If your showers are starting to feel more like a bath, thanks to the amount of standing water you have in your tub, it's definitely time to address some clogs. Bathtubs and showers have to deal with a lot of hair on a daily basis and it doesn't take much for a clog to appear. Even with the best maintenance, chances are you'll have to fight one or two every year.

There are a lot of different methods for cleaning a clogged drain, and we'll cover the ones that are most effective. However, since using drain cleaners is not only bad for the environment, but also for your health, we won't be covering that method. It is possible to end up with drain cleaner coming back up into your shower and the health risks from breathing the fumes are injurious to the health of your whole family. There are plenty of other easy ways to clean a clog that don't involve harmful chemicals.

Now, before we get started, you're going to need a few tools. We recommend:

• a screwdriver
• a pair of pliers
• a coat hanger
• a plumber's snake (for serious leaks - they're available at most hardware stores)
• some gloves (if you don't want to get slimy)

First, you're going to have to remove the top part of your shower drain. Most are screwed in, so gently loosen that screw with the appropriate type of screwdriver. You're not going to want to crank on this since you can damage your tub. If it won't budge, try a little WD40 if necessary.

Once this top part is off you should be able to get a better idea of the kind of clog you're dealing with. Most clogs will be in this part of the drain, so you can simply pick the hair out until the area is cleaned up. If you don't see much hair or anything else clogging this area, you're going to have to go a little bit further. Most modern drains have a pattern inside that is made of hard plastic, so you can't exactly go sticking your hand down there. We don't recommend prying this part out since you can permanently damage your tub.

Unwrap that coat hanger and try feeding it gently down the drain. Probe around until you feel like you've hit the clog. You can try to pull it back up towards you or push it down further until it reaches a larger area of the pipe where it can be flushed away. For serious clogs we really recommend a plumber's snake since they are easier to use than a coat hanger. Get rid of the clog and then put the drain back together again and you're set.

If you have frequent clogs there's an easy little recipe that you can use to make safe drain cleaner. Get some baking soda and put it down the drain. Then, grab some white vinegar and pour it in. The chemical reaction will clean out the pipe and keep it clean for you. You can do this once a month as a preventative. After you use the mixture, run some hot water down the drain to flush away any excess power.

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Originally posted 2008-11-27 06:47:37. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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It may start with a drip or a deluge, but a leaky roof is a pain to deal with. Fixing it requires a lot of effort, time and money, but not fixing it may cost even more. From dealing with ceiling collapses to water damage, that leaky roof can be expensive and dangerous. Before we get started, if you do not have any roofing experience, or if you have a house that is more than one story, we do not recommend fixing your roof on your own. Roofing is a dangerous job and one that is best to left to professionals if you do not have any experience in doing it on your own.

When the proper safety precautions are taken, and when you have the right tools, you can fix your own roof. However, some leaks may require professional assistance, and it may be cheaper in the long run to have someone do it for you. Before you step one foot on your roof, carefully consider all of your options and put your safety first.

The first step to take when fixing your roof is to determine where the leak is and where the water is coming from. In some cases, the leak may not even be from the roof at all, such as when air conditioning lines leak. The first place to look are skylights and the flashing around your roof. Commonly, flashing around the chimney is the first place that leaks start since this can be blown off in bad weather.

If you are noticing water stains on your ceilings, the leaks may be harder to trace. The first step is to access either the attic or the crawlspace. You should be able to have a better idea of the origination of the leak from there. If you have several leaks, it may take a lot more time to track down each spot that is causing the problem.

Once you have determined the location of the leak, it’s time to head up to the roof to start fixing it. One leak will usually not require replacing the entire roof, and it is best to try to spot fix first before going to the extra trouble and expense of replacing a roof. Before you go up, you’ll need to have the right tools at your disposal. Purchase extra flashing to match what you already have, and have extra pieces of your roofing material ready to go.

You will also need a hammer, screwdrivers and a staple gun, depending on the type of roofing material you have. Access your roof safely and inspect the material and flashing. You should also take a look at the flashing by your gutters, since this is another trouble area. Once you have found the exact spot of the leak on the roof, you can better evaluate what needs to be done. Take your time and make sure that you do the job right to avoid having to go back up to re-fix what you might have missed.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-08-28 05:20:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Doors are something in our homes that we often take for granted. On the surface they are fairly simple, but as with most things in the home they’re a lot more difficult to deal with when you’re doing it yourself. Below you’ll find some door installation instructions to help you install or replace that tricky door.

Most doors today are actually quite easy to install because they are sold as pre-hung doors. This means that you don’t have to worry about dealing with the hinge mechanism or the door jambs because the whole door is already installed in its frame. However, you don’t have to go that route if you’d rather do the whole installation yourself. It will simply require more detailed door installation instructions if you want to perform a full door installation on your own.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide how much work you want to put into installing a door. You can get doors where you have to follow door installation instructions in order to install the hinges and other integral pieces. You can even find doors that are completely unfinished and need to be stained or painted before installing them.

