Winter can be the most enjoyable time of year, but it can also prove to be the most challenging and even dangerous for your house if it isn’t maintained well. Before you can enjoy all the festivities winter has to offer, you should complete your winter maintenance checklist and revisit it during the chilly months.

1. CHECK YOUR ROOF

When the snow starts falling, climbing on your roof becomes a hazard. While you should have your roof inspected by a professional before the first ice of winter sets in to detect any problems, you can’t always do that in the wintertime unless you live in a climate without much snow. 

Instead of climbing on top of your roof and risking your safety, simply look at your roof. If you had it inspected, you should feel worry-free over any underlying issues. Still, checking on your roof just by sight might alert you to whether there is a problem caused by the weight of the snow and ice.

2. REPLACE WEATHERSTRIPPING

Weatherstripping serves as a barrier between the cold and the inside of your home. You can insulate your doors and windows better by replacing old, tired weatherstripping with a new set. Doing so ensures your windows and doors are energy-efficient by allowing your heat to stay in the house and not escape through gaps and cracks. You might find that your energy bill is nearly 10% less expensive when using new, effective weatherstripping.

3. WATCH YOUR GUTTERS

You should always clean out your gutters before winter comes. They might be clogged with the fallen leaves of autumn, leading to issues with drainage. When snow and ice pack into your gutters, they’ll dam them up further.

When they melt and refreeze, you may find issues with your gutters warping or breaking. Worse, if your gutters become damaged to a certain degree, they may not be able to keep melting ice and water from the foundation of your home, meaning you might risk a structural issue. 

4. SHOVEL AWAY SNOW

Snow and ice can damage unprotected outdoor areas around your home. Things such as wooden decks can only hold around 50 pounds of snow, so you must be vigilant about clearing it off so it doesn’t end up damaging your outside relaxation spaces. To clear your deck of snow, consider using a plastic shovel rather than a tougher one that may damage the wood.

A metal shovel is best on your driveway because it will give you the power you need to clear the snow. You’ll want to shovel your driveway whenever snow appears so that you can drive freely. If the ice isn’t taken care of and is instead allowed to melt, your driveway could crack when it refreezes.

5. CLEAN YOUR FIREPLACE

Before you start up your first fire of the season, consider cleaning out your fireplace and chimney. After months of disuse, they’re bound to be dirty and should be treated before you start a fire. Chimney fires are incredibly explosive and can even damage the structure of your chimney, posing additional risk to your home and household.

 Keeping up with routine maintenance can take some of the anxiety out of operating your fireplace for the first time all season.

KEEP YOUR HOME SAFE ALL WINTER LONG

By knowing what dangers to look out for, you can prevent a disaster from occurring inside your home. Consider checking on your home before the winter months roll in, then check on things you replaced or recently dealt with every month after that. While it may take some time and effort to maintain your home in the winter, you can prevent significant issues by simply being prepared.

Guest Contributor: Rose Morrison

Changing out an ancient water radiator for an unused one is lovely and straightforward – or so most individuals accept. In reality, it could be a more complicated strategy than some individuals envision it to be. The correct establishment can cruel the distinction between having a water radiator that works productively and one that does not. It can even be cruel the distinction between one that’s secure and one that’s a ticking time bomb prepared to do harm to your property, domestic or trade. 

 

To assist make the method of putting in an unused water radiator less demanding, here’s our list of five Reasons to Enlist a Proficient to Introduce your Water Heater. It is the law in a few states and regions: Since disgracefully introducing a water radiator can lead to a few lovely genuine consequences, many local, state, and government governments put limitations on who can introduce a water radiator and who can’t. By choosing an authorized proficient, you’ll be able maintain a strategic distance from potential run-ins with the law. Professionals have both involvement and instruction

 

At whatever point individuals think of getting the water radiator frameworks repaired or introduced, we all center on enlisting experts to offer assistance. As it were with the assistance of these specialists you’ll be guaranteed of the reality that your job will be done with the utmost care and security. It is exhorted to merely choose a commerce that has a set up track record of performance.

