Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
Can we attach newer ABS pipe to existing one?
QUESTION -- We live in a small one bedroom bungalow built in the 1920s. We would like to renovate the single bathroom and as part of that project change the size of the stack while relocating it. The stack is a five-inch galvanized pipe that runs up through the bathroom. It is not hidden behind a wall. Is it possible to attach the newer and smaller PVC pipe to the existing five-inch pipe, and does the stack need to be a straight line from the basement up through the roof? By moving the pipe behind a wall I would have to put at least one elbow in it in order to meet the existing hole in the roof. The stack would move approximately ten inches. P.S. The stack would actually be moving closer to the kitchen sink, so there would be no issue with venting from that area.--Art Brown, e-mail
Answer -- Improper plumbing vents, usually done by ambitious homeowners like yourself, are among the most common defects I see in homes. The reason I think these are so prevalent is that the drains will often work reasonably well, with hidden defects, even with badly installed venting. Because of this, I don't recommend homeowners attempt major drain or venting renovations without a consultation from a licensed plumber, to ensure the venting is done properly.
There are two main implications with plumbing vents done poorly or improperly. The first is obvious, poor drainage of toilets, sinks, bathtubs, and other plumbing fixtures. The second potential problem may be much more insidious, sewer gas intrusion. Drains installed with improper traps or missing vents can lead to sewer gas leaking into the home, rather than escaping up the stack and out the roof of the home. This gas can be noxious and in high enough concentrations may lead to health problems for the occupants of the home. Properly installed vents and P-traps will ensure that this gas is prevented from entering the living space.
While proper installation of plumbing drains is not exactly rocket science, many weekend warriors do not have the knowledge necessary to ensure that venting is done correctly when relocating older pipes. Your statement that your home has a five-inch galvanized stack makes me believe that you are in this category. Your stack is almost certainly cast iron, not galvanized, and new plumbing drains used in residential construction are almost always ABS plastic, not PVC. Installation of one "elbow" will only get the pipe moved in one direction but not back to the original location, as planned, without more joints. I am assuming that you are suggesting using 90-degree elbows, while ones with less of a severe angle may be more appropriate in your situation.
Replacement of an older cast iron stack with ABS is a good upgrade but in a one-storey home like yours it may be easier to replace the entire section from the basement through the roof, rather than splicing a piece in the middle. That way, you can prevent future leakage in the older, wet section of the drain in the basement. This will also allow you do a better job of attaching any newer ABS drains to the stack, below the main floor, that may have been replaced in the past. It will also allow you to install a proper neoprene flashing at the roof, near the top of the pipe, and remove the older lead flashing, above the roof, that may be deteriorated. This will ultimately be more work, but will provide you with a more permanent repair than you had proposed.
The next thing to consider, and probably the main reason for your question, is proper operation of the vent after modifications. As long as you don't reduce the interior size of the vent pipe significantly, you will probably still get sufficient air into the pipe for proper drainage with the new bends. However, this may only be true most of the year. The real problem may occur when the weather gets really cold outside. If you install sharp elbows, or reduce the size of the pipe in any way, you run the risk of excess frost build-up inside the "dry" section of the stack above the bathroom ceiling. This frost or ice may prevent proper air intrusion into the pipe and create the same issues identified previously. If you have a single, straight, vertical pipe going from basement to roof, this is unlikely to occur.
With the explosion of renovation-related shows on television, it may appear to many people that installation of various components for replacement of older items in homes is a simple procedure. With many materials like drywall and laminate flooring, this is may not be far from the truth, but that is not the situation with all systems. While cutting and gluing of ABS plumbing drains may well be within the skill levels of many homeowners, proper design of these systems is not simple. To properly address this concern, a licensed plumber should be able to take a look at the situation in your home and direct you in the proper method of adapting your older drains for your new desires. This will not only make sure that the drains function properly, but will also ensure that you pass scrutiny from the municipal building inspector, after you apply for the proper permit for your renovation.
Oh, yeah -- the building permit. Any time renovations involve electrical, plumbing or structural changes, you must get a building permit.
Ari Marantz is the owner of Trained Eye Home Inspection Ltd. and the president of the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors - Manitoba (www.cahpi.mb.ca). Questions can be e-mailed or sent to: Ask The Inspector, P. O. Box 69021, #110-2025 Corydon Ave., Winnipeg, MB. R3P 2G9. Ari can be reached at (204) 291-5358 or check out his website at www.trainedeye.ca.
