Replacing a Toilet

Four of the most common symptoms when troubleshooting and diagnosing your toilet for maintenance and repair.

Symptom #1 There is water on the floor around the base of my toilet or water leaks from under the base of my toilet when I flush. Usually this happens when the wax ring looses it's seal. This is caused by lack of use (wax ring dries up)or, more commonly the toilet moves causing a break in the seal. The toilet moves usually because the flange on the sewer pipe breaks and the bolt no longer holds the toilet in place or the porcelain cracks where the bolt holds the tank to the floor. Repairs can be made by the homeowner.

Symptom #2: Water is leaking from between my tank and bowl. The tank and bowl are held together by bolts (usually two) and there are rubber seals on the bolts and between the tank and bowl. Local water conditions and bowl cleaners that are put into the toilet tank can cause these items to deteriorate. Unless there is a crack in the tank, replacing these items will repair this problem.

Symptom #3: The toilet tank is filling with water even when I'm not using it. There is a part in your toilet tank called the flapper. It is attached to the flush valve. It is usually a soft rubber which over time can deteriorate due to age, water conditions or adding bowl cleaners to the tank. Replacing the flapper will repair this problem. Most flappers are universal.

Symptom #4: The water will not shut off even after the tank is full. Repair or replace the fill valve. This is the valve that lets water into your tank from the water supply line. There are several types. The two most common fill valves are the horizontal floating ball that is attached to an arm which in turn opens or closes the fill valve , and the vertical floating ball which rides up and down the fill valve shaft closing or opening the fill valve. In many cases, replacing the seals in the fill valve will repair this problem. However, most people opt to replace the fill valve totally.

Now that you know what is wrong with your toilet, Go ahead! Make that repair. You can do it. If all else fails here's how to replace your broken toilet. Click on the link below to receive free step by step repair instructions. myhomemaintenancetips.com

Hardwood Floor: How-to

What you should know about hardwood flooring

A floor made of wood is truly elegant in a home and we must take additional care to prevent the floors get damaged. Cleaning wood floors are easy and simple. Plus there are lots of commercially available cleaning products specifically made for wood.

Preventive Maintenance
1. Regular sweeping of your floors, use a soft bristled broom.
2. Regular vacuuming can get dirt and sand. They can scratch your floors,
3. Don't wipe wood floors with a wet mop or wet rug.
4. Water is the worst enemy of wood floors. If you see spilled water, wipe it immediately with dry mops and dry rugs. Don't let the water stand in.
5. Use doormats on every door's entrances. Clean them always.
6. Ask your wood floor manufacturer on what special treatments should you use on your floor because there are different wood floor finishes.
7. Sunlight can damage your wooden floors. It can discolor your floor and age it quickly. Protect your floor by installing curtains, drapes, or blinds on every window in your house.
8. Don't drag your furniture because it can scratch and damage your wood floors. You can either put furniture pads beneath it or lift it.
9. Heavy shoes and high heels can dent your floors.


A Flooring Store can give you several options to choose from. You could find tile, wood, linoleum, and or carpet here. There could also be beautiful Oriental rugs and simple throw rugs to select. A Flooring Store is a one stop place to find all your flooring needs along with a knowledgeable sales representative to help make your selection.

Hardwood Floor Installation can be a simple procedure if you go about it right in the first place. Depending on what Hardwood product you choose from. Installation can be glued, nailed, stapled or in some cases there are products out there with adhesive strips to the back of the wood. After you have chosen the product you will be installing speak to the representative that has sold you the goods.

Find out which products will be needed for the installation there may be a required underlayment for the floor these are things that you need to know. You may decide not to take on the installation yourself and hire a licensed contractor but again you will still need to know what you are doing so that while the contractor is explaining to you his process and price you are able to verify that these were the necessary expenses to complete the job.

