Monthly Archives: May 2022

Plumbing Tips And Tricks Made Simple For You

May 31, 2022   Matt

Plumbing Tips And Tricks Made Simple For You

Plumbing can be an exciting endeavor. No really, it can be. In terms of taking better care, doing your own plumbing repairs to save money is actually quite exciting. To start learning some basics as to how to make this work for you, please be sure to refer to the tips below.

To be successful in any plumbing project, make sure you turn the water off before you start unscrewing pipes. This tip might actually sound insulting, but you are probably getting caught up in having the right tools and parts and being dressed right. Double check that there is not a splash waiting for you. Then triple and quadruple check.

In order to keep your shower and bath tub drains in proper working order, try pouring a potful of boiling water into the drain at least every other week. Using this approach will clear out the constant hair and soapscum build-up that may occur even if you have installed a drain screen.

If you’ve replaced the drain in a sink or tub it’s very important to do a leak test to make sure nothing is going to cause you water damage. First, dry off the drain completely so you won’t be mistaken by old water or condensation. Fill the tub or sink repeatedly and touch the drain to make sure it isn’t wet.

Make sure to pour a gallon or two of water into drains that are used infrequently. Not only does this make sure that they are clear when you need them, but can also fill the trap and make sure that unpleasant odors don’t enter your home. Doing this periodically will also help you to catch problems before they become serious.

When you are going to do laundry in your home washing machine, do not use excess detergent, bleach or other chemicals. Too many of these products can cause the natural bacteria in your septic system to be killed. Just use enough of these products in order to get your laundry done.

Do not fall for the idea that liquid grease can be easily washed down the drain with hot water. While the grease may flow past the initial drain with the water, it does not take much of a temperature change as it moves through your pipes to alter from liquid to solid. The repeat habit of dumping grease in the sink is a sure-fire way to ensure a hard-to-reach clog forming in the future.

If you have minor ceiling stains from plumbing water damage that has been repaired, you might not have to repaint the entire ceiling. Try taking a solution of bleach and water and dabbing the area with a sponge to lighten them. Make sure you protect your hands and eyes when working over your head.

So, now do you see why plumbing is such an exciting endeavor? Creating your own skills, learning to take care of your system, and being able to fix it yourself to save money is very exciting. The tips above should have created a good foundation for you to build upon and do your own plumbing jobs easily.

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Snorkeling in Cozumel

May 29, 2022   Matt

Snorkeling in Cozumel

With an average of 350 days of sunshine, 150- 250 feet of underwater visibility, 200- 500 yards of coral reefs and warm 80 plus degree year round sea temperature, what an incredible moment to have snorkeling in Cozumel.

A popular tourist destination, Cozumel is an island off the Caribbean Sea off the eastern coast of Yucatan Peninsula which is opposite of Playa del Carmen in Mexico. It is a flat mass of land based on porous volcanic rock. It also has a number of endemic species such as the splendid toadfish.

Great is an understatement to describe what it is to go snorkeling in Cozumel. Its limestone shore is surrounded by temperate, crystal clear waters that range from striking turquoise to deep indigo. With that there are many spots in the island that is conducive for another thrilling splash escapade.

* Chankaanab is ideal for those beginners who desire to go snorkeling in Cozumel. It is a must to head to the wonderful coral formations, stroll their one- of- a- kind botanical gardens, witness the dolphin show and visit the museum.
* Santa Rosa is best for those who are in the intermediate level. It has a spectacular wall dive which is hands down popularity winner on the island. Hundreds of meters away is a good location for snorkeling in Cozumel because it has tremendous variety of marine life. There is also San Francisco, Punta Tunich, Tormentos and Paso del Cedral which will give a reward of dense fish population and richly colored reefs that require challenging technical requirements.
* Palancar is the most famous place for snorkeling in Cozumel. It is world- class with mountainous coral formations that will catch your eyes. The marine life is nothing short of spectacular. It has four entrances to the reef system namely the Gardens, the Horseshoe, the Caves and the Deep Zone.

Here are some friendly tips when you plan snorkeling in Cozumel:
1. By cleaning the mask, first is to get it wet, spit into it and spread the salive around using your fingers. This is to avoid from any fogging.
2. See to it that your hair is tied so as not to have any strand trapped under the mask’s seal. When it happens, it will cause the mask to leak.
3. When water enters the breathing tube, sharply blow through it to expel the water.
4. If the water will get inside the mask, breathe in through the snorkel and out through your nose. At the same time, press the top of the mask against your forehead.
5. Do not go into the open seas alone. Always bring somebody with you. This is to avoid any kind of dangerous accidents like you might have cramps or problems with your gear.
6. Sandy beaches are great to have a suntan but not for snorkeling. It would be advisable if you stick to the coral and rocks to see much more of the sea life.

