Did you know that you can use the same antifreeze that you use in your car to help prevent your home plumbing from freezing? To find out how and why, as well as other great tips for how to maintain your home plumbing, read the following article right away.

You always want to solder correctly, the biggest mistake most people make when soldering is failing to get the interior of the fitting and the exterior of the pipe clean and shiny. Polish these surfaces with a fine emery clot until bright. When soldering, never heat the pipe, but instead heat the fitting. Doing so allows the solder to be drawn into the fitting by capillary action.

If your pipes bang when you turn on the water, and all the pipes are anchored correctly, you should add some straps or cushion the pipes with a rubber blanket. There may be times when you will need to do both. Make sure that if you have copper pipes, you are not using galvanized straps.

To prevent the pipes from freezing, it is advisable to seal off air vents, cracks and access doors. In order to keep the heat in and the cold out, you can try using insulation or caulk. In the event a leak occurs, make it a point to remind everyone where the master circuit breaker is so it can be shut off immediately.

You should drain all of the water out of the tank of your hot water heater at least once every three to six months. Draining all of the water out of the tank helps to prevent sediment build-up at the bottom of the tank. This sediment can cause the tank to bang or to heat less efficiently.

In order to keep your garbage disposal in optimal working condition, run it on a regular basis. Just a simple 60 seconds per day under cold water can keep it running clean and smooth. If not run regularly, your disposal can be susceptible to corrosion that will eventually make it inoperable.

There are simple ways to check your toilet for leaks that can ultimately lead to great cost savings in the long run. The easiest way to do this is to pour a small amount of food dye into the holding tank of your toilet overnight. In the morning, if you have any color in the basin then you know you have a leak that needs some attention.

Do you have a frozen drainpipe? You can use a garden hose to thaw it out. First of all, remove the trap from the drainpipe and insert the hose until it will not go any further. While lifting up the other end of the hose, pour hot water down it. Keep pouring hot water down the hose until the drainpipe thaws. To save time with cleanup, keep a bucket underneath to catch the water that overflows.

In conclusion, you want to be sure that all of the advice you have heard about plumbing is correct. Take the time to go back over this article and decide what applies to you and what you need to learn even more about. The learning process never stops and it will benefit you greatly.…

Do you want to change the look of your home? Perhaps it’s time to implement some changes and updates here and there. Here you will find tips to get you started in interior design, and create a home you will love to live in.

One of the easiest steps in interior design involves painting a room. Paint gives a room a fresh look, and it can completely change the feeling in the space. Paint allows you to put a dash of your individual style in the space, and it is an inexpensive way to begin redesigning your home.

A great way to liven up an otherwise boring or complicated space is to create a point of focus in the room. This focal point will become the highlight of the space, and everything else that’s in the room will work to support the focal point. Focal points to think about working around include fireplaces, windows, artworks and stately pieces of furniture.

Figure out what you want the focal point of the room to be. This is going to be one thing that the room is going to center around. It can be a window, a desk, a piece of artwork – whatever you’d like it to be. Once you know what your focal point is, you can arrange the room so that it compliments that focal point.

When you are decorating your children’s room, try to look at things from their perspective. Decor in their room should be practical and age-appropriate. If you have young children, get down and look at things at their eye level. This will help you decide how to make the most of the space in their room.

Arrange your furniture smartly. Walk around your rooms and take different paths: are you able to easily go from one room to the other? Furniture should not be in your way, and yet some items should be made central if you wish to create a theme or a color pattern based on a piece of furniture.

When redecorating a small kitchen, keep your color pallet pale. A pale color pallet will brighten the space and make it appear larger. It is also best to focus on one or two colors to keep the space from appearing busy. Light blue, sea green, white and ivory are all wonderful choice for a small kitchen space.

If you have floors that are made of tile, stone or concrete, the use of stylish area rugs will make your room seem cozier and warmer to your feet. To minimize wear in high-traffic areas, you should regularly rotate and reposition each rug. Your rug can get a fresh look and last longer if you move them once in awhile.

