Bath & Plumbing

House Doctor: Painting plastic laminate or melamine countertops

Is there a paint I can use successfully on Formica? I have a 60-inch Formica vanity in a bathroom that is more than 50 years old. I would like to paint over it and have a finish that is both water resistant and durable.

House Doctor: Top 10 Things Homeowners Should Know

A few years ago, while working on a story about finding an old-fashioned handyman, one such fellow told me of a specific task he did for a couple each spring. Both husband and wife were so mechanically challenged that they'd hire him to change their light bulbs.

House Doctor: Plumbing whistles? Valve may be calling

We hear a loud whistling sound when we turn on our kitchen faucet. The Delta model was installed about 15 years ago. No other faucet makes such a sound. How can I stop the whistling?

House Doctor: A tub leak could cause a ceiling to go to pieces

My contractor put in a white suspension ceiling several years ago, and although it looks beautiful, pieces of the previous ceiling keep falling. The falling debris collects near the light fixtures, and when the lights are on, the pieces are illuminated. It looks awful. Other than removing the suspension tiles and spackling the former ceiling, is there anything that can be done? -- Mary McDonald, Hempstead

House Doctor: Quieting water hammer

My water pipes make a tremendous amount of noise when I turn on my dishwasher. I am afraid they will break loose. If I turn on the hot water at the sink, the noise stops. Any suggestions? -- J. Sele, Rocky Point

House Doctor: Where PVC pipe dreams can come true

Charles Sanders' parents were children of the Great Depression, and they passed on at least one life lesson to their son.

House Doctor: Inch by inch, step by step, I vented my bathroom

Before I overhaul the bathroom in my daughter Melissa's bedroom, there's the pressing matter of an exhaust fan.

House Doctor: Taking a cold (or hot!) shower

We have been having a problem with the water temperature in our shower. Once we have it at a comfortable temperature, it either gets boiling hot or freezing cold. We've made sure that no one is using the water at the same time, but it doesn't matter. We don't have a water heater, and we just installed a larger expansion tank, hoping that that would solve the problem.

House Doctor: The effluence of affluence: septic stress in Suffolk

About 10 days before Thanksgiving I made one of those phone calls so important for a homeowner. It was to my septic tank guy. No, my system had not backed up. I was thinking ahead.

House Doctor: A concave toilet-paper holder seems elusive in this redecorator's bathroom

We are renovating an old bathroom. Several tile people have come in for estimates, and they all have told me that I cannot have a concave toilet paper holder because they are no longer made. One person told me to search the Internet for a vintage tile company. Can you help?

House Doctor: The future comes home: TVs in the fridge, coffee makers in the microwave -- and more

Refrigerators that keep the milk cold and tell you the balance in your checking account. Storage rooms that give new meaning to the word organized - with hooks, shelves and drawers for everything you own and then some. In-home dry-cleaning systems that take the wrinkles out in 30 minutes. Three-rack dishwashers, combination coffeemakers and microwaves, and fireplaces with air-management systems. All this convenience - and more - is right at your fingertips.

House Doctor: Drainage Problems? Get Well Soon

Q. The drywell for our washing machine backs up a little, usually after we've had a little bit of rain. I'm assuming the drainage area surrounding the drywell is saturated. We've been in our house for 16 years, and the drywell was in place when we moved in. I intend to replace it in the spring. When I do replace it, are there any other products I can use to build the new drywell other than cesspool blocks or a 55-gallon drum? -- Rich Scofield, Sound Beach

House Doctor: To Caulk or Not to Caulk?

Q. We had a new second-floor bathroom installed, including wall-to-ceiling tile, a new tub and toilet. The tile installer told us to caulk around the tub. I always hated caulking around the tub. It never looked good. Mildew always seemed to grow and the caulk often needed replacing. I happened to mention this to the plumber and another tile installer who were working at a friend's house. They both said they do not caulk around tubs, where the top meets the tile. They just said to make sure the grout line was in one piece. What should I do? -- Caroline La Scala, Oakdale

House Doctor: Winterizing The House

Once we had a roof leak. It happened in the dead of winter, with several inches of snow blanketing our shingles. What a mess.

House Doctor: Tub Caulking Tip

Q. I was surprised you didn't mention this tip for recaulking a bathtub in your column on July 19: Whenever I reseal the joint line between the tub and the bottom row of tiles, I fill the tub with water, make sure my work area is dry and then caulk with silicone. Of course, the joint must be clean and dry before the caulk is applied. When the joint is set, I then drain the tub. The idea is that if the tub settles because of the weight of the water, you want the tub to be in its settled position while the joint is being filled with caulk. I assumed everyone did it that way.

House Doctor: Milled Molding

Q. Where can I purchase floor molding that doesn't require miter cuts for corners? I need to use it in a bathroom with wallpaper. Because there is no molding, the papered walls in the bathroom look unfinished. We are not very handy.

House Doctor: Attack of the Drain Flies

Q. Since the day we moved into our house two years ago, we have had problems with drain flies - identified as such by our exterminator - in the master bathroom.

House Doctor: Replacing Leaky Pipes With Plastic

KERRY SILVERSTEIN was afraid to go to work. Her neighbor, Kevin Guckenberger, was sure he'd have to move. Living with leaky pipes was getting to each of them.

