Category: Homeowner Tips

Homeowners everywhere invest in swimming pools to help keep cool in the summer time and stay relaxed whenever they can be used. Swimming pools offer a convenient place for healthy family fun and socializing while entertaining guests. Whether someone is six or sixty, a pool can be a delightful place to spend time and enjoy the lifestyle only a pool can provide. Even the American Heart Association states that there are also several health benefits for your heart, lungs and blood circulation. However, all of these fantastic benefits that a pool offers are only available with a properly maintained pool and a pool warranty. The attractiveness of owning a swimming pool is undeniable and is the reason that thousands of homeowners choose this investment. It not only increases the functionality of the entire home, but it can also seriously increase the value of the property. Pool warranties allow homeowners to maintain their costly investment. A pool warranty is usually not covered with homeowners insurance. Although homeowners insurance tends to cover major hazards like fire, hail damage and criminal damages, it doesn’t normally cover luxuries such as a pool. Therefore, electing a pool warranty is often the best idea for securing this financial venture. Pool warranties can be included in home warranties as a special option. Depending on your needs a home warranty will only cost a few hundred dollars a year and is normally paid up front or in installments. Considering what kind of pool warranty to get may seem like an extra expense that isn’t worthwhile. However, having the swimming pool professionally installed may cost tens of thousands of dollars. Without a warranty, a catastrophic event, though unlikely, may completely ruin your initial investment. These warranties can buy you the peace of mind and relaxation that a pool is supposed to bring you in the first place. Like all warranties, a warranty for your pool is supposed to protect against costly and unanticipated expenses. Many homeowners do not have an emergency fund at their disposal when these unforeseen repair bills start piling up. A warranty for your pool can act as a buffer to get you through that possible hard time. These warranties often provide certain assurances for people who aren’t handy or who don’t want to hunt for an honest contractor when they have a problem with their pool. The benefits of owning a swimming pool are most definitely worth the initial costs of installing one. You can provide a wonderful and healthy way for your family members to keep themselves entertained. Considering a pool warranty may be the best investment to protect your pool and your wallet.]]>

On a daily basis, homeowners do several tasks that require energy being supplied to their home. They could be cooking and using several different kitchen appliances or just relaxing and watching television; almost every in-home action requires some kind of power. Unfortunately, energy costs money and the more energy you consume, the more money you will spend. However, there are several ways to decrease your energy consumption and at the same time decreasing your energy bills. Upgrading to a better hot water heater can help you save money by needing less energy. Just like many most of the appliances one uses around the house, water heaters and water heating technology has improved greatly in recent years. In fact, most of the time you are unable to purchase the same model to replace your worn out water heater because they aren’t being made anymore. Given that the live expectancy of a water heater is just over ten years, many innovations in the equipment can happen in that amount of time. Just as a newer vehicle would get better gas mileage, a newer hot water heater will be significantly more efficient than the previous generation. This efficiency may cost more in your initial investment; however, over the life of the heater you can save substantial money. If a new water heater lasts only ten years and saves a minimum of one dollar from your monthly bill, it will save you $120 over its lifespan. Yet, given the amount of water heaters on the market, you can save much more than this simplified example. With this information in mind, you shouldn’t just consider the initial investment made, but the cost of operation. Depending on the type of heater you are replacing and the quality of the hot water heater you are replacing it with; you can save hundreds of dollars in the long run. Although most of our energy bills are dedicated to heating and cooling our home, heating our water can also be a major factor. On average around a quarter of each dollar spent on energy goes to heating water. Most homeowners are not aware of this because water heaters are usually stored in a special area that is away from sight, unlike lights and appliances. The average life expectancy of a properly maintained water heater is usually over a decade. This means that a homeowner needs to be committed to their decision and should feel comfortable with the hot water heater they choose. It may feel daunting, but the benefits will outweigh the investments and overtime these updated machines can save money when the energy bill comes in.]]>

