There?s really nothing quite like a hot shower, especially when the shower heads are delivering a fantastic high-pressure stream of water suitable for massaging sore muscles and creating pleasurable clouds of steam that invigorate or relax the body and mind.a If you?ve hopped in the shower in hopes of enjoying a relaxing rinse off, only to be disappointed by low flow, then you probably wonder what?s going on.

There are a number of reasons shower heads can develop a low flow.

These includes:

• Clogging
• Stuck or defective bathtub spout diverters
• Worn or defective shower or mixing valves

If you?re hoping to fix a low flow situation, start with the easiest issue and work your way toward more complex solutions.

Removing and cleaning the shower head is the first step you should take when attempting to correct a low flow situation.a You?ll need to unthread the shower head from its pipe by turning it counter clockwise; test the shower once the shower head has been removed by turning on the water and checking to ensure flow is adequate.

If it is, you can simply clean the showerhead?s screens and nozzles, dislodge mineral buildup inside the shower head.a If you have always wanted a new showerhead and don?t want to spend time cleaning the old one, now is a great time to run to the DIY store and get that nifty new showerhead.

If the water isn?t flowing properly, you may end up needing to fix the bathtub spout diverter or have it replaced; replacing a diverter is a lot easier than repairing it is.a Bring your whole assembly with you to the store to make selecting the appropriate replacement simple.

If the spout diverter is in the wall, you?ll have to turn off the entire water supply to begin fixing this apparatus.

Usually, when a bathtub spout diverter is involved, repairs are a little more difficult than if the low flow is caused by a shower head alone.a Enlist the help of a plumber if needed; you?ll find everything works better when all components are connected properly.

For this kind of issue or any requiring a professional, contact Al?s!

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Winter is coming. This might not be welcome news for everybody, but it is something we all certainly have to face. Although we are just getting into fall, temperatures will be sharply dropping and snow will be on the ground before you know it!

In order to make sure that your energy prices don't go through the roof over the next few months, you need to take the necessary precautions now to ensure that your home is more than ready for winter. Not only will this save you money in the short term, it will improve the overall value of the space in the long run.

Windowsills and doors are places where you will find a lot of dirt and other debris - such as dust - pile up. Although you should be doing this regularly, it is especially important to keep these areas clean during the winter. This will allow you to create a tighter seal when the doors and windows are closed, improving their energy efficiency.

If your windows are a decade or older, chances are they are not working as well as they could be at keeping your home warm and efficient. An Alexandria contractor will be able to help you get rid of the old windows and have new ones put in for the upcoming season

Again, doors and windows will be your main focus during the winter, as these are the main areas where your heat will escape. To prevent this, all you need to do is reapply sealant to any places where it has broken or there are holes.

If you are planning on any remodels before winter, be sure to schedule an appointment with John C. Flood today!

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It?s a rough time of year for water.aaCalifornia is in a drought.aaIn Southern California, we are at Defcon 1. aThere is truly no water to spare. aWe are importing 80% of our water at this time. It isn?t sub-Saharan Africa, but by our standards, it?s pretty bad. aObviously, you may not be able to run out today, right this minute, and rip out your lawn. aYou may not have the time nor the money. aSo, what can you do in the immediate?

DWP

The first thing to know, (the thing which will be very costly if you don?t,) are your watering days and times. aThe Department of Water and Power, hereafter known as the DWP, carries most of the water for Southern California. aThe watering days and rules are as follows: aEven addresses, (those ending in zero or even numbers,) wateraTuesday,aThursday,aSunday, beforea9AMaand aftera4PM, only, and for 8 minutes per zone, and odd addresses wateraMonday,aWednesday,aFriday, same times, same duration as even addresses.

Please visit the DWP page on water conservation, watering day regulations, and some wonderful rebate offers if you are able to rip out your lawn and replace it with either turf, rocks, water-saving plants, or other material for which the DWP may compensate you. aPlease, also use this page to get information on reporting water wasters. Wasting water during this critical time costs us all.

There are very concrete needs for water and, unfortunately, this may make our yards a little less appealing this time of year. aIt isn?t necessarily nice to look at and it takes some work gettingr it back into shape when the Fall/Winter hit, but we must keep our water flowing for washing, drinking, fire fighting, etc?.

Aside from replacing lawns, there are easier, more immediate ways to reduce water consumption. aTurn off the tap while you brush your teeth, make sure your washing machine level matches the load, and run your dishwasher at the shortest cycle possible.

Change your toilets and shower-heads to low-flow. aIf you have water left in the kettle or a bottle that?s been sitting for a while and you can?t drink, toss it into the lawn or your plants. aMake sure there are absolutely no drips around the house. aFor a full list of things you can do, access the above website. aSummer is just starting and there?s a lot of water to be saved!