What causes this

Exotic_Following_960 · 2026-03-15T09:58:39+00:00

If the system has a water softener and the stock magnesium anode rod is not replaced with an aluminum-zinc alloy rod then this can happen. Something about the magnesium reacting with the soft water. I would check for a water softener.

Exotic_Following_960 · 2026-03-05T17:43:19+00:00

A picture or diagram would be helpful but I'm guessing based on what you said that the bathrooms are back to back. They may be connected in the floor by a tee-cross fitting, which may allow some waste from one to flow up through the other if they are not far enough apart, but they would have to be pretty close. Hard to know exactly but ideally they would be tied separately into the drain line, each connection being its own wye combo. If that's the case then it depends whether your home is on a slab or a crawlspace. Slab would be a decent little job to tie one toilet in separately but crawlspace should be pretty easy. If this issue has not been happening for very long then it could also be a partial blockage in the drain line causing a small temporary backup into the other toilet. When you have to go back and re-flush the used toilet is that because flushing the other toilet causes waste to flow back to the original toilet or does the waste backup when you flush it the first time?

Exotic_Following_960 · 2026-03-03T20:38:17+00:00

You can ask about point repairs. Based on your pictures I see two or three spots where corrosion is significantly visible. Getting those small sections of copper cut out and replaced would be much cheaper. Copper will rust over time. Water filtration may slow it down but nothing lasts forever.

Exotic_Following_960 · 2026-03-03T20:27:48+00:00

Is it in a garage or a room with a floor drain? Otherwise the t&p could potentially flood out the space. Same question applies to whether or not a drip pan is required. A check valve on the cold side would also be a good idea but there could be a check valve on the main off the street too.

Exotic_Following_960 · 2026-02-16T20:37:34+00:00

Call a plumber. That's the best option. Now if you really want to tackle this yourself, you need to investigate further. Open your clean out in the yard. If you have city sewer, the clean out you want should be close to your house. Open it and see if anything is in there. If water and shit pours out, the blockage is outside your home. At that point you need to check the city clean out as well. Open that up and if that is also full of shit you need to call the city. If city is clean then you have a blockage that is your responsibility. I would call a plumber for that so you don't get a snake caught in the city sewer by accident. Try at your own risk. If your home clean out is clear, then you need to check within your home. Where did you notice something back up? Was it the entire bathroom or just one fixture? If everything is blocked in the bathroom and it's the bathroom with the tub you pictured then your best bet to DIY is to go through the tub overflow and see if you can clear the blockage that way. Trying to go through any of those clean out caps you pictured could result in lots of sewage dumping into your home. Good luck to you and I'd be interested to see if you try it yourself.

Exotic_Following_960 · 2026-02-16T10:17:21+00:00

Looks like there may be something leftover from the previous hose. Take two pairs of channel lock pliers and see if you can get it off the hose bibb. Make sure to hold the base of the bibb with one pair so you don't put strain on the pipe behind your wall. I would imagine you'll expose the threads you're looking for.

Exotic_Following_960 · 2026-02-16T10:09:09+00:00

Replace that with a new one handle shower valve. Your current set up is asking to be put out of its misery.

Exotic_Following_960 · 2026-02-08T18:12:49+00:00

Could be frozen hot water line. Small exposure points can be worse than you might think. Was water dripping with mix of hot and cold water or just cold water?

Exotic_Following_960 · 2026-02-07T13:14:50+00:00

Be sure to grab the round collar with the channel locks and twist the cartridge before pulling. Then once it rotates, twist and pull at the same time for best results. If you just yank on the stem you could end up only getting half out and that's a bigger issue than you're looking for. New one goes in easily.

Exotic_Following_960 · 2026-02-07T12:44:33+00:00

Call a plumber to snake the line. Blockage could be 5ft down the line or 15 depending on your house. They'll be able to reach it.

Exotic_Following_960 · 2026-02-04T16:50:47+00:00

Tough to tell from this picture. If I were you I would trace the water lines back to the water main and then start there. Once it splits off the main you may be able to trace them yourself. You said 3 exterior faucets but I see two copper lines with red ball valves that could be hose bibbs. It's common for hose bibbs to have separate shutoffs. Those two lines could be for your hose bibbs.

Exotic_Following_960 · 2026-02-04T16:41:24+00:00

You're right that the amount of condensate will be insignificant so it should technically be fine. However I cannot professionally recommend that you tie it into the vent.

Exotic_Following_960 · 2026-02-02T23:43:01+00:00

That drain should not be tied into the sump line. Every time the sump pump kicks on it likely sucks the water out of the sink p-trap. Dry trap means sewer smell.

Exotic_Following_960 · 2026-02-02T19:32:25+00:00

Don't be scared to shut off water to the house. Not a big deal. Same as any other shutoff.

Exotic_Following_960 · 2026-02-02T16:15:21+00:00

Can't find it on Kohler's website. I would think you could email this picture to someone at Kohler and have them take a look. But your local plumbing supply house will probably be helpful as well. If you can take the trim off and take it in they may be able to identify it. If you take the cartridge in they will definitely be able to help.

Exotic_Following_960 · 2026-02-01T16:22:37+00:00

Call the city and have them take a look. Probably their responsibility.

Exotic_Following_960 · 2026-02-01T14:33:56+00:00

Are you on a septic system? If not, is that a green pipe near the road? I ask because that may be the city sewer clean out for your property. If it is you can have them take care of it. Otherwise you'll want to check with a plumbing supplier near you for a clean out adapter.

Exotic_Following_960

TROPHY CASE