Best Practices When Cleaning Out Your Gutters

Roof gutters are more important than many homeowners think. They take gallons of rainwater and carry it down through their spouts. This prevents waterfalls from pouring off of your roof during heavy rainfall. Without gutters, water can pool around your property and cause damage over time. 

How do you maintain gutters? Clogged and dirty gutters are particularly problematic. They require maintenance throughout the year, especially if you live in an area with a high volume of trees. Leaves are one of the most common things to clog gutters. Now, let’s dive into keeping your gutters functioning properly throughout the year.

The Need for Gutter Cleaning and When to Do It

The main aim of cleaning gutters is to ensure rainwater from the roof flows freely through the gutters and down through the spouts. Cleaning gutters is much cheaper than the repairs associated with not doing the clean-up. When should you clean your gutter?

The most appropriate time is right before the rainy season begins. All gutters should be cleaned at least once a year but you may need to get up there more often if you have trees nearby. It is recommended that you clean gutters every spring and fall in preparation for rains and snow. Special gutter cleaning is required after a storm, before a forecasted storm, and after strong winds that may have blown leaves and debris into the gutter.

The Gutter Cleaning Steps

1. Assemble all the items you will need.

2. Wear a long-sleeved shirt and wear rubber gloves.

3. Get an extendable ladder with standoff stabilizers to avoid placing it directly on gutters. Put the ladder on a spot that you put in the gutter.

4. Carefully move up the ladder with a waste bag in hand.

5. Pick up all debris carefully placing it in the bag. If there is some litter on the roof, start by removing this because if you don’t it will all end up in the gutter when it rains.

6. Use a small plastic scoop to remove any gunk.

7. Use a garden hose to clean and flush the gutter.

8. Unclog the downspouts if they are clogged and test their effectiveness by spraying water from the hose pipe at full speed. Repair any leaks you may notice.

Important Safety Measures

Cleaning gutters has more to it than just getting up there and cleaning away. You need to do it safely. Actually, there are thousands of people who get injured cleaning gutters every year. You can avoid these injuries by adhering to a few safety precautions.

The ladder you use should be strong and preferably, four-legged. This provides the support to hold your weight up there. Clean a small area, come down, and move the ladder to clean another portion. Avoid overstretching because you can easily fall off the ladder.

Wearing protective gear is very important. Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands from the dirt and germs in the debris. Eye protection is also necessary. Wear goggles to protect your eyes from aerosols from bird droppings on the roof as well as stings from insects like wasps and bees that may have made a home on your roof. The right kind of shoe for gutter cleaning is rubber shoes. These will give you a proper grip so you do not easily slide.

Conclusion

With the right practice, gutter cleaning can be done safely. Bear the above tips in mind the next time you carry out this important activity. Remember gutter cleaning is very important because clogged gutters can cause you to lose a lot of money in repairs.

Alex Capozzolo is a partner of Better House Buyers, a home buyer based in Georgia. He has been writing for the real estate industry for several years. Alex enjoys writing on real estate investing, home improvement, and interior design.

Guest Contributor: Mary Anderson

Contemporary Home Office: Design Essentials

Contemporary Home Office: Design Essentials

Working from home sounds like the best thing in the world, and that’s usually not far from the truth. However, most people don’t realize that working from home is still working, and you need to do your job. In order to be productive, you need your own space, which is why setting up a home office is vital. If you’re thinking about doing that as well, here are a few design essentials you have to look into.

Find the right spot

Even if you’re working from home, not just any home office will do. It needs to be motivating, creative, and visually appealing, and that’s not always easy to achieve. That’s why picking the right location is so important. While some people can work in their bedroom or kitchen, others need separate space – quiet and isolated. Choosing the right location could take some time and energy, but you’ll surely be able to do it.

