How To Get A Good Plumber

The rusted out area is fairly small - maybe an inch long and only about a 1/4 inch thick. Is there something I can do to fix it without buying a new tub???

probably not, and anything you fix it with probably won't last long. You can replace the tub, an enameled steel tub runs about $100, which is what I'm guessing you already have. It will involve some demolition to remove the old tub. Another option would be to look into a tub liner, I don't know if this will work considering you have a hole in the tub but maybe worth a shot. This road can be expensive. You can get a fiberglass tub, they run roughly $200 - $300 depending on what you want.

AMHERST - Health officials have determined that the water at the Wildwood elementary school does not violate the state plumbing code. Resident Larry J. Kelley filed a complaint asking the department to investigate.
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I understand that I will need to connect it to the mains water supply with one on those wee taps. Can I instead, buy an adaptor for the washing machine tap and use the tap for both appliances?
I should have said I will only be running one appliance at a time, not both together

yes as long as the washer tap has enough water to run them both

NEW YORK & BOCA RATON, Fla.—-First Capital, a leading financial services firm, announced that it had provided a $28 million asset-based lending facility to Mansfield Plumbing Products, LLC, a provider of affordable high-design and top quality bathroom fixtures.
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OK, old toilet located on the 2nd floor, probably 30+yrs old, so its a big tank and it drains slow. Too much toilet paper (we won't get into that, I'm still fuming). I flush, of course its clogged, but does not overflow the bowl, it makes it to the top of the bowl, but does not overflow. The bathroom floor is dry (thank god). Fills up to the top and then slowly drains down. Now here is the part I cannot figure out. The ceiling below the toilet (or in the general area) is leaking on the first floor. How can this happen? The bathroom floor is competely dry. Any ideas? thanks!!

First of all if the toilet is upstairs, the line is not plugged, just the toilet because everything downstairs would be flooded out first.

It may be the jets - under the rim are plugged in which case you can use a mirror & flathead screw driver to unplug them.
It could also be that your water level is low - in the tank the water should be about 1/4 inch from the top of the overlfow tube in the middle.

Then too, it could be that the throat of the toilet either has something in it (pen, q-tip etc) or that the toilet is just old & the calcium build up is starting to really effect it. It might not be such a bad idea to change it if you own the home.

Second is that water will seek its own level - most likely there is a breach in the wax seal & when flushed the water will run down the pipe & follow it till it drops (that's about the best I can explain it because water does not always drip straight down).

My educated guess, without being able to test it is that changing out the toilet would solve all the problems.
Here is an important rule of thumb - if you pull the toilet & replace it use a wax ring without a flange if the pipe is jagged (you could even use 2 if necessary) - use a wax ring with a flange if the pipe is smooth.

Real estate advice by a home inspector
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If I connect my dishwasher drain hose to the waste pipe under the sink, is the U-bend in the sink waste pipe enough to prevent siphoning, or do I additionally need to raise up drain hose as it leaves the dishwasher?

Your dish washer needs to be plumbed into your drain line as high up as possible above the trap, the U bend as you call it. If you have a garbage disposal there should be a fitting for where the dish washer connects right below the bottom of the sink. If you do not have a disposal unit then you can go to your local plumbing supply and purchase what they call a tail piece with a dish washer connection. The tail piece is the section of pipe that connects directly onto the sink drain pointing straight down and is 1 and 1/2" in diameter. the new piece will have a 3/4" tube coming out of it's side where the dish washer connects with a hose clamp above the trap. Keeping out all the stinky fumes from your sewage system and preventing drain water from making it's way into your dish washer.

Due to a plumbing repair, Olney Senior Center’s meal program will be closed January 12-16.
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think of to try and get an answer. I live in Houston, and for the past 3 or 4 days it has been really cold for us here…almost freezing. I don't know if this has anything to do with what is going on or not. When I turn on my hot water faucet in the bathroom sink, even before the water turns hot, I start hearing a knocking sound behind the mirror that is behind the sink. What is causing this and should I be concerned. Thanks.
It does not do it with the hot water and it doesn't do it with the water in the shower or in the kitchen. Also, the freezing weather ended yesterday and we are just back to regular cold for Houston.
Sorry, I meant it does not do it with the cold side.

No need for concern! It is what is commonly called water hammer. You could try and turn the valve off, that is right above your water heater. Once it is off, open all the hot faucets in the house, and leave open, until no water comes out. now close all the faucets, and turn the valve above the water heater, back on. There should be some pipes in your system, called air chambers. These pipes trap air in them, and allow a "cushion" of air, which allows the water room to expand. When these pipes fill up with water, you will experience pipes moving, or knocking, in the walls. There are some mechanical devices, that can be purchased, and installed, which also eliminate this problem. I live in Pasadena, Tx., and work all over the greater Houston area. I own my own company, so if you like, I would be willing to evaluate your plumbing system, and make a recommendation, as to what needs to be done. I hope this helps! Have a good day!

Story created Dec 30, 2008 - 11:00:12 CST. The business started in a garage in 1992 and now occupies a new facility that measures 206′ by 60′. Adams Plumbing and Heating, a mainstay in Mitchell County and surrounding areas, recently moved to their new location at 3544 Lancer Avenue in October 2008.
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