Home Improvement

We all know the story of the homeowner who tried his own plumbing repairs and ended up paying more since the plumber had to fix the repairs. Recognizing when the job is too big or too complicated for the ordinary homeowner is not easy-handyman egos are too easily bruised. However, plumbers are notoriously expensive so you want to make sure you really need one before you call him. There are a number of things you can do to make sure you will keep your costs of plumbing repairs at a minimum.

Share This

March 22nd, 2008 | Tags: pipe, Plumber, plumbing | Category: Home Improvement | Leave a comment

Sometimes it seems like your shower or sinks are too hot, or not hot enough.

But raising the temperature valve on your water heater can be dangerous or a waste of energy. If there are children, elderly, or disabled persons in your household, for example, you might not want to set the thermostat above 120 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid contact with “hot” water.

The following chart may help you determine the right temperature for your water heater. According to Shriners Burn Institute:

- Water set to 125 degrees generally takes about 1.5 to 2 minutes to scald.

Share This

February 17th, 2008 | Tags: Legionella, Plumber, plumbing, Water Mixer, Water Temperature | Category: Home Improvement | Leave a comment

If there’s a water leak, repairing faucets, fixtures and pipes can be quite urgent – and may require a plumber’s immediate attention. If you discover a leak, it is best to shut the water while waiting for a plumber to arrive, to prevent further water damage. The quickest way to stop water leaking from the pipes is to shut off the water supply from the main valve, then go to the lowest point in the house and open a faucet. Gravity will force the remaining water to drain out the faucet, minimizing the water that can escape through the leak.

Share This

January 27th, 2008 | Tags: hiring, install, leaks, pipes, Plumber, water | Category: Home Improvement | Leave a comment