Renovation & Design
Sometimes, the simplest repair is best
If you have a concrete patio or walk that contains one or more curling or bowed wooden dividers, pay close attention to this easy repair.We have been watching the ends of our divider boards curl for years. One day we realized that the buckled wood was a trip hazard and someone might be hurt. How do we make the repair: Glue, bolts, what?
Suddenly it occurred to us that if we could force the wood back into place we could then wedge in a shim shingle and it just might hold. So, here is what we did:
First we drove a wood chisel between concrete and the bowed end of the divider. This created a pressure point between the concrete and the divider.
We were then able to use a wooden mallet to drive the top of the curved end of the wooden divider flush with the top of the concrete. We had to gently tap the chisel from time to time to ensure the continued pressure needed to prevent the divider from popping up.
With the divider down and wedged in place it was time to make the repair permanent. We drove cedar shim shingles between the divider and the concrete. We actually used three shingles to provide the "wedge" force needed.
Next, we carefully removed the chisel by wiggling it back and forth parallel with the gap and then replaced the hole left by the chisel with additional shims.
Finally, we used a razor knife to cut and remove the excess shims.
This whole process took about three minutes and was simple to repeat in four additional locations throughout our yard. All is safe now.
We needlessly agonized over this repair for a very long time because we thought that we had to completely replace the dividers. When we decided to try the wedge idea it was like a light bulb going off.
As it turns out, most repairs that we do are just as simple. For example, to find a toilet leak simply add a few drops of food coloring to the tank. The food colouring will travel toward the leak (along with the leaking water) and the food colouring will leave a trail similar to a lightning bolt that will point directly to the leak. Or, what about using toothpaste to fill a nail hole or using glued toothpicks to repair a loose screw hole?
So no point in delaying -- an easy fix can be as effective as a difficult one.
-- The Associated Press
Renovation & Design
Canadian unity through coast-to-coast tips
As we get ready to celebrate the anniversary of our great country, we can also feel united with these useful tips sent in by people across the nation.Canada Day Trivia: What does the word Canada mean?
1. Tackle chap-stick on fabrics by dabbing waterless hand cleaner onto the area. Rub gently and wash as usual. Hang to dry. For chap-stick stains that have gone through the washer and dryer; soak the clothes in hot water and Oxy Clean or soak each garment separately in half-cup Arm and Hammer washing soda and enough hot water to cover the clothes for 30 minutes. Wash as usual. Air dry. Repeat until stains are gone. Submitted by Dawne O.
2. Speaking of chap-stick. Rub chap-stick on paper cuts to stop the pain immediately and heal the cut. Submitted by Rick P.
3. Keep breading on meat while frying by adding half teaspoon of sugar to the batter. Submitted by Brian P.
4. To grab the full benefits of flax seed in recipes, grind the flax in a coffee grinder. Add ground flax to cereals, muffin and cake recipes. Flax is high in alpha linolenic acid which is a type of plant-derived Omega 3 fatty acid, similar to that found in salmon. Submitted by Angela R.
5. Prevent mosquitoes from breeding in your bird bath by adding a few drops of canola oil or any vegetable-based oil to the water. Doing this will create a light surface coating that won't harm birds but will stop mosquitoes from making more mosquitoes! Submitted by Jim D.
6. "Un-gum me you fool!" Remove sticky labels on jeans by wiping the area with rubbing alcohol and gently scraping with a plastic putty knife. Submitted by Tracia S.
7. About twenty years ago we had a serious infestation of silverfish. I don't remember where I learned this solution, but it worked. A mixture of powdered sugar and boric acid spread in a few places along the baseboards did the trick (take caution around children and pets). No fumigation necessary. I haven't seen a single silverfish since. Submitted by Flora.
8. Don't toss out the bread crusts that your family won't eat. Soak them in two-third cups buttermilk for 10 minutes. Squeeze out excess milk and add to meatloaf before baking. Moist and yummy! Submitted by Natalie L.
9. Shiny hair is possible with a bit of coconut oil. Rub oil onto your scalp once a week. Wash hair in the morning. Submitted by Leslie D.
