The Best is Yet to Come

Ask Anthony: My Sink Drains Smell Horrific!

AUGUST 19, 2009 AT 11:30 AM by Cafe Sheri - Comments (1)

Got a home repair or home improvement question? Then Ask Anthony TODAY in the comments below! Anthony is at our beck and call on CafeMom every other week.

Q: Anthony, our home is pretty old, just a little old country home. When the water drains (particularly from the washing machine), the sink drains throughout the house start smelling. I mean they smell HORRIFIC! Typically, when they start smelling, we pour Apple Vinegar down the drains throughout and run a little through the washer. It works for about a month or so and then BAM! Right back to the ick.

Is there anything that we, I mean, my husband can do that last longer?

—josie_mommyof2

A: Hello, josie_mommyof2. Thanks for writing in.

Although your problem does seem “horrific” (believe me, I know that smell), it is actually a very common problem and can be relatively simple and inexpensive to fix. What’s happening here is a plumbing ventilation problem.

Anthony’s Quick Plumbing Lesson:

Plumbing works on gravity, water runs downward and air runs upward. Water and air cannot function separately in pipes. They need to work simultaneously.

In other words, if air is not escaping upwards through your pipes and out through your roof, water will not travel downwards causing all kinds of problems, such as back up flooding and foul air escaping through your home’s interior exits (sink/bathtub drains).

How to Fix a Plumbing Ventilation Problem:

1. Clean out ALL of your “P Traps” (the rounded pipe under your interior drains).This will cost you nothing if done properly.
2. If you don’t have “P Traps” because of the age of your home, it’s time to upgrade. Install “P Traps” everywhere needed. Consult a professional plumber, if needed.
3. If that doesn’t stop the problem, you may need a “Total Air Line Flush.” Consult a professional plumber.
4. If that doesn’t work, you may need to install “Backflow Preventers” in ALL your drain pipes.

So if cleaning the “P Traps” doesn’t stop the problem, and you feel the job is getting too big for you (I mean, your husband, LOL), feel free to get in touch with me through my website or PM Cafe Sheri to have your message forwarded to me, and I’ll walk you through exactly what you need to say to a professional plumber, so you don’t feel like you’re being taken advantage.

Good luck, and remember, I’ll be there with you.

Ask Anthony: Top Tips for Prepping Your Home for the Fall Season

AUGUST 5, 2009 AT 7:00 AM by Cafe Sheri - Comments (1)

First, let’s prep your home for one of nature’s most important laws: gravity. Gravity is what gave Autumn it’s familiar nickname: Fall. So, let’s start at the top and work our way down: roofs, chimney tops, and gutters, the three areas that get the most attention from Mom Nature.

ROOFS

Let’s get up on the roof and check things out.

We need to make sure the condition of our shingles are in good enough shape to handle falling debris that will cause further damage creating a larger “winter” problems.

Check for age spots, discoloration, buckling, and breakage. Repairing these areas now for minimum cost will save you future mid-winter headaches and prolong the lifespan of your entire roof. Remember, repairing costs a lot less than replacing.

CHIMNEYS

Next, we need to make sure that all vents and chimney stacks are properly covered. I suggest replacing aging covers every five years. Most roof vent covers and chimney stack covers are made out of weather-treated thin metal that is very affordable. Rule of thumb: covers should let air in and out and nothing else. You don’t want those prepping small animals and birds to use these areas of your home as their homes.

GUTTERS

Gutters, gutters, gutters… If you do only one thing to prep for Fall, please let it be maintaining your gutters.

Closely inspect your gutters and downspouts EVERY year around this time. Repair and or replace your gutters when and where needed. Damaged and nonfunctional gutters and downspouts can lead to much bigger and much more expensive problems, from roof damage to foundation damage. One more time…inspect, repair, and/or replace your gutters and downspouts.

Moving down, like gravity, we need to check the perimeter of your home. Proper downspouts will push water away from your home; however, bad landscaping and grading will push it right back. Make sure the ground around your home is pitched (angled) away from your foundation. If you live in a hilly non-level area, make sure you have proper drainage around the perimeter, particularly the areas that have a more dramatic pitch. And get those falling leaves away from the house ASAP. They create water dams, bring unwanted guests (pests), and are huge FIRE HAZARDS.

Like the squirrels you see gathering nuts, PLAN AHEAD! It’s all in the upkeep. Keep those gutters and downspouts clean! Make sure you have the proper tools for these jobs: ladders, rakes, water hoses, etc.