Save Money - Tips for Fixing Plumbing Problems

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Today, Bill from Elite Plumbing is here to discuss plumbing. Dripping faucets and running toilets can cost you a lot of money, so we'll go over some tips to save you money in the long run.

First off, you need to be proactive. Once a month, check on the toilets that aren't used as often. If you see any movement in the water whatsoever, something needs to be fixed. It could be a fill bottle or a worn out flapper. Usually, it's a five dollar part that can save you over ten dollars a month on your water bill.

If you can't tell if there's a leak, take some food coloring and put it in the tank. If the water in the bowl changes colors, then you know you have a leak.

If you have a leaky faucet and you're not comfortable fixing it yourself, at least shut the water off under the sink so you'll save money on your water bill.

Keep in mind that 95% of this stuff can be fixed by the homeowner.Don't waste money on a plumber for something you can fix for five dollars. If you aren't sure about something, every hardware store has a plumbing specialist who can help you. If you try to fix it and it doesn't work, then call the plumber.

If you have any questions, please give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

How to Avoid a Devastating Problem with Your Home's Foundation

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Today I'm joined by Steve with Bay Area Underpinning. He's going to speak to us about issues regarding your home's foundation. 

Steve says that when you see a crack in a wall, you should not panic. This could be a lot of different things, but usually if there is one crack, there will likely be more. He recommends having someone look at it to make sure that it's nothing major.

Steve also commented on how the soil in our area is unique, and the drought we're currently seeing is definitely shifting the soil around which has been causing issues with home's foundations. This is why more homes are settling. When El Nino comes, Steve expects many people to notice their homes rebounding but eventually settling back down to where they once were.

Home inspectors will occasionally ask Steve to come out and do a professional study, and what Steve does is check the foundation for cracks and take a floor elevation survey in order to diagnose any issues with the foundation.

What Steve does when a home is uneven is dig down into the ground until they hit low-grain strata, and then they install steel piers which are controlled by hydraulics. They are set in place to level out the home and can be adjusted accordingly.

If you need assistance when having problems with your foundation, I highly recommend that you contact Steve. You can reach him on his website: http://www.bayareaunderpinning.com.

As always, please come to me with any and all of your Northern California real estate needs!