If you think you have bad-tasting or smelling water in your home, it may not be in your head. In some areas of the United States, tap water includes additives that you may have certain sensitivities or allergies to. While a few of these added chemicals serve a purpose, such as the addition of fluoride to help protect the enamel on your teeth, there is also unwanted waste that can sometimes end up in the water supply.

Blended Piping
Another reason your current water system may be producing a bad taste or foul odor is the piping. For many newer homes, it can be an issue, as the piping leading to the tap is not a pure metal as was once used in older homes built prior to 1950. Today, it is standard practice to use piping that is a blend of metals and plastic such as polybutylene or polyethylene, which can cause issues for those with latex allergies.

Water Filters
An easy fix that may alleviate some of these problems is the usage of water filtration systems. While replacing the pipes underneath your sink is another option you may want to explore further down the line, it isn’t typically the most practical route to take, as most solid piping made of brass or copper can be extremely expensive.

A type of water filtration system that’s growing in popularity is the reverse osmosis tank system. Reverse osmosis water filtration systems work by separating the impurities from tap water and releasing the contaminants in their liquid state back into an outlet connected to the sink’s draining system. While these systems are slower to produce an abundance of water at one time, they’re useful for drinking and cooking purposes.

Water Softeners
Another avenue you can take to alleviate water pollutants in your entire home is by installing a water softener. While water softeners don’t filter out as many toxins as reverse osmosis systems, they still clean out more than filters used for filtration systems in refrigerators. Water softeners help rid the tap water in your home of iron, calcium buildup, and magnesium contaminants. Water softeners are a good middle-of-the-road option. Plus, they cost less than replacing old piping. As an added bonus, with the water softener installed, you will notice a change in texture of your hair and skin. With less pollutants in the water your skin will feel smoother, and your hair will feel softer.

It’s tough to know what’s going on here from just a picture. What you’re looking at is a unique radon mitigation system called a sub slab pressurization system, as opposed to a sub slab depressurization system, which is much more common. The radon fan is constantly running, pulling air from the basement mechanical room and blowing it downward into the slab. Regardless of the type of mitigation system in place, air should ideally be pulling from the outside, not another room inside the house. This radon system may be an accepted style, but since it’s so uncommon, it should be evaluated by a professional. 

Removing paint from wood can be painstaking, but it’s definitely worth it for the results. We’ll show you the best tools and techniques to make the process as easy as possible.

The Tools You Need
Every job is a little bit different, so depending on what item you’re trying to remove paint from, you’ll need a combination of some or all of these items.

First Method: Sanding
Start sanding your project with either sandpaper, a sanding block or a power sander. For more delicate work, you’ll want to stick with manual sanding with 80 to 180-grit sandpaper, but if you have a large area to work on with multiple layers of paint to remove, a power sander is your best bet. Once you’re finished, clean the surface with water to remove any dust. If the surface is rough, you can prime the surface and repaint.

Second Method: Stripping
If you want to show off your wood’s natural grain, you’ll have to get rid of all the old paint, which is nearly impossible by sanding alone. In this case you’ll want to use paint stripper. There are many kinds available in varying strengths, but they all come in liquid, gel or paste forms and work by chemical reaction to soften paint, making it easy to scrape away.

After donning your protective gloves, respirator and safety glasses, transfer some paint stripper into a small bowl. Using a paint brush, paint the thinner onto small sections of the piece you’re working on. Make sure to apply thinner evenly to avoid splotchy results. Once the paint starts bubbling, you can use a scraper to easily remove the paint.