Large-scale plumbing issues should always be handled by a professional, but there are plenty of simple techniques and procedures you can use to perform basic preventive maintenance. Consider the following tips for ensuring your plumbing system is functioning to its full capacity:

Bathroom

• Run hot water down the drain once a week to help keep it free-flowing.
• Repair leaky faucets to avoid further damage to the fixtures and faucets.
• Fit tubs and showers with strainers that catch hair and soap chips. Clean the strainers regularly.
• To remove mineral deposits on your shower head, put one cup of vinegar in a plastic bag, place it over the shower head,

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The key to treating carpet spots and stains is to act quickly—the longer you wait, the higher the probability that a spill will become a permanent stain. Large stains should always be handled by a professional, but to effectively deal with minor spots and stains, consider the following tips:

Absorb

• Blot liquids with a dry, absorbent cloth or plain paper towels (printed or colored material may transfer ink or dye to your damp carpet). Continue until the area is barely damp.
• Start at the outside of the spot and continue toward the center to prevent the stain from spreading. Semi-solid spills, like food, may need to be scooped up with a spoon.

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By Matt Solis, Senior Editor

The best way to prevent mold growth is to keep all materials in your home as clean and dry as possible. Make sure your house is well ventilated with a relative humidity between 30 and 50 percent. To reduce indoor humidity, vent bathrooms, dryers and other moisture-generating sources to the outside; use air conditioners and dehumidifiers; increase ventilation; and use exhaust fans whenever cooking, dishwashing or cleaning. To further protect your home from mold growth, consider the following tips:

• Standing water sources promote mold and bacterial growth, so it’s important to cover sump pumps, enclose fish tanks and ensure basement drains (for air conditioning hoses,

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Exceeding a remodeling budget can lead to a host of unforeseen problems, including settling for unexpected options, disagreeing with contractors and being left with an unfinished room. To avoid dealing with these potential issues altogether, consider the following tips:

Differentiate between “need” and “want.” Start your budget with things you need. Research the costs of many different kinds of products and materials, starting with the most expensive necessities and ending with the items you can do without. Major appliances should be at the top of your list since they cost the most.

Make a Top 10 list. Look around your kitchen and decide what needs to be immediately replaced and what can be replaced in the future. Read more

When my black Labrador got up in years, she would occasionally have accidents inside the house on the wall-to-wall carpeting. Don’t procrastinate when your pet accidentally urinates on your carpets. According to Matt Cole, owner of Cole’s Carpet and Upholstery, a Diamond Certified company, the crystals in the urine can create an alkaline stain, which can give off a bad odor, discolor your carpets and even damage your hardwood floors.

So here’s what to do. Mr. Cole says you blot up the urine contamination with a wet terry cloth towel until all the yellow comes up. You don’t want it to spread further, so remember to blot, not rub the area. You can also use paper towels for blotting. Read more

Maintaining the windows in your home is relatively easy and can save you money on future heating, cooling and repair work. Depending on the type of window you have, consider the following tips:

Maintaining metal or vinyl frame windows

• Start with a visual inspection of the window and frames. Rubber seals hold the glass in place, and if the seals deteriorate over time, you’ll have an air or water leak. To replace the rubber, remove the window
  sash and take it to a glass repair shop. You may need to call a professional to remove the window.
• Check for cracked or broken glass, which should also be replaced by glass shop professionals.

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Every time I use my dryer, I clean out the lint screen. Unfortunately, not all the lint is captured there, according to Doug Francone, owner and President of DUCTZ of Walnut Creek and the Tri-Valley. Some of it slips into the duct that’s used to move the hot, moist air from the dryer to the outside. Over time that lint builds up.

When that venting line gets clogged, your dryer has to work a little harder. It might take 2 hours to dry a load that used to take 45 minutes. Besides wasting energy, you’ll wear out your dryer sooner. A more serious problem is that clogged dryer vents are a leading cause of home fires. Read more