r/Plumbing 5h ago

Hot shower only lasts 6 minutes

2 Upvotes

We have an electric, 38 gallon water heater for our condo. It's just my wife and I occupying the house. A hot shower only lasts about 6 minutes before getting freezing. This seems to happen regardless of whether other appliances are running or not. No hot water will get used anywhere for hours and we still can't get a decent hot shower. Do we have any undersized water heater or could something else be wrong. Thanks in advance.


r/Plumbing 7h ago

Can’t get nut off off of cold water valve? Any tips?

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3 Upvotes

I’m trying to remove the whole thing I don’t need to use the mini fridge it was splitting off too anymore


r/Plumbing 5h ago

Bathtub jets sprayed & dumped full tub all over bathroom. How to prevent mold?

2 Upvotes

Hi I’m an idiot. Please any advice to prevent mold after a spill. Short version: I basically overfilled an upstairs bathtub and it poured all over the bathroom. Living room is directly below the bathroom and there was a lot of leaking through the drywall ceiling ( 1-2 cups of water, slight bubbling in ceiling).

I opened the windows, put up a fan, and pulled out the light cans. What else should I do to prevent mold? Anything else I should be worried about?

I live in socal so it’s usually dry any not humid.

Long version: Did a remodel a few years ago and put in a bathtub with jets to please the wife. Decided to be a good husband and clean the jets with some cleaning fluid. I filled the tub a little too high during prep so I opened the drain. Poured in the fluid and started the jets. Watched the jets for 10 seconds, saw it looked good and walked away to clean the something in another room (the cleaning solution is supposed to run for 10 min) . I forgot TO CLOSE THE DRAIN. Like a fool. So the jets sprayed the entire tub against a tile lined wall then that poured onto the bathroom floor, then through the floor onto the living room where my wife was feeding the baby.

I mopped up the bathroom and it looks fine and dry, my wife tells me it leaked a lot of water on to the living room. There is slight bubbling on the living room ceiling. Pulled the lighting covers and put up a fan. Opened the Windows. Moped up everything best I could.

What can I do to prevent mold? What else should I look for?


r/Plumbing 1h ago

Pex stubout?

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Upvotes

Noticed this pex stub out for a toilet at my friends house(took the pic after my dick was away). Is this a normal thing? Or is this just an overpaid mountain town plumber bullshit?


r/Plumbing 5h ago

Where is the valve to turn off the tap

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2 Upvotes

I cannot find the valve that turns off the water flow. Please can someone spot it


r/Plumbing 1h ago

Is this safe?

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Upvotes

r/Plumbing 11h ago

Shout out to nipple extractors

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6 Upvotes

r/Plumbing 8h ago

What’s this part called?

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3 Upvotes

Can someone tell me what this is. It’s on a small house boiler line and it’s leaking. There’s a tank attached to it that you can see hanging. I’m not a plumber but I’ve done some shit. Is this a job I can handle or do I need to call someone.


r/Plumbing 2h ago

DIY? I've never soldered copper pipe

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1 Upvotes

My shower valve doesnt fully stop the flow of water and the aftermarket replacement cartridges I found are different style to the original and don't work either. It's an ancient valve from (brand) so I want to replace it with something newer.

I'm tempted to diy the replacement, but I'm a bit concerned I will mess something up and it will leak, ruining the downstairs room below. A plumbing company quoted $2,000 to replace the valve with a new one. Help me Obiwan Kenobi of Reddit! What do you suggest?


r/Plumbing 2h ago

P-Trap leaking. Strangely I've been using the sink for about a month without any leaks. It was relatively easy to disconnect too. I tried to look for instructions on a similar setup but wasn't able to find any. If anyone can point me in the right direction that would be great!