10. For smooth skin use a version of the secret recipe that Cleopatra used. Into your bath water drop two cups of powdered milk. Submitted by Angel L.
11. On the topic of milk, Wendy from B.C. wrote, "Tackle a fresh milk spill in the back of a car. Sprinkle a box of baking soda over the offending odour and cover the area with newspaper, leave undisturbed for three days. Remove newspaper, vacuum up baking soda. Voila no more smell."
12. I use the powdered laundry detergent that is sold in plastic pails. It is such a struggle to get the lid off with each use, so now I just rest the lid on top of the pail. This allows moisture in, causing a problem with clumping. I decided to toss in a couple of packages of the silica gel that is sold with shoes. It keeps the laundry detergent dry and works amazingly well! Submitted by Veronica S.
13. Whenever I drop hair dye onto the carpet, I quickly pour the lotion from the home hair dye kit onto the area and dab it with a white cloth. The lotion is great at lifting the colour out of the carpet. Submitted by Hair Girl
14. Use ketchup at the bottom of your nearly-empty bottle. Add a little water or vinegar and shake, then use the liquid to flavour soups, stews or salad dressings. Submitted by Martha S.
Canada Day Trivia: Speaking of penny pinching, everyone will soon be walking much lighter, as the penny approaches its 100th birthday, there's a growing movement to kill the coin and, according to documents obtained by CanWest News Service it's clearly an issue on the radar of the government and the Mint.
15. Got grout? Scrub with Listerine mouthwash and an old toothbrush; cleans stains, messes and general day to day grout gunk. Submitted by Olivia D.
You'll be the life of the party with this little trivia tid bit: The word Canada comes from a Wendat (Huron-Iroquoian) word, meaning village or settlement.
Solutions sleuth Reena Nerbas is a home economist and speaks professionally on the topic of household challenges; she is also the author of two national bestsellers, Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions and Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets. She can be heard on radio and television programs across Canada.
Renovation & Design
Thorough cleaning, bleach should resolve sewage odour
QUESTION -- I had a leak in a sewer line in a crawl space under my house. That leak has been repaired and I thought I cleaned up thoroughly, but whenever I turn on my air system, we can smell sewage. How can I get rid of the smell?ANSWER -- Go back to the crawl space and make sure that you have cleaned all visible surface residue left by the leak. It is wise to dig down about a third of a metre or so in the area where the sewage ponded.
Once that's done, thoroughly soak the entire area with pure bleach to kill bacteria and the smell it leaves. Make sure to take proper precautions when using bleach and other cleaning materials in a closed space. Cover the bleached area with a 30-kilogram bag or two of powdered lime. You will also want to check for any damaged ducts in your air system, and you may want to consider having a contractor do a professional cleaning of the ducts. They have special machines designed for this purpose.
-- Associated Press
Renovation & Design
Security tips for empty house
It's the time of year when many of us are getting excited about heading out on our annual vacation.Too bad we can't bring the house along. Besides getting caught up with all the yard work before we leave, there's always a nagging worry about the security of our empty house.
The folks at the lock company Weiser have come up with some good ideas that might help protect your home and your belongings from the attention of thieves while you're away.
Leaving a car parked in the driveway gives the appearance that someone is home.
Good exterior lighting around your perimeter creates a psychological barrier.
Make sure all exterior doors have deadbolts with at least a one-inch throwbolt.
Keep your doors locked at all times. Half of all break-ins are through unlocked doors.
Going out of town? Give your neighbour a house key so she can check in.
Help the police help you. Make sure you keep your street address visible. When affixing numbers to your house, make sure they are at least four inches high, reflective and visible from the street.
Park your car outside? Always lock your vehicle and consider taking your garage door opener with you instead of leaving it in the car.
Been at the same house for a while? Replace your outside locks as you've probably given out your house key a lot through the years.
Backyard secure? Consider installing a fence and plant fast-growing bushes as extra barriers around the exterior of your home.
Start a Neighbourhood Watch program -- it's the most effective method of keeping your home safe.
Keep an extra key outside your house? Not a good idea. Burglars know all the hiding spots. Instead, leave a key with a trusted neighbour. Better yet, install a keyless entry system. For more information, check out weiserlock.ca.
-- Canwest News Service
