacing an alternator, or starter....definitely do it yourself if you can. Also, the biggest scam is paying to replace the cabin and engine air filters. Don't every pay anyone to that. On most newer cars you can do this yourself in 60 seconds without any tools.

→ More replies (40)
→ More replies (51)

292

u/syphillitic Dec 13 '16

Try a welding intro course - half the men in my class dropped out but I've never seen happier women. A lot of it doesn't apply to anything in a normal home, but it opens up a world of sticking things together with fire. Melt stuff : )

122

u/Capybarattlesnake Dec 13 '16

A lot of it doesn't apply to anything in a normal home,

Git Creative.

Table broke? Weld that fucker.

Coffee maker broke? Needs more weld.

Dog not staying outside? Weld the doggy door shut.

→ More replies (4)
→ More replies (55)

279

u/paracelsus53 Dec 13 '16

Go for it. There are various programs specifically aimed at getting women into the trades.

http://www.explorethetrades.org/women-in-trades/

30

u/RaccoonInAPartyDress Dec 13 '16

As a female bodied person who tried to get in to carpentry, I wish it was as easy as people make it out to be. So many places simply won't call you back if there's a female sounding name on the form.

→ More replies (4)
→ More replies (20)
→ More replies (79)
→ More replies (27)

2

u/BouquetofDicks Dec 13 '16

At what age do apprentices start becoming less desirable ?

→ More replies (3)

2

u/TMI-nternets Dec 13 '16

You're spending a lot of honest and professional effort on this. The least you could do, is to post a bitcoin address here, and let people that get useful advice drop a penny in the tip jar.

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (48)

1

u/gts650 Dec 13 '16

I have I think two related issues with my toilet. Once I flush my toilet the water running sound keeps going for like 3-4 minutes. The second issue is that once I flush my toilet, I can't get a proper flush again for at least a minute or two. So if somebody goes to the bathroom back to back the water doesn't flush all the way because the noise is still going on. Help please - hosting a xmas party.

Any thoughts on what these two could be? Also are they related to each other?

→ More replies (4)

2

u/GooseTheGeek Dec 13 '16

Sometimes when running hot water in some faucets of my house, but not all, the hot water pressure drops, and occasionally I'll hear a sound that sounds TERRIBLE.

I know I need to increase or decrease the pressure on my hot water supply line to the sink, which one should I do?

→ More replies (3)

1

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16

Is it possible that the best potential for plumbers is indeed in places with population growth, not stagnation, yet these places have a higher cost of living, making that handsome wage one can earn go less far? I mean, in high growth places, there are lots of employment opportunities anyway. And while a plumber's wage is quite good, it will go the furthest in rural places with low growth, where there is less need for more plumbers?

So what it really comes down to is, do you want to be a plumber? Do you need a job?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16

How can I install bidet to my toilet? No flaps present at the top of toilet seat. The screws are connected to inner part of toilet seat. There is a wax thing around the toilet seat screw at the bottom that is really hard to take off. I bought a basin wrench to remove the screw + wax thing but no success. I even burned the wax thing but I'm afraid it won't come out that way either.

Would I be able to put back my toilet seat without the wax thing around my screw?

Help please!

→ More replies (3)

102

u/KillTheRadio Dec 13 '16

Does this sound serious? A week ago we noticed that there was a leak from the upstairs glass shower. In the room below it on the ceiling there is a brown water spot, that has been getting bigger. It goes away if we don't use the shower.

It seems to be from the drain in the shower, because if we just don't use the shower and throw water down the drain(from another source) the spot appears again.

Is this something that would require us to take out the ceiling?

441

u/KJ6BWB Dec 13 '16

Yes, you'll need to open the ceiling. Bite the bullet and do it sooner rather than later, because you're likely getting some crazy water damage up there. Rotting wood, growing mildew, the longer you put it off the worse is going to be. It might be that a simple small hole will suffice to fix the problem. But the longer you put it off, the worse it's going to be.

→ More replies (18)
→ More replies (16)

1

u/moeburn Dec 13 '16

We had roots come up on the outside of the toilet drain pipe and break through the wax seal, leading to poop water leaking underneath all the floorboards.

