Don't Let This Happen to You - Home Computer Electrical Damage

If you've read any of my other articles, you know that I am always coming up with great ideas, tips and even a couple of stories that can save homeowners lots of money. Here's another one of those stories, that involves a friend of mine who asked me if I could fix his outdoor electrical outlet.

I was over at his house one day, and told him that I could probably fix the electrical outlet and if we needed any parts, we could run down to the lumber yard and pick them up and his problem would be solved within a few hours. This two hour repair was about to cost him the hard drive on his computer, but neither one of us had any idea what was about to happen.

We each agreed to give it a shot, I told him to go over to the electrical panel and turn off the breaker that went to his outdoor shed. He proceeded to turn off the breaker and yelled out," It's off, try it." I plugged in an electric drill and it was still working, as he was walking around the corner, towards me, I showed him that the drill was still on and he hadn't turned off the right electrical breaker.

He went back and turned off a couple of more electrical breakers and the drill was still running. Now he frantically started to turn off one electrical breaker at a time, until I yelled out," It's off, the electrical power is, off you can stop."

I repaired the electrical outlet and he went back to turn every electrical breaker back on that he had turned off. We were proud of ourselves and he now had electrical power, back to his shed and he was happy.

Now for the bad news, his computer was running and when he turned the electricity off and on, it must've done something to his computer hard drive and it now needed to be replaced.

The moral to the story, isn't that you shouldn't help your friends. It's that you should, make sure that your computers are safely off, before you attempt to do any electrical work to your home.

It wouldn't be a bad idea, to have a battery backup, for your computer, if you use it often, just in case there is an electrical failure or something happens like the story above.

If your really interested in saving money on your home electrical bills - Energy Saving Books

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repair Advice. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

10 Things a Homeowner Won't Tell a Contractor - Common Courtesy

I've been a contractor in the state of California for over 20 years and there are some things that a homeowner won't tell a contractor. These are a few things that a contractor might want to hear, but a reluctant homeowner, might have second thoughts telling their contractors how they really feel.

1. We are happy with all of the work that you did in a timely manner and we appreciate your services.

2. We are happy with the way you performed your construction tasks, efficiently and we appreciate your services.

3. The work was done by a true professional and we would recommend you to any one of our friends.

4. The payment plan that you created in the contract worked out perfectly and never made us feel uncomfortable. It never seemed like you had too much of our money or we were putting you in a bad spot financially.

5. Thanks for keeping the job clean, it meant a lot to us, because we have seen other construction jobs that look like a tornado ran through them.

6. Thanks for helping us with our design. Working with your contractor on a daily, weekly or monthly basis can be frustrating or joyful. Let the contractor know either way how you are really feeling.

7. You and your crew are extremely hard-working and we appreciate the simple fact that you didn't come to work late or leave early.

8. Thanks for the reasonable priced estimate on our project. You helped us say a lot of money and we appreciate that sincerely.

9. Thanks for doing the extra work at a reasonable price. You could have gouged us at certain times, but you chose to be fair and work things out, in a way that would benefit both of us.

10. This one is the most important and often overlooked by homeowners and it's simple and easy to do. Thanks for doing what you said you were going to do and actually doing it.

Just a simple thank you and paying them on time, for a service well done is enough for most contractors. However, a little common courtesy can go a long way, even in the construction industry.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link Home Remodeling Contractor

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Click here if you're looking for additional Homeowner Contractor Advice. If you're interested in gathering more information on how to hire a good contractor, make sure that you visit our website.

Take Pictures of Your Growing Foundation Damage Or Cracks

I champion people and try to get them to look at their house, at least once a year. One of the easiest ways to inspect your home is to use a home inspection checklist and if you really want a good home inspection checklist, there's a good chance that you are going to need to purchase one. You get what you pay for and don't ever forget that.

Foundation repairs usually start with a small crack and that's no joke. If you notice a crack, take a picture of it and save it somewhere. If you think, that the crack is actually getting a little bigger or starting to separate, you can simply take another picture and compare the two photos.

