Mix enough concrete in wheelbarrow to repair the lid in a single batch. After emptying the sack of quickrete into the wheelbarrow, add water with a pitcher or bucket instead of a water hose. It is easy to add too much water when using a water hose, leaving the concrete too soupy and ...
Pumping or cleaning the septic tank too frequently, wasting money (though you're wasting a lot less money than the cost of a new drainfield. Pumping the septic tank with the fantasy that doing so will "fix" a clogged or failed drainfield. All you really gain is a few days of toilet ...
Most people don’t pay much attention to their drains until something unpleasant happens. A lot of times, that unpleasant event is either a smelly drain or a clogged drain. Sinks, shower drains and kitchen drains need to be cleaned so they don’t get smelly. Scented candles or potpourri ma...
It would be smarter to pump the septic tank before or both before and after heavy use if we know the septic system is marginal. Pump the tank before a period of heavy usage to avoid a sewage backup during the heavy usage interval and afterwards to get back to normal usage levels. SeeS...
Methods for unblocking a toilet: Hot water Plunger Baking soda Toilet auger Pressure washer Hot water It may be possible to remove some blockages using hot water. First, turn off the water supply to your toilet to stop the cistern refilling. Then, wearing rubber gloves, remove as much of ...
provides ventilation that prevents the roofing from expanding because of too much heat in the summer, as well as releasing moist air in the winter that gathers from the heat that collects inside the house and rises. Vents in the roof structure allow the attic to be effective in its ...
Of the remaining mass that makes up the four earth systems, the hydrosphere is a little more than 18%, the atmosphere less than 1%, and the biosphere a tiny 0.00008%. Note just how much greater the amount of mass is in the air, which we tend to think of as being w...
If your cistern is aboveground and higher than your faucets, you can use the weight of the water as pressure to get it into your home. Belowground cisterns require a pump to get the water to you, much like a well. If you want a cistern, you need to live in an area that gets enou...
The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) says 84% of home buyers will hire a home inspector. When buying a house you’ll need to know how much is a home inspection. The US national average cost for a 1500 square foot (SF) single-family home inspection is $413. You’ll pay abo...