Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Advantages of Buying Unfinished Furniture

For years, my husband and I have lived with hand-me-down furniture. Because we were still in graduate school and could only afford a small apartment, we had to settled for mismatched tables and chairs, and a sofa older than both of us combined. As our incomes grew, however, we were able to trade up to nicer pieces that actually complemented one another. Among our options for living room and kitchen pieces - unfinished tables and shelving. Now, you may wonder if buying unpainted items is a good move for your home's decor. You may find adding such shelves, chairs, and tables to your home can improve the overall look.
Where I live, there are a few furniture stores that specializing in unfinished products. If I wanted a bed frame, mission desk, butcher's block for the kitchen or a toy chest for the little one I could find everything in one place, sans paint. If you do not have an unpainted furniture shop near you, check the Internet for companies that will ship. Usually you can get good deals on shipping costs if you spend so much money. Now, low prices on furniture sound great, but is saving money in place of getting what you want to make your home look beautiful worth the trade-off?
There are a number of advantages to buying unfinished furniture. A few reasons you should consider adding a piece to your home include:
1) Leave the piece unfinished, and it may match everything else in the room. A neutral wood may complement other pieces in your living room or bedroom. Wood furniture is also quite sturdy, and draping a small decorative cloth or adding antiques or knickknacks lends a personal touch.
2) If you find a particular table or shelf that you like that doesn't come in the stain you want, the store will usually handle staining for you. Unfinished wood furniture allows you the opportunity to customize a piece to stand out in any room.
3) Wood furniture isn't that difficult to care for. With an unpainted piece you will hopefully only need to dust at best. Take good care of your chairs and tables, and they are certain to last a long time.
Ultimately we were able to accent our outdoor area with some nice Adirondack chairs, and we added tall shelving to the main room. We are quite happy with our choices, and recommend to anybody re-furnishing a room to consider the unpainted options available near you.



Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer specializing in articles on unfinished furniture and online furniture stores.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Student Desks for Children in Virginia Beach

The summer is almost over and hundreds of families are shopping for back to school items for their children. Even though the demand is high and the supplies are going away fast, this is the best time to buy furniture for your kids.
furniture virginia beach
Wood Desk Virginia Beach
The sequence of end-of-summer sales usually starts with the first weekend of August known as the tax-free weekend in Virginia. (The tax-free weekends may vary in different states) Want to buy cheap furniture in Virginia? Buy it without paying taxes! This is like having a discount on everything!
Didn’t find what you were looking for during the tax-free weekend? Don’t worry! The sales and discounts on the back to school items are not over!
furniture virginia beachThe next great time to buy student desks, chairs, and other furniture in Virginia Beach is the series of clearance events in local stores. Almost every shopping center features sales and specials where you can save money and buy cheap furniture and other back to school items.
With the countless sales and special events all over the city, saving money on furniture in Virginia Beach has never been easier.
If you are looking for a great deal on high quality items, visit Good Wood Furniture Sore in Virginia Beach. GoodWood furniture offers hundreds of finished and unfinished furniture pieces for the best prices. Browse our store or buy furniture online. Find the best deal and customize your furniture with your favorite finish.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Back to School Desk and Chair

Even though the summer is at its peak, lots of parents are shopping for the back-to-school items for their kids. The last thing your children want to do right now is to plan to go back to their studies; however, this is the best time to buy furniture and school supplies for the upcoming school year.

Do your children need new furniture?

Look at your child’s room. Is it comfortable for the homework studying? Are there many distractions such as toys everywhere? Does your child have a designated studying area with his/her own desk and chair? Having your own place to study will increase the results of your kid’s work comparing to doing his/her homework at a coffee table in front of the TV.

Buying new furniture.

If you think that it is time to buy new furniture for your child, there are some things to consider before making a purchase:
The age of your child – It is a good idea to buy a small desk for your child. But if he or she is already in middle school, you may want to get a regular size desk and chair so that you don’t have to buy new furniture set in a year. Buy an adjustable chair to make it easier to set the required height.
Desk and chair for siblings – If you have several children and the desk will be shared, make sure that it fits everybody. Buy two chairs or an adjustable chair to give the younger ones the ability to adjust it if needed.

Buying cheaper furniture to save money.

Saving money is great, but be careful when you buy cheap things, they do not often prove to be of the best quality. If you want to get a good deal, your best bet is solid wood furniture. Solid wood furniture is proven to last much longer and be of a better quality. The solid wood furniture can go from generation to generation, when engineered wood furniture often falls apart after a year of use.

