Plumbing Skills

Extend the life of your water heater tank and maintain your water heater's efficiency and safety with a few minutes of basic maintenance…

Worn out water heaters leak, waste energy and can literally leave you cold. This article will show you how to install a new gas or electric…

A dollop of plumber's grease is the best bet for curing the squealing that eventually develops on older, outdoor frost-proof faucets.

Main water shutoff valves can become clogged with mineral deposits and grit, causing slow leaks. With the right materials and correct procedure,…

You can safely drill joists for electrical and plumbing runs without weakening the joists, if you follow the rules.

Sprinkler systems need to have all the water blown out of them before winter freeze-up. If you have an air compressor you can do the job…

Replacing a broken bathtub spout is a simple, inexpensive project. In this article, we'll show you the most common types of spouts, and how to…

The toughest part of replacing a kitchen faucet is removing the old one. Unexpected problems always pop up—corroded pipes,…

Frost-proof, anti-siphon sill cock faucets prevent winter water-line freeze-ups and stop unsanitary water from contaminating the water system. …

Replacing a bathroom faucet and waste line can quickly get complicated. Learn the shortcuts and tricks that professional plumbers use to make…

The vinyl tubing supplying water to the refrigerator water dispenser occasionally develops leaks. Learn how to diagnose and fix the problem…

Control the hot water temperature at faucets and showers that don't have anti-scald valves by installing either a mixing valve or a point-of-use…

An inexpensive backwater valve installed in a basement floor drain can prevent major flooding problems caused by a blocked or overloaded sewage…

Clogged sink drain? With a few inexpensive tools and a little practice you can clear up all but the most stubborn drain clogs in less than an…

Build a unique, natural-looking garden trellis for your climbing flowers and vines using standard copper water pipe. This long-lasting copper…

This article shows five reasons why your basement could smell like a sewer. If you have a smelly basement and can't locate the source,…

This DIY rain barrel costs less than $100 and works just as well as the expensive one you can buy. Get complete how-to instructions and start…

Reduce high electric bills by replacing an electric water heater with a natural gas or propane heater, then reduce installation costs by…

Replacing the anode rod in a water heater before it fails can slow down corrosion inside the tank and significantly extend the life of the water…

Water damage from frozen pipes, ruptured washer hoses, leaking supply lines and dripping water heaters costs billions every year. This checklist…