Leaky
Faucets
Pipes
Septic
System
Toilets
Drains
Bathrooms
Moisture
Water
Plumbing
Tips for
Potential
Home Buyers
Leaky
Faucets
Fixing
Benefits
Besides
being
annoying,
fixing a
leaky faucet
also saves
you some
money!
Dripping
water at one
drip/second
wastes 400
gallons of
water in a
year. If
this is hot
water, you
are watching
your money
go down the
drain!
Fix With
Washers
Although a
small drip
may seem
inconsequential
, it will
cost you
money.
Washers that
will tighten
your faucets
and get rid
of those
leaks take
only minutes
to install.
Pipes
Sweating
Pipes
To eliminate
sweating
cold water
pipes during
the summer
months,
place foam
pipe
insulation
over the
pipes. The
tubing keeps
the warm
humid air
from
condensing
on the cold
pipes.
Bathroom
Expenses
The most
expensive
part of
adding a new
bathroom is
“roughing
in” the new
plumbing. So
keep in mind
how far your
pipes have
to go.
Quick Fix
for Leaks
For a quick
fix on
copper pipe,
small leaks,
keep handy
an easy
repair kit.
All that is
needed is a
hose clamp
and a small
piece of
firm rubber,
such as
small
section of
garden hose.
Simply
insert the
rubber
around the
leak and
clamp. It
will save
you from
having to
drain the
system,
until you
have more
time on your
hands. The
clamp and
rubber
section of
hose helped
me out of a
few jams,
especially
if you don't
have copper
or solder on
hand at the
cabin, it
could save
the weekend!
Remember:
clamp and
rubber, plus
screwdriver.
.
Septic
System
Healthy
Septic
System
There are a
few basic
rules for
keeping your
septic
system
healthy.
Have the
tank pumped
and cleaned
every 2 to 5
years.
Don’t pour
ANY
solvents,
chemicals or
oils of ANY
kind into
the drain or
toilet.
Only flush
toilet paper
down, no
other paper
or plastic
products.
Use bleach
and other
cleaners
sparingly.
NEVER
dispose of
grease,
coffee
grounds or
popcorn in
the sink.
Toilets
Replacing A
Toilet Seat
Using an
adjustable
wrench you
can remove
the bolts
that hold
the toilet
seat in
place. If
the bolts
are metal
and have
corroded,
try soaking
with
penetrating
oil
overnight.
If the bolts
will not
budge, just
saw off with
a hacksaw.
Coat the new
bolts with
some
petroleum
jelly to
help in
future
removal!
Drains
Clogs In The
Drains
Most drain
blockages
occur
because
homeowners
put
materials
into the
drain, that
should never
go there.
Often liquid
materials
are put
“down the
drain”, and
then
solidify and
cause
clogging.
Remember to
just let
materials
harden, then
place in
trash,
instead of
in the
drain!
Drain Odors
Running very
hot water
through your
drains after
using will
help keep
them free of
odors
somewhat.
About once a
week pour a
handful of
baking soda
and hot
water down
the drain or
pour 1 cup
of vinegar,
let stand 30
minutes and
then run
some hot
water.
Keeping all
grease ,
hair, and
vegetable
matter out
of the drain
also helps
with odors
and possible
clogging.
Drains
Don't pour
grease down
your drains;
keep free of
hair and
other
debris. Once
a month, to
prevent
residual
grease and
soap from
clogging
drains:
Run hot
water
through the
drain.
Add 3
Tablespoons
of washing
soda.
Add a little
hot water.
Let stand
for 15
minutes;
then "flush"
by running
the water.
To properly
maintain the
garbage
disposal
Do not use
commercial
drain
products.
Use cold
water at all
times when
the disposal
is
operating.
Grind ice
cubes to
clean, lemon
peels to
freshen.
Read your
maintenance
manual.
Bathrooms
Preventing
Burns From
Hot Water
If your
shower or
tub douses
you with
very hot
water when a
toilet is
flushed or
another tap
in the house
is used ,
try
installing a
mixing valve
with a
built-in
temperature
and pressure
regulator.
This should
do the trick
for evenly
controlled
water
temperatures,
so enjoy!
Re-caulking
The Bathtub
House
settling
often
results in
cracks
between the
wall and
bathroom
sink or tub.
Clean and
dry the
area,
removing any
loose
caulking
with a putty
knife. Use
some
waterproof
caulking
compound to
fill the
cracks and
let dry
overnight
before using
the bath .
Porcelain
Sinks
Is your
porcelain
sink cracked
or chipped?
Your
hardware
store has
special kits
that are
easy to use
and return
the
porcelain or
enamel sinks
to
almost-new
condition.
They come in
many colors,
also.
Additional
Bathroom
Space
Need
additional
bathroom
space in the
house?
Remember
that you
will need at
the very
least, a
4ft. x 5 ft.
for the
toilet and
lavatory.
Showerheads:
New Vs. Old
New
showerheads
use no more
than 2.5
gallons per
minute,
therefore
saving you
water and
energy. By
replacing
your older
showerhead
for a new
one an
average
family ,(of
four
people), can
save $150 on
electric hot
water or $60
gas. The
amount of
water saved
per year
equals about
15,000
gallons!
Mineral
Deposits
To clean
mineral
deposits
from a
clogged
shower head,
try soaking
it in some
vinegar.
