Yeah We Do That

Do You Have A Backup Sump Pump?

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:55:38 EST

Welcome to Yeah, We Do That’s tip #22. This week I am going to continue the topic of water in your basement and talk battery backup sump pumps. If you have a sump pump in your basement and do not have a battery backup pump you may want to consider getting one.

The system I like is a combo pump from Basement Watchdog and you can read more about it at the manufacture’s site.

There are two main types of calls I get and the right battery backup sump pump system will handle them both. The first is when the main pump fails, this always seems to be during or right after a heavy storm when the demand on the pump is high. If the primary pump fails there is a secondary pump attached to the main pump that takes over until the primary pump can be repaired or replaced. If the primary pump fails an alarm will sound to let you know of the issue. The next type of call I get is after a power failure during a storm and it stays out, of course without the sump pump running the basement will start to flood. This system when paired with a heavy duty marine battery can run for up to about a week without power.

There is a small monitor that attaches to the battery box with an LED panel that will sound an alarm and light up to let you know what has gone wrong. It will inform you when if the primary pump has failed, the power has gone out, the battery needs water added and more.

If you do not have a battery backup system for your sump pump and cannot get one or do not want one I suggest at least getting an alarm that will sound if the floor around the pump becomes wet, these are also nice to place around your water heaters to. The drawback to these alarms are; if the power fails they will not sound and if the pump fails and there is no backup pump, once the water starts coming up a lot of water can overflow by the time you can get a new pump and replace the broken one. You would be surprised how quickly your entire floor can flood. Food for thought, stay dry during this next round of storms!

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--Greg

tags: Battery Backup Sump Pump,

Got A Wet Basement?

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:39:30 EST

Welcome to Yeah, We Do That’s tip #21. Since we have had such a mild and wet winter and spring storms are right around the corner for the next couple of weeks I am going to re-visit a few of the water related issues that are common problems so you can be prepared for the heavy spring rains. This week I am going to cover wet basements.

Wet Basement:

Assuming there are no obvious issue like cracks in your floor or foundation walls there are three main areas to look at for controlling water incursion in your basements. The three G’s of wet basements are gutters, grading and groundwater; let’s take a minute to look at each of these.

• Gutters – Are your gutters loose? Over the winter you can have ice dams build up on your gutters, not only can the weight cause your gutters to become loose and pull away but when water freezes it expands and can push your gutters away from the fascia boards. Gaps between the gutters and fascia boards can allow water to run down the side of the house to your foundation wall. Clogged gutters can do the same thing pouring water down onto your foundation wall. Gutter maintenance is an important part of the care of your home. Leaf debris, walnuts and children’s toys are the main things I finding clogging local gutters. Other gutter issues can be caused by an insufficient number of downspouts or downspouts that are too small.

• Grading – Make sure that the ground around the foundation of your home slopes away from your house for at least 10 feet. Over time the ground can settle around your house causing the water to want to run towards your home. If you notice this you can correct this issue by adding dirt or landscaping around your foundation. Flower beds are a great solution; you can raise the grade and improve the look of the exterior of your home. Do not to overwater as you can inadvertently create a water issue in your basement by overwatering too close to your home.

• Ground Water – Sub-surface ground water can be a problem. If you have an older home with no sump pump you can have hydrostatic pressure build up and force water into you basement. After you have eliminated the gutters and grading you may need to look into a drainage system to handle the water. There are different types of drainage systems some are installed on the outside by digging along the foundation and installing a drainage system there and some are done on the inside cutting channels along the foundation and routing water to a sump pump. To determine the best solution you should have your yard and basement inspected.

--Greg

tags: Wet Basement, Fix a Wet Basemnt., Leaking Gutters,

What Is The Best Salt For You And Your Driveway?

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:25:25 EST

Welcome to Yeah, We Do That’s tip #20. We have been pretty lucky so far this year in regards to the ice and snow, but since we just had our first good ice storm of the season this week I thought I would cover the different types of salt that can be used on your concrete driveways and which ones are safe and which ones can damage your concrete, yard, plants and trees.

