My Blog

What to do if your water heater is leaking

04/24/2012 17:56:00

You need Flash Player in order to view this.

Hot Water Heater is Leaking

ht What to check if your electric or gas water heater is leaking.

Write your post here.

Before you start here are some bathroom remodeling tips

03/06/2012 18:53:00

You need Flash Player in order to view this.

Bathroom Remodeling Design Tips

Write your post here.

Painting Kitchen Cabinets

03/27/2011 20:42:00

You need Flash Player in order to view this.

Painting Kitchen Cabinets

Painting kitchen cabinets requires getting paint made for kitchens, removing the cabinet doors from the cabinets, applying a tinted primer and making sure the cabinets are clean and sanded. Use a seal...

Write your post here.

New and easy way to install glass block walls

03/23/2011 21:28:00

You need Flash Player in order to view this.

How to install Glass Block

You can install glass block yourself with these simple tips from AsktheBuilder.com host Tim Carter. You can make glass block windows, showers, walls and much more once you learn the basics of glass bl...

Write your post here.

Simple and Easy Home Maintenance Tips

03/02/2011 22:21:00

Simple & Easy Home Maintenance Tips

There’s an old saying: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This is especially true in your home. Preventative maintenance takes just a few minutes of time, but can keep your family safe and minimize costly repairs in the future. If you want to avoid unpleasant situations like a flooded laundry room or a thermostat that roasts or freezes everyone inside, check out these easy tips, compiled as part of Professional Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractor Awareness Week:

Toilet:

Is your toilet leaking? To find out, add a small amount of red food coloring to the tank, and then check the toilet bowl later. If the water has turned red, water is seeping through from the tank, and you may need to change some tank parts.

Washing Machine:

Cracked or defective/leaky washing machine hoses are one of the leading causes for Homeowners Insurance claims. Check your hoses periodically for leaks, and replace plastic hoses every three years.
Make sure that the drain hose is secured to the washing machine outlet box. If not secured properly, the pressure could cause the hose to jump out of the drain outlet when the pump activates, spilling tremendous volumes of water onto your floor.

Refrigerator:

· The small water line that goes from your refrigerator—called a capillary line—can easily become kinked. Plastic lines also become brittle from use, which leads to leaks. Both situations can cause extensive damage to the walls, floor, and cabinets around the refrigerator. Be sure to check and periodically replace brittle lines and check metal lines for crimps or kinks.

Garbage Disposal:

Run plenty of cold water when using your garbage disposal

Do not overload it or dispose of things like bones or corn husks.
Be sure your dishwasher does not drain into the disposal.

Pipes:

Know where your water cut-off valves are located, and know the difference between the outside water cut-off and the inside water cut-off in case of emergency.
If leaving your home for extended periods during winter months, set your thermostat at approx. 60 degrees and leave your cabinet doors open inside. As an added precaution, turn the water off. If the pipes do freeze, turn the heat up, open all cabinet doors, and close your crawlspace vents.
To help prevent clogs, fit all your tubs and shower drains with a strainer that catches hair and soap chips, and clean the strainer regularly. Be sure that overflow holes on tubs and sinks are clear and open to prevent water damage to floors and ceilings.
Do not rinse fats or cooking oils down the kitchen sink, as they can solidify in the pipes and cause clogs.
If you have a pipe that is completely clogged, avoid using caustic liquid drain openers (like Drano or Liquid Plumber). The caustic ingredients can get trapped in your pipes and could cause serious damage. Some people try environmentally safe drain maintenance additives, but these are more effective as preventative maintenance and are not meant for use on completely obstructed drains.
If you can’t snake it yourself, call a professional!

Water Heater:

Always shut off the power or gas before doing anything to your water heater.
At least once a year, drain water from the tank to remove sediment buildup.
If your water heater is gas, periodically inspect the water heater burner. The flame under the heater should appear blue with yellow tips. If it’s mostly yellow, or if it’s sooty under there, your flue may be clogged, which is a dangerous situation.
At least once a year, have your water heater inspected by a service technician.

Air Conditioner:

Check the condensate hose to be sure it is not blocked with algae.
Clean the outside condensing unit screen of leaves.
Listen for unusual noises and call a professional when necessary.

Humidifiers

A neglected in-duct humidifier can breed mildew and bacteria or add too much moisture to a house. After the heating season ends, don't forget to pull the plug, shut the water valve and drain the unit. If the unit has a water reservoir, drain and clean it with white vinegar, a mix of one part chlorine bleach to eight parts water or muriatic acid.
Clean mist-type humidifiers regularly to remove mineral deposits.

Thermostat:

While thermostats rarely fail outright, they can degrade over time as mechanical parts stick or lose their calibration. Older units will send faulty signals if they've been knocked out of level or have dirty switches. To recalibrate an older unit, use a wrench to adjust the nut on the back of the mercury switch until it turns the system on and, using a room thermometer, set it to the correct temperature. Caulk the hole where the thermostat wire comes through the wall, or a draft could trick it into thinking the room is warmer or colder than it really is.

Furnace Filter:

Most houses with forced-air furnaces have a standard furnace filter made from loosely woven spun-glass fibers designed to keep it and its ductwork clean. Unfortunately, they don't improve indoor air quality. If you want better air quality, you need to upgrade to a media filter, which sits in between the main return duct and the blower cabinet. Made of a deeply pleated, paper-like material, media filters are at least seven times better than a standard filter at removing dust and other particles.
Although media filters can last up to two years, their tight weave can restrict a furnace's ability to blow air through the house. To insure a steady, strong airflow through the house, choose a filter that matches your blower's capacity.

When you are ready to hire a professional contractor to take care of more serious home problems, visit www.ECHI-LLC.com.

How to turn off main water supply to your house

02/26/2011 21:41:00

You need Flash Player in order to view this.

How to Turn Off Main Water Service

Turning off a main water supply requires finding the shutoff valve, which is typically in the garage area, and turning on a faucet to let any excess water come out after it's been turned off. Locate t...

Write your post here.

How to repair a wobbly ceiling fan

02/13/2011 22:01:00

You need Flash Player in order to view this.

How to Repair a Ceiling Fan

A wobbly ceiling fan can be dangerous. Learn tips on how to repair and maintain a ceiling fan using a blade balancing kit in this free online home improvement video. Expert: Greg Lim Bio: Greg Lim...

Write your post here.

Tips on buying Tile

02/13/2011 21:51:00

You need Flash Player in order to view this.

Tips on buying Tile

Buying tile involves considering the size of the space, and picking out a tile size that is proportionate to the area in a material that complements the room, such as travertine, ceramic or glass. Pic...

Write your post here.

Tips to help you design your dream kitchen!

02/01/2011 10:11:00

You need Flash Player in order to view this.

Kitchen Remodeling Ideas and Tips: Before You Call a Professional

http://bit.ly/hstyler1 ► Nadia's kitchen remodeling tips - what to do before you call a professional ○ Doing your Homework - Make a budget - Define your priorities - Ask around - Research ...

Write your post here.

How to paint edges the FAST way!

02/01/2011 09:53:00

You need Flash Player in order to view this.

How to paint your house the FAST way! (part 1)

New product from www.painthelpers.com. Learn how to paint your house twice as fast and get very clean lines with this simple trick. Fast way to paint around doors, windows, ceilings, baseboards, cro...

Write your post here.