House Design News

---

Is it Time for a New Water Heater (and Other Concerns)? Posted: 08 Jul 2014 12:34 PM PDT Plumbing concerns are one of the major issues homeowners inevitably face. If you do not have much plumbing experience, things like a leaking water heater can become a major concern. There are a number of plumbing concerns that homeowners regularly face, and below are a few of the major ones to be aware of and what you can do about them. No Hot Water If you aren’t getting any hot water, it could be due to a serious problem with the water heater. The light on the gas water heater may not be lit, causing the water to cool. Call a professional to fix this and test your system, as it can be dangerous to work with the gas yourself. If the water heater seems to run out of how water quickly, it may be time to replace it. Older water heaters are often filled with sediment, which can make it challenging to warm up the water inside. Talk to a professional about the replacement costs, and discuss the option of transitioning to a tankless water heater as it will save you a lot of money, and provide continuous hot water. The other way to know that your water heater is in need of replacement is to examine the bottom and check if there are any leaks. A leak from a hot water heater is a serious problem and it may indicate the bottom is rusting, which will soon lead to a burst. Poor Drainage Drainage problems are common for homeowners. If you take a shower and find that the water isn’t draining properly, clogged drains are likely to blame. You can avoid this by using a drain catcher to prevent hair from spiraling down the drain. You should also limit the amount of food and other things that go down the drain. Professionals can perform drain-cleaning services to keep the drains from blocking. If you have drains that clog often, call a plumber to inspect your pipes. Older homes often have problems with clogging drains if there are tree roots growing inside of them. Leaky Faucet When a faucet starts to drip, it can waste several gallons of water each day, which can be a serious problem. Call a professional to inspect your faucet and find out if you need a replacement. Some people can get by with minimal repair work, like changing the washers in the faucet, but some faucets are not designed to last more than five years.   Leaking Pipes A drip coming from a pipe is a major concern. You need to call a professional right away because a leaky pipe will end up causing damage to other areas of the home. A slight drip can run down the pipe, causing water damage within the floors, walls, and other areas of the home. If you have an older home, have your pipes periodically tested for rust and other issues. White lime deposits on the side of a pipe will indicate that they are aging, and are due to be replaced soon. In short, if something goes wrong, call a professional plumber. Jared Miret, father and home handyman loves sharing his knowledge of home improvement though blogging. If your water heater is on the brink, Jared recommends a new water heater from Houston’s Southern Plumbing.

Easy Ways to Keep Your Home Pest-Free Posted: 08 Jul 2014 12:34 AM PDT As a homeowner, you likely prefer to keep wildlife outdoors and house pets indoors. However, as hard as you may try, pests like squirrels, raccoons, mice, rats, birds, and insects may seem to find their way in. By utilizing the tips and tricks below, you can reduce your risk of pest infestation. Make It Difficult To Get In Pests can make their way into your home through even the smallest of holes, cracks, and openings. These openings could include a tear in a window screen, a hole a cupboard or underneath your sink, an open soffit, an open crawlspace, or any open areas underneath your porch. Do a walk-through of both the interior and exterior of your home to identify any areas that can be covered with mesh, filled in, patched, or repaired. Don’t forget to look for cracks in the walls, floor boards, grout, or baseboards that may occur as your foundation shifts over the years. Check Again 1-2 Times per Year Weather, wear and tear, and moving objects in and around your home can create new holes and entrance areas for rodents and pests. If you have a quarterly home maintenance and repair checklist, make sure to add checking for new areas of entrance at least once in the fall, and again in the spring. Addressing the possible entrance areas will not only reduce your risk of pest and rodent infestation, but many times will also improve your home's energy efficiency. Keep Things Clean Once a pest or rodent makes it into your home, they need somewhere to feed. The more difficult you make it for them to find sustenance, the more likely they are to move on. Ensure that you keep your home clean and sanitized, particularly your kitchen and bathroom. Take that time to sweep, mop, and vacuum periodically behind your furniture and appliances for the inevitable food, crumbs, and debris that find their way in these places. Take Preventative Measures Sometimes when you take the precautions above, pests and rodents will still find their way in. In order to identify them and discourage them from staying, you can take a few extra preventative measures. This could include purchasing traps for mice and roaches, or spraying pesticide on the exterior of your home in the early spring. With the increase in bedbugs over the last several years, you can take preventative measures such as putting mattress covers on all of your beds, and vacuuming your floors and furniture each week. Learn Your Local Pests And Rodents Every area of the country has native pests, rodents, and insects. It is important to learn what each of your native pests, rodents, and insects are so that you can learn what the signs of an infestation are, and what their droppings look like. By taking the time to educate yourself, you will be best prepared to learn what preventative measures you should take to reduce the likelihood of an infestation, and to identify an infestation when one occurs. The tips above will help you to keep your home rodent-, pest-, and insect-free. This article was written by father and home handyman Jared Miret. If you already have a pest problem, Jared recommends Bain Pest Control Service to remove any existing pests before following the steps above to avoid reinfestation.

You are subscribed to email updates from Interior Design|Architecture|Furniture|House Design To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610