If you want to have the experience of basically building a door without having to do the actual machining, then you can get “knocked down” pre-hung doors. This type of door has all of the preparations made so construction is relatively easy, but you still need to actually assemble the frame and add the hinges and other parts. Aside from the fun of doing the constructing, choosing this type of door makes it easier to apply paint or varnish since you can do that all before assembly. On top of all that, they’re more portable so getting them inside the house is less of a hassle.

For the average do it yourself it’s more about saving on costs than really “roughing it” so a knocked down or pre-hung door is usually the route to go. It’s difficult enough work just following the door installation instructions even for a pre-constructed door, so there’s no reason to make it harder on yourself. Plus, doing a full door construction may require extra tools that you don’t have which can end up making the whole process more expensive.

If you do purchase a knocked down pre-hung door, it will come with all the door installation instructions that you need to put it together. Now it’s time to actually install the door. You should already have the rough opening when the door is going to go prepared. You may need to fine tune the door to fit by trimming the jambs a bit. Once you’ve done that, it’s time to actually put the door in place and secure it with nails. Finally, you have to add in the latch part – the door knobs and their internal mechanisms. When following the proper door installation instructions, setting up a pre-hung door is easy.

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Photo Credits: seangraham

Originally posted 2009-09-05 12:04:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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You may be surprised to learn that the repairs for a screen door can be relatively simple.

Most modern style screen doors have an aluminum frame that is lightweight and stretched across the frame there is fiberglass screening material. Unfortunately, the light weight nature of the fiberglass material means that it is not too difficult to damage it. There is good news, however, which is that a damaged screen can easily be replaced and you will find all of the materials that you need in order to do the replacement in any local hardware store.

Before you go shopping for the things that you will need, you are going to want to slide your screen door back and forth to see if there are any broken parts. If the door is not easily sliding, then you should vacuum up all dirt from in and around the screen door track and then try it again. If you are still having sticking problems then make sure that you add buying new rollers to your list of things to do. In order to remove the screen door from the frame, you are going to want to lift up, and then carefully pull the door's bottom edge out and away from the tracks.

Sliding screens are supported using rollers that fit into a track. You are going to want to lift the door until the rollers have lifted out of the track completely. Then you are going to want to pull the bottom part of the door out, lowering the door until the rollers in the top of the frame have also cleared from the track.

What to Purchase

Nearly any home center or hardware store is going to stock the rescreening supplies that you need as well as universal hardware for your screen door, doors that come from some larger types of manufacturers can sometimes require specific parts for replacement. For example, Anderson does sell replacement parts and hardware for the doors that it manufacturers at retailers such as Home Depot. If your door is from a smaller company or a regional company, however, then you should probably simply choose generic parts. If you are replacing the rollers for your door then you are going to want to bring an original along with you so that you can find the best possible match.

When you buy screen, make sure that you are buying enough that you can overlap the entire doorframe by at least 2 inches on every side. You are also going to need new spline, which is a material that holds the screening material into the groove it fits into if the existing spline should happen to be brittle or broken. You will also need a spline installation tool in order to get the job done.

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Originally posted 2009-11-09 03:40:07. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Children are a blessing, but if you are expecting a new arrival, there are quite a few things that you will need to do to your home to make sure that it is childproof. As soon as they are able to crawl, they are able to get hurt, so it is vital to take necessary steps to secure your home. Luckily, most of these fixes are very simple and practically anyone can childproof a home. You don’t need to bubble wrap everything, but it is a good idea to really use a sharp eye around your home to see where the trouble areas are.

1. Outlet covers.

The first place to start is your outlets. They are right at infant/toddler level and electrocution is devastating. You can simply cap outlets to prevent children from sticking their fingers inside. There are also plug protectors available that will prevent children from unplugging a device and getting hurt.

2. Installing cabinet locks.

While it may not be feasible to remove all dangerous cleaning products, medicine and other dangerous items from your home, it is easy enough to install cabinet locks. We highly recommend these for any home with children and they can easily divert a disaster.

3. Sharp edges.

If you have tables, counters, or anything with a sharp edge, it is vital to either replace them, or purchase end covers that will provide a softer surface. Kids fall, especially when they are learning to walk, and a sharp edge may cause a head trauma. In a pinch, foam tape on these corners will work wonders.

4. Child safety gates.

These are very important, especially for children that are able to crawl or just starting to walk. They should be placed in doorways to rooms where children should not enter, and at the top and bottom of stairs. We highly recommend adding one to kitchens since this is an area where injuries frequently occur.

5. Securing decks.

Your deck may look safe to you, but imagine if you are only a few feet tall. Could you get your head stuck between the railings, or worse, fall through? Purchase sturdy lattice that can be nailed in or consider adding a steel mesh around these areas to prevent these accidents from occurring.

6. Curtain and Blind cords.

Every year, thousands of children die as a result of improperly secured curtain and blind cords. It is absolutely vital to make sure that they cannot reach these cords. Remove them from reach and secure them so that there is not enough cord for a child to play with.

There are also a few other considerations to think about. One accident that is unfortunately highly common is a problem with countertop fryers. If they are placed to close to an edge, or a cord is hanging down, it is all too easy for a child to pull it down on themselves. By taking steps to avoid a tragedy, you can rest assured that your children are protected.

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Originally posted 2008-09-25 05:32:02. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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