The Best Thing You Can Do for Your Home Is in the Yard

Posted on November 15, 2019 by Glenda Dunn

Half the enjoyment that many people get from their homes comes from enjoying the landscape beyond its walls. This can be achieved in different ways. Some people purchase their homes with the view in mind, preferring to see mountains or the beach when they look out the window. For those without a naturally spectacular view, cultivated landscaping, a garden, or simply a place to enjoy family gatherings are the norm. There are many options to make any yard more enjoyable, many of which are also functional and can make the yard a prime gathering place. 

Build a Deck 

Adding a deck or raised porch to a home is a way to add functionality and instant value. Having space to place outdoor furniture or a grill is like adding a whole new room to the house. This can also add a layer of separation between children playing and adult conversation. For those with a steep landscape or for persons with mobility issues, installing a track lift to the deck will allow for a safe and easy way for everyone to have access to the yard. 

Add a Water Feature 

Whether it is a small fish pond, a fountain, or a waterfall against the side of the home, having a water feature can bump an outdoor space from nice to outstanding. The soothing sounds of moving water and the beauty of the feature will lend a sense of tranquility to the space and also spark conversation.  

Perform Regular Maintenance 

With all the beauty of a yard comes a steady amount of maintenance. It isn’t just about keeping the grass mowed, it is also important that furniture is maintained. Decks and porches need to be weatherproofed from time to time as well. 

Having a well-maintained yard can offer a great place for calm and relaxation. But it can also be the place to go for fun and friendship.  

Three Reasons to Install a Residential Cargo Lift

Posted on November 15, 2019 by Glenda Dunn

A residential cargo lift is a large elevator system that allows you to move items and supplies up and down a home with ease and safety. While there are many different reasons and purposes for installing a residential cargo lift, here are the top three reasons to consider investing in a residential cargo lift for your home.

Large or Tall Home

With increasing volatile weather like hurricanes and flooding causing many coastal homes to be built higher than ever compared to sea-level, there is a very practical need for residential cargo lifts to help residents move supplies and equipment up and down levels with ease. If your home has multiple or is built on stilts or quite high off the ground, then investing in a residential cargo lift will help you reduce energy and time in moving things in your home and reduce the likelihood of injury to yourself or your family.

Aging in Place

Even if your home is modest in size but it has more than one story, a residential cargo lift can help keep you or your loved ones in their home for much longer. Many people desire to age in place in the home they have lived for many years and do not desire to move to a more communal living situation. By installing a residential cargo lift, an aging senior can still access all floors of their home more easily and require less assistance in moving groceries or other household items up and down the levels.

Home Businesses

If you run your own business from your residence, then a residential cargo lift may be a key piece of equipment for keeping your back in good form and your time freed up from moving office supplies or inventory up and down constantly. Businesses require additional furniture, equipment, inventory and supplies and a cargo lift can greatly increase your productivity allowing you to focus on what matters most in your business.

Three Crucial Tests for Industrial Compressors

Posted on November 11, 2019 by Glenda Dunn

Fluid compressors are some of the most versatile and useful equipment in many industrial plants. They’re used in various manufacturing and processing stages to increase the pressures of gases or liquids to meet the required parameters. An industrial compressor, depending on its build specs, can pressurize fluids to the range of a few hundred PSIs to a few thousand PSIs. This means that these machines operate at extremely high tolerances; it’s, therefore, essential to regularly test certain features to check operational efficiency and safety.

Proof Pressure Testing

What is proof pressure testing? This is a series of testing methods used to verify that critical components can withstand the pressure of the system without failing or sustaining damage. Some of these vital components may include valves, pipes, and compression chambers. It’s critical that the compressor itself can handle the high pressures generated under its performance ratings. The peripherals (storage tanks, filters, inlet and outlet systems) must also be able to cope with the pressure.

Leak Testing

Both gas and liquid compressor are not entirely immune to leakage. Small leaks within the compressor or its plumbing could lead to catastrophic damage to the system. A leak can overwork the compressor’s driver and lower the compression efficiency and performance. Leaks could also jeopardize the safety of the workers if the leaking fluid had harmful or toxic properties. Leak tests identify both active leaks and potential leak areas.

Fault Tolerance Testing

Every compressor is made up of several individual components, which must work in harmony for smooth operation. A fault-tolerance test investigates how a compressor behaves when some of its key elements fail or act unpredictably. For instance, what happens once the intake supply cuts out, or the outlet valve fails? Modern compressors are fitted with sophisticated sensors that detect faults and automatically activate failsafe measures. Testing these functions reassures the user that the system can safely handle critical failures.

Testing of industrial compressors is done during initial installation and repeated during routine inspection and maintenance. Testing not only guarantees the machine’s performance but also ensures user safety when handling the compressor. 

Installing New Marble Kitchen Counters

Posted on October 10, 2019 by Glenda Dunn

Many customers might have a hard time deciding on a material for their kitchen counters. They should take their own cooking and food preparation habits into account when making that choice. For instance, the people who are frequently baking desserts and other dishes at high temperatures would strongly benefit from picking marble counters. 