I would like to give you an example of what I'm talking about. Sometimes we look at something and we think that it's getting larger, but we don't have anything to compare it to. As time goes on, we think that the crack is still getting larger, but our mind is creating an optical illusion. This happens to a lot of people.

If you had a picture, from a few years ago, you could refresh your memory and this could be very helpful in reducing your anxiety or jumping to conclusions about foundation damage. Trust me, sometimes, I'm like a medical emergency crew, going to visit a homeowner to relieve their foundations stress. People panic over foundation cracks and I'm the doctor they call for any one of their home emergencies.

I would also advise you to take pictures of the rest of your home. How hard would it be to take about 300 pictures of your home each year and store them on your computer or on a disk, for easy access later? A picture is worth a thousand words and don't ever forget that.

Click Here for Some More Great Foundation Repair Solutions.

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repair Problems. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

Do I Need a Home Inspection? - Real Estate Advice

Most home inspections today run between $300 to over $1000 and sometimes you don't really get your moneys worth. There are home inspection companies that guarantee, any problems that they miss will be repaired at their expense over a desired period of time, usually a year. It seems like, most home inspection companies are just inspecting the property and have no guarantees or liability from their inspection.

It's not a good idea to buy or sell a home without getting a home inspection from a licensed home inspector. This is like having a second opinion from someone who is usually skilled in the process. I would like to point something out to unsuspecting, potential home buyers and sellers. Sometimes a home inspection company will get a little behind in their work and need to hire other home inspectors if these home inspectors don't have any experience in the construction business or have never inspected a home before. In other words there fresh out of home inspector school. You might not get a good home inspection.

You can always ask the question, how long have you been in business?... How long have you been a home inspector?... have you ever worked in the construction business or have any skills in home building and remodeling. If the answers to these questions are satisfactory, it doesn't mean, that they're telling the truth and being sincere and could lead to problems later if they are lying to you.

Let me rephrase the question now, "Do I Need a Home Inspection" from an unqualified home inspector? Absolutely not. But how can you really tell the difference and is the report going to be worth the money that you paid for it.

What would you say, if I had the solution to your problem. How about a pre-home inspection, using a home buyers checklist? What if I could give you a check list with questions, that you could ask your home inspector? Some of these questions are not going to be part a regular inspection but should always be asked and make sure you get the answers to them, before purchasing the property.

Would you be interested now? What if I told you, for under $20, you could purchase a home buyers checklist, now for the tough question, this checklist could save you thousands of dollars and prevent you from purchasing a home with major construction problems or defects, and can be used on every house you look at.

Don't buy a home without purchasing a professional home inspection checklist. These lists of questions can save you some serious headaches and stress in the future.

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a home buyers guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

If your looking for some more home inspection or home building ideas.

Plywood Roof Sheeting - Roof Framing Trade Secrets

Most framing contractor's look at the building plans and order all of the material, according to those that are specified on the plans. This works out fine, and can often save you money, but rarely produces the best home that you could possibly frame.

As a professional framing contractor, I would like to share one of my house framing tips with you. Most plans require half-inch plywood or oriented strand board as their roof sheeting. This product is fine and if you're building a lot of homes, you're not going to have the choice. Ordering larger sized plywood could cost you thousands of dollars, especially if you're building a lot of homes.

However, if your framing or building a home for someone or even yourself, you might want to take my advice and think twice about it, before ordering the roof sheeting. Half-inch plywood, works okay for 16 inch on center roof rafters or engineered truss roofing systems. It doesn't work well on 24 inch on center roof rafters spacing.

It is usually flimsy and weak at the center point, directly in between the 24 inch roof rafter bays. If you're going to use the half-inch plywood, I would recommend using plywood clips that are relatively inexpensive and can be placed in the direct center of each roof rafter bay on each sheet of plywood. These can be purchased at most home improvement centers or lumber yards.

The other alternative, and this is what I recommend, would be to use 5/8 inch plywood. This plywood works great for 24 inch on center roof rafters and you will have a nice sturdy roof to walk on, while roofing your home.