Toilets Of all the water using devices in your home, toilets consume the most water.  Using your toilet as a waste paper basket for tissues, dead bugs or other small trash can waste a lot of water when you flush the garbage down the toilet.  Water efficiency of toilets has evolved considerably in the last 20 yrs. After 1994, toilets started to become much more water efficient. Pre-1994 toilets would use 3.5 to 5 gallons each time they were flushed. Toilets available today can use as little as 1.30 gallons when flushed. Water companies may offer rebates for the installation of more efficient toilets.  If you have a leaky toilet you should get it fixed. Approximately 10 gallons of water is wasted each day, in the average American household, due to leaks Faucets Fixing leaky faucets can also help in increasing water efficiency in Phoenix.  Letting the water run while brushing your teeth can waste a lot of water.  It is necessary to brush your teeth, but you don’t need to have the water continually running while you do it.  After you wet your toothbrush, turn off the water. You can fill up a glass to rinse your mouth out when you are done. When shaving, fill up the sink with several inches of water.  You can save a lot of water by rinsing a razor in water in the sink, versus letting the water run while shaving. Showers Taking a shower is typically much more water efficient than taking a bath. A bath may require the use of up to 70 gallons of water.  You can conserve even more by taking shorter showers.  A tip for reducing the amount of water used in the shower is to turn off the faucet while applying soap and shampoo. When you are ready to rinse off, turn the water back on.  Also, consider installing a newer, low-flow, showerhead. They can consume as little as 1.5 gallons of water per minute. Older showerheads may use 3 to 8 gallons per minute. Washing machines   Washing machines are another big water consuming appliance.  Before tossing something in the laundry basket, question if it really needs to be washed. A towel you have used once to dry off with after showering probably does not need to be washed. Many hotels are starting to leave signs in bathrooms requesting that customer help conserve water by re-using towels. Cutting down on the number of loads of laundry you do can help with increasing water efficiency in Phoenix.  It may also help decrease the amount of laundry you need to fold. When doing a load of laundry, it is important to select the correct load size.  You don’t want to wash a few pieces of clothes with a full machine of water. Newer front-loading washing machines tend to be much more water efficient that older ones.  Rebates may be available from your water company for installing higher efficiency washing machines. Yards A yard can consume a tremendous amount of water, particularly in the summer.  Some suggestions for increasing water efficiency in Phoenix are to pick more drought tolerant grasses, shrubs and plants. You may also want to consider practicing Xeriscaping.  This type of gardening involves the use of plants and grass that need less water.  Xeriscape gardens also require less effort to maintain.  When planting a garden, group plants according to their watering needs. This will help prevent wasting water on plants that don’t need it. Adding a layer of mulch around trees and plants can help conserve water by decreasing the evaporation of moisture.  Be sure your sprinklers are pointed towards the grass and plants and not at the sidewalks.  Try not to water when it is windy. The best time to water is in the evening or morning. There is less opportunity for water evaporation. When you are watering the lawn, try to let the water soak down into the roots.  A light spray may readily evaporate. Increasing water efficiency in Phoenix is a good thing for the planet.  It can also result in a lower water bill. By being aware of your consumption, you can make some small changes that can have a big impact.      ]]>

