How to Decrease Energy Usage in Your Home?

With increasing electricity bills and environmental concerns, saving energy is crucial than ever. Reducing energy consumption weakens the intensity of carbon emissions in the environment. These emissions are responsible for causing sudden climate change that can lead to devastating natural disasters and disturb the ecological balance of planet earth. 

Adding further, reducing carbon emissions also improves the quality of air and fosters a healthy environment for everyone. That is why it is necessary to become aware of energy usage and come up with practical solutions to reduce it significantly and save energy. Here are some easy ways you can decrease energy usage in your home.

5 Efficient and Super Easy Ways to Decrease Energy Usage 

1. Switch to LED Light Bulbs

Though traditional incandescent light bulbs are cheap, they consume a lot of electricity and immensely increase your electricity bill. If you have used them, it is best to switch to an energy-efficient alternative like Light-emitting Diode bulbs or simply LEDs.  They use 75% less electricity and last longer than traditional bulbs. People often misunderstand LED’s to be expensive, but they continue to glow for longer periods of time and helps save on electricity bills in the long run.

2. Use Smart Power Strips

Using a smart power strip is a brilliant way to reduce energy usage and save extra dollars on the electricity bill. Not only it turns off all the devices at once, it shuts off the power supply to appliances when they are not in use or in standby mode. It can reduce energy usage by 25% and help you save over 250$ a year. For better results, you can get an advanced power strip and monitor the electronics from your smartphone.

3. Buy Energy-Efficient Appliances

There are plenty of benefits of using energy-efficient appliances. They prevent greenhouse emissions by reducing carbon footprint and help you save energy and money. Before buying household electronic items, look for the energy star label and its operating cost. These characteristics will vary from product to product, so choose smartly to decrease energy usage. Most energy-efficient appliances cost more than conventional ones, but their long-term benefits nullify the extra dollars. Any appliance that uses solar energy is ideal. A solar powered generator can be an excellent addition to any home as well.

4. Change Day-to-Day Behaviors

It may sound trivial but adjusting day-to-day behaviors can bring great results. You can decrease energy usage by turning off lights when not in use and switching off computers, other electric appliances when no longer in use. Adding further, you can reduce the usage of the air conditioner in summer and thermostat in winter to cut down electricity usage incredibly. 

5. Insulate Your Roof or Ceiling

Insulating roofs is a smart way to save money on energy bills and enjoy pleasant weather indoors. The concept of insulation is to decrease the exchange of heat from the roof, wall, and ducts. It avoids escaping warm air during winter and cooler air during the summer months, thereby reducing the usage of heating and cooling electric appliances. Insulating can lower your energy bills by 20%.

Guest Contributor: Madison Valgari

5 Tips for Designing Your Dream Home on a Computer

Visualizing a house and saving home inspiration images seems fun, yet it can be challenging when you need to turn those images into a plan. Use these five tips for designing your dream home on a computer, so you won't drown in a sea of measuring and drafting.

5 Tips for Designing Your Dream Home on a Computer

Start drafting your home using a working computer that can support designing software. You can even play a game to create a design. Read along and see how these tips for designing your dream home on a computer can turn floor plans into reality. 

Check Your Computer Specifications

A highly graphical software requires a lot of power and memory, especially once you render your designs. Besides, a computer's specs can impact the overall experience of using the device and software. 

For example, if the graphics card of the computer can't meet the software's requirement specifications, you may suffer from slow loading times or lagging. You can use resources from sites like Fancy Appliance to choose the best laptops with specifications for designing houses. 

Visualize Your Needs and Wants 

List down the necessary aspects of a home, and then incorporate your wants. Knowing the essentials lets you plan a budget, which is also important if you want to save money when building your dream house. 

For example, you need to place your study room away from the home's communal areas if you want some peace and concentration. Perhaps you like inviting your friends over for dinner, which means it's ideal to have an open floor plan that provides an easy flow between the kitchen, dining area, and living room. 

Likewise, you need to consider if the design is safe for common natural calamities in your location. Check if there are site constraints that can affect your preferred plumbing or electrical system. 