There are four main types of salt you can buy to melt ice and snow and I will cover each of them here along with their pros and cons. They are Sodium chloride (regular or rock salt), calcium chloride, potassium chloride and magnesium chloride. All of these are safe to use on wood decks and asphalt, I am addressing issue when these salts are used on concrete and vegetation.

Sodium Chloride: This is the most common salt sold for ice and snow melting, it is also known as rock salt, table salt and halite. It is commonly clear crystals but can light or dark blue, purple, pink, rust, yellow or grey depending on impurities present when the salt formed. This is also the cheapest ice melt out there but it becomes ineffective below temperatures of 14⁰F which can be an issue with our winters. This is also the ice melt that will cause the most damage to your concrete driveways as well as causes the most damage to the environment. Damage is caused by the release of chloride while the salt melts which pits your concrete and rusts your cars in addition to causing damage to your yard, plants, trees and watersheds if too much salt gets into them. This product is sold locally under the brand name of Safe Step Standard (Yellow Bag) and many other brand names so just ask for Rock Salt.

Calcium Chloride: This is another very common ice and snow melt salt. You probably have seen this salt as it looks like small white pellets. Calcium Chloride can be used effectively as an ice melt to temperatures as low as -50⁰F. It does this because calcium chloride generates heat when combined with water. It is also safer around your yard plants and trees with the exception of pine trees. It will still cause damage to your yard, plants, trees and concrete in large concentrations. Also you should wear gloves when handling this product as it is a skin irritant if your hands are wet. One of the names this product is sold locally as Safe Step Extreme 7300 (Orange Bag) and Prestone Driveway Heat.

Potassium Chloride: This product is sometimes sold as a safer salt to use around your pets and plants. While potassium chloride is used in fertilizer as a source of potassium it’s melting power is limited like sodium chloride as it becomes ineffective at 15⁰F. It will not irritate your skin and is safe to be used around your yard, plants and trees. One of the names this product is sold locally as is Safe Step Sure Paws Safe (Green Bag).

Magnesium Chloride: This is the newest ice melting salt on the market and is my choice. This product is being used more and more by state and local governments as a brine solution since it is less damaging to concrete, plants and trees. Magnesium chloride remains effect until -13⁰F and works very quickly eating through a ½ inch of ice in about 10 minutes at 0⁰F. One of the names this product is sold locally as is Safe Step Extreme 8300 (Red Bag).

You can also get a blended ice melt with both calcium chloride and magnesium chloride sold locally under the brand name of Roadrunner.

If you have found this article useful please support us by clicking the like button on the article as well as following and liking our Facebook Page. You can also follow us on Twitter and add us to your circles on Google Plus. Starting January you will find special Social Media only discounts and promotions that will save you money on services in addition to extra tips.

If you would like to see a How-To guide on a particular topic you can request it by e-mailing me and I will see what I can do.

--Greg

tags: Ice Melt, Driveway Salt, Rock Salt,

How to Repair Your Garbage Disposal.

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:26:41 EST

Welcome to Yeah, We Do That’s tip #19. This week I am going to cover an issue that I see quite often. I will get a call from a customer stating that their garbage disposal has stopped working. You may not need a new one and there are a couple of thing you can try yourself before calling for help.

The first thing you should do is to check to see if the reset button located on the bottom of the unit has been tripped. Push the button and test the unit again, if it still does not work check the breaker box to make sure the break has not tripped. If the breaker has not tripped go ahead and turn the power off to the unit so we can check it to see if it is jammed.

Next we will check to see if it is a simple jam. Turn of the power to the unit and with a flashlight look down into the unit and see if you can see anything that is keeping the blades from turning. If you see anything jamming the blades carefully try to remove it by pulling it out. If you remove the object turn the power back on and test the unit again. If the object is jammed to tightly to remove by hand do not try to force it out. Using a disposal wrench (can be purchased at any hardware or home improvement store) insert it into the wrench hole located on the bottom of the unit at the very center. This tool will actually turn the motor and blades of the disposal. Try turning the wrench in both directions until it breaks free. If you break the jam loose carefully remove the object, turn the power on and test the unit. If the unit still will not work try the reset button again. If you cannot break the jam free call us for help.

