Handling Emergency Plumbing Repairs

The following is a list of some common home plumbing emergencies. Before you ever think about calling an emergency plumbing service, perform the repairs as described below. If the steps provided here don't help in resolving the plumbing issues, or you aren't confident in your abilities to do the repairs, you shouldn't hesitate to contact a professional, such as Act Fast Solutions, to do the necessary repairs.

Leaky Faucets

A leaky kitchen or bathroom faucet is the commonest emergency plumbing repair at home. You should know the specific type of faucet if you want to apply the appropriate repair. A ball or cartridge faucet uses a single lever for both cold and hot water. A compression faucet valve uses 2 levers that rise when turned on. A reversed compression faucet uses handlers that lower once the water is turned on. To repair a leaking ball or cartridge faucet, turn off the water supply and then remove the faucet handle using an Allan wrench.

Blocked Kitchen Drain

Kitchen drains remove dirty water from your dishwasher and kitchen sink as well as churned food scraps from your garbage disposal. Objects bigger than food particles can be too large and clog up your pipes.

To open up clogged drains

Remove the strainer then place a plunger over the opening of the drain. Fill up the sink with water, just sufficient to cover the cup of the plunger. Develop suction in the sink by moving the plunger up and down. Repeat this action until the obstruction has been cleared and water drains quickly from your sink.

Use a plumber's snake if the plunger fails to work

If your sink fails to drain even after using a plumber's snake and plunger, the clog is probably lodged deeper in the drain line. Call the emergency plumber before the sewer starts backing up on the floor of your kitchen.

Clogged Toilet

A clogged toilet requires emergency plumbing repair. You should never try to flush objects not designed for the drain down the toilet. To unclog your toilet:

If the toilet bowl is full, empty half its contents using a handled container. If the toilet bowl is empty, continue adding water until it is half full.

Over the drain, place a toilet plunger and move it up and down until water starts draining out the bowl.

If the plunger is ineffective even after trying repeatedly, use a plumbing auger. Push the auger down the drain until you hit an obstacle then rotate it to break up the blockage.

If you find the auger ineffective, you might be dealing with a deeper clog that requires the services of an emergency plumber.

Tip: If you wish to avoid possible health hazards, use a toilet plunger for your toilet and a kitchen plunger for the kitchen sink. A kitchen plunger resembles a ball cut in half. A toilet plunger resembles a distorted ball with a big hole on its bottom.

No Hot Water

Freshwater from the water supply line flows into a storage tank water heater where it is heated up using electricity or gas. Water in the tank is kept at a set temperature until the hot water tap is turned on. If no hot water is released after you turn on the hot water tap, the issue is most likely with the water heaters. Malfunctioning thermostat and relief valves can allow internal pressure and heat to rise and explode. It is thus important to exercise caution when examining and working with malfunctioning water heaters as depicted here:

Check the rest of the hot water faucets to determine whether the source of the problem is with the water heater or actual faucet. If the faucet is at fault, check whether the pipe is broken.

Touch the water carefully, and if it feels hot the unit is functioning. Check the gas water heater for pilot lights that are lit. Follow the instructions of the manufacturer for lighting back on pilot lights. Check the electrical water heaters for a working fuse or circuit breaker.

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Main Reasons Why You Should Consider Going Solar

Switching to solar energy takes more than just making up your mind to take the step. It requires an investment, not to mention that it may end up affecting you and your family’s way of living family. However, in the long run, you will realize, just as many other people have, that the use of solar power is worth it. If you are not sure you follow, here are some of the reasons why you should consider going solar as soon as you are ready.

 ·         Environmental benefits

You have probably heard the term green energy used to describe the use of solar power. This is because the use of solar for the generation of power goes well with Mother Nature. When talking about the energy being clean, the point is that the amount of pollution due to its production is way less than what is the case with the other forms of energy. Such pollutants are the harmful greenhouse gases among other toxic emissions. You end up not only helping yourself but your environment too.

·         Save on energy bills

One of the main reasons many people choose solar power is because of the money they save one energy bills. Well, this may seem a contradiction at first when you have to use a lot of money for the installation of a solar system, especially if you have to pay a lump sum. The real benefit is realized in the long run. This is because you will no longer have to pay for electricity, and the maintenance cost is not a big deal.

·         Electricity independence

With the use of solar energy New Jersey, you will no longer be at the mercy of your previous utility providers. This means that you can choose to use the power the way you want without having to worry about the bill at the end of the month. Also, in case of blackouts, you will have power since you are not on the grid anymore but depend on the renewable solar energy. All you need is the sun up there and you will be good as far as power is concerned.

·         Increase the value of your home

The other thing you need to remember when making your investment to install a solar power system is that it is a worthy thing to do. In the long-run, when you decide to sell your home, its value will be higher thanks to the installed solar power system. You probably know that such additions increase the value of the home, making it compete favorably in the market. So besides enjoying the cut in the power bills, you will enjoy more when selling the house.