Try Using SketchUp 

SketchUp is a free program that lets you create 3D home designs using intuitive tools. It’s easy to draw plans because the software behaves like an extension of the hand.

What's also great about SketchUp is that it provides dimensioning tools, enabling you to scale and use actual measurements according to your land. It uses simple click-and-release mouse actions so that you can quickly create a floor plan from scratch or edit some preloaded templates. 

The software has the world's largest collection of free 3D models, including elevations, building materials, appliances, furniture, and plants. With such features, you can make your designs more realistic.  

Practice Using AutoCAD

AutoCAD is an advanced design program for drafting home plans, which is why it may require a high-end computer. It boasts an extensive set of features that allow you to design your house from exterior to interior, as well as from the biggest to smallest components. 

The software lets you choose whether to start with a new project or use a house plan sample. You can also upload a plan drawn by hand, and the software can calculate the proportions for you to fix. Then, you can add rooms, draw walls, or resize a premade room shape. 

Pick doors, windows, and stairs from the built-in collection, and put them on the plan. You can adjust the sample dimensions, design, and position. Once you're happy with the results, you can save your project in 2D, 3D, or both. 

Play The Sims

Did you know that The Sims was initially designed as an architecture simulator? So, if Sketchup and AutoCad seem too complex or serious for you, playing the game is an entertaining way of designing a home. 

However, you may still need to recreate the plan on a design software or coordinate with a professional for better results. Nevertheless, this can be an option to keep ideas flowing. 

Conclusion

As much as overwhelming the designing process may be, the right equipment and information can help you achieve the result you want. With these tips, you can design your dream home on a computer with confidence and take the first step toward fulfilling your goal. 

Guest Contributor: Allen Michael

Fall Kitchen Decorations

Kitchens are one of the most used places in the house, why not make it festive for fall? Whether you have a lot of kitchen space, or minimal, there is a way to add some decorations into the kitchen to show your fall spirit.

A common trend going around is the letter boards, and what better way to use it to add a pun to match your decorations. Adding pumpkins and gourd with some leaves is a simple, yet cute fall piece to include in your kitchen that won’t take up a lot of space.

Adding a couple pumpkins near the sink is subtle but can still be noticeable and festive.

If you have the space for it in your kitchen, a basket with a variety of fall items, such as pumpkins, gourds, squash, etc. filled with nice looking fillers can make a good centerpiece decoration.

A great way to save space but still have decoration in the kitchen is a 2-tier rack filled with mini fall objects to place anywhere in the kitchen.

Guest Contributor: Tiffany Powell

9 Fall Living Room Ideas

Many people love when Fall comes around because it means they get to decorate their homes. Decorating can be fun and unique, depending on the way things are placed and correspond.

Decorating the mantel is a great way to catch people’s attention. Fill it with multiple fall colors to make it pop.

If you are going for the farmhouse theme, if you do not want to add a splash of color, add in decoration that says things that go along with Fall, Thanksgiving or Halloween.

Adding decorations around the TV is a great way to make sure the decorations are seen, since many people watch TV.

Leaving decorations sitting on the coffee table brings the attention to it, since the coffee table has many uses and is usually used frequently by homeowners and guests.

Adding plaid decoration is a great way to add a fall vibes.

Adding a pop of color in a neutral color scheme helps the look of fall. Some people like the white farmhouse style, but throwing in a splash of color brings attention to the decorations.

Adding string lights around the room can give off an additional glow to complement your fall decorations.

Throw pillows are the easiest way to add decorations into your home. These can be found practically anywhere and give a fall look instantly.

Add decorations that have a similar color scheme to make the decorations look good together and flow.

Guest Contributor: Tiffany Powell

How to Pack for a Move: A Complete Checklist

One of the most stressful aspects of moving is packing. When considering how to pack for a move, a smart approach is first to gather the moving supplies you’ll need and then systematically go room-by-room until the job is done. Follow MYMOVE’s checklist for moving to make the process more manageable and creates less stress.

General packing tips

Packing is one of the most crucial phases of moving. By organizing items based on common functions, room use, or other factors, it makes it easier to keep track of your belongings during transport and unpack at your new place.

