Showing posts with label kitchen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kitchen. Show all posts
Friday, December 10, 2010
Some Pros and Cons of DIY Plumbing
Read This BEFORE You Tackle That Plumbing Job Yourself!With the rising cost of…well…everything, more and more homeowners are turning to do-it-yourself (DIY) projects for everything from growing their own produce to car repairs. DIY home improvement has always been popular, and there are benefits and drawbacks to undertaking these projects yourself.
When it comes to DIY home plumbing, there are thousands of plumbing resources available—books, videos, online resources, television shows, magazines, and more. DIY plumbing is attractive because it seems relatively easy and can save a significant amount of cash over hiring a contractor or professional plumber. But before you take on that plumbing project, consider the pros and cons of DIY plumbing.
DIY Plumbing Pros
One benefit of DIY plumbing is that you can usually trust who you’ve hired – as long as you trust yourself! Though asking for referrals from friends and family is a generally reliable way to find a good professional, many homeowners are wary of inviting contractors into their homes. When you know you can do the work yourself, you never have to worry about the skill or reputation of workers in your house.
Also in the pro column, many basic plumbing and drain repairs -- like unclogging a slow drain or plunging a stopped up toilet –- are relatively easy and quick. It may seem silly to call a professional plumber on these occasions, so knowing how to do them yourself can save a lot of hassle and a ton of cash...especially on weekends or holidays when plumbers’ rates jump drastically.
DIY Plumbing Cons
The main problem with DIY plumbing is that there are a lot of unknowns to contend with. Even simple projects like repairing a leaky faucet or changing a shower head can quickly become more complicated than the average weekend warrior can handle. And a plumbing mistake can be far more costly than messing up the paint job in your living room or installing a crooked chair rail in your dining room.
Another DIY plumbing con is that changing your home’s plumbing significantly, such as expanding your kitchen or adding on a bathroom, usually requires a permit from your local municipality. For plumbing amateurs, navigating this often complex process can be difficult and may cut into your project deadline and budget. Professional plumbers are adept at cutting through bureaucratic red tape in order to secure the proper permits, ensuring your plumbing job is completed on time and on budget.
If you carry homeowner’s insurance, your carrier may require that any significant plumbing work be conducted by a licensed professional. If this is the case and there is any damage done to your home during the course of the plumbing project, your insurer will only pay on a claim if the work has been performed by a qualified plumbing contractor; if you do the work yourself and a disaster occurs, you’ll have to foot the bill out of your own pocket.
Plumbing is often physically taxing work. Carrying pipes, knocking out walls, shimmying into tight spaces, and loosening tight or rusty pipe joints requires strength and stamina. Plumbing and drain jobs often require the use of chemical solvents, welding and soldering equipment, torches and other potentially harmful materials and tools. If you’re not up to the task physically, best to leave the work to a plumbing pro.
Bottom Line: Don’t Take Chances With Your Home's Plumbing
If you have some plumbing knowledge and are a natural handyman, many plumbing jobs can be done on a DIY basis. But let’s face it – in this day and age, most homeowners – male and female – aren’t very mechanically inclined. Plumbing is a complex skill that requires years of training. Letting an inexperienced person play with plumbing is like letting a child play with a loaded gun. Bad plumbing work today will lead to extensive and expensive plumbing repairs tomorrow. When in doubt, call the plumbing professionals at Horizon Services. You’ll get a quick, accurate diagnosis of your plumbing problem and effective, affordable plumbing solutions that you can trust.
Related Plumbing Information from Horizon Services…
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Effective Kitchen & Bathroom Cleaning Without Harsh Chemicals
Advantages of Water Vapor for Cleaning
The average American spends about 70 percent of his or her time at home. This makes it very important that the indoor air quality inside our homes is free of germs, allergens, pollutants, harsh chemicals, and air-borne debris. Steam cleaning with high-pressure water vapor can reduce or even eliminate everything from bacteria and viruses to fleas and dust mites. With steam cleaning, dust mites, fleas and their eggs are killed on contact, while allergens, pollen and pet dander are instantly removed.
Just as steam is used to sterilize medical instruments, baby items, and clean clothes, it can be used in your kitchen and bathroom to effectively and gently disinfect most surfaces. If you or anyone in your home are sensitive to allergens, have asthma, or a condition in which the immune system is weakened, steam cleaning is an attractive alternative to traditional chemical cleaning.
Those living with babies or small children are also sure to appreciate the power of steam cleaning as well as the reduction in the number of poisonous materials around the kitchen, bathroom and rest of the house.
