Is your brick siding covered with hard water stains from your lawn sprinkler? Here's how to clean them and make the bricks look new again.
Hard water stains on brick walls can be as tenacious as an uninvited fly at a picnic. Generally, they're composed of calcium carbonate and you'll need an acid based cleaner to get rid of them. However, don't use murk attic acid because it can stain or bleach many colors of brick and cause aluminum window frames to corrode. Instead, several brick cleaners are available that because of special buffers, work well without the staining problem. Your local brick dealer probably carries these products. But if not, ProSoCo and Diedrich technologies offer reputable cleaning products.
When you clean the brick, remember that you are using an acid based product and follow all precautions and directions. After cleaning your brick, avoid some future headaches by sealing it with a siloxane or silane based sealer.
Best of luck cleaning your brick!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
How To Replace A Vacuum Belt
When your vacuum starts to lose cleaning power, requiring multiple passes to get an area clean, or the self propolsion loses its zip, chances are you need to change the vacuum agitator belt. After only a few months of use, most vacuum belts stretch out enough to slip, causing the agitator to spin more slowly.
Replacing the belt is quick and inexpensive. New belts are available from a vacuum parts supplier. Belts come in numerous brands and sizes, so bring the old one to the store for a guaranteed match.
Fifteen minutes, two screwdrivers and a new belt are all you'll typically need to complete the job. The cover on your vacuum may be held on by other arrangements of clips and screws.
After removing the cover, install the new belt. Once the new belt is on and the agitators back in place, turn the agitator by hand to make sure the belt spins smoothly, without rubbing or binding. Reassemble the bottom cover and test run the machine.
Best of luck replacing your vacuum belt!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Replacing the belt is quick and inexpensive. New belts are available from a vacuum parts supplier. Belts come in numerous brands and sizes, so bring the old one to the store for a guaranteed match.
Fifteen minutes, two screwdrivers and a new belt are all you'll typically need to complete the job. The cover on your vacuum may be held on by other arrangements of clips and screws.
After removing the cover, install the new belt. Once the new belt is on and the agitators back in place, turn the agitator by hand to make sure the belt spins smoothly, without rubbing or binding. Reassemble the bottom cover and test run the machine.
Best of luck replacing your vacuum belt!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Monday, December 28, 2015
How To Silence A Squeaky Floor
To fix a squeaky floor under carpet, locate the floor joists with a stud finder, then drive in a trim head screw through the carpet, pad and subfloor, and right into the floor joists. Be sure the top inch of the screw doesn't have threads or the subfloor won't suck down tight to the joist. I like trim screws because screws with larger heads pull down and pucker the carpet. If that happens, back out the screw and drive it back down. Keep adding screws until the squeak stops.
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
How To Fix A Shutoff Valve
There's nothing worse than starting a sink or toilet repair only to find that the shutoff valve won't shut off. Some shutoff valves are easy to replace. For those that aren't, turn off the main water valve, remove the packing nut, and then unscrew the stem and take it to the hardware store to find a replacement washer. Clean any grit out of the valve body and pop on the new washer. The valve will work like new.
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
How To Stop Door Drafts Around Entry Doors
Learn how to remove old, damaged weather stripping around a steel entry door and replace it with new magnetic weather stripping and a new door sweep.
With heating costs going through the roof, here's an easy way to keep heat from slipping out your doors too. Take 30 minutes and replace the weather stripping and door sweeps around your steel entry doors. Plan to do this project on a warm day since you'll have to remove the doors. Steel doors use a compression style strip for the hinge side and a magnetic one for the knob side and top. But look at the door and confirm the style of weather stripping on all three sides and the type of door sweep before you head to the store. You'll find a replace,net weather stripping in a variety of lengths and colors at home centers and hardware stores.
To remove the door, close it and use a hammer and a pin punch or a thin nail to tap out the door hinge pins. Turn the knob, open the door slightly and lift it off the hinges. When you rip out the old weather stripping, you might find that it's tacked into place with small brads from the manufacturer. Leave them in place after removing the old weather stripping an you'll damage the door jamb. The shear off the shanks inside the groove with an old chisel or drive them deeper into the groove with a screwdriver. Press the new magnetic weather stripping firmly into the groove on the knob side and top of the door frame and do the same with the compression strip along the hinge side.
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
With heating costs going through the roof, here's an easy way to keep heat from slipping out your doors too. Take 30 minutes and replace the weather stripping and door sweeps around your steel entry doors. Plan to do this project on a warm day since you'll have to remove the doors. Steel doors use a compression style strip for the hinge side and a magnetic one for the knob side and top. But look at the door and confirm the style of weather stripping on all three sides and the type of door sweep before you head to the store. You'll find a replace,net weather stripping in a variety of lengths and colors at home centers and hardware stores.
To remove the door, close it and use a hammer and a pin punch or a thin nail to tap out the door hinge pins. Turn the knob, open the door slightly and lift it off the hinges. When you rip out the old weather stripping, you might find that it's tacked into place with small brads from the manufacturer. Leave them in place after removing the old weather stripping an you'll damage the door jamb. The shear off the shanks inside the groove with an old chisel or drive them deeper into the groove with a screwdriver. Press the new magnetic weather stripping firmly into the groove on the knob side and top of the door frame and do the same with the compression strip along the hinge side.
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
How To Insulate Your Garage Door
You can shrink your energy bill and create a more comfortable work environment by insulating your garage door. Here are some tips and hints for this money saving DIY project.
Types Of Insulation
Here are the 3 different types of insulation that you can use.
- Reflective foil insulation
- Foam board
- Batt insulation
Types Of Garage Doors
Depending on your type of garage door. here is what I would recommend using.
Steel: Use any kind of insulation
Wood Frame And Panel: Use rigid insulation, consider using two layers
Flat: Use foam board or reflective insulation
You can buy a kit for any of these materials and install them yourself with a tape measure, straight edge, and utility knife. If you don't want to buy a kit, you can buy reflective foil insulation in bulk rolls and cut them to fit.
Measure
For any insulation, make sure to measure your garage door panels and cut the pieces of insulation to fit. You can attach insulation to the garage door with liquid nails or plastic clips. Doing a second layer of foam board will increase the effectiveness of the insulation.
Apply Weather Stripping
Once you are finished installing the insulation, apply double lip weather stripping to seal the space between the bottom of the door and the floor of the garage.
Best of luck insulating your garage door
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Types Of Insulation
Here are the 3 different types of insulation that you can use.
- Reflective foil insulation
- Foam board
- Batt insulation
Types Of Garage Doors
Depending on your type of garage door. here is what I would recommend using.
Steel: Use any kind of insulation
Wood Frame And Panel: Use rigid insulation, consider using two layers
Flat: Use foam board or reflective insulation
You can buy a kit for any of these materials and install them yourself with a tape measure, straight edge, and utility knife. If you don't want to buy a kit, you can buy reflective foil insulation in bulk rolls and cut them to fit.
Measure
For any insulation, make sure to measure your garage door panels and cut the pieces of insulation to fit. You can attach insulation to the garage door with liquid nails or plastic clips. Doing a second layer of foam board will increase the effectiveness of the insulation.
Apply Weather Stripping
Once you are finished installing the insulation, apply double lip weather stripping to seal the space between the bottom of the door and the floor of the garage.
Best of luck insulating your garage door
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Thursday, December 24, 2015
How To Make An Easy DIY Outdoor Movie Screen
Going to the drive-in movie is always such a blast, but the closest one is quite a bit away. nSo we decided that we wanted to bring the fun home, so not only only could we watch one whenever we want, but we can also invite over friends and family to join in on the fun. Want to make your own DIY outdoor movie screen? This project is super simple, and the best part is that it all comes apart for storage in minutes. The entire screen cost around $50, so this plus the projector may have been one of the best gifts.
You'll Need:
4- ten foot long pieces of 1 1/2 inch pic pipe
2- 45 degree elbows (that fit 1 1/2 inch pipe)
4- T fittings (that fit 1 1/2 inch pipe)
8- 10 inch spikes
1- full size white sheet
6- pieces of 3/4 grosgrain ribbons, 18 inches long each
- sewing machine
- compound miter saw (or handsaw to cut pipe)
The 7 foot pieces go at the top and bottom, the 3 foot pieces are the legs, the 2 foot pieces are the "feet" that holds it all up.
Drill holes in the pipe at an angle towards the center to help the stakes get enough stability to hold up. Before you drive it into the ground, be sure to see your sheet.
The sheet is the screen part, and it's fairly easy to install. I used the top he, and turned it down one fold, then ran a switch close to the edge to make a pocket for the top of the frame. I put it onto the frame, then measured where it needed to be he,med on the bottom, then took it back off the frame and ran another pocket for the bottom. Sewing it just s tiny bit small means the screen will stretch out nicely and help against wrinkles. Before putting it back on the frame, I sewed the ribbon on the sides at the top, bottom and middle, by folding the ribbon in half and stitching it down to create tabs to tie it to the sides of the frame.
Best of luck with your Outdoor Movie Screen
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
You'll Need:
4- ten foot long pieces of 1 1/2 inch pic pipe
2- 45 degree elbows (that fit 1 1/2 inch pipe)
4- T fittings (that fit 1 1/2 inch pipe)
8- 10 inch spikes
1- full size white sheet
6- pieces of 3/4 grosgrain ribbons, 18 inches long each
- sewing machine
- compound miter saw (or handsaw to cut pipe)
The 7 foot pieces go at the top and bottom, the 3 foot pieces are the legs, the 2 foot pieces are the "feet" that holds it all up.
