Mold in the Kitchen can be the Result of Plumbing Problems

Some people believe that mold is a basement problem or possibly it will appear on an outer wall. The facts are mold is not that choosey, it will happily develop anywhere the conditions are right. Leaky plumbing will make the inner part of the lower cupboards moist. The wet wood is exactly the kind of base for fungus to grow on. There are molds that will grow on wood, ceiling tiles, wallpaper, paints, carpet, sheet rock, and insulation. Mold spore are everywhere just waiting to grow. There is no real way to get rid of all mold and mold spores from your home. The only way to control mold growth is to control the moisture level in your home.

There are many pieces of plumbing in the kitchen that can spring a leak. Either the supply lines or the drain lines can erode and begin to weep then drip and finally run. Often these growing problems go unnoticed until the last stage. Longstanding moisture from the weeping and dripping is all the water necessary to provide the growth conditions. Now do not get in a panic if you have a pipe spring a leak and you catch it in a week or so. It is very unlikely that this would be long enough to establish a mold culture.

When you find a leak there are a few basic steps to follow. First close the water supply valve to the area. There is probably a zone shut-off valve or for that area of your home. If the valve does not stop the water close the main water valve for the house Now mop up the water and dry out the area, maybe use a fan if there is a lot of moisture. Now address the leaky item. If the faulty part is a faucet or a supply riser line, you will be able to replace it yourself. However if it is one of the soldered in pipes, you may be well advised to hire a plumber to replace it. Often amateurs will create more problems when trying to solder new pieces into old pipe systems.

Some repairs are easier to do than others are. Many just take time and some are a major hassle. Particularly difficult are those that involve working on pipes that are hidden behind walls or under floors. If in doubt wire a professional. If a small section of a line springs a leak, it is likely that the whole pipe needs replacement. Fix all plumbing problems immediately it is best for the home.

If you keep on top of moisture problems and run your kitchen fan whenever cooking causes steam, you should never have a mold problem in your kitchen. This not only saves you money but more important, it is healthier for you and your family.

Jim Stewart has been involved with home construction and improvement for over 40 years as a tradesman, contractor and site supervisor and has seen the entire spectrum of home improvement. Jim is a student of the industry and gladly passes on what he has learned. Jim is now the also the publisher of http://www.best-kitchens.com/ and http://www.Basement-Central.com/

Jim can be contacted at Homes42005@yahoo.com

Basic Plumber Tools For Any Job

Having the right tools for the job is important in any line of work. Some tools are specifically suited for plumbing work. While some tools are important for professionals to have, there are many lower-grade tools that will serve the amateur DIY quite nicely. If you find yourself a DIY project starter, you need to have the tools and materials needed to complete the job successfully.

For many homeowners, working on simple plumbing projects around the home requires a set of basic tools. While it is always, a good idea to buy the best tools you can afford, several jobs will only require simple, basic hand tools to get the work done

The Basic Plumbing Tools Needed

The important thing to remember about plumber tools is that they are specialized to do specific jobs. One important tool that no one every mentions is the plumbers tape. A true plumber keeps this right on his tool belt.

One of the first essential plumber tools you will need is a pipe wrench. However, just as wrenches come in many styles and sizes, they also have many purposes. A basic fixed size wrench set is a good place to start, as there will always be standard sized nuts to turn. An adjustable pipe wrench is one of the best tools to have in your kit as it can easily be adjusted to fit a wide range of nuts. There are several more specialized types of wrenches and they all serve a purpose.

A good set of pliers is also an important plumbing tool. A basic tool usually found in most tool kits is the sliding jaw pliers, which is capable of opening to fit various sizes of nuts and pipes. One of the most common tools to have at your disposal is a set of Vise grips, these are vital in many situations, the adjustable clamping pliers, which will handle almost every sort of clamping or turning job you have to be done. Some of these pliers also utilize a short length of chain to grip smooth pipes or irregularly shaped items. The chain also allows the grip to extend to turn larger diameter pipes.

Stay Prepared and Have Your Tools

Having these simple plumber tools in your home will help you prepare to handle almost any home plumbing repair situation on your own. If you have every wondered about plumbers tools, you now have some idea about the tools and the necessity to keep the tools on hand. Whether you have a big project or a small project, you need the proper plumber tools for the job.

If you need wrenches, screwdrivers, cutting tools or pipe cutters, you can find these at your local hardware store along with the plumbers tape. Keep the plumbers number handy in case a problem arises or you need assistance right away. This would probably cost you some money on the weekend, when most things go wrong, but in the long run a DIY project usually takes place without any problems.

You can also find more info on Basement Plumbing and Emergency Plumber. i-plumbing.com is a comprehensive resource to known about plumbing.

My Plumber - What a Salesman!

It all started with a leaking shower faucet, one of those mixer types with no markings or available seal kits from my local home products store. In the 17 years since we had built our home, I had no occasion to call a plumber until now. I opened the Yellow Pages to find a qualified, local plumbing house. There were quite a variety listed but one caught my eye right away, not because of some fancy ad, but because of their phone number, which was displayed in a larger font next to their relatively small logo. It read 732-DRIP.

I did my due diligence and called three plumbing outfits, seeking pricing on my needed repair. It was once again, back to the folks with the unusual phone number. They were the ones that I would hire.

The plumber arrived early the next morning right on time. He was a bit younger than I had expected, but had everything he needed as he had already been advised by the home office as to the nature of my repair. He was neat, clean and friendly. His van had their now familiar logo and phone number painted on the sides. He also had them embroidered on his new looking coveralls.

He introduced himself with a smile and a handshake as I invited him in. Paul and I chit-chatted for just a minute, as I bragged about my plumbing prowess but relative inability to properly identify the needed parts. He chuckled and asked for the whereabouts of the problem shower faucet. I offered him a cup of coffee which he graciously accepted on his way up the stairs, being so very careful not to bang his toolbox or spill the coffee. I showed him the shower stall and let him go about his business.

Paul came downstairs about 20 minutes later with the faulty, 17 year-old parts in hand. He also handed me the empty parts container so that I would know what to order from him if we had need of additional parts for the two other faucets located in the other bathrooms. He explained exactly what he did and reminded me of their unconditional two-year warranty. I gladly signed his work order and handed him his payment. He shook my hand and handed me a refrigerator magnet as well as several business cards. He asked me to please keep him in mind for other repairs that might come up as well as if I would pass his business card to some of our neighbors. With that, he was on his way.

Nobody likes to pay for home repairs. A few people may tackle the job on their own, but most will call in an expert. Paul is indeed that expert. He is also quite the salesman for his company. He did everything right, including fixing my shower problem. I’ll never need to consult the phone book for a plumber again. He is an impressive young man and his company should be proud of him. In fact, they are!

You see, I called their office after he left to commend this young plumber on his professionalism and skills. I reported to the owner that Paul was on time and well prepared. He was neat and clean, dressed in a company uniform. I commented on his handshake, friendliness, careful nature and warm smile. I told this company owner of his employees’ commanding knowledge of the project at hand as well as his review of the job and reminder of their impressive warranty. Paul made it easy for me to order additional parts without incurring the cost of another service call and asked for referrals before he left. He was all too aware that the other homes in our neighborhood were approximately the same age.

All in all, quite an impressive salesman… especially for a plumber!

Daniel Sitter, author of both the popular e-book, Learning For Profit, and the highly anticipated book, Superior Selling Skills, has extensive experience in sales, training, marketing and personal development over a successful 25 year career. http://www.learningforprofit.com/