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Important Tips On Finding The Best Local Moving Company For Your Office Move

Important Tips On Finding The Best Local Moving Company For Your Office Move

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4 Important Things to Consider When Renting a Moving Truck

Looking for ways to cut costs when relocating? Consider a do-it-yourself move by renting a moving truck from companies like U-Haul, Budget, Penske or UPack. A DIY move will not only save you a substantial amount of cash, but it will also give you the flexibility to decide when to begin and end your move.

we’ve included four helpful tips on renting the best moving truck to suit your needs. Good luck!

Choosing your truck

First, when determining what size moving truck you’ll need, make sure to check the company website for details on all of the different sizes they offer. Before renting the truck, you’ll need to take into account the size of your home, the number of bedrooms and how much large furniture you plan to pack into the truck. Most moving companies offer everything from smaller 10-foot trucks for studio apartments to larger 26-foot trucks capable of holding over four bedrooms worth of belongings. When choosing a moving truck, don’t underestimate just how much stuff you have. Things always end up taking up more room than expected. When reserving a moving truck, make sure it has at least 10 percent more room than you think you’ll need. Trust us – it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Cost

Moving truck companies will take into account the size of the truck you rent, as well as the distance and duration of the move when giving you a quote. However, be aware that insurance costs, additional fuel, moving supplies and add-on accessories may not be automatically rolled into the quote. One such expense that many people forget about are toll costs. If you’re setting out on a long-distance, highway-required drive, you’ll need to keep all toll costs in mind. Many people forget to take this into account when computing the cost of their move. If you’re planning to rent a very large moving truck – anything 10,000 pounds or more – you may need to stop in at several weight stations along the way. Make sure to check with the rental truck company for more information about  where to find these stations on major highways.

Driving the truck

Driving a moving truck can be tricky – especially if you’ve never driven a large vehicle before.

  • Before hitting the road, take a minute to familiarize yourself with the truck and all of its nuts and bolts. Adjust the mirrors, figure out the windshield wipers, and turn the lights on and off. You’ll want to make sure these are all working properly before getting on the highway.
  • Keep in mind that most moving trucks do not have a backseat, so it’s best to keep the passenger count at two. A large moving truck may accommodate three people, however.
  • When driving the truck, make sure that you’re prepared to make MUCH larger turns than you might normally make in your everyday car.

Moving Truck Insurance

If you’re planning to drive the moving truck a long distance, it may be a good idea to purchase some sort of supplemental moving truck insurance (in addition to whatever auto or homeowner’s insurance you already have) to cover possible damage. Different types of moving insurance include: Damage Waivers, Supplemental Liability Insurance, Personal Accident and Cargo Insurance and Auto Tow Protection.

 

MOVING TRUCK RENTALS VS. PORTABLE CONTAINERS

If you still have to transport your own vehicle, and you’d rather not tow it behind the truck, you may want to consider a moving and storage container service, which can be a cost-effective option once you factor in all the costs involved in renting a truck. Since the container is delivered to your door and then picked up and transported to your new location, this frees you up to drive your own vehicle. Yep. That means you don’t have to deal with driving a humongous truck across country. You also get the flexibility to take your time with both loading and unloading so you won’t have to race the clock to avoid hefty late fees on a truck rental. For example, PODS portable container service starts with a full month rental, giving you built-in storage with easy access to your belongings — which can come in really handy if your moving dates need to change.

 

Some things rental trucks won’t say

The worst time to rent is when you need us most.

As everyone who’s ever rented an apartment knows, leases are typically on a monthly cycle. As a result, say truck-rental companies, when the end of the month rolls around, the options are limited and prices go up.

Our trucks are jalopies.

While having your reservation lost is bad, being stranded on the side of the road is even worse. For years, critics and angry consumers have contended that the reason these mishaps are so common is because rental companies don’t do enough to maintain their trucks.

You gotta be crazy to try towing your stuff.

Towing something behind your car, meanwhile, can be convenient, since it lets you move both your car and your stuff at the same time. But it’s not without risks. Each year, about 300 people are killed and more than 10,000 injured in accidents involving a car pulling a trailer, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While that’s a relatively small proportion of total automobile-related accidents, critics maintain that trailers are dangerous. (In contrast, gun accidents, which get much more publicity, kill about 600 people a year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.)

 

Takes notes, these rental truck tips could save you time and money.

Get online quotes first

Start your search by getting quotes online. Rental rates are typically quoted lower online than over the phone.

Take advantage of price matching

Most of the time companies will beat or match their competitor’s quote to earn your business

Avoid peak moving times

Avoid renting on weekends, holidays and at the beginning/end of the month if possible. Prices tend to be lower mid-week and mid-month when demand is lower.

Call the day before

You should book 2 weeks in advance, but make sure to call the day before to ensure your truck is still available.

Get insurance

It’s unlikely that your regular auto insurance will cover rental truck accidents. All companies offer affordable and decent insurance options.

 

Benefits of renting a moving truck

  • It’s the cheapest way to move a household with furniture.
  • You can move 1 vehicle behind you if you get the proper truck & tow package upgrade.
  • Your stuff will get to your new home the same time you do.

Additional costs and issues with moving truck rentals

  • You will have to pay for all the gas, which can add up very quickly.
  • Insurance is an optional upgrade that you should always purchase.
  • You will be financially responsible for damages that aren’t insured.
  • Accidents can happen very easily during lifting, driving, and unloading.
  • There are only 2 or 2 1/2 seats per truck!
  • Trucks don’t have a rear-view mirror, so be careful backing up!
  • Moving long distances in a rental truck is not fun or comfortable.
  • These trucks really get blown around by strong wind gusts, so be aware.
  • Many trucks have speed governors that top out at 65mph
  • Furniture will shift and slide and break if you don’t pack properly.
  • The AM/FM radio and bad speakers almost make the drive worse.
  • Driving in crowded cities and trying to park can be a nightmare.
  • Costs are higher when school is out. (weekends/holidays/summer)

More tips for moving out of state with a rental truck

  • Keep the gas tank full.  Don’t let it get too low through sparsely populated states.
  • Always purchase insurance to avoid outrageous damage fees!
  • Make sure to note any dents, scratches, or imperfections with the rental company before leaving the lot so you don’t get charged for them.
  • Drive VERY slow over speed bumps and curbs to avoid damaging your stuff.
  • Ask friends and family to help you load and unload the truck.
  • Make sure to pad your furniture and electronics to keep them safe.
  • Get a thick lock for the back to deter thieves.
  • Pack your big and heavy stuff low, and lighter stuff up high for the best results.
  • Don’t leave room on the floor for things to slide around.
  • Move during a week when school is in session for cheaper deals.
  • Take your time and don’t rush things.

All of these things should be factored into your total moving costs before choosing the “cheapest” way to move out of state.  Believe me when I say that the extra time, stress and effort it takes can really make you wish you would have hired the professionals.

Finding Electronic Leak Detection In Your Household Plumbing

Finding Electronic Leak Detection In Your Household Plumbing

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Quick Tips for Electronic Leak Detection

Use Your Detector Second

Before starting to use your detector — stop! Look for signs of leaks and corrosion throughout the entire system. I see many techs who use an electronic leak detector with a very large leak when they would have been better served pressurizing and pinpointing the leak with soap bubbles.

Get a Good Detector

Use a good quality leak detector. Hint: If it costs less than $300, it probably isn’t great. I am fan of the H10G and the H10Pro, although we are testing the Tifzx-1 as a possible option on the recommendation of a few good techs I trust

Test Your Detector

Check your detector and make sure it actually works every time. The H10G has a reference bottle for testing — use it.

Let the Detector Warm Up

Many leak detectors require a warm up time for the sensor. With the H10G I allow it to run for at least five minutes before I start to use it.

Start Testing at The Top

Most refrigerants are heavier than air. Starting at the top and working your way down will help keep you from picking up a leak below the actual point of origin

 

How To Choose A Leak Testing Method That’s Best For Your Needs

When deciding on the best solution for a leak testing challenge, many factors need to be taken into consideration including the risk, suitability and cost of each method.  Various technologies are available and it’s critical to choose one which is optimal to your application requirements.

In recent years, huge strides have been made in electronic leak testing methods that use air or tracer gases resulting in new techniques, enhanced sensitivity and faster test cycles.  These changes have resulted primarily as a response to cost pressures as well as the need to adapt to a changing environmental and safety regulatory environment

Before making any decision on which technology offers the best solution for your specific application, it’s best to discuss your options with a professional equipment supplier so that you get the most practical and cost-effective solution.  In many instances, there will be more than one technology available, but by consulting a leak test supplier that has the knowledge, experience and genuine desire to find a long-term solution, you’ll get a solution that is not only optimal to your leak test challenge but which meets all other requirements too such as cost, performance, risk management etc.

Air leak testing with micro-flow sensor at pressure conditions.

