Solving a Spitting Faucet Mystery | Ask This Old House

[@purenupe1]

Absolutely the most complex home water supply systems I've ever seen

[@justayoutuber1906]

I had one more complex

[@adamkazarian7409]

@@justayoutuber1906 I had one more complex than yours.

[@cberh]

Christmas morning 2019, been at my families for 2 hours. Sat down and watched a 10 minute video about radon and plumbing..I dont own a house, nor know how to plum... Merry Christmas

[@WoodStoveEnthusiast]

Let me just grab this random radon mitigation system that I just have in my truck...

[@NarwahlGaming]

"When I run into this problem I just pull out my $3,000 tool that everybody has in their back pocket..."

[@andreyyaromich8277]

Lol

[@ToqTheWise]

You never know when you need a radon mitigation system.

[@tommymatthews4984]

onecomputerkid I like how nothing is dirty and everything looks freshly installed lol

[@johnpaa9032]

onecomputerkid DVD’s-

[@Carpet-Safari]

This is the first time I ever heard and saw anything about the well water radon extraction device. Thanks George for such simple explanation of the residential well water distribution system in general and the radon extraction device in specific. I learned something new and useful today.

[@Iamkitkatbar]

Radon in the water. Everytime he drinks the tap its +3 Rads

[@rpriesol]

Probably Fallout fan :)

[@tresslerj1985]

@@rpriesol Exactly what a synth would say.

[@MadTrump]

make sure he stocks up on radaway

[@80fordmustang6]

Just go to diamond city pick up some radaway and all is good

[@kalijasin]

He's got a pretty good setup for removing radon and sediment. Its an outdated system though. These days you can get an whole house three stage filter system that removes radon, sediment, organic chemicals, etc.. and mounts right to the wall (filters are 20 x 4.5").

[@charlest.velten6983]

NO WONDER THE PRICE ON THE HOUSE WAS SUCH A GREAT DEAL. GUYS GOT CHERNOBYL UNDER HIS BASEMENT !

[@willpitts9957]

Charles Velten gay

[@wizard3z868]

Lol happens a lot in new england my house as a kid no problems tested once a year neighbors had radon in basement's and another's had it in their well also

[@jayyoutube8790]

Common in the northeast. Anywhere that has granite bedrock..

[@tullgutten]

Well radon is a big issue in the whole world. And especially if the house is placed over rockbed

[@koekum]

@@tullgutten when my bed rocks i'm having fun

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Thanks Rich, you are quite the problem solver. You've helped me a lot thru the years with your great videos. Thanks for sharing.

[@NumberSpace]

Richard's brilliance and expertise never ceases to amaze me

[@Mrmudbone_gaming]

“Water is on” “Water looks normal” Me: the water is coming out white...

[@SirFloofy001]

Microscopic bubbles usually caused by dissolved gasses like Co2 or by having a good water heater causing microscopic bubbles of steam.

[@willierants5880]

@@SirFloofy001 and unfortunately Radon.

[@JungleYT]

Thought it was just me... LOL

[@millomweb]

If the hot water heating system doesn't have an air vent in it, that's what happens. Seems strange they're bothered about radon - and have an opportunity to remove dissolved gasses and don''t use it !

[@johnwquick3616]

Water saver faucets have built in aerator, thus water appears white

[@canuckloyalist4681]

Wow I'll never complain about my hard water again!

[@RossMalagarie]

hard water? Could be worse your water could have a cancer causing gas in it, or be flammable. Flint Creek we will remember you...…..

[@zoiks6631]

Tests the water: “3.6 roentgen. Not bad, not great.”

[@NeverEnoughPyro40]

That's what you get when you have well water that is dirty as hell!

[@VanceRefrigeratn]

*throws radon mitigation manual at customer* “There - review it”

[@acoustic4037]

Richard Trethewey is a genius! I wish I could hire him.