I have actually seen people step through the flimsy plywood, while lifting heavy roof tiles and bundles of composition roof shingles. Experienced roofers try to walk directly on top of the roof rafters, when loading their roof shingles or even carrying them on the roof.

If you're a home builder and your concern is about making a profit, you will need to use the half-inch plywood. If you want to build a superior roof, use the 5/8 of an inch plywood.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link House Framing Contractors.

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a excellent home inspection checklist to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Thanks For Reading My Articles

Subfloor Damage From Poor Bathtub Installation - Read Bath Tub Fixture Manuals

You should never under estimate the amount of damage that water can do to your wood subfloor. Especially if this wood is underneath your bathtub. If the bathtub is not installed properly, you could find yourself replacing the wood underneath, within a short period of time. This repair is not uncommon and as more homeowners and handyman seemed to be doing projects like these, without the proper experience, it's becoming even more common.

I wish I had a solution to the problem, however, I don't. The best advice I could give anyone who is going to be involved in any home remodeling project, would be to get some books on what ever task you are about to undertake and read all of the information that you possibly can about the products you are going to be installing. This is extremely helpful for anyone who has never installed a bathtub or any bathtub fixtures.

If the product fails and was installed properly, the manufacturer should be responsible for the water damage. I have been reading the manufacturer's installation manuals for quite some time now and every once in a while, I find something that is of great value to me and I get to pass it on to my readers. That's what I'm doing right now.

Whether you want to remodel your bathroom to save money or you want to accomplish a task that you haven't done yet. I would recommend, taking the time to understand, exactly how the water flows off of and on to another section of the bath tub or shower on its way to the drain. Understanding the basics of bathroom remodeling can save you big money in the future.

Save yourself some money and make sure that you install your bathtubs properly. Taking a little time before you start to read the bath tub fixture manuals, can save you some money and grief in the future.

Find More Facts On Home Water Damage.

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Check out These Amazing Home Damage Videos.

Five Things That a Termite Inspection Company Might Not Ever Say

I don't think that I've ever heard of a termite inspector, ever go to a home and not find any termites. Even if the home doesn't have any damage that is visible from the termites, it seems like it's always a good idea, to tent the home, just in case, for protection. Anyway, here's five things that you might not ever hear a termite inspector ever say.

1. Your house is free of termites. This means that there isn't, one termite on your property and the termite inspector isn't going to make any money. Let's face it, termite damage, whether it's visible or invisible, keeps these guys working.

2. Your house isn't going to fall down, if I don't do anything to stop the termites. I have seen homes, where termites have been working on them for quite some time and they still seem to stand up and function properly.

3. Termites don't eat much and I wouldn't worry about the damage. Most termite inspectors will tell you how much a termite in Hawaii or Africa will eat in a day, but doesn't seem to have an honest idea, how much damage they are doing to your home, if they can't actually see it.

4. Every one that works for our company, has at least 30 years experience, repairing any termite damage. Don't even get me started with this one.

5. We will replace all of the termite damage wood, back to its original condition. What they might say, is that they will replace the wood that is damaged by termites, that you can actually see.

There are plenty of great termite companies out there and this article was meant just to have fun with most of them. Termite damage can be a serious problem with some homes and I would suggest that you contact at least three termite inspectors, before proceeding ahead with any home repairs or use of chemicals.

Try not to forget, the only way that a termite inspection company will make any money, looking at your house, will be to find something wrong with it.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Easy Home Repair Tips . Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link San Diego Remodeling Contractors

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Thanks For Reading My Articles

Five Things That a Termite Inspection Company Might Not Ever Say

I don't think that I've ever heard of a termite inspector, ever go to a home and not find any termites. Even if the home doesn't have any damage that is visible from the termites, it seems like it's always a good idea, to tent the home, just in case, for protection. Anyway, here's five things that you might not ever hear a termite inspector ever say.

1. Your house is free of termites. This means that there isn't, one termite on your property and the termite inspector isn't going to make any money. Let's face it, termite damage, whether it's visible or invisible, keeps these guys working.

