F.A.Q's and Helpful Information Here. Updated. Please Read This Post 1st

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10-22-03, 02:04 PM

Plumber2000

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F.A.Q's and Helpful Information Here. Updated. Please Read This Post 1st

This section contains answers to frequently asked pluming questions. It is meant by no means to be the quick answer to your problems, only an immediate resource for many common problems. If you need additional advice or clarification of the advice given on this page, please post a new question so we may assist you better.

Please indicate such things as water pipe what type it is, drain pipe what type it is, faucet the brand if you know, what brand of toilet you have, city or well water, and any other details that may be important.

Answers to the below question will be found beneath this section.

My toilet does not flush right?

My toilet runs will not shut off?

Water leak on floor by toilet?

My faucet leaks?

Electric water heater not heating or is cold?

Water Heater leaks?

Garbage disposal will not turn on?

Garbage disposal hums when turned on?

Low pressure to a faucet or shower valve singe or two handle control?

Sink Sprayer has lost pressure?

Low water pressure to shower but good pressure to tub?

High pitched sound at toilet fill valve?
Water Heater Makes Noises?

Diverter to shower not sending all the water to it, half to shower and half to spout?

My toilet does not flush right?

Check and make sure the flush ring and the toilet blow hole are open make sure these holes are clear of hard water build-up

Is there any bluing tablets in the tank?
Remove any bluing cake drop-ins, these are a #1 cause to plug up the toilet flush ring.

Is the tank flapper staying up long enough?
If it tends to drop to fast, replace the tank flapper.

Tank fill valve operating ok?
You should have good water flow though this, including the bowl fill tube, this is the tube that comes from the tank fill valve to the overflow on the flush valve. This is the most important part of the toilet, if this is not working right you will have problems with it flushing good.

Is toilet plugged up?

There could be a foreign object inside the trap of the toilet, try a plunger or toilet auger, to clear or remove such object.

Toilet flushes slow raises to top then goes out slowly and water comes up in the tub or shower?

This indicates the mainline is clogged up, you will need to have the line cleaned out.

My toilet runs will not shut off?

Check tank flapper

A worn out tank flapper will cause toilet to run, replace with a new one

Check the chain from flush handle

Too tight will cause water to leak past tank flapper making toilet run.

Check Tank fill valve

If the tank fill valve is old and worn out, this can cause the water not to shut off and will continue to run all the time. Replace the tank fill valve with a fluid master 400A

Flush Valve

Surface of the flush valve where the tank flapper makes the seal, if rough or pitted, this will cause water to leak past flapper.

Tank fill valve bowl fill tube

The tube the comes from the tank fill valve to the overflow on the Flush Valve , if it's below the tank full line. this can cause water to siphon out of the tank making the tank fill valve to turn on and off all the time.

Water leak on floor by toilet?

Tank to Bowl Kit leaking

Replace the tank to bowl kit, remove chlorine tablets out of the tank, these can break down rubber parts cause the tank to leak

Wax Ring seal broken

Pull and reset toilet, make sure toilet sits even on floor, shim where needed.

Toilet Supply leaking

Replace with a new one if tightening it up did not stop it.

Try tightening up the packing nut behind the shut off valve handle,

Tank Cracked

Most likely not, but it can happen. Replace if needed.

Tank Sweating

Humidity in a bathroom can create tank sweat, install a tank liner and find a way to remove the moister out of the air.

My faucet leaks?

Single handle faucet or two handle washer less type

Most of the time it will be the cartridge needing replaced, some will need springs and seat, take faucet apart to determine what type you have.

Non Washer less type

These will have seat and stem washers, most of the time replacing the washer on the bottom of the stems will fix this, but sometimes the seat will need replaced.

Debris stuck in faucet

This happens a lot in older homes do to old water pipes, (galvanized pipes), take faucet apart and flush line clear, this debris can cause faucet to not shut off fully.

Faucet leaks through stem area

Most of the time this is solved by tightening up the packing nut behind the handle area.

Electric water heater not heating or is cold?

Thermostats not working and keeps tripping after reset

Replace both Upper Stat and Lower Thermostats Be sure to turn power off before working on heater

Dip Tube broken

The Dip Tube is located on the inlet side of the heater, pull and check replace if broke or no longer there.

