Cleanouts on all drains have to be easily accessible. And water supply lines on all fixtures should have working shut-off valves. Paillard recommends that, because toilets tend to jam more often than other fixtures, you should insist that such a valve be installed. Continue reading →
Clogged Soil Line Problems
Another major problem is a clogged soil line, which can prevent sewage from traveling uninterrupted to the sewer or the septic tank. The reasons for the blockage are virtually endless. Tree roots can wrap themselves around the buried pipe and crack it. Continue reading →
Insulation at Your House (4)
Whether you should install insulation yourself depends on the structural design of your house and the type of materials used in its construction. Installing it yourself does save money if done correctly, and often insulation contractors are overscheduled, so you might not be able to hire one when you need one. Continue reading →
Insulation at Your House (3)
The facing material on the insulation is generally a vapor barrier. It is usually applied toward the “warm-in-winter” portion of the house to help resist the movement of moisture vapor to cold surfaces, where it can condense. This means that, in the ceilings, the barrier faces down; in the walls, it faces the inside; and in the floors over unheated spaces, it faces up. Continue reading →
Insulation at Your House (2)
R-values are cumulative, so there is no need to remove what’s already there. By layering two different batts together, you get the combined R-value of both batts. For example, two layers of R-19 batts will give you a total of R-38. Continue reading →