Month: January 2021

Emergency Preparedness – Our Plans

“There is a portent of stormy weather ahead.” — Gordon B. Hinckley, 1998. With recent years filled with hurricanes, ice storms, tornadoes, and more, the Prophet’s words take on added significance.

Don’t think that you live in an area where natural disasters could strike? Emergencies can and do occur to anyone, wherever they live, whatever their circumstances. My family had to leave our home within seconds when we learned that our neighbor’s home repair resulted in a gas leak. Unfortunately, we were not prepared for our forced and hasty departure and left with nothing.

More than any specific item, we needed a plan. After that experience, my husband and I came up with a two-fold plan: staying where we are (at home) and evacuation.

Both depend upon having the proper supplies. The first plan involves our home storage system. The second depends upon an easily transportable 72 hour kit. After experimenting with several methods, we decided backpacks were the most practical.

Below is a partial list of what we’ve included in our kits:

1. Shelter. A lightweight tent serves the purpose. Remember to pack some blankets as well.

2. Food and water. Concentrate on high-energy foods. Include a can opener, and don’t forget pet food if you have a pet. Two liter soda bottles make handy containers for water.

3. Clothing. Think warm, protective clothing. Layers work well. Be sure to have comfortable walking shoes. Waterproof ponchos and boots are a good idea. (Check the sizes of the clothes you’ve packed to accommodate a growing family. Children can change several sizes within a year.)

4. Hygiene items, sanitation. The travel size shampoos, soaps, and hand creams we all collect from hotel stays are ideal. Wet-wipes can make do when bathing or showering is not available. For sanitation needs, bring heavy duty plastic, bags for waste disposal.

5. Medications.

6. Special needs. Do you have an infant in your home? Diapers are a necessity.

7. Cash. In times of emergency, credit cards and checks will likely not be accepted. Gather enough cash in small bills and change for thirty days.

8. Fuel. Keep your gas tank as full as possible. A camp stove with the appropriate fuel is great for outside cooking and can be used inside as well. When an ice storm took out our power for two days, we used our camp stove for cooking.

9. First-aid. Include the basics such as a good book on first- aid, bandages, aspirin, foot pads, sunscreen, etc.

10. Miscellaneous–batteries, lantern, cell phone, radio, important papers–identification, birth certificates, medical records.

For more ideas, check out the website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at .

Go about your preparations in wisdom and order. Don’t go out and buy without a plan in place. Above all, don’t go into debt for these items. Just as in purchasing food storage, make a list, buy what you need on sale, then rotate.

“If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.” (Doctrine & Covenants, 38:30)…

Plumbing issues, if not fixed quickly, tend to develop into significant problems. On numerous occasions, many individuals have lost their homes due to what started as a simple pipe leak. In recent years, as a result of lots of plumbing information being readily available on the internet, the number of individuals who opt to solve their plumbing issues by themselves has increased. However, in their attempt to cut costs, these individuals usually end up causing extensive damage to their plumbing systems. To avoid suffering such a stressful predicament, you should contact a trustworthy plumber whenever you notice that your plumbing system has an issue. Hiring a professional plumber will accord you a lot of benefits. Here are some of the benefits you’ll enjoy.

Quality Service

When choosing a plumber, it’s essential that you ensure that he/she is a true professional. Choosing a professional plumber is in your best interest because professional plumbers offer quality services more often than not. By letting a professional plumber handle your plumbing issues, you can rest assured that they’ll provide you with the top-notch, high-quality service you require.

Peace of Mind

Plumbing systems are quite expensive to install. It’s also critical to note that they are pretty delicate. When you need a plumbing issue repaired, it’s logical to assume that you’d want your plumbing system well cared for. Well-trained and experienced professional plumbers often handle plumbing systems better than their lesser trained and amateur counterparts. Thus, by hiring a professional plumber in Boston, you can rest easy as you’re certain a safe pair of hands are checking your plumbing system.

Warranty

Before settling on a given plumber, it’s advisable that you ensure that he/she offers a warranty. Any reliable plumber should guarantee the work he/she does. Most professional plumbers often provide warranties. As such, by choosing to have your plumbing issues sorted out by a professional plumber, you can rest assured of getting a warranty that could be of great use to you in the future.

Expert Advice

At times, a repair may not be the solution. Using their extensive knowledge and experience, professional plumbers often offer their clients exceptional advice on how they can do away with their plumbing issues completely. Amateur plumbers aren’t broadly knowledgeable. As such, they can’t offer you the quality advice that professional plumbers can.

