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Keep Your Residence Safe From Electrical Threats

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Can a Termite See

May 02, 2024   Matt

Can a Termite See

Have you been wondering about the age old question, can a termite see? Me either, but it is an interesting question. After all, these small pests can infiltrate a home and cause a huge amount of damage, but how do they find their food source? Do they see a tasty huge old Victorian home and call all their bodies to road trip on into the foundation? The truth is that in most termites, they have no eyes, so the easy answer to the question can a termite see is No. Some of the reproductive members of a termite colony will have eyes because they also have wings, but in general, termites cannot see.

So how do they find their food? That’s almost as good a question as can a termite see! Termites are blind, and they really have no method to their madness, so to speak, when it comes to finding a food source. Basically, they wander around moving about until they encounter some type of resistance at which time they switch directions and keep going until they find something they are able to eat. We’re not talking about a cross country road trip, but let’s just say you have termites in a wood pile behind your home. When they finish up with the wood and decide they want a different kind of wood and head toward your house, the travel across your yard might feel like a cross country journey to them!

Some people consider the question can a termite see frivolous, but it really can mean a lot to the person who is interested in getting rid of or preventing a termite problem. If they can’t see, all they can really rely on is touch. They like wet places – especially wet places with damp wood. Take steps to make sure you have no leaks around your home that may attract your blind enemy. Don’t let the soil underneath your house get wet in any way, and keep the soil away from the foundation of your house if at all possible.

When doing landscaping work, you may want to use a wood mulch to decorate. If you want to do this, keep the mulch away from the foundation of the house and always use black landscaping to keep the termites from emerging from the soil and eating through your mulch. An even better idea is to use stone when landscaping.

We hope we’ve answer your question about can a termite see effectively. For more information, you may also want to consult an encyclopedia or look on the Internet to become fully informed about those pesky termites!

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Valuable Tips About Repairing Your Home’s Plumbing

April 30, 2024   Matt

Valuable Tips About Repairing Your Home’s Plumbing

Did you know that the squeaking you hear from your pipes is the hot water causing the pipe to expand? This and more great plumbing information is provided in this article. If you are looking for clear and concise information, then read the tips we have provided below.

If you drop a small item like a ring or earring into a sink drain, hope is not lost. By carefully removing the U-shaped trap underneath the sink, you can probably retrieve the item. Be aware that the trap will be full of water, though, so have something under it to catch the spills.

Don’t start any do-it-yourself plumbing project without having a plan in place. You need to know beforehand exactly what you are getting yourself into. Know what kind of space you are working with and what lines are which. Getting a clear picture early on will make your plumbing project go a lot smoother!

If you cannot turn off your main water valve before leaving on vacation, turn off the individual valves for the toilets, sinks, and washing machine. If the valves do not look like they are in good working order, then leave them on and that will be something that you need to have changed when you return.

If you are starting a plumbing project due to a leak be sure to tighten all the nuts first. Loose areas are the number one cause for leaks. If after tightening all nuts in the area you find that the leak continues, it is then time to search for possible holes.

To make sure your sump pump will run in an emergency, routinely test it by adding several buckets of water into the sump pit. The pump should turn on, remove the water and turn off with ease. Do this regularly, especially if your sump pump doesn’t run that often, to ensure it will work when needed most.

To avoid clogs, pay attention to what you flush. Sanitary napkins, thick toilet paper and baby wipes should never be flushed. These items can expand and cause a clog, or get caught on a pipe. Instead, dispose of them in a sanitary way that does not involve flushing them down the toilet.

Don’t be afraid to call a professional. Don’t take on jobs to save money, if you aren’t sure how to fix them. Calling a professional plumber saves you money, the experience and know-how can fix your problem sooner and with less fuss.

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.

In conclusion, you now know what causes the squeaking noise from your pipes, as well as a lot more information. Use this guide as the best way to take care of any plumbing issues that might come up. Hopefully, you were able to comprehend the advice given and will be able to fully utilize it whenever needed.

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Try These Tips If You Have Plumbing Issues

April 28, 2024   Matt

Try These Tips If You Have Plumbing Issues

Good plumbing maintenance is relatively easy, but failing to keep up with it can mean costly repairs. Here are some good ways you can take care of your plumbing, either yourself or with the help of a licensed professional. Take care of your house now and it will beneift you in the future.

To get rid of dirt that accumulates under the edges of faucets, consider using an old toothbrush, rather than cleaning products. Many cleaning products will just cause damage to your faucets, and some of this damage could be severe. Just dip the toothbrush into warm water and then use it.

The most common cause of leakage with compression faucets is the washer. If you have a leak, unscrew the handle and remove the escutcheon with a screwdriver. Pull the stem and see if the washer is still intact. If it isn’t, you know where your problem is.

