Plumbing Maintenance

Our plumbing maintenance tips can help you keep your home cost efficient, safe & cozy.

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How to Get Hot Water with a Recirculating Pump

This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains how a recirculation line can save energy, money, and time.
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Why Does My Shower Drain Smell Like Rotten Eggs?

The smell of spoiled eggs doesn’t exactly bring to mind the thought of fresh, clean towels and a relaxing bath time experience. And no amount of candles can truly mask the odor. Luckily, there are ways to rid your bathroom of a shower drain that smells like rotten eggs. These are some of the easiest, most common methods for taking care of the problem.
S21 E23, Richard Trethewey shows Kevin O'Connor how to troubleshoot a leaky showerhead
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How to Troubleshoot a Leaky Showerhead

Water coming out of a showerhead every time the tub fills can be annoying. Here’s a helpful way to troubleshoot the issue.
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How to Keep Your Garbage Disposal Running Smoothly

Don’t let improper use and deferred maintenance prevent your garbage disposal from working optimally. Follow these expert tips to learn how to maintain this pulverizing powerhouse, so it stays clean and performs to its potential.
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How to Prevent a Septic System from Freezing

Frozen water pipes are bad enough, but a frozen septic system is worse. Here’s how to avoid this wintertime nightmare.
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All About Septic Tanks

While many homes in the United States use municipal sewers, due to factors like location, some homeowners must opt for septic tanks. Read on to learn a few fundamentals of this sewage system.
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How to Prevent Flooding in an Upstairs Laundry Room

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains how and why to install an automatic shutoff valve for the washing machine supply hoses.
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Home Inspection Nightmares | Untamed Roof

The Ask This Old House crew share more Home Inspection Nightmares with Kevin O’Connor including some wild growth on a roof and chimney and an over-caulked plumbing fix.
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How to Clean a Toilet Tank

Read this step-by-step guide on how to clean buildup and rust from the inside of a toilet tank.
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5 Ways to Repair PVC Pipes

A busted PVC pipe can cause water leaks or a malfunctioning sink. To help get your sink back up and running, we’ve put together five ways to help you repair PVC pipes.
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How to Fix Washing Machine Drain Overflows

Water that pools around your washing machine can be caused by several issues that lead to structural damage within your home. In this guide, we detail steps that you can take to identify and fix this problem.
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What Does a Gas Leak Smell Like?

In this article, we’ve compiled important information on how to identify, respond to, and prevent natural gas leaks.
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Sewer Line Repair and Replacement

Intact sewer and water lines are essential to a clean and comfortable home. Read on to learn what causes sewer lines to break and how they are repaired or replaced.
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How To Fix a Gurgling Toilet

Is your toilet making a gurgling sound? Read on to learn what might be causing the problem.
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Septic Warranty Coverage and Costs

A home warranty can protect your septic system if it unexpectedly breaks down. Keep reading for our top septic warranty coverage recommendations.

How to Increase Water Pressure on City Water

Here’s how to fix your water pressure if you’re on city water.
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How to Unclog Any Drain

Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows us every common household drain, and how to unclog them like a pro.
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Septic System Guide: How It Works and How to Maintain It

A well-maintained septic system is trouble-free and something a homeowner doesn’t have to think about much. Here’s how to keep it that way.
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What to Do When Your Sewer Backs Up

When it comes to bad things like a sewer backup, it’s always smarter to be prepared. Read on for a few tips for handling a sewer backup.
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How a Frozen Pipe Bursts

In this DIY Smarts, Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey demonstrates how and why frozen pipes burst.
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All About Plumbing

Here’s how to make water work for you.
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How to Fix a Leaky Faucet

Learn about 4 types of faucets, what causes a faucet to drip, and how to repair them.
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Baseboard Heater Making Noise? Here’s How to Fix It

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner diagnose and solve a baseboard hot water system that makes noise.
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How to Snake a Clogged Drain

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows how to clear a stopped bathtub or shower drain
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How to Rotate a Toilet

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner rotate a toilet to a more sensible orientation.
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How to Fix a Wobbly Toilet

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner diagnose and repair a wobbly toilet
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How to Change a Toilet

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey gives some DIY Smarts and shows the basics of changing a toilet.
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Why Dishwasher Soap Matters

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey demonstrates what happens when dish liquid is used in the dishwasher instead of dishwasher detergent gel.
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How to Maintain a Furnace

Ask This Old House heating and plumbing expert Richard Trethewey explains the best practices for keeping your furnace up and running during the winter
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How to Choose and Maintain a Garbage Disposer

This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shares some tricks for removing—and avoiding—stubborn disposer jams
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How to Fix a Leaky Shut-Off Valve

This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows how to quickly and easily fix a faulty valve.
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How to Fix a Noisy Faucet

This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey quiets a tap that's making a hammering sound
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How to Clear Any Clogged Drain

Armed with the right tools and techniques, you can easily unplug stopped-up drains without having to call in a pro SEE OUR FULL THANKSGIVING SURVIVAL GUIDE HERE