James Carey

Over time, mortar tends to deteriorate. Not only are cracked and deteriorating mortar joints unsightly, but they also diminish the integrity of the surface and can allow water to get behind the brick or block and cause major damage. You can avoid these problems by tuck-pointing the brick or block foundation, which means removing and replacing cracked or missing mortar.

The P-trap is that curved pipe that you see beneath any sink in your home. Unfortunately, the trap’s water-trapping ability extends to hair, grease, debris, and soap scum. This makes a P-trap the number-one location of clogs in the sewer system. If the P-trap becomes only slightly clogged, then you experience slow drainage in the fixture.

Maintenance performed regularly and on schedule provides optimum longevity and helps prevent potential breakdowns or malfunctions. Beyond maintenance procedures for operational sake, the primary (and most important) reason for checking, inspecting, and constantly tuning up your home is to ensure maximum safety for you and your family.

A chimney can be an exposed pipe, a framed enclosure that is covered with siding (called a sided chase) that houses the flue pipe, or a masonry chimney. The chimney travels from the inside of the home to the outside either through an attic and roof or out a wall. The point where the chimney exits the structure is a primary source of leaks.

One of the more basic forms of home maintenance is also simple: cleaning. Nobody loves to clean, but the following homemade formulas make cleaning a breeze. Plus, you always know what’s in the cleansers you’re using. All-Purpose, Handy-Dandy Cleaner: This solution works well to clean and freshen just about any surface.

Whenever you’re about to start a maintenance project, run through these lists to ensure that you have all the tools you need: Basic Equipment Other Handy Equipment Bucket, 5-gallon Brass brush, toothbrush-size Caulking gun Chisels, cold and wood Circular saw Construction screws, assorted Clamps Cutting oil Cl

Screen patch kits are available at hardware stores and home centers. They’re inexpensive and easy to install (the process takes less than a minute). You can also use any of the following methods to repair small holes in window screens, depending upon the type of screen material: Apply a small amount of clear nail polish to a small hole or tear in a vinyl or fiberglass screen.

One of the absolute best ways to prevent slow or clogged drains is to be careful about what you put into them. Clever, eh? Cooking grease, coffee grounds, hair, and soap scum are four of a drain’s biggest enemies. Do whatever you can to avoid introducing any of these items into a drain. Here’s how: Save cooking grease in an old coffee can or cardboard milk container.

Did you know that your water heater will function better and be safer if you do a little routine maintenance? Some water-heater experts recommend testing every six months. More frequent testing can reduce the chance of a leak caused by mineral and corrosion buildup. The temperature and pressure relief valve (TPR valve) opens to release pressure buildup in the water heater when the temperature or the pressure get dangerously high, preventing a possible explosion.