Products For Your Home You Will Love

September 25, 2018 by 9 Comments

With winter on the way, and fall finally here (thank goodness for the end of that scorching summer heat!), we are going to be spending more time indoors. Keeping that in mind, here are some interesting and useful new items that you can use year round.

Calamityware serving-ware brings whimsy and art to the dinner table. These fantastical porcelain-plates will also serve as conversation starters, with hidden pictures created by Calamityware and artist Don Moyer. These clever takes on flatware are both pretty and unique, while using a traditional blue and white color scheme. Unexpectedly decorated plates, mugs, and more are covered with depictions of sea monster creatures, giant robots, frogs, and more creatures from sci-fi.  Dishwasher and microwave safe, they are as functional as they are interesting. While they aren’t cheap- $42 for each plate, for example, they make your table a more fun place to dine. Check out all the options at  https://calamityware.com

dinner plates

Save money and single-use-plastic waste by filling and refilling water glasses and  bottles at home. Safe Home Drinking Water Test Kits help provide peace of mind, letting you know what’s in your water. Learn about your tap water with these helpful and easy to use home test kits. Test your water, and make sure that your family’s health is protected.  There is a lot of nonsense in most town’s water nowadays, find out if there is trouble with yours. 80% of the body is water, and you use it for everything- cooking, bathing, drinking, washing, and more. It’s vital to have safe water.  According to the brand, “Safe Home® and Safe Home® Pro EnviroTestKits from Environmental Laboratories, Inc. (ELI), one of North America’s largest EPA Certified Laboratories for testing drinking water, provides several testing options in three easy steps.  Upon receiving the results, you’re empowered to make appropriate decisions – for instance, installing a water treatment or filtration system or disinfecting your well system, among other solutions.”  They are easy to use, the directions take only about a minute to complete and are all but foolproof. There are options for test at home as well as sending a sample out for more detailed information. For more information, visit http://envirotestkits.com/drinking-water-test-kits/

at home testing kits

For your pets, check out HandsOn Gloves (in several colors and sizes, including for children). Get rid of all the excess hair and shedding, which will help your home as well as your allergies. Some dogs (and many cats) hate being brushed, but with the use of these gloves, it just feels like some petting and attention. You can use them in the water at bathtime, or dry. Get your kids to help out, and take care of the pets like they promised to- it’s not work and it’s very easy. It’s also effective, which many products can’t claim honestly.  They take off huge amounts of unwanted and excess fur with no pain or struggling- we were amazed by the huge clumps of fur made by our youngest dog, especially. Good for all hair types, although with very long haired pets you might want to supervise the kiddos so they don’t create knots (as with any brushing). Made with hypo-allergenic, bio-friendly components that are proven to be safe for use with humans and animals, it does it’s job by keeping everyone healthy. For more information, prices, and to choose yours, please visit https://handsongloves.com

easy to use pet brush

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Four Safety Tips to Follow before Leaving the House

May 25, 2018 by Leave a Comment

away from home

You want to always leave the house with a sense of peace knowing everything is in order even when you are away. Whether you’re off to work or embarking on a summer adventure to a faraway island, check this list of four safety tips before you step out of your home:

 

Make Sure You Have Your Keys

 

Your house keys are probably one of the most misplaced items you own. You don’t want to get locked out of your own home, so it’s best that you double-check that you got your keys with you at all times. A simple hack for making sure you do not forget your house keys is to keep them in one dedicated spot, like a decorative tray or bowl set in a place that’s accessible to you. Make it a habit to toss your key into this designated corner as soon as you get home so you’ll always know where to find it. Also this trick makes it easy for you to grab your keys and go when you’re rushing out the door.  If worst case scenario comes that you really can’t remember where you last placed your keys, calling a locksmith or using some nifty lock picking tools will be your friend.

 

Turn Off the Plumbing

 

This tip will depend on how long you are staying out of the house and if you have any household appliances that require your plumbing system to be constantly turned on like automatic sprinklers. Otherwise if you are going out of town for a couple of days then you should turn off the main shut-off valve of your home’s plumbing because, among other things, water pressure could unexpectedly surge while you’re gone. You want to keep your water bill under control while you are gone. This will also ensure your different toilet fixtures from your sink to your high quality macerating toilet to be in tiptop condition when you get back. If you will be gone for a few months, request a friend or house-sitter to turn on the water at least once a month to prevent plumbing fixtures from drying up or cracking.

 

Make Sure Your Pets Are Taken Care Of

 

It can be quite tricky to go on extended vacations if you have a pet at home. Still you can make arrangements with friends or neighbors to help you care for your fur babies while you are gone. Ask a friend to watch over your pooch or feline in the meantime. You can either leave your pets at your friend’s house or ask the pet-sitter to drop by your home every day. Either way make sure you leave behind a good supply of dog food or cat food and any special vitamins your furry friend is taking. Also, make sure to leave the contact details of your pet’s vet so your friend can easily contact them in case of medical emergencies.