Make it big

Before you find the perfect spot for your home office, you need to take size into consideration. No matter what you do and how old you are, you need an office that won’t make you feel claustrophobic. It needs to be big enough for your desk and chair, but it needs some maneuvering space as well. This is particularly true if you’re planning on holding meetings in there and welcoming clients. That’s why turning a spare bedroom into a home office is the ideal solution, and you’ll always have enough space.

Impress your clients

Despite working from home, some people have to work with a number of clients they need to see regularly. That’s why their home office needs to be specious, equipped with some comfortable furniture, and properly decorated. This may not sound like the most important thing in the world, but it’s the best way to impress your clients. That’s why you should explore professional office interiors that are visually appealing and help you make a great first impression. This way, you’ll send the right message and make your home office more functional and remarkable than ever.

Think about the storage

All working professionals need proper storage space, even those who work from home. Luckily, being the boss of your own space allows you to do whatever you want. Most people get one of those wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling bookcases that give them enough space for their possessions. Others prefer smaller filing cabinets and shelves that are easier to organize. Whatever you opt for, try to keep your things in order and always close by.

Natural air and sunlight

This is another perk of working from home – you can keep your window open as much as you want. Fresh air and sunlight do wonders for your productivity, and insisting on these things is more important than people realize. That’s why installing bigger windows that let lots of air and sunlight in your home office goes a long way. Moreover, this will minimize your need for artificial lights and make your office more sustainable at the same time.

Organize your equipment

Every home office needs a computer, a printer, a wireless router, and a million other things as well. While most people don’t a problem with the mess, you need to get these things as tidy as possible. Instead of being knee-deep in cables, you should organize them and keep them under control. This will make your office look nicer and feel less cluttered, and that’s something we all need.

Designing your home office is easier than it looks, but only if you put your mind to it. Define its purpose, figure out what you’re trying to achieve, and insist on things that will help you reach your goals.

Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors

Guide To Keeping Pests Out Of Your Kitchen

Guide to Keeping Pests Out of Your Kitchen

There are few things as horrifying as seeing a line of ants march across your kitchen countertops or feeling the dread of seeing fruit flies swarming your bananas. Pests can destroy your enjoyment of a good meal faster than almost anything. However, the last thing you want is to use poisons where you prepare food for your family and friends.

The wet spring and summer in most of the United States is spurring on pest infestations this year. While they won't all be kitchen pests, the environment is ripe for more than ever before. Even in drier regions, ants, cockroaches and flies will move indoors in search of food and water. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to remove them quickly and safely.

1. Seal All Food

Pests such as ants, gnats and roaches are attracted by food. One of the first steps you should take when you notice an infestation is sealing all food sources. Put cereal in airtight containers, place open cracker sleeves in a sealed plastic bag and move fruit to the refrigerator.

Even if you don't yet notice any bugs, it's a smart move to seal anything dry in your kitchen and pantry. Pests often start as a small problem and grow into a larger one. Prevent them from taking hold in the first place.

2. Fix Cracks and Openings

If you're having an issue with ants or mice, these creatures are getting into your home from somewhere. Inspect the outside of your house for gaps and cracks in the foundation. Plug up any holes where mice might enter. Track down where ants are marching into formation. Fill any open spaces and remove the easy entrance to your home. Of course, very small pests such as ants will likely find a way inside anyway, but you don't have to make it easy on them.

3. Remove Infested Food

It might seem obvious, but if you notice even one pest in your cereal or flour, remove the food entirely. Where there is one bug, there are almost always more. Getting rid of the food source may also remove much of the temptation to the creatures invading your home. Seal new items the minute you bring them into your home.

4. Call an Exterminator

If the infestation doesn't seem to get better, don't be afraid to call an exterminator for help. A Terminix in Illinois professional can identify the species of bug and give you steps to remove the problem, as well as prevent it in the future. Yes, you will pay for the services, but you'll avoid months of aggravation and living in unsanitary conditions.

5. Use Natural Repellents

There are some natural things you can use that bugs simply don't like. Natural solutions are typically safe for your family and pets and much less costly than commercial solutions for getting rid of pests. Mosquitoes and flies don't like basil, so plant some and hang the dried herb in doorways. Peppermint drives away spiders. Use the same method of planting around the outside of your house or bringing dried peppermint into your home.