Save Money

Professional plumbers are known to be resourceful and efficient. They are also typically considered trustworthy. On quite a number of occasions, many property owners have complained of being overcharged by their preferred plumbers. By hiring a professional plumber in Boston as your plumber-of-choice, you need not worry about going through a similar scenario.

Safety

Many individuals who opt to carry out the plumbing services they require by themselves, in most instances, usually end up hurting themselves or those around them. However, as professional plumbers have the necessary skill and equipment, they rarely cause harm to anyone.

All in all, if you require the assistance of a plumber, you should hire a professional one.…

I Need a Solution For My Xbox 360 E79 Error

This is one problem that no Gamer will love to have. This can be very annoying, I know that. Am sure you want this problem fixed. There are two ways in which you can go about getting a solution for your Xbox E79 Error problem. The first way is what many gamers think of first, which is to send their Xbox to Microsoft. This is not a bad idea for a person who is not a game freak. The second way is to fix it yourself with the use of a home repair guide. This is good news for a game freak.

Let Microsoft Fix My Xbox 360 E79 Error For Me

Like I said earlier that sending your Xbox console to Microsoft to fix is not a bad idea for a person who is not a game freak. And it may sound reasonable to you, after all they are the experts you will say…Right?

Well, I hope you know that this action will cost you nothing less than $150 if you must have Microsoft repair your Xbox. The good news is you won’t have to pay anything if your warranty has not expired. But you will have to wait for a long time like 2-6 weeks before your get your Xbox fixed. For a gamer like you, this is quite a long time to starve your fingers from tapping those keypads of yours.

I Can Fix My Xbox 360 E79 Error By Myself

This way is the most preferred and the best way to get your Xbox fixed. This option helps you to save a bit of you money and you don’t have to wait for 2-6 weeks to get it fixed. The longest time you can spend repairing it on your own is just about 30-1hour with a repair guide. A repair guide will show you step by step ways with videos and photos and text with which you can go about the repair of you Xbox. Fixing the Xbox 360 E79 error yourself will not only save you money but will save from waiting for a long time. And help you understand your Xbox better.…

What Tools Are Necessary in a Good Plumbing Kit?

From time to time, the home plumbing system can encounter problems that disrupt the normal functioning of the system such as clogged drains, clogged toilet, pipe . Some of these problems are not difficult for a homeowner to repair. For minor problems that do not require a plumber, a homeowner should have a good plumbing kit to help them properly make the repair as it is essential that the appropriate tools are used to avoid further damage and more expense.

The following are the necessary tools for a good plumbing kit:

1. The first item you should acquire is a good kit to hold all of the plumbing tools. A large toolbox is a good choice. The toolbox should be big enough to hold the largest wrenches. A good tool kit to hold the plumbing tools will ensure you know where all of the tools are in case of an emergency.

2. Handling the various components of the plumbing system can sometimes be messy. You should have gloves and goggles for your protection. As well, keep a first aid kit in the box in case of an accident.

3. It is essential to keep a number of different size wrenches in the kit. The size of the wrenches should be 10, 14, and 18 inch pipe wrenches. Different sizes are needed because you will find that there are various size nuts in the plumbing system. Also, you do not want to damage the nuts by using the wrong size wrench. You will be less likely to scrape up the finish if you use a Crescent Wrench. Using a Basin Wrench will give you the ability to reach areas that are difficult to access because of the wrench’s long handle.

4. A good plumbing kit should also have a power drill, drywall saw in case you have to access pipes behind the wall, tubing cutter in case you have to handle copper tubing, and a wired brush for cleaning gunk out of the pipes.

5. There are general tools that you should keep in the tool kit such as a tape measure, screwdrivers, plumber’s pliers, and a hammer. You should also have Teflon Plumber’s Tape. As well, it is a good idea to have a variety of washers of different sizes in case you have to replace a washer in a faucet. When buying screwdrivers, buy a basic assorted set that contains multiple sizes of both standard and Phillip head screwdrivers.

6. A good plumber’s kit should have a hair dryer or portable heater in case your pipes freeze and you need to thaw them.

7. For clogs, the tool kit should have a toilet plunger, sink plunger, toilet snake, and a sink auger. You can also include a packet of bacterial enzyme additive that is used to clear out clogs and keep the pipes clear. As well, you should keep a drain cleaner on hand.

