Stains Around a Toilet = Serious Problem

Always be on the lookout for water leaks in your home, including little clues that could indicate bigger problems. For instance, if interior paint is bubbling or loose, you’re likely to find a water leak behind the paint. Around your toilet, check the vinyl flooring. Any gray stain in the vinyl that can’t be washed […]

Plumbing Vent? What Plumbing Vent?

All modern plumbing systems in residential construction have a plumbing vent. It doesn’t just vent unwanted odors from the drainage system to the outside; it serves an essential purpose by supplying air to the system. The plumbing drainage system in your home is called a drainage, waste, and vent (DWV) system. When water flows down […]

Paint That Metal Railing

You love the metal wrought-iron railing at the front of your home. It adds character and appeal to the entrance. What you don’t love is the rust on the rail and the brown rust stains on the concrete. Don’t fret. There’s a simple fix. Go to the hardware store and buy exterior metal primer and […]

Fix That Sticking Bifold Door

Those lousy folding doors on the closet. You can’t get them open, you can’t get them closed. A bifold door is one that is hinged in the middle and folds to open and close. In most cases, a simple adjustment will correct a sticking bifold door. Sometimes the bracket is just loose and needs to […]

A Quick “Bucket” Fix to Flush the Toilet

You’ve turned off the water to the toilet because the tank or a plumbing fitting is leaking. But since this is your only toilet, it needs to be used before the plumber arrives tomorrow to fix the leak. How can you flush the toilet in the meantime? Easy. Just fill a bucket with about two […]

Power Out? How To Free Your Car from the Garage

An automatic garage door operator is great. But when the power goes out, and the overhead door is down, your car is trapped inside. How do you get it out? Take a look at the garage door operator on the ceiling. It connects to the top of the garage door via a metal bar. On […]

Clean Those Ugly Rust Stains on the Driveway

Your beautiful new cement driveway – what an investment, and what a welcoming element to the front of your home. Too bad it has rust stains from the clunker car your son is driving…or that old planter or rusty water or the old trailer that was parked there for just a few days. Rust-removal chemicals […]

Take a Close Look at Your Chimney

Brick and stone chimneys are certainly attractive and add value to your home, but they aren’t maintenance-free. You need to visually check your chimney and also have a professional check it from time to time. Water, weather, and freezing conditions eventually take a toll, even on stone and brick. From the ground, you can do […]

Gather Free Water with a Rain Barrel

Yes, you can be green, save money on your utility bills, and still water your plants and garden. Consider a rain barrel to catch water from the roof for use around your yard. This also helps solve problems with excessive water runoff that overloads rivers and streams. Start by doing a little online research. Your […]

Why Should You Seal Exterior Concrete?

In most climates, you don’t ever need to seal exterior concrete drives and walks. But there are advantages to using a good sealer, and in the long run, you can save money and keep the concrete looking like new. In northern climates, snow-melting chemicals and freeze-and-thaw cycles can damage the concrete. Salt penetrates the surface […]