Plumbing Articles
How to Sweat (Solder) Copper Water Pipes for a Watertight Seal
Soldering pipes (called sweating) is the standard way to join two or more pieces of regular copper pipe together. A solder joint forms a strong, watertight seal that will last for decades or longer when done properly. In fact, a proper solder joint is less likely to leak than the rest of the copper pipe, which can develop pinhole leaks do to chemical erosion. For many homeowners the thought of plumbing anything is quite daunting. We all envision our basements or living areas filling up with water due to some error or oversight...
Everything You Need to Build a Basic Plumber’s Kit
Looking for a creative gift idea for the home improver in your life? Last year, Ethan came up with a list of handyman gifts that are easy to purchase online and will ship in time for the holiday. Here’s another idea we think many handymen (and handywomen!) might enjoy – a basic plumbing tool kit. You can build the kit for about $40-$50 from the local big box department store. Why a plumbing kit? We always like receiving practical gifts that show a little thought, and this one certainly does. You’ll have to assemble the...
How to Adjust the Temperature of a Gas Water Heater
For some time, one of the items on my to-do list was to adjust our water temperature. This project quickly climbed my list as colder temperatures have arrived. Fortunately, it’s a five minute job. Here’s a step-by-step guide for adjusting the temperature on a gas water heater. If you have an electric heater, Kim wrote an excellent post detailing how to adjust electric water heater temperatures.Optimal Water Temperature The Energy Star site, under Sure Energy Savers, recommends setting “water temperature only as hot...
Saddle Valve to Connect Refrigerator Water Supply
A coworker mentioned that he was having a refrigerator delivered and his weekend project was connecting the water supply line. I told him to grab a saddle valve and turn his weekend project into an hour-long project. Saddle valves make it easy to tap into water supply lines. Here’s how to install one and a couple things to keep in mind.Refrigerator Water Supply Most modern refrigerators include a filtered water and ice dispenser. For that to work, the refrigerator often has a flexible, 1/4″ water supply line on the backside....
How to Remove a Dishwasher and Install a New One
This past weekend, we took a few hours to install a new Kenmore Elite dishwasher. We’re really pleased with it thus far, but we thought we’d give it some more time before writing a full review of the dishwasher itself. The installation of a dishwasher is actually a very straightforward matter. It’s a great project for DIYers of all skill levels. Read on for our instructions for removing and installing a dishwasher in your own home.Tools and Materials We grabbed a handful of tools from our workshop. Here’s the...
Plumbing with Slip Joint Fittings
I finished installing my new Tropic Vanity and bathroom sink over the weekend. The installation was nice and smooth- no unexpected surprises. I used flexible steel supply lines for the hot and cold and slip joints to connect the drain to my existing trap.Often, plumbing requires soldering copper pipe or gluing PVC. These are tried-and-true methods but for connecting a simple sink drain, there’s an easier way. Slip joints refer to a “mechanical union that allows limited endwise movement of two solid items for example, pipe,...
Re-Routing Plumbing for Wall Removal – Part 4
Day 6 It’s Day 6 of our Load-Bearing Wall removal project; however, the majority of the effort this day was spent on the Pantry Removal “side-project” we threw in while our contractor was here. Which turned out to be a major effort in itself. Today saw the relocation of our pantry wall’s plumbing and the beginning of drywall finishing both there and in the rooms affected by the new doorway in our load-bearing wall. This renovation project is almost complete! PLUMBING For those who haven’t read my prior post,...
Repair a Broken Toilet Flange
My bathroom remodel is still on-going but I’m very pleased with the results thus far. Each week I’m able to cross one or two things of the to-do list and this past week I got the toilet squared away. You may remember that I was planning on reinstalling the old toilet to save money. It turns out that toilet wasn’t in good enough shape to keep. My plumber was out to re-route the shower controls and took a look. He told me I was better off installing a new one, so I did. At this point, I’ve replaced or reinstalled...
Low Water Pressure in Home (Diagnosing Problems, Solutions)
Low water pressure is a real downer. There’s nothing quite like looking forward to a hot shower and finding out that instead of 20 minutes of relaxation, you’ll spend 10 miserable minutes trying to squeeze yourself up against the wall under a dribbling shower head (tell us you haven’t been there at some point!) Fortunately, low water pressure can be boiled down (no pun intended) to a few causes that are relatively easy to diagnose. You may have to call in a professional plumber to deal with some of these and even to...
How to Install an Electric Water Heater
Installing a new electric water heater (or replacing an old one) may seem like a task reserved for a seasoned plumber… But for the motivated do-it-yourselfer, this project is actually relatively simple and can be accomplished in less than half a day with tools and materials available at the local big box. Not only will you feel great about doing it yourself, you’ll save about $150-200 on installation, which you can roll right into your next tool purchase! If you’re about to tackle this project yourself, read on for the...
Latest Coupons We Track from all Stores!
Home Depot Coupons, Sales, Coupon Codes, 10% Off – February 2012
Lowes Coupons, Sales, Coupon Codes, 10% Off – February 2012
Sears Coupons, Sales, Coupon Codes, Sears Outlet, 10% Off – February 2012
Target Coupons, Sales, Coupon Codes, Sales, Deals, 10% Off – February 2012More Recent Articles
More Changes Coming to OPC: Your Thoughts Welcome Reader Share: Gladiator 5-Drawer Tool Storage Repair & Review by William
How to Build a Deck, Day 1: Footers and Ledger Board Free Copy of the 2011 National Electric Code (NFPA 70) Two Tools that Could “Put a Hurting” on Most Anything (and a Pro Follow Update) 
I’m One Project Closer! {DIY Link-It-Up #3} 5 Minutes or Less: No-Slip Socks How to Build a Shed (with a Record 100+ Pics, Vids, and Diagrams!) Make “Happy Hour” Cupcakes Using Wine or Beer! Gentlemint: It’s Pinterest for Men (Meaning Less Fabric and More Beer)