You could also try using essential oils. Fleas and moths dislike lavender and cockroaches hate catnip.

6. Sweep and Mop Regularly

Invaders such as ants are known as spilled food pests. They love to find debris and feast on it. Sweep and mop your floor regularly to keep food pieces to a minimum and remove the temptation for them to enter your home. Mop up spills the minute they occur and clean out cupboards and drawers regularly. The cleaner your kitchen is, the less chance these pests will find something to survive on.

7. Eat Your Fruits

Eating plenty of produce is healthy for you, so many people leave a fruit basket out on the table or counter. The problem arrives when you don't eat your fruit quickly enough and it begins to decay. Rotting fruit is nirvana to fruit flies, who will enter your home and lay eggs so fast you'll have dozens of them before you know it. Remove any spoiled produce and put out a small amount of red wine in a tall glass to trap the flies already in your kitchen.

Be the Food Police

Since food is the top culprit that attracts kitchen pests, make sure everyone eats in designated areas, cleans up after themselves and puts everything away in the refrigerator or a sealed container. Over time, you'll get rid of any pest problems you have and avoid finding new ones.

Guest Contributor, Holly Welles

Holly Welles is a home improvement writer who believes anyone can make the most of their space. You can find more of her work on her blog, The Estate Update.

The Ultimate Guide To Surviving Your Bathroom Renovation

The Ultimate Guide To Surviving Your Bathroom Renovation

Want to update your bathroom without spending a huge amount on the renovation? By making some slight adjustments and changes in your bathroom, you can easily renovate your bathroom and not spend copious amounts of hours and money working on it.

Take for example, some DIY techniques like re-surfacing, which can be quite costly and not appropriate for the long-term. In order to survive your bathroom renovation, have a look below at some of the ways to help you survive your bathroom renovation:

Make a list

First begin by keeping a list of bathroom accessories that you would like to purchase, such as good quality bathroom sinks, a flushing toilet, bathroom mirror, toilet paper holder, towel holder, bathroom faucet, shower head (rain shower), shower valve, or bathtub.

Choose a design

Before you begin any work, such as tearing up flooring or putting in a new shower head, you should decide what you want your bathroom to look like when finished.

There are many bathroom trends out this year from futuristic styles to vintage brass and gold components and or beautiful tile patterns and shapes to suit your bathroom.

Set a budget

One of the best approaches to stay away from costly renovation is to set a budget and stick to it. Take a moment to sit down and calculate the different costs from the materials to the cost of extras, fixtures, and fittings that are within your budget.

Also, to survive your bathroom renovation you should definitely set aside some money, in case of any unforeseen turns.

Prepare sanitary products before beginning work

Everything from the bath, sink, toilet, taps, and the shower should be decided on and ready to go before you begin plastering and tiling. This is to ensure all the pipes and waste are in their correct position.

1.   Shower

Consider some important features of a shower during the renovation, for example, the best shower drains, shower curtains and shower heads. You can pick a settled or hand-held shower head, or rain or waterfall showers that suit the structure of your new design.

2.   Sink

To really modernize your bathroom, and if it fits within your budget and if space allows you, then you could decide on his and hers sinks.

3.   Bath

There are so many beautiful bathtubs to choose from so it is important to choose one to fit within your original design. From freestanding tubs to bathtubs with that utilization minimal space, or simple access baths for those with an incapacity.

Fittings and fixtures

First, choose a vanity unit that is of good quality but affordable, one that will last for years to come. Then move on and consider a couple of necessary extras, new tapware, and a toilet. 

The fittings and fixtures that you pick will determine the functionality level of your bathroom, and select low-cost items that will have you paying only a fraction of the price.

