Plumbing

To save you time, money and headaches down the road, we collected our favorite tips and tricks for solving common household plumbing problems.…

When kitchen or bathroom faucet repairs go bad, they can be a nightmare. Professional plumbers share their solutions for disassembly and repair…

Make your cramped bathroom feel more spacious and stylish by tearing out the old vanity and sink and installing a new pedestal sink. It's…

Plumbing an island sink is tricky. We show two methods of properly venting the drain—an island (loop) vent and an air admittance…

Long used in radiant heating systems, flexible PEX tubing is now becoming popular for water supply lines because it's easy to run through…

The best time to fix a plumbing leak is before it happens, by properly connecting water supply and waste line fittings. Learn the tricks that…

Learn expert plumbing tips from our experienced pro, including his choice of ABS plastic pipe, cutting and gluing techniques, elbow selection,…

A bathroom in the basement adds a lot of value to a finished basement. Here's how to plumb the bathroom yourself and save at least $1,000 on…

This article will show you how to run a water line to your refrigerator for an automatic ice maker and water dispenser. The story and how-to…

Preformed, one-piece shower bases make installing a new shower much easier. This article explains the process, from ripping out the old shower…

CPVC tubing is ideal for water supply lines. It's easy to cut and assemble, using compression of cemented fittings. It's durable too.…

Soldering copper water supply lines is not a difficult skill.  Even a rookie can learn to solder leak-proof joints in 30 minutes. The…

Follow our expert advice for choosing between ABS and PVC drainpipe. You have to consider your local plumbing codes, material availability, ease…

Pipe straps can loosen over time, allowing pipes to creak and groan as water temperature changes, but you can stop this annoying chatter from…

Achieve scald protection for your tub and shower by installing anti-scald showerheads and tub spouts. You don’t have to tear open the wall and…

Unlike traditional water chambers, which eventually fill with water, water hammer arresters are sealed, so they’re more effective at stopping…

There's a right way to solder copper pipe—and a wrong way. Learn the difference so that your next bathroom or kitchen plumbing project is…

With a little practice, anyone can solder copper water pipe. Learn how to cut, clean and flux pipe and fittings, how much solder to use, and…

Give your bathroom a dramatic makeover in one long weekend by replacing the vanity cabinet, sink and faucets. We'll show you how to remove the…

How to make leak-proof connections fast, whether you're using PVC, ABS or CPVC. Plus, common mistakes to avoid and how to fix them.

You can fix chipped enamel on cast iron and steel sinks, and you can make the repair almost invisible with a special enamel repair kit. We show…

Water leaks from old galvanized steel water pipe are common at joints, especially when they're joined to copper. Use a dielectric coupling…

Purify the water supply to your ice- and water-dispensing refrigerator. Simple inline water filters help remove chemical tastes and odors,…

Connect PVC and ABS plastic pipe with special transition fittings, correctly sized to the pipe size. They make a sound joint and meet plumbing…

These simple lawn irrigation system fixes will solve 90 percent of the common breakdowns. You'll save on repair bills and keep your lawn…

Make gas line connections from steel or copper pipes to ranges and clothes dryers safe and secure by using the proper fittings and connections.…

Do you have low water pressure even though the pipes are new? There are several possible causes, but if nothing else works, install a water…

Replace corroded laundry hoses without ruining the valve by slitting them with a Dremel tool so the hose end will release.

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

If that plastic water line behind your fridge that feeds the icemaker makes you nervous about water damage, replace it with a stainless steel…

For privacy in an outdoor shower, choose from a wide variety of outdoor shower enclosures. They range from cloth types to rigid plastic…

Install a reverse osmosis system under your kitchen sink to supply purified water. You can do it yourself in less than 2 hours.

Fix a torn splash guard on your garbage disposer by removing the disposer and installing a new guard. It's a quick and simple fix.

You can install a solar hot water kit yourself to supplement your existing system and save on energy costs. The system will often pay for itself…

Protect water lines running through crawl spaces or near outside walls with a chase made from rigid polystyrene foam and ventilated with warm…

PEX tubing and fittings are starting to push copper out of home-handyman (and plumbers') toolboxes. Learn tips for working with it and what all…

Well water and some public water systems may contain tiny bits of sediment. Instead of an expensive filtration system, try a simple whole house…

PEX is the biggest revolution in plumbing since the flush toilet, and in this article we'll answer the most common questions homeowners have…

A master plumber shares his simple secret to prevent leaks: back up pipe joints wrapped with Teflon tape by dabbing them with pipe dope.

Whirlpools are available that fit into a standard tub space and install almost as easily as a regular tub. Learn how to tear out the old tub,…

Quick and easy fix for a leaky kitchen sink basket strainer. Replace the basket strainer yourself in just an hour and save the cost of a visit…

Stop dealing with water problems in your home and yard by installing this in-ground drainage system. This is a permanent, long-term solution to…

Before you replace a broken hot water heater, check to make sure the thermocouple still works. It's a simple, inexpensive repair that could…

If one radiator doesn't heat up but others do, try this one-minute fix first. It usually solves the problem.

We'll show you how to replace your old-style bathtub drain with a low maintenance lift-and-turn drain. Once you remove the old stopper,…

It's time to get rid of that drip-catching bucket under your kitchen sink. Whether your pipes need total replacement or just tightening, here’s…

Replacing a vanity with a wall-hung sink is one of the best ways to make a small bathroom feel roomier. As the floor space opens up, the room…

Micro irrigation systems save water, time and energy, and can be customized to fit any garden. These above-ground systems can be installed…

Keep pumping water out of your sump even during a power failure with a water powered sump pump. Here's how they work.

In the market for a new faucet? Sure you can buy a boring cheapie for $50 that will cost you more in the long run for repairs or replacement.…

Use a special cover plate to replace a leaky, old two-handle shower valve with a new scald-proof one-handle valve without tearing out tile or…

Replace a grungy laundry sink with a new one and upgrade with a soap dispenser and faucet with a pull-out spout. It's usually a simple half-day…

Replacing a kitchen sink and faucet is a quick way to give your kitchen a new look, but there are potential plumbing and installation problems…

Install an automatic washing machine shutoff valve to prevent expensive flooding due to broken hoses, leaky valves or other malfunctions,…