Tag: plumbing

What to Expect: How Long Does a Typical Home Inspection Take?

December 18, 2023

Purchasing a home can be one of the most simultaneously exciting and stressful processes anyone will go through. Considering the sizable investment and the long-reaching impact that a closing negotiation can have on both the buyer and the seller, it is completely understandable to lose a couple winks of sleep while worrying about each odd detail of a home’s sale. In these instances, buyers (especially first-time homebuyers) who learn about the need of a home inspection can get a bit antsy through the process, viewing the inspection as a roadblock to their homeownership. This is where a frequently answered question comes into play: How long does a home inspection take? While there may be a typical range of time to expect for a general home inspection, there are a wide array of factors that make this question tough to answer point blank. However, in the interest of easing any concerns, we will take some time today to discuss how long a home inspection takes, what can extend or shorten the process, and why a good home inspector needs this time. To begin, let’s review what a home inspection is and why it is a necessary part of every home’s sale.

Will Your Next Home Be Printed?

December 4, 2023

A more recent technology that’s been making its rounds by disrupting and inspiring innovations across industries is 3D printing. Glasses, shoes, car parts, prosthetics, and movie props are all being 3D-printed today, and the speculation of how this technology might change people’s everyday lives seems to be at an all-time high. With the speed and ease that common items can be printed, some have started to think even bigger. Enter businesses like Texas-based ICON, Denmark’s COBOD, and Shanghai’s Winsun, who all believe that 3D printing is the future of home manufacturing. Citing shockingly quick construction times, cheaper costs, and little required human oversight, many believe that 3D-printed homes becoming the norm is less of an “if,” and more of a “when.” So, if you’re curious to find out what your future home will look like, let’s discuss the process of 3D-printed homes! What Are 3D-Printed Homes?3D printing homes is actually quite similar to the process used when 3D printing other mundane items. Also known as “additive manufacturing,” 3D printing involves a machine printer containing a robotic arm dispenser, a chosen material to use in the item creation (usually plastic for most things unrelated to building construction), and a blueprint design

How to Tell if Your House is Haunted

October 9, 2023

October has officially arrived and, as we march closer and closer to the spookiest day of the year, it’s natural for our minds to focus in on the strange and obscure. If this was your first year in your new home, you may have noticed some of its more interesting quirks or “features.” Some houses seem to groan when the wind hits them just right, others might creak whenever the mood is right. These are just “house noises” that you’re slowly growing accustomed to…right? Many odd occurrences in the home can be explained away with a little bit of investigation, but when attempts at rationality come up short, it can be difficult to brush off the unexplained. As we all know, the Halloween season is best known as one time each year that the barrier between the material world and the spiritual world is its thinnest. In other words, if you have your suspicions that your house just might be haunted, you better figure it out now. To aid you in your investigation, we’ve placed our best paranormal researchers on the job to identify the surefire evidence that proves your house is haunted. Reader beware: only proceed if you want

Tricky and Easily Overlooked Areas of the Home That You Should Clean Today

September 25, 2023

Managing to keep an entire home clean is no easy task. Between doing the laundry, vacuuming the rugs, cleaning the dishes, and taking out the trash, there are plenty of hours in the day already dedicated to housekeeping. Naturally, things fall through the cracks, and certain items in the home are naturally overlooked. The problem is that certain items that might have been easily cleaned in the past can prove a much more difficult task if neglected for too long. If you are interested in being proactive about keeping your home clean, consider taking another look at these often-ignored home items. Spend Some Extra Time in the KitchenDo people spend a lot of time cleaning their kitchen? Of course they do. Do people still overlook a few areas in their kitchen due to inconvenience or lack of awareness? Absolutely! Kitchens can become one of the grimiest, dirtiest areas in a house if homeowners aren’t consistent about their cleaning habits due to the many kinds of messes and spills that are bound to happen while cooking. It’s when only the surface areas are taken care of that problems begin to pile up. Starting with the dishwasher, some may think that this

The Dangers of Lead: How to Make Your Home’s Drinking Water Safe

July 31, 2023

When in the market for a new home, there are endless considerations home buyers must think through. Dividing the “must-haves” from the “nice-to-haves” can be difficult, but parents are wise to keep the health of their families a top priority. Buyers can easily feel overwhelmed by the number of dangers and health hazards that demand their attention in purchasing a new home, but one health hazard that both the EPA and the CDC have highlighted as a concern in households is lead contamination. Many families and communities are exposed to the harmful effects of lead through their homes’ drinking water, but they may not be aware of this issue until after experiencing health problems. Lead contaminants within drinking water cannot be seen or tasted, so even in regions that aren’t commonly affected by lead, homeowners should be aware of every precaution at their disposal. What are the Effects of Lead Contamination? Lead has been a major part of industry and various technological advancements in history, but widespread understanding of the harmful effects of lead poisoning didn’t truly occur until the late 1970s. In a paper produced in coordination with the Center for Biological Diversity, Dr. Herbert Needleman describes some of

