Video of asbestos pipe insulation on a hydroponic (water) or steam boiler heating system. Asbestos can be dangerous to your health if fibers are disturbed, often found in buildings buildings from the fifty’s and older on heating and hot water plumbing pipes.
Leaking Vent Pipe Boot, Replacement
Where the plumbing vent pipe exits through the roof shingles, there is a metal plate with a rubber gasket (boot) that stops water leaking into the attic. The flashing boot will generally deteriorate and start leaking water into the attic after about twelve years, that’s long before it’s time to re-roof. When boots need to […]Read More about Leaking Vent Pipe Boot, Replacement
Where Are the Gas Shut Off Valves Located?
Assuming it’s a small leak, one that’s hard to smell, the first thing to do is turn off the gas to the unit. The requirement is that there must be a shut off valve within six feet of and in the same room as the gas appliance. Turn off the valve (a quarter turn on […]Read More about Where Are the Gas Shut Off Valves Located?
How Times and Drains Have Changed
This month has been the month for old drain cleaning signs from the 50’s still attached to basement ceiling rafters. Drains have had issues for years, older cast iron pipes were easily damaged by tree roots, while newer PVC pipes are rarely damaged by tree roots but often blocked by disposable diapers, feminine sanitary products […]Read More about How Times and Drains Have Changed
Cast Iron Drains Had a Lot of Problems
Modern PVC drain pipes have reduced the number of blocked drains substantially. This old house in downtown Dayton was built in the early ‘50’s had a sixty foot run to where the blockage was in 58, again in ‘66, ‘03 and ‘06. These were all bad years for this houses main drain according to the […]Read More about Cast Iron Drains Had a Lot of Problems
Trees and Drains do not go well together.
Video of a very standard front yard: Take a look where the sewage clean out is located; in the basement or outside along the side of the foundation. This will tell you where the sewer line from the home is. Now look around for trees and see if there are any near the sewer line. […]Read More about Trees and Drains do not go well together.
Water Heater TPR (Pressure) Valve
On the top or side of every water heater, there is a “TPR” Valve. This abbreviation stands for Temperature & Pressure Relief. It is a simple device that releases water from the tank and plumbing system to prevent the tank from bursting or exploding if the temperature in the water heater reaches or exceeds 200 […]Read More about Water Heater TPR (Pressure) Valve
Old & Simple Hose Bib
It’s nice to remember the days when everything was reparable. This outside hose bib was not only repairable, they even made it so easy, with the instructions printed on an attached metal tag. Even today, faucets are one of the few items in a home that a home owner can repair in a few minutes […]Read More about Old & Simple Hose Bib
Bad Workmanship, There is no excuse.
This water heater was installed 7 months ago by a local and well known Dayton plumbing company. They must have sent their least trained installer with a big box of bits and told him to use up everything in the box! Issue #1: The flue pipe must have a continuous upward slope.Issue #2: The furnace […]Read More about Bad Workmanship, There is no excuse.
American Ingenuity!
This novel way to drain a laundry sink with a sump pump, who says America has lost its innovative flair! The washing machine dumped into the laundry sink and the pedestal pump designed for use in a sump, then pumped the water up to the sewer pipe.
Is Your Water Heater Safe ?
Every water heater gas or electric, tank type or demand all have one thing in common, a temperature pressure relief (TPR) safety valve to prevent the unit from possibly exploding or injuring a user. As water is heated it expands in volume (size), normal hot water temperatures of 120 degrees do not expand the water […]Read More about Is Your Water Heater Safe ?
“Water Softeners can Sicken Family”
What do all these pipes have in common? They come from water softeners that are incorrectly and dangerously installed. They could contaminate the drinking water in the home they are in and possibly the whole subdivision. Water softeners have a pipe coming out of the control unit at the top of the softener (there is […]Read More about “Water Softeners can Sicken Family”
Garden Hose Can Burst Piping in Home
Cold Weather is on the way, as fall turns cold pipes freeze. Hose bib’s are the worst offender when garden hoses are left attached. All garden hoses should be disconnected to prevent the faucet rupturing inside the wall as a result of the water in the hose and faucet freezing. Hose bibs like the one […]Read More about Garden Hose Can Burst Piping in Home
Water Softener Drain Pipe
Water softener drain pipe connections are a constant issue that we observe and write up. The backwash drain pipe from the softener must have a back-flow prevention device when it is terminates at a drain, in other words there must be an air gap between the end of the pipe and the top of the […]Read More about Water Softener Drain Pipe
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