Tureks Plumbing Services Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Tureks Plumbing Services’

Causes of Foul-Smelling Septic Tank and Slow Drain

Wednesday, September 12th, 2018

Causes of foul-smelling septic tank and slow drain

Foul-Smelling Septic Tank and Slow Drain: 4 Possible Causes

A foul-smelling septic tank and slow drain are among some of the serious plumbing problems that must be addressed immediately. Otherwise, these can lead to costly home repairs.

To better understand how these problems happen, Turek’s Plumbing shares four potential causes and some ways to prevent them.

Overuse

Just like any home appliance or furnishings, overusing your draining system can lead to problems. If, for instance, you and your family are using more water and giving out more waste than what your septic tank can accommodate, slow draining will happen in an instant.

Water usage is usually the main culprit because, with too much water, the septic tank will drain too long. Also, the sediments that have settled at the bottom of the tank will be disturbed. As a result, it will flow into the leach field, which will then clog up the system. When this happens, there will be sewage backup, and wastewater can leak into your home and in your yard.

Thus, if it has been 2-3 years since your septic tank has been pumped-out, contact an Appleton plumber now. A professional septic tank pumping and cleaning service will prevent the occurrence of serious septic tank problems. Investing in this service periodically will prevent blockages in the sewer drain, eliminate foul smells, and prevent the leakage of sewage.

Mechanical Issues

Slow drains can also be a result of mechanical issues. Your toilet or sink may have become ill-fitted over time. This must be checked by a Fox Valley plumbing company to make sure that your fixtures and drainage will once again function efficiently and properly.

Tree Roots

The roots of your trees are too resilient. They can easily drill right through anything that is on their way. So make sure that your drainage system and septic tank are installed in an area where tree roots can’t reach.

Long Plumbing Maintenance Intervals

Plumbing maintenance must be done on a regular basis. But if you have a busy daily schedule, there is a higher possibility that you’ll forget to call professionals to inspect and clean your septic system. You may only be reminded when it’s already too late.

So to prevent this from happening, you need to create a schedule or perhaps assign a family member to remind you of the cleaning and pumping schedule. If not, you can use today’s technology – for instance, create a reminder on your smartphone.

Adhering to a regular maintenance schedule for your septic system must be taken seriously. After all, this is the only way for you to enjoy a quick-draining home.

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Warning Signs of a Damaged Sewer Pipe

Monday, August 27th, 2018

Warning Signs of a Damaged Sewer Pipe

A damaged pipe can be a big hassle and a huge drain on your monthly budget.

And unknown to many homeowners, this issue often takes years to arise. More often than not, the warning signs of a damaged sewer pipe are there, hiding in plain sight, ignored, or attributed to another problem.

Homes that are 25 years old or older are particularly vulnerable to damaged sewer pipes. This is because these often use cast iron pipes.

What are the warning signs of damaged sewer pipe homeowners should be on the lookout for?

Slow drainage

Slow drainage is a fairly common plumbing problem which can be resolved fairly quickly. However, if the problem is not resolved after several attempts, it may be a sign of an impending sewer pipe damage.

Here, slow drainage is an indicator of the formation of the blockage.

Foul odor

A sewer pipe that is in good working condition should be able to contain the scent of sewer gas.

If you notice that distinct odor in your home, it may be a sign that the sewer pipe has been cracked.

Backups and blockages

When the backup or blockage occurs in more than one drain, it is highly likely that your sewer pipes are deteriorating.

Therefore, these types of backups and blockages do not respond positively to pipe cleanings.

Molds

Molds build up when the humidity level inside a home increases. And one of the possible causes for the increase of humidity inside a home is a cracked sewer pipe. Our friends at Gilmore Heating & Air, a residential ac company in Placerville, recommend consulting with an HVAC company to learn about bacteria-fighting heating and cooling systems.

Pest problems

You have tried practically every solution available for you to get rid of rodents and insects that have infested your home and nothing still works.

It’s not that the solutions that you have implemented are simply not working. It is highly possible that you are attacking parts of the problem.

These unwanted invaders take advantage of the smallest available space to invite themselves in your home.

