The HOME Doctor Blog.....by Joseph Caruso
!!! FROZEN PIPES !!!
The forecast is now calling for 13 more consecutive days of temperatures below freezing!
If this holds true, it will be the coldest string of consecutive days below freezing in almost 40 years!!! If you’ve ever had pipes freeze on you before, you need to monitor those pipes again. If you notice a reduction of water flow in a faucet, this is a sign of potentially frozen pipes. It is imperative to keep a small trickle of lukewarm water flowing through these pipes, and keep the cabinet doors open to allow the warmer air from inside the house access to the pipes under the sink to help prevent freezing. The cost of this water usage pales in comparison to The cost of repairing or replacing your copper pipe plumbing! Be aware and proactive
*** All Plumbing Services are subcontracted to a licensed plumber ***
Mattco Plumbing & Heating LLC Lic.#12085
*** All Electrical Services are subcontracted to a licensed electrician ***
Lynn's Electric, LLC NJ/Lic.#16344
The HOME Doctor NJ LLC Edison, New Jersey 732-841-1642
Experienced ~ Reliable ~ Reasonable
WATER DAMAGE!
Has your ceilings or walls suffered water damage this winter from leaking pipes or ice damning in the gutters?
If so, The HOME Doctor has the cure!
While maintaining an impeccable work place, I will remove and replace the damaged sheet rock, patch and smooth to a pristine finish, and make ready to paint...
‼️ Inspect your copper pipe plumbing ‼️
The green discoloration that sometimes appears around copper pipe joints is of no real concern, but any type of visual corrosion or dripping water should be a major concern of any homeowner. Dripping water means that the joint is corroding from the inside out and could fail at any time, leading to a major water leak and possibly significant property damage!
These very alert homeowners spotted this condition and knew it needed to be corrected immediately! This particular leaking joint was located directly above the homes “Wood Sill Plate” which sits on top of the foundation wall and the rest of the homes stick frame construction is built upon. Undetected for any length of time this could’ve resulted in significant damage to the sill plate resulting in costly repairs for the homeowner. I encourage you to be ALERT and PROACTIVE like these homeowner, inspect your plumbing periodically for corrosion or water leaks of any kind...
The Home Doctor, Joseph Caruso
Mr & Mrs HOME Doctor's latest renovation project...
In 86 days my wife and I turned this 1950's Ranch home into our DREAM HOME.
Completely gutting the first floor, and adding an 1100 Sq.foot second floor addition,
for our DREAM Master Suite bedroom...
‼️ Smoke & Carbon monoxide detectors,
HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE ‼️
While the importance of them is widely known, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors often become afterthoughts once they’re installed.
Typical homeowners will put the detectors up, see them hanging there on the wall, and feel safe. They don’t give them a second thought except for those annoying times the low battery chirp goes off in the middle of the night.
But these devices are not to be ignored. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are there to save your life.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), three of every five home fire deaths happened in homes without smoke alarms or with non-functioning smoke alarms, with the death rate per 100 reported home fires being more than twice as high in homes that did not have any working smoke alarms compared to the rate in homes with working smoke alarms.
Carbon monoxide is equally, if not more, dangerous. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that over 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning not linked to fires every year, more than 20,000 visit the emergency room, and more than 4,000 are hospitalized.
A common thread in a vast majority of those injuries and deaths and malfunctioning smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and more often than not, the malfunction is due to missing, disconnected, or dead batteries.
Bottom line, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are not “set it and forget it” devices. You need to stay on top of them and periodically check that they’re working properly. What most people don’t realize is that on every smoke and carbon monoxide detector there is an expiration date, and that date is 10 years from the date of manufacture. after that date they no longer sample the air properly, and will FAIL to alert you when a life threatening condition exists!
Like these homeowners, If you’re not sure of their age be proactive and change your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors...
I change mine every five years.
- Joseph, The HOME Doctor.