It’s neither fun, nor cheap to repair and replace burst pipes in the winter. If you live where outside temperatures drop below freezing, you can spare yourself money and heartache by wrapping your exposed pipes with insulation. The process is straight-forward, and you should be able to complete it yourself.
There is a wide range of insulating tape and wraps in materials that should meet your requirements. They come packaged as:
Self-adhering tape
Sleeves of foam
Sponge-felt wraps
Fiberglass jackets
Cork wrapping
Wool felt
You should wrap insulation wherever pipes run in unheated indoor rooms and crawlspaces, outside walls, and at junctures where the water supply enters the house.
Winterize Your Plumbing
For outside pipes in cold climes, you may want to try caulking pipes at wall openings and closing all vents along the foundation. Turn off unnecessary outdoor faucets, disconnect the hoses and store them in your garage. During a deep freeze, open your kitchen cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate at the drain and basin. Many homeowners leave a small trickle of water running in the bath or kitchen during frigid days and nights to keep the pipes open.
In consistently freezing conditions, you might invest in heat wrap or heat tape. These products are not recommended for plastic pipes. They’re plugged into an electrical outlet and work like a heating blanket to keep your pipes toasty. They can be an expensive option.
Repairing Leaks or Breaks
If you end up with a burst pipe, act fast to avoid flooding or a blocked water supply. If you see a leak, you need to repair the pipe before trying to defrost it. You need to turn off the main supply first, then open a few faucets along the line to promote drainage. Then you can use a hair dryer or heat blanket directly on the pipe to thaw the line.
Home improvement stores sell joiners that can be used to couple plastic or copper tubing. They can even join threaded and unthreaded pipe together. Measure the section of broken pipe to determine size and materials, then cut out the part and take it to the store to buy replacements.
If the damage is excessive to the point you need clamps or soldering gear, you may want to call in a plumber. Then you may have to explain why you never wrapped your pipes.
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Years ago I was visiting a friend in Tokyo and was astonished that she took water from the tap for tea, and it was too hot to drink. This was way back in 1979. I was amazed that all the hot water for the home’s kitchen and bath came from a heat-on-demand water tank powered by natural gas. Later that year, I saw passive solar water heating systems on the roofs of homes just outside of Tel Aviv. Thirty years later I’ve yet to see these systesm in widespread adoption around the states.
Then you consider that tank-less, heat-on-demand systems are available—with models that just heat your teapot, while others power the shower—they’re still a ways off from popular use around the states. You’ll probably remember (or still have) one of those tea elements for plugging in and using electrical power to heat coffee. That’s as far as most of us go.
The Savings?
You might save a hundred dollars a year in energy bills from an on-demand system. But if you’re considering buying an on-demand heater to cover all your hot water needs, be sure to consider the size of your family, the cost of installing a system, the tank capacity, and the amount of hot water you need every day. The Department of Energy says a majority of systems can generate 2-5 gallons a minute, depending on the fuel source. From your own experience you know that gas-fired heaters are quicker to raise your water to the right temperature than electric ones.
Tax Credits for Tank-less Water Heaters
You can read up on the 2009-2010 tax credit at the Alliance to Save Energy website. In essence, your potential credit for installing a tank-less unit for the credit depends on your finding a system that can heat the water to efficiency standards based on source (electric, gas, oil, propane). An acceptable energy factor may be hard to find. The credit may only be $300, but pennies saved by energy efficiency can add up.
According to the Department of Energy, the energy factor is determined by fuel consumption and the speed of recovery, and how much heat is lost in the cycle of briefly storing and pumping out the water. When shopping around, examine units for a high-number energy factor, meaning the most-efficient for home use.
Dedicating a tank-less heater to appliances, spas, or as a secondary power source can prove a wise choice if there’s no constant or huge demand.
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It doesn’t matter whether your fireplace is used for aesthetics or heating the house, every fall is a great time to have a chimney inspection and cleaning if it needs it. If you’re changing the amount of use, the kind of fuel you burn, or your home heating venting, be sure to include a chimney inspection. A chimney fire, no matter the time of year, can be terrifying and catastrophic.
