$1,800 to stratum my 1400 sq. ft. house.WTF ?
I have a 1400 sq. ft. home on pier & beam, adjectives it needs is some shimming to help close something like 4 or 5 doors, all of the blocking is pretty much in place, reasonably a few, I might add. It just really desires some tweaking in several places,…

$60 per foot for Rinnai vent pipe?
My plumber says the vent pipe for a Rinnai tankless water electric fire costs $60 per foot, plus the cost of the labor to install it. It’s concentric vent pipe, with the exhaust gas in an inside pipe, and the intake nouns in the area between that inside pipe…

“ok how does one verbs black mold of attice boards underneath contemporary roof boards”?
i had a new roof put on 2 yrs ago = so we tore the celling down to put unusual dry wall= there was black mold on celling of trial baords put down when the roof was done =so befor putting new dry wall up how do you verbs the…

(16 amp?) electric cooker point – how much will this cost?
Our current cooker only uses a standard 13 amp plug socket (which is situated behind the cooker). We are thinking of getting a topical cooker and this will require hard wiring by a qualified electrician into a 16 amp cooker point. I hold two questions:- 1. Can the standard…

**ROAHCHES** please HELP??
I live in an apartment. We have abundant roaches & centipedes. My boyfriend bought the roach traps where it has food & the roach brings it to his little kith and kin & then they supposedly die. BUT i wanted to take the roach motel or the…

1.5 yr. ancient dryer is bang! Help!?
We do a lot of laundry here, and it still dries ok but the banging is making me crazy! Any notion what is causing that? Is it something I can fix or do I need to call upon a repair person? Don’t recall if it’s still beneath…

10 year antiquated owner fry pump?
compressor is locked up. two choices $1000. to replace compressor or $4600. to replace entire heat pump inside and out? what would be the best? are these quotes average?

10′ X 30″ pool- Is a vacuum required if it have a filter?
It is one of those inflatable pools that includes a filter with chlorine tablets. Despite my efforts of keeping it covered when not within use and stepping in a pan of marine to prevent debris from getting in, the wet is somewhat cloudy and mud is settled on the…

12 volt out door lighting I enjoy 4 walkway lights 7 watts respectively and a 150 watt hadco transformer.?
Im having bulbs burnout every few weeks? im using 12 guage wire.voltage at respectively fixture is 11.9 to 12.2 volts the lights are within 60ft from the trans former. voltage at the house fixture is 118 volts. why are the bulbs burning out.?

125 Amp Convertible Sub Panel?
yes what is the convertible mean. i want to put this in my garage. i hold a 200 amp box in my basement and 2 (double) 30 amp breakers running 12/3 which i believe is 220 and its running nearly 100 feet. can i put this 125 Amp…

1956 GE fridge wants freon?
I have a 1956 GE combonation fridge that I restored. I love it! But it is not keeping things very cold these ultimate few days. Does it need freon? I have be using it for about a year now near no problems. If it does need freon, how do…

1yr ripened Troy-Bilt 21″ push mower…Honda engine…starts next dies after cranks…?
last night it worked properly while i mowed the front yard, but starting losing power (like if you got into some really giant grass and it was a little much for the mower). when i get to the back it just stopped. it would crank when i pulled the cord,…

2 opening mirror?
How do you identify a 2 way mirror from a one way mirror? gratefulness.

2006 Whirlpool estate electric dryer problem. Please oblige.?
I purchased a house with appliances included. The 2006 electric Whirlpool Estate Dryer looks brand new (very little lint even contained by the trap). First time running it blew my 220 line fuse (just thought it was an matured fuse). After replacing it dryer went a full cycle fine. The…

220 volt outlet ac plug is 3 foot too short?
Is it okay to use an extension cord? I only need a few foot. 220volt uses half the amps so wouldn’t it be safer than the people using extension cords contained by a 110 outlet? Its’s a 3 prong square outlet not the circle type. If…

220-volt outlet, incorrect voltage — effect on dryer?
I’ve had one dryer basically burn out, and a second one runs but does not grill. (The first one was a more conventional one, while the second one is a very electronic Whirlpool Senseon.) A friend be here to try to diagnose the problem yesterday. He found nothing wrong…

23 spray head!?
23 spray heads? I was walking beside my friend when i saw someones underground sprinklers turn on and he had 23 sprinklers to 1 zone! how is this possible, it was purely a residential no pump and they didn’t have that much pressure but they still worked to do the…

230 vs 115 V nouns conditioner?
Would it make any difference in my electricity bill to use a 12K btu’s nouns conditioner if its a 230V or a 115V some people have told me that the 230 V will be cheaper but I’m not sure. thankfulness

230V 1 phase pool pump electric wiring?
My boss asked me to install a new pump into a pool and the person who took it out didn’t splodge the wires. if there is one green and two black wires. do i just hook the two blacks to L1 and L2 on the motor and the ground…

3 course switch- 2 hots and 1 colourless?
When updating my wall switches, I didn’t transfer the wires correctly. I have 2 red wires and a white line. While testing each flex seperatly, 1 red wire and 1 white wire made the device night light up and 1 red wire did not light. I’m assuming this medium it’s…

3 phase converter cross-examine?
What is the cheapest/most efficient device to convert a delta phase (208) to a 120 volts?? We only hold 70 amps ,(#4) coming in through the 120v feeds, and yearning to increase the total amperage possibilities,and were wondering if we could transform or convert the 208v to 120v,…

