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Questions tagged [plumbing]

For questions about the supply and removal of water and liquid waste.

Plumbing

From the Latin for lead (plumbum), which was the material first used for water pipes. Now long since superseded and banned in some places lead pipes can still be found in older properties, particularly in the UK.

Materials now include copper, plastic and other non corrosive materials.

More information

Wikipedia on plumbing

7115 questions
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How do I wrap pipe threads with teflon tape?

When wrapping pipe threads with teflon tape (thread seal tape), what is the direction and recommended number of times to wrap the tape around the threads? Any other recommendations or tip/tricks when applying teflon tape?
Jeff Widmer
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When should pipe dope vs thread tape be used?

For threaded plumbing connections, you typically use pipe dope or thread tape (aka teflon tape). Are there situations when one is preferred over another? Does the size of the pipe, type of pipe, part being connected, or other variable make a…
BMitch
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How do I remove this fastener under my bathroom faucet

What the heck is this brass fastener and how do I remove it? It seems to be holding down my bathroom faucet which I'm trying to replace. All I can think is that center "hinge" maybe unscrews somehow? But I don't see any way to grip it, it doesn't…
Magnus
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How to get a wrench into this location to remove this nut

How do I remove the nut from this vertical motorised valve in the following picture: The valve itself is a few mm next to the pipe and I have tried quite a few tools to remove this and nothing works. I also can't get any tools behind it either so…
Dave3of5
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What is this cast-iron device on my water supply pipe?

This is on the water main for the house, just downstream of the main shutoff valve. Water is going up in the picture, as the arrow shows. Is it a strainer? A check valve? Pressure regulator? It appears to say "Parts No. 135CM2" but I couldn't find…
hamboy
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How tight should threaded brass pipe fittings be?

I'm working with 3/4" brass fittings, which seem pretty robust. Some plumbing fittings should be only finger-tight. My friend said I should use 2 wrenches to make these as tight as I can, and then some. How tight should I make them? EDIT: I am…
Jay Bazuzi
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What goes on threads first: tape or dope?

Should the dope be applied directly to the male threads or should the tape go on first?
Matthew
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Is Teflon thread tape easily removable?

I bought a couple of water timers for my sprinklers and they are leaking. I was wondering if I could put Teflon tape on them and this winter be able to remove the timer to be reused next year. Thank you.
Sally Smith
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Why can't SharkBite plumbing connectors be sold in CA and VT?

I've spent the last couple of weeks replacing my copper hydronic heat in the house. I'm now a convert to PEX and SharkBite connectors. I had to run out tonight to Home Depot to pick up one more connector and got back and realized there was an odd…
DA01
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How does this 50 year old shower valve work?

I'm in a bind, with this valve taken out of the wall and the water supply turned off. It looks like these pieces are all intact, nothing broken. The valve stem screws into what I would call the valve seat, but the valve seat doesn't have anything to…
Jim
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What’s wrong with the plumbing setup under this kitchen sink?

A plumber came to my house to unclog my kitchen sink. As he was leaving, he glanced at the plumbing under my kitchen sink and said something was not done correctly, but I don’t remember what he said was not done correctly. Can anyone spot any…
jeffrey
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How do I eliminate the "whooshing" sound of water running though pipes?

At every faucet and toilet in our house, when water is running, it creates a loud wooshing noise in the walls. I'm not sure how else to describe it, but it's like the normal "oh I can hear the sink or toilet on upstairs" but VERY loud. What, if…
hometoast
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What is this barrel-shaped component in my bathtub drain plumbing?

I have a part on a tub drain where the water from the tub enters low but then exits higher to go to the stack. It says St Louis Eclipse on the part. Currently the tub will not drain.
Dan W
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Can someone explain to me how this hot water recirculating system works?

How is my hot water recirculating system installed? ... and why is it not working like it should? Moved into a house recently that was built in 2006. There is a hot water recirculating pump installed (Grundfos UP 15-10 pump). I'm not very…
snicker
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9
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4 answers

When Incoming Municipal Water Shut-off Valve Has to be Replaced

Below is the incoming supply line from the municipal water. I noticed that the shut-off valve is very slowly leaking at the [???] shaft of the knob that turns (almost exactly where the point of the yellow arrow indicates) My question - Let's say…
GWR
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