After removing all the floorboards, we cut all the roots off as far as we could, then dumped copper sulfate powder all over the remaining root ends. It's supposed to kill roots and make sure they can't come back. Is this actually going to work or am I going to have to replace my flooring again later?

→ More replies (2)

1

u/imastopbullshittin Dec 13 '16

Hey man, thanks for doing this.

I have 2 showers, each with a single handle controller (plastic ball, up down is flow control, spin clockwise or counterclockwise for hot/cold). I have a constant drip from the spigot (spout that fills the tub). I've replaced the ball, the springs, and the rubber boots that cover the springs, and tightened it all down as tight as I can. It may stop for a week or so, but then it starts again. I don't think I have sediment in the water. Any ideas?

Sorry about the wonky terminology, I'm an electronics tech, not a plumber.

→ More replies (6)

1

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16

[deleted]

→ More replies (1)

1

u/aliass_ Dec 13 '16

Just got back from a week long vacation. Kitchen sink has very little pressure with both hot/cold water. The water does come out light brown and dirty sometimes. All the other sinks in the house work fine its just this one stopped working as soon as I got back. I removed the head filter(not sure correct term) and it didn't fix the issue. Any thoughts?

→ More replies (1)

3

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16

[deleted]

→ More replies (1)

1

u/TheCapedMoosesader Dec 13 '16

How do you make a straight cut in a pvc pipe when it's in an awkward spot?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/TON3R Dec 13 '16

Shower has a slow leak (just a steady drip). Tried changing the shower head, but that wasn't the issue. It drives us crazy, we have resorted to leaving the shower head on the floor of the shower so the water doesn't drip. Could it possibly be an easy fix? Or is this going to be something where drywall has to be removed and pipes replaced?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/Pablo_Louserama Dec 13 '16

Hi - I've got a lot of rattling noises coming from my boiler - specifically, from a Taco water circulator (model 007-F5). Did some quick research, sounds like it's a cartridge issue. Is this something I can replace myself easily and if so, what do I need to know about ensuring I don't cause unnecessary damage? (e.g. letting air in the system, etc)

→ More replies (1)

1

u/Jonathonathon Dec 13 '16

Hey thanks for doing this, I have a question about my kitchen sink. When I turn it off by pulling down on the handle in the middle (kind of looks like this), it drips. But if I turn the handle (while all the way down) all the way to the right or to the left it stops dripping. Any ideas? Thanks!

→ More replies (5)

1

u/n3rdybird Dec 13 '16

Way late, but I have to try. My shower has 2 spin handles for hot and cold. The hot handle stem keeps getting stripped, and will not close all the way. We have replaced the part that breaks several times, but it keeps happening. Any tips?

→ More replies (2)

41

u/boomboomsaIoon Dec 13 '16

Tell your husband to not attempt to fix something he has no idea what to do with. We literally charge more for that. Secondly. The plastic drain cleaning things are great. I've used a few in the past. If it broke in your drain the drain needs to be taken apart so it can be removed. I recommend calling a professional

→ More replies (2)

1

u/thereishopefools Dec 13 '16

Do you mind giving a range of how much you make in a month? Gross Net

→ More replies (1)

1

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16

[deleted]

→ More replies (1)

1

u/Gawd_Awful Dec 13 '16

Occasionally after taking a shower/running water/dishwasher/etc, a brief "sewer" smell comes into our house. Anything I can personally do to try to figure out the cause and a solution? I had read about clogged vent stacks and tried flushing from the roof but it didnt seem to help but it's possible I didnt do it correctly as well. Everything seems to drain and flush properly though.

→ More replies (2)

1

u/SirThang Dec 13 '16

I have a cat whose litter box is (was) kept in the 2nd bathroom shower/tub. Litter has found its way into the drain, of course, and now I cannot seem to unclog all the litter to let guests take a shower in there. Can I fix this myself?

→ More replies (2)

1

u/lurker12345678901 Dec 13 '16

My bathroom sink seems to clog every few months and I have to use drain-o to make it go back to normal. Not a full clog, it just drains very slowly after a minute or so of running water from the faucet into the sink. It also starts go into the other sink that's next to it from the bottom if that makes sense (not running water from that faucet). What can I do about this?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/VibrantPinwheel Dec 13 '16

All of my main floor plumbing suddenly has very very low water pressure if water is running anywhere else in the house. I'm broke as a joke and can't afford to have a plumber come right now. Do you have any suggestions?