Getting back to the installation project that you have decided to take on. Once you have the product put it in the room you are going to install the wood needs to acclimate itself, which takes anywhere from one to three days. Make sure you purchase all your supplies for installation and last but most important find your focal point. This means you need to chose a focal point in the area of the hardwood floor installation and then square it out. Examples of focal points, fireplace or a center island and also allow for expansion on all the permanent walls or fixtures, give it about a quarter inch along the base boards etc.

The installation time is up to you so carefully read all the manufacturer's pamphlets so that you are able to install the hardwood flooring per their specifications and don't cancel out the warranty. If you don't use the required products to install the hardwood flooring this could negate the warranty so you should pay careful attention to those facts.Hardwood floor installation tips are found almost anywhere including your local hardware stores, libraries, and of course the internet.


When installing solid hardwood floors you should be careful to avoid installing them directly onto concrete slabs or below ground level because of moisture problems that may result. The problem with moisture is that it leaves unsightly gaps in the hardwood once it dries, typically during the winter months when heating tends to draw the moisture out of homes. During summer months when humidity and moisture are high you should notice that the wood once again expands, sometimes so much so that the wood planks may buckle or cup. Because of these issues you should also take great care to leave plenty of room for seasonal expansion.

If this is unavoidable, you should install hardwood floors that are fixed in place with nails. Consistently following steps to ensure you get the longest life out of the floors and sanding them back and re-polishing them will also be essential, whether the floors are maple, bamboo, ash, white or red oak.

Hardwood floors are usually divided into one of three categories being plank flooring, strip flooring and parquet flooring. Parquet style hardwood floors are also known as parquetry, and this is when the smaller pieces of timber are arranged in a geometrical fashion. The timber used can be all the same or different to create a more colorful effect. Hardwood floors that are laid in the strip flooring style are between 5/16 and ¾ of an inch thick and 1 ½ to 2 ¼ inches wide. Strip flooring is common in the bamboo hardwood floors that are popular today. The third style of flooring is the plank, and each board is anywhere from three to eight inches in width. This is a more traditional, heritage style flooring, but is also still a popular choice today.

Another popular yet pricey option when shopping around for hardwood floors is the hand scraped style. They can create a very trendy touch to your home or have a more classic feel if you have a shabby chic, rustic style décor. They are an art form unto themselves, and for this reason, do not come cheap. However, if you can afford the extra cost, you will be rewarded with originality and class.

Each brand of hardwood flooring should come with its own care and washing suggestions. It is important to follow these for your specific hardwood flooring, regardless of what other people do. It is a great idea to vacuum the floor regularly to prevent a buildup of grime in the spaces between the boards, and try to use mats and rugs wherever possible.

It's also a good idea to have welcome mats at doors and throw rugs in high traffic areas in order to maximize the life of your hardwood floors. Another great way to protect your hardwood floors is by using furniture coasters on all legs of your furniture. Spills should also be taken care of immediately in order to protect your hardwood floors and keep them looking beautiful for years to come.


With the recent developments in the field of hardwood floor installation, you need not require professional help from carpenters for installing hardwood floors. The task of installing hardwood floors can be easily performed by anyone now. This has been possible with the availability of pre-finished flooring, where the wood is factory-finished and saves the labor of sanding and finishing it manually.

Other than the ever-popular red oak, there are many varieties of hardwood which are available in several colors and textures to add a touch of class to your home. Selection of the type of material you want to use in installing hardwood floors can become easier if you do a search on the Internet or make a preliminary visit to a hardware shop.

Pre-finished flooring can be bought online or from a merchant you trust. After you get the wood home, you should stack the wood in the room it will be installed in for a few day to let it adjust to the normal humidity level. This is important to do because moisture makes wood expand. Leave a half inch between the floor and the wall when installing your flooring. This space could be covered with a baseboard or molding strip later.

For the actual installation of the floors, follow the instructions given by the supplier. These are usually the things you have to do step-by-step to get a custom finish on the floor. The wood comes already micro-beveled to allow for expansion of wood during the summer.

If your flooring is very old and looks it, you can also refinish it to make it look like new. Before the job starts, remove furniture, rugs, drapes and all articles on the floor. Refinished flooring takes about three days to be ready for use again, during which time keep the doors and windows of the room closed to prevent airborne dust entering inside. After the job is finished, it is advisable to allow one more day before placing the furniture and other items back on the floor.

Still easier to install are laminate floors which also require very little maintenance. The flooring is resistant to scratches and stains and is especially suitable for withstanding heavy traffic or if you have pets or kids. The laminate floors can be laid easily as the flooring comes with a tongue and groove interlocking system.

With all of the different flooring options out there it may take some time to find the one that works for you. Fortunately, installing new wood floors is easier than ever with the specialized products on the market today. When buying your new flooring, make sure that the enclosed directions are clear and straightforward. If in doubt, ask a lot of questions before you start your installation project!

A large number of do-it-yourselfers have questions regarding how to install wood floor and refinish hardwood floors which can easily be answered with a fast internet search.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_W_Smith

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brijesh_Purohit

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carol_Tarnowski

Composting Toilets : An Explanation

Recent generations have probably never given much thought to a simple device called the composting toilet, and most, no doubt, would prefer not to linger long on the subject. But composting toilets have long been used throughout human history. They have a much longer history than the common plumbing and sewage systems that we have all become accustomed to using in our modern civilization.

Sometimes known as biological toilets and waterless toilets, composting toilet systems are useful when there is an urgent necessity to control the composting of toilet paper, food wastes and excrement. Composting toilet is different from the septic system because a composting toilet system is depended on conditions of unsaturated level such as the materials cannot be immersed completely in water. When operating to its full capacity, composting toilet is competent to easily break down the waste into somewhere about 10 to 30 percent of its actual volume.

Contrary to common opinions on the matter, or perhaps based on unpleasant experiences, composting toilets can be very hygienic, very clean and do not smell when operated correctly. They also help to save enormous amounts of water and in many areas of the world this is extremely important. In fact, in a global community where it is becoming more important to conserve water, these toilets could benefit everyone if used more widely.

For instance, consider a typical American family that uses a flush toilet. It has been estimated that a family of four can flush about 100,000 liters of water each year, just to deal with their human feces.
And, this water goes into the sewage system which has the potential to contaminate ground water sources. But, compostable toilets actually protect both surface and ground water supplies from this kind of contamination.

Humus is the reslting end-product. Known for being a stable soil-like material, humus is required to be either buried or it has to be properly removed by a licensed seepage hauler who is familiar with the state as well as the prevailing local regulations in the U.S. but in several other countries, humus can be used as an effective soil conditioner on edible crops.

When we discuss the primary objective underlying the composting toilet system, the answer is simple: to destroy or immobilize any and every organism that is capable of causing pathogens or any kind of human disease. Composting is a savior of sorts because it ensures that the waste products don't contaminate the immediate or distant environment or harm the human inhabitants in any way.

The system should naturally be consistent with proper as well as good sanitation so that it minimizes effectively any possibility of human contact with the kind of unprocessed excrement that is being treated, Minimizing odor and producing a dry end product that doesn't pose any kind of exposure to disease vectors like flies is a matter of importance as well.

The secondary objective, as we all know, is to transform the nutrients that are present in human excrement into forms that are stable because these are then fully oxidized and can therefore, be used effectively as a kind of soil conditioner for plants as well as trees.

Here are some of the main components of a composting toilet:
-a composting reactor that gets connected to one or more of the dry or the micro-flush toilets;
-a screened exhaust system so that odors, water vapors, carbon dioxide, and so on can be minimized;
-some type of ventilation so that oxygen is provided to the aerobic organisms that are present in the composter;
-a proper way to drain and manage whatever turns out to be leachate or excess liquid;
-process controls, like mixers and
-an access door that ensures the removal of the final end-product.

Most people in Western Society would be surprised to find out that there are a variety of composting toilets on the mainstream market. I am pretty sure most people have never even heard of composting toilets; however that may soon change. Composting toilets have the potential to save North Americans up to 100,000 gallons of toilet flush water per year and if you live in an area where you have to pay for your water by the gallon or cubic foot, you'll be saving a lot of money by using composting toilets.

The bottom line is that composting toilets are simply devices that facilitate the composting proces of human feces and this practice can be said to be as old as the hills. It is nothing more and nothing less than Mother Nature's way of recycling human waste components, just as it does with the waste of other living beings on the planet, and reintegrating it with the soil as part of the cycle of life.

With these tips, you have now understood what composting toilet is all about.


Diy Instructions can be found here.

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-composting-toilets-work

Jay Bria

Solar Diy Instructions

Wanna convert to solar but don't have the money.? Here's a link to an instructional ebook with detailed instructions on building your own.

http://reviewhomemadeenergy.info/

Troubleshooting an Outlet

Hiring a professional electrician can be very expensive and is often the reason why people try doing their own basic electric wiring themselves.

I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly results of these efforts and I have come to the conclusion that basic electrical wiring is not something anyone should do without proper guidance, tools and confidence.

It is so important that before attempting any of these basic electrical wiring projects that people are aware of how dangerous electricity is and how important safety is for you and for your family and family home.

90 percent of the time I recommend hiring a licensed electrician over doing your basic electrical wiring yourself. Not doing this will usually end up costing even more money than before and increase the risk of bringing your family into danger without even knowing your doing it.

But doing your own basic electric wiring really isn’t that hard to do if you “educate” yourself on the topic.

Licensed electricians had to learn the stuff themselves too. So as a ‘do it yourself person’ this isn’t different. There is no escape possible.

You will see that the more you read about it the easier it will become and the more confidence you will get.

Just to give you an idea, here are 3 questions I recently got from people just like you who tried doing their own electric wiring:

Question 1: I installed a grounding probe in your aquarium and every time anyone in the house turns on or off the lights, the fish jump. What's going on?

A couple of suggestions:

1. (easiest) Pull out that grounding probe and return it from whence you purchased it.

2. Check the wiring on your outlet. You may actually have 'Neutral' instead of 'Ground'.

3. Check the wiring throughout the rest of the house. There are some people out there that insist on doing their own home repairs, yet don't understand basic electrical wiring.

Outlets are easy to check by getting a $7.95 outlet tester from the hardware store. Wired-in appliances, lights, heaters, etc. are tougher.

4. Check all your electrical fixtures to make sure they aren't leaking some voltage to Ground.

Question 2: What is the NEC? Where can I get a copy?

The NEC is a model electrical code devised and published by the National Fire Protection Association, an insurance industry group. It's revised every three years.

The 1993 version has been released. You can buy a copy at a decent bookstore, or by calling them directly at 800-344-3555.

The code exists in several versions. There's the full text, which is fairly incomprehensible. There's an abridged edition, which has only the sections likely to apply to most houses.

And there's the NEC Handbook, which contains the ``authorized commentary'' on the code, as well as the full text. That's the recommended version. Unfortunately, there's no handbook for the abridged edition. And the full handbook is expensive -- US$65 plus shipping and handling.

Question 3: Can I do my own wiring? Extra pointers?

In most places, homeowners are allowed to do their own wiring. In some, they're not. Check with your local electrical inspector. Most places won't permit you to do wiring on other's homes for money without a license. Nor are you permitted to do wiring in "commercial" buildings.

Multiple dwellings (eg: duplexes)are usually considered "semi-commercial" or "commercial". However, many jurisdictions will permit you to work on semi-commercial wiring if you're supervised by a licensed electrician - if you can find one willing to supervise.

