The Best Areas In Your Home To Put A Smoke Alarm For The Best Safety

August 8, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Smoke alarms are an important part of monitoring the safety of your home. As many as two-thirds of all fire related deaths occur in homes without smoke detectors, or with smoke detectors that are not functioning due to improper maintenance. In order to reduce death and injury, you need to have enough smoke detectors throughout your house, and to make sure that they are installed properly.

Types Of Smoke Alarms

There are three primary types of smoke alarm: Ionization, photoelectric and combination.

  • Ionization Alarms – Ionization alarms contain small amount of radioactive material that creates an electric current within the alarm. When smoke enters the detector, it disrupts the current, causing the alarm to sound. These smoke detectors are best at detecting fast-burning fires.
  • Photoelectric Alarms – Detect smoke by using a light source. The light becomes scattered by smoke particles, activating the alarm. Photoelectric alarms are better for detecting slow-burning fires with low flames.
  • Combination Alarms – As the name suggests, combination alarms combine both technologies in order to detect both category of fire. Fire protection units recommend using combination alarms, or to install both types of alarms throughout your home.

Older models of smoke alarms are actually heat detectors. They are not as effective at rapidly detecting fires as the more modern alarm types.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

With modern alarms you also have the option of getting a combination smoke and carbon monoxide detector. You should also have a carbon monoxide alarm on each floor of your home if you have any fuel-burning appliances. Purchasing a unit that is able to detect both can reduce the amount of total units you need to install throughout your home.

Alarm Placement

For optimal protection, you will need multiple smoke alarms. Most homes don’t have nearly as many smoke alarms installed as is recommended.

Smoke alarms should be installed:

  • On every floor of the home, including the basement
  • Inside each bedroom
  • Outside of each bedroom – one in the hall outside multiple bedrooms is alright

Be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions on the unit that you purchase to determine whether the detector should be installed on the wall or on the ceiling. The most common units require ceiling installation with a few feet of space between the detector and the wall.

The instructions will also inform you how much square footage the alarm covers. If you purchase less powerful detectors you will need to install more of them throughout you home.

Connecting your fire alarms with an interconnected alarm system can also be important, especially for large homes. In an interconnected system, if the alarm sounds in the basement, the alarms by the second floor bedrooms will also sound, providing you with an early alert.

Alarm Maintenance

Smoke alarms may be powered differently and therefore require different maintenance. Testing on a weekly, or at least a monthly basis, can help to ensure that your alarms are functioning and will detect smoke in the case of a fire.

Alarms powered by 9-volt batteries are common due to their low cost. The downside to these alarms is that the batteries need to be replaced frequently. Weekly testing is recommended for optimal safety with these alarms, or to change the battery twice per year in combination with monthly testing.

You can also purchase alarms that take a 120-volt battery or a 10-year lithium battery. While these are more pricey, they are more reliable. Some townships require a minimum 120-volt battery.

If you are living in an older home, you will likely need to install more alarms, and may need to replace any existing ones. Check the existing models to see if they are heat detectors, rather than smoke detectors. If they are heat detectors – you should replace them with smoke detectors or install additional smoke detectors for optimal safety.

Conclusion

In order to protect yourself and loved ones from fire and carbon monoxide injury, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors need to be installed throughout your home. Do your research when selecting alarm units and be sure to purchase different types of detectors, or opt for a combination alarm. You should also make sure that the units you purchase have been tested by a recognized laboratory to ensure efficacy.

Install your alarms per the manufacturer’s instructions and make sure that you have enough throughout your home. With proper maintenance and battery monitoring, you will be as safe as possible in your home!

Joanna Sommer

Joanna is the Senior Editor for InformedMag and is passionate about security and tech. She has been working in the home safety and security field for 5 years. Joanna loves to travel and enjoys going to hot yoga and Barre classes. She is dedicated to creating articles that both educate and help people make an informed purchasing decision.

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The top 3 Loans That Can Help You Eliminate Debt Fast

August 7, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Unpaid debts can be really stressful. If you don’t take care of it soon enough, it will catch up with you. Debt has become a part of today’s culture and comes in different forms for different reasons. Paying off debt, is perhaps, one of the most common personal goals among different people. And while some may think it is hard, it only requires some good strategy and enormous discipline to finally get out from it. Sites like MTP Loans provide loan choices for people who want to pay off their debt.