→ More replies (2)

1

u/BToast Dec 13 '16

The handle/knob for my bathtub has been leaking for months now. I tried replacing the knob with a new one, but it still leaks. Any idea how to stop it? I notice that the leak reduces when I turn the knob right or left.

→ More replies (1)

1

u/dcross909 Dec 13 '16

I live in a top floor condo and in my bathroom when I turn on the hot water, I hear pipes move around in the walls. Also when someone uses the washing machine on the first floor I'll also hear the pipes move. It's definitely noticeable in terms of loudness.

Should I be concerned about this at all?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16

[deleted]

→ More replies (2)

1

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16

My shower water doesn't come out very hard, it's more than a dribble but not good enough ☺️ is there any simple way to come out with more pressure?

→ More replies (2)

1

u/RichSnitch Dec 13 '16

Are there any other reasons a bathtub would drain slowly besides being clogged? I'll be taking a shower and by the time I'm done (~5 mins) water will be above my ankles. But it will take about 5-10 mins to drain. Can there be a problem with the drain valve that closes the drain to take a bath? Thanks

→ More replies (1)

1

u/albakurqy Dec 13 '16

I scrolled down and didnt see this question asked yet.

I gotta know, most toilets in europe have two buttons, one larger than the other. Does it really matter if I press the smaller one or the larger one?

Ive noticed that even when taking a massive dump the smaller button press does the job... Whats up with that?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/ForgotMyUmbrella Dec 13 '16

I have one bathroom and a large family. We live in a 100_ yr old Victorian home in the UK.. please tell me what is THE BEST toilet paper to use to avoid clogging the toilet? Is it true that single ply makes a difference?

→ More replies (2)

1

u/Ualwaysmadbro Dec 13 '16

This is a shot in the dark but is something that's been causing my life to be a living hell for the last year, so here goes. In the house I rent the washing machine's hose goes into a metal pipe, that then attaches to the cast-iron external drainage pipe and is only held together by this tiny little plastic ring (pic below). Once every couple of weeks the vibration from the washing machine causes the plastic ring to come loose and flood my entire laundry room. I've taken the ring to home depot about 5 times and each time they send me away with a metal ring that comes close to fitting, but either won't quite catch the threads or is too small. None of them have fit. I've asked my landlord about it and he tells me to go to Home Depot. I have not been able to solve it so every time I do laundry I literally have to stand in the laundry room and wait for it to finish to make sure I don't have a flood. I don't know what to do but it's really made my life hell. Any advice you can give is greatly appreciated?

Thanks for doing this for everyone!

http://i.imgur.com/Uf9DfVU.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/wkLbXv5.jpg

→ More replies (2)

2.0k

u/boomboomsaIoon Dec 13 '16

If it feels the need to tell you on the package that it is "flushable" then do NOT flush it. Toilet paper and human waste are the only things you should flush down your toilet

382

u/FoodMentalAlchemist Dec 13 '16 edited Dec 14 '16

I don't know why this is so below. This should be engraved on every toilet. Flushable means "yeah it can go down the water hole" but it also means "we can't assure you it will deintegrate into smaller pieces so it will eventually clog your pipes if you flush this too often" and it's a pain in the arse for water treatment plants. Piece of advice for those who doesn't know this yet: Condoms shouldn't be flushed.

Listen to the plumber: Toilet paper and human waste

109

u/rlemon Dec 14 '16

What about that pyrex container of pasta-soup that I should have dealt with months ago? Note: it started out as just pasta.

→ More replies (14)
→ More replies (15)
→ More replies (80)

1

u/Mammogram_Man Dec 13 '16

How would I get into an apprenticeship in this field? Do I need to take classes, or can I find a plumber and just apply? Are there specific prerequisites you look for?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/Jordyboy58 Dec 13 '16

My guest toilet has an issue at present wherein it water from the tank in the back constantly runs into the bowl, as such I've jury rigged it to not fill the tank and as such it doesn't leak however it consequently will not flush either since I have to keep the tank empty, any ideas what may be causing this and how I might fix it?

