5 Ways To Fix A Faucet

 

A leaking faucet is one of the few highly frustrating things. It does not just make a constant dripping sound, but also a substantial increase in your water bills can be noticed. Not only that, but the risk of mold growth also gets heightened in your home. 

However, the good news is that fixing a leaky faucet isn’t a costly affair like other home improvement projects, provided the severity of the plumbing issue plays a considerable role here.

 

There are five ways to fix a faucet that are productive and cost-effective. But for that, you will need to know the type of faucet you have and the necessary tools to correct the problem. As far as faucet types are concerned, four common types that include:

•   Compression faucet – Features one handle for cold water and one for hot water
•   Ball faucet – Features central handle powered by a ball bearing used for setting the desired temperature
•   Cartridge faucet – Features Sleeve-shaped central handle powered by the internal cartridge.
•   Ceramic-disk faucet – Features Central handle powered by a ceramic cylinder.

Necessary tools for fixing a leaky faucet include an adjustable wrench, flathead screwdriver, faucet washer, sink plug, O-rings, and brass screws.

5 Ways to Fix a Faucet

1. Finding the Source of a Leaky Faucet

Now that you know the faucet type and the tools necessary to fix it, the first step you need to take is to find the source of the leak or damage. If you see moisture directly below the faucet, then dry it first for better diagnosis. Is water dripping from the spout even after the tap is off? Or water leaks at the base and not from the tap? Does water leaks at the bottom as well as from the tap when the faucet is on? Or the water leaks through the handle’s top? If you cannot identify the leak source, then make sure to hire a professional for help.

2. Fixing a Compression Faucet

To fix a compression faucet, you will need to remove the handles by removing the decorative caps and then removing the screws beneath. You will need a wrench to remove the packing nut below the handle. Then remove the stem, O-rings, and seat washer. Usually, the seat washer is the main culprit behind the leaks in compression faucets, which can be diagnosed when the spout is dripping. And if the handles are leaky, then O-ring is responsible. You can replace the seat washer by concealing the replacement using a plumber’s grease and secure it with a brass screw. Now reassemble the faucet! And it’s done.

3. Fixing a Ball Faucet

To fix a ball faucet, you will need to purchase a replacement kit as the ball faucets consist of several parts and require specialty tools. You can use a screwdriver for removing the handle. Using pliers and a specialty tool, remove the cap, collar, and faucet cam, lift out the washer, and the ball bearing. For reaching into the faucet’s mechanism, you will need to use needle-nose pliers. Then remove the inlet seals and springs. Cut off the worn O-ring and replace it with a new one and coat the replacement using plumber’s grease before installation. Now install new springs, inlet seals, and washer and reassemble the faucet.

4. Fixing a Cartridge Faucet

Fixing a cartridge faucet will need you to remove the handle by removing the decorative cap after removing the screws beneath and tilting it backward. If there is any clip that holds the cartridge in place, then remove it using pliers. Now remove the cartridge by pulling it straight up and then remove the spout. Replace the worn-out O-ring and coat it with plumber’s grease and then reassemble the faucet.

5. Fixing a Ceramic-Disk Faucet

In this case, you will need to unscrew and remove the handle after removing the metal escutcheon cap located below. After that, unscrew and remove the disk cylinder and lift the neoprene seals from the cylinder out. Clean the openings of the cylinder using distilled white vinegar and a cleaning cloth. Then replace the worn-out neoprene seals and reassemble the faucet. Turn the water on slow pressure as a higher force may damage the ceramic cylinder.

Conclusion:

These are the five different ways to fix the faucet. However, if you find it confusing or want a professional fix, look for professional plumbers in your area via mobile apps like ChoreRelief, Home Advisor, etc.

6 Ways to Fix Broken Toilet

Fixing a broken toilet requires a professional plumber; however, a few times when DIY toilet fixing can be done. You just need a few DIY skills for that. Following are six ways to fix a broken toilet, have a look:

6 Ways to Fix Broken Toilet

1. Fixing a Clogged Toilet

The most common issue with toilets is a clogged toilet. This issue may originate either due to excessive water flow or flushing down too much material. Whatever might be the case, there are a few options for clearing out the clog. One of the best tools for this purpose is a plunger; however, choosing the right one is necessary. Push the plunger slowly as it will the first remover the air moving, and you will avoid splashing of dirty water on yourself. If you do not get the result after pumping the plunger a few times, mix baking soda and vinegar. This is a non-toxic solution that helps in keeping drains run smoothly. And if this trick also fails, then buy a plumbing snake and use it to avoid scratching or damaging your toilet.

