How To Archives - Castle Remodel

3 Borax Ant Killer Recipes You Can Make At Home

Kevin — Fri, 10 May 2024 17:29:32 +0000

The borax ant killer recipe in this article is easy to make. In fact chances are you probably already have the ingredients in your house. If you don’t, they are very easy to get. If it helps you click the image in this article of the ingredient you need. Now lets get into how to make three borax ant killer recipes.

Disclaimer: The product links in this article are affiliate links. That doesn’t mean you will be paying any extra when you purchase. The price you pay is the same as if they were not affiliate links. I get a commission on each sale, which is a big help for me to keep this blog operating. Thank you for your assistance.

Borax is a common household product that has many uses. It typically comes in a cardboard box and is a white powdery substance. It can be naturally occurring and contains boron, sodium, and oxygen. You may have it already at your home, but if you don’t it’s easy to find at a store that sells cleaning supplies.

Borax is an ingredient for a diy ant killer recipe. In fact there are several recipes that can be tried, but I am going to share with you what I believe is the best one. It has three ingredients that are easy to get.

Like other ant baits, this diy ant bait recipe is one that will take a bit of time to work. It may take a few days before you stop noticing the ants. This is because it takes time for them to consume the bait and bring it back to the colony.

Best Borax Ant Killer Recipe

Recipe For Borax And Sugar To Kill Ants

Best Borax Ant Killer Recipe

There are several different recipes that can be used to kill ants with borax. The first recipe I am going to teach you is my favorite recipe. I use this one the most, and think this is the first one you should try.

The other recipes may be better for different applications, but still do the job well. Now let’s get into the best borax ant killer recipe.

Recipe For Borax And Sugar To Kill Ants

The two key ingredients that will be used are borax and sugar. The sugar is to lure them in to eat the bait, and the borax is going to kill the colony.

The way it works is the ants will find the sugar mixture and consume it. They will then carry it back to the colony. It’s in the colony where the rest of the ants, including the queen, will eat the mixture.

Soon you will have no more ant problems.

My Home Maintenance Checklist is a free resource to help you keep up to date on your home’s maintenance. It is designed to remind you of what needs to be done at a specific time. You will know what maintenance tasks need to be done:

Monthly
Annually
Seasonally
For your household appliances
And More

Get your free copy of My Home Maintenance Checklist today by clicking the link below!

Borax Ant Killer Recipe #1

This first recipe is my favorite. It isn’t hard to make, and doesn’t take any special equipment either. In fact the equipment that is needed for it are common items that you most likely have in the home. If you don’t have the exact items listed below you can substitute what you do have.

Ingredients

Borax

Sugar

Water

Equipment

Gloves

Measuring Spoon

Mixing Bowl

Spoon

When making any of the recipes in this article, it is always recommended to use protective gloves. Borax is a chemical that can cause skin irritation. Avoid contact whenever possible, and use necessary protective equipment as well.

You don’t need much of the ingredients to make a bait station for ants. These can be placed anywhere there are visible signs of ants in your home. They will eat the bait and take it back to the nest. There it will kill the nest, getting rid of the ants in your home.

Borax to Sugar Ratio

The ratio for the bait is 1:1. You want to use equal parts of borax and sugar for this recipe to work the best. The amount of water may vary slightly, but it won’t take much water to make.

The goal is for you to make it into a paste-like consistency. This will keep the poison in a solid state so the ants have an easy time taking it back to their nest.

Small Batch of Borax Ant Killer Recipe

Typically households that have an ant problem inside don’t need to make much of this poison. That’s why we will take a look at the recipe for making a small batch of it. If you need a larger amount you can scale up the quantities of each ingredient.

Steps

Pour 1 tbsp of borax in a mixing bowl with 1 tbsp of sugar.
Add water to the mixture in small increments at a time.
Mix it up adding more water until it is in a paste-like consistency.
Transfer the mixture to the shallow dish and place it near the ant trail.

If the ants are coming down a wall you can put this dish near the wall where it is directly below their trail. If they are on a counter you will want to place it nearby so it is as close to the trail as possible.

You will need to be patient at this point. Soon a scout ant will find the poison and tell the others. Until then you can only wait.

Borax Ant Killer Recipe #2

This is a variation of the first recipe, and requires the same ingredients. The main difference is there is one extra piece you are going to need.

Ingredients

Borax

Sugar

Water

Cotton Ball

Equipment

Gloves

Measuring Spoons

Mixing Bowl

Spoon

The only additional ingredient is the cotton ball. I am calling this an ingredient because it is mixed with the other ingredients and used as a delivery tool.

The ratio of borax to sugar is still the same. Use equal parts borax and sugar. You want to use more water this time to make it easier to saturate the cotton ball. Make the mixture a liquid, instead of a paste.

Steps

Pour 2 tbsp borax into the bowl.
Pour 2 tbsp sugar into the bowl.
Add ¼ cup water to the bowl.
Mix it until all the powder is dissolved.
Dip the cotton ball in the solution until it is fully saturated.

You can place these cotton balls near the ant trail. You may want to put them on something like a bottle cap. This will help keep the surface clean of borax and sugar.