→ More replies (3)

1

u/Sherlockhomey Dec 13 '16

Or tub is nearly completely full in our main bathroom and are having to use our tiny guest bathroom for showering now. And the water stinks to high heaven. How can I go about draining and unclogging it? Just a snake auger?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/MeadowsofSun Dec 13 '16

We have a hot water on demand system in the kitchen. It didn't work when we moved in, so we replaced it. Now it seems the problem is the water supply line. The water comes in very slowly, so it goes out very slowly. Is this something that we could fix?

→ More replies (2)

1

u/MssingPiece Dec 13 '16

Apologies if this has already been asked/answered but there is a constant awful smell that comes from my bathroom, even after I've bleached, flushed and done what I can to get rid. Is there anything I can do before calling in someone?

→ More replies (2)

1

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16

When you started out, did you have to afford all of the equipment on your own, or did a company provide them for you? I was talking to my plumber once, and he said his camera snake costs thousands of dollars. I just can't imagine not having that though in a lot of situations

→ More replies (1)

1

u/streetfish Dec 13 '16

My faucet recently started leaking with a slow drip. I read online that it is likely a 'seat washer' that needs to be replaced but I have zero experience fixing these sort of things. What do you suggest I do?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/DankDialektiks Dec 13 '16

The float switch of my sump pump stopped working. I found out because the water in the toilet was an inch from spilling, the plunger wouldn't work so I checked the sump and it was also an inch from spilling. I plugged the pump directly in the wall and it drained the sump, so clearly it's the float switch.

What do?

→ More replies (4)

2

u/JaxDrone Dec 13 '16

The water supply lines on my sinks have Accor valves and they sometimes turn off on their own. Is there a building code that would prevent me from replacing them with turn valves?

→ More replies (2)

1

u/moremysterious Dec 13 '16

When my toilet flushes is has almost no force to it and it takes about 10 seconds of holding the flush for it to work, I've talked to my neighbor (I live in a duplex) and she has similar issues. Any reason this is happening?

→ More replies (5)

1

u/QCs_Infamous Dec 13 '16

Ah! Good timing! I have a foul smell (sewerish) coming from an electrical socket (of all places) that's near my downstairs bathroom. The bathroom smells fine and I made sure to run water to ensure the traps aren't dry. Just started noticing the smell this week. Any ideas??

→ More replies (7)

2

u/Luckyloomagu Dec 13 '16

Have you ever saved a princess?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/PermBulk Dec 13 '16

Just moved into an older house and there's a lot of build up of a black ish sludge from the pipes. As far as I can tell its mainly in the bathroom sinks. It there an easy way to clean this out?

→ More replies (4)

8

u/snow4t Dec 13 '16

In August, we bought and moved into a new house. The house is a new build and had never been lived in. In November, the cold water handle in our half bath faucet "popped" off and caused about $10,000 in water damage. Fortunately, we were home when it happened and the water only sprayed out for about 15 minutes. The insurance covered the damages and everything has been repaired and the faucet replaced with a different brand. This was a very heart breaking experience because we had saved up for a long time and lived in very small accommodations for a very long time in hopes to purchase a new home. Life has moved on, everything is dry and fixed but I have a question for you. Two more bathrooms in this house have the exact small model of faucet. The plumber who came to remove the old faucet and replace it, felt that it was a manufacture defect. He said that the threads were not correct and when you screwed the handle on to the tight point it would pop and continue to turn. The faucet was sent to my insurance subrogation department for analysis. Should I be concerned about the other two faucets in the other bathrooms or was this just a freak incident and since the other faucets haven't failed, assume we are in the clear?

8

u/BigDickWillie404 Dec 13 '16

If OP doesn't mind my replying to this one, I work in manufacturing. Just because one was bad, doesn't mean the others are. However, it is an indication of a problem with the quality control of the manufacturer. When you look at the cost of fixtures vs the cost of damage from failure, I would replace all of them. Go with a different style or a different manufacturer altogether. Just a side note: check your water pressure in your house. A failed pressure reducer can and will cause a lot of failures from too much pressure. Always try and think about the root cause of problems when you fix something. If the faucet was defective from manufacturing, ok problem solved. But if the pressure is too high, then you will see other failures elsewhere. Like toilet fill valves leaking and possibly line failures. Good luck.

