Tool Tips

Tool Tips: Lip balm fix

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -0500

Recently, while doing an emergency water heater replacement, I needed some lube for the small O-rings on the mixing valve.

Tool Tips: Stocking super glue

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -0500

We keep super glue on the truck for any time we run into needing an O-ring, but don't have the exact size.

Tool Tips: Setting toilet bowls

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 00:00:00 -0500

I have been reading a lot of tips about setting toilet bowls.

Tool Tips: Damage prevention

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 00:00:00 -0400

We are a full service plumbing company. There are times when we have to gain access to the roof of million dollar homes.

Tool Tips: A Common Drainage Issue

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 00:00:00 -0400

I have seen and experienced draining a water heater for replacement, and the drain is clogged and won’t let out any water.

Tool Tips: Tightening shower arms

Mon, 17 Aug 2020 00:00:00 -0400

When installing a shower arm or hand held hose wall elbow, thread a ½" coupling onto the male ends and select the appropriate size pipe nipple to use as a lever.

Why the construction industry is embracing inventory asset tagging

Wed, 05 Aug 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Contractors are a mobile breed — constantly on the move, from job to job. With so much shuffling around, there is more opportunity for human error — tools ending up on the wrong jobsite on the wrong day. When you have inventory tied up across different jobs, in the back of a work truck or van, or in a warehouse on a high shelf that’s rarely dusted, it’s easy for mistakes to be made.

Tool Tips: Stay Sharp

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Carry lengths of pipe in a standard cargo van and eliminate roof racks.

Tool Tips: Refrigeration Gauge Protection and Connection Stress

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Every time I installed an ice maker supply line, I was always concerned that it may leak — pushing and pulling on the fridge.

Tool Tips: Toilet and sink water removal

Thu, 14 May 2020 00:00:00 -0400

The customer says there is water at the base of the toilet after flushing, which means you get to replace the wax seal.

Tool Tips: Know before you go

Fri, 24 Apr 2020 00:00:00 -0400

We do gas and electric water heaters for lots of residential customers.

Tool Tips: Unplug a bath tub drain trap

Mon, 23 Mar 2020 00:00:00 -0400

First, remove the overflow trim. Then, insert a water hose down overflow.

Tool Tips: Clean and tidy caulk

Mon, 24 Feb 2020 00:00:00 -0500

When installing a toilet, the final touch is caulking around the base which can sometimes be a mess.

Tool Tips: Good ears and a good flashlight

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 00:00:00 -0500

Leaking fixtures can waste a lot of water and money.

Tool Tips: Avoiding valve replacement

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 00:00:00 -0500

This tool tip made my co-worker and our customer so happy that he made one and wrote my name on it.

Tool Tips: Organization and cleanliness

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 10:35:00 -0400

On our trucks, we keep all our soldering material, such as solder, paste, pipe cutters, emery cloth, inspection mirror and other miscellaneous items, in small tackle boxes.

Tool Tips: Drain line flushing

Fri, 20 Sep 2019 00:00:00 -0400

A lot of times a snake cable will just stir up the sludge and I have seen cables in clean-outs or manholes downstream where the pipe is still clogged.

Tool Tips: Going fishing

Tue, 20 Aug 2019 00:00:00 -0400

When it comes to a well pump that has fallen off the pitless to the bottom of the well due to a broken adapter, it can cost a homeowner a lot to fix.

Tool Tips: Recycling a broken tool

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Tool Tips—July 2019

Tool Tips: PVC trap trick

Mon, 24 Jun 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Tool Tips—June 2019

Tool Tips: Tightening wing nuts

Tue, 21 May 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Tool Tips—May 2019

Tool Tips: Potty Training Pads

Tue, 16 Apr 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Tool Tips—April 2019

Tool Tips: Replacing faucet parts

Mon, 18 Mar 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Tool Tips—March 2019

Tool Tips: Replacing broken shower arms

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500

Tool Tips—February 2019

Tool Tips: Dislodging wood plugs from hole saw

Tue, 08 Jan 2019 00:00:00 -0500

Tool Tips—January 2019

Tool Tips: Fixing a leak in a tight space

Fri, 07 Dec 2018 00:00:00 -0500

Tool Tips—December 2018

Tool Tips: Descaling manifolds

Tue, 27 Nov 2018 00:00:00 -0500

Tool Tips—November 2018

Tool Tips: Removing a lead poured joint

Mon, 29 Oct 2018 00:00:00 -0400

Tool Tips—October 2018

Tool Tips: Securing a retainer clip

Sun, 30 Sep 2018 00:00:00 -0400

Tool Tips—September 2018

Tool Tips: Soldering near drywall

Fri, 31 Aug 2018 00:00:00 -0400

Tool Tips—August 2018