Cleaning Grout with Steam
Many kitchen and bathroom cleaners are simply too harsh to clean grout, and specialty grout cleaners can be expensive. Using steam to clean tile grout is a gentle but effective way to get rid of mold, mildew, soap scum and dirt. However, steam cleaning machines can be bulky, making it inconvenient to drag them to the kitchen or bathroom several times a week. To maintain your grout in between deep steam cleanings, most experts recommend spraying grout with hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, vinegar, or baking soda and water.
Spray the grout after every use, and be sure to open a window if you are using one of the harsher materials like vinegar or alcohol. Steam cleaning just once or twice a month is sufficient to kill mold spores, mildew, bacteria, dust mites, and other organisms that may be hiding in tile grout. Your kitchen or bathroom will look like a million bucks!
Beyond the Kitchen and Bathroom
The same water vapor that can be used to disinfect and clean your kitchen or bathroom can also be used throughout your home to improve overall cleanliness and air quality. Mobile units available for purchase vary in size and price; small machines cost around $100, while larger ones can cost upwards of $1000. Carpet steam cleaners can be purchased at nearly any discount or home improvement store, or can be rented at many supermarkets. Use steam to clean everything from carpets, clothing, toys, and sports equipment to sinks, wallpaper, doors, and glass.
Benefits for your Plumbing and Drains
Steam cleaning is also a wise choice if you want to keep your plumbing and drain system in fine working order. Over time, chemicals from cleaning products can corrode pipes and damage plumbing fixtures. Sediment from cleansers can also accumulate in drains and contribute to clogs. Steam cleaning, on the other hand is gentler on kitchen and bathroom surfaces and won't harm pipes, faucets, drains and plumbing fixtures.
Where to Find Steam Cleaners
You can find quality steam cleaning equipment at most hardware and home stores as well as online at websites like Amazon.com. Commercial home cleaning services can also provide a thorough steam cleaning of your kitchen, bathroom and whole house for those who are all thumbs in the clean-up department.
Related Information from Horizon Services...
Monday, February 15, 2010
Energy Efficient Kitchens
The average American home spends about 20 percent of total household energy bills on running electronic devices and appliances; things like computers, refrigerators, washing machines and dryers, televisions, stereos, and dishwashers comprise the bulk of most home energy usage. Coincidentally, many of the most common—and most heavily used—household appliances are in the kitchen. The following tips will help you boost your kitchen’s energy efficiency, reduce your monthly utility bills, and trim down your family’s carbon footprint.Refrigerators and Freezers
Be sure to set your refrigerator and freezer to a reasonable temperature. Most manufacturers have recommended temperature settings clearly marked near the climate control panel inside the appliance. If you can’t find it, a good temperature range is between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit for refrigerators, and 0 degrees Fahrenheit for free-standing freezers.
A full fridge or freezer is much more energy efficient than an empty one. Whenever possible, stock them to near-capacity to reduce the compressor’s workload. This can also delay food thawing and warming in the event of a power outage.
Try to position the refrigerator in a cool spot, away from heat sources like the oven or a window that received direct sunlight most of the day. This keeps the fridge cooler overall and prevents the appliance from having to run overtime to compensate for the extra heat.
Freezers should never be placed in an area of extreme temperatures, particularly outdoors. Drastic climate changes can force the compressor to work overtime, causing premature wear and tear. Basements and garages are suitable alternatives if you don’t have room in your kitchen.
Air should be able to move freely behind the fridge or freezer. Set the appliance a few inches from the wall and regularly clean condenser coils (if you have an older model) so there’s no dust or debris restricting air flow. Your owner’s guide will have detailed information on how to safely clean the coils, and you can find specialty cleaning brushes at most major hardware stores.
Check the door seals and make sure they’re intact and airtight. If you notice any gapping, sagging, bunching or breakage replace the seals immediately.
Only open the fridge or freezer door when necessary and close the door when you’re not actively loading or unloading items.
Dishwashers
We’ve all heard the joke about washing the dishes before we wash the dishes (in the dishwasher). While most new models can handle large food particles, many of us are still in the habit of rinsing dishes before we load them in the washer. However, you can save more than 20 gallons of water simply by scraping dirty dishes instead of hand rinsing them before they go in the dishwasher.
There’s very little difference between the amount of water and energy a dishwasher uses on a full load and on a light load, but frequent cycles obviously use more energy—and cost more. To maximize your machine’s efficiency, try to run it only when it’s full.If your dishwasher has a drying feature, turn it off or choose the no-heat option. Heat drying requires even more energy and doesn’t make a significant difference in drying results.
Related Information from Horizon Services...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Subscribe!
Posts
All Comments
My Blog List
AddThis
Keystone Partner
Horizon Services is a Keystone Partner of Philadelphia Union, Major League Soccer Team
