Home Renovations

Common Plumbing Issues & Plumbing Maintenance Checklist

Whether it’s a century-old mansion or a brand-new condo, every house has its peculiarities and common plumbing issues. Not all of these problems are equally bad, but most of them can’t be forgotten about. Every so often, some attention is sometimes necessary for the home plumbing system, which is why we are providing a plumbing maintenance checklist to assist you in avoiding big problems.

Some frequent plumbing problems and their answers are as follows:

Issue: Low Water Pressure

Having a shower or doing the dishes under a tiny stream of water is about as irritating as it gets. Obstructions in the taps are a typical cause of low water pressure in homes.

The Fix:

The aerator in your sink or tub faucet needs to be taken out (typically easily unscrewed) and cleaned regularly. Remove the part, clean it thoroughly, and then put it back in place.

Issue: Toilet Continuously Runs

Why can the sound of a gently running toilet or a gradual leak keep you awake at night? There are a number of potential causes for a running toilet, making it a common plumbing issue in the home.

The Fix:

A running toilet can be fixed by replacing the fill valve or flapper, or by fixing a leaking flush handle. Repairing any of these things only requires a quick drive to the local Home Depot and a small amount of time on a Saturday afternoon. The instructions for doing these quick fixes are typically printed on the back or inside of the packaging you purchase the toilet parts from.

Simply opening the tank and taking a look will tell you which of these is causing your running problems. The toilet may be leaking or the running can be stopped by jiggling the handle. Water leaking into the overflow pipe is a telltale indicator that the fill valve isn’t closing correctly and must be changed, if it’s the source of the problem.

Drop a few drops of food dye into the tank to see how well the flapper works. After several minutes, the flapper is to blame should the water inside the bowl change color.

Issue: Slow Draining Sinks & Baths

One more typical problem with house plumbing that can generally be fixed quickly is slow draining sinks & baths.

The Fix:

The most common reason of a poorly draining sink or bathtub is hair or other material that has gotten caught in the drain. The blockage can be removed in several different ways, some of which are more successful than others.

A “zip-it” tool, available at most hardware and home improvement stores and even some grocery stores, is one of the quickest and easiest alternatives. Simply insert the tool down the drain, rotate, and yank to remove the obstruction. After this fix, simply throw the debris from the drain in the garbage. Don’t flush it down the toilet!

Every homeowner, regardless of how long they’ve lived in their current place or how many folks now occupy their dwelling, has experienced at least one of these problems at some point. While they can be annoying, there are usually quick and easy ways to fix them.

Checklist For Plumbing Maintenance

Knowing the different plumbing problems that can arise is essential if you want to keep your plumbing system running smoothly. Keeping on top of potential problems will help you avoid a hefty repair expense and keep things operating smoothly.

There may be a bit of overlap between the list above and the plumbing maintenance checklist. The difference is that the checklist discusses the solution in greater detail.

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Dripping Faucets

It’s best to take care of leaky faucets as soon as possible, whether they’re in the bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room. Water leaks, no matter how small they initially appear, can quickly lead to more serious issues like mould growth. The water supply line or the faucet’s base may be the source of a leak. Inspect both places, then make any necessary fixes.

Slow Sink Or Tub Drains

Taking care of these slow sink or tub drains as soon ASAP is crucial if you don’t want to have a severely plugged drain. By utilizing a zip-it tool to eliminate accumulated hair (often seen in bathroom drains). After you have eliminated the obstruction causing the slow drain, you can use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to disinfect and clean each drain.

Water Pressure Decrease

If you’ve noticed a decrease in water pressure in your showers or sinks, it’s likely because the aerators in your faucets are blocked with calcium and/or minerals. The use of Lime-A-Way, CLR or another similar cleaner makes cleanup simple. To get rid of mineral deposits, just take out the aerators and let them soak as directed.

Water Pressure Is Too High

Problems can also arise if the water pressure in your home suddenly increases or remains abnormally high. A pressure gauge is useful for monitoring water pressure. Replacement of the pressure regulator is necessary if the pressure gauge reads above the safe level. Crazy high water pressure is dangerous and should be addressed as soon as possible to prevent damage to pipes and other plumbing and a major cleanup if something bursts in the plumbing system.

