Home Life

Splashing in the pool is a nice respite from the intense heat of the sun, and simply a nice way to unwind from the tension of the day. Just imagine grabbing hold of your float, slapping on some sunglasses and cherishing the moment. This experience could be even better when you can do that in your own backyard–anytime you desire. The investment takes some planning, so here are four things to consider during this endeavor.

1. Design

First and foremost, what are your goals with this space? Are you interested in getting exercise? Do you want an aesthetic creation? You’ll need to consider your overall social and physical requirements to select the shape that best suits your needs. Consider waterfalls, deeper ends and spas. They are all possible enhancements.

2. Decking

You’ll have some form of deck around the pool. Concrete and pavers are two viable and popular selections. Concrete is simple and can be maintained with pressure washing. Pavers add more color and style. If you go this route, protect them applying something like sealcoating Pittsburgh PA.

3. Screening

A screen adds a bit of privacy and could help keep out bugs, limbs and leaves; however, it does obstruct the view. So, consider what is most important: bright sunlight and a breeze or a bit of seclusion. In addition, some communities may mandate screening when the land isn’t fenced in. That means you’ll have to choose one of those two options.

4. Furniture

Traipsing through the house dripping wet to grab a drink or have a chance to sit isn’t the best option. Plan out how you see yourself on deck. Where will you eat, sit and relax? Then, purchase pieces that fit those decisions. A large table with chairs adds a space for water, munchies and conversation. Lounge chairs can be used for casual seating.

A pool is just a little bit of paradise right on your own property. Just make sure you think it through and remember the little touches.

It doesn’t matter where you live, you can’t rely on Mother Nature to keep your lawn looking great. During the summer, you will eventually have to pull out the house or your grass will likely turn yellow. However, you can avoid all this manual labor by installing a sprinkler system.

Sprinkler systems are convenient and make keeping your lawn and garden healthy. However, some maintenance is required. Getting to know the signs you need irrigation system repair is essential to keeping your lawn healthy.

Uneven Watering

A clear sign you need to call for professional landscaping and irrigation services MA is if you notice pools of water in various parts of your lawn or driveways and sidewalks that are soaked. Look for dry patches of grass, too. These are indications a sprinkler head may need adjusting or that a valve isn’t functioning properly.

Pressure Loss

If there is a loss of pressure in a head or zone, and it isn’t spraying water as it should, it is an indication something in the system isn’t working properly. If there isn’t enough pressure, water won’t be delivered to your yard properly. Too much pressure will result in the premature wear of your system’s equipment. If the regulators and valves seem to be working properly, the issue could be with the irrigation pipes. These pipes may shift in the ground or be impacted by tree roots.

Sputtering or “Coughing” Heads

If your sprinkler heads start spraying off-target, it could be a response to pressure or valve issues. There could also be cracks in the pipes that have impacted how they perform.

Don’t wait to call for repairs for your irrigation system. The issue will only get worse as time passes. Calling the professionals right away can help ensure your system is restored to proper operation.

Wondering how you can easily enhance the curb appeal to your home? Your best bet is to head outdoors and give your grounds some special attention. Here are three ways you can transform your home’s landscaping and improve the appearance of your entire property.

1. Rejuvenate Your Grass

A healthy lawn lays the foundation for your home’s curb appeal. If you haven’t taken proper care of your lawn, it’s never too late to start. You can bring an unhealthy lawn back to dense, green gorgeousness by spreading an eco-friendly fertilizer and seeding dead patches of grass with new seeds. Target these areas as you are watering.

2. Keep Your Trees

It’s no secret that mature trees make a lawn instantly more attractive. Unfortunately, you can’t get mature trees overnight, but you can ensure that the current trees you have in your yard are healthy and able to reach full growth. It’s best to consult with a professional arborist Westport CT. An expert arborist can help you nurse sick trees back to life, as well as providing preventative maintenance to make sure your healthy trees stay that way.

3. Add Height

Give your garden instant visual interest and drama by adding the dimension of height. You can do this by installing a garden arch which you can easily build yourself. Once installed, train flowering vines to grow up and over the structure. This is also an effective trick to conceal any unsightly features of your home’s exterior, or service areas including space where you store garbage cans. Once the climbing plants become fully established, they’ll serve as a lush, green screen and complement the beauty of the garden.

Giving your yard some extra attention will pay dividends when it comes to improving your home’s curb appeal. By following these tips, you’ll take your landscape design to the next level and enjoy lasting curb appeal for seasons to come.