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Performance Contracting Helps Save on Energy Costs

May 28, 2022   Matt

Performance Contracting Helps Save on Energy Costs

To improve energy efficiency, some companies are doing more than just turning out the lights at the end of the day.

As soaring energy costs increasingly affect the bottom line of U.S. businesses, the “energy performance contract” has become an attractive solution for commercial building owners. This contract is a financing or operating lease offered by an energy service company, also known as an ESCO, to help businesses improve the energy efficiency of their buildings or facilities.

The key to energy performance contracting is to use long-term utility savings to fund the improvements. The ESCO often guarantees energy savings that will meet or exceed annual payments to cover all project costs, usually over a contract term of seven to 20 years.

“A building owner either pays a utility for an inefficient building, or they can pay an ESCO to improve their building,” says Jeff Stokes, a vice president at World Energy Solutions, a publicly traded ESCO (symbol: WEGY) based in St. Petersburg, Fla.

World Energy Solutions strives to reduce kilowatt usage by up to 30 percent. The company offers a variety of services, including utility billing and rate analysis, energy auditing, installation of building improvements, building systems maintenance and ongoing monitoring and verification of the energy savings.

ESCOs can provide flexible and unique ways to finance their services. For example, World Energy Solutions offers to pay the

total up-front cost of installation as well as equipment maintenance in return for an 80 percent share of the actual savings realized over a minimum 10-year period.

“In some cases, our company will fund the entire installation, at no charge to our customer, and live off the savings we generate over a certain amount of time,” says Ben Croxton, chief executive officer of World Energy Solutions.

ESCOs not only identify energy-saving opportunities, but also develop engineering designs and specifications and manage the entire process. They also can provide staff training and ongoing maintenance services.

Even the federal government has gotten into the act, and for good reason: Executive orders that require federal agencies to use 35 percent less energy by 2010 in comparison to 1985 levels will require billion in energy projects. Much of that will go to “Super Energy Savings Performance Contracts,” offered by the Department of Energy.

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Can’t Go With The Flow? Try These Solid Plumbing Tips (2)

May 26, 2022   Matt

Can’t Go With The Flow? Try These Solid Plumbing Tips

Did you know that faulty air chambers might be why you are hearing a hammering sound in your pipes? The noise is known as water hammer and it may mean that water has entered your air chamber. Here are some tips to help you fix your problem.

As tempting as it may be to try and save on the heating bill, keep your furnace set no lower than 55 degrees over the winter to prevent inside pipes from freezing. If you have pipes located in an excessively cold basement, consider running a space heater in the basement, but only when it can be checked on frequently.

Don’t overlook the hair dryer trick for frozen pipes. If you have external pipes that are exposed, a simple hair dryer will get them back into working order. Make sure that you do not attempt it if there is pooling water in the area. Space heaters are useful for frozen pipes that are in the walls.

Plumbing is one of those jobs that you should not do your self. If it is something easy like a toilet repair or changing out a faucet, go ahead and give it a try. If it is a major repair, then you are better off hiring a contractor and it may be required to have a licensed plumbing contractor do the work for you.

If a pipe ever freezes, you need to make sure to shut off the water. This will keep the pipe from bursting and causing you major damage to your home. Make sure to shut the water off at the main valve, and then open the faucet that is closest to the frozen pipe so it can drain while it is thawing out.

Avoid using hard cleaners on your toilets, such as drop-in cleaner tabs in the tank. When these tabs are almost completely dissolved, what’s left of the tab gets washed into the bowl. This can then end up clogging the toilet’s port holes, preventing the toilet from flushing properly. It can take months for this debris to finish dissolving in those holes.

Make sure you know where your home’s water shutoff is located. You never know when there might be an emergency involving a broken pipe or damaged connection that requires you to turn off the water right away. In addition, knowing where the shutoff is located is vital before you start any plumbing project, in case anything goes wrong.

Do not shock yourself! Water and electricity do not mix well! If you are working with both electrical and plumbing issues at the same time, then you must avoid crossing them. Beware! The two together can be deadly! When water and electricity are mixed, the risk of getting a shock can be incredibly high, as well as deadly.

