what temperature water should you run to keep pipes from bursting?
Q. I have an older home, and were we are its extremely cold. I have water running in the kitchen sink, tub and bathroom sink, I always thought you would just run cold water? Then i heard some guy say hot water? does it matter? Also the kitchen, bathroom are on the south side of the house, so i didnt know if i need water running at all faucets, i have small water running, I also have the cupboards open where the pipe runs to the kitchen to help air flow? my main concern was does the temperature of the water matter? i noticed i have no hot water in the bathroom sink, but i have cold water, i have hot water in the tub, so not sure whats going on there? i forgot to say, i have no basement
Asked by g - Mon Feb 5 13:27:23 2007 - - 5 Answers - 0 Comments

A. First off the thought was that running water does not freeze as easily as still water. Water will still freeze if it is cold enough-even in the creeks. Secondly, why they are saying hot water is that in plumbing, the hot and cold pipe could be(not always) are running close together and hot water(which comes heated from the tank) will impart the heat in the same cavity as the cold water(if that pipe is there). That is the thought. It does drain your tank which has to keep reheating more and more water. The difference between the bathroom sink and the tub would be in the plumbing(or that the hot water to the sink has frozen. What to do. Having the cupboard open to room temp is the right thing to do. Check in the basement (how cold… [cont.]
Answered by ButwhatdoIno? - Mon Feb 5 13:54:00 2007

What to do with water heater and water softner when draining water from plumbing?
Q. Hello! I may have a problem with water hammer or pockets of air or whatever in my plumbing system. In order to troubleshoot, I want to drain the water from the pipes for the whole house and then refill it. What should I do with the water in water heater and water softner? Do I drain the water heater and water softner? Just turn power off on my Kenmore water softner? or use bypass valve? Thanks for your time!
Asked by oskeewow13 - Fri Jul 6 12:01:47 2007 - - 3 Answers - 1 Comments

A. turn off the heater. shut the valve to prevent siphoning. by-pass the softener. install water hammer devices sold at your hardware store. you may need a few if four house is big. if you need to you can use compression fittings or tiger gripps.
Answered by Jack the Toad - Fri Jul 6 12:10:19 2007

What could be the source of water hammer?
Q. It seems that plumbing in my house has a problem with water hammer. First, I thought it only occurs when toilet tanks are filling back with water, but I realized that it happens whenever water is used anywhere in home. It just that water hammer is not as bad when I use faucets. So I've been trying to figure out where or source of this water hammer. By listening to where the sound is coming from, and by touching the water pipe with my finger tips, I learned that sound is loudest where the main water pipe comes in through the concrete wall. I guess I can install a water hammer arrestor. But I am trying to understand why water hammer is occuring. Here is my guess. Please let me know what you think. There is a branch near this point where pipe… [cont.]
Asked by oskeewow13 - Thu Jul 5 10:27:04 2007 - - 6 Answers - 0 Comments

A. A Plummer once told me that the water hammer was caused by air in the water lines. To cure this he shut off the water at the main and drained all the line by opening all the faucets. After water quit running he turned the water back on leaving the all the faucets open after about a half hour he started turning the faucets off one at a time. When he was finished there was no more hammering sounds. When I say all the facuets I mean all outside and inside.
Answered by mic1 - Thu Jul 5 14:19:39 2007

Can I water my outdoor plants and flowers with my well water?
Q. We cannot drink the water. It was not recommended anyway by a water purification company. We buy gallons of water to cook with and drink. Apparently the well water has a high sulfur content in it and we cannot consume it. Can I water my outdoor plants with it being it does come from the same ground the plants and flowers grow in?
Asked by NR - Mon Jun 22 14:34:44 2009 - - 7 Answers - 0 Comments

A. You certainly can use that water for irrigation Most "irrigation wells" are simply shallow wells that may not meet drinking standards, but are fine for watering crops (or flowers). If your water is too acidic, it may cause some issues with certain plants that like "sweeter" soil, but unless you have thousands of dollars invested in your landscape and house plants, I would just let it rip and see what happens
Answered by diy Guy - Mon Jun 22 14:52:46 2009