Good Wood Furniture store is one of the greatest places to buy solid wood furniture in Virginia Beach. Browse the collection of desks and chairs from the leading manufacturers. Buy in store or order online, and your furniture will be delivered right to your home. Good Wood Furniture offers a large collection of bedroom sets, wood cabinets, tables, dressers, benches, chairs, and so much more high quality products.  Visit Good Wood Furniture store to buy finished and unfinished high quality furniture pieces for you and your family. Save money and get the best deal with Good Wood Furniture!

Thursday, July 12, 2012

When to Clean Your Shower Drain


Do you notice an unpleasant odor in your shower even after cleaning? The source of the problem may be a clogged shower drain. Most people neglect drain cleaning and notice the clogged drain only when it’s time to call a plumber.

The eater in your shower should drain completely and quickly, without any delay. The clogged drains not only block the water, but also cause unpleasant odors. Some clogs are very hard to clean, and you may need to call a professional plumber perform the drain cleaning.

Do not wait until your drain stops the water completely, and you can't use the shower anymore. Call a professional plumber to clean your shower drain as soon as you notice that it may be clogged.

Can I use drain cleaner?

Not all drain cleaners are the same, and using a wrong product to clean you shower drain may only waste your money, or even damage your plumbing system.

When is the best time to clean a shower drain?

The best time to clean a shower drain is as soon as you notice that the water drains slower. Do not postpone the cleaning, and call a professional plumber to help you. The smaller the clog, the easier it is to clean it.

Atomic Plumbing and Drain Cleaning Company specializes in cleaning of all kinds of drain clogs. Whenever you have a drain, pipe, or any other plumbing problem, call Atomic Plumbing for a fast and easy fix!

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Faucet Aerator

A faucet aerator (or tap aerator) is an addition to your faucet that adds air to the water stream, separating the stream into many little droplets. The water aerator increases water pressure, and ideal for homes with lower pressure.

Faucet aerator helps you save water.

Having a water aerator installed on your kitchen faucet or your shower will not only make the water stream stronger, but will use less water, adding air to the stream. Call your plumber to install one on your kitchen or bathroom faucet and in your shower to save water, reduce splashing and lower your monthly bill. The modern faucets usually have the aerators installed, make sure you have one, this little addition will save your hundreds of gallons of water each year.

Cleaning water aerators.

The aerators in your kitchen faucet are usually easy to clean. Almost always the aerator is screwed to the tip or your faucet.

  • Unscrew the aerator, using groove-joint pliers. Apply masking tape around the jaws or your aerator to prevent it from scratching. If you can't unscrew the pars, call your plumber, do not put too much pressure, or your can break the faucet.
  • Turn the aerator clockwise with your pliers to loosen it. 
  • Take your aerator apart to clean it. You can use an old toothbrush, or a special brush to gently clean the parts of it. You may want to soak the aerator in white vinegar or lime-dissolver solution to eliminate the buildup. 
  • Reassemble the parts and screw the aerator back on the faucet. Use the pliers to tighten it up. 
Clean aerator means clean water, and it's a good idea to wash your sink aerator on a regular basis.
For more information about aerators and saving water call your Richmond plumbing team. Gundlach Plumbing will help you with all your plumbing needs. Fast and professional service for the Richmond residents, and the residents from surrounding areas.

Kitchen Sink Leak Repair

The water under your sink is never a pleasant surprise. If you notice puddles in your kitchen cabinet under the sink, call the plumber immediately.
Meanwhile there are some things you can do.
If your sink is leaking, the reason could be the broken water supply lines, the drain lines or the seal between the sink and the countertop. A leaking pullout sprayer may also cause the puddles of water under your sink. The sprayer leaks are not always easily noticeable because it the leaks often occur when the faucet is running.

When you notice the leaking sink, there some things you can do:
  1. Call your plumber. Some broken parts of your sink can be replaced easily, when the others need special attention. Trying to fix a leaking sink yourself may lead to a bigger problem. Attempt fixing your sink only if you know exactly how to do it. The guessing may cause you to break working parts and end up in calling you plumber with a bigger problem.
  2. Shut off the water valve. If your sink is leaking, the water can be stopped with closing the water valve, which should be under your sink.
Do not wait for the problem to get bigger. You lose money with every drop of water. Environmental Protection Agency states that the average home wastes about 10,000 gallons of water per year due to water leaks.
Check for water leaks in your home constantly, many can be neglected for years causing your water bill to go up.
If you live in Hampton Roads area, call Norfolk Heating, Cooling and Plumbing for all your plumbing needs. The professional plumber will repair your sink leak fast. Call Norfolk Heating, Cooling and Plumbing today!