 

After taking the assistance of these experts, there will be no requirement for any re-installation, water spill repair, or any other issue. They guarantee that you simply don’t need to battle with costly repairs or blunders, which might conclude up being a gigantic issue within the coming time in the event that they lead to water radiator issues or leaks.

 

Redress Installation  

The most self-evident advantage of employing a professional water heater installer is that it’ll be done correctly, the primary time. Do-it-yourself recordings on YouTube are helpful, but what happens after you run into something that the video doesn’t talk about? You can’t ask questions. Incorrect establishment can lead to water spills or utilizing up additional vitality. Both of these will take a toll on squandered utilities. 

 

In the event that you don’t take note of the issue and settle it, those additional bills can heap up quickly. On the beat of that, envision what can happen in case your unit is spilling and you don’t take note for a while. Buildup and form can start to develop, not to say the harm the water can cause to the structure of your home. Even worse, incorrect establishment can harm the unit. At that point you’ll be stuck with a repair charge. In case the damage is awful enough, you’ll need to purchase a modern unit inside and out. Either way, you’ll conclude up investing more cash than you’d have on having it introduced professionally within the to begin with place.

 

Saves time:

In case your water radiator isn’t working legitimately, you’d continuously need it to be repaired on time. At such times, you wish for the assistance of specialists beyond any doubt, as they will continuously be at your offer of assistance. You’ll be able presently, without any stress, get the assistance of the specialists for your convenience.

 

Security Standards 

Rules contrast based on whether the machine is working on gas or vitality and whether it encompasses a tank. Besides, neighborhood specialists will have such controls that merely must comply with genuine items. Renders Peace of Mind One of the most benefits of contracting these specialists is that they will give you appropriate peace of intellect. Numerous problems can happen to your framework, such as consuming as much power, springs coming out, and so on. Moreover, it’ll be exceptionally costly for you to urge it to be repaired once it is misshaped totally.

 

Leak free connections:

Why compromise it with DIY work in the event that you’ll get a talented, efficient installation of a water radiator so effortlessly with the contracting of a professional handyman? 

 

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning 

Ventilation is imperative for gas burning water radiators. When there isn’t sufficient wind stream, carbon monoxide builds up. Carbon monoxide harming could be a therapeutic crisis and individuals uncovered to tall levels of carbon monoxide chance changeless brain harm and passing. Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas, so in case there were a spill, you wouldn’t be able to distinguish it (unless you have got a useful carbon monoxide finder). Apparently little botches can have genuine impacts when it comes to introducing items that utilize common gas.

 

product Knowledge 

Remember that online and individual sales representatives are ordinarily not water warming experts. They may have great eagerly, but they cannot coordinate the item information of a prepared and authorized handyman. In order to urge the water radiator that best meets your family’s needs, you would like to inquire with a professional.

 

Provide You Advice 

l  Keeping in intellect the enormous extent of water radiators as of now available within the commercial center, you will feel a small question approximately what show you’d buy. The specialists do have sufficient mastery with the water radiators and can assist you select the most excellent for your needs and budget.

 

l  It is the law in a few states and districts: Since disgracefully introducing a water radiator can lead to a few beautiful genuine results, numerous nearby, state, and government governments put limitations on who can introduce a water radiator and who can’t. 

 

l  By choosing an authorized proficient, you’ll maintain a strategic distance from potential run-ins with the law. 

 

l  Professionals have both involvement and instruction: These qualities will offer assistance guarantee a secure and provoke expulsion of your ancient unit and a fast establishment of your modern unit. 

 

l  Proficient plumbers have an in-depth understanding of plumbing, tooling, and framework compatibility so that there will be few issues together with your unit. 

 

l  A proficient person can give you with peace of intellect: Sparing cash is one thing; gambling the lives of your family or representatives is another thing totally. 

 

l  A proficient handyman can assist you dodge potential property harm, misfortune of well being or life, etc. 