If you have tried all the options above and the unit still will not work it is time to call for help as the unit may need to be replaced.

If you have found this article useful please support us by clicking the like button on the article as well as following and liking our Facebook Page. You can also follow us on Twitter and add us to your circles on Google Plus. Starting January you will find special Social Media only discounts and promotions that will save you money on services in addition to extra tips.

If you would like to see a How-To guide on a particular topic you can request it by e-mailing me and I will see what I can do.

--Greg

tags: How To Repair A Garbage Disposal

Routine Maintenance Items Part II

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:55:57 EST

Welcome to Yeah, We Do That’s Tip #18. This week I am continuing the talk about some items around the house that need routine maintenance. As I list them try and think about when the last time you looked at, changed or had maintenance performed on them. There is a lot of information so this has been broken up in to two segments, last week I covered monthly maintenance items and this week will be semi-annual maintenance items.

Semi-Annual Items:

Drain/Flush Water Heater – You should drain and flush your water heater twice a year. The easiest way to do this is to shut off the maid water valve for the house and open up a couple of faucets to allow air into the lines. Next attach a hose to the drain valve on your water heater (looks like a hose bib on the side of your house) then open the valve and run the water to through the hose to a floor drain. It may take a while for the water to drain out. After the water is drained out close the valve allowing the cold water in the heater. Close the faucets you opened and turn the water to the house back on. Go back to the water heater and open the cold water valve. The water will shoot into the tank and hit bottom of the tank and loosen up the sediment at the bottom and go out the hose. You may have to repeat the whole process several times to get the sediment out and have the water run clear again but you will increase the life of your water heater by keeping it clean.
Clean Out Dryer Vent – You should clean out your dryer vent twice a year. If your dryer is located on an outside wall this is very easy, you can detach the duct where is meets the wall and just reach in and clean it out. Look in your duct and if it is full of lint too replace it with a new one. If your dryer is not on an outside wall there are ducts in the walls leading to the outside vent. I found the easiest way to clear them out is to use an electric leaf blower, after detaching the duct running from the dryer to the wall place the blower nozzle in opening and turn it on. You may want to use ear protection for this. DO NOT use a gas powered blower for this, usiong a gas powered device inside your home could result in a buildup of fumes and carbon monoxide.
Check Your Caulking – Look at your caulking around your tubs, showers, windows and doors for signs of deterioration. Replace as needed, catching leaks before they start or as soon as they do can save a lot of money from water damage.
Vacuum Registers – You can cut down on the dust in your home by removing your register covers and cleaning them as well as sticking your vacuum in the duct and removing everything you can reach.
Overhead Garage Door – You should check for smooth operation of your garage doors and apply lubricant to your drive chain or screw and tracks. Follow manufacturers recommendations for type of lubricant to use. You can extend the life of your door and opener by keeping it lubed. The motor does not have to work as hard to open the door when it goes up and down smoothly and easily.
Water Filters – You should check and replace your water filters for your house/refrigerator every 6 to 8 months. Some of your newer appliances will let you know when it is time to order and/or replace the filters.
Replace Smoke Alarm Batteries – You should replace your smoke/carbon monoxide batteries every six months, an easy way to remember is to do it when you change your clocks for daylight savings.
Expansion Tank – You expansion tank if you have one should be located near your water heater. This is an important piece of equipment and keeps your water pipes from over pressurizing. I have covered this item before and you can read the article here. Did You Know Your Expansion Tank Needs Maintenance?.

If you have found this article useful please support us by clicking the like button on the article as well as following and liking our Facebook Page. You can also follow us on Twitter . Starting January you will find special Social Media only discounts and promotions that will save you money on services.

If you would like to see a How-To guide on a particular topic you can request it by e-mailing me and I will see what I can do.

--Greg

tags: Routine Household Maintenance