Always get a second opinion! Have you ever bought a rug or throw pillows that you thought looked amazing, only to decide later on they were a bit tacky? Showing photos of items you like to your friends or family members can help you avoid making purchases you regret. Everyone has their own tastes, but other perspective can help you notice things you might have missed.

Now you should be able to start your interior design projects, keeping within your needs, personality and budget. Use your creativity and don’t be afraid to use interior design to show new and different aspects of yourself and your home.…

There is a lot to think about when landscaping a home. Landscaping doesn’t just mean to improve a home’s garden alone. Things that you should be thinking about when landscaping a home, are areas such as, the fence, hedges, decks, fountains or anything else you might want to add. To get an idea of what you can do to landscape your home, take a look through this article.

To give your landscaping a new fresh look, re-edge your rock or flower beds with curves that are soft. Curved beds are all the rage these days, while right angles are considered boring and passe. Cutting fresh edges is an inexpensive project that can make a big impact on how your lawn and flower bed looks.

When planning a landscaping project for your house, you might want to consider talking to a professional first. While you most likely will not need to bring in a designer to oversee the entire project, getting some professional advice may just save you from making expensive mistakes in the future.

Before you begin your landscaping work, be sure to plan your goals and assess your budget. This will ensure that you have a solid plan in place so that you do not run out of materials before the job is completed. It will also give you a better idea of your design needs.

If you are landscaping your yard, you should consider your lawn’s appearance during various seasons. For example, if you only have leafy trees in your hard, but experience a long winter, your yard will look awfully bare. If you instead have a few conifers, you can have green year round, not to mention how nice they look with snow on them.

Be sure to plan what your landscape before you buy. Try sketching out your landscape design on a piece of paper prior to actually planting and building. When you know exactly what materials you need and where you are going to be putting them, it can help you avoid wasting money.

Landscaping is more than just planting grasses and trees. You can add visual interest by including structures of iron, cement, will wood. You can be a little more creative with decks, birdbaths, archways and even pergolas. These elements are available in a wide range of prices to suit any budget.

Whenever you are taking on a landscaping project yourself, you should always take into account your plant’s water use. Whether you are using drought-tolerant plants or plants that are very lush and green, the amount of water they use will vary drastically. Make sure that you understand what your watering needs will be before selecting your plants.

Your brain should now be swarming with ideas about how you want to change your home’s landscape. Go ahead and use some of the ideas you learned today, but remember to always be on the lookout for new information, as well. You never know what you might come across when thinking of landscaping your home.…

Well, you’ve decided to perfect the plumbing of your house. Good for you! However, there is so much information that you may not know where to begin. Don’t worry, plumbing tips are here! Listed below are some tips that will help you get started and organized, so that you can become a plumbing expert.

Rigid copper is used for main water lines in many homes. You cannot bend rigid copper, so joints and tees must be soldered on. When soldering, always apply flux (also called soldering paste) to both surfaces. Flux retards oxidation when the copper is heated. Always use lead-free or nearly lead-free solder when sweating a copper joint.

Don’t be afraid to call a professional. Don’t take on jobs to save money, if you aren’t sure how to fix them. Calling a professional plumber saves you money, the experience and know-how can fix your problem sooner and with less fuss.

If you discover that a water pipe has frozen, find the tap closest to the pipe so when the thaw happens, the water has an exit point. Letting the water drain out will relieve pressure in the frozen pipe, which will reduce the chances of it bursting and damaging your home.

Avoid using harsh chemicals to clear clogged drains by purchasing a hand-held manual auger. A drain auger is a one-time purchase as opposed to purchasing a new bottle every time a drain is clogged. This is especially helpful for people who deal with clogged drains often, such as people with long hair or kids who like to drop things down the drain.

