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Plumbing emergencies are one of the most frustrating aspects of owning a property. Not only do they cause quite an inconvenience but they also have the ability to wreak havoc to the structural aspects of your home! Many people suffer plumbing emergencies late at night, early in the morning, or over the weekend when many plumbing companies do not offer service calls. 

What is a plumbing emergency and how do you deal with them? Many plumbing emergencies such as a clogged drain or toilet overflow can be addressed with the help of household tools. However, other emergencies involving leaks, or sewer backups require the assistance of a professional technician!

COMMON PLUMBING EMERGENCIES

If you are experiencing a plumbing emergency, it can be hard to know whether it is worth it to pay for an emergency service call. While plumbers often charge extra for emergency calls, in some cases, it may be the only option! Here are some guidelines on how to deal with some of the most common plumbing emergencies.

1. CLOGGED DRAINS

There are not many things more frustrating than a clogged drain. A clog in your sink or shower drain can be a hassle to unclog. There are many things that can cause your drains to clog. However, the most common culprit is hair from humans or pets. 

Before you call a plumber to unclog your drain, first attempt a few at-home solutions. From chemical drain cleaners to using a sink plunger or a sink drain auger, you may be able to save yourself the expense of a visit from your plumber.

If you have tried everything and can’t get your drain to function properly, it is wise to contact a qualified plumber to address the clogged drains by immediately requesting online because they respond quickly compared to hometown technicians.

2 TOILET OVERFLOW  

The dreaded toilet overflow. Often following a clog in your toilet, this common plumbing emergency not only causes a mess but can also cause serious damage to the flooring of your home. 

If your toilet begins to overflow, the first step is to turn off the toilets’ water supply.  Most toilets feature a supply line near the bottom side of the toilet. This line should have a valve. Turn the valve counterclockwise to stop the flow of water to the toilet. 

Next, remove the tank cover. Lift the float cup or float ball high enough so that the water stops running. If the water continues to run, turn off the water supply to the house.

The water supply to your home is typically a valve or knob that is located in the basement or near the water heater. Turn this knob or valve until the water stops running. Shutting off the water supply to your home eliminates the immediate problem of the flowing water if it is caused by a clog rather than a sewer backup. Using a toilet plunger will help eliminate the clog.

Use a small cup or a bucket to remove any excess water at the brim of the bowl. Pour the water into a sink (if the water is clean) or a plastic bucket (if the water is dirty). 

Once the cause of the overflow has been remedied, and the water is back on, pour the dirty water back into the toilet and flush it again for safe disposal.

If you cannot find the cause of the overflow, or cannot quickly remedy the situation, contact a qualified plumber. It is important that you act quickly to prevent further damage to your home or business.

3. WATER LEAKS

Water leaks can quickly wreak havoc on your home or business. Leaks lead to many types of damage including mold, mildew, wood rot, and much more. Contact an emergency plumber immediately after discovering a water leak to prevent any long-lasting damages to your property or your wallet.

Many people believe they have water leaks from their kitchen sink or around their bathtub simply because they notice water on the floor. While this may be caused by a leak, it could also be caused by splashing or spills. Wipe up the water and carefully observe the area to see if the water returns.

Another problem that is commonly mistaken for a water leak is condensation that gathers around the toilet in the warmer summer months. Wipe down the toilet first before assuming that a leak is a culprit. Doing this before contacting a plumber can save you both money and embarrassment. 

If you have HCMHUB APP you just request for services immediately online. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hcm.user&hl=en&gl=US

Pesticides are chemicals designed to kill or harm pests. They include insecticides used for insect control, herbicides used for weed control, fungicides used for fungi and mould control, and rodenticides used for rodent control. Household pests can include insects such as flies, cockroaches and mosquitoes, or rodents like mice or rats.

Household pesticides can be purchased from supermarkets or hardware stores, and are designed for householders to use around their home or garden. Although you can easily obtain household pesticides, this does not mean that they are harmless. They are toxic and if used carelessly, they may affect the health of the user, their family, pets or the environment.

Choosing pesticides

Suggestions include:

• Think about whether your proposed use of pesticide is appropriate. For example, it may not be realistic to expect your property to be completely pest free. It’s possible that the repeated use of pesticides may be more dangerous in the long term than the pests themselves.
• Consider non-chemical pest control measures.
• Make sure you identify the pest before you buy a pesticide. What you assume to be rats in your roof could be possums. If you are having trouble identifying the pest, Homecare managers offers an identification service. You can submit an online enquiry. An alternative is to employ a licensed pest control operator trained in the identification and management of pests from HCM.
• Determine the most effective pesticide for your pest problem and make sure the pesticide you choose is designed for the pest you intend to use it on.
• Opt for the least toxic (or lowest schedule) household pesticide available.
• Use the least amount of pesticide possible, as all pesticides are toxic and can cause harm if used incorrectly.

