A pressure vacuum breaker (PVB) is a backflow prevention device installed on irrigation systems to stop non-potable water from flowing backward into a home’s drinking water supply. Most local building codes require a backflow prevention device on any water system where a cross-connection exists, and a sprinkler line feeding a lawn is one of the […]
Toilets are simple devices, and that is why most toilet repairs are simple too. After you push the handle, water in the tank rushes into the bowl and forces waste into the sewer line. Except for pressure-assisted models, that is how nearly every toilet works, and the tank and bowl contain only a few parts,
A sump pump is the most direct defense against water accumulating in a basement. It sits in a pit below the floor, collects groundwater, and pushes it away from the foundation before it can spread. Most sump pumps are inexpensive, and a homeowner with basic plumbing skills can handle the job over a weekend. The
Gas ranges and cooktops have a dedicated shutoff valve that isolates the appliance from the supply line, and every household with a gas stove should know where it sits and how to operate it. The job takes 5 to 10 minutes, needs no tools in most cases, and costs nothing. You may need the valve
Removing a tub drain is the first step in replacing a bathtub, and it also comes up when the fitting corrodes, leaks, or simply wears out. The drain fitting is a metal basket with a lip or flange at the top and a threaded body that screws into the elbow, or shoe, of the horizontal
A clogged bathtub drain is one of the most common plumbing callouts, yet most blockages clear in under two hours with a drain snake and about $25 to $40 in tools. Hair and soap scum are the usual culprits, and both respond to mechanical cleaning rather than chemical treatments. This step-by-step guide for homeowners and
Whether it is a burst pipe at midnight or a routine maintenance visit, a trusted plumbing company reduces the stress of homeownership. The selection process takes work because you want a company with experience, reliability and the willingness to show up when you call. A contractor who handles commercial boilers and heating systems brings experience
The word “commode” confuses people for a good reason: it means two very different things. For most of us, a commode is a polite name for a toilet, the kind of word you use in mixed company. For antique collectors and furniture historians, a commode is an elaborately decorated chest of drawers or low cabinet
Water heating typically consumes 15 to 20 percent of the energy used in a home, which makes the fuel source one of the biggest recurring cost decisions a homeowner makes. Gas, electric, and solar systems each deliver the same hot shower, but they differ sharply in purchase price, operating cost, recovery speed, and maintenance demands.
A lawn irrigation sprinkler valve that will not open, will not close, or weeps water around the bonnet can waste hundreds of gallons over a single watering season. A zone that stays on overnight can push 15 to 20 gallons per minute through the heads, more than 9,000 gallons lost in one eight-hour run. The
