Common Plumbing Problems You Can Fix Yourself

For those used to calling a plumber every time there is even the minutest plumbing issue, the idea of fixing these common plumbing problems can seem somewhat foreign. Yet, if you are determined to get it right, you are likely to get it the first time you do it. As theplumbinginfo.com notes, complex plumbing jobs should be left to the professionals. All the same, there is nothing to stop you from doing those smaller easier plumbing jobs in your home. Some of those that you can fix on your own include:

Toilet Won’t Flush

If you find that your toilet is not flushing properly, don’t wait for a plumber. This DIY task requires little skill. Wait until the toilet tank is full to check whether the flushing mechanism is faulty. Open the lid of the tank and check whether there are visible obstructions interfering with the cistern’s filling process and remove whatever you find. It is likely that the chain is broken, in which case you will just need to reattach it. If your toilet has been serving you for more than five years, chances are that the problem will be beyond repair and you may need to replace it altogether. Here is a list of the best toilets. You could also find that you need to replace the whole cistern or the complete valve system.

Low Water Pressure

The sink faucet can sometimes frustrate you because of low water pressure. Before you embark on solving this problem, check whether the low pressure problem is affecting cold as well as hot water systems in your home. If that is the case, then the likely culprit is the aerator. Typically, calcium deposits will build up slowly around the faucet aerator and over time reduce the pressure of the water. Unblocking such an aerator is easy: carefully take out the aerator and remove all debris. Mount it on back and your low water pressure problem will be a thing of the past.

Tub Draining Slowly

A slow draining tub does not have to give you needless trouble. In a matter of minutes, you can solve this problem using readily available tools at home. Often times, the reason for the slow draining of your tub is an accumulation of hair, which over time becomes substantial enough to slow down your water on its way down the drain. To solve this problem, you will need to use needle nose pliers or the Zip-it tool. These two are excellent tools for reaching into and clearing out all debris in your drain. If your drain has a tub stopper, remove it first to get better access to all the hairs clogging your drain.

When to bring in the pros

It’s great if you can fix minor plumbing issues yourself. You can save time and money and maybe even learn some new skills with help from the internet. When it comes to the big jobs, however, then it’s usually best to call in plumbing specialists. Here are three signs that it’s time to bring in the pros. 

Your toilet keeps overflowing

Most toilet overflows are caused by a simple blockage and can be fixed by some quick work with a plunger. If that doesn’t solve the problem, then there’s something more serious going on. In that case, you need to get in a plumber quickly. If you keep trying to fix it yourself with a plunger, you could damage your toilet and maybe your piping. 

Your water heater won’t stop “weeping”

It’s wise to go and check on your water heater regularly, not just if the pilot light goes out. If you notice any signs of dampness around it (e.g., rust), then it may be weeping. This is often a sign of a slow leak. Never try to fix water heaters unless you really know what you’re doing. Call in a pro. 

There’s a strong smell of sewage

If your drains have a bit of an odor issue, you can probably solve this with regular clean. If, however, there’s a strong smell of sewage, then you probably have a major plumbing issue. Don’t even try tackling it yourself, you could make the problem a whole lot worse, just call a plumber.

Top 3 Concerns for Moms Going Back to College

In current times, college is not only for teenagers, but for motivated adults as well.  Students aged 25 and older are expected to increase in enrollment percentage by 14% according to statistics from the National Center for Education.  Mothers going back to school to gain or finish their college degrees are among this population. Here are three top considerations for moms going back to school to keep in mind while managing their busy lives.

Keeping a Flexible Schedule and Availability

It is good to evaluate how much your coursework can fit into the available time you have between work and other scheduling necessities.  It is considered normal for each credit hour to entail three hours of course study outside of classes.  This number can change depending on whether you enroll in standard 3-credit classes or harder ones of 5 credits.  With this in mind, make sure you do not take more classes than you can possibly maintain with your living needs.  Start with one course, perhaps, and then add on from there if you are lacking confidence in juggling these aspects.