 

 

If you want to Install a water heater and if you’re looking for a water heater installation, this will permit you to unwind and appreciate your water heater. Please free to contact us and please visit our website.

 

Author Bio :- Aimee Grace

 

Aimee is a marketing manager at EZ Plumbing & Restoration. She is very passionate in writing about discrete plumbing services and leakage detection as well as repair solutions.  Her vision is to educate people about the consequences of water and slab leaks at home or office and what they should do to repair them to avoid further water damage as well as property damage. 

 

Innovations have paved a way for smart devices to lead a convenient life. Plumbing industry is no different but only few people know about various tools used to fix the leakages. Stay tuned with the recent articles to know all about how to find water damage, slab leak, clogging, and ways to repair them, installation of new HVAC appliances in San Diego.

It’s the thing every homeowner worries about – a basement flood! Floods can be destructive as well as expensive to fix. They can weaken the foundation of your house and ruin valuable property. A flood can happen in any home with a basement. So, to prevent a soggy disaster you need to take action. 

 Floods are a really big concern during the ice and winter season. Water damage can cause a flood in the basement even in winter. During winter, all the water storage was kept as ice, underground. As spring arrives, the ice thaws almost suddenly and causes basement flooding. 

Water damage can be caused by a lot of reasons like ice dams melting and leaking into buildings and damaging the walls. Flooding can cause a huge risk to your homes. From water overflowing to your foundation damage to damage in your electricity wirings. 

Here are some of the major reasons why does your basement flood during the winter –

1. Basement wall and floor cracks

It is commonplace to find a leak in your basement walls and floorings. Excessive moisture needs a place to escape. The cracks in walls and flooring are the best place to hide and then the moisture flows through the soil. That leads to pressure in the walls and causes flooding in the basement.

 

2. Basement heat

During winter, there is snow almost everywhere near your home. But, in your basement, there is heat. Which causes the snow to melt around your home and keep the moisture intact. But, the moisture has nowhere to go, so it flows through the cracks of the wall and leads to flooding. 

3. Sump Pump

Sump Pumps are designed to clear the water out in the basement and keep the basement dry. If your sump pump is not installed correctly, it will lead to storing damaged pipes and the water in the basement, and eventually, it will be flooded down there. 

 

4. Damaged pipes

One of the common reasons for flooding during winter is damaged pipes or burst pipes. Now, pipes bursting is a common result of poor plumbing. But, during winter, when the water freezes, the pipes expand and burst. That causes immediate leaking and leads to flooding. 

 

5. Type of soil

The type of soil around your house plays a huge role when it comes to flooding. Make sure you have the right type of soil around your home. The wrong soil will lead to flooding 

These are the most common reasons for flooding during winter. You can always take precautions or take remedies afterward. Here are some tips that you should follow immediately after flooding 

●      Basement flooding not only causes property damage, but it also takes a risk toll on your family members. The main point is don’t let anyone go down the basement if your basement does not have a circuit breaker. If your circuit breaker is not in your basement, shut your power off, immediately. 

●      After shutting the power off, you need to get the water out immediately. The sump pump has obviously;y failed, so you need to purchase a new one. Try to get the water out carefully with a mop and bucket. You need to do it as soon as possible, otherwise, molds have a chance to grow.

●      After getting the water out, you should get out all the wet equipment. Whether it’s a couch or bookshelf or anything else. Place them in a place where they can dry. Rip up the carpet too. 

●      Then, dry the basement. You have to buy several fans or industrial blowers. You can hire professionals too at this point.

●      Call the professionals to prevent the growth of molds in the basement. Since dark and wet places are the suitable place for molds to grow, you have to take steps.

●      And lastly, to avoid future flooding, try to find out the cause and prevent it. Whether it’s because of the weather or any leakage. Take precautions beforehand. 

