PREVENT FLOODS

Do you know where your house’s main water shutoff is? Recently I was called in to replace an older shower valve but because I could not find the main water shutoff, I was unable to do this simple task. Newer shower valves have integral shutoffs so this issue doesn’t apply to them.

It’s important to know where the shutoff is in case of emergencies like a cracked pipe as often happens during very cold spells or for the simple task of replacing a washer or other minor plumbing work. Imagine the damage to your property if there is a flood, not to mention the inconvenience of not being able to use the damaged space or the stressful task of the repair process.

Some insurance policies may not cover flood damage so it’s to your benefit to mitigate the possibilities of a flood.

Generally the main shutoff is located where the water pipe from the street enters the house, usually on the street side of the house in cities. In most cases, it’s in the basement or crawl space.

When renovating a basement or an area where the main water shutoff is located, make sure to provide access to it. This could be simply a hole it the wall or a purpose made access panel. Do not cover up this important valve and show its location to whoever uses or cares for your property.

Speaking of valves, some may weep water from the stem unless completely open or completely closed. When going on vacation or leaving your property for an extended period, it’s a good idea to shut off the water either at the main shutoff or at each fixture.

The toilet in particular is one known for causing floods. If the tank cracks and water leaks out, the valve in the tank will just run and run. So, turn off the water at the toilet when leaving your property for an extended time.

The leading cause of floods are ruptured washing machine hoses. Again, when not in use, turn off the water to this appliance. Replace the hoses every five years to be on the safe side.

Brought to you by Bennett Guinn, a handyman serving Victoria, B.C.

Latest Project

Customer requested a bedroom closet be converted to a work station with a wide drawer for files and shelves both sides . Heavy duty drawer slider used.

ON MOLD ISSUES

A lot of attention has been paid to issues around mold in recent years. Like the algae which grows on exterior surfaces, mold is a plant and requires moisture and food to survive. Most conditions supporting mold can be found around water systems in the house: kitchen, bathroom, laundry and basements.

One small dripping leak over time can lead to extensive, and in many cases, invisible mold growth.

So, if you have a leaking faucet or a musty smelling basement, Start looking for the telltale signs of mold: powdery black stains around pipes and lower areas on walls.

If caught and rectified in time, mold isn't a big deal but if the underlying issues causing it are not addressed, you will be faced with big problems later. According the Mike Holmes (Holmes Inspection TV show), if mold exceeds 100 square feet, this is unsafe and requires a professional mold abatement contractor to remedy it.

Many new products have come to market to address and prevent mold.  Georgia Pacific's DenShield is a product I really like. It looks like drywall but outperforms concrete backer board, used traditionally for tiling in bathrooms. According to it's brochure, DenShield is more waterproof than concrete board and because it will not wick water, mold doesn't have a chance to grow.

Other products to consider are blueboard and bluewood, designed to thwart mold.

Of course, prevention is key to having a mold issue cropping up. If you are renovating a basement, consider how sound the foundation walls are. If they are brick, rock or cinder block, chances are good there could be water migration into the basement, even if you don't see it. A damp cool basement wall is ideal growing environment for mold. Don't waste any money on finishing such a basement until the water issue has been addressed.

Protect Your Metal Possessions

Patio furniture, wrought iron fences and automobile maintenance

Due to our high-humidity environment, any ferrous metal exposed to the elements can rust. Cars can rust from inside out due to condensation.

I've been using a metal conditioner for years which is effective at stopping rust in its tracks and if used as a preventative measure, can prevent rust and prolong the life and strength of your metal possessions.

Some patio furniture is made of hollow metal tubing which is usually painted but the interior of the tube may not be. Condensation or rain which collects in these can cause them to rust from the inside out. Look for small holes in the tubing and inject the conditioner liberally.Spray the conditioner on the exterior too, as an added layer of protection.

One product I use which offer these benefits is Rust Check, available at many automotive outlets.

New Way Of Doing Things

While working at a customer's recently, they asked me to figure out why the shower head in their new condo didn't work. Initially I was stumped too until I realized there was no diverter valve. Actually, it was hidden in the water spout's sleek design. The diverter was built into the spout opening! Just pull it down when the water is on and that does it - shower!

