Categories
Exterior Projects

Five Checks Before Winter Weather Strikes

If you listen closely enough you can already hear people moaning about the bad weather. It’s going to get worse before it gets better which is horrible. You need to wrap yourself up in more layers of clothing than you can possibly imagine otherwise you might freeze to death. Even all those crazy people who say they enjoy the freezing cold winter don’t have it so easy. They can still slip on the ice and crack their head open the same as any of us. Winter is dangerous and we need to be prepared for the worst.

This is why it’s so important that your home is prepared for the cold nights that lie ahead. If you think there’s nothing left to do because it’s already cold then I’d hate to see what you’re going to be like when your roof collapses. Each year we should all take our time and sort out important things that will protect our home during winter, because if it doesn’t make it safer for us it definitely makes it safer for our bank accounts. Make sure you have these things sorted and you won’t go far wrong.

Unblock all your drains

downspout gutter

The first thing you want to do is go around the outside of your home making sure all the drains don’t have any rubbish inside that’s clogging them up. This needs to be done now because when the snow falls it’s much harder to get access to them. Take your hose and run lots of water down each one. If everything goes according to plan the water should get away easily. You don’t want them to be blocked during the coldest time of the year.

Clean your garden

Garden clean up

I presume you will still need to walk around in your garden once the snow falls. You might need to hang clothes out to dry if there is no rain, plus the kids might want to build a snowman. If there is anything hiding under the snow it could cause someone to have an accident. Just make sure your garden is clear at all times during the winter, so someone doesn’t fall and bang their head.

Inspect your roof

roof shingles

I hope you have good vision, or at least a pair of binoculars because you should be checking all over your roof before the weather gets any worse. All you need is a little crack in a tile and water could get in. It’s even worse if you have any missing because your home could fill up like a swimming pool. If you can’t check from the outside then try to climb up the attic and give the place a good check from the inside.

Seal your home

There’s a good chance your heating will be on a lot more during winter unless you prefer to sit in the freezing cold every day. That means a lot more heat will be escaping from your home if you don’t find a way to stop it. This could be keeping all windows closed, sealing any cracks around your home, or even blocking off the fire if you no longer use it. When all that heat escapes you are just wasting money and I know you don’t want to pay to heat the entire world.

Stop gutters from falling

Gutters ice

When it gets very cold and there is a huge amount of water it will turn into a block of solid ice. This is pretty dangerous on the ground, but imagine if it was to happen above you and land on your head. That could happen when you don’t clean your gutters after the leaves fall from the trees. All the water won’t be able to drain away and suddenly you have this huge block of ice sitting in the gutters. It’s like a disaster waiting to happen.

Categories
How To's

Garbage Disposal Maintenance Tips

Most of us know that garbage disposals are an invaluable tool in a busy kitchen, especially when it comes to getting rid of peelings and food items that do not need to go in the trash. Unfortunately, not all of us understand that a garbage disposal is not another type of trashcan that is suitable for every type of garbage. By implementing these maintenance tips and tricks, you can keep your garbage disposal in good working condition for years to come.

Garbage disposal maintenance and repair

No Pits, Seeds, or Grease

There are some food related items that should never be placed in a disposal. Hard items such as nut shells and fruit pits are prime examples. Along the same lines, large seeds that are somewhat tough should also be disposed of in some other matter. Above all, never pour grease or oil down the disposal. The grease buildup can clog the mechanism and cause the system to short out. As for the hard shells and pits, they will wreak havoc with the blades in the disposal and hasten the need for repairs.

Avoid Foods That Expand

We all know that the proper use of a disposal involves running water before, during, and after placing anything in the appliance. Not everyone thinks about what happens when those foods happen to expand from exposure to water. For example, what happens when cooked pasta or rice is placed in the disposal with all that water? It expands and can gum up the works. In a short period of time, the circuit breaker will flip and you’ll need to clean out the disposal and reset it before the next use.

Small Chunks Please

Cutting larger chunks of food into smaller and more manageable pieces is also a good way to extend the life of the disposal system. Larger pieces can clog the system and make it hard for the appliance to do the job. Too much of this sort of thing and the motor could burn out. Avoid the problem by taking the time to cut unused sections of celery, apples and other foods down to size.

A Little at a Time

Another major issue with disposal use is cramming too much into the device at one time. There’s actually no better way to wear down the components and cause the appliance to fail. Instead of dumping everything in at once, put a little in and let the unit do its thing. Once that round is completed, add a little more.

Keep it Fresh

Most of us know what can happen when the aroma wafting out of the disposal is less than pleasant. Fortunately, there are a few easy ways to remedy the situation. The rinds from citrus fruits can help to kill the odor and freshen things a bit. Another strategy is to inset a few ice cubes made with white vinegar. As the cubes are chopped, they melt and help to absorb the unpleasant odor. Treatments like these on a regular basis will help to maintain a fresh smell in the disposal and make the kitchen much more inviting.

Most of us realize how important it is to take care of the other appliances in the kitchen, like the oven and the refrigerator. The garbage disposal deserves the same care and consideration. Use it responsibly and take care of any issues that arise immediately. In return, the appliance will provide excellent service for many years to come.

Categories
Interior Projects

Cleaning Your Dryer Vents

Have you ever cleaned your dryer vents?  Have you ever considered that as something you might need?

Dryer vent fire

Interestingly enough, a clogged dryer vent accounts for more than 15,000 reported fires each year, however, it is something that most of us would never consider doing.  If you have a flexible vent line, you should simply replace that line when it shows signs of becoming clogged.  A rigid line is ideal and in most areas, a rigid line is now code.  There are flexible aluminum line options, but those have many ridges for the lint to cling to.

Dryer vents clogged with lint can cause dryers to work longer to dry that results in excess energy costs that could exceed $100 annually. Newer, more efficient, dryers push more of the lint into the vent line as the front screen trap causing more lint accumulation and clogging.

If you are not comfortable with running a little bit of 4″ aluminum dryer vent line on your own, you might want to consider a handyman for the service.  It is a simple job and you can probably book a handyman for an hour and get a couple of other everyday maintenance items looked at at the same time.

There are even services out there that specialize in cleaning of dryer vents.  One is named “Dryer Vent Wizard”.   They have quite a bit of helpful information on their web site at www.dryerventwizard.com.

If you are a handyman (I know that some of you read this site), you might want to consider a Dryer Vent Wizard Franchise as an add on to your business.