When you suspect a leak under the bathroom tile you should take a few steps to fix the leak before other problems develop. There are always those fixes that need to be done quickly before they escalate into bigger, more complex problems. Water leaks under the bathroom tile are especially dangerous and can result in structural damage. Here is a quick way to fix the leak beneath bathroom tiles.

Q. My toilet bubbles when flushed. The vents are clear, and "Bubba" who plumbed house has no clue. If you hold the flush lever down slightly when flushing and let a little water drain, it does not bubble. I tried lowering the water level in the tank, which helped some, but there's no more room to adjust it and I'm afraid any lower level may keep the toilet from flushing properly. What can I do to fix this?

Q. We purchased a Mancesa Jameco V-6000 4" center pedestal sink. The hanger bracket that was enclosed with the sink does not seem to fit. The holes on the back of the basin portion are wider than the hanger bracket is almost in total. Was the wrong bracket packaged with our sink or should it be this way?

Q. How can I get an old bathtub of iron steel out of my bathroom? Everything looks pretty cramped and the walls are of some laminated plastic material.

A. Bath tubs can be a real pain to remove since they are often installed and walls framed around them. The basic process is:

1. Open the walls around the tub back to the wall studs.
2. Remove the plumbing fixtures, faucet, handles, shower diverter, drain lever, and water valves.
3. Get under the tub and remove the drain trap and tailpiece.

Q. Is there a rule of thumb as to how to size an exhaust fan for a bathroom?

A. It's not that I always want to use larger fans, but depending on the use and size of room, larger fans can be essential to avoiding problems. I have had clients use 50 - 110 CFM units and when the family takes long hot showers, they are having problems. When one installs a steam shower/bath or heated whirlpools, it's even more critical.

Q. How do I install a shower pan correctly? I have removed my old shower, so everything is there, including the drain. Do I put down the membrane then dry pack grout over that? Do first put down a small amount of dry pack, then membrane, and then maybe durock?

Q. We are remodeling a bathroom and have ceramic tile on the walls in the shower enclosure and also about four feet high throughout the rest of the bathroom. We do not want to have to go through all the work of replacing the tile. We were wondering if we could just paint it?

A. You can paint tile with an acrylic paint. Recommended paint for tile, especially in a shower, would be a two-part epoxy. It's kind of tricky to work with, and smells pretty potent, but dries hard as nails and levels beautifully.

Every homeowner should have certain tools and supplies on hand in case of a plumbing emergency. Here are a few bathroom plumbing supplies that you should always have.

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