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The purpose of this article is to review the tools that are essential to help make the job of changing oil much easier. In this article I feature a few oil changing tools that I find useful and functional as a do-it-yourselfer. The seven tools that are essential to any oil change include a proper funnel, a bright an effective work light, oil catch pan, a good socket wrench set, a functional pair of filter pliers, a good maintenance creeper and a properly sized set of vehicle ramps. Without these tools in the proper type, size and form, the task of changing oil can be very difficult. A large capacity oil funnel and a bright utility light are self explanatory. You cannot perform that task without a bright, low profile work light and an you cannot ensure the accurate placement of oil without a proper funnel. When it comes to oil drain pans I highly recommend the FloTool 16-Quart Drain Container featured in the video and also in the link provided below, (see link for price and reviews). This pan is wonderful and has made my oil changes far easier. It is particularly helpful in reducing cleanup as the basin is designed to drain the oil into a contained compartment. This fantastic design greatly simplify the task of filling recycle containers with the used oil when the job is finished. The Kobalt Socket Set is great for this and other tight spaced jobs as the sockets are designed to attach inside the wrench. This design results in making the combined depth of the socket and wrench much more shallow than a standard wrench. Additionally, these sockets are designed to fit both standard and metric bolts so you do not need to invest in both types of sets. A good maintenance creeper is essential to making the job more effortless. You should look for a crawler that rolls easily and has sufficient padding. In the video below, I feature a homemade crawler that does the job nicely. Finally, proper vehicle ramps are essential to provide the necessary clearance to properly access the oil pan plug and oil filter. One thing to be mindful of when selecting a ramp is to ensure that your car's spoiler will not get damaged when you attempt to drive up the ramps. You can purchase low profile ramps or you can adopt the solution that I featured in the video that turned my higher profile ramps into a functional and effective solution. I feature these items in the follow video and provide some additional valuable tips for helping to ensure that your oil change is done efficiently and and with minimal frustration. Amazon reviews and price information for Tools I used in the above video: - FloTool 16-Quart Drain Container - Kobalt 38 pc Xtreme Access Socket Set

Regular cleaning and maintenance of your gutters and downspouts is essential to preserve the value of your home. If this water conveyance system gets clogged, the rain water coming from your roof is no longer routed safely away from the foundation of your home. This can result in numerous issues including foundation damage and water seepage into your basement or crawlspace. However, if you are like me, I have found few things more dreadful than the annual ritual of cleaning out those nasty gutters. The decaying leaves make a smelly mess on both you and your landscaping. Not to mention the fact that you risk life and limb when traversing up and down that slippery wet ladder as you struggle with the lawn hose to attempt to blast out those decaying debris. Hiring someone to clean your gutters for you is possible solution. However, depending on the size and height of your home the cost of this solution could run between $50 to $250 a year. Well about five years ago I stumbled across a very practical and effective solution that I want to take a moment share with you. To be totally honest, at first I was very skeptical about the durability and effectiveness of this solution. I simply was not confident that the product would stand the test of time and do the job as described. However my initial impressions were wrong. The solution? Gutter guards. These DIY gutter guards are an easy to install and are an economical solution. They are snap-in, white plastic filter guards. They are 3 foot in length and six inches in width. They are designed to easily snap in between the front lip of the gutter and the under edge of the shingles on your home’s eve. They are made to create a smooth transitional surface from your roof surface to effectively shed leaves and other debris while allowing filtered rain water into the gutter and downspout structure to be safely conveyed away from your home’s foundation. To determine the number of panels needed, I first measured the length of each section of spouting and record each length. Next I added the various lengths together to get total footage needed. Keep in mind that you will need to measure and cut several of the three foot panels so that you have the proper length at the end of each spouting run. This is necessary to make a clean/flush finished end. As such, you may want to purchase extra product to compensate for possible spoilage. I am pleased to recommend this solution as it has eliminated my need to clean out my gutters for more than five years. This is all because I took a chance on an inexpensive solution that turned out to be an excellent time saving idea. If you are tired of doing this annual odd job, you may want to check out the following affiliate link here. This link will give you additional information and product reviews about this practical time saving solution. Buy the way… If cleaning out gutters or installing gutter guards are on the list projects that you intend to do, be sure that you follow sound ladder safety practices. Allow me offer a few important and practical safety tips that can ensure that you have a safe and successful project. Inspect the ladder for any defects that may make the ladder unsafe. Make certain that you place your ladder on a firm and level surface. Check the ladder cleats to ensure they are in good condition. The ladder should be safely positioned one foot out (horizontally) from the mounting surface for every four feet of rise (vertical height) to the working surface. You must have three points of contact on a ladder at all times. This means that you should use a tool belt and other method to convey materials to upper work surfaces so that your hands are free to climb safely. You should be sure to wear non-slip shoes and also be mindful of power lines. You can insert a length of 2 X 4 stud into the section of gutter assuming you need to position the ladder against the gutter for support. This will help protect the gutter from collapsing from the lateral force created by the combined weight of you and the ladder. Whatever your list of your home project endeavors; I wish you safety and success! And should you decided to implement this time saving idea, may you never have to clean your home gutters again! See this product featured in the following video: Again, I highly recommend this product as it has proven to be effective and time saving idea. If you are tired of doing this annual chore, be sure to click here for more product information.