·         This is the future

If you have been following news lately, many people are switching to the clean energy. Moreover, different countries are encouraging the use of solar power too.

So, choosing to start your use of solar energy now puts you ahead of the curve. And when you think about it, using solar to power your house is cool, don't you think?

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Step by Step Guide on What to Do After an Accident

Car accidents can raise many questions all at once. The driver is often confused whether they should move the car or call the police at that time. They are not sure when to make the claim. Here are some important steps that will guide you to make a well-informed decision.

If you have met with an accident, consider the following steps:

• First thing you have to do is check whether you have any bodily injuries
• Make sure that other passengers are safe
• Call 911 and ask for assistance at the earliest
• Wait for help at the incident scene
• Exchange as much information as possible with the witnesses
• Make sure that you document the accident
• Do not forget to notify your insurer

If you are seriously injured, make sure that you do not move and wait for emergency personnel. If you are not that hurt, check for the safety of fellow passengers. If any of them is injured, take help from emergency services or ask a bystander for help.

Till you are at the accident scene, you have to use the road flares and turn on the hazard lights in order to warn other vehicles to slow down. Once you have ensured everyone’s safety, try to exchange information with the other driver.

You would require the following details:

• Name and the contact information of opposite party
• Their insurance company and the policy number, if any
• Driver’s license along with the license plate number
• The colour, type and model of the vehicle
• Location where accident happened

The experts suggest documenting the accident. Once the police have arrived at the spot, you must note down the name along with badge number of officers. Ask officers for a copy to the accident report. Take photographs from different angles that clearly show damage to both cars. If other party does not have any objection, get a photograph of their car’s license plate.

Note down the names and addresses of other parties involved in this accident. Besides this, note down the names of witnesses as well.

Here are some mistakes you must avoid to ensure that you receive claim on time. You must have a licensed attorney. Many lawyers advertise a lot but may not be legally allowed to practice in the state. In such situation, you must turn your case to another qualified lawyer.

You must be very careful when the defendant’s risk management person gives you a call. They will try to get your version of accident. They might ask for a recorded or a written statement from your end. They may try to distract by saying they can help you better If they have complete information. Ideally, this information would be used to attack the claims from your end. You could talk to your lawyer before having such conversation with the opposite party. There are many good attorneys to choose from and Khan law firm is one of them.  

If they ask how you are feeling and you do not list down every body part that hurts, you might get into trouble at the time of the hearing. 

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Impact of LED Lighting Technology on the Environment

With a myriad of benefits, LED lights have recently emerged as the most preferred lighting solution for both residential and commercial setting. Moreover, they are environmental friendly when compared to incandescent bulbs and compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). As a result, the manufacture and use of LED light cause less damage to the environment than the other two alternatives.

So, here’s we take a brief look into the impact of LED lights on the environment. 

Mercury Emissions – Unlike the CFL’s, LED lights do not result in mercury emissions. Mercury is poisonous and even the small amounts are a concern for landfills and waste incinerators. Mercury from lamps also cause air and water pollution. In many countries, the usage of mercury is capped in CFL’s. In the European countries, the same cap is required by the RoHS law. However, you do not have to deal with this kind of toxic emission if you use LED lights as there’s no mercury in it. As a result, they do not cause any health concerns.

Safe Disposal – Considering the health and environmental concerns about mercury have prompted many countries to properly dispose or recycle the lamps rather than disposing it in the general waste stream, which are sent to landfills. So, in many countries there are proper disposal schemes for lights. In India, however, the retail price includes an amount to pay for recycling, and manufacturers and importers have an obligation to collect and recycle CFLs. They are required to store the bulbs unbroken until they can be processed.

However, the LED lights completely outshine the rest and have a positive impact on our environment.

•  Fully Recyclable – LED lights, being completely non-toxic can be easily disposed of in the normal recycling centres without any special considerations for hazardous materials.
• Safe – Since no glass is used in the manufacturing of LED lights, there’s no risk of getting the glass shattered and neither it poses any health risk. This certainly makes it a relatively safer alternative to the conventional alternatives to use in the residential, commercial and industrial settings.
• Risk Assessment – From the point of risk assessment, LED lights are simply great. As they required zero maintenance during their lifespan, no one will be required to climb up and down ladders to fix the problems like low voltage and others. It also eliminates the chance of electrocution.
• Heat – LED lights give off minimal amount of heat compared to standard lighting. It results it cost reduction and carbon footprint in your place.

Roughly, LED lighting solutions can effortlessly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions by almost half a ton, which certainly leaves a positive impact on the environment. As mentioned earlier, the biggest difference between the LED lights and incandescent bulbs is that the former do not contain hazardous mercury, while CFLs do. As a result, with respect to disposal, the negative impact of CFLs on the environment exceeds more than that of CFLs.

Summary: The environmental impact of LED lights is undoubtedly positive. Read this blog to know their environmental benefits.

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