Insulating pipes in unheated areas of your house can save you the headache of burst pipes and flooding down the road. If you find that a room with pipes is especially cold, you should also use caulk to seal any holes in the walls, or any cracks around windows to ensure no drafts get in.

If your pipes are making banging noises, you may need to add additional anchor straps to prevent the pipes from making contact with the walls when water is traveling through them. Typically, pipes are anchored at regular intervals. If banging noises are occurring, you may need to add additional straps or cushion the pipes with a rubber blanket.

Everyone in your home should know where the main water shut off valve is. By knowing where to find this valve, you’ll be able to shut off the water in the event a pipe bursts, a bathtub or toilet overflows or any other emergency that requires you to turn off the water.

Be sure that you shut off your drain lines and outside faucets when the weather gets colder. Cold weather, snow, and ice can cause these lines to freeze up, which can cause damage to them. If you can, try to have these shut off before the first frost of the year.

Make sure you shut off your main system before leaving your house for a few weeks. The water will stay in the pipes, but this should prevent any further damages in case a leak starts while you are away. Check that your shut-off valve is working properly before you leave.

If you plan on doing any work on your walls, from putting in a nail to hang a picture to literally tearing it down, you’ll need to know where your pipes are. Smashing a hammer through drywall only to find you’ve also dislodged a pipe and created a flood is not a great way to start a project!

As mentioned above, most periodic plumbing maintenance is simple and straightforward. Most repairs resulting from serious damage to your plumbing are not. Now that you know how to deal with the plubming issues in your home, you should be more prepared to prevent or mitigate the more serious problems that can result.

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How To Get Affordable Homeowner’s Insurance In Alabama

April 27, 2024   Matt

How To Get Affordable Homeowner’s Insurance In Alabama

If you have a mortgage on your home it will come as no surprise to you that your lender requires you to purchase homeowner’s insurance. But did you know that almost 90% of Alabama homeowner’s who own their homes free and clear still choose to purchase homeowner’s insurance?

The reason isn’t difficult to figure out. For most people their home is their biggest and most prized asset and they simply want to do whatever they can to protect that asset. And well they should.

On the other hand there’s no benefit to paying any more for homeowner’s insurance than necessary and so many people are looking for ways to get affordable homeowner’s insurance here in Alabama.

Remember, too, that while your lender has every right to insist that you purchase homeowner’s insurance, your mortgage company cannot legally force you to buy insurance from any particular company. And that is your key to finding affordable homeowner’s insurance.

There are several things you can do that will drive down the cost of your insurance each month.

For example, did you know that if you have a retired person living in your home that you may be entitled to a break on your insurance?

Did you know that your credit score affects how much you pay each month for your insurance? It does. So keep your credit good and your credit score high, because the better your credit score the less you pay for your insurance each month.

Did you know that the biggest reason for a homeowner’s insurance claim is not fire, but water damage? The biggest culprit is either a broken water pipe or a broken appliance connection that floods the house at night or when the home is empty during the day.

Ask your agent how much you could save if you made the one-time investment to upgrade your home’s plumbing and wiring. If the numbers make sense, then go ahead.

Install outdoor floodlights that are motion-controlled and also trim back all bushes away from windows to discourage burglars. Install deadbolt locks on all exterior doors and make certain that every single window has a working lock.

A 24/7 home security system that’s monitored off-site not only helps to protect you from both fire as well as burglary, it can also save you 20% or sometimes more on your homeowner’s insurance – but talk to your agent before installing a system as not all systems merit the full discount on your monthly premium.

Purchasing a kitchen-rated fire extinguisher for your kitchen and installing a full compliment of fire and smoke detectors will also help keep your monthly premium cost down.

Now, taking what you have learned in this article go to 3 different websites that allow you to compare the prices of homeowner’s insurance policies from different insurance companies. Input the same information onto 3 of these websites and then find the company that has the lowest price and which you feel confident will be around for at least another 30 years.

And you’re done. You have now gotten affordable homeowner’s insurance here in Alabama and you can feel confident that you will be saving money month after month and year after year.

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Pipe Problems? Try These Great Tips On Plumbing! (3)

April 25, 2024   Matt

Pipe Problems? Try These Great Tips On Plumbing!

Plumbing is a lot more that just fixing a leak under the sink. It is truly a huge system that needs to be maintained. It has so many techniques and equipment that require research and hard work. Do you have what it takes? Regardless of your answer, here are some tips to help you.

One of the things that you can do to safeguard your home from any serious plumbing issues is to install a flood alarm. This is a device that will sound when it comes in contact with water, alerting you if there are any issues in a particular area in the house.