Patches of unusually green grass

You’re proud of your lawn and all of the efforts you have put toward it. But during one of your mowing sessions, you notice one particular area where the grass seems to be thriving.

The culprit may be the sewage leaking below that area, blessing the grass with nutrients.

Structural damage

When sewer pipes are nearing the end of their usable lifespan and potential damage is imminent, you will notice structural damage in and around your home.

So, this can take various forms, including cracks or settlements in the foundation, sinkholes, and indentations in the lawn or beneath pavers.

Be vigilant

Taken individually, these signs may be considered as indicators of smaller problems.

But if you notice these in conjunction with one another, you might be facing a serious plumbing problem. Contact a plumbing expert immediately. 

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5 Common Sewer Line Problems And Signs You Have Them

Monday, August 20th, 2018

5 Common Sewer Line Problems And Signs You Have Them

Your residential sewer line plays a crucial role in allowing you to have a hygienic and healthy home. When your sewer line is blocked, broken, or has certain issues, this will affect the entire main line of your home plumbing system.

Here are the five common sewer line problems you may encounter and signs that you have these issues:

Blockage

Sewer lines can become blocked if you keep throwing grease and oil down the sink and flushing objects that shouldn’t be flushed, such as diapers and tampons. The blockage will then restrict water flow in your sewer line.

Common signs that indicate you have a blocked sewer line are:

  • Loud gurgling noises in the pipes
  • The drains are working slower
  • Water is backing up into the lowest drains of your home

Broken, collapsed and skewed pipes

Old residential sewer lines especially those produced before the ‘90s were made of clay or poor-quality plastic pipes. These fixtures become weaker and brittle as the years go by.

If these pipes are not replaced, they will be broken by the shifting of frozen ground or soil surrounding the sewer lines. They can be broken by tree roots as well.

Deteriorated pipes can cause sewer backup. As such, you will also observe water backing up and your drains working slower if your sewer line pipes are damaged.

Tree root infestation

Tree roots naturally gravitate towards areas where water sits to find nutrients. If the sewer line is close enough, roots may grow directly into the pipes. The roots will enter through cracks, crevices, and holes.

Tree root infestations can cause water to back up and overflow. This is one of the biggest plumbing problems you may encounter and often requires major repairs.

Pipe corrosion

Iron pipes last for about 15 to 20 years. After that, they can rust and break open.

Pipe corrosion can also be hastened by the mineral content of the water flowing through the pipe. Its location (behind walls or underground) will speed up its deterioration as well.

If you are experiencing frequent drain backup, your sewer line may already be corroded.

Blocked house trap

A house or plumbing trap is a specially designed fitting shaped like a U which prevents odors from coming out of a city line. It contains water which acts as a natural barrier that blocks odors from escaping and preventing any of them from entering the home.

In case objects such as diapers and tampons are caught in the belly of the trap, the entire system may start to malfunction.

A bad smell coming from your drains can indicate that you have this sewer line issue.

So, knowing the common sewer line problems and their signs is one thing; dealing with them is another. Fixing these issues can be time consuming, complicated, and dirty job. As such, it is best to call plumbing experts immediately when you notice these plumbing problem signs.  

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Where to Find Your Sewer Cleanout

Monday, August 13th, 2018

Where to Find Your Sewer Cleanout

Clogs and sewage – certainly not the stuff everyday conversations are made of.

Still, it pays to know what you need to do in case your household ever, quite, unfortunately, gets plagued by a stoppage in the main drain line.

This is not just about a drain clog in the toilet, tub or sink. The main drain line delivers all the wastewater coming from your house to the city or municipal sewer system, or to a septic tank and leach field system.

Hence, a blockage in your main drain line means raw sewage backing up into your house resulting in an unimaginable stench, and waste-laden water spilling over to your floors – the stuff of nightmares, and a certain health hazard unless addressed ASAP.

This is why it is so important for you to know exactly where to find your sewer cleanout. If it’s your first time getting to know about this feature of your plumbing system, read on.

For every house, there’s usually only one sewer cleanout

Ideally, all houses should have a main sewer cleanout. But a few don’t, while some larger houses can have as many as three.

Whenever there is a blockage in your main drain line, this is the plumbing fitting to look for.

But how do you find it?