Drill holes in the pipe at an angle towards the center to help the stakes get enough stability to hold up. Before you drive it into the ground, be sure to see your sheet.
The sheet is the screen part, and it's fairly easy to install. I used the top he, and turned it down one fold, then ran a switch close to the edge to make a pocket for the top of the frame. I put it onto the frame, then measured where it needed to be he,med on the bottom, then took it back off the frame and ran another pocket for the bottom. Sewing it just s tiny bit small means the screen will stretch out nicely and help against wrinkles. Before putting it back on the frame, I sewed the ribbon on the sides at the top, bottom and middle, by folding the ribbon in half and stitching it down to create tabs to tie it to the sides of the frame.
Best of luck with your Outdoor Movie Screen
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
5 Ways To Master Your Social Media Strategy
Social media has changed the businesses market themselves online. It has forever altered how they interact, respond and meet customer needs. If you are in business, whether you are a large or small company, social networking is your online connection to customers and potential clients.
It's an opportunity to turn your fans, followers, readers and subscribers into raving fans and ultimately , marketing evangelists. Social media offers visibility unlike any other marketing medium. Given the power of social media, wouldn't you agree that it is critically important for businesses to not only get social, but implement strategies and processes that support scalability, efficiency and successful social engagement? I would say Yes!
Know Your Target Market
Social media usage varies from one demographic to the next. Take the time to research and understand exactly how, when and why your target audience is using social media.
Take The Time To Craft Your Content
Before diving in and creating content online, carefully think through the message and goal of each post. Whether it is a Facebook post or blog article. every word you write should support your end goal.
Create A Cross Platform Strategy
The most successful companies leveraging social media are expanding their influence to several platforms. Apart from being on Facebook and Twitter they're enriching their brand with Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, blogs and LinkedIn.
Keep Your Branding Consistent
When setting up accounts on different social media networks, make sure your logo, color scheme, fonts, and graphics are consistent.
Mix It Up
Don't just stick with the same old "Picture with a caption" format. The best social media strategies mix up tactics when it comes to posting, whether the content is a link, image or text only.
Best of luck mastering your social media!!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
It's an opportunity to turn your fans, followers, readers and subscribers into raving fans and ultimately , marketing evangelists. Social media offers visibility unlike any other marketing medium. Given the power of social media, wouldn't you agree that it is critically important for businesses to not only get social, but implement strategies and processes that support scalability, efficiency and successful social engagement? I would say Yes!
Know Your Target Market
Social media usage varies from one demographic to the next. Take the time to research and understand exactly how, when and why your target audience is using social media.
Take The Time To Craft Your Content
Before diving in and creating content online, carefully think through the message and goal of each post. Whether it is a Facebook post or blog article. every word you write should support your end goal.
Create A Cross Platform Strategy
The most successful companies leveraging social media are expanding their influence to several platforms. Apart from being on Facebook and Twitter they're enriching their brand with Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, blogs and LinkedIn.
Keep Your Branding Consistent
When setting up accounts on different social media networks, make sure your logo, color scheme, fonts, and graphics are consistent.
Mix It Up
Don't just stick with the same old "Picture with a caption" format. The best social media strategies mix up tactics when it comes to posting, whether the content is a link, image or text only.
Best of luck mastering your social media!!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
8 DIY Hacks To Create Your Dream Apartment
Just like any home, your apartment is always a work in progress. Here are 8 ways to maximize your space and bring your dream apartment to life.
1. HeadBoard- Want to have a comfortable and stylish bed without breaking the bank? Making your own headboard is the perfect solution.
2. Pallet Coffee Table- Clutter can make your home feel super crowded. Luckily, a pallet coffee table has great storage that'll help your place feel nice and spacious.
3. Sheer Drapes- Sheer white drapes not only let natural light in, but they can also trick your eyes into thinking your home has more depth.
4. Herringbone Bookcase- Organization can transform your apartment to look way bigger than it actually is.
5. Pulley Lights- Repurposing what you already have is a great way to save. Light up your imagination with this idea.
6. Wi-Fi Router Cover- This type of cover helps get rid of clutter, thus making your apartment feel loads bigger and more airy.
7. Lightbulb Vase- Instead of spending big on a fancy new vase, use those of light bulbs to contain your flowers. It'll help you save money while also adding a colorful burst of florals to your home.
8. Mason Jar Planter- Wondering what to do with those old mason jars? Instead of throwing away your dollars an fresh herbs, plant your very own!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
1. HeadBoard- Want to have a comfortable and stylish bed without breaking the bank? Making your own headboard is the perfect solution.
2. Pallet Coffee Table- Clutter can make your home feel super crowded. Luckily, a pallet coffee table has great storage that'll help your place feel nice and spacious.
3. Sheer Drapes- Sheer white drapes not only let natural light in, but they can also trick your eyes into thinking your home has more depth.
4. Herringbone Bookcase- Organization can transform your apartment to look way bigger than it actually is.
5. Pulley Lights- Repurposing what you already have is a great way to save. Light up your imagination with this idea.
6. Wi-Fi Router Cover- This type of cover helps get rid of clutter, thus making your apartment feel loads bigger and more airy.
7. Lightbulb Vase- Instead of spending big on a fancy new vase, use those of light bulbs to contain your flowers. It'll help you save money while also adding a colorful burst of florals to your home.
8. Mason Jar Planter- Wondering what to do with those old mason jars? Instead of throwing away your dollars an fresh herbs, plant your very own!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
11 Real Life Tips For The First Time Home Buyer
Youre finally ready to make the big step and put a down payment on a house. Before getting overwhelmed with the process, there are a few important things to take into consideration and remember while out on the house hunt.
Getting Started
Get Approved- It's really smart to be pre-approved with your mortgage so you know how much you can spend and you can be competitive with the bidding. And share that number with your realtor so they only show houses that are a fit for your budget.
Demo Right- Know the rules about addition in your city, which might change the way a small house looks if it sits on a big lot.
What Do You Really Need- Make a list of the things you don't need and share it with your realtor.
Budget Right- Just because you're approved for a certain amount doesn't mean that number actually fits your budget. Before even thinking about seriously putting an offer on any home, take a look at your monthly financials to determine how much of a mortgage you can really take on.
While You Are House Hunting
Location- Buy for the neighborhood, and then the house where you live by is key. It's better to have the worst house on the best block than the best house on a bad block.
Chill Out- Just remember it's a few stressful months out of your life and once it's done, you'll hopefully not have to do it again for a while.
Clock The Miles- Do a mock commute before you commit. Your commute time is a major factor.
Don't Stop Looking- Continue to look on Zillow, MLS, and even the Sunday paper on your own, even after you start working with an agent.
Close Right- Ask about closing costs up front. This way you'll know how to budget when making an offer.
After Buying Your Dream Home
Refinance- Even after a few months of blissful home ownership, you can look into refinancing. This process isn't scary and a lower mortgage is totally worth it.
Save Payments- Set yourself up with at least three months of mortgage payments so you are prepared if something happens in the future.
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Getting Started
Get Approved- It's really smart to be pre-approved with your mortgage so you know how much you can spend and you can be competitive with the bidding. And share that number with your realtor so they only show houses that are a fit for your budget.
Demo Right- Know the rules about addition in your city, which might change the way a small house looks if it sits on a big lot.
What Do You Really Need- Make a list of the things you don't need and share it with your realtor.
Budget Right- Just because you're approved for a certain amount doesn't mean that number actually fits your budget. Before even thinking about seriously putting an offer on any home, take a look at your monthly financials to determine how much of a mortgage you can really take on.
While You Are House Hunting
Location- Buy for the neighborhood, and then the house where you live by is key. It's better to have the worst house on the best block than the best house on a bad block.
Chill Out- Just remember it's a few stressful months out of your life and once it's done, you'll hopefully not have to do it again for a while.
Clock The Miles- Do a mock commute before you commit. Your commute time is a major factor.
Don't Stop Looking- Continue to look on Zillow, MLS, and even the Sunday paper on your own, even after you start working with an agent.
Close Right- Ask about closing costs up front. This way you'll know how to budget when making an offer.
After Buying Your Dream Home
Refinance- Even after a few months of blissful home ownership, you can look into refinancing. This process isn't scary and a lower mortgage is totally worth it.
Save Payments- Set yourself up with at least three months of mortgage payments so you are prepared if something happens in the future.
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Easily Fix Pet Claw Marks
Mask shallow claw marks and scratches in wood doors with stain and varnish. Gel stains work well for matching the existing finish.
Dogs and cats still haven't figured out how to open doors, but that's never stopped them from trying. Painted doors can be spackled and repainted to hide the damage, but natural wood doors can be more of a problem. However, if the scratches aren't too deep, you can usually mask the damage with stain and varnish.
Sand the damaged area lightly, feathering the sanding into the surrounding undamaged area. Wipe off all dust.
If you don't have the original stain or finish, find a matching stain at a paint store. Gel stains work best. Buy a small piece of matching wood and experiment with it first, or bring a photo of the door to the paint store for help. Start with a lighter stain, it can always be darkened. You can also buy a few different colors and blend them or streak them together.
