How to fix a large hole in drywall

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I show how to fix a large hole in drywall with a Presto Patch. This product makes drywall hole repair an easy project. You can pick one up at your hardware store. If they don't have it, they can order it for you.
 You will need a drywall saw, joint compound and a couple drywall knives.
The mistake most homeowners make with drywall repair is putting on too much compound or not giving a repair 3 coats.
Take the time to follow the steps and give each coat the time to fully dry and you will make a perfect patch.

Transporting Propane Tanks Safely

 

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When you transport propane tanks in your car, you should never carry them in the truck. Propane tanks have a pressure relief valve that will vent propane if it overheats. When propane is released, it expands and can fill your truck with highly flammable gas. Any spark or ignition source can ignite the gas with an explosion. Even some brake lights can ignite the gas.
To transport propane, put the bottle in the back seat, wedged between the seats. Always keep the tank upright. Open a window and keep the car cool. Never leave the tank in a car for long periods of time.

How to check propane level for grilling

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If you want to know how much propane is in your tank and you don't have a scale on your grill, I have an easy test.
Just get about a quart of hot water from the tap and run it down one side of your tank. Run your hand down the tank to check the propane level. The propane will absorb the heat and you will feel the level of the propane in the tank.
If you have a 30,000 btu grill, a tank will last 8 to 10 hours.

Charcoal Chimney

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A charcoal chimney does a great job of starting charcoal without charcoal fluid. I found it gets the charcoal very hot and uniform compared to building a pile without the grill chimney.
All you need are a couple sheets of newspaper lightly crumpled together in the bottom of the charcoal starter. Fill the top of the charcoal chimney with charcoal and light the paper. It takes about 15 minutes to get the charcoal ready to grill.
Using a grill chimney is an easy way to consistently measure your charcoal and get it uniformly hot.

How to resreen a window screen

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I show the steps on how to rescreen a window screen.
Window screen repair is project that you can do with a few simple tools and a little practice.
If you have a torn screen, in most cases all you need is a new piece of window screen. The rubber spline that holds in the screen is usually reusable.
For rescreening a window screen you will need a spline roller to push in the spine, a screw driver and a box cutter.

How to patch a window screen

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I show how to patch a screen on a window screen. This is an easy way to do window screen repair.
You will need a small piece of aluminum screen, slightly larger than the hole you are repairing.
The only tools you will need are a pair of scissors and a paperclip.
It is simple to create a screen repair patch with aluminum screen. You can repair a window screen made of aluminum or fiberglass, but the screen patch has to be aluminum.

How to remove hair from drain in bathtub

The most common place that a bathtub gets clogged is at the opening of the bathtub. The crossbars or bracket under the stopper collects hair until it slows or clogs your drain.

A simple tool that every homeowner should have in their toolbox is a drain snake. This little tool will grab the hair that collects and you can pull it out of the drain. A drain snake like The Drain Claw is reusable and environmentally friendly.

Create a monthly routine of using your drain snake and you will keep your drains open and eliminate the need for chemicals.

You can check out The Drain Claw at www.thedrainclaw.com

How to Keep Fuel Fresh For Your Lawnmower or Snowblower

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To keep your fuel fresh for your lawnmower, snow blower and other lawn equipment, just add a fuel stabilizer to the gas can every time you fill up.
Gas starts to lose octane and go bad in as little as 30 days. By adding a fuel stabilizer, you can add over a year of life to fuel. If you fill up your gas can and don't use the fuel by the end of the season, it is ready for storage.
If you only add fuel stabilizer at the end of every season, the fuel may already be bad.

The Correct Outlet For a Bathroom

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For bathroom outlets, you should install a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). This project is in the Chicago area with metal conduit.
This device will prevent shocks and possible electrocution by detecting small changes in current and shutting off the power. The GFCI can turn off the power in a fraction of a second and detect smaller amount of electricity than your circuit breaker.

Replace Rusty Vents With Plastic Vents

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For high humidity areas like a bathroom, a plastic vent is the best choice.
Plastic vents are very inexpensive and easy to install. In most hardware stores, you will find many choices in floor vents without screw holes. It is easy to drill holes to match the old ceiling vent to convert a floor vent for ceiling use.

Easy to Install Water Filter

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Faucet water filters are an easy way to install a water purifier.
These water filters attach easily to existing faucets without the need for tools. Most come with adapters for a wide range of faucet styles. The only tool you might need is a pair of pliers to remove the old aerator.
A faucet water filter can reduce chlorine, lead, sediment and many other impurities in water. You can easily make your water healthier and better tasting.

Insulate Hot Water Heater Pipes

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A hot water heater can be about 15% of your energy cost. A simple tip  is to insulate your hot water pipes.

The US Dept. of Energy suggests that homeowners insulate at least 6 feet of the pipe coming into and out of the hot water heater. This will increase the temperature at the faucets 2 to 4 degrees and save you money on your heating.

If you have an electric hot water tank, you can use foam insulation. It is very easy to cut with scissors and wrap around the pipe. If you have a gas hot water tank, you cannot have foam insulation within 6 inches of the flue. You will use fiberglass insulation and wrap it using wire or high temperature aluminum tape to hold it in place.

This is an easy do it yourself project that will save energy and give you hotter water.