2. Your house isn't going to fall down, if I don't do anything to stop the termites. I have seen homes, where termites have been working on them for quite some time and they still seem to stand up and function properly.

3. Termites don't eat much and I wouldn't worry about the damage. Most termite inspectors will tell you how much a termite in Hawaii or Africa will eat in a day, but doesn't seem to have an honest idea, how much damage they are doing to your home, if they can't actually see it.

4. Every one that works for our company, has at least 30 years experience, repairing any termite damage. Don't even get me started with this one.

5. We will replace all of the termite damage wood, back to its original condition. What they might say, is that they will replace the wood that is damaged by termites, that you can actually see.

There are plenty of great termite companies out there and this article was meant just to have fun with most of them. Termite damage can be a serious problem with some homes and I would suggest that you contact at least three termite inspectors, before proceeding ahead with any home repairs or use of chemicals.

Try not to forget, the only way that a termite inspection company will make any money, looking at your house, will be to find something wrong with it.

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Easy Home Repair Tips . Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link San Diego Remodeling Contractors

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Thanks For Reading My Articles

How to Protect Foundation Plumbing Pipes?

If you install any underground plumbing pipes, in your concrete building foundation, you will need to protect them, from the concrete. You can use a variety of products and the most common of them will be a Styrofoam wrapping that can be purchased at most plumbing supply stores.

Let's start with the waste pipes, that are made out of plastic. The concrete could actually start to put pressure on the plastic pipes as the concrete starts to expand and this pressure could actually damage your new waste pipes.

You don't need to wrap all of the plastic waste pipes, only the parts of the waste pipes that will be exposed or in direct contact any concrete, but you do need to protect every copper water supply line that will be buried under the ground or exposed to the concrete, with a plastic sleeve. These products can be purchased again at most building supply or plumbing supply stores.

If these pipes aren't protected properly, you could find yourself within a short time, repairing the pipes that are either inside of your concrete foundation or buried underneath your concrete foundation. Either way, this isn't going to be a good thing.

You definitely need to wrap a plastic sleeve around the water supply pipes that are going to be buried or in direct contact with the concrete. This is a must and most building departments will require your plumbing pipes to be wrapped, before it they will sign off on your rough foundation plumbing inspection.

However, for the waste pipes, you can actually use cardboard to protect them. If you're short on funds, why not grab some cardboard boxes, dismantle them and start using cardboard to wrap the pipes, with a little duct tape.

There are plenty of ways to save money in the construction business, buy a few books, read a couple of articles, with a lot of pictures in this can provide you with lots of construction information, from experience building contractors.

Check out some of the best selling Home Building Plumbing Books all on one website

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repairs. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Thanks for reading our articles

Plywood Roof Sheeting - Roof Framing Trade Secrets

Most framing contractor's look at the building plans and order all of the material, according to those that are specified on the plans. This works out fine, and can often save you money, but rarely produces the best home that you could possibly frame.

As a professional framing contractor, I would like to share one of my house framing tips with you. Most plans require half-inch plywood or oriented strand board as their roof sheeting. This product is fine and if you're building a lot of homes, you're not going to have the choice. Ordering larger sized plywood could cost you thousands of dollars, especially if you're building a lot of homes.

However, if your framing or building a home for someone or even yourself, you might want to take my advice and think twice about it, before ordering the roof sheeting. Half-inch plywood, works okay for 16 inch on center roof rafters or engineered truss roofing systems. It doesn't work well on 24 inch on center roof rafters spacing.

It is usually flimsy and weak at the center point, directly in between the 24 inch roof rafter bays. If you're going to use the half-inch plywood, I would recommend using plywood clips that are relatively inexpensive and can be placed in the direct center of each roof rafter bay on each sheet of plywood. These can be purchased at most home improvement centers or lumber yards.

The other alternative, and this is what I recommend, would be to use 5/8 inch plywood. This plywood works great for 24 inch on center roof rafters and you will have a nice sturdy roof to walk on, while roofing your home.

