- Can I use a cup plunger to unclog my toilet?
It may work, but a forced ball plunger is designed to make more of a seal around the bottom of the toilet to remove the...
- Which is better for sealing pipe threads, teflon tape or pipe paste?
They both do a similar job, but the teflon tape is a bit easier to use. Be sure to wrap in a clockwise direction when using teflon tape. Pipe...
- Is there a wrench I can use that will not damage the brass, aluminum or other soft material?
Yes, a strap wrench grips the pipe without...
- What type of liquid drain cleaner do you recommend?
A sulfuric base is one of the most effective. Care should be taken, because it is highly corrosive. Do not use on aluminum...
- Do you have anything I can put in my drain line that will kill the tree roots invading the line?
There are root killers that contain copper...
- I have heat tape on my water line. What type of pipe wrap should I use over the heat tape?
Use fiberglass. Dont use foam wrap, because the heat could melt...
- Condensation is dripping from the waterline in my basement. What can I do about this?
Pipe wrap will solve this...
- What can I use to keep outdoor faucets from freezing?
Install a frost-free lawn faucet that is angled down to drain. For existing faucets, you can use an insulating...
- What does the flux do?
It cleans the surface prior to soldering. It prevents the oxidation of the metal. And it allows the solder to flow...
- What kind of solder do I use on a water line?
Health codes require lead-free...
- How do I solder copper tubing?
Clean the inside of the fitting, clean the outside of the tubing, apply acid flux, heat the fitting and apply the...
- Do you recommend a plastic pipe cleaners and primers?
These are applied to a pipe and fitting, before applying the solvent weld glue to ensure a strong bond. Their use is always a good idea, especially...
- How do I join fittings to plastic pipe?
Use a solvent welding glue, which softens the pipe and fittings so they can melt...
- Do I use the same type of glue for both PVC and CPVC?
No, CPVC requires a special solvent cement that is different from cement used for other types of plastic...
- Which is better for sealing—Teflon™ tape or thread joint compound?
They do the same job, but Teflon tape is easier to work with and makes a cleaner...
- What is the purpose of pipe joint compound or tape?
They reduce friction in assembly and provide a watertight...
- How do I remove the seat?
Use a seat wrench, which has several sizes of square and hex...
- I don’t have enough room under my sink to get the faucet nut off. What do you recommend?
Theres a special tool designed especially for...
- What is plumber’s putty?
It is a sealing putty used for a variety of tasks including to seal basket strainers, garbage disposal rims and tub...
- What size water supply line do I need?
There are generally two sizes of supply lines. The toilet supply line head is the larger of the two. The smaller ones are sink supply...
- Why won't the torch stay lit while upside down?
In some torches, the liquid propane in an upside down tank works its way through the torch and blows out the flame. To avoid this, use a pressure...
- Why is the torch hard to light?
The valve may be open to far. Open the valve just slightly so the rush of gas doesnt blow out the...
- Can I use a copper tube cutter to cut PVC pipe?
While there are separate cutting wheels available for plastic pipe, such as PVC, you would probably be better off buying a PVC...
- Can I use an ordinary hacksaw to cut copper pipe?
Yes, but it doesnt do as good a job as a tube cutter, which makes a cleaner cut at a 90-degree...
- Do I need all of those special wrenches? Can't I just use a standard wrench or a pair of adjustable pliers?
The plumbing fittings these wrenches are designed for are usually difficult to access and the standard wrench or pliers will not fit into those...
- Can I keep the pipe wrench from damaging the coating on a galvanized pipe?
Yes. Wrap the pipe in duct tape...