Buying a house is arguably the largest purchase that most people will make in their lifetimes which is why it’s important to never skip a home inspection. While most home buyers will obtain an inspection before purchasing, buyers in hypercompetitive markets should at least get one afterwards. A home inspection will help you learn about your home and all its inner workings, such as plumbing systems, electrical, structural, exterior, and cosmetic issues. An inspection may identify issues that need to be fixed quickly, as things like water damage may cost you dearly in the future if not resolved right away.

You Get What You Pay For

A home inspector is not the place to skimp on cost. Consider this an investment in the health of your home and your family—as inspections can uncover dangers in your home that can affect not only your wallet but also your health. A good home inspector will have experience with homes in your area and will take more than a couple hours to put together a thorough, detailed report.

Keep Those Utilities On

A good home inspector will need to test all your plumbing and electrical fixtures, which is why it’s imperative to have the utilities turned on at the time of inspection. Running water is a must in order to check for leaks, water pressure, clogs, and other issues.

Sewer line Scope

If there are indicators of a clog—such as signs of a previous sewer back up, slow draining of sinks or tubs, or low water pressure, you may want to spend the extra money on a comprehensive plumbing inspection. This will usually entail a sewer line scope—literally a small camera that is snaked through your sewer lines to ensure there is no blockage or damage to the line. While most people don’t opt for a separate plumbing inspection, this can be a costly mistake for home buyers who are buying older homes, which may have clay pipes or be surrounded by old growth trees. Any home surrounded by large trees is susceptible to sewer line damage thanks to tree roots creeping in the line. DC sewer repair and replacement can be costly, so it’s much easier on the pocketbook to identify problems before they turn into full-blown disasters.

Mold Isn’t Necessarily A Deal Breaker

If there’s any risk or indication of mold, it’s best to play it on the safe side and get a mold test done on your home. Did you know that every home contains mold? That’s because there are literally thousands of types of mold and not all are harmful for your health. A mold test will identify which types are in your home, whether they are “good” or “bad” mold, and define what acceptable levels are for “bad” mold. If you do have a bad mold, it’s not necessarily time to freak out yet. There are plenty of companies that do mold removal and your sellers may be willing to pay for it or reduce the purchase price in order to close the sale—considering they will have to disclose this to any future buyers anyways. One thing to keep in mind is that mold grows in moist environments, so if you do have mold, be extra vigilant to find out the cause and remedy it—such as from water damage due to a plumbing leak.

Thanks to the nationwide obsession with home improvement shows, doing it yourself has never been more in the spotlight. A simple Google or YouTube search will provide thousands of videos on how to do everything from changing a light bulb to fixing your dishwasher. Not all home repairs should be attempted at home, though. So how do you know what is worth the cost of professional services and what projects are a great place to save some change? Read on.

Plumbing

Simple fixes such as changing a shower head or tightening a leaky faucet are no problem for the average homeowner. Unclogging pipes and troubleshooting leaks are also within the realm of possibilities. However, when it comes to substantial plumbing work, you will want a professional on your side. If you are moving plumbing lines or repairing pipes, a company that does DC plumbing repairs is a must have. Improper plumbing leads to leaks and water damage, such as wood rot, which can leave you with more than enough money troubles to offset the savings of doing it yourself.

Drywall Finishing

Installing drywall isn’t rocket science—but making it look professional is a different story. Mudding, taping, sanding…this is a task you’ll want to leave to the pros if you can afford it. Not only will the results look twice as good but experienced drywallers can finish a project in ten percent of the time that it would take an average DIY’er. When you factor in the time, execution, and amount of drywall dust… this is one project you don’t want to mess with. Drywalling a ceiling? Even worse, trust us.

Roofing

There are many reasons why you should hire out a roofing job (like the fact that leaks are expensive!) but the main reason is the most obvious. You could fall. It’s a big liability and requires a lot of special tools to do the job both correctly and safely. Factor in inclement weather like a hot day, which will feel even hotter unprotected on the roof, or rain, or snow… it’s best to leave this to a professional roofing company.

Electrical Work

There are some electrical things that you can do yourself, like switching out a light fixture or an outlet. However, for more involved electrical work, you’ll want to hire a professional. Not only can electrical work be risky and potential dangerous (electric shock, anyone?), but doing it incorrectly can be safety hazard going forward. There are legal aspects to think through, as well. Many counties require permits and professionals for a variety of electrical jobs and using a certified electrician will make sure that everything is safe and up to code.

