How to Clean Your Toilet Tank

A rooter service company also handles other types of sewer repair, but you can avoid some costs by doing small things yourself, such as cleaning your toilet tank semi-annually. The process takes quite a bit of time, but it does not require a great deal of work or preparation. As you will see, doing the job properly has a long wait period but only a little handwork.

Shut Off Water Flow

Cleaning the toilet tank does not require any of the special equipment used by a rooter service, because this task is much simpler than sewer replacement services. Instead, toilets have their own valves, usually located behind and beneath the tank, but occasionally positioned on the floor behind the toilet instead. Turn this valve clockwise to turn off the water line going to the toilet.

Clean the Bowl

Before you empty the tank, take advantage of the water in your tank and bowl. Using a household bowl cleaner and your toilet brush, give the bowl a good scrubbing. With that part of the job out of the way, flush the toilet until the tank is as empty as it will get. This usually requires a couple of flushes. The water remaining after iut will not drain anymore will not be a problem.

Soak With Vinegar

Fill the tank with white vinegar. Vinegar is able to tackle a wide assortment of household stains, including mold, mildew, and hard water deposits like calcium or rust. The trick is to let the vinegar soak in long enough to loosen hard water stains and deposits, usually around 12 hours. If you only have one toilet available, this step is best left for a period when you know that no one will be home. Flush the toilet a few times to remove the vinegar.

Scrub With Disinfectant Cleaner

Using the same disinfectant cleaner you use on your toilet bowl, clean the tank. Use a different brush, because the brush for a toilet bowl is too large to effectively clean the tank. Use a smaller brush and wear protective gloves, because removing the residue loosened by vinegar and a chemical cleaner can stain your hands.

Restore Water and Rinse

Before you replace the top of your toilet tank, turn the valve on and allow it to fill. Flush the toilet one time, and hold the float up afterward. While holding the float, use the brush for the tank to quickly give the tank interior a quick rinsing scrub. Release the float and flush the toilet with clean water a few times to complete the job.

Cleaning your toilet tank removes buildup and corrosion and keeps the moving parts working as they were designed. It should be done at least once a year to avoid needing a rooter service or sewer repairs, and if you have hard water it’s best to clean the tank 2 or 3 times a year.

Window Tricks to Make Your Office Appear Larger

There is a lot to be said for commercial glass replacement during an office remodel. From creating a more productive atmosphere to creating the illusion of more space to work in, glass and mirrors are an affordable way to spruce up and make the office feel more appealing.

Benefits of Ambient LIght

Commercial glass replacement is an opportunity to go bigger and better than what you are replacing. Large windows that allow sunlight into the room make your office appear larger, warmer, and more comfortable to work in. If wall space is at a premium, you can also install skylights or windows in places like above your doors. Depending on the placement, clear glass is not always the best option, but there are many tints and coatings available to provide the best possible light in the most beneficial manner.

Interior Windows and Walls

Windows are great for use inside the office place as well. Windows between offices allow nonverbal communication at a glance and give the impression of connecting two or more rooms into a single unit. Window walls tend to be less expensive than regular walls and make perfect barriers between rooms. Used in conjunction with vertical blinds, window walls can provide you with affordable office space that both conserves space and gives the illusion of having more.

Visual Depth

Optimum commercial glass replacement provides depth to the workspace by providing a direct view of the outside world. By contrast, a windowless office can feel confining and small, even if it is the largest office in the building. The best results come from an unobstructed view of the sky or some natural setting, but any view outside, even glass doors, will help a lot.

Creating Windows With Mirrors

Placing mirrors so that they reflect a window view isn’t as good as the real thing, but it does enhance depth perception as it redirects natural light into the office. This trick is handy for interior spaces that don’t have direct outside access. Mirrors can be used to create the illusion of space in other ways as well and can be custom-designed to exactly match your space and needs.

Glass and Display Space

Another way to use glass to make a room seem larger is to replace existing display cases and shelves with glass alternatives. Custom display cases and shelving will give your customers a better view of the merchandise without blocking off space or obstructing security systems. During an office remodel, this type of commercial glass replacement can provide you with more office space by reducing the footprint of the case, and adding the illusion of even more to make your employees more productive and your customers feel more welcomed.

Commercial glass replacement is fast, convenient, and affordable. Even more appealing to the bottom line, windows have been shown to increase morale, productivity, and even the health of office workers. Before finalizing your office renovations, consider using glass as an alternative to traditional drywall or wood framing.

Should You Use Rain Repellent on Your Windshield?

Using rain repellents offer certain benefits, but cannot substitute for necessary window care and auto glass replacement.

Beginning with the release of Rain-X in 1972, windshield water repellents have become an increasingly popular glass treatment. Under normal circumstances, it does a great job of keeping your windshield free of rain, increasing visibility, and providing a new layer of safety while driving in inclement weather. It does not repair or hide chips and cracks and is not effective at eliminating auto glass replacement.

