Power Flush Toilets & the winner is?

Sloan Flushmate Flushometer-Tank System, the two-piece Gerber Ultra Flush 21-312 toilet gets accolades from reviewers, who say it removes the most solid waste in a single flush. This pressure-assisted toilet achieves its high performance by using compressed air inside the tank, which creates a turbo-charged flushing action. The Gerber also has a large water surface, which helps keep it clean and prevents stains, and though it’s powerful, testers say it’s quiet as well. However, bear in mind that pressure-assist toilets require home water pressure of at least 25 pounds per square inch (psi); if your home has lower water pressure, you might want to consider a gravity toilet like the well-reviewed TOTO Eco UltraMax MS853113E (*est. $450), although it doesn’t remove as much solid waste in a single flush as the Gerber toilet.
If you have to do the double flush or even the triple flush, then I would highly recommend a power flush toilet.Related articles by Zemanta

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Power Flush Toilets & the winner is?

Water Softners

4 steps to softening your water.

1. The body of a water softener is a tank filled with resin beads. These beads are covered with sodium ions. As hard water passes through, the resin beads act like a magnet, attracting the calcium and magnesium ions (hardness) in exchange for the sodium ions.
2. Eventually the resin beads become saturated with mineral ions and have to be “re-charged.” This process is called regeneration, and is conducted by the control valve on the top of the tank. The control valve is the brain of the system.
3. During regeneration, a strong brine solution is flushed through the resin tank, bathing the resin beads in a stream of sodium ions which replace the accumulated calcium and magnesium ions (hardness).
4. The brine solution, carrying the displaced calcium and magnesium ions, is then flushed down the drain by freshwater. The regenerated resin beads can be used again and again.

Cedar Shakes

Cedar shakes and shingles have been used for hundreds of years. They have proven their longevity in actual weather conditions, in all types of climates. Cedar shakes and shinglescontain oils that make them naturally decay resistant.
Roof construction plays a major role in determining the lifespan of cedar roofs. Proper design is absolutely critical to ensure long-term roof integrity. Proper installation will help maximize the life of cedar products.
Cedar needs to breathe, and therefore needs to be kept clean. Do not allow leaves, branches or other debris to build up on the roof. Both surface areas and keyways (spaces between shakes and shingles) need to be kept clear. Ensure ventilation is available, year round. Areas with louvers, ridge vents, roof vents, and soffit vents need to be kept clear and never blocked off. Adequate ventilation ensures that heat and moisture do not build up in the attic area. Adequate ventilation also prevents water from accumulating at the bottom of the roof and then freezing
(ice damming).
For more information on cedar roofs please read this article.Related articles by Zemanta

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Sump Pumps

A sump pump keeps the space beneath your basement, and your basement itself, from flooding during excessive storms. The sump is a small reservoir under your basement that is meant to fill when groundwater levels rise, instead of letting the water seep into the basement and cause damage. Using a sump pump to move that water forces it up to ground level far enough away from your house to properly drain.

Many houses in wet climates are built with a sump that drains the basement and the area under the footings of the foundation of excess water. The sump collects water flowing in, as during storm flooding, as well as water rising up from a saturated ground supply. Installing a sump pump ensures that whether water comes from above or below, your basement will remain dry and structurally sound. Standing water in a basement is not only inconvenient, but over time it can begin to affect the integrity of your foundation.

There are two main kinds of sump pump. The submersible variety combines the pump and the waterproof motor in one unit that completely fits inside the sump, so it can get wet. The pedestal, or upright, type puts the pump inside the sump with the motor perched on top of a column that extends above the floor of the basement. The motor on a pedestal sump pump is not meant to get wet. Both types connect to a long outlet pipe that carries the water to an area at least 20 ft (6 m) from your house, preferably somewhere it can drain.