Ensuring the efficient operation of your home’s plumbing system might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about home maintenance, but it is undoubtedly one of the most vital. As any seasoned homeowner in Atlanta knows, a small plumbing issue can quickly escalate into a large, costly disaster if not addressed promptly and properly. That’s why we at rsandrews.com believe it’s crucial to arm yourself with the knowledge and tips necessary to maintain your plumbing system effectively.

Atlanta’s unique climate conditions, featuring our notoriously hot summers and occasional frosty winters, pose unique challenges and considerations for maintaining your home’s plumbing system. But don’t fret – whether you’re a new homeowner or a seasoned Atlanta resident, these ten plumbing tips are designed to help you keep your plumbing system functioning optimally, mitigate potential issues, and make informed decisions when professional help is necessary.

So, let’s dive into these helpful pointers, crafted with the specific needs of Atlanta, GA homeowners in mind. 

Understand the Local Climate

Atlanta’s climate presents unique challenges and considerations for homeowners when it comes to their plumbing systems. By understanding and preparing for these weather-related issues, you can ensure the longevity and efficiency of your plumbing.

1. Preventing Frozen Pipes:

While our winters may not be as harsh as some other regions, Atlanta can still experience those chillier days when temperatures dip below freezing. These conditions can cause unprotected pipes to freeze and potentially burst, causing significant damage. Consider insulating your pipes, especially those exposed to the cold or located in unheated parts of your home, like the garage or crawl space. During the coldest days, you can let your faucets drip slightly to keep water moving and prevent freezing.

2. Adapting to Seasonal Changes:

Just as our bodies need to adapt to the changing seasons, so too do our plumbing systems. In the sweltering heat of Atlanta summers, your water usage might increase due to more frequent showers, garden watering, or filling up that backyard pool. Be aware of the added strain on your plumbing system during this time. Regular maintenance checks (which we’ll discuss later) can help ensure your system can handle this increased demand. On the other hand, in the cooler months, outdoor hose bibs should be covered or insulated to prevent freezing and potential water leaks.

Being proactive with these seasonal adjustments can go a long way towards preventing major plumbing issues and maintaining the overall health of your plumbing system.

Water Conservation and Efficiency

In Atlanta, as in many places around the world, water conservation is more than an eco-friendly practice; it’s a necessity. By implementing water-efficient fixtures and smart irrigation systems, you can significantly reduce your water usage and, as a bonus, your utility bills.

3. High-Efficiency Fixtures:

High-efficiency toilets, faucets, and showerheads can drastically reduce your home’s water consumption without sacrificing performance. For instance, a WaterSense labeled toilet uses 20% less water than standard models, potentially saving thousands of gallons of water per year in a single household. RS Andrews offers a range of high-efficiency fixture installation services, helping Atlanta homeowners transition to more sustainable plumbing practices while also reducing their water bills.

4. Smart Irrigation:

Outdoor water use, particularly landscape irrigation, is a significant source of water consumption for many Atlanta homeowners. With our hot summers, it’s essential to water your garden efficiently. Consider installing a smart irrigation system that adjusts watering schedules based on factors like soil moisture levels and weather forecasts. Drip irrigation systems are another excellent option, delivering water directly to the plant roots and reducing evaporation.

Embracing water conservation and efficiency in your home not only contributes to a more sustainable Atlanta but also optimizes your home’s plumbing system, potentially saving you money in the long run.

Regular Maintenance and Checks

One of the key principles of effective home ownership, particularly when it comes to plumbing, is prevention. Regular checks and routine maintenance can save you from the headaches of major repairs down the road.

5. Routine Inspections:

Just as you’d have regular check-ups at the doctor, your home’s plumbing system also benefits from professional inspections. At RS Andrews, we recommend having a professional plumber perform a thorough inspection of your system at least once a year. This can uncover potential issues like slow leaks, pipe corrosion, or problems with your water heater before they escalate into costly repairs.

6. DIY Checks:

While professional inspections are crucial, there are also a few simple checks that homeowners can perform themselves. Monitor your water bill; a sudden increase could indicate a leak. Regularly check under sinks, around toilets, and near appliances like your washing machine for signs of leaks. Keep an eye (and ear) out for dripping faucets or running toilets that won’t stop, as these can waste significant amounts of water over time. And finally, learn how to read your water meter. It can help you monitor your water usage and quickly spot leaks.