Living in the desert can be harsh if you are not prepared for it. Arizona has all kinds of desert weather that might surprise you. Yes, it can get unbelievably hot in the summer, but you should also expect humidity. You might even run into some monsoons on occasion. Thus, not only do you need to battle the excruciating heat at times, but you also have to battle the humidity and the risks it can pose to your home and health. As long as you keep up on your home maintenance in Arizona, you should be able to live comfortably all year long.  Getting into good habits now should hopefully reduce the need for repairs later. Here are 10 tips to hopefully keep your desert home maintenance on track. 1. Check your air conditioner regularly. True home maintenance in Arizona means making sure that your air conditioner is running all right. You need to make sure that it is draining properly and not clogging anywhere. A broken air conditioner can be quite the nuisance, so get in the habit of checking yours regularly and having a professional come check it out once a year or so. 2. Check for sun damage on the exterior and even the interior of your home. That sun is blazing hot, and it can damage all parts of your home that are exposed to it. Part of your regular home maintenance in Arizona should be to check your roof each year to make sure it isn’t getting too damaged, or to replace areas that seem excessively worn. You should also be aware that any furniture or items that are stored where the sun shines through the windows may also fade or crack. 3. Investing in good shades or drapes for your windows can help to keep some of the unwanted sunlight out. Shades and drapes allow you to control the sunlight coming into your home. This can help you both to combat the heat and to keep items within your home protected from overexposure to a very hot sun. You don’t necessarily need to even purchase heavy drapes or shades; you can also get sheer coverings that just help to lessen the effect of the sunlight, if you desire. 4. Although sealing up your home entirely is not desirable in Arizona, you also don’t want excessive air leaks around your windows and doors. When it comes to home maintenance in Arizona, you want to be able to keep your cool air inside in the midst of the summer heat. Check your seals to make sure they are holding up well and repair any spots that seem to be problematic. Again, exposure to sunlight might wear down seals over time. 5. Fluorescent lights actually produce less heat than your standard light bulb, so try investing in these for your home. They shouldn’t add to the heat, and they might even save you a little bit in energy cost. In addition, they should last for years. Check that your light bulbs are working and replace broken ones with a fluorescent bulb. 6. Make sure you can control the humidity, especially in a monsoon season. Use a dehumidifier if necessary for home maintenance in Arizona in the wet season. Excess humidity can lead to mold or mildew, so try to keep the humidity inside your home low by allowing good ventilation. You’ll need to find a happy medium with proper ventilation and keeping your home cool. 7. Get your windows treated. Window treatments can help to protect the interior of your home with or without shades or drapes. You’ll want to research the different kinds of window treatments and their benefits. Treatments that help to filter out harmful rays of sunlight might be most beneficial. 8. Try to do any home maintenance in Arizona at the coolest hours—early in the morning or at least when the sun goes down. Working during the hottest hours could pose a risk to your personal health, so try to take care of things when the temperature is still cool enough to be manageable. 9. Keep your gutters clean and clear. You’ll also want to check them for cracks and holes and repair any that you see. Keeping your gutters clean should help you with managing the humidity of your home and preventing the growth of mold. 10. Keep all your vent fans in good working order to help keep down humidity. You might be surprised at just how much home maintenance in Arizona is actually spent combating the humidity and the damage it can cause to a home. Again, you will want good ventilation to combat the humidity, but also want to keep your cool air in.  ]]>

Summer is fast approaching.  A good way to be prepared for the hot, lazy days of summer is to have your air conditioner all ready to use.  There are some pretty basic things that can be done to care for, and improve the performance, of an air conditioner. Following are some home maintenance tips to help ready your AC for the summer. Air Filters Air filters are important part of your air conditioner that can be relatively easy to maintain. Checking and changing air filters once a month will help your AC operate at optimal efficiency. Dusty filters can limit air circulation and may damage your air conditioner. When you shop for air filters, choose ones that don’t let light pass through the filter. If you can see light, they will not be as effective at catching debris. Thermostat Updating the settings on a thermostat is another small home maintenance activity that can assist the efficiency of an AC. You will want your home at different temperatures as the seasons change.  This can also help you save money on energy bills. If you don’t already have one, considering installing a programmable thermostat.  This will allow you to adjust the AC temperature settings according to your schedule. The recommended temperature settings are 78 degrees when you are home and 86-88 degrees when away. Regularly changing thermostat batteries can also assist in keeping your AC running smoothly. Condenser The AC condenser is usually located outside the house. It is may get clogged up due to the build-up of dirt and other yard debris, including lawn clippings and leaves. Any grass or weeds growing near your condenser should be removed to improve airflow.  A condenser typically sits on a concrete pad.  Check to be sure the pad is level.  If not, it can be evened out by lifting the pad, putting down some rocks or gravel and then replacing the pad. Outside condenser units should be covered in fall and winter. This will help protect them from the leaf accumulation and any ice buildup. A dirty condenser can negatively impact energy efficiency and shorten its life. Window units Window units are usually designed to cool one room.  If they are more powerful, they may help cool adjacent rooms as well.  Window units basically work the same way as central AC, but are a smaller version. They can cost more money to operate. The biggest home maintenance problem for window units is dirt buildup. If too much dirt accumulates, the fan may become blocked and decrease the level of cool air being blown out from the unit. Window unit filters should be replaced at the beginning of the summer and monthly after that.  Most of the components are sealed within the unit, so it is best to leave any major repairs to a professional AC service company. If you need to have a unit repaired, you can save money by taking it to the repair place yourself, and avoiding a charge for a service call. When the weather is cold, protecting your window unit from snow and ice will help to prolong its life. You can remove it altogether and put it in storage, or cover the outside part. Reducing the strain on your air conditioner Air conditioners may get overheated in attempting to compensate for additional heat generated in a home.  A home maintenance project that may decrease the strain on your AC is to further insulate your attic, if you have incomplete or insufficient insulation.  It can be relatively inexpensive to add more, or have Fiberglas blown into your attic. This can help further cool your house, reduce your AC bill and prolong the life of an air conditioner.  Increased insulation may also help to keep your home warmer in the winter and reduce your power bill. Stoves, dishwashers and laundry machines can also produce extra heat in a house and push your AC to the limit. In order to off-set more heat, consider grilling outside to reduce the temperature in the kitchen.  Run dishwashers, dryers and laundry machines, in the evening, when it is cooler outside. Air conditioners are an essential part of keeping a home cool in the summer.  Keeping them well maintained will improve their efficiency and prolong their life. Some basic home maintenance projects can help keeping them running strong all summer.]]>