3 seperate switches, socket recieves power but no lights?
I decided to update my switches, now none of the lights turn on from this specific box. 2 way-3 way- 2 route set up. With the switch on, the socket of the correct light will detect power using a voltmeter (120w). I have checked the electric wiring and reset the…

3 swimming pool question…?
Just wondering if it is safe to run my swimming pool pump when it is raining? Also, should it be covered when not in use to protect it from the elements? Lastly, I cleaned the filter for the first time today after have it installed Monday & it was all…

3 yr frail home. The interior pantry door swings unseal unless fully shut. Worked fine until just now. Suggestion?
Home is 3 yrs old. Door never had a problem. Now, it slowly swings open all the way by itself unless it one shuts it fully closed by the latch. Door is within a typically pre fab builder door jam inside our very nice kitchen near wood flooring. Has…

3.75 hsp push mower stopped running..?
I put a new spark plug in. My husband and I thought it might be river in gas so dumped out old gas and put unusual gas into mower starts but then stops running. My husbad even pushed it about 3 foot steps and it stopped running. What could…

3/4 ton A/C system how much freon does it rob to crowd the system?
Does the freon go on the cold side or normal heat pipe?

30 match next, propane torch still won’t ignite?
What does it mean when you are trying to light a propane torch, in attendance is plenty of gas in it, it worked 15 minutes ago, but now you preserve lighting matches and holding it to the gas which is coming out but it doesn’t ignite? I can’t produce a…

30 Year old-fashioned Masonite Siding Problems?
Would 30 yr old masonite (fibre cement ) siding that has be wettened from watering plants from last owner be causing mildew smell within house? I have done everyi interior tear out including undlerlayment. no source of mildew but still stinky house. Does the dampen permeate thru that kind of…

42 inch big eyeshade get showery and shut sour?
it is pouring where i live and my roof leaked within my apartment and it was all down the vertebrae of my 42 inch akai big screen. It was on at the time. I didnt hear it pouring because i be listening to music but i turned around to look…

7 wires on a room hanger-on – what is respectively lead for?
Had a floor model room fan that had 3 speeds. It only just quit working. I took it apart & saw that under the touch control panel, there be a blown fuse on the board. I replaced it but still wouldn’t work. My wife…

More Maintenance and Repairs questions please visit : HomeAVA.com More than 13,000 Home DIY Questions and Answers

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The current economic climate may have many of you thinking your dream of owning a property in Portugal is slipping further from your grasp. But there is a way, even in these difficult times to achieve your Portuguese property dream without breaking your bank balance.

Renovating, restoring and modernising a run down property is a route more and more people are following, which can be financially beneficial.

Your ideal property may feature a stunning kitchen, modern bathrooms and a swimming pool, but purchasing a house completely ready to move into and enjoy, means you will have to pay full market value to a private individual or builder.

However by buying a property requiring modernisation and restoration work, which has potential, can save you money. Allowing you to add value with each stage of works. In most cases once finished renovation projects will have cost less than purchasing a property already completed.

Ruins & Restoration

Rural Cottages

Character Property

Historic Manors

The financial advantages of renovating and restoring are immediate as these types of properties often cost a great deal less to buy with reduced purchase price, costs and taxes. By spreading the cost of the repair work over a longer period of time can also be less taxing on your bank account. And by carrying out some of the work yourself, savings on labour costs can be made.

Renovating and restoring a property is not for the faint hearted though as there are many pitfalls to be avoided to create your dream property. Especially so in a foreign country where there are added complications of language barriers and different rules and regulations. But it is possible and with the minimum amount of stress.

By choosing to renovate a property you give yourself plenty of choice. Portugal is a country blessed with a wide range of properties many in varying states of disrepair, to suit all tastes from rustic cottages through to baronial mansions. Look at any estate agency website and you may be surprised at the amount available for sale from as little as 20,000€.

However the key to a successful renovation and restoration project is selecting the right property. Simply purchasing the cheapest property available is not always the most financially sensible thing to do.

Generally restoration property falls into two categories, those requiring full planning permission and those that don’t need permission but can be restored immediately as a DIY project.

“Although there are many ruined properties available in Portugal, most at really attractive prices” says Derek Harper of Chavetejo Estate Agents in Tomar. “Buying one in very bad condition without public utilities connected doesn’t always make financial sense in the long run. Getting mains water and electricity connected isn’t as simple as making a phone call and in most cases can mean a lengthy and costly planning application, delaying the start of renovation works by months and sometimes years.”

Choosing a property in a slightly better condition with utilities already connected can save you thousands in the longer term and mean renovation work can begin as soon as you have decided on the finished design.

Avoiding properties requiring planning permission also means you can save money on the renovation work, carrying out some of the less skilled jobs yourselves. However even if you choose to bring in the professionals it doesn’t have to cost the earth.

Deciding to employ a builder in Portugal doesn’t have to be financially painful. There is a wealth of skilled tradesmen available and despite the fall in the exchange rate, they charge a fraction of the cost of their UK counterparts. Reputable builders can charge as little as 10€ an hour with labourers earning around 8€ an hour.

Generally the quality of workmanship in Portugal is very high, but it is important if you do decide to employ outside help, to get at least three quotes from reputable builders as well as references from previous clients. Being able to inspect jobs they have carried out will also give you peace of mind on the quality of your finish.

