Expert Advice on Home Improvement TV Host of Today's Homeowner® and home expert for The Weather Channel
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Out With The Old, In With New Windows: As the season for home remodeling and DIY projects gets underway, evaluating a home's list of needs and repairs becomes top priority. Read More
Design and Decor, Electrical and Lighting, Plumbing, Quick Picks Published 05/09/2008 by Ben Erickson
Documenting the construction process when building a new house can be a valuable resource for future renovations. Photograph every wall and ceiling after the plumbing and wiring have been roughed in but before the insulation and drywall are installed. Include a yardstick in the photo to allow you to gauge distances and label each picture on the back. Also, photograph and mark on your survey the location of outside wires and pipes that are buried.
Plumbing, Ask Danny Published 03/12/2008 by Danny Lipford
My laundry room is currently on the main floor of my home. We would like to move it to the basement and turn the present room into a half bath. We have a septic tank in the back and all of the current drain pipes are in the back right corner of my basement. How should we do this? - Casey
Hi Casey,
You would need to install a “grinder pump” or “lift station” to pump the drain water from the washer up to the level of your drain pipe so it can be fed into your septic tank. A plumber would be familiar with this type of system.
Plumbing, Quick Picks Published 01/31/2008 by Meredith Portman
Now that Old Man Winter’s icy breath has arrived, it’s time to give some thought to protecting the most vulnerable part of your house from the cold. So before you settle down next to the fireplace for a long winter’s nap, find out how to keep your pipes from freezing with this informative article by the American Red Cross. If it’s already too late, they have some handy tips on how to thaw them out as well.
Lawn and Garden, Plumbing, Quick Picks, Irrigation & Watering Published 01/23/2008 by Nicholas Roussos
With spring right around the corner and water conservation as important as ever, now might be a good time to think about installing drip irrigation.
Kitchens and Baths, Plumbing, Safety and Security Published 01/22/2008 by Joe Cuhaj
Concerned about what’s in your drinking water? Well, you should be! While municipal drinking water in the U.S. is among the safest in the world, almost all of the 25 largest city water systems have reported violations of federal drinking water standards. These include samples that contained significant levels of chlorine, lead, E. coli bacteria, and other contaminants.
Kitchens and Baths, Plumbing, Ask Danny, Green Living Published 11/06/2007 by Danny Lipford
Richard asks, “I would like to know which brand offers showerheads that don’t use a lot of water.” With drought gripping parts of the country, more and more homeowners are concerned about reducing their water usage, and replacing your showerhead is a good place to start. Not only will you be conserving our natural resources, but you’ll save money on water and utility bills at the same time.
Home Improvement, Flooring, Kitchens and Baths, Plumbing, Interior, Today's Homeowner Published 11/05/2007 by Danny Lipford
The bath we are renovating is about 50 years old and measures only 4’ wide by 9’ long. With the exception of the shower, all of the fixtures will be replaced and a vent fan mounted in the ceiling. While many of the items we used were available on the shelf at the home center, we were able to special order hard to find items from their catalog.
Kitchens and Baths, Plumbing, Interior Published 09/24/2007 by Danny Lipford
A toilet that runs constantly or doesn’t flush properly can be quite a nuisance and waste of water. There are several common problems associated with toilets that are fairly easy to diagnose and repair. When you remove the cover of the tank, you’ll notice that the toilet contains an overflow tube to keep it from flooding, a float to control the water level, an intake valve to let water into the tank, and a flapper valve on the bottom that is connected to the handle by a chain.
Kitchens and Baths, Plumbing, Repairs and Installation, Interior Published 09/21/2007 by Danny Lipford
After years of daily use, a faucet may develop a leak around the handle when it is turned on, or drip constantly from the faucet no matter how hard you try to turn it off. Both problems can often be solved by replacing the washer and sealing the valve threads with Teflon tape. Start by turning off the water, then remove the screw in the handle of the faucet.
Plumbing, Repairs and Installation Published 09/19/2007 by Danny Lipford
A slow running or clogged tub drain can be really annoying and turn your bath or shower into a less than idyllic experience. Fortunately, it’s usually a simple problem to fix. Start by removing the screws on the drain’s overflow escutcheon plate.
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