When your home’s septic system malfunctions, the cost could climb into the thousands of dollars, especially if you delay repairs. However, not all septic issues are immediately apparent, so knowing which signs to look for, both on and off your property, could help you rectify the problem before it gets too serious. 

1. Slow Drainage 

If your home’s sinks, tubs and showers are not draining as fast as they used to, you may think clogged drains are to blame and your home needs plumbing maintenance. While this might be part of the problem, a failing septic system may also be to blame. When a septic system cannot accept wastewater, it may drain elsewhere or cause it to back up into your home’s pipes. If the slow drainage grows worse over time, you may want to have your septic tank inspected. 

2. Excess Yard Moisture 

Your septic system may need attention if you notice the areas around it are prone to standing water or spongy, moist ground. This could be a sign that your system is full and cannot take on any more waste. If you live in New York’s Westchester County and notice sections of your yard do not dry after a spring thaw, then you might want to consider a septic tank excavation Cortlandt Manor NY to discover the cause of the issue. 

3. Unusual Drain Sounds 

If your plumbing starts to make odd gurgling or bubbling noises, this could mean a problem with your septic system. These noises may mean a waste backup in your pipes due to a full septic tank or slow or poor drainage because the waste has nowhere to drain to. These sounds may grow louder as time goes on, but it is wise to have your septic tank inspected as soon as you notice these unusual noises. 

The cost of repairing a septic system can spiral out of control if the problem is not corrected quickly. Learning the signs of a failing septic tank may help you prevent high costs and protect your property as well. 

When you want to remodel or finish a room in your house, you will need to update or run electricity to the space. If you have some experience in this area, you can have things set up and power in your new area quickly. Here are a few steps to follow. 

Purchase Supplies

Before you start working, buy the supplies you will need such as wire, electrical conduit addison il, and anchor boxes. You should have tools like wire cutters, tape measure, screws, and a screwdriver. Order these ahead of time so you will have them when you plan to work and have them in the room with you so they are available when you need them. 

Install the Boxes

Determine where in the room you want to have the anchor boxes. You will want to mount them where they will easily meet up with the other wiring in the house. Use a level as you line them up then mark on the wall with a pencil to indicate where it will go. Keep in mind where it is in relation to the floor and ceiling and that the openings for the conduit are in the correct place. With a screwdriver, secure the box to the wall.

Set Up the Conduit

Stretch out the conduit along the wall to ensure that it lines up between the boxes. Feed it up to the box and mark on the metal to indicate where you will cut it. Using a saw, cut the conduit where you have drawn the line then smooth down the exposed cut so it is dull and safe for the wire insulation. Thread the tube into the box that you installed then tighten the set screw around it to keep the conduit in place. If you need assistance to secure it, use a pair of pliers or a wrench to twist the screw. 

Older homes are popular thanks to home improvement television shows and blogs. When compared to a new home, they generally are less expensive, located in established neighborhoods with large yards and full of unique charming features. If you find yourself in love with a house built over 30 years ago, get a general home inspection done to determine the overall state of the home. To avoid costly repairs later due to hidden issues, do separate inspections of these three areas before you buy. Any revealed problems should be fixed by the seller prior to closing or negotiated for a decreased sale price on the home.

1. Plumbing

Steel pipes last an average of 20 years, while brass, copper or iron have a lifespan of 50. Tree roots can also penetrate pipe joints in a search for water. Hire a reputable plumber to scope your sewer line and pipes with a plumbing camera Killeen TX to look for blockages and deterioration. This protects you from future pricey repairs due to broken pipes flooding your home or a sewage backup in your bathrooms. 

2. Electrical

Electrical wiring installed before 1960 has an average lifespan of 70 years. Those installed after 1960 are built to last 100 years. However, factors such as fire, water leaks or rodents could damage the electrical system of the home. Hire a licensed electrician to inspect the breakers, panels and wiring to identify any problems. 

3. Pest

The presence of pests like termites, rodents, scorpions or snakes aren’t visible to the untrained eye. A licensed pest inspector will identify any issues and give you a solution, whether that’s a one-time fix or a series of future treatments. He or she will also advise you of any preventive actions you can take to keep pests out of your home. 

Getting these three inspections done before buying an older home will give you peace-of-mind about your purchase and protect you from costly repairs later.

