Your shower may turn hot or cold when someone flushes because the toilet suddenly draws cold water from the same supply, which changes the mix of hot and cold reaching the shower. Whether you feel it depends largely on the type of shower valve you have and how the bathroom plumbing is laid out. A…
If your dishwasher stopped draining right after a new garbage disposal was installed, a common reason is that the dishwasher inlet on the new disposal is still sealed. Many disposals come with a small plug inside that inlet, and it has to be removed when a dishwasher drains through the unit. That is not the…
When water comes up in the other side of a double sink while the garbage disposal runs, the drain past the point where the two sides join is often partly blocked. The disposal pushes water out with force, and if it cannot flow away fast enough, it takes the easiest path, which may be up…
A garbage disposal usually smells bad because bits of food have built up inside the unit, on the rubber splash guard or in the drain below it. Less often, the smell can come from a drain problem farther down the line or a slow leak under the sink. A smelly disposal is common, especially in…
The P-trap is the curved section of drain pipe under a sink, and it matters because it holds a small amount of water that helps block odors from the drain system. It also catches some debris before it travels farther into the plumbing. Most people never think about the trap until something goes wrong, like…
A sink that leaks only when it is filled up often has a problem with a seal that only gets wet when the water level is high, such as the overflow opening or the seal around the drain. A crack in the sink or water slipping past the rim or caulk can also be the…
A sink may feel loose or start pulling away from the wall or counter because its brackets, clips or adhesive have weakened, or because the wall or cabinet supporting it has been damaged. Leaks over time can also soften the materials that hold a sink in place. A loose sink is more than a cosmetic…
A kitchen faucet sprayer may stop working right because the spray head is clogged, the hose is kinked or worn, or a part inside the faucet that sends water to the sprayer is sticking. The exact cause depends on whether you have a side sprayer or a pull-down or pull-out faucet. Sprayer problems can show…
A faucet may squeal or whistle when water is forced through a narrow or loose spot, such as a worn part inside the faucet, debris in the aerator or a valve that is only partly open. The sound often changes as you turn the handle, which is a clue that the flow path is being…
A faucet usually sprays or sputters because something is disturbing the flow at the tip, such as debris in the aerator, or because air got into the water lines. Worn parts inside the faucet can also make the stream uneven. A sputtering faucet is more annoying than dangerous in most cases. Still, knowing the likely…