Guest Post: How to Replace a Leaky Shower Head Like an Expert

How to Replace a Leaky Shower Head Like an Expert

A leaky shower faucet is a problem that should be dealt with sooner rather than later. The constant dripping of water from a worn-out shower head can waste a huge amount of water over time. This adds an unnecessary expense to your household energy bill that can be easily avoided.

Shower leaks are usually caused by the wear and tear of an old shower head. As a shower head begins to dry out over time, it becomes brittle which weakens its ability to hold in water. If your shower head won’t stop dripping, it’s best to buy a shower head replacement and fix the problem yourself.

Fixing a leaking shower faucet by yourself is actually a quick and easy task. All you need is a few basic tools, and you’re ready to go. Follow these simple steps to replace your leaky shower head like an expert.

1.     Examine the leak

Determine whether or not you feel confident doing this task yourself. Even though it’s a relatively easy problem to fix, if you don’t feel confident in your abilities you should call in a plumber to ensure you don’t cause any further damage.

2.     Gather all Tools

If you decide that you’re up for the job, there are a few basic tools you will need to replace your leaky shower faucet, including an adjustable wrench, a blanket or towel, some Teflon tape, and a new shower head. These items are available at most home improvement stores.

3.     Turn Off Shower

Make sure the shower is turned off completely and check that the knobs are secured tightly. It’s usually not necessary to turn off the water supply when replacing a leaky shower faucet with a new one.

4.     Lay Down a Blanket or Towel

Next, lay down a blanket or towel on the shower floor. This will stop any small shower head bits from accidentally falling down the drain. It will also protect the floor surface from any falling materials and tools.

5.     Remove the Shower Head

Take your wrench and grip it around the notch of your existing shower head. Most shower heads can be easily loosened up and removed by giving it a few counter-clockwise turns. If you’re finding it difficult getting the shower head off, make sure that you are gripping the wrench at the very end of the handle to get more torque. But don’t give it too much force. You should always be careful with the amount of pressure you use when making electrical and plumbing repairs.

6.     Remove Excess Material

After removing the old leaky shower faucet, you may notice some excess material like dirt, plumber’s tape around the pipe or leftover rubber gaskets. Using a rag, remove all the excess material and residue so that you can get a clean new start.

7.     Wrap the Shower Arm with Tape

The next step is to wrap the threads of the shower arm with a couple layers of Teflon tape. Wrap the tape as tight as you can in a clockwise direction so that the threads are embedded properly. Smoothen out the tape along the threads using your finger.

8.     Attach the Replacement Shower Head

Take your brand-new shower head and insert it onto the shower arm. Using your hand, twist it clockwise as far as it can go to secure it into place. Make sure not to over tighten the shower head, as this can cause damage. This simple procedure is used no matter what type of replacement shower head you are attaching.

9.     Turn on Water & Check for Leaks

Now it’s time to see how successful your shower head replacement project has been. Turn the shower back on and check for any leaks around the seal of the shower head. If you do find leaks, turn the shower off again and reapply the Teflon taping. Try tightening the shower head a bit more and test it again, but make sure not to over tighten it.

No Time to Waste, No Excuse to Make

I have always been one of those that find it hard to 'stand still'. I remember when I stopped going to work in the last week of my pregnancy with my first child and not being able to sit down and just watch something on TV even for one afternoon. I just could not do something that I had dreamt of many times when working full time, when I had the opportunity for it. I thought at some stage that it could be because of my nesting period at the time but later on, it was quite evident that I was just being 'me'. Oh well, it is not that bad, right?

This year, I have a very busy schedule due to my commitments. It is so busy that I often utilise my waiting time that I get on a regular basis certain days of the week in the car as my reading or hobby crafting time. I also fit in some walking time in it too whenever I feel like it. So, those days that I am likely to get some time to kill (well, rather to wait in between two scheduled activities), I have my sneakers on (or somewhere in the car), have a book or two, a notebook or some scrap paper with some pens. As for crafting, I only bring something with me when I am able to organise a hand-crafting project that is small enough to carry around the night before to take with me the next day. When I do, depending on the amount of materials needed and the size of the project itself, I put everything I need in a small container or a larger box. It is OK, but I knew things could have been more compact and more mobile.

When I saw that 'Goody Goody Binding Kit' instagram photos (yay!, I have finally started using Instagram), I thought 'that was it'! I found the beautifully laid out tutorial of Vanessa Goertzen on her blog and voila! I made one too. Well, I started off with one, then made another, then another. It does take a bit of time to complete the project (and I must admit, the least joyful part of the whole project for me is that first fabric matching and cutting stages) but it just feels so good when you finish it. The possibilities are endless with it. I have made my own variations of the fabric placement and the inside design according to my own taste and needs but overall, the tutorial is a great start. Much recommended for anyone that is interested.