Make your renovation pop

One feature that can really make your bathroom renovation pop is using floor or wall tiles. It really brings out the overall design of your bathroom, and it can be an easy enough job if you are choosing floor tiles over wall tiles. Choose a shade and shape that works in with your original design, it will all contribute to the vibe of the space design bathroom.

Installing lights

Consider the region you live in; you may need a dampness verification or heat lighting. As well, to fit within your budget it is advisable to choose LED lights, they are good for the environment and they use less energy compared to other lights, saving you money in the long run.

A bathroom renovation can be done with minimal effort and still look as modern as before. You should de-mess, revive tired looking parts, and apply a couple of other techniques and thoughts.

 Guest Contributor, Megan Hudson

How To Choose The Best Framing Nailer For Your Wood Project

How to Choose the best Framing Nailer for Your wood Project

If you came here searching for the perfect framing nail gun, you came to the right place. Framing nail guns are nail guns that are built with the durability, power and most importantly, proper type of nails to be used for doing framing.

Framing Nailer Types

There are many different types of nailers out there that can work for many different types of tasks. It makes sense that the same nail gun you use to secure roofing would not be the proper tool for attaching finished surfaces indoors. Framing nail guns are on the much more powerful size compared to a cheap finish nailer.

There are two different types of nail guns that could be used for framing. One is the coil nail gun, the other is the stick nail gun. The big difference between these two is in how you feed the nail gun ammunition. Coil nail guns use strings of nails and can hold many more nails before needing a refill.

A stick nail gun uses a large hard stick of nails that is then fed into the gun when fired. Generally speaking, coil nail guns are the more durable and more expensive models that are preferred for day to day use by professionals. Stick nail Guns can be slow and clumsy to reload even with practice compared to the massive amount of nails a coil nail gun can carry.

Each nail gun we stock for framing comes with a different set of features. The more expensive the gun, the more fine tuning and adjusting of features will be possible that will enable you to get the perfect gun for every job.

Framing Nailer Basics

Every Framing Nailer we sell however comes with the most important thing to adjust for a nail gun. That would be the depth to which the nail is sunk. This is a vital feature for every construction project and every gun sold will offer you a chance to fine tune on this feature

The second main difference to consider when purchasing your nail gun is how you want the gun to be powered. Cordless and Corded nail buns are equally popular these days and neither shows any signs of slowing down soon. Corded framing nailers are still extremely popular for their low coast and their ability to go all day without interruption.

Cordless nail guns have come quite a long way in the last few years in terms of technological advances. There are two different types of cordless framing ouns. One is electric and runs off a battery that works very similar to a corded nail gun. The other way uses trace amounts of explosives to blow the nail deep into any surface.

Find the Best Framing Nail Gun

A pneumatic framing nailer gun can do an excellent range of jobs, from stud get the job done to joists. You can nail down sub-flooring and even establish trusses. You can fasten sheathing, nail decking, construct fences, and far more. With a framing nail gun, you can do all the rough wood do the job and much more on just about any residential creating. It is an incredibly essential element of constructing a wood construction.

There are lots of diverse framing nailers on the marketplace, from common brands like Hitachi, Senco, Max, Bostitch, Paslode, Porter Cable, and Dewalt. How are you going to opt for the very best 1 for your needs? Since you happen to be not intending to purchase all the pneumatic framing nailers out there, you need to educate on your own on what every single nail gun has to offer you. I place this quick guidebook collectively to assistance you do just that: decide on the correct nailer for your demands.
Inquiries to ask just before you invest in:

Weight – Are you concerned about the fate of the nail gun? Some builders look for the lightest framing nailer since they can get the job done longer with much less arm fatigue. Which is the benefit of a light-bodyweight nailer. Other framers will not genuinely thoughts the more 1 or so pounds. I have personally used guns as heavy as 9 pounds and as light as 7 pounds and can perform just about as quickly with both one.
Dimension – Size is also an essential aspect to some contractors and DIYers. A much more compact sized framing nail gun can match into tighter spaces to shoot the nails in the correct spot. Some framing nailers can fit in between studs and joists as narrow as twelve inches. Other folks are more bulky and you are going to have a tricky time with tight locations.

