Friday, July 27, 2018

Plumber’s tips on remodelling a bathroom on a budget

Bathroom Goals

Bathroom

Remodeling the bathroom at a tight budget can still be possible with a few tips from expert, licensed plumbers. (Photo Credits)

Bathroom remodeling can be an expensive home improvement project, but it comes with a lot of returns. Apart from helping a homeowner achieve his or her bathroom goals and feeling good generally every day to see a wonderful space, bathroom renovations also ups the value of the property. Plumbing Association of San Diego 

Home Improvement website Bobvila.com discussed this in one of his blog posts on the advantages of renovating a bathroom.

(Related Post: Plumber's thoughts on Drain Snakes)

"Remodeling requires an investment of thought, time, and, crucially, money on the part of the homeowner. Here, "the key word is 'investment,' " Maykut says. Not every upgrade comes with a favorable return, but bathroom remodeling delivers one of the best. Upon resale, homeowners typically recoup more than half the total cost of a bathroom renovation. The only catch is that for a remodel to be an asset, the workmanship must be high quality. For all but the most ambitious and capable do-it-yourselfers, that means hiring pros you trust to handle the job."

Read the rest of the benefits mentioned in the original article here.

Remodeling on a budget

But can remodeling be done on a not so huge a budget? According to Home Garden Television, it is a yes. One of the tips mentioned in their article is to strategize and hire a professional. A/C And HVAC

(Related Post: What to do when a pipe bursts)

"Working with a designer or architect may seem like a pricey move right out of the gate for someone wanting to remodel their bathroom on a budget, but it is money well spent. Having a plan you've worked out with a professional will assure you that your design, budget and timeline are realistic, and it will give you a goal with a path to get there."

Watch the rest of their slideshow here.

Related Plumbing Repair and Installation Services:

Forbes.com meanwhile came up with sound advice on what to consider before finally deciding on remodeling the bathroom. One of the key points discussed in their write-up is the impact of the remodeling project on the home's plumbing system.

"Residential plumbing typically uses 1½-inch pipes for drains. You'd be surprised how much gunk and hair goes down that drain. The larger the drain, the less likely it is to clog. The cost difference to upgrade to a 2-inch drain is practically negligible, and unless your framing doesn't allow for it, you should consider increasing the drain in your shower to 2 inches. Also, If you live in a region where temperatures drop below freezing during the winter, it's important that your water supply lines don't get routed through an exterior wall."

Take a look at the rest of the article here.

Remodeling the bathroom does not necessarily mean the homeowner needs to raise a huge amount. He just has to truly assess what he can afford, assess and plan accordingly, and stick to that budget.

Diamond Ace Contractors

5052 Genesee Ave, San Diego, CA 92117

(888) 231-1086

Diamond Ace Contractors Plumbing Repair Contractor San Diego

HVAC Technician's Tips on Lowering Costs during the Summer

The post Plumber's tips on remodelling a bathroom on a budget appeared first on Blue Diamond Plumbing.

Plumber’s tips on remodelling a bathroom on a budget

Bathroom Goals

Bathroom

Remodeling the bathroom at a tight budget can still be possible with a few tips from expert, licensed plumbers. (Photo Credits)

Bathroom remodeling can be an expensive home improvement project, but it comes with a lot of returns. Apart from helping a homeowner achieve his or her bathroom goals and feeling good generally every day to see a wonderful space, bathroom renovations also ups the value of the property. Plumbing Association of San Diego 

Home Improvement website Bobvila.com discussed this in one of his blog posts on the advantages of renovating a bathroom.

(Related Post: Plumber's thoughts on Drain Snakes)

"Remodeling requires an investment of thought, time, and, crucially, money on the part of the homeowner. Here, "the key word is 'investment,' " Maykut says. Not every upgrade comes with a favorable return, but bathroom remodeling delivers one of the best. Upon resale, homeowners typically recoup more than half the total cost of a bathroom renovation. The only catch is that for a remodel to be an asset, the workmanship must be high quality. For all but the most ambitious and capable do-it-yourselfers, that means hiring pros you trust to handle the job."

Read the rest of the benefits mentioned in the original article here.

Remodeling on a budget

But can remodeling be done on a not so huge a budget? According to Home Garden Television, it is a yes. One of the tips mentioned in their article is to strategize and hire a professional. A/C And HVAC

(Related Post: What to do when a pipe bursts)

"Working with a designer or architect may seem like a pricey move right out of the gate for someone wanting to remodel their bathroom on a budget, but it is money well spent. Having a plan you've worked out with a professional will assure you that your design, budget and timeline are realistic, and it will give you a goal with a path to get there."

Watch the rest of their slideshow here.

