Housekeeping

Backflow preventers are necessary because they prevent contamination and pollutants from entering your home’s water supply. The last thing that you need is for waste and pesticides to flow backward and contaminate your water. However, it can be just as frustrating and confusing if your backflow preventer leaks, so what causes it?

When it is clean and given the chance to shine, aluminum can be stunning. There are a ton of retail products out there that claim to be able to polish the surfaces of aluminum items, but there are some caveats.

Having a jetted tub can be an awesome addition to any home. The ability to soak and relax during a bath can completely change the way that you view your tub. But there is a chance that something could go wrong, and the jets will stop working.

One day, not too long ago, I was at my mom’s house when I heard a loud crash. I ran to my closet where the noise was coming from and quickly noticed that the shelves had collapsed. Since then, we got Closetmaid shelving. We installed it in hopes of making sure we don’t see shelving topple again, but was it a good idea? Moreover, how much can these shelves hold?

You might love Fido, but there’s something Fido loves more than you. Fido loves pooping all over your yard, and sometimes, he’s so active in that department that you just can’t pick up all the poop in your yard. It’s a nightmare, but there might be a shortcut when it comes to getting rid of dog poop in your yard. You might be able to dissolve it.

Whether you’ve entered into a race or want to go on a journey, bringing your bike with you is an option. People bring their beloved bikes all over the world. If this is something you’re interested in, you may be wondering how much it will cost you.

When you first decide to make a DIY shower installation happen, you’ll see a lot of talk about adhering tile to a shower pan, or finding the right thinset for a particular shower pan brand. You might also start hearing people discuss picking up the right shower base. These terms seem pretty similar, but is there a difference between a shower pan and a shower base?

It happens to the best of us: Summer comes, and the Compressor in your air conditioner gives out. You know you need to replace it, but how do you go about it? What is the cost? Having a better understanding of the price breakdown will help you understand your spending range to get your AC back up and running.

You’ve emptied your schedule, gathered supplies, and are ready to pressure wash your driveway when — nothing happens. Your pressure washer won’t start. What gives?

One of the best ways to keep your floors clean and free of sand or dirt is to institute a no-shoes-in-the-house policy. Believe it or not, wearing shoes in the home is frowned upon in many parts of the world. Many Asian countries, for example, do not allow the wearing of shoes in the home.

Ingesting non-potable water shouldn’t seem like a major problem in well-developed countries like the United States. But in 2017, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported close to 500,000 hospitalizations and 7,000 deaths from waterborne diseases.

A home sump pump is meant to remove water from an area, typically a basement that floods during the rainy season. These are usually located in a basement or where the structure’s foundation is lower than the natural water table.

A well-functioning toilet flapper is necessary to the function of any toilet. There are only three main toilet flapper types available: tank ball, seat disk (or disc) and rubber.

Mice are small, fuzzy members of the rodent family that can cause just as many issues as the closely related rats and other large rodents. Not to mention, the bubonic plague, or Black Death, that occurred during the Middle Ages was carried by mice. It’s because of them that around half of Europe’s population perished from the plague.

When you first got your fireplace, you probably were wondering how to use it. This is particularly true with ignition. You might have had an ignitor in your design, or you might not have. Either way, when you want to use a fireplace and don’t seem to have a proper way to light it, it can be frustrating. So, what can you do?

Owning a fish tank is rewarding, even if it takes a lot of work. However, it’s easy to forget about how your fish tank can affect the rest of your house. So, can a fish tank cause mold?

If you’re up-to-date with the latest and greatest hairstyles, you might find yourself using hair glue quite frequently. While it’s a fantastic styling aid, it’s not so amazing when some happens to get into your carpet. Depending on the type of hair glue, it will either dry and flake throughout your carpet or dry and stick your carpet fibers together. Regardless of what it does, you need to get it out.

How many times have you caught yourself getting ready to set that hot pan on your laminate countertop? And you probably have cringed every time you see one of your kids do exactly that. Even though you tell them not to. While laminate is a nice and inexpensive countertop material, it is not known for being the strongest one.

If there’s one thing plumbers hate, it’s sediment. Sediment in your water line will cause your boiler to act out, increase the chances of clogging, and even change the flavor of your water. Most people assume they can’t actually do anything about sediment buildup but this isn’t very true. It’s possible to lean your sediment out of your water line and reduce the impact it has on plumbing.

It’s often said that your home is going to be your biggest investment, and for most of us, that’s right. It’s going to be the place where we live, where we thrive, and also will make a huge impact on the life we experience. That’s why most of us are willing to pay extra for a house that’s in prime real estate terrain.

It’s something we all have dreamed about; perfectly painted walls. Maybe even a gorgeous mural to really make the dining room stand out. But what do you do when it comes to washing them? Don’t worry! We will tell you how to clean them without removing any of the paint.