Here are some easy packing guidelines: 

• Pack like items together. Start packing each box with a layer of padding – it can be newspapers, bubble wrap, or household goods, like blankets or towels. Then, put the heaviest items into the box first.

• Label each box by room and by its contents.

• Pack a box of essentials. Must-have items like: screwdrivers, hammers, snacks, drinks, toothbrushes, a change of clothes, paper plates, plastic utensils and cups, a first-aid kit, medications, etc.

• Refrain from filling boxes to the brim. This prevents boxes from becoming super heavy and reduces the likelihood that they break or are dropped during transit.

That settled, let’s move from room to room with packing checklists and tips.

Start by gathering your moving supplies

To ensure a successful move, you’ll need the following moving supplies:

1. Gather cheap or free packing and moving boxes: Use websites like NextDoor Neighbor to search for used boxes or ask your friends and family. Gather a variety of sizes and make sure the packing boxes are in good condition.

2. Buy bubble wrap (or try to find it for free): Bubble wrap keeps your items protected during the move. And best of all, you can buy it at office supply or department stores inexpensively or find it free on Facebook Marketplace.

3. Rent a dolly: Carrying boxes between places becomes taxing and could lead to drops. To prevent them from happening, rent a dolly from a home improvement store or moving company as it makes moving much easier.

Go room-by-room with a packing checklist

Start by making an inventory of the items you plan to take. Do this based on each room — this will help you organize faster and keep track of your valuable possessions. From there, gather moving supplies such as packing and moving boxes, padding, tape, and blankets — everything you’d need to protect your things during transit.

When you go to pack your items, try to combine them based on function — for example, pack kitchen supplies together.

Lastly, don’t forget to mark your moving boxes so you know exactly where it goes in your new home. On the top and sides of your box note the room name, the contents of the box, and whether or not items inside of the box are fragile. For example, a box you packed from the kitchen could say: “kitchen/everyday dishes/fragile.”

Here are some additional packing checklist items for each room of the house:

The kitchen

1. Defrost the refrigerator: At least 48 hours prior to moving out.

2. Organize dishes: Packing dishes for moving isn’t as hard as you might think. Just make sure to pack them carefully by wrapping them in bubble wrap. And refrain from overpacking boxes. Overpacking will make it more difficult to move the boxes and if a box incurs damage, you could lose a whole grouping of plates.

3. Use sectioned boxes for your glasses: It’s a simple, secure way to transport them.

4. Pack small appliances: Start by removing any blades or loose components. Tape the cord around the appliance, tape any additional parts to it, and be sure to include the instructions.

5. Pack dry goods: Tape paper or bubble wrap around seasonings and pack jars containing spices or food on the bottom so they don’t move around during transit.

6. For refrigerated goods: Store them in coolers with ice.

The dining room

1. Roll up the rug: Secure in plastic or use a rope.

2. Pack chairs: By removing the legs and placing them in moving boxes with the nails/casters in a labeled plastic bag.

3. Secure kitchen table: By wrapping it in a blanket and placing it in an area where it doesn’t slide around.

4. Pack decorations (this includes lamps, pictures, artwork, etc.): By wrapping any items containing glass or ceramics in paper or bubble wrap.

The living room and den

1. Secure electronics: For TVs and computers, secure the screens using a blanket and unscrew the base (if the device has one). Tape the screws and base to the back of the TV.

2. Pack furniture: Place furniture into the moving truck before packing moving boxes. Remove the legs off couch and chairs to make them easier to maneuver into your new home.

3. Keep electronic components organized: Tape the power cables to each electronic component along with the HDMI or audio auxiliary cables and remote control.

4. Handle artwork and mirrors carefully: Wrap them in blankets or bubble wrap.

5. Prepare your coffee table for transport: Put furniture sliders under the legs so you don’t scratch the floors when you move it. Cover the top of the table with a blanket to prevent scratching.

6. Remove bulbs and lampshades from lamps: Store in boxes, and cushion carefully. Wrap the base of the lamp in bubble wrap if it’s fragile.