8. Plumber’s putty, pipe cleaner, and PVC primer and bonding agent are good items to include in the plumbing kit.

These tools are the most indispensable do-it-yourself plumbing tools. Preventing plumbing problems can save you time and money. If the problem is big then a professional plumber can help you fix it.…

How to Learn Plumbing Yourself

If you are a homeowner, it is always advisable to learn as much about home repair as possible, especially for the things that seem to cause problems at the most inconvenient moment. Plumbing is something that is fairly easy to grasp once you have the basics down. Even though the cost of the materials for big jobs can quickly add up, it is the cost of the labor that will really set you back should you have to count on repairmen to do the work for you. If you can manage to learn at least a few basic repairs for the most commonly found problems, you will save yourself a tremendous amount of money and you will find that you will have a nice sense of pride. Being a homeowner is much more than just paying a mortgage payment, it is about owning your own home and taking responsibility for it.

One of the easiest ways to learn is to grab a friend or family member that knows a thing or two about plumbing and have them show you the ropes. Help them with their projects or jobs and help out if they come over to your place to help you with something. In fact, you could simply do all of the work yourself and just have them stand over you, instructing you every step of the way. Hands on learning is always best because you will remember everything much easier and you will not make as many mistakes in the future. If you do not happen to know anyone to help you out, there are still other ways to learn everything you need to know.

Many towns have a community college or a high school that will offer part time classes for adults that simply want to learn the basics of plumbing. There is usually a fee for these classes and you will not be a certified plumber at the end, but you will know just about everything you need in order to do basic home repairs. Even though there is that fee, it is much cheaper in the long run versus calling a plumber out over the next thirty years to handle every big and small problem that comes up.

There are also many websites that are loaded with all kind of information and there are videos online that should help you out as well. You can even find a good amount of books out there for those who want to learn how to handle things on their own instead of hiring a plumber. It might take you a little bit of time and you might make a mistake here or there, but learning how to handle the repairs on your own is the best thing you could do for yourself and for your finances.…

Where Did That Concrete Oil Stain Come From?

We are so distracted by the rigors of daily life that we don’t pay attention to the smaller things until they become larger. We are more concerned with going about our daily business. As we do so, we treat both our cars and the room that we store them in as very utilitarian and pay little attention. However, when somebody draws attention to a rather large concrete oil stain in the middle of the floor, we start to get concerned.

Have you noticed that you park your vehicle in almost exactly the same place within your garage each night? By doing so, any tiny, but annoying oil drip will build up into a rather large concrete oil stain as the weeks go by. If you have a porous concrete surface, this will be rather difficult to remove, to put it mildly.

If you catch a fresh concrete oil stain, it’s fairly easy to get rid of. This will depend a lot upon the actual finish of the floor, however. If the builder paid attention to the room, the finish will be relatively smooth and would be resistant. However, if it is an average finish, concrete oil stains can set and be difficult to clean.

Many people use regular cat litter because of its absorbent qualities. You may have to try this over several evenings to pull out a concrete oil stain from your garage floor. Be environmentally friendly and contact your local waste disposal company to see how to dispose of this correctly.

A porous surface will invariably lead to very stubborn stains and you might well need an industrial solvent to do justice to this. These are toxic products and you need to be careful when working with them. Always open the garage door and make sure that there’s plenty of ventilation. A more concentrated solution may be required for the toughest stains.

It’s best not to let small issues develop into larger ones. One of these days, you will want to put your house on the market and need to ensure that it is in the best condition. In this case, removing concrete oil stains may be difficult and you might end up damaging the surface anyway, through the use of heavy solvents.

By looking beneath your vehicle periodically you can see if you have any leaks. When you notice minor drops, put an oil mat immediately in that area. These are purpose made products and are far more attractive a proposition than having to deal with a cleanup. Remember that all you have to do is to remove the oil mat and there is no evidence.

The best way to deal with an oil stain is to fix the source of the problem in the first place. Maybe a trip to the auto shop is in order, but don’t forget to have the oil mat at the ready in case another problem arises.…

Do You Dread the Garage Cleanup?

You know that you have a problem if you are forced to park your car on the driveway because your garage is so full of clutter and the place is so dirty. This room is designed as a place to store your cars or trucks and not for any other purpose, so it is time for you to stage a garage cleanup.

Come up with a plan of action if it has been a long time since you attempted a garage cleanup last. A lot of clutter will have found its way in there and it will have become a dumping ground for things that you can’t find a good place for within the home. For example, all your gardening stuff, your Christmas decorations, unused pieces of furniture, “essential” pieces that you found at a local sale, or your chemicals and cleaners.

