Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [pipe]

For questions generally relating to hollowed out materials used to convey a liquid, gas, or other fluid substance.

894 questions
32
votes
5 answers

Why does this pipe feeding a hot water heater dip down like this?

This is a cold water pipe just in front of the hot water heater it is feeding. Why is it shaped that way? What is its function?
Rob
  • 1,228
  • 5
  • 19
  • 32
32
votes
5 answers

Is it a problem that my bathtub drains directly into the wall?

Here is what I see inside the hole My landlord said is ok. But I think water going directly to wall can't be a good idea. My question is how bad is it? Needs fixing right away? If needs fixing, how can I fix. The side of the bathtub is sealed and I…
07mm8
  • 437
  • 1
  • 4
  • 4
30
votes
5 answers

What is this vertical metal pipe in my backyard? old well? septic?

Purchased this house last week and the previous owners also did not know what it was. The pipe is heavy duty and set in concrete. There's water about halfway up the length of the pipe, but I haven't tested the depth. UPDATE: it was definitely an…
Drew
  • 864
  • 4
  • 12
  • 18
27
votes
3 answers

Why are the inside diameters of some pipe larger than the stated size?

I'm looking over some specifications for black pipe. I understand why dimensional lumber is smaller than the stated dimensions, but why would the pipe manufacturers give you more volume than what is expected? Does anyone know the history on this? …
gnicko
  • 4,949
  • 1
  • 20
  • 35
23
votes
2 answers

What is an air bleeder valve, and how does it winterize pipes?

I found this message attached to a pipe in the first house I bought Caution Winter Drain Instructions: Close valve in October before winter freeze Open air bleeder valve on side of main valve Open exterior hose bib Pull down pin in centre of…
asmgx
  • 943
  • 8
  • 18
23
votes
4 answers

Can I pour concrete over a PVC sewer pipe without damaging it?

I'm currently in the process of digging a hole in my front yard to install a flag pole. The dimensions of the hole are 16" deep and 24" in diameter. Once I reached my 16" depth, I discovered my PVC sewer pipe that runs from my house to the street.…
Randy
  • 231
  • 2
  • 3
22
votes
6 answers

Must these old pipes be replaced?

We are currently renovating our bathroom ourselves on the 2nd floor. We were going to redo the tiles only, and we found a newspaper from 1947 around the old pipes which means it was installed a long time ago. We started to wonder if the pipes have…
sol1000
  • 374
  • 3
  • 9
20
votes
9 answers

What is this pipe coming out of the basement floor?

I’m finishing an old (1930) empty basement and have a random pipe coming out of the floor. ⁠I have no clue what it is or what it went to as it sits alone in the space. ⁠It is metallic (tested with a magnet). ⁠It’s currently capped off and did have…
Aaron
  • 201
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
20
votes
6 answers

Is all copper pipe pretty much the same?

Is there different levels of quality in copper plumbing pipe? I see copper pipe at Home Depot and I assume plumbing supply stores sell it too. Does pretty much everybody sell the same quality of copper pipe, or are there differences I should be…
Tyler Durden
  • 6,749
  • 9
  • 43
  • 91
19
votes
2 answers

Why not put pipe dope on female thread?

What is the risk of having pipe dope in natural gas line? Not blobs of dope, but a thin layer or bead on inner (female) thread. Most instructions on using pipe dope on gas pipe says to put pope dope on male threads with no reference to female…
codechimp
  • 683
  • 9
  • 18
19
votes
3 answers

Why would you use copper over CPVC or PEX?

Are there any advantages to using copper rather than CPVC or PEX?
jlpp
  • 1,944
  • 10
  • 24
  • 32
18
votes
3 answers

Can white bread be used to temporarily plug pipes for repair?

I've been digging on the Internet, for a solution to soldering a dribbling pipe. It seams logical, but I wanted to check if anyone has tried this, and if they had any problems getting the bread out. Or is it a known urban myth?
reggie
  • 397
  • 2
  • 10
18
votes
7 answers

What are these capped, metal pipes in our yard?

We've owned this home for 5+ years now, and these pipes have been bugging me. Even moreso now that I'm looking to do some landscaping right over one of them. The house was built in the 60's in a Philadelphia PA suburb. We have city lines for natural…
Marisa
  • 305
  • 2
  • 7
17
votes
9 answers

Should I run the tap while dumping boiling water?

It seems to be common advice to run the cold water while dumping boiling water down the drain (for example, when draining pasta). A variety of reasons are cited for this, one of which is that it is bad for your plumbing. I assume the reasoning is…
browly
  • 355
  • 1
  • 3
  • 9
17
votes
3 answers

Turn off hot water without hot water valve

I have a leaky pipe on the hot water side that I'd like to fix. Following the pipes back to the water heater, I don't think there's a shutoff valve installed anywhere in the line, not even at the water heater outlet. At least, not one that is…
Sittin Hawk
  • 305
  • 1
  • 2
  • 5
1
2 3
…
59 60