With winter just around the corner, it's important that you know how to properly care for your plumbing. From increased use due to holiday guests, to the rigors of operating in freezing temperatures, winter can be one of the hardest seasons on your plumbing. The following tips can ensure that everything keeps running smoothly. Tip #1: Insulate Your Pipes Insulation is the key to avoid a frozen water pipe in winter.

There are few things worse than waking up in the morning, stumbling to the bathroom, turning on the shower, and then stepping in only to realize that the water that should be nice and warm is freezing. This type of wake up call may make you think that it is time to get rid of your old hot water heater and replace it with a new one, but many water heater problems can be repaired by a plumber and don't require you to shell out the cash for a whole new gas water heater unit.

This summer has been brutal on both old roads and new roadway repair. With extreme heat extending for several days throughout the country, the roads begin to buckle. When a road buckles, it cracks and shifts in an attempt to release pressurized stress caused by trapped hot air from underneath. The unfortunate part for roadway construction crews is that this can happen to new construction just as easily as old roads, which means that the crews have to go back and repair the fresh construction.

So, you're a new homeowner and for the first time in your life, you own a boiler. If you're like many people, you don't know the first thing about boilers--what they are, what their purpose is or how they're different from other home heat sources. These frequently asked questions and answers will help you understand what your boiler does and why it's such a great appliance. Q: What is a boiler?

If you have sliding glass doors leading out to your patio, you should consider having opening patio doors installed in their place, by a company like Fas Windows and Doors. There are many benefits that come with patio doors that you just won't get with sliding glass doors. You can learn about a few of the benefits of having your sliding doors replaced with opening patio doors in this article.

Even though it isn't all that difficult to make sure your plumbing system is up and running properly, many people tend to make mistakes that cost them a small fortune in the end with their plumbing system. Over the course of time, those little mistakes end up turning into something disastrous if you don't do something about them when they occur. If you know what those mistakes are, you can prevent them from happening to you and your home.

Keeping your roof in good condition will take some very careful maintenance and some information about how your roof works and how you can get the most out of it. This will pay huge dividends not only for your roof, but for your entire house, since the roof is so important in retaining property value. With that said, read the following guide in order to learn some practical and valuable tips that will allow you to make the absolute most out of your roof.

Are you getting ready to build a deck, a fence or other outdoor installation? Are you still trying to decide what materials you'll be using? When comparing building materials, here are some reasons why you should consider using cedar lumber: Rot and bug resistant: Unlike other types of wood, cedar is naturally resistant to decay. Cedar oil is a well-known non-toxic pesticide that works to kill a wide variety of insects and has long been used to repel clothes moths.

If you're in the market for a new fence, you may be overwhelmed by the number of materials and styles available to you. Although appearance, price, and durability are all key factors that will weigh on your decision, you may also be concerned about the impact of your decision on the environment. How can you make the "greenest" choice? Read on to learn more about some popular sustainable fencing materials to help narrow down your potential options.

Sun can bake the volatiles out of asphalt shingles, making them brittle and prone to cracking. The weight of snow can overwhelm roofs made from clay tiles, slate, cedar shingles, and other roofing materials. While there are many different types of roofing materials out there, and they each have their strengths and weaknesses, if you know that your roof will have to contend with inclement weather, your best choice of roofing material will be a metal roof.