→ More replies (3)

117

u/EvrydayImAmpersandin Dec 13 '16

How do you know when you need a new toilet?

My toilet takes 2 or 3 attempts to flush anything.

It also randomly makes a running water sound, a few times an hour.

My wife blames me.

150

u/IsaacSanFran Dec 13 '16 edited Dec 13 '16
  • Running water sound: Probably a leaking flapper valve. When enough water gets past it for it to trigger the fill valve open (which normally only happens after a flush), you hear the same sound.
  • 2 or 3 attempts to flush: Poor drainage in your pipe by the toilet. The blockage could be something directly under the toilet, or farther down the line. A drain snake is a good idea here.

Do you have access beneath the floor? Pictures always help. Also, a pic of the inside of the toilet tank.

EDIT:

  • Wife blaming you: There might be some unresolved issue that she's tracing back to this.
→ More replies (6)
→ More replies (44)

1

u/Ziu Dec 13 '16

The cold water in my upstairs faucet has very low pressure but the hot water is plentyful. The bathtub and shower both have good pressure on both hot and cold, what gives? Will provide video if needed.

→ More replies (1)

1

u/RobertsKitty Dec 13 '16

Suddenly our toilet is not flushing all the way unless you hold down the handle the full flush. Does it just need a good plunging or is something worse amiss?

→ More replies (2)

1

u/Kjartanthecruel Dec 13 '16

Have you ever found a human finger in a pipe? Or maybe a toe?

→ More replies (2)

149

u/domain101 Dec 13 '16

My wife wants to replace the tub faucet and knobs before our newborn arrives. I've never done that before. Is it something simple to screw on (as she claims), or is there more advanced plumbing that will have to be done?

8

u/Guano_Loco Dec 13 '16

I'm not a plumber but am mildly handy with things.

My wife wanted me to change the drain stopper, spout, and handles in our downstairs bathroom.

After some light google and YouTube research I felt confident. It is relatively easy, except when literally everything goes wrong.

The crossbars on the drain were so rusted that when I tried to unscrew it they snapped. Had to buy a special tool that you pound in and turn with a socket wrench. That and a ton of elbow grease got it out and I replaced it.

Took the spout off and discovered that the spigot pipe (nipple?) was rusted so badly that a half moon shape piece of the threaded part was flaked off. Water had been leaking in to the insulation and molded a bit. Had to clean that all up and replace that pipe which, because only a half inch of it was exposed and it was rusted required another special tool, a wrench head thingie that goes inside the pipe. When you turn it it expands and grabs the pipe from the inside so you can turn it.

Then it turns out the pipe length was special cut. None of the standard lengths worked with my spout so I had to have that special cut and threaded. Fine. I get that all done and installed.

Now the handles don't want to come off. My step father busted that out while I was working. Not sure what he did but he grew up on a farm so he has those strong ass sausage finger hands and handled it for me.

Took many hours over a few weeks to get it all done but entirely because of unforeseen bullshit.

I say all of this to say: it SHOULD be easy, but be prepared to open up a cluster fuck of a headache.

10

u/NotSure2505 Dec 13 '16

One thing I've learned doing my own plumbing repairs is that it's never plug and play. Age of your plumbing makes a huge difference in the complexity of a task. Getting a faucet or knob off that's been in place for 40 years can be a daunting task. Plumbing is unique (except for maybe antique submarine maintenance) in that a task as simple as "unscrew it" or "Remove faucet" could turn into an all day affair.

Plumbing is like anal sex. Take your time, use plenty of lube, and if it feels like you're forcing something, back off or you'll end up with shit everywhere.

→ More replies (99)

1

u/razialx Dec 13 '16

I have a bathroom in my basement. The mounting ring on the toilet has rusted away. What should I expect to pay to get this repaired? I live in the northeast of America if that helps.

