Permanent Spacing

When setting water closet flanges prior to the finished floor going in, I usually need to set the flange higher than the rough floor to accommodate tile, wood or linoleum. To do this quickly and accurately, I cut several pieces of regular 1/2-inch copper pipe the length I need to raise the flange above the finished floor. Next, I use these small pieces of copper as spacers under the flange with the flange bolts or screws going through them. This makes for a permanent spacer that will not rot or degrade over time. It will allow the finished flooring to fit under the ring of the flange for a rock-solid closet ring ready for a toilet.

Gregory Odle
Reliant Plumbing Systems
Sebastopol, Calif.

A Not-So-Silly Idea

We probably all had Silly Putty at one time. Remember when you would push the putty on a particular object, pull it off and it would leave an imprint of the image on the putty? I use Plumber’s Putty the same way to get serial numbers and model numbers off trap primers, water heaters, hose bibs, etc. — anything that is stamped in metal or fixtures that I cannot see. Just push your plumber’s putty on the serial number of the fixture or appliance that may be obstructed from view, peel it off and the guesswork is done. This saves time and money.

Chris Brown
Mabank Independent School District
Mabank, Texas

No Twisting

When changing a hose bib, cut off the end, exposing the pipe. Be careful not to cut the pipe. Use an internal pipe wrench inside the pipe for a backup and remove the rest of the hose bib. This keeps you from twisting or breaking the pipe in the wall.    

Danny Alexander
Southern Plumbing
Vidalia, La.