Septic tanks are a vital part of the home. It’s important for every homeowner with a septic tank to understand how septic tanks work and how to properly maintain them in order to ensure that septic issues and backups don’t occur.

What is a Septic Tank?

A septic tank is a storage tank that holds the solid sewage waste from a home. It is commonly used in homes that have no access to a city sewer system. A septic tank works in conjunction with a home’s leech field. While the septic tank holds all of the solid waste, the clearer waste gets sent up into the leech field above where it is purified and absorbed back into the earth.

What Are the Benefits of Having a Septic Tank?

Septic tanks are more environmentally friendly than sewer systems. They utilize the natural purification powers of the soil to reduce waste. Once the waste has been purified, it is returned to the earth to serve as nutrients. This allows the soil around the septic tank to remain healthy and safe.

It’s also easier and cheaper to install a septic tanks system than it is to connect a house to a city’s sewer system.

Proper maintenance will also allow most septic tanks to last for nearly a lifetime.

Importance of Maintaining a Septic Tank

Proper and regular septic maintenance is very important. Without proper maintenance, your septic system could clog, cause plumbing issues or even back up into the yard causing hundreds of dollars worth of damage. A backed up septic tank can also create terrible smells around your home and yard and cause your water to smell. If you neglect your septic tank maintenance for too long, it could even damage the tank. Replacing or repairing a tank can be a long and expensive task. It’s easier and cheaper to practice proper maintenance on a regular basis.

How do I Maintain My Septic Tank?

First of all, don’t flush any items that aren’t able to be easily broken down. Food, tampons, cigarette butts, wrappers, paper towels and more can all easily clog pipes and take up a lot of space in the tank. It’s also a good idea to use as little toilet paper as possible. In addition, don’t put any toxic chemicals or grease in the drain. Toxic chemicals will taint the leech field, and grease will solidify when exposed to the cool temperatures.

Second, pump the septic tank when it needs to be pumped. Without regular pumping, the septic tank will continue to accumulate solid waste until it backs up either into the yard or into the house. How often a septic tank needs to be pumped depends on how many people live in the home, how much water is used in the home and the amount of solid waste that is usually produced within the home.

Third, avoid planting trees or shrubs on or around the septic tank. The roots of the plant could damage the tank.

Finally, avoid using products that are said to clean septic tanks. The chemicals may taint the leech field or even damage the tank.

Proper septic maintenance is simpler and much more cost-effective than dealing with a damaged or backed up septic tank. Don’t let your pipes, yard or tank suffer from unnecessary damage. Practice proper septic tank maintenance every day to ensure that your septic system works properly for years to come.

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Whether you live in a stately mansion or a modest studio apartment, your living room, or at least the area that serves as your living room, is the showcase of your home. One of the most vital aspects of your living room is the arrangement of your furniture. The proper arrangement of your living room furniture can make a small room look larger, create a sense of cosiness and comfort in a large room, and allow for unimpeded foot traffic through your room, no matter where it is located within your flat or your house.

Classic Furniture Arrangements

The most common furniture arrangement when you have a strong focal point, such as a fireplace or a large screen television set, is to place the sofa directly opposite of the focal point. Other seating pieces, such as armchairs, are placed at an angle to the sofa to allow everyone seated to have a good view of the crackling fire or whatever show is playing on the television screen. If additional seating is needed while entertaining, pillows or throw cushions can be placed on the floor to create a semicircle around the room’s focal point.

Rooms that have multiple openings demand an arrangement that allows for clear foot traffic through each doorway. As a result, furniture often winds up being placed into groupings along the walls or within opposite corners. The challenge is to maintain clear traffic lanes without giving the room a sense of being chopped up.

If you have a large sectional sofa, resist the temptation to have it wrap around a corner of your living room. Instead, pull it away from the wall, and place a lamp behind one of the sections to create a softly lit conversation space. If you’re concerned about wasted space behind the sofa, consider using the space for storage. It’s an ideal spot to hide your kids’ toys or other clutter to which you need to have ready access but which can detract from the look of your living room.

