Water damage.
Let's face it - with all of the economic and financial issues troubling us these days, the last thing most people need is another expense that will add more frown wrinkles to your face. So when you realize that you're paying way too much for your water usage, are you prepared to actually go ahead and fix it, or do you simply sigh and try to find the extra money for this month?
Sigh no more. Let's take a look at some ways you can fix those high water costs and bring them back down where they belong.
First, let's start with a simple trick. Your toilet fills with water during every flush, including in the toilet tank. But once your water gets up to a certain level, it stops. If you want to displace some of this water volume, fill up a water bottle and place it in the toilet tank. Since this displaces water, you'll start saving water after each and every flush. Just make sure that you know how a toilet works, or else you might end up doing more harm than you originally intended. (By the way, if you have a toilet flushing more than 1.6 gallons per flush, it's time for a new toilet).
Next, remember that a lot of the water you use in your house goes through your washing machine. You may think that you drink a lot of water, but it's nothing compared to the amount of water you might be using for clothes. You can cut down on this water by simply doing less loads of laundry. Don't be wasteful with this water, so only wash clothes that actually need to be washed - make sure that you wear some clean clothes more than once and that you don't end up washing too many clean clothes. This will cut down on the amount of loads of laundry you have to perform every week.
Also, be sure to monitor the water that you waste. If you keep a bucket of "greywater" around, you can dump the water you didn't drink from a glass in there and use it to water plants.
There's plenty more to learn about fixing your problem with high water costs. The most important thing is to look at your individual situation, find out where much of your water usage comes from, and work to optimize your own water expenses.
Photo Credits: thirteenthbat
Originally posted 2009-10-21 03:03:42.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on May 19, 2010 in
Handyman, How to Fix, appliances, toilet, water
Washing Machine Woes?
Washing machines can be great conveniences, much like dishwashers - we gain countless time because a machine is taking care of some household chores for us. Of course, there's no time that this convenience is more apparent then when the washing machine is
broken. If you've come across a washing machine that has no water entering it, you may feel like your life is on hold until you can get some clean clothes! That's exactly why this article will help you troubleshoot the problem.
When no water is entering the washing machine - or you notice that there's no available cold or hot water - there are a number of things that can be going wrong:
The water supply valves: In a classic case of the old "make sure it's turned on," you'll want to make sure your water valves are up and operational. Did someone accidentally turn them off? If so, you'll want to get them running again. It can't hurt to give these valves an inspection even if they're on, simply because this will help you potentially diagnose the problem. In addition to the water supply valves, you'll want to check the entire supply line for any problems. If you've got no water, the water supply lines and water valves are a good spot to start checking for damage.
The filter screens: It also won't hurt to check your washing machine filter screens in order to see if there's any major obstruction that might mean water is being blocked out of your appliance. Even if there's not a total clog, it'd be a good idea to take this time to clean those filters so that water is flowing through naturally.
The water level switch: Note: before you check or test the water level switch, it's a good idea to disconnect the power to the washing machine. In fact, any time you try to fix an appliance like this, you'll want to avoid having the power running. You can check the water level switch to make sure it's working properly and not sending any signals that might have an impact on the level of water that is allowed to come into your washing machine.
The water temperature switch: Make sure that the water temperature switch is working properly. If you're having trouble with the lack of cold or hot water, this may be the exact thing that's causing your problem.
Photo Credits: Sunfox
Originally posted 2009-11-26 03:30:31.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on May 15, 2010 in
Handyman, How to Fix, Laundry Room, appliances
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