Kitchen

Geez...Water Heater on the Fritz?

If your water heater is on the fritz and you're not sure what to do, then Troubleshooting a Tank Type Water Heater is what you want to read. From problems such as not enough hot water to a leaking water heater, it's covered.

Hot water virtually on-demand is a luxury we've come to take for granted. But like anything else, it takes energy to run. So in the tutorial Water Heater Tips for Saving Energy and Operating Costs I'll explain how to easily save water, energy and money in your monthly utility bills.

And when it's time to replace that old water heater with a nice new, energy efficient unit, you'll just love it. And it's really not that hard to do. In the tutorial Replacing a Water Heater I'll walk you through the process, step-by-step. Doesn't matter if it's a gas or electric water heater. I'll show you how.

Geez...Water Heater on the Fritz? originally appeared on About.com Home Repair on Saturday, March 6th, 2010 at 13:14:58.

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Winter Interest Photo Challenge Winners

Who knew winter could be so fascinating in the garden? I still can't wait for it to be over, but I've gained a greater appreciation for winter more after seeing the photos submitted in this first garden photo contest of the year. Thanks for trudging out in the snow to share your garden highlights with us. I can't wait to see what you photograph this summer.

Here are the winners of the Jan/Feb 2010 Garden Photography Challenge - Winter Interest. Congratulations! The photo here was submitted by Rebecca Huss (Rebeckia), who took 1st Place with her Leucojum vernum var. carpathicum or Snowflake.

Thanks, everyone, for posting such great shots. Don't forget to get your photos in for the next challenge - Spring Bulbs. We sure could use some signs of spring.

Photo: Rebeca Huss

Winter Interest Photo Challenge Winners originally appeared on About.com Gardening on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 06:36:28.

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How to Build Floating Decks

In what sense do so-called "floating decks" float? Well, the term refers to the fact that such decks aren't attached to a house. Being free-standing, floating decks are easier for beginners to build, for two reasons: You don't have to worry about doing any damage to your house (in the process of attaching the deck to it). If your floating deck is a small one, its portability affords you more flexibility, both during construction and afterward (to correct mistakes).

In other words, building a small floating deck is the perfect project for the non-carpenter who would like to dabble in a stress-free construction project. So are you looking for an excuse to build a small floating deck? Here's one reason why you might want to build one:

Do you have a problem area in your yard? The solution to some problem areas may very well be a small floating deck -- for example, a small area between your house and a large pine tree that always looks pretty much like a weed patch because grass and flowers fail to compete successively with the pine for the available water. Building a small floating deck here could transform the area into a usable space.

This tutorial shows pictures of a small floating deck in the process of being constructed. And not to worry: the accompanying instructions are written for non-carpenters.

View tutorial: How to Build Floating Decks

How to Build Floating Decks originally appeared on About.com Landscaping on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 08:29:15.

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Stairs Calculator

I admit it:  I'm a sucker for any kind of online calculator.  Sometimes, I place my trust in online calculators in an unwise way.

So, when I wondered what was going on with the very steep stair risers down to my basement, which authority should I consult?  The online calculator!

EZ Stairs Calculator does seem to spit out the correct dimensions in three steps.  The fact that they misspell "Proceed" as "Procede" is only slightly worrying, since we're dealing with numbers here, not words.

Oddly enough, it's not a come-on for any stair-related product.

In the end, what I determined was that the geniuses who installed the stairs made the total stair run and total stair rise equal.  Thus, the risers and treads must be equal.  Typically, the treads (the horizontal part) are longer than the risers (the vertical part).

Image Copyright EZ Stairs Calculator

Stairs Calculator originally appeared on About.com Home Renovations on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 10:09:28.

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