Posts Tagged ‘home and garden’

Easy Ways To Maintain Drains And Pipes

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

Drain in the bathrooms and kitchen are often not noticed until some serious problem occurs in them. This problem can however be avoided if you follow some preventive measures to keep you drain running smoothly. In case the problem is serious then you can hire a plumber for solving the problem. But before you call a plumber to solve the problem try to do it yourself by following some simple steps.

Whether you live in an older house or a newly constructed one, your pipes need maintenance just like the rest of your home. You need to check your pipes twice in a week. Check all your pipes for leaks or disjoints. If you could catch a leak before it gets big enough, you can prevent needless damage and avoid an emergency call.

You can also be practical about preventing clogs in your drains and pipes by taking a few minutes every other week to do some simple cleaning. For example, your kitchen sink, will unavoidably suffer some build up of grease and food if you don’t keep the drains clean.

You can keep these elements from clogging your pipes by pouring about two tablespoons of ordinary liquid dish soap into the drain. As it drips down, pour a large pot of boiled water down the drain. The soap and hot water will cut through and loosen anything clinging to the sides of the pipes. By doing this regularly, you can prevent slow running or clogging of drains.

Those homeowner, who have old plumbing in their house are suggested to put a small bucket or tub under the pipes of their kitchen sink. It will prevent the floor damage in case of any leak in those pipes.

But what if you already have a clog? Before you call a plumber, try pouring a cup of baking soda into your drain followed by a cup of vinegar. Wait for few minutes and then pour very hot or boiling water in to it. This mixture will break up most ordinary clogs very quickly and won’t harm your pipes like harsh chemical treatments.

It’s always best to know who you are going to call in an emergency rather than depending on the first plumber available. Call around and investigate a few drain cleaning companies before you have an emergency and choose one or two that you trust.

Ask them for their contact numbers and keep these numbers at a place where you can easily reach such as on your refrigerator. This will help you in calling the right person in any urgent situation.

Scott Rodgers is a noted writer who has been providing ample guidance on plumbing works all over the country. His expensive knowledge has, in fact, sparked significant rise in revenue for talented plumbers across the nation, from Severna Park Plumbers to Shady Side Plumbers .

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What To Do In Case Of Electrical Burns ?

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

A false move in any electrical job can lead to severe electrical hazards. Often, the electrical shocks or accidents show on the skin in the form of burns. Depending on the intensity of the hazard, the degree of burns may vary.

The fatal electric shocks can often produce a threat to a person caught in an electric shock. The heart patients may suffer a deadly heart attack due to the impact of the electric shock. Also, the brain may suffer a blow due to the effects of electric shocks. Moreover, the burns of the electric shock may sustain on the skin if not treated in a right manner.

Before worrying about the first aid, it is very important to bail out the victim from the situation in a safe manner. Observe the electrical component that is in direct contact with the body of the victim. Locate the plug or switch of the concerned device or outlet and switch it off without wasting any time. Time factor holds a great significance in such an emergency situation and hence, time saved is life saved. Pick up a wooden block or baseball bat and strike it on the electrical component that is causing it all. Try to detach the component from the body of the person.

There are certain things that you may avoid while releasing the victim. Avoid any physical contact with the person and touch him only when the concerned electrical component is removed.

The primary concern for you is to restore the normal breathing of the victim. Rub the hands and feet of the person to restore the regular circulation of blood in the body. Use the methods of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to make the things work in a defined way. Call an ambulance and keep rubbing the body parts until the ambulance arrives.

Keep the legs of the person inclined until the ambulance arrives. Make every safe and valid attempt to maintain the warmth of the victim’s body.

Take out regular sterile bandage roll from the first aid box and apply it properly on the electrical burns. The dusty and dirty pieces of cloth must not be used to cover the electrical burns.

Informed homeowners can definitely save the life of their dear ones at the time of an electrical emergency.

Scott Rodgers is a fine expert who has been authoring on electricians contents for a long time now. His superb guidance has given motivation to a host of workers, ranging from Jamaica Electricians (Need one? click here!) to New York Electricians (Need one? click here!).

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How To Look For A Receptacle Box ?

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Have you ever observed boxes installed in the walls and the ceilings? Well, these are the receptacle boxes that are also commonly known as wall sockets. Receptacle boxes protect wires, cables and other electrical elements within a wall cavity or ceiling. Electricians place these boxes inside the wall, and then install wires and cables to power the outlet.

Hence, choosing them rightly as per the need, goes indispensable. When buying an outlet box, consider weather it is deep or shallow, metallic or non- metallic, nail- on or bracket mounted type. With this article, one would discover, what to buy and what to avoid, what looks good and what is really good, what works and what doesn’t- before you install the receptacle boxes.

First of all, determine the thickness of the wall where you plan to install the receptacle. Do not choose the boxes too deep that do not even fit into the wall. The box should be as deep as the thickness of the wall framing or smaller. For example, a wall with 4-inch studs requires a box that’s 4 inches deep or less.

To avoid cable fill violation, always use the right size box. You can find one that is 3 inches deep or 22.5 cubic centimeter. Using the small receptacle box can lead to many electric hazards.

