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Name: Andy
Subject: Toilet won't flush
Question: Plunging is not helping. Before I spend $200 on roto rooter is there anything I can do to un-clog and get the flow going again? There is also a shower w/ a slow drain on other side of wall where Toilet is. I know the shower has a rubber duck down in the pipe and whatever else, courtesy of my 2yr old. Is it possible both probs are related? Two separate bathrooms all feeding to same drain pipe. What do you think I can do or should I just call in help?
Answer: HI
They could be connected, but I will tell you all homes should have a closet auger, this is a snaking tool designed for toilets, and work where most plungers will not, there are several different types, I can tell you most hardware’s have and some one who is versed in using, not a rocket science to it. The shower could be snaked with a typical hand snake and with a little luck you might be able to hook on to the rubber toy, or at least push it thru trap and into a bigger pipe and out of system. DB
www.espmetro.com www.dry-it-up.com
Name: Andy
Subject: Toilet won't flush
Question: -I have snaked the shower drain and have been able to run about 15ft until stopped. I am almost positive I have passed the trap but then get stopped. Looking at the pipes in the basement it looks like I am running into smaller pipes and there is a sharp L turn before reaching main drain pipe. That’s where I think I am getting stopped. Moving back to Toilet- I will get an auger for that and give it a try. I do have feeling that paper waste is just packing up in there. Is that possible? The water does spin but does not drain completely out of the bowl. Both bathrooms need major work. I need one to function before I close the other. I will go auger and then professional if I have to. Thanks for your input. ------------------------------------------
The text above is a follow-up to ...
-----Question-----
Plunging is not helping. Before I spend $200 on roto rooter is there anything I can do to un-clog and get the flow going again? There is also a shower w/ a slow drain on other side of wall where Toilet is. I know the shower has a rubber duck down in the pipe and whatever else, courtesy of my 2yr old. Is it possible both probs are related. Two separate bathrooms all feeding to same drain pipe. What do you think I can do or should I just call in help?
-----Answer-----
HI
They could be connected, but I will tell you all homes should have a closet auger, this is a snaking tool designed for toilets, and work where most plungers will not, there are several different types, I can tell you most hardware’s have and some one who is versed in using, not a rocket science to it. The shower could be snaked with a typical hand snake and with a little luck you might be able to hook on to the rubber toy, or at least push it thru trap and into a bigger pipe and out of system. DB
www.espmetro.com www.dry-it-up.com
Answer: The auger should be no problem for you, hope I helped.
DB
Name: Mike
Subject: rotten egg smell in basement drain
Question: Hello
We have been in our current home for about three months and have just had our basement bathroom/laundry room fully renovated. The renovated room has a floor drain in it that was previously covered with carpet. The drain has water in it. Today we noticed a strong 'rotten egg' smell coming from the drain; also, i should note that it is raining heavily outside. The home is was built in the late 30s / early 40s. thanks for any help you can provide.
Mike
Answer: Hello
Is the clean out plug in drain, sometimes they are removed by drain cleaners. If you remove grate the only opening should be straight down into trap, if another opening is visible it needs to be plugged, flush drain thoroughly to get rid of stagnant water, You might need to clean the drain as it really has not been used. Based on what you have said. Try a cup of bleach to disinfect and let me know. Usually rotten egg smell is associated more with water heaters. DB Let me know.
www.espmetro.com www.dry-it-up.com
Name: tom
Subject: Toilet leaks
Question: I replaced a toilet and the new toilet is leaking under the bowl in the front of the toilet when I turn the water back on. It leaks immediately, before I even flush the toilet. There is small gap between the base of the toilet and the ceramic floor in the back; however no water is leaking in the back. I have checked the water cabinet and no water is leaking from it.
Answer: HELLO
The toilets test plug might be defective or not plugged right, or a defective toilet. Most toilets are manufactured with a test hole on the bottom, you will need to pull toilet to check this. I would also make sure all connections up top are good as water will find its way down the bowl and show up as coming from under. If you do pull and look at bottom install a new wax ring and maybe a thick one, they sell then in a couple of different thickness. DB Hope this helps you. www.espmetro.com www.dry-it-up.com
Name: Dale
Subject: Pipe fitting
Question: I have a brass manifold under my pressure tank and a brass main shutoff valve. between these is a 3/4 inch male-male galvanized connector. No matter what I have tried I cannot get a good seal between these parts, it drips about a cup of water a day. My question is how many wraps of Teflon tape should I use and how tight should I make the fittings? thanks -dale
Answer: Hello
Monday AM hope I can help, that Teflon tape needs to go on a direction, here is how, with pipe in left hand, or try to figure out as being in hand, you apply Teflon with right hand and tape comes off of bottom not top, when unrolling and only about 3-4 wraps pulling tightly to seal in thread, sometimes a little pipe dope does not hurt but only on threads after Teflon is applied. The reason is the Teflon will bunch up when threading pipe and is really not in threads, if you apply backwards, hence a leak. Plumbing if tightened too tight can be a problem, Most pipes should thread in by hand 3-4 turns and then tighten to where if you think it will not make a complete turn stop, If it leaks at that point then tighten in another turn, easier said sometimes.
