Expert Advice on Home Improvement

Watch this video to find out how you can reduce the chance of scalding in the bathroom by lowering the temperature of your water heater. Watch this video.

Drinking water can become contaminated with lead from the solder that was used in the copper pipes in many older homes. Find out how to test your water and remove lead and other harmful chemicals by installing a water filter. Watch this video.

The Cimmaron toilet from Kohler is a comfortable 17” high, the same as most chairs. The standard model is economical as well, using either 1.4 or 1.6 gallons per flush (GPF). An EcoSmart model is also available that requires only 1.28 GPF, 20% less than most toilets. Watch this video.

Americans spend almost $16 billion a year for bottled water, much of which is simply reprocessed tap water. You can save money, have healthier drinking water, and help the environment by installing a drinking water filter in your home. Water filters are available that stand alone on your kitchen sink, attach to a faucet, or filter water in a pitcher. Watch this video.

Installing a new bathroom vanity isn’t that difficult, although it does involve a combination of some basic plumbing and carpentry skills for everything to come together. Watch this video to find out what you need to know. Watch this video.

The first step in removing a toilet is to drain all the water out of it. This simple trick uses gravity to pull most of the water out of the toilet bowl, making it easy to remove without making a mess. Watch this video.

One way to save water is to install low-flow aerators on kitchen and bathroom faucets. They can be installed in minutes by screwing them into the end of faucets. While most aerators limit water to three gallons per minute, low-flow models are available for around $5 that can reduce the flow to as little as one GPM. This can reduce faucet water usage by almost 60%. Aerators can save energy as well, since they use less hot water. Watch this video.

The Watts Recirculating Pump attaches to the hot water line at the water heater to circulate hot water throughout the home. A programmable timer can be set to turn the pump on only during the hours when hot water is typically used. The kit comes with everything you need and can be installed in under two hours. Watch this video.

“I’ve always heard that if you maintain your water heater, it will last longer. What does that mean?” asks Allison from Louisiana.

Performing simple routine maintenance on your water heater can make it last longer and keep small problems from turning into big ones. Watch this video.

Draining your water heater once a year removes sediment from the tank that can cause it to work harder and cost more to use. Learn how it’s done in this video. Watch this video.

You don’t have to dig a big hole in your yard to cut a piece of plastic PVC pipe that’s buried in the ground. Instead, dig around it just enough to slip a piece of thin nylon string under the pipe and attach each end of the string to a wooden handle. Holding a handle in each hand, pull the string tight and use a back and forth sawing motion to cut through the pipe. Watch this video.

Showerheads that mimic the feel of falling rain usually require additional plumbing to retrofit them to an existing shower, but AquaScape showerheads from Waterpik have an adjustable arm that connects to the existing pipe without any extra plumbing. Watch this video.

Heating water accounts for 25% of the energy used in homes. While a tankless water heater costs three times as much to install as a conventional tank type, it can pay for itself over time in the energy saved. That’s because conventional water heaters use energy around the clock to keep the water in the tank constantly hot. Tankless models, on the other hand, only heat water as you need it. This can result in a 20% to 30% saving in the energy used to heat water. Watch this video.

Tired of waiting for hot water? Danny shows three methods for easing the problem. Including a hot water recirculation pump, proper water heater maintenance, and a tankless water heater, these solutions will have your water running hot in no time. Watch this video.

With so much to choose from on different types of kitchen sinks, Danny details some of those options and what to watch out for. From heavy composite materials to traditional stainless steel, take a little time to make sure you get the sink that best fits your needs. Watch this video.

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. Watch this video.

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. Watch this video.

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. Watch this video.

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. Watch this video.

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. Watch this video.

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. Watch this video.

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. Watch this video.

To mark a continuous straight line around a pipe (or other cylinder) in order to make a square cut, wrap a large piece of square paper around it so that the edges line up. Make sure the paper wraps over itself and in line to ensure a square mark. To start the cut score the mark with a tri-file so that the hack saw doesn’t wander around as you begin the cut. Watch this video.