DIY Design

Homemade Fire Pits

By Kathrine  |  2011/12/13 18:11 Posted in DIY Design  |  Comments Off

On any given summer night you can find people in your neighborhood huddled around their fire pit with friends and family. Pot luck dinners are an inexpensive way to come together, slow down, and enjoy life. The only problem is the cost of purchasing a fire pit.

Some of fire pits are very expensive and require upkeep to insure you are able to use the fire pit year after year. Many people are now opting to make their own homemade fire pit.

I have seen it all, from a metal wheelbarrow in the middle of yard to an old wooden sandbox filled with stones acting as a fire pit. Neither of these are good ideas. Metal gets very hot, and even with stones wooden boxes tend to start on fire themselves. If you are planning on my making your own fire pit take proper cautions by choosing the correct materials and location for your fire pit.

It is a good idea to know where the electric, water, and gas lines run in your yard before you grab a shovel and start digging your fire pit. The last thing you want to do is cost yourself hundreds of dollars by not choosing a good location. Make sure you choose a spot at least 10 feet away from the house to avoid accidentally catching the house on fire. Once you have found the perfect location make a whole at least 12 inches deep and 2-3 feet wide.

You will not want to leave a muddy pit in your yard as there are many options to finish the project off. You may purchase cement mix to frame the outside of your pit as well as 2 inches above the rim to avoid the grass catching on fire. If you do not want to mess with cement you can also begin laying rocks and gravel in the pit to help with any water drainage. Before you know it, you will have your very own fire pit to gather your friends and loved ones around to sit back and enjoy quality time with.

Oh No! The Toilet Has Clogged

By J Schrage  |  2011/12/05 00:19 Posted in DIY Design  |  Comments Off

Let’s pile on the bad news.  Not only has the toilet clogged but it’s the only toilet in your apartment; you don’t have one of these toilet plungers; you don’t have a toilet auger and your new boss is due to arrive at your house in 10 minutes.

Before you panic, it’s worth noting that most “soft” clogs will resolve on their own.  Soft clogs are generally the result of too much toilet paper being flushed down the toilet trap and getting stuck.  Hard clogs are a different matter entirely, but for the sake of this article we’re assuming the problem is a soft one.

As you don’t have time to see if it will clear on its own, it’s time to head to the kitchen and get a bucket full of hot water and some detergent.  (Some people swear by coke, but I’ve tested it, and don’t see any point in using it instead of hot water).   You don’t want the water to be at boiling point as you’ll run the risk of damaging the porcelain of your toilet bowl.  You just want it nice and hot.

If you bowl is full to the brim, unfortunately there is not much you can do until some of the water has seeped away.  But if there is space (and there usually is) add the hot water and let it sit for a few seconds.  As you don’t have that much time on your hands, squirt in some dishwashing detergent (ideally of an eco-friendly variety).  

The hot water combined with the lubricating effect of the detergent should help breakdown and dislodge the blockage – giving you that encouraging sucking sound of a toilet unblocking itself.  The detergent is more dense than plain water so will sink to the lowest spot in your trapway, freeing things up as it does so.  

Don’t bother trying to stick a wire down the trap.  You won’t get far enough round the bend to do anything significant to the blockage.  Also you may end up scratching the toilet.

Good luck!  Ding Ding.. Is that the doorbell?