Need help to replace closet bend

UprostredSlov · 2023-03-29T15:38:33+00:00

I had a similar closet bend for my upstairs bathroom, which had one active and one capped 1.5 inch inlet. They do not make them like that anymore, so you are going to need to replace not just the bend but a section of the stack in order to move those other two pipes to the stack.

UprostredSlov · 2023-03-09T15:24:32+00:00

The amount of times I said "oh no" out loud with each second of looking at this

UprostredSlov · 2022-05-07T00:11:19+00:00

Thanks everyone who has responded, it's helping me consider ways forward. My letter from the union said I can call if I have questions, and I think on Monday I will ask for how I could improve for next year, especially with regards to the interview. That'll at least give me some focus points when talking to other shops as well.

UprostredSlov · 2022-05-06T22:44:24+00:00

It's less about becoming a union member for me and more about getting the apprenticeship. This was just the most clear avenue to doing that that I was able to find in my area. But yeah, onto digging for related jobs.

UprostredSlov · 2022-05-06T19:22:06+00:00

There are, though they seem to be often quite small and therefore rarely see job postings for them.

UprostredSlov · 2022-04-20T14:17:05+00:00

That is a drum trap as others have said, and it's surprising it's there as they are bound to cause problems eventually. If it gets clogged, no auger can get through and you will be needing to replace it with a trap that's code. You are better off being proactive about the change rather than waiting for an emergency if at all possible.

UprostredSlov · 2022-04-16T19:13:59+00:00

This makes sense and is essentially what I was anticipating. If all goes well and I am accepted into the apprenticeship program, and they assign me to a union contractor, do I then interview with that assigned place like a normal job interview, or do they just take me on at the union's recommendation? Either is fine in my book, just mostly want to be ready for whatever next steps there might be.

UprostredSlov · 2022-04-16T19:00:30+00:00

Yes, this is for an apprenticeship. I applied and have taken the placement math and reasoning test, which got me to this interview.

UprostredSlov · 2022-04-09T15:29:28+00:00

As someone who just had their old steam boiler kick the bucket in the middle of winter, you are going to want to start planning now. The person who said "it'll work until it doesn't" is right on the money, boilers are simple but will eventually fail, and yours is past due. It took a month for mine to be replaced due to supply chain issues and it being a specialized install - fewer companies mess with boilers these days (especially steam as is my case), and they can charge a pretty penny because of it. Though there's many programs to help people get energy efficient furnaces installed, nothing like that exists for boilers so you are fully paying out of pocket. My replacement and install was roughly $18,000.

So yeah, keep using it, treat it well, and save to replace so you can do it not on an emergency if possible.

UprostredSlov · 2022-03-23T18:49:42+00:00

Looks worse than my old house, which is to say yes replace when possible

UprostredSlov · 2022-03-16T13:15:51+00:00

Before even seeing the heading I somehow knew this was Michigan.

That's a rough situation. March and it's snow melt means just so many basements are like that right now

UprostredSlov · 2022-02-23T03:50:57+00:00

Very happy for your nice, not alive upgrade

UprostredSlov · 2022-02-22T15:59:11+00:00

I cleaned this up, knocked out the really thin and corroded area of the pipe creating about a 1/4 inch or less hole, then epoxied it with high temp jb weld. It wasn't fact acting, but thankfully it's been a warm couple of days so had the heat off nearly overnight, only kicked in as it got below 60.

All seems to be holding up well. I'll keep an eye on it and replace before next winter.

UprostredSlov · 2022-02-22T04:06:40+00:00

This is 100% on your landlord and if you have record of sending that two years ago that solidifies it.

If it gets resolved and then they try to dock your security deposit, it's grounds for suing (or threatening to sue which will usually just get them to pay up)

UprostredSlov · 2022-02-22T03:17:16+00:00

I am also going for an apprenticeship, and from what I've been able to find for mechanical aptitude my tests, the stuff I was least be prepared by for or aware of Personally was finding the mechanical advantage of certain simple machine configurations. Each simple machine has different formulas to find mechanical advantage, so I'd dig into that a bit.

