How to Deal With Common Plumbing Mistakes to Prevent Future Breaks

Moving into a new house or apartment is not the easiest task, but if you perform several checks you will know whether this is the right place for you. You don’t have to be an expert in plumbing to be able to see a few important telling signs and understand if the home is ready or if there needs some work to be done. In order to learn more about what is important to know when trying to understand the basics of plumbing I talked to OneStop Plumbers. Here’s what I learned:

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Know Your Valves

You never know when you might need to shut everything down in order to prevent the water from flowing if something breaks. When you move into a new home the first thing you want to find are the main water valves. They are usually placed outside if it's a house, and sometimes apartments are built without access directly from inside and you’d have to find it in the building.

It is also important to know where sewer line access points are if you decide to conduct occasional cleaning. Even though you are not expected to work on them in any capacity, it can still be very useful to the plumbers if you can tell them outright where to look.

Think Before Flushing

The easiest way to get rid of a number of nasty objects is just to throw them into the toilet and move on with your life. By doing so you might do more harm than good because a toilet only works with a very limited amount of different objects it can ‘digest’ and if you decide to throw whatever, then you might deal with frequent clogging going forward.

As with many things in life it is best to prevent the accident from happening and limit what you flush to only toilet paper or tissues only. Otherwise, you may find yourself looking for an emergency plumber in the middle of the night.

Kitchen Sink Is Not a Garbage Can

Similar to your toilet your kitchen sink shouldn’t be taken for granted as it will not be able to swallow everything you decide to throw either when you do dishes or just have a nasty habit of throwing stuff there instead of the trash bin. Coffee, grease, peels from vegetables or fruit should not be cast into the sink because it will clog eventually.

Fix Leaks

Annoying as they are the amount of money they waste if ignored is much bigger. You shouldn’t turn your head and expect them to go away. There is some problem and it needs to be fixed by a professional. If you leave a leaking sink unattended it might waste around 10 gallons of water per day which is basically burning money.

Use Plumber’s Tape

It’s a white tape made of Teflon made to prevent leaks when connecting joints. Since you are not supposed to tighten joints too hard as they might work as intended, you need to make sure there’s no space where water might go through and this is where the tape comes in handy. Wrapping it three times around threads will suffice.

Job Is Done if There Are No Leaks

Water has the tendency to find even the smallest of spaces and slowly work its way through and create a problem later on while you are sure everything is ok.

Professionals might also miss something while working and that’s why it is important to perform a thorough checkup after the job is done to ensure there are no leaks. Let the water run through for a few minutes, close and open valves, and pay close attention because even a few drops here and there show a potential leak in the making.

Cool Ideas to Create a Fun and Colourful Space for your Kids

A separate room for kids is common in modern households. A place dedicated to kids makes them feel safe and comfortable, where they can spread the wings of their imagination, study, nurture their hobbies, and get a good night’s sleep. The room is personal territory for kids, a domain decked out just for them. It gives them a sense of pride as well as make them responsible individuals.

Arbind Shou and Promela Shou recently shifted to an apartment on Budge Budge Trunk Road with their only child. Living in a small rented home for a long time they used to dream about a home where there will be a separate room for their child. The airy 2 BHK residential flat near Budge Budge provided them with the much-needed space and opportunity to design their kids’ room that will look fabulous, hide clutter and become a wholesome space for them to grow up in.

If you too, are running out of ideas to decorate your kids’ room, here are some innovative yet affordable ideas to turn your kids’ space into their dream den:

1.Go wild with paints:

Painting the room in vibrant colours is your best bet for a quick and easy makeover of the kids’ room. Don’t hesitate to experiment with unusual colour combinations. If you want to add a burst of colour without painting the walls, go for colourful shutters. Also give tired, old furniture new life with some splash of colour. Instead of painting an entire room, upgrading the furniture with a fresh coat of paint can energize a space in a similar way.

2.Place multi-functional furniture:

The furniture in the kids’ room should be well-made pieces that will take a good hammering/climbing upon. With the growing age, their room will need to accommodate different furniture like - a desk for study, a bigger bed or plenty of additional storage space for books and equipment. Too much furniture will make the room cluttered. So, think about some long-term investment in terms of furniture and shop for multi-functional pieces that incorporate desk space with plenty of hidden, but accessible, storage. Place some boxes, baskets or attach some hooks, hangers and wall organizers into the underside of the windowsill or behind the doors to create an efficient space to move around freely in the room.

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3.Get creative with walls:

Add personality to the room by decorating the walls with wall-hung toys, pictures or family photos. Rather than purchasing pricey artwork, install inexpensive shelving and decorate it with items that you already have. Try cute wall stickers or string up pretty bunting made with different fabrics and patterns to jazz up a wall inexpensively. Wall murals are also a great option to keep the room fun and creative. Give it a more personal touch by framing a map of a beloved place and hang it on the wall. It is an excellent idea for budget-friendly wall décor and also will be very useful for your kid.

