Show Notes : Know your water and gas meters and more

KNOW YOUR WATER METER Become familiar with this system so you can shut off your water supply if necessary, test for leaks and understand your water usage. Check your company’s specific regulations before you inspect your water meter.

Locate your water meter. You can usually find the water mehttps://onthehouse.com/show-notes-62814-know-water-gas-meters/ter wherever water service enters your house. This could be outside, in the basement or in a utility room (if you live in an area that sees cold winters, the water meter should always be located in a heated part of the home and will never be outside).

Become familiar with your main shut-off valve.

Usually the shut-off valve is located beside or nearby the water meter. To shut off your water, either turn the valve so that it’s perpendicular to the pipe (which is the “off” position) or turn it clockwise until it won’t turn anymore. This valve will shut off the water to your entire house, which can be necessary if you are doing major plumbing work, such as repairing a frozen pipe, or if you areleaving your house for an extended period of time.

Learn how to read your meter. Water meters can vary in appearance, but they will almost always measure your water usage in gallons or cubic feet. If you have a round-reading meter, which has six dials and is common in older homes, it will be a little more difficult to read than new models. Start at the “100,000” dial and read counterclockwise until you reach the “one foot” dial. Each dial indicates the number that belongs in that space. For example, if the dials read 0, 0, 4, 3, 5, 2 then your water usage is at 4,352 cubic feet.

Check for leaks. Turn off all the taps in your house as well as all water-using appliances and systems (including things like your irrigation and sprinkler systems). Then check to see if your meter continues to run. If it does, you may have a water leak somewhere in your house. Note: Some meters will have a triangular disc, commonly called a leak indicator, which will spin if there is a leak. Check your toilets, washing machines, faucets and other water-using appliances for leaks. To learn more about checking your toilet for leaks.

GET TO KNOW YOUR GAS METER

Some gas companies don’t read your gas meter every month, but estimate usage instead. Inspecting your own gas meter is a simple way to make sure you’re receiving an accurate utility bill each month. It’s also a good idea to know where your gas meter is located in the event of a gas leak so that you can shut off your house’s supply of gas.

Locate your gas meter. It will usually be located outside along the front or side of your house. In some cases it may be inside a cabinet enclosure that’s attached to the outside of the building. If you can’t find it, contact your gas company and ask them where it is. Learn how to read your meter. Newer models usually have a digital meter that’s easy to read from left to right. Older models have analog meters, which are a little trickier. Read the four dials from left to right. If the hand is between two numbers, always select the lower number. When the hand is between 9 and 0, 9 is considered the lower number. If a hand is directly on a number, look at the dial to the right. If the dial to the right is between 0 and 5, use the number that that hand is on. If it is between 4 and 0, go down a number. It’s the same principle as rounding.

Inspect your meter. Once you’ve learned how to read your meter, you can inspect it each month. Inspecting your gas meter is a simple way to make sure you’re receiving an accurate utility bill each month. Check your utility bill for your next scheduled meter reading date. This is when you should take a reading and report it to your natural gas company. Many natural gas companies now allow you to submit this information online.

Know which appliances in your home use natural gas. Most gas appliances like your gas stovetop, water heater and dryer have a gas shutoff valve located near the appliance that allows you to turn off the gas to that appliance only. In some instances, shutting off these valves will stop a gas leak if it’s only coming from that appliance.

CAN YOU TROUBLESHOOT YOUR ELECTRICAL PANEL?  

Your electrical panel (or fuse box) controls the flow of electricity to your entire home. It’s important to know where your main panel is located and be familiar with its functions in case of an emergency or a malfunctioning outlet. That way, the next time your power goes out while you’re vacuuming and using the blender simultaneously, you’ll know right where to go.

Always use caution. If you’ve never been taught how to turn power to an electrical panel on/off, or never reset a circuit breaker or fuse, it’s a good idea to call a professional or an experienced friend to help you the first time. Electricity can be deadly. This is not a safe task to teach children! If your basement is flooding and you’ve lost power, do not approach your panel! That is a dangerous situation, and you should contact a professional to assist you.

Locate your electrical panel. You will usually find the main panel in the basement or a utility room. If you have children, make sure they know to stay away from this area. 


Learn your circuits. It’s a good idea to figure out which outlet each circuit connects with. Usually, it’s possible to get a map of the panel from the previous owner or original builder. If no map is available, you can create your own by systematically turning off one breaker or fuse at a time and checking which outlets lose power. This can be tedious, but this information is useful when dealing with blown fuses or breakers that need to be reset.