AUTO BODY REPAIR

I've been doing auto body repair for years and have even had a few paying jobs too. I don't promise the results of a body shop but the results usually look a lot better than before. So, if you have a small dent that needs to be repaired, consider me!

Fixing is GREEN!

Unless something is completely unrepairable, it makes sense to repair instead of buying new. I recently fixed a hollow-core entry door for a customer and she was amazed at the results.

Your Home's Electrics

DISCLAIMER

This information is provided for educational purposes only, by a person knowledgeable in electricity. Do not attempt repairing or modifying your home wiring. If you do not understand how electricity works, consult a qualified person for your electrical repairs. 

This Photo shows a melted Mar wire nut in the junction box of a dishwasher. The connection was loose, leading to arcing of the wires which created enough heat to melt the Mar nut. 

When diagnosing issues with anything electrical,  look for fundamental problems first. This bad connection was one of several issues found with this appliance.

TODAY'S household and commercial electrics are standardized so there is now a universal standard being used to keep everything safe. However, in older homes the electrical system may be outdated.

Polarized receptacles and plugs have been around for many years but do you know what that term means?

When you look at a modern receptacle, it looks like a graphic of a face: two vertical slots and under them, in the center, a U-shaped hole. Kinda looks like two eyes and a mouth.

That last one, the U-shaped hole, is a ground connection. Many appliances and some power tools require a ground which protects the user from shocks. Their power cords have the traditional three pins; Positive, Neutral and Ground and can only fit one way.

The orientation of the outlet should be so the middle hole, the ground, is below the two slots.

Many appliances, power tools and many electronics don't require a ground but do require a polarized plug. These are identified by looking at the plug. The two pins will look similar at first but on closer inspection you will see that one is wider than the other. The plug will only fit one way into the receptacle.

Modern receptacles (the wall outlet), in addition to being polarized, also are grounded. One slot is bigger than the other. This means that a polarized plug will fit only one way. Some older homes have receptacles with only two slots, indicating there is no ground. But they too have polarized orientation, so modern polarized plugs will still fit. However, just because there may be a three pronged receptacle, don't assume it's grounded. Some people, not understanding the risks, may have changed the older receptacle with a newer one so that modern three pronged plugs will fit. This can lead one the believing everything is OK. If in doubt, have the receptacle checked by a qualified person. Do not swap out an old two prong receptacle with a modern one unless the wiring has been updated to include a ground wire.

Some electronics share their metal frame/chassis with the neutral side of the wiring system so it's critical that the wiring connection be matched to its design and to prevent a shock. There is a possibility of the chassis being energized if its plug has been modified to defeat the polarized feature of it's design. Humming and other noise may also result by improper electrical connections.

Many older appliances, lamps and home electronics had equally sized pins on their plugs and will work in any older or modern receptacle in any orientation. Their design does not require careful matching of positive and neutral. Older style lamps typically have non-polarized plugs.

Here's a simple tip to spot potential electrical issues: If one or more receptacle is upside down (ground hole above the slots), look for others of similar orientation. It's a sure sign of someone who did not install them properly. Have them inspected by a qualified expert.

Closet Enlargement Project

Making use of space behind a previous bathroom renovation, I was able to enlarge the closet to about three times the volume. Although not very deep by normal closet conventions, the client required lots of storage for sewing supplies and was thrilled to have it. Adding mirrored doors helps brighten the space.

FLOATING SHELVES

The customer specified "floating shelves" but due to the design, required a hidden mounting system. I used mitered cleats along the back and on one side or both depending on the shelf length. I suggested adding puck lights to accentuate artwork and the like. The shelves were made of two 3/4 inch thick sheets of MDF, banded on the edges with fir. The 12 volt lights were wired using a routed groove made on one of the sheets of MDF prior to sandwiching them with glue and screws.

A Better Insulation

ROXUL insulation is an amazing product. I've used it for several projects and on a recent visit to the building center, they had a demonstration where for hours a piece of ROXUL was exposed directly to the flame from a torch. No sign of burning of the insulation and I could place my hand behind the piece of insulation and although warm, was touchable. I had heard of it's fireproof properties but this was a revelation!

In addition to being fireproof, it's a great sound absorber, won't mold and can be dried if exposed to water.