Getting your lawyer to draw up a contract with the builder you decide to use is not only a good idea, but will put paid to any demands for extra money and allow a clear method of stage payments for the each section of the work as it is carried out.

Checking out local builders merchants and DIY supermarkets is a good way of ensuring you are not being over charged for goods by builders and it will help you decide on the finished specifications of your property.

Remembering not to get carried away on the renovation work is also imperative. Taking into account the possible resale value of the property, thinking carefully about what you want to achieve during your design period will help you budget accordingly. Common mistakes made during some property renovations are adding expensive features, which don’t necessary add value to the property.

If you are not going to be present in Portugal for the duration of the renovation work, but hundreds of miles away in the United Kingdom it is worth investing a little of your budget employing a project manager.

Although it may not be a cost you initially think about, it is well worth spending a little extra on a project manager who can oversee the job on a day-to-day or week-to-week basis, reporting back to you frequently to ensure works are carried out on time and to your specification. In the long run this can save you undue heartache and sleepless nights.

So if you want a home in Portugal and are willing to tackle a renovation project, now is the time to do it. Property prices in Portugal may be stable, but owners are keenly aware of the world wide economic climate and room for negotiation even on cheaper properties is more likely and you could bag your self a bargain, which you and your family can enjoy designing and renovating.

For more info on portugal

www.gekkoportugal.com

www.chavetejo.com

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The tasks involved in selling your home are quite numerous. Firstly, you need to advertise it using several media and methods in order to guarantee its exposure to as many buyers as possible. Home staging strategies can make your home more appealing. This act specially puts special emphasis on the presentation and appearance of your property.

There are many techniques in staging your home. Initially, you have to understand that this process is altogether different from preparing your home for sale. Your pre-sale preparations before the house is put on the market usually includes major repairs, maintenance, frequent clean ups and sometimes, even renovations. Home staging is the process when you need to concentrate on the aesthetic value of your home. This includes organization, design and overall visual impact. The very essence of this act is to massively enhance the appearance of your home so as to ensure its quick selling with the highest possible price. And you can all do these techniques without spending loads of cash.

Improve your curb appeal

Here is a fun activity:

-         Stand a few meters away from your home. Take a good look of your property.

-         Take some pictures and jot down notes of areas you think need repairs, repainting or other maintenance task. Concentrate on several parts – roof, walls, landscaping, garden, garage and basement (if this part is also shown on the façade).

-         Walk away from your house. Compare it against other properties in your neighborhood. Evaluate objectively whether your home stands out or merely blends in.

-         Do this once in the morning and during nighttime. This is because the lighting may affect the way your house looks.

-         Once you are done with taking every detail into account, accomplish a working budget for all the areas that need enhancements.

Repainting chipped surfaces, mowing the lawn, adding homey furniture pieces on the front porch, eliminating weed from gutters, planting new flower beds, and cleaning up windows and shutters are only very few of other things you can do to improve your façade inexpensively.

Make every space look very relaxed

Especially the living area, entertainment room or any other family space indoors or outdoors, you have to make sure these emanate the feeling of relaxation. Arrange the furniture in a manner the space is inviting and comfortable. You can also try to repaint a particular room with warm colors. You can consult DIY sites about neutral paint colors appropriate for each room. These sites can also help you create a palette of contrasting and/or complementing colors within one space without making it look overly done or pretentious. You can also add plants into these rooms to make the room look more refreshing.

“Declutter” your spaces

Get rid of any fixture, appliances, utensils and other unnecessary things that would make your kitchen look cluttered. Keep this area look really spacious. You will give the buyers impression they can spend hours of cooking, eating and chatting in this area without easily bumping into each other all the time. Also, if it is “decluttered”, it would look cleaner and safer for food preparation. Additional items you can put here are pots of herbs and aromatic flowering plants. The area would then look more enticing and smell really good too. Mint, lavender and basil are great herbal plants that also give aromatic smells.

As for the bedrooms, you can highlight comfort in these areas by clearing out your closets. Once the cabinets are free from any article of clothing, they would appear bigger. Adorn the beds with soft sheets and plush pillows.

Make the buyers envision themselves living in your home

You can easily do this by removing all your personal belongings and photos in any space. For one, if you leave your family photos hanging on the walls, the buyers would feel like they are just visiting your home. Make them feel as if this is really going to be their new home.

With these very easy steps, you can entice and easily wow buyers. They might even try to out bid each other just to have your lovely home. And as you are faced with attractive offers, you then have the luxury to pick out the best deal.

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I don’t have to tell you that video gaming systems are really hot these days. From Nintendo WII to the Xbox 360 to the various portable hand held units, video gaming has been big business since the early days of the Atari and a few of its contemporaries. The technology that goes into these highly advanced pieces of machinery is truly remarkable. The graphics that these systems produce today versus what some of the earlier gaming systems put out truly is the difference between night and day.

That in large measure is why people today absolutely love their video gaming systems. The Xbox 360 is one such system.

The dreaded “Red Ring of Death”

Today there are 10′s of millions of owners of the Xbox 360 and every day many of them “go on the fritz”, suffering what is commonly called the Red Ring of Death (RROD), or you may know it as an e74 error. This happens when the console or the power supply (as Microsoft states) suffers some type of hardware failure, which in turn causes 3 red lights to begin flashing in a semi-cycle on the front of the console itself.

