• Keeping clean on drain jobs
  • Stiff solder flux
  • Removing flanges




    • For Nasty Jobs

    For all the drain-cleaning techs out there: Ever had to cable a main through a pulled toilet in a commercial establishment? Or cable a urinal line? Hate the mess it makes?

    Solution: The arm that attaches the Flushometer body with the angle stop. Take that off and attach a ball valve to it. Then connect washing machine supply hoses to it.

    This allows you to wash down the floor from when the main backed up, or to hose down your cable when you're pulling it back from that nasty urinal line.

    Cody Hyman
    Roto-Rooter Plumbing
    Seattle, Wash.

    Slow Cooker

    Does your solder flux get frozen stiff on those cold days while running copper waterlines? Struggle no longer! Place your flux jar in a small crock pot, and in minutes, the flux is soft and workable. This works great and is safe because the crock pot will not overheat the flux container.

    Eric BrubakerandLuke Hainline
    Sarver Plumbing Inc.
    Arcanum, Ohio

    Removing Flange

    When replacing a cast-iron toilet flange, I use a metal drill bit and drill holes all around the old lead. Then I take a screwdriver to pry the old lead out of the flange. This makes the flange come off easy.

    Andrew Cinko
    Andy’s Plumbing & Heating
    Johnstown, Pa.

    Send Us Your Tool Tips

    If you have an idea that has saved you time and money,Plumbing & Mechanicalwould like to share your tip with our readers. You can e-mail your idea directly toPMeditor Steve Smith atsmiths@bnpmedia.com, or mail it to him c/o PM, 1050 IL Route 83, Suite 200, Bensenville, IL 60106.

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