Electrical power – Pneumatic framing nailers selection pretty a bit in the power to drive nails. Some nail guns can shoot nails up to three-one/4 inches long. Others can simply drive the larger 3-one/two inch nails. Many framers never require to shoot nails any larger than 3-1/4 inches extended. Other individuals, on the other hand, want to have the additional power to drive bigger nails when the need to have arises.

Features – What feature do you require in a nail gun? The modern-day guns have a huge array of capabilities readily available. Some have selective triggers, in which you can switch involving get in touch with nailing and sequential actuation nailing with the push of a button. Instrument-free of charge nail depth adjustment is also offered on some framing nailers. A number of are approved for use with specialty nails. It all depends on what you will need (or want).

Lastly

Now that you know what to think about just before getting a framing nail gun, it is time to make my tips. In this website link I have put together the finest pneumatic framing nailers. These nailers are really encouraged by several developing contractors.

Guest Contributor, William Aguinaldo

Principal Plumbing Considerations for Commercial Buildings

Principal Plumbing Considerations for Commercial Buildings

When building any sort of building, commercial being no exception, you will need to pay attention to plumbing before you finish the entire project. Having a well-thought-out plumbing system in place is extremely important, especially for commercial buildings, where the supply of clean water and disposal of wastewater need to be constant and seamless.

Therefore, if you’re building your commercial space, aside from the architects and other contractors you’ll need to find, you’ll also need to search for a reliable expert plumber who will take care of this job for you. With that in mind, here are some considerations you’ll need to address.

Know the requirements

First of all, it’s important to mention that different types of commercial properties all have different water requirements. Establishments, such as hospitals, restaurants, hotels and high-rise buildings all have different water requirements and require a specific plumbing grid. The engineer you decide to hire for this project will have to know what type of commercial property you’re building so that they can accurately plan out the type of plumbing grid you’ll need. For instance, if you’re aiming at building a high-rise building, the plumbing system will need to be equipped with booster pumps and gravity storage tanks so that the topmost floors receive the same amount of water as the lowest ones.

Do the calculations right

Additionally, in order to calculate the average water flow your plumbing system will need to be able to handle, you need to know how much people – on average – will be occupying the space on a daily basis. For a commercial property that’s not in the hospitality industry the grid can be significantly smaller than the one that is a part of this industry. Simply put, if you’re building a hotel, your grid will have to be significantly more advanced and complex than if you’re building a regular office building.

Rely on expert advice

Since plumbing is one of the crucial aspects of a building’s infrastructure it needs to be addressed as early in the process as possible. That’s why it’s important to run this by the commercial construction company that you’ve hired to get the job done. Simply put, if you pair an expert plumbing team with a trusted commercial construction company you can rest assured that the entire project will be done as efficiently and as responsibly as possible. Of course, make sure that both teams are true experts in their field and pay close attention to what they’re saying and advising you to do.

Conduct regular maintenance

Finally, once your project is done and you start using your commercial space, that doesn’t quite mean that your job is done. Rather, your job as a building owner has just begun. What this means is that now you’ll need to take care of the plumbing system you have in place. Again, depending on the type of your commercial building, you’ll need to schedule regular maintenance. Sure, in a hotel or a hospital, the maintenance will have to be conducted more regularly than in ordinary office buildings. Regular and preventive maintenance is crucial as not only can it save you huge amounts of money in the long run, but it can also put your mind at ease.

If you’re thinking about building a commercial property and you’re struggling to come up with an optimal plumbing design for the space, have your construction company work closely with your plumbing experts to create a layout that will work best for everyone. Also, make sure that you vocalize any questions and concerns you might have during the process to ensure that everything goes smoothly and that you’re happy with the final result.

Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors

Ways To Decorate Your Bedroom For A Good Night’s Sleep

Ways to Decorate Your Bedroom for a Good Night’s Sleep

Can’t get a decent shut-eye at nights? Well, your bedroom design might be to blame. If you are wondering what can possibly the décor of a room have to do with the quality of your sleep, when your mattress is comfy and your pillow is adequate to your sleep position, you should know that a lot of things in this room, including the colors, lighting and materials can affect your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. In this article we’ll show you the impact of design features on your sleep, and what you can do to make them work for you.

Start With Soothing Colors

Color psychology is no pseudo-science seeking to deceive you or steal your money. It is a philosophy based on research and experience, and you should arm yourself with it before you start redecorating your bedroom. For example, painting the room where you sleep in striking colors, such as red or bright orange, can cause accumulated sense of stress and lead to anxiety, which will make it difficult for you to fall asleep. Instead, choose mild relaxing tones, such as warm neutrals, lavender, light green or gentle blue.

The Dark-Light Cycle

The bedroom needs to receive a generous amount of both light and fresh air during the day. This is only possible if you have a large window and treatments or drapes that can be pulled up or aside during the daylight period. The drapes or treatments also need to be capable of preventing the outdoor and street lighting from getting into your bedroom while you sleep.

Soft And Quiet

Nobody likes squeaky floors, especially if you are sharing the room with a partner. Changing and repairing your floor boards at every sign of damage is expensive and exhausting. That’s one of the reasons why bedroom carpet installation in Sydney and other trendy cities is making a huge comeback these days. For an even softer spot to land on and to score a few design points, you can also go with area rugs on both sides of the bed. Opt for a soft, tender material, such as faux fur.

Everything Within Your Reach

Many people like to read a book before going to bed. In fact, this is a great way to calm your nerves and induce sleep. However, if this requires you to get up and turn off the light using the switch by the door, it can completely disrupt your sleepiness. A bedside lamp will save you this trouble, and it will be an additional décor element. Speaking of everything being within your reach, you should have a stylish nightstand to place the lamp, the book, a glass of water, or anything else you need.

Less Is More

A cluttered room is a one-way road to a cluttered mind. And a cluttered mind? Well, this definitely leads to a hectic night of various thoughts and stressors running through your head, which means – no sleep. This is why you need to focus on creating a minimalistic look without many unnecessary trinkets.

Clear The Air

The air in your bedroom needs to be free of toxins (as much as that is possible), so that your sleep quality would be at its maximum. You can achieve that with frequent ventilation and air purifiers, but you can also introduce a few air-purifying plants, such as Aloe Vera, Snake Plant, and English Ivy.

There is nothing more important than getting a good night’s sleep. It keeps you functioning throughout the day. Follow the tips we gave you, and your bedroom will tuck you into your sleep every night.

Guest Contributor, Amelia Atkins

Tips For Building An Energy-Efficient Home

Tips For Building An Energy-Efficient Home

One of the biggest expenses an average household needs to deal with is the heating and the AC bill. Traditional energy sources are also damaging to the environment and they are going to become more expensive in the years to come.

Building a more energy-efficient house requires an initial investment that can be troublesome for some homeowners, but it cuts down energy bills in the long run and, most importantly, makes your home less responsible for the carbon footprint and overall damage to the environment.

Solar Panels

Solar panels are probably the best way to get off the traditional energy grid. They used to be expensive and complicated to install, but this is no longer the case since the technology has improved and there are government incentives to use them, at least in countries such as Australia and Denmark.

A good thing about these panels is that you can use them only occasionally and rely on the traditional power grid when the weather isn’t suitable. That way, you can slowly make the change and not burden your household with the possible issue that might arise during the installation.

Appliances

Ordinary home appliances probably consume the most of the energy that an average Australian household uses. These are small amounts of power individually, but when they add up, they can really hurt your bottom line. It’s important to handle this issue by changing or fixing up the appliances one at a time.

Try to purchase the appliances that are designed to waste less energy. Those are usually marked with a blue star. Beyond that, it’s imperative for you to organize regular check-ups for the older devices you’re not replacing. Once a year, a licensed electrician should take a look.

