A kitchen sink garbage disposal is a convenient way to be rid of table scraps, but as with any motorized appliance, it requires regular care and maintenance. Luckily, there are 4 easy things you can do each month to keep it working properly.

Use Rid-X

Even though the disposal grinds up food waste, remnants can accumulate and clog pipes. The best way to keep the plumbing pipes clean is to use an organic enzyme like Rid-X to eat up the organic waste.

Rid-X is available at most home improvement stores and is sold as a cleaner for septic systems, but it also works as a safe and effective cleaning agent for all types of plumbing.

Once a month, pour the following mixture down the kitchen drain:

● 1 tablespoon of powder per 16 oz. of warm water

● Mix it like tea and pour it down the drain.

Click for more details about the maintenance powers of Rid-X.

Grind Ice Cubes

Once a month, pour a cup of ice cubes down the running disposal to clean the grinder blades. This will not sharpen the blades; dull cutters need to be replaced and it’s usually cheaper to buy a new unit than replace individual blades.

Get Rid of Odors

Even though you run cold water while grinding items, bad smells are inevitable. Nix the odors by grinding up lemon, lime or orange peels, which have natural cleaning properties and will make the entire kitchen smell great.

Keep the Water Running

You know to always have water running while grinding waste, but it’s also important to let the water run for 5-10 seconds after you’ve turned off the switch. This allows the water to push the waste further down the pipes. And only use cold water, as hot water can cause some food items to swell, which can clog blades or the pipes.

To get optimal performance from your garbage disposal, always cut up items into small chunks and feed them slowly into the drain while the cold water runs. As soon as the items have been ground (you’ll hear a difference in the operating sound) turn off the disposal.

Do Not Put These Items in the Garbage Disposal

Any one of the following can cause blades to lock up or the pipes to clog, even with regular maintenance:

● Non-food items
● Meat fat and bones
● Popcorn kernels
● Fruit seeds
● Rice and pasta
● Grease
● Egg shells
● Fibrous vegetables like corn husks, celery or banana peels

If you experience any problems with your garbage disposal, or feel it’s time for a new one, have Mosby Building Arts take care of the problem or install a new unit for you. Call Mosby at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

Mosby Building Arts is pleased to be recognized as a top full-service remodeling firm as ranked by a national industry publication.

Mosby is #22 on the Remodeling 550 list of full-service home improvement companies in the nation, as compiled by Remodeling magazine. They are one of two St. Louis companies to make the list.

The industry acknowledges that 2009 was a difficult year for remodelers across the nation, as shrinking home equity credit and personal incomes made homeowners cautious about undertaking remodeling projects.

Scott Mosby, president of Mosby Building Arts, attributes the ability of his company to thrive during these trying economic times to their 63 years of experience helping homeowners enhance the comfort and value of their biggest investments.

“Your home requires constant maintenance,” Scott said, “and homeowners are now concentrating on the improvements that deliver a guaranteed return on investment. Projects like new roofing, siding, and energy efficiency benefit you now and have long-term value. Homeowners want to work with companies that have the knowledge and the longevity. It’s about the security of working with a company that will treat you and your home with respect and will be around for decades to make sure their home performs as expected.”

Scott notes that “rather than building room additions, we build relationships. And at the end of the day, that’s what matters most – family, comfort and security. Those are our top priorities, and it’s why we are grateful to have so many long-term clients that trust us to take care of them.”

MP3: Scott Mosby Tip of the Week – 13

Each week on KMOX 1120 AM, The Home Improvement Answer Man Scott Mosby shares a timely tip that will improve your home and life.

Tune into the KMOX Home Improvement Show with Scott Mosby every Saturday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. During that time, Scott answers your questions at 314.436.7900 or 1.800.925.1120.

Rain, ice, snow and condensation cause water problems that often show up inside your home. When you see interior water damage, the first thought turns to the roof – is it leaking? But the roof is only one part of a system designed to keep water from infiltrating your home.

The roof is really only the uppermost part of a water protection system that keeps you dry. These components work in tandem to repel or move water to the ground, and it only takes the failure of one of these parts to allow water inside your home. Meaning, your roof can be in perfect shape, but if the gutters are malfunctioning you will eventually see water leaks indoors.

Your home’s water protection system consists of:

● Roof – shingles are like hundreds of well-placed umbrellas atop your home, keeping you dry and directing water toward the gutters, and a roof is only as good as its flashing. Click to learn more about types of roofing materials.

