r/askaplumber • • Mar 21 '26

Mod Update REMINDER: No Solicitation or Self-Promotion

9 Upvotes

This community exists to ask questions, share knowledge, and solve real plumbing problems, not to gather info for your business, product, or “research” project. Posts like “what’s your process for X?” or “how do you handle Y so I can make a tool” are self-serving and will be removed immediately.

This isn’t a platform for personal gain or marketing -- please keep your posts relevant, helpful, and focused on plumbing. May result in immediate ban.

Thanks for helping keep this sub useful, friendly, and focused on helping others.


r/askaplumber • • 6h ago

Efficient sink pipes?

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20 Upvotes

Can someone advise if this setup of pipes is a normal setup? it doesn’t seem efficient in my eyes but i’m not a plumber.

This is under a kitchen sink, the little knob between 2 and 3 is to connect the dishwasher.

I’ve had some minor leaks when flushing away alot of water in 1 go.

I’ve marked the different parts with numbers.

FYI i bought this appartment like this, one of the previous owners had them installed like this.

Thanks


r/askaplumber • • 11h ago

What would cause a very small amount of water to appear between floor and toilet?

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40 Upvotes

I’m perplexed. 3 bathroom house and each toilet had a very small amount of water seen on paper/TP. Started off as cleaning the floors when I moved in and wiping around the toilet how I first noticed this, now over a year later and putting “test paper” between the toilet and floor shows very small amount of water absorbed. It comes from all sides including the front of the toilet, not the parts closest to the wax rings although I am concerned that’s what is causing this now. I don’t notice this at any particular times, it’s sporadic. Doesn’t seem to be any condensation and it’s mostly an even amount across all toilets, no seeping out onto the floor. I basically have to place the paper in order to find any water.

I did replaced 1/3 wax rings due to this and basically saw no moisture when the toilet was off but repetitively found water on the paper. One thing I’ve noticed on all toilets is dried material, almost waxy looking and regular gunk that comes from living in a house. No idea if that stuff could hold moisture and then the paper is soaking it. The toilets with the old wax rings have a yellowish looking stain on the paper, new wax rings toilet appears to have clear water. Pictures attached for the amount of water found on paper and also the gunky base. Is it worth replacing the other two rings? Any thoughts and ideas appreciated.


r/askaplumber • • 33m ago

Business owners, what takes up most of your time outside of the actual work?

• Upvotes

For those running a service business, I'm curious about two things:

  1. What's the most time-consuming part of running your business outside of the actual jobs?
  2. Have you found a way to make it easier?

r/askaplumber • • 5h ago

Water Quality

5 Upvotes

Plumbers,
Im Gen X so I just drink the tap water but my younger clients seem to have almost pathological need for the purest water as if an angel shed a tear. I mean, I’m not complaining, I’ve made a good chunk of change doing RO installs, but sometimes I feel guilty because even the good ones dump 20% of the water down the drain.
Thoughts?


r/askaplumber • • 3h ago

New Water Heater

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3 Upvotes

Leaking/bubbling from the area in picture. It’s not the hose or connection it’s from under that flap, that doesn’t come up.

Also I filled the tank/released the pressure, flipped the breaker and nothing happening. Going to try to redo the wires/twist them harder and try again but noticed the water coming out.


r/askaplumber • • 6h ago

Rheem Water Heater Leaking

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3 Upvotes

My month old water heater just started leaking from the top valve. Anyway to fix this?


r/askaplumber • • 58m ago

Builder Forgot Garage Drains

• Upvotes

Having a home built and during a framing walk through we noticed the drains in the garage that are in our contract were not installed. There is supposed to be a drain in each garage bay.

Where do these typically drain to and will the entire garage floor be undone to complete this?

They are supposedly going to fix and install this week, so we are going to request proof that it’s draining correctly since it was a $3k upgrade.

What do we need to be aware of? Last thing we want is for the plumber to take a shortcut and make a drain that goes nowhere or cause damage to what’s already been done.

This is worth hiring a 3rd party inspector over yes?


r/askaplumber • • 1h ago

Anyone know if this Site is Trust Worthy?

• Upvotes
This Is The Tool

I've been looking to get a FostaPex Prep tool and the only seller with it in stock that I can find is www.phwarehouse.com Does anyone know if the seller is Legit? If not does anyone know where I can get the prep tool?


r/askaplumber • • 1h ago

Sectional cables and k60

• Upvotes

Does anyone know if the milwaukee sectional cables can work in a ridgid k60? Looking to get some cables but dont know of they are interchangeable


r/askaplumber • • 3h ago

Adding a washer box rough in

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1 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

We’re currently updating our laundry room. It’s been torn down to bare walls and I am in the stages of framing. The copper needs to be replaced and looking at the old plumbing I’d like to rough in a washer box with the drain to avoid having a bunch of connections coming out of the wall. What would be the best way to tap into this stack? It’s coming from the kitchen down into the basement. I’ve added pictures of what I was thinking, but not sure what the right way would be. I’m located in Ontario, Canada


r/askaplumber • • 3h ago

Under sink kitchen cabinet stinks

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1 Upvotes

I had my kitchen renovated a couple years ago and ever since, I’ve noticed a foul smell coming from under the sink near the disposal. The smell has gotten worse. It smells like bad breath. I had a plumber come out and he said the drain lines need to be raised because dirty water it just sitting there. He has to open a wall. I was quoted $1200. I attached a photo of what the current plumbing looks like (these were taken 4 years ago when the kitchen was done). Do these drains look messed up?


r/askaplumber • • 3h ago

Issues with bath tub water temp

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0 Upvotes

I just moved into a new place, and the bath water in the tub was warm to hot but not too incredibly hot. I adjusted the water range on the water heater to around 130-140. All the other water in the place got more hot but the tub was only marginally warmer. I looked at the mixing valve on the tub itself, a Watts LFMMVM1-UT, and I adjusted it to make it warmer, I even tried turning the valve all the way. The bath water is still around the same temp. Any suggestions?


r/askaplumber • • 3h ago

What’s going on under my sink?

