Home Design Articles

According to experts from plumbing companies Boston, burst copper pipes are a common home insurance claim.  While insulating your water lines can reduce the incidence of burst frozen pipes in your household, it does not absolutely guarantee against this possibility.  When the weather becomes cold enough, even insulated copper water pipes can freeze and burst.  If you are not lucky enough to be comprehensively covered by home insurance, a burst copper plumbing pipe in your home can be rather expensive to have repaired.  For households on a tight budget, having a professional come in may not be an option.  In this case, this post from plumbing companies Houston experts show you how to repair a burst copper plumbing pipe yourself.

If one of your copper water lines has burst, shut off the water at the main valve immediately to stop the water gushing out of the damaged pipe.  If you know where the shutoff valve is for that damaged line, shut off the water from that valve instead of the main so that the rest of the house will still have water.

Trace the damaged copper pipe back to the joints.  While some DIYers would simply cut off the damaged portion of the pipe, it would be better if you could replace the entire length of the pipe itself.  That way, your copper line will be good as new.

Remove the pipe length where the damage was sustained and prepare the replacement pipe of the same diameter and length.  Use sandpaper or an emery cloth to polish the surfaces that will be mated together: the outside ends of the pipes and the inside of the pipe fittings.

Coat the mating surfaces with soldering flux; slide the fittings over the ends of the replacement pipe.  Practicing proper soldering technique, heat up the fittings (one at a time) and apply the soldering iron on the joint between the fitting and the pipe.  As the solder melts, allow it to be drawn into the inside of the fitting to form a watertight seal.  Do the same for the other end of the replacement pipe so that the water line will be completed.

Allow the fittings to cool for about 30 minutes before turning the water supply back on.

Titan Tankless Water Heaters have many advantages over regular original water heaters that use energy and often run out of water. Individuals enjoy low bills and the fact that their hot water supply is endless which means there are no more arguments over who has the first shower in the morning. Experts quote that individuals who own this kind of solar energy can benefit in a bill with a 60 reduction.

The water heater is becoming a more and more popular choice when considering solar energy for homes. The unit will only operate when hot water is required in the home which means that no excess electricity is being used which reduces the bills dramatically. This is not the case with the original kind of heater as it is always heating the water.

Many people will have to shop around for a long period of time when thinking about purchasing a new unit. This is all in the past because now the Titan tankless water heater can heat the whole house regardless of the size. Many customers have four or even five bed roomed houses and are more than satisfied with their product.

The product has actually been around for over twenty years but it is only recently that individuals have decided to look into solar energy for homes to do their bit for the environment. Global warming has been widely advertised to educate individuals in the last decade which means many are buying this product to consider the lives of their Grandchildren. During this timeframe and beyond Families have been purchasing the item and feel it has really stood the test of time and proven its worth. The product is very affordable for the money it saves a household. Individuals are thrilled to be able to buy something that can save them money and save the environment from further damage.

Garbage disposals are designed to process food wastes into small particles before they are flushed down the drain. It has become a very useful addition to kitchens and many homeowners hire plumbing firms, like the plumbing companies in Dallas, TX or plumbing companies in Boston, MA, to install a garbage disposal unit in their homes. These devices make the kitchen more sanitary since they immediately move out waste away from the home to inhibit the growth of disease-causing bacteria.

While some homeowners have their garbage disposals connected to the main sewage line or septic tanks, others have a covered container intended to collect food scraps that are later added to the compost pile, which are usually combined with leaves and other organic matter to produce fertilizers.

In case you have a newly installed garbage disposal at home, one thing to keep your unit running smoothly is to always process food waste with cool tap water running. Pour hot water and some dish soap into the drain hole if necessary when you are finish processing.

You have to bear in mind that the disposal unit can grind food waste efficiently. However, there are some things that are not allowed to be thrown inside the unit. When you are processing food waste, never dispose of bones into your disposal unit. Fibrous and thick objects such as celery, banana and citrus peels are also not supposed to be dumped into the disposer. Any paper products should not go inside the disposal unit either. When these objects are crammed into the device, they can cause the fly wheel and grinding component to malfunction.

When you clean your disposal unit, you can run a few ice cubes through the disposer and add a few drops of citrus extracts to freshen the smell. Another way to keep the disposal unit clog-free is to pour two tablespoons of baking powder and ¼ cup of vinegar to melt any debris that may be lodged inside the unit.

vessel sink faucets come in different designs and materials. Some of the sink finishes available are stainless steel, chrome, bronze, brass, copper, and different colors of enamel. With many varieties, one can easily find a vessel faucet that surely compliments the decoration of bathroom or kitchen. There are two main types of faucets: wall mounted and deck mounted. Both vessel sink faucets provide style and charm to any bathroom.

Most people prefer wall mounted option as it saves a lot of counter top space and also have a stunning look. This is also a flexible option as it can be installed at any desired height. Deck mounted faucets appear like a goose neck. There is also another design called waterfall faucets and this is the favorite option among people as it offers more benefits and features other than look and charm. This model dispenses water upwards and gracefully falls on the saucer or plate. This unique feature is found only in the waterfall model. Waterfall designs come in different styles such as vintage and contemporary.

Another design, glass vessel sinks are the elegant addition to the home décor and it has a bowl like structure that requires tall faucet to make the water to fall on the bowl rim. Vessel faucets are mounted on another base that is separated from the vessel sink. The faucets are normally twelve to sixteen inches tall to accommodate the sink height. This placement definitely gives dramatic effect to the faucet and sinks arrangement.

Today, the faucets are available in different finishes such as matte, brushed, and polished. There are also different types of faucets such as faucets with single lever for hot and cold water and faucets with separate lever for hot and cold water. Good care and maintenance is very much required for long lasting life of the faucets.

Choosing the type of faucet that most suits the surrounding decor is one of the more important task in designing or redesigning the bathroom or kitchen. Due to the fact that there is such a wide range of choices in both look and finish this means that there is more chance to get it wrong.

That being said, not a lot can go wrong if you buy a stylish burshed nickel vessel sink faucet or an oil rubbed bronze faucet.

This article details some handy plumbing tips for the would be plumber. After working for several years for an Atlanta plumbing company, I can tell you that I have see far too often that the average home-owner is clue-less when it comes to basic plumbing. Let’s hope this article helps to change that.

PVC pipe is more popular today. It is inexpensive, easy to work, lightweight and relatively forgiving. PVC is used almost exclusively for drain and vent systems. CPVC resists heat better than PVC. Other types of plumbing pipes include PE (used for underground installation) and PB which is a flexible pipe also used for supply pipe.

There are several methods for cutting PVC pipe. A PVC ratchet cutter will make short work of smaller PVC pipe. If you have a lot of pipe to cut you might consider a power miter saw. If you decide to cut the PVC by hand, the PVC pipe saw will give you better results than a hacksaw. Be sure to secure the pipe in a vise and keep the blade straight while cutting.

CPVC pipe has been around for a long time but many code makers have been reluctant to accept it. Since it has been found to be a reliable supply pipe and has better insulating power than other materials it is gaining in popularity. It does require CPVC primer and cement. Check with your local building code inspector to find out if CPVC is allowed in your area.

Insulating your pipes is a good way to quiet noisy pipes while conserving energy. It also helps prevent frozen pipes which can result in costly repair.

Finally, a little known tip, when dealing with valves, is a valve should either be wide open or totally closed. When opening the valve for service, open fully, then turn back one-half turn. This lets you know the valve is open because it is easy to turn for a half turn, then stops. This prevents damage to the valve by excessive force when you are trying to open what you think is a closed valve.