Do not ignore a slow flushing toilet. This is usually a sign that something is wrong. It can also cause backups and overflows. The most common causes of a slow flushing toilet are sediment build up, tank malfunctions, or partial clogs. You should periodically check for these problems.

If you live in an area that sees routine freezing temperatures, make sure you do something to keep your pipes from becoming frozen as well. There are a wide variety of ways you can keep your pipes from freezing, which will help you avoid damage to your home and costly repairs.

To avoid freezing pipes in the winter, make sure to insulate any exposed pipes in you basement before winter comes. Pay extra attention to pipes near the outside walls. If you have had a problem with any particular pipe freezing in the past, apply some heat tape to insulate those pipes.

Before it gets cold, you want to make certain your outside faucets aren’t dripping or leaking. If there are problems, you must make the needed fixes prior to the arrival of freezing temperatures. Whatever the material of your pipes, freezing water causes pressure that can make them crack. Even a hairline crack can make enough water leak to cause a major flood in your home.

You should feel better after reading those tips when it comes to plumbing. That was a lot to read through, but at least you should have an idea of what to do and where to begin with your home’s plumbing. Besides, you can always come back to this list if you need to.…

It may seem like the pests will never go away. No matter what you do, you may feel like you are getting more and more. If this is true for you, you should utilize the tips found in this article.

Consider using a perimeter spray outside your home to keep bugs at bay. You will need to spray near the windows and doors, any porches, steps, and along the foundation. Always look for cracks around the perimeter of the house. Use caulk to seal these areas.

Want to know whether or not termites are in your home? Have a trained dog locate them. Don’t rely on another human being. Human termite inspectors cannot verify that your entire home is safe from termites. In fact, these inspectors can only claim up to one-third is safe. A well-trained, termite sniffing dog can find all of them. Dogs cannot be beat. The reason that dogs can do this is because they can smell methane gas which occurs when termites destroy wood.

If there are pests flying around inside, it’s important to fix the screens around your home. Such screens are great for preventing the entry of flying insects, but they also keep crawlers out too. Repair any holes to prevent unwanted house guests.

If you have rats and mice and wish to plant new trees, don’t plant them very close to the building. Trees allow rodents to climb up and enter your home via the roof. Therefore, you should plant trees a minimum of 15 feet away.

If you keep recycling, be certain you rinse out each item well. One of the most important items to rinse is soda cans that contain a lot of sugar. Rinse out any remaining soda before storing the cans.

Check your plumbing to control your indoor pests. Make sure you eliminate clogs in any drains. Any buildup can attract flies and roaches that are looking for a meal. When you clear your drains, be sure to check on them every month.

Even if you don’t think you have a problem, routinely check for one. You might have termites taking over an underground area of your house that you don’t often enter. Don’t neglect to check your crawl space or basement.

Do not use rat or mouse poison if you have pets in your home. Your dog could get sick from catching a poisoned rodent. If you have kids, it is likewise inappropriate to use these poisons in your home. The pellets can look like candy, and your child may find them and eat them.

Pests like to live in drains. Liquid pipe cleaner and snakes are effective at ridding your drain of pests, and should be used regularly. Debris and other things may encourage the growth of mold, providing a nice space for bugs to live.

It’s no fun to eliminate pests from your house. To fully eliminate them from your home, it can take a long time. Use the above advice to eliminate pests, for good. Then you can sleep at ease knowing your house is pest-free.…

Do you have a pest problem in your home? If so, then you are probably aware of just how difficult it can be to eliminate them. You can spend a small fortune trying to solve the problem. By following the tips presented here, you can get control of your pest situation quickly and easily.

It is important that you are aware of local building ordinances when it comes to which treatments you can use to eliminate pests. Make sure that you do not use anything that is illegal. This is not typical, but you need to find out what you can use and cannot use.