These are the primary steps you need to take care of right after the flooding. The next step should always be calling the professionals to clean up your basement after flood damage. They follow a several step process to clean the basement – 

●      Finding the cause

●      Informing the insurance company

●      Restoration beginning

●      Extraction of water

●      Restoration of the carpet

So, it’s quite clear that you will need flood damage repair professionals if you face the problem of flooding in your basement. If you need flood damage repair Santa Ana, you can find them by clicking the link below. 

CONCLUSION 

The above reasons are the primary causes why your basement floods during winter and the steps you should take to prevent you from any hassle. And, after the primary steps, you should hire professionals for the rest of the work, to make your basement more efficient, and repairing it will prevent you from future floods. 

To know more about the best flood repair in Orange County, follow the link. 

 

Author Bio:- Jacqueline Lewis

Jacqueline is a content marketing manager who formerly worked at Cali’s Choice Plumbing & Restoration. She is a writer, editor, and content strategist for plumbing services. Making her knowledge and skills a power, she amplifies the readers’ knowledge about the ways of water leak and slab leak detection and their reciprocation. 

Through her articles, she shares the most successful tactics and strategies of slab leak repair, mitigating blockages through Hydro Jetting, and AC & heater installation tips to the audience.

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/CalisChoicePlumbingRestoration

Twitter:https://twitter.com/CalisChoice

You may have a water heater like most people. But neglecting a leaking tank in a water heater can be troublesome for you. If you consider it a minor inconvenience, it can turn into a vital issue. Hence repairing a leaking water heater tank is crucial. 

But you need to analyze the leakage in the tank. Water can pool or drip from the hot water tank. Try to assess the severity of the leakage. Afterwards, you can repair the leakage or call a professional according to your comfortability. Alongside, if you need top water heater repair services in San Diego, we are there for you 24/7. 

In this article, we will guide you through the process of repairing a leaking tank in a water heater in 2021. 

How Can You Identify The Water Heater Tank Leak?

Identifying the leaking tank in your water heater is the most significant step. You can save time and money by realizing the leakage in the initial phase. Try to comply with the following points to assess the tank leak. 

●      If you think you may have a water leak,  let your senses be your guide. Turn off all the external sources of sound. Stand beside the water heater. If you hear the sound of rushing or dripping water from the tank, search for visual confirmation. 

●      An insulating blanket wraps the heater. Hence, you may face difficulty finding the leakage. Look at the top and bottom of the water heater. 

●      If you observe the flooding of water beneath the water tank, it can be a potential sign of leakage within the water heater tank. 

●      If you still cannot recognise the leakage, you can put a paper or towel under the water heater. Check back after a few days. If it is wet, the chances of leaking water from the tank is high. 

 

PROCESS OF REPAIRING A LEAKING TANK:- 

After recognising the leakage, you can follow the points we will share now. 

Turn Off the Water Supply:- First, you need to turn off the water supply to your water heater. You can see the two pipes on the top of your water heater. One is to warm the water and another is to cool the water. Find the shutoff valve near the line to turn off the water supply.

There are only two types of valves. 

●      Ball Valve:- Ball valves look like a lever handle. Pulling or turning the handle down will help you to stop the water flow. 

●      Dial Valve:- Dial valve is a clock-like structure. You need to turn the wheel clockwise to turn off the water supply. 

Turn Off The Power:- In the second step, you have to turn off the power to your water heater. The ways of turning off the power are different for gas water heaters and electric water heaters. 

●      If you have a gas water heater, you can find the valve on the gas supply line. The valve supplies the gas to the water heater. Once you turn off the valve, it will stop supplying gas to the water heater. 

●      If you have an electric water heater, try to find the breaker in the electrical panel. Turn off the breaker. 

Know The Reason:- Three potential reasons can create leakage in the tank of your water heater. They are the air valve, the tank itself and the connection.  

●      The air valve is a significant part of the water heater tank. It creates a vacuum inside the tank to help enter only the water. The air valve creates more pressure when it is not working appropriately. 

●      The connection is also another significant element. A regular temperature pressure valve connects it with the heater. 