7. Pack your books, CDs, and DVDs in separate boxes: Don’t make boxes too heavy or they’ll break.

The bedrooms

1. Pack casual clothing: Fold them and place them in moving boxes. For formal wear, consider buying wardrobe boxes that allow you to keep the clothing on hangers during transport.

2. Organize jewelry: Put all valuables in a container you keep on you at all times during the move.

3. Pack mattresses: Put them in bed bags that will keep the mattress protected from the elements during the move.

4. Keep all bedding and pillows clean: Put them in trash bags to keep out dust and place them in labeled moving boxes.

5. Pack your home office: For crucial files, keep them in a safe or locked file box.

The bathroom

1. Pack toiletries together: Make sure to have easy access to them for your new home. The bathroom will likely be the first room you unpack.

2. Organize towels: Pack towels, toilet paper, soap, and more in one box for each bathroom your new home has.

The laundry room

1. Move appliances: First, unplug the washer and dryer. Next, disconnect all components including the dryer vent and washer hose, and tape the power cords to each appliance.

2. Throw away detergents and fabric softener: They’re dangerous to transport.

3. Use laundry hampers/baskets as moving boxes: Pack hampers with socks, T-shirts, and more for an easy move.

The garage/storage shed

1. Pack lawn furniture cushions: Put them in boxes or trash bags.

2. Dispose of hazardous materials: Get rid of any paint, fertilizer, or weed killer — these are hazardous to move.

3. Pack tools: Put them in a tool chest. For items like a saw or hammer, wrap them in towels then pack them in boxes.

4. Drain the items requiring gas: For your grill or mower, drain the gas before transporting the item. Remove the gas tank from the grill (if applicable) and turn it in before moving.

5. Deflate pool toys: This will make it easier to pack them in boxes. s.

6. Take your bike with you: Use a bike rack on your car or SUV for safe transport.

Frequently asked questions

What packing supplies do I need for moving?

When considering how to pack for a move, you’ll need to buy or find items such as boxes, tape, blankets, a moving truck or trailer, and rope for securing loose items.

Where can I get free packing and moving boxes and supplies?

Moving is a common reality for many of us, which means once someone completes their move, they won’t need their supplies any longer. Websites such as Facebook Marketplace or Freecycle are filled with people giving away free moving supplies. Make sure to check these out a few weeks before Moving Day.

How do you pack dishes for a move?

Layer the bottom of the boxes with packing peanuts or paper. From there, wrap each plate in a layer of bubble wrap then stand the dishes up in the box. This is the best way to keep them secure. And once tightly packed, don’t forget to write “FRAGILE” on the box.

How do I organize items before moving?

A great tip is to go room by room and organize items in each into three categories: Items you plan to keep, items you plan to donate, and stuff that goes into the garbage. Organizing before a move makes it much more manageable, as you only take the items you need.

How should I pack a moving truck?

You’ll want to pack the heaviest items such as furniture and appliances into the truck first. Secure them with fasteners so they don’t slide around. Next, add in the bulkiest remaining items before filling the truck with boxes. And for luxury/fragile items or electronics, it’s ideal to pack them into your vehicle where they remain more secure.

Contributor: MyMove.com

5 Tips to Prevent Water Damage

Water damage is one of the most common concerns for homeowners. Once it occurs, it can be a major contributor to loss of property. Just imagine when most of your floor is flooded with water. You don't have a place to relax and it might also disrupt your remote working during these unprecedented times.

Water damage from a flood, fire, or leak won't only cause structural problems that can lead to property damage but also increase mold growth, which presents a health risk. So, it should come as no surprise that water damage claims have been growing faster than other homeowner insurance components.

Plumbing issues often cause this common concern. That's why it's crucial to inspect and keep an eye on your plumbing systems in your home regularly. You can also use water pressure in your pool system as an indicator of your water flow and condition. If you're noticing a low water pressure in your pool system or there are more air bubbles than normal, then you're more likely to have a bit of water damage out there. 

Don't fret just yet. The good news is that in more than 90% of cases, water damage is quite preventable. These five tips below will help you to improve your water flow condition, preventing water from destroying your home.

