Fixture installation in Lebanon

The shutoff valve, the supply line, the drain connection and the floor or wall around the fixture. A fixture is only as good as what supports and feeds it.

A new faucet is only new until the minerals find it. Aerators clog, cartridges stiffen, and chrome gets spotted. A few habits help. Remove and soak aerators in vinegar every few months, wipe fixtures dry, and choose models with easy-clean spray faces. We can also point you toward finishes that show spots less.

A modern laundry hookup has four parts: hot and cold supply valves, a drain standpipe with a trap, and a vent. They live in a recessed box in the wall, which keeps hoses from kinking and makes the machine easier to push back. The valves should be quarter-turn, and some people prefer the type with a single lever that controls both lines.

The most common trouble we see is a drain that overflows because the standpipe is too short, too narrow or missing a trap. A standpipe should rise to a height that prevents siphoning, usually between about thirty and forty-two inches above the trap. We check all four parts when we install a box, and we replace rubber hoses with braided ones. If the machine is on a second floor, we also suggest a drain pan with a line to a safe spot, since a failed hose upstairs can ruin a ceiling.

We do not install dryers or their vents, but we pay attention to them when we are in the laundry room. A gas dryer needs a proper line with a shutoff. A vent that is full of lint is a fire hazard. If we see either problem, we mention it and recommend someone to handle it.

Houses within a few blocks of the Public Square range from tiny bungalows to big two-story homes with a story to tell. A kitchen faucet swap in one of them is often a short job, with a longer story behind it. The sink may be older than anyone remembers, the cabinet may have been trimmed to fit it, and the supply lines may be in a different spot from anything a new faucet expects.

We start by looking at what is there. If the sink and the cabinet are sound, we pick a faucet that suits them. If the drain is old galvanized or the stubs are corroded, we offer to replace them while we are in the cabinet.