Wipe the scratched area with a rag dipped in thinner to keep the stain from looking blotchy. Put a small amount of the gel stain on a rag, then dab a little on a dry brush. Wipe excess stain on the rag. Drag the brush lightly along one edge and quickly wipe it dry to see how the color looks. Leave the stain on longer, apply additional costs or blend in other colors to darken it.
If the stained area looks to dull after it dries, lightly spray the area with clear finish, feathering it into the surrounding area.
Best of luck removing those pet marks!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Dogs and cats still haven't figured out how to open doors, but that's never stopped them from trying. Painted doors can be spackled and repainted to hide the damage, but natural wood doors can be more of a problem. However, if the scratches aren't too deep, you can usually mask the damage with stain and varnish.
Sand the damaged area lightly, feathering the sanding into the surrounding undamaged area. Wipe off all dust.
If you don't have the original stain or finish, find a matching stain at a paint store. Gel stains work best. Buy a small piece of matching wood and experiment with it first, or bring a photo of the door to the paint store for help. Start with a lighter stain, it can always be darkened. You can also buy a few different colors and blend them or streak them together.
Wipe the scratched area with a rag dipped in thinner to keep the stain from looking blotchy. Put a small amount of the gel stain on a rag, then dab a little on a dry brush. Wipe excess stain on the rag. Drag the brush lightly along one edge and quickly wipe it dry to see how the color looks. Leave the stain on longer, apply additional costs or blend in other colors to darken it.
If the stained area looks to dull after it dries, lightly spray the area with clear finish, feathering it into the surrounding area.
Best of luck removing those pet marks!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Monday, December 21, 2015
3 Common Building Code Violations
Prevent accidents and make your home safer by fixing these 3 common code violations.
Missing Or Defective GFCIs
Ground Fault Circuit Interruptor (GFCI) protection is required for outlets in the kitchen, bathroom, garage and for all outdoor circuits. It cuts power to a circuit if it detects a current changes, protecting against electrical shocks. Test for the presence of GFCIs by plugging in a GFCI receptacle tester into an outlet in each of these areas. It'll detect whether there's a GFCI on the circuit and other wiring problems, such as reverse polarity and open grounds.
Handrails Without Returns
Codes require handrails to have "returns" meaning they need to turn and end at the wall. Returns keep items such as sleeves and purse straps from getting caught on the end of the rails and causing a fall. Handrails need to be placed 34 to 38 inches above the nose of the stair treads and must be 1 1/4 to 2 3/8 inch thick.
Improper Bathroom Venting
Bathroom exhaust fans should vent to the outside, either through the roof or the side of the home, not into the attic. Stick your head into the attic to see how yours is vented. Venting the warm, moist air into the attic can cause rotting in the roof framing and sheathing and may not properly rid the bathroom of moisture, leading to mold and mildew.
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Missing Or Defective GFCIs
Ground Fault Circuit Interruptor (GFCI) protection is required for outlets in the kitchen, bathroom, garage and for all outdoor circuits. It cuts power to a circuit if it detects a current changes, protecting against electrical shocks. Test for the presence of GFCIs by plugging in a GFCI receptacle tester into an outlet in each of these areas. It'll detect whether there's a GFCI on the circuit and other wiring problems, such as reverse polarity and open grounds.
Handrails Without Returns
Codes require handrails to have "returns" meaning they need to turn and end at the wall. Returns keep items such as sleeves and purse straps from getting caught on the end of the rails and causing a fall. Handrails need to be placed 34 to 38 inches above the nose of the stair treads and must be 1 1/4 to 2 3/8 inch thick.
Improper Bathroom Venting
Bathroom exhaust fans should vent to the outside, either through the roof or the side of the home, not into the attic. Stick your head into the attic to see how yours is vented. Venting the warm, moist air into the attic can cause rotting in the roof framing and sheathing and may not properly rid the bathroom of moisture, leading to mold and mildew.
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
How To a Replace A Kitchen Sink Basket Strainer
Quick and easy fix for a leaky kitchen sink basket strainer. Replace the basket strainer yourself in just an hour and save the cost of a visit from the plumber.
Test For The Leak
Fill up the sink with water and touch a facial tissue between the bottom of the basket strainer and the sink. If the tissue picks up any water, you've got a leaky basket strainer.
Loosen The Coupling Nut
Loosen the coupling nut at the base of the strainer basket with a slip joint pliers and slide the nut completely off the threads. If the basket spins, hold it tight.
Unscrew The Locknut
Use 16 inch slip joint pliers or spud wrench to unscrew the strainer locknut. If the entire basket spins, insert the handles of a plier into the strainer grate from above and stick a screwdriver between the handles to hold it still. Reach over the front of the sink, or have an assistant hold the screwdriver from above. If you can move the drainpipe out of the way, you can insert the pliers handles up into the strainer grate from the bottom to get a better handle on it yourself.
Apply Putty And Reset The Basket
Roll plumbers putty between your hands into a rope the size of a pencil and wrap it around the lip of the drain opening. Press the strainer firmly down into the putty, add the rubber gasket, friction ring and locknut under the sink and retighten the locknut.
Best of luck replacing and/or repairing your strainer basket!
You can find similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Test For The Leak
Fill up the sink with water and touch a facial tissue between the bottom of the basket strainer and the sink. If the tissue picks up any water, you've got a leaky basket strainer.
Loosen The Coupling Nut
Loosen the coupling nut at the base of the strainer basket with a slip joint pliers and slide the nut completely off the threads. If the basket spins, hold it tight.
Unscrew The Locknut
Use 16 inch slip joint pliers or spud wrench to unscrew the strainer locknut. If the entire basket spins, insert the handles of a plier into the strainer grate from above and stick a screwdriver between the handles to hold it still. Reach over the front of the sink, or have an assistant hold the screwdriver from above. If you can move the drainpipe out of the way, you can insert the pliers handles up into the strainer grate from the bottom to get a better handle on it yourself.
Apply Putty And Reset The Basket
Roll plumbers putty between your hands into a rope the size of a pencil and wrap it around the lip of the drain opening. Press the strainer firmly down into the putty, add the rubber gasket, friction ring and locknut under the sink and retighten the locknut.
Best of luck replacing and/or repairing your strainer basket!
You can find similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
How To Replace A Torn Window Screen
Remove the screen (on its frame) from the window. It usually pops out, or it may be held in by clips. Place it on a flat surface and use a screwdriver to pry it off the spline, the strip of rubber or plastic that holds the screening in the frame.
Align the new mesh on top of the frame, keeping the grid straight. With scissors, cut the replacement screen to the size of the frame. Cut a small square from each corner to prevent the material from bunching where the edges meet.
Starting in one corner and working your way up one side, push the screen into the channel with the convex end of the spline rolling tool. The goal is to achieve a slight indentation, no need to jam it in.
Before moving on to another side, insert the spline. Use the concave end of the spline rolling tool to push the cord into the channel over the top of the screen, hold the screen as you go so it doesn't bunch. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the remaining sides.
Push the spline into the corners with a screwdriver. Cut the spline into the corners with a screwdriver. Cut the spline overhang with scissors. Use a utility knife to trim the excess screen around the frame.
Keep in mind, a pro charges around $75, plus $14 for supplies. DIY cost is about $10.50 for supplies.
Best of luck repairing your screen!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Align the new mesh on top of the frame, keeping the grid straight. With scissors, cut the replacement screen to the size of the frame. Cut a small square from each corner to prevent the material from bunching where the edges meet.
Starting in one corner and working your way up one side, push the screen into the channel with the convex end of the spline rolling tool. The goal is to achieve a slight indentation, no need to jam it in.
Before moving on to another side, insert the spline. Use the concave end of the spline rolling tool to push the cord into the channel over the top of the screen, hold the screen as you go so it doesn't bunch. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the remaining sides.
Push the spline into the corners with a screwdriver. Cut the spline into the corners with a screwdriver. Cut the spline overhang with scissors. Use a utility knife to trim the excess screen around the frame.
Keep in mind, a pro charges around $75, plus $14 for supplies. DIY cost is about $10.50 for supplies.
Best of luck repairing your screen!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Sunday, December 20, 2015
3 Things Every Homeowner Should Know How To Do
You don't have to be a professional handyman to tackle every little thing that goes wrong at home. Here are 3 of the most common household problems.
Clogged Toilet
There's a pretty good chance that at some point in your home owning lifespan you will need to deal with a clogged toilet. Don't panic. You can more often than not resolve the problem yourself with a little plunger know how. First off, a toilet plunger is not the same as a kitchen sink plunger, a toilet plunger has a higher rounded dome with an extended flange on the underside that fits into the toilet bowl drain. Before you begin, you'll want to make sure there is enough water in the bowl to cover the rubber top of the plunger. If there isn't enough water, don't flush the toilet, it will overflow. Instead, collect some water from the tub faucet in a bucket and use that to fill the bowl. Place the plunger over the drain in the bottom of the toilet and with a downward thrust, invert the rubber cap to force air into the drain. When released, the plunger will create a vacuum. sucking up air and water with it. If a single plunge doesn't work, try it again and again. If the problem persists, you may need to pick up an auger, a snake like device that can be threaded through the drain by a crank handle to loosen the blockage.
Power Outage
The loss of power is one of every homeowners worst fears. That's why it's always good to have a working flashlight on hand. Rather than keeping one in a kitchen drawer or on a workbench, keep several in various rooms of the house.