#1. Regularly Check Your Water Pipes

The first best practice you can do is checking all the water pipes regularly. Start by inspecting your hoses and faucets. Make sure that they're no cracks, clogs, leaks, or even pipes bust. Next, you can double-check the seal and caulking around your tubs and showers. 

While manual checking can be painful sometimes, you can rely on the automated system to alert you whenever a problem occurs. You also need to consider replacing the hoses or pipes you have every five to seven years to prevent any emergencies caused by water damage.

#2. Inspect Your Pool’s Components

As mentioned above, your pool systems can also be a common cause and an indicator of water damage. Therefore, you need to ensure that the circulation of the water isn't restricted. 

Don't forget to inspect the setting of the pumps, heaters, filter, and return lines for possible damaged or worn parts. It can prevent the worst before the water rushes in.

#3. Repair Your Home's Exterior

While you're focusing on the hoses, pipes, and pool system, don't also forget to pay attention at the outside of your home. Check your windows, and if there's a space for water to come in, you need to caulk and seal them.

Next, you can check your roof and find out whether there are any missing, damaged shingles or not. Make a regular, necessary repair to prevent a leak. Not to mention that it's also important to clean out the debris from your downspouts that can cause water to build up.

#4. Prevent Water Seepage

Make sure your basement is clear too. Check for any cracks in the building's foundation or floor slabs. If it's necessary, you can reseal your basement to avoid home water damage before it occurs. 

Try to constantly look for any water seepage down there, especially during rainy seasons. You might want to seriously consider painting any cracks that can cause erosion with a water sealant.

#5. Ask Professionals to Solve Specific Problems 

If you ever find an issue with your water flow, don't rush to fix it by yourself because you might just rub the salt into the wounds. For safety, let the professionals handle some maintenance of your water flow. 

Indeed, it's critical to check your water condition regularly. Still, when it comes to identifying and replacing a leaking pump or even an engine, you might leave it to the experts. Thus, calling professionals is the easiest and safest way to deal with your water damage, and it can save you time and energy too.

Conclusion

Water damage can cost you billions of dollars for the reparation. If it is left unaddressed, even a small storm and small leak can cause flooding and destruction to your home. Therefore, while many people do not see this as a common occurrence, water damage accounts for many homeowners' insurance claims. However, whether the water damage is covered under your current insurance policy or not, it's always better to take a proactive approach and protect your home before it's too late.

Guest Contributor: Diana R

5 Fall On The Front Porch DIY Decorations

Most of us get excited for Fall to come around because of the cool crispy air, and the opportunity to decorate our houses in displays of beautiful colors. Decorating the outside of your house is a nice way to show off your love for fall. However, Fall decor can get pricey. In this article, you can find ways to make displays similar to these by DIY.

What you’ll need here us two wooden crates to start. You can buy these wooden crates at your local craft store, or you can get some wood and put it together yourself. Grab a couple pumpkins, real or fake, and different sizes. Place them in the crates, where you feel it looks best. Add in a sign relating to fall to take it a step further, or you can just put pumpkins in it. You can paint or carve the pumpkins to give it more personality. Then, take a candle or lanterns, and set them beside the crates and on top to give it light and bring attention to it.

This one is a bit more pricey to DIY, but there are ways to save money. Instead of getting real pumpkins, you can buy fake ones. You can also paint the pumpkins yourself, to your color of choice. When picking out the flowers, if you do not want the responsibility of taking care of the flowers, you can simply get fake ones instead, at a fraction of the cost. When you have both pumpkins and flowers, you need to arrange them to your liking on the steps.

You will need two wooden crates again, and 3 different sized pumpkins, real or fake, your choice. You will also need fake leaves and flowers. Arrange the pumpkins in the crates, and then fill the rest of the inside with the flowers of your choice. Take the leaves and stick those on the outside of the box. Fill in the space where it’s needed.

Pumpkins of all sizes are needed, real or fake is your preference. Stack them on the steps to your liking, and put plants behind them so they are peaking. Fake or real plants is your preference as well, but if you are trying to stay on a budget, then fake will be more cost efficient. Add some leaves to the mix, not to much to cover the plants, and then add string lights to make all the colors pop.