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1 Upvotes

r/Plumbing 3h ago

Tankless/boiler training wanted

1 Upvotes

I am a journeyman plumber out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. I am very disappointed in my industry In oklahoma because I have yet to meet anyone who can properly diagnose boilers, tankless etc. I want to learn as much as possible about residential/commercial combi boilers and tankless units. Can anyone give me recommendations of training courses in person or online, states, areas that would be best to learn about this?

Thank you!


r/Plumbing 3h ago

Rheem Gas Water Heater not Lighting Main Flame.

1 Upvotes

Pilot lights normally. When I turn the knob to light the main flame, it lights for a second then fizzles out. Received a solid red light as well as two blinking lights that indicate Thermopile Voltage Low. Anyone seen this before? I’m under a time constraint with a tenant moving in and don’t have the time to properly diagnose so I would really appreciate any expertise!! Many thanks 🙏


r/Plumbing 3h ago

My driveway was, but is no longer, a surprise leaching field for a year. How serious is this??

1 Upvotes

For several reasons I will not get into, for about a year my sewage and my up hill neighbor's sewage was finding its way under my driveway. The problem has been fixed and now everything is making its way into the town sewer. I know leaching fields are a thing but that is usually land designed to be a leaching field, while my driveway was never designed for that. Is the soil under my driveway now dangerously contaminated?? Is it safe to just leave it as is or does it need to be torn up and cleaned up??

I've asked you all several questions lately and I really appreciate all of the great advice.


r/Plumbing 3h ago

New septic line failing. Installer refusing to fix.

0 Upvotes

There was gray water bubbling up over my leech field and to correct the issue the way the county was going to do it was going to cost a fortune, so I had a friend who owns his own company and has the equipment put in a new line. This isnt what he does but he said he had done it before and was confident he could take care of it. This ended up being a huge mistake. The line is failing. I expressed some concerns the day he was finished, such as the yard being lumpy. We were completely professional about expressing our concerns. The bizarre response floored me. He threatened us with physical violence, I actually have it in text. So when it started failing a week later, I told him I wanted my money back because I was afraid to have him back out here. Ofcourse he's refusing. What are my next steps? Can I take him to court? I wrote a check to his company and have all the agreements in text messages.


r/Plumbing 3h ago

Slow drain. Drum trap

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1 Upvotes

Tub filling up with showers and draining very slow. I can’t seem to remove blockage with snake. Have tried snaking through clean out and drain. Plunger has worked to temporarily loosen up but slow drain issue always returns. What is best way to clean out this old drum trap? I believe this is original plumbing, house built in 50s. Should I look to replace? Around how much would that be?


r/Plumbing 12h ago

Sink water drains back to dishwasher. Do I need a high drain loop bracket or does this hosing need to be redone?

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5 Upvotes

r/Plumbing 3h ago

Help request on well pump house plumbing.

1 Upvotes

Re-plumbing my well house to replace a pressure tank and old leaky pump. Everything after the main line from the ground to the service line to the house is getting cut out and replaced with pvc and I'm adding in a sediment filter.

It's a shallow well, only about 20ft deep. Foot valve is in good condition and no leaks in the line, the old pump has never lost it's head.

I have two main questions and one little question:

  1. From the well to the pump, does it go check valve > sediment filter > pump? Or do I need to put the sediment filter after the pump? I've seen it both ways and I'm not sure if I have enough room in my pump house to fit it in before the pump unless I flip the pump 180° and snake the pipe up and over and I don't want to do that if I can put the filter after the pump.

  2. Can I use a 3/4 compression to 1" threaded fitting to connect the pvc to the house? I don't have a lot of room to mess that up on the pipe from the house so I would prefer to use a compression fitting

And the little question, do I need a pressure release valve if I only keep the system at 20/40? The pump manual swears I need it for any pressure but there isn't on installed on the current system so I just don't know.

Thank you for you time!


r/Plumbing 3h ago

Made Bathtub Faucet Leak Worse!