Remember, the sooner you identify a potential problem, the easier (and usually less expensive) it is to address. Regular maintenance and checks are your first line of defense against major plumbing issues.

Dealing with Emergencies

Even with regular maintenance and checks, emergencies can still arise. Knowing what to do in these situations can minimize damage and get your home back to normal as quickly as possible.

7. Locating the Main Water Shut-Off:

In a plumbing emergency, like a burst pipe, the first thing you’ll want to do is stop the water flow. That’s why every homeowner should know where the main water shut-off valve is located. In most Atlanta homes, it’s typically found in basements, crawl spaces, or outside near the water meter. Familiarize yourself with its location and operation to quickly address water-related emergencies.

8. Emergency Plumbing Kit:

Keeping a home emergency plumbing kit is another great way to be prepared. Your kit should include essential items like duct tape or plumbers’ tape for temporarily sealing leaks, a plunger for unclogging drains, a pipe wrench, and an adjustable wrench for various plumbing fixtures. Also, keep a list of emergency numbers, including your preferred professional plumber, in an easily accessible location.

Remember, while these steps can help minimize damage, they are temporary solutions. Always call a plumbing repair like RS Andrews to properly diagnose and fix the problem, ensuring it doesn’t reoccur in the future.

Finding a Reliable Plumber in Atlanta

Even the most diligent homeowners will need professional plumbing installation assistance at some point. Having a reliable plumber on call is crucial for these times. Here are some tips on finding the right professional help:

9. Professional Help:

When looking for a reliable local plumber, consider their experience, credentials, and reviews. At RS Andrews, we’re proud to have served Atlanta homeowners for over 50 years, providing reliable and quality services for a wide range of plumbing issues. We are fully licensed and insured, and our team’s expertise is continually updated to keep pace with the latest plumbing technology and methods.

Look for our plumbing company reviews or ask for recommendations from friends, family, or neighbors. Online platforms like Google, Yelp, and Angie’s List can provide insights into a company’s reputation and customer satisfaction.

10. Knowing When to Call a Plumber:

Some situations demand immediate professional attention. If you experience a sudden loss of water pressure, see signs of sewer backup, have a persistently dripping faucet, or notice any major changes in your plumbing system’s behavior, it’s time to call in the professionals. Ignoring these signs could lead to more significant, costlier issues down the road.

Remember, when it comes to your home’s plumbing system, prevention is always better than cure. Regular maintenance, proactive checks, and immediate response to emergencies can save you from stressful, expensive repairs, and maintain the comfort and safety of your home.

The health of your home’s plumbing system might not always be the most glamorous aspect of homeownership, but its importance cannot be overstated. From preventing minor issues from becoming major disasters to conserving water and managing seasonal changes, every homeowner in Atlanta can benefit from these ten practical plumbing tips.

Remember, RS Andrews is always here to assist you, whether that’s conducting a professional inspection, helping with high-efficiency fixture installations, or providing emergency plumbing services. By partnering with a trusted, local plumbing professional and following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to maintaining a more efficient, sustainable, and problem-free plumbing system in your home.

We hope you find this guide helpful, and we’re here to support you in making your Atlanta home the best it can be, one pipe at a time.

This last fall as we were preparing to go for our annual hunt, I was talking to my friends about their equipment. Several of them have the same guns they have used for years- their tried and true hunting rifles. Some of my buddies like to change it up as they are in search of the best firearm for each situation.

As we chatted, it became clear that despite having an older rifle or a brand new one, the one thing that everyone can’t get enough of is new firearm parts. The ones with older rifles had no problem maintaining their guns, but enjoyed trying out new scopes, grips, cases, and more. Some even opt to change out the trigger assemblies and firing pins on their own to keep their rifles performing their best.

Now, depending on where you live and what you are hunting for, the seasons will always be different and call for different equipment. Lucky for us, we have immediate access to online shops like R&B Arms where we can grab the latest firearm equipment, or order some customization for our rifles- either Cerakote or Stippling depending on your preference.

One thing that is incredibly hard to get a hold of just about anywhere though is ammo. Supply chain issues, local policies, and consumers buying up as much as they can has led to some types of ammo being nearly impossible to find, and some limitations on what you can buy if you do find the right caliber.

