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Has your washing machine ever overflowed? If it has, it was likely caused by a problem with the water inlet valve or level switch. Many people who see their washing machine overflowing may panic and call a service professional, thinking that the situation is critical. However, the reality is that this is a problem you can easily fix on your own. In fact, it is easy to diagnose the problem and replace the defective part without having to spend more than a few dollars. This blog post will show you a few easy, DIY techniques to fix an overflowing washing […]
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Technology has already changed nearly every part of the world, and now, the change is making its way to your bathroom. Wait, what? That’s right. The smart toilet revolution is here. Originally pioneered in Japan, smart toilets are gradually gaining popularity in the US, signaling a paradigm shift in the way we use the bathroom. Of course, only the future can tell if these high-tech wonders will be successful in the long run; for many Americans, the concept of smart toilets is being treated with a healthy dose of suspicion. But smart toilets offer a dramatic departure from our repetitive […]
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Vintage bathrooms. They’re out there. Some people love them, other people hate them. There are, in fact, whole websites dedicated to them. Old dated tile seems to hold up remarkably well, which means that even if you hate the color, it can be hard to justify ripping it out. After all, changing your bathroom tile can cost thousands of dollars. This is what drives some people to seek alternative solutions. Can You Paint Shower Tile? Yes, you can paint shower tile, although you’ll get the best results by painting tile in more low-moisture areas of your bathroom, like the backsplash […]
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So, you have a water softener. You don’t know much about the way your water softener works but you’re pretty sure it needs salt in order to function and for some reason, the salt isn’t getting used. The softener seems to be running, but your water is hard and the salt is still sitting in the tank. What could be the problem? It’s Probably a Salt Bridge A salt bridge is the most likely cause. This is what happens when the salt on top bonds together and forms a stiff crust that sits above the water level. The water in […]
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Your home’s sewers need care just like the other parts of your home. However, many homeowners don’t know much about their sewers or how to tell when they have sewer problems. These frequently asked questions are designed to clear the air about your sewers so you’ll know what a sewer inspection is and why you should get a sewer inspection. What is a sewer inspection? This is an inspection done by a camera attached to a snake line. The video camera records the state of the sewer, revealing any cracks, tree roots, collapsed lines, clogs and other problems inside the […]
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Are you working on a bathroom remodel in the next several months? If so, you’ll be making some important and difficult decisions in the coming weeks. If you’re planning to install glass shower doors as a part of your bathroom remodel, then one of those decisions will be whether or not to install frameless or framed glass shower doors. Understanding the differences between these two products can help you decide which kind of shower door is right for you. Weight Frameless shower doors must be strong enough to support themselves, which means that they’re significantly thicker than framed shower doors. […]
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There’s nothing worse than getting ready to start a plumbing project only to realize that you can’t turn off the water supply. Plumbing valves have a way of freezing up over time, and that can make it difficult to do even the simplest repairs. In this post, we’ll explore the best ways to unfreeze stuck valves. The Traditional Grease-and-Wrench Approach The traditional grease-and-wrench approach to opening a stuck shut off valve is basically a matter of trial and error. Start by turning off the main water shut off valve to the house. Then, spray down the stuck valve with penetrating […]
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Your water heater comes with a safety feature called a “temperature pressure relief valve.” When the pressure builds up inside of your water heater, the TPR valve releases it. The TPR valve is attached to a discharge pipe that aims the overflow at the floor or ground where your hot water heater is positioned. If the TPR valve were to malfunction, pressure inside the tank could cause the tank to explode, causing terrible damage to your home. You can see what would happen here: If the TPR valve starts to overflow and develops a constant drip, this is a sign […]
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So you’re thinking about buying a home and you’ve been looking at some properties that have sewer lines and other properties that have septic tanks. If you’re struggling to decide which one is better for you, it’s important to understand the differences between these two systems. Sewers and Septic Systems: A Brief Overview Before you can decide which system is better for you, you should first understand the very basics of how these systems work. Sewer systems are a series of underground pipes that haul away waste water from a home in a town. The waste water is then treated […]
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Replacing your sink is a step-by-step process. In today’s post, we’ll discuss the method for installing a kitchen sink drain. This process should be relatively easy for anyone with DIY plumbing skills. If you’ve never done your own plumbing before, we recommend starting with a project that’s a little more basic, like replacing the faucet or inner parts of your toilet. To get started, you should understand the anatomy of your kitchen drain. It consists of: Sink basket Tail piece (the long straight part that comes out of your sink) P-trap (the curvy part that hooks up to the tail […]
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