Toilet Continuously Runs

A continuously running toilet is the single largest source of unnecessary water use. You must change out the toilet’s inner working components, if you find yourself jiggling the handle incessantly to get it to stop running. In other cases, you may only need to repair a few components, like the flapper chain or the flapper seal. Whether you can’t hear water running in your toilet, put some food coloring in the tank and observe the bowl water to see if it changes color even when you don’t flush.

Leaking Sinks

Look for water damage under any and all sink cabinets. It is important to address the issue of moisture under any sink. Find the water’s entry point and fix it with a patch or new pipes if possible. Detecting and repairing even a little leak before it causes major disruptions can result in significant savings.

Problems with Waste Disposal or Garburator

Leaks are another possible problem with garbage disposals. If you want to know how to keep your garbage disposal in working order, see the owner’s manual. Even if the garburator appears to be functioning normally, leaks should be checked on a regular basis. It’s important that the area under the sink is bone dry. The presence of moisture or condensation under the surface should prompt one to search for a leak and fix it.

Sewage Backup Nightmare

It’s vitally important to prevent sewage backups. Be sure to give your septic system the TLC it needs by following the maintenance guidelines you were provided. You should also be careful about what you flush down the toilet or flush in the sink. The repair bill for a malfunctioning sewer can quickly add up. Learn the warning signs of a clogged sewage drain so the problem may be fixed before it gets out of hand.

Common Plumbing Issues & Plumbing Maintenance Checklist – Conclusion

You may save yourself time and money by catching and fixing most of the common plumbing problems before they escalate. Not performing maintenance can lead to costly breakdowns in the future. Don’t forget that your property is probably the largest investment you’ve ever made, so taking care of it will only increase its value.

Ideas to Boost Your Home’s Value Through Your Bathroom Design

[wptb id=263]The results of a recent survey conducted by Plumbworld.co.uk, the UK’s largest independent online retailer of bathroom and plumbing products, have separated fact from fiction and exposed the best ideas to boost your home’s value through your bathroom design.

Real estate professionals are in agreement that investing in a new kitchen or bathroom will almost certainly result in a return on investment.

An updated bathroom is a great place to start when trying to increase your home’s resale value. It can be difficult to choose the right accessory or appliance from among the vast number of options available.

What do the vast majority of homeowners want from their bathrooms? I was wondering if it would be more cost-effective to go with a large whirlpool tub rather than a standard tub.

Having a checklist of features that homebuyers find appealing would make the bathroom design process much simpler. Get the layout of your bathroom just right the first time around, so you don’t end up wasting money down the drain.

Without further ado, here are actual survey produced ideas to boost your home’s value through your bathroom design.

Is A Simple Design Better For Boosting Home’s Value

The use of vibrant colour in the bathroom has been a popular trend since at least the 1960s. Plastic furnishings and wall tiles with garish patterns of sea life and bright primary colours were all the rage.

Shower curtains with thick patterns in bright colours were all the rage, as were toothbrush, soap, and towel holders in those hues, as well as other plastic bathroom accessories.

With the passage of time, gold bathroom fixtures and furnishings like taps, towel rails, and toilet paper roll holders became very fashionable in the 1970s and 1980s.

Those loud bathroom fixtures with the gold trim were all the rage. Bathroom sets in the once-loved chocolate brown, avocado and coral pink were added to the mix.

Should I Use Neutral Colours In The Bathroom

Yes, keep your colors neutral so the bathroom has appeal to the wider audience. There has been a significant shift in bathroom color palettes over the past 10 years, with a trend toward more neutral shades accented by pops of complementary color.

Eighty-two percent of respondents to a recent survey by Plumbworld said they “hated” the once-lauded avocado and coral pink washroom colours that harken back to the 1970s and 1980s and are associated with being bland and boring.

The survey found that chrome bathroom faucets were significantly more popular than their gold counterparts.

For this reason, it is recommended that you avoid using dark colours, think about using white suites, and choose chrome fixings and furnishings over flashy gold when trying to design and decorating your bathroom.

How To Choose A Shower Design

A shower’s location is crucial when designing a bathroom. You may need to rethink your options if you’re hoping to install a shower enclosure in your bathroom and there isn’t enough room. If you’re short on square footage, think about putting a shower in place of your tub.

Ninety-four percent of respondents to the survey agreed that a shower was extremely important, and eighty-one percent said they would prefer a dedicated shower stall in a spacious bathroom. Sixty-five percent said a power shower would be perfect, while 27 percent favored mixer showers and 12 percent went with electric.