If you need to remove a sink trap, plunge the sink before. This should remove most of the water contained in the trap and prevent you from making a mess. If you have a double sink, make sure you plunge both sides. Some water might still remain in the trap: place a bucket underneath.

If you find that your pipes have frozen during the cold winter months open all the faucets in your home. This lowers the water pressure for when the pipes thaw and the water is freely flowing again. Make sure to open all the faucets not just those that are frequently used.

Make sure to have someone check on your home if you plan to be away on vacation for longer than a few days. Plumbing problems can cause massive water damage, and the longer they’re a problem, a worse the results will be. Having someone drop by and check the place out can prevent the worst from happening.

Drain cleaning chemicals may seem like a good way to eliminate build up in your drains but they should not really be used as often as you may think. There are many that contain very corrosive chemicals that are harmful to your pipes and may cause more damage than what the help your pipes.

Check the plumbing in your home. If your home has the flexible gray polybutylene water pipes, you need to have a plumber come out and assess their condition. These types of pipe are prone to failure and can lead to very costly repairs if they have a failure within your home.

Rigid copper is used for main water lines in many homes. You cannot bend rigid copper, so joints and tees must be soldered on. When soldering, always apply flux (also called soldering paste) to both surfaces. Flux retards oxidation when the copper is heated. Always use lead-free or nearly lead-free solder when sweating a copper joint.

In order to ensure that your toilet works smoothly, make sure the chain connected to the handle is of the proper length. If the chain is too short, you will likely have a leak between the tank and the basin, and if the chain is too long, you run the risk of it catching in the flapper.

Now you see that plumbing is a lot more than haphazardly fixing a tiny leak. It takes skill and work. You don’t want to create more problems, so why not take some time to learn how to do it right? The above tips should have given you some pointers on how to do that.

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Steps To Prepping A Valentine’s Day Dinner At Home

April 23, 2024   Matt

Steps To Prepping A Valentine’s Day Dinner At Home

Fun and creative dates need to happen regularly in any relationship. When Valentine’s Day is approaching, most people are more likely to plan on the perfect place to date their lovers thinking that outside home is the best place ever. You should not underestimate the significance of your own home as the perfect place to date with your lover. Dating at home is less stressful, more safety and secure and most of all your lover will take some time know your family and who you are with. He or she will be able to learn more from your culture or family practice. There are no better places than dating at home.
Dating at home may be the paradise for relationship but it needs a lot of your effort and time for the preparation.
Ways to prepare a V-date dinner at home for your lover:
Tip # 1: House cleaning
You need to clean all areas of your house. Mind you, dirty house is a major turn offs. Make sure to get all your socks on the floor! And arrange your things. If you do not want to leave a bad impression from your lover, then consider general cleaning. Make sure to clean well the comfort rooms, your dining place and your lobby. Also consider the place outside such as grass cutting and sweeping of falling leaves.
Tip # 2: House decorating
Consider cute and romantic decorations such as scented candle, heart flyers, cupid wall decorations, roses, bunch of flowers, heart lightning and many more. Create a Valentine’s Day atmosphere.
Tip # 3: Foods for the dinner
You do not need to go out to eat special foods because you can do better by yourself. Cooking is a bit stressful to do especially when you are about o cook many recipes. To prevent from overloaded schedules, you can request an order to any food catering services. The most commendable idea is you lover’s favourite restaurant. Do not underestimate the importance of including desert in your dinner like blueberry cheesecake or chocolate cakes topped with red cherries or strawberry along with your lover’s name.
Tip # 4: Wine collections
Opt for wines in different wine shops. Ask for the latest and of course include you lover’s most favorite wines. Wine tasting is great after heavy meals. It is certain that you both have activities after eating, grab a wine and taste it as fast as you can.
Tip # 5: Food arrangements
Do not overlook the importance of arranging the food well. Make sure to arrange them in a romantic manner. Buy a heart shaped candies, or a rose shaped candies that will beautify your food. You can also opt for a small heart shaped decorations to be placed beside plates.
Tip # 6: Ambiance
Always create a very excellent accommodation to your lover. Things should be arranged well and the atmosphere should be calm and serene as if no one is watching. Make your lover feel that she or he is at home and not somewhere else’s.
Tip # 7: Entertainment
Entertainments come after dinner and it comes during wine tasting. There are many entertainment ways you can do to your home. You can do sing along, videoke marathon, movie marathon, massage activities and musical instruments.
Tip # 8: Tokens
Tokens or gifts may be given after the dinner. Obtain a romantic gift for your lover based on his or her preferences. When dating at home, the best gift would be a personalized jewelry.
So, when the special day is coming always remember to look no further because there are no great places than dating at home!

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