You know what can cause that hammering noise, plus a lot more plumbing information. You just saved yourself a lot of money if any of those issues became unbearable or resulted in broken parts. Take time to read back over this article periodically to make sure that you are on top of your plumbing skills.

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Simple Things That You Can Do To Improve Your House

May 24, 2022   Matt

Simple Things That You Can Do To Improve Your House

Making changes to your home can seem like a lot to undertake, as well as, a lot to bother yourself with. If you have a bit of information on making improvements to your home though, it can be easy to see how simple, quick and easy projects, can make as much of a difference as those time consuming, costly ones. This article will attempt to show you how to make those changes in a good way.

Use old toothbrushes for cleaning. Whether you are cleaning around the faucet on the kitchen sink or bathroom lavatory or cleaning up engine parts, old toothbrushes work great. Even better, they are free! Why buy a new brush and throw away something that still has a lot of usable life left in it. Save that money for something else.

Before you get started on any project, you need to first understand what you’re getting into. Going into a project without knowing everything will result in a half-finished set of cabinets and granite tiles without any grout in the seams. Go through the project first and work up a blueprint before you start on it.

Make sure you save your home improvement projects for the summer time. If you do home improvement projects in the winter, you will find that it is difficult to maintain optimal ventilation as it is too cold, especially in areas that get really cold and snow. If you wait until it is warm outside, you can comfortably complete home improvement projects with the best ventilation.

If you plan to renovate your whole house, start small by transforming one room or area of your home and see how it turns out. If it isn’t what you were hoping for, you still have time to hire help or learn how to better plan your entire renovation.

The dominant weather conditions in your region should be taken into account when you are considering which home improvement projects to take on. Regardless of how much you might want a specific new feature, sometimes it might be impractical because of the weather. For example, a complex backyard barbecue project would not be a very good idea in the Pacific Northwest because of the high amounts of rain in that area.

You can speed the drying of your drywall patch by using a hair blower! Any hair dryer will work as long as it is portable enough that you can direct the air flow from it over your patch. Keep the air temperature set to low and don’t try to dry the patch too quickly or it will crack.

While it is always nice to have a larger home with more than enough room, it is not a good idea to buy a house that has much more space than you really need. You will only end up paying a lot of money on heating costs for space you do not even use.

You have a home and you want to make it an extension of yourself. If you have never done anything like that before, knowing where to start can overwhelm you. As was stated in the beginning, all it takes is a bit of information. That information was presented to you here, so that you can have the home you have been wanting.

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A stark, barren backyard can be brought to life with the specific planting of trees, flowers and shrubs that will lighten the aura of any home

May 23, 2022   Matt

A stark, barren backyard can be brought to life with the specific planting of trees, flowers and shrubs that will lighten the aura of any home

Landscape rocks are of different shapes, sizes and colors and can be used to frame and compliment the house that is being landscaped.|You can obtain information about where to buy the landscape materials you need by asking your landscape contractor about the best possible place to obtain them.

Drainage is the direction in which excess water is collected and disposed; a good landscape plan should include a good drainage plan especially one that is effective during the rainy season.|Backyard landscaping can provide an atmosphere of relaxation in which your family can feel free to luxuriate in because of the beauty and feeling of security it inevitably gives off.|Landscaping your home can be a fun process because you get to hunt for which idea you feel will yield the results you want and you can experiment with the array of landscaping ideas available.

If I were to speak artistically, I would define landscaping as “the process of encasing a master piece with a frame of pleated gold”….landscaping is that finishing touch that summaries the beauty of a home.|Thanks to the World Wide Web, you can be your own landscaping expert by finding out how to landscape and the different kinds of landscapes available…in addition to saving money, you also get to have a lot of fun.

You can choose a landscape plan that will perfectly reflect who you are or what you believe in thanks to the wide range of landscape ideas available. |You should take into consideration the location of your home, the topography and environment of your home and the cost; if you are gunning for a landscape plan for your home.|You can employ the services of a landscape professional if you have no inkling about how to landscape your own home….the cost will definitely be worth it by the time the professional is through.

The major benefit for lots of people of planting clover in your frontyard or backyard as a landscape item is that you can come out any time you want to enjoy the view without being bothered by bugs because they detest clover.|I would suggest that you go for landscaping trees, shrubs and plants that are capable of surviving regardless of the seasons so that your home can look beautiful at anytime of the year.|If you are not sure you will be able to landscape your home by yourself, don’t even risk trying because you may do things wrongly and then have to pay more to a professional to re-do the entire thing all over again.

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