Water softener basics

More than you need to know about water softeners and water conditioners. A typical water softener is actually pretty simple. water comes into the house through the water meter and…

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Maintain your water heater

Spend an hour or two every six months to add years to your water heater's life. I was at a home inspection seminar, led by a plumber. There were about…

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Water heater maintenance basics

A few hours of maintenance once a year will add years to the life of your water heater A few years ago, I was at a seminar for home inspectors…

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Water Heater Settings

Which is worse, scalded skin or Legionnaire’s disease? Until 2006, many homeowners had to ask themselves that question. It has to do with water temperature. Water in a water heater…

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Why does my bathtub sound like that?

Does your bathtub take a long time to drain, and does it make a lot of noise? It is likely an issue with the plumbing vents. The sound is what…

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Orphaned Vent

Sometimes a furnace has been changed over to a high-efficiency unit that is vented independently. The flue gasses are so cool they can be vented out a sidewall through a…

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Backdrafting Water Heater Vent

Most of the issues I find at a home inspection are both important and easy to fix. Old smoke alarms are a good example, because replacing them is not hard.…

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Finding the right-sized water heater for your bathtub

A simple formula for matching your bathtub needs with your water heater capacity. Don't bother taking a bath after my daughter takes a shower. She starts singing Adele songs and…

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Corrugated Drain – an oxymoron?

See how I did that? How could it be called a drain if it doesn't drain? Get it? I'm not sure why home centers and hardware stores are allowed to…

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