Plumbing
Most of us want to have that lush, green lawn and be the envy of the neighborhood. For some people, that means dragging out the garden hose with an attached sprinkler. However, that is also one of the most inefficient ways to water the lawn, and a vast amount of the water is completely wasted.
From high-tech gadgets to simple changes, Danny takes a look at some new ways to make your home green whether during new construction or a remodel. Automated irrigation systems, solar paneled roofs, and programmable thermostats are just a few of the green additions seen here.
A poorly maintained water heater costs more to operate and can even cause damage to your home. To make sure this doesn’t happen to you, once a month check the pipe connections, the valves and underneath the unit for any signs of a leak.
A plumbing leak can cost you hundreds of dollars a year in wasted water. A simple toilet leak can use 50 extra gallons of water a day. Since many areas are concerned with water shortages, using some of these common sense tips can benefit us all.
Hard water is water that has a high mineral content, such as calcium and magnesium. While it’s not considered dangerous to safety or health, it can create costly maintenance problems in the home. The most effective way to solve hard water problems is by installing a water softener.
There are a variety of home remedies for clogged drains that don’t require commercial products. One of the easiest drain cleaning solutions makes use of an ordinary plunger.
Often the straps that secure the pipe leading to a shower-head become loose creating an annoying rattle as the shower is pressurized. To alleviate this without tearing into the wall to re-secure the pipe, try using expandable foam.
A toilet tank lid that doesn’t fit properly is dangerous if it falls off the tank, and the noise of china scraping china is truly annoying. To solve this problem simply apply a bead of 100% silicone caulk to the top lip of the toilet tank and allow it to dry (usually overnight). Once dry, the silicone forms a gasket that keeps the lid from sliding around and eliminates that nasty grating sound.
