Remodel Kitchen

During a visit to Home Depot for other purposes, I spotted a BrassCraft Zip-It. Seeing that I had a slow bathroom sink, I was willing to give the product a test, especially since it only cost $2.50. First, I filled the sink with 3 cups of water, measuring carefully with that precise, scientific instrument otherwise [...]

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I recently found the Hansgrohe Raindance E 120 AIR 3-Jet selling for $59.97 at Costco and decided to give it a try. I also have a Grohe Relaxa Plus and a Hansgrohe Interaktiv 2-Jet Handshower installed. When I purchased the Raindance, I thought I could just switch the handshower units. However, the the Raindance operates [...]

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I’ll be the first to admit that when Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone at MWSF in 2007, I couldn’t see the genius of the product. It wasn’t until I actually got to see the iPhone in person that I realized that it was different from every cell phone that I had every owned. The iPhone [...]

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In California, the 2005 Building Energy Efficiency Standards require the installation of high-efficacy lighting. And, to prevent you from swapping high cost fluorescents with low cost incandescents, screw-in CFLs do not count. So, 2 1/2 years into this energy saving experiment, our first triple tube 4-pin fluorescent failed. So much for that 10,000 hours average [...]

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If you are remodeling a bathroom, your contractor may ask you how high you want your shower head. The first time I heard that question, I thought there must be a standard height, right? But, everything being “custom,” I had to come up with an answer. Of course, the height of the persons that will [...]

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I always find it hard to keep track of all the owner’s manuals. Sure, you might know where everything is at first. However, over time, all the manuals inevitably gets misplaced. One day, when you want to find a replacement part for an appliance or are troubleshooting, the manual is no where to be found. [...]

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If the occupant sensors you are using are not good at sensing occupants, then treat them as a timer. Behind the faceplate, the occupant sensor I am using has a dial that adjusts the shut-off time. Basically, the light will shut off a certain number of minutes after it last senses someone moving around. After [...]

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Title 24 is absolutely the bane of homeowners. I’ve griped about Title 24 before. After a year of using occupant sensors in bathrooms, I’m ready to proclaim them a complete failure. When guests come over and stay the night, I have to train them on how to use the bathroom lights, as in if you [...]

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Sometimes, a traditional hot water heater is overkill. If you need near instantaneous hot water, an electric tankless water heater may fit the bill. Works great in a small office kitchen or bathroom setting, unless you provide shower facilities. However, once you install several of them, they can cost as much as a traditional water [...]

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The Porcher Semplice Basin will be a stunning addition to any bathroom. However, be careful if you are relying on the dimensions stated on the Porcher website. Listed as the Semplice Rectangle Basin by Porcher, the overall dimensions provided are 15-1/4″ x 15-1/4″ x 6″. So, how can a 15-1/4″ x 15-1/4″ basin be a [...]

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