Hullo, Been readin several posts/replies on here about problems with hot water in shwoers. In my apartment (building built about 1960 with 5 total units), we seldom get hot water in the shower for more than say 10 minutes. The quirky thing is that it's intermittent- starts off warm, gets cold, then comes back real nice. We have the handle turned to 100% hot (it's a little handle that spins on a single axis). Other people in the building using water, you say? well pressure is fairly constant and we've tested this at various times of day: 8am, 3pm, 10pm, 1am- doesn't matter. Now, regular faucets (sink etc) do sometimes get too hot and we have to turn on cold wate when doing dishes and the like. Any thoughts? I live in NYC, so the landlady doesn't speak English....we've written to her asking for some resolution (turn up thermostat?) but with no success thus far. I'd like to present her with a more solid rememdy than what I can come up with w/ my little knowledge of plumbing (zero). Many thanks, to all, -Andrew Wright

In January we had our tank pumped because of stinky yard puddles. The problem never really went away. Last week, the an inspector from the county came and said we had a blockage in the line and needed to run a 3" pvc pipe from first D box to second box since those lines weren't being 'fed'. The first D box is less than 6' from an oak tree. The opposite side is wrapping around two smaller trees (unknown species). The system is 10 years old. We are pulling up the trees in an attempt to get the roots too. My questions are: 1-do you think the oak may be giving the problem? 2-Do you think the two saucer magnolias planted 3 years ago over the lines (I was having a blonde day when I planted them) may be the problem? Finally - do you think commercial 'root killer' additives work? Thank you very much in advance.