Here’s a couple tips for preventing the occurrence of hard water stains in your home:

• Drying all surfaces in the kitchen or bathroom after use – One can use a towel to wipe the water away before it culminates into the stains
• If the spots are excessive, one can invest in getting a water softener system installed. This will ultimately get rid of hard water and the mess it leaves behind

If hard water stains are already present, follow these few steps and the stains can be wiped away…

• Vinegar – Normal white vinegar can be great to get rid of these stains. Mixing vinegar 50/50 with water in a spray bottle or bowl and using that as a cleaning solution is not only cost effective, but works wonders. Vinegar can be sprayed on the area then wiped with a rag, or one can let the vinegar sit for a little, then wipe the area clean.
• Another way to clean these spots away is using store-bought cleaners. This should only be utilized if the spots do not come away with vinegar. Store bought cleaners consist of strong chemicals, so one must be careful when using those products.

Certain natural  gas appliances, such as furnaces, tankless water heaters and fireplaces, may vent outside of your home. This vent should never be blocked by plants or any other materials as it could cause a dangerous build up of carbon monoxide (CO).  If you notice any of these signs or changes in your natural gas appliance, call a qualified contractor immediately:

• A natural gas appliance is not completely venting outside
• There is an odor similar to rotten eggs coming from the appliance
• The appliance vent piping is blocked, broken, disconnected, corroded or unsealed
• Flooding has caused damage to an appliance

It is important to keep the area around your natural gas meter free from overgrown plants and shrubs. It is also important you are careful when mowing around it and never lean anything against it.

Prevent Mold In Your Home

The main things mold needs to grow in a home are organic materials to feed on and moisture. In houses there are always plenty of organic materials for mold to live on such as wood, drywall and various other building materials. Moisture, however, can be controlled for the most part so keeping the moisture in your home low is the best way to prevent mold growth.

Prevent Mold by Preventing Moisture-If you know of any leaks in your home you should fix them without delay. You might need to inspect your home to find any water leaks you didn’t know about. Most molds need only 24 to 48 hours of moisture to begin to grow. Therefore if a suitable material in your home is wet for more than 24 hours then you run the risk of mold starting to grow.

Prevent Mold by Preventing Condensation-Condensation is another cause of moisture. Condensation forms on cold surfaces when water vapor in the air cools and becomes liquid. Often you’ll see condensation on metal pipes, concrete walls, water tanks and windows. One way to reduce condensation is to keep the temperature warmer in rooms. For example, by installing insulation. You can also insulate the surfaces themselves such as putting coverings over metal pipes. You’ll also have less condensation occurring if you keep the humidity in your home low.

Prevent Mold by Reducing Humidity– The best way to keep humidity low in your home is through ventilation. Open the windows during the day and close your windows when it is raining.  This should help lower the humidity.  Using a dehumidifier also reduces the humidity level.

Fuel-burning equipment and appliances, such as furnaces and stoves, may produce Carbon Monoxide (CO) if they are not operating properly or are misused. CO is an odorless and colorless gas that can rise to dangerous levels causing unconsciousness, brain damage or even death.  Symptoms of CO poisoning include headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and fatigue (similar to flu-like symptoms).

Proper maintenance of natural gas equipment and appliances can help reduce your chance of CO poisoning. Be sure to have a certified technician inspect your equipment annually.  And remember to check that the CO detectors in your home or business are functioning properly.  It is recommended that you check them monthly when possible.

Summer officially arrived yesterday, June 20, 2016!  Unfortunately, there are several plumbing complications that may arise with the summer.  Please consider the following plumbing issues as the heat of the summer rolls in…

Sewage Clogs – Clogs or backups in sewer lines become more evident in the summer. With an increase in rainfall during the spring and summer seasons, too much rainfall can cause these lines to backup. Additionally, sewage lines can get cracked by underground tree roots which tend to grow most in the warm and wet weather. Having these pipes inspected can diagnose a current issue or ensure no future problems.

Toilet Clogs – As kids begin to spend more time at home for summer vacation, toilet usage in homes increases significantly. That said, it is important to make sure your kids know how to practice proper toilet maintenance. Taking care of a toilet can be as simple as monitoring the amount of toilet paper one uses as well as not flushing anything other than toilet paper and human waste. Make sure to have your kids practice smart toilet maintenance to prevent clogs and damage to your system.

Disposal Issues – Summer is a time for barbecues and cooking. To prevent garbage disposal clogs or damage this summer, do NOT use the disposal to get rid of:

-Hard, stringy, or pasty foods

-Grease/Oil

-Non-food items

Additionally, to keep the disposal running well, you should:

-Run the disposal regularly

-Run cold water down the disposal for at least 20 seconds after use

Pipe Bursts – Due to some dry spells and heat waves during the summer, pipes underground become vulnerable to high water pressure and, in some cases, could even burst. To prevent this from happening, consider keeping the soil around your house moist with either a sprinkler system or watering it yourself.