You can use different kinds of plumbing repair tape to solve different plumbing leak problems. Use pipe thread tape, sometimes called “Teflon” or “Plumber’s” pipe, to fix leaking pipe joints. Use silicone, sometimes called “self-amalgamating,” “self-fusing,” or “leak repair” tape, to fix hairline cracks or other … [Read more...]

How long do copper pipes last? Depending on their thickness and the pH of the water traveling through them, modern copper pipes should last for 20-50 years. Unfortunately, that doesn’t exclude a pernicious plumbing problem known as pinhole leaking. Pinhole leaks only occur in copper piping. Under the right (worst) … [Read more...]

Ideally, when a toilet clogs you’ll grab the nearest flange plunger and clear things up in a minute or two. But what do you do when your toilet’s clogged and there’s no plunger?  Maybe you just moved into a new place. Maybe you’re at your plunger-less friend’s house. Are there ways to unclog a toilet beyond the … [Read more...]

A main sewer line clog is probably the biggest plumbing-related problem you could face. A clogged sewer drain essentially paralyzes your entire plumbing system because there is nowhere for wastewater to go. Everything hinges on breaking up that clog. Plumbing emergencies are scary enough when they don’t involve human … [Read more...]

Household Hacks to Help You Get The Most Out of Your Dishwasher and Make Life Easier Dishwasher vs. hand washing - which is better? When it comes to efficiency and killing bacteria, the dishwasher wins. To kill most bacteria, water must reach a scalding 140° Fahrenheit. That temperature is easily reached in a … [Read more...]

You’re about to brush your teeth but when you turn the water on a stream of brown, cloudy mush drizzles out. Yuck!  Rust colored water isn’t normally harmful, but it can be disturbing.  If you have water coming out brown from your faucet, it could be due to corroded pipes, mineral build up or utility company … [Read more...]

Do not put dish soap in your dishwasher. The difference between dish soap and dishwashing detergent is that dishwashing detergent does NOT create suds, but dish soap does. The idea of a dishwasher overflowing with bubbles might paint a funny picture but, it’s also big, messy problem. Putting dish soap in a … [Read more...]

When a pipe bursts or an appliance starts to leak, you can’t always afford to wait for a plumber. Water damage will take its toll quickly. Knowing a few basic but important plumbing quick fixes can make a big difference in how you recover from a plumbing disaster. Here are some easy repairs you can perform to … [Read more...]

A loose or wiggly toilet handle can be annoying. A toilet handle not flushing at all is even worse. Luckily, a loose toilet handle is a minor toilet problem and one that’s usually easy to fix. Here’s how you can fix a broken toilet handle, either by tightening or replacing it. How to Tighten a Toilet … [Read more...]