If you've lost all power, look outside to see if your neighbors are dark as well. If so, this is a utility company that should be reported immediately. If it appears that yours is the only house that is affected, you'll need to go to the electrical panel or fuse box that controls the power to your house. Use the flashlight to see if one of the circuit breakers has tripped, it will be the one breaker pointing in the opposite direction. Flip the switch and the power should return. If you have a fuse box rather than a circuit breaker, you'll need to locate the blown fuse. It will be the one blackened and darker than the others.
Fireplace Care
There's nothing like a warm fire to take the evening or morning chill out of the house. But fireplaces as desirable as they are, do require routine care and maintenance. While some issues, like soot buildup and chimney repair, require the services of a pro, every homeowner should be able to make sure the flu and damper are in good working order, and, at the very least, should know how to dispose of ashes safely. To accomplish the latter, begin by brushing the ash into the center of the hearth. Scoop the material into a metal container with a lid, and place it outside away from the house and any combustible materials, such as leaves. Let the ashes sit for two weeks before disposing of them. Some gardeners like to use cold ash for fertilizer, so perhaps you can put your ashes to similar good use. It's always advisable to have your fireplace and chimney inspected by a pro once a year.
Best of luck with your home and the repairs that may come up!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Clogged Toilet
There's a pretty good chance that at some point in your home owning lifespan you will need to deal with a clogged toilet. Don't panic. You can more often than not resolve the problem yourself with a little plunger know how. First off, a toilet plunger is not the same as a kitchen sink plunger, a toilet plunger has a higher rounded dome with an extended flange on the underside that fits into the toilet bowl drain. Before you begin, you'll want to make sure there is enough water in the bowl to cover the rubber top of the plunger. If there isn't enough water, don't flush the toilet, it will overflow. Instead, collect some water from the tub faucet in a bucket and use that to fill the bowl. Place the plunger over the drain in the bottom of the toilet and with a downward thrust, invert the rubber cap to force air into the drain. When released, the plunger will create a vacuum. sucking up air and water with it. If a single plunge doesn't work, try it again and again. If the problem persists, you may need to pick up an auger, a snake like device that can be threaded through the drain by a crank handle to loosen the blockage.
Power Outage
The loss of power is one of every homeowners worst fears. That's why it's always good to have a working flashlight on hand. Rather than keeping one in a kitchen drawer or on a workbench, keep several in various rooms of the house.
If you've lost all power, look outside to see if your neighbors are dark as well. If so, this is a utility company that should be reported immediately. If it appears that yours is the only house that is affected, you'll need to go to the electrical panel or fuse box that controls the power to your house. Use the flashlight to see if one of the circuit breakers has tripped, it will be the one breaker pointing in the opposite direction. Flip the switch and the power should return. If you have a fuse box rather than a circuit breaker, you'll need to locate the blown fuse. It will be the one blackened and darker than the others.
Fireplace Care
There's nothing like a warm fire to take the evening or morning chill out of the house. But fireplaces as desirable as they are, do require routine care and maintenance. While some issues, like soot buildup and chimney repair, require the services of a pro, every homeowner should be able to make sure the flu and damper are in good working order, and, at the very least, should know how to dispose of ashes safely. To accomplish the latter, begin by brushing the ash into the center of the hearth. Scoop the material into a metal container with a lid, and place it outside away from the house and any combustible materials, such as leaves. Let the ashes sit for two weeks before disposing of them. Some gardeners like to use cold ash for fertilizer, so perhaps you can put your ashes to similar good use. It's always advisable to have your fireplace and chimney inspected by a pro once a year.
Best of luck with your home and the repairs that may come up!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
This Stain Remover Even Gets Rid Of Blood Stains
This may sound awful, but it's something that most of us will encounter at one time or another.
Most usually just wash the sheets, blankets, etc. and don't use stain remover on them because they're bedding and no one really sees them but this time I wanted to see if I could get the stain totally out of the sheets and the pillow.
Ingredients:
1 part baking soda
1 part hydrogen peroxide
1/2 part water
Mix all ingredients together and place in a spray bottle. Generously apply to the blood stain. Allow it to work for several minutes and then rinse using water. Wash as usual.
Spray the remover on the stain and let it set for 5 minutes. Rinse off the pillow after and re spray and then rinse again before placing in the washing machine.
Best of luck!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Most usually just wash the sheets, blankets, etc. and don't use stain remover on them because they're bedding and no one really sees them but this time I wanted to see if I could get the stain totally out of the sheets and the pillow.
Ingredients:
1 part baking soda
1 part hydrogen peroxide
1/2 part water
Mix all ingredients together and place in a spray bottle. Generously apply to the blood stain. Allow it to work for several minutes and then rinse using water. Wash as usual.
Spray the remover on the stain and let it set for 5 minutes. Rinse off the pillow after and re spray and then rinse again before placing in the washing machine.
Best of luck!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
How To Repair Rotted Wood
Use at polyester filler to rebuild rotted or damaged wood. You can mold and shape it to match the original wood profile. It takes paint well and won't rot.
If you've ever done any auto body repair, you've probably worked with two-part polyester filler. Minwax high performance wood filler is one brand formulated for wood repairs, but a gallon container of bonds or some other brand of two part auto body polyester will also work and may be less expensive for larger fixes.
The process for repairing wood is much the same whether you're using polyester filler or epoxy. Instead of epoxy consolidate you'll use high performance wood hardener to solidify and strengthen the wood fibers. Polyester begins hardening faster than abatron wood epoxy. Depending on the temperature, you'll have about 10-15 minutes to work before the filler starts to harden.
Also, unlike wood epox, polyester tends to sag when you're doing vertical repairs. One trick is to build a form and line it with plastic sheeting. Press the form against the filler and attach it with screws. Then pull it off after the filler hardens. Or you can wait until the sagging filler reaches the hardness of soap and carve it off with a putty knife or chisel or shape it with a surform plane or rasp. Most medium to large repairs will require at least two layers of filler. Complete the repair by sanding and priming the filled area and then painting.
Best of luck repairing your rotted wood!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
If you've ever done any auto body repair, you've probably worked with two-part polyester filler. Minwax high performance wood filler is one brand formulated for wood repairs, but a gallon container of bonds or some other brand of two part auto body polyester will also work and may be less expensive for larger fixes.
The process for repairing wood is much the same whether you're using polyester filler or epoxy. Instead of epoxy consolidate you'll use high performance wood hardener to solidify and strengthen the wood fibers. Polyester begins hardening faster than abatron wood epoxy. Depending on the temperature, you'll have about 10-15 minutes to work before the filler starts to harden.
Also, unlike wood epox, polyester tends to sag when you're doing vertical repairs. One trick is to build a form and line it with plastic sheeting. Press the form against the filler and attach it with screws. Then pull it off after the filler hardens. Or you can wait until the sagging filler reaches the hardness of soap and carve it off with a putty knife or chisel or shape it with a surform plane or rasp. Most medium to large repairs will require at least two layers of filler. Complete the repair by sanding and priming the filled area and then painting.
Best of luck repairing your rotted wood!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Friday, December 18, 2015
How To Make Homemade Eggnog
Homemade eggnog is so delicious. I'm not exaggerating when I say it is so much better than store bought! Some store bought egg nogs are overly thick and sugary sweet. This homemade eggnog is just unbelievably fresh and creamy and it only takes minutes to make. Traditional eggnog is made with raw eggs which give it a rich and delicious flavor. In this recipe use pasteurized eggs found at my local grocery store to be extra safe.
Use a stand mixer to shorten the mixing time, but you can use a hand held mixer or just a whisk and big bowl as well. While the mixer is mixing the egg yolks, stream in sugar until well combined. Mix until light yellow. Stir in milk, heavy cream, vanilla and nutmeg. Try this with freshly grated nutmeg. A micro plane is inexpensive and perfect for grating nutmeg as well as Parmesan cheese and lemon zest.
Ingredients:
4 egg yolks, from pasteurized eggs
1/3 cup of sugar
2 cups of whole milk
1 cup of heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons of freshly grated nutmeg
Instructions:
1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix egg yolks on medium speed
2. Slowly add sugar just until well combined. Eggs should be a light yellow color
3. Scrape down sides of bowl as needed
4. Turn mixer to low and add in milk, heavy cream, vanilla and nutmeg
5. Chill and serve
I hope you enjoy your eggnog!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Use a stand mixer to shorten the mixing time, but you can use a hand held mixer or just a whisk and big bowl as well. While the mixer is mixing the egg yolks, stream in sugar until well combined. Mix until light yellow. Stir in milk, heavy cream, vanilla and nutmeg. Try this with freshly grated nutmeg. A micro plane is inexpensive and perfect for grating nutmeg as well as Parmesan cheese and lemon zest.
Ingredients:
4 egg yolks, from pasteurized eggs
1/3 cup of sugar
2 cups of whole milk
1 cup of heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons of freshly grated nutmeg
Instructions:
1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, mix egg yolks on medium speed
2. Slowly add sugar just until well combined. Eggs should be a light yellow color
3. Scrape down sides of bowl as needed
4. Turn mixer to low and add in milk, heavy cream, vanilla and nutmeg
5. Chill and serve
I hope you enjoy your eggnog!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Advice On How To Finish Drywall
Making the joints in freshly hung drywall disappear behind a smooth, flawless taping job will try your patience. Many problems such as slow drying compound, crushed drywall edges and protruding screw heads interrupt the smooth, efficient flow of your work. Other little problems like scuff marks, dips and ridges won't show up until the dust clears and you prime the walls with drywall primer.