If you have two equally sized sofas, or if you don’t have a strong focal point to the room, you can create an inviting conversation space by having your seating facing directly across from one another. You can place end tables at either end of the sofa or between two chairs and a coffee table in the centre. This sort of arrangement is also advantageous for listing to music with a group of friends

Size and Shape

In addition to furniture placement, the style and scale of your living room furniture is also important. In a small room, pieces should be scaled down in size. With a larger room, small pieces can get lost within the space.  An older house with heavy, ornate woodwork often looks best with more traditional furniture, while a sleek, modern house often calls for furniture with clean lines. However, if you have favourite pieces that don’t “match” your room’s overall look, use them anyway. Judicious inclusion of non-matching pieces can create an eclectic look in your living room that is often quite pleasing.

Author Bio:

Leah Woodward is a brand-new homeowner who is discovering the world of decorating. An avid blogger, she likes to write about her new passion on the Internet.

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When we think about landscaping, one of the most common (and beautiful) ways of making your house stand from the crowd is probably adding flowerbeds. They are lovely, they spread n amazing smell around the neighborhood and they also make everything look a bit more joyful. However, it is not easy to create the perfect flowerbeds: all flowers do not fit together. Are you starting to prepare for the summer? Here are a few tips to help you.

Going for a good equilibrium

To build a complete landscaping, you’ll want to go for a good mix of flowers and plants. Some of the greens you’ll plant will survive from one year to another, but some flowers, which we will call the annuals, will have to be planted each year.
First, bulb flowers are beautiful flowers that will start blooming in spring and that survive to winter. Tulips are a classical kind of bulbs. Also, perennials are flowery plants that start coming back to life in spring but usually look better in summer. By going for flowers that bloom in different seasons, you’ll be sure that your landscaping will look awesome at any time of the year (except winter, but we all hate winter anyway). Of course, you’ll need some trees to give some dimension and shade to your home. People will usually plant some shrubs as well to create a good vegetation basis.

Fitting the colors together

People who do landscaping will usually go either for warm colors or for cold colors. If you do not remember your elementary school’s arts class, warm colors include yellow, red, orange and pink, and cold colors include green, blue and some shades of purple (which can sometimes be considered warm too).
This rule doesn’t absolutely have to be respected, though. Some professional horticulturist will say that beginners must respect the rules, but that experts can play with contrasts and do exactly what they want. It depends on your experience and on how brave you are!

Which flowers and plants will bring butterflies to your garden?

This question may sound a bit surprising, but most kids love butterflies and you might want to please yours by targeting specifically flowers that are usually gorged with nectar. The Nanho blue, for example is a 1.25m high bush with violet flowers, similar to lilac. If you are looking for smaller ones, you could go with a “Landmark Rose Glow”, which latin name is Lantana camara, which boasts pink and white flowers. It is extremely pretty and is said to be a real magnet for butterflies.
You’ll need a diversified garden if you really want to attract these insects. In addition to these previous flowers, you would need as well to feed the butterflies’ larvas by planting milkweed and celery leaf. You have to expect the bugs to actually eat a part of your garden, but if you are willing to sacrifice it for flying beauty, it should be worth it!

About the author

Charles Bernard is a huge fan of nature’s beauty. He writes for a Montreal florist called Westmount Florist.

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What Exactly Is Self-Build

As the name implies, self-build refers to somebody purchasing a plot of land and then building the house themselves, without bringing in a property developer or buying a house outright. Whilst they may not be laying the actual brickwork, the owners essentially co-ordinate the construction work – bringing in an architect initially and then contracting a builder to bring their plan to life.

People choose the self-build method for numerous reasons. Some cannot afford to buy houses due to the exorbitantly high prices – it is far more cost-effective if they do it themselves. Others want a house tailored to their specifications. In the UK, the former reason is far more prevalent than the latter.

Housing Examples

Self-build can often be a communal effort, which is a much more effective method when it comes to the building process. People share tools, time and labour to create community housing. One such example is the Lancaster Cohousing group. 41 homes were recently completed in the neighbourhood, arranged in a curving pattern to follow the path of the river Lune. Facilities are shared, such as the laundry and the workroom.

