even, just to get just a couple of liters to live through the day. Rivers and streams are in numerous cases difficult to reach and often protected by the powerful Mother Nature's hand. You probably had to climb on rocks, go through bushes and bring your water home safe and sound. Also, nature was not domesticated and partially destroyed like we know it today. People back then didn't know how to deal with harsh droughts, or the opposite – long wild rains. Just imagine how much work and effort was necessary for you to drink a nice, clean, fresh cup of water. It's actually hard to imagine, because our lives are as relieved as they can get. Bathrooms and kitchens are pretty much common, and some people just don't ever think about what their lives would be like, if they had to use a distant river to take a bath or a well to cook and wash dishes. Thanks to numerous brilliant minds, our time is saved and all the trouble we would've gone through for just one simple refreshing glass of cold water is reduced to a minimum.

When in need of a water to cook, clean or bath – you turn to your nearest sink. The old sinks were usually made of light metal in rough shapes, and the handles on the taps were simple-shaped and were also made out of metal and later out of plastic – made just to serve its purpose. The evolution of the kitchen itself is connected to the evolution of the stove and the development of plumbing. Before the time when the kitchen became an indispensable room in the house, food was cooked outdoors – on an open fire, and water was brought from the closest source. Ancient people used to make kitchens in the yard, including the well and the cooking equipment, as well as pottery dishes. That surrounding was usually suited for women. So, as we developed plumbing and technology, and taught our men that cooking isn't scary or difficult, the kitchen became a place where the tastiest food is being made and a reason to gather a busy, chaotic modern family.

The Middle Ages were dark times for kitchens too. All around the world, people were trying to improvise electricity and failed to do so. Kitchens were inconvenient and it took a lot of space in the household because of the fireplace that was necessary for cooking and all the wood and tools to get it started. Also, there were a lot of shelves and hooks for dishes which were large, heavy, massive and complicated to use and clean. In wealthier households, there were often two or even three spacious kitchens – depending on the food that needs to be prepared in it. That is probably the best example of how much kitchens have been evolved and simplified for us. Gratitude is the least we owe to the ones that saved our behinds from all the trouble.

So, having in mind that all the pipes are in order, the time has come to play with shapes and sizes, colors and materials. A simple sink is made out of:

A Bowl-shaped plumbing fixture

A Tap

A Drain

Soap or a detergent holder fixed nearbyKnowing all these parts leaves us with a need to combine them using just a pinch of imagination. If you desire to turn it all upside-down – you can probably make it happen. Whether you're into cold stainless steel, massive concrete, worm wood, clear glass, elegant marble or simple modern plastics, chances are that everything is doable. With the right color and the image in your head properly and in details transferred to paper or words, they'll make your dream kitchen into reality. The sink is going to look like the final piece of the puzzle and the brightest, spotless and flawless trophy of the kitchen. Just in case you need help to start, here is a couple of fresh ideas that a will perfectly fit into a modern home, whether you prefer antique interior design or smooth urban surfaces.

A Single-bowled sink is probably the first and the simplest type of sink. Surprisingly, the sink with the one bowl is the oldest shape and today, after all the effort to make it perfect and easy to use, this shape is back in style. Size is an important element that you need to take care of if you decide that your kitchen needs this particular kind of sink. It's more practical than other types – faster to clean and easier to maintain.

A Double-bowled sink is a single-bowled sink that evolved. As the next in line, it has its benefits – there's more room for dishes (clean and dirty), and you can play with sizes of the bowls (make one bigger and the other smaller, or just make them the same medium size). The only disadvantage is that you need more time to clean the sink itself because you'll end up with two drains.

Farmhouse kitchen sinks are usually one-bowled sinks in the shape of a cuboid. They are large because they are designed for a big amount of huge dishes that need to be washed. Also, it's characteristic for them to have a shower-like movable tap which will make washing easier because you will be able to clean all the unreachable parts by moving the tap and not getting exhausted by moving the heavy dish all the time.

Also, it's important to think about how you'll fit the sink in your worktop in the kitchen. There's a choice between a top-mount and an under-mount sink. It all depends on what do you want to pop. If you want to put an accent on the sink in your kitchen, you should go with the top-mount sink. If you prefer the opposite and you want your worktop to be the central piece, then choose the under-mount kind of sink.With this, I think that enough has been said about sinks for one sitting. If you wish to explore other sources of info, feel free to continue browsing the net.

Toilets only come in 12 inch and 10 inch standard rough ins.

We had 11.25 inch rough in. However....

(Cost is based on toilet plus plumber.)

Spray hostas , tomatos , etc. dose not matter it is all natural! Deer can't stand it!!! Soak plants well so leaves will absorb it. Spray agian after rains. It will smell pretty bad for about 1/2 hour then you can't smell it but the critters can. I grew up near state park we had a big problem with deer and ground hogs. this works great!

removing a toilet and a pedestal sink > http://www.sasinteriors.net/2013/04/powder-r...

tightened- we tried to loosen it also sprayed bad and we could not get it off. Wwe are afraid to damage the pipe coming out of the house.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO?? Does this take a plumber to come out and have to weld off the piece and put a new piece on?? I mean I am handy, but never tackled welding!

HELP!!!

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.

through the door from a red eye flight back from Seattle, NOT FUN!).

I've also handled numerous calls from our tenants that have dealt with overflowing toilets, faucets leaking, washer hoses bursting, you name it.

So after my neighbor had to replace his water pressure regulator I decided to share easy plumbing tips that you can act on today or over the weekend that will help prevent water leaks:

+Test your water pressure with a $10 gauge and make sure it's not above 80 psi

+If your water pressure is too high have a licensed contractor install a regulator

+Adjust your existing water pressure regulator to reduce pressure to 55-75 psi

+Replace old supply lines with the steel braided variety

+Replace old shutoff valves in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms with quarter turn ball valves-they are easier to use and rarely break compared to older valves

It's much cheaper to avoid replacing a collapsing drywall ceiling then actually having to hire a contractor to fix it :)

For more pictures and a video on how to adjust the water pressure in your house you can visit my latest blog post http://www.homerepairtutor.com/water-leaks-3...

Have a great day!

#Bestof2012

Windows

Make sure your windows aren't costing you money this winter. Check for loose caulk or deteriorated weather-stripping, and then repair or replace it. Consider installing replacement windows, which are relatively inexpensive and will save you money on heating costs in the long run.

Chimney

Enjoy your fireplace with complete peace of mind by having the chimney checked and cleaned by a certified chimney sweep. It's vital that the chimney be examined for blockage that can cause dangerous carbon monoxide build-up. Leaves, sticks and sometimes even animals can plug up a chimney.

Roofs and Gutters

Roofs should be examined for any cracked, broken or missing shingles, and at the points where pipes, vents and chimneys come through your roof (where most leaks occur). Also check for blocked gutters, which can cause problems when water freezes inside and creates ice dams. When the ice and snow melts, it can get into your home and cause damage.

Lighting

The longer and darker days make exterior lighting more essential than at any other time of year. Check all your bulbs and add timers or photoelectric sensors. For spotlights, replace incandescent bulbs with halogens for improved clarity. Add or adjust motion detectors for safety and security.