To locate your main sewer cleanout, you need to do a bit of sleuthing to determine where it is highly likely to be found.

Its location is usually dependent on geography and the house design. However, there are three spots you can try checking first where you might just find it:

Outdoor Clean-Outs

Residences located in regions with a warm climate tend to have their main cleanout located outside. Try looking behind thickets or bushes, or see if you can find a plastic or metal box in a recess in the soil.

Basement

If you have a basement, the main cleanout would most probably be located there.

Bathroom

If you live in a house with a slab foundation, you may want to go looking for the main cleanout in the bathroom. If it’s not there,  your garage where it’s likely to be found near a floor drain.

Get professional plumbing help

A main sewer line blockage is something you most likely can’t fix on your own. A stoppage in the main line is something which definitely requires the expertise and skills of experienced plumbersYou’ll need tools such as a drain snake or a motorized drain auger to fix the problem. You also need to protect yourself from the unsanitary conditions of dealing with sewage. Therefore, give your trusted plumber a call, and get your plumbing issue fixed right away.

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What Do I Do With an Old Bathtub?

Tuesday, August 7th, 2018

What Do I Do With an Old Bathtub?

So you’ve just recently noticed that your tub’s old and worn, and you also suspect that it has already begun to leak. With no bathroom renovation budgeted for in, say, the next five years, getting your tub replaced doesn’t seem like a great idea.

After all, the mess replacing your tub will lead to, and the huge expense and the time it would take for the newly installed tub to be reusable, aren’t things you can deal with right now. All you want is an efficient and reasonable option to get your tub working again within the shortest time possible.

So if you ask yourself, What do I do with an old bathtub, when buying an entirely new one is out of the question? The answer is to either get it refinished or relined.

Tub Refinishing

Otherwise known as “reglazing,” tub refinishing is a labor-intensive process (about four to six hours of site work by a single technician) which involves the use of hazardous chemicals and the following basic steps:

  • Masking the tub surface to protect it from the overspray
  • Venting the bathroom area to get rid of the toxic fumes
  • Caulk removal
  • Swathing the tub in hydrofluoric acid to ensure surface adherence
  • Washing away the hydrofluoric acid
  • New caulk installation
  • Air drying the tub with a fan
  • Spray on coating fast-drying epoxy (two coats)
  • Cleaning with a tack cloth to get rid of dust particles and other foreign objects
  • Spray applications of a polyurethane finish coat (x4) with sanding done in between applications
  • Polishing
  • Curing time of 24 hours (minimum) before the tub can be used with water

Tub Relining

Unlike reglazing work which involves most of the action taking place right in your own home, tub reliners are made offsite after a local installer like Tureks Plumbing has taken exact measurements of your tub and sends them, along with some clear photos, to the tub liner manufacturer he works for.

So, what happens next?

  • Identification of the make/model by the tub liner manufacturer.
  • Using an in-house model of the same, a vacuum-formed mold of the tub is made using a sheet of 1/4 inch ABS acrylic (it’s used for football helmets and airplane windshields, too!). The resulting mold is a 35-pound liner that fits seamlessly on your old tub. Take note that this process takes about four to eight weeks!
  • Prior to installation, the installer uses denatured alcohol to thoroughly clean the old tub and removes both the drain and overflow. The liner is then trimmed to ensure it fits snugly, especially if your tub is in a corner or is set against the wall.
  • The tub liner is then securely attached to the old tub using a two-sided butyl tape and silicone adhesive combo.
  • A matching new drain and overflow are also installed.
  • To finish off, the installer applies caulking at the seams.

The entire installation process can take six to eight hours for one technician to finish. Then you can use your “new” tub right away.

Weighing Your Options

Both refinishing and relining are cost-effective options if you do not have the budget yet to get a new tub, nor do you have the inclination to have your bathroom use interrupted by a mini home renovation project. They can also add years of use to your tired, old tub – depending on what is stated on the warranty.

However, if you have a fiberglass tub, a jetted one or a claw-foot tub, you may need to look elsewhere. Both reglazing and relining companies tend to not take on jobs for such tub types.

So, have you decided yet? Be sure to call Tureks Plumbing Services for more professional advice regarding your tub fixing options.

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Do I Need a Whole House Filter?