If you’re like many homeowners, you may have recently received a bill from your utilities provider that was less than pleasing.  In almost every major market, the cost of energy continues to rise.  In an economy that is challenging people’s budgets everywhere, an energy efficient home is a more attractive option then ever before.  Contrary to popular belief, many of the solutions that can improve your home’s energy efficiency aren’t as difficult as you may think.  Identifying some of the major energy drains in your home is the first step. Insulate And Weatherize The U.S. Department of Energy found that more than one third of the energy waste in an average home comes through heating and cooling loss.  This loss is almost always a result of poor or insufficient insulation.  Identifying areas of poor insulation can be fairly simple.  In cold environments, drafty zones are the primary suspects.  Attic areas, fireplaces, and small holes in walls can all be points where heat is escaping.  These same points will create cooling deficiencies in the middle of a hot summer.  An energy efficient home can address each of these areas through added insulation, hole patching, and re-caulking. Window Panes Homeowners love their windows.  They are the connection to natural light, great views, and airflow for many homeowners.  But they also have the potential to waste a lot of energy.  A recent study estimated that windows alone are responsible for 10-25% of home energy waste.  If your home has older windows with single pane technology, you may be throwing money out the door every day.  Find out how old your windows are, and look into new windows with a minimum of double pane technology.  The upfront cost of new windows can be realized through energy savings in a matter of a couple years.  If you’re unable to replace your windows, consider clear plastic sheeting, which is designed to act as a kind of second pane at a much smaller cost. Light Bulbs Recent years have seen incredible advances in light bulb technology.  If your home is still filled with incandescent light bulbs that are on every night, you’re wasting money!  The newest bulbs are called compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), and they use 75% less energy than traditional bulbs.  Despite being slightly more expensive to buy, they typically recover that cost through energy savings in less then six months.  This is great news for people trying to design a more energy efficient home at a smaller cost. Programmable Thermostats Perhaps one of the simplest solutions in creating an energy efficient home is the use of a programmable thermostat.  The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that Americans waste nearly $200 annually due to improper programming of thermostats.  If your home doesn’t have a thermostat that allows you to schedule and program your heating and cooling, you should consider upgrading immediately.  Once you’ve obtained one, it’s important to schedule your furnace or air conditioner to be off at times your home is unoccupied.  Also, you can create a much more energy efficient home by simply dialing back the temperature a few degrees during the winter, and up a few degrees throughout summer. Time To Consider Solar? Of course, there’s no greater use of energy than the actual electricity you pay for each month.  If you’re thinking of a bigger investment to create your energy efficient home, you may want to look into solar power.  Like other technologies, solar electric panels have made huge advances in recent years.  Smaller panels are capable of capturing even greater amounts of energy.  While going completely “off the grid” is a challenge, effective solar panel systems can cover nearly 75% of your home’s total energy needs.  In some markets, excess energy that your panels collect and your home doesn’t use can be sold back to the utilities company for a profit.  Solar panel systems are a more significant up front expense, and they should be installed by qualified professionals On The Path To Efficiency As this list reveals, many of the drains on your home’s energy efficiency can be addressed through a little bit of investigation and hard work.  If you want a comprehensive understanding of where your home is wasting energy, you may want to look into an energy audit.  The most important thing is to get started.  An energy efficient home can be both a source of pride and savings for homeowners everywhere!]]>