4.Display in style:

Walls adorned with gallery-style wall décor that celebrates all styles of art form look ever stylish and doesn't have to cost a fortune. If your child is passionate about something, like music or painting - display their prized possessions on the walls. Guitars hung on the wall will be easily accessible and would look great too. Try using your kid’s artwork, frame it or hang a large corkboard to fill a blank wall. The little one will love seeing his/her own handwork displayed and will be encouraged to create more.

5.Give it a fun touch:

The kids’ room should not look dull and it must be different from other rooms. Depending on the age of your child, add some fun and more personal touch to the room. Create a dreamy nook with a canopy makes a major visual impact. Place cushions, toys and fairy lights into it to create a really cosy atmosphere which can be transformed into a magical bedtime reading space. If the room is spacious enough, a swing would be a fun addition. If your child is a toddler, roll out a play rug for instant fun.

Landscaping ideas for your Seattle garden

Spring and summer are fast approaching, and what can be a better way of welcoming them than by utilizing your garden? Whether you have a small or a big yard, there are many things you can do. With a bit of hard work and creativity, your garden will be ready for enjoyment and relaxation in no time. What is more, once you finish your garden, it will serve you well for years to come. And, trust us, that is something you will definitely need in a city as busy and as 'concrete' as Seattle. So, without further ado, here are some landscaping ideas for your Seattle garden that are trending right now.

Start With Paving

If you want your Seattle garden to be functional and beautiful, you must incorporate some sort of steppingstone path. This path can go around your yard and maybe lead to a patio, your house, or some other destination. However, be sure that you cannot pave this patio wherever you want in your yard. You must make a plan in order for everything to look coordinated and well-organized. Start by cleaning your yard and removing all the items you have laying there. If, by some chance, you do not want to get rid of those items yet, consider a portable storage solution that companies like PortaBox Storage Seattle offer. It is important to start with a 'clean canvas' when landscaping and creating that perfect garden.

After that, head on to your local hardware store, and choose the material you want for your paving. While doing that, keep this in mind:

• Golden paving materials look best when paired with lavender or pink plants.
• Grey paving materials look best when paired with purple and white plants.
• Black paving materials look best when paired with orange, red, and yellow plants.

Make sure that your stepping stone path goes well with the rest of your yard. .

Plant Trees

Every garden must have a tree. Trees block the sun, create shade, filter noise, protect your privacy, etc. Moreover, they are extremely beneficial for our plants! So, if you have some room in your Seattle garden, use it for planting a tree. However, that process requires proper planning as well. After all, that tree will be in your garden for decades to come, so choose its spot wisely. When it comes to the kind of tree you should pick for your garden, you will have plenty of choices. Trees come in all possible shapes, sizes, and colors. There are smaller ones you can put in a pot on your balcony or on your patio, or those larger ones that spread their branches widely in your yard. So, once again, choose your tree and its location carefully!

Add Furniture

Your garden should not be only for looking. After all this landscaping, you should be able to enjoy it. And, what better way to do that than to add some furniture and use your garden as an extra 'room' during warmer months? Again, garden furniture comes in all shapes and sizes, so it will be rather easy for you to find some pieces that suit your taste. If your garden is smaller, we recommend getting foldable furniture. On the other hand, if you have a lot of space, you can go all out. Consider buying a matching sitting set (table and chairs), a swing, a day bed, etc. You will enjoy organizing barbecues and get-togethers in your yard! And, when autumn and winter come, you can easily place this furniture in your garage. If you do not have one, simply find a storage provider with adequate conditions, and keep your yard furniture there until spring comes again.

Make sure that the furniture you choose for your yard is water-resistant too!

Pay Attention to Your Fence

A fence is a big part of a garden. It brings everything together while creating boundaries. So, it is necessary for you to make sure that your fence looks good. Make sure that your fence is coordinated with the rest of your garden. Choose its materials and color so that they match the overall look and style of the yard and your house. Luckily, there are many materials to choose from - wood, metal, concrete, etc. You can even grow your own living fence. However, whatever type of fence you choose, make sure that it is allowed by your neighborhood association as well, as these associations are very common in the city of Seattle. Also, do not forget to check with your neighbors to check whose fence it is before you start any work on it.

A fence is a big part of any yard - do not overlook it!

 Create Different Zones

In the first paragraph, we said that making a plan on how your yard should look is of key importance. If you scatter around all the trees, plants, and furniture, you will create a chaotic mess. What is more, you will create something you will not be willing to use later on. That is why everything in your yard must be coordinated and have its place. Have that in mind when deciding where you will put your sitting area, your patio, and each and every tree and flower. Moreover, if you have a bigger yard, we also recommend creating zones. For example, one zone will be only for sitting. Another zone will be only for planting flowers. And, if you have small children or pets, be sure you create one zone in your Seattle garden just for them.

Photos used

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