Teflon tape is very handy.
When most people think about helpful tape, they think about duct tape. Sure, duct tape is a great tool and should be considered a must-have in your tool shed or garage, but what about teflon tape?
Teflon tape can be very handy around the house - but you want to make sure that you know how to use it before you start trying to fix your plumbing problems with it. In this article, you'll find some tips and suggestions for using teflon tape in the most efficient and practical way possible. Doing so is simple: use it when it will help and keep it up on the shelf in the garage when you don't need it.
When is it a good idea to use teflon tape? It applies best to the "threaded" ends of pipes in order to make sure that the pipe is fully watertight. Consider it an extra layer that is designed to keep all of the moisture where it belongs - inside the pipe. For this reason, teflon works best when you're sealing off the ends the threaded ends of pipes. For more information on better using teflon tape, see this article at AcmeHowTo.com. Follow their instructions for properly applying teflon tape.
You'll also find some detailed instructions at Howsed.com's teflon tape suggestions. Note that Howsed's article also deals with pipe dope and channel locks, which are other ways of doing similar things to plumbing that teflon tape does.
When applying the teflon tape, you'll want to make sure to apply it clockwise, as Howsed.com describes, and also make sure that it is properly applied to the pipe - you don't want to apply it in the wrong direction or the wrong place.
Be thorough when you're working with teflon tape - and make sure that you're equipped to diagnose what problem needs teflon tape to begin with. When you're working on your plumbing yourself, you should have a basic knowledge of how all of these things work in order to make sure that you apply it properly - if you're unsure, be sure to ask a professional for some help. If you ever call in a plumber and want to eventually work on do-it-yourself projects, be sure to ask them specific questions - even if you bother them a little, you'll end up with some (hopefully) helpful tips you can use in the future.
Photo Credits: Aeturnum
Originally posted 2009-11-10 03:08:20.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on August 21, 2010 in
Bathroom, Handyman, How to Fix, toilet
Red House covered in Snow
When it comes to winter-time activities around the house, many homeowners think of one thing: snow, snow, snow. Clearing snow out of the driveway and making sure it doesn't weigh too heavily on the roof are definitely the right activities, but what about making sure your home is prepared for the cold? Here are some quick tips and strategies that will help you run a home with an eye on maintaining it through the winter and saving money.
Keep an eye on your pipes. Pipes can freeze during the winter, so you'll want to stay on top of your plumbing system as soon as you can. When you find a relatively warm day, go out and check the pipes for any freezing, and make sure you know where to locate all of yours. It will help to read up on solid pipe safety as well as how pipes generally work.
Make sure to winter-proof your home. Winter-proof? Yes; be able to keep snow and cold outside, where it belongs. You can do this by making sure your insulation is working properly, both on a larger level (are you preserving as much heat as possible?) and on a specific level (are there any areas you need to better insulate?). Make sure that your doors are weather-proof and that your windows stay tightly locked and closed.
Prepare your mud room for maximum moisture. The mud room often gets the worst treatment during winter, especially if you have children who love playing in the snow and love bringing that snow back indoors with them. Make sure you keep your mudroom as the focus of where you'll be bringing in all of the moisture from outside, and that your mudroom is able to handle it. The better organized and clean you keep it, the better the rest of your house will handle the winter. It's generally a good idea to focus as much of the ucky winter stuff in one room, as this will allow you to control it in one place.
If you're a new homeowner who isn't too experienced with winter, you may find yourself a bit overwhelmed at first. But if you work on tackling one problem at a time, and actually take action to prevent many problems winter can cause, you'll be well on top of it. Use failures as a learning experience, and you should be just fine.
Photo Credits: Allen McGregor
Originally posted 2010-01-19 03:50:36.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on June 9, 2010 in
Handyman, House, How to Fix
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