Check For Underdriven Screws And Nails
Slide a 6 inch drywall knife across all the fasteners. A tell tale click will alert you to any that are left protruding above the face of the drywall. The problem often occurs along corners. Drive screws in with a Phillips screwdriver.
Tap Nails Slightly Below The Drywall Face
The curved face of the hammerhead should set the nailhead in a shallow dimple, but the nailhead shouldn't break through the paper or crush the stiff drywall core. A special drywall hammer is ideal for this, but a regular hammer will do if you're careful.
Trim Away Loose, Torn Paper With A Sharp Utility Knife
Cut the paper away from tears and soft spots where the gypsum core is crushed. This allows drywall compound to reach and solidify these weak areas. A loose or torn paper surface will come back to haunt you when it causes bubbles later or pokes through the final finish.
Spray A Stain Blocking Primer
Prime rough and torn areas to consolidate loose paper fibers and seal in chemicals that can bleed through and stain the finish coat of the paint. Ventilate the room well and wear a vapor absorbing painters mask when using solvent based primers.
Nail Metal Corner Bread
Leave a 1/8 inch gap along each flange as a pocket for drywall compound. You should be able to run your taping knife along the bead and the drywall surface without hitting a nailhead or scraping against the flanges. Use a single length of bead for each corner. Otherwise, you'll get a bump or crease where two pieces join.
Fill Deep Gaps At Drywall
Setting compound unlike regular compound hardens rapidly and doesn't shrink. You can begin your taping as soon as it hardens. You buy it powdered and mix it with water. It's available with a 20, 45, or 90 minute hardening time from most stores that sell drywall materials. Be sure to buy the sand able variety. Avoid the 20 minute stuff, it will harden in your pan.
Shave Off Bulges In Setting Compound
Shave off lumps and sags in setting compound with your taping knife when the compound firms up a bit, to about the consistency of bar soap. Deeply filled areas sometimes flow and bulge before they harden. Once it hardens, setting compound is difficult to sand down.
Fill Gaps Around Electrical Boxes
Fill any gaps larger than 1/8 inch. Shut off the electrical power at your main panel first, before pulling out electrical switches or receptacles to fill around their plaster ears. Make sure the power is off by touching the neutral and hot wires with a voltage tester.
Best of luck finishing your drywall!!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Check For Underdriven Screws And Nails
Slide a 6 inch drywall knife across all the fasteners. A tell tale click will alert you to any that are left protruding above the face of the drywall. The problem often occurs along corners. Drive screws in with a Phillips screwdriver.
Tap Nails Slightly Below The Drywall Face
The curved face of the hammerhead should set the nailhead in a shallow dimple, but the nailhead shouldn't break through the paper or crush the stiff drywall core. A special drywall hammer is ideal for this, but a regular hammer will do if you're careful.
Trim Away Loose, Torn Paper With A Sharp Utility Knife
Cut the paper away from tears and soft spots where the gypsum core is crushed. This allows drywall compound to reach and solidify these weak areas. A loose or torn paper surface will come back to haunt you when it causes bubbles later or pokes through the final finish.
Spray A Stain Blocking Primer
Prime rough and torn areas to consolidate loose paper fibers and seal in chemicals that can bleed through and stain the finish coat of the paint. Ventilate the room well and wear a vapor absorbing painters mask when using solvent based primers.
Nail Metal Corner Bread
Leave a 1/8 inch gap along each flange as a pocket for drywall compound. You should be able to run your taping knife along the bead and the drywall surface without hitting a nailhead or scraping against the flanges. Use a single length of bead for each corner. Otherwise, you'll get a bump or crease where two pieces join.
Fill Deep Gaps At Drywall
Setting compound unlike regular compound hardens rapidly and doesn't shrink. You can begin your taping as soon as it hardens. You buy it powdered and mix it with water. It's available with a 20, 45, or 90 minute hardening time from most stores that sell drywall materials. Be sure to buy the sand able variety. Avoid the 20 minute stuff, it will harden in your pan.
Shave Off Bulges In Setting Compound
Shave off lumps and sags in setting compound with your taping knife when the compound firms up a bit, to about the consistency of bar soap. Deeply filled areas sometimes flow and bulge before they harden. Once it hardens, setting compound is difficult to sand down.
Fill Gaps Around Electrical Boxes
Fill any gaps larger than 1/8 inch. Shut off the electrical power at your main panel first, before pulling out electrical switches or receptacles to fill around their plaster ears. Make sure the power is off by touching the neutral and hot wires with a voltage tester.
Best of luck finishing your drywall!!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
How To Drain Your Water Heater
Most water heaters employ a large, insulated holding tank to ensure there's plenty of hot water at all times for different purposes throughout the home. Over time naturally occurring minerals in the water as well as sand and grit flushed from municipal water lines can settle in the bottom of the tank. This sediment build-up can potentially reduce the efficiency and capacity of your water heater. It can also plug the drain and interfere with ongoing maintenance leading to early failure.
Sediment can interfere with burner efficiency in a gas water heater and can cause cracking and popping noises during heating cycles. Depending on your water source and the mineral content, both gas and electric water heaters should be flushed of sediment every 1-2 years to ensure optimal performance. Keep in mind, you may need to drain your water heater more frequently if your water source is a well or if your municipal water has higher than normal sediment content.
Turn Off The Water Supply
Turn off the cold water supply valve at the top of the water heater
Turn Off The Water Heater
For a gas water heater, turn the thermostat to the "pilot" setting. For an electric water heater, turn off the electricity at the breaker box.
Attach Hose To Drain Valve
Near the bottom of the tank, locate the tank drain valve and attach a standard garden hose to the drain valve. Be aware that some models may have a cover over the valve opening. Place the other end of the hose in a foot drain or on a driveway where it can drain safely. If necessary, buckets can be used, but be careful not to be burned by the hot water as you work.
Open Hot Water Tap
Open a hot water tap nearest to the water heater, preferably on the floor above. This alleviates pressure in the system, allowing water to drain quickly from the tank, much like removing your finger from the top of a drinking straw filled with liquid.
Open Drain Valve
Open the drain valve and allow the water to drain from the tank. Again, the water will be hot, so use caution. Once all water has drained from the tank, briefly turn the cold water supply on to the tank. This will stir up any remaining sediment. Repeat this process until the water runs clear.
Close Drain Valve, Refill Tank, Turn Water Heater Back On
Close the drain valve, remove the hose, and turn on the cold water supply. The tank will begin to fail. Go back to the hot water tap opened earlier. Once cold water begins to flow from the tap, turn it off. Turn the gas valve back on from the pilot position or turn the electricity back on to the tank. Be sure to check the valve opening once it's closed to ensure there are no water leaks.
Best of luck draining and maintaining your Hot Water Heater!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Sediment can interfere with burner efficiency in a gas water heater and can cause cracking and popping noises during heating cycles. Depending on your water source and the mineral content, both gas and electric water heaters should be flushed of sediment every 1-2 years to ensure optimal performance. Keep in mind, you may need to drain your water heater more frequently if your water source is a well or if your municipal water has higher than normal sediment content.
Turn Off The Water Supply
Turn off the cold water supply valve at the top of the water heater
Turn Off The Water Heater
For a gas water heater, turn the thermostat to the "pilot" setting. For an electric water heater, turn off the electricity at the breaker box.
Attach Hose To Drain Valve
Near the bottom of the tank, locate the tank drain valve and attach a standard garden hose to the drain valve. Be aware that some models may have a cover over the valve opening. Place the other end of the hose in a foot drain or on a driveway where it can drain safely. If necessary, buckets can be used, but be careful not to be burned by the hot water as you work.
Open Hot Water Tap
Open a hot water tap nearest to the water heater, preferably on the floor above. This alleviates pressure in the system, allowing water to drain quickly from the tank, much like removing your finger from the top of a drinking straw filled with liquid.
Open Drain Valve
Open the drain valve and allow the water to drain from the tank. Again, the water will be hot, so use caution. Once all water has drained from the tank, briefly turn the cold water supply on to the tank. This will stir up any remaining sediment. Repeat this process until the water runs clear.
Close Drain Valve, Refill Tank, Turn Water Heater Back On
Close the drain valve, remove the hose, and turn on the cold water supply. The tank will begin to fail. Go back to the hot water tap opened earlier. Once cold water begins to flow from the tap, turn it off. Turn the gas valve back on from the pilot position or turn the electricity back on to the tank. Be sure to check the valve opening once it's closed to ensure there are no water leaks.
Best of luck draining and maintaining your Hot Water Heater!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Thursday, December 17, 2015
How To Brand Your Social Media: Pinterest
Another favorite of mine is Pinterest.n It's the number one traffic generator to creative blogs/websites because Pinterest is bomb like that.
Profile Photo- Again, just make sure ALL your social media profile images are the same photo.
Board Covers- I bet you never even thought about branding your board covers before. Well, folks I'm about to piss you off because I absolutely believe all of your 291 board covers should all be cohesive and synced with your overall branding.
Take a look at your own blog photos/design aesthetics. Choose your boards covers carefully. Use your blog colors and similar images in order to create a cohesive Pinterest user experience for your followers.
Best of luck with your pinning!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Profile Photo- Again, just make sure ALL your social media profile images are the same photo.