There are dogs trained to sniff out termites so you can know for sure whether you have them. A human professional will only be able to give you a partial diagnosis of your home. A properly trained dog can check out one hundred percent of your home. They smell for methane gas, which is a byproduct of the wood the termites are eating.

All food should be carefully stored away in sealed containers when not in use. Many pests love the smell of food, so keep it contained to keep them away. To help combat a pest infestation, take out the garbage as soon as it is full. Pests like this scent too.

Make sure to fix all leaks in your pipes. That’s because water attracts pests. They are able to detect drips and leaks from a long way off. Don’t be the reason you have pests. Eliminate your rodent and bug problem within your home.

If your camper is stored in the winter months, it may become home to mice. There are natural repellents which are very effective at discouraging the unwanted guests. These repellents smell fine and don’t cause any harm, but will stop mice from venturing into your camper or RV.

Be careful of using poison if you own a dog, cat or other pet. If your pet catches a rodent that has eaten the poison, it can be potentially deadly. Also avoid these products if you have small children. They can think that the poison is candy.

Exterior lighting can attract a lot of flying pests. Therefore, these lights should be kept away from your home’s entrances. You can reduce the pests’ chance of entering by using orange or yellow lights since they aren’t as attracted to them.

Your neighbors can work with you as a team to eliminate pests. Apartment and city dwellers share the same problems with pests as their neighbors. You may chase the pests from your home, but they will return from your neighbor’s the minute you stop treating. Have your neighbors help you so all of you can enjoy living in homes without pests.

Having pests come into your home is much easier than getting them to exit. With any luck, you now have the tools you need to prevent pests from overrunning your home. If your problem is already severe, it may be time to call a professional.…

If you think you can’t conquer home improvement projects in your home, think again. All it takes is a yearning for more information and the ability to find it and use it right. If you want to get a great start in learning new home improvement skills, you can definitely use these tips.

Painting a room is perhaps the cheapest home improvement you can carry out. A fresh coat of paint in a different shade or texture can completely transform a room for minimal cost. If your walls are not in the best condition and you don’t have time to re-plaster them before painting, consider hanging wallpaper instead, to avoid drawing attention to the damage.

Choosing the right paint color for a room is essential. Color can affect how you feel when you are in the room. A cool color will calm you, whereas a warm tone can energize you. If you are painting a small space, use a cool color as it will make the room look larger. If the space is imposing, use a warm color to make it feel more cozy.

Consider a truly “green” makeover to your landscaping. A popular new trend in landscaping is to make your garden fit the climate and area that you live in. Gone is the need for the perfect green lawn all year round. If you live in a dry climate, consider creating a landscape that are tolerant to drought and you will save money in watering costs and help the environment.

Adhesive window films are one of the most affordable and easy-to-install home improvement projects. These films are available in distinctive stained-glass patterns, frosted designs, and a variety of other textured patterns. Many window adhesive kits include all the tools needed for the job and cost less than twenty dollars per window.

Improve the outside of your home by landscaping with plants native to your geographical region. Native plants are proven to do well in your climate, so the long-term results are predictable. You can plan your landscape with confidence that the look you want to achieve will be the look you get. If you choose non-native plants instead, there is a risk that the plants may not thrive in your climate.

When starting any home improvement tasks, be sure to accurately assess the amount of work to be done. Get together a list of tasks you would like to undertake. You may also want to get an additional opinion to ensure you didn’t miss anything during your assessment. By knowing everything you have to do, you can save tons of money.

Replacing a kitchen or bathroom floor is especially easy if you use adhesive-backed vinyl tiles. Easier to handle than rolled vinyl flooring and less messy than regular vinyl tiles that require a sticky adhesive compound, this is a quick way to update your floor. It may take you longer to take the old flooring up than to put the new tiles down.

Home improvement projects can be fun and even uplifting. After all, you are giving something great to your home, putting in what you want to enjoy for some time to come. If you are ready to get down to business and learn some great skills, these home improvement tips can provide great advice.…