Related Plumbing Repair and Installation Services:

Forbes.com meanwhile came up with sound advice on what to consider before finally deciding on remodeling the bathroom. One of the key points discussed in their write-up is the impact of the remodeling project on the home's plumbing system.

"Residential plumbing typically uses 1½-inch pipes for drains. You'd be surprised how much gunk and hair goes down that drain. The larger the drain, the less likely it is to clog. The cost difference to upgrade to a 2-inch drain is practically negligible, and unless your framing doesn't allow for it, you should consider increasing the drain in your shower to 2 inches. Also, If you live in a region where temperatures drop below freezing during the winter, it's important that your water supply lines don't get routed through an exterior wall."

Take a look at the rest of the article here.

Remodeling the bathroom does not necessarily mean the homeowner needs to raise a huge amount. He just has to truly assess what he can afford, assess and plan accordingly, and stick to that budget.

Diamond Ace Contractors

5052 Genesee Ave, San Diego, CA 92117

(888) 231-1086

Diamond Ace Contractors Plumbing Repair Contractor San Diego

HVAC Technician's Tips on Lowering Costs during the Summer

The post Plumber's tips on remodelling a bathroom on a budget appeared first on Blue Diamond Plumbing.

Friday, July 13, 2018

Plumber’s tips on lowering water bills in the summer

Control water consumption

In the Summertime when the Weather is HOT....

Plumber's tips on controlling water consumption during summer months. (Photo Credits)

Summer can be a challenging time to bring down water consumption, given the heat and temperature that makes people use water all the more. The garden needs more tending, the children tend to gravitate towards water activities like swimming, or even playing with the sprinkler outside, and people shower or use the bath tubs more.

Fortunately there are ways to control or even bring down water consumption even in the unbelievably hot summer months.

(Related Post: Plumber's thoughts on Drain Snakes)

The website Earth Easy came up with tips for homeowners who may not want to receive water bill shock. Making use of gravel in the garden or the lawn is one of the tips they have mentioned in their writeup. Plumbing Association of San Diego 

"Exposed dirt gets parched after one sunny day, and that baking sun also destroys all the helpful soil microorganisms which support your plants. Spreading gravel in between shrubs and perennial plants not only gives your landscape a stylish beauty, it also allows your soil to stay moist and alive between waterings. You may find you're able to cut your waterings in half with gravel landscaping, or even convert portions of thirsty grass to a low-maintenance Zen-inspired rock garden accented by well-chosen drought-tolerant trees or shrubs. When you do water your lawn or garden, ditch the sprinkler for hand-watering or soaker-hoses, and consider saving hundreds of gallons per year by collecting your own rainwater."

Read the rest of the write-up here.

Eco-friendly and pocket-friendly too

News 5 Cleveland also mentioned some ways to lower water consumption, and thereby lower water bills. In the news article that they published they mentioned that soaring rates may be caused by increasing sewer costs plus the added cost of replacing parts of the water delivery system like the water mains and pipes. A/C And HVAC 

(Related Post: Plumber's advice during a sewer backup)

"The biggest culprit during the summer is your yard. Rager said a garden hose or sprinkler runs three gallons per minute: That's 180 gallons per hour. But he said many people over-water, using hundreds of gallons more than their lawn really needs. His advice: (1) Don't water more than one inch per week, measured in a tuna can or Solo cup. (2) Never water in the heat of the afternoon: The sun will evaporate almost 30 percent of what comes out of a sprinkler before it even hits the ground. (3) For watering plants, consider buying a rain barrel to capture runoff from your roof. They typically hold 50 to 70 gallons of free water. (4) Around shrubs, Rager suggested laying down a rock garden to hold water."

The rest of their advice can be found here.

Related Plumbing Repair and Installation Services:

The Penny Hoarder meantime shared ways to lower water bills even without altering the household's consumption habits. Testing the toilet for leaks is one of the ways they tackled in their write-up.

"If you're flush (pun intended) with cash, you could choose to buy a dual flush toilet. Or you can simply adjust your toilet to help you save money. Put your toilet to the test: Food coloring in the top of the basin should not leak to the bowl without a flush. If it does, you probably need a new fill valve. They're cheap and easy to change. While you're there, adjust the float to use less water. The lower the float ball is in a full tank, the less water it uses. Depending on your toilet, you can adjust the screw at the top of the fill tube, screw in the float ball or change the clip lock setting. Set it as low as possible and work backwards until you can flush all waste with the smallest amount of water."

The continuation of this write-up can be found here.

Lowering water consumption through leak checks and general reduction of usage sould be the most helpful ways to lower utility bills.

