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Plumbing
Subject: Choosing the Right Faucet. Before buying a new faucet make sure to check the number of holes on your sink.
For a complete article decribing how to replace your faucet read: www.plumbinghelp.ca/kitchen_faucet.php -- Gregory Pyne MCpl Pyne, Greg - 2IC Plumbing shop - WCE - EXT 5485 10/06/09Make sure you turn the water off at source before attempting to clear a blocked tap by taking it apart. -- Adam Le Gresley, adam.le-gresley@nospamntlworld.com
Blocked sinks. If you are trying to unblock a blocked sink, cover up the overflow holes with a damp cloth. This helps build up the pressure. -- Janet Adamson, Washington DC.
Toilets. If your toilet ball float is leaking and filling with water here is a useful trick I learnt to tide you over until you can get a new one. Take off the float (by unscrewing it), empty it, then screw it back on and wrap it in a plastic bag. -- Anon.
Toilets. If you think that your toilet might be leaking slightly, check to see if the problem is not due to condensation before calling out a plumber. If you have condensation problems they can be solved by improved ventilation when bathing or showering. -- Y Chan, NYC
Leaky Cistern: A clever way of checking to see if your cistern is leaking is to put in some food coloring.
Remember to use PTFE tape when fixing a leak or making joints. The tape should be wrapped around the thread of the pipe. Clockwise when viewed from the end of the pipe is the correct way to put it on -- Robin Gill Southall England
Showers. If the water pressure is very poor in your shower it may be due to limescale build up. Always clean your shower heads every three months. If the scale is too bad it may be an idea to get either a new hose, or a new shower head. -- Scott Edmunds
Pipes: Repairs to low pressure water pipes can be carried out while the water is held back by stuffing bread up the pipe. It should remain in place long enough for a repair to be made -- Handy Andy. (Andy Hand-Davis Hedge End, Southampton England)
Frozen Pipes. I find that the best way to melt the ice in frozen pipes is to put hot water bottles over them. I hear that using a hair-dryer is good as well. -- Jon Simpson
Subject: Noisy pipes If your water pipes sometimes make a loud "hammering noise" after the toilet has been flushed or sink, etc. Ask at the hardware store for something for "waterhammer". It's a fitting or somesuch thing which is easily installed in the line. A common problem and not very expensive. - - Anon
Split Pipes. If your water pipe has split, a temporary fix you can do whilst waiting for a qualified plumber is to wrap torn strips of fabric very tightly around the break. Keep a large saucepan or bucket underneath the join to catch any drips. -- Harry James.
Taps
Taps. If you are removing nice tap fittings (such as gold ones) for maintenance reasons, use a thick cloth to protect it from the jaws of the wrench, otherwise you'll get a load of scratches on them. -- Geoff Bryan Wales
New Taps: If you suffer from dripping taps it is usually due to two things. Firstly the washer may need to be replaced, or there is a damaged valve setting. You can buy replacements, but they are difficult to install. - Harry James.
When taking a tap apart, always keep the plug in, to prevent anything useful falling down the plug hole. - Larry Brown, LA.
Sweating Copper; an article extolling the virtues and advice on using the magic metal.
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