Is drinking water from a water softener at your home healthy?
Q. We have just purchased a home with a salt water softener. The water is all foamy and cloudy when it comes out of the faucet and there is no bypass - ALL the water in the house runs through it. There are 4 of us and 3 pets. Is it healthy/safe to drink softened water or should we get a water cooler for drinking and cooking?
Asked by Valentinebaby - Thu Sep 27 08:58:36 2007 - - 6 Answers - 2 Comments

A. If it has a water purifier than it's fine, however the softener has just that in it, softener. I recommend the PUR system that hooks onto your faucet. They even have the one that has flavored cartridges so you can drink both plain and flavored. It's available at Target for about $50. It's alot cheaper than buying bottled water which runs around $5 for every 24 bottles you buy. Hope this helps!;) P.S. Water has flouride but you can get flouride in ACT mouthwash now. It's more important for you to drink water that's purified than to worry about flouride. I've been in dental for almost 20 yrs and the ACT is wonderful and you only use it once a day, preferrably before bed.
Answered by PicaSSo of Parta PlnN - Thu Sep 27 09:09:04 2007

Why does my water smell like sulfur and how do I eliminate the problem?
Q. OK, first of all here's my raw water quality: 350TDS, 1.4ppm Iron, 20 grains hardness, no sulfur. Now, softened water quality: 375TDS, 0ppm Iron, 0 grains hardness, unknown sulfur quantity. Private well. Inline sediment filter installed. Hot water heater is about 140 degrees and anode rod is removed. Toilet bowls acquire a thin, orangish slime over a period of about 2 weeks. Inside of toilet tanks can sometimes coated with black or dark gray slime. Cold, softened water smells like eggs. Hot water is hard to tell, though may be slightly detectable. No iron stains on fixtures or corrosion. I've shocked chlorinated entire system. Only helped temporarily. Sulfur test done by technician on raw water. I will try for softened water… [cont.]
Asked by digitaldog88 - Tue May 1 14:09:01 2007 - - 2 Answers - 2 Comments

A. You might need a new anode rod in the water heater, but that would only affect the hot water. You will need to install an iron ox. Looks just like a water softener without the extra salt tank on the side of it.
Answered by appliance, HVAC Technician - Tue May 1 14:17:16 2007

Why do we have low water pressure in some faucets after installation of new water heater?
Q. Today we had a new water heater installed. The plumber/installer had to turn the water off temporarily to install the water heater but then he turned it back on. Since the installation (about 9 hrs ago) we've noticed that two of our faucets have extremely low water pressure. The rest of the faucets are fine so what is going on? Should I call back the plumbing & heating place that did the install? Why would this happen?
Asked by rjcbell - Wed Jul 30 20:26:45 2008 - - 6 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Remove aerator on faucet and clean out. What is happening is the junk in the pipes and new tank is getting caught up in the faucet aerator. Just unscrew it flip over tap on counter and reinstall. Flush line before you reinstall.
Answered by David B - Wed Jul 30 20:31:37 2008

How do I fix slow water coming out of the Fridge water dispenser and slow ice production?
Q. I installed a water line to the fridge, and the water coming from the water dispenser is very slow and the ice is being made at a very slow rate also. I have the water line coming up from the basement, as the fridge is on the opposite side of the kitchen from the sink. I suspect the problem is from low water pressure. How do I measure the water pressure, and if I need a pump to increase the water pressure to the fridge, which one do I get, and where do I get one? Any positive help or ideas are greatly appreciated. The water filter in the fridge is brand new (as I just connected the water line) and the water pressure from the faucet is fine.
Asked by Dizazter - Thu May 31 12:30:51 2007 - - 5 Answers - 0 Comments

A. One thing to check is the connection to the plumbing in the wall. Sometimes the connections have shut-off valves that can be opened or closed (sometimes just partially). If the shut off valve is partially closed it can restrict the water's flow to the dispenser for both the liquid water and ice.
Answered by Richard H - Thu May 31 13:17:56 2007