[@Gamerz00760]

I like having a well...very cheap to maintain overall. Spent 800 on new well pump and 200 on pressure tank couple times... Not bad for 20 years.. and maybe pumped septic 5 times about a $1000 total. So $2000 and around $600 for softner, and maybe $1000 in pellets. Compared with $60-$100 a momth water bill. Which is $720-$1200 per year times 20 is $14800-24000. Costs balance out at the end of it, I like having constant water available without concern of unexpected water bills.

[@BrandonFrancey]

There is benefits both ways. Your water bill is going to be fairly consistent every month unless you fill a pool or develop a leak you never notice. The surprise of a slightly larger water bill is nothing compared to the surprise of finding out you have a bad well and need to drill a new one. Not everyone has that $5,000 to $10,000 just sitting around. Or finding out your water is contaminated and need a UV filter or Radon diffuser. In the long a well is probably cheaper but it comes with a lot of large up front costs and any well problems are your problems. Being on city water you might pay more overall but it's the same consistent amount and if the water stops, you call the city to come out and fix it.

[@RossMalagarie]

@@BrandonFrancey yep if the price is the same on one hand you just pay a bill and get a minimum standard of pressure, quality, and unlimited water on the other its a large upfront cost, repairs, replacements, area to house equipment, all which you are responsible to pay someone to fix/replace. SO if they come out to the same 20yr price I would say it would only be feasible in areas that have no city water option. But that's just my 2 cents.

[@pavelow235]

I average 50 a month for municipal water, or 1200 dollars a year, two full bathrooms, no gardens.

[@RossMalagarie]

@@pavelow235 wouldn't $50 per month be $600 not $1200 a year?

[@RossMalagarie]

@@pavelow235 yeah my water bill averages $12 a month, ($144 year average) for one person, one full bath, and no other extra water usage like gardens.

[@dandeleona4760]

I laughed out loud when the faucet spit at the user. I love these sink fixtures but something to think about when high end restaurants have this in the bathroom and you know you'll be expected at table, dry or not. :D

[@DanBurgaud]

9:18 "....is actually radon..." BINGO! good thing Richard fixed it!

[@HJCF0520]

Very interesting. Seems like a lot could go wrong and bad planning for order of filtration devices. Cool Radon mitigation system, never seen one.

[@WayneWBishop]

He crushed it with the liquid mask. Outstanding!

[@spinb]

The first thing I'd do is get rid of that faucet.

[@murkstalinskitm5334]

I used to think they looked cool. After seeing the water shoot out instead of down, I'll never own one.

[@Justin-C]

They look cool, but stuff can collect in the channel and they lack the pressure to blast toothpaste out of a toothbrush. Hard pass.

[@dfresh1524]

Justin can't have any toothpaste left on your toothbrush.

[@acoustic4037]

Lol... Problem solved...except for the radon gas in the house

[@mouaxiong8618]

These type of faucets are expensive

[@zachikhothingo1]

Richard is awesome. I love this show.

[@looncraz]

A proper solution would have been to increase flow INTO the radon remover instead of restricting flow afterward. That guy had so little volume left over coming out of that faucet it makes me sad.

[@fortunado_]

looncraz would that require replacing the pump underground with a higher rated gpm?

[@tommytmt]

looncraz - I don’t know man, 5gpm is a lot of water. I have a huge tub with a very large faucet to satisfy that tub with a flow of about 4gpm. When it’s flowing at its maximum of 4gpm it just gushes out, it seems to be a ton of water.

[@ShyMplsMale]

Those faucets aren’t supposed to have a ton of flow. It looked normal to me.

[@pavelkolp]

Most faucets are designed for 1-2 GPM Shower heads around 2 GPM. 5GPM is more then enough

[@deanrapp5658]

Paul M the problem is when 2 sinks and the washer are on or someone is in the shower the dishwasher is running and someone else flushes a toilet. The more gpms the better

[@DuramaxL5P]

It looks like milk coming out of that faucet

[@stifflers69mom1]

pashastookie 😆 lol it’s air in the water , so many tiny bubbles, that it turns it whiteish color ....pretty funny tho

[@gtasandman]

I stared at it for a bit till i remembered it had an aerator

[@DuramaxL5P]

Jeremy Beesley you believe what you want to, I still say it's milk.