By the way, in case you haven't noticed, the over-grown strawberry and the flower are actually not just for the good looks. They are pockets. Isn't that clever of Vanessa to have come up with the idea?

Enjoy a fulfilling day!

Tutorial: Handmade Cubes

This is one quick and easy project that even most novice crafters will achieve. This was one of the very first things I have ever made as an adult crafter, approximately 5 or 6 years ago. It is quite a flexible project too as you can decide on the size, the materials used (felt is very hassle free and is easy to hand-stitch but you can also make it with some durable fabrics too instead), pattern for the felt/fabric placement, the stuffing used (hobby-fill, shredded fabric scraps etc) and so on. 

Materials needed: 
- 6 pieces of same sized (eg 10cm) felt pieces (in this particular one, I have used 4 of the same and 2 of a contrasting colour for two opposite sides)
- Stuffing (I used hobbyfill for this cube)
- Two small bells (optional)
- A needle (or a sewing machine)
- Some thread

You can choose to sew the pieces together using a sewing machine or just settle on the couch in front of a TV and simply hand-stitch (blanket stitch works the best) while watching your favourite show. Sew or stitch all sides and corners except for half of one as you need it open to put the stuffing in. I recommend securing the bells to each other and also to the filling you use or a piece of fabric leave in the middle of the cube and put more stuffing all around for safety purposes before closing the open side.

You can use this idea to make letter or number cubes for educational or decorative purposes or you can simply make it and give it to a loved little one as a handmade toy. Just be mindful of the materials used and any open ends or stitches if you give it to a baby as they tend to put things in their mouth more often than not. However, toddlers are more likely to use these cubes as balls or stacking items.

Have a fulfilling day!

Reptiles or Not

Once you have at least some basic sewing skills, life becomes more exciting; both for you and for the ones you enjoy putting a smile on the face of.

My daughter's best male friend, whom she has known since babyhood, had a 'reptile' themed birthday party last month. Believe it or not, it was full of LIVE snakes to say the least! You guess the rest. Not a party to forget anytime soon for sure.

As for the dinosaur tie in pictures here, well, you have guessed it right. It was a part of our gifts on the day (even though it is arguable whether dinosaurs were from the reptile family or not, but I thought it would still make a great gift as I haven't met a little boy who doesn't like dinos so far and yes, I was right, he DID love it!)

I have found the tie tutorial and pattern here on I am Sharing the Wealth and listened to the advice of Vanilla Joy on keeping the fabric ends around the neck short to make it more comfortable to wear. It was actually an enjoyable little project and didn't take long to put together either!

Lets make someone smile today!

Gone Knotty Again

Remember my French knot addiction (click here for a tutorial on French knots) ? Well, not much has changed since then and I am still totally addicted to it.

by MADE BY Y

I had made the half of the bib with the French knots on it a while back not knowing how to finish it until recently, then one day, I found this gorgeous red fabric that compliments it well in my ever-growing stash. Once I saw it, I knew just what to do and this is what I came up with.

Almost every time I make a new design, I keep staring at it for a while and then walk off. After a while, I look at it again and see whether I am still happy with it. (I actually keep doing it for some time.) Every time I look at this design since I made it, I still LOVE it. I guess it is a good sign that it is ready to be shared with you as well, right? I find it to be unique, cute, stylish, fresh, elegantly colourful, and yet, still babyish. The yellow ribbon on the side adds a character to it too. Do you agree?

Guest Post: A Step-by-Step Guide to Installing a New Pendant Light Fixture

Installing a new pendant light can be as easy as removing an old fixture and installing a new one. There are two issues that can help make your installation easier. First, with the exclusion of large heavy chandeliers, most pendant lights are lightweight and fine for a standard ceiling box. This makes them easier to handle or to momentarily suspend from a ceiling box with a DIY wire hook. Additionally, with the exclusion of most track lights, pendant lights usually hang from a canopy. This gives you the opportunity to support your fixture on your ladder or an interim hook, leaving your hands free to adjust the electrical and mechanical linkages.

How To Install a New Pendant Light Fixture

Remember to make sure that the power is turned-off at your home’s circuit box. Place a covering over the switch to make sure that it won’t be turned back on while you’re working. Keep a circuit tester near to make certain that the power is off before touching any electrical wiring.

