Doing Your Own Plumbing

If you live in a part of the country that gets even remotely hot, you know the value of having a good air conditioner. Yet which one is right for your home? There are several different options to choose from — portable, central, window, ductless, etc — so how do you know which one you need?  Fortunately, the decision comes down to a few major variables: How old is your home, what's your budget, and what are your needs?

The plumbing hidden in your toilet tank typically does its job without requiring any real maintenance or even regular inspections. However, like all things, the plumbing in the tank can potentially break down and cause problems. If you've just noticed that your toilet tank is spraying water due to a leak in the fill tube or fill valve, you could have a messy problem on your hands. Here's what you should do in this situation.

If you have a significant water leak in your home, it can result in significant property damage as well as hundreds of dollars in utility costs and repair expenses. Some water leaks are incredibly easy to detect, but unfortunately, other leaks are far more subtle because they are hidden behind the walls or underneath the floor. Keep reading to learn a few signs that your home may have a hidden water leak.

Nobody wants to deal with the sight — or worse yet, smell — of having sewage in their yard. However, it can happen to anyone. If you've recently noticed that your yard looks saturated and has a foul smell, chances are it's due to sewage. Here's what you should know and do about this problem. Stop Using Plumbing If at all possible, stop using the toilet in your home immediately, and keep water and sink usage to a minimum.

If the pump in the well goes bad, then you can end up without access to water. If you are suddenly without access to water, it affects the lives of everyone in your household in many ways. There will be no drinking water, water to cook with, water for dental care, water for showering, water for cleaning dishes and clothes, water for flushing the toilet, and water for anything else. This is why it is important to know the signs of a well pump that's having issues.

Unless you'd like shivering when you bathe to be part of your future, you should get hot water tank installations anytime they're called for. There's always a time that you need to buy a new hot water heater. It's a central part of your home plumbing that needs the correct installation. The three steps given will help to accomplish that. 1. Search for hot water tank installations with timeliness Hot water heaters have a lifespan of 20 years for most, but they may need to be replaced as little as 10 years in.

Kitchen drains often see more use than any other drain in your home. And a lot goes down them — little bits of potato skin, leftover ketchup, dish soap — you name it! As such, you need to be careful to care for your kitchen drain properly. Adhering to the maintenance and cleaning tips below will go a long way. 1. Pour some hot water down the drain every few days.

When you used to turn the shower on, the water would come out in a full spray. However, when you now turn the water on, it just doesn't have the pressure it used to have. It's not as satisfying to take a shower when the water pours out of the faucet, rather than spraying at the force you need to get clean. There are several possible causes. Perform a Pressure Test