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Tankless Water Heaters in Richmond

When it comes to saving money, people tend to look over their expenses, cut down on the unnecessary purchases, eating out, vacations, and so on. Not too many of us look at the energy bill and try to estimate the savings that could be achieved with using less energy, a tankless water heater for example.
You use hot water  every day to take showers, wash dishes, do laundry, etc. Have you ever run out of hot water? Do you follow the rule of not taking your shower while doing laundry, or using your dishwasher? The tankless water heaters may change your habits a little, and make your life a bit easier.

Here are the main differences between the regular and the tankless water heaters:

Water heater with a tank:

  • Heats up water and stores it in the tank.
  • Keeps the water heated at all times, unless you turn it off.
  • Runs out of hot water if the amount of water used is greater than the tank holds.

Tankless water heater:

  • Heaters up only the water that is being used at the moment.
  • Doesn't uses energy when not in use.
  • Provides an endless hot water supply when you need it.

The tankless water heater makes your life more comfortable. With a tankless water heater you will never run out of hot water again, and can use your dishwasher, do laundry and take a shower all at the same time. On top of that tankless water heater also saves you energy by not heating the water when it is not in use.

The next time you think of cutting your expenses, think of installing a tankless water heater for your home.

Gundlach Plumbing and Heating company offers tankless heaters for the residents of Richmond, Virginia. Contact Gundlach Plumbing for the tankless water heater installation for your Richmond home. Call (804) 288-1951 today!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Bedroom Design


When decorating your bedroom, you want it to reflect your style, and to be as comfortable as possible. The design variations may vary from your bedroom's size and shape, the amount of the sunlight it gets, and the additional functions you want your bedroom to have.

Good Wood
The size of your bedroom.
A bedroom furniture set for a small bedroom will usually include a bed, nightstands, a dresser and a chest. The bigger the size of the room is, the more additional furniture pieces can be added. If you have extra space in your bedroom, you can add another drawer chest, a couch, a coffee table, or even a table with chairs. But even if you have a large bedroom and plenty of space, try to emphasize the main use of the room, make it comfortable for you to get a good rest at night, or during the day.


The amount of the sunlight in your bedroom.
The light doesn't really affect the style of your bedroom, but the "feel" that your bedroom has.To keep a dark room lighter you can paint the walls in lighter colors, and choose a lighter furniture. Light colors also make the areas look bigger. Add more light colors to your bedroom to make it seem lighter and larger.

The additional functions of your bedroom.
You can use you bedroom not only as a place where you sleep. A bedroom could also be an office, a TV room, a mini-library, a breakfast area, etc. If the space of your bedroom allows you to use it during the day to read, work, watch TV, or do anything else, try to design your bedroom accordingly. When adding extra features to your bedroom, keep in mind, that it is still a bedroom, and you want it to stay convenient and comfortable for a good night sleep.

Bedroom is the place where you day starts, and where it ends. Make it comfortable and unique with beautiful furniture sets by Good Wood Furniture. Interior designers at Good Wood Furniture store will help you pick the perfect bedroom set, or any other furniture piece for your home or office.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Outdoor Hot & Cold Faucet

How often do you use your outdoor faucet? Is washing your car and watering the plants all you can do with it? But what is you could do more, like washing your pets, performing sanitary clean-ups, and other cleaning procedures regardless the outside temperature? Well, now you can!
Gundlach Plumbing along with the range of plumbing services offers an outdoor hot and cold faucet installation. The faucet faucet lets you choose the temperature of your water to perform any kind of work.

richmond plumbingThe advantages of using the outdoor hot and cold faucet:
  • Wash your pets outside regardless of weather.
  • The cleansers work better with hot water.
  • Sanitize your tools.
  • Perform everyday cleaning.
Washing your pets. Even on a hot summer day icy cold water may be uncomfortable for your pet. Hot & cold faucet lets you choose the optimal temperature for your dog's or cat's comfort, even though you can may still not like being washed.

Commercial car washes use hot water to wash the cars. Now you can do it too! Adjust the water temperature to achieve the best results when washing your car.

Perform the everyday cleaning faster using hot water. Most detergents and cleansers work better with the hot water, saving you time and effort when cleaning your tools, outdoor furniture, deck, and anything else.

Contact your plumbing company to install a hot and cold water faucet for your home today! 

