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Latest Happenings
 

Spring has finally sprung here in New Hampshire. It took awhile, but it’s finally here in full bloom. The grass has greened up, the Daffodils are out, and the May flies have returned in full force. For the past month I’ve been flying a couple of times per week up near the lakes regions and mountains of New Hampshire watching the snow melt and the ice slowly fade from the lakes. It was pretty amazing to watch, particularly on Lake Winnipesaukee. It’s the biggest lake in the state and every year there’s a contest to guess the Ice Out date and time. In just a matter of a week or so the lake went from nearly completely iced over to ice free.

In this month’s home improvement news I figured out the case of a low frequency humming sound coming periodically from the plumbing in our house. I also talk about home mold removal and the methods and risk of removing it on your own. Electrical seems to always to be of interest to do it yourself homeowners so I also wrote an article on some tips on how to rough in electrical wire in a home. We also purchased a replacement pool this spring so I decided to document some tips on what to think about when purchasing a pool.

HomeAdditionPlus Facebook Fanpage

The HomeAdditionPlus Facebook Fanpage continues to attract new followers. Again, if you’ve not already signed up for the HomeAdditionPlus Facebook Fanpage, consider doing so. I update this page every day with the latest home improvement tips from HomeAdditionPlus.com. These tips can save you time, money and a lot of hassles in your home improvement endeavors.

The Case of the Humming Toilet

Over the past couple of weeks we’ve been hearing this humming sound in our home’s plumbing system. Today I isolated the problem down to a humming toilet tank fill valve in our downstairs bathroom. When I first started hearing this humming noise I thought it had to do with a plumbing supply line, but I was not totally convinced of this due to the frequency of the particular hum. It was a very low frequency hum that crescendoed in volume from a low whisper to a loud reverberating sound, before fading away again. [Read the Complete Article]

Home Mold Removal

Mold is a serious problem and many homes are faced with it at some point and time in their lifetimes. A moist environment is the key ingredient for mold growth. By eliminating moisture within the home you can dramatically reduce the chance of home mold growth. Home mold removal can be done by the do it yourself homeowner but care is necessary to prevent spreading it, and making yourself and others living in the home ill. See my complete article on “Home Mold Removal” to learn more.

Roughing In Electrical Wiring

Roughing in electric wiring is the process of attaching electrical boxes to the framing and running electrical wire between them and the main circuit panel. Roughing electrical wiring should be based upon your architectural plans for the home. There should be a page or pages in the architectural plans that specify exactly where each light switch, outlet, and light fixture is supposed to go. The electrical wiring plans should also specify the wire gauge that should be used and where Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) are required. See my article on “Roughing In Electrical Wiring” to learn more.

Key Questions to Ask Before Buying a Pool

So you’re thinking about buying a swimming pool. Before buying a pool, regardless if it’s an above ground or an in-ground swimming pool, always do your homework first. Visit several pool dealerships and learn about the features and benefits of both types of pools. Above ground pools cost a lot less but they typically won’t last as long as an in-ground pool. Above ground swimming pools also require less maintenance than in-ground pools. Liner types and quality grades are also an important consideration. Read on to learn more about “Buying a Pool”.

Will Your Remodeled Home Out-Price the Neighborhood?

When considering a home remodeling project it is important to understand upfront how it will impact the value of your home. If your home is already priced at the high end in your neighborhood then adding a home addition or investing in a major home remodeling project may be risky from a return on an investment standpoint. If on the other hand you have one of the smaller homes in the neighborhood adding an addition or remodeling the kitchen may pay off handsomely for you down the road when you sell the home. See my full article on “Will Your Remodeled Home Out-Price the Neighborhood” to learn more.

How to Stop Grubs from Damaging Your Lawn Instantly

At the first sign of white grub damage to your lawn it’s important to kill the grubs immediately. Grubs are the larvae of Chafer and Japanese Beetles and they feed on your lawn’s root system. In a very short period of time they can destroy your lawn. If you see large brownish or whitish spots forming on your lawn, or observe crows pecking and ripping up your lawn, chances are your lawn has a white grub problem. You can stop grubs from damaging your lawn instantly with various products. See my complete article on “How to Stop Grubs from Damaging Your Lawn” to learn more.

Cordless Tools and How to Extend their Battery Life

Cordless tools have been a godsend in the home construction industry, and increased battery life is the secret for an effective and dependable cordless tool. However contractors and diy homeowners alike have found themselves at one time or another with two dead batteries for their cordless tools. In some cases it’s just a situation of overuse and in other cases they simply forgot to immediately put the spent battery into the battery recharger. In other cases, however, the recharged battery life has just become ridiculously shortened. Learn how to “Extend the Battery Life of your Cordless Tools”.

As always, if you have any specific home improvement questions or would like to see specific new home improvement related content send your questions to me at mark@homeadditionplus.com.

Again, good luck with your DIY home improvement projects and enjoy the warmer weather that's finally here!

Mark J. Donovan

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