Diamond Ace Contractors

5052 Genesee Ave, San Diego, CA 92117
(888) 231-1086

Diamond Ace Contractors Plumbing Repair Contractor San Diego

Dealing with Insects inside the HVAC duct

The post Plumber's tips on lowering water bills in the summer appeared first on Blue Diamond Plumbing.

Plumber’s tips on lowering water bills in the summer

Control water consumption

In the Summertime when the Weather is HOT....

Plumber's tips on controlling water consumption during summer months. (Photo Credits)

Summer can be a challenging time to bring down water consumption, given the heat and temperature that makes people use water all the more. The garden needs more tending, the children tend to gravitate towards water activities like swimming, or even playing with the sprinkler outside, and people shower or use the bath tubs more.

Fortunately there are ways to control or even bring down water consumption even in the unbelievably hot summer months.

(Related Post: Plumber's thoughts on Drain Snakes)

The website Earth Easy came up with tips for homeowners who may not want to receive water bill shock. Making use of gravel in the garden or the lawn is one of the tips they have mentioned in their writeup. Plumbing Association of San Diego 

"Exposed dirt gets parched after one sunny day, and that baking sun also destroys all the helpful soil microorganisms which support your plants. Spreading gravel in between shrubs and perennial plants not only gives your landscape a stylish beauty, it also allows your soil to stay moist and alive between waterings. You may find you're able to cut your waterings in half with gravel landscaping, or even convert portions of thirsty grass to a low-maintenance Zen-inspired rock garden accented by well-chosen drought-tolerant trees or shrubs. When you do water your lawn or garden, ditch the sprinkler for hand-watering or soaker-hoses, and consider saving hundreds of gallons per year by collecting your own rainwater."

Read the rest of the write-up here.

Eco-friendly and pocket-friendly too

News 5 Cleveland also mentioned some ways to lower water consumption, and thereby lower water bills. In the news article that they published they mentioned that soaring rates may be caused by increasing sewer costs plus the added cost of replacing parts of the water delivery system like the water mains and pipes. A/C And HVAC 

(Related Post: Plumber's advice during a sewer backup)

"The biggest culprit during the summer is your yard. Rager said a garden hose or sprinkler runs three gallons per minute: That's 180 gallons per hour. But he said many people over-water, using hundreds of gallons more than their lawn really needs. His advice: (1) Don't water more than one inch per week, measured in a tuna can or Solo cup. (2) Never water in the heat of the afternoon: The sun will evaporate almost 30 percent of what comes out of a sprinkler before it even hits the ground. (3) For watering plants, consider buying a rain barrel to capture runoff from your roof. They typically hold 50 to 70 gallons of free water. (4) Around shrubs, Rager suggested laying down a rock garden to hold water."

The rest of their advice can be found here.

Related Plumbing Repair and Installation Services:

The Penny Hoarder meantime shared ways to lower water bills even without altering the household's consumption habits. Testing the toilet for leaks is one of the ways they tackled in their write-up.

"If you're flush (pun intended) with cash, you could choose to buy a dual flush toilet. Or you can simply adjust your toilet to help you save money. Put your toilet to the test: Food coloring in the top of the basin should not leak to the bowl without a flush. If it does, you probably need a new fill valve. They're cheap and easy to change. While you're there, adjust the float to use less water. The lower the float ball is in a full tank, the less water it uses. Depending on your toilet, you can adjust the screw at the top of the fill tube, screw in the float ball or change the clip lock setting. Set it as low as possible and work backwards until you can flush all waste with the smallest amount of water."

The continuation of this write-up can be found here.

Lowering water consumption through leak checks and general reduction of usage sould be the most helpful ways to lower utility bills.

Diamond Ace Contractors

5052 Genesee Ave, San Diego, CA 92117
(888) 231-1086

Diamond Ace Contractors Plumbing Repair Contractor San Diego

Dealing with Insects inside the HVAC duct

The post Plumber's tips on lowering water bills in the summer appeared first on Blue Diamond Plumbing.

Monday, July 9, 2018

Dealing with Insects inside the HVAC duct

Could there be insects?

German Cockroach

What to do when insects invade the HVAC Duct? (Photo Credits)

Insects inside HVAC ducts are not only disgusting, it can even bring about illnesses as it pollutes indoor air. But what should a homeowner do if he suspects that there is a presence of insects or rodents within the HVAC ducts?

The website Pest Cemetery came up with an article discussing this topic, and mentioned several ways to get rid of pests and bugs in the HVAC. A/C And HVAC 

(Related Post: Solar Air-conditioning 101)

"You could spray around the vent but drywall sucks up liquids and it's doubtful any residual would be on the surface in enough of an amount to provide a lethal dose. Plus you still may get airborne chemicals when the heat or or a/c turns on. Some vents are vertical and it is difficult place a trap inside, for these types what I sometimes do is place wide strips of clear packing tape over the vent leaving thin slits (1/4 to 1/2 inch wide) so that the air can still come through but when the insect tries to crawl out to freedom he will get stuck and die. Packing tape is great because you can still see into the vent and it usually comes off cleanly whereas masking or duct tape won't."