Board Covers- I bet you never even thought about branding your board covers before. Well, folks I'm about to piss you off because I absolutely believe all of your 291 board covers should all be cohesive and synced with your overall branding.
Take a look at your own blog photos/design aesthetics. Choose your boards covers carefully. Use your blog colors and similar images in order to create a cohesive Pinterest user experience for your followers.
Best of luck with your pinning!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
How To Brand Your Social Media: Instagram
This works best for all you design people out there. Instagram is a goldmine for anyone who works in visual aesthetics.
Profile Photo- I won't waste any more of your time than I need to on this, just make sure it's the same as all your other social media and your blog.
Instagram Photos- A real Instagrammer has a consistent style that they stick to on Instagram.
Quotes/Product Announcement- This is a little bit different from your regular Instagram photos because these are typically images that you have to create a photoshop or canva.n You always need to bring your blogs design aesthetics into these photos.n Use the same colors, fonts, etc. I suggest creating a template that you can just go back to and edit each time you need a new photo.
Best of luck with your Instagram!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
How To Brand Your Social Media: Twitter
My favorite, Twitter! This may be surprising, but there's actually a lot that you can do with your Twitter in order to get it in sync with your brand.
Links- When you log in to Twitter, click on your profile image in the top left hand corner of the screen. When a drop down menu appears, go to settings then scroll down to the design option.
Twitter Photos- If you use Twitter for blog promotion but you're not really utilizing images on Twitter, then you're really missing out, I have seen first hand just how much adding a photo to your tweets increases reach and engagement.
I've also seen several bloggers simply use the same image from their blog on Twitter. However, I don't suggest doing it that way. Instead you should be creating images to share on Twitter while you create your blog images.
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Links- When you log in to Twitter, click on your profile image in the top left hand corner of the screen. When a drop down menu appears, go to settings then scroll down to the design option.
Twitter Photos- If you use Twitter for blog promotion but you're not really utilizing images on Twitter, then you're really missing out, I have seen first hand just how much adding a photo to your tweets increases reach and engagement.
I've also seen several bloggers simply use the same image from their blog on Twitter. However, I don't suggest doing it that way. Instead you should be creating images to share on Twitter while you create your blog images.
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
How To Brand Your Social Media: Facebook
If you thought you were done after branding your blog post images, sorry. Your brand needs to extend out into your social media. The best way to have a cohesive brand that allows your readers to always know whether something belongs to you is to bring your blog's branding into your social media outlets.
I'll start by going over Facebook. With over 1 billion monthly active users, Facebook is definitely the most popular social media. So you want people who happen to stumble onto your blog/business's Facebook page to immediately know that they're in the right place.
Profile Photo- Make sure that your profile photo is always the same photo as your main blog photo of you. Your readers don't know you that well and might not be able to tell if you're the same person in two different images. Just make it easy for them and use the same image across all of your social media channels.
Cover photo- Just create a specific cover image that's 851x315 px and make your life a million times easier. Keep it plain, simple and minimalistic. However you choose to do this, just make sure your logo is somewhere in the cover photo.
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
I'll start by going over Facebook. With over 1 billion monthly active users, Facebook is definitely the most popular social media. So you want people who happen to stumble onto your blog/business's Facebook page to immediately know that they're in the right place.
Profile Photo- Make sure that your profile photo is always the same photo as your main blog photo of you. Your readers don't know you that well and might not be able to tell if you're the same person in two different images. Just make it easy for them and use the same image across all of your social media channels.
Cover photo- Just create a specific cover image that's 851x315 px and make your life a million times easier. Keep it plain, simple and minimalistic. However you choose to do this, just make sure your logo is somewhere in the cover photo.
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Monday, December 14, 2015
How To Find Roof Leaks
When you're trying to track down a leak, start by looking at the roof uphill from the stains. The first thing to look for is any roof penetrations. Items that penetrate the roof are by far the most common source of leaks. In fact, it's rare for leaks to develop in open areas of uninterrupted shingles even on older roofs. Penetrations can include plumbing and roof vents, chimneys, dormers or anything else that projects through the roof. They can be several feet above the leak or to the right or to the left of it.
If you have attic access, the easiest way to track down a leak is to go up there with a flashlight and look for the evidence. There will be water stains, black marks, or mold. But if access is a problem or,you have a vaulted ceiling, you'll have to go up on the roof and examine.
If the problem still isn't obvious, enlist a helper and go up on the roof with a garden hose. Start low, soaking the area just above where the leak appears in the house. Isolate areas when you run the hose. For example, soak the downhill side of a chimney first, then each side, then the top on both sides. Have your helper stay inside the home waiting for the drip to appear. Let the hose run for several minutes in one area before moving it up the roof a little farther. Tell your helper to yell when a drip becomes visible. You'll be in the neighborhood of the leak. This process can take well over an hour.n So be patient and don't move the hose to soon.
Best of luck finding your roof leak!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
If you have attic access, the easiest way to track down a leak is to go up there with a flashlight and look for the evidence. There will be water stains, black marks, or mold. But if access is a problem or,you have a vaulted ceiling, you'll have to go up on the roof and examine.
If the problem still isn't obvious, enlist a helper and go up on the roof with a garden hose. Start low, soaking the area just above where the leak appears in the house. Isolate areas when you run the hose. For example, soak the downhill side of a chimney first, then each side, then the top on both sides. Have your helper stay inside the home waiting for the drip to appear. Let the hose run for several minutes in one area before moving it up the roof a little farther. Tell your helper to yell when a drip becomes visible. You'll be in the neighborhood of the leak. This process can take well over an hour.n So be patient and don't move the hose to soon.
Best of luck finding your roof leak!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
How To Fix Common Roof Leaks: Small Holes
Tiny holes in shingles are sneaky because they can cause rot and other damage for ears before you notice the obvious signs of a leak. You might find holes,left over from satellite dish or antenna mounting brackets or just about anything. And exposed, misplaced roofing nails should be pulled and the holes patched. Small holes are simple to fix, but the fix is not to inject caulk in the hole.
Best of luck repairing small holes on your rooftop!
You can find more articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Best of luck repairing small holes on your rooftop!
You can find more articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
How To Fix Common Roof Leaks: Step Flashing
Step,flashing is used along walls that intersect the roof. Each short section of flashing channels water over the shingle downhill from it. nBut if the flashing rusts through. or a piece comes loose, water will run behind it, and into the house it goes. Rusted flashing needs to be replaced. That means removing shingles, prying siding loose, and then removing and replacing the step flashing. It's that simple. But occasionally a roofer forgets to nail one in place and it eventually slips down to expose the wall.
Best of luck repairing/replacing your step flashing!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Best of luck repairing/replacing your step flashing!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
How To Fix Common Roof Leaks: Walls And Dormers
Water doesn't always come in at the shingled surface. Often, wind driven rain comes in from above the roof, especially around Windows, between corner boards, siding and through cracks and knotholes in siding. Dormer walls provide lots of spots where water can dribble down and enter the roof. Caulk can be old, cracked or even missing between the corner boards and between window edges and siding. Water penetrates these cracks and works its way behind the flashing and into the house. Even caulk that looks intact may not be sealing against the adjoining surfaces. Dig around with a putty knife to see if the area is sealed. Dig at any suspect caulk and replace it with a siliconized latex caulk. Also check the siding above the step flashing. Replace any cracked, rotted or missing siding, making sure the new piece overlaps the step flashing by at least 2 inches. If you still have a leak, pull the corner boards free and check the overlapping flashing at the corner. Often, there's old, hardened caulk where the two pieces overlap at the inside corner.
Best of luck repairing/replacing your leaks!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Best of luck repairing/replacing your leaks!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com/our-blog.html
Saturday, December 12, 2015
How To Fix Common Roof Leaks: Roof Vents
Check for cracked housings on plastic roof vents and broken seams on metal ones. You might be tempted to throw caulk at the problem, but that solution won't last long. There's really no fix other than replacing the damaged vents. Also look for pulled or missing nails at the bases bottom edge. Replace them with rubber-washered screws. In most cases, you can remove the nails under the shingles on both sides of the vent to pull it free. There will be nails across the top of the vent too. Usually you can also work those loose without removing shingles. Screw the bottom in place with rubber-washered screws. Squeeze out a bead of caulk beneath the shingles on both sides of the vent to hold the shingles down and add a water barrier. That's much easier than remaining the shingles.
Best of luck repairing/replacing your Roof Vents!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com
Best of luck repairing/replacing your Roof Vents!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com
How To Fix Common Roof Leaks: Plumbing Vent Boots
Plumbing vent boots can be all plastic, plastic and metal, or even two-piece metal units. Check plastic bases for cracks and metal bases for broken seams. Then examine the rubber boot surrounding the pipe. That can be rotted away or torn, allowing water to work its way into the house along the pipe. With any of these problems, you should buy a new vent boot to replace the old one. But if the nails at the base are missing or pulled free and the boot is in good shape, replace them with the rubber-washered screws used for metal roofing systems. You'll find them at any home center with the rest of the screws. You'll have to work neighboring shingles free on both sides. If you don't have extra shingles, be careful when you remove shingles so they can be reused. Use a flat bar to separate the sealant between the layers. Then you'll be able to drive the flat bar under the nail heads to pop out the nails.
