General
How To Unclog A Sink That Won’t Respond To Drano
Sometimes, a backed-up sink is too big of a job for a bottle of Drano. To clear the clog, you have to get your hands dirty. But what do you do? This quick, 2-minute video from Lowe’s is an excellent tutorial.
The video starts with basic safety preparation, then shows you how to:
- How to identify the J-trap beneath your sink
- Position a plastic bucket to catch water run-off
- Use your finger to clear out debris
- Replace the J-trap beneath the sink
Unclogging a sink can be simple homeowner project, but if you’re uncomfortable working with plumbing or just want to outsource, be sure to call a professional.
How To Install A Ceiling Fan In Your Home
Up to 50% of your home’s energy bill can be tied to heating and cooling costs. Thankfully, it’s easy to lower those bills. The addition of a ceiling fan can cut your household energy bills dramatically.
Plus, the installation may be simpler than you think.
In this 4-minute video from the Lowe’s YouTube collection, you’ll learn how to measure, mount and install a ceiling fan, step-by-step:
- Choose the right-sized fan for your room based on its “longest wall”
- Cut the power to your room, and test that the power is off
- Assemble a ceiling fan
- Secure a ceiling fan motor to the ceiling
- Restore power to the room
If you’re uncomfortable around electricity, or feel the video’s instructions are “too complicated”, by all means, call an electrician. The money you spend on installation will be dwarfed by what you save in energy bills.
For an electrician referral in Chesterfield , reach out to me anytime by phone or email. I am happy to help you.
How To Mount And Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors In Your Home
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas found in combustion fumes, stoves, gas ranges and heating systems. It’s poisonous to humans because carbon monoxide binds to red blood cells, preventing the flow of oxygen through a person’s bloodstream.
There’s a bevy of CO sources in the home and that may be why more than 20,000 Americans are sent to the emergency room each year because of Carbon Monoxide poisoning. 5 percent die from it.
Therefore, whether you own a home in Fort Lee or rent one, equip your place with working carbon monoxide detectors and test them regularly. In this 2-minute video from Lowe’s, you’ll learn how to get started:
- How to mount CO detectors using basic household tools
- In what rooms to install CO detectors for maximum safety
- How often CO detector batteries should be changed
Carbon monoxide poisoning is a four-season danger at home. Protect your yourself and your loved ones.
How To Replace Your New Home’s Deadbolt Locks
After moving into a new home in Fort Lee , you should immediately replace its deadbolt locks. It’s not just the home’s former residents that have the key, after all, but so might a relative, a friend, a neighbor, a dog-walker, and others.
You may call a locksmith for the job, but you can save some money if you can do-it-yourself.
In this detailed, 2-minute video, you’ll learn how to remove and replace a deadbolt lock using nothing but a Phillips screwdriver and a deadbolt from a hardware store. It’s a simple project that requires little mechanical skill.
And one that can make your new home more safe.
Shopping For Mattresses, Or How Buy A Good Night’s Sleep
NBC’s The Today Show hosted Consumer Reports for its take on mattresses. Some of the results may surprise you.
At 7 minutes, the video is long, but it’s stuffed with helpful comfort tips, including the scientific reason why a mattress should be replaced every 8 years or so. Some of the other advice includes:
- How to reduce morning aches and pains with proper pillow choices
- Why “hot sleepers” should stay away from memory foam
- How to properly test a mattress in the store before you buy it
After its testing and a series of interviews with consumer and industry workers, Consumer Reports also concludes that — for a queen-sized bed — a $1,000 list price is going to give you “a lot of bed”; there’s little need to spend more. And, furthermore, because mattress prices are usually negotiable by half-off or more off, you could buy that $1,000 mattress at a significant discount.
More than 70% of people successfully negotiate lower mattress prices.
Consumer Reports acknowledges that there’s no “#1 mattress”, per se, because mattresses are a personal fit in terms of both firmness and size. With respect to durability, however, most will last for years.
How To Clean Your Grill For Better Tasting Food
A well-maintained grill is the key to great tasting food, season after season — chicken, meats, fish or other. And keeping your grill clean is simple.
In this 4-minute from Lowe’s, you’ll learn basic, pre-grilling cleaning tricks, plus how to breakdown your gas grill completely and clean its parts.
Some of the pointers from the video:
- Clean your grill before every use using the grill’s own heat and a wire brush
- Don’t try to clean rusted and/or broken grill grates — replace them
- After long periods of non-use, check your burners for insects and pests
The video is geared at beginners and includes a step-by-step tutorial. Even the most seasoned griller could probably pick up a tip or two.