Top 5 Tips on Smart Home Repair

Top 5 Tips on Smart Home Repair 

Home automation is becoming prevalent because of its convenience, to the point where it practically works like magic. You can control your entire house with a click of a button, the sound of your voice, and sometimes, from anywhere in the world. In fact, it is estimated that the global smart home market will exceed $53 billion. But every now and malfunction can occur. 

Technology may not always be 100% perfect and is one of the arguments against smart homes, but sometimes, all it needs is a simple fix. 

In this guide, we will provide solutions to 5 smart home repair problems that are experienced with smart home products. 

1. Have You Tried Restarting? 

We have all heard this advice when working with any device and albeit for good reason. The IT department or customer service agent is not just being lazy when they ask this question. Turning your device off and switching it back on again can fix the problem. 

If the problem persists, it might be your modem or router that needs rebooting, or it might even be the problem itself, more on smart home Wi-fi problems in the next step. 

2. Check Your Wi-Fi

You may experience hiccups with the connection, such as your smart switch not connecting to Wi-Fi. When it comes to the placing of your modem or router, your device may have trouble staying connected or respond slowly due to an unstable bandwidth. 

This is what technicians refer to as a “dead zone”. The best solution is to move it to the middle of your house and preferably on higher ground such as an upper floor. Devices work better the closer they are to the Wi-Fi source. Signals also travel downward, so placing it higher can improve your Wi-Fi significantly. 

Your router may also be transmitting two wireless frequencies: 2.4 GHz and 5Ghz. Simply put, your smartphone might be connected to one of the frequencies and your smart home device to another, so make certain they are all connected to the same one.  

3. Update Your Software

Smart home failures can be avoided by merely updating your software. All devices, including routers, will need to be updated periodically for the purposes of seamlessness and security, which are highly prioritized in a smart home.  

While most modern devices update automatically, older models may need you to manually do it yourself, so don’t be too worried if your device confirms your email address, password, location, or asks you to download a file. Of course, do be careful as not all pop-up messages are for updates. 

If it states there is an error, you may have to read up on the manual, check forums or FAQs on the site, or contact a customer service agent for your product. 

4. Fix Hardware

When you pertain to smart home repair it may require you to probe into your hardware too but only if you are an expert in the fields of electrical or hardware, no one wants to get into any serious accidents. 

If you’re like the rest of us who might be able to spot these issues but don’t know how to fix them, the best thing to do at this point would be to contact the manufacturer or consult handyman professionals such as HandyKith, for example.

5. Power Problems

Our last tip on the list of smart home complaints would be to ensure that you have a dependable power supply. Being a smart home, everything will be running on power, so it is important to correct any power issues causing the problem.  

There is no harm in guaranteeing that your cord hasn’t come loose or that you don’t have other wiring problems before looking for other possible malfunctions. You can also start supplying yourself with rechargeable batteries and adjust settings to conserve energy. Most devices will come with an LED indicator to display whether your device is receiving power. 

Conclusion

Next time you stumble upon problems with your smart home, keep these tips in mind. If you have any problems setting up, let us know as there might just be a simple solution.

About the Author 

The author has experience working with a few fully-equipped, high quality rated, professional contracting companies like HandyKith, that specializes in all kinds of house repairs and installations, including smart home repair. She has been a smart home enthusiast over the years and educates about the advantages of having smart homes.

Guest Contributor: Clyde Kincaid

How You Can Best Prevent Water Leaks in Your Home

How You Can Best Prevent Water Leaks in Your Home

A flooded home is every homeowner’s worst nightmare. However, much of the water damage in American homes comes from inside the house. Roof, pipe, and slab leaks can cause thousands of dollars in damages and require extensive cleanup. In this article, we’ll review what commonly causes indoor leaks, what their economic consequences are, and how you can work to prevent them from occurring in your own home.

What commonly causes home water leaks?

Most indoor water leaks have one of two origin points: your roof or your pipes. As you might imagine, roof leaks are caused by an issue with your home’s roof. In most cases, this problem starts small—a few missing shingles, or a piece of flashing out of place—but soon evolves into a major mess. Your roof’s shingles or tile are its protective shield against the elements. Any gaps in this armor exposes the underlayment, and then the roof structure itself, to moisture from rain and snowmelt. Under these conditions, a roof leak is only a matter of time.

Pipe leaks are generally caused by either the deterioration of the pipe—which can happen to metallic pipes in older homes—the shifting of the home, or, perhaps most commonly here in the Midwest, the pipe freezing on a cold winter night. As the water in your pipes freezes, it expands, putting incredible pressure on the pipe itself. This stress can cause the pipe to pop open like a frozen soda can, sending water flooding into your home. As we’ll discuss below, frozen pipes require the intervention of a professional who has the right tools and slow approach to safely thaw the pipe out.

