Preparing Your Bathroom and Kitchen for Fall and Winter

Fall is here, which means winter is just around the corner. With temperatures expected to drop, it’s time to prepare your kitchen and bathroom for the cold weather ahead. The best time to begin the home maintenance projects is now so that you and your family will be warm and comfortable throughout the colder months.
Bathrooms and kitchens are usually colder than the other rooms in your house, which could lead to them being uncomfortable places to spend time in during chilly mornings or evenings. More frigid temperatures in your bathroom and kitchen can also create problems for your furniture, appliances, and plumbing, which could lead to expensive repairs come spring.
To make sure your bathrooms and kitchen are prepared for the colder season, there are some steps you can take, which will lead to a warm and cozy environment all over your home.

Tips to Prepare Your Bathroom and Kitchen for Cold Weather

Preparing your home for the cold weather up ahead doesn’t have to be difficult. Use the following tips to get things ready and help avoid costly repairs down the line.
Check your heating system: You’ll need to ensure that your heater is working correctly in your entire house, including your bathroom and kitchen. Fall is an excellent time to contact a professional for an annual check-up, as they will inspect your system and make sure that it’s working correctly. During this inspection, the expert should also change your air filters and check your ducts for any debris or mold.
Reverse your ceiling fans: You may not know it, but reversing and using your ceiling fans during winter will help to reduce your heating bill. When you run the fan in a clockwise direction at a low-speed setting, it will move the air at the top of the room downwards, making sure to spread the heat evenly throughout any room. Your fan should have a reverse switch, so check your manufacturer’s instructions if you aren’t able to find it.

Insulate your pipes: To avoid your pipes freezing during the winter, they should be correctly insulated. As well as pipe insulation, your walls should also be protected and your house should be kept at a warm temperature, making sure the pipes aren’t subjected to freezing temperatures. For added protection, you can install additional insulation around your pipes.

Check your water heater: Proper water heater maintenance will ensure that you are not stuck with cold water during winter. Your water heater should be running efficiently, so you’ll have hot water for showering, washing your hands, and washing dishes all winter long. Before the cold weather sets in, inspect the tank for any corrosion or rust and check all valves and pipes for holes or leaks.
Turn on your humidifier: Using a humidifier will help with the dry air around your home. Dry air can be the cause of allergy symptoms and dry skin, as well as cause damage to paint, wood, and electronics. Humidified air will also feel warmer, so you won’t need to use as much heat.

A few small changes to prepare your bathroom and kitchen will help ensure that your home is protected and safe for the winter, and you, your family and your friends will be comfortable and warm. If you need to schedule a professional maintenance to review your water heater, or HVAC system, contact a professional plumbing service today.

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How To Remove Rust Stains From Tubs, Toilets, and Sinks

Rust stains aren’t always the result of a rust problem in the water or your plumbing system. If water has a sufficiently high iron content, it will leave rust stains behind, even if it appears to be clear and tastes normal. Therefore, if you live in an area that has a lot of underground iron deposits, it’s very likely that the iron leaching into the groundwater will lead to troublesome rust stains in your porcelain.
The most common place for rust stains to appear is where standing water is standard, such as your toilet bowl. Any streaks leading down from the outlets into your bowl or a brownish ring around the water line could be rust stains which you can’t quickly remove with your usual toilet cleaners.
Best Way To Clean Rust Stains
Cleaning rust stains can be difficult, especially if they’ve been around for a while as severe rust stains can permanently be etched into your porcelain over time. Some of the best remedies to remove these stubborn stains are the following:
Pumice stones: This crumbly and airy volcanic rock can gently scour away stains, and some pumice products are created especially for removing any rust stains from your toilet, sink, and tubs. Look for a pumice scrubber or stick that’s designed for tile and porcelain. A lot of elbow grease will be needed, but it will be worth it in the end, and also better for your wallet, as you won’t need to purchase lots of different cleaning products.
Abrasive scouring pads: To lift away light stains, all you may need is the rough side of your standard two-color dish sponge. If your stains are a bit more stubborn, there are specially designed scouring pads, which were created with tough stains on tubs and toilets in mind. A scouring pad is an eco-friendly and economical option, as you won’t need to use any chemicals, and you can clean and reuse the pad a few times.
Salt and lemon juice: If you want to try the most natural remedy, or you don’t have any pumice stones or scouring pads at hand, you can potentially still clean the stains without having to take a trip to the store. Combine lemon juice and salt until you form a wet paste, and this potent combination can successfully remove any rust stains if given enough time to penetrate.
The wet paste formed by lemon juice and salt isn’t particularly sticky, so using this technique in a toilet bowl can be complicated, but it’s a fantastic option for tub drains and sinks, which have a flat surface. After applying the mixture, let it soak for a few hours, and use a toothbrush to scrub it away.
Chemical cleaners: If the stains are really tough and you can’t lift them with the above environmentally friendly techniques, then you can bring out the big guns: chemical cleaners. However, you need something stronger than your everyday cleaner; it needs to be stronger than bleach.
The chemical cleaner you use needs to contain hydrochloric acid, but double check first that it’s safe to use as a tile and tub cleaner. Follow the instructions to the letter, as mishandling these products can be potentially hazardous.
For any Questions please call Chambliss Plumbing today

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