Taps, traps, valves and fixtures

Taps, traps, aerators, shut-off valves and fixture seals inside the building. Non-structural work only.

Common failure modes

How to fix a toilet tank that fills too high or too low, and set the correct water level at the fill valveA toilet tank that fills past the overflow tube keeps sending water down the drain long after the flush is done, and it
How to clean a clogged faucet aerator when the water flow drops or sprays sidewaysWhen one tap goes weak, or the stream splits and sprays off to one side, the cause is almost always the aerator: the sma
How to unclog a slow or blocked drain in a sink, bathtub or showerA drain that empties slowly, or not at all, is almost always blocked close to the fixture. Hair, soap and grease build u
How to find your main water shut off valve and check that it actually worksEvery water emergency starts with the same instruction: turn off the water. That instruction assumes two things most hou
How to replace a shower head and read the GPM flow rate stamped on the new oneA showerhead loses spray force over the years as mineral deposits clog its holes, or a household simply decides to cut i
How to replace a worn toilet flapper when the toilet runs, ghost flushes, or leaks silently into the bowlA toilet that hisses long after the flush, refills by itself in the middle of the night, or simply costs more than it us
How to fix a leaky faucet that drips from the spout or weeps around the handleA tap drips because one soft part inside it has stopped sealing — a washer, an O-ring, or the whole cartridge. It is not

Work on a water main, a sewer main or a septic system is outside this repository.