Mold Removal

Asbestos in no joke. While there are mold removal kits you can buy to try to remedy the problem yourself, this is one area that you don’t want to mess up. Asbestos and other molds are dangerous to your health, require special equipment and air circulation, and can be a legal liability when removed. Certain states have laws about how asbestos can even be removed from a home to ensure that you aren’t spreading the mold spores through the air to your neighbors. When you factor in the health risk and legal liabilities, it’s just not worth it.

Remodeling a kitchen is an expensive undertaking that many people save up for years to afford. With all that hard earned cash going out the door, deciding on the look and finishes for your new kitchen can be paralyzing as you don’t want to make any mistakes. The following trends are the biggest of 2018, ensuring your DC kitchen remodeling project will be modern, updated, and top of the line.

Mixed Metals

Why settle for one metal when you can have them all? The mixed metal trend is a popular one but the key is to making the mix look intentional. Chrome with aged brass, matte black with gold, there are plenty of ways to play up the interest with this trend. Mixing metals is a great way to keep your kitchen from looking too fussy, monochromatic, and overly polished.

Open Shelving

The open shelving trend continues on in 2018, with homeowners favoring the airy feeling of open shelving which in turn makes the kitchen look larger, as opposed to the heavy, closed in feeling of upper cabinets. Open shelving is a great way to break up a wall of cabinets and add warmth and interest with the objects you choose to display, from pretty glassware to vintage art, fresh blooms, and everything in between. It’s also an easy way to add functionality with displaying frequently used items, such as coffee cups, for maximum accessibility. The perfect marriage of form and function.

Two Toned Cabinets

2018 is the year of having it all—why limit yourself to just one metal or cabinet color? Tuxedo cabinets were a huge hit in 2017. Tuxedo cabinets is what it’s called when the upper cabinets are a light color, such as white, while the lower cabinets are darker, such as gray or black. The 2018 take on two toned cabinets is the “tuxedo island”, if you will. This is when the kitchen island cabinetry is a different color than the rest of the kitchen—think black, reclaimed wood, or even a saturated color such as navy or sage.

Vintage Textiles

While the all-white kitchen trend is still going strong, it does lead to a somewhat sterile, hospital-like feel with all that white, if you don’t bring in other elements to warm it up. The easiest way to add warmth is by adding color and texture through vintage textiles. From draperies and hand towels to beautiful oriental carpet runners, the possibilities are endless.

Herringbone Pattern

Pattern in general is having a big moment right now but none more so than the Herringbone pattern. Wood flooring in a herringbone pattern adds subtle interest without being too busy and still maintains the classic element of hardwoods. In addition to flooring, this pattern is a popular choice for kitchen backsplashes and might even steal the title “most popular” from everyone’s favorite white subway tile. This pattern is super versatile because it can add subtle interest to neutral colors such as whites or grays or create an eye popping statement in other colors like aqua blue. A professional plumbing service that handles remodeling can help with the planning and designing of the kitchen of your dreams.  

There is always a demand for plumbers in the job market and it’s no secret why—it’s work that no one else wants to do! Plumbing issues are a given for any homeowner (or renter for that matter) and they can be costly if not quickly identified and remedied. Water damage never gets better, only worse. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the signs of the following common plumbing emergencies so you know when to call your friendly neighborhood plumber.

• Clogged Pipes

If you have ever noticed water draining slowly (or not at all!) in your sinks, bath tub, or shower, chances are your pipes are clogged. Pipe clogs are caused by debris in the pipe that block the flow of water, usually by the presence of foreign substances, such as hair or grease. Your first line of defense is to use a plunger to try to unclog the pipe and if that doesn’t work, try using a declogging chemical solvent. While there are many products you can purchase to unclog your pipes, such as drain-o or hair snaking tools, you may need to call a plumber if you can’t resolve it.

