Other stories by Mike Casey

• Q&A: Best Pipe for Gas Lines?

  Q: In my area, only black iron pipe is allowed for gas lines. Is there a problem with galvanized pipe?

• Q&A: Deep Traps

  Q: My client's kitchen sink has a shallow 6-inch-deep bowl, and the drain connection is located in the wall rather than the floor. She would like to replace the sink with one that has a much deeper bowl, but that will place the bottom of the bowl at nearly the same level as the drain opening. Is it...

• Q&A: Clearances for Outdoor Cookers

  Q: My clients want to install a built-in high-Btu gas griller as part of a planned outdoor kitchen on the deck attached to their house. Can the cooker be placed under a protective overhang created by extending the existing roof?

• Q&A: Flexible Fittings and Plumbing Codes

  Q: No-hub rubber couplings with band clamps on the ends are handy for making all sorts of plumbing connections, but are there limitations on where they can be used?

• Q&A: Dishwasher Drain Distance

  Q: A client wants to locate her dishwasher in a peninsula several cabinets away from the kitchen sink. Are there any limitations on the distance that the discharge hose can travel, or should it be plumbed separately?

• Q&A: Will Radiant Heat Melt a Wax Ring?

  Q: My company has been contracted to build a new bathroom. Plans include a tile floor installed over a radiant-heated slab. Will the heat generated by the hydronic tubing embedded in the slab cause problems with the wax seal between the toilet and the dra

• Q&A: Exposed Gas Line

  Q: A client wants to install an outdoor gas fireplace. The most logical route for the gas supply extends from a roof-mounted furnace 60 feet along an exterior parapet wall and then down. Are there any requirements for lightning protection in such an expos

• Q&A: Gas Appliances in Basement

  Q. I am remodeling a single-family house with a full basement. The furnace and water heater are located in the basement. The local fire marshal said that it's okay to locate propane appliances such as furnaces and water heaters in the basement. He cites t

• Q&A: Plumbing Around Floor Trusses

  Q: We’re installing a fiberglass tub unit over a truss-framed floor. A small plan change moved the tub so that the overflow pipe lines up with a floor truss below. There’s just enough room to run the drain above the truss, but is it okay to run the drain horizontally for a foot or so beyond where...