Look Around You for a Helping Hand

Moms are very busy people before adding on the extra time and effort of getting an education!  Thus, it is important to look around for some help in trying to balance one’s responsibilities.  There are many options available for women wanting to go back to school and get a degree.  From finding help with reliable child care from a partner, group or someone else, or getting help with domestic duties such as cleaning up at home, laundry, and running errands, there are plenty of resources in your life as well as online to help.

One place that is convenient for finding an individual that suits your needs and budget is Care.com.  For help with watching kids to cleaning up around the home, there are plenty of people across many regions who are capable of assisting so that you can devote time toward your learning goals.

Be Wary of Financial Aid and Student Loan Scams

Today, there are many scholarships, grants, and financial aid options available for women, especially mothers, who are looking to complete their education.  The former two options are money that you would not have to pay back, which is even better!  However, it is important to find reputable sources for this information and for the scholarships themselves.  Some financial aid advisors and services can cost thousands of dollars and leave you owing more than the amount you received in scholarship “help”.  Do not find yourself paying for a service you could easily have done on your own or with the help of a campus advisor for free.

There are, unfortunately, unethical businesses as well out there that will attempt to steal your identity in the scheme of trying to help you find financial aid.  The majority of professional organizations will not ask for your personal financial information, such as a credit card or bank account number, and thus any institution asking for you to give this out should be a warning sign.  Some may, but these would be very clearly indicated as legitimate organizations that can be cross-checked before you provide that information.  For help in spotting potentially fraudulent organizations, check out our government’s Federal Student Aid site for more information.

If it has been a thought on your mind about going back to school and gaining an education to better your life and that of your family, visit Ohio University and check out Ohio University Online’s opportunities for women.  They have great resources for women of all backgrounds. 

How to Deal with Lower Back Pain During Pregnancy

Back pain is one of the many issues affecting women during pregnancy. While these episodes of back pain can be caused by biological issues and hormonal changes, it can also be caused by bad habits that can contribute to poor back health. In this article, we’re going to give you a few tips on how to deal with back pain during pregnancy.

Work on Your Posture

You’d be surprised how many back pain issues could be prevented simply by having a better posture. And there is no time when this is more important than when you’re pregnant. Not only will a good posture help relieve back pain, it is also essential to ensure the wellbeing of your child as well.

Make sure that you always sit up straight and tall, and have the same upright posture when standing up as well. Make sure that you invest in a good supporting chair and put a small pillow behind your lower back for added comfort. Walk with your shoulders back and chest high, but make sure you aren’t too rigid and that you keep your shoulders relaxed as well. Also, be careful to not lock your knees.

If you’re standing, try to keep your posture comfortably wide, and if you have to stand in place for a long period of time, consider putting your foot on a small step stool and alternating from time to time. Using a stool has been shown as one of the best ways to reduce fatigue and relaxing back muscles. You can find more tips on how to prevent backache on a site like echiropractor.org.

Invest in the Right Gear

Choosing the right shoes can make a huge impact on back health, especially if you’re pregnant. Make sure that you invest in a good pair of low heeled shoes with great arch support. And make sure that you stay away from flat shoes at all costs, they will only make matters worse. You should also stay away from heels as well since they might affect your posture and increase the risk for falls.

If you feel you need some extra support, you could also invest in a maternity belt as well. While there hasn’t been a lot of research in this area, many women swear by them and have reported great results.

Change Your Lifting and Sleeping Habits

Improperly lifting and sleeping can have a huge impact on the amount of pain you experience. In any case, you should never use your back for lifting, but use your legs instead. Squat while keeping your back in a straight position and lift up using your legs, this alone will allow you to avoid back sprains caused by lifting.

And when sleeping, be careful to never sleep on your back, but on your side instead, and buy the best body pillow for pregnancy. Keep your knees slightly bent and place a pillow between them to promote proper spine alignment. 

