Easy Plumbing Knowledge

Hello Plumbing Friends, In today's post we will cover how to replace a sink tramp. The reason for replacing these suckers have to do with the fact that with time they leak, become eroded or get clogged. One important thing to remember is to make sure that you use the same type of trap as the one that you are looking to remove. So, make sure to check the size of the replacement. 1) The first step in replacing a sink trap is to remove the old drain assembly using pliers to remove slip nuts and then remove the old drain pipe. 2) The second step is to attach the new tailpiece. Sometimes it may be necessary to add a T-Fitting (as when you are working with a sink with two basins) 3) The third step is to attach the trap arm using a slip nut and washer. 4) The fourth step is to connect the trap bend to the trap arm using slip and washers. The beveled side should face the trap bend. You can use pliers to tighten all the nuts and make sure to not over tighten the slip nuts. In...

Hello Dear Friends! In today's episode we will like to introduce you guys to the plumbing tool box. Sometimes customers are curious and like to know what is inside of our toolbox and so here are a few of the tools that we carry with us: 1) Pipe Wrench: These wrenches are used for a wide variety of applications. There is a type that can be used on pipes that are close to the wall or for seized joins, or for tight spaces and odd angles. Pipe wrenches have been a tool always identified with plumbers and for a good reason. 2) Basic Wrench: Basic wrenches are used to replace/repair old faucets and are always simple to use. 3) Hose cutter: You use this tool to cut copper tubing to the perfect shape and size. 4) Hack saw: This tool is used to cut metal and plastic pipes. 5) Propane Torch and Solder: Indispensable in our tool box, it will be greatly useful for soldering copper water pipes. 6) Slip-Joint Pl...

So you want to filter all the water coming into your home? No biggie. Here at Easy Plumbing Knowledge we can certainly help. So, let's get started friends: Tools You Will Need: The tools you will need to install a whole-house filter include a bucket, an adjustable wrench set, a  pipe cutter. You will also need the following materials: a whole-house water filter kit and teflon tape. Difficulty Level:  This project is not for the faint of heart It requires a bit of skill and can take up to a full day to install. Procedure to Whole-House Installation The first step is to turn off the water supply line to shop off all water access. The next step is to open a faucet (preferentially from the lowest point of the house) to release and rain the pressure and water. The point is to drain the system entirely. The second step is to make two cuts and remove the section of the pipe. This is going to open the space for the placement of the filter. The third step after c...

Your water heater has stopped working out of a sudden. Cold showers forever await you! But wait! There is a chance that the solution may not be as drastic as you are thinking. When your water heater stops working suddenly, it is possible that the problem lies on a damaged thermocouple. Thermo whaaaat? You may ask. No worries. If your water heater thermocouple is the problem, then your solution will be simple and inexpensive. What tools will you need? For this project, you will need a wrench set, and adjustable wrench and a screwdriver set. Get all your tools ready to go! What materials will you need? For this project, you will need a thermocouple, long matches, and dish soap. Ready to get started with this DIY project and get your water heater back in business? When will this not work This will not work when the burner chamber in the water heater is of difficult access or when water heaters do not have pilots. Cautionary Measures If after removing gas lines you smel...

Hello dear friends! In tonight's post we will cover how to join pipes. We will cover how to join a copper pipe and how to join a PVC pipe, to be exact. In order to accomplish this task, the tools that you will need will include a brush cleaning tool, a knife, a PVC saw, PEX cutter, rubber gloves, safe glasses, a ratchet cutter, acid brush, a torc h with gas, and a pipe cutter. For the materials, you will need crimp rings, PVC primer, PVC cleaner, PVC cement, solder, and soldering pad. Let's get started: The first step is to measure the pipe. Then, the next step is to mark the pipe and using a pipe cutter to cut the pipe. The next step is to clean the copper pipe. The reason for this is that metal suffers oxidation. This happens as metal reacts with the air, thus causing oxidation. The problem with this is that soldering becomes difficult. To solve this situation, use a wire brush to scrub the pipe. The next step is to use a small knife or file to remove the burrs from...

