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Sewer Vent PVC Standpipe in the Yard

This standpipe is in the yard for maintenance purposes and supplying air into the sewer pipes for free flowing reasons, and with modern plumbing practices it is normal for it to be made from PVC. Its use is for having the pipe cleaned or snaked from outside the home...

Insulation Solar Attic Blanket

We are not believers in this method of insulation. It has been done for decades in various forms (it began as a foil-like material) and always delivers poor results. You will get far better performance from a blown cellulose material and doing an energy audit to...

Hot Water Runs Out too Soon

I suspect your water heater and nice shower valves are functioning correctly. It is possible that you just don’t have enough hot water capacity for the high-flow shower head and valves, even with a 50 gallon water heater. Please follow me through this thought...

Sweating Cold Water Pipes

Q: Why are my cold water pipes sweating?A: Your cold water pipes are a classic, summer humidity occurrence. Fear not, a minor issue when corrected! The cold pipes are sweating, or condensing the moisture out of the very “wet” air in the basement. This is just like a...

Whistle in Water Pipes

The cause of the sound is the water flowing on both sides of a faucet washer, o-ring or a shut off washer. Water flows on both sides of the faucet washer; the washer vibrates and makes a sound similar to a clarinet in a woodwind orchestra, and resonates that sound...

Toilet Bowl Black Streaks

Q: How do you get rid of black streaks in a toilet bowl?   A: You have a lime-like mineral build up from the many little holes under the toilet bowl rim where the water flows during flushing. These water paths have left a mineral residue over the years and that...