I recently had a plumbing emergency in my own home. The main drain pipe under the basement floor got clogged with toilet paper. The culprit is a newer low-flush toilet in a basement bathroom. I’ve ...

Q: My washing machine is in the basement in a room directly beneath the kitchen. When water drains from the washer, it’s going into a hole in the basement floor. The sump pump kicks on, but the water ...

Lee Wallender is a home improvement writer of nearly 20 years and specializes in home remodeling, repair and maintenance. When your home’s sewer line is clogged or slow-moving, an effective way to ...

If you poke a drinking straw into your soft drink and place a finger over the opening, you can lift the straw out and the liquid in the straw will stay. Remove your finger and the liquid runs out.

While bubbling or gurgling is a relatively common toilet problem, it’s not an issue you want to ignore. When a toilet bubbles, it indicates that negative air pressure (suction) is building up in the ...

Q. I live in a home about 15 years old. This home has two baths, with a septic system. Over the past few years I noticed a "septic tank" odor when I flush the stool in the main bath. I have had the ...

Taking a shower should be a spa-like and relaxing experience. But when you jump in only to have your nose assaulted by an awful stench, any chance of relaxation goes right down the, well, drain. And ...