The houses themselves range from one to three bedrooms, and are arranged into four terraces. They were designed to be energy efficient, with plenty of insulation and triple glazing, as well as solar panels on the roof and a biomass boiler. There are also plans for a hydro plant, which will bring down the resident’s utility bills to around 10% that of the average home.

This particular housing development favours a communal, eco-friendly approach. There is a common house kitchen where neighbours can dine together if they so wish. According to one of the residents of this Forgebank community, “It’s an opportunity to live in an almost extended family context”.

Lilac Living

LILAC, or the Low Impact Living Affordable Community, is another self-build development just outside of Leeds. This neighbourhood consists of prefabricated wood frameworks packed with straw bales and sprayed with lime render. The straw provides both thermal and noise insulation. There are twenty households, with shared laundry and workshop facilities, as well as special allotments for bikes.

The development is also the first Mutual Home Ownership society in the country. Residents pay in 35% of their income, and in return they receive a corresponding number of shares in the project. This set-up is ideal for those who cannot afford to buy a house, yet wish to get a foot on the property ladder.

Self-Build Week

Earlier this month, the UK’s first self-build week was launched. The event, which took place from 4 – 12 May, was launched by Grand Designs Live at the London ExCel centre. The aim of self-build week was to promote this concept amongst the wider population, develop initiatives to help those planning to build their own house, and obtain government support for self-build housing.

According to a recent poll, around six million Britons are planning to build their own home, whilst one million are already in the construction stage. However, only 12000 people actually succeeded in completing their own home in 2012. Minister for Housing Mark Prisk said that “National Self Build Week will give people the inspiration they need to build their own home. It will show how other individuals have succeeded in turning their dreams into reality and it will give examples of where communities have got together to build together”.

Time perhaps for aspiring homeowners in the UK to don some workwear and hunt down the perfect plot of land?

Author Bio

Grace Matthews is a London-based lifestyle blogger who relies on Dickies for her all-weather, hardy outdoor jackets.

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You may be skeptical about setting up a metal shop in your basement, especially if you are aware of the tragic case of how Jim “Paw Paw” Wilson died after complications from smoke inhalation while working in his workshop. However, if you don’t have anywhere else in or around your home that’s available, you can set up a metal shop in your basement safely and effectively.

Ventilation Is Essential

Ventilation is essential in any metal workshop, but especially if you set up shop in a cellar or basement. You must not only maintain a continuous flow of fresh air into the workshop, but must also provide a means to release toxic contaminated air from polishing and grinding. If you only intend to do light duty metal work, box fans in the windows and doors may be sufficient. However, if you intend to do extensive buffing and grinding, you’ll also need to run exhaust fans.  If your metal shop has no windows, you’ll need to cut openings through the walls to the outside.  Even with a ventilation system in place and running, you should always operate any grinding or buffing equipment with the doors and windows of your workshop open.

No matter how extensive a ventilation system you install in your cellar metal workshop, you should never perform forging or torching inside a metal shop in your cellar. If you intend to do forging and torching, you should set up your shop so that it is readily accessible to your forging station. With the proper workbench setup, you will be less tempted to take unsafe short-cuts.

Equipment Placement

Each basement is different; however, there are some common features that will allow your basement metal workshop to operate more efficiently and safely. You will need, at minimum, a grinder, power drill, sander, and an abrasive saw. You can rent these pieces or purchase them used; however, if you choose this option, be sure not to go too cheap. Sacrificing quality for a cheap price can result in your obtaining sub par equipment, setting up a potentially dangerous situation.

The work bench in your basement metal workshop can be set up away from your windows and ventilation system, but be sure there is a clear path from your work bench to the door, in case you must evacuate your workshop quickly. However, lathes, milling machines, drill presses and other machining tools must be set up closer to your ventilation system. Your grinding station and your buffing station should be set far apart from each other, but close to your windows, ventilation system and doors.

Do a Run Through

Sketch out different floor plans for your workshop on paper. Once you have a plan that you like, set up your actual equipment. Do a trial run with a single metal working project to test how efficiently your floor plan works. If any step of the project doesn’t operate the way it should, stop what you’re doing and rethink your floor plan. Keep readjusting your floor plan and your equipment setup until everything is right. Once you’ve done a run through, try a second project with your modified system.

