Home Improvement Tips & Ideas
What’s the best thing since indoor plumbing? Easy-to-follow advice to clear clogs, stop leaks and silence banging pipes! Get tips for fast fixes!
A leaky outdoor faucet isn’t just messy; it wastes water. Fixing a leaky faucet isn’t difficult. The culprit is typically a worn washer, something you can replace on your own in about an hour.
Learn tips to prevent frozen pipes in the winter and avoid the resulting damage.
Prevent Plumbing Explosions with this Frozen Pipe ChecklistRead More
I have had two (2) copper water piping leaks in my basement that are very expensive to repair with a plumbing company. On one occasion the plumber sealed it (pin hole) and used a new shut-off near the site. The second time he sealed the pin hole at the site. Being on a fixed-income and …
Low water pressure is a real problem when you need more than a trickle of water. To fix low water pressure, unscrew the faucet and clean the screen in a CLR type cleaner. To fix low water pressure in the shower, you can take off the shower head and clean that in a bowl of CLR type cleaner. Screw the shower head back on, and enjoy the end of low water pressure problems.
Get tips to avoid plumbing problems this Thanksgiving. Learn how fats and oils and stringy foods can clog drains, and how to prevent holiday plumbing problems.
Learn solid tips on securing your vacation home against burglars and harsh weather. step-by-step checklist for winterizing your seasonal or vacation home.
I recently bought a home and am experiencing a problem with the copper waterlines/pipes corroding from the inside out. So far the corrosion appears to be limited to just the hot water lines, but I’m afraid to take a look inside the cold water lines. What’s happening is we keep getting pinhole leaks springing up …
Scald burns, caused by hot liquids or steam, are more common types of burn-related injuries among young children.Check out the Tips for Preventing Scalding Injury.
Water heating accounts for about 18% of your home’s energy use. Reducing your hot water use, employing energy-saving strategies, and choosing an energy efficient water heater for your home can help you reduce your monthly water heating bills. Unlike boilers that distribute water to heat your house, water heaters deliver hot water for domestic tasks like …
Best Water Heater Types & Options for Energy EfficiencyRead More
We share a well with two other houses, and the well head is at the home furthest from us. They both have great water pressure, but we have really bad pressure. We can’t use the faucet when showering, run the dishwasher and sink at the same time, we can’t water our garden, etc. Our plumber …
Hi, have a 34-year-old oil water heater. We are starting to see sediment in the hot water and I’d eventually want to switch from oil to gas, which is accessible. Financially, we want to put that job off a few years and to to get an oil water heater now and then switch to gas in a …
Can copper pipe leaks develop even where there’s been no stress on the plumbing? My 30-year-old townhouse has copper pipes and I noticed a wet spot in the basement ceiling. I got the ladder out and peered up into the ceiling from the work room (I could see the pipes going around the area of …
Copper Pipe Leaks: Stresses Contribute to Wear and Tear of Plumbing SystemRead More
Find out how tankless hot water heaters can provide a flexible, energy-efficient solution in your home. Tankless water heaters are great solutions for delivering cost-effective hot water to your home because they only heat water as it’s needed. A tankless hot water heater is also controllable because the water temperature can be changed instantly.
Hi, I’m getting sudden bursts of very hot water in the middle of a shower. I have a gas water heater. The pilot light is on. Any ideas why this is happening? Thank you!
I have low water pressure in the home, and I’m pretty sure it’s due to the fact that the water line from the street is more than 50 years old and is galvanized steel. The opening has likely shrunk from 3/4″ to 3/8″. Currently, the water pressure is acceptable if only one point of usage …
Green home improvements can be quite pricey (solar panels come to mind) but they don’t necessarily have to cost a bundle. Here are 5 ways to save energy for under $50 each — try them out and watch your utility bills shrink. 1. Install Low-cost Lighting Light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs have emerged as the most …
LESLIE: Heidi in Rhode Island is on the line with a plumbing question. Tell us what’s going on. HEIDI: I bought this house two years ago. TOM: OK. HEIDI: And it was built in the 1900s, so it’s fairly old. It’s a century old. And it’s … LESLIE: Tom and I both live in a …
On a chilly winter morning, the last thing you want is to have to wait for the shower to get hot. Now you can have instant hot water for your whole home thanks to Rheem’s Performance High Efficiency Tankless Gas Water Heater with Built-in Recirculation. With most tank water heaters, and even traditional tankless water …
Rheem Tankless Water Heaters Save Water, Money and TimeRead More
Every winter, hundreds of thousands of retired Americans pack up and head to warmer climates for a season full of sun, not snow. If you’ll be among them this year, you should take steps to protect and winterize your nest before you leave. According to statistics, winter weather is the third-largest cause of natural damage …
Learn how to keep kitchens and bathrooms clear of clogs during holiday hosting. Plumbing problems often arrive with the holiday season. But by taking a few precautions, homeowners can prevent stop-ups and visits from their local plumber.
How to Prevent Holiday Plumbing Problems: Bathroom and KitchenRead More
Get tips on what should be included in a septic inspection, including whether a dye test is sufficient to know if the septic system is working properly or not.
If your toilet’s ready for an upgrade, you can install a new one on your own. All you need is an afternoon, some basic tools and supplies and some muscle. Whether you’d like a new look for your bathroom or to save water with a low-flow model, replacing a toilet is a surprisingly simple task. …
Water supply line spring a leak? There’s no need to panic, and there’s no need to call a plumber. This is a quick, inexpensive repair you can do yourself in just a few easy steps. Here’s what you’ll need for this beginner’s-level DIY project. TOOLS & MATERIALS Adjustable Wrench New Water Supply Line Small Bucket …
Whether it’s in your kitchen or your bathroom, nothing puts a damper on your day like a clogged sink. Even if you’re new to DIY, unclogging a sink is something you can quickly do on your own. All you need are a few tools and supplies. TOOLS & MATERIALS Plunger Rag Tongue & Groove Pliers …