Infrastructure

The infrastructure of the building itself means more than any small tweaking you can make when the construction is completed. If you’re building your home from scratch, you should hire formworkers from Sydney to make sure your property is constructed in the least wasteful way.

This is also an opportunity to handle the insulation of the entire home. A good insulation can cut down the energy bills for as much as 30 percent during both summers and winters. There used to be a time when all insulation materials used to be harmful to the environment, but this is no longer true and you can have a well-insulated home without using damaging materials.

Having Your Own Garden

A backyard garden is one of the best additions you can make to your home, both in terms of aesthetics and in terms of energy savings. Transporting food to your grocery store is probably the biggest addition you make to the carbon footprint. By cutting down on these expenses, you’re saving the environment and making sure you’re eating healthy food.

It takes time and effort to build a garden. It’s best to start with the produce you can find and grow locally and have a small plot that you can cultivate in your spare time and probably with a help of someone with more experience.

Water Savings

Water is rarely thought of as a resource at all, but it is a scarce one and it will become even more important in the years to come, when there’s less of it. Small tweaks around the house are often enough to cut down on your waste, but if you want to go all out – you could install a rainwater collection system.

It’s best to start with installing faucets that are motion activated. They turn off the water much faster than traditional faucets and thus waste much less of it. These are a bit more expensive but you only need to have them in the kitchen where they are used the most.

Building an energy-efficient home will cut down your spending and make the household more eco-friendly. It takes some funding to build but it pays off in the long run. 

Guest Contributor, Amelia Atkins

What Is In The Tap Water

What Is In The Tap Water

Summer is in full swing, meaning many families are heading out to vacation. They often close up their home for the time they’re away. It’s quiet. The a/c is set to a higher temperature, so it doesn’t kick on as frequently. Nothing much seems to be happening. But, looks are deceiving: beneath the quiet facade, an army is assembling.

A Thriving Community In The Tap

Inside the faucets in the vacant home, tap water, which isn’t moving unless there is a leak somewhere, is hosting a party of flourishing microbes. According to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, microbial communities of bacteria reproduce in the plumbing of vacant homes and buildings when they aren’t in use. One such pathogen, the bacteria responsible for Legionnaires' disease, is a potential health risk.

While preliminary reports don’t indicate the presence of bacteria which causes public health risks was involved, the sampling was random, conducted on vacant university dormitory buildings during the school break. The implication is that there is a potential health risk to people who drink the tap water from a structure in which the plumbing has remained unused for a time.

What Are The Risks To The Returning Inhabitants?

The good news is that it only takes a few seconds to clear the teaming bacteria from the lines because the bulk of the breeding bacteria develop closest to the faucets of a vacant dwelling. Turning the faucets on alleviates the problem by literally flushing it away.

Once the plumbing lines of a vacant building come into use again, the bacteria levels plummet down to pre-abandoned levels, meaning the water is safe to drink again once it’s back in use.  The testing indicated that the bacteria doesn’t extend to city sources, but remains in the home.  In fact, researchers determined that the ‘bacterial concentrations are highest in the first 100 milliliters of tap flow.

For a family who is returning from a vacation, the concentration of bacteria in their tap water can be eliminated when the water is run for a few moments upon their return, thus flushing the microbial communities from their plumbing. In other words, the first use of the plumbing probably shouldn’t be helping oneself to a big drink of water.

Why It Matters

As communities, plumbers, and homeowners continue to pursue water conservation, water recycling and reclamation and green infrastructure, the potential for the formation of microbial bacteria colonies in homes and public housing has the capacity to have an impact on these kinds of programs. Researchers agree that not only may it become an issue at some point, but it will be one in which the drive for the greater good will have to be shared by not only the scientific community but public works, water suppliers, and related fields.

What Are Some Preventative Options?