If you do your own wiring, an important point:

Do it NEAT and WELL! What you really want to aim for is a better job than an electrician will do. After all, it's your own home, and it's you or your family that might get killed if you make a mistake.

An electrician has time pressures, has the skills and knows the tricks of the trade to do a fast, safe job. In this FAQ we've consciously given a few recommendations that are in excess of code, because we feel that it's reasonable, and will impress the inspector.

The inspector will know that you're an amateur. You have to earn his trust. The best way of doing this is to spend your time doing as neat a job as possible. Don't cut corners. Exceed specifications. Otherwise, the inspector may get extremely picky and fault you on the slightest transgressions.

Don't try to hide anything from the inspector.

Use the proper tools. Ie: don't use a bread knife to strip wires, or twist wires with your fingers. The inspector won't like it, and the results won't be that safe. And it takes longer. And you're more likely to stick a hunk of 12ga wire through your hand that way.

Don't handle house wire when it's very cold (eg: below -10C or 16F). Thermoplastic house wire, particularly older types become very brittle.

As you can see, getting the right answers to your questions can make the work a lot easier.

You save time by doing it “the right way” from the first time and you save money because you won’t need to hire an electrician to either do the entire job or to fix your screw-ups.

In any case, no matter what you, be very careful when working on electricity! If needed cut down the entire power of your house just to be sure.

Keep It Safe,

--------------------------------------------------------

Nico De Baere is a licensed electrician with over 10 years of experience with home and industrial electric wiring. He is the author of the ebook Basic Electric Wiring which gives answers to 77 of the most ask questions on basic electric wiring. Visit his site now at http://www.basicelectricwiring.com

Top Fifty Remodeling Shortcuts

That's right fifty. Try some of these alternatives during your next remodel job and save a bundle.Copy and paste this into your browser.

http://www.calfinder.com/blog/general-remodel/top-50-home-remodeling-short-cuts/

Tile: How To and Ideas for Your Home

Plumbing tips to keep your costs down

There are a lot of plumbers which advertise themselves as emergency 24 hour plumbers. And for good reason. They know that they can charge a lot more to customers who have a serious situation. If you look through your local business directory you are going to find a list of plumbers. A lot of them are going to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As such, an emergency plumber is really easy to find. It's in your best interest to call as many plumbers as possible so that you have some bargaining power if you suspect that one is giving you a particularly high quote.

Aside from checking out your local business directory you can also take a look at your local Craigslist ads. Although you want to keep the cost down when hiring a plumber, you also want to make sure that you are not just hiring anybody. You want a plumber that can offer some sort of insurance on the work they do and one that is licensed.

You also have to decide if you need an emergency plumber in the first place. Although it is tempting to call someone so that they can repair it, many, if not most, plumbing repairs you can fix yourself. Just search for the specific problem that you have (faucet leak for example) in your favorite search engine.

Although some types of repairs can get complicated really quickly, these are usually the ones, which will cost the most if you hire a plumber. If you do it yourself, not only will your be saving money, but you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you did all the work by yourself.

Some General Energy Saving Ideas

A DIY Solar Energy Project

Here's a great project you can do at home. Very simple and economical.

http://memoryperformance.net

Green Power

Here are some interesting videos on creating your own green energy. Make the utilities pay you.

Garbage disposals. Do it yourself.

Garbage disposals are great kitchen appliances that simplify household duties. Yet we must return the favor by cleaning the garbage disposals regularly. Trapped in the garbage disposal, food fibers that are not cleared out will cause emergency plumbing catastrophes from blocked drains, clogged blades and burnt out motors.

The easy way to prevent garbage disposal plumbing emergencies is to prevent them from the start. Preventive maintenance is easy and simple to conduct, and are attested by emergency plumbers as our first line of defense against costly plumbing fiascoes.