There are various types of loans that one can get to help pay off your debt, here are some of them:

  1. Personal Loan

Personal loans are one of the many loans you can borrow from the bank. It is an unsecured loan that can be paid on agreed terms. This can be used by the borrower for whatever purpose. If your credit ratings are good enough that you can borrow a money, this can be used as a debt consolidation loan. However, there maybe instances that you will be allowed to borrow a small amount, a big amount of higher interests, or not be approved at all due to bad credit score. Secure personal loans from a bank you trust and settle for payment rates that are doable for you. This will take the stress off your loans.

  1. Home Equity Loans

Home equity loan is taken out using your home’s equity as a collateral. To qualify, you need to have a good amount of equity in your home and a good credit score. Home equity loans have very low interest rates because of its secured nature. You can also borrow money big enough to pay off your other debts. However, many are cautioning against this to be used as a debt consolidation loan because of the risk involved. Once payment becomes too expensive and you are not able to pay it, your house will face foreclosure and lose it.

  1. Debt Consolidation Loans

In past years, the needs for bigger loans were so high that banks started to offer debt consolidation loans. This is offered for the purpose of combining your debts. There are many types of debt consolidation loans and you need to choose wisely what to pick. These types of loans have usually lower interest rates than what you pay monthly, but you need to set terms strategically. Low interests rates are achieved through extending the period of repayment.

 

There are many options to pay off debt, but you need to be smart and careful as to which you choose. Find terms that will not burden you anymore than being burdened with your current debts. As well, make sure to know the terms and conditions of each loan so as not to encounter any surprising problems that may arise from missing payments and other situations. Finally, stop accumulating more debt once you start eliminating them so as not to be buried with more debts in the future.

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Beyond Cosmetics- 4 Ways that Botox can help improve your life

August 1, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Today, with the recent breakthroughs and innovations that technology has been experiencing, a lot of medical operations, minor or major have improved and added more benefits to their patients aside from the primary treatment it provides. In fact, even in the cosmetic industry, common operations such as botox and liposuction have been upgraded to not just improving one’s physical appearance but also to boosting their immune system or improving their overall blood circulation. For instance, botox is a simple cosmetic procedure which involves the injecting of a muscle relaxant in order to eliminate or significantly lessen the wrinkles, lines and other facial lines that have appeared due to age, stress or medical disorder. However, due to the advancements of technology, a simple botox procedure can help you improve your health in many ways that you have never expected. Below are 4 ways that botox can improve your life.

  1. The jaw

Experts have recently discovered that the masseter muscles, which form a major part of a person’s jaw and is widely responsible for chewing can be reformed or decreased with the help of botox injections.

  1. Dealing with Migraine

If you are having a hard time dealing with migraine, then getting a botox injection might just help you a lot. Aside from the physical improvements, it can provide to your facial muscles, botox injections also have been proven to significantly decrease the effects and symptoms of a migraine. This is because a migraine usually deals and is partly caused by the muscles and nerves around your face, and by getting a muscle relaxant that specifically aims to relieve these muscles from stress and aid in their regeneration, pains from migraine will naturally be alleviated or decreased to a certain degree.

  1. Treatment for Bell’s Palsy

Bell’s palsy is a type of facial paralysis that makes the patient lose control on the facial muscles on the affected area. Its symptoms include mild or severe facial twitching, weakness, or the loss of control over your facial expressions and movements.

Fortunately, with the help of botox injection, bell’s palsy can be treated to an extent. By injecting botox to the affected area of the face, the muscles and nerves will be able to relax and the tightened and stiff muscles will be relieved of stress. This will result in a more balanced facial expressions in the affected area whilst also slowly helping you regain control of your facial muscles.

  1. Relief from Enlarged Prostates for Men

Prostate glands play a very important role in the bodily of functions of men as it is mainly responsible for the performance of their respiratory system. Males that are suffering from enlarged prostates have proven to be treated with the help of botox injections. Furthermore, the effects of botox injection to the prostate gland can last up to a year. With the help of botox injections, urinary and other respiratory infections are significantly improved if not treated fully.

If you want to learn more about botox injections, the process, costs, place, recovery and other benefits, then check out these guys at, Skinclub.