Is the water from the refrigerator water dispenser supposed to be room temperature?
Q. I bought a new fridge about 3 weeks ago. Side-by-side GE and has a water and ice dispensor. The ice is working perfect but the water is room temperature. I couldn't find any information in the manual about whether the water is supposed to be room temp or cold. I would think the water is supposed to be cold but it's not. Is that normal? Is something wrong with the connection? Any ideas?
Asked by tom l - Wed Sep 6 14:19:13 2006 - - 9 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Some refrigerators dispense water at room temperature and some chill it first. My fridge has a coil of plastic tubing inside so the water comes out cold.
Answered by big_mustache - Thu Sep 7 12:06:46 2006

Can I remove the cold water tank from my system and have the hot water cylinder fed direct from the mains?
Q. I have a hot water tank in my house which is fed by a cold water tank situated in the loft (not mains). I want to convert the loft space into a proper room and therefore want to get rid of the cold water tank. Is there a reason why the cold water tank feeds into the hot water cylinder, and if so what is it? Can I not have hot water cylinder fed by mains water?
Asked by the_darren_young - Mon Jan 8 09:42:20 2007 - - 3 Answers - 0 Comments

A. The cold tank is actually there for a purpose. It's a settling tank. It prevents excess sediment buildup in the hot cylinder. Removing it is a bad idea however it's location is optional. You can move it anywhere you want to as long as it's not subject to freezing temperatures. Same thing goes for the hot cylinder as well. Since you're remodeling, I'd suggest moving the whole thing down to the cellar or somewhere else.
Answered by Ricky J. - Mon Jan 8 09:56:53 2007

How much should I water my golden cane palms?
Q. I bought some golden cane palms in May, all about 6ft-7ft tall. They initially appeared to be doing well, but now the fronds at the top are burning off (turning brown) and those lower down are drooping. I am wondering if I am either over-watering or under-watering the plants. I was initially advised by the nursery where I bought them to give them each about 2 litres of water every couple of days, which I've been doing. Now it's been suggested to me that I need to water them more - perhaps as much as 10 litres initially as the root balls may have dried out. Does this sound correct? Or have I been giving them too much? I live in Brisbane, Queensland, where we are currently on Level 5 water restrictions due to drought so I'm trying to… [cont.]
Asked by slasher - Fri Aug 3 21:10:59 2007 - - 1 Answers - 0 Comments

A. From: "Clustered non branching stems with fronds that are subdivided and arching. LIGHT:Medium to high. Does well near an east, west, or south window, filtered light, or location receiving 1000 footcandles or more. WATER: frequent. Water thoroughly, keep soil evenly moist to touch (not saturated). Don't let sit in water. temperature: Medium. 61 - 70 (degrees F) days, 56 - 65 nights. HUMIDITY: Average fertilizer: Every 4 months SOIL MIX:1 part sterilized garden loam, 1 part clean coarse sand or Perlite, and 1/2 to 1 part sphagnum peat moss. propogation: Division. selection guide: Select sturdy, shapely, healthy plant free from insect and disease damage. New leaf growth is desirable. Avoid those with yellow or brown leaf margins, wilted… [cont.]
Answered by Joanne A. W - Fri Aug 3 23:20:48 2007

Where does the water on the top of my KETCHUP and MUSTARD come from?
Q. Where does the water on the top of my KETCHUP and MUSTARD come from? Every time I get the ketchup or mustard out of the fridge, and don't shake it up, the first shot is just a watery colored flow. If you shake it up no problem. Okay, so I have squirted this water out of the bottle, because I usually forget to shake it up, and so I have squirted out water at least 40 times. Where does the new water come from every time? The ketchup and mustard are not dehydrating, I can tell because the consistency is the same. The water separates out, okay, so how much water do you have to squirt out of it to make it stop? I just don't understand.
Asked by Ellis D - Thu Jul 13 22:48:37 2006 - - 12 Answers - 0 Comments

A. It comes from France. 2 gallons should do it.
Answered by nipsey russell is dead - Thu Jul 13 22:53:10 2006

What is causing my water heater to not supply hot water?
Q. I live in an apartment building. Each unit has a very compact water heater but every morning I wake up to shower and the hot water is gone after 1-2 minutes. That means in the middle of winter the I'm stuck showering in freezing cold water. I think this is just ridiculous that the apartment management has not supplied its residents with sufficient water heaters to supply hot water in the winter season. What should I do?
Asked by anonymous - Thu Nov 27 14:13:29 2008 - - 5 Answers - 0 Comments

