When You Shouldn't Do Electrical Repairs Yourself

Many homeowners are perfectly capable of doing certain types of electrical work in their own home, but they should always be aware of their limitations. 

Sometimes it is best to leave the situation up to a professional electrician.

Installing dimmer switches and replacing an old ceiling light with a new ceiling fan are simple enough projects that someone without years of experience should be able to pull off safely. However, when it comes to extending existing electrical circuits or adding new ones, an expert electrician is almost always needed. If not the homeowner could find themselves in either one of two positions: dying from electrical shock or dying from fire. 

As a safety reminder: whenever you do attempt a do it yourself electrical project, always remember to turn off the electricity. Also, if you feel in the slightest that the project is over your head, call an electrician for help. It is always better to be safe than sorry in this situation. 

 Read for More Information:

• How to Extinguish an Electrical Fire
• How to Safely Use an Electric Generator
• Electrical Safety Tips

Why Drain Cleaners Are Bad for Your Plumbing

Regularly cleaning your pipes is important to keep them from backflowing. Many people tend to turn to drain-cleaning products that line the shelves of home cleaning aisles in stores. However, most of these products can actually cause more harm to your plumbing than good.

Most drain-cleaning products contain acid, which can eat away at the pipes and cause rust. Some of the more popular known brands do not even completely clean the pipes. Instead, the only partially dissolve the clog and push the rest down. This can lead to a bigger backup in the future.

An alternative to using a drain-cleaning product is to mix one-part baking soda and three-parts boiling water. Pour this down the drain regularly to break up debris, grease, and grime.

Another helpful suggestion is to run a lot of water whenever turning on the garbage disposal or pouring anything down the drain. Most of the time, this is a no-no, but in cases like this or when brushing teeth it is a good idea to help push everything through the pipes.

Resources: Angie's List, Ben Franklin Plumber

Read for More Information:

• Reasons Why Your Plumbing Is Noisy
• Plumbing Tips to Prevent Clogged Drains
• When to Hire a Professional Plumber

How to Extinguish an Electrical Fire

According to FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration, an estimated 25,900 home electrical fires are reported each year. These fires cause an average of 280 deaths, 1,125 injuries, and $1.1 billion in property loss. The majority of electrical fires involve electrical distribution, lighting, or power transfer equipment, and 39 percent involve outlets and receptacles, electrical branch circuits, and other electrical wiring.

If an electrical fire occurs in your home, the first thing you should do is call 9-1-1. Step two should be to turn the entire circuit breaker off. As electricity can not actually burn but the surrounding items may burn, turning off the electricity from the source makes the fire easier to put out. 

A Class C fire extinguisher should be used to put out the electrical fire; however, if you have turned off the source of the electricity, using a different class of fire extinguisher depending on what is on fire should also do the job.

Electrical fires are extremely dangerous and unpredictable. Use caution when putting one out, and if you are unsure in any way what to do, go outside and wait for the fire department to show up.  For instance, water, foam, and other combustible agents should never be used to try and put out an electrical fire. If you do not know what you are doing, you could accidentally make the fire worse. 

As is usual with any electrical fire, any time you see smoke, a fire has probably already been started within the walls and has spread out of sight inside your home. Always get to safety as quickly as possible to avoid being caught by the fire.

Read for More Information:

• Fire Prevention Week: Tips to Prevent Home Fires
• Electrical Safety Tips
• How to Safely Use an Electrical Generator

4 Water Heater Maintenance Basics

• Most probably do not think about it outside of the moments during their day they use it, but for many hot water is essential to how people live their lives. When it stops working correctly, it can definitely put a kink in how the day goes. Fortunately, there are basic services that can be performed to extend the life of any hot water system.
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• 1. Keep Water Heater Clean and Clear.

Make sure to remove any items away from the hot water heater. If it is located outside, clear it of leaves, grass, and other debris. Regularly sweep the area around the tank to avoid dust build up. Since air is sucked from the bottom of the tank, clogged or dirty vents can be carried into the system and force it to work harder. 

2. Release Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve Every Six Months.

Doing this will prevent any pressure, which has the potential to cause an explosion, from building up in the hot water system. Also, when doing this be sure to check for leaking water. If any is spotted, this is an indication this part needs replacing.

3. Flush Inside of System with Fresh Water.

This is to remove any built-up sediment on the bottom of the tank. Do this by turning off the power to the water heater and attaching a hose to the bottom drain to let the water run out. Then attach the water hose to the spigot and turn open the valve and let the water flush through for about one hour.

4. Check for Signs of Rust.

Inspect all metal valves, pipes, and connections for rust. Signs of flaking mean a serious problem exists and a professional should get involved. Do not let these go not dealt with as they can lead to costly repairs.

All major water heater problems should be completed by a professional plumber. Even if the homeowner is unsure about completing these tasks on their own, they should give an expert a call.

Reasons Why Your Plumbing Is Noisy

Rattling pipes are not an uncommon occurrence if you are a homeowner. However, just because these sounds may be common does not mean they should be ignored. Doing so could lead to long-term piping damage that could end up costing you plenty more to repair than it would to sort out the root of the sound when first noticed. Here are some common problems that could cause the sounds you are hearing from your plumbing.

Improperly Secured Water Lines

The most common cause of rattling pipes is improperly secured water lines. As water runs through your pipes it creates a lot of momentum, and if the pipers are not secured correctly, this momentum can cause your pipes to shake from side to side against the floor joints or wall boards closest to the pipes. 

High Water Pressure

Water pressure that is set too high can cause pipes to vibrate loudly no matter if they are properly secured. Indoor water pressure should typically be set between 40 and 60 PSI.

Water Hammer

When you shut off running water quickly and hear a knocking or hammering noise afterwards, you are hearing what is known as a "water hammer." This sound is the result of water flowing through your pipes being brought to an abrupt halt. This means that the air chambers or cushions in your plumbing were either improperly installed, have failed, or never existed. 

If this sound starts out of nowhere, it most likely means that your plumbing system's air chambers have become waterlogged. If no air chambers were built into your plumbing, have this remedied as quickly as possible to avoid damage. Also, since too high of water pressure is often a cause of water hammer, lower this immediately to prevent burst pipes.

Expanding Pipes

Copper expands as it is heated, and if you only notice your pipes making a sound after using hot water, this is a result of hot water flowing through them. The sound is probably the result of the pipes rubbing up against a stud, joist, or support brackets as they contract back to their normal size. Fortunately, only in severe cases will this result in a leak.

Resources: The Bath Outlet, Popular Mechanics, How Stuff Works

Read for More Information:

• Plumbing Tips to Prevent Clogged Drains
• When to Hire a Professional Plumber
• Having Dishwasher Problems? Hire a Plumber