Dealing with anything plumbing-related can sound intimidating, but as long as you follow the instructions provided with the products you're using, you should be able to fix some common issues and save money.
Chemicals in certain liquid drain cleaners can damage some pipes if used incorrectly while others are beneficial if used properly. Choose the right one for the type of drain you're trying to clean. For kitchen blockages, use a drain cleaner that removes fat and grease. For bathrooms, choose one formulated for soap scum and hair. Proactively using baking soda and vinegar can help prevent drains from clogging. Visit Oatey.com for a variety of DIY repair products. (BPT)
Remember, before tackling anything: Turn off the water to that area first.
Summer Lawn Care
Swapping out a showerhead is a simple fix. A necessary product for this task - or to fix a leaky faucet - is thread sealant. Thread sealant tape like Hercules Megatape is easy to use and comes in several colors, widths, thicknesses and densities. Look online for a short YouTube video titled "How to Use Hercules Megatape Thread Sealant."
Myth #1: You can water your lawn and landscape any time of day. Reality: Watering the lawn in the early mornings or evenings after sunset minimizes evaporation, it’s the best time for water to penetrate deep into the soil.
Kitchen sink sprayers frequently wear out. Bring it (or a picture) to the store to be sure you purchase the correct replacement. If your sink sprayer is older, you may be able to replace just the sprayer without also swapping out the hose. Newer models typically come in one piece, while older ones may have a detachable hose. If the hose is damaged, you may need to replace that as well. Keep your thread sealant tape handy to complete this project. If your toilet is running continually, it's probably caused by a faulty floater valve or stop valve. That large bulb floating in the toilet tank prevents the continuous flow of fresh water into your toilet once the tank is filled. If the valve is old and no longer prevents water from getting through, the tank will keep filling - which is annoying and wastes water. Replace the entire toilet tank float valve assembly. These come with complete instructions. The toilet flange helps secure your toilet to the floor. If yours is damaged, you may see leaking near the toilet base or water pooling on the floor. You might also notice unpleasant smells, or the entire toilet could shift or rock. The Oatey Fix-it Repair Ring repairs broken, cracked or worn-out toilet mounting flanges, so you won't have to replace the entire flange. The Fix-It Repair Ring is compatible with all flange and toilet installations as well as flooring types (including concrete). Learn more by watching the YouTube video, "How to Repair a Broken Toilet Flange." Before calling a plumber for clogged drains, try a plunger or snake.
Tips From the Pros
Myth #2: It’s ok to cut the grass very short. Reality: Mowing at a finished cut height of 3 to 3.5 inches tall throughout the summer is generally recommended. The lawn will need less water, will be more resistant to weeds and will have a deeper, greener color. Use a sharp mower blade to prevent tearing grass blades. A crisp and clean cut will help prevent a "brown tip" appearance. Myth #3: It’s best to water your lawn every day. Reality: Watering your lawn every three days is better than daily watering. Deep, rather than shallow lawn watering, is recommended to nurture roots. One inch of water to 12 inches of soil is the preferred ratio for watering actively growing grass. Myth #4: A garden hose is more cost-efficient than installing an irrigation system. Reality: Many landscape professionals recommend installing an irrigation system with smart controllers which have sensors that water when needed. Smart irrigation can offer a cost savings of 15 to 20 percent on water bills. Converting irrigation spray nozzles from sprinklers to rotating nozzles will spread heavy droplets of water at a slower pace, which makes them more targeted and effective. Myth #5: You have to irrigate to have a healthy and beautiful lawn. Reality: Grasses are built to endure long periods of drought by entering a state of dormancy. When temperatures and moisture levels are at their extreme, the growing point of the grass plant, the crown, will shut off the grass blades, turning them brown. In almost all instances, once
the heat and drought stresses have gone, the crowns will begin to send up new shoots. There’s nothing wrong with irrigating to avoid dormancy, but “embracing the brown” for a couple of weeks in the summer is just fine too. For more helpful tips on taking care of your lawn and landscape, or to get advice on how to hire a landscape professional, visit www.loveyourlandscape.com. (NALP)
Will A New Roof
Add Value To
Your Home? If you're getting ready to sell your property, or if you know you're going to sell your home in the distant future, you'll be interested to know if a totally new roof will boost the resale value of your home. A roof is critical to the structure of any home. Accordingly, if the roof is in terrible condition or if a prospective buyer believes the roof is not going to perform adequately, it's going to have an impact on the valuation of the home and the offers it receives. Study the return on investment (ROI) for a typical new roof installation. Depending on the variables in play, you can recover approximately 63 percent of the costs of installing the roof. If your roof is perfectly functional, replacing it probably won't boost the value of your property by more than the expense of installing the new roof. But if your roof is several years old, or if it's significantly damaged, it's worth talking to a roofing company about your options. Installing a new roof is going to boost the value of your home, even if it doesn't boost it by quite as much as you paid for it. If you're still living at the property, replacing the roof may be a practical necessity if you want to avoid leaks and keep your home in good condition. It's also a good idea to proactively replace your roof if you plan on selling it in the next few years, and the current state of the roof is going to be unappealing to prospective buyers. Otherwise, if you're looking for a simple and inexpensive fix, patching or repairing the roof may be a superior option as you prepare the house to be sold. (worldpropertyjoournal) July
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