How-To
Step-by-step plumbing guides: how to fix, install, unclog, and maintain the plumbing in your home, and when a job calls for a licensed plumber.
How to Read a Water Meter: Dials, Digital Displays, CCF to Gallons, and the Leak Test
How to read a water meter: find it, read dial, digital or smart registers, convert CCF to gallons…
How to Install a Water Heater: Gas and Electric Steps, Code Items, and Cost
How to install a water heater, gas or electric: shut-offs first, the code items inspectors check, step-by-step install,…
How to Glue PVC Pipe: Step-by-Step, Primer, and Cure Times
How to glue PVC pipe: cut, deburr, prime, cement, quarter turn, hold. Plus manufacturer set and cure times…
How to Clean a Shower Head: Vinegar Soak Times, Screens, and Restrictors
How to clean a shower head: vinegar soak times by finish, fixed vs removable heads, the inlet screen…
Water Heater Element: How to Test and Replace One
How electric water heater elements work, symptoms of a burned-out element, how to test one with a multimeter…
Washing Machine Drain: Standpipe Height, P-Trap, and Setup
A washing machine drain needs a 2-inch standpipe 18 to 42 inches above a P-trap, never sealed airtight.…
Toilet Flange: What It Is, Correct Height, and Repair vs Replace
A toilet flange anchors the toilet and connects it to the drain. Learn the types, correct height, signs…
Sump Pump Float Switch: Types, Testing, and When to Replace It
A stuck sump pump float switch is the top reason pumps fail to turn on. Compare tethered, vertical,…
Faucet Aerator: Flow Rates, Sizes, and How to Clean One
A faucet aerator mixes air into the stream to save water and cut splash. See GPM flow rates,…
Dishwasher Not Draining? Fixes From Easiest to Hardest
Dishwasher not draining? Work the causes easiest to hardest: filter, disposal knockout plug, drain hose, air gap, pump,…