● Flashing – at the intersection of planes and wherever opposing materials meet on your roof is where water will try to get in. Strips of rust-resistant metal are installed in these areas to move water toward the gutters. Flashing is also installed around window and door openings. When flashing is applied wrong (known as reverse flashing) it will actually direct water toward the interior of the home.

● Gutters & Downspouts – gutters collect water coming off the roof and direct it to the downspouts which move the water away from the home’s foundation. Improper installation, damage (like a falling tree limb), being undersized or clogging can cause gutter malfunction, which causes water to backup and damage roof underlayment, soffits and fascia. Downspouts can become clogged or if they deposit waste water too close to the home this water can eventually seep through the foundation and into the basement.

● Siding – siding gives your house its distinctive look while serving double duty to keep water out and move it to the ground. Notice that siding planks are angled down so that water drips off them. Brick and stone facades have built-in channels and weep holes that keep water from making contact with the inner structure of the home. Improper installation of or damage to siding allows water inside.

● Windows – sometimes when it rains, you shut a window to keep rain from coming in. But even a closed window can let water in if it has improper flashing, was installed incorrectly or has developed gaps in its caulking and seals. It is often the area around the window that fails, rather than the window itself.

All of these parts work together to keep you dry, and if one facet of the system fails you will have interior water infiltration. To insure continuous operation, it is a sound idea to update several parts of the system at the same time, when the time comes. For instance, if you’re installing a new roof, take this opportunity to get new gutters and downspouts at the same time.

And remember that proper installation is the key to the best performance and lasting value of your weather protection system. The very best roof shingle that money can buy will fail if the flashing is installed wrong.

Mosby Building Arts specializes in detecting and correcting water problems. They understand the chain of command of water protection so can diagnose the cause and repair or install all the components required to keep you dry. For a water management consultation, call Mosby at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

MP3: Scott Mosby Tip of the Week – 12

Each week on KMOX 1120 AM, The Home Improvement Answer Man Scott Mosby shares a timely tip that will improve your home and life.

Tune into the KMOX Home Improvement Show with Scott Mosby every Saturday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. During that time, Scott answers your questions at 314.436.7900 or 1.800.925.1120.

Columns on a front porch look wonderful but they also serve an important purpose – holding up the porch roof! There are many types of vertical wood support columns around a home, from porches to wood decks, and it’s important to keep them in good shape because they do bear weight.

The greatest enemy of wood support posts is water, and they should never be in direct contact with concrete, stone or soil because they will soak up moisture and result in them rotting.

Wood columns are typically separated from horizontal surfaces with a thin metal plate (as with a wood deck column) or suspended above the surface and the gap is disguised with a trim piece. This is enough to keep the wood from absorbing too much water.

On a regular basis, check all wood posts and columns around your home for water rot. Look at the bottom 12” for failing or flaking paint, which is a sure sign of moisture issues. Use your finger or screwdriver to poke at finish blemishes, and if it feels soft or penetrates the surface, you’ve got wood rot.

Sometimes the damaged section can be repaired, but if you find yourself patching and repairing it repeatedly, there’s a much larger water problem that needs to be corrected.

Other times the entire wood column will have to be replaced, and it is necessary to fix the moisture problem before installing the new post or you will face the same issue again in the future.

Why would a wood column that has performed perfectly for so long suddenly develop a moisture problem? Keep in mind that rot does not happen overnight; it can take several years for a problem to show up because wood rots from the inside out.

There are several environmental factors that can alter the performance of a support post:

● Plants and shrubs that have grown large enough to block sunlight and airflow

● Landscape mulch depth increases which brings the post into regular contact with water

● Gutters malfunction, causing water to splash or drench the area

● Paints and coatings eventually wear off and expose wood to the elements

● Foundation settlement or weakness opens up new channels for water penetration

Because you are most likely dealing with structural supports, it is preferred that you stay safe and let a professional take care of this type of problem. A Mosby Home Consultant can evaluate problem areas on any of your wood support columns and advise you on the proper way to repair or replace them, while the Mosby construction crew can resolve the issue by fixing it right the first time.

If you detect rot on your wood posts or columns, take care of the problem immediately by calling the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

MP3: Scott Mosby Tip of the Week – 11

Each week on KMOX 1120 AM, The Home Improvement Answer Man Scott Mosby shares a timely tip that will improve your home and life.

Tune into the KMOX Home Improvement Show with Scott Mosby every Saturday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. During that time, Scott answers your questions at 314.436.7900 or 1.800.925.1120.

