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Uncommon Piping Fixes
In the spirit of celebrating the creativity and new ways of fixing old problems.
In the enjoyment of the scrappy-spirited do-it-yourself who is getting the job done.
In the age of pictures, images and memes.
I offer you some of my home inspection PIPING discoveries!
DIY Water Feature!
As hundreds of gallons flow off your roof, through your gutters and into your downspouts, create your own water fall! We home inspectors encourage water to move away from the foundation of the house. Perhaps the drain pipe did not quite reach the ground, or perhaps the pipe-elbow connection was just reversed. Something was likely missed, but notice the carefully aligned splash block that will ensure water moves away from the foundation of the house. Good job not missing that detail!
DIY Lint Catch
Hot moist air from the dryer will collect in a can which can be emptied after each drying cycle. Control of all this hot moist dryer air is important. The classic mix-use coffee again proves its value.
DIY Corrugated Bathroom Vent
This 4″ corrugated pipe is usually found buried in the ground and packed with drainage rock. It directs roof and grounds water away from the foundation of the house. In this inspection I saw a pioneer application as it connected the bathroom ventilation fan, ran horizontally through the fiberglass insulation to the eaves where it exhausted moisture out a soffit vent.
DIY Vent Can Hook Up
Piping and ductwork is an important feature in attics. One clever DIYer decided to recycle a can as a roof vent hook up for their bathroom fan. By using the can opener to remove the bottom like the top of the can they secured it to a roof vent. However, you might notice the discoloring of the roof sheathing and some of the organic growth. The can was present but the ductwork was absent which meant this great idea was useless.
DIY Sink Drain Improvement
This DIY-er probably knows his or her way around a car engine. Hoses and piping for car-liquids are usually secured via hose-clamps. Every mechanic has a stash of hose clamps lying around and when their kitchen sink drain pipe has to be repaired, they may grab the same tools used for replacing the coolant hose. Unfortunately, the skill and equipment used for auto repairs are close but not the same. If someone were to try to fix a sink drain like a car engine, here’s what it would look like.
