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Archives for November 2018

Energy Efficient Holiday Decor

November 7, 2018 by zakkleifeste

Decorating with Energy Efficient Holiday Decor

Holiday decor doesn’t have to involve energy-zapping lights and electrical items. A Christmas tree without lights and a few simple decorative accents can go a long way in creating a warm and cozy holiday theme without spending an excessive amount of time and money on decorating. One way to save time, energy, and money on holiday decor is by investing in energy efficient items that won’t blow your budget or significantly increase your utility bill. There are a variety of ways to incorporate energy efficient decor into your home. You can purchase energy efficient holiday decor from a retailer, or you can choose to decorate with unique items that don’t require electricity. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Simple, Rustic Holiday Decor

Many people are embracing a holiday season more focused on the family and less focused on consumerism and excessive spending. As a nod to the Christmas traditions, many are also choosing to utilize simple and rustic holiday decor that is both energy efficient and easy to put up and take down. Simple holiday traditions like creating homemade Christmas tree ornaments from a mixture of flour, salt, and water and fun. Family activities like building a gingerbread house or watching holiday-themed movies together are also great options These choices are far more likely to leave lasting memories than an excessive number of holiday decorations.

READ MORE: 3 Ways to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

Alternative Christmas Trees

One way to create a festive and welcoming holiday environment that doesn’t utilize an excessive amount of energy is to create unique holiday decor that doesn’t require electricity. One way people are choosing to bring the holidays inside the home without the use of extra electricity is by creating alternative Christmas trees. One alternative Christmas tree idea gaining popularity thanks to Pinterest is the Christmas tree created from books. Other household items can also be repurposed into Christmas trees, including ladders, branches, pine cones, and more.  

Holiday Tableware

Using festive dishes and flatware is another way to bring the holiday spirit to your home without the use of electricity. Many home decor stores sell holiday-themed flatware and tableware at affordable prices during and shortly after the holidays. Stock up on a few pieces that can be used throughout the holiday season and passed down to children and grandchildren in the future.

Evergreen Decor

Evergreen wreaths and garlands with or without lights can be added to your mantle, windows and doors, tables, along stair railings and banisters, and throughout various other places in your home.

Poinsettias

Poinsettias are another great way to add some holiday spirit throughout your home. Keep in mind, however, poinsettias may cause nausea, vomiting, and other concerns in pets and children if ingested. So keep these holiday plants in areas not accessible by dogs, cats, and babies.

READ MORE: 5 Ways to Save Money on Utility Bills

Where to Shop for Energy-Efficient Holiday Decor

Home improvement stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot as well as big-box stores like Target and Walmart offer a large selection of energy-efficient holiday decor items. You can also find a variety of wreaths, garland, ornaments, and festive decor at craft stores like Michael’s and Hobby Lobby. Online retailers like Amazon also offer simple, rustic holiday decor on a budget.

Filed Under: Energy Efficiency Articles

How Do I Keep My Garbage Disposal from Smelling?

November 6, 2018 by zakkleifeste

Why Does My Garbage Disposal Smell?

The most common reason your garbage disposals stinks is that food or waste has not been properly disposed of. When food particles and waste are left in the disposal and are unable to drain properly, this will inevitably lead to foul odors. Some of the ways to prevent this include:

  • Running warm water when the disposal is on
  • Running the disposal for at least 30 seconds

What Does it Mean if Your Garbage Disposal Smells Like:

The way your garbage disposal smells can be an indicator of whether or not the problem is simply food that has not been properly disposed and drained or if a more serious problem is to blame.

Rotten Food

When your disposal smells like rotten food, then it’s likely because rotten food is to blame. When you don’t run your disposal for long enough, or when warm water is not running while the disposal is running to help move waste through your plumbing system, food and leftovers can accumulate in just beneath your sink or in your pipes, leading to clogged drains and unpleasant smells. Regularly cleaning your disposal should eliminate the foul odors.

Sewage

If your garbage disposal smells like sewage, it’s time to call the plumber. While temporary fixes may mask the smell, if your disposal smells like sewage, then there’s a good chance there’s a leak that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.

Mold or Mildew

If your garbage disposal smells like mold or mildew, it’s likely caused by mold or mildew accumulating in your sink and drain. This is most often caused by placing food in the drain and not running the disposal or not running the disposal long enough to properly dispose of waste. Using a mixture of vinegar, warm water, and baking soda can eliminate the mold.

