Tag Archives: hot water

SIMPLE DIY TIPS TO MAINTAIN YOUR PLUMBING SYSTEM (GUEST POST)

 

Plumbing is an essential of modern life, so when a problem occurs within a drain or fixture, it needs to be dealt with right away. From toilets and bathtubs and garbage disposals and water heaters, each fixture gets daily use. In addition, the pipes that deliver clean water to your home and the waste water and sewer lines that take it away all need regular maintenance to operate efficiently and effectively. As a homeowner, you can minimize the risk of plumbing system problems by following these simple DIY tips for drain cleaning and unclogging toilets and pipes.

Unclogging Toilets
A clogged toilet can quickly lead to a big, smelly mess. To begin, turn off the water supply to the toilet. To do this, locate the metal knob behind the toilet and turn it as far to the right as it will go. If a small object such as a toy has fallen into the toilet, put some rubber gloves on and manually extract the item or use the handle of a toilet brush to fish it out of the bowl. For clogs due to toilet paper or waste, vigorously plunge the toilet with a rubber plunger. Lastly, try a toilet snake to push through the clog. These devices can be purchased at your local hardware store.

Drain Cleaning
All sorts of debris can make its way into the drains of sinks, showers and bathtubs as well as from the washing machine. Hair, soap scum, toothpaste, food and for families with children, any small object that could fit into the drain could be lurking within the pipes. Keeping the drains clear can prevent an unsightly and unwholesome mess from happening. To keep drains clean, take these steps:

*Every two or three days, run hot water down the drain for several minutes. This liquifies solid or thickened debris like soap scum and grease.

*Once each week, pour one to two tablespoons of baking soda down each drain. Follow this up with 1/4 cup of white vinegar or lemon juice. Allow the mixture to bubble and sit for 30 minutes before using that drain. Then flush the drain with hot water for several minutes.

*For kitchen sinks, send a brine solution through once each month to get rid of grease buildup from cooking and washing greasy dishes.

*Use a drain strainer to collect hair and lint in shower drains and washing machine drains. These can also prevent unwanted items such as washcloths or bathtub toys from going down the drain and creating a clog.

Check for Leaks
Check for leaks in faucets, underneath sinks and around tub and toilet seals at least once each week. Most faucet leaks result from a worn out washer, which is easily replaced in just a few minutes of time. If there is discoloration of the wood, mold or mildew growth or moisture present under a sink, there is likely a leak. Some toilet leaks can be fixed by adding more caulk, while other leaks may be more serious and require replacement of some of the plumbing materials or even the entire toilet. Peeling paint, mold or dampness on a wall or a warped floor are signs of a leaking pipe within the wall or floor. This situation usually requires the expertise of a professional plumber.

Our thanks to Ryan Edun, for these helpful tips.  These weekly maintenance ideas would also be a good idea for offices and other places of work. pb

FIVE METHODS TO KEEPING YOURSELF WARM ON THE JOB (GUEST POST)

While some types of construction taper off during the winter, other projects continue onward, despite cold weather and your wishes that you could just stay inside. Keeping warm on the job isn’t just about being comfortable, but also about staying safe. You probably know extreme cold can lead to frostbite, but even being slightly cold for extended periods of time can make you more susceptible to coming down with the flu. Even if you get to ride around in an excavator with a radio playing 80s dance floor jams, you should still take special care to keep all that burning passion close to your body and not steaming out into the environment. This winter, use five simple methods to keep yourself warm on the job at the construction site.

1. Dress in layers, which helps trap warm air so you retain more heat. You can remove just one thin layer if you’re starting to feel warm, rather than having an all-or-nothing dilemma if you’re not wearing enough clothing. Keep your clothing dry by wearing a bottom layer that wicks moisture away from your skin and a waterproof top layer. Give priority to materials like wool and synthetic fabrics instead of cotton, which can feel very cold if it’s wet.

2. Choose clothing that allows you to maintain the full range of motion needed for your job. You want your sleeves to still cover your wrists, even when you’re extending your arms to reach something. You may need a slightly longer coat, as well, to ensure there isn’t a gap between your coat and your pants when you’re reaching above yourself. When in doubt, keep some hand warmers on deck.

3. Wear a hat or liner under your hard hat. If you can, choose one that covers the back of your neck as well as going over your head. Yes, this means you may need a slightly larger hard hat during the winter, but the change will be well worth it. Even though losing a great percentage of your body heat through your head is a myth, a layer of insulation will make a huge difference.

4. Get a good pair of felt-lined leather work boots. Because leather is breathable, sweat from your feet will evaporate instead of keeping your socks wet and making your feet feel cold. When you choose socks, stick to wool and similar materials and make sure they won’t make your work boots too tight. If your boots are too snug, socks won’t insulate as well because they will be compressed, your circulation may be impaired and you won’t be able to move your toes around to keep them warm.

5. Bring a thermos of hot water (consider flavoring it with honey and/or lemon), tea or coffee to drink when you’re on breaks during the day. Being able to take a few sips of something warm can help you feel warm from the inside out. Be careful when drinking diuretics like tea and coffee; drink water so you stay hydrated.

You may have to make a fairly significant investment in your winter wardrobe, especially if this is your first winter working in construction. Keep in mind that your investment will pay off through better health during the winter. This means fewer doctor’s bills and more income because you’re able to actually work all winter.

Cassandra Lynne is an admin for Good Morning Bloggers. Good Morning Bloggers is a free service that connects blog owners with writers and vice versa. Besides from blogging, Cassandra is a travel enthusiast, art fanatic and animal adorer. Follow her on Twitter @goodmorningblog.

 

 

HOT WATER SAFETY

A risk we don’t often think about is having the temperature in your home water heater set too high.  The ideal safe temperature setting is 120°F, or just below the medium setting.  According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 3,800 injuries and 34 deaths occur in the home due to scalding from excessively hot tap water each year.  The majority of these injuries are to children and older adults.

Water temperatures of  150°F (66°C) can cause a burn in 2 seconds; 140°F (60°C) can cause a burn in only 6 seconds; 125°F (52°C) can cause a burn in 2 minutes; and 120°F (49°C) takes only 10 minutes to cause a burn.

Edward Christophersen, Ph.D. writes: “The best way to measure the temperature of your heater is to do it in the morning, before anyone in your home has used any hot water. Turn on the hot water at the kitchen sink and let it run for 2 minutes. Then, using either an outdoor thermometer or a candy thermometer, hold the thermometer in the stream of the water until the reading stops going up. If your water-heater setting is at a safe level (between 120°F and 125°F, or 49°C to 52°C), you don’t have to do anything. There is no advantage to setting the thermostat below 120°F (49°C).”

If your hot water setting is too high, and you are unable to reset it, call your electric, gas, or fuel supplier to adjust the temperature.  Never take hot water for granted.  Domestic hot water poses dangers of burns and scalds, so always be aware of this fact.

Because many burns happen to small children and infants, here are some rules to follow for safely bathing them:

1.    Hand-test water before placing child in the water.  Spread your fingers and completely go through water, checking for hot spots.
2.    DO NOT place child in tub while water is still running.  Their skin is especially sensitive, and it could only take seconds for a burn to occur.
3.    NEVER leave child unattended.  Besides the risk of drowning, children could turn the hot water on while you leave to answer the phone or door.

Remember:  The most painful burn is the one you could have prevented!