Archive for January, 2009

A recent article published in the Los Angeles Times hails this tough economic time as an opportunity to become self-sufficient, especially in the area of home renovation and repair.

“We are getting the real do-it-yourselfers now,” said Debbie Hernandez, a head of do-it-yourself clinics in Glendale, Ariz., for 13 years in an interview with the Dallas Morning News. “I hear a lot of people saying that at one time, maybe last year or the year before, they would have hired it out. But now they want to do it themselves because times are tougher, and the information is there for the taking.”

Now, more than ever, is your chance to take advantage of this attitude and start making your home improvements with the help of SimplyPlumbing.com. As your source for the net’s largest selection of pipes, valves, fittings, and other accessories and fixtures, SimplyPlumbing.com provides that best value for your dollar with service that is unparalleled. Remember, do it yourself repairs and renovations save homeowners time, money, and frustration – all things that are essential to avoid during tough economic climates.

Go ahead, be daring. Start taking control of your home.

Let SimplyPlumbing.com help make your home renovation dream a reality.

With a new year comes new plans for updating and improving your home. If you’re not really sure where to begin when it comes time to start choosing plumbing, faucets, and hardware, look no further than SimplyPlumbing.com to give you the widest range of options and advice on what goes into choosing the perfect faucet for your kitchen or bathroom. When buying a new faucet, consider…

Handles

Choice of a one or two-handled faucet is purely personal. With one handle, you enjoy convenient, single-handed control of water temperature & volume. Two-handled faucets offer more handle styles & spout designs. Remember, try to choose one that will work well with your interior décor and personal tastes. Try to compliment cabinets, tiles, sink, or other hardware.

Style

Avoid opposites in terms of faucet vs. sink size. Try to choose one that works well with the overall size and directs water into the center of the bowl. Look for a long-lasting, low maintenance finish to complement your decor. Also, try to suit the faucet to the room in terms of femininity and masculinity. Do you prefer clean, bold lines? Or are you more of a soft, curves kind of decorator?

Dripless

Remember, you want to choose a faucet that’s going to last for your family. Dripping is going to play a part in determining the life span of a faucet in your home, especially in high usage areas like your kitchen or bathroom. Choose a faucet that offers long-term performance and use ceramic disc valves to prevent leaks and increase durability.

Did you know that an average of a quarter-million families have their homes ruined and their lives disrupted each winter, all because of water pipes that freeze and burst? According to the State Farm Insurance agency, a three millimeter crack in a pipe can spew up to 250 gallons of water a day – a huge headache for you in the post holiday season. To prevent frozen pipes, here are a few tips:

Before temperatures start to fall, remember to insulate the pipes in your home’s crawl spaces, basements, and attics, as these areas are most susceptible to freezing. Check and seal leaks that could allow cold air inside areas where pipes are located. Even the tiniest of leaks can lead to a pipe problem. Finally, remember to disconnect your garden hoses and, if practical, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This reduces the chance of freezing in the short span of pipe just inside the house.

Once the temperature starts to fall, use a trickle of hot water to prevent pipes from freezing overnight. While this may up your water bill a bit, it could be the difference between a good night’s sleep or a plumbing nightmare. During the day and through the night, open up cabinet doors to allow heat to get to uninsulated pipes under sinks or appliances.

If you plan on going away at any time during the winter months, be sure to set the thermostat in your home no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, ask a friend to keep an eye on your property to make sure that water system is functioning well, or you could always shut off and drain the water system if you’ll be gone for a long period of time.

Should your pipes freeze, remember that SimplyPlumbing.com is here to provide you with Replacement Water Pipes and other plumbing supplies that you’ll need to make a repair. Or, you can always call a plumber to fix the problem.