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5 Tips to Hiring a Great Air Conditioning Company in Brisbane

August 1, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Hiring the best air conditioning service provider gives you enormous benefits that are worth your money. Reputable AC service firms provide the right service for your needs and the positive effect is longer lasting than settling for affordable service that just doesn’t deliver their promise. With smart thinking and some common sense, you can find the best air conditioning experts in Brisbane. And you don’t have to worry about your unit breaking down on you just when you need it the most.

While there are countless air conditioning companies out there claiming to be the best, there are some basic steps to follow for you to find out who stands by their word. Here are some of the tips:

  1. Ask for recommendations from friends and family

The first go- to people when it comes to looking for air conditioning companies are your closest circle. With their own experience hiring different firms, they will give you an honest to goodness recommendation on who to try out and who to never consider. Sometimes, though, you need to weigh in suggestions, especially for conflicting opinions.

  1. Search Online and Make a Shortlist

Aside from getting recommendations from your immediate circle, the internet will be able to provide you with as many alternatives as you can find. From these, make a shortlist of the companies that have the basic features and offers that appeal to you. This shortlist will be your basis for further learning and research to make sure that you narrow down to the very best.

  1. Research Their Reputation

The reputation of a company says it all. It includes their ability to provide the right services, providing reasonable prices and excellent customer service. Their reputation may include how they are perceived by customers through reviews, a portfolio of their successful projects, and their length of service in the industry. Remember that it is a very competitive industry and those who don’t provide excellent service will not last a decade.

  1. Look Out For Credentials and Certifications

More often than not, customers fail in hiring a good air conditioning company because they overlook very important details. Check out for the credentials and permits of the company to know if they are licensed to operate in your area. As well, make sure that their technicians have the right certifications and credentials to provide the best possible service.

  1. Compare Prices

Although not a definite factor, this is the bottom measurement if all else checks out for more than one company. As well, you have to make sure that if fits the budget you have set and will not rip off your pockets. However, be cautious as to not settle for overly cheap offers as they may not be giving you the best possible service.

 

There are still other factors to consider when looking for the best air conditioning company. But these factors alone can be a good start to finding the best service provider that will answer to your needs satisfactorily.

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What Should You Wear When You’re On The Road? 3 Tips That Can Keep You Comfortable & Looking Good

July 26, 2017 by Leave a Comment

When you’re traveling on the road, you need to be as comfortable as possible, particularly if you’re spending a lot of time at the wheel.

Whether you’re on a bus tour, you’ve rented an RV from Outdoorsy, or you’re driving your car across the country, you need to wear clothes that make your trip as comfortable as possible.

So what should you wear when you’re on the road, and how can you stay stylish while you travel from A to B? Take a look below to find out:

Wear Flat Shoes

If you’re on the road for a long time, you will need to wear flat shoes. Shoes such as these not only support your feel a little more than shoes with heels, but they’re a lot more comfortable too.

Your flat shoes don’t have to be plain or dull ones, they can be as bright and as sparkly, or as sophisticated as you like, but they do need to be flat.

Think about the last time you wore shoes that weren’t comfortable, it’s likely they hurt your feet. If you’re on the road for a long time, painful feet will make the whole experience a little worse.

Do your feet a favor, and wear flat shoes, that you can slip on and off when you want to.

Wear More Layers

If you’re traveling to somewhere cold, rather than cranking up the heating in the RV, simply wear more layers. The beauty of wearing an extra layer is you can take it off when you’re too hot, or put it back on when you’re cold.

If you’re heading somewhere hot, wear clothes that are very comfortable, and roll the sleeves up, or pull the legs up on your pants so they look like shorts. Just because the sun is beating down, it doesn’t mean you have to sweat.

Wear summer clothes when the weather is hot, and take an extra layer or two with you so you have an extra layer to put on in the cool summer evenings.

Don’t Forget Your Shades

You would be surprised by how many people forget to take their shades with them on vacation. If the sun is bright, and especially if you’re driving towards it, you will need to take at least one pair of sunglasses with you.

Driving across the country can be difficult if not impossible when the sun is shining in your eyes. Stay safe, and take your shades with you.

Shades are great at hiding tired eyes that you’ll probably wake up with at some point during your vacation. Have your shades to hand, cover your eyes, and wake up in your own time.

Staying comfortable when traveling on the road is so important. You don’t want to be stuck behind a wheel wishing you’d packed cooler or warmer clothes.

Get your most comfortable clothes together before you head off across the country so that you can look and feel good every step of the way.

Filed Under: clothes and shoes, traveling Tagged With:

Top tips for saving water at home and reducing your bills

July 26, 2017 by 1 Comment

You may not think so, but the water we drink is actually a limited resource. This is why it’s important to conserve water as much as possible. An added consideration, when you waste water, is that you end up spending more on water bills. Household expenditure is often high, so anything you can do to reduce it is a good idea.

Hopefully, you can see the benefits of saving water in your home. But, how do you do it? We have put together ten tips on how to stop wasting water at home.

    1. Only use your dishwasher when you have a full load

Using a dishwasher can actually use less water than washing dishes by hand. But, you should wait until you have a full load to start the dishwasher as it uses the same amount of water whether it’s full or not.

    1. Do not pre wash dishes before you put them in the dishwasher

If you are using a dishwasher it’s not necessary to pre-wash dishes. All you need to do is scrape off food remnants. If you do pre-wash all you are doing is wasting water.

    1. Plan your clothes washing so you have a full load

Just as using a dishwasher with a reduced load wastes water, so does using your washing machine when it’s not full. Make sure that you plan your clothes washing so that the machine is full when you use it.

    1. Use cold water to wash clothes

It’s not necessary to use hot water to wash your clothes. They will be just as clean if you use cold water. Using cold water helps to preserve water, and also helps you save on your energy bills.

    1. Make sure leaks are fixed straight away

One of the most obvious ways of wasting water in the home is a water leak. It could be something as simple as a dripping tap, but you could be wasting gallons of water each day, if you ignore the problem. If you have a water leak in your home, and you cannot deal with it yourself, you should call experts such as Plumbing Detectives, for help.

    1. Use rain water in the garden

How many of you get out the garden hose when there is no rain about? It’s better to think ahead, when the rain falls, and preserve rainwater. You can these use it for watering the bushes and shrubs in your garden, during dry spells.

    1. Use mulch to reduce evaporation

Another tip for preserving water in the garden is to use mulch. This helps to stop water evaporating which means that plants get the full benefit of a rain shower, or of your watering.

    1. Save water to use on your plants

If you have water left when you finish cooking, you can use it to water your house plants. They do not care what it tastes like, and it’s a lot better to do this than simply pour the water down the drain.

    1. Take a shower instead of a bath

Every time you take a bath, you use 35 gallons of water, on average. Take a shower instead and you can save as much as 22 gallons of water; if you use a low flow shower head.

    1. Turn off the tap when you do not need water

You may be thinking that you would not have tap switched on unless you needed water. But, how many of you leave the tap on while you are brushing your teeth or shaving. Even switching a tap off for a few seconds can save a significant amount of water in the long term. This reduces the amount you pay in water bills.

Take a look at the tips we have provided, put them into action, and start saving water, and money, today.

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4 Challenges Of Working Overseas

July 26, 2017 by Leave a Comment

While working overseas, you get the opportunity to travel to new places and experience new cultures. In addition to that, interning in far away lands also plays well on your Curriculum Vitae, giving you a competitive edge in the job market. However, moving away from the comforts of your home country is always a difficult task. You don’t have your loved ones near you; basically, you are left to your own devices and forced to take care of yourself. And, if you are from the Western part of the world, moving overseas to Asia will require certain adjustments. There are many things that will shock you culturally. Here are 4 challenges of working overseas, especially if you are considering interning in Asia.

  1. Different human resources/working environment

You should understand that human resources in Asian countries such as China are largely non-existent. In the western world, there are flexible lines of authority. However, it is a different scenario in countries such as China where the employees are used to working in a hierarchical system. Therefore, if you are planning to work for a particular Chinese company, you will be asked to only do what has been asked of you. Your creative inputs will be thrown out of the window and you can say goodbye to taking your own initiative.

