Part Two
Faucets and Fixtures
Most of the plumbing you ever touch is at the very end of the line, where the water comes out. This part of the book stays there. It starts with the faucet, why it drips and which small worn part is to blame, then moves to the aerator, a five-minute job that cures more weak flow than any plumber's visit. From there it goes to the shower, where the line between a homeowner's repair and a licensed one runs right along the face of the wall. It ends behind the machines, at the hoses and thin tubes that feed washers, dishwashers and icemakers and that nobody thinks about until the floor is wet. These are the book's friendliest jobs. You will need a towel, a few hand tools and the old part in your pocket when you go to the store.