Borax Ant killer Recipe #3

The third recipe to kill a colony of ants is a bit different than the other two. The concept works the same, but the ingredients are different.

Ingredients

Borax

Peanut Butter

Equipment

Gloves

Measuring Spoons

Mixing Bowl

Spoon

This recipe replaces the sugar with peanut butter. It is recommended that you use creamy peanut butter, but you don’t need to bother with going out to buy it if you have chunky peanut butter in the house. The ants will eat the peanut butter which has borax with it.

Steps

Scoop two or three spoonfuls of peanut butter into the mixing bowl.
Add three tbsp of borax.
Mix the borax into the peanut butter well.
Add the mixture to the shallow dish.
Place the dish near the trail of ants.

This recipe uses a bit more borax. This is because you want to make sure you have enough mixed into the peanut butter. You also want to make sure it is mixed thoroughly.

The ants are less likely to grab pure borax. That’s why we use delivery ingredients like peanut butter or sugar water. They don’t like the flavor of borax, but they do like the other ingredients’ flavor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will sprinkling Borax kill ants?

Sprinkling plain borax around the ants will not kill them. This is because they will not eat the borax. That’s why borax needs to be mixed with a delivery ingredient in order to work on the ants.

What is the best homemade ant killer?

The best homemade ant killer is borax, sugar, and water. You will want to figure out a way to deliver the mixture to the ants. Several of those ways are highlighted in this article above.

How long does it take for Borax to kill an ant colony?

It generally will take several days for the borax to work at killing an ant colony. This can vary slightly depending on the colony. It typically takes 2-3 days. But sometimes it can be up to a week to fully work. Make sure the bait stations are maintained properly. You may need to replenish them throughout the process.

Conclusion

The method for using a diy borax ant killer recipe is quite simple. There are slight variations in the recipe, but the basic concept is the same. As long as the ants take the borax back to the nest they will be killed.

I hope this article helped you with your ant issues. Check out the other articles I have here on the site for more helpful content.

Here at Castle Remodel I am dedicated to helping you create your castle. I do that by teaching you the best tips and showing you the best tools for your home remodel projects.

Happy Remodeling,

Kevin

The post 3 Borax Ant Killer Recipes You Can Make At Home appeared first on Castle Remodel.

How To Cut PVC Pipe

Kevin — Mon, 06 May 2024 03:50:17 +0000

Knowing how to cut PVC pipe the right way is a skill every homeowner should know. PVC has many uses around the house, other than the plumbing purposes it was designed for. Cutting PVC is much easier than you think. Read on to find out what the best way to cut PVC pipe is with the use you have in mind.

PVC pipe is a plastic pipe that is available in various sizes. It’s possible to cut it with a large variety of tools, and we will be discussing several of them in this article. There are three tools that are the most commonly used to cut PVC pipe. The number one tool is a hacksaw. Next is a ratcheting PVC pipe cutting tool. And the third most used option is an oscillating cutting tool. There are benefits to each of these options that we will talk about in a bit.

The most common use for PVC is low pressure water transportation. An example of this is using it in a sprinkler system like one used to water a lawn. But the versatility of PVC is endless, as it is also a commonly used material for many crafts and DIY projects.

Personal Protective Equipment

Safety Glasses

Work Gloves

It’s important to make sure you use proper safety equipment when doing any type of physical work that has moving parts. Cutting PVC pipe is no different. There are a few places that you can get injured, so for that reason we use protective equipment to help limit any injuries.

It’s the hands and eyes that are the main places that can take an injury from this project. That means the two pieces of protective equipment to use are safety goggles, and work gloves.

The safety goggles are important because several of the methods for cutting PVC will create burrs. It’s possible for these burrs to get in your eyes, so that’s why we wear safety goggles.

Gloves are helpful because any of the methods used to cut PVC use sharp objects. We don’t want to risk cutting ourselves, so we wear gloves. They are also helpful with gripping the pipe during the cut.

Make Your Mark

Tape Measure

Sharpie

The first step for making a cut is to know where it’s going to be. You are going to do this on pvc by using a tape measure and a felt tip marker like a sharpie.

Hold the tape measure to one side of the pipe, and pull it out past the length you want to make the piece. Make a small mark with the sharpie at the location it is supposed to be.

When you are cutting the pipe you want it to be as close to this mark as possible. Don’t leave too much extra space because you will need to make another cut. An even worse problem than this is if you cut the piece too small and need to start over. Try to be as accurate as possible.

Best Methods For Cutting PVC Pipe Using Hand Tools

Now it’s time to talk about the method of cutting the pipe. There are two main camps we put the tools for cutting PVC pipe in. The first are hand tools, and the second are power tools.

The main goal when cutting PVC is to make the cut straight. If you are cutting it to attach fittings on the end, you are allowed to be a few degrees off of 90, but not much. Let’s talk about some of the different hand tools we use to cut PVC pipe.

Cutting PVC Pipe With Hand Tools

Hacksaw

There are various tools that are commonly used for cutting PVC pipe. The first grouping we will talk about are the different types of saws. After we go through the saws, we will take a look at one hand tool that specializes in cutting PVC pipe.