Monday, July 2nd, 2018

Do I Need a Whole House Filter?

It is essential for everyone to drink pure water. However, you should not forget about how significant a whole house filter is and how it can protect your long-term health. This filters out contaminants, chemical waste, heavy metals, cancer-causing agents and pesticides that can soak into your skin while you shower.

Believe it or not, much of the well water and tap water in the United States are not clean. They contain toxic materials from chemical disinfectants, industrial waste, man-made plants and minerals that naturally occur in nature. Moreover, existing regulations for monitoring how potable the water is only cover some of these contaminants.

And though most of the contaminant levels in groundwater and surface water are not high enough to cause immediate sickness, health experts emphasized that even small levels can cause serious damage to your health when ingested or exposed to your body for long periods of time.

So if you’re asking, Do I need a whole house filter?, Tureks Plumbing shares a brief overview and some of the most compelling reasons to get one.

A whole house filter – what is it?

Placed at the point where water enters your home, a whole house filter will screen out different types of harmful disinfectants, additives, and contaminants found in your water supply.

Here are some benefits of having a whole house filter in your home:

  • Healthier baths and showers
  • Brighter, softer and long-lasting clothing
  • Clean water coming out from each water source in your home
  • Healthier hair and skin
  • Extended life of water-using household pipes and appliances

2 Main Types

Heavy Duty Filtration System – This makes use of large amounts of filter media placed in a tank, making it the highest contaminant removal system. It offers specific contaminant protection for five to 10 years.

Standard Capacity Water Cartridge – This is placed inside filter housings to treat water throughout your home. The filters are usually replaced every year. Though they are more affordable, they usually require more maintenance.

Even if the water from the municipal source is treated, you may still be exposed to plenty of contaminants. So installing a whole house filter on your property is imperative. It gives you extra protection in each water outlet of your home.

Bear in mind that contaminants can be inhaled or absorbed through your skin. If you do not have special water contaminant problems, then a carbon filtration system is highly recommended. But for water issues, it’s best to get a whole house water filter that will treat such problems. Please contact Tureks Plumbing if you have any questions or concerns. 

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How to Hire a Contractor for a Kitchen Remodel

Tuesday, June 26th, 2018

Better Renovation: How to Hire a Contractor for a Kitchen Remodel

A home remodel has two advantages.

One, it improves your lifestyle and comfort level.

Two, it could raise your property’s value on the market.

You want to make sure that you achieve both with this project, so there’s a lot at stake when you decide to take down walls, extend a space, or modernize an outdated room. Clearly, it’s a job for a professional kitchen remodel contractor.

Here’s how to hire a contractor for a kitchen remodel:

Get a recommendation from the right sources

Keep your pool of options small by getting recommendations from the right people. You can start with the Home Builders and Remodelers Association (HBRA) in your area. The council will point you in the right direction, giving a few businesses that specialize in remodeling to look into. If you have friends or family who had a successful renovation project, you can also ask them for their contractor’s details.

Check the contractor’s license and insurance

You’ll want to make sure your contractor has the license to work in the Fox Valley area. A contractors license means that the contractor abides by state and local rules. It also indicates that the business has a solid reputation and has not had or has received few complaints. Turek’s Plumbing has a pristine reputation and are well known for our excellent service. 

Your contractor should also have adequate insurance to mitigate any incident on your property; if the contractor’s workers injure themselves or injure your neighbors, the insurance should settle the problem.

Spend time talking with the contractor

You’ve checked out the kitchen remodeling contractor’s credentials and seen previous projects. Now it’s time to talk with the contractor. You could do it over the phone, but nothing beats personal contact when scrutinizing a person you’re going to work with for months.

You need to make sure you’re comfortable with this person and that you trust him or her. The personal contact is crucial because you’ll not only work with the professional for months, but that person is also going to be in your home plenty of times.

Talk about guidelines for workers

Carpenters, installers, and painters are going to take over your home for the duration of your kitchen remodel. This, however, is not a license for the workers to come and go as they please. Headwaters Construction, Inc., a Sacramento commercial construction company, suggests establishing guidelines with the contractor. This could include workers showing up early, working past the usual schedule, using facilities in your home, and other limitations or expectations. 

