However difficult our physical problems are due to old age and disability, we all want to remain clean and feel fresh. Therefore specialist bath lifts are a welcome addition as they can make the difference between getting into a bath and not being able to.

For mobility sufferers with restricted movement or of frail dispositions, bath lifts are an absolute godsend. They are lightweight enough to be manageable at the touch of a button and are incredibly easy to install.

Bath lifts work straight out of the box with impressive sturdy construction and is easy to clean with washable covers. It is simplicity personified with the ability to sit in the ergonomically designed seat before lowering you slowly into the water with the ability to recline against the backrest with optimum neck support.

Mobility experts Collins Care stock a good range of bath lifts with outstanding performance built for safe independent bathing. The Sonaris bath lift is a mid-range product which enables the user to descend into the water upright or reclined in a more comfortable position. It incorporates a host of useful features, with audible and visual alarms to signify its operation and battery charge levels.

Perhaps the most comfortable of bath lifts supplied by Collins Care is the Bath Buddy – an inflatable bath lift which is activated by the press of a soft-touch button, lowering the user into the bath on a cushion of air. When you want to re-inflate simply press the same soft-touch button and the Bath Buddy re-inflates to lift you gently out of the bath. All fittings are made from soft material ensuring that there is no damage done to your bathroom.

The flexibility of a bath lift is a welcome relief for mobility sufferers merely searching for some rest and relaxation with a nice warm soak.

At Collins Care we specialise in providing the best mobility products including bath lifts and advice to help you lead an active life. With over 10 years of experience in mobility sales, Collins Care provides tailored mobility advice and information on a range of products and disabilities.

If you have ever gone camping for a weekend, you know it doesn’t take long to miss running water, flushing toilets, clean clothes, and hot showers. These modern innovations are due to widespread usage of plumbing systems.  Your house has several separate plumbing systems- bathubs, sinks, toilets, washers , and related fixtures.

Water runs through pipes and the types of pipes for different plumbing usage may vary, from:

1. Copper

2. Plastic

3. Lead

4. Concrete

5. Steel

6. Cast iron

Most homes contain copper and plastic or PVC pipes.

Plumbing, like elextricity, is something we couldn’t imagine not having and most of use know very little about it.  Shopping for your own plumbing fixtures rather than getting them through your plumber allows you choose from a wider selection and save money. And if you don’t have the time to shop on your own – your plumber does have an understanding of the different makes and models of appliances and plumbing fixtures so you can give them a budget if you’d prefer.

Most people are familiar with residential plumbers, who come to their homes to unclog a drain or install an appliance. When a home or commericla building is being built,  construction plumbers install piping in a house , for example, they work from plans or drawings that show the planned location of pipes, plumbing fixtures, and appliances. This is why its a good idea to  have a copy of these plans should you need to find where the pipes are in a wall at a later date.

Water enters your house through a pipe that connects either to a municipal water line or a private well. Faucets, like all plumbing fixtures with moving parts, are apt to require more repair than non-moving fixtures. The less strain you put on your faucets, the less frequently they need repair.

Some causes of your issues may not be in the pipes themselves. If your plumbing fixtures drain slowly, the problem may be a clogged vent. This happens when vents are improperly located and when birds or animals deposit debris in the vent where it exits the roof.

Whatever your intended plumbing projects, the first step is to familiarize yourself with the plumbing system in your house . At the very least it is critical to know where to switch off the mains in case of an emergency.

Faucet replacement is a  straightforward task that almost anyone can do. It’s one of those household repairs that don’t really warrant any professional assistance.

Here are the fundamentals that you should know about faucet replacement.

Being Prepared And Choosing Your Faucet

Before you start replacing the broken faucet, you should be prepared and have on hand the tap unit that you would like to use to exchange your current one. You’ll be able to drop by your local ironmongery shop or shop online to pick out the faucet that you just have to have. Having it there before removing the current one will make things work easier and faster for you.

There is a great selection of faucet designs available ranging from the traditional to the ultra modern. For your bathtubs and sinks, you can get single or double handled faucets. Usually, taps have a commonplace size concerning their hook-ups, depending on their use. For kitchen faucets, you’ll be able to find units with an eight in”  hookup. Toilet faucets typically come in 4 inch sizes, whereas bathtubs are generally available  in 8 inches.

Faucet Measurements

In order to know which faucet to buy, first you need to take some measurements. With your tape measure in hand you will need to do the following:

• For a double handled faucet, take the measurement from the handles’ center to center,  this is often your faucet’s size.
• For a single-handled faucet, you  need to measure from the the space in between your water hook-up lines  to the bottom of the faucet.

Once  you know the style and size of your faucet, then you’re already to take out the old faucet and install the new unit.

Tools That You Need

Essentially, you do not require a lot of tools for this task. What you do need  are wrenches so that you’ll be able to hold the shut-off valve and take out the provision line that’s going to your faucet. Also, you will need channel lock pliers or a basin wrench, so that you can remove the large nuts that attach the faucet to your sink. It  is better to use a basin wrench, due to its special style that makes it ideal for working in tight spaces, such as where your faucet is mounted to your sink.

Steps To Fixing A New Faucet

1.  turn off  the water supply that is linked to your faucet.
2.  remove the provision lines coming from each side of your faucet.
3.  take away the big retainer nuts that are holding your faucet to the sink.
4.  remove the old faucet from the sink.
5.  clean up your sink and where the recent unit was installed.

Once you’re done cleaning up, place the new unit  in the existing holes. You may need some assistance with this so ask somebody to help you keep it centered while putting in the retainer nuts below. When you get the tap in place and the retaining nuts tightly screwed on, you’ll be able to get your water  lines connected again. Turn on your water supply and do some tests for leaks.