In this method, the test part is pressurized from a pressure source with the regulator and valve isolating the test part from the source once pressurization is complete.  The pressure sensor then monitors and measures the pressurized test part and if the pressure measurement decreases, air is leaking out of the component or assembly under test.  As air leaks, the micro flow sensor replenishes the lost air to maintain a constant pressure, with the loss causing an electrical signal which is proportional to volumetric or mass flow. This method has a sensitivity of 5 x 10-4 mbar*l/s.

Air leak testing with mass extraction (vacuum conditions).

This method is an extension of the micro flow sensor one detailed above, and operates on the basic principle of rarefied gas flow.  The test is done under a vacuum in order to achieve a higher sensitivity, with sensor designs operating either in a shallow vacuum (continuum/slip flow conditions) or a deeper vacuum (transitional/molecular flow regimes).

 

Residential Leak Protection: How To Choose The Right Leak Detection System

Wolseley PRO Pipeline Blog

Whether it is a slow leak from a plumbing fixture, or a catastrophic pipe failure, leaks can be destructive for a residence and extremely costly. We have all heard the stories of homeowners receiving extremely high water bills due to a flapper on a toilet starting to fail, or seeing disaster recovery companies at a residence due to a pipe or valve failure leading to major flooding. With todays technology, there are a myriad of ways to avoid leaks and detect them when they start, but which technology is the best?

How Do Leak Detectors Work?

In short, leak detectors will sense water flow in a building usually through a unit mounted on the incoming waterline. Messages can be sent out either via Wi-Fi or through a homes automation system. Ideally, the leak detection system will let you know if there is a small leak (showing water usage even if there should be no water flow at all). It will also shut the entire water system down if it detects a catastrophic failure such as a break in the main waterline.

What To Consider When Choosing A Leak Detection System

Important factors to consider when suggesting a leak detector for your customers are features, types of communication protocol, how the unit is powered, and whether the system will work if there is a breakdown in connectivity.

Automatic Water Shut-Off

While receiving a message about a leak in a residence is great, damage can be done between when the leak occurs and the time the homeowner receives the message. Automatic shut-off features will ensure that in the event of a catastrophic failure, the message is sent, but in the meantime, the system is shut down immediately.

Leak Detection For Small Leaks

Small leaks that can cause major issues tend to originate from water closet flappers that should be replaced. Homeowners often only realize they have this sort of leak once they receive an exorbitant water bill. Some of these leak detection units also provide sensors for various areas in a residence that may be more susceptible to leaks than others (water heaters and washing machines for example).

 

 

How to Choose and Why Use Leak Detectors?

Refrigerant leak detection

The chart below shows the most common groups of refrigerants we use. With the wide variety of refrigerants now available we have to ensure that the type of leak detector we are using is both suitable and SAFE to use with the refrigerant in the system. Most electronic leak detectors are suitable for CFC, HCFC and HFC’s. Caution should be taken to use suitable electronic leak detectors with HC’s which are flammable. We must not forget soapy water as a very effective leak detector. Many people discount it, but for finding leaks it is possibly the most effective method and lots of people have certainly used it to successfully find some very small leaks

Corona discharge detectors pull air through an electrical field (corona discharge) around a wire. The presence of refrigerant or other gases in the air changes the current in the wire and triggers an alarm. The problem with this is that it’s not compound specific so any substance the leak detector senses could give false alarms including cleaning chemicals. Not HC suitable!

Heated diode detectors use a heated ceramic diode. The diode generates an electrical current when it comes into contact with halogenated gas which the electronics convert into an alarm. The heated diode sensor is sensitive to contamination, especially from moisture or oil and will need replacement after approximately 100 hours of operation. This type of detector is much less likely to give false alarms and works especially well with R134a. The more expensive models have their own built in sensitivity check mode to ensure the sensing head is actually working. Not HC suitable! This type of leak detectors is produced by such trademarks as: ExTech, Fielpiece, Testo etc.

Halide detectors were very popular for use with CFC and HCFC refrigerants. The detector was normally powered with butane and worked in a similar way to a Bunsen burner. The air was channelled into the flame via a rubber tube connected below the flame. As air with refrigerant passed through the flame the chlorine element turned the flame from normal to green through to bright blue dependant on the refrigerant content of the air. Be aware that the by-products of burning refrigerants are highly toxic. DO NOT USE this type of leak detector with HFC’s or HC’s!

Fluorescent (UV) detectors use an additive which is added to the oil in a system. It travels around with the oil and can be detected using ultra-violet (UV) light where it has leaked from the system. The hand held UV kits come in various forms typically consisting of a UV lamp, additive injection kits and polarising goggles. The system relies on the oil leaking from the system (with additive) though in some cases oil separators almost totally remove the additive as it leaves the pack or condensing unit rendering it useless around the remainder of the system. Almost all car manufacturers charge this additive with the refrigerant into car A/C systems and some gas manufacturers supply refrigerant with the additive included. Suitable for HC’s. This type of leak detectors is produced by such manufacturers as: La-Co, Mastercool, Uniweld etc.

 

Tips To Make Electronic Leak Detection

Refrigerant leaks can lead to downtime.

Hotels, restaurants, bakeries, catering facilities, cold storage facilities, supermarkets, medical facilities and many other commercial and industrial facilities rely heavily on air conditioning and refrigeration systems to run their daily operations. A refrigerant leak followed by an unexpected breakdown can cause unplanned facility downtime, negatively impacting your revenue and reputation.

Importance of Spotting Leaks

It’s vital to identify and repair any leaks in your A/C unit early. The benefits vast outweigh the short-term burden of paying to have them fixed, and you’ll be kicking yourself down the road if a smaller leak grows larger and becomes a serious issue.

Savings! – When refrigerant leaks, the A/C unit has to kick into overdrive to compensate for the loss. As a result, your energy bill is going to spike to match that extra work.

Environmental factors – An improperly charged unit becomes much less energy-efficient, and the carbon dioxide emissions contribute greatly to the greenhouse effect. By getting ahead of refrigerant leaks, you’re helping out the environment!

Prevents damage – If an undiagnosed leak flies under the radar, it can gradually become something that can cause significant damage to your home. Water that freezes due to the leak can thaw and seep into the rest of the house and wreak havoc.

When Do Termite Become Active

When Do Termite Become Active

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Drywood Termites – What’s the Difference?

A termite’s a termite, right? We wish it were that simple. There are actually a lot of differences between termite types and termite species. If you get drywood termites in your home, they are going to present a different problem than subterranean termites. And they are going to require a different strategy for treatment. Here are a few things you should know.

Drywood Termites

You already know quite a bit about this termite by looking at its name. These termites prefer drywood. That means they’re going to feed on your window sills, door frames, and other hardwood building materials. They’re also going to feed on furniture. If you have antiques or furniture keepsakes that are made of wood, these termites could ruin your day.

Each year, termites cost U.S. property owners billions of dollars, but only a fraction of that is drywood termite damage. Estimates for drywood termite damage is in the hundreds of millions. One big reason for this is drywood termites are not nearly as stealthy as subterranean termites. As they feed on wood, they push their feces out kick-out holes. Though these tiny droppings are often mistaken for sawdust, sand, or some kind of pellet, they are hard to miss. And the appearance of these hard droppings is enough to alert a property owner to the danger.

Subterranean Termites

These termites are also called ground termites. As you can probably guess, they come up from the ground to feed on a home. They prefer soft or decaying wood, but have no problem moving into sound, hard timbers. When they do, they can literally total a man-made structure. Formosan and Asian termites are both subterranean termites. You’ve probably heard of them. Of all the subterranean termites in the world, these two are the most destructive. One reason they do more damage is that they both are able to establish nests in the walls of a building. This gives the worker termites less distance to travel to acquire food.

 

How are drywood vs. subterranean termites’ wings different?

Winged termites are called alates. Subterranean alates have one single thick, dark vein that runs parallel to the top of the wing. Drywood termites have a complex system of veins, usually at least three or four in each wing. Most termites shed their wings within minutes of landing. This is often the only evidence they leave behind.

Are there any differences in their nesting habits?

An important difference between the two is that subterranean termites nest in the ground, while drywood termites nest inside the wood they are infesting. This leads to varying points of attack on your property. Subterranean termites make mud tubes to tunnel through the ground and invade your home. These tubes protect them from predators and dehydration. Drywood termites don’t dig mud tubes, needing zero contact with soil. They infest your home by air and require less moisture (which is why they don’t need soil or the mud tubes).

 

What Does Each Look Like?

Drywood termites tend to be larger, producing worker caste members with creamy-white bodies throughout. Drywood termite soldier caste members maintain the milky body color but have larger bodies and darker heads which look almost scorched. The drywood termites with wings, however–otherwise known as swarmer termites–will have a series of complex veins running along the topside of the wing which is a surefire way to tell which type of termite you’ve got on your hands (that is, if you can see that close).

Subterranean winged termites, however, have just one vein which runs along the top line of the wing instead of the series of veins characterized by the drywood termites. Additionally, the bodies of the subterranean termite soldier and worker caste members are smaller than that of their drywood cousins.

 

Termites vs. Ants

Termites, both drywood and subterranean, differ from ants in the following ways:

  • Termites have thick waists while ants have noticeably small waists.
  • Termites have straight antennae while ants have clubbed or bent antennae.
  • Termites have short legs while ants have longer legs.
  • When termites have wings, all wings will be the same length. When ants have wings, the front wings are longer than the back wings.

Once you have determined that you are indeed dealing with termites instead of ants, you will need to figure out what type of termites you have. It can be difficult to identify the type of termite you have by looking at the insect itself. Instead, it is much easier to identify the kind of termites you have by the damage they cause.

 

Signs of dyrwood termites

The common sign of a drywood termite infestation is the appearance of frass.

Frass is termite waste or fecal matter. Unlike subterranean termites, which build nests and tunnels for foraging out of fecal matter, drywood termites have no use for it as they only excavate tunnels in wood. They get rid of their feces by making a small hole in the wood and pushing it out of their home.

A clear sign of a drywood termite infestation is the collection of frass on the floor or flat surface below the wood they are inhabiting. Termite frass often looks like sawdust from afar, but on closer inspection, you will be able to notice granular pellets, often varying in colour.

Generator Installation And Electrical Panel Upgrades Help Beat Blackouts

Generator Installation And Electrical Panel Upgrades Help Beat Blackouts

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Signs it’s Time to Upgrade Your Home’s Electrical Panel

Faulty wiring issues

Faulty wiring is one of the leading causes of residential fires in the United States. The risk of a fire caused by faulty wiring dramatically increases based on how old your house is. Older wiring may not meet code, and wire insulation and other materials tend to deteriorate over time. Have a professional electrician inspect the wiring in your electrical panel and throughout your home

Installing new appliances

We’re not talking about a new blender or toaster here. If you plan on installing a new hot tub, air conditioner, refrigerator, or other machine that consumes lots of energy, your electrical panel may not have enough power to keep those appliances going

Replacing fuses with circuit breakers

Fuses and circuit breakers both essentially perform the same function: they prevent short circuit or overload by disrupting (or breaking) electrical currents that channel to any connected devices. Fuses, however, are one-time use. When they detect that a current is running at too high of a level, the fuse will melt, interrupting the flow of electricity. Circuit breakers simply have to be reset

Excessive use of extension cords and power strips

If you find yourself plugging nearly everything into one power outlet via power strips and extension cords, it’s a good idea to upgrade your electrical panel. You can allow each circuit to run straight from the panel or install a new electrical outlet and circuit, minimizing the fire hazard.

Planning ahead

Who knows the types of devices and appliances we’ll be using ten or twenty years from now? If you’re already remodeling or upgrading your home, it’s a good idea to invest in some quality wiring, namely structured wiring, which consists of heavy-duty cables that enable the latest features in all your electrical devices. Structured wiring will also increase your home’s value.

 

Electrical Panel Upgrades: Do You Need One?

Over time, things break or get old it is inevitable. There’s a good chance your electrical panel is painfully obsolete compared to current day technology. You may even need to upgrade your entire electrical panel. But what exactly is an electrical panel and how do you know when it’s time for a modern-day update?

Well, if you’ve had any difficulties with appliances working correctly or frequently blow fuses, it may be time to upgrade your system, but there are many indicators pointing you towards improving your electrical panel that you might not even be aware of.

What is an Electrical Panel?

An electrical panel is a central location in your establishment that connects all of the electrical wirings from both the interior and the exterior areas of your building. This also includes any installation that was added by your electric service provider. You might also call this your breaker or fuse box and is where you go whenever you need to turn the breakers on or off when you’ve lost power during a thunderstorm. Your electrical panel likely has a “main” circuit that controls your entire building’s electricity, but they also have individual breakers dedicated to the various parts of your building. Each should be correctly labeled so that you can accurately identify the area of your professional space that is affected.

Why Should I Upgrade or Replace My Electrical Panel?

Most electrical panels made to support a small machine shop are made to operate at around 350 amps. However, as technology grows, power requirements will also continue to increase, and most modern spaces require more power than they were built to provide. If you’re not sure about the electrical capacity of your current electrical panel, look on the inside of the panel door. In most cases, your electrical panel will have a tag which lists the panel’s maximum voltage, current, and power dissipation capability for the panel and busses. Without a properly functioning electrical panel, you not only run the risk of electrical fires, but this could also affect access control systems, employee productivity, and video surveillance cameras which could result in a loss of revenue and/or compromise your workforce’s safety.

How Do I Know It’s Time For A New Electrical Panel?

If your building is more than 20 or 30 years old, you may need to make improvements to your electrical panel or, at the very least, schedule an appointment with a trusted electrician to look into it for you.

 

SIGNS IT’S TIME FOR A PANEL UPGRADE

In terms of importance, your electrical system is easily one of the most important components of your home, and your electrical panel is one of the key components in its function. Your electrical panel is critical to your electrical system, as it is responsible for taking the power from the line outside your home and distributing it throughout your home to where it’s needed, but if your electrical panel is older, damaged, or just a bit outdated, it might not be able to perform its function as safely and effectively as you would like. Upgrading your electrical panel is something that every homeowner is likely going to have to do at some point in time during the life of their home, but many homeowners don’t know the signs that indicate that your home is due for one. To help with that, our team of professional Fallbrook electricians have taken the time to put together this short list that will help you determine whether or not the time is right for an electrical panel upgrade for your home.

Your Breakers Trip Constantly

While the circuit breakers in your electrical panel are designed to trip when they are overloaded to help prevent them from overheating and prevent damage to your home, if your breakers are tripping what seems like constantly, it is a pretty clear indication that there’s a problem. Breakers that constantly trip are most often a sign that your electrical panel just isn’t equipped to distribute the amount of power your home needs for its normal function, and your breaker will usually trip in order to protect itself. While technically, this means that your breaker is working like it should, if your breakers are constantly tripping, the best solution is to upgrade to a new electrical panel that is designed to cope with the electrical needs of your home.

Breakers That Won’t Stay On

Resetting a circuit breaker after it trips is usually a fairly easy task, but if you find that your breakers won’t stay on, even after resetting them, it is usually a sign of a larger problem that is going to require the attention of an electrician. Usually, this is simply an indication that there is something wrong with that particular circuit, but sometimes, it can indicate a problem with your panel as a whole, and if that’s the case, the best bet is going to be to have a professional come in and provide you with an upgrade

Your System Has Fuses

Fuses were a standard feature in electrical panels for homes for a number of years, but by today’s standards, they are quite outdated, and can even be unsafe to have in your home. Fuses were designed for a time when the electrical demand in the average home was much lower, and as that demand continues to increase and increase year after year, having fuses in your home becomes that much more dangerous. When a fuse blows, it doesn’t always cut off the electricity to that circuit in your panel, which can be a very serious fire hazard. If you still have fuses in place, it is high time that you call in the professionals and have them upgrade your electrical panel to something a bit more contemporary.

 

Give Your Home An Electrifying Upgrade

What’s the capacity of your service panel?

Electrical panels are one of those things that just work until they don’t. Most homeowners know how to reset a circuit breaker that trips, but few people besides electricians give the industrial grey box in the garage or laundry room much thought until the lights go out

Why do amps even matter?

Amps are a measure of how much electricity can flow through a circuit. Your home is divided into multiple circuits, which all meet at the service panel.

Advantages of a 200 Amp Service Panel

Safety

An upgraded service panel can let your home electrical system use more power safely. Even if you aren’t tripping the breakers right now, a 100 amp panel in a modern home is running far too close to capacity to be safe for long term use.

More Circuits

Even if your current system has a total capacity to meet your home’s needs, the individual circuits are often limited. Smaller service panels have less room for circuits, and those circuits are usually rated for lower amp draw than larger panels

Room to Grow

If you’re considering any major home upgrades like a backyard pool  or a basement bar, upgrading to a 200 amp service panel will give your power to spare. It’s also a good starting point if you’re planning to upgrade your office or home theater, which can be major power sinks even with modern equipment.

 

Is It Time for an Electrical Panel Upgrade?

Did you know that from 2012 to 2016, eight in 10 home fires in the US involved electrical malfunctions? These fires caused a yearly $1.3 billion in property damage within that period. Each year, they resulted in 440 fatalities and another 1,250 injuries.

The Electrical Panel Is as Old as Your 40-Year-Old House

In the US, more than half of all occupied homes are almost 40 years old. A third of these were even built prior to 1970, which means they’re almost half a century old!

Your Circuit Breaker Often Trips

A circuit breaker should “trip” when it overloads—this is a safety feature that prevents hazards. But if your circuit breaker always trips, that’s a solid sign you need an electrical service upgrade. It means that the electrical panel can no longer handle your electricity requirements.

Lights Keep Flickering or Usually Turns on and off

Do your house lights flicker when you power on your air conditioner? Perhaps they go on and off whenever you run any high-wattage appliance. Either way, this can mean that your electrical panel is already going beyond its capacity.

The Electrical Panel Gets Warm or Emits a Burning Smell

The heat or burning smell can indicate severe overloading. These signs can also mean a failed circuit breaker or a disconnected wire. All these issues can trigger a house fire.

Why Mosquito Control Is Important

Why Mosquito Control Is Important

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Tips for How to Prevent Mosquito Bites

Your go-to guide to what works and what doesn’t to fight mosquito bites

The whine of a mosquito may be the most annoying sound on earth — and if you’re in a zone where mosquitoes transmit disease, it can also be a dangerous one. If you’re planning to camp, kayak, hike, or garden, you can prevent mosquito bites before you’re attacked by the bloodthirsty arthropods.

DEET products

This chemical repellent has been studied for over 40 years. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has confirmed that when used properly, DEET works and poses no health risk, even to kids. Marketed as Repel, Off! Deep Woods, Cutter Skinsations, and other brands

Picaridin

Picaridin (also labeled KBR 3023 or icaridin), a chemical related to the black pepper plant, is the most broadly used repellent outside the U.S. The Zika Foundation says it works for 6-8 hours. Safe for use on babies 2 months or older, it’s marketed as Natrapel and Sawyer.

Oil of lemon eucalyptus

Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE or PMD-para-menthane-3,8-diol). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says this plant-based product protects as well as repellents containing DEET. Marketed as Repel, BugShield, and Cutter

IR3535 (3-[N-butyl-N-acetyl]-aminopropionic acid, ethyl ester)

Used in Europe for about 20 years, this repellent is also effective for keeping deer ticks away. Marketed by Merck.

 

Understanding mosquitoes can help us find better ways to kill them

Astronomer Royal Dr. Martin Rees wrote in 1999: “What makes things baffling is their degree of complexity, not their sheer size… a star is simpler than an insect.”

You might not think an insect like a mosquito could be so complex, so I thought I would share some lesser-known facts about them.

Blood meals are only for the ladies

The females of most species of mosquito are blood feeders (a practice entomologists call hematophagy), because they use proteins in blood to make yolk for their eggs. They also consume plant nectar to fuel their activities to locate blood sources and lay eggs. Male mosquitoes, on the other hand, feed only on plant nectar.

Finding a nice spot for dinner

Once a mosquito has landed on a host, it has to find the best location to take a blood meal. Mosquitoes that prefer to feed on humans, such as Ae. aegypti, tend to seek a blood meal on our feet, ankles and legs. These areas of our bodies are accessible and can be more “aromatic.” Blood feeding may also go undetected at those locations.

Mosquitoes don’t want to get infected with our germs

While enjoying a blood meal, female mosquitoes may pick up a pathogen or parasite from their host and then transmit it to other hosts during subsequent feedings. That means the mosquito is infected by that bacteria or pathogen, even if it doesn’t make the mosquito sick.

 

Tips to Combat Mosquitoes in Your Yard

How to Keep Mosquitoes Away from the House: Remove Water Sources

Having accessible water sources around your home will draw in mosquitoes. Why? Because mosquitoes actually lay their eggs in standing or slow moving water. By cutting these water sources, you are cutting the number of mosquitoes laying eggs around your home—and in return, having fewer mosquitoes around the house in general.

Ways to Keep Mosquitoes Away: Avoid Scented Body Products

Although some scents work as a repellent for mosquitoes, other body lotions or perfumes can actually attract these pests. The best thing to do is stay away from fancy smelling perfumes, colognes, body washes or lotions if you plan on spending time outside during high mosquito activity hours. These hours are typically dusk to dawn between April and October. If you hate bugs

What Keeps Mosquitoes Away from Biting You: Wear Light Clothing

Not light in weight, although in the summer that is a given. But light-colored clothing! Turns out mosquitoes are attracted to darker colored materials. As for the length, if you can cover up, you should do so. Wearing long sleeves and pants will significantly reduce the number of mosquito bites you accumulate by the end of the evening.

How to Repel Mosquitoes: Prune Hedges and Mow the Yard to Reduce Shade

Mosquitoes like shade to escape the midday heat. Hedges, bushes and tall grass provide shade that shelters mosquitoes. They need a place to get out of the heat and sun during the day, so the fewer shaded areas they find, the less they’ll congregate in your yard.

How to Keep Mosquitoes Away: Treat Pools of Water

Treat pools of water you can’t drain to kill mosquito larvae. Sometimes it’s nearly impossible to get rid of standing water. And sometimes, like when you have a small pond, you just don’t want to. And we certainly love adding water features to the backyard.

 

How mosquitoes find you to bite you

Are you dousing your skin with bug repellents and lighting citronella candles to keep mosquitoes away? These efforts may keep them at bay for a while, but no solution is perfect because mosquitoes have evolved to use a triple threat of visual, olfactory, and thermal cues to home in on their human targets, a new Caltech study suggests

The study appears in the July 17 online version of the journal Current Biology.

When an adult female mosquito needs a blood meal to feed her young, she searches for a host — often a human. Many insects, mosquitoes included, are attracted by the odor of the carbon dioxide (CO2) gas that humans and other animals naturally exhale. However, mosquitoes can also pick up other cues that signal a human is nearby. They use their vision to spot a host and thermal sensory information to detect body heat.

Mosquitoes combine this information to map out the path to their next meal.

To find out how and when the mosquitoes use each type of sensory information, the researchers released hungry, mated female mosquitoes into a wind tunnel in which different sensory cues could be independently controlled. The researchers injected a high-concentration CO2 plume into the tunnel, mimicking the signal created by the breath of a human. In series of experiments, they found that the insects were attracted by the CO2, which is an indicator of a nearby host, and would also spend a lot of time hovering near high-contrast objects control experiments – think: a person. In another set of experiments, to test thermal factors, the researchers found that mosquitoes are attracted to warmth.

Information gathered from all of these experiments enabled the researchers to create a model of how the mosquito finds its host over different distances. They hypothesize that from 10 to 50 meters away, a mosquito smells a host’s CO2 plume. As it flies closer—to within 5 to 15 meters—it begins to see the host. Then, guided by visual cues that draw it even closer, the mosquito can sense the host’s body heat. This occurs at a distance of less than a meter

Even if it were possible to hold one’s breath indefinitely, another human breathing nearby, or several meters upwind, would create a CO2 plume that could lead mosquitoes close enough to you that they may lock on to your visual signature. The strongest defense is therefore to become invisible, or at least visually camouflaged. Even in this case, however, mosquitoes could still locate you by tracking the heat signature of your body . . . The independent and iterative nature of the sensory-motor reflexes renders mosquitoes’ host seeking strategy annoyingly robust.

 

Natural Ways to Keep Mosquito Away

Many people prefer to use natural mosquito repellents because of this method considered more affordable and safe instead of chemical products. There are at least 3 common natural mosquito repellents which you can count on to be the best mosquito organic defence at home

Lemongrass

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is a fragrant plant that has many positive uses for humans. These perennial herbs are one of the favourite scents of many people because it can radiate a pleasing and relaxing aroma when it is extracted to a variety of commercial products like perfume, aromatherapy, lotion and candles.

But, do mosquitoes hate lemongrass? The short answer is yes. Lemongrass contains citronella, natural oil that has been known among people of many cultures around the world as a natural ingredient to keep mosquitoes away.

Coffee grounds

Coffee grounds are one of the often natural ingredients used as an insect and household pest repellents like cockroaches and ants. But, who would have thought if using burned coffee ground is also serve as a natural and safe mosquito repellent solution?

Garlic

Apparently, garlic can be more than just a perk up the flavour to your food. Garlic is known on its natural sulfur that is toxic when mosquitoes ingest it. Thus, homemade garlic-based natural mosquito repellent getting more popular since many people’s beliefs that its strong smell are able to offer mild protection to pesky flying insects like mosquitoes.

A Dermatologist For Your Skin Problems

A Dermatologist For Your Skin Problems

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HOW TO SELECT A DERMATOLOGIST

Tips when seeking care

Before making an appointment with a dermatologist, it is important to consider their level of training. Board-certified dermatologists have at least eight years of medical training, if not more. They have proven their expertise by passing difficult board exams and meeting other requirements

Board-certified: It is important to check whether your dermatologist is board-certified. If they are, the initials FAAD will appear after their name. FAAD stands for “Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology.” A dermatologist’s website is often a good place to check. It will either list FAAD after their name or discuss their board certification

Insurance: If you are uncertain about insurance coverage, call your insurance provider. They are the best source for learning whether a dermatologist is in your network and if the visit is covered. They can also tell you whether treatment for a particular condition is covered. Note that strictly cosmetic procedures — such as treatment for wrinkles — usually are not covered

Booking the appointment: As is true for many specialists, there can be a wait to see a dermatologist. To help you get timely care

Make your appointment early. The earlier you can book your appointment, the better. If you are scheduling a routine appointment, call several weeks or even months ahead of when you wish to be seen

 

How to Choose a Dermatologist? – Tips to Consider While Looking For a Dermatologist

Whether you are curious about knowing the latest anti-aging technology or getting rid of acne, choosing the right dermatologist could be daunting. It is essential to choose the right dermatologist as not all the dermatologists are equally skilled and experienced. Finding the right dermatologist requires time as well as efforts.

From normal hormonal acne treatment to regular skin cancer screenings, your dermatologist can help you with a wide range of skin issues. The right dermatologist will help you in balancing your skin health in an appropriate manner, which is why it is crucial to choose the right dermatologist

Choosing the right dermatologist is a crucial decision, especially if you have a serious skin condition. So, find the dermatologist who will work appropriately to treat your skin condition. Now you must be thinking about how to choose the right dermatologist? If you have never visited a dermatologist, but if you are willing to and are ready to take this step, here are some simple tips to consider to choose the right dermatologist for you.

Take Reference from Your Primary Care Doctor

Make a referral list of dermatologists by taking advice from your primary care doctor. You can also take advice from your friends, family members, and other healthcare providers for better recommendations. A few names on the list increase the choices and help you in choosing the right one. Seek the dermatologist expert in dermatologic care and can carry out the cosmetic procedures appropriately.

Appropriately Research the Credentials of the Dermatologist

Certification from the board is one of the most important factors to consider while choosing the right dermatologist. Board certification defines that the doctor has essential skills and experience to render healthcare facilities in dermatology. In addition to this, make sure that the dermatologist does not have any history of disciplinary actions or malpractices.

 

How Do You Find the Perfect Dermatologist For You?

As you may know, I was lucky enough to grow up with a dermatologist mom, giving me backstage access to a dermatologist’s office and to many of her good derm friends. Add to this a propensity for rashes (where are my atopic girls at?), and well, I’ve known my fair share of dermatologists. Maybe I’m biased, but I believe that anyone with skin should go to a dermatologist at least yearly for a full-body cancer screening. It’s also advisable to see a dermatologist if you’re dealing with any persistent skin issues that you can’t seem to DIY your way out of. By going, you gain a partner and guide in your treatment. This does not mean you cannot explore skin care on your own, but rather that you’ll do so with a clearer understanding of your skin, provided by an expert in that field

Experience

Make sure you’re going to someone who knows what they’re doing. This does not mean you should discount a younger doctor, but I recommend doing your research. Look at their resumé, see if they’re clinical professors affiliated with medical schools, check if they have any research published, etc. If you’re looking for injections or lasers, I do recommend going to someone who’s been at it for a while.

Recommendations

Ask a friend with good skin for their derm! If they don’t want to divulge their secret, find a new friend to ask. Usually, an in-person recommendation counts more than a Yelp review, as anyone can post anything, and it’s not always an accurate reflection of what a doctor is actually like. You can also ask your primary care physician (if you like and trust them) for a referral.

Social Media

I’m very torn about this, as I know many excellent doctors who either don’t bother with social media or have a subpar social media presence despite excelling in both medical and aesthetic work. There are a few reasons for this. Younger doctors (#millennials) tend to be more social media-savvy, so they are more inclined to advertise their practice on these platforms. Some of the more experienced hands in the field, however, are either too busy with patients or are otherwise disinterested in social media, which may exclude them from your search. If you’re finding your derm through social, do your due diligence, and make sure you’re not choosing this person just because their IG is really popping.

Certifications

Board certification is another somewhat controversial topic because the organizations that provide these certifications can have their own interests. Nevertheless, every good dermatologist I know is board-certified. Board certification ensures that your derm stays up to date with developments in the field and practices continuing education. This is crucial in medicine and science in general, where the knowledge base constantly evolves. You don’t want someone treating you the way they would have treated patients 50 years ago, or even 10 years ago

 

Dermatology Center for Skin Health

How Do I Find the Best Dermatologist for my Skin Care?

Did you know that the skin is the body’s largest organ and plays a very large role in keeping our body protected from foreign organisms entering the body that may cause disease? This is why we believe that it’s important to find the best dermatologist for your medical care and elective cosmetic procedures. Continue reading to learn why.

BENEFITS OF FINDING THE BEST DERMATOLOGIST

A dermatologist is a specialist doctor who cares for the skin, nails, hair and mucous membranes.  Dermatologists have many years of training. To be a dermatologist,

Dermatologists are trained to diagnose and treat an estimated 3,000 diseases and conditions of the skin, nails and hair. They have a deep understanding of the cellular level of the skin and the layers of the skin which is important, not only for medical conditions but also for skin health care and the popular cosmetic procedures like Botox injections and dermal fillers

CONDITIONS A DERMATOLOGIST SHOULD TREAT

The most common conditions you might need a dermatologist for are acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, hair loss and vertigo, a disease that makes the skin loses its pigment in patches. Skin cancer is also a very large part of what a dermatologist does. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. There are several different types of skin cancer with melanoma, being the most likely to spread which can cause death if not caught early enough. Having an annual skin check with a dermatologist each year can catch pre-cancerous areas and point out skin cancers to help reduce your risk and provide early treatment

WHAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE SHOULD A GOOD DERMATOLOGIST HAVE?

A good dermatologist should have experience in good visual skills and communication skills from their medical training in dermatology. You want a doctor who listens, allows you to ask questions, answers your questions and doesn’t try to sell you something. Although you may come in for a specific reason, a good dermatologist will want to do a full body complete skin exam. They will be able to see lesions or moles perhaps you can’t see or reach to protect you from skin cancer

 

How to Find a Dermatologist

Putting your skincare in the hands of a doctor can be a little nerve wracking. But finding a good dermatologist doesn’t have to be an uncomfortable or difficult experience. By doing some research and asking the right questions, you can find your ideal dermatologist in no time.

Get a referral from your GP. Your primary care doctor will likely known a reputable dermatologist he can refer you to. Be specific about whether you are looking for a general dermatologist or a cosmetic dermatologist

Look online at the American Academy of Dermatology. Believe it or not, there is no law that prevents doctors from practicing in medical fields they may not specialize in or be trained in. All the dermatologists listed on the American Academy of Dermatology website are Board-certified, which means they have completed medical school, a 3 year residency in dermatology and passed a rigorous exam administered by the American Board of Dermatology. They are also retested every year by the Board

talk to friends who like their dermatologist. Ask your friend specifically what she liked about the dermatologist

Be wary of dermatologists who advertise. Dermatologists who retain their patients and do consistent, good work don’t usually need to advertise. The only reasons a doctor would advertise is if she does not have enough patients and are not receiving referrals from her current patients or other doctors. So if you see a lot of advertising around a certain dermatologist, be cautious before scheduling a consultation with her

Must Choose The Best Carpet Flooring For Your Livingroom

Must Choose The Best Carpet Flooring For Your Livingroom

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tips for choosing carpet

A good-quality carpet takes a floor from workable to homely. It instantly transforms a space, softening the look of a room and absorbing noise to create a cosy environment. But choosing the best carpet for your home can be somewhat of a minefield, from pile types to colours – the options are seemingly endless.

CONSIDER THE WAY YOU LIVE

If you have a young family and pets then look for a hard-wearing carpet in a forgiving colour, such as a textured loop pile or a quality hard-twist cut. If you’re a couple looking for a touch of luxury, you might opt for a plush pile in a flat colour. If you’re an entertainer, a combination cut and loop pile in mid-to-dark tones or a stippled cut pile would suit

THINK ABOUT PLUSH PILES

Cut piles include plush piles, which are super soft and look like velvet. If you want that squishy, luxurious feeling then dense, plush-pile carpets are lovely, but bear in mind they show footprints.

TAKE A LOOK AT LOOP PILES

Loop piles are exactly that; the yarn is formed into loops. There are lots of variations: some have a formal, linear look, some have a ribbed pattern, giving them a sisal look. Random loop piles give the carpet a textured, casual look.

MIX IT UP

Combination cut and loop pile carpets, where the contrasting textures create a light and dark pattern are less likely to show footprints and have a lovely texture underfoot

 

Carpet Selection: Things You Must Know

Carpet dealers usually carry samples of many carpet lines from multiple mills and manufacturers in their showrooms. You’ll see a range of quality when you begin your carpet search. Your best bet is to educate yourself and research your options before you head to the store. Then, you’re sure to get a quality carpet that provides comfort, durability and beauty far into the future

What You Should Know:

By asking these questions, the dealer is trying to gauge which grade and style of carpet would work best for your home

Try to give a detailed picture of your expectations for the carpet. Is it important that the carpet stand up to pets, running children and bustling activity? Or are you mainly concerned about how it will look and feel in a formal living room that doesn’t get a lot of use?

