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Archive for November, 2009

There are many other things that can go wrong with a house’s plumbing. Here’s a selection.

1. Washing machine smells
Gel washing machine capsules can block the pipework within the machine and cause the drum to smell. The answer is to run the machine empty on its hottest temperature for a long programme and then repeat. This should dissolve any remaining gel and clear the problem. Check the filter and clean at the same time.

2. Toilet won’t flush properly

If the water is slow to drain out of the WC when you flush, there may be ablockage in the trap or in the pipe from the loo to the soil stack.  A toilet plunger may be enough to fix the problem. Remember to cover the floor around and wear rubber gloves. Hire Shops can also supply wire ‘snakes’ or augers

3. Scaled up shower head

If you’re in a hard water area, choose a shower head with a rubber faceplate so that you can rub the scale particles away regularly. A quick DIY solution for a badly clogged showerhead is to remove the faceplate and leave it to soak overnight in white vinegar.  A stiff nailbrush or toothpick should clear the loose limescale.

4. Banging pipes

If your home sounds like the boiler room of the Titanic, chances are you have what’s called water hammer, the sound caused when water slams against a valve that has been closed abruptly. The force can also make the pipe vibrate and knock against the joists, creating even more noise. Water hammer often happens when a washing machine is running, because the machine starts and stops the water  flow suddenly.

If you can pinpoint where a pipe is hitting a joist, a good DIY quick fix is to slip a piece of foam insulation around the pipe to cushion it and damp the sound.  Otherwise, a plumber can check the system and may fit a water hammer shock absorber to solve the problem.

5. Boiler not working

Make sure that the power supply to the boiler is on and that a switch hasn’t tripped on your consumer unit. If the switch or fuse keeps tripping, call in an electrician. Assuming your gas or oil supply is OK, the next step is check the programmer is in the ‘on’ position and that the thermostats are turned up high enough to turn on the radiators. One of the most frequent causes of a boiler switching off is the pilot light going out. Follow the maker’s instructions to re-light if so. If there’s still a problem, get a heating engineer to check the system.

6. Blocked sink

The most probable cause is a blockage in the plastic trap under the plughole. Check to see if the bath, washing machine or any other outlets are draining OK.  If they are, the problem is in the trap or pipe leading from your sink to the  soil pipe or drain. If nothing’s draining, you have a blocked soil pipe or drain.

First, try forcing the blockage through the pipe with a plunger or pump. Hold a wet cloth over the overflow hole and fill the sink with enough water to cover the rubber plunger. For a better seal, rub some Vaseline around the plunger rim. Pump the handle up and down at least a dozen times to try to clear the blockage. When clear, run both taps to clear any loose material.  If this doesn’t fix the problem, bail out as much water as possible, put a washing-up bowl under sink and unscrew the trap to remove the blockage. Rarely, the problem is further down the 40mm waste pipe and you may need to unscrew this pipe from the trap and use a piece of stiff wire (an old coat hanger is ideal) to wiggle the blockage free. If all else fails, try forcing a hose down the pipe and using a blast of water.

Rules and regs

It goes without saying that you should only tackle plumbing repairs that you feel are within your DIY abilities. Basic updating and repairs to taps, pipes and radiators can be tackled without complying with building regulations but you must never attempt to repair your boiler.

Mouldy sealant is not a good look but there are ways to keep it fresh and clean.

Combat mildew with one of the powerful mildew-tackling products on the market designed specifically for sealant. If the one you try doesn’t seem effective after the first go, try again – it may take several applications to beat the problem.

Stubborn mildew that simply won’t budge calls for radical action – your best bet is to remove the sealant altogether and re-seal, choosing a good-quality product.

Always check manufacturer’s instructions first, before you apply the product. Always try a test patch first. If you are unsure as to whether the item you are cleaning is suitable for our instructions, take professional cleaning advice first.

One of the rooms in many houses that tends to be passed over for decorating is the bathroom. While this may not be the most glamorous room in the house, it may very well be the most functional room at all.