Heater Elements not working.

Test with an ohm meter, replace burnt out one.

Electrical Breaker tripping at power panel

Reset breaker if problem persist, could be the bottom element out or there is an electrical problem.

Water Heater leaks?

Leaking at connections on top of water heater

Tighten up or replace flex connectors on water heater.

Leaking from bottom of heater

Time to replace the water heater

Leaks through drain valve at bottom of heater

Close tight or have it replaced.

Leaks through the T & P Valve (T & P stands for pressure and temperature)

Thermostats overheating, replace both upper and lower stats for a electric water heater.

T & P valve is bad, replace with a new one.

Thermo Expansion is taking place, install a thermo expansion tank.

Garbage disposal will not turn on?

Reset Switch tripped

Hit reset button most of the time found on the bottom of the disposal

Circuit Breaker tripped at power panel

Reset breaker at power panel

Disposal motor is burned up

Garbage disposals.

Garbage disposal hums when turned on on?

Jammed up inside of it

Most of the time this can be unjammed by using a allen head wrench on bottom of disposal and turning it by hand.

Old and rusted shut

Replace the disposal.

Low pressure to a faucet or shower valve single or two handle control?

Low pressure on both sides

Check the aerator could be plugged up, remove it and clean it out.

Galvanized pipes

Old galvanized pipes build up scale in them, this alone cause low pressure, replacement maybe needed to get the pressure restored.

Washer type stems

If there the washer type check to make sure washer is secure to bottom of stem.

Check shut off valves

Make sure shut off valves are fully on.

Check for obstructions

Debris from old pipes stuck in supply lines, or stuck in stems, or stuck below the stem in the faucet, or stuck at the shut off valve. Take stem out or remove the supply line and flush line clean.

Cartridge is bad.

Replace with a new one

Low pressure on just one side of the faucet?

Same procedures as above but working with one side. Except no reason to check aerator

Sink sprayer has lost pressure?

Check Diverter

Diverter is clogged and needs cleaned out or replaced, this is found inside the spout area, take spout off to find this.

Spray Head possibly broken

Spray head could be broken, replace the spray head if broken.

Low water pressure the shower but good pressure to tub?

Check shower head

If you have good pressure to the tub spout and low to no flow to shower head, check for debris in the shower head, remove and soak in vinegar or replace with a new shower head.

Check Diverter

The diverter that sends water to the shower head could need rebuilding.

High pitched sound at toilet fill valve?

Tank fill valve makes noise like whining or sounds like fog horn

This is an indication the fill valve is in need of replacement, replace it with a fluid master 400A This will 99% of the time solve this.

Water Heater Makes Noises?

See Links Below
(copy and re paste links into address bar if needed)

Tank Type Water Heater Draining & Flushing Information. Tankless Info Included. - DoItYourself.com Community Forums

Diverter to shower not sending all the water to it, half to shower and half to spout?

Diverter Spout Not Working

You need to replace the spout, there are two type, one that screws on a pipe, the other slips on a copper pipe.

(a) The one that slips on the copper pipe, there is a set screw that hold it on, look on the bottom of spout for a slot near back edge, inside is a Allen set screw, this will release it from thew pipe for replacement.

(b) The other just unscrews from a pipe, righty tightly, lefty loosey. It will not have a slot near the back edge.

Diverter Stem

Remove stem and rebuild it.

Additional Helpful Links:
(copy and re paste below links into address bar if needed)

http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=157837

Tank Type Water Heater Draining & Flushing Information. Tankless Info Included. - DoItYourself.com Community Forums

Electric Water Heater Draining & Flushing Information:
http://forum.doityourself.com/showth...hreadid=164120

WATER HEATER HELP LINK:
Water Heater Draining, Flushing Information, Water Leak Detection, Help Pages & Links - DoItYourself.com Community Forums

TANK LESS WATER HEATER HELP LINK:
Tank less Water Heater Help & Informational Link:
[url=http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?threadid=147262]>>>FYI: Tankless Water Heater Information With Links Included

Last edited by Sharp Advice; 07-24-10 at 11:01 AM.

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11-18-03, 03:14 PM