living room

A Simple Guide To Properly Mount a Flat Screen TV

These days, you won’t be able to find a household without a television set. This handy appliance provides endless hours of entertainment for you and your loved ones. And as our society continues to evolve, so does television sets. The current trend nowadays is to have a flat screen television. This innovation helps save a lot of space without sacrificing functionality or any of its features. As such, knowing how to properly mount a flat screen television on a wall will be quite useful for you. You won’t need to spend money to hire a professional handyman if you have this knowledge with you.

For starters, you will need a drill, measuring tape, a pencil, a screwdriver, and some screws. To help prevent any accident from occurring, don’t forget to wear protective eye goggles and gloves. Plus, bring along a broom because your floors will be dirty once you have successfully mounted a flat screen television.

First and foremost, take the television and its corresponding mounting brackets out of its packaging. Attach the aforementioned brackets on the back of your new television. This is done by tightening several screws that will connect the mounts to your TV. Make sure the mounts are securely attached to your television by nudging it a bit.

Next, you need to find where the studs are located inside your wall. To accomplish this feat, you will need an electronic stud finder to help you out. As soon as you find these studs, mark their location using a pencil. You need to find these studs because they provide the necessary support to hold the mounting brackets and your flat screen television.

After you have located the studs, take your drill and make some holes on your wall. Do keep in mind to use the corresponding drill bit that matches your mounting brackets’ screws. If you use the wrong drill bit, you won’t be able to mount your flat screen television and you’re going to damage the walls at the same time. Furthermore, don’t forget to protect your hands and eyes using protective gear to prevent any body part from sustaining an injury while you are accomplishing this particular step.

Now that you have drilled several holes on your wall, take the other half of the mounting bracket. Test it first if all of its moving parts are intact and secure. Then, place it on the wall with drilled holes and drive the screws through them. Use a screwdriver to do this step and make sure you have a good grip on it. Pick up your flat screen TV carefully and mount it onto the brackets. Move it around to see if the mounts are tight and secure in their position. For the final step, clean up the mess caused by drilling on your wall. After you have done that, you can now enjoy using your new television.  But if you need a home automation professional, click this line!

house

Getting The Most Out of Your House

Real Estate Brokers will tell you that if you want to sell your house there are some things that you should definitely do. It helps the broker, which does two things. First, it encourages the broker because he/she has an easier time. It’s only human nature. You don’t want a broker to dread showing your house. A well-prepared house sells itself. Second, it helps you maximize the return and speeds up the sale, both of which are in your interest.

OK, so how do you prepare? First, you have to get rid of extraneous items. Most houses get cluttered after years of living in them. In fact, you get so used to having things around, you don’t see them any longer. Unconsciously, a buyer does not want to feel your presence.

A buyer must be made to picture him/herself belonging to the house. Your stuff, which you love and are proud of, is a negative. Many houses are over-furnished. Get rid of excess furniture. Less furniture makes the rooms look bigger. If you can afford it, get a professional stage. They can do wonders for a house.

After living in a house for years, you may lose the ability to think outside the furnishing box. Staging a house will get it sold faster and get you a higher price. It’s a good investment. Also, stagers usually have a stock of classy items to fill in what you’re missing. Vases, pillows, conversation pieces are available with you having to buy them.

The house should look as new as you can make it. If the house outside is landscaped see that everything is up to date, mowing, trimming etc. If it’s winter time. Make sure the walkways and driveway are plowed. This goes for the backyard and deck, too. It should look like it’s not a big deal. Inside, you want each room to look like a furniture showroom. IF the walls look mangy, freshen them up with a paint job where it needs it. Make sure everything functions. All appliances should work and be clean. Doors and windows should open and close without a problem. Light switches should all work and there should never, never be a missing bulb. The basement and attic should be clean and well organized. The garage should look like it could be a room inside the house.

There is a tendency to clutter the basement and garage in order to make the house neat. That doesn’t work. The garage and basement indicate to a buyer, whether true or not, that the house it properly cared for. If you have to, get a storage place to keep the stuff until you move.

When your house is ready, get a broker in to tell you what else you should do. They are usually very helpful. They know what buyers look at. And never be home when the house is being shown. And you certainly don’t want to be available to answer stupid questions if your broker sets up an open-house, don’t be there.

BATHROOM

How to Unclog a Toilet Using a Plunger

Having a toilet bowl in your house is definitely a life-saver. Back before this handy plumbing fixture existed, people would go to great lengths to get rid of their waste. Nowadays, most people would take the functionality of a toilet bowl for granted. That’s why there will be times when your toilet bowl will malfunction and prevent the water inside of it from being flushed.

Once this happens, you can expect your bathroom floor to be flooded with all sorts of waste in it. This is going to cause a lot of annoyance and trouble for everyone in your home. If you don’t want that unwanted scenario to happen, you better equip yourself with a plunger right away.

Causes of Toilet Clogs

Before you go ahead and learn how to use a plunger, you need to familiarize yourself with the main cause of toilet clogs. Most of the time, throwing any external items in your toilet bowl rather than the trash can cause a blockage. These items include tissue paper, tampons, and diapers, among others. If you are not that careful, plastic shampoo bottles or bars of soap can find their way into your toilet bowl.