A vintage home theme, all you need is wood, a hay stack, corn stalks, a bucket and pumpkins. Depending on where you live, you might already have some of these items available, but if you don’t you can easily purchase these for cheap at a farmers market. start with the ladder and corn stalk up against the house, and add the hay bale in front of it. Add the bucket, and stack the pumpkins to your liking. Make sure you get neutral colored pumpkins or you paint them if you’re going for the vintage style theme.

Guest Contributor: Tiffany Powell

8 Festive Fall Mantels

After the hot Summer days come the chilly, windy Fall nights. Most people look forward to the weather change, after months of hot weather, they enjoy the opportunity to cool off, and break out the fall decorations. There are numerous ways to get your house into the Fall spirit, and many different DIY projects you can do to add a little touch of your own.

DIY pallet, find any pallet and repurpose it into a cute sign for your fall mantel piece. Make it the main focus of the piece, and surround it with extra decorations to make it pop.

Have things hanging from the mantel, and surround the fireplace with fall related objects that complement each other with the reds, yellows, and oranges.

Wreaths are a popular DIY trend. Make a wreath with the colors of fall, and then surround the mantel with the corresponding colors. Add some lights, pinecones, etc. You can always incorporate real pinecones instead of fake ones to bring it to life.

Adding fall decorations does not mean you have to get rid of your previous mantel pieces. Change out the flowers in vases to brightly colored leaves, add miniature fall items, add stuff that hangs. Don’t be afraid to add pieces onto the floor to surround and compliment the mantel.

Add a chalkboard to the mantel so it is easy to change it up. Make a new chalkboard drawing every week, or however often you want. Adding the chalkboard gives the opportunity to change it whenever you want to display something different.

Farmhouse vibes? You can still decorate for Fall while keeping that theme. Find things that are basic in color: nudes, whites, plaid, mute greens. Be sure to add just a tiny pop of color to enhance the farmhouse theme.

Want to go even more neutral than Farmhouse themed? White and green are the perfect colors to match together to give the warm cozy feels of fall. Match a neutral green with white, and there you have it. a cozy, neutral fall mantel.

Add pieces that compliment your living room. You do not have to add a crazy amount of decor, take into consideration the atmosphere. You do not want it to look overly crammed and cluttered. Sometimes, all it takes is adding a simple sign and a couple of pumpkins to get someone in the spirit.

Guest Contributor: Tiffany Powell

5 Commercial Plumbing Myths That Cost You Money

Hiring a professional plumber may take too long and cost you a lot of money. It is the primary reason we tend to ask our others for their suggestions or search for hacks on the internet. However, we do not know that some of these are just myths and can instead cause you more problems in the future. Moreover, residential and industrial plumbing differs from each other, so not all suggestions apply to both. To help you avoid following such misleading facts, here is a list of some commercial plumbing myths that can cause you more money if you follow them.

Myth 1: Your building maintenance can take care of it.

Your building maintenance team is indeed responsible for the welfare of your commercial building. With the help of the maintenance people, you will be able to know the problems within your space and locate the areas you need to focus on. It also includes the plumbing system. However, not because they see the problem means that they also know how to fix it. You still need to hire a professional plumber to fix whatever the issues are. They can even help you install a grease duct access door and panel for more security on your plumbing system. Also, note that not all plumbers can fix all plumbing issues, so you will have to find a reliable one.

Myth 2: You can ignore slow leaks.

It is easy to ignore slow leaks and tag them as unimportant. However, this is a big deal that you need to fix right away. If not, these wasted water will add up and indeed make a big difference in your water bill. Moreover, if you fail to tend it right away, it may cause wear and tear to your faucet and other plumbing fixtures. It would be a problem for you in the future, mostly for your commercial building. To avoid these from happening, make sure to call a professional plumber to inspect and fix it right away.

Myth 3: It is safe to flush any bathroom paper products.

We all know that you can’t just flush products such as tampons and other feminine products in your toilet. However, most people think that because paper is biodegradable, it means that it is safe to flush it down. But that is not true at all. It is not safe to flush these bathroom paper products and even those with “flushable” labels. 