With the winter snows finally melting away and the temperature steadily rising, it may be time to start on all kinds of new projects and maintenance on your home. Certain parts of your home need seasonal maintenance, and now that winter is over, it’s time to get started on it. If you own a pool, you now might want to think about getting it ready for the summer. Pools can take quite a bit of maintenance; so getting a jump on taking care of it now should allow you to enjoy it all summer long. If you haven’t done so, you might even want to consider getting your pool covered with a home warranty. Here are some common maintenance items you may face with your pool and the advantages to having your pool covered under your home warranty. If your pool has been covered all winter long, it’s now time to peel that cover back. Not all homeowners drain their pool in the winter, but if you decided to drain it, you will still need to turn everything on and make sure it’s running okay. When you turn your pool on to test it out, you are making sure that is runs quiet and that there are no leaks. You’ll want to check around the actual pump for leaks. Getting to cracks and leaks early can save you a lot of time and money. It’s much easier to take care of leaks when they are still small, so inspect your pool very carefully. Another thing that you will want to do is test the total dissolved solids level (TDS) of your pool water. This is testing for things like calcium to make sure that the level is not too high; as such mineral buildup can interfere with your pool working properly. The risk of such buildup is higher in areas that have hard water. If your TDS level is too high, you may need to drain your pool and fill it with fresh water. As stated above, you don’t necessarily have to drain your pool every year. At the same time, you will want to drain it every three years or so, and don’t wait longer than five years between pool drainings. It is advisable to hire a professional to drain your pool for you. While it is drained, the professional may be able to clean your pool for you as well. This will help you to keep on top of hard-water stains in and around your pool. You should also monitor your pool’s chlorine levels to make sure that it stays at an acceptable level, and shock it if necessary to help prevent bacteria and algae growth. A huge part of getting your pool ready for the summer is to inspect all of its equipment, safety features, and wiring. You’ll want to make sure the diving board is in good working order and that any railings are firm in place. Make sure any slides or ladders are also secure and all light bulbs are working. You may be able to get help from an electrician if you are concerned about your pool’s wiring. Getting your pool ready for summer can be a lot of work, so getting it covered under your home warranty is a great idea. There are a lot of things that can quickly go wrong with a pool from year to year, and if it’s not covered under a warranty you are often left footing the bill. Even insurance might require you to meet a deductible before helping you out with needed repairs or replacement. Home warranty coverage could help you with the costs of certain maintenance, repairs, or equipment replacement. If you are purchasing a home with a pool, consider putting the pool under your home warranty. If you run into any issues, you will really be glad you did.]]>

Purchasing your very own home is an exciting thing. It’s probably something that you have been looking forward to for your entire life. As a homeowner, you will quickly find that there are a lot of things around your home that need maintenance. No matter when your home was built, it is important to keep up on maintenance and be aware when something is going wrong. If something does go wrong, hopefully you have a good home warranty in place to help you take care of it. Wiring problems are one area of home maintenance where things can go wrong whether or not you had your home wired professionally, recently, or a long time ago. It’s true that your home likely had to pass some sort of inspection when it was built, but that doesn’t make it immune to problems down the road. Here are some common electrical wiring problems you could find around your home and how your home warranty can cover them.

Sometimes the power goes off and there seems to be no apparent reason. You look all over for the source, but can’t seem to identify what would cause the power in your home to go off. Once you check the circuit breakers, you may discover that the breakers have been tripped. There can be various reasons why the breakers in your home would trip. Sometimes the breakers are wired incorrectly, there is a poor connection with the breaker, or there is some issue with the outlet connected to the breaker.

Overloading can be another wiring problem that can cause issues in your home. Overload is when you have too many things going on at once, such as having too many lamps plugged into your wall or extension cords running through your home. This can cause different items and components to heat up and could cause a fire—or trip your breakers, as mentioned above.

High wattage bulbs are another common problem. Some homeowners disregard the wattage limit on a given light fixture and put in bulbs that carry a lot more wattage than necessary. This could cause your bulbs to burn out faster, but it also makes the light base extremely hot—which could also put you at risk for a fire in your home.

No matter how many issues the wiring in your home has, you should still find your electricity bill is staying around normal. If you notice your bill is extremely high, you might want to find out how much your home is actually using and whether or not your meter needs fixing. When your wiring is affecting your bills, it can be advisable to get help identifying the problem as quickly as possible.

Home warranties can be useful in situations where your home is having wiring issues. Although a warranty is not exactly like an insurance policy, it can still protect you and your possessions. With a home warranty in place, you may be able to get someone to come out and fix your wiring problems free of cost to you, for instance. If the wiring problems affected certain appliances in your home that are covered under your home warranty, you may also be able to get those replaced at no cost to you. When you purchase your home warranty, you should make sure you know what it does and does not cover. Having a home warranty that covers electrical wiring can be extremely useful, however, as wiring problems are bound to occur eventually no matter how old or new your home may be.

