Q: How can I get rid of the sulphur smell coming from our sink and bathtub drains? We brought in a plumber to investigate but all he suggested is to get our air circulation system cleaned. The problem first surfaced […]
Continue ReadingWINTER HAND PUMP: See How Well Pump Resists Freezing
For people who live in the country, getting water usually involves electricity, a pump, tank and a bunch of fittings. Boosting the reliability of my homestead water supply is why I installed a Bison deep well hand pump. It lives […]
Continue ReadingTHE DISCIPLINE OF DETAILS
One of the strangest things in life is how the most important skills aren’t taught at school. Many of them aren’t even discussed. Something I call the “discipline of details” comes immediately to mind. It’s one of dozens of vital […]
Continue ReadingFUNERAL CARDS, SMALL TOWN LIFE & THE BIG PICTURE
Have you ever noticed that the more important a topic is, the less likely people are to talk about it? It’s not that the weather doesn’t matter, nor that the economy is irrelevant. Sports talk is a pretty popular thing […]
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Learn More from Bailey Line Road
WHAT MARRIAGE IS REALLY ALL ABOUT
In the last few days of May 1988, I was a few weeks away from getting married. That’s Mary and I in the photo. As I was preparing mentally for the big day on June 4, I talked to a couple […]
Continue ReadingVIDEO TOUR: Stud Frame Alternative Cuts Heating Costs in Half
Steve Maxwell talks about a unique building product that replaces both wood framing and conventional insulation.
Continue ReadingTHE BAILEY LINE ROAD CHRONICLES: Chapter 8 – Power, Water, Plans & Mistakes
This is chapter eight in my book The Bailey Line Road Chronicles, the 30-year story about moving from the city to live a modern homestead life deep in the country on Manitoulin Island, Canada. Missed Chapter Seven? Click here to […]
Continue ReadingROOFTOP ICE CONTROL: Watch Installation Video of Unique Rooftop De-Icing System
Watch me install a neater, more reliable alternative to electric rooftop de-icing cables in the video below. When a roof gets warm enough in winter to melt rooftop snow, the resulting water runs down the roof and re-freezes along the […]
Continue ReadingQ&A of the Week: “How to Caulk a Bathtub?”
This Q&A of the Week comes from my dad, Wayne Maxwell. He and my mom live in a condominium in the city where I grew up . . . Q: “It’s time to recaulk the bathtub, Steve. What’s the […]
Continue ReadingHOME GENERATORS: North American Brand Empowers Homeowners for Faster Troubleshooting
Generally speaking, they don’t make things to be repaired like they used to, but every so often I find a company that’s bucking this trend. It happened most recently as I was researching home generators and getting ready to test […]
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