Templates
Templates
are used for
jobs such as
working out
pattern
ideas of
fascias or
cabinet
bases, and
working with
moldings.
Save some
notepad
backs and/or
cardboard
from dress
shirts to
use as easy
templates.
They are
easily cut
with a
utility
knife or
just
scissors.
Moisture
Water
Moisture In
The Home
Make sure
your kitchen
and baths
are vented
to the
outside of
the house.
These rooms
generate the
most
moisture in
your house.
A timer
switch on
the
ventilating
fans will
help you
remember to
run the fans
long enough
to clear out
all the
moisture,
and shut off
automatically.
Also, if the
house walls
are not
insulated,
water vapor
will
condense on
the drywall.
Think about
installing
some needed
insulation
in these
rooms.
Mildew
Mildew is a
fungus that
grows under
damp
conditions
on just
about any
surface
causing
stains,
discolorations
and
eventually
rot. Clean
mildew, then
try to
remedy the
conditions
that caused
it in the
first place.
Ventilate
basements,
or run
dehumidifiers
to dry the
air, walls
and
furnishings.
Let clothing
get
completely
dry before
hanging into
closets.
Keep
bathroom
shower/tub
areas free
of soap
scum. The
film retards
drying of
the area,
thereby
promoting
the growth
of mildew.
Air out
cabinets
regularly,
especially
bathroom and
under the
kitchen sink
ones.
Bathroom
Moisture
Moisture in
the bathroom
often comes
from the
toilet tank.
The tank
sweats
because the
cold water
in the tank
cools off
the tank ,
which in
turn causes
the humidity
in the room
to condense
on the tank
, running
onto the
floor or
wall. Buy a
terry cloth
tank cover
to absorb
the
moisture. Or
the best bet
is to
install a
mixing
valve- this
warms the
water coming
into the
toilet tank.
Less
condensation
and less
mess!
Water
Soft Water
Soft water
can save
more than
half the
money you
spend on
soaps,
detergents
and shampoo.
It can save
up to 50% of
your time
and energy
spent on
cleaning!
It reduces
scaling that
clogs pipes
, thereby
slowing your
drains.
It reduces
rings in tub
and toilets,
soap scum
buildup and
other
staining.
It helps
appliances,
plumbing,
clothes and
linens last
up to twice
as long!
It
eliminates
the need for
acids,
bleaches and
abrasives in
your home.
You get
softer and
whiter
clothes,
shinier
hair, and
smoother
skin.
It saves on
your energy
bill!
It might be
cost
efficient to
rent, lease
or buy a
water
conditioner
that removes
calcium,
magnesium,
and iron by
the process
of ion
exchange.
Conditioners
operate
automatically
and requite
little
maintenance.
Hard Water
Deposits
Much tap
water is
“hard”, and
leaves
deposits on
everything.
Therefore an
acid cleaner
is needed to
get rid of
the
deposits.
Phosphoric
acid (4%) in
tile cleaner
works well,
or you can
get 8 to 9 %
solutions at
a janitorial
supply
store.
Plumbing
Tips for
Potential
Home Buyers
Many
families are
taking
advantage of
low interest
rates along
with other
incentives,
and are
shopping for
new homes.
With this
potential
rise in home
buying,
prospective
purchasers
must be
fully aware
of what they
are getting
into when
buying a
home. For
example, a
recent study
found that
as many as
40 percent
of consumers
call a
plumber
within one
year of
purchasing a
new home.
Many homes
may have an
attractive
facade and
price, but
bear
problems
that can
prove to be
costly.
Problems
that lie
beneath the
surface of a
home, such
as faulty
plumbing or
water
leakage,
often do not
become
evident
until after
the house is
bought.
Toilets
Check around
the base of
toilets for
signs of
water damage
or soft
floors
(check for
soft floors
by standing
over the
toilet and
rocking back
and forth on
each foot.
If the floor
feels
spongy, it
has probably
been
damaged).
Check to see
how fast the
toilet
flushes.
Bathtubs
Check for
leaky or
loose tiles.
Press on the
walls where
they come
into contact
with the
tub. If
they're
soft, water
has most
likely
caused
damage
behind the
tiles.
Water Supply
Piping
Turn on the
water in the
bathtub and
the kitchen
sink. If
there is a
noticeable
reduction in
volume, the
pipes may
need to be
replaced
because of
calcium and
mineral
deposits.
If the house
has a
basement,
check
exposed
pipes for
signs of
leaks and
recent
repairs.
Find the
main line
cleanout and
be sure it
is
accessible.
Water Heater
Check the
date of the
water heater
(the first
four digits
of the
heater's
serial
number are
the month
and year it
was made).
Any heater
over 15
years old
should be
replaced.
If the water
heater vent
ties into
the chimney,
verify that
the chimney
is lined. To
check, look
to see if a
metal liner
sticks out
of the top
of the
chimney. In
the lower
level of the
house, make
sure there
is a drip
tee sticking
out of the
chimney.
If there is
not a
basement in
the house,
make sure
the water
heater vent
is a "class
b chimney"
or at least
six inches
away from
wood.
Other Vital
Tips
Make sure
the garbage
disposer and
dishwasher
connections
work
properly.
Use a
flashlight
to check for
signs of
water damage
inside
cabinets.
Check
washing
machine
hoses for
rupture and
turn valves
on and off
to test for
leaks.
Also check
out our
Manufacture's
Products
page
