Pipes in a home may bang or make noise when water stops suddenly, when pipes are loose and move against walls or framing, or when water pressure is high. In some buildings, the noise may also come from the heating system rather than the water plumbing. Noisy pipes are common and are not always a…
Before moving into an apartment, check that faucets and showers have steady flow and hot water, that sinks, tubs and toilets drain and flush properly, and that there are no signs of leaks under sinks or on ceilings. Writing down what you find and sharing it with the landlord can help get problems fixed early.…
New homeowners should know where the main water shutoff and fixture shutoffs are, what kind of water heater they have, and the basic condition of the drains and visible pipes. Learning these basics early can make it much easier to respond to a leak or plan future plumbing work. When you move into a new…
The material used when plumbing pipes are replaced is usually chosen based on what the pipe will carry, where it will run, what the building already has and what codes and building rules allow. There is no single pipe material that is best for every home or building. When you get an estimate for pipe…
During a repipe in an occupied home, old water supply pipes are replaced with new ones, often section by section, while the household works around planned water shutoffs and access to certain rooms. How long it takes and how disruptive it feels depends on how much pipe is replaced, where it runs and how the…
Galvanized pipes are steel pipes coated with zinc, often found as water supply lines in older buildings, and they do not always need to be replaced right away. Whether replacement makes sense depends on their condition, how well water flows through them and whether they are leaking or causing other problems. Many people learn they…
A plumbing maintenance plan for a multifamily building usually includes regular checks of shared equipment, a simple way for tenants to report problems, a record of past repairs and a plan for shutoffs and access. The details depend on the building’s size, age, plumbing layout and equipment. In a building with many units, one plumbing…
Keeping records of plumbing repairs and maintenance helps you spot problems that keep coming back, gives a plumber useful history, and makes it easier to plan future work. A simple log can also help with insurance questions, warranties and the sale of a property. Most people remember a big leak, but small repairs are easy…
Before leaving home for a long trip, check for leaks, consider turning off the water supply if your home allows it, and make a plan for the water heater and heat. A few simple steps can lower the chance that a small plumbing problem turns into a big one while no one is there to…
Commercial restrooms often have frequent plumbing problems because they get much heavier use than home bathrooms, the public may flush items that do not belong in toilets, and the fixtures used in businesses work differently from home fixtures. The layout of the building and how the restrooms are maintained can also play a part. When…