The common feature for all of these saws here is they have small teeth. This is a feature that is used for a fine cut when working with wood, or is needed for cutting metal. A fine toothed blade is important for cutting PVC because if the teeth were larger like on a hand saw used for cutting wood it would catch on the pipe and possibly tear it rather than cut.

The biggest downside for cutting with any of the saws listed below is you will need some space around the pipe to use the saw. Saws are used by pushing and pulling it back and forth. This means they require several inches to about a foot on either side of the pipe. This will not work very well if the pipe is in a tight spot like framed into a wall. Thankfully we have a solution for this predicament.

Cutting PVC With A Hacksaw

The hacksaw is a commonly used tool for homeowners to have in their tool box. Using it to cut PVC is one of the most popular uses. There are a few things to focus on when cutting a piece of PVC with a hacksaw.

Hold The Pipe Steady

Like cutting anything with a saw, PVC needs to be held stable in order to make the cut. The best way to do this is to lay it on a solid surface, and hold it with one hand. If you want to be sure the cut is going to be as accurate as possible another thing you can do is use clamps to hold it down.

How To Cut PVC Pipe Straight With A Saw

A miter box is an open top box with several tracks (or grooves) that a handsaw fits in. The tracks are positioned in several commonly used angles, but in this case we are going to use the straight 90 deg angle.

Use one hand to hold the pipe inside the box, but located towards the front of it. The other hand will use the saw. Place the saw in the track that is for a 90 degree cut and rest it on top of the pipe.

Pull the saw towards you and away from you while applying downward pressure on the pipe. You will get a feel for how much pressure is required as you make the cut. You may need to rotate the pipe periodically to have access to the uncut part of the pipe.

Using a Pipe Saw to Cut PVC Pipe

Pipe Saw

A pipe saw is a lot like a hacksaw. The big difference is the type of blade you use. The blade is more narrow with a hacksaw, and is attached to the saw at both ends of the blade. The pipe saw blade is wider, and holds its shape without being attached to the handle on both sides of the blade.

Use a pipe saw the same way as a hacksaw. Start by resting the saw blade on top of the pipe, and pull it towards you. Then push the blade away from you on the same mark. Do this over and over until it cuts all the way through the pipe.

A pipe saw can be used with a miter box to make a straight and accurate cut.

Using a Dovetail Saw to Cut PVC Pipe

Dovetail Saw/Miter Box

A dovetail saw is a fine tooth saw used for woodworking. It’s a common saw that many homeowners have in their garage. The nice thing about using a dovetail saw to make a straight cut on PVC is it is a tool that works well with a miter box.

The miter box makes it easy to hold the PVC still while you make a straight cut. It’s best if the miter box is attached to a surface like a workbench. Start by holding the pipe with the mark at the zero degree slot on the saw. This is the slot you are going to use to make your cut. You also want it to be tight against the wall of the box closest to you.

Place the saw in the slots on the box you will be using. You want to make contact with the pipe at the heel of the saw. This will let you make a pull cut to get the cut started. Do this until you have a groove the saw blade fits in comfortably.

Make a cutting motion with the saw until you have cut all the way through the pipe. Cutting a PVC pipe this way is an effective method of cutting PVC. The only down side is it will create some PVC shavings that need to be cleaned up afterwards.

Using a Ratcheting Tool To Cut PVC Pipe

Ratcheting PVC Cutter

The ratcheting PVC tool is the best hand tool option for cutting PVC pipe in tight places. It works much like pliers where it grips from both sides of the pipe. The main difference is one of the sides is a knife-like blade that will cut through the PVC. The minimum amount of clearance is the width of the side of the tool that does not have the knife blade. As long as you can fit this side next to the pipe the tool will work.

To use this tool start by pulling the two ends of the handle apart. This will use a spring to open the jaws of the tool. Place the pipe on the curved side of the tool, and rest the blade on the mark you want to cut. Squeeze the handles until you can’t. Then loosen your grip where it can ratchet automatically. Repeat the process of squeezing and relaxing until the blade cuts completely through the pipe.

Aside from being able to work in tight places, there are a couple of other benefits to using this type of cutting tool. The second best benefit is it doesn’t produce any burrs. The blade cuts through the pipe, rather than removing material from the pipe the way saws do.

Another benefit for using this tool is it makes a straight cut with ease. The final result is going to consistently be pretty close to 90 degrees. The straight blade makes the finished cut very clean.

Power Tools To Cut PVC Pipe

Power tools make light work of cutting PVC pipe. The fact that there is a motor means you are exerting very little energy. Just hold the tool up to the mark you want to cut and let the blade do the rest of the work.

Cutting PVC Pipe With An Oscillating Tool

Oscillating Tool

The oscillating tool is a power tool that has many uses. There are a variety of blades you can attach, giving the tool a wide variety of uses. The oscillating tool can cut a lot of different material types, but cuts PVC quite easily. It can cut pipes in tight spaces because the blade doesn’t require much room to oscillate.

I recommend using a metal cutting blade, which has finer teeth, but a wood blade will work for this purpose as well. Hold the tool with two hands, and move it towards the mark you want to cut.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to cut PVC pipe?

