Tool Tips - October 2010
Crawl Space Sillcock Replacement
Cap The Boiler Drain
Another Use For Stool Wax
I then entered the crawl space, cut the old sillcock loose and shoved it back out the hole while holding the wire so as not to lose it. Then I pulled the new sillcock through the hole with the wire, removed the wire and tape, cleaned the end of the pipe to remove tape residue and finished the connection.
It worked perfectly and saved me a second trip into a difficult crawl space. Depending on how high the sillcock is off the ground, you might want to put a box under it to raise it up to the correct height so it will be easier to pull through the hole.
Dick Slade
Slade Plumbing & Heating
Jackson, Mich.
Jake Lindloff
Albert Heating and Cooling
Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
Jesse Hochstein
Plumbing & Electric Service
Hartington, Neb.
Cap The Boiler Drain
Another Use For Stool Wax
Crawl Space Sillcock Replacement
While needing to replace a sillcock that was connected in a crawl space some distance from the access and working alone, I wondered how I might do this without making two trips into the difficult crawl space. My solution was to solder a short piece of pipe to the sillcock and attach a wire to the end of the pipe with duct tape. I slipped the wire along the side of the existing sillcock.I then entered the crawl space, cut the old sillcock loose and shoved it back out the hole while holding the wire so as not to lose it. Then I pulled the new sillcock through the hole with the wire, removed the wire and tape, cleaned the end of the pipe to remove tape residue and finished the connection.
It worked perfectly and saved me a second trip into a difficult crawl space. Depending on how high the sillcock is off the ground, you might want to put a box under it to raise it up to the correct height so it will be easier to pull through the hole.
Dick Slade
Slade Plumbing & Heating
Jackson, Mich.
Cap The Boiler Drain
After draining a hot water tank that is to be removed, often the boiler drain will not reseal properly. To help with this problem, I always carry a hose cap in my tool box to thread on to the drain. This prevents the tank from leaking in the customer’s home while you dolly it out. Once the tank is disposed of, I unthread the hose cap and return it to my tool box until the next time.Jake Lindloff
Albert Heating and Cooling
Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
Another Use For Stool Wax
Have you ever lost a screw or anything down a trap or a stool flange? Take a small chunk of stool wax and place on the end of 1/2-inch-wide CPVC pipe. The wax is strong enough to take out broken pieces of plastic or screws. It really works well when you are setting a new stool and the plastic out of the middle falls down into your bottom fitting.Jesse Hochstein
Plumbing & Electric Service
Hartington, Neb.
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