Good luck repairing/replacing your plumbing vent boots!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com
Good luck repairing/replacing your plumbing vent boots!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com
Thursday, December 10, 2015
How To Fix Popped Drywall Nails And Screws
Popped drywall nails and screws are common in old and new homes alike. It's tempting to just pound the fastener back in and fill the divot. But this is a short term solution. To permanently fix the problem, drive a new nail or screw to reattach the drywall to the framing and remove or bury the old fastener.
Use lightweight sparkling compound to fill the damaged area. It dries quickly, doesn't sag and is easy to sand. Expect to apply two or three coats to a cover a large hole. The drying time between coats will depend on how deep the hole is. Use a fine sanding sponge or 100-grit drywall sanding paper to sand the patch before priming and painting.
Best of luck repairing that nail or screw!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com
Use lightweight sparkling compound to fill the damaged area. It dries quickly, doesn't sag and is easy to sand. Expect to apply two or three coats to a cover a large hole. The drying time between coats will depend on how deep the hole is. Use a fine sanding sponge or 100-grit drywall sanding paper to sand the patch before priming and painting.
Best of luck repairing that nail or screw!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com
How To Outshine The Competition Without A Real Estate Marketing Budget
Real Estate is all about your reputation these days. Your brand and logo is you. And that can make or break your business. The great news is improving the way your reputation is perceived in the market is something you can do for free.
The best names in real estate almost always, spend next to nothing on advertising. Yes, they have a website, blog and engage with people via their follow ups. But they probably don't spend much on print ads or digital ads.
How are they succeeding?
Learn The Market- It is really important to understand everything there is to know about your real estate market. Sure, you can fake it to a certain point. But eventually lack of cold-hard knowledge will get to you. You can do this by reading articles, keeping up with local news, watching trends in similar cities, and most importantly writing. It's easy to think you know something. But when you have to write about it, you gain a completely different level of understanding. Plus, you'll have a log that proves your knowledge to anyone online.
Find Your Opening- After several weeks of reading, you'll start to find an opening or niche in the market. This could be a specific area, neighborhood, type of property or anything really. The key here is to find something you love. And then pursue it with everything you know.
Make Connections- Next, find the top influential people that area. Make a list of 50 of them and start getting their contact information. Then, take them out for coffee and follow up with them similar to the 33 touch system. Add them on LinkedIn and other social networks.
Write A Blog Or Publish On LinkedIn- Finally, it's time to prove your knowledge to everyone. Blogging and websites give you the ability to prove your knowledge so easily.
Social Or Digital- The next important thing is to be on social media. Post daily, and post in Facebook groups.
The best names in real estate almost always, spend next to nothing on advertising. Yes, they have a website, blog and engage with people via their follow ups. But they probably don't spend much on print ads or digital ads.
How are they succeeding?
Learn The Market- It is really important to understand everything there is to know about your real estate market. Sure, you can fake it to a certain point. But eventually lack of cold-hard knowledge will get to you. You can do this by reading articles, keeping up with local news, watching trends in similar cities, and most importantly writing. It's easy to think you know something. But when you have to write about it, you gain a completely different level of understanding. Plus, you'll have a log that proves your knowledge to anyone online.
Find Your Opening- After several weeks of reading, you'll start to find an opening or niche in the market. This could be a specific area, neighborhood, type of property or anything really. The key here is to find something you love. And then pursue it with everything you know.
Make Connections- Next, find the top influential people that area. Make a list of 50 of them and start getting their contact information. Then, take them out for coffee and follow up with them similar to the 33 touch system. Add them on LinkedIn and other social networks.
Write A Blog Or Publish On LinkedIn- Finally, it's time to prove your knowledge to everyone. Blogging and websites give you the ability to prove your knowledge so easily.
Social Or Digital- The next important thing is to be on social media. Post daily, and post in Facebook groups.
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Best Businesses To Start In A Small Town
Too many people these days are too content being a victim of circumstance crying "But there are no jobs". Pick yourself up. Dust yourself off. Create your own job. Regardless of your education, background or location, you have at least one in demand skill. Same many of the best businesses to start in a small town require little, if any, startup cash.
Auto Detailing- Many businesses today are mobile, meaning the business comes to the client as opposed to the other way around. Auto detailing can be one such business. Provided you have access to an electrical outlet and a hydrant you are good to go.
Baking- So many people these days are making a great side income through specialized baking. Many small towns would prefer to get their wedding, baby shower, birthday cakes, cookies and cupcakes locally as opposed to having to worry about making a special trip to the city on their big day and transport a delicate confection for miles.
Business Cleaning- Homes are not the only thing in need of cleaning. Inquire with local office buildings about their cleaning needs.
Elder Care- This service can run the gamut from simply stopping by to check on your clients welfare each day to cleaning, cooking and running errands.
Mobile Locksmith- Just because you live in a small town does not mean you don't lock yourself out of your car or house occasionally. And many small towns do not have a locksmith. With the know-how you could surely pickup a few extra bucks a month.
Pet Care- Sitting, grooming and even taking Fido to his vet visits.
Photographer- Families on a budget can't always afford that fancy photographer the next town over. Brush up on your skills and offer inexpensive packages to seniors.
Best of luck with your small town business!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com
Auto Detailing- Many businesses today are mobile, meaning the business comes to the client as opposed to the other way around. Auto detailing can be one such business. Provided you have access to an electrical outlet and a hydrant you are good to go.
Baking- So many people these days are making a great side income through specialized baking. Many small towns would prefer to get their wedding, baby shower, birthday cakes, cookies and cupcakes locally as opposed to having to worry about making a special trip to the city on their big day and transport a delicate confection for miles.
Business Cleaning- Homes are not the only thing in need of cleaning. Inquire with local office buildings about their cleaning needs.
Elder Care- This service can run the gamut from simply stopping by to check on your clients welfare each day to cleaning, cooking and running errands.
Mobile Locksmith- Just because you live in a small town does not mean you don't lock yourself out of your car or house occasionally. And many small towns do not have a locksmith. With the know-how you could surely pickup a few extra bucks a month.
Pet Care- Sitting, grooming and even taking Fido to his vet visits.
Photographer- Families on a budget can't always afford that fancy photographer the next town over. Brush up on your skills and offer inexpensive packages to seniors.
Best of luck with your small town business!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
What To Post On Pinterest
Pinterest is also an extremely visual social media. However, if you were to choose between focus on Instagram and focus on Pinterest, I would tell you to lose Instagram and go with Pinterest any day. Pinterest is more than just a social network these days. It's a search engine.
Sure, I use google to search for things at least 47 times a day, but if I'm looking for an article or an image or another type of creative content, Pinterest is my go to. And since visuals are so important and I know that pinned items have been put there by a person who already thought this was a good article, there's already a bit of trust behind my searches.
PRODUCT PHOTOS
Are you hosting a webinar, releasing an ebook, or launching a podcast? create an image for it and pin it with a link to your landing page.
INFOGRAPHICS
These are eye-catching on Pinterest because they are so long. If you have the means of creating an inforgraphic, do it.
BLOG POSTS + CURATED CONTENT
Sharing relevant and industry related content to your Pinterest is key, as well as sharing your own blog posts. Just make sure that you're branding you're blog post images!
Best of luck with your pinning!!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com
Sure, I use google to search for things at least 47 times a day, but if I'm looking for an article or an image or another type of creative content, Pinterest is my go to. And since visuals are so important and I know that pinned items have been put there by a person who already thought this was a good article, there's already a bit of trust behind my searches.
PRODUCT PHOTOS
Are you hosting a webinar, releasing an ebook, or launching a podcast? create an image for it and pin it with a link to your landing page.
INFOGRAPHICS
These are eye-catching on Pinterest because they are so long. If you have the means of creating an inforgraphic, do it.
BLOG POSTS + CURATED CONTENT
Sharing relevant and industry related content to your Pinterest is key, as well as sharing your own blog posts. Just make sure that you're branding you're blog post images!
Best of luck with your pinning!!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com
Improve Your Instagram Strategy
This platform is one that seems to come very easily to some and not quite so easily to others. Since it has evolved into more of an artsy photo sharing platform rather than random iPhone photos, this takes a bit more work. However, if you really put in the effort to take quality pictures, then you can easily gain a loyal Instagram following.
PRODUCT PHOTOS
Whether you're about to launch, already have or are just reminding your followers about your awesome products, Instagram is a great place to do this. Whether you have a physical item or you're taking a screenshot of your beautiful landing page, Instagram is your place.
QUOTES
Although Instagram is obviously a great place to share quotes, you're going to want to be a it more strategic here. This is the platform for you to head over to canva or open up photoshop and create your own quote templates.
Best of luck with your business Instagram Page!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com
PRODUCT PHOTOS
Whether you're about to launch, already have or are just reminding your followers about your awesome products, Instagram is a great place to do this. Whether you have a physical item or you're taking a screenshot of your beautiful landing page, Instagram is your place.
QUOTES
Although Instagram is obviously a great place to share quotes, you're going to want to be a it more strategic here. This is the platform for you to head over to canva or open up photoshop and create your own quote templates.
Best of luck with your business Instagram Page!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com
Boost Your Twitter Strategy
i personally think that Twitter is the easiest social media platform to use for business. It's so easy to gain a following, interact with readers/customers, and use as a free promo tool. Whereas Facebook has gone towards mostly paid advertising to get your page out there. Twitter still has a ton of organic value as long as you're doing it right.
BLOG POSTS
Of course, just like your Facebook page, you want to share your own blog posts. mTwitter is awesome because you can do this multiple times a day.