Put your chimney inspection high on your list of winter must-dos. Even if a chimney fire is short-lived, the heat can damage your mortar, wall materials, tiles, and outer masonry. That’s lasting damage.
Have you put a wood stove back into operation for the winter? Have a professional come in to inspect venting and creosote buildup. The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) warns that you only use seasoned heating wood in your home this winter.
When You Need Chimney Service
The CSIA recommends that you consider three levels of service depending on your existing conditions:
When an inspector or contractor takes a walk-around your home, ensuring the chimney and flue are in optimal operating condition and free of obstructions.
When you change the fuel, the lining, flue, or if your home has lived through a heavy storm, fire, or seismic event.
Chimney components that require taking the system apart are damaged and need inspection and repair.
If your home matches any of these potentially risky conditions—or if you recently acquired the property—you should seek an inspection from a professional.
How to Evaluate a Chimney Contractor
The National Chimney Sweep Guild recommends annual or semi-annual inspections to prevent carbon monoxide poisonings or chimney fires. Ask potential chimney contractors for references and check out their history in your community.
Ask for free bids on the contractor’s letterhead. If your potential contractors are licensed, they should not be skittish about showing a license as well as proof of insurance against worker injury or property damage.
Talk to neighbors about references and find out if the work was done on time and to their complete satisfaction. Local and state better business bureaus and consumer protection agencies usually have a black list of contractors who have been sued or have ongoing complaints.
Last, the U.S. Fire Administration reminds all homeowners and renters to keep items that are not considered fuel out of your fireplace. That includes cardboard boxes and flammable liquids. And use a fire screen at all times. If you do have a fire, get everyone out of the house safely and call emergency.
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It may be too late where you live to have an Indian Summer barbecue, but many Americans live in mild climates with seasonally warm winters. For them, and for those of you saving up to improve your patio come springtime, let’s have a look at outdoor patio heaters.
Most consumers choose natural gas power to stoke their outdoor heaters. Models come fired by gas, wood, and electricity. There’s a dizzying assortment of heaters on the market, from free-standing table heaters to pole or column heaters, to mobile rolling models. Along with the wide range of models comes a broad range of prices. You can land a portable, table-top model for around $70, or pay upwards of a hefty $900 for standing heater with accessories.
Choosing the Model for Your Patio
There’s an assortment of models for large jobs, similar to ones you encounter in restaurants with outdoor dining. In Britain, outdoor heaters are installed outside bars and pubs to keep patrons warm when they’re banished outdoors to smoke their cigarettes and cigars.
Depending on your model and BTU output, an outdoor patio heater can blast out a circle of radiant heat for up to 20 feet, increasing temperatures in their zone by as much as 25 degrees. That’s toasty. There are also strip heaters that focus their warmth directly where you hang or aim them.
Most portable units are powered by propane, allowing you to move them where you need them. Fixed, in-ground heaters can have a greater BTU output and are connected to a natural gas line. You’re looking at installation costs along with these more pricey models.
Safety First on the Patio
Standing-model patio heaters come fitted into a heavy foundation, resisting tipping and wind. Some are constructed with tilt shut-off switches that disconnect the power supply when the model leans over too far.
You’ll find that many outdoor heaters powered by propane or natural gas are lighted by igniters, much in the way you fire up outdoor barbecue units. You’ll get around 12 hours of heat from a 20-pound propane tank.
Depending on your model, you can also choose overheating shutoff switches and adjustable pilot lights. Even models with heavy bases mounted on wheels usually have disconnect sensors in case you bounce them into something. Manufacturers carry hoods and covers, too. But it’s up to you to know when the winds are simply too strong to power up your heater.
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While the actual ideas for decorating your home for Halloween aren’t so scary–they’re easy and practical–the end results will be. Lighting your driveway on Halloween night not only dresses up the occasion, it provides a safe walkway for trick-or-treating kids. Window stencils, styrofoam critters, and carved pumpkins are fun and simple to make. And, to top it all off, a faux Halloween tombstone in your yard ought to scare just about everyone.