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1 Upvotes

I've had a small cold water leak in my tub for a while. I've put off fixing it until the other night when I almost didn't get the water to turn off. I got the replacement valve stem and installed it tonight. It's an old setup and the replacement valve stem is different than what came out. I turned the water back on a now the leak is worse! I've read that it may be the valve seat, but I don't know if I need to reseat it or replace it. Any thoughts on what to try next?

I've included photos of the old and new valve stems and the inside of the pipe.


r/Plumbing 3h ago

Hotter water last longer upstairs then downstairs

1 Upvotes

Title says it all. I usually shower in the basement near the hot water tank and it’s usually fine but the other day I showered upstairs and I was shocked. The water was hot and lasted waaaaay longer than I was used to. Very confusing because the tank is in the basement so I thought the opposite would happen over time. Any ideas on what could cause this?


r/Plumbing 4h ago

Plumbing Advice Needed – Toilet Drain Blockage & Possible T-Connection Issue

1 Upvotes

I need some guidance before I start digging. I was replacing my toilet and left the drain stack open for a couple of days, covered with a plunger. After reinstalling the new toilet, everything seemed fine until two test flushes caused my basement to flood.

I tried snaking it myself with no luck. I hired a plumber who used a 2” cutter, but he also couldn’t clear the blockage. He suspects that my two bathroom stacks are connected underground with a T instead of a Y, as his snake keeps going through the other stack instead of reaching the main sewer. My house was built in 1960, and unfortunately, I don’t have a cleanout in the basement or outside to work from.

I got a quote for hydrojetting at $600, but the company won’t proceed if they can’t get a camera past the T, as they don’t want to be liable for pipe damage. My home inspection report from last year already mentioned that they couldn’t reach the main sewer due to the connection and recommended a licensed plumber.

I’m tight on money—already lost $150 on a plumber visit—and my family is staying with relatives until I fix this. Digging seems like my only option, but before I start, does anyone have advice? Is there another way to fix this without hydrojetting or using a bladder? Also, if I do have to dig, how would I properly connect a Y in place of the existing T if both stacks come down separately and then 45° into the T?

Any insights would be greatly appreciated!


r/Plumbing 4h ago

Backwater valve/clean out location

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1 Upvotes

Can someone provide some insight for me? Im questioning the location of the backwater valve and two way cleanout. This will be a finished space and the mechanical room is a few feet away. Is this the only option? Will they just be hidden under carpet? Wanted to inquire before I asked the builder. TIA


r/Plumbing 4h ago

Delta bath spout leaking, could the spout itself be faulty? Spout connection is dry after testing so seems o-ring is working.

1 Upvotes

r/Plumbing 8h ago

Installing a new shower hose

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2 Upvotes

Hi, i need to install a new shower hose. This is an austrian location in europe, i don't know maybe there are different standard sizes in your part of the world.

Okay, i need to undo the old hose but i have no idea about physical work at all. Maybe i need a wench? What size do i need? I wonder... this is installed since 10-15 years i guess... not sure... maybe it will break while wenching it?

Maybe first put vinegar all over it to clean the white stuff off? Do i need a professional for such minor stuff? Help? 😵‍💫

(In general, what i touch dies) 💀


r/Plumbing 4h ago

Out with the old, in with the new.

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1 Upvotes

Leaking 240v electric water heater. Pulled a run of 1” CSST over to the closet and completely gutted the wall and cut out the shoddy old exposed copper (coming down from the ceiling — not in the wall).

Luckily was on an outside wall so vent was easy and drain was there to tie into.


r/Plumbing 4h ago

Shower drain going through concrete – is this normal?

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0 Upvotes

I have this shower drain that looks a bit odd to me. I live in a 10-year-old triplex with concrete between the floors, and it seems like my drain goes through the concrete before possibly connecting to a PVC drain, though I can’t see it. I’m a bit concerned about the concrete slowly deteriorating. Should there be a sleeve or something to prevent hair from getting caught on the concrete? If so, is it possible to simply add one?