I won’t get into why many of these systems are suddenly becoming inoperable, as that is beyond the scope of this article. The fact remains that when you have a Xbox 360 you’ve not only spent hundreds on, but also hundreds more on games themselves only to suddenly find it sitting somewhere in your home not working, and if you love your system as much as I love mine you may be suddenly and unfortunately facing a decision as to how to handle your Xbox 360 repair.

As someone who has undoubtedly shelled out large sums of money on their Xbox 360 it’s easy to see that when it finally stops working (assuming yours has) the first thing you probably wanted to how is, how much is this going to cost me?

Xbox 360 Repair Cost?

Xbox 360 repair cost I was able to find can vary anywhere from $59.99 to $140, with the greater of the two amounts being what Microsoft charges for those people holding expired warranties, not to mention the extra expense of having to ship it back to them.

Again you have the cost, in total about $170, including shipping. Then you have to wait as long as 8 weeks (a minimum of 8 weeks, could be longer depending on their backlog of repairs) to have it repaired and returned to you.

If, however, you’re still contemplating what to do about your broken Xbox 360 and you’re leaning towards having Microsoft repair your system, then that’s certainly your decision to make. But is that your cheapest alternative and therefore your best decision you can make at this point?

When my system went down, I was a little hesitant about what to do but then I found another way, (a way that didn’t include the high cost of Microsoft intervention) in fact a much quicker, less expensive way.

How to fix an Xbox 360?

Repairing an Xbox 360 is much easier than you could imagine. In fact as long as you have the right repair guide and the proper tools you can repair your system yourself in as little as 2 hours. And that’s exactly what I did, I located an awesome Xbox 360 repair manual and along with using some basic tools I had around the house I was able to get my system up and running in no time flat.

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Thinking of possibly using two drills (one masonry heavy duty hammer drill) other for everything else

Anyone have any experience with Ridgid 3/8'' r7000? The reviews said that the clutch didn't secure bits properly and had tightening issues.
chuck not clutch in above

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Every year, at least 200, 000 British people end up in the hospital because of DIY-related accidents. If you want to make home repairs yourself, how can you avoid injury?

The most important thing is to use common sense. Never attempt home repairs without being 100% sure of what you are doing. Accidents can occur from using the wrong tool, doing a job wrong, or trying to do a two-person job by yourself. You especially should be careful if your proposed repair requires you to work with gas or electricity. These volatile substances can cause explosions or fires, as well as fatally poisoning or shocking you.

Many people attempt home repairs out of a sense of pride or obligation. Men especially may fall into this type of thinking. Some men think their masculinity itself is at stake if they cannot perform a needed home repair. Women sometimes pressure their husbands or boyfriends to repair items in the home because they also mistakenly think that it’s a man’s job to do this. Similarly, some women may attempt to perform repairs themselves out of rebellion against this attitude.

Simply put, home repair should never have to do with your feelings about yourself as a man or a woman. You should only perform home repair if you are qualified and confident about your skills.

You should also never attempt to do a job yourself that requires more than one person. Some people’s pride requires them to attempt to do everything themselves. But sometimes you need an assistant for safety’s sake. Falls off wobbly ladders or injuries from a garage door falling on you can easily be avoided by having someone else hold equipment or help you to carry it.

Always use the proper tool or tools for each job. Minor shortcuts like using a screwdriver head to hammer in a nail might not seem dangerous, but this is a bad habit to get into. If you use an inappropriate tool in some instances, you can seriously hurt yourself or people around you.

Similarly, take your time when doing home repairs. Don’t rush through a job to prove you can do it or to move on to another job. Instead, go slowly and deliberately. Take the time to put on protective goggles or other safeguards before beginning home repair projects, and be careful when using tools. It is easy to slip while cutting, sawing, or drilling and seriously injure yourself if you are in too much of a hurry. When the job is finished, take time to unplug tools and store them appropriately. Putting knives and other sharp tools into locked boxes and storing them on high shelves may save not only you but also your children from unnecessary injuries. You also prolong the life of your tools by storing them properly, which saves you time, money, and aggravation in the long run.

DIY home repairs can be immensely satisfying. If you use common sense and take safety precautions, you can soon become a DIY guru.

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This article was originally written by Pat Perkins, it was so good I wanted to re post it!

How many times has someone asked you “Know a good plumber?” Would you even recognize a good plumber if you fell over one? Most of us give little thought to the health of our home’s plumbing, never mind the maintenance of our pipes, hoses, toilets, sinks, tubs, hot water heaters or garbage disposals until we are in the middle of a crises, like when the engagement ring goes down the garbage disposal or the hot water heater gives way suddenly and floods the basement.

At one time or another, each of us has probably experienced at least one of the following common plumbing problems:

* The toilet in your mother-in-law’s home won’t flush, the bowl won’t fill and you are expected at the dinner table momentarily.

* You are scalded in the shower when your wife flushes the toilet.

* You run out of hot water when showering and finish in a shivering rise of cold water.

* The leaky faucet or the running toilet keeps you up at night.

* You turn on the faucet to the hose expecting the water to come out the end of the hose; instead, the water blasts directly at you from the hose-faucet connection. Whoops, unexpected bath.

* You feel guilty wasting water at the kitchen sink but you run it anyway waiting for it to become hot.

* You try to scrub the tub, but the water takes so long to drain that you are always left with a puddle of grunge at the drain. Yuck!

* Your toilet overflowed while you were away and now you are standing in 2 inches of water.