Coffee machines are super convenient to have in your home, especially cause so many of them come with timers now, so you don’t have to remember to turn the coffee pot on in time before heading to work or starting your day. However, one thing that gets super annoying is the need to descale it. But, it needs to be done! But what if you have a Breville Coffee Maker? How do you descale that?

An electrical outlet (also referred to as an electrical receptacle) is the place where you plug in all your appliances and electrical devices. When functioning correctly, these will stay at room temperature.

You have a big event approaching, guests are coming over to visit or you’re putting your house up for sale. There couldn’t be a more perfect time to give your carpets a much-needed cleaning. However, after shampooing, your carpet now has new stains and bald spots, leaving you feeling defeated.

For anyone working an in-0ffice job, lunch is always a looming consideration. Some prefer to eat in an employee cafeteria, while others order out. But these habits can become expensive and even unhealthy. These are a couple of reasons why the concept of meal-prepping has grown more popular.

You have invested a lot of time and money into your home. Unfortunately, you’ve noticed your driveway, garage or other concrete surfaces don’t look as good as they once did. You’ve done some homework and concrete resurfacing seems like the best option to repair and refresh that concrete slab. But before you spend the money, you need to know if it will last.

Blinds serve an important function in our home. With them, we have privacy and the ability to control how much light gets into each of our rooms.

Vinyl plank flooring is an excellent way to get the look of hardwood floors at an affordable price. They’re also durable, many types of vinyl floors are waterproof, and they’re easy to maintain. But if you don’t take care of them, they can get dull over time. Luckily, it’s easy to make vinyl plank floors shine like new.

While it might seem like all refrigerators are basically the same, there are different brands that have their own unique features. Frigidaire is one of the brands that tend to be among one of the most popular in the industry.

Stamped concrete is one of the hottest trends when it comes to backyard patios, driveways, and walkways. It’s easy to see why. It’s clean, gives the appearance of tile, and yet also tends to be easy to color with dyes. With the rise of stamped concrete, people are starting to wonder how long it will last. This is doubly true due to stigma from bad concrete in the past. Thankfully, there is some good news on the horizon…

If there’s anything I learned to hate, it’s meter readings. No, I don’t want to have to see how badly I’m clobbered with electricity use. I just don’t want to look at it.

The refrigerator is one of the most important appliances in a home. With this appliance, a homeowner is able to preserve a lot of food, and they can also take advantage of a lot of other features that modern refrigerators boast.

When you buy a Coach purse, it’s an exciting purchase. It’s hard not to feel fancy sporting their signature Cs at an event or even for everyday wear. When owning a designer item like a Coach purse, you’ll want to keep it looking fresh and brand new. However, it is important to be careful when cleaning these bags to avoid unintended damage.  This raises the question, is it possible to wash a Coach purse in your washing machine? 

If you’ve ever seen a home that was built since the 1980s, then you probably have seen stairs that had a carpet on top of them. Carpeted stairs are nice, snuggly, and also help cushion falls that you might have. Traditionally, you would need to install carpeting on stairs using tack strips. However, that’s not always the case anymore. There are alternatives you can choose from.

Imagine the following scenario:  you are known for conserving water, and for as long as you lived in town, your water bills were $30 or so. Recently, a new family moved in. They have a pool, sprinklers, and everything else watery under the sun. The next month, you notice that your water bill shot up to $900. You look at your neighbors, who don’t make eye contact with you anymore. Could it be them?

If you’ve ever wondered if mice can get into your refrigerator, you may be surprised at the answer. While refrigerators are made from metal and can successfully ward off many different types of critters, mice are clever and can find a way in.

Noise pollution can make life incredibly difficult. If unwanted noises are reducing your quality of life, you may want to consider soundproofing. Whether it’s a noisy neighbor, busy main thoroughfare, or simply obtrusive sounds traveling between rooms, you can soundproof a room to help decrease the amount of sound disturbance.

Is there anything better than getting a stack of pancakes for breakfast? Those sweet and fluffy treats often covered in butter and syrup are regarded as breakfast favorites all over the world.

While ironing might not be everyone’s favorite chore, it’s sometimes part of the laundry process. Maintaining your ironing board and washing your ironing board cover are essential to keep your clothes from getting dirty all over again.

The best way to decrease the amount of money you spend on food is to ensure no food goes to waste. This is something that’s easier said than done, but there are ways you can organize your kitchen to reduce the risk of food expiring.

Thermostats have come a long way. They have gone from the dark ages of manual cranking all the way to smart technology that sometimes even comes complete with voice recognition. Modern thermostats make controlling your home’s HVAC system seamless, which is why it can be particularly frustrating when your thermostat stops working when you change the batteries. 

