Plumbing explained in plain language.
Start with the problem you are seeing. RoughPlumb connects the question to the parts, assemblies and measurements that help explain what is happening.
VISUAL PLUMBING LIBRARY
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POPULAR PROBLEMS
Start with what is happening.
These cornerstone Guides are designed to help you narrow down the problem before you start replacing parts.
PLUMBING GUIDEWhy Does My Toilet Keep Running?A toilet that will not stop running usually has water escaping through the tank or a fill valve that is not shutting off at the correct level. First determine whether the water runs continuously or the toilet becomes quiet and then refills by itself later.Read guide PLUMBING GUIDEWhy Does My Bathroom Smell Like Sewer?A sewer-type smell usually means sewer gas is reaching the room through a lost trap seal, an unused drain, a toilet or drain connection, or another opening in the drainage system. A vent problem is possible, but it should not automatically be assumed.Read guide PLUMBING GUIDEWhy Is My Washer Drain Backing Up?A washer sends a large volume of water into its standpipe quickly. Overflow can result from a restricted branch drain, a standpipe/trap arrangement that cannot handle the discharge properly, or a larger drainage problem.Read guide PLUMBING GUIDEWhy Is My Bathtub Leaking Into the Ceiling?A leak below a bathtub can come from the pressurized supply/valve, the overflow, the drain shoe, the trap/drain piping, or water escaping around the tub or shower enclosure. The fastest path is to isolate when the leak occurs.Read guide PLUMBING GUIDEWhy Is My Water Pressure Low?First determine whether the problem affects one fixture, several fixtures, or the entire house. That single distinction greatly narrows the likely cause.Read guide PLUMBING GUIDEHow Do I Measure a Toilet Rough-In?Measure from the finished wall behind the toilet—not the baseboard—to the centreline of the toilet flange. On an installed toilet, the hold-down bolt centres commonly indicate that flange centreline.Read guide PLUMBING GUIDEWhat Should I Check Before Replacing a Bathroom Vanity?Before buying a vanity, compare the new sink and drawer layout with the existing wall drain and water supplies. A vanity can fit the room perfectly and still conflict with the plumbing inside the cabinet.Read guide
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ToiletsBrowse related visual guidesSinks & FaucetsBrowse related visual guidesDrains & SewersBrowse related visual guidesBathtubs & ShowersBrowse related visual guidesWater SupplyBrowse related visual guidesWater PressureBrowse related visual guidesWater HeatersBrowse related visual guidesLaundryBrowse related visual guidesRenovation PlanningBrowse related visual guidesHomeowner BasicsBrowse related visual guides
1Describe the problemStart with what you see, hear or smell.
2Understand the plumbingSee which parts and assemblies are involved.
3Check the right thingsNarrow the problem before replacing parts.
4Know the next stepUnderstand when the issue is maintenance, repair or professional work.