Large items are first on your list when it comes to a garage cleanup. Don’t store unused pieces of furniture in there, get rid of them. After all, if you do not have enough room in the house or they clash with your decorating style, you do not need them and they should be donated to charity and picked up right away.

Once larger items have been removed during your garage cleanup by giving them away to charity, you will have room to move and can then begin putting all the other items into various categories according to, for example, holiday or Christmas items, memorabilia, recreation, garden tools and chemicals. Everything else goes into the trash pile.

Categorize and compartmentalize all your items much more efficiently by erecting special cabinets and racks on each of the three walls in your garage. Now all the items that you will be keeping as opposed to throwing out can be placed.

Underneath all those items that you have just moved from the floor will probably lie layers of grime, oil stains and chemical spills. This is one of the most unpleasant tasks of a garage cleanup, especially when you find the stains are ingrained. So, in the future make sure that you have absorbent mats in places where ever spills may occur.

Following a garage cleanup, take some time to think about where you are going to place all those items in future. Absorbent mats go beneath all your cars and trucks and in deed anywhere that cleaners or chemicals might spill. A gallon of liquid at any time can be absorbed by these mats and they just need to be washed, dried and replaced periodically. These durable items will save you the effort of getting on your hands and knees to scrub away those stubborn oil stains.

Your driveway needs to be reserved for visitors who are much more likely to come around for the weekend barbecue in the future, if your family cars are parked in the garage where they should be. In this way, a garage cleanup can have extra positive effect.…

With This Super Absorbent, You Never Get Caught Short Again!

The latest product to include a super absorbent ingredient is very ingenious. You would never believe what it is. Designers these days come up with the most incredible ideas, especially when it comes close to the giving season. Something which is being marketed as an ideal stocking filler is a super absorbent known as the Pocket Toilet. This is designed to make sure that you never get caught short again, as you can keep it within the glove box of your car and use it when desperation strikes.

When you absolutely need to go and can’t find somewhere appropriate, the Pocket Toilet provides you with a hand to help. Liquid turns into gel instantly when it comes into contact with the pad, leaving no residue, according to the makers. Whether the market likes this product or not remains to be seen and it’s a sorry indictment that we are not able to prepare and plan our trips around our need to go to the restroom. However, it’s also true that the solution is better than the alternative.

As homeowners, we should be on the lookout for a super absorbent product for other purposes, instead. You never know when water is going to become a considerable problem and threaten your valuables. Persistent storms, minor flooding and even household breakages can create a need for an absorbent product immediately.

It’s always better to be prepared, as we know, yet few of us actually are as prepared as we should be for all eventualities. Water infiltration or leakage can represent a serious threat and can soak up a great deal of money in repairs. Sometimes we are unable to replace some of those valuable keepsakes that we might have stored in a garage, for example we cannot put a price on this type of loss.

It’s important to have a super absorbent product at hand, in a manageable and usable package to enable us to press it into service no matter what the disaster. This is where the product known as a hurricane sock is ideal. This particular product has polypropylene within a sturdy and long wearing outer surface and this ingredient is very well known for its absorbent properties.

While you might not be called out when on the road somewhere and need emergency “relief,” in a super absorbent kind of way, there’s no excuse for you being unprepared at home. After all, we know that storms will affect us from time to time and we have almost all had experience of the minor flooding that this can bring. Why think that this won’t happen again, as it very likely will.

When you next have a family meeting to discuss household chores, upcoming events or whatever, make sure that you discuss the emergency plans that you will implement during threatening times. As part of your plan you should identify areas that are vulnerable to water infiltration and select products that will help you to stop this water coming in. You might need several, but the beauty of the hurricane sock as a super absorbent is that it can be very malleable and can be pressed into service in any area.

The water tank in the home is one of the most probable areas for leakage and as there is so much water within it, can cause a considerable flood. You should keep a super absorbent product near to this area at all time. That way, if you happen to have a heavy frost causing a burst, you will have some line of defense at the outset.…

Oil Mess In The Garage: What To Do

There are so many solutions to an oil mess that they are difficult to sort through. The first measures to consider are always preventive, and consist of absorbent powders and materials, although the most urgent messes are those which occur over a sensitive surface, or have been left for a period of time.

The best approach to an existing oil mess is to remove the puddle of oil first, of course. There are few things more dangerous for kids, pets, and the value of nearby tools and installations than a puddle of oil sitting on the garage floor. Take some special absorbent material, which often looks like kitty litter, and distribute evenly over the spill until it is all soaked up.