CURATED CONTENT
However, Twitter is also your number one spot for shouting out friends and fellow business people. In fact, you should be doing this even more often than promoting your own posts. main your tweets, all we get is a shortened link to the blog post. Unless you're also sharing image that says the post title, I suggest including the title of the post in your tweet, rather than a vague caption.
QUOTES
Nice, inspirational moving quotes. Rather than creating a visual image, though, Twitter is much more basic. Simply share one of,your favorite quotes in your tweet, include the hashtag #QOTD and I guarantee at least two favorites.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Social media and content marketing is all about positioning yourself as an expert in your industry. Do this by sharing relevant industry news.
Best of luck with your Twitter engagement!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com
How To Maximize Your Facebook Posts
All to often, bloggers and business owners go into their social media blindly. They're not strategic with their posts, they post whatever and whenever something comes to mind, and then they just leave it at that.
If we want to have a successful social media strategy, we just can't let our social media go to the dogs. We have to work for it. Plan. Strategize. Spend some time to make it quality. Schedule. Interact. The point is, you can't be all nilly willy with your social media. It's a marketing tool for your blog or business, which means that it's serious and you need to make sure you're doing it right.
FACEBOOK:
We all know how to use Facebook. I mean, most of us have been active users since way back in 2007. However, Facebook pages need to be a bit more strategic. You can't just post a million pictures of your cute kid, sappy song lyrics, or political rants on your page like you do on your profile.
As a brand, you have to pay attention to what your audience likes. Keep track of your insights, but keep in mind that these are typically the types of posts that do well on your Facebook page.
BEHIND THE SCENES PHOTOS
Followers love to see what things look like behind the scenes. They love to see us work, they love to see how things are done, and they love transparency. Not only that, but it gives your readers or customers a better clue as to who you are. They can get to know who they're buying from and that helps to create brand loyalty more than anything.
QUOTES
Seriously, who doesn't love a good quote? Your caption can be anything as simple as the quote reiterated or you can flesh out your ideas behind the quote a bit more. Hell, it's your page. This is one thing that I won't tell you how to do.
QUESTIONS
Posting regular statuses containing questions or trivia or even true/false questions do really well for Facebook pages. I don't really have any great examples to show you, so just trust me on this one.
VIDEOS
Video is a gold mine on Facebook. As of the latest algorithm change, video is the number one content that users see in their news feeds. And since you can make your YouTube videos. auto play on Facebook, users aren't having to be sent to a third party website in order to watch your content.
I hope this article helps boost your Facebook page!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com
If we want to have a successful social media strategy, we just can't let our social media go to the dogs. We have to work for it. Plan. Strategize. Spend some time to make it quality. Schedule. Interact. The point is, you can't be all nilly willy with your social media. It's a marketing tool for your blog or business, which means that it's serious and you need to make sure you're doing it right.
FACEBOOK:
We all know how to use Facebook. I mean, most of us have been active users since way back in 2007. However, Facebook pages need to be a bit more strategic. You can't just post a million pictures of your cute kid, sappy song lyrics, or political rants on your page like you do on your profile.
As a brand, you have to pay attention to what your audience likes. Keep track of your insights, but keep in mind that these are typically the types of posts that do well on your Facebook page.
BEHIND THE SCENES PHOTOS
Followers love to see what things look like behind the scenes. They love to see us work, they love to see how things are done, and they love transparency. Not only that, but it gives your readers or customers a better clue as to who you are. They can get to know who they're buying from and that helps to create brand loyalty more than anything.
QUOTES
Seriously, who doesn't love a good quote? Your caption can be anything as simple as the quote reiterated or you can flesh out your ideas behind the quote a bit more. Hell, it's your page. This is one thing that I won't tell you how to do.
QUESTIONS
Posting regular statuses containing questions or trivia or even true/false questions do really well for Facebook pages. I don't really have any great examples to show you, so just trust me on this one.
VIDEOS
Video is a gold mine on Facebook. As of the latest algorithm change, video is the number one content that users see in their news feeds. And since you can make your YouTube videos. auto play on Facebook, users aren't having to be sent to a third party website in order to watch your content.
I hope this article helps boost your Facebook page!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com
Get Home Solar For Little To Nothing Down
A little known government program called the Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit,coupled with the massive evolution of solar technology, have combined to make 2016 the best there has ever been to consider solar for your home. This program allows Americans to install solar on their homes for shockingly low cost, and reduces their electricity payments by an average of $1,560 per year.
But there's a catch: Like most government programs, this tax credit is likely temporary, and is currently set to expire on December 31, 2016.
A Middle Class Stimulus Package
Unknown to many, the residential renewable energy tax credit, is targeted towards the middle class. If you own your home, and your electricity costs are over $100 a month on average then you most likely qualify. Basically, the government wants you to have the benefits of solar power, which puts more money in your pocket, creates jobs in America, and helps fight climate change. There are several options to take advantage of these incredible incentives, which utilities hate. Here is why:
-You can now get solar with no upfront costs thanks to home solar loans
-$0 down lease and PPA programs use the incentives to give you low electricity rates
-Upfront purchase provides immediate payback with zero interest and 70-90% lower electricity costs
Solar Has Never Been Cheaper
In fact, solar is about 99% cheaper than when the technology was born. You wouldn't have bought a computer when it was first invented, or in its first iterations, because you would have had to mortgage your house to do so, and it's processing power is now eclipsed by today's most basic smartphone.
If you are interested in more information about going solar and live in the Fresno, California area we recommend contacting Pacific Solar Company
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com
But there's a catch: Like most government programs, this tax credit is likely temporary, and is currently set to expire on December 31, 2016.
A Middle Class Stimulus Package
Unknown to many, the residential renewable energy tax credit, is targeted towards the middle class. If you own your home, and your electricity costs are over $100 a month on average then you most likely qualify. Basically, the government wants you to have the benefits of solar power, which puts more money in your pocket, creates jobs in America, and helps fight climate change. There are several options to take advantage of these incredible incentives, which utilities hate. Here is why:
-You can now get solar with no upfront costs thanks to home solar loans
-$0 down lease and PPA programs use the incentives to give you low electricity rates
-Upfront purchase provides immediate payback with zero interest and 70-90% lower electricity costs
Solar Has Never Been Cheaper
In fact, solar is about 99% cheaper than when the technology was born. You wouldn't have bought a computer when it was first invented, or in its first iterations, because you would have had to mortgage your house to do so, and it's processing power is now eclipsed by today's most basic smartphone.
If you are interested in more information about going solar and live in the Fresno, California area we recommend contacting Pacific Solar Company
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com
How To Stop Leaks In Plumbing Joints
The best time to fix a plumbing leak is before it happens, by properly connecting water supply and waste line fittings. Learn the tricks that pros use to make leakproof connections.
Use Two Types Of Teflon On Threaded Joints
Connections that rely on threaded pipes and fittings are prone to leaks if they're not sealed with either Teflon tape or Teflon pipe joint compound.
Start by wrapping the male threads with Teflon tape. With the end of the threaded pipe facing you, wrap the tape clockwise. Usually three layers is enough. Once in a while, you'll run into a loose fitting that requires four or five wraps. Stretch and tear the tape to complete the wrap.
Spread a thin layer of Teflon pipe joint compound over the tape. If you're working with plastic pipe, choose Teflon pipe joint compound that's compatible with it. The. start the threads by hand before tightening the connection with wrenches. Wipe away the excess.
Choose Flexible Supply Tubes
The skinny copper or chrome supply tubes used to connect faucets and toilets are tricky to cut, bend and align. But you don't have to put up with them. When you're replacing a faucet or toilet, use flexible supply hoses with a braided covering instead. They have rubber gaskets at each end and don't require much force to seal. They're available in many lengths and are flexible enough to fit almost any configuration. The only trick is buying a connector with the correct size nuts on the ends. Take your old tubing and the nuts on each end along with you to the store to be sure of an exact match.m Start the nuts carefully and hand tighten. Avoid over tightening.
I hope this article will help you with any possible plumbing leaks you may have!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com
Use Two Types Of Teflon On Threaded Joints
Connections that rely on threaded pipes and fittings are prone to leaks if they're not sealed with either Teflon tape or Teflon pipe joint compound.
Start by wrapping the male threads with Teflon tape. With the end of the threaded pipe facing you, wrap the tape clockwise. Usually three layers is enough. Once in a while, you'll run into a loose fitting that requires four or five wraps. Stretch and tear the tape to complete the wrap.
Spread a thin layer of Teflon pipe joint compound over the tape. If you're working with plastic pipe, choose Teflon pipe joint compound that's compatible with it. The. start the threads by hand before tightening the connection with wrenches. Wipe away the excess.
Choose Flexible Supply Tubes
The skinny copper or chrome supply tubes used to connect faucets and toilets are tricky to cut, bend and align. But you don't have to put up with them. When you're replacing a faucet or toilet, use flexible supply hoses with a braided covering instead. They have rubber gaskets at each end and don't require much force to seal. They're available in many lengths and are flexible enough to fit almost any configuration. The only trick is buying a connector with the correct size nuts on the ends. Take your old tubing and the nuts on each end along with you to the store to be sure of an exact match.m Start the nuts carefully and hand tighten. Avoid over tightening.
I hope this article will help you with any possible plumbing leaks you may have!
You can read similar articles online at www.echomeinspection.com
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