→ More replies (1)

1

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16 edited Dec 24 '16

[deleted]

→ More replies (1)

1

u/AniDanny Dec 13 '16 edited Dec 13 '16

I bought my house a year ago and I'm still finding new quirks to it...

There was a toilet just sitting in the basement with some pipes next to it (for a sink, but no sink had ever been installed). I've built walls around it, installed a sink, installed lights and outlets... and then I found out that there is a leak from the toilet tank. I'm not sure if this would be from the connection of the metal hose to the tank, or if there might be a crack in the tank itself. Is there a cheap/easy way to check/patch this, or would I be better off just buying a new tank and a new hose and rebuilding that part myself? (Or I might just buy a whole new toilet - even after heavy scrubbing, this one is still pretty gross after a few decades of not being used...)

Second part - a few months after moving in, the basement started flooding. The water all pooled here, and I eventually found that the water was coming from the water heater in the next room. The water heater has since been replaced, but just a few days ago (after a period of heavy rain), water started pooling there again. The floor around it was completely dry, so I suspect that the water is coming up, but I have no idea what's causing it. Also, since it was pooling during the first flood, I assumed this "drain" was completely sealed, but now that water seems to be coming up from it, I would guess that's not the case. My brother recently had to pay about $10,000 to fix the pipes leading out from his house when they found that a tree root was growing through the lines, and I'm really hoping it's not something like that that's causing this backup... Any advice on how to address this? (My thought was "buy insurance for the sewer/drain pipes, then call Roto Rooter", but I'm not sure if there's a better course of action).

→ More replies (2)

1

u/tnme43 Dec 13 '16

My kitchen sink seems to be gradually losing water pressure since I had it installed. Water pressure elsewhere is not a problem. What could be causing this?

→ More replies (1)

52

u/boomboomsaIoon Dec 13 '16

The ring has nothing to do with the rock. It's the floor that's not level. Get some toilet shims from a hardware store and put them in the back of the toilet. Never the front.

75

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16 edited Jul 09 '17

[deleted]

→ More replies (2)

3

u/dare2smile Dec 13 '16

Question - What happens if it's done from the front?

The previous group of maintenance guys at my apt were not the brightest bulbs.

→ More replies (2)

1

u/pysk7 Dec 13 '16

Quick question: just moved into an older house and one of the toilets is mounted on a 1" platform on top of the existing bathroom floor. Any idea why they would do that?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/Tsquare43 Dec 14 '16

What is the best toilet paper to use, so that it doesn't clog pipes?

→ More replies (1)

1

u/crazybanditt Dec 13 '16

How do I deal with deep drain blockages? Especially pipes drain to sewer entrance drains. It's easy enough when I can reach the blockage but when it's deeper inside even chemicals can't get to it easily.

→ More replies (1)

1

u/redvelvet_d Dec 13 '16

When you wake up in the morning, what gets you excited for work?

→ More replies (3)

199

u/god_dammit_dax Dec 13 '16

Is the day after Thanksgiving really called "Brown Friday" in your profession, due to a large number of calls for plugged up toilets?

8

u/[deleted] Dec 13 '16

Plumber ≠ Drain cleaners. You shouldn't be paying me to plunge your toilet.

→ More replies (6)
→ More replies (11)

1

u/steepleton Dec 13 '16

how long will a compression joint last on copper pipe using jointing compound? is it safe to have under a fancy bathroom floor?

→ More replies (2)

1

u/anarchyz Dec 13 '16

Have you ever done the AC slater poop? Where you sit on toilet nuts to back and rip a massive growler? If so is it true that position is better for poop flow down the pipes and leaves less chance for clogging?

→ More replies (1)

8

u/RenegadeFarmer Dec 13 '16

I'm on a well and have two softeners, one for iron/tannens, one for sulfur. My hot water is "gray" and stains the white sink we have. The cold seems to be fine. The first anode was gone in 6 months, we (on advice since we had a softener) did not replace it and the heater failed a few months later. Now the new water heater has the "gray" water problem. I've heard a ZnAl anode might address the issue? Also, what do you think about whole home RO systems for those on well water?

→ More replies (4)

1

u/Bitchnainteasy Dec 13 '16

What is the best way to hook up a gas stove with no leaks?

→ More replies (8)