Plumbing problems and emergencies are no joke, especially when you are in the throes of attempting to resolve one. When you need a plumber, who will you call? How will you know if your plumber is qualified to resolve your issue?

What It Takes To Become a Plumber

In a nutshell, the trade of plumbing involves working with pipes and equipment that are specifically designed to transport and drain water. As simplistic as this definition seems, the trade of plumbing includes a large number of specialties: pipe laying and fitting; HVAC, septic and sprinkler (interior and exterior) installation; and the management of drainage for public works projects (roads, bridges, developments) and utility providers. To further complicate matters, there are specialties within specialties too, each requiring specific training.

Plumbers work in commercial and residential settings and at infrastructure sites like highways and tunnels. They can be self-employed, work within an industry like construction or be hired as a contractor by a plumbing company or a government entity.

Career counselors report that successful candidates for the trade of plumbing typically exhibit high mechanical aptitudes, above average manual dexterity, solid math and problem-solving skills, and an ability to tolerate working in cramped spaces.

You might be surprised to know that plumbers are among the highest paid technicians in the construction industry, a fact that is directly related to the years of education and experience that are required to become a licensed plumber. Plumbers are expected to complete a professional training curriculum in a trade or vocational school, a 4-5 year apprenticeship and in most states, a state licensing exam.

Plumber licensing requirements vary from state to state and some states delineate between levels of plumbing expertise by correlating years of experience with various licensing levels. The most typical licensing levels are: apprentice, journey plumber, and master plumber.

There are two important factors for consumers to consider when hiring a plumber other than making sure that he/she is properly licensed. The first is to determine the plumber’s experience level and the second is to match the plumber’s specialty with the task you want done. For example, there is no point in hiring an expert pipe fitter if what you really need is a general household plumber to unstop a drain.

Protecting Your Plumbing

As much as you may admire your plumber, if you care about saving money there are a number of things that you can do yourself to protect the functioning and longevity of your home’s plumbing systems.

Garbage Disposals

* To clear a jam: Turn off the motor and the water. Find the disposal unit under the sink and insert a ¼ inch Allen wrench into the hole at the bottom of the unit. Move the wrench back and forth until it can be turned in concentric circles. After freeing the moveable parts, use tongs to remove the item that caused the jam and then push the red reset button.

* Always run COLD, not hot, water into the drain from your faucet when using the disposal.

* Avoid overloading the disposal. If you have to dispose of a large amount of food, dispose of it a little at a time.

* Don’t put high fiber foods such as celery, corn husks, artichoke leaves or onion peels into a disposal.

* Coffee grinds should not be dumped into a disposal.

* Eliminate odors caused by food particles in your disposal by running it every time you put anything into it. If odors remain, combine lemon or orange peels with ice cubes and turn your disposal on for a few seconds, then flush with cold water.

* Keep a degreasing product for disposals handy just in case.

Drains

* Children are especially hard on bathroom drains dropping everything from toothpaste caps to bubblegum down them. For this reason, always use screens on all your bathroom sink drains. These screens will keep objects from disappearing down the drain and trap hair and soap chips too. But you must remove the screens every now and then and clean them thoroughly.

* Use a strainer in your kitchen sink to trap debris and keep the disposal orifice covered when it is not in use.

* It is preferable to unclog a drain by mechanical means whenever possible. Chemical drain cleaners should be used sparingly, especially if you have brass, steel, or cast iron pipes which are easily corroded by the chemicals.

* Keep a bottle of vinegar and a box of baking soda near every sink and once a month pour one cup of the baking soda followed by one cup of the vinegar down the drain.

* It is also good idea to pour 2 or 3 gallons of boiling water down shower, tub and kitchen sink drains once a month to loosen grease and flush away trapped particles like hair.

* Pop-up stoppers in sinks and tubs should be removed twice a month and rinsed off.

* If your shower drain clogs and you have already removed and cleaned the trap and poured boiling hot water down it, try using a plunger to see if that will add the extra push needed to unjam the clog. Follow with more hot water before turning to a chemical drain cleaner or if you have a plumber’s snake, first try inserting that into the shower drain to see if it will remove the clog.

* Every bathtub has an overflow drain which also collects debris. Remove the overflow plate on the drain every 3-4 months and pull up on the pop-up assembly. Locate the spring or rocker arm, clean it and replace.

* Your washing machine hose should have a lint trap installed at the drain outlet to prevent lint clogs.

Caring for Faucets and Pipes

* Always repair or replace a leaking faucet immediately because even a slow leak can waste huge amounts of water (as much as 15-20 gallons a day). You may need to replace the faucet altogether or just the dirty or worn seal. An unattended leak can not only ruin floors and cabinets, but if the leak is caused by a worn seal, the faucet itself may become damaged and eventually require replacement.

* Keep an outdoor faucet from freezing by removing the hose from the faucet, closing the shut-off valve to the pipe that leads to the outdoor faucet, and draining the pipe of residual water by turning the faucet on again.

* Indoor frozen pipes can be a real headache and serious damage can result if they break. To prevent freezing, leave cabinet doors under the sink open on very cold days or when you will be absent for long periods to expose the pipes to the heated air in your home.