A. First off, as others have said, it is probably your heating element. Water has all sorts of minerals, and minerals accrete around the heating element making it harder and harder for the element to actually heat the water, resulting in a cooler and cooler water supply in the heater. If you look at the nozzles on your showerhead, you can probably see the mineralization. Something you can do is to see how much actual hot water you really have. Using only the hot tap, start filling your bath tub. Is the water coming out around 145 F? How much hot do you have? Second, if you live in the states, you do have rights. You will need to send a registered letter to your landlord, stating the problem. If after a reasonable amount of time it… [cont.]
Answered by Rabidus-Odonata - Thu Nov 27 14:37:28 2008

Is it possible to create some warmer water from a warm water source by using a vacuum and compressor?
Q. Take a perfect vacuum with 2 compartments. The 2 compartments are separated/connected by a compressor. The 2nd compartment has a pipe running through it with a fluid at temperature t. Now, lets take x amount of (pure) water at temp t (note that it is at same temp as fluid in 2nd compartment). Can one create from the x amount of water, (x-z) of water at temp (t+y) in the 2nd compartment, by passing the former x amount of water through the 1st compartment? As the water pass through the 1st compartment, some of the water should evaporate in the 1st compartment, resulting in some pressure in the 1st compartment. If the compressor is used to pump some of the vapour from the 1st compartment into the 2nd compartment to a pressure higher than that… [cont.]
Asked by brian b - Sat Sep 8 08:41:05 2007 - - 2 Answers - 0 Comments

A. No. In a closed system the energy remains the same. Running any sort of equipment powered from the outside will increase the overall energy level by the amount of power fed in.
Answered by centretek666 - Sat Sep 8 08:50:25 2007

Water your lawn in the middle of the day?
Q. I am trying to find information about watering your lawn. I have found information about watering your lawn at night and such. But cannot find anything about how much water your need to water your lawn in the middle of the day and how much water is wasted. The project that I am working on is trying to BAN watering your lawn in the middle of the day because it wastes water. If you have any information about watering your lawn or any interesting facts please let me know. This is for a Student Congress Resolution for school. I dont try to save the rain forest on my days off
Asked by Katie - Mon Feb 12 12:42:19 2007 - - 7 Answers - 1 Comments

A. Alright, enough of the old wives tale about how the lawn scorches or burns if you water it during the middle of the day...LOL. Not true. In my whole life, I have never once seen this happen. By the time the bead of water that sits on a blade of grass has a chance to "burn" as stated, it will evaporate from the sunny conditions. Not a chance of scorching possible. As far as watering your turf at nite, this is the worst time to do so. Why? Because it will cause diseases to infect the turf. Most diseases in turf are caused by two or three factors, two of which are moisture and cold weather. Humidity plays a role also. When nite time rolls around you want your "thatch" zone, (area just above ground level on blade of grass) to be dry. By… [cont.]
Answered by $Billy Ray$ Valentine - Mon Feb 12 15:17:38 2007

Is filtered brita water bad for fish? What are some colorful fresh water fish?
Q. I am deciding whether to start a fresh water fish tank or a salt water fish tank. I have heard arguments on both sides on which tank is easier to keep. I know that salt water fish are a lot prettier than fresh water fish. Is there any nice fresh water fish that are colorful like salt water fish? I have a 40 gallon tank. Any suggestions? On another topic I had a beta fish that died after about 2 days of switching his water. I used half Brita filtered water and half bottled water. A couple days after he died I got 2 gold fish and they died very soon also. I cleaned and changed the water with the new gold fish but used the same combo of water. Is Brita water bad for fish?
Asked by Eric F - Sat Mar 10 15:24:49 2007 - - 10 Answers - 1 Comments

