Plumbing, Pipes, and the Water System
Plumbing is something that’s easily taken for granted. However, if you’ve ever lived without plumbing, even for a weekend camping trip, you can quickly appreciate how important it has become to modern living.
Drinking water, baths, showers, toilets, dishwashers, clothes washers, gardens—none of these are possible, or at least practical, without plumbing systems and fixtures. In this family of articles, we look at buying, improving, repairing, and maintaining your home’s plumbing systems and fixtures. Pick a section below to dig deeper.
Faucets & Taps
Beyond its role as a conduit for delivering water to a sink, a faucet can set the tone for a room's personality and style.
Home Plumbing System
A home’s plumbing system is a complex network of water supply pipes, drainpipes, vent pipes, and more.
Septic Systems
This section of HomeTips covers septic tank problems, how a septic tank works, and tips on septic tank pumping and replacing a failed septic tank.
Showers & Steam
Learn everything you need to know about showers and steam showers, including buying guides, information on showerheads and valves, shower plumbing diagrams and repair tips.
水槽和厕所
Kitchen and bathroom sinks and lavs are among the most utilitarian of all the fixtures in a home. This section discusses buying, repairing, and installing sinks.
Sprinklers & Drip
When it comes to watering your lawns and gardens, you have several options, from spraying with a hose to installing complex drip irrigation systems.
Sump Pumps
In an ideal world, our houses are designed to keep us high and dry—well away from the damaging effects of ground water. But life isn’t always ideal.
Toilets & Bidets
你的厕所需要修理或时间repl吗ace it? Although a toilet is not the most glamorous fixture in a house, it certainly is one of the most important and regularly used plumbing fixtures.
Water Filters
Because unhealthy levels of contaminants such as bacteria, lead, and pesticides are found in both metropolitan and well water supplies, it’s important to know whether pollutants exist in your water.
Water Softeners
What is a water softener? If you find that soap and shampoo don’t lather well, dishes have spots, and the coffee maker has scale deposits, your home probably has a hard water problem.
Home Plumbing Articles
Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Home’s Plumbing
How do you keep your home’s plumbing system from breaking down or needing major repairs? Here is expert advice for plumbing mistakes to avoid. Our
How to Flush or Drain a Water Heater
Flush your water heater tank twice a year to remove mineral sediment and scale. Your water heater will heat more efficiently and last longer. This
Pipes & Home Plumbing for DIY Plumbers
In This Article: Types of Pipes How to Size Water Pipes Tips for DIY Plumbers How home plumbing water pipes work, with a diagram of
Planning a Plumbing Remodel
Expert advice on planning a plumbing remodel, including diagrams on where to place toilets, sinks, and other fixtures, and tips on routing supply and drainpipes
How a Sump Pump Works
A sump pump will keep water out of your basement. This shows how a sump pump works, with parts diagram and information on submersible and
Social Media
Featured: Kitchen & Bath Fixtures
How to Install a Farmhouse Sink
How to Repair a Leaky Shower Faucet Valve
How to Install a Bathroom Sink
Kitchen Sinks Buying Guide
Subscribe To Our Weekly Newsletter
Most Popular Stories
Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Home’s Plumbing
How do you keep your home’s plumbing system from breaking down or needing major repairs? Here is expert advice for plumbing mistakes to avoid. Our
How to Fix a Bouncy or Sagging Floor (DIY)
Is your floor so bouncy or springy that the tile or stone surface is cracking? Does your wood floor bend or sag beneath your feet?
19 Garden Stairs Ideas for a Beautiful Yard
Garden stairs provide transitions between level in your yard. Here are some great ideas for different materials and designs you can try. In This Article:
How to Replace a Central AC Capacitor or Contactor
Expert advice, including videos, on how to replace a central air conditioner’s capacitor and contactor when a central AC unit doesn’t work at all. If