Some pipe leaks occur underneath your home’s foundation slab. Appropriately, these are known as “slab leaks,” and they can be difficult to access or detect. Most homeowners first notice a slab leak when they see massive usage increases on their utility bill. As with other pipe leaks, you’ll need to bring in a professional plumber to help you pinpoint the leak’s location and access it.

What are the consequences of water leaks?

In a home, water is a highly destructive force. A pipe leak, burst pipe, or leaking roof can damage your floors, foundation, drywall, ceilings, and furniture—nothing in your home is immune. Indoor water damage creates the ideal conditions for mold to grow, causing a potential safety hazard for you and your family. All-in-all, insurance claims for water damage and leaks top $2.5 billion annually, making it one of the most expensive home repairs out there. What’s worse is that insurance doesn’t cover every type of leak, which means homeowners end up paying about $2,800 out-of-pocket for cleanup and repair.

Preventing water leaks

Just like all home problems and needed repairs, not every leak can be prevented. Some things are just out of your control. However, the right preventative maintenance and proactive forethought can make a difference and help you avoid many potential disasters.

Roof leaks

Preventing roof leaks is as simple as keeping your home’s roof in good shape. We recommend you have a roofer out to your home at least once-per-year in the spring to assess your shingles and make sure your roof made it through winter okay. Then, in the other seasons of the year, get up on a ladder and take routine looks at your roof. If you notice ripped-off shingles after that latest storm, it’s time to take action. Call a roofer and get it fixed before the underlayment is damaged.

Older pipes

If you own an older home, it’s probably a good idea to talk to your local plumber and get a report card on the property’s pipes. Most metal pipes need to be replaced every 70-80 years. If your home was built in 1950, for instance, you’re probably coming up on the maximum lifespan of your copper, brass, or galvanized steel pipes. A home plumbing inspection might be a good idea.

Frozen pipes

To keep your pipes from freezing, you should schedule your annual furnace tune-up with an HVAC professional. This inspection and preventative maintenance ensures that your heater is in its best-possible condition heading into the freezing nights of winter, making it far less likely to break down and expose your pipes to below-freezing conditions. For long-term added protection, you might also want to talk to your plumber about sheathing your pipes in insulating material. This slows down the temperature exchange, buying your pipes many extra hours in the event your heat goes out on a January night.

As it turns out, there’s a lot homeowners can do to prevent water leaks and avoid major problems. Be sure to check out the infographic below,, for even more advice on avoiding water damage and expensive cleanup costs.

Guest Contributor: Amanda L

5 Bedroom Decoration Ideas to Improve Your Sleep

5 Bedroom Decoration Ideas to Improve Your Sleep

Studies have shown that decor is indeed one of the factors that affect how well we sleep or if we sleep at all, the decoration of your bedroom has an impact on you on the psychological level and that’s what affects your sleep.

Your bedroom could make you feel stressed or it could make you feel relaxed and that plays a major role in your sleep process, when you’re stressed your body starts producing stress hormones that work on keeping you awake and alert which as a result prevents you from sleeping. And when you are relaxed your body starts producing sleep-inducing hormones that promote relaxation in your body so you can wind off and sleep deeply.

It is not just about falling asleep or not, it is also about the quality of your sleep, you sleep better when you are relaxed, you wake up more refreshed and energized so you are ready for the day ahead while sleeping stressed leads to low quality sleep that is never enough for making you refreshed or energized.

So here are 5 bedroom decoration ideas to improve your sleep:

There are five elements to the decoration ideas we are going to suggest for better sleep, these elements contribute to your mood and the overall feeling you get when you are in your bedroom so it is important to get those elements right so you can have a peaceful night of deep refreshing sleep, these elements are:

• Curtains

• Lighting

• Color

• Bedding

• Organization

Curtains

Using blackout curtains to keep the daylight out of your bedroom is important for keeping the room as dark as possible so you can sleep peacefully no matter what time is it of the day. Curtains can help to control the amount of external light that gets into your bedroom and if you are a light sleeper that could wake up easily because of light or any other disruption then blackout curtains could be huge for you because it is a truly effective way of keeping light outside of your bedroom.

Lightings

You need to take special care of the lighting of your bedroom if you want to enjoy a restful sleep. You need to pick lights that have low light intensity because it has been proved that high light intensity lights cause the suppression of melatonin production which is a very important hormone that the body produces to promote sleep.

You need to pick the right wavelength of the light also, because shorter wavelengths such as blue have been known to suppress the production of melatonin. You can use instead long wavelengths which don’t have any effect on the production of melatonin.

