Post Tricks Of The Plumbing Trade Here.

SOUTHERNMIKE

I Do Alot Of Handyman Work In My Townhome Community.. I Am Not Overly Qualified In Plumbing..however, It's Amazing To Me At How Many Compression Fittings Are Made For Plumbing Fixtures..most People Still Think That Soldering Is Required.. Do You Think This Will Affect The Plumbing Business Once The Average Person Finds Out How Easy It Is To Change Valves??

BDuda

We had over thirty brass flush valves in a school that was over 50 years old. The seats were very rough and it was impossible to get them to seal even with new balls. The toilets had wall hung tanks w/ chrome pipes connecting to the bowls, lots of work to take apart.

I took a tapered rubber flush valve ball and wrapped it with 400 grit wet or dry sandpaper, fastened it with small tie wraps. You drop it into the flush valve, screw on the brass rod and put it in the cordless drill. Close the water supply valve to just allow a small amount of water to flow into the tank. Run the drill slowly and the wet or dry paper will polish the valve seat mirror smooth. New ball will seal perfectly.

Saved the school a fortune, I did the job for free as a parishoner of the church that operated it.

Herk

This trick also works when cleaning the barrel of a Sloan flushometer - just use a larger brush.

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Herk

This works with virtually any copper fitting. To make the job easier - don't try to crimp the entire fitting, just grab the edge with channelocks and squeeze it - then rotate the fitting a bit.

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Herk

I carry a setup for that. Nipple, ball valve, hose adapter. I want the ball valve to be in the off position to stop the water flow as quickly as possible. But the ball valve usually won't spin because the handle hits the floor. So, I turn the valve off, remove the handle, then do the quick swap. Once the rig is screwed into the heater, replace the handle.

It's also a good idea to carry cut-off pieces of short hose to use when there's a floor drain close by, rather than using a 50-hose all looped up on the floor.

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Herk

Making sure that your pipe dope won't damage rubber, it's just a good idea to put some on the running threads so that water can't follow down through the mack washer.

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masterk

On those pop-up assembley threads I use clear silacone. I also use this on sink strainers and disposal flanges. When plumbers putty gets old it dries up and cracks out causing alot of leaks or if the putty is cold when you install the sink it will have play when the putty warms up.

Angle grinder ( 4 - 1/2 ) I use this with the thin cut off wheels to cut that old cast iron. Also use this to remove the old brass flush valves on a toilet tank. This takes a very steady hand. Cut 2 slots 1 at 9 o'clock and 1 at 3 o,clock almost all the way thru. Then take a big flat head screwdriver insert it into 1 of the slots and twist. The nut should fall off in 2 pieces.

a1plumbingyakim

3/4 inch or any size of copper that needs to be "re rounded" use your crescent wrench and adjust for your pipe size and spin around pipe...you can easily work the jaws in to make it easier.

TADA

threaderman

Bein doing that for years,you are the first I've heard of that does this too.

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Your plumbing & gas specialist proudly serving Oklahoma City OK, Moore, Warr-acres, Norman, Midwest City, Edmond, Bethany, Forest Park

wrenchman

There are many things that make plumbing easier but, if it was truly easy more guys would have actual licenses. And these forums wouldn't be full of people that ask dumb questions that real plumbers laugh at. I'm just here for the humor.

Grumpyplumber

AJX4

Hiiiiiiyooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!


This might be new or it might be common.

When you have a seat washer that's hard as a rock and you can't pry it out of the end of the stem, just back the seat screw out to where you don't damage the threads but leave a gap between the washer and the flat bottom side of the screw; when you pry towards center it'll give you something to wedge against instead of tearing up your hands. Normally I don't have a problem with removing seat washers but some are a real son of a for those who've been in this boat. Signing off, Captain Kirk.

AJX4

When you get marbles on top a water heater from soldering or flickering off the dog nuts from the joints so they look clean, take the plastic cover off your teflon tape and graze it over the surface. It will take the marbles off quickly and you can then clean the top of that heater to look like it was before it was uncrated.

AJX4

Any time you're fighting a losing battle with water in a system and you can't drop bellies in the pipe, open the boiler drain on the water heater so it draws a vaccum on the line as you're soldering; it'll most times close the joint immediately. Shop vac at any nearby spout sucking water will do the same, one takes less effort. You should have all lines open already to do a full drain down but then again this isn't always possible. Especially when the customer doesn't allow you to flush the commodes for fear of a #2 attack and they want water to flush. This always creates a wicking off the fill valves that is impossible to stop without opening those valves by flushing.

Jeannie

Hi, Im new here. Where the hell is the best place to buy a k50 machine with all the lines? I'm in Maryland-but it really doesnt matter.

All Clear Sewer

E Bay

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gitnerdun

In some cases, using a copper strap, or a coupling cut in half lengthwise,soldered in place to patch a pinhole leak. Works when cutting pipe is not an option.

Ron The Plumber

Illegal by my code.

gitnerdun

I would only do this if there were no other option or a repipe is in the near future. Just curious, how does code say you can't?

threaderman

The code book gives you approved methods for joining and repairing all types of pipe.For copper repair this method is not listed there-fore not legal.Code # 605.14 in the IPC 2006 states all approved methods of joining/repairing copper.

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Joe ---International Code Council Member

Your plumbing & gas specialist proudly serving Oklahoma City OK, Moore, Warr-acres, Norman, Midwest City, Edmond, Bethany, Forest Park