Instead of a shower curtain, consider installing a permanent glass door if you’ve opted for a shower over a bath. When given the choice between a fixed glass door and a shower curtain, more than half of respondents to the survey said they would rather spend the extra money, and install the fixed glass door.

Picking A Tub For Your Bathroom

Adding a whirlpool tub to a bathroom isn’t always the best way to boost a home’s value, despite popular belief. So, if you’re thinking of selling your home, you shouldn’t buy a whirlpool tub to increase your asking price.

About 53% of respondents said they weren’t bothered by them, while only 38% said they “loved” them. Surprisingly, 62% said they had “no strong view” towards corner baths either, which means the classic rectangular baths still reign supreme over their modernized counterparts.

Flooring for a bathroom

Putting carpets in bathrooms is not a popular choice, so resist the urge. The majority of respondents (75%) said they “loved” having a tiled bathroom floor, making tiles the most popular choice for this space. Over 61% of people surveyed did not have any particularly strong feelings one way or the other about vinyl flooring, ensuring its continued prevalence in the bathroom.

Tiles are the preferred material for a bathroom’s floor, but vinyl will do just fine if money is tight.

Window Blinds Or Curtains

Not every bathroom has a window, or multiple windows. However, where the bathroom does have windows, aesthetics are just as important as floor appeal. With that being the case, the bathroom is no place for nets or fabric curtains. Ninety-four percent of respondents said they would prefer blinds to curtains in the restroom.

Should I Repair Minor Bathroom Problems

Definitely, yes! If you’re unsure if you need a full reno, because the bathroom still looks pretty decent, at least repair problems that you are aware of. Then, inspect the bathroom for mould, both on the silicone caulking around the tub and, if you have one, on the shower curtain, if you intend to sell your home. Some prospective buyers may be put off by these minor flaws.

While mould and caulking flaws may be considered minor, leaks are not. Some leaks are not detectable when they’re new, but can become visible with enough time.

So how do you determine if something is leaking behind the wall or ceiling? A thermal imaging camera, is how. Thermal imaging detects heat differences, and therefore can guide you to a problem area that the naked eye cannot see. Learn more here.

While most homeowners may not have the need for a thermal imaging camera, beyond their bathroom reno, you’d be surprised at how many uses there are for a thermal camera. Especially, if one is doing a whole house renovation.

Ideas To Boost Your Home’s Value Through Your Bathroom Design – Conclusion

One enjoyable aspect of bathroom remodeling is that it’s something you can do on your own. Just like putting together an outfit is half the fun, you can get whatever you want in terms of colours and accessories as long as you stick to your budget. You’re free to use whatever color scheme and palette you like so long as it’s appropriate for a bathroom in the current times.

Remember no avocado or coral pink, but you won’t have any trouble figuring that out. If you’re only capable of this much of the bathroom renovation project on your own, have fun with it! Make it a space you look forward to spending time in, and you’ll know you did a good job.

10 Things You Need to Know Before You Renovate or Remodel

Make a detailed plan
Make a plan for the money
Pay attention to what the local authority says
Locate a contractor
Know when you start and when you finish.
Choosing what to buy
The purchasing of building materials
What materials should I buy on my own?
What kinds of services can I get for my property?
How do I know what kind of hot water heater will suit my needs?

Read in detail, the ten most important things you should think about before you start any kind of renovation. Before you start renovating your home, you can save a lot of time and money by planning and making decisions carefully.

There are a number of heartbreaking stories about home renovations that don’t turn out as planned. They often go way over budget or schedule, or unexpected problems come up and totally destroy months or even years of work.

Most of these problems could have been avoided if careful planning and decisions had been made earlier in the renovation process. Here are ten things you need to seriously think about before you start to fix up your house.

10 Things To Consider BEFORE Starting Renovation Work

Make a Detailed Plan

You should create plans for your bathroom or kitchen. Talk to your contractor about the plans. Tell him what kinds of items you want, so he knows what needs to be done. For example, if you choose a pot-filler by the stove, the contractor will need to know so he can organize the plumbing properly before the kitchen backsplash is done. It’s best to have the specs for all of the merchandise you’ve chosen so that the contractor clearly understands what needs to be done.

Make A Plan For The Money

Before you start your search for a new kitchen or bathroom, you need to know how much you can spend. Whether you are borrowing money or paying for the project out of your own pocket, you need to figure out how much it will cost. Some contractors also offer ways for customers who qualify, to get loans.

Pay Attention To What The Local Municipality Says

If your home is on the list of historic places (historical designation…some areas refer to this as a Heritage Home), you will have to follow strict rules set by the governing authority. Before work can start on a lot of renovations, city hall has to give its approval. Talk to your local city hall to find out more.

Depending on the depth of the renovation this usually involves blueprints or drawings (not necessarily done by an architect or engineer, if you have some skills), site inspections by the municipality, permits (these usually cost money), more inspections, the local electrical authority inspections (if you’re doing electrical work), and if you’re moving load-bearing walls, and engineer does need to be involved.

Locate A Contractor

Talk to family and friends who have built a home or made changes to one. You should look for a contractor that you can talk to. Make sure you hear and understand everything they say. Book a contractor far in advance, because they can be booked up to a few months in advance.

Check the contractor’s credentials before hiring them. Find out as much as you can about someone before you hire them. One good way to check someone out it to see if they have a Google My Business profile. You can learn a lot about a business by checking this resource. Also, keep in mind that usually, your product warranties only apply if a licensed contractor installs them.

Know When You Start and When You Finish

Talk to your contractor and come to an understanding on when the project can start and when it will be done. Tell your contractor if the job needs to be done by a certain date. For example, if you have people coming to stay, they should know. No matter how meticulous your planning is, remember that unforeseen obstacles can delay your project.

Choosing What to Buy

It may take multiple trips to the store before you find the perfect combination of items that will give you the appearance you want while also meeting your functional requirements. You can look through a catalogue in print or online. Once you choose a style (modern, heritage, or easy living), you can choose from fewer products. Know if there are any size limits on the room. Print or write down the product specifications and take measurements of your bathroom.

Talk with your contractor about the options you have. If the contractor says that the product you chose doesn’t work, find out why. It could be that they have to do more work than they want to. Don’t forget that it’s your home and that you need to be happy with the work when it’s done.

Purchasing of Building Materials & Delivery Timelines

Find out how long delivery will take before you buy something. Some items, like faucets and toilets, will be in stock, while others, like spas and vanity units, will be made to order and can take up to a month to get (There are options to buy off the shelf now, which may work out well for you, if you’re not too fussy).

Often, these custom-made items can’t be returned, so make sure your contractor knows what you want before you order. Find out from your contractor what they need first. Usually, the shower base, bath or spa, and mixers, if they are going on the wall, are the first things you need.

As The Building Owner, What Should I Buy On My Own?

If you are building your own home, make sure you buy the main items for your bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room. This will make sure you make all the right choices and get what you want. There will be things you don’t think about when placing an order, like the different types of handles on a vanity unit or where your spa’s pump goes. It’s important to make these choices on your own because they will affect how your project turns out as a whole. Your plumber can buy smaller fittings for you if you need them.

What Kinds of Services Can I Get For My Property?

You should know if you need gas or electric appliances (hot water unit, cooking appliances). If you live further out from the city, you may need LPG appliances. Inquire with your contractor as to whether or not switching from electric to gas appliances will save you money in the long run if you now use electric. The plumbing in a new home must be roughed in before construction can begin, so it’s important to choose your appliances ahead of time.

How Do I Know What Kind of Hot Water Heater Will Suit My Needs?

Obviously, this one’s optional. You may not need a new water heater. Having said that, there’s new technology that makes heating water very efficient now. There are a lot of different kinds of hot water heaters, and it can be hard to choose one.

If you are replacing an old unit, you may not have as many options, so talk to a technician.

At the moment, tankless, or on-demand hot water heaters are popular, but they need a bigger gas line than regular water heaters. This can mean big changes to the plumbing/gas, which can be very expensive, but in the long run, the instant hot water systems can be cheaper.

Although, they do need more regular maintenance than the old style tank water heater.

10 Things You Need to Know Before You Build or Remodel – Conclusion

Many of these considerations may appear obvious; nonetheless, the trouble occurs when they are taken for granted. If you don’t make sure that everything is taken care of, you may end up spending a lot of time, effort, and money on a home renovation that you don’t like. So, treat these 10 reno tips with the seriousness that they deserve. As someone said “If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail!”.

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