When it comes to decorations, you can decide how much to do and how much to spend. It’s guaranteed that someone else in the neighborhood will outdo you. On the other hand, getting the family involved in making and installing the decorations can be a fun event unto itself. And making your own, rather than putting out store-made decorations, means your home will have character. (Or at least, chilling characters.)
Lighting the Way
Luminaries have come into vogue in Asian or Southwest theme outdoor parties. Now you can make your own for Halloween out of plastic jugs. You can download free patterns online from Better Homes and Gardens that wrap around the jugs and attach with household tape. You simply paint the pattern and add details with markers. Pour sand into the bottom of the jug and install your candles.
Build Creepy Styrofoam Spiders
This one’s fun. Buy two sizes of styrofoam balls and paint them black. The smaller size is the head. Now build the limbs from black pipe cleaners. Glue additional facial details with construction paper. Dangle the spiders from the doorway where kids are bound to see them. You’ll find photographs of the models and the building process at Disney Family Fun.
Jumpy Jack O’Lanterns and Terrifying Tombsones
Pumpkin carving can be an art. You’ll need a serrated blade to cut off the top and paring knives to carve holes for the face. A hardy kitchen spoon should be ample to dig out the seeds. Make the pumpkin last a few days longer with store-bought, non-toxic preservation spray and by coating the insides with petroleum jelly to ward off mold.
The tombstone project is more demanding. You’ll need foam boards, spray adhesive, PVC pipe, and rebar. HGTV has the complete, detailed process online for creating an especially spooky tombstone. Once the foam tombstone is assembled, you use a stencil from your computer printer to add the details. Boooo!
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Laundry rooms are designed for utility, not decor. But so many laundry rooms become catch-all enclosures for clutter, storage, and other pack-rat activities. After a while, they can become home to hazardous chemicals or firetraps with over-extended electrical outlets, or danger zones for young children.
If you’re going to remodel your laundry room, consider replacing outdated or worn parts on your washer and dryer, as well as electrical and plumbing features that are either in disrepair or require efficient upgrades. And a nice coat of paint or wallpaper can make this often dingy room more pleasing to the eye.
Basements Are Best
If you currently have your laundry in the basement, you should consider keeping it there. The small convenience you gain by moving your laundry room to an upper floors is easily offset by the potential water damage to your home from leaks or flooding. One insurance company reports $170 million in water damage from washing machine hose failures.
A simple laundry room remodel project can include new flooring, expanded cabinets with utility drawers or storage, shelving, new lighting, and, if there’s a window, fresh treatments.
Size Matters
If you need more space, think before breaking out a wall. There are stack-able and compact washing machines that may be more cost-efficient than breaking out walls. That’s if those models can serve your family.
You may also need to consider room for a new sink or ironing space. Installing new cabinets can double your existing storage and add comfort to working in the room.
Safety First Using 2002-2004 data, the U.S. Fire Administration division of FEMA reported 15,600 fires, resulting in 15 deaths and 400 injuries-–attributed to faulty clothes dryers. That means, in addition to renovating your laundry room, you should renovate your maintenance routine on washers and dryers.
If you have foil or plastic ducting attachments to the dryer, replace them with modern, fire-resistant corrugated metal to increase the air exhaust. Make a habit of not only cleaning lint traps on the dryer, but cleaning behind the traps and behind the entire unit.
Go Green
And if you want to save energy costs when replacing your washer and dryer unit, shop for Energy Star appliances that can cut your water and energy costs in half. By washing in warm or cold cycles you can also slash your electric bills.
Another tip: Paint your renovated laundry room in light colors so you won’t feel like you’ve been banished to the cave whenever you do the wash.
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In a previous life of living large, downsizing has now become a necessary part of life for most people. Rather than dwelling on what you don’t have, make the most of what you do have. There are many ways to make a smaller space feel comfortable and inviting allowing you and others not to notice the size, rather notice how nice your space is.