While back ache is never easy, these few tips should help you alleviate some of the pain. If it becomes too much to bear, then it might be a sign you should consult a chiropractor. But if the pain subsides, make sure that you maintain good habits and keep them after your pregnancy as well.

Simple Ways To Achieve Better Health

Good health is something that should never be taken for granted, but maintaining it doesn’t have to be as difficult as you might think. With a bit of planning and making sensible decisions, you can stay fit, strong and healthy without spending all day every day obsessing over it. Here are just a few of the ways you can achieve better health.

Write Down Your Goals

Writing down your goals is extremely helpful. Rather than just dieting or working out indefinitely, when you have a goal it gives you something to work towards. Reaching each goal is also highly motivating, and can help to keep you on track. Break down large goals into smaller steps, so you know what you need to do to get there. For example, if you’re aiming to lose two stone in 2017 you could break this down to ‘lose 2lb a week’ (this is a healthy weight loss amount). This means that give or take, you could reach your target by around April. From there, you can set further goals such as ‘maintain for six months.' No matter what it is, setting a goal and then breaking it down into manageable chunks is the best way to go about it. Keep your goals health orientated, so no crash diets or quick fixes. If they involve weight loss, work out your recommended weight and aim to stay within this.

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Take a Daily Supplement

A daily supplement is an easy thing you can do for your health. It takes a matter of seconds and could provide your body with any vitamins it might be missing. Supplements shouldn’t be a substitute for a healthy diet, but they can run alongside it. Get in the habit of taking one each day with a big glass of water and soon it will be so much a part of your routine you will do it without thinking about it. Even when you eat a healthy diet, there could be things your body is missing, so this gives you a fallback option. When your body is well nourished and has everything it needs, it performs at optimal levels. Check out this fabulous graphic on A Healthy Look Into the World of Vitamins!

Find an Exercise You Enjoy

Some people genuinely enjoy working out and going for the burn. For others, it’s much more of a struggle. If you fall into the second camp, to be able to keep up an exercise routine it has to be something you enjoy. Take a look at your local leisure center and see if there are any groups or exercise classes that appeal to you. Maybe you could take up a sport, and rope in a few friends to play it with you. If you know you’re one for falling off the wagon when it comes to exercise; you could look for fully certified personal trainers in your area. They will keep you motivated and make sure you’re doing everything you need to do.

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Drink Green Tea

Most of us enjoy a comforting hot beverage, but if your drink of choice is coffee or regular tea why not make the switch? Coffee especially is high in caffeine, and if you’re drinking your hot drinks with milk and sugar, then you’re adding unnecessary calories and fat to your diet. Green tea is soothing, free of calories and packed with antioxidants. These help to protect against dangerous free radicals which can cause all kind of damage to your body including things like cancers in some cases. You can buy a variety of flavored green teas, they add to your water intake for the day and are extremely good for you.

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Pros and Cons of Student Loan Consolidation

Consolidating the loan means refinancing it. As a student, you should be aware of your priorities and affordability. Loan consolidation may be very beneficial for some students, but at the same time, it may not be a good idea for many. Here are some pros and cons of consolidating student loans.

Pros:

Consolidation is useful because it allows the student to put all the payments in one single payment. The consolidation loan is used to pay off the other debts and then you have to pay only one lender. This simplifies the process of paying off the debt. The purpose of introducing the student loan consolidation system is to make the borrower take multiple loans from one servicer.

The loan consolidation also enables the person to extend the repayment period if he is not able to afford high monthly payments. This flexibility of the loan makes it extremely useful.

The loan consolidation that comes with variable interest rate also gives you interest breaks in specified periods. The variable interest rate starts with a very low-interest-rate due to which, the borrower can save a lot. The loan consolidation allows you to keep your credit score good. When you can pay on time and lower your credit card balances, you automatically get a good credit score. Having a good credit score enables you to avail low-interest rate features at your next loan consolidation.