least once a year. In some towns where they flush their fire hydrants to keep the pipes clear it is suggested to follow their lead a few days after as any sediment that is disturbed ends up on the bottom of your heater.

What happens then is water displacement. The sandy partials that collect on the bottom of the tank displaces the water ever so slightly. This results in hot spots on the bottom of the tank. When this occurs the flames overheat the tank and begin to break down the steel. After many years this breakdown ends up becoming a tiny hole that is filled with this debris, oftentimes preventing the leak.

However if you decide to drain your heater after many years of not doing it, or all of a sudden you start using the heater more then normal, this sediment that has been plugging that tiny hole is flushed out, often resulting in a leak in a few days after.

So the moral is to flush yearly, but if you have not done so for many years to not touch it or you will end up with a leak.

After draining you may find that the flush hose bib valve at the bottom will not turn off. This is because of some sediment that has blocked the valve and prevented it from turning off. If that happens a hose bib cap can be purchased at the local hardware store for about $1.50 put that on and your good to go. The photo is the inside of such a valve on a hot water heater that was 6 years old and had never been flushed. We tried to empty this tank to replace with a new high efficiency tankless, next photo but the hole was so small it only trickled out. The new heater will produce enough hot water for two showers, one laundry and one dishwasher to run all at the same time.

I renovated my kitchen on a strict budget, and it only cost me $93 to completely transform my kitchen from bland builder-grade oak to bright white.

rooms of the house or darkening any of the first floor spaces. A small outdoor kitchen area was incorporated into the deck design. Due to the West-facing orientation, we chose materials that will hold up better and require less maintenance. The height and extension of the structure over the driveway also was a key variable in the project design.<?xml:namespace prefix = o />

had blue carpet (that's right, BLUE carpet !!) Prep work is crucial to prevent cracked tile and extend the life of your transformation. Here's a summary of some notes (on prep work) I took from an installation we did a few weeks ago.

+Check the wood subfloor for water damage around the vanity, toilet and bathtub

+Replace wood subfloor panels that are warped and rotted

+Ensure the floor is level

+Secure any loose and squeaky wood subfloor panels using 2 inch deck screws

+Fix peaks less than 1/8 of an inch by sanding them down

+Fill in valleys using self leveling compound

For more details and some pictures visit http://www.homerepairtutor.com/install-bathr...

If you have any tips you'd like to add please do so :)

of the "in" crowd. I hope you will read the rest of this over at our blog to find out how you can still create a space that is light, bright and full of charm without breaking open that can of white paint!

http://www.atthepicketfence.com/2012/06/when...

that leads to the deck & patio. Having moved from the Southwest to NC I found myself missing the desert, so I created my own. Our hot tub sits in the deck. We put in a new gazebo, added a section of fence so we could have a shar pei free area. No more dogs joining us in the hot tub, lol. Flower beds will soon be sprouting hostas along side of the dining area and caladiums will grace the area under the pecan tree A planting bench is connected to the house with access to the watering hose. I found metal wall art from yard sales. Extra seating came from a business that was remodeling. Our table and chairs is a reclaimed set with new paint and cushions. A good friend helped with the labor intensive part and this morning we began the finishing touches. We look forward to enjoying this area this summer and pray that we don't have another hurricane to hit us.

withstand heavy traffic, resist insects and disease, tolerate shady spots and be green four seasons of the year. The seed mix typically contains annual ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass and maybe some fine fescue.

In my part of the world there is no way these grasses could survive one summer. I doubt they could meet their claims in any part of the country.

If you want a grass that grows well in your area, contact your local University Extension office and ask their advice.

Their knowledge is far more valuable than a TV or magazine ad.