Made from both plastic and cast metal, weatherproof boxes are used outside the house when the entire receptacle box will be exposed. Even though the box is weatherproof, the receptacle still needs to be protected with the weatherproof cover.

Choosing the type of material for the receptacle box is up to the homeowners. Receptacle boxes are made from either plastic or metal. Plastic receptacle boxes tend to be cheaper, but are also more susceptible to damage. Metal boxes are more expensive, but can protect the wiring more effectively and are available in a wider selection of designs and sizes. Metal boxes can also be joined together, or ganged, while plastic boxes cannot be joined.

Moreover, plastic receptacle boxes should not be used with the heavy light fixtures and fans. Well, the metal boxes are best suited for such purposes.

Installing the receptacle boxes can be easily performed by the homeowners. But, if one feels under- confident can take the help from a talented electrician. Caution should be taken while handling electrical circuits. Moreover, never attempt to carry out electrical tasks when the power is live.

Scott Rodgers is an author with ample experience in electricians work all over the country. His splendid guidance has created business opportunities for a lot many Waleska Electricians and Naperville Electricians .

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All Your Septic System Demands Is Regular Maintenance

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

The word “septic” refers to the anaerobic bacterial environment that develops in the tank named septic tank. It basically comprise of a system that decomposes the house waste discharged into the tank. Waste water enters the tank, allowing solids to settle and scum to float. The settled solids are digested reducing the volume of solids. The liquid component flows where the excess liquid drains in a relatively clear condition from the outlet into the leach field.

Waste that is not decomposed by the anaerobic digestion eventually has to be removed from the septic tank, or else the septic tank fills up and non- decomposed waste water discharges directly to the drainage field. However, septic system maintenance is often overlooked by the majority of home owners.

With this article, you would explore the ways to keep your septic tank system well maintained and cleaned. The septic tank should be pumped about every 1 to 3 years to remove the sludge and scum retained in the tank and prevents clogging of the soil absorption field.

Some septic tank additives have been shown to react with scum layer and either cause it to fluff up and get thicker or break down, making the oils and grease clump together and settle on the bottom layer. Such actions are bad for your tank as a thicker scum layer can flow under the baffles and enter the drain lines causing them to clog and stopping them up. Avoid using such additives.

Constructing structures like swimming pools over the septic system can create huge problems. The tank must be allowed to breathe healthily. If not, sickness and death will follow.

Please avoid planting trees and shrubs near your septic tank and drains. Roots can get into drains and tanks and cause blockages.

Most importantly, chemicals like sodium can corrode concrete and may interfere with the soil’s structure and its ability to absorb water. Therefore, take care, you do not discharge water softener to your septic system.

Cut back on your water usage. Using too much water will cause your septic tank to overflow and over saturate the leach field soil cutting its effectiveness as a filter. Fix all leaky faucets and toilets immediately as a small leak can waste a lot of precious water. Install low flow shower heads and faucet aerators to save water.

Scott Rodgers is an author with ample plumbing experience all over the country. His splendid guidance has created business for a lot of West River Plumbers and Hyannis Plumbers . Grab a totally unique version of this article from the Uber Article Directory

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Cutting A Copper Pipe In A Safe Manner

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Some homeowners get excited on the idea of handling a plumbing task on their own. However, they face the harsh reality of the trade when they actually put their hands in the job. Even they fail to cut the plumbing pipes in a right manner. Such scenario results due to some misapprehension on their part. Hence, the task of plumbing is always complicating and one has to carry the required knowledge before handling a complex project.

When it comes to the cutting of PVC pipes then the things get simple and straightforward. Moreover, the level of risk involved in the cutting of plastic pipes is very low. On the other hand, the copper pipes are hard to cut and modify. In addition, the cutting of copper pipes is susceptible to bruises and nicks on your body. Hence, proper precautions need to be followed if you wish to cut a copper pipe on your own.

A successful cutting operation relies heavily on accurate measurements and calculations. Incorrect figures would not match with the real time scenario and hence, it would lead to an unsuccessful cutting operation. Hence, take the dimensions of the pipe that needs to be cut. Include the measurements of the pipe connectors and fittings as well. Once you have the figures at your disposal, move to the work site and tag the section of pipe that needs to be removed.

Take the pipe in your one hand and the cutting tool in your other hand. Make sure that the other hand is placed away from the vicinity of the sharp blade.

Observe the markings on the pipe and place the cutter blade on the marked line. Do not cut the pipe briskly and allow the blade to penetrate into the marked line. To do so, turn the knob of the cutter as you rotate the cutter around the pipe. Do not tighten the knob at once. Such an action could disturb the structure of the pipe as a whole.

Rotate the cutter blade around the copper pipe. Knob down if the blade loosens. Follow it up by taking a quarter-turn. Retighten the knob if the blade loosens again.

Keep doing the same to achieve the desired results.

Place the cut length of pipe at a convenient location and clean the face of the existing pipe with a piece of cloth.

Scott Rodgers is a noted writer who has been writering on plumbing contents for a long time now. His exemplary guidance has given motivation to a host of workers, ranging from Huntington Woods Plumbers to New Hudson Plumbers.

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