Locate the main disconnect. This breaker or fuse is usually marked “main” and located near the top of the box. Turning it off shuts off all power to the house. It’s important to know how to do this in case of an emergency such as a flood.

Learn how to reset your breakers or fuses. It’s useful to learn how to reset a breaker or replace a fuse (fuses are found on older panels) so you can restore electricity to an outlet that has lost power.

“The Grill Guy”

Thank you to Rob “The Grill Guy” Schwing  for joining James and Morris with his Best BBQ Beans On The Planet!

If you would like to cook this dish up for your July 4th party here is your recipe:

Best BBQ Beans On The Planet!

Shopping List:

1 lb. bacon, crisply cooked, blotted on a paper towel,  and coarsely chopped, do not drain

1 lb ground beef, cooked and drained

1 can (16 oz) Bush’s Home Style Beans

1 can (15 oz) Bush’s Spicy Chili Beans

1 can (15 oz) Bush’s Cannelloni White Kidney Beans

1 can (15 oz) Bush’s Great Northern Beans

1 can (15 oz) Bush’s Pinto Or Navy Beans

1 medium onion, chopped

1-16oz bottle Heinz Chili Sauce

8 oz cup Apple Cider vinegar

Drain and rinse the following: 1 can (15 oz) Bush’s Cannelloni White Kidney Beans 1 can (15 oz) Bush’s Great Northern Beans 1 can (15 oz) Bush’s Pinto Or Navy Beans

Spices:

2 teaspoons of Paprika

2-Tablespoons Chili Powder

2-tsp Garlic Powder

1 cup packed brown sugar

Directions:  

Crockpot: Combine all ingredients in a arge crock pot. Cook on low for about four (4) hours.

Oven: Bake at 325 degrees for about 1 1/2 – 2 hours

Hints/Tips

Hickory or Maple cured bacon adds a fantastic flavor.  NO turkey bacon or Lite bacon.

Use the Chili Sauce bottle to measure the vinegar.Fill 16 0z bottle 1/2 full and replace the cap.  Use vinegar to rinse bottle. 

If at all possible, assemble the night before (do not cook) and store in the fridge overnight uncooked.  Cover tightly with plastic wrap. If you like a little “Heat”, add your favorite hot sauce to taste.  

 

LADDER SAFETY  

Check the condition of your ladder. Are there any loose or missing parts? Check the ladder for any loose screws, hinges or rungs. It’s also a good idea to clean off any mud or debris that may be on the ladder rungs.

Set up safely. When setting up your ladder for use, place it on firm, solid and level ground or flooring. Always engage any ladder locks before you begin. Once it’s set up, check to see if the ladder sways or leans to one side. If it does, don’t use it!

Follow the three-point-of-contact rule. Now, one of the most important safety steps – the climb! The three point-of-contact rule means you should always have at least three body parts in contact with the ladder (either two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand). This way if one of your limbs slips, you’ll still have two backup points of contact. 


Allow only one person on the ladder. As a general rule, only one person should be on the ladder at any given time. 
Don’t overreach. Once you’ve completed the climb and started working, don’t overreach! Always place the ladder as close to your work area as possible and try to keep your hips vertical with the ladder rails. If you need to climb down and move your ladder, that’s much safer than overreaching and losing your balance.

Websites mentions:

Saber Grills: https://www.sabergrills.com

Install-A-Door: http: //door-holder.com/Install-A-Door.html

Pop Up Drain: http://www.bountybrassware.us/

Cooked Wood: http://www.thermoryusa.com/

Ventilation Solutions: 

http://tamtech.com/store/airpressure-interior-balance-relief-hvac-ashrae-energystar-indoor,Product.asp

Lamps Plus Recessed Lights:

http://www.lampsplus.com/Products/recessed-lighting/?cm_mmc=GOO-SE-_-Recessed+-Exact–_-Type-Shallow-_-Shallow+Recessed+Lighting+e&sourceid=SEGOO100616-A0366&gclid=CLye08_knL8CFQqDfgodcY8AWw

McNear Brick & Block: http://www.mcnear.com/

El DoradoStone: http://www.eldoradostone.com/products/

Do Not Call Registry: https://www.donotcall.gov/

Jeff Robbins – Deconfusion Consulting Corp. :http://deconfusion.com

 

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