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Archive for the ‘plumbing tools’ Category
how to repair a frozen plumbing line
While on a recent trip to the northwest doing some research, during a walk through inspection in a 2 story home the kitchen ceiling showed visible drywall water damage. And directly above the ceiling was the upstairs bathroom. They had cut an inspection hole for access and discovered a frozen copper water line that was very near an exterior wall, ironically there was no visible signs of insulation in the exterior wall that was causing the extreme cold temps to permeate the pipes and freezing a section here. 
Using a wrench and tapping on the lines it was evident where it became solid and damaging the connections, we had cut this small portion out and removed it and simply added 2 SharkBite fittings for the repair in all of 10 minutes. SharkBite slip locking connector fittings have saved us tons of expense and time with labor costs and their ever present availability.
In this particular short sale acquisition of real property, we did not exert much effort in influencing the lenders BPO agent for it became very clear there were enough visual damages to validate a discounted CMA. Having these tools and knowing how to facilitate them has changed our financial futures forever.
DIY tub spout diverter repair
Hey, tired of the way this economy seems to keep dragging? Let’s face the facts folks, every penny adds to a dollar and so on and so forth…. now take the water bill IE, it can be lowered within a few well invested penny’s on a daily count and of course this goes back to that ever elusive dollar again.
Your bathtub / shower combo has a diverter that when pulled slightly upward stops the tub fill and redirects the water to the shower head. IF the diverter is in proper order it will not allow little , if any water going into the tub. Rather when it’s ready to be replaced or repaired, the volume of water going up and out the shower head has been significantly decreased, because the diverter seal is not sealing 100% and losing/wasting gallons of water straight to the drain below. The end result is more time for rinsing off and higher water/utility bills. The rough plumbing 1/2′ nipple holds the tub spout in place and is very easily screwed off by spinning counter clockwise [lefty loosy-righty tighty] and replacing with a new energy efficient one. Although some replacement parts are available at some of your better home improvement stores in the do-it yourself plumbing repair section, if need be.
Remember that bath and kitchen remodels will bring you the best ROI on your diy home improvements, if done with taste and done correctly.
Plumbing tools(cow bells)
Cow bells are what the tradesmen call a set of deep socket wrenches used for those jobs that require those special plumbing tools
needed almost exclusively for plumbing related repairs and projects. Many valve stems are deeply recessed and these babies are the only way to approach the job @ hand. The whole cow bell relation is the way they hang and resonate chimes as they clang together in the midst of waiting or commuting to the next nut they will end up spinning out to give their user access for adjustment or repair for diy plumbing. Plumbing tools that are specifically designed to help you go to one single source for complete reliability on any given job.
Do it easier with a SharkBite
Rumor has it there’s a new EPA regulation out, and the way we will be using plumbing tools in the future is drastically changing. Knowing this kind of sounds bad, we believe it is all good with how plumbing tools will be losing a lot of weight. Restriction in silver solder sweating is what will be taking the hit here and the replacement is called SharkBite for one. The propane torch and all the copper fittings involved go to the antique shelf. The plumbing tools needed too, because with the SharkBite fittings there wont be any need period for soldering at all. These are mechanical elbows, unions, couplings and reducers that all required is a clean cut piece of tubing, 1/2″ - 3/4″ - 1″ or whatever. A slip fit life long fitting that gives all us DIYer’s a leg up on plumbing work. And the old fashioned plumbing tools used before will eventually become obsolete!