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Custom Furniture

The term "custom furniture" referring to custom made furniture is relatively recent. For hundreds of years all the furniture made in the world was custom, and even though there were matching pieces, every one was still one of a kind.
With the invention of machines, the furniture was easier to make, and the factories began producing hundreds of tables, chairs, beds, and all the other furniture pieces. The furniture was now cheaper, because of the automated process , and all tables and chairs from the factory were identical.
furniture virginia beach
Nowadays it is easy to buy furniture of any kind and style, with hundreds of options to match the theme of your home of office. Browse the furniture stores to find matching tables and chairs, bedroom sets, and anything else to complete your interior design.
However, it is getting more popular to order custom made furniture. The most popular choices are the custom wall systems and storage solutions for homes and offices. When you have a one-of-a-kind home or office space, you want a custom furniture piece to make it unique and comfortable.
Custom wall systems are made to create unique furniture pieces, that will match the style of your interior, and be as practical as possible. A custom wall system for a living room can accommodate all your electronic devices, books and decorations, while hiding all the wires. A custom built wall system for your bedroom or closet will give you as much storage as you desire, since it is custom made.
Good Wood Furniture specializes in custom made furniture from the leading manufacturers. Create your custom piece to make it fit your house perfectly, and be just as comfortable as you desire!

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Tables and Chairs for Your Home

When you are done with improving your house, you start decorating, and choosing the right furniture is the first thing on the list.
Tables are used everywhere, in dining room, kitchen, living room, hallways - you name it. This is why choosing the corresponding design of your tables will bring your entire house together.
People often start the interior decorating with buying bigger tables, then side tables and coffee tables. The bigger furniture sets are usually more expensive, and it's a good idea to start your interior design from your dining room.
furniture virginia beachDining room furniture is often sold in sets, including dining tables, chairs, buffets and servers. When you have found the perfect style and color of your set, it's time to pick the furniture that comes in it. The sets usually include a dining table, often with self-storing butterfly leaves for the extension of the table when needed, and four or six chairs. Adding more chairs, servers and buffets is optional, but it's a good idea to order everything at once, because there is no guarantee that this very line of dining room furniture sets will always be in stock. Pick the  furniture pieces that will correspond the most with your dining room's size and style.
When your dining room is all set, it's time to move on into kitchen and living room. You don't have to match the color and style of your dining room furniture with the same kitchen table, living room side tables and coffee tables, but try to choose the pieces that fit together, and harmonize the atmosphere of your house.  
Browse the furniture stores to find the perfect table, or order online, but do not buy a dining set if you are not completely satisfied with it. 
Visit Good Wood Furniture store in Virginia Beach to choose from a wide collection of dining room tables, kitchen tables, side tables and much more! Not from Virginia Beach? Order online, but make sure that you absolutely love the furniture before you complete your interior design.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Food Waste Disposers - Garbage Disposers in Your Sink

We don't really notice the food waste disposer until something goes wrong with it. Being installed in the sink, it's out of our sight, and when it works flawlessly and quietly, we don't pay attention to it.
If your food waste disposer breaks, the repair costs can be so high, that it's cheaper to buy a new one. And choosing a new one can be complicated. There are three main factors: the price, the power, and the size.

richmond plumbing, food waste disposers, disposer installationFood waste disposer prices start at just around $60, but by choosing a lower price you are compromising on the quality. (An in-sink waste disposer with a lower horsepower will not break it down to the minimum size.) The prices go up to $1000 and don't stop there. And  your goal is not choosing the most expensive, or the cheapest one, but choosing the one that fits your needs.

Gundlach Plumbing and Heating Company of Richmond, VA have years of experience in food waste disposer selling and installation .Their two most popular models are Badger® 1 and Badger® 5 heavy-duty motor and space-saving food waste disposers by InSinkErator. 

Gundlach Plumbing will install your food waste disposer, and insure that it works smoothly and flawlessly to save you energy and make your life just a little bit easier.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Oak Furniture

