But while DIY projects are great for saving money and honing your handyman skills, there are a number of projects -- particularly plumbing projects -- that should always be left to professionals. Here are five of them:

1. Residential Repiping. Pipes in older homes often accumulate mineral deposits that lead to a drop in water pressure -- and even burst pipes. In such cases, old pipes need to be removed and new ones installed. This is a difficult and complex job that requires you to not only tear away large sections of drywall, but often weld copper pipes with an acetylene torch. When open flames are involved, it's best to leave it to the pros.

2. Any Copper Pipe Job. In fact, any job that requires you to weld copper pipes should be left to professional plumbers. The last thing you want to do is start a fire and a flood.

3. Replacing or Rerouting Sewer Pipes. Sewer pipes can get clogged by debris or broken by tree roots. Tearing out old pipes and installing new ones requires heavy-duty equipment for digging trenches and laying concrete pipes. Professionals have the necessary tools and experience for this work. They also know your local utility regulations.

4. Gas line plumbing. If your plumbing job includes working with a gas water heater, it may be time to call in a pro. Gas fittings need to be tight, or the consequences could be literally explosive.

5. Septic tank installation and repairs. If you live in a remote location, your sanitary system may use an underground septic tank instead of a municipal sewer line. If so, installing, repairing or replacing the tank and its equipment is definitely a job for professionals. Leaking septic systems can literally raise a stink … one that's not easy to make go away. In the long term, a bad septic system can become toxic to you and your household.

Pursue Your Plumbing Career Training at WyoTech in Long Beach

Plumbing is a specialized field that takes months of training to enter. It can also provide you with a comfortable income. Entry-level plumbers in California earn an average $29,700 annually, with top professionals making more than $90,000 per year.*

If plumbing sounds like a career you'd like to pursue, consider the Plumbing Technology career training program at WyoTech in Long Beach, Calif. This nine-month program provides intensive hands-on training in the skills you need to enter this rewarding profession. Instructors are seasoned plumbing professionals. Classes are small and held in a modern workshop environment. And after graduation, you can get help entering the field from WyoTech's dedicated Career Services staff.

Want to know more about the Plumbing Technology career training program in Long Beach? Contact WyoTech today!

Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

*Source: O*Net Online -- Plumbers - http://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?optstatus=011000000&soccode=472152&id=1&nodeid=2&stfips=06&search=Go

The new eight-speed transmissions will replace the current six-speed models found in most GM trucks and SUVs, as well as its Chevrolet Corvette Stingray sports car. The additional two speeds will help increase the vehicle's fuel efficiency, according to company spokespeople.

A new generation of lightweight, more fuel-efficiency gasoline engines are also part of GM's near-term production agenda. The engines, a joint venture of GM and China's Shanghai Automotive, will have three or four cylinders and displacements ranging from 1.0 to 1.5 liters. They are designed to burn alternative fuels, such as biofuels, in addition to conventional gasoline. GM intends to use these engines on its lower-priced models such as the Chevy Spark and Sonic. They may also appear as part of the Chevy Volt's hybrid powertrain.

GM plans production at its upgraded plants to be in full swing for the 2016 model year.

You can read more about this continuing evolution in automotive technology at: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130404/CARNEWS/130409922.

WyoTech Can Prepare You for a Career in Automotive Technology

Would you like a career in the rapidly changing auto technology industry? If so, a great place to start is WyoTech, one of America's leading schools for auto technology training. At WyoTech, you'll get to work in a modern workshop setting using professional tools, and you’ll have instructors with real auto industry experience to teach you. And after graduation, you’ll have support getting your career off to a strong start with the help of WyoTech's Career Services professionals.

WyoTech offers Automotive Technology career training at its campuses in Blairsville, Pa.; Laramie, Wyo.; Long Beach, Calif.; Daytona, Fla.; and Fremont, Calif.

For complete information on Automotive Technology career training programs, contact WyoTech today.

Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

Programs and schedules vary by campus.

If you love car restorations, you won't want to miss seeing Chip Foose, aka "the father of the modern hot rod," restore a classic 1967 Ford Mustang convertible with the help of four WyoTech students.

Tune in to the television program Overhaulin, which filmed the three-week restoration project. The show airs on the Velocity television channel on Tuesday, April 23 at 9 p.m. and midnight (again, both Eastern and Pacific time). The show will then repeat on Velocity on April 24, 28, 29 and May 5-8, 15, and 19-20. Please note that show times may vary depending on your service provider.