Discriminating homeowners will continue to have their plumber install water filtration systems, reverse osmosis and other forms of water purification to ensure their families have the cleanest and best tasting water possible. Proactive water management at the home level renders the potential for bacterial contaminants to be a health risk as practically nil.

Others, who are perhaps not ready to commit to a whole-house filtration system, should allow the tap to run for a few minutes before drinking from it and run the shower on the hottest setting for two minutes before use, to prevent Legionnaires disease. These steps are crucially important, mainly if seniors or those with compromised immune systems occupy the home.

Author Bio: Abhishek Khandelwal has been a plumbing and HVAC industry writer for many years and he contributes to a number of leading blogs on a regular basis.

Bathroom Accessories: How to Make the Right Selection

Bathroom Accessories: How to Make the Right Selection 

Bathroom designs are a dime a dozen, and there are numerous ways you can structure your ideal bathroom oasis to accommodate the needs of your family and preserve the aesthetic appeal of the room. But when it comes to accessorising and introducing the essential and ancillary amenities, a bit of prudent thinking and strategizing goes a long way.

After all, not all bathroom layouts can accommodate a bath, two sinks, a shower and ample storage, which is why you need to prioritize according to your needs and scale your amenities. With that in mind, here is how to make the right selection of bathroom accessories for your needs.

First Off, How Much Space Are You Working With?

Are you working with a full-size bathroom? Good, then you needn’t worry. However, if you’re working with a three-quarter bath, a half bath, or even a glorified powder room, then you will have to prioritize and optimize every corner accordingly.

Start by measuring the length, width, and height of the room, and think about which accessories you should splurge on, and which should play the backing role. For instance, you might feel that a nice big stone-finish shower is what you need, but you might need to sacrifice the vanity space to make it fit properly. In that case, you can opt for a single-sink setup, with the accompanying toilet and perhaps vertical storage instead of traditional cabinetry. Now, take the same mindset and use it to determine your perfect layout.

Start With The Basic Accessories

There are some features no modern bathroom can do without, and there are others that should only be introduced if you have room to spare and if they don’t impede maneuverability or capaciousness. Remember, a cramped bathroom can never become a rejuvenating, serene oasis you’re dreaming of, so start with the essentials and work your way from there.

Out of all the modern bathroom accessories you could introduce, settling on those that you and your family really need should be your priority. Depending on your preferred design approach, you can use these elements to create a natural, even rustic setting, or a modern look that combines functionality and aesthetics.

In any case, you can’t go wrong with pure white amenities and countertops that will serve as a perfect backdrop for layers and accents down the road. You can also play with shapes and opt for a fully geometric look or perhaps, you can disrupt the norm by surrounding a sloping free-standing bathtub with sharp corners on the vanity, cabinetry and shelving.

Focus On Layered And Strategic Lighting

Lighting plays a key role in interior design, and it will be vital in setting the tone of the bathroom with strategic illumination, as well as the aesthetic appeal of the lighting fixtures themselves. Be sure that the design of the fixtures corresponds with the overarching theme in the room, and never settle for a single light source, no matter how big or small the space.

Consider both complementary hues and contrasts, as lighting fixtures can match the colors of the essential accessories, but they can also come in pure black or charcoal hues for that monochromatic vibe. As for illumination itself, you’ll need ample overhead lighting that can be programmed to set any mood, as well as proper mirror lighting illuminating the reflection from the sides and the top.

Move On To The Smaller Accessories

Finally, it’s time to pick your ancillary accessories that will enrich the setting with their aesthetic charm and serve a functional purpose as well. You want to use these to accentuate certain areas of the room, and disrupt any monotony that might have settled in. Leave nothing to chance and make sure that everything from the soap dish to the shower curtains and the toothbrush holder complement the overarching design of the room.

Designing the bathroom of your dreams is not exactly a walk in the park, as it requires plenty of planning, strategizing, and sometimes even trial and error. This is why knowing how to choose the perfect set of essential and secondary accessories will be the key to designing a functional and aesthetic bathroom.

Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors