Q. When I bought this house a few years ago there was small crack in the concrete slab- the home inspector and contractors couldn't tell if it was a shrinkage crack or result of settling(very common in the area I live in). The previous owners ended up putting some underpinning piles under one corner of the house. I think when that corner was lifted the drains connecting to the shower and tub (the bathroom is at the same corner) were misaligned, because we started having problems with the flooring coming up and carpet stains. Now I have to redo a lot of the plumbing and the doors won't shut properly. I read the foundation repair contract and it says they are not responsible for plumbing issues that arise after underpinnings are placed. Should everyone who had underpinnings put in have an inspector come in and look at all the plumbing again to make sure there are no new leaks because of the movement?? Is this normal? Is this common?

A. Wow, that is not good. I worked as a service plumber doing insurance claims where houses moved and there should always be a drain test, called a hydrostat test, done before and after the foundation repair. I would go to the previous homeowners to see if they had a hydrostat done after the foundation was lifted. if they had a test and have the paperwork that could save you lots of grief. Otherwise it may take an attorney and there are no guarantees because their warranty does plainly state that about the plumbing. Some companies do that as part of their standard procedures, some do not. Hopefully the previous had that test done, I know many insurance require a hydrostat test after a foundation repair as part of the claim. Start there and then maybe an attorney but there may not be alot of recourse. Best of luck.

Q. Worst cae scenario - how much to it cost to either replace or repair the plumbing in a 4100 SF house. I am considering buying a house which was left vacant in a Minnesota winter. At a minamum there are leaks at the coupling above the main shut off valve, the pressure reducer above the water heater, a waster pipe from an upper floor toilet, the kitchen refrigerator, a burst water softener filter cartridge and irrigation system piping from the house (above ground). The house was not completely pressurized to test other plumbing issues for fear of causing further leak related damage.

A. 600 could be for the labor if they charge $60 an hour I charge $90 in oregon But he left out the costs of the materials The pressure reducing valve is around 125.00 the filter housing is dependant of what it is How bad is the irrigation damaged? It all adds up My guess at my rates 1500.00

Q. I have a broken water heater than needs repair and one of my drains is clogged.

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Q. Bathroom sink pipe sprung a major leak, 15 minutes worth of tap water soaked hardwood flooring, plaster walls and ceilings and ran into some duct work...also we are concerned about the electrical wiring behind ceiling and walls, what are some good characteristics to look for in hiring a contractor who specializes in this type of work? Also, is it typical for the homeowner's insurance to cover the plumbing work? So far, the adjuster says only work to repair damage is covered but not the plumbing that caused the problem...sound right?

A. Your adjuster is correct. Your insurance policy owes for access to get to the plumbing leak and to repair it but NOT for the part itself. Start by making sure your house is dried out properly by a certified water damage restoration company (i.e. ServiceMaster). They will find out where the water damage starts and ends, take moisture reading of your flooring and walls & may place fans/dehumidifiers to dry out your home. After the place is dried out, then address rebuild. If you need paint, drywall, flooring or baseboards...ask your adjuster if they have a "preferred" general contractor that is on the company's preferred program. Go with one of them if they do. Good luck.

Q. My hot water tank is dead.

A. Aye, I hate when this happens: Your water heater goes out all of a sudden, providing not hot water without advance notice; it should be able to tell us in advance of its failure so that it can make it easier for us to schedule a repair that timely coincides with its actual failure. But enough of wishful thinking. Well, you need to have a local plumbing contractor give you the local rate for this project, as the contractor would only be able to more accurately assess the situation. Fortunately, there are plenty of local plumbing contractors seeking to give free estimates with no obligation. It's important that you get a local estimate and not rely on guesses found here on Yah because the cost of material (what is needed to fix the plumbing problem) and labor greatly varies by location. As I said, free estimates from local plumbing contractors are the key to your success in this home improvement repair project of yours. Here's a great link to a handyman site that offers free very resourceful information to assist you in determining the cost of your project, and, ultimately, selecting a local plumbing contractor in an effort to get the best deal for you: INFO ON LOCAL PLUMBING CONTRACTORS: http://yourhandymanzone.com/Your_Handyman_Zone_Free_Estimates_Plumbing.htm I'm sure you'll find the information you need, specifically the tips, useful as it relates to being treated fairly by contractors and exploring the consumer-wise approach of getting free written estimates to find the best contractor in your area. . Source(s): The Internet. Just whatever is available online and what I have on my mind, including the inclusion of relevant sites, like the one cited that came about from my efforts, which is intended to be useful. Helping people get the relevant info they want is great.

Q. Repair leaking anti siphon hose bibb

A. You don’t mention what type it is but I am assuming it is integrated into the hose bib. You can take it apart to see if there is any debris in it, but you may need to purchase a rebuild kit………. the diaphragm and “O” rings do go bad. You may try flipping the diaphragm over sometimes that works

Q. I can't find any type of mobile home repair companies around. I recently bought a rather large mobile home, that needs A LOT of work. It has the potential to be a beautiful home, but it needs some rewiring, some floor repairs, a bit of dry wall, some new carpet, painting, a good cleaning, some new cabinets, a bit of plumbing. I'd like to find someone who can do it all for a set price, can a contractor do this, or who would I contact? I'm hoping to put less than $10,000 into the home. Some of it I can do myself like paint, carpet, drywall, but the wiring, plumbing, and flooring needs an expert.

A. Any competent tradesman should be able to do that stuff. Unless your mobile is very old. most of it will be very much the same as the same stuff in any house and if it isn't then someone with a little experience ought to be able to figure it out. Just make sure you get someone licenced and properly qualified for the plumbing and electrical. Ask around for a good contractor, or simply an experienced carpenter who can assess what order you should be doing things in. What he can't do, you get the electrician and plumber in for. If you can't afford it all at once, electrical is where I'd put my money first because it's a safety issue. Plumbing next, then probably the floor if it's structural. If it's just replacing floor coverings, do that last.

Q. It looks as though the screw broke the flange. But I am not sure. I would like to know what caused the break so that I may correct it. Also, the caulking around the base of the bowl was not level--one side has a thick layer of caulking while the other side is very thin and shallow. Please help!

A. Must have been plastic. You should be able to get a repair for the collar at your plumbing supply house. The wax is un-level either because it was improperly installed or the closet flange sits higher on 1 side than the other. **JD