The restored vehicle belongs to Rick Fontana, who volunteers with search and rescue, Little League, and handicapped youth baseball players in Southern California. Fontana worked on his Mustang for more than a decade. After a misfortune halted his work on the project, he was nominated by a friend to be a recipient of Overhaulin's generosity and expertise.

WyoTech grad and restoration team member Ian Van Scoyk, from WyoTech in Larmie, was hired to be part of Overhaulin's full-time team for other projects.

10 Most Care Accident-Prone Cities in the U.S.

1. Washington, D.C.

• Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average: 107.3 percent more likely
• Average Years Between Collisions: 4.8

2. Baltimore

• Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average: 88.7 percent more likely
• Average Years Between Collisions: 5.3

3. Glendale, Calif.

• Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average: 80.8 percent more likely
• Average Years Between Collisions: 5.5

4. Newark, N.J.

• Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average: 70.8 percent more likely
• Average Years Between Collisions: 5.9

5. Providence, R.I.

• Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average: 66.7 percent more likely
• Average Years Between Collisions: 6

6. Philadelphia

• Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average: 60.2 percent more likely
• Average Years Between Collisions: 6.2

7. Hartford, Conn.

• Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average: 59.6 percent more likely
• Average Years Between Collisions: 6.3

8. Jersey City, N.J.

• Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average: 57.5 percent more likely
• Average Years Between Collisions: 6.4

9. San Francisco

• Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average: 57.3 percent more likely
• Average Years Between Collisions: 6.4

10. Alexandria, Va.

• Collision Likelihood Compared to National Average: 55.9 percent more likely
• Average Years Between Collisions: 6.4

About the Collision/Refinishing Technology Course at WyoTech

Are you interested in auto body repair training? Maybe the Collision/Refinishing Technology course at WyoTech is for you. The course is divided into two main sections: collision repair and refinishing.

Upon completion of the course, you can qualify for jobs such as: collision repair shop technician, automotive glass installation and repairer, specialty shop technician, welder/fabricator/paint technician, damage appraiser for the insurance industry or other transportation body repairer.

Financial aid is available to those who qualify. Programs and schedules vary by campus.

*Source: http://www.usnews.com/news/best-cities/slideshows/10-us-cities-with-the-best-drivers

This Saturday and Sunday, April 6-7, watch All Girls Garage as it showcases four female WyoTech grads from Blairsville, Laramie and Fremont campuses. The girls are working together to create one solid jeep out of two damaged ones.

The co-host of All Girls Garage, Jessi Combs, is herself a WyoTech graduate!

The show airs at 11:30 a.m. (both Eastern and Pacific time) on the Velocity channel. It will air again on April 11 at 5:30 p.m. Please note that show times may vary depending on your service provider. For more information please visit: http://velocity.discovery.com/tv-shows/all-girls-garage/tv-schedule.htm

Here is the host, the graduates, and the year they graduated:

• Jessi Combs of Black Hills, Rapid City, S.D. (Host) -- Graduated in 2004 from WyoTech's Laramie campus
• Shayna Mensch of Murrysville, Pa. -- Graduated in 2012 from WyoTech's Blairsville campus
• Katie Pottle of Wanatah, Ind. - Graduated in 2010 from WyoTech's Laramie campus
• Melissa Woodburn of Eureka, Kan. - Graduated in 2011 from WyoTech's Laramie campus
• Ashley Birmingham of Concord, Calif. - Graduated in 2010 from WyoTech's Fremont campus

 

"Willie G.," as he's better known, is the son of former Harley-Davidson president William H. Davidson and grandson of company co-founder William A. Davidson. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif. After working in Ford Motor Co.'s design department, he returned to Milwaukee in 1963 to join the family business. He was named vice president of styling in 1969.

"Few individuals have the kind of impact on an organization, a brand and a lifestyle that Willie G. has had," said Keith Wandell, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Harley-Davidson, Inc. "Everyone with a love for motorcycles owes a great deal to his vision and talent, and all of us have been blessed by his presence. His legacy will continue to grow, thanks to the talent he has nurtured in the Harley-Davidson styling studio."

Willie G. was responsible for the design of many classic and popular Harley-Davidson bikes, including:

• 1971 FX Super Glide
• 1977 FXS Low Rider
• 1977 XLCR Sportster-based cafe racer
• 1984 Heritage Softail Classic
• 1990 Fat Boy
• 2001 V-Rod
• 2006 Street Glide

He will continue to represent the 100-year-old motorcycle company at shows, festivals and other motorcycle-related events.