Color

Picking the right color is also an important factor in how your bedroom will make you feel, science has proved that the best color for bedrooms is blue it helps your body relax and unwind from the stresses that you have been facing all the day, when you enter your blue decorated bedroom you will feel like you have gone into a different world because of the relaxation this color can provide to you. 

Yellow and green are also great choices for your bedroom colors, they can help promote relaxation and make you less stressed when you are in the room.

Bedding 

Luxurious bedding is part of your bedroom decoration and is part of how well you sleep, the soft touch of the high thread count Egyptian cotton sheets is unbeatable and will make you relax in a matter of seconds or the silk sheets that can make you feel like a queen.

Luxurious bedding has the ability to make you never want to leave the bed, if you have the right sheets your relationship with your bed will be a love story. So make sure you invest in your bedding because it has the ability to make you sleep better.

Organization

An unorganized space evokes stress in the human psychology, we need the space that we exist in to be organized, to has patterns, less chaos and more organization, this is what we seek. And with our bedrooms nothing changes, we need our bedrooms to be in order and well organized so we can sleep and relax, because an unordered space can irritate us out of the optimal sleep state that we need.

Conclusion

So these were the five decoration factors that have an impact on how well you sleep, each factor on its own might seem minor but when these factors are combined they will probably have a significant impact on how good or bad you sleep. 

So make sure to follow the bedroom decor recommendations in order to get the best out of your sleep.

Author Bio

Karim is the founder of bedsisland.com, a website that focuses on sleep and everything related to it,  he has been blogging about sleep for over two years now and has a deep curiosity that leads him to explore every aspect that sleep impacts in our lives.

Guest Contributor: Karim Mohamed

Our Very Best Home Maintenance Tips and Tricks

Our Very Best Home Maintenance Tips and Tricks

There’s typically a point where many new homeowners, when confronted with a major home emergency—such as a broken furnace or a busted pipe—will wonder what exactly they got themselves into by buying a home. It’s true: owning a home can be filled with unexpected challenges and expenses. 

The best way to get on top of things? Put together a home maintenance budget and make preventative maintenance your focus as a homeowner. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to do both, and what you should prioritize when it comes to caring for your home.

Set your home maintenance budget

For many homeowners, setting aside the right amount for their home’s maintenance and upkeep requires trial-and-error. Over time, you’ll eventually settle on a number that you know from experience works for your home. However, if you’re a new homeowner or recently moved into a new home, a good rule of thumb is to set aside 1-2% of the value of your home into a home upkeep savings account. That means a homeowner whose home is worth about $250,000 should save somewhere around $2,500-$5,000 every year.

Bear in mind that your home’s mileage may vary. Older homes require more maintenance than newer ones. Homeowners with pools on the property should set aside more than those without. If you are capable of setting aside and saving more, you should do so: worst case, you’ll roll over some of that money to the next year and have a “rainy day” emergency fund set up for your home’s future.

Take care of your cooling and heating systems

Your home’s air conditioner and furnace represent two of the largest investments in your home outside of the structure itself. Keeping them in good working order should be one of your highest priorities as a homeowner. A professional tune-up helps do just that, while also making your HVAC systems operate more efficiently. This matters: your cooling and heating systems account for nearly half of your home’s energy use. Making both more efficient can really pay off throughout the year.

We recommend that you set aside some of your home maintenance budget for annual tune-ups for both systems—one in the fall to get your furnace ready for the winter and one in the spring to prepare your AC unit for our summer heat and humidity. Call a local HVAC pro in your area to schedule your HVAC maintenance.

Energy-smart decisions can really pay off

If you have some of your maintenance budget left over at the end of the year, consider reinvesting that extra cash into your home. A good place to start is with energy-efficiency upgrades. Why? Well, for one, these upgrades help prime your home for future savings, which means they can eventually pay themselves off through lowered electric and gas bills. Second, making your home more efficient can reduce the wear-and-tear on both your air conditioner and furnace. This means lower maintenance and repair costs moving forward.

Plus, not all of these projects carry a large upfront cost! Even something as simple as replacing your home’s air filter at regular intervals can improve the efficiency of your HVAC systems by up to 15%. That’s less than five minutes of work that can really pay off down the road. Similarly, you can cut your monthly electric bill by swapping out your old light bulbs for energy-efficient LED or CFL bulbs. These changes take very little money upfront, but can yield month-over-month savings.

The long-term value of home maintenance

It may not be immediately apparent, but preventative maintenance and energy-saving upgrades do pay off over time. As a homeowner, you’re in this for the long haul. The right decisions now, in the present, will have positive ramifications on the future of your home.