All of these items can get stuck in your toilet and block the flow of water. If you don’t want a flood inside your bathroom, you need to be vigilant in preventing these items from being thrown into your toilet bowl. Plus, you also need to remind everyone in your household to throw their respective trash into the proper container.

How to Use a Toilet Plunger

When you encounter a clog in your toilet, the best and simplest way to handle it is to use a plunger. Basically, this tool consists of a handle, flange, and the plunger itself. To use a toilet plunger, you need to have a firm grip on the handle and insert the other end using a 90-degree angle. Now, don’t exert all your effort into that first thrust. You need to go gentle because there will be some air inside the main compartment of the plunger. Using a hard thrust will push the item that’s clogging your toilet farther down your toilet’s drainage system. Once this happens, it will be impossible for your plunger to take the external item out of your toilet.

After you have made the first thrust in a gentle manner, you can now exert more effort gradually. The air inside the plunger will act as a suction to attract the external item. The more you push on your toilet plunger, the item that caused the clog will slowly be sucked into this tool. Once it has entered the compartment of the plunger, carefully scoop it up. This should be done to prevent the clogging material from falling back into the toilet.

Not having a plunger inside your bathroom will be detrimental to you when an item clogs your toilet. This particular bathroom tool is easy to procure and much easier to use. Do yourself a big favor and get one for your household today.  If all all else fails call a great plumber

faucet

Tips for Replacing a Faucet

Today’s faucets are easy to install. You can even purchase a faucet that installs entirely from the top of the sink so you don’t have to crawl around. However, there are still a few things that can help you with a quick and leak-free installation. Use these tips to get started.

UPGRADE SUPPLY LINES

One of the challenges of putting in a new faucet used to be connecting the supply lines without worrying about their leaking. However, the newer style of connectors has gaskets in each end that make the connections almost foolproof. They’re a little more expensive than the older style of connectors but they’re well worth the extra cost.

You don’t even need to make sure that the nut is extremely tight for a good seal. Use your hands to make the connection finger-tight and then use a wrench for an additional half turn. Replacing your supply lines with stainless steel connectors is the best choice you’ll ever make.

SAVE INSTRUCTIONS AND PARTS

When you replace the faucet, you’re going to have tools and other parts that you’ll want to keep around. One of the best ways to make sure you don’t lose anything you might need is to put any extra parts, tools, and instruction sheet in a freezer bag and then hang the bag inside the sink cabinet. You’ll be able to find it if needed for any repairs.

CHECK FOR LEAKS

Whether you’re replacing the sink or you’ve hired a plumber to make the change, check for any leaks. After the sink is first installed, turn the water on and let it run for a few minutes. Then get a tissue and go under the sink. Use the tissue to wipe the joints and see if it stays dry. Even a small leak will show up as a wet spot. Tighten up the connection near any leaks that you find.

TURN OFF THE WATER SUPPLY

This is something that you’ll want to do before getting started. Before you replace a sink or do any repairs, it’s a good idea to turn off the water supply leading to the faucet. Most people forget this step, but it’s an important but simple one to do. You’ll be glad that you did!

When you replace a sink today, they come with instructions and are fairly easy to do. These tips are just a few extra ways to make sure that you end up with a good replacement and avoid any leaks or problems along the way.

Watch this video that will show you how to replace a faucet.

For more information, take a look here: elizabethdrainservice.com

drain

How Cleaning a Septic Tank Can Eliminate the Problem of Clogged Drains

If your home has a septic tank, and you have neglected it for too long, it could be the reason you always have clogged drains. Sometimes, people only think about the pipes and sinks when they notice that water is not flowing as it should.  However, a dirty tank can also lead to this situation. Here are some facts that you may want to know.

Accumulation of Dirt in the Tank Can Block the Pipes

Statistics from reliable sources have shown that tanks that are not regularly cleaned contribute to the blockage of pipes. This is because, at the point where pipes connect to the tank, dirt accumulates and could block it if it is not removed. As a result, the water will not flow into the septic tank fast, and this is how clogging starts. You may be wasting your time trying to locate the materials that are blocking your drains yet all you need to do is to clean your septic tank.

Emptying the Tanks Can Also Reduce Clogging

Sometimes, when the tank is almost full, it tries to slow down the flow of water in the pipes. This is more likely when the pipes enter the tank at a lower level, and there obviously is no overflow. Therefore, when you notice an unusual slowdown in water flow, you may want to check if your tank is almost full already. If it is, just empties it, have it cleaned and everything will come back to normal. A reliable plumber will always tell you when the problem is with your tank.

Regular cleaning of the septic tank should not be a difficult task. You only need to ensure that the plumber has the right cleaning equipment. They also should be able to inspect the tank and detect other problems such as leakages. A properly working plumbing system is what you need in your home.