Oak wood has a density of about 0.75 g/cm3, great strength and hardness, and is very resistant to insect and fungal attack because of its high tannin content. Oak is one of the oldest building materials. It has been used in house building,building of ships, and furniture. Oak can grow tall and wide, and the boards made from it have been prized since the Middle Ages for use in interior paneling of prestigious buildings and in the construction of fine furniture.
The furniture made from oak will last long, and look just like new for many years to come. This is why the oak tables, desks, chairs, shelves, and beds are last generations. A lot of antique furniture is made from oak, and those pieces were used for hundreds of years, making the oak furniture a good investment.
Pay a bit more upfront to get a quality dresser, table, or a chair, and it will last longer than a lifetime. Don't waste money buying cheap furniture, that will lose the functionality in a year, choose oak to ensure the quality of your investment.
furniture virginia beach
There are many places to buy quality oak furniture, and one of them is Good Wood Furniture store in Virginia Beach, they ship nationwide too! They have a growing collection of quality furniture from Oak, Pine, Cherry, Maple, and select hardwood for kitchen/dining, bedrooms, and home offices, They offer TV/entertainment units, stereo towers, living room furniture, curios, hutches & buffets, kitchen islands, microwave & recycling items, gun cabinets, kitchen cabinets, bedrooms, armories, wardrobes, medicine cabinets, office & computer furniture, file cabinets cupboards, bookcases & more. Visit their Virginia Beach Furniture Store, or go to www.goodwoodfurniture.com to choose a quality oak piece for your home or office furniture collection.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Furniture for Patio

Summer is almost here, and we tend to spend more time outside. Barbequing, playing with kids, and hosting outdoor parties. You want you patio to look nice, and with a little help of right furniture and decorations, you can create your perfect outdoor getaway.
Good Wood Furniture Virginia BeachWant to know where to shop for the outdoor furniture? Visit Good Wood Furniture store in Virginia Beach. Good Wood Furniture features a constantly growing collection of beautifully designed wood furniture.

Among wood chairs, tables, shelves and desks, you'll see high quality outdoor furniture for your patio.
Adirondack Chairs, sturdy, wooden, outdoor chairs feature galvanized screws and solid wood construction.  All the chairs can be painted in any color, or glazed to match your outdoor theme. Add a Adirondack Foot Stool to sit comfortable and enjoy the perfect summer day.

Put a  Double Adirondack bench on your backyard, that bench can fit two! A comfortable wooden bench even has cup-holders! Wood furniture never felt and looked so good. And this beautiful love seat made from solid wood,  is a great example of it!
Good Wood Furniture Virginia Beach
In a mood for a swing? Good Wood Furniture sells Amish constructed pressure treated swing, that comes fully assembled. Have fun on your backyard with wood furniture by Good Wood. Visit our Virginia Beach store to  swing with style!

Good Wood Furniture, a leading furniture store in  Virginia Beach  has a lot of patio furniture items to choose from. Oak porch rockers, pressure treated Adirondacks, foot stools, chairs and swings from the beset quality wood.

Design your patio with style! Visit Virginia Beach Good Wood Furniture  Store, or shop online at  www.goodwoodfurniture.com

Save Money with Tankless Water Heater

There are so many ways to save money on your monthly electricity bill, turning off the light when you're not in the room, adjusting the AC thermostat, and using a tankless water heater.
The tankless water heaters provide an endless supply of hot water on demand, thus eliminating the wasted heating costs. When using a regular tank heater, the water in your tank heats up, and it keeps heating up to be the same temperature. The tankless water heater provides the hot water only when you need it. It means that you'll always have the hot water, and won't have to keep it in the huge tank.
Have you ever had a situation, when using a dishwasher and a washing machine at the same time left you out of hot water? When you couldn't even take a shower? With a tankless water heater you'll never have this problem. You'll have all the hot water you need, and when you need it.
The tankless water heaters also use less space in your house, and a professional water heater installation is fast and widely available.
Atomic Plumbing&Drain Cleaning is the leading company in Hampton Roads in tankless water heater installation. Since 1968 they have been serving the cities of Hampton Roads, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton and Newport News.
Tankless Water Heater Installation Virginia BeachTake advantage of energy tax credits and  lower your energy bill with replacing your old water heater with a newer, more energy-efficient water heater. Save up to 30% of a household's energy bill.
 Call a professional plumber for a fast and easy tankless water heater installation. Start saving money on your electric bills, call Atomic Plumbing today! Call 757.464.2934 for all your plumbing needs.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Financing for Heating and Plumbing?

Plumbing problems are never planned. Who wants to pay the repair costs when all that's planned for summer is the dream vacation? But what if you don't have the money saved to pay for the plumbing repairs, and you have an emergency?

Gundlach Plumbing offers a different solution to all your plumbing and heating costs. Gundlach Plumbing got the finance options to make your life easier, they offer 3 or 6 months payment plan, same as cash!