Read more here.

Get them out

NBC29 also published a feature report on bugs invading an HVAC system. In the article they interviewed a pest control expert who has worked on similar scenarios. Their resource person assured though that while these insects are a nuisance, they do not in any way cause damage to the HVAC system. Plumbing Association of San Diego 

(Related Post: How to dispose old HVAC Units)

"You can easily prevent stink bugs from getting into your home's ducts. Casey says sealing air leaks and small openings around your home should be enough to prevent future problems."

Check out the article here.

Related HVAC Repair and Installation Services:

San Diego HVAC Contractor Click Here

The website Vukcan Termite meanwhile shared some tips on how to keep a home's HVAC system pest free. One of the tips they mentioned in their website is to keep the ducts sealed.

"One of the main entry points for insects is the ductwork. Even the tiniest crack or a loose seal gives them an opportunity to infest the HVAC system. Taking the time to properly seal your ductwork will not only keep bugs out, but it will also help lower your utility bills. Sealing up cracks in the ducts is relatively affordable and easy (where they are accessible). You'll need foil tape for small cracks and mastic sealant for larger holes. Energy Star has a great brochure that covers all the basics of maintaining your ducts or hiring a pro do to the work for you."

Take a look at the rest of the advice here.

Totally sealing and regular duct clean up can help in maintaining HVAC ducts, pest-free.

Diamond Ace Contractors

5052 Genesee Ave, San Diego, CA 92117

(888) 231-1086

Diamond Ace Contractors Water Heater Replacement San Diego

Plumber's advice during a sewer backup

The post Dealing with Insects inside the HVAC duct appeared first on Blue Diamond Plumbing.

Dealing with Insects inside the HVAC duct

Could there be insects?

German Cockroach

What to do when insects invade the HVAC Duct? (Photo Credits)

Insects inside HVAC ducts are not only disgusting, it can even bring about illnesses as it pollutes indoor air. But what should a homeowner do if he suspects that there is a presence of insects or rodents within the HVAC ducts?

The website Pest Cemetery came up with an article discussing this topic, and mentioned several ways to get rid of pests and bugs in the HVAC. A/C And HVAC 

(Related Post: Solar Air-conditioning 101)

"You could spray around the vent but drywall sucks up liquids and it's doubtful any residual would be on the surface in enough of an amount to provide a lethal dose. Plus you still may get airborne chemicals when the heat or or a/c turns on. Some vents are vertical and it is difficult place a trap inside, for these types what I sometimes do is place wide strips of clear packing tape over the vent leaving thin slits (1/4 to 1/2 inch wide) so that the air can still come through but when the insect tries to crawl out to freedom he will get stuck and die. Packing tape is great because you can still see into the vent and it usually comes off cleanly whereas masking or duct tape won't."

Read more here.

Get them out

NBC29 also published a feature report on bugs invading an HVAC system. In the article they interviewed a pest control expert who has worked on similar scenarios. Their resource person assured though that while these insects are a nuisance, they do not in any way cause damage to the HVAC system. Plumbing Association of San Diego 

(Related Post: How to dispose old HVAC Units)

"You can easily prevent stink bugs from getting into your home's ducts. Casey says sealing air leaks and small openings around your home should be enough to prevent future problems."

Check out the article here.

Related HVAC Repair and Installation Services:

San Diego HVAC Contractor Click Here

The website Vukcan Termite meanwhile shared some tips on how to keep a home's HVAC system pest free. One of the tips they mentioned in their website is to keep the ducts sealed.

"One of the main entry points for insects is the ductwork. Even the tiniest crack or a loose seal gives them an opportunity to infest the HVAC system. Taking the time to properly seal your ductwork will not only keep bugs out, but it will also help lower your utility bills. Sealing up cracks in the ducts is relatively affordable and easy (where they are accessible). You'll need foil tape for small cracks and mastic sealant for larger holes. Energy Star has a great brochure that covers all the basics of maintaining your ducts or hiring a pro do to the work for you."

Take a look at the rest of the advice here.

Totally sealing and regular duct clean up can help in maintaining HVAC ducts, pest-free.

Diamond Ace Contractors

5052 Genesee Ave, San Diego, CA 92117

(888) 231-1086

Diamond Ace Contractors Water Heater Replacement San Diego

Plumber's advice during a sewer backup

The post Dealing with Insects inside the HVAC duct appeared first on Blue Diamond Plumbing.