Guest Contributor: Amanda L

Eco-Friendly Design Solutions to Make Your Home Greener And Healthier

Eco-Friendly Design Solutions to Make Your Home Greener And Healthier

Green architecture has gained in popularity immensely over the last couple of years and this trend is sure to continue in the future. Architects from all around the world are constantly searching for innovative ways to make their new projects even more environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient, and thus help the entire green movement grow even further. Having this in mind, we’ve singled out five eco-friendly design solutions for making your home greener in 2020 (and beyond). Let’s take a look and get inspired.

Prefabricated homes as a way of reducing waste

In case you’re not familiar with the term, prefabricated homes are the ones that are built off-site and then assembled on the owner’s lot. This may sound strange at first, but once you consider all the benefits of such a building approach, you’ll understand why the popularity of prefabs won’t fade away any time soon.

 First of all, home builders in factories have a vast experience in pre-building homes so they will make sure to reduce the amount of waste to a minimum. On top of that, these homes have shown to be much more durable, and they definitely take less time to be constructed, since building takes place indoors and it doesn’t depend on weather conditions which means that there shouldn’t be any significant delays.

Locally treated sewage as an eco-friendly method

Aside from concentrating solely on your home design, you shouldn’t forget other aspects such as sewage. This is extremely crucial since for hundreds of years all the waste from massive sewers has been diverted into a single area and then dumped into the sea. Such an approach has polluted the oceans severely and consequently harmed our environment. 

Therefore, it’s no surprise that the idea of handling wastewater locally has become super-popular among green architects. They’ve realized that sewage can be used as a resource for irrigating one’s landscape. So, instead of continuing with the non-efficient method that has only done harm in the past, you can actually make good use of that resource and manage to lower your environmental impact simultaneously.

Solar energy as a green alternative for powering a home

Relying on solar energy to power a home is another solution for reducing your carbon footprint. For homeowners who live in sunny places such as Australia, Malaysia, Philippines, as well as some parts of the US, installing a solar system would be a wise investment as they provide optimal conditions for power generation. Other than getting high-quality solar panels, it’s also necessary to invest in solar system add-ons such as charge controllers and batteries. 

You’ll also need to convert the energy you store into a usable one. For that to happen, you’ll need to invest in another crucial component such as the SMA inverter. Doing so will ensure optimal performance and maximize the solar system’s efficiency. Finally, owing to the amazing professionals, it’s extremely easy to get this system installed nowadays and thus add that final touch to your home design.

Downsizing as a way of preserving the environment

Some people may find it difficult to give up the comforts and luxuries of living in extravagant, large homes. However, what they don’t realize is that homes with an average size of 186 square feet can be equally cozy and, at the same time, more beneficial for the environment. Firstly, these homes are extremely energy-efficient, and owing to this, the annual release of CO2 pollution is significantly lower. Secondly, smaller houses offer other major benefits as well, including mobility, affordability, and lower monthly bills. Finally, it’s important to remember that a smaller home also means fewer hours spent cleaning, as well as less money spent on expensive cleaning products.

Recycled materials for environmentally-conscious construction

Finally, another trend in the green architecture that is bound to become a true craze is building with recycled materials. Due to the use of sustainable materials, there will be significantly less waste which can seriously harm the environment. Even things such as plastic bottles, cans, and car tires that we’d usually just throw away can all be recycled, used in construction, and put to good use. Finally, the use of recycled materials, aside from being extremely responsible, can be very cost-effective as well. What this means is that you’ll be able to invest that money into some other green home improvement solutions and turn your home into an earth-friendly living space. Lastly, don’t forget that recycling is the future.

As you can see, there are some quite interesting green design solutions for eco-conscious homeowners. Going green brings numerous advantages and provides you with a chance to do something great for the environment while cutting down on unnecessary costs. Finally, don’t forget that every single detail matters and that only united we can turn our planet into a much healthier place to live on.

About the author:  Mike Johnston is an avid blogging enthusiast and experienced content writer with a focus in real estate, home improvement, and the construction industry.

Guest Contributor: Mike Johnston

Remodel Your Kitchen: Here Are 10 Reasons Why

Remodel Your Kitchen: Here are 10 Reasons Why

Remodel your kitchen to your liking. The kitchen is where you prepare delicious meals for your family. A hearty meal shared in the dining table is one way to create a stronger bond with each family member. That's why it pays to have a kitchen that is functional enough to serve this purpose. 

Take a walk through your kitchen and assess whether it's time for some remodeling. It can entail some cost, but it wouldn't match the convenience you'll have once make the most out of this change. 

To guide you through your decision making, we have put together 10 reasons why it's already time to remodel your kitchen.

1. Energy Savings

A lot of equipment has upgraded to have an energy savings feature. Now that the cost of electricity is getting high, it's time to invest and upgrade your kitchen equipment because it will pay off in the long run. 

2. Lifestyle

Food preparation depends on your lifestyle. What worked for you before might not be working for you now. Your preferences can change and expand. It's time to look around your kitchen and check whether you will need some addition or removal. 