I have actually seen people step through the flimsy plywood, while lifting heavy roof tiles and bundles of composition roof shingles. Experienced roofers try to walk directly on top of the roof rafters, when loading their roof shingles or even carrying them on the roof.

If you're a home builder and your concern is about making a profit, you will need to use the half-inch plywood. If you want to build a superior roof, use the 5/8 of an inch plywood.

If You Live in Northern San Diego County or South Orange County, and You're Looking for a Great Contractor, Click on This Link House Framing Contractors.

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a excellent home inspection checklist to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Thanks For Reading My Articles

Tile Grouting Tips For Your Bathrooms, Kitchens and Floors

Isn't tile grouting supposed to be simple, if you read the directions and watch a couple of videos? What could make tile grouting so difficult? Grouting your tile isn't that difficult, by the time you're done reading this article, you should have a pretty good idea how to grout your floors, bathrooms, kitchens and anything else that requires tile.

I used to have problems grouting tile, but after I read the directions, I became a grouting wizard. This sounds hard to believe, but after reading the directions on the tile grout bag, I became a grout master. I know, you the type of person who never read the directions, you simply add water, mix and start grouting.

It's time to change your thinking about, whether or not the directions will be helpful. Whether it's about grouting your bathroom floor or putting together your home barbecued. I read one thing on the grout bag and it changed my entire grouting career.

The grout should slake. After you're done mixing the grout, you should wait between five and 10 minutes to let the moisture soak into the grout mix. Do this once, and you will never go back to mixing your grout and applying it, as quickly as possible after it has been mixed.

For more information on grouting, remodeling or home repairs, I would recommend reading books on home improvement and home repairs. Some of these books can make a big difference in your home improvement abilities as a handyman. I would also recommend reading more articles, there's plenty of information about tile and grouting, all over the Internet.

Click here if you are looking for some more Bathroom Remodeling Ideas

If you're really interested in basement remodeling and repairs, you should click on this link Home Repair Tips. Get some great home repair advice that can make a big difference on any of your home remodeling projects.

Greg Vandenberge is working on the internet to promote the education for creating simple to follow guides and home building books to help professional building contractors as well as the weekend warriors. He has just finished a Home Buyers Guide to take some of the frustration out of home shopping.

Thanks for reading the article

Home Made Solar Panels

Solar panels are designed to produce electricity through the use of the natural energy of the sun. These panels absorb the wavelengths of light and turn the natural imminence of the sun into heat and power for the home. Homemade solar panels even work on most cloudy days simply because the light sends enough of the UV wavelengths of light needed. However on bright sunny days the panels work even better.

Now, it is so easy to construct and design your own solar panels with the simple purchase of kits. These kits offer all the instructions, designs, and information needed to accomplish the task. For many homeowners the concept of having homemade solar panels is increasing in popularity everyday.

The kits that are sold and used are not considered expensive and in addition the overall cost of the entire project is worth the funding; because the homemade solar panels will usually pay for themselves within the first few months of installation or being constructed.

Many people who have purchased the kits have done all of the work own his or her own, this means that hiring a contractor or having major technical experience isn't necessary, you don't need professionals to do the job at all.

Homemade solar panels are being seen more now than ever as individuals want to also preserve the environment and the resources. Some panels are even being seen on recreational vehicles, office buildings, and even factories. However, there are more homes seen with the panels than a year ago and that estimation is speculated to increase as well.

In order to achieve having homemade solar panels on your home too all an individual need do is purchase the kit through a web site via the Internet, or also at some local home improvement stores. The idea is so popular there are even some bigger hardware stores that carry these kits. As more people consider the idea of becoming eco-friendly and use the panels they also save a great deal in expenses. There are occasions when some utility companies or power companies in various areas will pay individuals for the unused power that the homemade solar panels produce. So, in essence it all works out for the best when it comes to the homeowner and the decision to have solar panels.

For the most part the kits are selling faster than any other home improvement product on the market today as more individuals realize the increased potential of the homemade solar panels on the homes. Earth4Energy is a guide that explains building Homemade Solar Panel.

What Kind Of Wood Rot

Is it Worth the Cost to Make a Home More Energy-Efficient?