BALCONY/DECK
Decorating a small balcony or deck is much easier than most people realize. There is no reason to leave your space empty considering all you really need are plants and some form of outdoor lighting. Hanging plants are a good option for decorating vertically and adding some color. They may also be used to disguise a bad view. If your view is the backside of another apartment you can hang plants all along the entire top of your balcony. If you’re lucky enough to have a great view, you can hang plants just in the corners to keep your view clear. Also, flower pots can add color and an element of comfort. If you’re interested in furnishing the space here are a couple ideas:
Small Bistro Set - These sets usually include two chairs and a small table and run anywhere from $150.00 up to $400.00+. You can find them at Target, Lowes, Fred Meyer, etc. However, I found them the cheapest at Home Depot.
Chest/Bench – Place a chest against one of the walls or railing, cover the chest with a nice cloth, place a few pillows on the ends and use the wall(s)/railings as the backrest. You could then use this bench not only for seating, but also for storage.
Hang a Hammock – Hammocks come in all different shapes and sizes. You can choose from Brazilian hammocks that cradle your body and can be hung on walls to hammock chairs that hang from the ceiling. Whatever you choose, they come in all different sizes, colors and are super comfortable!
Lighting is another way to make the balcony/deck more inviting. There are multiple options for plug in or solar power lights. If you live in an apartment/townhome solar power wall lights are a good option. Another option, a little more expensive, is to purchase an outdoor floor lamp. These start around $100.00 and go up, but look very clean and classy. Another fun idea is to hang rope light either from the banister, or above on the ceiling.
KITCHEN
The kitchen has become more than just a place to make food; rather, it is a place of migration for friends and family. Interestingly enough, regardless of how popular the kitchen is, it is usually one of the smaller rooms of the home. The key to making the most of your kitchen space is….no clutter! For some of us, this is much easier said than done. However, here are a few simple ideas to help keep your most commonly used kitchen items close by without being in the way.
Hang It Up – One of the most obvious locations for storage that we all have are the inside of cabinet doors. Use this space to hang a spice rack or small shelf. Hanging shelves in any “dead space” will allow you to utilize every inch of your small kitchen while allowing you to keep things off the countertops. Wall and ceiling racks can also be considered for bigger, heavier options to free up some cupboard space.
Illusion – As helpful as cabinets are for storage, they can make a small space feel closed and crowded. Opt for some cabinets and some open shelving (can easily remove cabinet doors for instant open shelving). This will make your space feel more open and inviting. Also, lighting and color are two important factors in creating the illusion of a larger kitchen. The year 2009 is all about colors like yellow, blue and violet for kitchens. Recessed lighting coupled with bright color schemes will brighten up your kitchen and make it feel bigger.
Clear Up Counter Space – As nice as it is to have every single kitchen appliance you own out for display and/or for easy use, it makes for an unnecessarily cluttered space. Displaying the spice rack and fruit bowls are one thing, but that big espresso maker or blender? Some things are better left stored away in a cupboard until they are needed.
LIVING ROOM
The living room is probably the most used room of the entire home for most people. Whether you’re just lounging for the evening, or having company over, the look and feel of your living room is important. Many people often make the mistake of cramming this room with a huge couch, big screen television, and an oversized lounge chair leaving the room feeling crowded and dark. Here are some tips to make this room as comfortable as possible; regardless of the size.
Color – As with any small room color is an easy way to create the illusion of a larger space. Try choosing “cool” colors like blue or green for this room. These colors can create the illusion of higher ceilings and are neutral enough to easily decorate with.
Mirrors – Strategically placed mirrors can create the feeling of a larger room. The idea isn’t so much about the glass itself, rather the light that reflects off the glass. Consider either hanging a wall mirror, or using a piece of mirrored glass as a decorate item on a coffee table or mantle. You can place candles on this mirror for a more elegant look.
Window Treatments – There are many different options here. You can choose ceiling to floor flowing curtains that can make the ceilings appear higher. You can also choose a decorative piece to hang horizontally just on the top of the window. If you go with a horizontally hung treatment, you can hang blinds that can easily fold down for window coverage when you need it. No matter what you decide, window treatments are a great way to add color and texture to an otherwise bland room.
Living in a small space does not dismiss the ability to live large. Often times making small decorative additions can make a big difference in the feel of the room. There are many different affordable and easy options for making the most of your space. Embrace your wonderful space and get creative. Good luck!!
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