3. Deterioration

A lot of action is happening in your kitchen, so it's inevitable that some spots would run down. Tiles can break from food preparations; cabinets might be too old already, some appliances might no longer be useful, and so on. Check your kitchen for any signs of deterioration and address it to prevent more significant problems to happen. 

4. A Fresh Look

Cooking also needs some motivation. If you feel like you need to move some things around to rechannel positive energies, then do so. A fresh look can reinvigorate your love for your kitchen. 

5. Modernity

Technological developments are sprouting left and right. Don't let your kitchen be left behind. These developments mean to cut short your preparation time. Give your kitchen a touch of modernity by upgrading your kitchen equipment or by changing your kitchen environment. 

6. Special Needs

Needs can change over time. If you have a differently-abled family member, then it's time to remodel your kitchen in a way that would cater to their needs. 

7. Gourmet Kitchen

If you're someone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen, then we're sure that you're gradually remodeling your kitchen to achieve your dream kitchen. It can take time, especially that kitchen equipment can be pricey, but you'll eventually get there. 

8. Home Improvement TV

You might have bumped into a home improvement show on TV, and this gave you some kitchen remodeling ideas. Act on this inspiration if you think it will be for the best. 

9. Financial Incentives

Upgrading your kitchen equipment into energy-saving ones can give you a consistent financial incentive. Some governments offer rebates if you exchange your current material to energy savings one. 

10. Value

If you are planning to sell your property, remodeling your kitchen can increase your property's value. It would be best if you renovate your kitchen in a way that will be appealing to potential buyers.

There you have it! You have many reasons you can go to on why the need to remodel your kitchen. So, look around, and start to remodel your kitchen.

Guest Contributor, Dana Laksman

Top plumbing repairs that shouldn’t be ignored

Top plumbing repairs that shouldn’t be ignored

Our lives are hectic. In between the hustle-and-bustle of dropping the kids off at soccer practice, getting groceries, going to work, and finding time for relaxation every now and then, it’s easy for home maintenance to get pushed to the proverbial backburner. However, when your home is faced with urgent plumbing repairs, the issue may not be able to wait. Here are the major plumbing issues that require fast action on your part.

Sewer line issues

Just mentioning the words “sewer backup” to any long-time homeowners is probably enough to give them the shivers. Sewer line issues are among the most expensive and messy of plumbing disasters. The key to avoiding a sewer backup and an incredible amount of damage to your home is taking quick action at the first sign of a problem. So, just what do you need to look out for?

Sewer line clogs are most commonly caused by organic (grease, oil, eggshells, flour, coffee grounds, and more) and non-organic (sanitary products, “flushable” wipes, trash) waste that is put down the kitchen sink or toilet and becomes trapped deep in the line, forming a partial clog. Eventually, with enough time, this will fully clog the line, preventing wastewater from exiting your home into the municipal sewer or your septic system. The telltale sign of a sewer line clog is all of your sinks, drains, and toilets clogging at once. When this happens, immediately turn off the water supply to your home and call a plumber for emergency service.

Sewer line cracks and leaks also represent a potential problem. As the ground shifts around your line or tree roots burrow around it, parts of the line can crack or separate, leading to a leak. On the surface, you’ll probably notice a perpetually wet spot in your yard and smell the problem when above it. This is your time to call a plumber. Unfortunately, a sewer line leak isn’t going to resolve itself, and a leak can attract nearby tree roots, making the problem much worse.

Frozen pipes

On the coldest of winter nights, your home’s pipes are at risk of freezing. In cities throughout the Midwest and Northeast, plumbers get thousands of calls every winter about frozen pipes. There are two common, yet untrue, myths about frozen pipes. The first is that do-it-yourself thawing tricks, such as using a hairdryer, can safely and effectively thaw out a pipe—this can actually damage the pipe and increase the risk of a burst. The second is that homeowners can just ignore the frozen pipe, as it will eventually thaw out. This is also untrue.

First, consider what happens when the water in a pipe freezes. As anyone who has left a can of soda pop in the freezer too long can tell you, liquids expand as they freeze, occupying more space than they once did. When the water in your pipes freezes, it, too, expands, putting immense pressure on the interior walls of the pipe. A pipe burst is what happens when the pipe walls can no longer take the pressure. This pressure is cumulative, so just letting frozen pipes stay frozen and procrastinating means you could be flirting with disaster.

Most frozen pipe incidents occur when the property’s furnace stops working: that’s what allows indoor conditions to get cold enough for pipes in exterior walls to reach the freezing point. If your frozen pipe issue is accompanied by a malfunctioning furnace, you can’t expect your pipes to thaw out on their own anytime soon.