The best way to cut pvc pipe is with the pvc pipe cutting tool. This is because it makes a straight cut when used right, and it leaves no shavings to make the cut. You are not removing any of the material, but rather you are slicing through it. These tools are simple to use as well.

Can you cut PVC pipe with a sawzall?

PVC pipe can be cut with a sawzall. It is a good option in a pinch if it is the only tool you have that will cut PVC. It is recommended to use a blade that is designed for cutting metal. This is because they have fine teeth that will be able to make a clean cut. You also want to get a blade that is several inches longer than the thickness of the PVC pipe. I would look at an 8 to 12 inch blade for this type of cut.

Do you need a special blade to cut PVC pipe?

You do not need a special blade to cut PVC pipe. As you can see from the article above there are several types of tools that will cut PVC pipe. What matters more is that you have the tool that works for this job, but also know how to use it well.

Does PVC need to be cut straight?

PVC does not need a perfectly straight cut. If you are fitting connections onto your pipe, you have a few degrees of leeway with the angle of your cut before it becomes a problem. This is usually around half an inch before it becomes a problem when gluing it up.

Can you cut PVC with a utility knife?

PVC can technically be cut with a utility knife. This can be a hard task because the blade of the knife is not very wide compared to the width of the pipe being cut. There is also a large amount of force required to cut through a material as dense as PVC pipe.

Conclusion

There are many ways to cut PVC. Each method listed in this article will get you to the same goal. If you are cutting PVC pipe to attach fittings, the best method is the ratcheting PVC pipe cutter. But all methods listed here will work.

I hope this article helped you find the best method of cutting PVC pipe for you. Here at Castle Remodel I am dedicated to bringing you the best tips and tools to turn your home into your castle. Check out the other articles in this blog for more great tips to help you create your castle!

Happy Remodeling,

Kevin

How To Stop A Toilet From Running

How To Reset A Circuit Breaker

3 Borax Ant Killer Recipes You Can Make At Home

How To Cut PVC Pipe

10 Best Garden Hoses With Buyer’s Guide

How To Install A Toilet By Your Self

9 Patio Furniture Sets With Buyer’s Guide

The 8 Best Leaf Blowers in 2024

7 Best Weed Wackers For 2024

The post How To Cut PVC Pipe appeared first on Castle Remodel.

How To Unclog A Bathroom Sink | 5 Best Ways To Unclog A Sink

Kevin — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 04:11:47 +0000

Knowing how to unclog a bathroom sink is useful information to have. There are countless methods out there, and some of them can destroy your home’s plumbing. The good news is there are a few ways to unclog a sink that is safe for your home’s plumbing. Keep reading this article to get a complete list of 100% safe ways to unclog a bathroom sink.

Why Does The Sink Get Clogged?

Aside from the kitchen, the bathroom is the most frequently used room in your home. And the sink is the most frequently used part of the bathroom. Everything from getting ready in the morning, to washing your hands before you leave are all done with the sink. That means a lot more than just water goes down that drain.

It’s common for shaving cream, toothpaste, and a lot more to be rinsed down the bathroom sink. This stuff can build up in the drain over time, causing a bottleneck to take place. The solution for a clogged sink is to find a way to remove this bottleneck and get the water flowing again.

How To Unclog A Bathroom Sink With Standing Water

Standing water is a sure sign there is a problem. The first thing you can try is to use a plunger. This is the least invasive method because it only uses pressurized air and water to move the clog.

It might seem a bit weird putting your toilet plunger in the sink. That’s why they make these sink plungers that are designed specifically for this job. The downside to using one of these plungers is if the clog is too far down, and you have an overflow hole in your sink, the plunger will just move the pressure out of this hole.

These types of plungers work best if the clog is right at the drain in the sink. If the clog is lower than that try plugging up the overflow hole with a rag or something like that. Don’t use toilet paper because some of it may break off and make the problem worse. Your goal is to move enough of the clog so the water moves out of the basin. If you drain the sink you can move on to the next method.

Clean Out The P-Trap

The p-trap is a curved section of pipe that is below the sink. It is what the water drains through on its way out of your home. The curve in this section of pipe tends to get clogged as the stuff in the water slows down and settles.

Bear in mind it’s pretty gross in this pipe, so if you are squeamish you may want to skip this option of unclogging the sink. To remove the p-trap start off by clearing out enough of the items below the sink to be able to work under there. You will need to access the back wall where the pipe goes into the wall.

Use a pair of adjustable pliers that the jaws open wider than 1-½ inches. Loosen the nuts at both ends of the p trap. Once they get started with the pliers you should be able to finish loosening them by hand. Pay attention to how these nuts came off because you will be putting them back the same way.

When the nuts are completely loosened you will slide the pipe out of the back wall and take it out from under the sink completely. Inspect the inside of it to see if it’s clogged. You may want to take it outside and use the hose to clean it out if this is an option. If not, take it to the kitchen sink to try to unclog it with water. Use something like a bottle brush if you have one to try to remove the clog.

Install it back under the bathroom sink when you are done with the p trap. If this wasn’t the problem, and the clog is further down we can try the next method.

