That Chirp You Hear Is NOT The Bluebird of Happiness!

A chirping smoke detector (or carbon mMonoxide detector for that matter) usually signals a low battery. Ignoring it can put you and your family in danger. 

Smoke detectors are designed to make a chirping noise once the battery needs changing. Newer smoke alarms retain some errors in a processor. The smoke alarm should clear errors after the battery is changed, but it may continue to chirp even after you change the batteries. This also occurs in smoke alarms powered by electricity with a battery backup. If this happens, the only way to stop the chirping noise is to manually clear the error from the processor by resetting the smoke alarm.

Here's how to do that:

ELECTRIC SMOKE DETECTORS WITH BATTERY BACKUP

1. Turn off the main breaker in your home’s breaker box to turn off the electrical current running to the smoke detector.
2. Take the smoke detector off its mounting bracket on the ceiling and disconnect the power cable connected to the smoke detector.
3. Remove its battery, then press the “Test” button and hold it down for 15 seconds. An alarm will sound briefly, then the alarm will silence.
4. Place the battery in the smoke detector, reconnect the power cable and put the smoke detector back on its mounting bracket. Turn the breaker on. The detector will chirp one time to indicate power was restored to the unit.

BATTERY-POWERED SMOKE DETECTORS

1. Take the battery out of the smoke detector.
2. Press the “Test” button and hold it down for 15 seconds. An alarm will sound briefly, then the alarm will silence.
3. Put the battery back in the smoke detector. The detector will chirp one time to indicate the battery is connected.

Leaky Toilets Cost You Money!

According to the American Water Works Association (AWWA), toilets are responsible for approximately 27 percent of the water used in homes on a daily basis. The amount of water used by toilets is only increased when there is a leak. A leaking toilet tank can result in an incredible loss of water every minute it has not been stopped. 

It oftentimes goes undetected until a leak test has been conducted.

Toilet leaking results in a tremendous amount of water loss. Every day that a silent leak goes undetected can amount to as much as 300 gallons of water. That is three times the amount of water the average American uses in an entire day. When water is wasted, that easily translates to money spent on higher water bills. Depending on the size of the leak, it is possible to end up paying an extra $500.00 every year on water that was never used. Performing a leak test regularly allows you to take action before more water, and ultimately money, can be wasted.

Sometimes it is easy to tell that your toilet is leaking - you hear the sound of running water or a faint hissing or trickling. But many times, water flows through the tank silently, which is why these leaks are often overlooked.

How to check your toilet for Silent leaks

1. Remove the toilet tank lid.
2. Drop one dye tablet or 10 drops of food coloring into the tank. (Dye tablets are often available for free through local water providers).
3. Put the lid back on. Do not flush.
4. Wait at least 10-15 minutes, and then look in the bowl. If you see colored water, you have a leak. If not, you don't.

Here are some helpful videos that show you how to check for leaks and how to fix the problem if you do have a leaky toilet.

How Water Smart Are You?

Take a room-by-room tour of our water house and find a variety of indoor and outdoor water conservation tips that will help you save water, time and money.

Should You Hire an Interior Designer?

by Miranda Crace on May 16, 2016 - Home Decorating

So you bought a new house and you’re ready to make it your own. You could start by driving from one home décor store to the next and dog-earing pages in interior design magazines, or you could go another route. You could hire a professional to transform your house and turn it into a home.

There’s a common misconception that interior designers are only for the elite, but that’s not true. Designers come in many different styles and at price ranges for every budget.

Perks of Hiring an Interior Designer

Still not sure if an interior designer is right for you? If any of these things sound good to you, then it may be something to think about.

They Have a Trained Eye

A lot of people have an idea or style they really love, but just aren’t sure how to pull it off.

Sure, you like the minimal look, but when you try, it looks more cold and empty than modern and sophisticated. Or maybe you’re dreaming of the perfect shabby chic retreat but it ends up looking a little more like a mismatched antique shop.

With an interior designer, you can worry less about your design capabilities and leave it in their hands. They’ll use their experience and trained eye to bring your concept to life and give you a home style you’ll love for years to come.

They Save You Time

Even if you’re a home décor junkie, you have to admit, decorating a home takes time. And between work, tying up the loose ends from moving and getting to know your new neighborhood, time is a valuable commodity.

An interior designer will run around town to find the perfect couch and scour the home décor stores so that you don’t have to. They’ll save you time and take one more thing off of your plate.

They’re Cost Effective

Interior designers might add an extra cost to the home renovation budget, but they can also save you money.

Most designers have relationships with various vendors and can buy products at wholesale prices or discounts. You may be paying them more money upfront, but hiring a professional can save you money in the long run.

The Cost of an Interior Designer

Interior designers run the gamut when it comes to prices. You could have your home designed for anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. It’s important to find someone who’s the right style and price for your budget.

Designer usually charge on one of three payment models.

• Hourly: You pay them a fee (typically ranging anywhere between $50 and $500 an hour) per hour that they work.
• Flat rate: You pay an agreed-upon flat fee for the design job.
• Cost plus: The designer will buy materials at a discount, then charge you retail price and keep the leftover money as their fee.

Whichever payment model your designer uses, be sure to discuss the billing process. This way you’ll know exactly what you’re paying for and when.

Find the Right Interior Designer

Interior designers are much more accessible today then they were in the past.

Online platforms like Laurel and Wolfe let you define your style, describe your space and then various designers create a look for you. You then choose which design you like best and work one on one with that designer to make it exactly what you want. You can even buy the products you want right from the Laurel and Wolfe website.

There are other options like Room Design in a Box that will ship you a presentation board, layout, shopping list and two color schemes. All you have to do is send them measurements, a picture of your room and answer a style questionnaire so they know what you’re looking for.

When designers are so accessible and have so many price points, it’s hard not to jump on the interior design bandwagon.