If you do find some leaks, try reinstalling the unit once more and make sure that you have  each part aligned to where it should be. Additionally, if you want you can use plumbers putty or thread tape to prevent leaks or dripping on the joints, especially in between the tap and sink, or the supply line and  the faucet.

Get one of the best tools on the market place for electrical testing, the Draper 60792 Digital Multimeter with Backlight.  This high quality Draper digital multimeter will prove to be a reliable and useful tool for you.

Are you one of the many homeowners who has recently decided that you would like to tackle a home improvement project, such as remodeling your bathroom?  If so, do you have any previous home improvement or remodeling experience? If not then taking a class on bathroom remodeling is a defnite way to go. That’s not always possible with our busy lifestyles apart from the fact that these classes can be expensive for those on a limited budget.

A nice and relatively affordable alternate to classes are bathroom remodeling books and magazines. Despite the fact that they are full of valuable information, you may be wondering whether or not they are really worth the expense.

Bathroom remodeling books, which are also sometimes referred to as bathroom remodeling how-to guides, are printed resources that are designed to assist homeowners with their own do it yourself bathroom remodeling projects.  These guides not only give you remodeling ideas and tips, but they also provide detailed remodeling directions, such as step-by-steps on how to replace your bathroom flooring and so on.  

At this point you may be wondering exactly which ones you should buy. It really depends on a number of different factors.  Bathroom remodeling books or how-to guides come in a number of different formats.  There are some books that list information and directions on multiple bathroom projects, while others tend to only focus on one or two.  If you are looking to have the majority of your bathroom remodeled, it may be a good idea to purchase a book that covers a number of different projects and visa versa.

One important thing to consider before buying any bathroom book, guide or manual is that it comes with images for each step in the process. This may be drawings with measurements or actual photos. This will make your bathroom renovation that much easier.

How-to remodeling guides can be purchased online, from most home improvement stores, and most books stores including Amazon. Most specialty bathroom remodeling books start from around fifteen or twenty dollars.

Bathrooms used to be the most neglected part of the house. That is no longer the case today, as more and more people are realizing the value of investing on modern and full-featured bathrooms. In fact, bathrooms today are becoming more stylish, sleek and modern. Because of this, homeowners are taking into consideration not just the functionality but the appearance of their bathrooms as well.

Keeping the Bathroom Neat

While decorating your bathroom, remember that sealing the shower area has its benefits. As a result, shower doors have become an important fixture as homeowners want a tidier, cleaner and even sexier look to their bathrooms. Shower doors are installed to prevent spraying water to the whole bathroom. This protective layer allows you to enjoy your bath or shower without worrying about getting the whole floor and everything else wet. If you have a tub, you have the option to seal from the tub’s rim up. On the other hand, using frameless glass shower doors would give your bathroom a neater and a provide a more modern appeal.

Shower Curtains versus Solid Shower Doors

Although shower curtains are mostly used in bathrooms, using shower doors allows you to have a worry-free shower. That’s because unlike the shower curtains, shower doors will not flap and flutter back and forth while you are in the shower. In the same vein, unlike shower curtains, there is no need for you to remove the shower doors when cleaning them. You simply need to get a soft rag and glass cleaner, and then start scrubbing the dirt off. This easy cleaning process makes using shower doors a truly hassle-free option.

What’s more, shower doors are typically durable and long-lasting. You can keep it shiny with a simple wipe of a cleaning cloth. These shower doors generally look timeless so you don’t need to replace them even if you decide to remodel the bathroom later on. For example, a sliding shower door would last for years to come. Even if some minor repairs would be required, you only have to fix the shower door parts that need to be replaced and they would be functioning well and look great once more. Quality shower doors really are worth the investment to up the ante in the look of your home.

The bathroom light is probably  the most important light in any room of the house.

Lighting is crucial to how well your bathroom functions.  The bathroom is where we all do some very detailed and important work such as applying makeup or shaving.  Obviously, you do not want to make a mistake with either one of those tasks due to poor lighting.  It is also the first place we see ourselves in the morning and the last place we see ourselves at night.  Don’t you want the sight of yourself to be a positive one?  I’ve got some tips for lighting that I learned while researching the possibilities for our own bathroom.

Tip #1 – Consult a Lighting Designer

A lighting designer will consider the bath’s overall design to determine the amount and placement of light needed in the space.  Visit the International Association of Lighting Designer’s website at www.iald.org. However, if a designer does not fit in the budget, there are many books and guides to help you along.

Tip #2 – Layer the Light

Anyone who has been in a bathroom with just one light source knows how unflattering a single source of light can be.  A bathroom remodel calls for the following 4 types of light:

1. Task Lighting provides adequate light for applying make-up and shaving. The best way to achieve this is a pair of fixtures mounted on the wall flanking the sink or “work area”.  This is called cross illumination.
2. Ambient Lighting is achieved by bouncing the light off the ceiling, which softens shadows and can take ten years off a person’s age.
3. Accent lighting adds depth and dimension.  It allows you to illuminate design features, such as art, plants, or beautiful tiles.
4. Decorative lighting, created by hanging eye-catching fixtures from the ceiling, will dress up the bath, and add some luxury.

Tip #3 – Create a Scene

Zoned lighting and dimmers can adjust for a variety of situations or “scenes”.  Different lighting scenes give you bright light in the area where you get ready in the morning, or create soft lighting for a relaxing soak in the tub.

Tip #4 – Overcome Design Challenges

Often bathrooms are located on interior walls, lacking any source of natural light.  This lack of a natural light source can feel a bit subterranean.  It is best to try to incorporate natural light wherever possible.  Experts recommend the addition of windows or skylights as part of a remodel.

Basically, if your bathroom light looks good, you will too.