DB Hope this helps you. www.espmetro.com www.dry-it-up.com
VIDEO NOW ON LINE FOR TEFLON WRAPPING
Name: Rob
Subject: toilet flange
Question: I am remodeling the bathroom. The existing toilet flange was installed on the original sub floor. That floor was added on to with 5.8 thick plywood which was cut around the flange. When I removed the toilet everything looked good and there. I am putting in a new floor. I removed the vinyl floor and put in 1/4 in Hardboard and am adding radiant floor heating mat and 3/8 inch thick tile. I cut the hardboard around the flange and now I realize that when I tile the flange will be about 1/2 - 5.8 inches lower than flush. I assume that will be too much for the toilet to sit level. What do you suggest I do. I have not laid the tile yet.
Answer: Hello
That distance of ½” to ¾” should be of no problem even up to 1” but no further, buy a thicker wax ring than normal and push toilet down evenly, you will feel it make a seal. If that is a typo you did if 5" then you need to redo flange. I read it as 5/8"
DB Hope this helps you. www.espmetro.com www.dry-it-up.com
Name: Andy
Subject: moving a radiator
Question: Hello bob, I want to knock a wall down which has a radiator on it and then put the radiator on a different wall, before I drain the radiator itself do I have to drain the whole system down because the piping needs to be cut and removed as well, the radiator is in the bathroom. Thanks
Answer: Hello
Yes! You will need to drain system down. What we do is drain down disconnect and install 2 valves in basement and refill boiler the we can work on and take our time, valves are cheap especially if you have a problem when reinstalling. Remember water seeks its own level, so just need to make sure you drain all the way down. DB Hope this helps you. www.espmetro.com
Name: Craig
Subject: Outdoor sink hose
Question: Hi Bob,
I have just got a stainless steel standalone sink unit on legs for my back yard. I plan to use it in my homebrew beer hobby so need to make sure everything is food grade. Can I hook it up to the wall where I normally connect my garden hose? i.e. using some flexible hose pipe ? If so how to tell if the hose pipe is safe to carry drinking water? can I just use braided stainless steel hose that plumbers merchants sell for toiler cistern connection ? I have heard that I cannot use garden hose as its not food grade.
Any idea?
Answer: HELLO
Any connections that are taken apart and put back together are not considered potable water connections. They need to stay hooked up, the reason is insects. That is why hoses of any type should not be hooked temporary to food installation sinks. Most that are, are permanent as supply tubes under sinks. DB Hope this helps you. www.espmetro.com www.dry-it-up.com
Name: Paulette
Subject: noise
Question: HI:
well we have this noise that happens any time during the day, usually only once a day for the past month. It last only a few seconds but it sounds like a tap that has not fully been turned off that rumbling sort of noise. no taps are on, all taps are off. once I heard a hissing noise but only one time. last year we had a new submersible pump in our well and we have a new water pump tank. the water softener is an not new. What could this noise be? if you have any ideas it sure would be helpful because this noise at 3 am sure isn't nice. Thanks a million
Answer: HELLO
Try this simple test...
Turn off the supply valves to your _all_ toilets... usually right under and behind the left side of your toilet. Shut all of them.
Run all your faucets and check for that noise. If no more noise, replace the fill valves in your toilets. If the noise persists, repeat this test with each faucet in the house. Close only one valve, and run another. Do this until your rumbling stops. That last valve you close will be your culprit. You would be surprised as to what a faulty toilet ballcock noises it will make. Especially when you say all faucets, for some reason the draw of water in a faucet will make it make noise. I believe because of the atmospheric vacuum breaker in the fill valve of toilet.
There is a possibility of a defective ballcock /fill valve on the one toilet that is making noise, shut the water off to that toilet and see if this helps, ball cocks can make the most horrendous of noises also it might not be that toilet.
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