Making a home more energy-efficient will be worth the investment, especially over time. Not only will you be doing your part for the environment, you could save hundreds, even thousands of dollars on utility bills over the years you stay in your home. And, an energy-efficient home is much easier to sell when the time comes.

You might not want to just launch an effort to make your home more energy-efficient in one fell swoop, but as you make repairs, do upgrades and maybe do a little remodeling, the small additional costs will be recouped faster than you might expect. After all, some of the things you can do to make your home more energy efficient dont cost much at all, especially if you are upgrading anyway.

For example, adding weather stripping to doors and windows will probably cost you less than $50. You could save more than that in the next year in reduced energy bills because your home is losing less heated or cooled air. Installing window film on your east- and west-facing windows will probably cost you less than $100 if you do it and less than $250 if you have a professional do the job. It will reduce your heating and cooling bills and prevent fading of your carpet and furniture caused by intense sunlight saving more than your investment in one or 2 years.

Switching from incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs will cost you a little more when you first buy the bulbs, but you will save on electricity and you will replace the bulbs far less frequently.

Adding storm doors and windows will save on both heating and cooling costs by reducing the amount of conditioned air that is lost and reducing the amount of outside air that sneaks in. If your budget is tight, you can try doing what our grandfathers did when they wanted storm windows make you own storm windows. You just need a little lumber, a few nails and some heavy plastic.

If you are replacing appliances, it is worth it to insist on energy-efficient models and options, such as vent-free moisture sensing dryers, front loading washers, and refrigerators with through-the-door ice and water. If you are replacing a water heater, an attic fan or a heating/cooling system, you can certainly buy replacements that are more energy-efficient. You might replace your water heater with either instant water heaters or a solar water heater; replace an electric attic fan with a solar-powered fan. Replace your heating and cooling equipment with a single, energy-efficient heat pump. To really save, try choosing a programmable zoned system with timers that allow you to control the temperature in various parts of the house according to your familys needs. Replacing a toilet? Choose a dual-flush toilet to save water usage.

When it is time to replace your roof, choose a metal roof for your replacement. Metal roofs are less expensive and very energy-efficient. If you dont want a metal roof, you can always install attic foil to prevent heat loss.

All of these options are great choices, both for the environment and for your family. But dont forget to look for possible rebates and tax breaks.

Many utility companies offer rebates to customers who install energy-efficient appliances and lights. Just give your utility company a call and ask. Then be sure you understand the standards to qualify for the rebates.

If you install a whole-house voltage surge suppressor or disaster-proof features, be sure to check with your insurance company to see if you will be entitled to any reduction in your insurance rates.

Investigate energy-efficient financing for your upgrades if you are making your home more energy-efficient. Check on FHA Energy-Efficient Mortgages, FHA Section 203(k) Rehabilitation Mortgage Insurance, etc.

And dont forget the opportunities to save on your taxes.

If you will use a remodeled or added room as a home office, be sure to deduct the appropriate percentage of utilities, etc. each year as a business expense.

Get to know the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005. It allows homeowners to take tax credits for remodeling that improves the energy efficiency of your primary residence. The maximum credit you can take is $500, but you can take credits for:

10% of cost up to $500 for energy-efficient exterior door or storm doors


10% of cost up to $500 for a qualified metal roof


10% of cost up to $500 for adding insulation expected to last at least 5 years


$300 for qualified central air conditioning, heat pumps or geothermal heat pumps


up to $150 for a qualified gas, oil or propane furnace or hot water boiler


up to $300 for a qualified gas, oil, propane or electric heat pump water heater


up to $2,000 for solar water heating

Making your home more energy-efficient can be good for the environment, good for your family (and your wallet), and good for the resale value of your home. Do your research and shop carefully when you are making upgrades in your home. Going green will usually pay for itself within 5 to 10 years in reduced energy bills.

Copyright 2007 by ABCD Publishing

Dan Fritschen, the author of this article, is the founder of the websites http://www.remodelormove.com and http://www.remodelestimates.com and http://www.remodelingorganizer.com He is the author of three books on home remodeling.