[@eastwardExpansion]

gtasandman it doesn’t have an aerator. It is a waterfall style faucet.

[@Astinsan]

Have you ever been to Long Beach ca? It looks like milk.. and that’s city water

[@beotheguitarist]

Richard is a genius. Not sure how many people could have figured that out!

[@TejasGomadam]

Richard is smart & genius

[@duo315]

i work in dialysis, we have a pretty cool water room for purifying tap water. I always enjoy seeing people's cool water setups

[@76biggdogg]

Looks like a lot of stuff to go wrong.

[@DarkRaptor99]

Oh I'm sure he's putting a plumbers kid through Harvard.

[@johnperdue7541]

DarkRaptor99 What's wrong with a plumber kid going to Harvard?

[@DarkRaptor99]

It was a joke about how much the guy probably charged to do the job. Nothing is wrong about a plumber or a carpenters kid going to Harvard.

[@askurmom1]

@@johnperdue7541 he's probably pretarded due to the water.

[@magicdark725]

@@DarkRaptor99 not with all thru sharkbite, that's home owner junk

[@MAGRIPPA1]

You are so good to explain problems.👍

[@silvergrizzly316]

Ya gotta want to live in that neighborhood to buy a house with that much damn plumbing! GEESH!!!

[@waldotrueb6081]

When we bought our place , we hired a home inspector to give us a detailed report on all the systems. The roof, electric, windows, insulation, drainage, framing-foundation. And well, plumbing. 250 $ and worth every penny..

[@TheInroad]

As a home buyer I am taking one look at that rats nest of a water system and saying “I’m out”

[@fd3871]

i'm more concerned with well water having radon in it. i wouldn't trust a radon mitigation system as the last step between me and my family and potential health issues.

[@trademanZzbloodzZ]

I’m a plumber, stay away from wells $$$$$$$

[@dodgeplow]

You don't get a choice depending where you want to live

[@bacwoodsgospel6879]

Its a manifold so he can turn off sections of his home similar to a breaker box

[@ronamer1]

@@dodgeplow but you DO have a choice of where you live.

[@trickster_qc]

Such s small repair for a system so complex!

[@JimmyTurner]

I'm pretty sure I saw this on TV a few months ago. First time I've seen a clip on here that I saw on tv too lol.

[@evanstopnik6741]

That was literally a perfect description

[@nickdesert7304]

0:16 lmao you got startled

[@jessejohnson159]

And the filter housing still had contaminates floating around (6:58) when he installed it with a new filter? Why?

[@johnvalentinocruz4467]

Richard is very knowledgeable!

[@dmo848]

Prime example of why you pay your plumber allot of money. No regular guy can figure that 1 out even after being shown pictures and all. WOW that is a smart man

[@TwoToedSloth]

why not move the sediment filtration downstream from the radon mitigation system

[@carmelonavarro7327]

Who has an extra radon mitigation device?

[@merlinious01]

A semi-scripted plumbing video

[@johnperdue7541]

carmelo navarro Dumbasses who have money and no common sense, believe in global warming, and that plastic won't leach into the drinking water........

[@nerfinator6]

TBH I'd prefer plastic to radon

[@kalijasin]

Anyone who does not want too get cancer from.

[@l337pwnage]

@@kalijasin Meh, I smoke unfiltered Plow Boy hand rolled cigarettes. Bring in on, Radon! Show me what you got!

[@woof3598]

knew about Radon, didnt know it was in water too...something else to buy

[@HighVoltageMadness]

a ball valve should never be used as a flow control device. It is meant to turn the water off or on. If a ball valve is used to restrict the water flow it will cause the seal to be eroded away by the high-velocity water flow.