How To Unclog A Bathroom Sink Clogged With Hair

This method requires you to have access to a garden hose nearby. You will start by removing the p trap like in the previous method. Attach a Drain King to the end of the garden hose. Place it into the pipe coming out of the wall. You want to get it in there far enough to where it’s completely in the pipe plus a few extra inches.

Turn the hose on the full amount. This works best if you have someone else helping you so one of you can hold the end of the hose in place and the other can control the water.

Let the water run for several minutes. The Drain King will expand with water and form a seal in the pipe. The pressure will force the hair clog to move through the pipe. You want to let the hose run long enough to where it frees up the clog and moves it all the way through the pipe. Otherwise it may just stop and form another clog further down.

How To Unclog A Bathroom Sink With Vinegar And Baking Soda

Vinegar and baking soda are ingredients many people have in their home. This is one method for unclogging a drain, but isn’t always the best. Let’s try it to see if it works.

Start off by boiling a pot of water to use in a bit. You then want to mix one cup of baking soda with one cup of vinegar and one cup of water.

Once the pot of water is boiling, carry it to the bathroom and pour it down the drain. Be careful not to spill it as you carry it from the kitchen to the bathroom. After you pour it down the drain start another pot of water boiling.

After the water is poured down, get the baking soda solution and dump this down the drain. Plug up the sink drain and the overflow for 5-10 minutes using the drain plug and/or wash towels.

When the next pot of water is done boiling you can dump it down the drain. This process is meant to clear the clog from the drain. Hopefully it worked, but if not, let’s try the next option.

How To Unclog A Bathroom Sink Naturally

One of the worst things you can do when trying to unclog your bathroom sink is to put harmful chemicals down your drain. Though they may be effective at dissolving the clog in your drain, they will also dissolve the pipes over time as well. This ends up being a much more harmful method than it’s worth.

There is one type of “chemical” that I can’t recommend enough. You can consider an enzyme as a microscopic life form that eats away at organic matter, making it easier to flush down the drain. When you put these enzymes into your plumbing pipes they end up reproducing and eating away at material that may cause future clogs before they have a chance to take hold.

There’s a product called Green Gobbler that uses these enzymes to help unclog the drain. There are several different versions of this product that are recommended for different types of applications. I prefer the original formula, but they also make an industrial strength formula that is great for situations like a kitchen sink that had too much grease put down it.

Read the directions for the product you choose. Each application has different instructions for use. If it doesn’t work completely at first go ahead and try it again in the next day or two.

Do not put boiling water down your sink after using the enzymes because it will kill them. You want to give them a chance to build up their population enough to do work long term.

How To Prevent A Bathroom Sink From Getting Clogged In The Future

The only way to completely prevent a bathroom sink from getting clogged is to not allow anything to go down it. The best way to do that is to use a sink strainer. What this will do is catch anything that would have gone down the drain otherwise.

The sink shroom is a bathroom sink strainer that you use in the place of the sink stopper that comes with the faucet. You would need to remove this in order to install the sink shroom.

It is easy to keep clean, letting you quickly clean it off when the sink begins to clog. To do this simply pull the sink shroom out of the drain hole, and use a wad of toilet paper to wipe it off. Then place it back in the drain hole.

Conclusion

Knowing how to unclog a bathroom sink without damaging the pipes is an important skill to have. The truth about it is some of these methods may not work on every type of clog. You most likely will be trying more than one of these methods to completely unclog your sink for good.

The truth is once you free the clog it’s good to take preventative actions. This will ensure you don’t have this problem again in the future.

I hope this article helped you with learning how to unclog a bathroom sink. Thanks for reading.

Happy Renovating,

Kevin

The post How To Unclog A Bathroom Sink | 5 Best Ways To Unclog A Sink appeared first on Castle Remodel.

How To Install A Light Fixture

Kevin — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 05:59:43 +0000

Learning how to install a light fixture in the ceiling is not very hard at all. In fact, it will save you a lot of money not having to hire an expensive handyman to do it for you. And when you are done with the install you will be able to enjoy your work each and every day. Now let’s get started in learning how to install a light fixture.

Required Tools

Steps For Installing A Light Fixture

Step 1: Switch Off The Power

This step is by far the most important. Turning off the power at the breaker will allow you to work safely, without any worry of electric shock. This is easier if you have someone else who can stand in the room and tell you when the power is off.

Now you can use the voltage detector to be certain the power is shut off. It’s better to be redundant than sorry, especially when working with electricity.

You also need to realize you won’t have the luxury of using the light in the room. For this reason, you may want to install the light fixture in the daytime. This will hopefully allow enough daylight through the window for you to work comfortably.

If there isn’t enough natural light in the room, you can fix this problem by plugging in a lamp in a room with power using an extension cord.

Step 2: Remove Old Lamp From Ceiling

Now you can remove the old lamp from the ceiling. The main tool for this is a screwdriver, but a wire stripper with a built in wire cutter is also helpful.

Each ceiling lamp is different, but it’s not hard to figure out how to remove it. The main thing to start with is the lamp shade. Some of the common ways to remove them is a thumb screw, or they may twist off.

