Showing posts with label Maintenance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maintenance. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Fix Leaky Shower Faucet - Easy and Fast

"Fix leaky shower faucet in a jiffy", screamed the eyeball grabbing title of an article on the Internet. Now before you dismiss this as utter drivel, look beyond the hyperbolic headlines, and listen to what the experts have to say. Fixing that leaky shower faucet in your bathroom, and that too without any professional assistance, is not that prosperous a proposal. All it takes is a few very functional tools, a modicum of your time and a hard-to-torpedo attitude, and your leaky faucet becomes a thing of the past.

End To That Niggling Problem

Here's a tenuous contention that displays the traditional proclivity to raise the hackles. But before your temper assumes rampaging dimensions, take a look at how you can put an end to your consternation:


Cut off the water supply to the shower faucet, either in the bathroom or in the main cut off valve in the basement.

Open the faucet to drain the water in it completely.

Get to the root of the problem by removing the faucet handle screw, located underneath the snap on cover, with the help of a knife or screwdriver. This is achieved by turning the screw clockwise.

It's now time for the faucet handle to come off. At times, a slightly recalcitrant handle may be stuck to the stem, and comes out only after a few knocks with a hammer handle.

Look for the rubber gasket inside, and inspect its condition. In case it coats your hand with a black deposit, it's time to abandon it for a brand new one.

Place the new ring flat inside the shower head assembly. It's important to make sure that it fits perfectly.

Retighten the handle, without the use of too much force. Similarly, thread the shower head into its designated place.

The Moment You've Waited For

It's now time to turn on the water and see if you deserve a pat on the back. But what if things don't pan out the way you planned? Relax; just unscrew the shower head, re screw it, and tighten the handle a little more. If it's still as intractable as before, call a professional to bail you out.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Using a Video System For Preventive Maintenance of Drain Cleaning

A drain maintenance system using a video system can cost anywhere from four hundred to one thousand dollars for professional systems. They are one way you can maintain a smooth running plumbing system. With a little preventive maintenance you will save time and money. You can put together an efficient system of drain cleaning tools and inspection cameras. Remember your plumbing system is the foundation to any business you are running. Many do not think of their pipes until there is an emergency. And then it is too late.

Drain maintenance refers to keeping your plumbing system in smooth running condition. With regular inspections and a recording system in place, you can keep track of the build up in your plumbing system. It is important to track the sludge build up in your pipes so you will not be caught off guard by a back up. You can plan for the equipment you need to keep on hand and the best time to perform your drain clearing work.

You can see the pluses to this set up. First you will be able to reduce the inconvenience to the building occupants. They will be able to plan around your work schedule each time you plan a drain clearing. Next your plumbers will have an easier job because it is easier to take out small sludge packs than dealing with an all out blockage.

Third you are able to avoid the health and safety issues that come from sewage backups. You also avoid the huge mess and inconveniences that come with the average plumbing emergency. You can start your inspection time table when you are ready. Then do the next one in about three months. This is an easy way to implement your system. You can use your initial findings to alter your time line as you choose.

This is all about your convenience and efficiency and effectiveness. For instance if you detect no major change in your pipes after the first two inspections you can make your inspections every two years or even once a year. But with all your planning you know that an emergency is still possible.

But cameras can help even in an emergency plumbing situation. Your tech with his camera outfitted with a water proof lens and light emitting diode equipment can see into even a flooded sewage back up. He can find the clog and help the pipes run trouble free again.

If you have an emergency or a slow building clog, the cost to clear the drains is less when you use cameras before and after the drain work. The plumbers are able to detect the clog and then use the right tools for the work.

They can detect the problem and see how far is the access point. This way they can in a hurry complete the work and do it in an efficient manner. When the techs look with their cameras after the drain clearing work they can assure that the entire blockage is removed. The problem will less likely occur again once it is initially removed.