Tag Archives: water

Getting Ready To Winterize The Home

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When cold weather approaches, it becomes necessary to winterize the home. Winter weather can cause tremendous damage to a home, which is why it is important to complete a few tasks. Some jobs can be done without assistance, while others may require professional assistance. Here is a look at the best ways to get the house ready for winter.Plumbing - Winterize Your House

Windows

Windows with poor insulation will be a nightmare in the winter. Heat will escape and make electric bills extremely high. The first thing that a homeowner should consider is caulking areas around windows to block out a path for cold air to enter or warm air to escape. Other people should consider buying new storm windows. Storm windows can be expensive, so it may be better to research other ways to prepare windows.

One of the cheapest ways to insulate the areas around windows is to use a plastic film kit. These kits are readily available at a low price at any home improvement store. The plastic tapes over window panels in hopes of keeping warm air in the room.

Plants

It is essential to care for outdoor plants before winter sets in. Most plants will enter a dormant stage during cold months.  Before snow approaches, it is wise to apply a slow release fertilizer to any outdoor shrub or plant. It is also helpful to add a new layer of mulch. Potted plants should be taken inside or left in a protected area like a garage or covered porch. The pots should be wrapped with foam to protect the plant’s roots.

Roofs And Gutters

It is important to get on the home’s roof before winter strikes. The flashings must be in good condition and all loose or missing shingles must be replaced. The gutters must be cleaned to make sure all downspouts are free of debris. It may be smart to install leaf guards on downspouts which will keep water from causing damage to the home.

Plumbing

One of the most important ways to winterize a home is to properly prepare the plumbing. The first step is to examine all pipes and look for possible leaks or other problems. Even a tiny leak can become a tremendous headache as freezing temperatures approach. If a home contains insulated pipes, it is best to feel for any signs of moisture. If leaks are too severe, it may be time to consult a professional plumber.  This expert will be able to solve any problems and also recommend the best way to keep pipes from freezing.

One of the best ways to prevent frozen pipes is to add insulation to pipes that are exposed to the elements. The best place to apply this insulation is over pipes in attics, garages, or crawl spaces. Most home improvement stores carry preformed foam that fits easily on top of open pipes.

A hot water heater must be insulated as well. A hot water heater is a common place where heat can become lost, especially when it is located in a cold basement. An insulation blanket can be purchased at any hardware store and placed over the unit. It is a very cost effective way to maximize energy usage.

When a home has an evaporator cooler, it is essential to have it drained proper to the winter chill. The water must be turned off in the house and the unit must be powered off as well. The water must be drained from the cooler and the supply line. This is a good opportunity to perform some cleaning inside the unit. The last step is to cover the equipment to keep it dry all winter.

Outside of the home, certain plumbing issues must be addressed before winter as well. All garden hoses must be disconnected and drained. This will keep hose bibs free from causing damage to exterior pipes.

If a home is located in an extremely cold climate, it may be best to install a shutoff valve inside of the faucet. All pipes must be completely drained by opening the bibs and letting all water escape. Without a shutoff valve, the hose bib can be covered or insulated during winter months. This is a cheap way to keep pipes from freezing.

If a home has a sprinkler system, this must be winterized as well. Similar to the hose bib, this irrigation system must be turned off and flushed of water. This process will help to avoid headaches when spring and summer arrives.

The air conditioner pipes must be drained and the water shutoff valve must be turned off. Some people go away for the winter season to a warmer climate. It is best to keep the heat turned on, but at a low 55 degrees. This will keep the temperature from dipping too low and causing problems.

Finally, it is essential for a homeowner to locate the main water valve into the house. When an emergency arises, it will be essential to know where the water can be shut down quickly.  The water main controls all of the water that enters the home.

There are many tasks involved with winterizing a home. It is essential to seal all air leaks and to take care of the plumbing inside and outside of the home. When a home is properly winterized, it will be energy efficient and free from damage. Despite the small costs involved, it is always better to take preventative measures instead of making emergency repairs.