What is Windshield Water Repellent?

Auto and commercial glass replacement companies typically offer rain repellent applications for the benefit of their customers. Rain repellents work by forming a protective layer over the surface of the glass. It fills tiny holes and imperfections to reduce the friction of water droplets. This allows droplets to bead together and quickly flow off of the surface. The coating wears away over time and needs to be applied again periodically.

How Long Does Rain Repellent Last?

The type of rain repellent used will determine how often it needs to be reapplied. Rain repellents are available in liquid and gel forms, and each type will perform differently. Some repellents include a bonding formula that will even resist chipping, but that protection is limited and should not be the primary reason for using a water repellent. In general, you can expect an application to last for as long as 30 days, but that time can be much shorter or longer depending on weather conditions that require the use of your wipers.

Does Rain Repellent Work on Cracks?

Rain repellents work at the micro-level and are not effective on large imperfections, cracks, or chipped areas. Depending on the rain repellent and size of the cracks, water repellents may even cause visual effects such as blurring or brightening the cracked area. It will not seal leaks. If your windshield is cracked or damaged, your best course of action is to have the windshield replaced by an authorized auto glass replacement company.

Auto glass replacement specialists can advise you on the best type of rain repellent to use and how often it should be applied. You can also request your first application at the time of your auto glass replacement to take a proactive approach to a clearer, cleaner driving experience. 

Signs That Your Sewer Line Needs Professional Service

Trenchless sewer replacement is an alternative way of replacing sewer lines. Because there are no unsightly trenches, this method of sewer repair will not cause as much damage to your lawn and the work areas will be able to recover more rapidly. The more of these signs that are present, the greater the chance that your sewer is not working properly. 

Slow Drains

Your drains should all drain continuously at a steady rate. If you notice that a drain isn’t going down as quickly as it once did, you should first check for clogs, because that is a common cause. You can also try unclogging your drain without harsh chemicals, and use enzyme-based drain cleaners purchasable at your local hardware store. If there isn’t an obvious clog, you should schedule an appointment with a trenchless sewer replacement company or a plumber for a household plumbing inspection and discuss your options. 

Lush Lawn Growth

The grass really does grow greener over the septic tank, but it grows just as well over a leaking sewer pipe. If you have one or more distinct patches of exceptional greenery or fast growth, it may be a sign that your sewer line is dumping directly under your grass and giving it a nutrient boost. Recognizing a growth spurt related to sewer lines is fairly simple because the affected foliage is obviously different. 

Wet Patches

In dense soil, water leaking out of a cracked or broken sewer line may not be able to be absorbed into the ground right away. When this happens, the water puddles underground and pushes toward the surface, forming areas that seem to be moist in even the driest conditions. As time goes on, a leak of this type will get larger until the sewer finally fails completely. It is much less expensive to locate the problems earlier than to need trenchless sewer replacement on major portions of your sewer system.

Hole or Depression

A sewer pipe that needs to be replaced may form a mini sinkhole in your yard.  As the leak slowly erodes the soil below ground level, a depression may form and could eventually form a hole in the ground. This type of erosion takes place very slowly and the pipe may have been having problems for years before the eroded area caves in to form a noticeable opening. 

Unpleasant Odors

Indoors or out, a sewer line or drain that isn’t flowing properly will eventually produce odors. These smells may range from smells of decomposing material to smells related to excrement that isn’t being properly removed by your sewer lines. Tracing unpleasant odors will often lead you to other identifiable symptoms, giving you multiple points of verification for a failing sewer line.

Trenchless sewer replacement is only one of a variety of plumbing and septic services available for homeowners. If you are faced with plumbing issues of any sort that you are unable to fix yourself, enlisting experienced home plumbing services may even save money by ensuring that the job is done right the first time.

Need a New Water Heater? Consider Going Tankless

If you are trying to decide between water heater repair & replacement, it might be time to consider going tankless. If you only need to have your tank flushed or thermostat replaced, repairs might make sense, but if replacement is in order, look at some of the benefits of tankless systems before you buy another tank.

Remodeling Your Business Space? Here are Unique Glass Ideas

Commercial glass installation is an excellent way to give your business a new look. Whether you are replacing the glass in office doors or installing shiny new display cases, glass will add aesthetic appeal and functionality. To give you an idea of what you can accomplish with glass, here are some unique ideas for livening up your business space.

Replace Your Residential Windows with Textured Glass and Make a Bold Statement

 When was the last time you enjoyed looking out your windows? Perhaps you don’t have much of a view outside, but there’s a way to enjoy looking at your windows themselves. Textures on residential glass can make a dazzling addition to your home regardless of what’s waiting outside.