Get every agreement in writing

Finally, never start the project without a contract in place. The document needs to establish the extent of the remodel, your contractor’s responsibilities, deadlines, costs, and solutions to potential issues that may arise during construction.

When you start with a good recommendation, follow through with a meeting with the contractor, and punctuate your search with a contract, your kitchen remodel will be efficient.

To Schedule a no-obligation estimate for your kitchen remodel project, contact us today!

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How to Prevent Mold in Your Home

Wednesday, May 30th, 2018

Molds are the last thing you want to have in your home. They are health hazards and do nothing good to the look of a house. Worse, they are hard to remove, especially if your home is already teeming with them.

In such instances, you will have to hire professionals to get rid of your mold problem.

You can avoid all the health concerns and other issues that come with having molds in your home by preventing their growth in the first place. Here are some tips on how to prevent molds in your home:

Identify possible problem areas

It can be hard to have a mold-proof home. But you can start doing this by inspecting all areas of your house and finding out which ones are often damp and wet.

The most common rooms and parts of your home where molds will likely grow are the:

  • Bathroom
  • Kitchen
  • Basement
  • Ceiling

If there are leaks, or if these areas are often damp or wet, have the issues fixed immediately to prevent future mold problems.

Make cleaning a priority

To keep molds at bay, always vacuum and keep your home clean, especially the areas that generate a lot of moisture such as the bathroom and kitchen. Use disinfecting cleaning products on non-porous surfaces such as tiles and stones to discourage mold growth.

De-clutter

When you have a tidy room, your cooling system will have an easier time circulating air. The opposite happens when you have a messy room. This is because clutter obstructs airflow and prevents your HVAC system from circulating air. This, in turn, allows the room to accumulate moisture which encourages mold growth.

As such, get rid of things you don’t need or want anymore. Consider rearranging your furniture as well if they are positioned near vents and grilles, or covering them, to keep air circulating.

Keep your home well-ventilated

Poor ventilation in damp spaces like bathrooms and kitchens can leave moisture behind that can encourage mold growth. As such, wipe the kitchen sink after using it and keep the bathroom door open after bathing to speed up the drying of surfaces.

You can also use fans to ensure proper ventilation in these rooms. However, make sure the fans take moisture outside and not into attics. Our friends at Gilmore Solar, Heating, & Air, recommend searching for an HVAC company near me for professional help.

Handle water leaks and flooding issues immediately

Lastly, have water leaks in your roof, windows or any other part of the home repaired by experts as soon as possible. Keep in mind that constant leaks cause moisture to build up and enable molds to grow.

If you encounter any flooding problem in your home, make sure you have this issue fixed immediately. Thoroughly wash, disinfect and dry soaked carpets, padding, and wet upholstery before using them again. Contact Tureks Plumbing Services if you need assistance.

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3 Ways to Deal With Popcorn Ceiling

Monday, May 28th, 2018

There are things that can date your home, and one example is “popcorn ceiling.” This pertains to bumpy ceiling surfaces with a sprayed-on texture that may include glittery sparkles. They are also hard to clean, difficult to repair, and can easily catch dust.

Despite these cons, popcorn ceilings became popular in the late 1950s since they made easy work of hiding imperfections in the finishing.

When it is time for you to move on to a different look, there are three ways to deal with popcorn ceiling. But before taking on the challenge, learning whether they contain asbestos or not should be done first; this way, you’ll know how to deal with it.

Asbestos fiber, when inhaled in large quantities, may cause lung disease, scarring of the lungs, and lung cancer. Once your ceiling has been confirmed to contain asbestos, appropriate precautionary steps must be taken, and only the experts must deal with your popcorn ceiling.

Here’s an overview from Tureks Plumbing Services of the three ways of dealing with popcorn ceilings.

  1. Scrape off Popcorn Ceiling

Scraping the popcorn ceiling off is probably the easiest way to remove it. The process is similar to getting samples for testing, but this only works on unpainted ceilings.

All you have to do is wet the ceiling and scrape the dampened texture off with a large knife until you are left with a clean, smooth surface. But instead of doing the entire ceiling at once, you have to complete small areas at a time.

