Do it yourself

Slow-moving or stopped-up drains are common in bathroom sinks, but luckily the fix is usually simple and takes only about 15 minutes.  The problem is usually caused by hair, gummy soap scum or hygiene products that get caught on the stopper or pivot rod, and build up, creating a blockage [...]

There’s no “best way” to unclog a bathtub drain. That’s because it depends on where the clog is.  Most bathtub clogs are near the top of the drain. Some are in the drain basket crosshairs. And others are in the shoe directly below the drain basket. Hair and soap scum [...]

Do you need water filtration systems? In general, tap water in the US is predominantly safe, but in certain areas, it can have a funky taste.  Tap water can also contain traces of pesticides, VOCs, lead, and dirt, all of which you don’t want to ingest no matter how small the [...]

What is Reverse Osmosis? Reverse osmosis (RO) is a water purification technology that uses a semipermeable membrane to remove ions, molecules, and larger particles from drinking water. It can remove many types of dissolved and suspended species from water. This includes bacteria and is used in industrial cleaning processes and the production of potable [...]

Fracking fluid in your water. For those of us living close to where gas drilling takes place, it might be a good idea to test your water for fracking fluids. This is especially true in southwestern PA. This can be done with a testing kit available for purchase from several [...]

Chlorine in Water – Why? Chlorine in water. The addition of chlorine in drinking water has been the standard in water treatment in the United States since 1904.  Chlorine purifies our water and kills off any waterborne pathogens.  It should be noted that the US has one of the safest [...]

Toilet Fill Valve: How to Replace it Yourself As everyone knows a “runny” toilet can be pretty annoying along with using more water than necessary and having to pay for it.  This could be caused by a faulty fill valve that needs to be replaced so that the water quits running. To replace your [...]