Clogged Drains

I just wanted to write a quick post about clearing drains. In the case of a toilet clog the first thing you should try is plunging the drain. The best way to properly plunge to drain is by firmly seating the plunger head into the bowl drain then"chunk!" the heck outta that thing. Short swift plunges that don't come out of the water should create a fair amount of force. Remember to keep your mouth closed and maybe wear some safety glasses. Toilet water to the eye is a great way to get an infection and its just gross. When plunging doesn't work give me a call, I have secret ways of dealing with stubborn clogs. Just a warning, don't let anyone run a metal sewer snake through the bowl of your toilet. This can scratch the porcelain. The toilet should be drained and removed and the sewer snake should go directly into the drain pipe.

Another common clog is sink and shower drains. First thing to consider is if anyone in the family has long hair. We all do in my house plus a few cat baths leaves our tub drain blocked every six months or so. Another cause may be grease washed down sink drains. This can collect on the inside of the pipes, reducing flow. For the tub drain I suggest a "zipstick" or drain pull stick. The zipstick has barbs that catch hair and muck that may be stuck in the first foot or so of the drain. A grease blockage can be chemically removed with a drain cleaner. Please remember to wear personal protective equipment and don't mouth breath while you are clearing a clogged drain.

When all else fails please give me a call or leave me a comment and I will do my best to help.

Fall is here at last! Now we can really get into some of those projects that you have been putting off for cooler weather.

A lot of people think that winter brings on a slow time for landscaping but the cooler weather is a perfect time to dig in that new outdoor fireplace or put in a new brick pathway. I hope you are inspired to tackle a few projects this fall and winter because I am ready to help.

Think about these common tasks and send me an email if you would like some help:

Winterize your planting beds with a fresh layer of mulch and a little light pruning
Leaf Clean-up
Outdoor painting projects such as fencing and deck staining
Install a patio fireplace or chiminea
Build a wood shed
Install brick or stone pathways
Build a garden shed for next spring

There are so many things we can do for your home, the list could go on and on. I hope you will allow me to come out and help you make your home and garden even more beautiful.

Landscaping Tip: There is no easy way to remove leaves from your yard unless you have a covered truck, a crew of laborers, and a large shredder vac. If you are going to take care of your own leaf clean-up I would recommend a self-propelled walk-behind mower with a collection bag. Set up a large trash can with a leaf bag liner and start mowing. Empty the collection bag often so there is room for the shredded leaves. A mower will work far better than a walk behind vac-shredder or a rotary-brush leaf collector. I have tried both and if the leaf cover is even slighty damp it won't get picked up thoroughly whereas the mower should give you a clean sweep with one pass.