●      Check the tank itself. Minute licks and heartwater can be present around the tank. You may face several issues if the leaking is unnoticed in the initial phase. So using a standard water heater tank is necessary for you.

If you want a water heater at the riverside and surroundings, you can contact us. 

 

Main Procedure:- 

1. First, you have to empty the tank. The hot interior tank will cool down in a while. You can then start working with the tank.
2. Try to find the possible leaks around the tank and repair them with a thread.
3. Now, you can re-install that tank again to the original position.
4. If your water heater tank has issues, you can replace it with a new water heater.

 Repairing a leaking tank in your water heater can be challenging for you. We provide quality repair replacement and installation services throughout the entire San Diego and riverside. 

Conclusion:- In short, assessing and repairing your water heater leak is crucial to getting the most out of your geyser. You can fix up the leaking tank by following the above-mentioned steps. But, If you are looking for a water heater company in San Diego and riverside surroundings, we can be the best fit for you. 

 

Author Bio:-  Aimee Grace

Aimee is a marketing manager at EZ Plumbing & Restoration. She is very passionate in writing about discrete plumbing services and leakage detection as well as repair solutions. Her vision is to educate people about the consequences of water and slab leaks at home or office and what they should do to repair them to avoid further water damage as well as property damage. 

Innovations have paved a way for smart devices to lead a convenient life. Plumbing industry is no different but only few people know about various tools used to fix the leakages. Stay tuned with the recent articles to know all about how to find water damage, slab leak, clogging, and ways to repair them, installation of new HVAC appliances in San Diego.

A smart heating system helps you save energy by controlling the heat in a very quick period. It will also help you to control the temperature in different rooms of your home at different times through any smart device, or even through your smartphone. 

Smart heating is a thermostat through which you can control and customize the heating of your home through any smart device. Smart heating is the fast becoming norm in the present time when it comes to developing your new home or redesigning an aged home. 

Benefits of a smart heating system –

●      Easy to handle

●      Convenient for holidays. You can stop the heating when you’re away.

●      Customizable.

A smart heating control can save you money more than other traditional heaters. Smart heating systems will let you stop the heating when you’re not home. Some heating systems even adapt to your routine, and according to that it turns up or turns off the heating by itself. In terms of saving your money, you need to choose the smart thermostat you want to invest in.

What to do if the heating system gets broken? Professional heating service comes in handy. They’ll keep your system effectively working and will save your money too. Since they have the expertise in this area, not only will they repair your system, if any other problem arises during or after the operation, they’ll fix it for you. So, that your heating system works properly. To find more about professional heating repair riverside, follow the link below.

So, which hearing system to choose? Well, there are many options available in the market from which you can choose. As of 2021, reviewers state the best smart thermostats are – 

1. Nest Learning Thermostat
2. Hive Active Heating 2
3. Honeywell Evohome
4. Tado Smart Thermostat
5. Nest Thermostat E

After discussing all the benefits that you’ll get from a smart heating system, it is quite clear that every home needs a smart heating system. Installing a smart heating system in your home helps you set, control, and customize your temperatures through your smart devices. With that said, here are six things to consider while installing a smart heating system – 

 1. Wi-Fi Connection is a must!

Since smart thermostats can be controlled by any smart device that you own. To connect the thermostat with your devices, a wi-fi connection is a must in your home. Through a wi-fi connection, the owners will get all the benefits of the thermostat.  

2.    Right Models for your Existing Smart Devices

Smart heating not only controls and customize your heating, but they tend to integrate with your existing home devices like – Alexa, Google Home, Microsoft Cortana, Samsung Smart Devices, etc. So, when you’re considering buying a smart thermostat make sure you check if it’s compatible with the smart device systems that you own. 

If you think smart heating systems mean that they connect to a wi-fi network and control the temperature, you might be wrong. Smart thermostats can sense the condition of a room, whether there are many people, you’re not home. It senses the condition and sets the temperature according to it without doing anything. It can also keep up with your everyday routine. So, after a certain time, it’ll automatically control the heating when you’re home, or you’re returning from work, etc.