How much use will the room get? (This is a consideration because a heavily used room may not be the best place to install white or very light-colored carpet.)

Are kids going to be playing down on the floor? Or is it a formal room that doesn’t get much use? (Again, lighter colors my create more maintenance but another factor the dealer is trying to consider is whether you should choose carpet made with BCF fiber so that children playing on the floor will not find themselves covered in loose fibers shed from staple products.)

 

Unbiased Carpet Buying Guide

A little background: It began as a project to help my father’s carpet cleaning customers when it came time for them to buy new carpet. He wanted a website to recommend to his customers when they were shopping for carpet, but all the sites we found either were incomplete or biased (trying to sell you a certain carpet, pad, or stain treatment).

So we decided to create our own site helping people buy carpet, and here it is. It’s been edited over the years to respond to our readers feedback, include new carpet technology, and just be more helpful.

Of course, this is all for free.  The site is supported by advertisements, and it can be assumed where there is a link to a product or service, I make a small commission. However, I only recommend products and services I believe in and apreciate your support. If you’d like to help out in any other way, I’m trying to get Pinterest off the ground, and more followers = more motivation.

Get estimated initial projects costs. You can start planning financing and budgeting. This step comes first because you need to know what you’re getting into financially. If you don’t, it will be difficult to determine what type of carpet you’ll need, when to buy, etc.

Plan the perfect carpet and pad for your home. This is the “meat and potatoes” of carpet shopping. You’ll learn what makes durable carpet and padding, and based on your home’s needs, what you’d be over-paying for. You’ll know what matters in carpet better than 90% of salesmen—and promise no sales pitch.

 

Wall-to-Wall Carpet Buying Guide

Buying the right type of carpet for a room in your home involves more than finding a style in the color you like. You first will need to consider your lifestyle—what you typically do in that room—location, material, construction, and upkeep. Carpet manufacturers have responded to homeowners’ desire for great looks, value, and easy maintenance with many innovations and options in recent years.

Selection

When shopping, think function first. Ask yourself a few questions when choosing your carpeting type

Answers to these questions will help you begin to determine the best fiber for your carpet as well as texture, construction, and even color.

Fiber Facts

The type of fiber used determines the basic performance and appearance of the carpet. The biggest trend today is: soft. Homeowners seek comfort, and carpet offers a cushion underfoot. It also suppresses noise. The fiber content is usually listed on a specification sheet on the back of the sample. While names may differ among manufacturers, products still fall within one of five basic categories.

Wool

Wool, the granddaddy of all soft floorcoverings, retains its legacy of luxury. Natural and made from woven construction, it offers a greater range of designs, detail, and color than a traditional tufted carpet. Expect good stain resistance as long as you treat it as soon as something is dropped on it. It also has inherent flame retardant characteristics

 

Carpet Buying Guide

How to Choose the Best Type of Carpet for Your Home

Carpets are part of what makes a home truly feel like a home. The flooring of a house says a lot about it. The right balance seems to give each space that cozy, comfortable feeling. When you are building or remodeling your home, your flooring choices can easily become overwhelming. You have to consider things like allergies, pets, your family and which rooms get the most traffic. As you browse, how do you know which material or style of carpet is right? This guide covers several factors you should consider to help you make the best choice

What Are Piles?

Piles describe how manufacturers use the fibers to make the carpet. The yarn is usually looped or cut to a certain length and twisted to stay in place. There are several pile styles with different textures. Some will hide dirt more easily, while others track and wear down quickly. When you choose one for your home, consider the amount of traffic and how you plan to use the room.

Cut Pile

A cut pile carpet has straight strands that are cut and twisted. It tends to be fairly soft, which means you can see marks such as footprints and vacuum streaks.

Low Pile Carpet

The height affects the wear, appearance and feel of the material. A short pile carpet has yarn cut to 0.25” or less.

Plush Carpet

The plush style is trimmed off so that yarn ends poke up. Saxony plush, one of the most popular varieties, has short tufts that are densely packed to look like a thick carpet. It doesn’t tend to wear as well as loops.

Tips To Find The Best Commercial Painting

Tips To Find The Best Commercial Painting

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Tips for Finding the Best Commercial Painter

Some Tips for Finding the Best Commercial Painter to make your painting projects easier. Improving the overall look of your property can bring a lot of

Tips for Finding the Best Commercial Painterbenefits like increasing your property value. When you want to paint any of your properties, such as home, office building, apartment, and many other properties, you need to consider hiring a professional painting contractor. This painting service can help you complete your painting project easily. You can find local painters who can provide an excellent paint job and these simple tips can help you find the best commercial painter quickly

Ask for referrals

This is the easiest way that you can find the best painter for your project. You can get these referrals from your friends and family.  It is also a good idea to read some testimonials or reviews from other customers. These reviews can help you select the best painter for completing your project. You can read some of these reviews from many resources, such as Angie’s List.

Check their licenses

This is another important thing that you have to consider today. When you compare some available painters, you also need to check their licenses. You have to make sure that they are licensed to work in your area. This step is very important to help you avoid any low quality painting contractors in your city. It is also useful to avoid any legal issues when you hire your favorite painters today. Licensed painters usually tend to provide high quality service for their customers.  The Better Business Bureau is also a great resource. (Not all locales require licensing.)

Consider their experience

You also need to compare some available painters, so you can check out their experience. Different painters may have with their own experience in this industry. If you want to avoid any problems in the future, you have to select experienced painters who have more than 5 years of experience. Experienced painters usually know how to solve any problems with their projects quickly and completely.

Get estimates

This is another essential tip for all property owners today. When you compare some available painting contractors, you have to compare their rates. This tip is very useful for you who only have small budget for painting your property. Some painters are ready to give their free quote for all customers. This free quote usually contains all necessary costs or fees that may occur in the painting project

 

Tips for Choosing a Commercial Painter for Your Next Melbourne Painting Project

Don’t Make Your Decision on Pricing Alone

While the cost of any task that you are having performed is always going to be important to you and your business, one important quality to look for in a commercial painting contractor is their ability to provide an honest and accurate estimation of the cost of work.  While you don’t want to overpay for any services, you also don’t want to choose a company just because they offer the lowest estimate. Keep in mind that differences in pricing are a reflection of the differences in the quality and service of work you will receive

Hire a Specialist

Since the physical appearance of your location is closely tied to people’s perception of your business, you need to make sure the company you trust with its appearance has experience working on commercial buildings.  Commercial properties are often large and built with a wide variety of building materials which can present unique challenges to painters. An experienced team of commercial painting contractors will know how to handle all of these challenges effectively

Excellent Customer Service

In most cases, painting of your commercial property occurs during business hours.  By choosing a commercial painting contractor that is committed to excellent customer service, you will not only find yourself dealing with a company whom your people are comfortable interacting with, but also one which will be able to interact professionally should they come into contact with any of your customers

 

COMMERCIAL INTERIOR PAINTING TIPS FROM THE PROS

Painting your business all by yourself is a tough job and the work done can never be compared to getting it painted by a professional. They have years of experience and know various tips and tricks to do the job better

For the layman, it is all about buying a roller, paint brush and paint can to get the job done. But these professionals follow a different path that gives better results. The reason why we are not able to paint our walls with a smooth finish is because we miss all the important steps. A painter spends around three days on painting a room.

Cover the Floor Edges with a Tape

Use blue painter’s tape and cover the floor edges with it while smoothing it with a putty knife. This will secure the tape closely to the edge and the paint will not bleed underneath the tape. Avoid using masking tape as it leaves a sticky residue behind, which is hard to scrape.

Lay Drop Cloths

A canvas sheet makes the best drop cloth as it easily absorbs the paint and does not let it bleed to the ground. Avoid using plastic sheets as paint can easily slip off of it.

Tape Fixtures

Cover the bulbs with plastic bags and tape them. As for any old water stains, spray the areas with a stain killer.

 

Tips Of Choosing Your Commercial Painting Contractor

Commercial painting involves a lot of work and expertise. Therefore, whenever you are thinking of giving a building a facelift, it is essential that you think through about the contractor that will do the painting for you. This is specifically very important because it determines the quality of work that you will get. With all the commercial contractors in town, you are spoilt for choice on whom you can choose and therefore, you can never have any excuse as to why your building looks horrible. Below are some tips to follow when choosing your commercial painting contractor.