[@nebtheweb8885]

Lol, he shakes the bucket at 6:36 as if he were "shaking the dew off his lily" 😅

[@alexn9775]

This comment deserves more likes

[@systematic101]

what's with all the sharkbite? you're already using PEX. Just do the crimping or better yet let the PEX do the compression.

[@F14koFreegun]

Its staged they wanna make it look as easy as possible they dont care about longevity..

[@mrru0618]

I think he should also replace those washers with high efficiency units.

[@stephensnell1379]

You fool it's a washing machine and dryer

[@gustavocervantes5435]

Great video!! Can you tell us to how take air out of water lines?

[@VCGConstruction]

Great video guys!

[@ForsakenTempl]

That's one smart plumber

[@rjwalker6677]

All I have in my basement is a hot water heater because I get city water. I have no filter, no cleaner, no neutralizer, no stabilizer, no pump, no radon remover, no pressure adjustment and no Water softener. And I'm glad. With all those gadgets, i would be afraid something would always break.

[@notyou1877]

That's an easy to get to and service kind of system.

[@anthonyjimenez9260]

This question is for me

[@SaltySparrow]

That water system is insane. This is why I made sure I had city water, lol.

[@raybonz7939]

Richard what do you think about sharkbite fittings?

[@RandomPsychic]

6:57 FFS you changed the filter...at least clean out the housing before reassembling...floaties

[@LtMuraida]

Love the videos. We learned in class, however, not to use a ball valve to meter the water supply. The proper valve would be a gate valve

[@lnk4328]

No way would you ever use a gate valve to meter with. Maybe a globe valve.

[@grovecitysirens_GCS]

0:45 Him : blah hhcgcgcgcv Home owner: ok ok Camera man: right on his shoulder

[@stealthassasin1day291]

The Faucet simply doesn't respect you as the owner. You just have to show it who's boss to get it to respect you.

[@youngrav2311]

Dude that’s a complex system!

[@Doorkicker505]

That water system was crazy !!! My life is very simple.

[@TheFourthWinchester]

Around 3:10, you could see that guy wanted to move out of the home asap. LMAO.

[@promisedlandadventures3617]

just a question and I'm by no means a plumber, but wouldn't the radon mitigation systems pump shut off when the water is low? I thought I saw the float valves in the tank when he took the lid off. I know that would stop all water flow out, but allow the tank to catch up...

[@xBlade_gg]

Correct me if I'm wrong because I don't know anything about plumbing but couldn't he have just put the radon system first in the chain. Like instead of having the water run through the filters as soon as it comes out of the ground, put the mitigation system first followed by whatever filters the homeowner wants.

[@nighthawkj30A4]

Radon is in Granite counter tops but its look excellent. So I don’t give the radiation to much though

[@markbernier8434]

Both pressure accumulators are too small for a normal house. Crazy system installed like that.

[@johnbecich9540]

I would have installed an electrically-controlled shut-off valve, instead of a flow restricter, at the feed line into the house and washing machine. That valve would shut on any occasion when the supply in the black radon-abatement tank goes too low. Further improvement might be afforded by a larger filter surface area on the supply side of said tank.

[@bryanmitchell5728]

Do you have to worry about radon with a concrete slab?

[@fasteddie4145]

the RN-222 decay chain does start with U-238 but Alpha decays directly from Ra-226.....

[@Wingsrangee]

Holy Sharkbites Batman!

[@tonybaggett1984]

Trey Andrews I was thinking that to. Never seen so many in an install. Nothing wrong with it just bumps up the cost quite a bit.

[@volvo09]

Tony Baggett - I don't see anything wrong with them if a homeowner does it, but I'd expect a pro to crimp it... Just my non pro opinion, but I really don't see those as a way to install _every_ connection unless you are a homeowner without the tools. Copper to pex I may be ok with them using one but I'd still want a solid soldered or crimped copper fitting from a pro installer.