House Doctor: Leaks From Tubs

Q. Everyone in my neighborhood seems to have problems with leaky, second-floor bathtubs. The leak from ours ruined the kitchen ceiling and floor. At one time, a builder told us that the tub was not supported properly. The theory is that when a person stepped into the tub the caulking pulled away from the wall. This allowed the water to leak through the wall and down to the ceiling above the kitchen. We've had the tub floor reinforced, but it didn't help. We still have to recaulk every three months or so. What can we do?

House Doctor: Repairing a Bathroom Vanity

Q. I have an 8-year-old vanity made out of laminated oak in our bathroom. The side facing the commode is starting to peel away, mainly on the bottom edges. What can we do to stop this and hide or repair the current damage?

House Doctor: Mildew Odor

Q. I am going crazy trying to get rid of a mildew odor. I called a plumber, but he found no leaks. I changed the bathroom exhaust fan and have spent money on air fresheners. The odor is coming from a panel in my kitchen that provides access to the motor of the Jacuzzi bathtub in the bathroom. I've sealed all the tub tile walls, too.

House Doctor: Aging Septic Systems

Q. I am considering replacing our cesspool, and I would appreciate any suggestions you may have.

House Doctor: Shower and Bath Cleaner

Q. I have an acrylic whirlpool bathtub. I have used a variety of cleansers but am not satisfied with any of them. The tub just doesn't look clean enough to me, and it's hard work scrubbing and wiping. You recommended a cleaner by Zep in your column months ago, but I can't seem to find it. -Lisa M. Geller, North Bellmore

House Doctor: Unclogging Slow Drains

For slow drains, use a half-cup each of baking soda, salt and vinegar. Pour the baking soda and salt into the drain, then add the vinegar. Let the mixture bubble for several minutes and then flush with a quart or two of boiling water. Repeat this procedure monthly for fast-running drains.

House Doctor: Cesspool Warning Signs

THERE'S EVERY reason to be alarmed about the recent death of a Huntington Station man whose backyard cesspool collapsed, burying him under yards of dirt and concrete blocks. They are freak incidents, but cesspool tragedies are usually preventable.

House Doctor: Tips for Good Caulking

ONE SQUEEZE OF the trigger can put the finishing touch on a project or create a huge mess. Anyone who has loaded a caulk gun is aware of the slim margin of error between a bull's eye -- a smooth bead -- and a blank: a sticky glob.

House Doctor: Banging, Vibrating Water Pipes

Q. My water pipes sound like they're going to vibrate right out of the walls. I turn on the faucet in my bathtub, and the pipes behind the walls go "bang, bang." What's the problem and how do I solve it?

House Doctor: Frozen Pipes: Prevention and Cure

HOW ARE YOU making out in this bitter cold? Better yet, how's your house making out?

House Doctor: Saving Water

ACROSS THE Northeastern states, water levels are low. The message is clear: Conserve. State officials, including those in New York who monitor stream flows and reservoir and groundwater levels, have been concerned about the freshwater supply in the region for several months.

House Doctor: What's Behind Those Shower Walls?

My daughter Melissa emerged from our steam-filled main bathroom. "Dad, there's something not right in the shower," she said.

House Doctor: Tale of the Tub Continues

A few weeks ago, readers visited the catastrophe in my family's main bathroom - no, not the hardened globs of toothpaste - but a decaying shower and tub wall. Since that column, a few neighbors (and a few more readers) have revealed they have similar problems: collapsing tub and shower walls. The reason for these wall failures is the use of greenboard - water- resistant wallboard - as a backer for ceramic tile in areas exposed to water.

House Doctor: Tub Wall Rebuilt to a Shower of Praise

Regular readers know that Gary Dymski's been busy rebuilding a tub and shower wall in his home (built new in 1997). The previous wall, built from greenboard, collapsed. This column completes the remodeling project.

House Doctor: A Match for a Dinosaur

Q. I replaced an older tub faucet recently and in the process damaged about six tiles. I thought they'd be pretty easy to replace, but now I can't find them anywhere. I've looked around and have been told they are discontinued tiles. They're 5 inches by 7 inches, and one supplier told me this was a dinosaur size. The rest of the tile is in great shape, as is the backer board. Do you have any suggestions? - B. Branigan, Smithtown

House Doctor: Septic Tank Advice Shouldn't Go to Waste

Tony Wachinski was just trying to help his neighbor's daughter. The woman was having a major problem with her septic tank recently and was looking for some advice. Wachinski, a civil engineer from Oyster Bay, was only too happy to help, first with some consulting over the telephone, then by sending her a copy of his 35-page, soft-cover book.

House Doctor: A Tank in Time Saves Lines

Q. A few months back, I noticed my gas water heater pressure-relief valve was leaking. I replaced the valve, but the drip remained. A plumbing supply person told me the valve was defective, so I installed another valve. This valve also leaked. A few days later, I noticed that when any water faucet was first turned on, the water would gush out for a second or two, then would return to normal.

House Doctor: "Hotspots" Over Cesspools?

Q. I have what I call "hot spots" on the ground over where I'm sure my two cesspools (one is an overflow) are located. We moved into our home nine years ago, and whenever it snows, the snow rapidly melts in two areas on my lawn above the cesspool. Is there a problem brewing? It's been like this for years. I don't seem to have any problems inside the home, but I haven't seen anyone else's lawn doing what mine does.

HOME WORK

House Doctor: Heating water for all is a tankless task

When his water heater died, Rick Jackson figured he'd just replace it. As he mentioned the need for a new tank to his plumbing contractor, he sort of joked about buying one that never runs out of hot water. "That's when my contractor said, 'I've got just the thing for you,'" said Jackson, who has a three-family home in Long Beach.