Ok, so the nightmare has come true. Your drain or bathtub is clogged. Why did this happen? What am I going to do? You ask yourself. Indeed, you cannot allow this to happen, unless you are planning to taking showers in the neighbor's house or at the gym. Why is the bathtub clogged? That is the first question. Well, the bathtub could be clogged due to a number of things. What is the most common reason for this terrible event? The culprit more often than not will be hair. Yes, it is hair my friends. And the longer the hair of those living in your home, the worse this can be. Now, it is not necessary for any of the persons in your household to have long hair for this to happen. Indeed, even short hair can contribute to a clogged bathtub. This happens as hair builds up and clogs the drain. In addition to hair, soap scum and buildup of dirt or other debris contributes to this unpleasant situation. Now, how do we unclog the bathtub, you ask? Ok, so let's start with removing...

Good morning everyone! In the two previous articles we have analyzed both the benefits of hydronic heating systems as well as the different types of hydronic heating systems that there are. In this article we will compare traditional forced air systems vs hydronic heating systems. What are the advantages of one over the other? Well, let's jump right into it. First of all, forced air heating systems, as the name suggests, are systems that rely on air to do the transfer of heat to the rooms of the home. On the other hand, hydronic systems depend on water or steam to transfer that same heat that is required throughout the home. Let's analyze several categories: COMFORT In this category we have a clear winner and the winner is hydronic heating. Hydronic heating provides better/more even heat distribution around the home. In contrast, forced air systems often do not do this as they produce gushes of hot air and cold air around the houses which can reduced home comfort....

Hello! How is everyone doing this beautiful Sunday morning? Yesterday night we covered more about how hydronic heating systems work. We covered some of the benefits. Now, we would like to focus on how you can choose the right hydronic heater. Hydronic systems use water, which is a much better conductor of energy than air, to make cold spots within a home much less of a factor than with a system that forces air. ----------------------------- Arch Plumbing can help you with any commercial plumbing services, including radiant heating system installations. ----------------------------- Now there are several types of hydronic systems available for you to choose from: 1) FIN TUBE BASEBOARD - This system uses copper fin-tube radiators. This system is popular as it is cost effective. In addition, it is easy to install and provides great comfort. 2) CAST IRON RADIATORS - Cast iron radiators can bring back memories of older homes. If you are looking for a classical/vintage look ...

Today we will cover what exactly is a hydronic heating system. It has an awesome name. What exactly is a hydronic heating system? How does it work? Is it easy to install? Hydronic heating technology sounds complicated but in reality it uses a very simple system. The main idea behind hydronic heating systems has to do with water. The water moves through a system of pipes. The water goes to radiators located throughout the home. The hydronic heating system heats the water before it is moved to the radiators. The way hydronic heating works is by using a gas boiler to heat water. The water then circulates throughout the home before returning to the source. A home with hydronic heating use a separate system to the hot water supply. The system moves the water to the each room in the house, where a radiator helps to push out heat evenly. It is important to note that one of the advantages of this system is that radiators can be programmed independently and that this system helps to el...

Sometimes we just need a tip to get a task done. In plumbing, it is the same way. A tip can help us go a long way. Here we prepare a list of three great tips that can help you in your plumbing adventure. The very first tip in our list has to do with creaking pipes. In a previous article we learned about how to insulate pipes so as to minimize heat loss and also to prevent pipes from bursting in freeze temperatures. So, how do you stop creaking pipes and also why does this creaking happen? First, creaking pipes is a result of hot water that causes certain types of pipes to expand. This then causes them to grind against joists and hangers. How can you stop this from happening? The solution is to wrap the pipes in adhesive-backed felt. This adhesive backed felt can be bought at a regular hardware store; they are quite inexpensive. The procedure would then be to unfasten hangers, wrap the pipes, and the refasten the hanger. The second tip we want to share today has to do with r...