 

Put Your Mail and Print Subscriptions on Hold

 

This tip will also depend on how long you will be gone. If you will be out of the house for weeks then you should contact the post office and request them to hold your mail. Do the same for newspaper or any magazine subscriptions that you have. Doing this could save you money and prevent any important mail or packages from getting lost. Last but not the least, this will also keep deliveries from piling on the front door and making it apparent that you are out of the house which can be a very tempting sight for burglars.

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Guide To Water Leak Detection In Our Homes

May 15, 2018 by 1 Comment

 

Water is an essential part of everyday life. It is also something that most people take for granted.

Simply turn on the tap and there it is! But although you may not think about it, water is not free. Every drop of water you use will cost you money. IN fact, a leaking faucet will cost you between $60 and $100 per year!

If you have 2 or more leaks you can imagine how quickly this can add up!

Of course, when you have an obvious leak you simply call your local Sydney plumber and have the fault rectified. But what do you do if you think you have a leak but are not sure?

Signs Of A Leak

If you discover the warning signs you can stop a leak before it causes any significant damage or costs you an excessive amount of funds. It is worth noting that your insurance will not always cover a water leak.

  • Water Pressure drops – because the water is escaping somewhere it shouldn’t be.
  • Your water bill rises sharply – but your water usage has remained the same.
  • Damp patches – these maybe from a leaking roof but, depending on where they are located they can also be a result of leaking pipes.

Detecting The Leak

There are several ways in which you can confirm the leak and then track it down. This can be a time consuming process but you need to do it!

  • Shut Off Your Faucets

The first step is to locate your main water meter. Then you must shut all your faucets and make sure any appliance that uses water is turned off.

In theory you should be using no water. You can then look at the dial on your water meter. If it is turning then you’re using water. This means you have a leak somewhere!

  • Visual Inspection

The next step must be to verify the visible connections in your home. You need to check that every faucet is off and not dripping. Even the slightest drip can cause a movement in the water meter.

Ideally you should check the pipes joining your appliances to the water supply; they could be dripping at any spot!

You should also look at all the visible pipes you can find. Run your fingers gently along them, particularly at the joints to establish if they are wet or not.

Don’t forget to check the floor under any joins in your pipes. These can tell you there is a leak even if the pipe seems dry.

  • Turn Off Valves

If nothing is obviously wrong then you need to shut off every valve you can find in your home. You can then check the water meter again to see if it is still moving.

You should have a valve just before every faucet or appliance. If you turn all of these off and the meter is still moving then you know you have a fault in the pipe.

Unfortunately much of the pipes will be hidden and you may need specialist help to track and replace the faulty pipe.

If the meter doesn’t move then you can turn the valves on one at a time until it does; this will tell you the leak is at that valve or between it and the connected appliances.

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Tips to keep pet hair under control

May 11, 2018 by Leave a Comment

 

It is wonderful to have a pet in the home but pets require a lot of care and attention. When you bring home a pet, you need to commit yourself to their wellbeing. It also means dealing with fur and hair they leave around the house. It is a never-ending battle to keep the fur off the furniture, clothing, and floor. If you are looking for tips to keep the pet hair under control, you have come to the right place.

Tips to keep pet hair under control

 

  • Brush: You need to embrace your grooming responsibilities. Give your pet a quick brushing outdoors every day and save the time spent on vacuuming every week. With regular brushing, you will notice a reduction in the amount of fur inside your house.
  • Use washable slipcovers: You or any of your guests would not like to sit on a sofa covered with pet hair. Invest in furniture covers which are made for this purpose. Choose washable slipcovers which can be easily maintained. You can remove them when your guests visit and simply toss them in the laundry.
  • Use throw rugs: If you manage to place rugs strategically inside your home, you will be able to find a solution to this problem. The rugs will help prevent the fur from spreading it into the house. You can place the rug at the entrance of your house. Choose rugs that are easy to wash and maintain.
  • Keep them clean: Make it a point to wipe the feet of your pet after they have stepped outdoors. This ensures that the entire house remains clean.
  • Cover up the pet: This is something not many would like to do but covering your pet helps keep the house clean. You can dress up the pet in a cute t-shirt and keep the fur off.

 

 

You can never completely get rid of the pet fur inside your home. Take small steps every day and ensure that the pet is brushed outdoors and there is minimal fur in the home. You need to vacuum the space regularly with a quality vacuum cleaner in order to achieve higher results. Choose a pet hair vacuum that fits your needs and maintain a routine of cleaning the furniture, carpet, and floor. There are a number of options available in the market. The vacuum is easy to use and it carries multiple features. Compare the top vacuums available for you and make the right choice. You can also compare the prices of the products easily and ensure that you are investing in a vacuum that is sufficient for your needs. The quality vacuum will keep your floor and carpet pet hair free and reduce your stress. The vacuum only takes a few minutes to clean up the entire space. It is not necessary for you to use the vacuum every single day, you can set up a routine and vacuum the floor once every three days or a week.

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How to Get the Most Out of Your Tankless Water Heater

April 28, 2018 by Leave a Comment

If you are someone who is looking for a water heater then we suggest you go for the tankless ones becomes with a tankless water heater, you can save yourself some space, some energy and the best thing is that these heaters are more effective and efficient. The tankless water heaters are better than the traditional water heaters because they provide hot water immediately and you don’t even have to keep an extra water reservoir for that.

So, if you genuinely want to have a water heater that can work for you for a long time and is cost effective then yes, the tankless water heater is what you want to buy right at the moment. Also, if you are confused on which heater should help you buy then you can always check for the reviews of tankless water heaters online as that will make things clearer for you.

 

Now, if you are planning to buy a tankless water heater, then you need to stick a little longer to this article because we are now going to jot down a few ways that can help you get the best out of this heater.

You Need To Give Your Water Heater A Regular Checkup

It is an undeniable fact that when you keep a regular check on a specific product, it then works for you for a longer time and same is the case with the tankless water heater, you have to maintain it on regular basis in order to get the best out of it. Regular checkups include annual cleaning of the heat exchange elements. You should clean these elements every now and then to ensure the removal of mineral deposit buildup. If that mineral deposit is not removed at the right time, then the performance of your tankless water heater may become poor, and that is something no one would want. So, make sure that you are properly cleaning your heater, and if you don’t feel like doing it yourself then you can always hire a professional for that.

“Flushing” Of Your Tankless Water Heater

The cleaning process of a tankless water heater is also known as the flushing process. This process requires you to drain total three water valves and close them temporarily. Now, the basic purpose of the flushing process is to get rid of the mineral deposits on the filters of your water heater. These deposits can severely hinder the performance of your heater, and there are chances that you will then have to buy a new water heater for yourself. So, if you don’t want to waste your money and if you want your heater to work for you for a longer time, then you have to do the flushing of your water heater. This process needs a little technical knowledge, but once you learn about it, things will get easier for you but on the other hand if you don’t think you can do it on your own then again, you can always hire a specialist for that.

 

These are the two basic things that you have to do in order to get the best out of your tankless water heater. Basically, it all falls back to the cleaning process. You have to make sure that your water heater is clean both internally and externally to get the best performance out of it.

 

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Roto-Rooter 101 (Unclogging the Bathroom Sink)

April 3, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Have you ever had a clogged sink or bathtub? If you are like me, the answer is yes, all the time yes.  The bathroom sink is the major pain in my house, and there is not much that seems to help. On a regular yet irregular basis, it gets clogged up and fills with water and whatever else was going on at the time.
We recently tried Roto-Rooter, and as you can tell this is NOT a staged photo. For real.
I have no idea why it keeps clogging up, we’ve snaked it, pulled the U-shaped thing out and replaced it, the whole nine. Who knows? Not me, that’s for sure.
So, after this clog, we followed the directions on the Roto-Rooter bottle, and pured half the bottle down the drain. After it cleared, we poured hot water down the drain as requested. It did indeed keep it clog free for quite some time.
There are quite a few options of Roto–Rooter products. You can check out thesite, http://rotorooter-products.com to see the full line of options.
Here is a video with some tips on unclogging a stubborn sink from Roto-Rooter;

If you end up in a sticky situation, it’s always good to have some Roto-Rooter on hand. Having to run out to the store with a clogged-up sink is never fun- and you know it’s likely to happen with you have a house full of guests or you are running out the door (or some such mess, it’s always something).

Head to the website, and see which product best fits your need. Keep some on hand for your next emergency, it will make your life that much easier.

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5 Effective Ways To Increase Value Of Your Old House

March 28, 2018 by 1 Comment

The housing market can be quite tricky. Even the smallest things can have an impact on the overall value of your home. Your house is an investment. You must be willing to put in money if you expect to get the best deal for it. There’s so much you can do to spruce up the look of your home, but the trick lies in knowing what investments will bring back high returns. If you are looking to increase the value of your old house, the following five tips will help you get there with ease.

1. Upgrade your Kitchen and bathroom

Any expert worth their salt will tell you the kitchen should be the first room to consider for an upgrade. It is the heart of every home, and families will spend a lot of their time here. You can start by replacing your old appliances with new stainless steel ones.