* Make sure that all pipes are well insulated to protect them from freezing temperatures and wind. This includes pipes in your unheated garage and in your basement. Keep the garage door closed to the outside on very cold days and leave the basement door open to the heated air in the rest of your home. In severe cold weather, faucets can be allowed to trickle slowly into sinks, but this practice should be avoided unless absolutely necessary so as not to waste water. If your pipes do freeze, you may be in for a long wait. Here’s what you should try before calling a plumber:

(1) turn off the main water supply to your home

(2) turn on all your faucets to relieve the pressure that can build up as the ice melts and

(3) try using a hair dryer or heat gun to thaw the pipes. NEVER USE A BLOW TORCH!

Maintaining Hoses

* You should replace the washers in all of your interior hoses twice a year and once a year for exterior hoses. In hard water areas, lime and other compounds can buildup on the inside of washers causing them to leak or squirt.

* Hoses will last longer if you run cold water through them after using hot water.

Plumbing-Related Problems and Resolutions

Water Heater

If your gas or oil-fired water heater frequently runs out of hot water during your shower or bath leaving you shivering and cold, you may need to investigate a larger unit. However, you want to be sure that you don’t buy a size larger than your needs require because keeping large quantities of water hot is an expensive proposition. Before you contact a plumber or HVAC specialist, you may want to estimate the size you think you will need to enable you to compare the prices of units that meet your estimated size requirement and then budget as necessary for a new one. The chart below will help in estimating the size you will need based on the number of gallons of hot water that you will use in an hour when your system is a peak capacity.

Shower ——————————————————-10-15 gal.

Bath ———————————————————-10-25 gal.

Shaving ————————————————————2 gal.

Hair washing —————————————————– 4 gal.

Washing hands and face —————————————-2 gal.

Preparing one meal ——————————————— 5 gal.

Dishwasher Load ——————————————- 12-15 gal.

Washing dishes by hand —————————————- 4 gal.

One load of clothes set on warm wash/cold rinse —– 10-12 gal.

When thinking about purchasing a new water heater, always look for the ASRAE/EIS energy rating. A rating of 90 or above means it is an energy efficient unit, but if the rating falls below 90, you should consider wrapping your water heater with insulation to prevent heat loss and improve its efficiency. Twice a year you should drain the sediment that accumulates at the bottom of the water heater. This is accomplished by opening the drain valve and draining about 5 gallons into a bucket until the water runs clear.

Checking for Leaks and Your Water Bill

Checking for leaks is an important part of plumbing maintenance and preventing those leaks is vital to your water usage bill. In addition to checking for dripping faucets and leaking water under sinks and around drain pipes, there are three other possibilities: a leaking toilet, an underground leak or another leak inside your home that you are unable to detect.

You can check for leaks in your toilet by adding a few drops of food coloring or several tablespoons of Kool-Aid or instant coffee to the toilet tank. Allow the toilet to sit unflushed for 30 minutes. When you return, look in the toilet bowl. If the formerly clear water has any color from the substance that you put in the tank then it has a leak and probably will need a replacement stopper and valve seat.

If your water bill suddenly takes an unexpected leap and you have ruled out the toilet and other visible leaks as sources, you may have an underground leak or a leak inside your home that you are unable to detect. There are several ways to check for a leak that you cannot see. Turn off the main water valve that serves your home and then check your water meter. If it continues to turn, you may have an underground leak. Alternately, if you plan to be away from your house for a period of time, write down the numbers on your meter before you leave and compare them to the numbers on your meter when you return. If the numbers have changed, there may be a leak somewhere inside your home.

Clogged Toilets

* Children sometimes mistake toilet bowls for personal marinas, floating everything in them from ducks, boats and fish to bars of soap. If the toilet in a bathroom is close to the sink, items like toothbrushes and toothpaste caps can also find their way into toilet bowls. To prevent unwanted doo-dads from clogging your toilet, train your children to put the lid down when they have finished and to use it only for toileting purposes. Never leave a small child unattended in a bathroom.

* If your toilet is clogged try using a plunger first, then a plumber’s snake (if you have one) to unstop it.

* In some cases where there is a low level of water in the toilet bowl, pouring a bucket of water from chest high level into the bowl will force a flush. You should repeat this several times when the water in the bowl returns to a low level.

Shower Scalds and Toilet Flushes

The need for the now infamous shout, “Don’t flush, I’m in the shower!” can be permanently done away with by correcting the pressure drop that accompanies the flush of a toilet. There is a valve at the base of every toilet which adjusts the degree of pressure with which the water runs into the toilet tank. If it is wide open, cold water rushes into the toilet tank nearly as fast as water rushes out of a faucet that is turned to the full on position, robbing the shower of cold water momentarily. There is no need for a toilet tank to be filled at lightening speed so by turning the valve off first, then opening it half a turn, you will no longer be needed to apply burn ointment to shoulders.

Waste Drains

Homeowners often forget about the health of exterior drainage pipes, but these pipes are instrumental in removing waste from your home. If one becomes clogged, your plumbing system may backfill disgorging the waste into your sinks and tubs.

* Keep tree roots away from drainage pipes. If roots become a problem, once a year or more often if necessary, call a professional who will use an electric auger to cut out the roots and clear the pipes. As long as the offending tree is alive, you will probably continue to have problems.

* If you happen to be up on your roof cleaning gutters and downspouts, flush the drain-waste and vent systems too by running you garden hose into them for several minutes at full flow.

Noisy Pipes

If you have ever lived in an old apartment building or home that is heated by radiators, then you have experienced the dubious privilege of hearing the full radiator serenade—such clanging and banking, hissing and squeaking at all decibel levels, the likes of which you will never forget. Very few homes today continue to use radiator heat, but pipes can still bang and squeak even in new homes. These problems are usually caused by loose pipes, water logged air chambers or water pressure that is too high. If the problematic pipes are exposed, you can often anchor them yourself or cushion them with insulation blankets, but other remedies such as anchoring pipes that are concealed inside walls, floors or ceilings may require a professional.

A common pipe noise that you can repair yourself is referred to as a hammer noise, named after the sharp “clunk” sound that is heard when water to an appliance or faucet is shut off quickly (washers are notorious hammerers). The sound is created by the water slamming to a stop in the pipes. The cause of the noise is usually a faulty air chamber, meaning that the length of pipe installed behind an appliance is filled up with water rather than air. To restore the air chamber to cushion the shock of a quick, water shut off:

* Turn the water off at the main shutoff valve.

* Drain the system by opening all faucets and letting them run dry.

* Close the faucets and turn the water on again. The air chambers should fill with air.

If you have restored the air chambers in the faulty pipe and you still hear a hammer noise, you may have water pressure above 80 pounds per square inch (psi). If this is the case, you may want to have a plumber install a pressure-reducing valve which will take care of the problem.

Wasting Water in the Kitchen

If it takes a while to get your water to flow from cold to hot and you hate the idea of wasting water, consider installing an instant hot water heater on your kitchen sink. This will help reduce both water heating costs and your guilt.

Sinks, drains, toilets, pipes—not the stuff of which memories are made, unless of course something goes wrong. But if disaster strikes, you will have more memories than you care to remember. Save yourself the agony and pay attention to those pipes.

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Keep gutters clean and clear by installing guards using these tips. This video is part of DIY Home Repair and Remodeling show hosted by Brad Staggs . SHOW DESCRIPTION :Your home is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make–and this 65-episode hour-long series will help protect that investment! Host Brad Staggs offers expert tips and projects to show viewers not only how to fix what’s broken but also how to upgrade a home. The show gives viewers step-by-step instructions on such projects as outdoor accent lighting, deck upgrades and maintenance, home safety, gas-range maintenance, icemaker installation and tips on used appliances.

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If you’ve been having issues with a faulty lighting fixture or electric wall outlet, it may be time for you to take this problem as an opportunity to put on your do-it-yourself hat and take action. You’d be surprised to know that many home electricity problems can be easily resolved with a little bit of research and an equal amount of elbow grease!

Safety is obviously the primary focus when working on electrical problems in your home, even if the problem seems trivial. Any situation that involves working with live wires is a serious matter and one that should not be taken lightly. This includes repairing or replacing outlets, installing a new ceiling fan or updating your current lighting fixtures.

Larger electrical projects such as installing a home theatre system is something that would typically be handled by a licensed electrician, but replacing a broken fuse in your toaster oven is the perfect opportunity for the DIY homeowner. T

TIP 1: Safety – Always unplug whatever you are repairing and if that isn’t an option, turn the power off completely at the main circuit panel.

TIP 2: Parts – Always be sure you are using the correct type of wiring and connectors. A great example of this, and common mistake amongst homeowners, is buying indoor wiring for a project that is outdoors and vice versa. This type of mistake can be extremely hazardous by making your electrical lines and outlets susceptible to moisture and other damage. Finding a cheap electrical fix is great, but you should never compromise the type and integrity of the electrical parts that are needed for your DIY project.

TIP3: Help – Always ask for experienced help If you are unsure whether or not you have the right parts or equipment. Consult with a friend or family member who may know a qualified electrician. This referral could save you the grief of fires and electrical shock as the result of poorly wired outlets and appliances.

Don’t always trust what you read online! Do your research to find products and solutions which fit your budget and ability. This research can include asking at your local hardware shop for advice if you are in doubt about anything.

Hopefully these short DIY home electrical repair tips will help you on basic electrical repair jobs around the house. Whether you’re replacing a doorbell, rewiring an antique lamp or installing a new outlet always be safe, not sorry!

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Owning a car comes with a lot of benefits, and responsibilities as well. As a responsible driver, you must take good care of your car, regularly checking it and going for immediate car repairs when the need arises. No matter how good your car is, there will come a time when some of its parts will bog down due to normal wear and tear.

The different parts of your car are prone to aging, especially if you drive extensively. However, there are things that you can do to avoid a lot of repair expenses, as follows:

• If budget is not a constraint, better purchase a brand new car in the first place. This will usually include warranties for parts and even cover free servicing for a given period of time.

• Expand your car insurance coverage to include collision insurance. Just in case you meet an accident, you won’t need to spend much on repair.

• It would be helpful if you have a car repair manual handy. You can refer to it for some technical information such as wiring diagrams, sensor locations, and many others. The manual is just like a first aid kit; it will help you figure out the trouble and help you fix it if it’s not that complicated.

Car Maintenance Tips

Other than the three general tips mentioned above, one other very important thing you should remember is to observe religious car maintenance. The basics include simple activities like checking the engine oil, transmission fluid, engine coolant, tires, and battery. You can refer to your owner’s manual to properly check these or you can ask the guidance of a professional mechanic.

• Tune-ups and oil changes should be done regularly. Cars should be tuned up every two years or 30,000 miles.

• Oil should be changed at least thrice a year to keep engine parts lubricated.

• Brake pads should also be replaced immediately when they’re worn out to avoid possibilities of accidents.

• Your radiator should be regularly cleaned to remove the solid deposits that cling to it over time. The cooling system should be regularly flushed as well.

• Fuel filters should be replaced immediately when they get clogged.

• The air filter should also be replaced when clogged to save on power and gas. A dirty air filter can retard the function of your air intake system, which is among those that regulate your car’s air-fuel mixture.

• Your air conditioning system should be regularly checked and recharged if necessary.  

These are among the basic maintenance procedures that you should regularly undertake to avoid major car repairs. These can be done even at home to further save on cost. You can refer to websites or manuals that feature DIY car maintenance. Just make that sure you have clamps, wrenches, screwdrivers, and other basic tools at hand.

When you notice anything unusual in your car, immediately find the source of the problem. Attend to minor defects immediately so that they will not build up. If the defect is complicated, bring your car to an accredited repair shop at once. Life is not perfect and so is your car, so car repairs are inevitable. But with the right attitude, these should not be a problem.

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Is there a DIY home repair my husband could manage?
It's new (less than 3 years) but we no longer have a warranty on it.

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In recent decades, many mothers, the decision of his career, but the trend seems to change. Home and hobby call to women who are ready to face financial and personal sacrifices for the primary caregiver for young children. Many women have returned to the hostess, and skill can help address the economic challenges, the family income.

A hobby that helps her mother at home is the kitchen. Although considered work, cooking and baking are fascinating hobbies. We can discover the cuisine of different countries or learn to create gourmet sides. Baking can be a healthy whole grains revealed that the family eats in a fraction of the cost of store bought bread.

Another home and hobby skill that comes in handy is sewing on a sewing machine. Many housewives are sampler quilts into works of art. These beautiful offerings can be inexpensively by recycling unwanted fabrics into squares and other artistic forms and the arrangement of parts produced. Other sewing skills that are useful for stay-at-home-mother are the repair, alteration and creation of garments. When asked about his favorite hobby, women often rank sewing at the interview above.

Some mothers and wives in the transformation of your home, and hobby carpentry skills are helpful. A low-income families keep down the cost of living, learning to do it yourself , a term used so far was a brief DIY . The Internet has the ability to find information on all types of repairs and renovation of houses, furniture and other items.

Gardening is a hobby, it takes only participants in the proximity of nature, but also to provide high quality products for the family table. Some families are even investing in hobby greenhouses or growing enough extra to sell a little each week in the markets for farmers. A taste of good practice as a garden always gives a person a sense of accomplishment when they realize that trying to create something useful and profitable.

The home of the parents that the meaning of art at low cost can create harmony and beauty in the home, any increase in living standards. There should not be spending money. You can arrange dried wild flowers beautifully or create simple hand marked with slogans wall all lift the mood.

Yes, home and hobby call to the women of today, suggesting a simpler way of life to people and things that are most important. Putting careers of women is actually a significant impact on the world today, the quiet return of many, as home and hobby into a more effective way to achieve for us.

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However, having hardwood flooring in your home is about more than wishing it was there and deciding to have it. Here are the three things that you should know about installing hardwood flooring in your home.

DIY Is Not Always Cheaper

Hardwood floors are certainly something that those handy people out there in the world are able to take care of. Buying wood and laying it down as flooring in your home sounds a great deal easier than it is. There are many different kinds of wood that can be used for flooring in your home and depending on your needs; there are great deals of different styles to choose from. You want your flooring to resist nicks and scrapes, but you want it to be able to get some character as well.

There are all of these things and more to think about, and if you install your wood flooring all on your own, chances are that you will not be able to get the solid advice that you might wish you had later. You want your floor to last as long as possible and although you might be very willing and able to put in your new hardwood floor all by yourself, the costs down the line might make this not-so worth it. Do you want to end up having to have your floors redone because of an error on your, the amateur’s, part?

Not All Wood is the Same

The more money that you spend the better quality of wood flooring you will be able to get as far as outward appearance goes; although a floor may not look as uniform and sleek as another type of wood floor it will probably last just as long. The quality and type of wood that you select for your floor has a lot to do with how you want your flooring to look when it’s down. Do you want a smooth look or do you like the way that natural knotholes look in the wood? Do you prefer the way that wide planks look on the floor or do you prefer the look of thinner, smaller pieces of wood for your flooring?

Depending on what you are willing to spend, there are a great deal of different ways that you can go with the wood for your flooring. You can buy First, Second, or Third wood, which is a description of the type or quality of wood on the market ranked in order of quality. Clear is the finest wood that you will be able to get a hold of. It has little to no grain marks or knot holes in it, so if you want the best quality that is the way to go.

You Are In It for the Long Haul

While hardwood floors are a great option for the floor covering in your home, be sure that that is what you want to do, and that it is an acceptable long term solution for you and your home. While the hardwood floor will not have to be vacuumed, it has to be specially cleaned and probably swept constantly (unless you are a fan of dirty feet). Also, keep in mind that depending on the quality of wood that you purchase you may have to deal with some small repairs due to warping or splitting, or simply due to damage that is unsightly for your home. Either way, hardwood floors are much easier to maintain than they are to replace and although you will probably be thrilled to keep your floors for years to come, it will be rather difficult to do otherwise.

This article is sponsored by My Dream Home Registry, the gift registry for everything home. Visit them on the web at www.mydreamhomeregistry.com

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