3.    Mobile Application

Thinking of buying a smart thermostat? A new thermostat not only needs an installation, but a mobile app to control it remotely is a must. Through the app, you can control your thermostat from anywhere, anytime. The smart thermostat can pair with anything with a wi-fi connection and has the respective app installed. The app is typically provided by the manufacturing company only. At the time of installation, the company will instruct you on the functions of the app and after installing the app on your device, you can use the thermostat seamlessly.  

4.    Low Voltage System

Before buying the thermostat, make sure your system is low voltage. This is a very important thing to consider if you’re purchasing a smart heating system. Most of the smart thermostats are only compatible with 24v HVAC systems. You should be certain about your system, whether it will work. In case of any difficulty, you can always contact a professional. Major brands even have tools to determine if you have a low voltage system or not. 

5.    Photos of the Wirings 

Before you ask why. Let’s say, while installing your new thermostat something goes wrong, and you have to undo the process quickly. How will you do it if you don’t have any photographs of the old wirings? Even the smart thermostat comes with a manual where they ask you to take sharp photographs of the old wirings. So, before installing the new one do yourself a favor and take at least 5-6 sharp and good photographs of your old wiring. It will help you from any future hassle. 

 CONCLUSION

So, these are some of the things you should consider while installing your smart heating system in your home. Of course, the company professionals will help you to install and run the whole thing, but you can always make sure of the things discussed above so that you won’t get into any difficulty later. If you’re looking for heating services for your home, you can refer to the link below. 

Some of the best heating services in San Diego are – Anderson Plumbing, Heating, and Air or Action. Want to know more? Click the link below. 

 

Author Bio:-  Michael Cabral 

Michael is a marketing manager at EZ Heat and Air. He loves writing about innovative and hybrid HVAC installation tips. His articles help readers to have valuable insights into the importance of duct cleaning, water heater maintenance and repair, optimum working of thermostat, Mini split and heat pump installation in Orange County. Read articles for more information on keeping your HVAC system in a tip-top condition and lead a hassle-free life.

One of the best things about a long winter is the lack of outdoor pests. Bees, spiders and other creepy-crawlies are nowhere to be seen, and you can spend as much time outside as you like without being bitten by mosquitoes. 

However, the cold doesn’t eliminate encounters with outdoor life. Some pests will migrate inside because your house is warm, hiding in your walls and crawl spaces over the winter. 

Here are four pests that might bother you this season and steps to keep them out of your house. 

1.   ANTS

Over the winter, most ants find shelter under logs or in the ground and then hibernate with their colonies. Their activity slows down with the cold weather and less food, but they are warm enough as a group to survive until spring. 

Seeing large numbers of ants in your home is always concerning. In the winter, however, it may mean there’s a colony inside your home. If ants are living in your house, they’ll likely be warm enough to continue their usual activities. 

The best way to prevent this is to keep your house well-sealed and its surroundings clear. Leaving decomposing wood propped against an external wall makes it easy for ants to transition inside. 

2.   LADYBUGS

 During the fall, you may notice many ladybugs and Asian beetles coming into your home. These insects secrete a pheromone that attracts other ladybugs to join them. This happens during mating season in the spring and again during hibernation over the winter.

 Ladybugs like to hibernate in warm, moist spaces and usually winter in groups. They often live in gardens over the summer and can be attracted to nearby homes because of light or heat. If your house is warm enough, some ladybugs may wake up from hibernation and visit you over the winter months.  

Unfortunately, there’s no effective method of dealing with ladybug infestation once winter has already begun. To prevent them from joining you for the winter, make sure your home is well-sealed from the outdoors. 

Check areas around windows and doors, your foundation, external walls and your roof. Because insects and pests are so small, they can slip in through tiny cracks. In addition to keeping out bugs, sealing your house will bring you the added benefit of saving on your heating bill this winter.