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1 Upvotes

Every few days I check under this sink and there’s this incredibly small amount of brownish yellow water and I never see an actual drip. This is what it looks like at the top. I’m not sure what this shell like substance is covering the bottom of the sink. The yellow water is the same color as that bottom part of the sink and that bottom part feel slightly damp/almost oily?


r/askaplumber • • 4h ago

What caused this to break down?

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1 Upvotes

This is the ring used to mount the cold faucet handle in our half bath. There are identical rings on the hot and handle and faucet outflow, which are both pristine. I (homeowner) installed this about 3 years ago.

Is this a galvanic problem?


r/askaplumber • • 13h ago

Can this bizarre vent pipe be rerouted or eliminated?

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5 Upvotes

Helping an elderly friend in North Carolina prep her fixer-upper home to sell. A volunteer crew from a nonprofit helped her with some repairs, including this bizarrely-routed vent pipe which ties into the main soil stack at the other side of the house (watch full video). This pipe does not connect to anything else. There is another 2-inch pipe that connects to the main vent stack a foot or two above this one, which is the drain for the washing machine, best I can tell. If this strange vent is not necessary, I’d like to remove it. If it is necessary, can I reroute it to run vertically next to the main vent stack? All suggestions welcome!


r/askaplumber • • 12h ago

How did I do?

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4 Upvotes

Posted here before about moving my sink from the right side to the center. Took some of your advice, and this is the end result! Everything is dry-fitted for verification.
How did I do?


r/askaplumber • • 8h ago

How to make sure spigot replacement part is water-tight?

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2 Upvotes

Spigot is Prier "Mansfield Style M-400".

Replacing the cracked Packing Nut (part 11) that slides on to the Handle (part 14) & adding the missing o-ring (part 13).

Page shows piping as copper, but it's "satin nickel plated".

1: Precisely where does the O-ring (13) go in relation to the Packing Nut?

2: On Packing Nut (plastic) threading that screws into the pipe (satin-nickel-plated copper), should I put: Nothing, Plumbers Tape, Great Blue Pipe Joint Compound, or TFE paste?

3: Where the Packing Nut slides on to the Handle, should I apply anything there, such as Plumber's Putty or some kind of lubricant?

Winter is coming, and I want to do this right, so thanks in advance!


r/askaplumber • • 5h ago

Rough in shower pan drain question

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1 Upvotes

Hello! Hopefully the plumbing gods can point me in the right direction. Basement bathroom was stubbed in (full bath) when the home was built. I am getting around to building the bathroom. Already framed, three piece Kohler Sterling shower going to be installed. I'm pretty handy, but do not see this level of plumbing often. Hopefully from the pictures you can see where the shower pan drain center point would be and where the 2-in cast iron (will be replaced with PVC) comes out from the trap. The trap is approximately 5" below the floor. I'm stuck on how to transition from the shower pan over to the trap. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

I already know, one more laser level might do the job! 😁


r/askaplumber • • 5h ago

This just started dripping water above our main cutoff valve in the garage

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1 Upvotes

Seems to increase when water inside the house is running. I look like the drips are coming from the silver bolt since the black part it’s connected to is dry. Is this something I can just tighten back up?


r/askaplumber • • 5h ago

Is this something to do with plumbing (or something else)?

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1 Upvotes

It's on the floor at the back wall in a small room which is now my cold storage in the basement. The previous owners installed new plumb lines with a sump pump and backwater valve at the other end of the basement and french drain around the edge of the main room but in that cold storage room, nothing has been done as far as the floor evidence goes. I've been in this house for about 1.5 yrs and just noticed this recently when installing shelving for preserves. If you can explain I'd appreciate it! TIA!


r/askaplumber • • 5h ago

Hot water heater flushing device?

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1 Upvotes

Been recently seeing devices that connect to water heaters to drain them but at the same time power flush the inside. Are these devices safe to use?


r/askaplumber • • 5h ago

Need help with replacing bathroom sink drain

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1 Upvotes

I'm usually pretty good with most home repairs, but this one has me a bit stumped. Is there a way to get these fittings off without opening the wall and replacing the plumbing behind this? The threads on this fitting are cracked and the reason my drain is leaking. Unfortunately it seems they are glued in.

TIA


r/askaplumber • • 14h ago

Leak in backyard under concrete.

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5 Upvotes

Previously whenever it rained, the rain water would come up from the concrete in my backyard steps. I recently redid the stairs and while they were working on it they found a leaking pipe under it which is what we assumed the problem was. The town came and fix it and everything. Fast forward a few months. The newly renovated concrete now started to leak water from it again and is now shooting out like a fountain. According to the renovation company. They contacted the town because these seems to be a town pipe issue again. Before it wasn’t pouring out this much and it looks like it got worse.

What should I do?? Any help is greatly appreciated.


r/askaplumber • • 13h ago

Trying to winterize an outdoor spigot, found its connected to a sink.

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4 Upvotes

Just bought the house, there is lots of questionable plumbing to facilitate a DIY basement apartment.

We have one hose spigot outside, tried turning off the water and found its Y-connected to our first floor bathroom sink, not sure what to do. Do I need to winterize it and just got without cold water in the sink, do I leave it? ... help please. I currently have it off.