Even tiny details such as replacing your sink or even using shiny knobs for your cabinet doors can have a great impact on your kitchen’s aesthetic appeal. You can add some upgrade technology aplience in your kitchen such , microwave oven, food vacuum sealer and so on. You may explore more than 15+ Best Vacuum Sealer Reviews and Buyer Guide at Vacuum Mania

Your bathroom should come a close second in the order of importance. Invest in new tiles and proper lighting. If you can’t afford to replace the tub, you can always re-glaze it to save money. Remember the more bathrooms you have, the better. So if the space allows you to add an extra one, by all means, do it.

2. Install a swimming pool

Installing a swimming pool is an assured way of increasing the resale value of your home. Who doesn’t want to live in a home with a pool? It would be a dream come true for any homeowner. The increase in resale value will, however, depend on a number of factors including whether neighboring homes have swimming pools, the climate in the area and the condition of the pool.

You may not have control over the first two, but you can ensure that your pool is in good condition before a resale by cleaning it as often as you can. If it still looks bad after cleaning, you should consider getting a better pool cleaner. You may find out the lastest more than 10+ best pool vacuum reviews and buyer guide at vacuummania

3. Focus on repairs and maintenance

Before you can consider investing in expensive upgrades, cover the basics first: Address repairs and maintenance issues. No buyer will be quick to buy a house that will require additional money for repairs after purchase. Deal with any plumbing leaks, drafty windows, and those rusty old gutters.

Making the necessary repairs and maintenance around your house is not always about the money. Sometimes it has everything to with presentation. Your house is likely to grab the attention of the buyer, broker or agent if it’s in tip-top shape.

4. Improve your home’s curb appeal

The exterior of the house also matters a great deal. It is the first thing a buyer will see when they pull up in your driveway. Create a good first impression by improving the look of your exterior space. It’s time to fix that broken mailbox and to clean up your messy yard.

A fresh coat of paint can also go a long way in sprucing up your home’s exterior. If your budget doesn’t allow you to fix much of the exterior, at least do something about the walkway from the car to your entry door. Planting flowers along the way is easy and effective.

5. Clean and declutter

A dirty house is not likely to sell no matter how great it is. Cleaning may not cost you much in terms of money and time, but it offers a great return on investment. Such a simple DIY task could deliver around 3 to 5% return on investment according to consumer reports.

Cleanliness goes hand in hand with organization. Keeping many unnecessary things around the house will make it look cluttered and untidy. It will also make the house appear tinier. It is important to tidy things up by decluttering. It will not only look good but also help create the illusion of space.

In conclusion

You may not be able to do everything as far as sprucing up the look of your house is concerned. Investing too much money may not make much sense from a financial point of view. But you can achieve so much by focusing on the five key areas above.

Besides, it’s not always about the money; sometimes it’s the little inexpensive things you do that make all the difference.

 

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Qualities to Look for in the Best electrician

February 20, 2018 by Leave a Comment

There is a lot to think about when you need to hire an electrician. You need to think about your budget, the work that needs done, whether you need to the work done now or whether you want to wait, and so on. Added to this is the extra burden that not everybody who labels themselves as an electrician is qualified to do so, which can leave you in a worse position than you started out from. These people take the money and word-of-mouth recommendations which should by rights go to an actual electrician.

Certification

A qualified electrician will be able to show his certification if you ask for it. Aside from being able to ask him or her to specifically show you certificates which say that they are proficient in the skills you need, they are usually legally required to show such certification on their websites or promotional material. The certificates show that governing bodies have seen fit to say that the person you have engaged for your electricity work is actually capable of the job.

Price

The old adage that you get what you pay for is still very true when it comes to industries that involve electricians. If someone is asking an amount of money in payment for their work which seems too good to be true, assume that it is. Prices vary within the electricians – this is why you should get quotes from at least three different people before making a decision on what to do – but in general the prices should be reasonable for the work you actually need done. This can mean that it is a bit higher than you might otherwise have thought.

Recommendations

This can mean word-of-mouth recommendations, but this is also how fake electricians get their work, so tread carefully. Reviews and recommendations are now available in various places online – so long as the electrician has an online presence, you should be able to find some reviews about them online. These reviews can lead you towards or away from certain electricians, depending on how good the service was.

Another way to use recommendations is to ask the electrician themselves to give you letters of recommendation from previous customers.

It can be difficult to see how anybody could tell the difference between an actual electrician and one who is just running a scam, especially since anybody can set up an online presence these days. But there are ways to ensure that you get a properly qualified electrician, and while this article is only the start of how to go about that, it is definitely a good place to start, and a good place to get some ideas for how to proceed in finding more information. Finding a good electrician can take a lot of work, but it is something that is entirely worth the effort, as good electrical work can last a lifetime, while bad work can be something which leads to your entire house being put in danger.

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