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.

label completely off with no traces of the sticky gunk left behind. In the past I've used a product called Goo Gone for this job and it's always worked well. But guess what? You can make your own Goo Gone by simply combining vegetable oil and baking soda. I tested it out on a couple little glass jars and it really does work! You can click on the link below to read the complete instructions.

It's easy to make.

1. Find an old metal kitchen colander (or metal lamp shade). You want something with holes in it (or you can use a metal drill bit and drill them).

2. Using 16 gauge wire, wrap around marbles and hang crystals from the ends. You could thread transparent beads onto the wire. Pick colours you love.

3. Attach flat-bottom marbles or other decorations on the colander using clear-drying outdoor silicone sealant.

4. Add wire to the top and hang the chandelier outdoors.

TIP: I find crystals at stores like Habitat For Humanity. Check old light fixtures. Lots of the ugly ones from the 1970s and 80s actually have good faux crystals on them. You can also use many of the other lamp parts for more garden art projects.

is that it's hypoallergenic, gentle, safe for HE washers, and safe for the environment. Also includes a free printable label with the recipe!

#ProudestDIY

things can become so disorganized that you forget what you have, and food goes bad or you end up buying more of something you don't need.

-Begin by removing everything from the pantry and clean the space. Lay everything out on a countertop or table, and take stock of what you actually have.

-Start by throwing out any expired foods. Then, organize foods into like groups, like canned goods, spice packets, and cereals.

-If you have a lot of small items like dry soup mixes and spice packets, try hanging a plastic shoe organizer on the inside of the door. The compartments are the perfect size for smaller odds and ends that tend to get lost.

-To help other family members put food back in the right place, try labeling the shelves with a Label Maker for organizational ease.

#OrganizedHome

never know! Click these links to see my Autumn Wispy Wreath and Halloween Spooky Wispy Wreath. Here's how I made this one.