Owning a home is very exciting, but it also brings with it a lot of responsibility. There are many different common wiring problems you can run into with your home, from tripping breakers to unexplained electricity bills and more. Getting home warranty coverage over the wiring in your home can be very beneficial, especially if you have no idea why you are having such wiring problems. Before purchasing your home warranty make sure you understand exactly what it covers. This way when problems arise, you can rest assured that your warranty will back you up.

Once you’ve bought your home, there’s still work for you to do. And that doesn’t include buying furniture and getting your new house decorated. Protect your new investment with a home warranty and take away some of the worry that comes with owning a home. How to Get a Home Warranty Whenever you make an offer for a home, you have the option of requesting that the home warranty be taken care of by the seller; either that or you can pay for the warranty by yourself. If the seller decides to cover half of the warranty, then it might not last for as long as you’d like for it to, so make sure that you look over the details of the warranty before agreeing to it. Once you close escrow, your new home is covered under the warranty. You’ll be given a plan number to call if you ever have a repair that needs to be taken care of. The repair technician will be one contracted by the company that issued the warranty, and all you’ll have to pay is the trade call fee. What is Covered by a Home Warranty? Incidences covered by a home warranty include garage door openers, duct work, electrical systems, water heaters, exhaust fans, garbage disposals and stoves. Since not all home warranties cover air conditioners, you’ll want to check yours to see if it is or if it isn’t covered. If it is, it’s a good idea to make sure that you have maintenance performed on your air conditioning unit twice a year in order to prevent breakdowns and to keep small problems from becoming big problems. For an extra cost, you can add roof leak repairs, swimming pool equipment and septic systems to your home warranty. Who Should Get a Home Warranty? It doesn’t matter if you’re buying a home for the first time or if you’ve owned four houses in the past, you should still get a home warranty. If it’s your first time buying a home, you don’t know what all goes into keeping a home in working order, so you’ll need every advantage and assist that you can get to keep from wasting money and to keep from having a horrible first time buyer’s experience. If you’ve owned a home before, then you have a better idea of some of the more common repairs that homes need. You also have a better idea of how much they cost, therefore you already know what an advantage it is to have a home warranty. While you might hate having to pay extra for your home to get a home warranty, you’ll certainly be glad you did once you start seeing how much it would otherwise cost you for household repairs.]]>

Unlike living in an apartment, you have to pay for and take care of all of your home repairs. Until you have to pay for them yourself, you might not realize how much it costs to have you bathroom sink unclogged or your living room fan repaired. It’s recommended that you have an idea of some of the more common household repairs and how much they’ll cost you so that you and your finances can be properly prepared for the inevitable. Locks and Doorknobs Since you use doorknobs and locks every day, they stand more of a chance of becoming damaged or malfunctioning. If a doorknob becomes loose enough, the handle can stop working and you’ll find yourself fighting like mad just to open the door. The reason the doorknob becomes loose in the first place is because the small screw that attaches the doorknob around the spindle gets loose. Over time locks can stop sliding the way they should and can become hard to move. It can cost you anywhere from $115 to $200 to have your door lock replaced. Blocked Drains Clogged drains are both common and frustrating. You can always try to unclog the drain yourself, but with some methods you can wind up doing more harm than good, which can cause you to have to spend more money when you finally call a professional to have the drain unclogged. In order to have your drain unclogged, you’ll be looking at a $200 to $220 bill, depending on the severity of the clog. Do everything you can to keep your drains from clogging by occasionally pouring chemical cleaning agents down the drain. Leaks in your gutters are something else to watch out for. Such leaks can be caused by deposits of ice that either melt or crack in the seams of a downspout. Too keep this from happening, use gutter caulk. Overflowing Toilet You’re guaranteed to experience at least one or two overflowing toilets as a homeowner. What happens is that the toilet becomes blocked and the valve remains open instead of shutting like it normally would. One way you can try to keep this from happening is by taking the top off of the toilet tank and finding the tank ball right above the outlet valve and pushing into the valve in order to keep the water from flowing. If you have to call a plumber, you can expect to spend $125 to $185. Educate yourself about some of the common household repairs and breakdowns that you’re likely to experience so that you know what to do and how much you’ll probably have to spend before the incident happens. If it’s at all possible, looking into getting a home warranty to make the costs cheaper and easier on you.]]>