HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-10-18, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN. WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 18. 2000.
\e Improvement 2000
Faucets the place to start fall plumbing eheck
Faucets are the most visible part of
your plumbing system and therefore,
are the best place to start a fall
plumbing inspection of your home.
To make your fall plumbing inspec
tion painless and worry free, here is
a check list of common plumbing
problems and their solutions.
The Right Tools
Before taking apart your plumbing
system, make sure you have the
basic tools needed to make simple
plumbing repairs. “A medium-sized
adjustable wrench and screwdrivers
that will fit faucets, valves and other
parts of your system are indispensa
ble,” says Ted Harrison, director of
marketing and communications.
“Start with these.”
Add a pair of adjustable pliers, a
plunger, some plumber’s putty, a
pipe joint compound for use in con
necting threaded pipes and a
cleanout auger (better known as a
‘snake’) and you’ll have most of the
equipment you’ll ever need.
To prune or not... and when
Shut-Off Valves
Make a tour of your home to deter
mine the location of the shut-off
valves. In addition to the main shut
off next to your water metre, you
should find shut-off valves located
on or next to such appliances as the
washing machine and dishwasher.
To avoid having to shut-off the
water for the entire house when mak
ing repairs, you can install shut-off
valves at every sink and toilet. Label
all valves with an identifying tag.
Next, test every valve to see that it
opens and closes easily. It’s a good
idea to do any minor tightening up,
especially if there’s a sign of leak
age, but in the case of stuck valves,
you should have them attended to by
a plumber. Never leave valves in the
full “on” position. Always go to the
full on and then back off a quarter
turn. This will prevent the valve
from seizing.
Work-free Faucets
One of the most common plumb
ing problems is leaking faucets.
Leakage results from a worn washer,
which can be easily replaced. But if
you want to avoid having to put new
washers on leaking faucets, replace
your present fixture with a washer
less faucet.
Clogged Drains .
The second most common com
plaint (to leaky faucets) is clogged
drains. Drains become obstructed
when objects are dropped into them,
or grease, hair and other debris have
accumulated. Most clogged drains
can be cleared by turning off the
water and removing the fixture trap
(a large, curved pipe) under the sink.
Domestic Water Quality
While Canadian cities and towns
generally provide a high quality of
water, undesirable contaminants can
get into any public water system.
Excessive acidity can be harmful to
water pipes, and iron can also be
present in excessive proportions.
Both can be treated by filtration.
Bacteria and other pollutants can
be more serious if they are present,
affecting taste, odour and purity. If
you’re concerned about your water
Mc&enafd'& Stune Staedmaee
ha& eueiyitiing yen'll need [tvt
ytww
• Lumber
• Plywood
• Decking Materials
• Insulation
• Interior & Exterior
Doors
• Windows
building prefects
quality, contact your local utility
company or a commercial water
testing laboratory.
- News Canada
The primary objective of pruning
is to produce strong, healthy, attrac
tive plants. As a practical rule of
thumb, however, you should prune
first for safety, next for health, and
finally for aesthetics.
Pruning for safety involves remov
ing branches that could fall and
cause injury or property damage.
Pruning for health involves remov
ing diseased or insect-infested wood.
Finally, pruning for aesthetics
involves enhancing the natural form
and character of trees.
fungi, bacteria, and viruses entering
your tree is kept to a minimum.
Trees and shrubs that flower in early
spring should be pruned immediate
ly after flowering.
Depending on the size of branches
to be pruned, your tool of choice will
range from simple hand pruning
shears to a chainsaw. A word to the
wise: if a branch is large enough to
require a chainsaw, think twice
before attempting the job yourself.
Whichever tool you use be sure
it’s sharp enough to avoid ripping the
public library and the Internet are
also excellent sources of detailed
information.
Application of a pruning dressing
to the wound can be helpful in pro
moting healing.,It will also serve to
seal the wound from predatory
insects and bacteria.
Be sure to choose a top-quality
product and follow application
instructions. It’s simply extra insur
ance that your pruning efforts will
result in a healthy tree.
- News Canada
plus ~ kitchen cabinets, plumbing & electrical
supplies, paint, carpet & flooring
•la DASHWOOD
WINDOW AND DOOR CENTRE
McDonald Home Hardware
& Building Supplies
Brussels 887-6277 1-800-881-0030
When to prune?...Generally speak
ing, conifers may be pruned any time
of year. Hardwood trees and shrubs,
summer-flowering trees and shrubs,
and flowering trees susceptible to
fireblight should all be pruned in the
fall, during the tree’s dormant peri
od.
During this period, the chance of
bark of the tree.
Proper pruning cuts are made at a
node - the point at which one branch
or twig attaches to another. For
detailed information on specific cuts,
and such pruning techniques as
crown thinning, crown raising, and
crown reduction, ask your local
nursery personnel for advice. The
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