Now whenever you have a plumbing or heating and cooling related problem, want the best service in Richmond, but don't want to pay right away - you know who to call. Fast service, best trained professionals, and financing options for up to six months is what makes Gundlach Plumbing & Heating Company the best in the ares.

Call Gundlach Plumbing & Heating Company office in Richmond to get the fastest response. Get a free service estimate so that you can make an informed decision. Do not let the unplanned plumbing and heating costs ruin your dream vacation!

Call (804) 288-1951, or visit their website for the online service request today!


Tuesday, February 7, 2012

What Not to Flush

Many household items we buy these days have been redesigned to be more environmentally friendly. Some paper products will decompose better and help reduce the carbon footprint, while other items may be recycled instead of thrown away with no hope of reuse. As we obtain such items and need to dispose of them, we may be inclined to get rid of them in different ways. Certain hygiene products, for example, can now be flushed down the toilet where in the past that was ill advised. In fact, there are still a number of things one should not flush down the commode, regardless if you think it is organic or not a risk to your plumbing.

Some of the things on the following list may appear obvious, nonetheless it is good to emphasize what should not be flushed. The potential for damage to your bathroom plumbing cost end up costing you a lot of money and headaches, especially if you are not able to install a new toilet. It's important to note, too, that every unnecessary flush wastes a few gallons of water, and can jack up your water bill if you let those flushes add up.

You definitely do not want to waste those flushes on the following:

Diapers - This remains a huge no-no. Even newborn and preemie diapers have the potential to clog your drains and cause you major plumbing problems. Also, not all diapers are biodegradable. If you would prefer not to have dirty diapers in the house, consider keeping your diaper pail outside or try cloth diapers, which are more eco-friendly.

Cigarette Butts - Back in the day we may have sneaked a few smokes in a public restroom, though smoking is now banned in many restaurants and other places around the country. Even so, you don't want to toss that butt in the bowl and flush it away. Cigarettes are processed with all sorts of chemicals which get into the water system this way.

Hair - You might think, what's wrong with flushing hair? Many of us try to save a few bucks by trimming our bangs, and the temptation to flush the strands is strong. Hair clogs cause problems in sink pipes, and the same holds true for the commode. Hair should be disposed of in the garbage or, if you plan to cut long lengths, you may want to consider donating it to a charity that makes wigs of human hair.

Medications - Expired meds, vitamins, syrups, and similar items should not be flushed. In the water system, these could prove toxic and harmful.

If you are not certain about what can go down a toilet and what should be placed in the garbage, consult with your local plumber before you end up calling one in to fix your toilet due to a clog or damaged bowl.


Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer specializing in articles on Palatine plumbing services and Norfolk Virginia plumbers.

Friday, January 20, 2012

How to Ensure Your Plumbing Inspection Goes Well

As a homeowner, it is recommended to have a plumber come and inspect your setup at least once a year. Doing this not only gives you peace of mind that your plumbing remains in top shape, but a good inspection can help save you money in the long run. Your plumber can point out ways to adjust certain fixtures so water isn't wasted, and you may have the option of upgrading to new equipment that conserves energy. All you have to do to get started is schedule the inspection and get through it.

While an inspection is necessary to ensure the proper functionality of your home, you want to have a positive experience rather than a laundry list of to-dos when the plumber is done checking everything. It makes sense, therefore, to be proactive and give your plumber few to no anomalies while he/she gets to work. Here are just a few things to consider before the appointment.

1) Make sure there are no obstacles. You don't want the plumber to have to crawl over things to get to where he/she needs to be. Move any unnecessary objects blocking the path to make for easy access to pipes and fixtures.

2) Keeps all areas clean. Give the bathrooms and kitchen a good once-over and clean all grout and tiles. Remove any building in and around drains for easier access into the pipes.

3) Check the kitchen sink disposal unit and make sure it's clear. If possible, try not to use it just before an inspection so it's clear.

4) Pay close attention when flushing toilets. Look for anything unusual, like delays in the tank filling back up or other problems that could indicate leaks.

If you encounter any anomalies during your pre-inspection, make a list and let your plumber know. Better to nip known problems in the bud, and your plumber may be more equipped to handle minor flaws without costing you too much money.

Plumbing inspections are important in order to keep your home functioning properly. If you plan to sell your house in the near future, you will find that records of a recent inspection can help add value to your property as potential buyers come for a tour of your house. If you plan to stay indefinitely, an inspection lets you know what improvements are available to you to help cut your water and energy bills. Don't wait to get an inspection done, call your plumber today.


Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer specializing in articles on Chesapeake Virginia plumbers and Palatine plumbers.