What to do with Frozen Pipes

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Millions of families across the country have a catastrophe somewhere in their homes due to frozen pipes. Their lives are disrupted every winter with flooded rooms and high cost repair bills. However, if a pipe freezes and the response is swift it is possible to thaw the pipe before it bursts. Pipes normally freeze when they are adjoining outside walls. The most vulnerable to freezing are those running through unheated quarters, and once the water is frozen, the water flow will be cut off, leading to split pipes due to ice expansion.

The first piece of evidence that your pipe is frozen is when you awake in the morning after a very cold night and turn on your tap. If there is no surge of water and only a trickle flows down and abruptly stops; you have a frozen pipe. So thawing the pipe will be necessary. Here is advice on what to do with frozen pipes.

. First, locate where the pipe is frozen, then switch off the key water supply. This move will avert the water from spurting out once the pipe is thawed. Afterwards, open the taps in the house.

. If water is not flowing anywhere inside the home, a pipe close to the water meter is probably frozen. Place your hand on the meter and the nearby exposed pipes. If the pipes are extremely cold, that is a sign that they are probably frozen.

. If water flows in just one part of the home, a pipe in an exterior wall or un-padded crawl space is most likely the culprit. Try opening bathroom and kitchen sink cabinets to permit warm air from the home to heat-up the pipes.

. After locating the frozen pipe, open the distressed faucet completely while opening other hot water faucets as well. When the water begins to stream from the distressed pipe, secure all faucets to a dribble. Do not attempt to completely shut the distressed faucet pending the total defrosting of the pipe and after water is flowing freely.

Other workable methods and one of the safest thawing techniques involves a moderate heat source hair dryer, household iron, or heat lamp. Propane torches or other open direct flames will heat the pipes too fast, possibly causing an explosion. Some people may suggest putting rags into boiling water and wrapping them around the frozen pipe. A professional plumber would never recommend such a technique since obviously it would be quite messy with an unpredictable outcome.

When thawing pipes with a hair dryer or heat lamp at all times work from an open faucet toward the frozen part. This will permit steam to be released and from being trapped by ice, which can result in a burst pipe. With the faucet open, it is easy to see when the ice has dissolved. A great way to prevent pipes from freezing in the first place is to wrap them in electrical heating cable, afterwards covering the pipe with insulation to preserve heat. A heating cable can be utilized to thaw a frozen pipe as well.

Why Use a Whole Home Water Filter System

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There are several reasons why a person should use a whole house water filter.

  1.  There will be clean water in all of the rooms in the house. This is because the water filter will be hooked up to the water system of the house.
  2. The chemicals will be removed from the water as soon they enter into the water system. Therefore, they will no longer be released in the air.
  3. Healthfulness that a person will get from drinking the water that has been filtered since it will be clean.
  4.  There will not be any soap scum left on your dishes. Most of the time, the soap scum is left on your dishes when you have hard water. When the water is filtered, then that hard water will be taken care of.
  5.  Relief for people who suffer from asthma and allergies. This is because the air that they breathe will be cleaner and the water filter will alleviate a lot of the effects of the asthma and allergies. Therefore, a person will be able to breathe better in their own house.
  6. Your clothes will be cleaner. This is because the chemicals in the water will be removed from the water before you wash your clothes. Therefore, those chemicals will no be on your clothes when they come out of the washer.
  7.  Drinking contaminated water. When your water is filtered then you drastically reduce the chances of a person drinking or showering in water that is contaminated.
  8. Protection. This means that you will be protected from breakdowns that happens in your water treatment and sanitation systems.
  9.  Having a whole house water filter is the only true way of filtering out the water that comes through your shower. This is because it has the ability to remove all of the chlorine and any other chemicals that could be in your water.
  10.  The whole house water filter protects you from any radiation that you could be exposed to with non-filtered water. This could happen if a person drinks or inhales any of dangerous chemicals that could be in your water.

These are the top ten reasons that a person should use a home water filter system.

 

The Basics of Plumbing and Drains

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Plumbing is all about gravity.