Bathrooms may be small,but they have room for a lot of personality. You can make a simple bathroom into an attractive,  soothing place.  You spend a decent amount of time in your bathroom,  so it should be a comfortable and enjoyable room.

The towels – One of the simplest ways to add color to your bathroom is by using a variety of towels. While hanging towels over a towel Flower -Bathroom accessories should not only be decorative, but should also be functional. Everyone has miscellaneous bathroom items such as hairbrushes, hairspray, and shaving cream that they use on a daily basis.

There are numerous ideas for ways to improve the look of your bathroom using simple accessories. When you begin to look at common household items in a new light,  you can come up with endless decorating possibilities.  Just be sure to use your imagination and have fun.   But If you are very busy , you can ask Downtown Miami Interior Design to arrange all your need.

Tiles are becomingly increasingly popular and can be used in almost any area of the home.  Traditionally, tiles have been used in laundries, bathrooms and kitchens but they can also be used around the swimming pool, in outdoor areas, in garages, and bedrooms, to name a few.  Tiles are low allergy and low maintenance, and come in an almost infinite range of styles, colours and materials.

Choosing Your Tiles

There are a few things to consider when choosing your tiles, with the most obvious being the style, finish and colour.  Look at where the tiles will be and how they will be used.  When selecting colours and designs, take inspiration from existing areas of your home or engage the services of a design professional to help you choose what is best for you.  Remember to take into account the tiles’ wear rating and safety.  In wet areas, you may require tiles that have some slip resistance to them.  Glazed tiles are waterproof but can be slippery so they may need to be coated for additional safety.  Unglazed tiles are porous so they should be sealed in order to minimise staining and residue build up.
It is important that the area to be tiled is measured accurately so there are enough tiles to complete the project.  Buy extra tiles in case of breakage during the laying process and also so that you have spares in case a tile chips or breaks in the future.  it is almost impossible to match new tiles to your existing ones.  Less visible areas such as in the pantry and under the refrigerator should be tiled last in case of a shortage of tiles – this will minimise the effect on the aesthetics of the pattern.
In wet areas especially, the area underneath the tiles should be waterproofed by a professional, whether it is a tiler, plumber or waterproofing specialist.  Waterproofing is necessary so that water does not seep behind the tiles and cause structural damage to timbers or other problems such as rising damp.
Finally, it is acceptable to use floor tiles on a wall, but wall tiles should never be used on a floor as they are simply not strong enough to handle the extra loads.

Types of Tiles

There are several different types of tiles to suit all applications.  Some common tiles are:

• Ceramic – ceramic tiles are made from clay and can be glazed or unglazed.  Many different finishes are available and tiles come in a range of sizes.
• Terracotta – these tiles are unglazed and as such must be sealed if they are to be used in areas of heavy use. Terracotta tiles are usually available in earthy tones.
• Mosaic – mosaic tiles are small tiles made from stone , glass or ceramic and are set into a base to create patterns and designs.  They are popular in bathrooms especially.
• Marble and granite – very durable and low maintenance. If these tiles are polished they may become slippery in wet areas.
• Porcelain – porcelain tiles are fired at very high temperatures and as such are impervious.  They come in a glazed or matte finish and can be used both indoors and outdoors.
• Quartz – very durable and available in a wide range of colours.
• Limestone – popular for floors but needs to be sealed as it can be porous.

Tiles also come with ratings that are designed to convey the durability of the tile and system is ranked from 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the strongest.  Rating 1 tiles are suitable for lightly used areas such as en suites, where the user is likely to be bare-footed or wearing soft shoes.  Rating 2 tiles can be used in residential areas where heavy footwear is not worn and that are not heavily used.  Tiles with Rating 3 can be used in areas such as kitchens and corridors.  Rating 4 tiles can stand more use and as such are recommended for heavily used areas in the home such as entrances and common walkways.  Rating 5 tiles are the strongest of all and are most commonly used in commercial situations.

[from the desk of: f1f1]