Once the shade is off you want to take the bulbs out and put them in a place they won’t get broken. Use the screwdriver to remove the machine screws holding it to the ceiling.

To disconnect the fixture from the ceiling, you can twist off the wire nuts and disconnect it that way. Another option is to use the wire cutter on your wire stripper to snip the wires just above the wire nuts.

Disclaimer: Do not cut the wires unless you feel comfortable stripping the ends before connecting the new fixture. You will also want to make sure there is enough length of wire coming out the ceiling before you do this option. There must be enough length in these wires for the new fixture to attach to.

Step 3: Attach The New Light Fixture

When attaching the wires, make sure you are connecting the white wire from the fixture to the white wire in the ceiling. Some ceilings may have a piece of different color wire that is not white. The white wire is neutral, and the black (or other color) wire is hot.

Connect the copper grounding wire in the fixture to the copper wire coming out of the ceiling using a wire nut. If there is no grounding wire in your ceiling, but your light fixture has a mounting bracket with a green screw in it, you can connect the wire to this screw. If that is not present you can fold the grounding wire up and stick it aside.

Hold the two black wires together and twist in a clockwise direction. Then take a wire nut that comes with your new light fixture and twist it onto these wires in the same direction. Do this step with the white wire as well.

Bonus Step: Use Electrical Tape To Secure Wires To Wire Nuts

This step is not necessary, but I feel like it gives a great sense of comfort. Use a 4-6 in piece of electrical tape to secure the wire to the wire nut. It’s nice knowing the wires won’t work themselves apart when pushing the wires into the box.

Step 4: Attach Light Fixture To The Ceiling

Now it’s time to screw the light fixture base to the ceiling. It’s helpful to loosely attach the machine screws to the ceiling box. There are two screw holes where the old screws came out. If these screws are still there, and in good condition you can reuse them if you’d like.

Next, shove all the wires and the wire nuts into the ceiling light box. At the same time fit the heads of the machine screws into the two “keyhole” shaped openings on the light fixture. Twist the fixture to lock the screws in place.

Use your screwdriver to tighten these screws. They don’t need to be too tight, but they should be firm enough to seat the fixture onto the ceiling.

Step 5: Turn On The Breaker

Go ahead and turn your breaker back on at this point. You want to do this before installing the light cover. This gives you less items to remove if one of the previous steps wasn’t done correctly.

If your light fixture is not LED, now is when you would put the light bulbs in. If you turn on the light switch and it doesn’t come on, that means one or both of your wires are not installed correctly. Turn the breaker off and take the fixture back off.

If you turn on the light switch and it comes on you can put the lamp shade on according to the directions that came with your light fixture.

Conclusion

Congratulations, you successfully installed a ceiling light fixture. I’m proud of you!!

Please feel free to leave me a question or comment you might have in the comment section below. Thanks for reading the article.

-Kevin

The post How To Install A Light Fixture appeared first on Castle Remodel.

Best Bathroom Exhaust Fan – A Buyer’s Guide

Kevin — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 20:06:28 +0000

Getting the best bathroom exhaust fan is one of the most important purchases for a bathroom. A good one will be able to remove foul odors and humidity out of the room without your noticing. Now bathroom fans come with a variety of options to choose from. Keep reading to get your hands on the best bathroom exhaust fan for your home.

By clicking the purchasing through the links in this article you will be helping fund this website. They are affiliate links which means I get a commission for the sale, but you WILL NOT be paying any extra money. Thank you for your support!

The bathroom fans in this article are ceiling fans that may require an additional ducting kit and vent box. When shopping for a brand new ceiling fan, make sure to get a duct kit that is the same diameter as what the fan is rated for. If you have a duct in place, you can tell what the size is by holding a tape measure up to the inside of the ducting. If you will be installing a new duct you will want to purchase the kit with the fan, making sure they are the same size.

Best Bathroom Exhaust Fan

The best bathroom exhaust fan is one that will turn your bathroom time into an experience you look forward to. The company Broan-NuTone makes the ChromaComfort bathroom fan that has a 24 color changing LED light, bluetooth speaker that is android and iOS compatible, and timer feature as well. It moves air at 110 CFM, and at 1.5 sones it sounds softer than a quiet library.

Broan NuTone ChromaComfort

How Do I Know What Bathroom Fan to Buy?

There are several important things to think about when picking the right bathroom fan. Each bathroom is different in its own unique way, and may have specific requirements from the members of the household. Below is a series of bathroom fan characteristics you want to consider when searching for your best bathroom exhaust fan.

Bathroom Fan Buyer’s Guide:

(These are the categories you will be considering when buying a bathroom exhaust fan)

Performance

Look for a fan with sufficient airflow capacity (measured in cubic feet per minute, or CFM) to effectively ventilate your bathroom. The Home Ventilating Institute (HVI) recommends a minimum of 50 CFM for each fixture (toilet, shower, bathtub, etc.) in the bathroom.

Quiet Operation

Choose a fan with a low sone rating for quiet operation. A lower sone rating indicates quieter performance. The low end for bathroom fans is <0.3 which is around a low whisper. On the high end, 6.0 sones is similar to the sound level you might hear in a sports arena.