Ask around

Whenever it is your first time painting the exterior or interior of your house or business, finding your commercial painting contractor can seem like a huge dark cloud over you. However, nothing could be further from the truth, all you need to first do is ask people around you on the best contractor that they know of. You can ask your friends, colleagues at work, or family members among others and you will surprised about what knowledge people hold. After doing this, you will get a list of the number of good commercial painting contractors in town, which then gives you the license to start finding your ideal commercial painting contractor

Do research

After you have been given a list of the reputable commercial painting contractors around town, you cannot give them the job all of them. You will need to narrow down on the best contractor who is best suited to paint your building. You can only achieve this by carrying out thorough research on the list if the painter near me contractors that you have on your list. This will enable you find out more about the kin d of people that you will be dealing with. Therefore, ask whether they have licenses, whether they are insured, check their status in the business bureaus and ask the number of years that they have been in the business

Get their estimates

After you have gotten adequate information about the kind of companies that they are, you can narrow down on your best three commercial painting contractors. These are the best contractors that you have sampled that matches your qualification. After doing this, then ask them to provide you with the estimates of the costs that they will charge to paint your house or business. Pay keen attention to the costs that they give, any low cost or very high costs should raise your red flag. Compare the prices that they charge and do an average of the costs. You can thereafter choose the contractor that charges reasonably affordable without curtailing the quality of the work that they do

 

How to Choose a Commercial Painting Contractor

Your business or commercial property is extremely important to you, and one of the biggest concerns that you have is keeping it in the best condition possible at all times. If you’re having any part of your property painted, you need to hire a commercial painting contractor who you know you can trust for quality work. Every painting company has a different set of skills, experience, and techniques, so it’s important that you select a contractor who will be able to provide you with all of the specific services that you need. Finding a commercial painting contractor in Fort Lauderdale can be difficult, and it’s also extremely important

Start By Selecting Core Candidates

The first place that most people look for any kind of information is the internet, and any commercial painter’s website should be as helpful to you as it is to their company. You should be able to easily find qualified commercial painters in For Lauderdale online. However, you should also check in local directories, and you should get recommendations from people who have used painters in the past. Select a a few contractors and your core candidates, then call them to ask an estimate and an interview

Don’t Base Your Decision On Pricing Alone

As a business or commercial property owner in Fort Lauderdale, the cost of any work that you’re having performed is very important to you. One of the most important qualities of a commercial painting contractor is their ability to provide you with an honest and accurate estimate of the cost of the work. And while you do want to make sure that you’re overpaying for any services, you also don’t want to simply choose the company that offers the lowest estimate. Remember: differences in pricing are often a reflection of the differences in service and quality of work that you’ll receive

Choose the Right Specialists

When you begin to interview commercial painting contractors in Fort Lauderdale, make sure that they have the proper skill set for the jobs that you need to have performed. You should also make sure that the painting company has all the skills and specializations that you’ll need for this job. Otherwise, you may end up needing to hire multiple different companies

Tips To Learn To Do Carpet Cleaning

Tips To Learn To Do Carpet Cleaning

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Carpet-Cleaning Secrets From the Pros

Blot Stains, Don’t Rub Them

When a stain or spill first occurs, resist the urge to immediately start scrubbing. That’ll only drive the stain down into the carpet. Instead, gently dab stains with a cleaning solution and a clean cloth, paper towel, or sponge.

The Club Soda Process

First, pour club soda onto a clean cloth and blot the stain. If the stain appears lighter, repeat with more club soda. If that doesn’t work, mix a one-to-one ratio of white vinegar and water, and pour it into a handheld spray bottle. “Spray the solution onto the stained area, then wait 10 or 15 minutes for it to soak in. Next, press a clean, dry sponge down onto the saturated area to soak up the cleaning solution and the diluted stain, too,” says Tarbox. Repeat this process, if necessary, until the entire stain is gone.

Try Shaving Cream

Tarbox says the best carpet cleaner for general stains is—believe it or not—ordinary shaving cream. “It will remove just about every type of stain. Apply the shaving cream directly to the stain and let it sit for about 30 minutes,” Tarbox says. Once the shaving cream has set, blot it up with a dry white cloth.

Freeze-Dried Gum

Here’s an all-too-familiar scenario: You step in chewing gum out on the street, but don’t realize it until you track that gross, sticky mess into the house and onto your carpeting. The trick to removing gum from carpeting can be found in your freezer

Dish Soap Cuts Grease

Greasy spills are some of the most difficult to remove from carpeting, but again, the secret is to use the proper product and technique: Place a few drops of grease cutting dish soap, such as Dawn, into a cup of warm water. Gently mix the solution to dissolve the soap

 

How to Clean Carpet: Cleaning Tips for Long Lasting Carpet

Dirt is like thousands of little blades that cut carpet fibers. When you walk across a dirty carpet, you grind sharp dirt particles against the yarn, making tiny nicks in the fibers. All that fuzz mixed in with the dirt in your vacuum cleaner bags is your beautiful carpet headed out the door one bag at a time. When dirt scratches the fibers, it dulls the sheen, which is why high-traffic areas appear duller than the rest of the carpet. Over time, grinding dirt wears away the fibers too, which mats them down and makes them stain more easily. Follow these how to clean carpet tips to keep your carpet as dirt-free as possible.

Vacuum often

To protect your carpet, vacuum entrance areas and high-traffic areas twice a week and the rest of the carpeting at least weekly. Oily soils attract oily soils, and frequent vacuuming will reduce soil buildup

Start with a clean bag or filter

A dirty bag, dirt cup or filter can cut a vacuum’s suction power in half. The main reason bagless vacuums stop working is that the filters aren’t changed often enough. Replace or wash (if possible) the filters on bagless vacuums every three months. Replace vacuum bags when they’re three-quarters full

Vacuum at the right speed

Vacuum slowly enough to get out as much dirt as possible. Make one quick pass over low-traffic areas and two slow passes over high-traffic areas. Two slow passes removes ground-in dirt more effectively than several fast passes

Use walk-off mats

Use walk-off mats inside and out to keep dirt off the carpeting. Coarse-textured mats outside your doors remove soil and will make a how to clean carpet project easier. Water-absorbent mats inside prevent wet shoes on the carpeting.

 

Tips on Choosing the Best Carpet Cleaning Service

Less is NOT Necessarily More

It’s common to look for the most affordable option when choosing any sort of cleaning service. However attractive saving a few Euro might seem, going for the least expensive option for your carpet’s maintenance might actually do more damage than good.

Know the Process

No two cleaning services are identical, and that means that you’ll want to know how each company that you’ve shortlisted for the job goes about their business. Some companies might use stronger detergents, while others might use gentler products that are safer for your carpets and for the environment too

Do a Competitive Analysis

This tip is simple: do your research. This entails everything from talking to friends and family, checking review sites and asking for recommendations on social media. Some of the best services are found through word of mouth, so do the research and leverage your network for trustworthy recommendations.

Ask About Additional Services

Ask as many questions as you possibly can before hiring a carpet cleaning company. You want to know exactly what you’re getting with no hidden surprises.

Keep it Local if Possible

A local carpet cleaning company with a vested interest in your community will likely be a good choice for many reasons. As local companies provide services for local residents, it is in their best interest to offer a high quality service at affordable costs to ensure customer retention.

 

Things to Look for When Choosing a Carpet Cleaning Company

Over the years, we’ve had countless phone calls from people panicking and upset after receiving a service from a carpet cleaning company that didn’t produce the results that they promised. It’s always frustrating for us to hear that another local carpet cleaner has taken the money of a customer that trusted them with their property, only to then leave them back at square one, out of pocket and stressed.

Are they professionally trained through the IICRC or NCCA?

Don’t feel embarrassed to ask. If they’re trained professionally, they’ll be more than happy to show you their certificates

Are they insured?

This one is important. Find out if the carpet cleaner is insured and if they have Treatment Risk as part of their cover. If not, they’re not covered to service your property and you should look elsewhere for a carpet cleaner

Do they have past testimonials?

If the company has testimonials and reviews from past clients, it’s worth taking a look. Most good companies will have a Facebook page, Google Business page or website where you can find reviews to look at.

What equipment do they use?

A professional carpet cleaning service requires professional carpet cleaning equipment. Look on their website for pictures of large, shopping trolley-sizes machinery. A lightweight machine that can be easily carried is not going to be enough for a thorough clean.

 

Tips for Choosing a Carpet Cleaning Company

When was the last time a service person visited your home? Was this person on time? Careful? Was pricing clear up front or were there surprise costs in the final bill? How did you feel about the results of the work? Was your home treated with respect? In the end, were you left with a bigger mess to clean up than when you started? Carpet cleaning is like any in-home service. The experience can be positive, or it can be a headache all around.  Some cleaners make carpet problems worse. In those cases, customers end up paying twice. They pay for the original service and they pay for a more trustworthy carpet cleaner to fix the damage.  But what if you could avoid the hassle and make the best choice the first time around?

Make a short list of local carpet cleaning companies.

It only takes a little “home-work” on the front end to save you time, Ask friends about their cleaning experiences. Call local carpet retailers and ask who they recommend. Then search carpet cleaning companies on the internet.  However, be wary of the first results that come up on a search. These are ads paid for by the business to put their listing at the top of the page. In short, first doesn’t mean best.  Click on each company’s website. Is it professional and easy to navigate? Does it provide helpful information? More specifically, is the carpet cleaning company you are considering a franchise or a local business? Is it a member of the Better Business Bureau? What testimonials are you finding online

Call and ask each company “Are you licensed & insured?”