• Burst Pipes

The signs of burst pipes are pretty obvious—water everywhere! This is a common occurrence during especially cold freezing temperatures—which is why it’s important to leave your faucets on slightly to keep the water flowing. You can also open up the cabinet under the sink to allow more heat to warm the pipes. Sometimes, however, burst pipes have nothing to do with the weather. Pipes can burst simply because they are old or because something is causing them to crack—such as tree roots growing inside. Your first line of defense here is to shut off your water at the main valve and then call a DC emergency plumber immediately.

• Running Toilets

Not only is a toilet that won’t quit running annoying but it can also be very expensive! A running toilet is wasting gallons of water which is bad for the environment and your pocketbook. There are three main components of a toilet that could be malfunctioning for this to happen: the chain, the flapper, or the balloon. Before diagnosing anything, it’s probably a good idea to turn off the water valve to the toilet or things could get messy.

• Sewer Back-Up

Finally, sewer back-ups happen. It’s important to know the signs so that you can react quickly before things get worse. You might notice your toilets gurgling or a sewer odor (yuck!). You may have multiple clogs at once in your home. All of these things indicate a sewer back up. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do yourself here except call a professional. Trust me, you won’t want to handle the clean-up yourself either. Sewer back-ups can happen when there is an abnormal amount of rainfall, when tree roots grow into pipes, or simply because of old pipes that need to be replaced.

As spring approaches, many homeowners start tuning up their appliances and home systems, as well as purging and deep cleaning their homes. One area of the home that is often overlook but very important: your plumbing system. Taking a quick look around your home, you can prevent costly repairs by checking on the following items each year.

Leaky Pipes and Faucets

Doing an once-over of your whole house is a great way to check for leaks. Not only should you look for actual water, but also signs that water has been where it shouldn’t. Signs of water leaks include wood rot, water damage, mildew odors, and mold. You check the areas around pipes, sinks, faucets, and even ceilings below your bathroom for any signs of leaking.

Water Heat Inspection

Check the age of your water heater and replace if appropriate. Your owner’s manual will likely have a recommended age of replacement but the general rule of thumb is 10 years. Water heaters also need to be serviced periodically and your technician will likely leave a sticker indicating the last service date. Look for any signs of damage to the system or surrounding area.

Water Pressure

Not only is low water pressure annoying but it can also be the symptom of a larger issue, such as a clogged pipe. Turn on each of your water fixtures, such as sink faucets and showerheads and put your hand in the water stream to gauge pressure. On the hand, too much water pressure isn’t good either. You know what they say, too much of a good thing is a bad thing. High water pressure is not only wasteful and environmentally unfriendly but it also cost you more on your water bill than you need to pay. Call your local plumber to sort out either of these issues easily.

Drain Issues

While you are running the water to check the pressure, this is a great time to check your drainage. If you notice any of your pipes are taking a long time to drain, or even not draining at all, you may have a clogged pipe. If that’s the case, it’s time to call a company offering DC drain services. Clogs can be caused by a variety of issues, including foreign objects such as hair, cooking oil, foreign debris, or even toilet paper. You’d be surprised the types of things that can be found in a kitchen sink drain. Literally, everything but the kitchen sink.

Preventing Sewer Back-Ups

Lastly, you should inspect your sewers and pipes where visible. If you live in an older house, you may have pipes made of clay or cast iron which are susceptible to breakage. In this case, you would want to replace your clay pipes with PVC piping which can be a daunting task but one that will pay off in the long run. A broken sewer line can lead to serious financial troubles, so it’s important to be proactive. If you live in a heavily wooded area, you may want to pay for a plumber to periodically jet your sewer line in order to break up any tree roots that may have crept in, in order to prevent breakage to your line.

If you are thinking of remodeling your bathroom, you might be curious about what’s currently in style, lest your remodel look outdated in a few years. While the classic and very popular marble on white cabinetry will always be in style, here’s a quick overview of the new trends that are taking 2018 by storm. Looking for the cliff notes version? 2018 is the year of taking a simple element and turning it into a beautiful statement piece, such as bathtubs, tile, shower doors, and fixtures. A DC bathroom remodeling company can help you achieve all this and much more.

Spa Features

More and more homeowners have taken an interest in making their homes a place they want to be—an oasis, if you will. This trend has certainly extended into the bathroom, with pieces like glamorous soaking tubs, large walk-in showers with rain shower heads, or even the addition of saunas or steam rooms to aid in relaxation. While once windows were somewhat taboo in the bathroom, more and more designers are adding natural light to invoke that spa-like feel.