Energy Efficiency

Opt for an Energy Star certified model, as these fans are designed to be more energy-efficient. This will save you money on electricity in the long run while also be beneficial for the environment.

LED Light Quality

Consider the brightness and color temperature of the LED light. Look for a fan with LED lights that provide sufficient illumination for the bathroom and have a color temperature that suits your preferences.

Durability and Build Quality

Ensure that the fan is well-built and durable. Look for features such as a sturdy housing and a quality motor. Reading the reviews can be a good starting point for this.

Easy Installation

If you’re planning to install the fan yourself, choose one with a design that facilitates easy installation. Some models come with user-friendly installation instructions and features.

Brand Reputation

Consider well-known and reputable brands in the ventilation industry for this purchase. Reading customer reviews and checking ratings can provide insights into the performance and reliability of a particular model. Some popular brand names to consider are Broan-NuTone, OREiN, and Panasonic to name a few.

Humidity Sensor

A humidity sensor on a bathroom fan can be a helpful feature to have. The fan will turn on when the humidity reaches a certain level in the room. If your fan doesn’t have a humidity sensor, a good alternative is to use a timer switch that will turn it off after an allotted amount of time.

Timer Switch

Some bathroom fans include a built-in timer. I recommend getting a timer switch you can replace your light switch with. This will be much easier to use, and will do the same thing in the end. Make sure the bathroom fan you choose is compatible with timer light switches.

Venting

There are three main options for venting a bathroom fan. Some fans require a 3 inch duct, some use a 4 inch duct. There are also bathroom fans that don’t use any duct, but rather recirculate the air after running it through a carbon filter. The best option is either to go with a bathroom fan that hooks up to a duct. But if this is not an option for your situation, you have the recirculating fan as an option as well.

Price

The prices of a basic bathroom fan for a small bathroom can be as low as $25-30. The price will go up for larger models, and fans with more built-in features. The high end brand’s prices for a bathroom fan can be several hundred dollars.

Duct Size

There are several duct size options you can choose from. The most important thing to consider is if you have an existing fan you will want to know what size duct it has. Although rare, there is a chance your bathroom fan is ductless. This is when the bathroom is not near an exterior wall. If you have no fan and are going to install one with a duct, pick the same size duct as the fan output hole.

CFM Rating

Bathroom fans have a CFM rating which stands for cubic feet per minute. To find out what the minimum CFM rating for your bathroom, measure the length (in feet) and multiply that by the width. The CFM of the fan you choose should be whatever the square footage is of your bathroom at a minimum.

Best Bathroom Exhaust Fans According to Their Features

Now that you know what features are available in a bathroom fan, let’s see what fans are available that offer features you are looking for. Below is a series of bathroom fans that are ideal for different situations.

Best Bathroom Exhaust Fan With LED Light

A LED light is one of the most desired features in a bathroom fan. This boosts the fan’s functionality tremendously. When looking for a bathroom exhaust fan with a LED light, you want one that is dimmable. This will be much better than having a fan with a preset level of light. That’s why I recommend the Homewerks 7141-50 Bathroom Fan.

Homewerks 7141-50

Most Powerful Bathroom Exhaust fan With a Light

In some situations you want a more powerful bathroom exhaust fan. And sometimes having a built-in light on the fan is really important. OREiN offers a fan that moves 160 CFM, and only puts out 1.0 sones of noise while doing it. It has 4 light options, and a built-in humidity sensor as well. Take a look at this fan on Amazon by visiting the link below.

OREiN Bathroom Exhaust Fan

Best Bathroom Exhaust Fan With Humidity Sensor

The Delta Breeze GBR89H is the best bathroom exhaust fan with a built-in humidity sensor. There are multiple options available including two CFM levels. You can also choose between multiple speeds, LED light option, motion, and humidity sensor.

Delta Breez GreenBuilder

Best Bathroom Exhaust Fan With Heater

The Broan NuTone BHFLED110 PowerHeat is a great exhaust fan with a built-in heater. It pushes 110 CFM of air, making it strong enough to be used in any medium sized bathroom. It has a LED light option available for those who prefer a bathroom fan with a light.

Broan-NuTone BHFLED110 PowerHeat

Best Bathroom Fan to Prevent Mold

A bathroom fan is one of the best ways to prevent mold in the most humid room in the house. Having the right amount of airflow will move moist air out of the bathroom and away from surfaces that would otherwise harbor mold growth. Below is the best bathroom fan to prevent mold. The Broan Nutone AE110 Invent Flex pushes 110 CFM of air. It is whisper quiet, making it a great choice for the average size bathroom.

Broan-NuTone AE110 Invent Flex

Best Bathroom Exhaust Fan With Bluetooth Speaker

A bluetooth speaker is one of the best accessories the bathroom fans come with. Play your favorite music, podcast, or anything else you desire over the Broan NuTone ChromaComfort Bathroom Exhaust Fan. It also includes a 24 color option LED light, making your bathroom time an experience.

Broan-NuTone SPK110RGBL ChromaComfort

Feature Options Without The Fan

Sometimes we have a perfectly fine bathroom fan, but we want to add some of the features like the ones listed above. Now you can get the features you want without installing a new bathroom fan. Here are some accessories ideas that will upgrade your bathroom experience.