Maintenance Minutes: How To Locate Your Valve Shutoffs

January 16, 2023

Each home is made up of a few key systems that every homeowner should be aware of. When needing to make a repair or renovations, knowledge of these systems will certainly come in handy. In the case of emergencies, it is even more important to familiarize yourself with these key systems before you need to act quickly. Water leaks have the potential to result in thousands of dollars in damage, and gas leaks can be even more dangerous. If you don’t know already, here are some quick tips for how to locate valve shutoffs for both your water line and your gas line. Locating Your Water Line Water lines run throughout houses, and their locations can vary considerably from house to house. One great way to set yourself in the right direction is to locate your water meter outside of your home. Near your front lawn or by the curb of your home, you should first locate the meter “box,” which can usually be identified by a dark-colored metal or plastic covering. Following that in a direct line to your house, you should find a circular water meter, likely also in your lawn. Your water shutoff valve should be located

Getting Rid of Your Bad-Tasting Tap Water for Good

May 23, 2022

If you think you have bad-tasting or smelling water in your home, it may not be in your head. In some areas of the United States, tap water includes additives that you may have certain sensitivities or allergies to. While a few of these added chemicals serve a purpose, such as the addition of fluoride to help protect the enamel on your teeth, there is also unwanted waste that can sometimes end up in the water supply. Blended PipingAnother reason your current water system may be producing a bad taste or foul odor is the piping. For many newer homes, it can be an issue, as the piping leading to the tap is not a pure metal as was once used in older homes built prior to 1950. Today, it is standard practice to use piping that is a blend of metals and plastic such as polybutylene or polyethylene. This type of piping has the potential to cause an assortment of issues. These plastics can lead to problems, specifically for those with latex allergies. An additional issue with the usage of blended pipes is the addition of mold buildup. If mold builds up in the pipes it can not only

10 Items to Add to Your Home Toolbox

March 21, 2022

If you’ve been a homeowner for some time, chances are you already have a well-put-together toolkit. In fact, you may have already used it a few times on your own renovations and repairs. If you’re wanting to expand your tool stockpile, here are 10 items that will make any future projects a breeze. Headlamp or Magnetic Tool Light Trying to juggle a flashlight and your tools is a hassle and can even be dangerous. With a headlamp, you don’t have to worry about fumbling for the right tool while you’re working. You just slide it on and voila! You’re free to move about and illuminate your workspace. You can also get a magnetic tool light. These tend to be a bit brighter than a headlamp, so they’re really useful in the darkest parts of your home. Telescoping Mirror Can’t quite see around or underneath what you’re fixing? A telescoping mirror will give you the angle you need. You’ll be able to see if there are any nails or wires before sticking your hand in. Mirrors like this are usually cheap, so they’re definitely a great investment. OrganizersAs you add to your toolkit, things may become a bit cluttered. Searching for

How to Easily Clean Your Showerhead

February 28, 2022

There are lots of little things that can get overlooked when you clean your home. One item you may not have touched in a while is your showerhead. Here’s how you can clean your showerheads this weekend in just a few minutes. Importance of a Clean Showerhead There are a few good reasons that you should regularly clean your showerhead. Cleaning will help keep your showerhead working for longer. Over time, showerheads can succumb to mineral buildup, especially if you have hard water. This not only looks unpleasant, but can limit the effectiveness of the head. Mold and grime can also start to collect inside the head and on the nozzles, which can be harmful to your health. When You Should Replace Your Showerhead You may find that even a deep cleaning won’t fix your dirty showerhead. In this case, it’s best to just go ahead and buy a new one. You should be replacing your showerhead every seven months anyway, but not everyone remembers to. It can also be time to replace if the nozzles get damaged and the water is plugged. Scrub the Nozzles First, you’ll want to scrape off whatever gunk has accumulated on the nozzles. This

Protect Your Home from a Flooding Disaster

August 23, 2021

Water damage has cost homeowners billions of dollars in repairs. Hurricanes, flash floods, and other natural disasters can leave you homeless and wondering how you’ll pay for damages. While you can’t control the weather, you can prepare yourself and your home. A little water can be a big problem. Even if you’re not expecting heavy rainfall, a small amount can create a large issue for your home. Backed-up gutters can cause water to collect around the foundation of your home and make its way inside. If the ground around your home is too saturated or even too dry to hold rain, you could experience more rushing water than usual. Any time you’re supposed to get stormy weather, it’s best to watch the forecast and have an emergency preparedness plan. Understand how your home drains. Knowing how the land surrounding your home is graded gives you an advantage before the rain comes down. Ideally, you want any water to be directed away from the base of your home and towards a storm drain or nearby runoff. If you notice that water tends to collect around your home and not go anywhere, chances are you need to fix the grading. You can