Recent content by MushCreek

I've even had leaks with RectorSeal. How tight is tight enough? I used the big 17" Channelocks, and I'm a pretty strong guy. Much more, and I'd probably split the fitting. Reminds me of a Mitsubishi car I once had. The factory oil filter had the instructions, "Tighten enough". While we're at it...

I just pressurized the supply in my new house. All the PEX is tight and dry, but the threaded connections are leaking, as usual. For each fixture, I used a drop-ear elbow with a threaded pipe nipple and a stop valve. Out of 11 such fittings, 4 of them leak where the stop valve connects to the...

I have a rotary hammer and bit. Not fun, but it does go through the wall pretty quickly. I'll make two holes, and run a gravity drain from the pan, and pipe a drain from the T&P. I'm thinking I'll put a trap inside for the gravity drain, but not bother with the T&P pipe. There's nowhere for...

So I would have to have TWO outside drain lines? I have to go through 8" of concrete. I'm trying to figure out if there's a way to accommodate both the T&P and the drain pan with a single penetration through the wall. Can I have a separate gravity flow from the pan join the T&P line somewhere...

A floor drain is not a practical option. The WH is about 16' from the outside wall. This is a walk-out basement, so the wall the WH is on is several feet under ground, but the back wall is at grade. I was going to run a drain line along the wall, drill through the concrete wall, and terminate it...

I'm working the rest of my way through my plumbing (new house), and I'm hooking up an electric water heater. My question concerns the T&P valve outlet and drain pan. The WH is in an unfinished (for now) basement. Since I'd like to eventually finish the basement, I'm putting the WH in a drain pan...

That's the kind of installation I'm trying to avoid! This is a new house (mine) so I want it right. I guess I'll go with the drop ear elbows, which have mounting tabs to attach to the framing, and go with a threaded stop valve. Good point about being able to easily replace a bad valve! I figure...

I'm running my PEX, and need (or want) shut-off valves at many locations, such as sinks and toilets. I have used a drop-ear elbow, plus a piece of pipe, plus a chrome stop valve. I see that they sell chrome stop valves that you connect the PEX directly to, but I don't see what keeps the valve...

The DWV system is in and complete, and I'm assuming the inspector will want to see a pressure test. When I had the underground work done, the plumber put about 20 psi(!) in the system and left it for the inspector, who I don't even think looked at it. I've since learned that 20 PSI is way too...

Around here, Lowes has a My Lowes card or something like that. It records all of your purchases so you don't have to worry about a receipt. I don't buy much at the big box stores, though. As an aside- even if you do save the receipt, those cash register receipts fade very quickly. If it's...

My first experience with PEX was not good. I plumbed a small bathroom in my barn, checked the crimps with the gauge that came with the crimper and- it leaked! Several places, in fact. I'm a very meticulous worker (I'm a tool maker by trade) and was pretty upset. On a whim, I bought another...

In our new house, I am building a basement bathroom which will only see light use. I'm putting in a bath tub because I feel there should be one in the house. The master bath only has a shower. The tub may NEVER get used. At the least, it could go a year or better without use. Can the trap dry...

That's why I wanted one; it seemed like a good fit in an insulated basement. The only ones I've found so far with good reliability are like $3000. That's a little out of my budget. A/C and heat will be a ductless mini-split unit. I'm still undecided on whether to put two heads on one, or have...

Natural Gas is not available here. It's a little frustrating that I'm building an ICF home with R-25 walls, R-49 ceiling, ductless A/C, good windows, and LED lighting, but I still have to heat water the old-fashioned way. I'm not gonna be a guinea pig- I'll install a cheap standard unit, and...

Does anyone know of a reliable heat pump water heater? These things sound like a dream come true- use the ambient heat to make hot water. Payback is as little as 2-3 years. Our basement would be ideal, with temps ranging from 60-80 degrees year-round. The problem is that the reviews are...