Unless you live in the balmy tropics of a deep southern state, you probably have some sort of heating system in your home. Heating systems are essential in northern parts of the U.S., whether woodstoves, heat pumps, boilers, or furnaces, as cooler fall/spring temperatures and harsh winters demand supplemental heat. Key Points: Each heating system … Read more
Garbage disposals are a handy addition to nearly any kitchen – they help keep your plumbing free of food clogs and effortlessly take care of food scraps. With a garbage disposal, you don’t need to meticulously pick wayward food scraps from the sink to avoid a troublesome clog. Instead, you can rinse the leftover scraps … Read more
Obviously, a good kitchen faucet is one that functions well. However, the right faucet will also fit the style of your kitchen. Oil rubbed bronze faucets are among the most aesthetically versatile faucets on the market today. These chemically aged faucets perfectly capture the rustic, yet stylish, feel of oiled bronze. They combine functionality and … Read more
You’re cleaning up the kitchen, sweeping food scraps from the sink into the garbage disposal as it runs. But then, uh oh! The garbage disposal stopped draining, causing water to back up into the sink. Now what? Why isn’t the garbage disposal draining? Key Points: This can happen for multiple reasons, some easier to address … Read more
As you browse through your local home improvement center, you’ll probably come across a section of colorful, coiled tubing. This flexible tubing, known as PEX, is a popular pick for plumbing systems. It’s a durable, flexible, and inexpensive option, making it a favorite of DIYers. And the best part? It’s easy to install! Key Points: … Read more
PEX fittings are an essential piece of PEX plumbing systems. They provide watertight seals between sections of the pipe, ensuring water traveling through remains inside the pipe instead of around it. There may come a time when you need to remove the PEX fittings, perhaps to address an issue or replumb the area. Key Points: … Read more
As a well-known household name, it’s no surprise that Delta products appear in thousands of homes nationwide. Lavatory faucets, bar faucets, toilets, bathtubs, showerheads, and more – the list goes on and on. Among its lengthy list of products, you’ll find shower mixing valves. Key Points: While these products are well-designed and perform well most … Read more
A loud shower is a frustrating problem, to say the least. The good news is that it’s completely fixable. Age, piping, and a clogged showerhead will all give you a shower you aren’t necessarily prepared for or looking forward to. Believe it or not, the strange noise your shower makes is very common and easily … Read more
Dishwashers are a common occurrence in many households. When it comes to cleaning dishes quickly and efficiently, a dishwasher is more than likely the solution. Not to mention, you are in no way held responsible for handwashing all the dishes, which is nice. The downside? Like all machines, eventually, over time, something goes wrong. Whether … Read more
Perhaps you recently installed a water softener to banish the woes of hard water in your home. Goodbye, mineral deposits! Goodbye, dehydrated skin! However, once the system is up and running, you begin to notice something. When you wash your hands, shower, clean dishes, or complete any other task requiring water, you notice the water … Read more
Perhaps you’re working through a plumbing project, trying to shorten your seemingly endless to-do list. However, once you gather your tools and materials to complete the job, you realize you don’t have the correct glue. You might be working with PVC but only have CPVC glue (or vice versa). So, do you need to take … Read more
Searching for a new faucet can be overwhelming. With a quick Internet search, you have thousands of options at your fingertips. Dozens of brands, price points, designs, and finishes to choose from make the process even more daunting. So, as you sift through your options, you might take time to research a few brands you … Read more
In areas with hard water, a water softener works like magic to make the water drinkable. As with all appliances, though, sometimes a piece is faulty or installed incorrectly, and the machine doesn’t operate as it usually would. The good news is that there are simple fixes for most problems that cause a water softener … Read more
We’ve all learned to love a nice hot shower after a long day. It relaxes our muscles and begins the nightly routine we’ve had the luxury of developing. But what happens when that lovely warm shower turns cold? A bad feeling, that’s for sure. We’ll discuss all the basics of a water heater, what to … Read more
Perhaps you’re revamping part of the plumbing system in your home, like the pipes leading away from a bathtub or faucet. The old pipes are made of ABS, but the new lines you bought are made of PVC. So, can you join the two together? While you can connect these two pipes, it isn’t as … Read more
Perhaps your bathroom is next in line for a facelift, so you’re removing all the old fixtures from the space. As you remove the old toilet, you notice a caulk seam around the base. So, when you install the new toilet, you begin to wonder whether caulking around the toilet’s base is necessary. Should you … Read more
The plumbing system for your home is complex, requiring numerous components to ensure everything functions properly. If you have an irrigation system, the plumbing network in and around your home becomes slightly more complicated, as you must have a backflow preventer. Key Points: This article discusses the ins and outs of backflow preventers and whether … Read more
Backflow preventers can be the difference between a clean water supply and a contaminated one. If you have a private well, the responsibility of testing and monitoring falls to you, so installing a backflow prevention device isn’t a bad idea. Key Points: But do you actually need a backflow preventer on a well system? While … Read more