If you’ve recently рut іn a salt water pool, thеn уоu ѕhоuld knоw bу nоw how іmроrtаnt it іѕ to learn how tо mаіntаіn a ѕаlt water рооl. The bеttеr уоu knоw how tо mаіntаіn a salt water рооl, the more easily уоu саn kеер thе water ѕаfе аnd hеаlthу. Rеmеmbеr, аftеr all, thаt рооrlу mаіntаіnеd salt wаtеr рооlѕ can make ѕwіmmеrѕ vеrу іll. Hеrе are the three best tірѕ for learning how tо mаіntаіn a ѕаlt wаtеr рооl:

Tip #1: Learn how to сhесk wаtеr levels.

Mаnу реорlе thіnk that сhеmісаl tеѕtіng іѕn’t a раrt оf lеаrnіng how tо mаіntаіn a ѕаlt water рооl. That соuldn’t bе further frоm thе truth. Sаlt water рооlѕ аrе usually mаrkеtеd аѕ a ѕаfеr орtіоn to сhlоrіnе рооlѕ. However, ѕаlt water pools are NOT сhеmісаl frее. Thеу ѕtіll have to bе tеѕtеd for pH levels, аlkаlіnіtу аnd саlсіum rеgulаrlу. Whеn lеаrnіng hоw to mаіntаіn a ѕаlt water рооl, уоu ѕhоuld аlѕо lеаrn hоw to understand уоur ѕаlt wаtеr соntrоl box. That wау, you’ll also bе аblе tо еаѕіlу mаіntаіn the сhlоrіnаtіоn lеvеlѕ оf уоur рооl, as wеll аѕ knоw when tо аdd ѕаlt to the wаtеr.

Tір #2: Be саrеful to mаіntаіn thе wаtеr whеn уоu have a lаrgе numbеr of ѕwіmmеrѕ.

If уоu’vе rесеntlу installed уоur pool, hаvіng ѕwіmmіng раrіtіеѕ often may ѕееm lіkе a gооd іdеа. Whіlе іt іѕ dеfіnіtеlу a gооd tо mаkе uѕе оf уоur рооl, іt is important tо understand how tо mаіntаіn hеаlthу water whеn уоu hаvе mоrе ѕwіmmеrѕ thаn uѕuаl. Prepare thе wаtеr before the swimmers arrive with hіghеr lеvеlѕ оf сhеmісаlѕ, and thrоughоut the раrtу, tеѕt thе wаtеr іf уоu ѕее іt is gеttіng сlоudу. You ѕhоuld also lеаrn how tо mаіntаіn a salt wаtеr рооl аftеr thе ѕwіmmеrѕ lеаvе. Yоu may have tо ѕhосk thе pool with аn emergency ѕuррlу оf сhlоrіnе оr аdd сhеmісаlѕ tо rеѕtоrе thе рH lеvеl. This іѕ true еvеn if уоur swimmers aren’t dirty. We аrе аll naturally dіrtу frоm thе grеаѕе in our skin, аnd раrtу guests hаvе a tendency tо spill drіnkѕ аnd food in thе рооl аѕ wеll.

Tір #3: Nоtісе any соѕmеtіс рrоblеmѕ, аѕ thеѕе соuld bе ѕіgnѕ of other рооl care рrоblеmѕ.

Whеn you first lеаrn hоw tо mаіntаіn a salt wаtеr рооl, you mау nоt асtuаllу think аbоut the gеnеrаl wear аnd tear уоu’ll ѕее оn уоur рооl соѕmеtісаllу. Hоwеvеr, over time, уоur pool саn become соrrоdеd оr уоu mау ѕее grауіѕh аnd dull dероѕіtѕ оn the tiles. This indicates a number оf problems, mainly with thе salt itself and the оthеr mіnеrаlѕ іn thе wаtеr. Yоu can learn hоw tо mаіntаіn a ѕаlt water рооl in thіѕ situation ԛuіtе еаѕіlу. First, rеmоvе аnуthіng bеgіnnіng to ѕhоw ѕіgnѕ of соrrоѕіоn аnd ruѕt аnd rерlасе оr сlеаn. Bеfоrе рuttіng bасk іn thе wаtеr, hоwеvеr, uѕе a ѕеаlаnt to рrеvеnt future рrоblеmѕ. Also, you саn uѕе a tіlе сlеаnеr tо remove thе grау dероѕіtѕ. Thіѕ often іndісаtеѕ a calcium рrоblеm. Rеmеmbеr, how to maintain a salt wаtеr рооl is not ѕоmеthіng уоu саn lеаrn in a day. Tаkе tіmе to lеаrn whаt іѕ normal іn уоur pool and whаt іѕ nоt.