Search results

We have a new side porch that is fully enclosed and waiting for plumbing and electrical. When I looked at the plumbing layout and the location of the floor joists, it looks like both the toilet and the shower are directly over floor joists. I'm trying to figure the best solution to work around...

I have an old (1992) gas water heater that needs replacing, and during the replacement I would like to get rid of the existing 3" metal flue and use a horizontal vent. This is all part of an ongoing renovation, where I'm trying to reduce the number of flues I need to frame around in the new...

I'm building an addition that has a conditioned crawl space of about 160 sq ft. We already have plans for one 32"x24" access from the basement to the new crawl space, and a 2nd 12"x12" opening to the basement at the other end so there will be cross ventilation. Now the city wants us to add...

My current 40 gallon gas water heater was installed in my basement in 1992, so its probably time for a replacement. I plan to do it as part of a larger renovation, so I have the opportunity to reconfigure things a little and look for higher efficiency. Factors to consider - I need a short...

I bought the floor drain P-trap shown below and it has a built-in threaded 1/2" fitting for a trap primer. Do I just put a 1/2" pvc line on this and run it up through the slab? I don't plan to install the trap primer device right now, but want to have the connection available if I add one...

I dug up my basement floor to access the existing 1940 4" cast iron drain pipe and add a new floor drain connection. I cut the CI pipe in two places and added in the connection for the new drain using 4" pvc and two No-Hub (metal banded) Fernco fittings for PVC to CI . However, on one side I...

I am renovating my basement now and would like to open up the floor and lay in new drain pipe for a future bath upstairs. I would also like to install a floor drain next to the boiler and water heater, since the emergency valves now just dump on the cement floor (no drain nearby). If I lay in...

I have a 4" cast iron pipe under my basement floor and plan to Y into it to run an additional 3" drain pipe to a new soil stack diagonally about 12 feet across the room. This new stack will serve a new bathroom on the 1st floor. Since there is no floor drain where the new stack will be, and...

I bought my house about two years ago and the AO smith water seems to be working fine. However, I took a look at the date tag and it looks like it was manufactured in 1992. Since the heater is not near the floor drains it will make quite a mess if it leaks, so I think its time to plan for a...

When my bathroom was remodeled we roughed-in the vanity sink drain at about 19". However, the vanity I bought is one with a drawer underneath, so the P-trap ends up quite high in the cabinet. The sink drain connection would work better if the wall connection was about 2-3" higher, so it would...

I have a Buderus gas boiler with a 1940-vintage two pipe system that uses 1" main pipe and 1/2" feeder pipes to supply four 1st floor and four 2nd floor radiators (total of 8 radiators). The system works well to heat the house evenly (630 square feet/floor, located in the DC area). I want...

I'm installing a Dreamline neoangle two piece corner shower surround (two acrylic/fiberglass panels that interlock in the corner) and will need backer board. I plan to use cement board instead of greenboard, but the acrylic surround should stop most direct moisture penetration, so its not quite...

I am remodeling a basement bathroom and have excavated around the existing 4" XH cast iron drain pipe. I will be cutting this pipe off and then connecting it to new 4" PVC drain pipe that will serve the relocated fixtures. I need to comply with the 2009 Virginia plumbing code, which is based...

I'm renovating my basement bathroom & laundry and need to move all the fixtures around and replumb. I have the concrete out to expose the existing cast iron pipe, but would appreciate a quick review of my plan for the new plumbing. I have an existing 3" CI XH drain pipe that serves the current...

My 1940 house was built with a very rough bathroom in the basement. In a corner it currently has a commode bolted to the cement wall, a shower/floor drain that has been converted to a shower, and a drain for the washing machine and utility sink. All the existing drain connections are within...

My 1940 house only has about 6 inches of rockwool insulation in the attic and I want to improve the situation. The attic is very square and open, with only a few obstructions from vent stacks, and the center section (about 8 feet wide and 20 feet long) is floored. The attic also has only two...