Learn to Service Harleys at WyoTech in Daytona Beach

If you love Harleys and would like to become a professional Harley-Davidson motorcycle technician, you can acquire the knowledge and skills you need to go pro at WyoTech in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The nine-month Harley Davidson motorcycle technician training program combines general motorcycle technology career training with a Harley-Davidson specialty concentration. Along with the "core" Motorcycle Technology program, you'll study:

• Harley-Davidson engines
• Harley-Davidson chassis
• Harley-Davidson engine controls

Get hands-on experience in the disassembly, inspection and assembly of Harley's Big Twins engines. You also learn the measurements and adjustments critical to proper engine operation.

For more information about WyoTech's Motorcycle Technology Harley-Davidson specialty course, contact WyoTech today!

Financial aid is available for those who qualify. Programs and schedules vary by campus

Here are some common tools of the electrician's trade.

Pipe and Tubing Bender – These are used for custom-forming the metal conduits through which wires run.

Fish Tape -- A coiled tape or cable used to pull wire through new conduits.

Specialized Pliers, including:

• Cable Cutters -- A highly leveraged pair of pliers that allows you to cut through thick, heavy cable.
• Crimping Tool -- These pliers allow you to twist two wires into each other, forming a functional splice.
• Diagonal Pliers -- These are pliers with a sharp, blade-like nose. You use these to cut small-gauge wire, and you can also remove nails and staples. These are also referred to as "side cutters" or "Dikes."
• Lineman's Pliers -- These are heavy-duty pliers you use to cut, bend, crimp and pull wire.
• Needle-Nosed Pliers -- These are a small pair of pliers with a long, narrow nose that you can use to grip, twist, cut and strip fine-gauge wire.
• Wire Stripper -- This type of plier has a variety of gage hole dimensions in the tool. These allow you to cut and remove a wire's insulation without harming the exposed metal wire beneath.

Electronic Test Instruments, including:

• Voltage Indicator -- This is a simple electronic instrument used for determining the presence (or absence) of electric voltage in a particular device. It is also known as a "test light."
• Multimeter -- This is a more complex instrument that, depending on the model, can be used to test for:
  • Voltage
  • Resistance
  • Current
• Insulation Resistance Tester -- This device sends several hundred to several thousand volts into wires and cables to test the level of resistance their insulators provide. It is also known as a "Megger."
• Clamp Meter -- A meter with two jaws that can be closed around a wire testing various current properties without having to make contact with the actual electrical conductor. Also known as a "clamp-on amp meter”

Hand Tools -- In the course of their work, electricians use common hand tools such as screwdrivers, hammers, saws, punches and chisels.

Learn the Electricians' Trade at WyoTech in Long Beach

If work as a professional electrician appeals to you, you can prepare for a career in this challenging and rewarding field with the Electrician training program at WyoTech in Long Beach, Calif. This nine-month program can teach you the theory and skills necessary for entry-level apprentice positions in the residential, commercial and industrial electrician fields.

Graduates of WyoTech's Electrician program can get support from the school's Career Services department, which provides help with resume preparation, interviewing techniques and identifying and contacting local employees.

Call for Information

For information on the WyoTech Electrician program in Long Beach, contact WyoTech today!

Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

Do you like working with your hands? Do you have good critical thinking skills? Are you a problem solver? If so, WyoTech in Long Beach provides plumbing technology training for those looking to pursue a rewarding new career. According to O*NET Online, a source of detailed job descriptions and information for students and job seekers, the employment outlook is bright for plumbers in the United States.*

What Do Plumbers Do?

Plumbers train to install, alter and repair piping or other systems that house and carry water, air, gas, steam or other liquids. Plumbers may also be required to install cooling and heating equipment and sprinkler systems.

Why Train at WyoTech?

WyoTech can give you the training and skills that employers value. Employers know that new hires will usually need additional training. They like new employees to have the confidence and training to learn new things quickly. WyoTech can give you the confidence and basic knowledge to make a positive impact from the first day on the job. This is the edge that could place you head and shoulders above others who might be competing for the same job.

WyoTech instructors are knowledgeable and experienced in their field of expertise. This gives them the authority to impart knowledge and tips that may not be found in books. What you learn from your instructors and on the shop floor at WyoTech can be applied directly to the work you'll do in the real world.

WyoTech training is intense and focused. You'll learn to read and understand blueprint plans, and install and repair pipes. You'll also get a chance to work with many of the tools that you'll find on an actual job. You'll be job-ready when you graduate from WyoTech.

