The toilet—an unsung hero of the home. It’s not flashy or glamorous, but you rely on it more than you think—about five times a day. And when it malfunctions? Even a minor issue can feel like a crisis.
Before you brace for a plumbing nightmare, take a breath—most toilet issues come from a few common culprits, and they’re easier to fix than you might think. Read more
For centuries, metal piping has been the backbone of plumbing systems, bringing durability and reliability to homes and buildings. Today, it faces competition from a less costly alternative—plastic piping. While each material has its own advantages, both metal and plastic come with unique limitations shaped by cost, longevity, installation ease, pressure and temperature ratings, building codes and fire resistance. Read more
Zombie media is a staple of modern pop culture. From iconic films like “Night of the Living Dead” to shows like “The Walking Dead,” audiences are captivated by stories of society overturned by reanimated corpses. But “The Last of Us,” a hugely popular video game and TV series, offers a fresh twist. Its apocalypse is caused by an evolved fungus, Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, a real-life parasite that compels ants and spiders to act in strange ways. Read more
For homeowners, managing energy efficiently is more important than ever due to rising concerns about increasing utility costs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), heating water alone can make up about 18 percent of the total energy usage at home. Furthermore, water heating is the second largest energy use in homes. Read more
Mold, which is a fungus, requires three things to grow: food, oxygen and moisture. While food and oxygen are widely available on common surfaces, it is the presence of moisture that becomes the critical element. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, mold thrives on organic materials such as wood, cellulose, dirt, dust and other organic accumulations. Read more
Have you ever smelled a musty odor inside a commercial building or home? Usually that means mold is present. Mold is a fungus and is always present indoors and outdoors in small amounts. According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), mold can be toxic to both humans and animals, depending on the type and amount of mold present. Read more
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that is often referred to as a silent killer. It is generated by incomplete combustion of fuel in an engine, heater, appliance or from an open flame.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CO poisoning claims the lives of more than 400 people each year. More than 100,000 people visit the emergency room and more than 4,000 are hospitalized from CO poisoning. Read more
Is this scenario a familiar one? You squeeze between the under part of a kitchen sink and the wall, squirming around trying to find where to screw in the hose of the new faucet. After a few minutes of rearranging the overly long hose so that the end would face the way you want, you were able to successfully finish installing the new kitchen faucet. Read more
According to the National Fire Protection Association, fire departments respond to a fire once every 24 seconds. Meanwhile, nearly 4,000 Americans die per year in house fires. This means the likelihood someone will be affected by a building fire in his or her lifetime is far greater than most people expect. Read more
In 2018 alone, just over 8.7 million residential water heaters were shipped into the United States, which amounts to roughly one water heater for every 37 people. This high demand is not surprising, as everybody needs heated water for numerous tasks, such as taking showers and washing dishes. Read more