What Not to Put in the Garbage Disposal

One of the most common causes of foul smells from garbage disposals are disposing of foods that should never be put in the garbage disposal in the first place. These foods scraps can cause a buildup of waste, which can cause clogged drains and more serious issues that are much harder to fix than foul smells. To keep your garbage disposal smelling fresh, running smoothly and efficiently, avoid disposing of these foods in your kitchen and opt for the garbage can or a compost pile instead.

Coffee Grounds

Coffee grounds should never be poured down the sink, since they can clump and harden along the sides of your pipes and plumbing system. High efficiency drain cleaners can eliminate the problem, and coffee grounds can be repurposed as fertilizer or in compost mixtures. Coffee grounds can also be used to create more acidic environments for plants and flowers that thrive in these locations, such as:

  • Azaleas
  • Beans
  • Begonias
  • Blueberries
  • Broccoli
  • Carrots
  • Cucumbers
  • Daffodils
  • Dogwood
  • Gardenias
  • Hydrangeas
  • Irises
  • Magnolia Trees
  • Marigolds
  • Parsley
  • Peppers
  • Radishes
  • Rhubarb
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Egg Shells

Egg shells are horrible for kitchen sinks, as the yolks can cause the shells to stick to the sides of pipes, which can cause clogs and drainage problems, not to mention the rotten egg smell. Egg shells are better served as fertilizer for your garden, where the calcium helps balance the acidity of the soil. If you have acidic soil and wish to make it more habitable for plants and flowers that thrive in alkaline soil, egg shells can also be beneficial.

Potato Peels + Banana Peels

Potato peels and banana peels can wreak havoc on garbage disposal systems and drains. Often, potato skins and banana peels are not able to be broken down by the garbage disposal, and this can result in clogs and foul smells. Again, adding these items to your compost pile is the easiest and most environmentally-friendly way to dispose of these leftovers.

Bleach

You may have considered using bleach to clean your garbage disposal system of leftover waste and materials, but bleach can actually cause more damage to your disposal by making grease and other sludge harder, and therefore less likely to move through your drain properly. Bleach can also affect the amount of bacteria in your septic tank, which are actually beneficial for breaking down food waste and particles, which can prevent backups, clogs, and unpleasant smells.

How To Clean The Smelly Garbage Disposal

There are a couple of simple ways to keep your smelly garbage disposal in tip top shape. Whether your disposal is older and functioning less efficiently or brand new and not exhibiting signs of wear and tear at all, it’s always a good idea to periodically “clean” your disposal system with the following methods at least once per month.

Garbage Disposal Cleaning Pods

Many grocery stores and large retailers sell garbage disposal cleaning pods that both mask unpleasant odors and help unclog your drain to help prevent the backup of food waste that can lead to strong smells and broken disposal systems. Simply drop a pod or two down the sink, turn on the water, and turn on the disposal, and the cleaning pods will go to work. A package of 5-10 pods typically retails for less than $5.

Ice Cubes for Garbage Disposal Systems

You may have heard ice can help clean your garbage disposal, and it’s true. Ice can help sharpen the blades on your garbage disposal system to help make food disposal more efficient. The problem with both cleaning pods and ice is that while providing a temporary solution to help maintain the life of your disposal system, they won’t fix serious problems, so if you’re noticing frequent odors, or if your system has become less efficient at disposing of waste, call a professional home service today.

Baking Soda and Vinegar Cleaning Solution

A mixture of baking soda, vinegar, and warm water is a natural, non-toxic cleaner that can help eliminate odors and break down leftover food particles in your garbage disposal and drains. Simply allow the mixture to sit for at least ten minutes, and then run both the garbage disposal and warm water to drain the remnants.

Citrus Peels for Odor Elimination

Running lemon and orange peels through your disposal can freshen up your drain and help control stinky smells. A small amount of citrus-scented dish soap placed in the drain while the disposal is running along with warm water can also do the trick.

How Do I Fix a Broken Garbage Disposal?

If your garbage disposal is broken, not working as efficiently as it once was, or if it makes strange humming or whirring noises, we strongly recommend calling a professional Memphis plumber. Because garbage disposal systems use both sharp blades and electricity to function, we strongly advise not attempting to disconnect, reconnect, or repair a broken garbage disposal without the help of a professional.

Those scenes in scary movies aren’t just a possibility – it’s very possible to cause serious damage to yourself or others when working with electricity and sharp objects. Give the experts a call so you don’t have to worry about the dangers of working on your garbage disposal system yourself. Our customer service representatives are standing by and able to assist you seven days a week. Call today or schedule an appointment online.


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Filed Under: Plumbing Articles

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