An overhead garage door is one of the most-used items on a home, yet we pay very little attention to it until it begins to have problems.

There are several maintenance tasks you can do to keep the garage door operating smoothly. At least once a year, lubricate the rollers and tracks with WD-40, lightly spraying the center of each roller and the inside of the tracks. If you have an automatic garage door opener, regularly change the batteries on the remote and outdoor keypad, and be sure to replace any burnt out bulbs on the garage door opener power head that lights the interior of your garage.

Check the automatic garage door opener for proper sensor operation. Raise and lower the door, and as it’s going down, roll a large ball under the door. The door should automatically rise back up. If not, the sensor needs to be adjust by a professional.

If the overhead door just doesn’t move as smooth and swiftly as it once did, it can be one of two issues: the automatic opener or the springs.  To determine if it’s the electric opener, simply disconnect the opener mechanism from the door. If the door glides smoothly in manual mode, then the problem is with the automatic opener. Consult the owner’s manual or call a qualified company to assist.

If you determine that the automatic opener is good then it’s a problem with the door itself. If you struggle to lift the door, then springs are most likely the culprit.

A simple test can reveal what’s wrong with the springs. Place your overhead garage door in the half open position, and ideally, it will stay there. But rather than hold that position, if the door continues on up, the springs may be too tight; if it slams to the ground instead, the springs are too loose, broken or worn out.

Springs can be adjusted or replaced but DO NOT try do this yourself. The springs of a closed garage door have over 100 pounds of kinetic energy waiting to be unleashed. Mess with them and it’s an accident waiting to happen. Only trained overhead door professionals should touch the springs of your garage door.

Be sure to take a look at the condition of the surface of garage door. Metal doors with a factory finish are much like caring for a car – wash it on a regular basis, and keep an eye out for scratches, dings or blemishes that could invite rust.  For wood doors, look for soft spots, blistering or peeling paint which indicate water damage and repair or repaint as needed. Also take a look at your wood door when it is fully open and horizontal with the garage ceiling; if you see it sagging in the middle, it needs to be reinforced or replaced.

Hinges, lock bars, and tracks can all contribute to a sluggish garage door, so it’s a safe and wise move to let professionals assess the situation. If you are experiencing any operational or surface finish problems with your overhead garage door – or are ready for a new one to update the look of your garage – let a Mosby Building Arts Home Consultant asses your garage door and help get it back on track! Call the office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

MP3: Scott Mosby Tip of the Week – 10

Each week on KMOX 1120 AM, The Home Improvement Answer Man Scott Mosby shares a timely tip that will improve your home and life.

Tune into the KMOX Home Improvement Show with Scott Mosby every Saturday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. During that time, Scott answers your questions at 314.436.7900 or 1.800.925.1120.

Doing a weekly walk-about around the exterior of your home is a good habit to develop. These regular visual inspections will make it easier to spot a problem as it begins. Here’s what you should be looking for:

Gutters & Fascia – Green, black or dark streaks or patches on your gutters and wood fascia usually indicate that waste water is spilling over the edges of the gutters, or that the gutters themselves are leaking, which then damages the fascia. This also means water is not properly draining away from your house, and water that pools around the foundation can end up in your basement.

Wood Siding – For both wood and vinyl siding, the appearance of streaks or patches that are green or black, this could be signs of mold or signs of regular water contact. The siding can be cleaned but the water problem must first be fixed.

Landscaping Damage – Look behind bushes and large plants up against the house for signs of damage incurred while watering them. Ill-placed irrigation systems can also soak siding or shoot up at an angle that infiltrates behind the siding. Check the planks closest to the ground for signs of water damage. It’s key to keep plants and trees from making contact with the home so that air can properly circulate and dry up all water.

Window & Door Jambs – Inspect the bottom pieces of all wood window sills and door jambs for wood that is splintered or looks “chewed.” Wood soaks in water from the bottom up, so these are the most vulnerable locations which show the first signs of problems.

Wood Columns – Failing paint and splintering wood indicate water problems. As some of these columns may be structural (as on a porch or under a deck), it’s important to solve the underlying problem and then repair the columns.

If you see any of these signs of wood rot on the exterior of your home, know that you must begin with correcting the cause of the problem, followed by a repair to the area that revealed the problem. The water management experts at Mosby Building Arts are trained to trace water damage to the point where it first occurs, and then repair all points that suffered.

To have your water problems solved right the first time, call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.