John Ireland was a victim of the recent recession who took thing into his own hands by setting up his own basement metal working business. Also an avid blogger, he enjoys sharing his story with others on the Internet. To find out more on custom bandsaw blades by Bandsaw Blades King, go to this page.

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Getting divorced can be a stressful time for anyone. There is a lot to sort out and it may not always be on amicable terms which can make the situation even trickier. The marital home will most likely be the biggest asset, whether this is owned jointly or by one member of the couple, so it is important that this is reflected in the care you take over getting a matrimonial valuation.

It is in both of your interests to get an independent matrimonial valuation of your property. This is in case the estimation of market value is inaccurate, which could leave one or both of you out of pocket. To speed up settlement negotiations and make sure things run as smoothly as possible at a difficult time, a matrimonial valuation is essential.

Some couples who break up on good terms may decide that they would like the same independent valuer to work for both of them to reduce costs. However, if there is any disagreement, cover yourself with your own valuation so that you have evidence should the property value be challenged.

One of the biggest disputes in a divorce tends to be how the property will be divided. For the fairest way to split the value, a valuation is essential. This can cover the building itself, its contents and any land owned by either party. This means that the divorce court can make the best estimation of how the assets should be divided. Without one, the courts could decide that the existing property value estimate is inadequate which can greatly slow down the divorce process.

Matrimonial disputes can escalate quickly. Emotions are running high and it can be difficult for either party to accept the opinion of the other, so things can get messy in no time at all. If you don’t want to get tied up in expensive legal issues, it’s best to do things by the book in advance. Don’t let your divorce proceedings fall at the final hurdle when disagreements become too great to settle through discussions alone.

To make sure you get a fair deal out of your divorce and end up with an accurate division of your matrimonial property, it is essential that you arrange for a matrimonial valuation to ensure that you and your partner can go your separate ways with as much dignity intact as possible and without any bitter arguments or legal issues which stretch out for longer than is entirely necessary.

Jake Hawkins is a real estate finance adviser who understands the importance of being prepared for the worst to avoid getting into trouble

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For anyone with a vacant property, the idea of having squatters move in while you’re not there to monitor the situation can be a worrying thought. It’s an invasion of your privacy that you shouldn’t have to put up with, and can lead to vandalism, accidental damage or theft. If it’s not their property, they won’t feel inclined to look after it in the same way that you would. Therefore, if your home or office space is going to be sitting vacant for a prolonged period of time, for example while it undergoes a renovation project or while you’re deciding what to do with an inherited house, you should take the appropriate steps to make sure it stays secure.

One of the first things you should consider is boarding up the windows. While it doesn’t look especially attractive, it means that the glass can’t be broken for squatters to smash their way into the building. Metal boards are better than wood as they’re stronger and more durable, making them harder to smash.

Another way to protect your vacant property is to put some deterrents in place. CCTV cameras and security alarms are both effective ways to put off potential squatters, as they will be able to see that you’re serious about keeping your property safe and will probably go elsewhere. If you can’t afford a proper security system, buy a fake alarm. The squatters won’t be able to tell whether or not it’s the real deal, and this should be enough to deter them.

If you’re concerned about unauthorised vehicles parking on your site, hire a concrete barrier to place across any vehicle entrances. This is better than simply placing a cone or lightweight metal barriers across the entrance, as a heavy material like concrete is harder to move. Also check that there are no other points at which cars or caravans can get into your property, such as through unwalled sections of garden.

Inform the neighbours of the vacant property that it will be left vacant, and let them know if anyone will be visiting, such as workmen or surveyors. This way, if anyone appears to be gaining access, they can let you know immediately so you can find out what’s going on or call the police.

If there are any gates connecting the property to the street or any public spaces, make sure they’re properly secured. Also, any exterior fences could be painted with anti-climb paint to stop anyone from climbing over. If there are any trees immediately outside the property which could be climbed to jump over the fence, plant thorny plants around the fence on the garden side so that they won’t want to land in. As long as you take sensible steps, your property should stay perfectly safe for as long as you need.

Adam Cruxton is a specialist property security consultant who works with landlords to keep vacant property secure and free from unwanted visitors

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