 

2. Ballcock Replacement

Is your toilet running? Then the culprit might be the ballcock! A ballcock is a hollow ball that floats at the top of the water in your tank. It is responsible for operating the valve that keeps the water flowing and stopping. When the water is drained from the tank, the ball drops down. As the water gets filled in the tank, the ball raises, and the valve is connected to gets closed. If the water continues to run, then it indicates that the ballcock is not calibrated correctly. You can get pent the float arm for shutting off the tank or fine-tune the quantity of water you are using in your tank. The best way out is to replace the ballcock with a modern float-cup valve to avoid fixing this issue.

3. Issues with Flush Valve

Is the flush valve throwing tantrums? Take a closer look at it. The flush valve is a brass or plastic fitting located at the center of your tank attached to the opening. There is a flapper that is accountable for emptying water and keeping it in the tank. The overflow tube prevents the water from overflowing into the tank. If any of these components aren't working correctly, then it could cause the water to run.

4. Continuously Running Toilet

Is your toilet running always? Or do you need to waggle the handle often? Then the problem might be with the flapper. Here, it is necessary to completely seal the flush opening for keeping the tank run slowly. If the water in your tank runs too high, water flows into the overflow tube and is sent back into the tank. You can adjust the refill valves for changing the water level. If required, replace the flapper valve.

5. Loosened Flush Handle

A loosened flush handle can be a great hassle if not fixed on time. You will need to open up the tank and check the lift wire or chain for selecting it. In most cases, the lift chain gets tangled, bent, or broken, causing the handle to loosen up. The broken chain can be temporarily fixed with a paper clip. And if the mounting nut of the handle inside the tank is loose, you need to turn the nut and secure the handle to its location on the side of the tank.

6. Leaking Toilet Base

Some issues occur outside the bowl as well. However, before diagnosing the problem, consider the season due to humidity and condensation, some tanks appear leaky. However, if there is a puddle seen at the base of your toilet, be careful else you might have to deal with the dirty and contaminated water. A wax ring seals the bottom of the bathroom to the drain opening below. Remove the toilet to fix the problem, and for this, hire a professional plumber.

Conclusion:

If you find fixing the toilet too intense, then it is high to call a plumber. With mobile apps like ChoreRelief, you can easily find out the best and background checked plumbers in and nearby your area. To know more about the app, visit https://chorerelief.com/

Handyman Apps - Making Our Lives Easier and Better!

Building a new home or buying a home is much easier than maintaining it! Home maintenance seeks a lot of patience and time, which most of us lack nowadays. Moreover, there are certain things that we cannot fix on ourselves such as plumbing leakages, electrical issues and likewise and hence, we seek professional help. But if you have multiple issues to fix, calling professional for each job can be a costly affair and in such cases handyman services are the best solution.

 

However, finding a skilled handyman can be a tiresome job! Fortunately to help you with this issue, today you can find a number on on-demand handyman apps where you can search and hire professionals for performing a specific job.

 

How Handyman Apps Work?

A handyman app is an online platform via which customers can connect with the professionals for doing household jobs of any type that include plumbing, wiring, renovations, cleaning, carpentry and every other household repairs and services.

To take advantage of the handyman apps, follow the following steps:

• Log in to the app by providing the necessary information.
• When prompted add your exact location. For instance, you seek handyman services in Chicago, then enter Chicago as the location.
• Then select the type of services you are looking for, the scheduled date and time of service.
• Exact fare will be displayed before you book the service, if you are satisfied with pricing you can proceed further to complete the process.
• Once booked, the professional will show up at the specified time and date at your location.

Best Handyman Apps

Let us check out some of the best handyman apps below -

• TaskRabbit

TaskRabbit is an American handyman app that helps people find and book professionals for house care services such as cleaning, moving, furniture assembling as well as ordering groceries and much more. This handyman app is now operating in 47 cities of the USA, 4 cities of the UK and a city from Canada.

• Handy

Handy is yet another American based handyman app developed by a company located in New York. This app also offers various household services like cleaning, electrical help, maid service, plumbing, moving and more. Their service areas include the US, the UK and Canada.

• Urban Company

Urban Company, formerly known as Urban Clap is a handyman app from India that offers a myriad of services including AC repair, cleaning, electrical services, plumbing, home salon, painting and more. They have also introduced disinfection services during COVID-19 pandemic period. The company operates in 18 cities of India and 4 international cities i.e. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sydney and Singapore.

• Thumbtack

A California based handyman services company, Thumbtack offers almost 1000 different services to choose from including home tutor, dog trainer, florist, cleaners, makeup professionals and more.