What Causes Attic Odors And Stra

A Healthy Home

Your home is your castle. You decide, possibly together with
family members, what to make of it. Outside our home we have
limited opportunities to improve the environment, but in our
home we can do a lot.

At home we want to feel free, relax and do things that we
like. We want to eat, sleep, exercise, maybe work, and
socialize with friends and family. We spend many hours at
home. Naturally, we want our home to be as comfortable and
healthy as possible.

What surroundings make you happy? What things do you like to
have around you? Feeling good at home is a matter of
physical as well as mental and social well-being. Look
around you and think about what changes can be made in your
home environment. Start with something small, one step at a
time. Make a small change every day, and after a week the
difference will be considerable.

Your home - a place for personal growth and well-being

Your home should be a refuge where you can hide from the
rest of the world and find strength to go on with life. Why
not follow these ten steps:

1. Put away things that you dont need. Too many things
disturb the eye and make it hard to relax. Only surround
yourself with things that you need or things that will
enrich your life.

2. Stick to a few colours two or three for each room,
instead of mixing many different colours. This will help you
create a calm and balanced atmosphere.

3. Make sure you have good ventilation. Leave doors between
rooms open for better air circulation, and open windows when
possible.

4. Dont smoke in your home. Ask your visitors to smoke
outside.

5. Choose area rugs instead of carpets when possible.

6. Use cleaning products with low-toxic content.

7. Choose furniture and fittings made of non-toxic
materials.

8. Make sure your sleeping place is comfortable and healthy.
The pillow is important. Do you often wake up with a
headache? You might need a new pillow.

9. Make your kitchen table as pleasant and welcoming as
possible. When you sit down to eat you must be able to relax
and enjoy your meal. Are there papers or magazines on the
table? Too many different colours? Keep it simple and
clean.

10. Buy some new flowers for your home. Decorate your home
with candle lights. Small simple things like these will
influence your well-being.

Ingela Berger started her own Internet business Lifestyle Plans in 2003 out of a desire to inspire and encourage others to make reality of their dreams of a personal, healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. Ingela has studied theatre directing, acting, history of art, history of ideas, health communication and leadership psychology. After some years working with art exhibitions and the theatre she went back to college and is now a health and lifestyle consultant.

Long Dryer Vent Problems

Energy-Star Appliances Can Help You Save Money

Your household appliances are responsible for a large percentage of the energy consumed in your home. As a matter of fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approximates that kitchen appliances account for almost half of the $2,000 that most average families spend on utilities each year. In addition, appliances that are over 10 years old use more energy than their newer counterparts.

The Energy Star classification system was created by the EPA and the US Dept of Energy (DOE). This system identifies home appliances that decrease energy consumption, lower your utility bills and improve the air quality in your home. Energy Star appliances are usually more expensive than traditional models but the savings in daily energy usage will help them pay for themselves in the long term. Some Energy Star appliances can even save you up to half of the energy you use each day.

Understanding Your EnergyGuide Label:

All Energy Star appliances are required to have an EnergyGuide label. This label displays the model number, features, size and capacity of the appliance. In addition, the label estimates the average energy usage and operation costs of the model per year.

Each label also displays a range of energy used per year by similar models so that you can comparison shop and determine if this particular model meets your needs.

Standard Features of Energy Star Appliances:

Refrigerators:

Use up to 40% less electricity.

Savings of up to $150 each year.

Dishwasher:

Use 50% less water.

Use over 40% less energy.

Save $90 over the lifetime of your dishwasher.

Clothes Washer:

Use 50% less water.

Reduce drying time by extracting more water in the spin cycle.

Less wear and tear on your clothing.

Use up to 40% less electricity.

Savings of up to $110 each year.

Dehumidifier:

Use between 10 - 20% less electricity.

Savings of approximately $30 each year.

Household Air Conditioner:

Use 10% less energy.

Save approximately $250 over the lifetime of your air conditioner.

