Peter Hemp

Don't be intimidated. With this step-by-step guide, you can upgrade your toilet to a modern, water-saving commode.

You'll need a dielectric plumbing fitting: A coupling, union, or brass alternative will do the trick

Reinforce the floor and use the right components for years of trouble-free service.

Q: The toilet in the bathroom on the second floor of our new home frequently surges, and the tank refills without being flushed. We’ve replaced the float mechanism twice already but…

By making a few simple upgrades, you can triple a basic water heater's life expectancy.

Q: I recently had a pressure reducer installed in my house after the abnormally high (120 psi) water pressure was threatening to blow all my faucets apart. The faucets have stopped…

Q: A customer called me recently to help him locate the source of an intermittent sewer smell in his home. The smell came from his powder room after the toilet was…

Clean the fittings carefully and heat them completely to get neat, leak-free joints.

From cutting a hole in the counter to attaching the faucets and drain, a master plumber shows the way.

Q: My 50-gal. Mor-Flo water heater supplies both my domestic system and my heat-recovery ventilator (HRV). The water heater’s temperature is set at 170° F, and the domestic water goes through…