The bathroom is the one room in the house that is all about plumbing and drains. Getting water into the room and getting the waste out. It sounds complicated, but it really runs on a simple principle, gravity. Of course, we would not want to forget that modern bathrooms also have a supply of hot water. No one wants a cold bath or even worse an ice cold shower. Somehow hot water needs to come into the bathroom. The hot water heater can take credit for that and you can’t forget all that dirty water and waste that needs a place to go. Sewers often aren’t popular places, but where would be without them?

How does clean water come into your home? Pressure causes the water to flow up through pipes, around corners and zigzag its way into the faucet at the top of the sink. You turn the value and it flows until it is shut off. Cold water is ready all the time, but the hot water has to go through another system. It will need to pass through a hot water heater where it is maintained at about 160 degrees. The thermostat on the heater will need to be adjusted to what is safe and comfortable.

Most homes or businesses are on public sewer systems but some of them may use a septic system. It really doesn’t matter because it works the same way. The water and waste leaves your drain using the force of gravity. It is usually all downhill. It sounds easy but there is more involved. To work correctly there needs to be vents to pull the water along. On the top of the house you can often see small vents sticking up. These are placed there to bring air into the drainage system. Without them, the drains would not flow smoothly. Plumbing and sewer issues can be difficult to fix for most homeowners and often it is necessary to call a professional plumber to unclog a drain.

The bathroom is full of fixtures. The plumbing and drains could not work without these fixtures. Toilets, sinks and bathtubs are all necessary for a modern working restroom. If a fixture is not working correctly, it is possible to shut the water off to only that fixture. It can be repaired without affecting the rest of the bathroom fixtures. There is a main shut off value for all the plumbing in the house and it is a good idea for everyone in the house to know where it is and how to operate it.

Plumbing is an interesting thing and easy to understand if you catch onto the basic principle. Most plumbing will need to be done by a license plumber who understands all the codes and requirements. Homeowners need to check before they try to change any of the drains or pipes that supply water into the home. Installing a new sink or toilet can be done by the homeowner if they read and follow all the directions. Take some time and think it through before trying to tackle a plumbing project.

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Water Plumbing in the Home Made Easy

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People are always told of the importance of water. Moreover, the conservation of water is an issue that many people take seriously. The need for water in order for people to survive daily life is undeniable. Water is a necessity that proves its worth in all sorts of daily activities. Thus home water plumbing is also a need to be understood and appreciated by people if they wish to truly maintain a good household.

Whenever water plumbing comes to mind, thinking about water supply is most probably what follows. Plumbing, after all, is all about managing the supply of water. It is important that houses get enough supply of water through a pipe that can efficiently spread water all throughout the household. Moreover, it is important that the water a house receives is clean enough to be used for cleaning other items as well.

It’s good for people to monitor their monthly water consumption. This would not only help them check if they are charged correctly for the water they use but they would also be aware of how much water they consume. Too much water consumption may help people realize the importance of conserving water and of using water appropriately.

If there is water supply, naturally there is a drainage system. More specifically, it is important that homeowners make sure that they have a stable and secure waste drainage system in order to keep things in order in their homes. As the name implies, waste is a very serious matter. A good waste drainage system is very important so as to avoid unwanted accidents.

Next to be considered are the fixtures through which the water shall flow. Most common fixtures found in a home would be faucets, sinks and drains. Bath tubs and such are a few of those fixtures that are not commonly found in most homes. It is also very important to consider the type, style and size of the fixtures to be used that should be in accordance with the water supply’s strength and the capacity of the bathroom to hold such fixtures.

Water plumbing also involves people knowing how to operate basic water controls within their homes. An example would be their main water supply valve. Being able to know how to turn off the water supply can help them whenever checking for water supply or home water plumbing problems.

Basic plumbing can be learned by almost anyone. Finding an experienced plumber who can teach you the basics of plumbing especially at home could be a challenge but worth a shot. Knowing how to go around your home’s plumbing system could take some time, but it can be very important in the long run. Dealing with water can be a headache especially when problems start to arise. The bathroom is a part of the house that is taken for granted many times. People use the bathroom every day, any time of the day. Naturally, having a bathroom that’s ready for use without having to worry about problems is definitely a better way to live.

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