Here's what you'll study in WyoTech's Plumbing Technology program:

• Blueprints and isometrics
• Potable water and gas piping systems
• Drain waste and vent systems
• Heating systems, service and repair, stoppages

If you live in the Long Beach area, and you're convinced it's time to get the training you need to realize a better lifestyle, contact WyoTech's Long Beach campus. Learn more about WoTech's Plumbing Technology program, start dates and the financial aid options that are available for those who qualify.

* O*NET Online: http://www.onetonline.org/find/quick?s=plumber

A team of WyoTech graduates from around the country took a 1964 F-100 and upgraded the power and performance, 390 FE V-8, with a new intake and cam. Their goal was to create the ultimate campus street rod and shop truck.

WyoTech offers training in a variety of career fields, including automotive, diesel, collision/refinishing, motorcycle, marine, plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC).

When students graduate from WyoTech, they're ready to show the world what they've learned and what they can do. These five students stand out, and they represent the talent and commitment to excellence that you'll find in each student at every WyoTech campus.

Train with Knowledgeable Instructors at WyoTech

WyoTech instructors can lead the classroom because they have the knowledge and skills that students and the industry respect. When you graduate your program, WyoTech will be right there with you helping you practice for interviews, follow up on job leads, and search for industry employers looking to hire people with your skills and training.

These five four WyoTech graduates could have been where you are right now ...wondering what tomorrow will bring, and wondering what it takes to advance their career dreams and train for a better future.

They chose to contact WyoTech.

If you're interested in learning more about WyoTech, our programs and tuition assistance, contact a WyoTech representative today.

Turn pro at WyoTech.

Truck Build: http://www.powerblocktv.com/episodes/TK2013-01/wyotech-shop-truck-build
Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

Toyota i-Road

You’d be forgiven for mistaking this as an Apple product. Despite the unoriginal name, this car is packed with other innovative aspects. Andrew English of The Telegraph had described it as, “technologically advanced as the Ferrari LaFerrari (see below), if not as glamorous.”(2)

Most notable is its small size. Toyota considers it to be one of their “urban transport solutions.” Another unique feature on the i-Road is the single rear wheel. Having only three wheels in total, the i-Road utilizes an Active Lean system and pivots similar to a motorbike.

The Toyota i-Drive also hits on one of the other auto trends of the year: it’s green. This environmentally friendly vehicle runs on a highly efficient electric motor.

McLaren P1

Called “one of the most anticipated cars of the year, perhaps of the whole decade,” the McLaren P1 is where crossroads racing dreams meet day-to-day drivability Utilizing technology straight from Formula One racing, the McLaren P1 boasts both a V-8 engine and an electric motor.

Motorauthority.com reports the McLaren P1 has a peak output of 903 horsepower and 663 pound-feet of torque. The V-8 is rated at 727 horsepower with 530 pound-feet of torque. And the electric motor adds 176 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque.

Ferrari LaFerrari

Sharing similar specs with the McLaren P1, the Ferrari LaFerrari was the other most anticipated car of the show. Most of the buildup focused around the fact that not much was known about the car before its debut at the Geneva Motor Show. Like the McLaren P1, it features a powertrain with a hybrid setup, which is a first for the Italian company.

Packed with 950 horsepower, LaFerrari goes from zero to 60 in under three seconds and estimates to max out at 230 mph.

2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith

Rolls-Royce continues to be the epitome of luxury with their newest car they debuted this week. The 2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith was recognized for reaching high marks in both sport and styling.

On the style front, the Wraith featured rearward-opening coach doors, elegant interiors and fastback styling. However, lavish styling is not unexpected of Rolls-Royce.

What's unique is the system, which uses satellite data to automatically select which gear is appropriate for the road ahead. It also has a 616-horsepower V-12 engine that can accelerate 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds.

WyoTech Automotive Technology

Are you interested in applying your passion for cars to a career in the automotive industry? WyoTech's Automotive Technology program offers many reputable training specialties to help you qualify for the job you want.

Classes at WyoTech are split between lectures and hands-on practice. Extensive shop time ensures that you are practicing the skills you learn in class before you enter a job.

Contact us now for additional information.

1 http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1082794_motor-authoritys-top-ten-debuts-of-the-2013-geneva-motor-show
2 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motor-shows/geneva-motor-show/9913523/Geneva-motor-show-2013-top-five-concept-cars.html