A. Brita water is ok for fish, no problem there. It is equal to water that has been run through a filter that contains carbon ( interesting that the Brita does the same as your tank filter yet people say it's bad) Brita filters do not remove the vast majority of minerals from the water. It will remove suspended materials but not dissolved materials and would not affect the hardness for example. So your Brita didn't do it. As for colorful freshwater fish I would suggest you check out African cichlids and killifish. They might surprise you. MM
Answered by magicman116 - Sat Mar 10 17:20:50 2007

How do I get water faucets to run after toilet water was shut off for several hours?
Q. Our toilets upstairs overflowed. The water was shut off for about 3.5 hours. The water throughout the house now is extremely low. I have turned the water back on the toilet upstairs and succesfully flushed it several times. How do I get the water to run as it did before the water on the toilet was shut down?
Asked by HAH - Tue Jun 3 23:46:39 2008 - - 1 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Had that problem before ,you might have the same.Alot of silk will form in the pipes and will let lose if the preasure is off of the pipes for any time.On your faucets there is a screw cap(were the water comes out) turn that off you might have to use a bit of force if they have never been screwed off before.Once off inside the cap you will find a water saver and a screen most likely the water saver is stopped up.If so you will be able to run the water at that point tap it lightly and rinse it off that should fix you right up.The water saver is a pain when clogged and it does slow the water alot.If it will not clean out discard it and just put the screen back in that keeps the water from spraying wild in the sink .
Answered by capt_terry - Tue Jun 3 23:57:05 2008

How do you drip water from a plastic bottle a drop at a time?
Q. I intend to go overseas for about 2 weeks. How will my indoor plants survive while I'm away. I am using plastic bottles filled with water to drip slowly. The problem is the water does not flow at all with one hole punctured. With another hole punctured at the top of the container the water just seeped off too fast. Anyone has a suggestion on how to make the water drip slowly like a drop at a time albeit the water is minimal for the plants?
Asked by alfootc - Wed Apr 2 23:35:12 2008 - - 7 Answers - 1 Comments

A. This is my vacation method... fill gallon (cleaned) milk jugs insert 100% cotton string with some coiled in the bottom of the jug (or bunched up) leave at least a 12" to 18" length hang outside the jug Put the plants in the bathtub set the jugs on the side or a short table (gravity flow)stick the end of the string under the soil. Make sure the string is saturated before you leave and the plants have been watered prior to this. I saw this on PBS and have used this method every time I leave for any period of time . The water is soaked into the cotton string and the gravity makes it go to the plant.
Answered by LucySD - Thu Apr 3 01:18:28 2008

How can I keep water off the floor under dogs automatic water dish?
Q. I have 3 labs. When they drink, water goes everywhere. I've tried towels, plastic and big lid from a storage container. I'm afraid all this water is ruining my floor! It's not the water dish itself leaking, but the slopping of water from their jawls that seems to run under and around the base of the dish
Asked by Angel - Mon May 5 22:44:51 2008 - - 2 Answers - 0 Comments

A. You might also try to find a restaurant cafeteria type tray to put under it. Line the tray with newspaper so it absorbs the water before it splashes in the floor. Another option would be to build a tray like box with very low sides lined with stick on tile. If it was 2 1/2 to 3' square it would protect the floor and the splashed water wouldn't hurt the tile.
Answered by marci knows best - Mon May 5 23:47:20 2008

How many water droplets are there on earth?
Q. I need to know for science class, roughly how many water droplets there are on earth. From there i must calculate the molar mass. And yes the unit must be 'water droplet's'. So also if I could learn the number of molecules of water, in a drop of water, that'd be great.
Asked by goerge p - Wed Oct 14 21:48:03 2009 - - 1 Answers - 0 Comments

A. There are about 50 droplets in a typical shower/bathtub, and on average there are around 3 tubs in a typical house. With 120,000,000 or so tubs in the united states, this makes 71 x 10^67 droplets of water in all of Canada, US and Mexico. If you multiply that by 14, you can easily calculate the amount of tub runoff in the whole world. Add on the water in thee ocean (266 x 10^944 droplets) and you've got your total. Of course, give or take a couple billion. Hope this helps!!! <3
Answered by Gavin F - Wed Oct 14 22:00:14 2009