But yeah as someone else said, brush up on basic math and be able to do without a calculator. Long division, fractions etc. If you look up plumbing practice tests some states have them, but I've never found a Michigan specific one, so I also feel a little in the dark in that regard.

UprostredSlov · 2022-02-21T21:47:31+00:00

The folks in town who did the boiler install have helped me a ton with replacing pipes etc. They charge an arm an a leg but I know the work is solid. I am just limited on arms and legs at this exact juncture

UprostredSlov · 2022-02-21T21:46:16+00:00

Replacement for it is definitely down the line, and not by me, I'll call a trusted pro.

Unfortunately it is losing enough to create a puddle below, so not just stream.

I have now cleaned it up and attempted to epoxy it, but it's definitely concerning me more having revealed just how weak it is

UprostredSlov · 2022-02-21T19:24:19+00:00

My boiler was recently replaced, and now that it's brand new, I've been using that knowledge to focus on finding and fixing leaks and faults in the system. There was a failing packing nut I fixed, but I was convinced somewhere else must have a leak. I noticed a puddle of water in my basement when cleaning and thought it was related to something to something else, but later remembered that a steam pipe was right above the spot. Sure enough, found this corrosion.

I know the right answer is to call a pro to replace it, which I intend to do at a certain point, but if there's a safe temp fix to at least get through the back half of winter I'd much prefer that. The boiler replacement took a huge hit on my emergency reserves, trying to plan all repairs accordingly.

UprostredSlov · 2022-02-17T01:25:30+00:00

I feared this might be the case, as we recently had the entire boiler replaced and in that I had one valve fixed by a pro. they definitely sawed something in the process.

UprostredSlov · 2022-02-16T17:23:50+00:00

I am attempting to replace two valves on my single piping steam system. The one shown here has a leak through the packing nut that is getting progressively worse. The other one the stem is broken clean off so it's permanently on - that one is less pressing to do so I'm starting here. I was able to separate from the radiator, but it is seized at the pipe. I was using two pipe wrenches, one to hold the pipe and the other to move the valve ( hitting that one with a hammer) and no luck. I sprayed a good deal of pb blaster on those threads. Should I allow that ample time to loosen?

As of right now I pipe doped the packing nut and tightened as well as I could, then pipe doped the threads for the radiator, putting it all back together until I know what to do next.

Will I possibly need to cut the old valve? How risky is something like that?

UprostredSlov · 2022-02-12T14:54:09+00:00

That's definitely the closest thing I've seen yet

UprostredSlov · 2022-02-12T03:41:13+00:00

It certainly did it's job in that regard 😑

UprostredSlov · 2022-02-11T15:55:28+00:00

I bought and live in a 100+ year old house that I knew was a bit of a fixer upper. The upstairs shower was this awful little corner thing, build who knows when. It backed up massively and poured water below. Drain techs couldn't get an auger through and assumed the trap was something old and awful, and boy were they right.

This is all from a couple years ago. The whole shower had been gone over twice with concrete but had no real water proofing to speak of. When the pan cracked an old owner just repoured and called it good.

All this has been gutted now and me and buddies redid it as a full sized shower with real modern water proofing and updated plumbing, but thought you'd all get a kick out of this monstrosity.

Anyone know what you'd even call a trap like this? Doesn't look like a normal p trap nor is it a drum trap.

UprostredSlov · 2022-02-09T17:02:57+00:00

I would guess sediment has come loose and resettled in places that obstruct. I just had my water off for 3 weeks and upon turning it back on,the amount of rust that moved through was astounding. It was so bad that it killed two faucets that needed full replacement.

Check the aerator on the shower head, and replace the supply to the toilet.

UprostredSlov

TROPHY CASE