Free-Standing Bath Tub

My, how trends change over time. Just a few short years ago, every home had a shower/tub combination. Then came the birth of the luxurious, gigantic, walk-in shower and its jetted tub counterpart. After a while, home owners noticed they weren’t actually utilizing jetted tubs and longed to get that square footage back, which led to many homeowners opting for just showers, especially in the master bath. It appears, for 2018 at least, the sweet spot is somewhere in between. A walk-in shower paired with a free standing bath tub is as much a statement piece as a functional fixture, and your local plumber can move your plumbing pipes to accommodate this new modern look.

Pattern Tile

The patterned tile engine has come to full steam in 2018. From patterned floors, backsplashes, and entire showers, more and more homeowners are renovating their bathrooms with a statement tile while leaving everything else neutral in order to let the tile shine.

Steel Framed Shower

A quick search of Pinterest for shower doors will bombard you with hundreds of pins exhibiting what #ShowerGoals truly looks like and it might surprise you. A theme that appears over and over is the black steel framed glass shower doors—whether just simply framed shower walls or broken up in panes resembling windows. A common thread of all 2018 trends couldn’t be better exemplified as it is here: taking a simple element and making it swoon-worthy.

Matte Black Fixtures

While mixed metals are certainly having a moment, it looks like brass may finally be losing its spot as #1 metal trend in favor of a newcomer, matte black. Matte black fixtures certainly skew more modern and tie in beautifully to the on-trend black and white color palette that has taken bathrooms by storm. At the end of the day, black is a classic and timeless color that won’t look outdated in a few years, so it’s a relatively safe investment.

Water heaters are such an essential part of everyday life considering they provide heated water to all parts of your home whenever and wherever you need it.  Unfortunately, these vastly used and important units get neglected and forgotten about too often, until a problem arises.  Replacing your water heater because of failed maintenance or misuse can be very costly.  Not to mention the major inconvenience of not having any hot water until the issue is resolved or a new unit has been installed.  Luckily, there are a number of ways that you can increase the years you get out of it as well as better and more efficient performance while in use.  Let’s examine three well-known tips for getting the most out of your water heater.

Setting The Thermostat To The Proper Temperature

The temperature you decide to set your water heater at will have a constant impact on several daily activities.  The average recommended temperature to set the thermostat at is 120 degrees Fahrenheit.  This will properly heat your water for all major and minor uses throughout your home along with not putting strain on the life of the tank.  If you notice your water having an unpleasant odor, this may be a sign of higher bacteria levels and require an increase in temperature to 140 degrees to kill the bacteria.  The same outcome will be true if you are having trouble getting your dishes clean in your dishwasher, an increase in temperature on the water heater may be necessary for your circumstance.  Changing the temperature of a gas-powered water heater is simple, just turn the dial located on the front of the gas control valve.  If you have an electric water heater, you will need to turn off the breaker, remove access panels and locate the thermostat to adjust.  It is often the safest bet to allow a professional plumbing company to adjust and maintain your water heater, especially if you are unfamiliar with them.

Drain The Sediment Build Up Every So Often 

Over time, the micro amounts of sediments in the water get deposited in the bottom of your tank and can accumulate if left untreated for too long.  Luckily, there is an easy trick you can do periodically to help avoid any unwanted build-up.  First, drain the remaining water in the tank into a bucket.  Next, stir up the sediment by opening the cold-water supply valve.  Then you will drain the water and repeat the process until the water is looking crystal clear.

Use Some Pipe Installation

A simple, quick, and inexpensive method to help you get the most out of your water heater is installing some 3/8-inch-thick self-stick pipe installation.  You will want to cover the pipes leading away from your heater as far as you can see.  This will be multifunctional, helping keep the hot water warmer and cold-water cooler with less condensation in the summertime. For any other concerns or questions, don’t hesitate to contact a professional that offers DC water heater repair services.

Choosing to remodel your bathroom can be a very exciting yet overwhelming feeling. A lot of things will need to happen correctly, and in order, to achieve your vision of what you want your bathroom to look and feel like.  Even doing small simple projects can make drastic improvement throughout the entire atmosphere of your bathroom.  With enough creativity and persistence, you can turn your older styled outdated bathroom into a highly aesthetically pleasing area that will bring you pleasure every single day.  Below are three outstanding tips to help get you on your way to your new bathroom paradise.