Today we will cover one way to protect the plumbing system of your home. How can you accomplish this task? Well, one way to do it is to make sure to insulate your plumbing pipes.  The benefits of this action are multiple: 1) For one, it helps keep the pipes warm and thus helps keep water warm too. This minimizes heat loss and as a consequence helps you save money throughout the year.  2) A second benefit is that insulating your plumbing pipes helps prevent the pipes from freezing. When water freezes, the volume of water expands, which can create serious and expensive damage. When pipes are exposed, such as basement pipes and exterior wall pipes, the risk is greater.  3) A third benefit of plumbing insulation is that it helps reduce water noise.  In order to install the insulation, it is necessary that you: 1) Use glasses 2) Use gloves 3) Use a ladder, especially if the basement has a tall ceiling 4) Caulk and sealants 5) Pip...

Good night dear Plumbing Inclined Friends! Today we bring to you another chapter in water shut off valves. Today, we will go into more detail about some of the most common types of shut-off valves. STOP VALVES These type of water shut-off valves are the ones that control the flow of water to your fixtures. The stop valves are usually located behind the plumbing fixtures, such as the toilet or the sink. These stop valves allow repair persons to fix any problem with the fixtures without having to turn off the water flowing to the hole house. Some popular brand names are BrassCraft, SharkBite and Moen. They can cost around 8-9 dollars. SILLCOCKS This type of stop valve consists of a water faucet with a threaded spout. These type of stop valves are made to prevent water from freezing in the pipe. Some common brand names are Everbilt, Woodford and SharkBite. The prices can range from $10 to $30 on average. HOSE BIBBS Hose Bibbs are very similar to sillcocks. The differe...

In today's blog post, we introduce the different types of water shut off valves. The main water shut-off valve is like the master switch. With it, you control the whole universe that is your home's water supply. But that is not the main valve. There are many different types of other shut-off valves.  Here is your short guide to water shut off valves: - Shut off Valves have one common purpose: to stop the flow of water. However, there is a variety of types of valves. One of them is the multi-turn shut off valve that forces a rubber gasket to restrict the flow of water.  There is also quarter turn valves, which work using a steel ball with a hole in the middle, which allows water to flow through the hole. Turning the handle a quarter-turn stops the flow of water. - Shut-Off Valve Connections: There are several types of connections for water shut-off valves.  1) PEX supply lines can use barbed, compression, or push-to-connect PTC fittings. 2)...

Hello everyone. Today we have an important question from our audience. The question today is, How can you prevent fires? Seems like a question with a straightforward answer, but let's advance our awareness today!   First of all, preventing a fire is something that has tremendous value, as a fire can spread in devastating ways and put your family in great risk. Some of the most common reasons for fires are: electrical sparks, space heaters, and children playing with matches. In order to prevent fires, tools that you may need are: a CO and Smoke alarm, a combustible gas detection, a carbon monoxide alarm, a fire extinguisher, and batteries. Here are a few tips to help minimize the probabilities of a fire: 1) Never leave your space heater unattended. Also, make sure to leave the space heater at least three feet away from flammable material and on level surface. 2) Do not leave light candles near materials that can ignite. 3) Use a fireplace screen so that sparks can be kep...

Hello crew! How are you all doing tonight? Thank you for joining me in another plumbing adventure. Tonight we will cover the following two questions: 1) What is a flush valve 2) How to install a new flush valve? Let's get this party started, shall we? First, what is a flush valve?  A flush valve is a part of the toilet located in the middle of the toilet tank. The flush valve includes the overflow tube and the rubber tank ball/flapper. The overflow tube works for the hole where water enters the toilet after the toilet is flushed. The flap is what cover the hole after the toilet tank has fulled. When a flush valve is broken, the toilet tank will not be able to maintain the water level. Thus, it is often necessary to replace the tank ball/flapper to solve a leaking problem. And if this does not work, then the next step is to replace the entire flush valve. Now, how do you install a flush valve? Well, for this operation you will need a slip-joint, adjustable wrenches, a s...