In preparation for the upcoming hunting season, I’m telling my friends to start buying a box or two at a time whenever they can to ensure we have enough. Because, if we don’t have ammunition, we can’t go hunting at all, even with the best gear.

Maybe this year we’ll get lucky and some of the problems we’ve encountered over the last times we went hunting will be solved and everyone can get what they need without limits. Some of my buddies have been out of luck in the past, but we’re always stocked up and ready to go. I mentioned R&B Arms, which is one of my favorite online shops. They just announced their new ammo list and they are helping people find and get the ammo they need by announcing their new shipments. I’m telling everyone I know to go jump on their ammo list.

I hope you and your friends are prepared for next hunting season! If you will be joining our hunting club, it would be greatI’d love to hear more about the equipment you are using. Happy hunting season.

10 Extremely Effective Web Design Tips Backed by Research

On the web, website design tips are a superabundant. Many people have viewpoints on what the excellent site appears like. That`s because, to a specific degree, style is subjective. What one person suches as, an additional may find hideous.

At the same time, web design is just one of the most vital aspects for the success of an internet site. In fact, almost half of individuals claim that the layout of a website is their major element for judging a company`s credibility. As a consequence, it additionally influences conversions, bounce price, and also much more.

Sigh, if only there was a means to find some objective information on exactly how to produce effective web design. Wait, there is! And a lot of it has actually been put together in this write-up. Stay on the page for some website design suggestions backed by scientific research. Quit depending on your suspicion and also start doing things verified to function.

Learn more: Web Site Design for Businesses by Salterra

Science-based Web Design Tips to Crush Your Next Site Project

In the adhering to, you will certainly locate some research-based tips as well as methods on exactly how to boost your web design.
1. Make Site Speed an Outright Top Priority

It`s most likely one of the least discussed realities in the web design round that speed is essential. Study has actually revealed that it affects everything from bounce price over individual satisfaction to conversions as well as income.

If your website is sluggish, site visitors will not linger. Period. Plus, because users care, search engines additionally do as well as factor your page filling speed right into their positions. For that reason, it`s critical that you purchase making your website as fast as feasible.

2. Take advantage of the Layer

Whether or not there is still such a thing as the fold is part of a heated dispute. Some state that due to the multitude of screen sizes nowadays, the layer doesn`t matter any longer. Others have a various opinion.

Nevertheless, the fact is that even in 2018, people spend 57 percent of their time over the fold with a sharp decrease after that. 74 percent of their time is dedicated on the very first two screenfuls.

So, it feels like the fold still matters. For your web site that suggests you require to prioritize your material and also make use of the readily available area to hook users in so they proceed. Below are some suggestions on exactly how to do that:

Make use of a clear and detailed headline– Discuss what your site can do for visitors, highlight the advantages. Be brief and usage power words. For more advice, explore our copywriting suggestions.
Include your major call to activity– To enhance your chances for transforming, the fold is the time to start the individual trip. See to it your CTA is clear and also noticeable.
Include media– Pictures, video clips or audio assistance stress your point. We will talk extra concerning aesthetic web content further below.

3. Benefit From Hick`s Law

Hick`s Law states that the more choices an individual has, the longer they will require to choose.

There`s really a fascinating research study on this sensation in which individuals in a supermarket were given essentially selections of jam to attempt. In the end, those who had a lot more selections were a lot less likely to wind up buying some jam than the ones that had much less variety to pick from.

Just how`s that essential for your internet site? Because you might be able to boost your conversions merely by restricting the option you give to individuals. Below are a couple of examples of what that may appear like:

Minimize the variety of menu products
Limit type areas
Focus on one call to activity
Just display screen social buttons for networks you are active on
Stick to one objective per page

There are plenty of various other means you can reduce bewilder on your site and also move users towards the choices you really desire them to make.

4. Maintain it Simple

Continuing with the motif of much less, this likewise puts on your layout generally. A substantial research by Google has revealed that site visitors do not like visual complexity. The idea: the much more complex your layout, the less it is viewed by site visitors as gorgeous.