Once everything has been removed, and the ceiling is dry, use joint compound to fill in the holes. After that, sand it to achieve a popcorn-free ceiling.

  1. Cover Popcorn Ceiling with drywall

If your ceiling is not at risk for asbestos but is painted, it might be impossible to scrape off. The porous popcorn material had soaked it up, so covering it with drywall is a better option. This is also recommended if your ceilings contain asbestos since the harmful substance will be trapped instead of being sent into the air and atmosphere while scraping.

This method involves affixing ceiling-grade gypsum board over the existing popcorn ceiling. You have to screw it into the framing. For a seamless job, you must be proficient at taping and mudding.

Hiring a team of professionals will ensure that the job is completed in no time.

  1. Skim Coat over Popcorn Ceiling

Another way to deal with popcorn ceiling is to skim coat over the ceilings using a different texture. This method will involve cleaning and preparing the current substrate with quick-set drywall mud. After that, a bonding agent like joint compound will be applied.

A finish compound may also be applied to create a new texture. But often, this method leaves the ceiling still bumpy, which might not be beneficial to your home decorating endeavor.

Determining which of these three methods to use to get rid of popcorn ceiling will depend on the condition and age of your ceiling. But remember that all these routes are quite messy, so make sure to cover all your exposed body parts and wear a respirator during the project. Also, remove furnishing, relocate your pets to another room, and cover the flooring. If you have any questions or concerns, please give Tureks Plumbing Services a call!

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How To Install An Outdoor Faucet

Tuesday, May 22nd, 2018

If you love spending time outside your home, you will find having one or more outdoor faucets really handy. With an outdoor faucet, you will have an easier and quicker time watering your garden. It will also be highly useful whenever you cook outside and clean your outdoor space.

Placing an outside tap is something you can do as a DIY project. If you want to know how to install an outdoor faucet,  Tureks Plumbing Services provides the steps and tips you need to follow (take note that if any part of the process becomes too challenging, or if you don’t have the time or skills to do it, don’t hesitate to call in the professionals — they’ll be happy to get the job done for you).

 

  • Choose the location of your tap. Start by looking in your basement or crawl space for an area near a pipe where you can install your faucet. If there is no cold water line near the location where you’d like to install the faucet, you’ll have to run the pipe to a water supply line elsewhere.
  • Select your pipe. For an underground pipeline, plumbers recommend using PEX tubing. This is because PEX tubing is easier to install and cheaper than copper pipe. You can also make a continuous run from your house and make turns without installing a single fitting when you choose this type of pipe. However, if you choose this material, be prepared to buy a PEX crimping tool as well.
  • Prepare to dig a trench. In case you will have to run a pipe underground, call 811 several days before you dig so that a utility company can locate buried pipes and cables in your yard. Once you’re given the go-signal, dig your trench. A plumber in Appleton, Wisconsin says that you only need to bury the water line about six inches deep.
  • Protect the water line. Once you’re done placing the pipe underground, cover the tubing with at least two inches of soil and pour in about two inches of dry concrete mix before backfilling the trench. This will protect the water line from shovel attacks or any external force.
  • Install the post and faucet. You can use a hollow PVC fence post or any material you have or want to use as the post for your faucet. Run the PEX run inside the post to protect it from sunlight since UV rays can reduce its life. Set the post at least 18 inches deep. Screw the sillcock flange to the post; make sure it is tight and secure.  Afterward, install a screw-on backflow preventer.

 

If you will be installing the faucet on a wall, follow the steps below:

 

  • After choosing the location for your outdoor faucet, drill a hole through the wall. Once you’ve chosen the right water supply pipe for your outdoor faucet, clean the pipe and turn off the water.
  • Cut through the current pipe and solder the old pipe together with the new line. Run the pipes all the way up to the spot where you will install the faucet in the wall.
  • Install the faucet using plumber’s putty around the back of the faucet piece. Next, insert the faucet into the hole from the outside of the house. Push the faucet against the wall of the house so that the plumber’s putty squeezes out and spreads through the sides of the faucet. Wipe off any excess putty that squeezes around the edges of the faucet
  •  Lastly, connect the faucet piece to the pipe inside the house. Solder these two parts so that they are completely connected and secure as well.

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