Once winter passes it is time to start opening the doors and windows to let in the fresh air.  Ripped screens, though, can let in more than fresh air.  Holes or rips in screens are easy to fix.  You can either patch the damaged area or replace the whole screen in a matter of minutes. 

When your screen has a rip or small hole you can sew it up, just as you would a tear in fabric.  There are special repair kits you can buy or you can use a strong sewing thread.  All you need to do is sew up the area.  For a hole, you may need to add in a piece of patch screen.  Make sure you use secure, tight stitches, so the repair is permanent. 

If you have multiple holes, rips or large holes you may want to replace the screen instead of sewing or patching it.  To do this you need a new piece of screen, a new seal, called spline, and a special tool that allow you to push the seal into the window base.  The tool, called a convex roller, usually has a wooden or plastic handle and two rollers on either end.  You need to position the screen on the window and the slowly use the toll to push the seal into the window to secure the screen in place.  It may take a few tries to get the process right, but once you get started you should be able to replace a screen quickly. 

Before starting any repair job you should gather all of your supplies.  You will need the following so that you can be prepared to repair or replace your screens:

Needle

Thread

Extra screen

Patch pieces

Convex Roller

Spline

You should also examine all your frames to make sure that they are in good condition and fix anything that needs it. 

Repairing and replacing window screens will allow you to enjoy the fresh air without having your home filled with flies and other bugs.  It is a simple process to fix a screen and you should have no trouble repairing and replacing all your damaged screens in less than a day. 

One of the most used rooms in the house, the bathroom, is also home to one of the most problematic fixtures in the house, the toilet.   Many problems that you may experience with your toilet are quite easy to fix yourself.  So, put down the phone and check the list below to see if you can forego the Plummer and fix the toilet yourself. 

- The toilet is clogged.  A clogged toilet is, perhaps, the biggest issue you will run across.  To unclog a toilet you need a plunger.  The plunger must form a seal around the drain opening in order to make that vacuum effect that frees the clog.  If the plunger slips or does not spring back up after you push it down then the seal has not been formed.  Try repositioning it and plunging again.  For most clogs this should work and the toilet should drain.   

-The toilet will not flush completely.  This problem is usually due to the lift chain not being tight enough.  Open up the back of your toilet and look for the little arm that runs horizontally.  Attached to the arm is the lift chain.  It should be rather tight.  If it is hanging loosely then adjust it to tighten it up. 

- Toilet keeps running.  If your toilet keeps running then you are going to be paying for it on your next water bill, so this is a problem that needs solving right away.  If you can jiggle the handle and the running stops then you should adjust the lift chain.  If that didn’t help then make sure the float ball is not touching the tank and is resting on top of the water.  If this does not help then make sure the float ball is not filled with water.  If it is then replace it. 

This is a list of the most common toilet problems that you can easily fix yourself.  If you try the suggestions above, and they do not fix your problem then you should give the Plummer a call, but if they work then you can be happy knowing you just saved yourself a bunch of money.

Cleaning the gutters is one of those dreaded home improvement projects. The reasons vary from person to person. Sometimes it is the fact that you have to get on a ladder to do it and sometimes it is just the dirtiness of the job. Whatever your reason for dreading this project, you can make it easier and quicker if you learn the proper way to do it.

The first thing to do is to gather all the supplies and tools you will need. By starting with all the right stuff you will eliminate the need to climb up and down the ladder to run and get things you need. You will need:

- sturdy ladder

- scrub brush

- water hose with pressure nozzle

- rubber gloves

- safety glasses

- caulking gun

Make sure your ladder is secure before going up it. You may even want to have someone assist you at the bottom of the ladder to keep it steady. Wear the gloves and glasses to protect yourself during the cleaning process.

The first thing you should do is scope out as much of the debris as possible. Next, use the hose and pressure nozzle to spray out the remaining debris. If any debris remains you can scrub it out with the brush and then spray it again with the hose.

You should make sure the water is running freely through the gutter to clear out any debris that may be stuck. If you see any leaks then you should caulk them to seal. You should also repair any other damage you see.

The whole cleaning process should only take about half a day, depending on the size of your house. If you get someone to help you can make it go faster and it will be easier on you because you will not need to climb up and down as much. Cleaning your gutters is something you must do, but it will help prevent water damage that can occur when gutters are not clean.

The best thing to do if you have dry or sore lips is to regularly apply a lip balm, and the best ones contain beeswax. You may need to try a few different products before you find one that works for you.

The best way to cure dry lips is try beeswax lip balm.