Form A Plan With A Budget

Nothing halts progress on a project faster than running out of available money to use for completion.  It may seem like a waste but hiring a professional to help you plan and properly budget your project will provide you with much greater success in a more organized and realistic time frame.  A professional can lay out an elaborate plan of specific action to help you complete your desired goals in the most realistic fashion possible.  It’s best to get a general idea of what you wish to change and then further discuss your plans with an expert so they can help get you on your way as soon as possible.  Another benefit of planning and using a budget is that you will actually save money, in the end, considering you’ll only be purchasing the essentials for each stage of completion, as opposed to guessing and buying things that may not do the job.  Save yourself a headache, guesswork, and costly errors by hiring a professional plumber to help you get the most affordable and efficient plan of action for your new bathroom.

Redo Your Lighting

One of the most noticeable aspects of a bathroom, really any room for that matter, is the lighting.  A bathroom that is too light or too dark can deliver an uncomfortable and unpleasant feel from the start.  Changing old traditional lights for new led bulbs of your choice can make a huge improvement in visibility right away.  Removing, adding, or changing the placement of light fixtures will make a drastic impact on where the light is shining, as well as how much.  There are many unique lighting options that can literally help brighten your day when you find what is right for you and your bathroom.

Adding Or Replacing Mirrors

The third useful tip on the list of ways to remodel your bathroom is having a better mirror.  If you have a small bathroom that is tight on available space, you may want to replace your protruding wood framed mirror with a larger and sleeker flat mirror that will hug the wall.  This will not only give you more space at eye level but also make the bathroom feel larger with more space for reflection.  A new mirror will also make the bathroom look more modern and you can measure to hand pick the appropriate size to fit each area nicely.  If you have any other questions, you can always reach out to a professional that offers DC bathroom remodeling services.

Educating yourself as much as possible about the plumbing in your home can make a crucial impact on how often annoying and expensive problems arise.  When you are more aware of the processes happening in your home each day, you can better predict and react when an issue may come up with your plumbing/pipes.  Sometimes you might stumble across small minor issues that you don’t want to pay a professional to come out and fix every time.  If so, you will need to have some basic knowledge of what may be causing the problem and how you properly fix it before it develops into a more series issue.  Fortunately, there are three excellent tips to always remember when dealing with a plumbing repair issue in your home.

How To Locate Non Visible Pipes

Sometimes you may experience a problem with one of your pipes however, things may be more difficult if you cannot see the pipe and what may be wrong with it.  Instead of breaking through floors and demolishing areas of your home to locate the problem area, try using a high strength magnet to locate hidden pipes.  For pipes under the floor, attach a rare earth magnet to a fishing line and feed it down through a drain to see where the pipe leads underneath.  You can then track the magnet down through the floor using an ordinary compass which will turn accurately with the magnet’s placement.  This is a much quicker, easier, and less expensive way than tearing up floors throughout your home in search of pipes.

The Power Of The Picture        

Whether you are rebuilding the walls and structure of your home, or in the process of building your new home from scratch, one important tip to always remember is to take a picture.  More specifically, take a number of high-quality photos with good visibility and lighting of all major plumbing and electrical fixtures throughout your home before they get covered up with walls and floors.  Once you have several good pictures of what kinds of important features there are and where they are located, be sure make note of them in writing or digital storage as well.  It would be very disappointing to find out a few years down the road when you want to remodel the kitchen and can’t remember where major pipes and wires are.  Breaking through walls with pipes can result in extremely costly repairs, as well as more time and hassle to complete the project with a new problem to deal with.  Always take pictures so you can document and reference down the road where crucial plumbing and electrical elements are located in your home.

How To Use The Toilet During Plumbing Projects 

During the time of changing or fixing pipes and anything involving plumbing in a home, you will most likely have the water shut off which means you can’t flush the toilet.  The good news is a very simple and easy way to still use and flush the toilet whenever necessary does indeed exist.  If you have a two-gallon bucket of water and dump it in the bowl before you flush the toilet, it will work properly each time you repeat this process.  For any other concerns or questions, contact an expert that offers DC commercial sewer repair services.