How to Maintain Outdoor Faucets and Water Lines Before Winter

As the seasons change and temperatures begin to drop, it’s time to think about the parts of your home’s plumbing system that are exposed to the elements. Outdoor faucets and water lines are easy to overlook during routine home maintenance, but neglecting them can lead to frozen pipes, leaks, and expensive repairs.

Even a small amount of water left inside an exposed pipe can freeze, expand, and cause damage. And because some outdoor plumbing is located inside walls or beneath your home, you might not discover a problem until the weather warms up and water begins leaking.

Fortunately, a little preventive maintenance can help protect your outdoor plumbing and keep everything working properly throughout the year.

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Home Water Filter Systems: Types, Benefits, and How to Choose

Clean water is something most of us take for granted. We turn on the faucet, fill a glass, and expect the water to be safe to drink, cook with, and use throughout our homes.

But depending on where you live, your water may contain minerals that cause buildup, chlorine that affects its taste, or other contaminants you would prefer to keep out of your drinking water.

A home water filtration system can help address these concerns, but not every system does the same thing. Some improve the taste of your drinking water, while others treat the water coming into your entire home.

Before investing in a system, it helps to understand what your water needs and which options are available.

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How to Keep Asian Stink Bugs Out of Your Home

As the weather cools in fall, you might notice some unwelcome visitors gathering around your windows, crawling along your siding, or sneaking into your home. These shield-shaped insects are likely brown marmorated stink bugs, an invasive species originally from East Asia.

Although they can be frustrating to deal with, there’s some good news. These pests don’t damage your home’s structure, bite people, or reproduce indoors. They’re simply looking for a protected place to spend the winter.

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A Modern Guide to Cleaning Cast Iron Cookware

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Cast iron cookware has a reputation for lasting generations, but it also comes with a few cleaning myths. Maybe you’ve heard that you should never use soap on a cast iron skillet or that washing it too thoroughly will ruin its seasoning. Those warnings can make caring for cast iron seem more complicated than it needs to be.

The good news? Modern dish soaps are much gentler on cookware seasoning than the harsh lye-based soaps of the past. You can clean your cast iron with soap and water without stripping away its seasoning, as long as you dry it thoroughly and care for the surface properly.

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How to Find a Handyman You Can Trust

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The door that doesn’t quite close correctly. The loose cabinet handle. The section of drywall that needs patching. The shelf you’ve been meaning to install for six months. 

None of these projects may be large enough to justify hiring a specialized contractor. But when you add them all together, that list can become surprisingly long.

All of these small tasks that seem to multiply over time are a handyman’s bread and butter. But how do you find a handyman you can trust? Someone who can get the job done right, on time, and on budget? 

A look through your local phone book may give you one or more names to call, but finding a great handyman involves more than finding someone who can get the job done. 

The challenge is finding someone who does quality work, shows up when promised, charges a fair price, and is someone you feel comfortable allowing into your home.

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