Plumbing

  • BUILDER Readers' 10 Favorite Products of '08

    Sliding door hardware tops the list.

  • 10 Things You Must Put in Your Next House

    Add these features to boost the value of your homes with your buyers.

  • Presidential debate shines light on ‘plumber’ with no license

    Joe Wurzelbacher, whom Sen. John McCain named last night, also has no plans to acquire the company he works for.

  • High Efficiency Toilets; Water Conservation; WaterSense Program

    High-efficiency toilets step up water conservation.

  • Battle of Fires Sprinkler Mandates Heats Up

    The debate over mandating sprinkler installation in new homes heats up.

  • Waste-Pipe Trade-offs

    My town has recently started allowing plastic waste-pipe instead of cast iron in residential construction, and a lot of my competitors are making the switch. What are the big differences between the two kinds of pipe?

  • Storefront

    ONE DRAWBACK OF A TRADITIONAL PLUMBING store or big-box retail outlet is that a buyer cannot actually see how a toilet or a faucet works. Plumbing giant Kohler has changed that: The company has opened its first freestanding store in the Chicago Merchandise Mart's LuxeHome.

  • Plug and Play

    PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL, AND MECHANICAL systems are among the most expensive and labor-intensive parts of a house.

  • Top Choices

    AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THERE IS NO Living Room Show, nor is there a Bedroom Show. Fortunately for all of us, though, there is the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show.

  • Hot-Blooded

    LARGE-CAPACITY WASHING MACHINES, dishwashers, luxury shower systems, and whirlpool tubs can put a severe strain on a standard water heater with even the largest-capacity tank. Eventually, the tank runs out of hot water and requires time to recover. One way to solve that problem is by using a...

  • Flush With Power

    Today, manufacturers spend millions in fluid mechanics research, use sophisticated software, and employ doctoral candidates to design toilets that use less water to remove more solid waste without clogging.

  • Project Contributors

    THE NEW AMERICAN HOME 2005 WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE without the generous support and contribution of products and services by the members of the NAHB's National Council of the Housing Industry (NCHI)/Supplier 100 and other consultants, contributors, installers, suppliers, and trade partners.

  • Journal Entry: June, 2001

  • Piping Be Gone

    By Alison Rice. Venting a home's plumbing system through air admittance valves, rather than piping, "reduces builders' risk and cost at the same time," says Luhr, president of Quality Built, a Poway, Calif., firm that inspects new homes for builders. These vent pipes "allow a little bit of air into...

  • Flashy Fixtures Are More Advanced

    The manufacturer answers that question with Neorest, a high-tech toilet/washlet cleansing system with new flushing technology and a wealth of techno features. People will embrace some products quickly, such as an electronic faucet, because it is familiar and affordable, but a pricey electronic...

  • Master Suite: Intimate Space

    The master suite is an intimate space, rather than an outlandish Vegas-style pad. Residents can enjoy the view of the golf course and mountains, a cozy fire in the fireplace, or watch the television housed in a custom wood cabinet from Collings Inc.

  • Whirlpools Still King of Relaxation

    Despite the consistent popularity of whirlpool baths, recent bathroom trends toward elaborate shower systems may make you wonder if you should swap a whirlpool for a shower tower in your next bathroom project.Although they aren't geared for the mass market, Jacuzzi's Private collection of whirlpool...

  • Low-Flow Lowdown

    Just released: "Water Closet Performance Testing," an NAHB Research Center study on low-flow toilets. Although the study is loaded with disclaimers about the chaotic and unpredictable process of flushing toilets, the reality is that this is a well-orchestrated, long overdue, toe-to-toe comparison...

  • New Geberit Pressure Assist Toilet Redefines Low Consumption Plumbing

    New Geberit pressure assist toilet redefines low consumption plumbing with an extra 6" to 9" of leg room. Unlike floor-mounted pressure assist toilets, Geberit's new design calls for the PF2® engineered pressure vessel and Geberit's proven in-wall carrier system to be installed between the...

  • Cozy Up: Kitchen, Bath Products

    With homeowners cocooning more than ever, the bathroom remains their great getaway. For consumers looking for the spa treatment without the time or expense, manufacturers are incorporating steam units into showers and chromotherapy--an alternative healing method that uses color--into tubs.