  1. Difference in business culture

The business culture you manage in your native country will not succeed in Asian countries such as China. Therefore, you shouldn’t be surprised to see different business models adopted in the Asian countries. For instance, if you are working in China, you will be forced to comply with certain ¨Chinese characteristics¨ that have been largely formed owing to the traditions there, which is necessary for catering to the needs and wants of the local population. The business relationship in Asian countries is also different; there is a requirement for you to spend time with your counterparts away from the office too during drinking and dinner sessions.

  1. Health Care

You can’t expect to have Western style health care in China, and if you do, you must shell out a pretty penny. It is also extremely difficult acquiring strong medication in the country. The doctors are generally hesitant to prescribe stronger medication. Also, a lot of insurance companies in the country require you to spend out of your wallet in the beginning, before reimbursing you later. It is compulsory for you as a foreigner in the country to have a health insurance.

 

  • Communication barriers

 

The majority of the people in developed Asian countries such as Korea, Japan, and China only converse in their native languages. Therefore, if you intend to visit the aforementioned countries, there will be a need for you to learn their respective languages. People proficient in English are difficult to find in these countries. Are there any drawbacks to learning a new language, especially when language skills are so sought after in the job market? And, is there a better way to practice a particular language than in the host country itself?

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“Menchie’s Sweet Friends™” @officialnumnoms Limited Edition Starter Pack Available Now Only at Toys“R”Us®

July 24, 2017 by 1 Comment

Num Noms

Summer is getting a little sweeter as the world’s leading private toy company, MGA Entertainment, Inc. (“MGAE”), and Menchie’s, the nation’s largest self-serve frozen yogurt franchise, partner for a nationwide promotion available only at Toys“R”Us®. Num NomsTM, the hottest collectible with more than 400 characters and 50 smell variations, are launching an exclusive Menchie’s “starter pack” featuring the Menchie’s Sweet Friends including Menchie, Barry, Chip and Mellow.

“Menchie’s stores are colorful, fun and friendly, bringing a smile to every guest in much the same way that Num Noms creates a truly unique and engaging experience for its fans,” added MGAE’s Head of Global Licensing, Juli Boylan. “We’re excited to offer everyone a special way to celebrate summertime with delicious Menchie’s yogurt and a new exclusive Num Noms toy.”

In addition to the launch of the Sweet Friends Limited Edition Starter Pack, approximately 420 Menchie’s stores throughout the United States will get a “Smell so delicious” makeover and offer two exclusive Num Noms-themed limited-edition frozen yogurt cups.

Num Noms, which first launched in the U.S. in December 2015, has continuously delighted millions of children with each new series release. With the newest edition to the franchise being Num Noms Lights, more characters and combinations will be coming to market in summer 2017.

The Sweet Friends Limited Edition starter pack is available exclusively at Toys”R”Us stores nationwide and online beginning July 2017 for $9.99.

To find a Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt location near you, please visit Menchies.com

About Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt

Menchie’s creates lasting memories by providing an unparalleled guest experience with a mission to make every guest smile. Menchie’s is a world-leader of ensuring best-in-class products and is the ambassador of frozen yogurt quality worldwide. With 550 stores, the franchise has locations open in the United States, Canada, China, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, India, and more. Menchie’s expects to celebrate 600 stores in 2017. Guaranteeing happiness in every cup, the brand offers guests premium rotating yogurt flavors and delicious toppings for unlimited combinations in every bite. The proprietary collection is made from the milk of “smiley” California cows, which have not been treated with artificial growth hormones (rBST). Menchie’s frozen yogurt contains live and active cultures and has received the Live and Active Culture (LAC) seal indicating its endorsement by the National Yogurt Association. For more information, please visit www.menchies.com. Like Menchie’s on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/MyMenchies or follow on Twitter and Instagram at www.Twitter.com/MyMenchies and https://www.Instagram.com/MyMenchies/.

More About Num Noms

A cup full of cuteness and a spoonful of surprise make Num Noms so special. Targeted at girls ages 5–9, the food-themed, scented and super-cute collectibles can be mixed and matched to create flavor fusions. With the ability to mix, match and stack to create super special recipes with more than 400 characters and 50+ scents, kids love to display, trade and collect them all. Each Num and Nom character is full of surprises!

To learn more information about Num Noms, go to http://www.NumNoms.com or to the official Num Noms YouTube, Instagram, Facebook or Twitter pages.

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