Hot Plumbing & Electric How-Tos

How To: Repair a ceramic disc tap

There is nothing more irritating than a dripping tap; it wastes water, makes those nasty marks on your sink, and that constant drip dripping noise can drive you mad. Luckily it's an easy job to fix. If you have one of these modern, easy-to-turn-on taps, it's likely the ceramic-disc inside will need replacing. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to repair a ceramic disc tap yourself.

How To: Repair a leaking pipe

Leaking pipes are a depressing fact of life. They can be an "emergency, water-spraying-on-the-floor" situation, or a slowly dripping, damp spreading nuisance. In either case, you need to deal with the leak immediately to stop further damage being done to your home. Watch this video tutorial for tips on how to deal with leaks in your home. Repair a leaking pipe.

How To: Unblock a sink

A sink full of slow draining water, or even worse, no drainage at all, is a sure sign of blocked pipes. Blockages are due to all those scraps of food and crumbs that get down the plug hole everyday. Yuck. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to unblock a sink. You will need a good sink plunger, an adjustable wrench, a bucket, a strong wire, gloves and some disinfectant to finish up. Unblock a sink.

How To: Bleed a radiator & get the air out

Trapped air prevents radiators heating up fully, so if your radiators feel cooler at the top than at the bottom, it's likely that a bit of air has got stuck in them. Luckily - getting the air out of the radiator - "bleeding" it - is as simple as it gets. Watch this video tutorial to learn how to bleed a radiator.

How To: Wiring a light fixture

Tim Carter demonstrates how to wire a light fixture or ceiling light. This is a great video to learn how to wire up a light quickly and safely. As a precaution, don’t touch any bare copper wire except for the ground wire. Most new light fixtures come with insulation to keep the heat from the bulb from cooking the wires. Be sure to install this insulation. Mount the fixture to the mounting bracket. Add the decorative shade and you are ready to go. Turn the power back on and your light fixture ...

How To: Seal black iron pipe joints

Teflon tape or pipe dope can be used to create a seal on black iron pipe. Tim Carter of AsktheBuilder.com demonstrates how to do the job right and shares some helpful tips. This black iron pipe is used to transport natural gas to your furnace, water heater and stove. This pipe has threaded fittings at the connection point which need to be sealed with pipe dope or Teflon tape. Teflon tape should be wrapped onto the male end of the pipe in a clockwise direction. Pipe dope has the consistency of...

How To: Wire up a light fixture

Wiring up a light fixture saves time, prevents head injuries, and provides extra light while working. Tim Carter shows you how to wire up a light fixture to protect your light and yourself. In just a few simple steps you'll have no problems working around your light fixtures during a job.

How To: Install a sprinkler system properly

Tim Carter of AsktheBuilder discusses all new fire sprinkler design and how to install them. Automatic fire sprinklers can be installed in a new home or your existing home. Smoke detectors are good, but fire sprinklers along with the smoke detectors are better. These sprinklers can protect you and your family from fires, which can be extremely destructive. A great video with tips to make your home safer.