Water heater problems

Tucked away in your garage, utility closet, or basement, it’s all-too-easy to ignore your water heater. Yet, as water heaters age, they generally start to show signs of trouble that can serve as the proverbial “canary in the coal mine” for a disastrous tank burst. 

Standard water heaters contain an important component—the sacrificial anode rod—which draws corrosion away from the tank walls. Once this rod has been eaten through, however, that corrosion will start to attack the tank itself. This can weaken it. Just like in the frozen pipes scenario, your water heater is under pressure. Under normal conditions, the tank is more than built to handle this sustained pressure. In a corroded and weakened state, however, it will have issues.

Typically, this begins with water leaks, as small fractures in the tank shell allow water to escape the tank and start pooling under the system. If you notice water gathering around the bottom of your older water heater, that’s as good a sign as any that you need to call in a plumber right away. Left untreated, these fractures will continue to expand and multiply as the shell weakens. Eventually, the tank could burst open, flooding your basement, closet, or garage with water.

Old age comes for everything—including your water heater. If yours is more than 10-15 years old, keep an eye on it and don’t wait to call a plumber at the first sign of any trouble.

Be proactive and take care of your home

One of the main things that separates happy homeowners from stressed-out ones is proper home maintenance, upkeep, and proactive action. When it comes to your home’s plumbing—and, for that matter, many other aspects of your home—procrastination and delay are the enemy, and only increase the risk of something disastrous happening. When in doubt, bring in a plumber: as the old saying goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

If you’re looking for even more great tips for maintaining your home—including your pipes, HVAC systems, roof, and more—check out this infographic .It’s your guide to other home repairs that you should never ignore.

Guest Contributor: Amanda L

When You Should Call the Best Plumber

When You Should Call the Best Plumber

Many times, a homeowner may notice water leakage problem or noises coming out of the drain system. A novice cannot detect blockage of pipelines, clogging, or dented channels. In such scenarios, you need a plumber because sometimes the problem becomes too difficult to handle. 

If you give a quick search on the internet, you will come across plenty of options. No doubt, it will be challenging to select the best service provider. You should understand and find the best plumbers in the city. We have put forward some tips to filter the result. 

You Can Make a Wise Decision and Call The Best Plumber

• When you are renovating your house

We often like to renovate our house so that we can spruce up our home. If the changes are required in exterior decoration, then one does not have to take the advice of an expert plumber. But when you do an entire renovation of your house, make sure you have called a plumber. An expert will ensure all the water-supply are intact or would need readjustment as well. 

• When the pipelines began to choke 

An experienced and skilled plumber will detect in no time the blockage of pipelines, clogging, or dented channels. Whenever you hear choking noises, this would mean something is wrong with your drainage system. Such scenarios may lead to various issues. It is hard to say even small tiny clogging can flood your home with water. Most of the conked pipelines do the damage if not fixed in time. 

• When odor comes from the sink

Many of us are hygiene-conscious and to keep our toilet or sink free from odor we put plenty of fragrant cleaners. Despite all these efforts, some sink releases an odor. If the problem persists, it means you are looking away from the root cause: the weak water-supply system.

Sometimes, the sewer water gets mixed with the drainage system of your home. It can send ripples of irritating odor, which is also a signal that the pipelines are dented. At the worst situation, the sewage system has burst out. Call the best plumber and fix this problem as soon as possible.

• When water pressure is low

Blocked pipelines often cause low water pressure. Other than blocked pipes, malfunctioning valves also lead to the same problem. In both the cases, there is a chance water may burst out and cause leakage—all you have to do to tackle any of this issue if by calling the best plumber.

• When you need to check your drainage system

Many experts often advice to do a regular inspection of the house. It is an excellent method to detect any unnoticed issue or a sprouting one that may crop up in the future. You may notice problems related to drainage mostly give small signs before it turns into a major problem. The first sign can be the clogged drain or slow draining; you can spot it by hearing gurgling noise in the pipelines. Make sure you call plumber Brisbane in time and fix the clogged drainage system before it becomes a mayhem.

Conclusion

An expert will fix low water pressure, odor in pipelines, unusual noises from the pipeline, and clogged drainage system. Small signs can make you stay aware of the situation faster. Always remember, it is not about the money. Prevention is better than cure. We have put forward some of the reasons, all you need to do is  to call a plumber. Pick up your phone and hunt down who is the best plumber in your locality.

Guest Contributor: Lara Buck

Tips to Help With Flood Damage Restoration

Tips to Help With Flood Damage Restoration

According to the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), an estimated 13 million Americans live in flood-prone areas, but experts believe it could be three times that.

If you live in a place identified as a flood zone, seeing your home submerged after a heavy storm is always a possibility. Taking steps to protect your home from flooding would be a good idea. So is knowing what to do when your property gets hit by a flood and sustains damage.

