DIY Garbage Disposers

Some sinks aren't piped correctly for a garbage disposer because the house plumbing predates them, the original builder didn't want one or the piping was installed incorrectly.

This doesn't stop a lot of people from installing one, though, and from water's p.o.v., it's like installing a tire that is a different size than the others.

This disposer is a perfect example. The installer reversed the p-trap and a few other things that are beyond me:

I took the garbage disposer out, installed a new strainer, trap, and reconnected the dishwasher:

DIY Garage Apartment in Bellingham, WA

Sometimes, people really amaze me. Without getting into the who, where, or why of this job, the customer hired not-a-plumber to bootleg a kitchen and washing machine into a garage. Money and time was spent before it all went bad due to old, open permits on the legal unfinished bathroom in the garage.

My camera committed suicide while taking these photos, so the camera phone will have to do.

This photo has two different plastics glued together using primer and ABS glue, the washing machine hose tied into the sewer (they used long w.m. hoses behind walls and through studs, no p-trap):

This is some of what I cut out. If a plumber ever had a bad acid trip, this is what he would see:

The people who framed the legal bathroom got into the act and put a nail through the pipe app 6" below finished floor:

DIY Hotel in Sedro Woolley

This job was in a hotel in Sedro Woolley. A boiler that size could literally explode like a small bomb.

The handyman tried to fix the boiler's recirc piping with compression fittings and pvc fittings. While we were staring at it, the handle on his plastic ball valve melted and shot across the room. I was able to shut off the water, thankfully, and repair it in short order.

This picture is the broken valve.

I didn't take a picture of my repair, but it cost them under $200.00 including parts, labor and tax.

DIY Kitchen Sink Drain

I usually don't take pictures of the masterpieces I'm called out to fix, but this work of art needs attention.