Category: Tips

When several drains start moving slowly, or a toilet begins making an unfamiliar gurgling sound, a homeowner with a septic system may immediately suspect the tank.

Sometimes that suspicion is justified. A tank that has not been maintained can contribute to serious problems. But the septic tank is only one part of a larger wastewater system. Between the plumbing fixtures inside the house, the buried tank, and the drain field are pipes and connections that have their own opportunities to clog, shift, crack, separate, or become obstructed.

That distinction matters because pumping a tank will not repair a damaged pipe, just as clearing a pipe will not restore a failing drain field.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists slow drains, plumbing gurgles, sewage backups, odors, standing water, and unusually lush grass near the septic area among potential signs of septic-system trouble. Those signs, however, tell a homeowner that something deserves attention; they do not identify the failed component by themselves.

Continue reading “The Septic Tank Gets the Blame. The Pipes Around It May Be the Problem.” →

Nothing is overflowing. The shower still gets hot. The toilet flushes. The kitchen sink empties eventually. And yet something about the plumbing does not seem quite right.

Maybe the shower pressure feels weaker than it did six months ago. The bathroom sink makes a gurgling sound after the water disappears. The kitchen drain has needed plunging twice this month. There is a faint musty smell inside a cabinet that was never there before.

Individually, these changes are easy to dismiss. Homes make noises. Drains occasionally run slowly. Faucets drip. But plumbing problems do not always announce themselves with a burst pipe or water pouring through the ceiling. Many develop gradually, producing small changes long before they become obvious emergencies.

Continue reading “The Sink Drains. The Shower Works. So Why Does Your Plumbing Still Feel Off?” →

Many people think that making the most of a family holiday often means seeing and doing as much as possible while you’re away. However, a packed itinerary doesn’t necessarily make the holiday more enjoyable, particularly when everyone has different interests and routines. 

A more flexible approach lets family members choose how they spend their time, while still leaving plenty of opportunities to enjoy Spain together.

Continue reading “3 simple ways to make the most of a family holiday in Spain” →

Eye care for myopia matters most in childhood, when short-sightedness usually begins. The first sign can be small: a child who squints at the television, sits closer to the screen or says the board at school looks blurry.

Many parents want to know whether their child’s eyesight will keep getting worse, and whether screens are to blame. Myopia cannot be undone, but glasses can correct it, and several everyday habits and treatments can slow how quickly it progresses. An eye screening for your kids can confirm whether your child is short-sighted and how strong their glasses need to be.

In this article, we will cover what childhood myopia is, what causes it, the signs to look for, whether it can be reversed, how to slow it and whether your child needs to wear glasses all the time.

Continue reading “Eye Care for Myopia: A Guide for Parents” →

Ask most people where their heart is located and they will point to the left side of their chest, further out than it sits. The question comes up at odd moments, such as a twinge while you are carrying the shopping or lying awake at night.

Most people asking it want to know one thing: whether a pain on the left side of their chest could be their heart. Knowing where the heart sits helps, but position alone cannot tell you whether chest pain is coming from your heart, because your chest muscles, ribs, lungs and food pipe are all close by too. If the pain keeps coming back, consider seeing a heart specialist to find the underlying cause.

In this article, we will cover where the heart is located in the body, whether it can be on the right side, whether its position differs in women, and how to tell if chest pain is heart related.

Continue reading “Where Is Your Heart Located? A Simple Guide to Its Position” →