Humidity Sensor

Leviton makes a humidity sensor that can be installed where the fan’s wall switch is. If the humidity gets too high the fan will turn on automatically. You are also able to turn the fan on and off manually as well. It’s available in three colors.

Leviton Humidity Sensor Switch

Plug-in Heater

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Envi Plug-in Electric Panel Wall Heater

Bluetooth Speaker

The JBL Flip 5 is a portable bluetooth speaker that is perfect for using in the bathroom. This is a great option if your existing bathroom fan doesn’t have a built-in speaker already. It’s waterproof and portable, allowing you to use it in any room of the house.

JBL FLIP 5

Frequently Asked Questions:

Which brand is best for a bathroom exhaust fan?

There are several brands that are known to be good bathroom exhaust fan brands. The brand Broan-NuTone is known for making bathroom exhaust fans that are extremely quiet and last a long time.

Is a higher CFM better in a bathroom exhaust fan?

The higher the CFM rating, the quicker the air will be removed from the room. A higher CFM rated fan will move disgusting smells and humidity out of the bathroom in a shorter amount of time. This is helpful to look at when shopping for a fan for a larger bathroom (see above diagram). Oftentimes the faster the fan, the louder the motor is.

What is the best type of fan for a bathroom?

A ceiling mounted exhaust fan is the most efficient way to move humidity and foul odors out of the bathroom. They use a duct that pushes the bad air out of the room so the fresh air can come in.

What’s the most powerful extractor fan for a bathroom?

The Panasonic FV-40VQ4 boasts a whopping 390 CFM rating. This fan will be able to handle a large residential bathroom with ease. This is not a common CFM rating for bathroom fans. On average, the higher CFM rating is going to be in the 120-160 range.

Conclusion

There are many options in the world of bathroom fans nowadays. Taking a moment to think about what features can best accommodate your household will help improve your bathroom experience. But also remember that sometimes it’s best to keep things simple as well.

I hope you enjoyed this article. If you have any questions or comments please leave them in the comment section below. Thank you for reading!

-Kevin

The post Best Bathroom Exhaust Fan – A Buyer’s Guide appeared first on Castle Remodel.

How To Archives - Castle Remodel

3 Borax Ant Killer Recipes You Can Make At Home

Contents

Best Borax Ant Killer Recipe

Recipe For Borax And Sugar To Kill Ants

Borax Ant Killer Recipe #1

Ingredients

Equipment

Borax to Sugar Ratio

Small Batch of Borax Ant Killer Recipe

Steps

Borax Ant Killer Recipe #2

Ingredients

Equipment

Steps

Borax Ant killer Recipe #3

Ingredients

Equipment

Steps

Frequently Asked Questions

Will sprinkling Borax kill ants?

What is the best homemade ant killer?

How long does it take for Borax to kill an ant colony?

Conclusion

How To Cut PVC Pipe

Personal Protective Equipment

Make Your Mark

Best Methods For Cutting PVC Pipe Using Hand Tools

Cutting PVC Pipe With Hand Tools

Cutting PVC With A Hacksaw

Hold The Pipe Steady

How To Cut PVC Pipe Straight With A Saw

Using a Pipe Saw to Cut PVC Pipe

Using a Dovetail Saw to Cut PVC Pipe

Dovetail Saw/Miter Box

Using a Ratcheting Tool To Cut PVC Pipe

Power Tools To Cut PVC Pipe

Cutting PVC Pipe With An Oscillating Tool

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to cut PVC pipe?

Can you cut PVC pipe with a sawzall?

Do you need a special blade to cut PVC pipe?

Does PVC need to be cut straight?

Can you cut PVC with a utility knife?

Conclusion

How To Unclog A Bathroom Sink | 5 Best Ways To Unclog A Sink

Why Does The Sink Get Clogged?

How To Unclog A Bathroom Sink With Standing Water

Clean Out The P-Trap

How To Unclog A Bathroom Sink Clogged With Hair

How To Unclog A Bathroom Sink With Vinegar And Baking Soda

How To Unclog A Bathroom Sink Naturally

How To Prevent A Bathroom Sink From Getting Clogged In The Future

Conclusion

How To Install A Light Fixture

Required Tools

Safety Glasses

3M Electrical Tape

Klein Voltage Detector

Workpro Wire Stripper

Workpro 11-in-1 Screwdriver

Steps For Installing A Light Fixture

Step 1: Switch Off The Power

Step 2: Remove Old Lamp From Ceiling

Step 3: Attach The New Light Fixture

Bonus Step: Use Electrical Tape To Secure Wires To Wire Nuts

Step 4: Attach Light Fixture To The Ceiling

Step 5: Turn On The Breaker

Conclusion

Best Bathroom Exhaust Fan – A Buyer’s Guide

How Do I Know What Bathroom Fan to Buy?

Bathroom Fan Buyer’s Guide:

Performance

Quiet Operation

Energy Efficiency

LED Light Quality

Durability and Build Quality

Easy Installation

Brand Reputation

Humidity Sensor