Follow the Do's and Don'ts for long lasting garbage disposals free of inconvenient plumbing emergencies:

DO's

- Keep your garbage disposal clean. Pour 1.5 cups of baking soda down the kitchen drain, and follow with a cup of white vinegar. Allow the mixture to sit for several minutes and then carefully pour a medium size pot of water down the drain. Alternatively mix in a clean container a gallon of water with one tablespoon of liquid chlorine bleach. Pour the solution down the drain. Flush the drain with cold water.
- Run regularly the garbage disposal to avoid rusting and corrosion. In addition to rust and corrosion prevention, frequent use prevents accumulation of clogs.
- Ground food waste with a strong flow of cold water that will solidify and grease and oils, so that they can be sliced off before reaching the trap.
- Maintain a fresh scented drain and kitchen by grinding ice cubes with citrus fruit's rinds. The ice will also clean the blades.

DON'Ts

- Don't feed the garbage disposal with non biodegradable food or non-food particles (plastic, metal, paper) that can smash the blades.
- Don't pour grease, oils and fats down the garbage disposal. Grease build up will hinder the grinding action of the disposal and form stubborn clogs in the drain.
- Don't pour hot water while the disposal is grinding. This will liquidate grease that will only accumulate and block the drain.
- Don't grind fibrous material including corn husks, celery stalks, onion skins, and artichokes. Fibrous material can wrap on blades, jam and burn out motor.
- Don't turn off water until grinding is finished. Leave water running 15 seconds after turning off the motor to flush away trapped food particles.
- The grinding of too much potato peels will release starch that will turn into a thick paste and stick together the blades. Pasta and rice will swell up when when creating a monster of a clog.
- Don't use commercial drain cleaners because they can hurt blades and pipes.

Easy, simple and common sense preventive maintenance will prevent complicated drain emergency plumbing complications, and keep your disposal working for a long time.

Low Flow Faucet Aerator

Here's another good idea to save around the home. Low flow aerators. Installing these in your faucets can reduce your monthly water bill immensely. Here's a couple instructional videos on kitchen and bath fixtures.

Install Your Own Ceiling Fan

This is a great way to save some dough. Instead of having an electrician hang your fan do it yourself. Keep that hundred dollars to yourself.





Ceiling fans will help lower your cooling costs in the summer and keep it warmer in the winter
Save some money and continue to collect more Green in your Pocket.

Light Switches and Receptacles

Installing your own light switches and dimmers can be a cost effective way to bring drama to any room. This is a very simple process. First may I remind you that working with live electricity can be dangerous, so make sure all power is turned off to any area that is being worked on.
Here's a video on installing switches in a pre existing box.

There are a few extra steps in running a new box but nothing overly complicated.
Here's a couple other videos.

A few extra cooling tips

It's been proven that turning your ceiling fans on and off during the day uses more energy than letting them run all day long. Keeping them clean cuts down on allergens and betters the overall performance of the fan. This also cuts down on your a/c usage during the day.

A/C tips

It's hot again and we're all relying on our a/c units to provide some relief. Here's a few tips on keepin your home cool in the summer heat without costing yourself a fortune.

1. Make sure your filter is clean.
Keep in mind that in the summer months your ac could run quite a bit longer than normal due to the extreme heat here in AZ. Use the cheaper filters to create more air flow to the unit. Thus helping it work less hard. This can help prevent your coil from freezing up through the monsoons when the moisture level is higher.

2. Set your thermostat at 78 F or higher. Each degree setting below 78 F will increase energy consumption by approximately 8%. Be careful, however, that if you're A/C is oversized the diminished run-time from raising the thermostat setting may result in too-high indoor humidity
in some locations.

3. Inspect and clean both the indoor and outdoor coils. The indoor coil in your air conditioner acts as a magnet for dust because it is constantly wetted during the cooling season. Dirt build-up on the indoor coil is the single most common cause of poor efficiency. The outdoor coil must also be checked periodically for dirt build-up and cleaned if necessary.