pipes Archives - Tammie's Take~

Be Smart this Winter: How to Keep Your Family Safe

Reviews · November 28, 2017

Having a family is a big responsibility, and it’s important to ensure that you do everything you can to keep every single member – children, grandparents, even pets – as safe as possible. Over the winter period, there is a lot more to think about in terms of safety around the home, and this list should give you some ideas on things to check up on before winter really sets in.

Pipes

Pipes are vulnerable to freezing and bursting during the winter, and this can lead to severe issues when it comes to having water in your home. Plus, they can be expensive to fix. So it’s better to prevent this from happening rather than having to deal with the consequences if it does. Ideally, you should disconnect your garden hoses, and drain any water that is left in the spigot. Any automatic sprinkler systems should be drained as well. One of the reasons that pipes burst is due to a pressure build-up, so if the temperature is going to drop, leave outside faucets trickling a tiny bit. That will mean the pressure can’t build up. Another good idea is to insulate your pipes using foam and special pipe sleeves.

Roof

If snow is threatening, check your roof. There might be loose, missing, or damaged tiles up there, which aren’t an issue during the warmer months and could easily go unnoticed. However, in the winter, if it snows or if there is heavy rain or storms, these problem shingles could allow a leak. Check your guttering too for any leaves or other debris that will need to be cleared.

Clear The Paths

Removing snow and ice from your paths and driveway is extremely important. This will prevent slips and falls, which can lead to broken bones in the worst cases. Prepare in advance by keeping a snow shovel or snow blower in the garage, as well as a sack of rock salt or ice melt which can be sprinkled on steps and walkways to stop more ice from forming.

Batteries

Having a good stock of batteries in the home is another essential yet often forgotten element of keeping your family safe. Power outages during the winter happen a lot more often, yet the power is required a lot more (particularly lighting since it gets dark a lot earlier). Having a good stock of batteries for battery operated lighting and flashlights will mean you can stay safe in the home and prevent additional falls. Batteries can also be used for radios which will give you updates on the weather, and will be a form of entertainment if things are really bad.

Keep Healthy

As well as checking your home’s health, it’s a good idea to check your family’s too. Don’t forget to pay a visit to the vet to check on your pet too. A place like thevet.co.uk will be able to give your furry loved ones the care they need without having to schedule an appointment. Schedule a routine check-up for everyone in the home, just to make sure that no one is coming down with anything nasty. Viruses and illness are prevalent during winter, and are especially dangerous for the very young and the elderly. However, no one wants to get sick, and one person being unwell can lead to everyone else catching the illness. It can also have a knock-on effect if the kids can’t get to school, or the adults can’t get to work.

5 DIY Plumbing Jobs for Beginners

Reviews · November 17, 2017

Most people will attempt to fix a plumbing issue themselves before resorting to hiring a professional. Of course, if you can solve the problem using something simple like a plunger, then there’s no reason to immediately dial a local plumber. Luckily, you’ll be relieved to know that most jobs fall under the “reasonably doable for a DIYer” category. With that said, here are five plumbing jobs that the majority of beginners will have no problem doing on their own.

1. Installing a New Toilet, Sink, or Bathtub

Installing new plumbing fixtures is a simple job that can be done by anyone with basic tools and the ability to follow instructions. Sites like theplumbinginfo.com provide plenty of DIY guides that cover all the steps involved, including cutting PVC pipe, taking measurements, disassembling existing fixtures, and assembling/installing new components.

2. Fixing a Clogged Toilet

Clogged toilets can be messy, nasty, and intimidating challenges, especially when you’ve got one that’s overflowing and leaking dirty toilet water onto the bathroom floor. Luckily, it’s a problem that a plunger will usually fix, so long as there isn’t a significant hard obstruction in the drain pipe. If you can’t get it unclogged with a conventional plunger, try upgrading to a master plunger – the kind that looks like an accordion – to build up maximum suction. It’s also a good idea to watch a video on proper plunger use before you start sloshing around cluelessly.

3. Unclogging a Bathroom Sink

Unclogged bathroom sinks are typically much easier to fix than kitchen sinks. Usually, the problem is related to an accumulation of hair, soap gunk, and/or small objects that have fallen into the drain. Fortunately, there’s almost always a P-trap under the sink, which catches items before they get down to the main pipe. Thus, removing the P-trap and cleaning it out usually solves the problem.

4. Installing a Garbage Disposal

Every kitchen sink should have a garbage disposal to minimize the possibility of food items and other debris accumulating in the drain. They’re cheap, easy to install, and most models come with very detailed installation instructions. It’s worth noting that this investment will eventually “pay for itself” by preventing expensive plumbing issues that would wind up costing many times more than the garbage disposal itself.

5. Using a Drain Camera to Inspect Pipes

Finally, a drain camera/flexible boroscope is a surprisingly cheap yet effective tool to use during one of the above projects, or just to have around in case you need to inspect your pipes in the future. Although professional plumbing boroscope kits can cost a few hundred dollars, there are also incredibly cheap consumer-oriented options on sites like Amazon and Walmart.com, many of which connect directly to your smartphone. Simply searching for “waterproof smartphone boroscope” will lead you in the right direction.

Jobs That Shouldn’t Be Attempted by Beginners

While the above jobs are simple enough for anyone to do without experience or special knowledge, there are some plumbing jobs that are better left to the professionals. In particular, if you have damaged pipes, sewer/septic line issues, a clog in the main pipe, or any other issue that will require extensive skilled labor or expensive industrial equipment, you may want to consult with a pro before proceeding.