Flood damage, in all honesty, is not the easiest thing to deal with after a storm. If a few inches of water in your home can already cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage, imagine what knee- or even waist-deep flood waters can do. The cleanup task is going to be gargantuan, and your storm damage repair efforts will cost you a lot.

Still, your home is going to need flood damage restoration. Here are some tips that will help you in that regard.

Call Your Insurer

If you have flood insurance, then the first thing you should do is call your insurance provider. Ask for directions on how to file a claim so you’ll have money to pay for much-needed flood damage repairs.

Your insurer will soon send an insurance adjuster over to assess the damage caused by the flood, so make sure everything is untouched. Take lots of pictures and videos, as documentation is critical when filing an insurance claim.

Safety First

Documenting the damage means you’re going to enter your flooded property. Before you do so, make sure you’re wearing the right personal protective equipment or PPE.

Keep in mind that flood water could contain contaminants such as Salmonella and E. Coli. The single most important PPE you need to wear are waterproof boots, preferably with an insole and a steel toe. Latex or rubber gloves and safety goggles are also a must.

You also need to make sure the power to your home has been cut off to avoid electrocution.

Check If Your Home Is In A Disaster Area

Your home may be located in a place identified by authorities as a disaster area. Find out if it is so you can get access to financial assistance and other resources that the government may provide.

Get Your Belongings Out of the House

Take all the furniture, appliances, carpets, and any of your belongings hit by the flood out of the house. Check which ones can be saved and which ones are damaged beyond repair. Any foodstuff, from canned goods to fresh produce, that you find floating in the floodwater must be disposed of immediately. Don’t even think about consuming them.

Remove the Water

Since water damage can only get worse if you leave the floodwater be, you must do whatever you can to remove all the water as soon as possible. Use any means necessary, including dippers, buckets, mops, and pumps to get all that water out of your home. If your entire family is helping out, make sure everyone wears safety gear, too.

However, you have to wait for your insurance company to greenlight any effort on your part to remove the water. Proceed only once you get that go-signal to ensure that your insurance claim won’t run into any issues.

Dry Your Home

With most of the water gone, the next step would be to dry all affected areas. You can use mops, rags, and sponges for the task. To speed up the drying process, bring in some industrial fans and turn them all on at full blast. It would be best if you also opened all windows and doors to let in the sunshine.

Your home also needs to be completely dry to reduce the risk of mold buildup.

Call Water Damage Restoration Specialists

The next step is repairing all the water damage and restoring your home. You can take on the job yourself, or you can put that flood insurance money to good use by contacting a water damage restoration company.

With their training, experience, and equipment, water damage restoration professionals can deal with any kind of damage caused by a flood. You’ve already done the preliminary cleanup to mitigate the water damage; let water damage restoration specialists do it professionally and finish the job. By the time they’re done, your home will look just like it did before the flood.

According to the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), an estimated 13 million Americans live in flood-prone areas, but experts believe it could be three times that.

If you live in a place identified as a flood zone, seeing your home submerged after a heavy storm is always a possibility. Taking steps to protect your home from flooding would be a good idea. So is knowing what to do when your property gets hit by a flood and sustains damage.

Flood damage, in all honesty, is not the easiest thing to deal with after a storm. If a few inches of water in your home can already cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage, imagine what knee- or even waist-deep flood waters can do. The cleanup task is going to be gargantuan, and your storm damage repair efforts will cost you a lot.

Still, your home is going to need flood damage restoration. Here are some tips that will help you in that regard.

Call Your Insurer

If you have flood insurance, then the first thing you should do is call your insurance provider. Ask for directions on how to file a claim so you’ll have money to pay for much-needed flood damage repairs.

Your insurer will soon send an insurance adjuster over to assess the damage caused by the flood, so make sure everything is untouched. Take lots of pictures and videos, as documentation is critical when filing an insurance claim.

Safety First

Documenting the damage means you’re going to enter your flooded property. Before you do so, make sure you’re wearing the right personal protective equipment or PPE.

Keep in mind that flood water could contain contaminants such as Salmonella and E. Coli. The single most important PPE you need to wear are waterproof boots, preferably with an insole and a steel toe. Latex or rubber gloves and safety goggles are also a must.

You also need to make sure the power to your home has been cut off to avoid electrocution.

Check If Your Home Is In A Disaster Area

Your home may be located in a place identified by authorities as a disaster area. Find out if it is so you can get access to financial assistance and other resources that the government may provide.

Get Your Belongings Out of the House

Take all the furniture, appliances, carpets, and any of your belongings hit by the flood out of the house. Check which ones can be saved and which ones are damaged beyond repair. Any foodstuff, from canned goods to fresh produce, that you find floating in the floodwater must be disposed of immediately. Don’t even think about consuming them.