Step 1: Remove the Existing Fixture

Remove the existing fixture. If you have a ceiling fan, be sure to take away the blades from the fan first. Loosen the screws while holding the fan still. Lightly pull the fixture away from the mounting bracket. Carefully remove the wire nuts from the wires, separate the fixture, and take out the mounting bracket.

Step 2: Affix the Mounting Bracket

To suspend your new pendant light, affix the new mounting bracket to the junction box. Most of the time, older mounting brackets use screws from the bottom; however, the newer versions have open bolts on the base that are topped with a cap nut.

Step 3: Affix the Wires

Affix the wires to the new pendant light following the manufacturer’s directions. This is normally white-to-white, black-to-black, and ground-to-ground.

Step 4: Firmly Fix the Connections

Firmly fix the connections with wire nuts, and then affix the bare ground wire to the green ground screw on the mounting bracket. On a number of fixtures, the neutral wire may be black with a white stripe. Slip the new pendant lamp over the bolts in the mounting bracket, and then fasten the mounting cap nuts.

Don’t forget to put the light bulbs in last; however, wash your hands first. This will help give your light bulbs a longer lifespan. Now you can climb down from your ladder and marvel at your work. Whether you’ve installed it as part of a living room remodel, or just because, we’re sure you’ll be seeing your room in a whole new, better light.

Check this YouTube video for a visual step-by-step guide.

Tim Smith writes for Modernize.

Photo by Chris Patrick Interiors.

TUTORIAL: French Knots

See the red love heart on top in the first picture below? Well, just that little love heart was formed with 77 French knots, so, let me warn you, working with French knots is something that needs patience and it needs a good amount of it. However, it is somewhat satisfactory and addictive too.

Here, I will be taking you through how to make French knots with baby steps, in case you are totally unfamiliar with it. However, firstly, I would like to share some brief information on this particular type of stitching.

French knots are a type of knotted stitches and are a basic element of embroidery. They are also classified as 'detached stitches'. 

Now, lets move onto the step-by-step instructions. 

1. Thread your needle. Make sure there is a knot at the end of your thread/embroidery floss.

Step 1

2. From the back of the fabric, put the needle all the way through the front of the fabric. 

Step 2

3. With the needle-free hand, hold the end of the thread while gently pulling the thread up to cause some tension or a firm grip.

4. Wrap the thread around your needle twice (depending on how thick your thread is or how big you would like your knots to be, this number can vary. The more wraps, the bigger knots).

Steps 3 & 4

5. While still holding the thread with the needle-free hand with a firm grip, pull the needle back through the fabric to the back of it from right next to where it came up from. I like to use the same side for my knots. For example, I generally push the needle down, say from the right or left side of the original hole for each knot. 

Note: Do not let go of the firm grip until all the thread is at the back, forming a small knot at the front.

Step 5

Ta dah! Here is your first French knot!

Repeat instructions 1 to 5 to make as many French knots as you like for your project.

What you can make with this technique is endless. I hope this tutorial inspires you to come up with your original designs and unique projects. Below are some of my designs for MADE BY Y. Enjoy!

Recycled Garden Art

Source

How original and cheerful is this? It couldn't have been cuter, could it? It is made using recycled items and is a perfect garden art piece to enjoy, in my opinion.

If you visit the original source of the photo (http://twowomenandahoe.com/recycled-tires-in-the-garden/), you will also see that there are step-by-step instructions to making one of these.

Have a fun weekend!

A No-Sew Makeover in Half an Hour: DIY Chair Cover

Here is my no-sew project from the other day: a new DIY swirl chair cover. It took me less than half an hour to come up with this beauty!

The chair works perfectly fine but the cover on it was a bit boring and not in its best shape in my opinion. So, I decided to try my hand at re-upholstering it and I must admit, this has been one of my most favourite upcycling projects to date. I am just in love with the outcome!

What I used was a staple gun, a hammer (to hammer the staples down when/if they were not in properly), a screw driver and my choice of fabrics.  (Depending on how your existing chair is assembled, what you will need to use may differ. Eg. Allen key instead of a screwdriver).

The process was quite straight forward. I simply took the screws off the backing on the seat and the back support, separated them using some muscle power, stapled the new fabrics on them making sure that the fabrics were well stretched(I chose not to remove the original cover on it), attached the back pieces back on, put the pieces together again and voila!

The whole procedure took us approximately half an hour. It is a perfect and very affordable way of adding some colour to your home or jazzing up your room.  

There is nothing like having something that has your (or your loved ones') touches all over it at home. It just is so unique and special. 

Enjoy the beauty of some personal touches in your life today!