If you need a thorough discussion on this, it is detailed here: https://elizabethdrainservice.com

lavatory

10 Things that Clog Your Drain and How to Avoid Them

All kinds of oddities get put down in the sinks. It’s a serious issue for many families, and it can be a serious financial issue if you have to call a drain service to solve the problem.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to plumbing. Professional plumbers in Elizabeth have literally seen everything come out of a clogged drain. Though there are a wide variety of things that end up in the drain, there are a few repeat offenders that plumbers know are going to clog those drains over and over again. If you can manage to avoid these, then you’re in pretty good shape.

  1. Baby products – Wipes are the main culprit here. Those things are really never flushable, and it’s much better not to try.
  2. Cotton – Cotton swabs, cotton balls, cotton from cigarette filters. This stuff absorbs water and expands, causing a plumbing nightmare.
  3. Hair – If your family has a lot of hair, it’s best to protect your drains and insist that everyone do their part to keep it out!
  4. Grease – This stuff gets gooey and hardens into a disgusting blob in the drain. It’s not pretty.
  5. Food scraps – So many people put food down the drain! Pasta noodles are some of the worst, as they get smashed and then expand. Vegetable peelings are another tough contender that clog drains constantly.
  6. Coffee grounds – They might be small, but coffee grounds are gnarly in your kitchen sink. Prevent kitchen clogs by never putting coffee grounds down the sink!
  7. Super ply toilet paper – The higher the ply, the more likely it is to give you a clogged toilet. Don’t go overboard.
  8. Bath salts and bath bombs – These luxuries don’t always dissolve as well as we’d like them to, leaving that tub drain clogged.
  9. Soap – Yes soap! It’s, of course, necessary in the bathtub or shower, but the little bits congeal and then grab every little substance in your drain to get it clogged beyond belief.
  10. Children’s toys – This is the classic toilet clog, and it’s rough stuff. You’ll end up with a plumbing service if your child decides to see what goes down the hole.  

The great thing about these ten common drain clogs is that you can avoid all of them! Keeping clogs out of your sink doesn’t have to be a massive challenge. Change your habits when it comes to drains, then don’t worry about calling a plumber!

Looking for a trusted plumber to fix your clogged drain? Check out this company that offers professional residential and commercial plumbing services.

door hinge

3 Quick Fix DIY – Squeaky Door Hinges

Doors get a LOT of use around the house. We literally go in and out of them constantly! Sometimes all that wear can cause doors to either get squeaky or to get sticky, depending on what’s going on with them. In order to fix your door hinges, you just need a few minutes.

Here are three ways to quickly banish squeaky or sticky door hinges – DIY style.

1. WD-40

Grab a can of WD-40 and go to town on those hinges. This is your first line of defense, and it’s usually going to work well. Spray the product right into the hinges, then move the door back and forth. You should immediately feel the door loosen as you work it in.

2. Petroleum Jelly

This isn’t as good as WD-40, but it’ll still work. Rub a pea-sized bit of petroleum jelly on the door hinges and then move the door back and forth as with the WD-40. Again, you should feel the door loosen up quickly.

3. Three-in-one oil

You’ll find three-in-one oil at any hardware store – just ask about it. To use this, you’ll have to lift the pins in the hinge halfway up, then lubricate them with the oil and push them back in. Be sure to use a cloth to catch drips as this product can cause stains.

With just a couple of minutes of DIY home magic, your door hinges won’t be a squeaky, stick problem!

nolisy garage door

5 Tips for Quieting a Noisy Garage Door

Over time garage doors can start to make an incredible noise. Not only is it annoying, it can lead you to think that you’ve got something seriously wrong with your garage door. More often than not, a noisy garage door doesn’t actually indicate a bigger underlying problem, but something fairly cosmetic. Still, it’s better to go ahead and get the noise gone if possible for your own peace of mind.

1. Tighten bolts and screws

Unplug the power before you start tightening bolts and screws. Check the door track for broken or loose screws and fasteners, tightening or replacing if needed.

2. Insulate your garage door

Homeowners often opt for non-insulated steel garage doors out of a concern for cost. Unfortunately, non-insulated doors are often noisier than insulated doors. You don’t have to go to the expense of replacing the door though, you can purchase Styrofoam insulation panels and attach them to do the door yourself. This can often solve a noisy garage door problem.

3. Check garage door struts

The long aluminum rails that go across the width of a garage door are called struts. Over time these can need tweaking in order to improve the garage door performance and reduce noise. If your garage door doesn’t have struts, you can call your garage door service provider to see about installing them.

4. Replace garage door rollers

The steel or plastic rollers that are a part of many garage doors can wear out over time and cause a great deal of noise and vibration. Nylon rollers are quieter and more durable than any other option.

5. Lubricate moving parts

Garage doors are inconsistent motion. Over time these moving parts need lubrication in order to function more effectively and quietly. Don’t reach for the WD40 though as it will dry out these parts. Instead, look for a garage door lubricant that’s specially formulated for this purpose. Lubricate the pulleys, the tracks, the rollers, the hinges, and the springs. Not only will lubrication cut down on the noise – it will also lengthen the life of your garage door.

A little DIY garage door maintenance can go a long way in helping you to have fewer problems with your garage doors.  Quieter garage doors are possible!

If all these tips fail and you decided to replace your squeaky garage door with a new one, check out this Garage Door Service. They specialize in replacing residential and commercial overhead garage doors.