[@tonybaggett1984]

volvo09 they are great for repairs or connecting non-similar material. Even adding the valve like he did is good. But when the installer of the system used that many, wow! For the cost of all those shark bites you could have bought a very nice crimping tool and enough fittings and crimp rings to plumb an entire house!

[@itech301]

Tony Baggett the guy that installed that was a fitting supplier

[@volvo09]

iTech - he certainly supplied the homeowner with some :)

[@GreatDivideSven]

Thanks, Richard, for your best

[@Guillotines_For_Globalists]

I see that gate valve with packing nut upside down by the radon mitigation device. NO NO as sediment will build up in the valve!

[@soyeljefe8502]

I'm confused why he didn't try to fix the amount of water entering the radon mitigation system. If there's a restriction on the flow, seems like you'd want to try to fix that first before reducing the outflow to the house.

[@morphorod]

That was fascinating.

[@kenc2257]

Richard solved the mystery--he's the Agatha Christie of plumbers. I'm glad his explanation to Kevin included the tidbit that the "faucet spitting" was radon-air! That wasn't good, and it's a safety issue for the homeowner to make sure it--the radon-air--get's properly exhausted above the house, and doesn't enter the living spaces (or basement).

[@keathflott3736]

I can't wait to see Kevin in Omaha, NE!

[@VinnyGjokaj]

I’ve never seen so many sharkbite quick connects in one house!

[@bullmoosepiper7732]

I was thinking the same thing. Not only is that almost a 100% ironclad guarantee of a flooded basement one day, but the amount of money spent on all those fittings probably rivals the elaborate filtration system. Whoa.

[@MsUltrafox]

Start with getting a frontloading washing machine. Saves tons of water and electricity.

[@AStanton1966]

The only downsize is that you have to put that special cleaning tablet in every month to clean them.

[@EagleKeeper86]

A Stanton1966 yup, front loaders suck because they never really dry out. Get a top load HE

[@stephensnell1379]

@@EagleKeeper86 actually front loading washing machines are better and more economical and they are the best ever and they will dry out if the door is left open,drying the rubber seal is even better

[@EagleKeeper86]

@@stephensnell1379 I’m not going to leave the door open because of an inferior design. The economical aspect you speak of is minimal at best with the newer HE top loading washers.

[@davidriley7659]

If it were me, i'd just add an extra tank after the radon air thingy. That acts as "surplus water" to supply to the pump, and allow for natural sediment settling (and gas removal). He's short 1-2 gallons/minute, so a 60 gallon tank would give him 30 minutes of continuous flow before the gargling occurs

[@moisty254]

The faucet was just excited to see the boyz

[@charlesxix]

Glad my water comes from a local water utility.

[@mikeclarke3005]

would the Radon be harmful to wash cloths in ? could run the washer before the Radon Mitigation ?

[@BUEAU]

@0:15 Try not to get any on ya, Richard LOL

[@mainelyelectric]

So technically shouldn’t there be a third float switch to tell the output pump not to come on if there’s not enough water in the black tank till it reaches a certain level then it will fill that pressure tank. To me it seems like the output pump is calling for more water then is available in the black tank and can’t keep up with the demand of the incoming water so if there was a third float switch to control the output pump not to come on when there’s not enough water then it would fix the issue without restricting the flow on the output at all!

[@RHammer9]

I thought the exact same thing. The only pro to the restrictor is a reliable steady flow of water. With a float switch you would be washing your hands and the water would just stop flowing.

[@benjimcdowell1627]

Don't you just love all of the freaking experts that thinks they know it all. Yes sarcasm. Come on people These guys are professionals so they must be doing something right

[@stephensnell1379]

People in the comments think they know what they are on about when in fact they know absolutely nothing compared to Richard in the video

[@eggss2]

That laugh at the end tho 😂

[@twennywonn]

I like that his mirror is hanging by a command hook.

[@nickm5911]

twennywonn yup

[@mantroid]

Judging by the lack of decor in that bathroom, I'd say he just moved in and is now discovering the true joys of home ownership.