What does that mean for your website? Besides the factor over, below are a few suggestions:

Reconsider the sidebar– A growing number of web sites are dumping the sidebar for single-column design (for instance, the one you are on now). It indicates much less diversions and also places the focus plainly on the content.
Stay with basic designs– Individuals love knowledge and can get weirded out by non-standard site styles. Consequently, it can be a great concept to stick with acquainted style tropes and also formats. You can still find methods to stand apart in various other methods.

5. Stay Clear Of Carousels, Sliders, Tabs and Accordions

Internet site proprietors love slide carousels. It`s probably one of one of the most client-requested functions. Regrettably, the study says that they are pretty pointless.

One of one of the most wonderful data originates from Notre Dame College. The webmaster there discovered that the very first slide on a carousel got almost 90 percent of the clicks while the rest were mostly disregarded.

Ninety percent! Doesn`t sound like the other slides are even worth existing, does it? Appears like internet designers who talk their clients out of making use of a slider had it right to start with.

Tabs and accordions have the very same issue as sliders and slide carousels– they typically go disregarded. This is worsened by the reality that few visitors really review the whole web page. Most people merely scan and also are for that reason not highly likely to make additional clicks to see your content.

Nonetheless, suppose you need to consist of the information placed in those areas somehow? We are getting to exactly that today.
6. Focus On Scrolling Over Hitting

So, if you don`t press details right into sliders and/or accordions, how do you offer it? The response: just put every little thing in one long web page, including the stuff generally stashed. Seriously, it functions.

There is an interesting study by Crazy Egg to show this factor. They went from having an easy, brief sales page to one that was 20 times longer than the initial.

The result: conversions went up 30 percent! That`s definitely absolutely nothing to scoff at.

Appears like individuals like scrolling a lot more than they like clicking. For that reason, if you are currently spreading the information concerning your product across several pages, it`s time to reconsider.
7. Direct Attention with Visual Hints

One of the main features of website design is to lead users. You can do that by offering various weight to various elements, therefore guiding focus where you want it to go.

However, you can likewise utilize even more straight visual signs to attain this. One is by benefiting from the truth that humans tend to look in the same direction as individuals they see in ads.

Notice how in the image above, even more individuals are reading the text the child is gazing at then when the child was checking out the video camera? This is an actual point and you can utilize this to direct attention on your site where you desire it most.

Nonetheless, you do not have to be that refined about guiding site visitor interest. Often it assists to be blunt regarding it. As an example, in one research study, scientists tested the results stated above versus a straightforward arrowhead directing at stuff.

Amusing enough, the a lot more direct method outperformed the subtle sign.

Allow that be a lesson to you.

8. Usage Individuals in Photo (Yet Avoid Stock Photos).

Besides using them to direct attention, consisting of other individuals in pictures on your website is generally a terrific concept. Humans like to connect to other individuals, in real life as well as on the web. It`s why, for instance, we have concerning web pages on blogs.

You can see this at work in one case study by Basecamp. They managed to increase their conversions by 102.5 percent by transforming from a text-based landing page to one with a large photo of a person behind-the-scenes.

Simple but efficient. Nonetheless, one caveat: the entire result is conveniently negated by stock pictures. A Nielsen Norman Team research study located that we are really skilled at recognizing these common images and also adjusting them out.

For that reason, if you are going to utilize images of people on your site, see to it they are real and genuine. Include your personnel or clients. Just say no to stock.
9. Make Use Of the Right List Order.

Making use of lists, both purchased and unordered, is a terrific method to make details more obtainable. Nonetheless, it turns out that here, as well, human interest is unpredictable.

This is because of the so-called serial-position impact. It basically says that in a checklist, you are most likely to remember both the products at first and at the end. The center section, on the other hand, goes greatly neglected.

The lesson right here: When listing qualities of your product and services, see to it to place the most vital where they are most likely to make an influence.
10. Leverage Social Evidence.

The last among our web design ideas is about the so-called conformity prejudice. This is the tendency of people to do as others do. That indicates, if a group of individuals authorize of something, others are more probable to do that exact same.

One way of leveraging this on your site is to show social proof. If you can show that have a positive point of view of your website, content, product or service, brand-new visitors are most likely to do the exact same.

You can most conveniently reveal this with counts of social shares, media points out and/or testimonials. If you wish to dive deeper into this subject, we have a whole short article for you.