Safety suggestions for indoor use of pesticides

When you use pesticides indoors you should always:

• Cover or remove bird cages and fish tanks, and relocate other pets before using aerosol (spray) pesticides. Many pesticides are extremely toxic to birds and fish.
• Remove (or cover) food, cooking utensils and other personal items from the area to be treated. Thoroughly clean kitchen benches before preparing food.
• Avoid applying surface sprays to areas commonly touched by family members, such as furniture. Only use surface sprays in out-of-the-way areas like along skirting boards.
• Leave the room while the pesticide (such as fly spray) is taking effect. When you come back, open the windows to clear the air.
• Make sure pesticides are used in the right place. For example, mice tend to run along skirting boards and under floors. If you put traps or baits out in the open, they may fail to attract the pest and may pose a health risk to family members or pets.
• Clear up any food debris or scraps if you use baits, so that the pest is drawn only to the bait. This means you will need less bait.

Safety suggestions for outdoor use of pesticides

When you use pesticides outdoors, you should always:

• Make sure all doors and windows are closed before using the pesticide
• Avoid using pesticide outdoors on rainy or windy days. The weather can influence the effectiveness of the pesticide and cause damage to other animals, people and the environment
• Cover fish ponds, barbeques and vegetable gardens before using the pesticide
• Relocate pets and remove their bedding, food and water bowls
• Avoid watering your garden after using a pesticide. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for a guide to how long you should wait
• Observe plants and birds for a few days afterwards to make sure that the pesticide isn’t causing unwanted harm
• Advise your neighbors if you use any external pesticide treatments
• If you have a rainwater tank, take care to prevent overspray onto guttering and the roof area. If there is any risk of pesticide residue washing into the tank, you should divert the collection pipe away from the rainwater tank until after the next rainfall.

Acute poisoning from pesticides

Symptoms of acute poisoning from pesticides may begin shortly after exposure and may include:

• headache
• dizziness
• nausea
• vomiting
• stomach cramps
• diarrhea
• blurred vision
• excessive eye watering
• sweating
• excess saliva.

More severe poisoning may also lead to changes in heart rate, chest tightness, muscle weakness and twitching, difficulty breathing and walking, constricted pupils and incontinence. In very severe cases of poisoning, seizures and unconsciousness may occur.

NOTE; Always call for a professional fumigator to avoid all the risks associated in using the pesticide your self.

PLAN

If you hire a technician he plans for you, but if you want to save money the first step is to take charge of the project and do it to yourself. In this blog, we are sharing some ideas on, how to refurbish your house on a budget?

The key to refurbish your house on a budget yet beautifully is primarily to plan the entire process effectively.

The following sections will demonstrate how you can divide your entire refurbishing plans into sub-plans, according to the space you have, and refurbish your home effectively. If you are looking to find out the ways to refurbish your house beautifully yet economically then read below: 

Divide and Conquer

As mentioned earlier effective planning is the key to effective refurbishment. If you are refurbishing yourself then you need to focus on both the bigger picture and the smaller parts. You might have heard the phrase “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”, you can apply the same strategy to your home refurbishment project and devise a refurbishment plan for each area in your house.

If you hire a technician for renovation, he will assess your requirements and then refurbish accordingly. In this case, since you’re in charge, you will brainstorm your requirements, write your end goal for each space in the house and decide the overall goal, and then move on to.

Doors Create the First Impression

The first impression of your house is your door. If you are unable to change the door completely and if your existing door is in a good condition then you should repaint your door. Your doors could also affect the lighting of your room, and you could benefit from this great technique interior designed Homecare managers, “When dealing with a dark room, whatever color is used on the walls, we paint the ceiling, trim, and doors the same color but 50 percent lighter. Too much of one shade can overpower a space.” So, when refurbishing on a budget if you are repainting your door try to use different shades according to the concentration of light in your house to optimize the lighting of your house the way you want to.

Paint Affects Lighting

As mentioned earlier painting affects lighting and when refurbishing your house you might opt for new paint. In that case, if you are already on a budget purchasing different colored pallets might seem counterintuitive. If you are on a tight budget then opt for a black and white palette, it will give your house a modern sophisticated look and you will have the guarantee that you can never go wrong with white or black.

Kitchens and Storage

If you are decorating/refurbishing your house then you are probably trying to de-clutter and maximize your storage as well. Utilizing your kitchen to its maximum capacity can help you minimize your storage problems. In order to do this on a low budget, you can either install kitchen cabinets or storages from recycled material at your house or take advantage of thrift shops in your area.

No one knows your kitchen space better than you do and your storage needs building storage kitchen cabinets will not only help you save money and reuse old materials at your house but it will also ensure that you’re building exactly what you need. If you already have cabinets which are enough for storage then you don’t need to replace them you can just repaint them to make your kitchen look as good as new.

Floor Renovation

 If you are on a budget then floor refurbishing might seem expensive, and if you cannot find a flooring installation under your budget then you should invest in refurbishing everything else according to your floor design.

The key to refurbishing your house beautifully yet inexpensively is to devise a goal for yourself, and paint an entire picture of what you want and then step by step refurbish each part of your house like mentioned above.

@homecare