[@volvo09]

About as sturdy as some of the sh*t you get at home stores I guess... I was lying in bed one night when I heard plate glass shatter. I go into the bathroom and found that the side mirror on the gheap medicine cabinet had fallen off! I could see It was held on with 3 strips of double sided tape (the white foam centered stuff) that sagged over the course of about 5 years from the weight of the glass and finally detached, letting the mirror fall onto the sink. I was shocked, a normal person would assume it'd be attached with a permanent adhesive of some sort.... But TAPE????

[@dfresh1524]

Haha good catch

[@JasonW.]

@@volvo09 someone at whatever company did a thorough cost analysis and engineering review. They determined it would be your problem and went as cheap as possible. After making all they would of that model, the money saved was effectively the cost of the reviews, so company was happy. Meanwhile, your mirror broke from cheapened installation.

[@wesnoble510]

Why not increase flow to the radon separator or restrict only at the washer instead of restricting the entire house? I would think it will lower the pressure in the shower in this case.

[@robertmccabe2993]

I see you used my favorite valve Shark bite

[@calledout8665]

On a regular water system could no anti knocks at water lines ends have the same symptom?

[@sqike001ton]

Wouldnt it also be a good idea to tap the washer before the raydon can it doesnt matter if the washer water has raydon in it

[@KILLKING110]

radon can stick to cloths due to the fact its a radioactive byproduct of uranium degradation and as a result it can be absorbed through your skin if you wash cloths in contaminated water

[@movieguy7398]

dig a 25' cistern to hold the treated water.

[@AStanton1966]

That's what everyone used in Key West, FL before city water.

[@skoronesa1]

Ball valves should not be used for limiting flow. He should have used a gate valve or at the least a globe valve.

[@tylerclark1991]

Gate valves are also very poor for throttling flow.

[@heatrick1]

I've been in the plumbing trade for 30 years--This is a complicated nightmare. Second the shark bite king.

[@heatrick1]

very disappointed in Richard using shark bites

[@auspicioustoot]

Rick Burnetski lol there’s nothing wrong with sharkbites.

[@jpian0923]

The future is copper-less. That means, no plumbers needed. You're welcome!

[@auspicioustoot]

James Pian no it isn’t 😂😂 smh

[@Westcoasthotsaw]

Soldering is fun

[@crumplezone1]

Blimey more pipes than a petroleum plant !

[@RossMalagarie]

His house is run by BP. Yeah I've worked at that house as a water quality tech supervisor regional manager. They didn't show you the guard shack and 5 techs that it takes to run that water system. But it is a thing of beauty. ;)

[@unused7629]

Jeff Jones more pipes than an english newspaper station

[@thomasbroking7943]

Brown filter is where I will always start..radon in the water would put me off, i don't know enough about it to know if it's worth the risk & expense to live there..must really love the property.

[@MrJoeyplatinum]

This guy has been there, and done that.........well versed at his trade.

[@EMBer3000]

Why not install a bigger reservoir or pressure tank to match the max outflow volume?

[@lambert1702]

Nice Speed Queens!

[@_A_343]

Excellent

[@jnagle351]

How did Annette restriction or changing the flow affect water pressure throughout the house?

[@JimHetrick1]

this video makes me realize that my well system is horrible

[@flat-earther]

Why

[@JCcanU]

if you have a well and your water test fine no softener or filters and you get air , it's going to be the pump check valve , when a pressure tank goes bad your pump will keep running Title when you get air in pipe do to Radon gas . When you get a call to go out to a farm 50 miles away and you know they have the radon system you take one out with you . I have credit with my supplier I have. took out New hot water tanks to find out it was the breaker tripping , just a bad 220 switch . the tank was only 5 years old , but it did not hurt to have one the ball valve will wash out over time with it being half closed . 3 dollar valve 10 years well worth the fix.

[@MrGigaHurtz]

Should swap the well tanks so the bigger one was on the filtered side