Unless the oil is the same shade as the floor, or is completely fresh, there will probably be a stain on the floor. If the floor is cracked or pitted, this stain will be basically impossible to remove with conventional methods. It is possible to remove every trace of an oil mess, but it will take some dedication and creativity.

In any case, after you have swept away the majority of the oil mess and disposed of it properly, look for a solvent which should soak the spill immediately. There’s no reason to leave it overnight, but brush in a solvent quickly to reach all of the nooks and crannies, carefully avoiding the additional spread of the mess.

You may have to apply oil solvents repeatedly. Think of removing the oil mess as you would washing your hands. Every pore must be attended to, or the the stain will penetrate another area. Even a cement floor will develop a deep stain if it has not been finished with an epoxy or other protective coating. If you’re having trouble, try different products, and ask a professional’s advice.

If all else fails, remember that there are still multiple options. A professional will have no trouble fixing your floor. More sensitive surfaces will have more sensitive solutions. Solvents are not the end of the road. The floor may have to be sanded, blasted, or resurfaced, so be prepared for these steps after a particularly nasty oil mess.

Far from a disaster, an oil mess can be an excellent opportunity to reevaluate the setup of your garage. Learn from the accident, not to prevent all of them in the future, but to have absorbent pads and materials nearby in order to save time and money. Approach this as an ongoing concern, and you can’t go wrong.

There’s nothing wrong with resurfacing an oil mess. In the worst case, attend to all such stains annually, and be prepared to completely resurface the garage floor. Remember that the value here is in the resale of a sparkling garage, and not in obsessing about every spill. Most people don’t mind a garage with a few stains, but there’s a definite “wow” factor to a spotless garage.…

Every person worldwide encounters plumbing leaks. Unfortunately, it is the sad truth of all home-owners and members of a house. Plumbing leaks appear in all different shapes and sizes, with your tanks, water heaters, pipes, cisterns, flush valves, etc., all contributing to your leaky toilet!

But according to an affordable plumber near me, faucet leaks are the worst nightmare you could face in your washrooms or kitchen. A continuously dripping faucet leak could sound like one of those horror movies where finally your entire room is flooded and ugly, ghoulish things sneak up from inside those waters. On a more serious note, a dripping faucet could surely escalate into a more significant plumbing woe in your washroom and your kitchen, and hence it should be taken care of as soon as possible.

The primary reasons for a faucet leak:

According to an affordable plumber near me who has mended several such cases throughout his lifetime, faucet leaks are the most common causes that lead to a leaky toilet or a messy kitchen. But this troublesome issue has deep-rooted causes. Let’s take a probing look.

Damaged and worn-out parts:

Is there a steady drip coming out of your faucet? Are you in a frenzied state of mind where you would like to rip it off clean from the sink and feel calm again? Well, do not get on your nerves; instead, let’s get to the root of the problem.

A steadily-dripping faucet means that the washer inside it could be damaged and needs a replacement. In the case of a compression faucet, the most common occurrence is the damage of the seals. These seals get worn out and dilapidated when the faucet remains closed to continually hold back the water pressure. On the other hand, cartridge faucets also encounter leaks. The cartridge itself or the moving parts like the inlet and outlet seals, O-rings, etc., get worn out and damaged and might need to get replaced.

Immensely high-water pressure:

If you see that your faucet drips at specific times of the day, especially during the night or at times when no other plumbing fixtures are used, you might point the phenomenon to massive water pressure. If the water pressure is too high, and one particular faucet tends to be used more than other plumbing fixtures or other faucets in the house, the entire thing could become messy.

The considerable water pressure can give rise to minute leaks within the faucet itself. These further develop into pinhole leaks within the piping, and the entire situation worsens over time.

Plumbing cracks:

A crack in the plumbing pipe, loose fittings, etc., will inevitably show in a faucet leak. If the faucet head is close to the leak in the plumbing fittings and fixtures, it will start to drip. A slow yet steady drip from your faucet could point to problems in the piping underneath the sink.

The piping could either develop small cracks or holes and even have loose fittings at the connection points and junctures. Whatever be the case, it is immensely vital to schedule an inspection with a professional, high-quality, and affordable plumber near you.

Conclusion:

When a leaky faucet requires a repair or replacement, try to refrain from using your knowledge or expertise. It is always better to take professional help. Go online and search for the best and most affordable plumber near me for the best results!…