3.   SPIDERS

As the weather cools down, you may notice increased spider activity in your home. Unlike other insects, spiders don’t come inside seeking heat. However, fall is mating season for many species. 

During this time, spiders move around more than usual, looking for a mate. If you see a spider in your house, it’s likely a male seeking a female. After mating, female spiders spin egg sacs to protect their young until they’re ready to hatch. 

Egg sacks may show up externally around windows and door frames, where spiders have found nooks and crannies to place them. To keep your home web and spider-free, consider contacting a pest control service to remove these sacs. 

4.   MICE AND RATS

Rodents are another pest you may face in the winter. As the weather cools down, mice and rats may take refuge indoors, living in your walls, kitchen cabinets or basement. Rodents are more likely to move in if you have a readily available food supply for them to plunder. 

Rats and mice have a short gestation period, meaning that they have many babies a year. For instance, many species of mice can have a litter about every three weeks. In the wild, mice only live about one to two years, so reproducing quickly is important. However, multiplying mice can wreak havoc inside your home. 

 Keeping your house well-sealed against the elements is the best way to prevent mice and rats from taking up residence. It’s also a good idea to make sure food isn’t easy for mice to chew into in your basement, cabinets or pantry. If you notice evidence of mice, set out traps or call an exterminator. 

KEEP A CLEAN HOUSE

The most effective way to keep bugs and rodents out of your home is to take preventive measures. Keep your home well-maintained and sealed tight to prevent most pest problems. Cleanliness is another way to discourage pests from entering your home. 

However, if you notice signs of insects or rodents during the winter months, you can take steps to treat and eliminate the problem. Follow these tips to keep your home clean and comfortable over the winter.

Guest Contributor: Rose Morrison

Your home is an important place where you spend most of your time. It should also be a comfortable place to live. When it comes to improving your home, there are many things you can do to make your home more environmentally friendly. Here are some tips on how to go green through kitchen and bathroom remodeling

1. USE ENERGY EFFICIENT APPLIANCES

There are so many energy-efficient appliances available today. They save money, help cut down on pollution, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Companies are coming out with new and improved appliances to become more eco-friendly. For example, you can opt for a dishwasher that uses less water than conventional options. Although you may think that these appliances are expensive upfront, the costs will eventually pay off and you will have huge savings in the long run. 

It’s also a good idea to replace old appliances as well, especially if they’re not working properly anymore. Older appliances tend to use more energy, making them less eco-friendly. In addition, they can consume more energy, resulting in higher energy bills. So when replacing your appliances, look for ones that are energy efficient.

One of the most popular energy-saving appliances today is the LED light bulb. LED light bulbs can significantly cut down your energy bills, and they even last longer than incandescent or fluorescent lights. This means you don’t have to constantly change out your light bulbs because you’re guaranteed that they’ll be working properly for a long time. 

2. INSTALL WATER-SAVING FIXTURES

Water-saving fixtures such as faucets and toilets use less water than conventional models. Installing water-saving fixtures not only saves money but also helps conserve natural resources. A good water-saving fixture you can install in your bathroom is a dual flush button for the toilet. This can help save water because it uses less water for liquid waste. Whenever there isn’t much waste that needs to be flushed, you can simply use the option that uses half the water needed for solid waste. 

Another water-saving fixture you can install at home is faucets that turn off automatically when the sink isn’t being used. This way, you don’t have to worry about wasting water whenever somebody forgets to turn off the faucet. Lastly, you can also purchase low-flow showerheads for your bathroom. These showerheads allow just enough water to run through them without wasting any excess.

3. HAVE A COMPOST PILE

Composting is a simple process that can help you lower your carbon footprint and work your way towards net-zero CO2 emissions. Having a compost pile at home can help you recycle organic materials into the soil. You can even add food scraps from your kitchen to this pile which will then produce fertilizer. This doesn’t only benefit you in the kitchen but provides you with a variety of advantages in the garden as well.

