If you live in Florida and have a house that has some age to it, you will run into a piping problem if you have not already. Our warm and humid climate aids the natural degradation and corrosion of pipes that were installed decades ago. If your home is decades old and has never been re-piped, this is something you may have to do in the near future. You can contact a professional plumber and have them look at your piping to tell you what kind of pipe you have, what kind of life it has left, what pipe they ...
Read MoreFlushable wipes became popular on the market about 15 years ago or so. They offer "extra cleanliness" to the user. Many companies that make these products tout that they are just as safe as regular toilet paper to flush down your toilet. But are they? The bottom line is that regular toilet paper is made thin and is fully biodegradable. The flushable wipes are made thicker and have chemical additives that keep the wipes together and moist. They will eventually break down in the sewer or septic system but they do not break down right away. If there is a ...
Read MoreClearing the main drain from your home is a task you will most likely run into in your lifetime. For Brevard County residents living in home built before the 1980's, it is something you have most likely had to deal with more than once. The older drains are built out of cast iron and they collect debris and build-up over time. Not only that but the cast iron drains start to corrode and collapse on themselves. Every single one is a ticking time-bomb. And by that I don't mean they'll explode. I just mean they will fail and you will ...
Read MoreSometimes unclogging a bathtub can be as simple as using a toilet plunger on the drain in order to get the water flowing again. The best way to do this is as follows: Wear some rubber boot if you have them in order to prevent slippage. It wouldn't hurt to wear eye-goggles either to prevent dirty water from getting into your eyes. Remove any standing water using a bucket or cup. Remove the strainer or stopper that may be in the drain. This can usually be done using a screwdriver. Add a few inches of water to the tub. You ...
Read MoreIf you live in Melbourne, you probably have noticed the smell of chlorine in your water is more prominent lately. This is because the city is performing a disinfection procedure. This process is designed to keep the water and pipes safe for the long run. Approx. 170,000 people are affected. The water treatment in Melbourne Florida usually consists of treating the it with a tiny amount of chloramine, a mixture of chlorine and ammonia. From time to time the city will switch to chlorine only. This is necessary to keep the system free of bacterial growth. (more…)
Read MoreThere are some clogs that liquid plumber and and rubber plungers just can't seem to solve. (Try these home solutions too). For those really tough stubborn clogs there is a device called a "snake". I am sure you have heard about this device and know exactly why it is called that. So, I won't waste time or words on that. But what is good to know is that you can get a pretty decent snake online for about 40 bucks. There are snakes that work well on the free market and they will deliver them right to your door. The ...
Read MoreYou want to install an in-ground pool. Sounds great. You can spend most of the year floating in your pool, drinking a cold beverage and soaking up the rays. Besides having the right amount of money to put a pool in, there are some good questions to ask, or better yet a checklist of things to consider before doing so. Do Utility Lines Run Under Your Property If you have access to the original building plans of your property, dig them out and take a look. If you don't have them, the local records office will have them on file. ...
Read MoreMany homes here in Central Florida are made from concrete block. Consequently, the external pipes to items such as water sprinklers or outdoor spigots run on the outside of the home and are bolted or fastened against the surface of the concrete. Many of these pipes are made from PVC or other plumbing plastics. Day after day these pipes are exposed to the rays of the sun. It may seem innocuous but over decades time, the suns rays can have a warping and degrading effect on these pipes. The pipe becomes brittle and one day while you are watering your ...
Read MoreWhen you own a home you want to keep your expenses down anyway possible. This goes for the short and long-term. Pipes eventually go bad in a home and replacing them can be very expensive. In this article we will go over methods to keeping your pipes lasting as long as possible. Checking Water Pressure This is a big one. Too much water pressure is bad for your pipes. Just a few PSI above the recommended level doesnt seem like much, but over years time it can do serious damage. It is suggested that you keep your PSI below 85. ...
Read MoreThe dreaded repipe. Many home-owners are aware of the process. Your home's piping is old and decaying and it is time to replace it. Sounds like an enormous project, one in which there will be workers walking through your house all day and plastic covers are draped from wall to wall. It really isn't that bad. The fact is that you can get a nice repipe for a very affordable price. You don't have to rip out your existing plumbing system. Many times the plumber can go through the attic and create a work around. (more…)
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