Kitchen Counter Temperatures

Some people will specifically choose marble kitchen counters because they like the way that they look. However, kitchen counters made primarily with marble are certainly popular for other reasons. Marble is an particularly effective material for kitchen counters because it is so resistant to high temperatures. 

When customers choose marble counters, they can set heated dishes on those counters without worrying about damaging them. Obviously, marble can still be harmed at particularly high temperatures. However, unless there’s a household fire, marble countertops tampa will probably never be exposed to temperatures on that level. 

Clean Worktops 

People who struggle with getting their kitchen counters clean might think that there’s something wrong with their cleaning technique. However, cleaning kitchen counters made with some materials is relatively difficult. The people who get marble kitchen counters installed instead will find that cleaning them takes much less effort. These counters won’t easily stain or degrade. 

Valuable Counters

Individuals who are looking for new houses will sometimes specifically look for marble kitchen counters. They know that these counters will be around for a while. Marble counters are also versatile from an interior design perspective. 

Trends in kitchen design certainly fluctuate. However, people have been requesting marble counters for a long time by this point. Individuals who want to update the rest of their kitchens might still be able to use the original marble counters. The marble counters should go with almost anything, and they’ll continue to be fashionable for years.

Operate Your Home from Your Smartphone

Posted on September 19, 2019 by Glenda Dunn

Remember the bad old days when you had to actually get up and make coffee in the morning, push the curtains aside, physically adjust a thermostat, and turn lights on and off with your own finger on a switch? Primitive times! Now almost everything that’s worth doing around the house you can do on your phone. 

Daily Routine

No more laboriously setting your clock radio; new versions can be set through your phone, and of course, you can use your phone as an alarm all by itself. You’ll wake up and smell the coffee, having set the machine the night before through your phone to brew automatically (because having to set a timer on the actual machine is so 20th century). Your lights can be programmed to go on and off at the times you’d usually do so manually thanks to smart plugs that work through an app.

Climate Control

Home automation has made a big impact on the way we cool and heat our homes. Smart thermostats mean you can set your desired temperature even when you’re away from home, allowing things to be less comfortable in your absence and perfectly comfortable when you open your front door (having turned off the alarm with your phone and maybe opened the lock that way too). Even letting in the morning or afternoon light is easier, as motorized blinds new jersey can be set to open and close without you needing to contact a cord or shift a slat.

On the Road

Click open your car doors, start the engine, get the heater and defroster going, and start your tunes playing through your phone. There’s not an app yet that can actually drive for you, but we can be pretty sure it’s coming.

Though you may not be saving much electricity through all this automation, you’re certainly conserving your own. Flipping switches is so taxing! 

Types of Public Transportation

Posted on September 19, 2019 by Glenda Dunn

Public transportation is a great way to get to where you need to go while cutting the amount of pollution that goes into the atmosphere. Here are a few options that can get you from point A to point B. 

Bussing Options

A common form of mass transit is by bus. Riding a shuttle bus from houston to galveston might be hard to adjust to your schedule, but the journey allows you read, work or visit with other travelers riding with you. For a small amount per month, you can have someone drive for you. Even though the bus is a larger vehicle that takes more gas, the amount of cars it replaces significantly cuts down on exhaust in the atmosphere.

Riding the Railroad

Another method of public transportation is taking the train. There are multiple versions of this mode from an actual railroad taking you from the suburbs into the city to a subway that transports you beneath the urban streets. This form of travel is usually inexpensive. Schedules for subways are a little more convenient than the railroad and are easier to adapt to. Like the bus, you will need to plan your day around the train schedule and make sure you have something to keep you busy while you ride.

Catching a Ride

You can also register with a carshare service and carpool to your job or see if there are co-workers who want to take turns driving in the morning. Even though you or someone in your group is driving your car that day, it cuts down on the pollution in the air since there are multiple cars staying off the roads. While your pick-up time will change depending on who is taking the wheel that morning, your commute will be shorter and more direct and will give you a chance to develop friendships with the people you are with.

Tips for Reducing Your Home’s Energy Bill

Posted on August 18, 2019 by Glenda Dunn

The electric bills can creep up, especially over the summer as temperature’s skyrocket. For comfort, you probably find yourself battling the heat by staying inside or taking a dip in a pool. It’s reasonable to desire time in the air conditioner, yet you probably don’t want to spend a fortune running the system. With that in mind, you could possibly cut the cost without sacrificing cool air. Here are 4 tips to save money in your utility costs.

Watch Your Thermostat

Most likely, you don’t want to shut down the air conditioner; instead, install a programmable thermostat. The system allows you to set a schedule for the day, changing temperatures as needed. If you spend much of your day at work, have it warmer while you’re gone. About thirty minutes before you arrive home, turn it back down.

Keep an Eye on the Dryer

The dryer uses a great deal of power. If you don’t own an energy-efficient machine, consider investing in one. It may cost you extra money upfront; however, it could save you down the road. Also pay attention to how the dryer functions. At times, the dry vent becomes clogged, forcing the unit to work extra hard. You might notice that clothes don’t dry quickly or that excess lint builds up in the area. If this is the case, contact someone with dryer duct cleaning St. Petersburg to clean it out. Open vents could save money.