Remove the Water

Since water damage can only get worse if you leave the floodwater be, you must do whatever you can to remove all the water as soon as possible. Use any means necessary, including dippers, buckets, mops, and pumps to get all that water out of your home. If your entire family is helping out, make sure everyone wears safety gear, too.

However, you have to wait for your insurance company to greenlight any effort on your part to remove the water. Proceed only once you get that go-signal to ensure that your insurance claim won’t run into any issues.

Dry Your Home

With most of the water gone, the next step would be to dry all affected areas. You can use mops, rags, and sponges for the task. To speed up the drying process, bring in some industrial fans and turn them all on at full blast. It would be best if you also opened all windows and doors to let in the sunshine.

Your home also needs to be completely dry to reduce the risk of mold buildup.

Call Water Damage Restoration Specialists

The next step is repairing all the water damage and restoring your home. You can take on the job yourself, or you can put that flood insurance money to good use by contacting a water damage restoration company.

With their training, experience, and equipment, water damage restoration professionals can deal with any kind of damage caused by a flood. You’ve already done the preliminary cleanup to mitigate the water damage; let water damage restoration specialists do it professionally and finish the job. By the time they’re done, your home will look just like it did before the flood.

Guest Contributor: Rachel Anderson

Top 7 Kitchen Remodel Ideas in 2020

Top 7 Kitchen Remodel Ideas in 2020

Trends change with every passing year. However, when we plan to redesign our kitchen we would anyway prefer a look which would last. Lots of time, money and efforts are put in to design the perfect kitchen, therefore we would love it to be appreciated by people for a long while.

Kitchen Remodelling Ideas

There are several new kitchen remodel companies with thousands of newer ideas on design and several other exciting features. There are various popular trends and gadgets to choose from when trying to redesign a kitchen. There are many professionals who help people to choose the best kitchen gadgets from the plethora of options which tend to confuse the buyers. Some of the remodelling ideas are mentioned below:

1. New Floor Layout

Some of the features of the kitchen help to change the look of the kitchen. Some people might argue that the floor outlook does not matter when changing the theme of the kitchen but they are mistaken. A newer floor would help a great deal to give a new life to the kitchen. The most trustworthy material for the kitchen floor is hardwood. There are several options of hardwood to choose from.

1. Attractive Kitchen Island

The focal point of kitchen ideas is the place where the food is prepared. Hence, the kitchen island, however big or small, should be the most important item to redesign. The most preferred material to design the island is granite or marble. They are preferable as they are durable and do not break easily.

1. Luxurious Kitchen Appliances

The kitchen appliances make lives easier and they are one of the most important parts of the kitchen. The appliances, if used for a long time, can hurt the pocket and the efficiency is also reduced. Therefore, experts suggest a change or update to the existing kitchen appliances in some years. The latest appliances are not only good to look at but they are also very efficient. However, kitchen appliances are, rather, long-term investment so, the efficiency should be of greater importance than the look of the appliances.

1. Open Shelving

The idea of hiding one's cutlery as it might displease the guests is antique. People are welcoming the aspect of open shelving as it has several advantages. One can be much more creative if they opt for open shelving. There are a lot more kitchen designs to choose from if they plan open shelving.

1. Hardware and Paint

An instant update for the way a kitchen looks is if one gives a newer touch of paint for their renovated kitchen. This can be combined with an update to the existing hardware, such as cabinet pull-outs, kitchen faucets, doorknobs, etc. This is a rather cost-effective option to give the kitchen a newer look.

1. Kitchen Lighting

One of the best ways to change the outlook is to change the lighting. One can be creative in various ways when thinking to change the lighting of the kitchen. They can opt for a single tone or mix various tones according to their convenience. This is one of the inexpensive tricks to remodel the kitchen.

1. Cabinets

They are rather an important part of the kitchen. They are the victims of abuse in the kitchen and the part of happiness. The choice of kitchen cabinets can change the feel and look of the kitchen. The new RTA or ready to assemble cabinets for the kitchen are both trendy and hurt less in the pocket, therefore they are largely preferred today.

The kitchen is the most vital part of the house, therefore it is very important to keep it updated. Did the points mentioned above help you renovate your kitchen? You can also opt for DIY kitchen organiser as well. Do let us know how you remodelled this busy room.

You can also learn more about organizing your kitchen here.

Author’s Bio:

Archie was a builder for more than 40 years. Mainly after his retirement the enthusiastic electrical works in garden and writes for a blog Homemakerguide.com to keep himself occupied. His many years of experience can get you the right tool reviews whether it is a drill, welding machine or so. An impressive fact to note about him is that almost everything in his house is a representation of his skills made by his hands.

Guest Contributor: Archie Adams