House Design News

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Installing New Sinks and Faucets Posted: 11 Jul 2014 12:34 PM PDT Are you planning to do some renovation work on your home? A simple update to the kitchen or bathroom is to add a new sink or faucet. Modern sinks and faucet systems conserve water, and will give your room a modern appeal. Here are some steps to follow when you are installing a new sink or faucet. Measurements You will need to purchase a new sink, or a new vanity for the bathroom if you want to completely change the look of the room. It is important to obtain the correct measurements. Measure the width starting at the base of the cabinet. The sink needs to be four inches narrower than the cabinet to provide room for proper mounting. Turn Off the Water You will need a set of tools to properly remove the sink. A kitchen sink often has raised pipes and will require a basin wrench to remove it. Once you know you have the right tools you can get started by turning off the water supply. The shutoff valves are typically located under the sink. Once you know the water is shut off, you can then work on disconnecting the sink from the faucet. You will need a bucket to help you catch any water that does come out of the lines. Remove the Sink This part can be tricky. You will need to uninstall the garbage disposable before you can remove the sink. Follow the directions on your garbage disposal for correct removal. Afterwards, you can then work on getting the sink out of the countertop. There are a series of clamps under the sink that you will need to remove by loosening the screws. Once these are out, loosen the sink from the countertop with a putty knife and elbow grease. The sink is usually heavy so have a friend or another person help you lift it out of the countertop assembly. Measure the Countertop Once you have removed the old sink, the next step is to measure the countertop to make sure your new sink will fit properly. As long as the sink is the same size, it will drop into place just fine. If you have purchased a larger sink, you will need to use a jigsaw to make the countertop opening bigger. Certain countertop openings cannot be changed, so you might need to purchase a new countertop to fit the size of your sink. Install the Faucet Assembly A new sink will need a faucet assembly. You can use the old one if it fits, or you can purchase and install a new one. Carefully read the instructions of the faucet assembly to properly install it. Installing the faucet before the sink is easy for some models, though others will need the sink in position first. Add the New Sink Now you can drop in the new sink: just do so slowly. You also need to make sure you are able to get the sink to fit in place correctly. Apply some silicon sealant around the sink to help it fit in place, and to seal off any holes. Plumbing Once your sink is sealed and in place, you can attach the plumbing. This process is important, as you must make sure you do not have any loose plumbing that can leak. Once everything is correctly attached and sealed, turn on the water and test it for leaks. This article was written by Jared Miret, father and home handyman. He always recommends hiring a professional plumber to avoid both accidental and weather-related water damage.

Getting the Most Water for your Buck Posted: 11 Jul 2014 12:34 AM PDT Water: nothing is as vital to life as good ol’ H2O. Its importance and versatility are things we can truly raise a glass to: we use it to drink, to bathe, to wash our dishes and clothes, and to sustain the life of our lawns and plants. Yet, as vital as water is, there isn't an endless supply of it. Wasting it can impact both the environment and your utility bill. Wasting Water: The Facts Most people waste water every day without realizing it. In fact, per the Huffington Post, Americans use 127 percent more water than we did in the 1950s. Unfortunately, up to 95 percent of this water goes down the drain. Water is sometimes wasted in obvious ways: running the tap as you brush your teeth, for instance, can waste nearly four gallons. But sometimes we may not realize we're wasting water: taking a bath, according to Stanford Magazine, requires about 70 gallons of water. A five-minute shower uses only about 10 to 25 gallons. How to Conserve Water Saving H2O is actually quite easy. Here are some of the simplest things you can do to conserve water: Fix leaking toilets: According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a toilet that has a leak can waste up to 200 gallons of water each day. That is the equivalent of flushing a toilet 50 times. Replace old toilets with newer ones: Old toilets use much more water than their newer counterparts. Thus, swapping out old ones for more modern versions can literally keep you from throwing money down the drain. Placing a brick inside your toilet tank can also help your toilet—whether old or new—get by with smaller flushes. Harvest rainwater: When it comes to precipitation, savings are falling from the sky. Harvesting rainwater is a wonderful way to cut down on the amount of water you use on your grass and plants. This is particularly true if you live in an area with plenty of rainfall, such as the Pacific Northwest. To harvest rain, install a harvesting system (which is quite simple) or a water storage tank. Adapt your washing machine to the load size: Washing machines can use a lot of water. According to The Learning Channel, fifteen percent of an individual’s yearly water usage is from washing clothes. Since simply not washing your clothes isn’t an option, you must adapt in other ways. You can do this by purchasing a low-water washing machine and by making sure your wash setting matches your load size. If you are only washing a few items, for instance, don't put the load size on high. Ditch the hose : During warm months, the hose may be running at your house as often as the air conditioner is. It may be used to water grass and gardens, and to wash your car. While turning the hose off completely may not be feasible, there are a few ways to keep a running hose from running up your water bill. First of all, be sure your hose has a nozzle that you can turn on and off (or turn to low or high). Second of all, replace your hose with a bucket for activities like washing your car or your deck. This article is written by Jaret Miret, father and home handyman. Jared writes this article to help you and your family save money on your water bill. He loves blogging about money saving ideas, water and water treatment chemicals, home improvement and DIY ideas.

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