Pay Attention to Lighting

First, make sure you aren’t leaving the lights on when you leave a room as this really does add up. To break this bad habit, pause for a bit before exiting an area. Then, shut off lamps and turn down switches. Is it daytime? Open up the blinds, and enjoy some natural light. Finally, purchase new bulbs. Select ones that have an energy-efficient label. They can seem expensive, yet they might work for years.

Initiate a few changes, and, hopefully, you’ll see your bill go down each month. Good habits and solid equipment could help lower your monthly statement.

Easy Kitchen Upgrades

Posted on August 15, 2019 by Glenda Dunn

Dreaming of a chef’s kitchen without breaking the bank? Does your mind race with kitchen ideas while watching home design shows? You’re not alone. The kitchen is often considered the heart of the home, and it’s natural to want the best, most modern amenities to match your home’s style. Keep reading for three simple kitchen upgrades you can tackle this season.

Countertops and Tile

Tile, marble, granite, quartz, concrete slab—the options are endless when it comes to kitchen counters and materials. If your kitchen feels outdated, consider upgrading your surfaces for some major wow-factor (plus some post-renovation equity if you ever decide to sell). Your kitchen layout can remain the same, and countertop installation can typically be completed in one day. Explore types of countertops to pick the material that’s best for your style and daily kitchen use. Love your countertops already? Simply add some flair to your eating space by upgrading your backsplash or accent tiles for a small but mighty upgrade.

Cabinetry

Storage sets the stage for functionality and design in the kitchen. If you’re happy with your current cabinets, simply add a fresh coat of paint or wood stain to bring them into today’s age. Want a bit more? Check out unique fixtures such as knobs and cabinet-pulls to add a personal touch to your cabinetry. On the other hand, your cabinets may be in stellar condition, but the layout lacks functionality and practicality. Consider opting for some professional counsel to tackle the design project. Florida residents might contemplate kitchen renovation in sarasota fl for easy upgrades.

Lighting

A final quick kitchen fix involves updated lighting. Examine your current kitchen lighting and pinpoint what could be refreshed. If recessed lighting is your main light source, consider adding hanging pendant lights to open the space and make your ceilings appear taller.

Any home can benefit from these minor kitchen upgrades. Take some time to explore options and designs, and then dive into the refresh process!

Types of Hail Damage

Posted on August 9, 2019 by Glenda Dunn

Summer brings lots of fun in the sun but it also brings all sorts of violent weather like tornadoes and hurricanes. Hail can come in the wake of a powerful thunderstorm and can cause tremendous damage. Here are some of the things this sort of weather can destroy.

Outside Of Your Home

When a storm is particularly strong, the wind can blow the pellets of ice sideways to pelt your windows and siding. This can shatter the glass and leave divots. If this happens, you will need to file a claim with your insurance agency then call window repair dallas tx and a contractor to fix what has been broken.

Taking a Beating

Your roof will probably be the most affected by a hail storm. They can crack shingles. If the ice striking your house is powerful enough, they can poke holes through causing a leak in your roof which will cause a bigger problem. Once you’ve spoken to your insurance agent, you will need to hire a roofing company to assess the damage and fix it.

Let It Outside

During weather like this, your best option is to put your car inside. If hail hits while it is outside, the pellets can break windows and put dents or scratches in the body. You will need to take photos of the damage for your insurance claim then take your vehicle to a body shop. The technicians will replace the windows, smooth out the body and repaint it.

More Than Property

The vegetation in your yard along with central air units, patio furniture and other items can take a beating from hail. The balls of ice can knock down leaves and branches which will need to be cleaned up after the storm. Any lawn items will need to be repaired or replaced. You will need to call a serviceman to inspect any damage done to mechanical units.

Tidy up Your Home with These Tips

Posted on July 20, 2019 by Glenda Dunn

These days, everyone’s busy with work, getting an education, raising a family, and managing an active social calendar. With so much to do on a daily basis, it can be difficult to keep up with things that need done around your home. No matter how busy you are, you can benefit from following these tips to make tidying up your home quick and easy. 

One Room at a Time

Often, many people make the mistake of trying to take on too much at once. You have a free day on a weekend, so you try to tackle your entire hours at once, which can often result in burnout. Instead of trying to take on tidying up your entire home or apartment at once, take on one room at a time. Blocking off your work can make it more manageable and a lot less stressful. 

Little Bits Each Day

In addition to tidying up one room at a time, you can also benefit from doing small bits of cleaning and tidying up each day. Even blocking off fifteen minutes on your calendar at the end of the day to put away dishes, dust, or run the vacuum can make a difference in the way your home looks. Try this method to make your workload feel more manageable. 

Outsource

Our time is valuable, and if you’re truly busy and don’t have much time to spare, you shouldn’t underestimate the power of outsourcing some of your chores. It can save you your sanity and give back hours in your week to put your efforts towards other things that you can’t put a price tag on, such as spending time with your family. You can find people to handle just about every task, from housekeeping and babysitting to professional painters nyc and handymen take on the tasks you just don’t have the time for.

These tips can help you get your home looking tidy in no time.