The only acceptable answer is “yes.” Admittedly, it is rare for a professional company to make mistakes.  Still, should there be a mishap while on your property, the cleaners can set things right if they are licensed and insured. So ask to see proof of insurance because a trustworthy company has nothing to hide.

Ask if their technicians are certified in carpet cleaning.

Want to know a secret? The average employment span for a technician in the carpet cleaning field is around 6 months. Obviously, that’s not much time to learn all the ins and outs of the profession. It takes training to understand the cleaning needs of all carpet types and conditions. A reliable company makes sure their employees are fully certified.  On the whole, the most respected carpet cleaning certifications are awarded by the IICRC, the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification. When companies are dedicated to the ongoing education of their teams, they tend to keep their technicians for several years. Clearly, those are the folks you want in your home.

Ask what cleaning methods they use.

The carpet cleaning industry includes a variety of methods. However, the big-name carpet manufacturers like Stainmaster, Mohawk, Shaw and Couristan prefer hot water extraction. The primary alternative to hot water is a dry chemical cleaning. This can be harsh on carpet fibers. What’s more, dry chemical substances can leave behind a sticky residue.  Extraction, in contrast, uses a milder detergent. Plus, this method flushes out both the detergent and the dirt buried deep in the fibers at the same time. Done correctly, extraction does not leave any residue and it does not over-wet the carpet.   So ask the cleaning company to talk you through their process.  Their website should provide this information too.

Must Know How To Make Residential Painting

Must Know How To Make Residential Painting

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Why Should You Do Exterior Residential Painting?

Top 3 reasons to invest in house painting

You’ve finally decided to change something about your home and want to start by reviving the exterior facade with a new color. A proper house painting project will change the look of your home for better and leave a great impression on anyone that comes by. Most people have their houses re-painted simply because the old paint gets damaged by the weather with every passing year, resulting in moisture. This moisture can be disastrous for the exterior paint and cause it to crack. But, that’s only one of the reasons why you should schedule professional house painting sooner rather than later.

Increase your home’s value

It might seem unrealistic, but a nice paint job can increase the value of your home significantly. Pick the right colors that will make your house more noticeable and complement your garden seamlessly. Decide which color scheme you are going to use and stick to it. For example, if you start with a light main color, paint the whole exterior using only light colors. Don’t forget that the colors should match the environment and go well with other materials, including the roof, bricks and stones.

Improve the ambiance

Old wall colors can be disappointing and make you feel depressed. This should serve as a clear signal that you ought to do some painting and improve the ambiance around your house. It is only natural to have tacky wall colors if you are a smoker or you can’t imagine your life without pets. A new paint job can have a very refreshing effect on everyone living in your home. Also, it is excellent for promoting hygiene and overall satisfaction. Pick colors that will cause feelings of affection and warmth in your house, like green, yellow and orange.

Affordable investment with great benefits

Decorating the exterior of your home can be expensive if you pick the first house painting company you come across. Therefore, you should spend some time searching for an affordable painting service that is dedicated to offering quality paint jobs at all times. Many experienced companies are willing to provide you with the labor, materials and tools you need at an affordable price.

 

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU PAINT?

Unfortunately, there is no set timeline for all, since every home is different. There are some rough guidelines you can follow, but there are several factors that can change the timing pretty drastically. Most experts say that you’ll need to paint every five to ten years, depending on factors such as where you live, climate and weather, and the previous paint job.

Also, keep in mind that every surface will be a little different. For example:

  • Wood siding – every 3-7 years, or every 4 years if it’s stained
  • Aluminum siding – usually about 5 years
  • Stucco – typically lasts 5-6 years
  • New types of materials – these usually need to be touched up less often; for example, cement fiberboard siding can go 10-15 years before repainting
  • Brick – if it’s not painted, it only needs occasional cleaning; if it’s painted, it can last 15-20 years

 

Painting The House: Should You Hire a Professional?

The paint might peel, the color fades, or maybe it’s time to refresh the exterior appearance of your home. Is this a project you can do without a pro?

If you are used to doing renovations yourself, painting the exterior of your home may be a natural money-saving project. But before you start positioning the ladder, here are questions that you should review

Have you painted before?

Knowledge of painting techniques is important. People tend to overbrush, extending paint too far and not putting on a thick enough coat. Sprayers can put on a lot of paint in a hurry but require skill to use. If a house incorporates several colors, that design feature requires more skill in “cutting in,” where the colors butt up against each other.

Do you know your paint needs?

Estimating paint needs will be more difficult for a DIYer. Homeowners can use Valspar’s online paint calculator. Experts also suggest talking with knowledgeable paint retailers. They can provide advice for many painting problems or direct you to experienced pros.

Can you physically handle the job?

Being able to physically handle the job is a consideration. The mind may be willing, but painting an entire house requires a certain amount of fitness. It’s physical work and takes arm and upper body strength. Climbing up and down ladders for prep and painting also figures in.

 

5 Reasons You Should Invest In Professional Painting Services

When it comes to painting the exterior or interior of your home, it is recommended that you hire a professional painting company as opposed to attempting the task yourself. There are numerous benefits you can reap from hiring professional painters. It isn’t easy to paint a home on yourself, as it is a demanding and stressful job. In addition, you are prone to making mistakes that may leave the interior or exterior looking unattractive.

Below are just seven reasons you should seriously consider investing in professional painting services.

Structural Stability

A professional painter will be able to detect rot or decay within your housing structure. Even the smallest weaknesses within the structure of your home can significant affect your home over the long run. A professional can advise you on how to fix these structural defects prior to the painting process beginning.

If water or moisture enters the walls through structural weaknesses, it can result in rot or mold growth. Quality painting can help protect the structure of your home against water and moisture. A professional painter will be able to recommend a reliable construction crew to repair the structural issues that may fall outside of their expertise.

Familiarity With New, On-Trend Colors And Patterns

Deciding to paint your home gives you the chance to bring new colors or patterns into your home. By investing in professional painting services, you have the opportunity to work with someone who is familiar with how well certain colors or patterns will work in your home and with each other. A professional is capable of offering solid recommendations and advice on suitable color schemes. Also, professionals utilize back rolling or back priming in effective ways, in addition to high-quality paints that will allow the home to withstand various weather conditions and UV rays.

Perform Surface Preparations

It’s important that you, as a homeowner, understand that thorough preparations are necessary for a painting project to be successful. These preparations include carpentry work, rot repairs, sanding, patching, and more. This process ensures that the painting lasts longer and looks higher quality once complete.

Timely Completion

A painting company has a team of painters who work together to ensure that your project is completed within a predetermined timeframe. In the end, you will have more time on your hands to focus on designs, decorations, and other things. If you were to do the paint job yourself, you may be painting for weeks or months. However, with professionals, if you let them know when you want the job completed, they can generally have it done within that timeframe. Delays can happen, but they are generally due to the need for major repairs like rot or decay. Regardless, most professionals can work within a set timeline, allowing you to return your normal routine.

Cleanliness And Longevity

A thorough paint project consists of implementing a number of containment strategies. A professional will make certain that there are no messy flakes, chips, or debris. An adequate paint job can hold up for years, but the type of longevity requires a solid paint job from the get-go as well as essential steps to be taken to ensure the desired results are achieved—and only a professional painting service has the ability and resources to ensure that your dream can truly be realized.

 

Things You Must Know When Painting a House Exterior

Consider Mother Nature

Plan ahead when painting. The time of year is key, so understand your local weather patterns. Select a dry time of year when there is little rain and lower humidity. Paint needs time to dry and will not adhere to surfaces that are not dry.

Quality Over Price

Better quality paint means you will paint fewer times over the years, and you’ll get better coverage when you do paint. Paint technology has improved dramatically in the past few years, with colors guaranteed to last longer than ever before. You may be tempted to skimp on paint to save money up front with a cheaper brand, but you’re bound to have trouble and eventually pay more in the long run.

Paint Doesn’t Stick to Rotten Siding

Rotten wood and siding material are nearly worthless to paint, as they will do nothing but to continue to deteriorate. You have a couple of options. Replace the siding or wood trim with new components, or in the case of small areas, use a wood hardener and match with an exterior filler product, such as a wood filler. Be sure to prep and sand either one prior to painting.

Use Primer

The rule of thumb has always been to apply a good coat of primer, sand, then apply your color coats. This is still a good rule to follow, but new paint technologies have combined primer and paint into one product, which manufacturers assert will cut down on the number of coats you will have to apply. This newer paint is more expensive, but may be comparable to the purchase of separate primer and paint. Look at reviews of these newer paints, particular from folks that have used it in your area.

Seal It Off

Properly close your paint containers with their lids after you finish for the day to keep the paint from drying out. Use a rubber mallet to lightly hammer the lid shut. You can also add a plastic wrap film over the opening to ensure a tight seal.

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