To start a compost pile, all you need is wood chips or sawdust, and a container. Make sure to continuously add fresh material to the pile. After a month or two, you can remove the top layer and start adding new stuff again. The best thing about having a compost pile is that you won’t have to buy fertilizer every year.  It also helps improve the quality of the soil in your garden and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers. 

4. INSTALL ECO-FRIENDLY TILES AND FLOORING

If you’re just starting to build your home, then it’s a great option to install eco-friendly tiles or flooring. There are lots of companies that offer eco-friendly products like bamboo flooring, cork flooring, and recycled plastic flooring. These types of floorings are made using renewable resources and therefore contribute towards reducing your carbon footprint. Not only do they last longer, but they are also cost-effective. 

Eco-friendly flooring doesn’t have to be boring either. They come in different colors and styles so you can choose what works best for you. For example, those who are leaning towards tiny kitchens or small bathroom designs can try installing reclaimed or vintage tiles on their walls. This type of is definitely an interesting choice when you want to make a statement in your house. 

5. MAKE IMPROVEMENTS FOR BETTER LIGHTING

Having windows that provide adequate lighting can help you save energy. There are many ways to increase the amount of natural light in your home. You can strategically place your windows in areas that receive a lot of sunlight to provide natural light. This way, you don’t have to open the lights all the time when you’re in the kitchen or the bathroom. The natural light from the sun is enough to brighten up the space and allow you to function. 

In addition, upgrading your windows to glazed windows can help save more energy. This kind of window can act as insulation to prevent significant losses of heat. Glazed windows keep the room at an optimal temperature so you don’t have to open appliances such as HVAC systems just to keep your home comfortable.

Guest Contributor: Kat Sarmiento

There are times when homeowners find their water heater making sounds. Does that mean it’s leaking? Such sounds of water rushing and increasing water bills and water damage usually indicate leaks in the water heater. Here we will discuss the ways to identify the water heater leaks to reduce water waste and damage. 

Try to listen if the water heater is leaking

Are you suspecting that there is a water heater leak? If yes, you should turn off the external sound sources, such as the television or radio, and trust your ears. There are times when you can hear the leak before it becomes severe. If you stand near the water heater and hear water dripping and rushing, you need to follow it and trace the leak. If you hear the sound of water and can detect no leak, there might be a break within. 

Try to see the signs of the water heater leaking

The precise point from where water leaks can be challenging to determine. There can be multiple leaks that can go undetected. There are times when it is tough to see the leak as an insulating blanket covers the unit. For this, you should learn about the common areas of water leaks. 

Examine the top of the water heater

It would help if you looked at the top of the water heater, which is the point where water leaves and enters. There are chances of the water heater failing here as the tubes that enter the tank are vulnerable to leaks because of the high pressure. 

Examine the bottom of the water heater

Is your water heater leaking from bottom? At times, the drain valve at the bottom is a place from where the water heater leaks. 

The Electric Water Heater

Do you think that your electric water heater might be leaking? Are you not certain of the source? If yes, you need to switch off the power. After that, you should take away the access panel and the safety shield to check the elements to assess the signs of the water heater leaks and stains. If your tank is partially new and the leaks are evident, chances are you might have to tighten the bolts and nuts. And if this doesn’t work for you, then you might have to replace the element washers. 

What should you do when you have detected a leak in the water heater?

Once you have detected a leak in the water heater, you need to switch off the breaker which supplies power. You can also switch off the gas supply. After that, you can switch off the supply of water to your heater. If you don’t know where to find it, you can follow the pipe which enters the water heater till you reach the valve and close it after that. 

Other than that, you can also engage in minor repairs, such as making a loose connection tight or adjusting the pressure relief valve. Also, if you find a leak in the pressure relief valve, it could be because of the increased temperature. You should bring down the temperature to see if that solves the problem. At times, you can also replace the water heater and choose an energy-efficient model. 

 Guest Contributor: Sujain Thomas