Myth 4: You should use toilet tabs for freshness.

For commercial buildings, having fresh and clean toilets is a must, mainly because it is for business. For these cases, your cleaning team might result in just dropping toilet tabs to avoid cleaning from time to time. However, the strong cleaning bleach could cause harm from your toilet’s inner workings. It can also destroy some parts of your plumbing system, which is very dangerous for your building. To ensure that this never happens, ask your cleaning crew never to let the bleach sit on your toilets for too long.

Myth 5: You can use boiling water to wash away the grease on your pipes.

You might have already heard about this myth from older people. We thought that something hot might help the grease break down. However, using boiling water to wash away the grease on your pipes is not helpful. It does not do anything at all. If you do not want to have grease clogs on your pipes, you have to make sure that it goes to the trash at all times.

If you are looking for a better way to protect your commercial building’s plumbing system, you can install Grease Duct Access Door and Panel on your wall or ceilings. To learn more about our products, visit Best Access Doors, or give us a call anytime at 1-800-483-0823.

Guest Contributor: Chris Jackson

Essential Tips to Improve Water Flow in Pool Plumbing

Do you suspect low water pressure in your pool system? Perhaps you’ve noticed that the water jets don’t work like they used to, or maybe you’ve observed more air bubbles than normal. Whatever the reason for your concern, low water pressure is an issue in a pool, but it can be handled with relative ease. 

First though, you need to understand how you can optimize your pool water circulation, before you can improve the water flow in your pool. 

What Hinders Effective Water Flow?

1. Clogged Mechanisms 

Debris within the skimmer basket, strainer basket, filter, or impeller is a key reason for a decreased water flow in your pool. Even leaves and twigs can get caught in your strainer basket, slowing down the overall water pressure. Even pool toys and swimming suits can get sucked in and cause some serious clogging issues. 

2. Plumbing Problems

If the pipes leading into your pool are older, you may notice some plumbing irregularities may result in ineffective water flow. A burst, bent, or collapsed pipe will affect how much water is reaching your pool. Issues with pipes are best handled by a professional plumber. 

While not a plumbing problem per say, using all your pool’s features at the same time can lead to a reduction in water flow. Turning off some or all of your pool’s features, like the sprinkler system, may improve your water flow. If the issue is due to too many pool features all at once, you may wish to invest in a larger motor that can better handle the necessary water pressure required. 

How to Improve Your Pool's Water Flow

You can take the following steps to improve the water flow in your pool plumbing:

• Carry out regular inspections of pipes

The main issue with pool plumbing as stated earlier, is clogging. Even though the filters in your water circulation system may be working properly, they are always susceptible to clogging if you do not check on them regularly. Conducting regular inspections on your pool system to ensure everything is working properly. 

You also have to be vigilant about the state of your pipes. Check your pressure gauge, which can indicate the area of the pool that is in need of a servicing. Low pressure indicates that the suction line or pump is the problem. High pressure indicates that the problem is with your return line or even your filter. 

• Clear out any debris

Simply cleaning out a skimmer basket or a strainer basket, especially in the autumn or after a big storm, can make an improvement towards your overall water pressure. A clogged filter will require a little more work and it’s important to follow the instructions for your filter when cleaning it out. If the source of your clog is the impeller, you’ll notice low PSI readings and a reduction of water flowing through the pump. 

• Inspect the pool components regularly

Regularly check on the setting of the pumps, heaters, and other pool components to ensure that the circulation of the water isn't restricted. The solution might be just as simple as ensuring that the bypass mode on the heater pipes has not been engaged.

• Hire professionals to solve significant problems

Unless you’re a pool professional or a plumber, you will probably need to contact a professional to handle some maintenance of your pool. Monitoring your pool frequently and keeping it clean is simple enough for pool owners, but identifying and replacing a leaking pump or even a motor may be beyond a skilled pool owner. Calling a professional straight away when you notice a potential problem can save you time and money, giving you more time in the long run to enjoy your pool.

Guest Contributor: Liz Buckley