Mar
1
Being a landlord is not an easy job. It is up to you to make sure that everything in your rental property is in working order at all times.
When something goes wrong, you can expect a call – and you have to respond to make the necessary repairs. If you fail to maintain your rental property, it could wind up costing you money if your tenants refuse to pay rent until the repairs are made. One of the most common problem areas for landlords is plumbing. To help avoid any problems, every landlord should know these plumbing tips.
Know how to unclog a toilet. Under normal circumstances, a plunger will do the job. However, those tough clogs may require the use of a drain snake. Have one on hand and give it a try. Better yet, hire a plumber on a routine maintenance schedule and have them be on call when situations arise. Read more
Feb
7
How To End Problematic Frozen Pipes
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The temperatures go up. And they fall right back down. Just when you’re ready for springtime in Colorado, those cold arctic winds blow in and cool things off 40, 50, even 60 degrees or more within a 24 hour period. Leave home in the morning with your parka on, knowing you could be in shorts and a t-shirt by afternoon.
Yet while its nice to get much-needed rain and snow when we’re so short, there is one thing those dips bring that we don’t want: frozen pipes.
If you live in cold weather, frozen pipes come with the territory. Just because you didn’t have problems last year doesn’t mean things haven’t changed and you won’t be subjected to problems this year. Thankfully the solution isn’t complicated. With regular maintenance and attention, you can keep your home safe and water free year round.
The reason why frozen pipes are a serious problem lies within the properties of water itself. When temperatures drop, water freezes and turns to ice. However, the state of the water is not the only thing that changes; its size is also altered because water expands when it freezes. Which means if your pipes are filled with water and the water freezes, it will expand. And the only way for a solid pipe to expand is with cracks and ruptures. Read more
Dec
6
The holidays mean spending time with family, decorating the tree, and many happy meals with friends sharing great food.
And while many of your days are spent relaxing with family and friends, just as many days are spent running from place to place, trying to fill those last minute holiday gift lists. And while there is always a few people on your list that make your gift giving selections easy, there are always an equal amount of people on the list that leave you wondering what store to hit next. What store will give you great gift ideas that won’t break the bank.
Here are a few ideas that can help you out for the handyman in your life.
Flashlights – they aren’t as simple as you think. Every home has a drawer or box filled with different types of flashlights. Yet for the plumber in your life, a simple flashlight may not be the perfect tool for the job. Hit your local hardware store and you’ll find a variety of different lighting options, some with tripods and stands, some with multi light features that make lighting dark corners easy to do. Read more
Nov
21
If the water bill surprises you every time you receive one, it might be a good idea to learn how to read your water meter. This will enable you to have a better idea of the amount of water you consume on a monthly basis. It will also allow you to be on alert when the meter readings are higher than normal. If your bill is higher than normal, this often means that you have a water leak that needs to be repaired to eliminate the waste of water.
Getting to the Meter
Reading the actual meter is easy; it is the process of getting to the water meter that is usually the difficult part. You must start by finding your outdoor meter. They are typically located in the front yard in a pit that looks like a round metal plate. A majority of pits are locked with a bolt, which means that you will need a pair of channel-lock pliers to remove the nut. This should enable you to remove the lid and see the meter. If you see a frost lid over the meter, you can remove the frost lid as well. Read more
Oct
4
Fun Facts About Toilet Paper
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You use it every day. Yet you’ve probably never thought much about it. Yep, we’re talking about toilet paper. Here are some fun facts to add to your knowledge base and impress your friend!
Toilet paper comes in 1-ply or 2-ply.
The 1-ply version has one layer, the 2-ply has two.
Toilet paper squares originally were 4.5” x 4.5”; however that has changed over time with rising paper costs. Some manufacturers may advertise “cheaper costs” when in fact they’ve decreased the size of the sheets, in effect decreasing the amount of paper they use.
The 1-ply rolls will have 1,000 sheets, where as the 2-ply has 500 per roll.
The average roll of toilet paper weighs 227 grams, or just over ½ pound.
Jumbo rolls used in commercial and public settings typically have 2,000 sheets or more to save time replacing rolls throughout the day. Read more
Sep
13
As a homeowner, you should have a basic understanding of the plumbing that makes your home work. That does not mean you have to go to classes to become a certified plumber – it is just important to be able to understand the 5 basics of plumbing that will allow you to be knowledgeable when you call for a plumber.
Shut Off Valves – Imagine waking up to a basement full of water and a broken pipe spewing out water several gallons a minute. Stopping the water flow is your first priority. And that is accomplished by turning off the water at the source through the shut off valves. Figuring out exactly where it is during a non-emergency will make that flooding or other water emergency much less disastrous.
City Water or Well Water – In order for you to have your plumbing properly worked on, you should know if you are supplied with city water or well water. Homeowners with city water should have a basic understanding of how the pipes run and the homeowners with well water should know how to access the well. Read more
Aug
3
Why Your Tap Water May Smell Funny
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When it comes to tap water, a little smell can go a long way. A bit of an off scent to the water, and we are immediately suspicious of it’s trustworthiness…or drinkability. Sometimes, this smell is unavoidable. In certain cities, municipal water maintains a slight odor as a result of the treatment process.
While the cause can be as harmless (and unavoidable) as proper water treatment, sometimes funny smelling water is an indication of a much bigger problem. If your tap water is smelling a bit funny, you might want to check for these four potential contaminants.
Corroding pipes - Over time, the pipes that carry your water can begin to corrode. When this happens, the metal from the pipes may begin to leech into the water itself. Copper, Iron, and Lead are the main metals that have been found in tap water. Each leaves a distinct smell (and taste) in the water. These metals, depending on the type and concentration, can cause serious damage to anyone who consumes it. Of course the most dangerous one is lead, so if you suspect lead in your water, have it tested right away and refrain from drinking it. Read more
Apr
27
When you make the decision to purchase a new home, you are making an investment in your future. You need this investment to be a sound one – which is why it is important to choose your new home with care.
You may jump at the chance and put in an offer to beat the crowd. Yet in today’s marketplace, its more important to concentrate on getting a solid house that won’t cost you money in the short term. Rather than rushing into buying the first home that suits your fancy, take your time, and consider investing in various inspections before making that final purchase.
A plumbing inspection can reveal many details about your property. Read more
Mar
30
Who Invented Plumbing?
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When you flush your toilet or drain your bathtub, you probably never give a second thought to your plumbing – unless, of course, it is not working right.
Plumbing has become an essential part of our lives. It is needed for a variety of sanitary reasons and also for the comfort factor. Imagine living in a home with no plumbing – that would be quite a hardship. No running water to help cook dinner. No hot water to enjoy a shower on a cold snowy morning.
Plumbing has been around for a long time. But when did it start? What was the first attempt in history to make our lives easier with plumbing? Just these few facts from history will help you appreciate it every time your toilet flushes and your tub drains. Read more
Feb
2
Ever hear a “quick tip” that almost sounds unbelievable? From a helpful tip to an old wives’ tale, it can be difficult to decide which info is fact and which is fiction. More than a few of the best-known “tips” are myths – myths that can cost you money and time. Here are a few of the most common plumbing myths you should avoid:
Putting lemons down the garbage disposal is a good way to freshen it and clean it. Although putting lemons in the disposal might make it smell fresh at the time, the acids in lemon juice will corrode the metal inside the disposal and shorten its lifespan. If your disposal needs cleaned, use ice. The spinning ice will clean any debris from inside the disposal.
Using cleaning tablets or cleaning liquids in your toilet tank will eliminate the need to clean your toilet. The truth is that the use of these products can create build-up that will destroy the toilet. If you need to remove grime from your toilet, simply run white vinegar down the overflow tube. The vinegar will safely remove the grime in a natural, chemical-free manner. Read more
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- Quality 1st Plumbing website - Quality 1st Plumbing website
- Troubleshooter - Tom Martino – The Trouble Shooter
- WaterSense