• ChoreRelief

ChoreRelief is a Chicago based handyman app that provides a marketplace where landlords and homeowners can post jobs at the rate they want to pay, and skilled professionals accept or counter-bid on them. You can discover a variety of handyman services in Chicago via this app that include cleaning, plumbing, moving, landscaping, fixing electricity issues, snow removal, HVAC repair and more.

Conclusion:

Handyman services play a crucial role in our lives; however finding the right service is necessary. During the current scenario where COVID-19 pandemic has affected our lives handyman apps are the best solution to find the right professionals for our needs.

Benefits of Hiring Professional Deep Cleaning Services

The current Covid-19 pandemic situation demands high level of cleaning; be it your home or office space. However, with our hectic lifestyle it becomes difficult for us to maintain our surroundings clean and hygienic. If you too facing such problem in Chicago? Then you must look for professional deep cleaning services in Chicago who can help you.  There are several benefits of hiring professional deep cleaning services in Chicago. Let us have a look at some of the benefits below:

• Saves Time and Energy

It is obvious that when professionals work, they will use their experience and expertise to complete cleaning task in lesser time. You need not have to struggle in scrubbing the bathroom or cleaning the oily kitchen exhaust pipe every few months when you hire experts for the job. This saves your time, which you can spend on other important aspects of your life. Moreover, by hiring a professional deep cleaning expert you get a peace of mind that your home cleaning are in safe hands.

• Money Saving

Most of the people assume that hiring professional deep cleaning services is a costly affair, but they do not realize that it helps them save money. You must be wondering how! Assume that you opt for DIY cleaning, you will need to buy brushes, mops, detergents and so many other tools for cleaning the dirty areas. You may also need to buy various equipment that may cost you even more than hiring a professional cleaner. Furthermore, you may need to put extra efforts in the process.

Also, remember that you are not an expert cleaner; hence, despite of your best efforts you may end up leaving certain places. On the other hand, the experts have years of experience and are equipped with all essential tools and techniques which will make home cleaning much easier. They will clean every room and nook and corner without missing any dust or grime.

• Quick and Stress-Free Service

As compared to regular cleaning, deep cleaning requires attention to detail approach, which can only be provided by  professional deep cleaner. Expert cleaners will come to your house as per your convenience and help you by cleaning the areas that are difficult to clean. You will have to pay only for the services you choose. For instance, if you require bathroom cleaning, you can opt for bathroom cleaners. To make your search for deep cleaning services in Chicago you can also use cleaning apps like ChoreRelief, where you can find a wide number of vetted deep cleaning experts in and nearby your location under one roof. You will have to specify your cleaning needs, scheduled date and time and the experts will be right there on time for the service at your doorsteps.

• Get a Clean and Hygienic Home

With specialized equipment and cleaning solutions, the professionals make sure to provide you an expert clean and hygienic home. Even the most inaccessible places will be cleaned with utmost care. From vacuuming your sofa, chairs, cushions to removing the dust, food particles and hairballs accumulated over the years, can be cleaned professionally leaving a clean and hygienic space.

Conclusion:

ChoreRelief is an online platform that can help you find a wide number of professional deep cleaning services in Chicago who are vetted. For more information visit website.

How Do You Clean and Disinfect Your Home Thoroughly?

Do you want to leave your home clean and tidy? If yes, you should do simple cleaning and disinfecting your home to wipe out all sorts of surfaces – countertops, electronics, upholstery, and others. With professional cleaning services in Chicago, you can keep your home cleaner and your family healthier. Here are a few tips and suggestions that professional cleaners recommend to deep clean and disinfect your home:

When it comes to removing foreign materials from a surface, there are so many terms used interchangeably to different degrees. These terms have different meaning and the first and foremost step to fight against harmful germs is to understand the difference between cleaning and disinfecting surfaces.

Cleaning – It refers to physical removal of dirt and debris from a surface with soap or mild detergent and water. Simply this transfers matter from a surface to another while cleaning may remove germs from one place, they may still present in another.

Disinfecting – This includes killing of higher percentage germs or leaving them unable to reproduce further generally through a chemical disinfectant. Necessarily, it doesn’t remove germs from the surface.

Sterilizing – This involves destruction of all types of microbial species on surfaces. Generally, it’s used in a clinical or laboratory setting.

Sanitizing – This means germs have been lowered to acceptable or safe level on surfaces while adhering to public standards or requirements through deep cleaning or disinfecting.

How Do You Clean and Disinfect Household Surfaces?

As a responsible homeowner, you want to stop germs from spreading to have a clean and well-maintained home. But it’s necessary to ensure that you know how to disinfect surfaces in your home effectively.