Recently, I was watching Fuller House and marveled at how many Tanner-Fuller family members fit into what appeared to be a three-bedroom home in San Francisco. It got me thinking. I’ve heard of dozens of my friends living together in communes or as roommates, but I was not entirely sure how legal some of those living arrangements are. I mean, how many people can normally live in a place before it’s too much?

Dish soap is one of the best household remedies for many problems, and that includes dirty hardwood floors. It’s the best way to clean hardwood floors without damaging them, especially if you use natural or mild dish soap. First, sweep or vacuum your hardwood floors to remove dust and debris before you mop them.

Apartment living can be fraught with issues. Noise is perhaps the greatest source of friction between apartment neighbors across the globe. Luckily, there are ways to soundproof your apartment door and many are relatively inexpensive.

Cold weather can be a nuisance for any homeowner between expensive heating bills and snow. Freezing temperatures can cause your pipes to freeze,  and that can lead to thousands of dollars worth of damage in some cases. So, how long does it take for pipes to freeze?

Switching from baseboard heat to a forced-air system is a big decision. Many people choose to stay with their baseboard heaters not only because of the cost of changing systems, but the perks it provides. Before you decide to convert heating systems, make sure you research which is best for your family.

The water coming from our faucets may be purified, but that doesn’t mean it is pure. City water often has fluoride in it, and the pipes in your home can put other minerals in your water, too. Sometimes this can cause water discoloration, especially if you turn the water off for a period of time.

If you are looking to build or repair something, then liquid nails are a fantastic tool to use. When using real nails, you have the possibility of hurting your hands by hitting them with a hammer. This can be tiring, cause pain, and be all-around frustrating. There are also times when a space is too tight to get into with a hammer and a nail. In cases like these, we recommend using liquid nails!

As someone who’s had friends who didn’t really understand the concepts of cleanliness, I’ve seen some pretty gnarly rooms. The worst rooms I’ve seen are, invariably, bathrooms and kitchens. I’ve even refused to bathe in a friend’s home because their bathtub was so gross. Believe it or not, if you’ve neglected cleaning your bathroom for that long, you can still clean a disgusting bathtub with a few tips.

Timing is everything. When you plan a vacation and want to save as much money as possible, choose your dates wisely. A vacation can cost two or three times more or less depending on what dates you book it for. This is particularly true with destinations that have a short window of popularity.

If you struggle with squirrels running all over your roof, you know how annoying and distracting it can be. With the risk of squirrels chewing through your roof, there are steps you’ll need to take to keep the little critters at bay. Though their fluffy tails may be cute, we don’t want them gnawing their way into our attics. 

There is no worse smell for a non-smoker than the stench of cigarette smoke. The worst-case scenario is that your house smells like cigarette smoke when you’re not even a smoker. So, why does my house smell like cigarette smoke?

What do you do when your power goes out? A standby generator is an excellent piece of equipment to have. After all, this provides electricity to your home in the case of an accident or a storm. Depending on your particular generator, you will have an interlock switch or transfer switch. Both are different in the way they operate.

Cockroaches are one of the oldest insects on the planet, dating back to more than 320 million years ago. They did not last this long on accident. They are hard to get rid of and can spread diseases to humans. Unfortunately, if you have cockroaches in your cabinets, you have them all over the house.

Have the lights in your home ever flickered out? The fear of a power outage is real. However, a solar generator can put your mind at ease. They are quiet, efficient, and portable. Whether you reside in the country or city, solar generators are a useful tool. It may seem like solar generators are super high tech – while they are cool, a portable solar generator can be built by any motivated person. 

It can be tricky to pair a transformer with a doorbell if you struggle to get enough power or volume. Doorbells come with specifications about their power requirements, but some homeowners want to use an overpowered transformer. So, can you use a 24V transformer on a 16V doorbell?

Leaking water can cause serious damage to your home. If you have it, you could have to replace possessions, repaint, or even replace your drywall. Leaks can be especially troublesome when they take place in out-of-the-way areas like your basement.

Ah, new joys of parenthood. Lots of bottle filling, lots of new stains to get rid of, and tons of new things you never knew about keeping a good house. One of the first new stains you’ll run into as a parent is the awkward spill that happens if you drop diaper cream on a carpet. So, how do you get this stuff out of your pre-baby carpet?

A sprinkler system can be a multi-faceted tool that you can use for not only home protection but for properly watering gardens and landscaping. They are meant to make things easier but there are times where they simply won’t turn off and an adjustment doesn’t work.

Gorilla Glue is one of the most useful substances known to man when it comes to fixing things, including things like loose furniture. Unfortunately, it also has a really sticky, gooey consistency that magically seems to get into every nook and cranny imaginable. Most people out there have wondered if there’s a way to remove excess Gorilla Glue from surfaces. Thankfully, there is.