Use soap and water to clean the surface first and take a microfiber cloth to eliminate larger particles or debris. Keep it dry followed by disinfecting the surface.

Generally, most household disinfectants don’t kill germs necessarily on contact; you should let them air dry for 15-30 seconds for effective results. If you use them properly, they will kill around 99.9% of bacteria and virus on hard surfaces.

There is a huge availability of disinfectants for households on the market, like disinfectant sprays that you can use on upholstered furniture including furniture and mattresses. Otherwise, prepare an effective and inexpensive solution at home – a mixture of chlorine bleach and water. It’s proven to kill common food-borne bacteria including Listeria, e.Coli, and Salmonella and viruses like the flue and norovirus. 

Never miss out germ hotspots.

Add cleaning and disinfecting to your cleaning routine so that the high-touch surfaces won’t get overlooked. The germ hot spots in your home you should clean and disinfect include thermostats, door knobs, computer keyboards, light switches, garage door openers, light switches, phones, stair rails, and TV remote controls.

Schedule Cleaning Services in Chicago for Thorough Cleaning & Disinfecting

When you schedule cleaning services in Chicago from ChoreRelief, you can allow the professionals to handle cleaning and disinfecting while spending quality time with the people you love. Check out the cleaning company offerings and how you can keep your family healthy by reaching out to us today!

10 Reasons to Upgrade Your HVAC System in Chicago

Most homeowners in Chicago are unaware of the condition of HVAC systems unless they break down or stop working altogether. You may go for repairs to handle unexpected breakdowns. Instead, you should upgrade or improve your HVAC system in Chicago. Here are a few reasons to improve your HVAC system:

 

1. Age of Units

Your heating or cooling system will perform efficiently and effectively for certain time period. You should consider replacing air conditioning unit or heat pump, it it’s older than 10 years.

2. Increase in Energy Costs

Have you noticed a jump in energy costs to keep your home comfortable? It may be your air conditioning system or heat pump isn’t operating as efficiently as it did once. It’s better to get your HVAC system inspected regularly.

3. More Number of Repairs

Does your heating or cooling unit need repairs often? If yes, it may weigh the repair cost against the purchase of system upgrade.

4. Increase in Noise Level

Do you notice any sudden increase in noise level produced when the system starts working? It can be an issue with your heating or cooling system; but sometimes your ductwork size can contribute to it as well.

5. Poor Performance

Is your heating or cooling unit not keeping up with your comfort needs? If yes, it may be due to using of wrong size unit at your home. Besides, the leaks or issues in your ductwork can result in poor performance.

6. Planning for Home Sale

Are you planning to sell your home? It’s wise to upgrade your HVAC in Chicago to more energy-efficient system. You will get amazing incentives while drawing more potential buyers. Often, the upgrading cost can be counter-balanced in your home sale price/

7. Too Hot or Cold Rooms

When you find too hot or cold rooms at home, it may be due to several issues like poor airflow, duct problems, insufficient insulation or equipment failure. You should contact a professional HVAC contractor in Chicago for a smooth and efficient diagnosis.

8. Humidity Issues

If the unit is performing poorly or has a leaky ductwork, it may give rise to excessive humidity inside your work. You should have your HVAC system inspected for sure. Your professional may recommend purchasing a dehumidifier for your home.

9. Excessive Amount of Dust

If there’s excessive amount of dust inside your home, it may result problems in your ductwork. Therefore, proper sealing or cleaning is necessary.

10. Getting the Inadequate Temperature

Does your HVAC system struggle to provide adequate temperature to your home? If yes, you should consider hiring a HVAC technician in Chicago to fix or replace your unit with speed and confidence. Rather than troubleshooting the issues yourself, let a professional help you out. The solution can be simple like bending in your old thermostat or can be much more involved.

 

Bottom Line –

These are a few signs and considerations you should keep in mind to count on a responsible contractor to keep your HVAC in Chicago up and running. Check out available HVAC services in Chicago area on ChoreRelief and find the right professional for your HVAC unit needs! For more immediate help, feel free to contact us as soon as possible.

5 Important Reasons to Have a Well-Maintained HVAC System

Likewise every mechanical system, HVAC system should be maintained consistently to run effortlessly. Whether you want warm water during cold Chicago winters or cool off in the hot summers, every homeowner wants a heating and cooling system. Here are a few important reasons why having a well-maintained HVAC in Chicago makes sense:

1. Less Energy Bills

When you have a poorly maintained HVAC system, it results in much higher energy bills. If the system is unable to operate at its peak efficiency, it will require energy for heating or cooling your home at the level you feel comfortable. Proper planning of maintenance and upkeep on HVAC system results in lower energy usage.

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