Investing in Energy Star appliances will help you save on monthly utility costs and reduce emissions in your home and the environment. It's an easy way to save yourself some money plus do your part for the environment.

Gwen McIntyre is a Marketing Manager for PartSelect.com. PartSelect.com is a provider of appliance repair parts to help repair your home appliances. Partselect has a full selection of appliance parts for all major appliance manufacturers.

What Causes Attic Odors And Stra

Getting Your Mojo Back

Motivation can be defined as momentum that stimulates action. It comes from within you. Nobody can "make" you be motivated. It's up to you. So, how do you keep your motivation on a daily basis, and especially during these economically hard times?

First, let's go there and talk about where LACK of motivation comes from and how it manifests itself into your life. Lack of motivation is usually caused by fear and lack of self-confidence. I've seen this so many times when working with under-producing sales professionals. Maybe you've been on a roll. Sales have been great. You've been the "golden players" on the sales team. Maybe you're struggling just to get out of the gate.

All of a sudden somebody or many people say "no." The economic climate changes. You lose a client or maybe more. Prospects dry up. Fear begins to set in about job performance, money, etc. If you are being highly scrutinized because of falling sales, fear and self-confidence set in and begin to spin out of control.

Fear and lack of self-confidence will paralyze you from doing what you need to do to move forward. Where there is fear and lack of self-confidence, there cannot possibly be motivation.

Ok. Enough of that! We all know what LACK of motivation can do. But when you're down there, how to get up again? How do you keep your self-motivated day after day in a tough marketplace full of competition and rejection?

Let me give you 4 steps to recover your motivation, get out of the rut and get your "Mojo" back!

1. Make A List: When you've fallen into a slump you might feel as though you're at the bottom looking up ad you can't dig yourself out. Your thoughts are spinning about all the things you should do, and need to do. It's impossible to figure out what to do and how to do it when your head is spinning! Make a list. Sit down someplace quiet, breathe and write down everything that is spinning around up there. After you've made the list you can then start to prioritize. If sales are down and you need to make 10 sales, the goal is to make sale. Notice I said "a sale" not 10, not 2, not 6. ONE. Whatever your goal is, chunk it out into smaller, more reasonable pieces that will give you success quickly. When you succeed at the first goal that success will spur you on to the next.

2. Post Your Goal: Make your first goal real by putting in front of you. Also, put a positive spin on your goal. Don't just write, "One Sale" or "I need to make one sale." Instead write something like, "I can make one sale." Then post ion your bathroom mirror, on your refrigerator, in your car, in your home office, etc etc. Make this goal your mantra.

3. Don't Quit! Make a list of 4 or 5 ways you can get to your goal. Who do you need to see? What referral do you need? Who in your network can you call on for help? Keep putting one foot ahead of the other, one step at a time. This is the most important step to get where you want to be.

4. Squash Negative Thoughts:. For every negative thought that pops into your head and runs around in there, identify where that thought comes from. For instance, if you are thinking, "I'm a loser."

Who said that to you? Why to you feel that way? When you've identified where the negative thought comes from, select an opposing thought to replace it. Instead of, "I'll never make my sales goal" think I will make my sales goal because sales is a numbers game I know I can win!

Remember that sales is a numbers game. By setting goals and being consistent your Mojo will return and not only will you make your sales goals, you'll beat them! You are a winner. Act as if you are!

Jill Freeman is a dynamic and motivational coach with over 20 years of sales, marketing and business development experience. She has been called "The Go-to Sales and Marketing Maven" by Stacey Kelly, founder and CEO of PM Squared in Houston TX. Jill is the founder of ROAR! Growing Your Business With Pride. She is a graduate of Eastern Mennonite University and holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Organizational Development. Jill lives in South Central PA with her husband and children. You can learn more about ROAR! by visiting http://www.roarcorps.com

Quit Smoking Today - An Ebook Review

The desire to quit smoking is probably more widespread these days, as the world is more exposed to the potential dangers of this unhealthy habit. Still, the process of quitting can be so complex and excruciating that it affects the resolve of even the most resolute of people. Some individuals relapse after the first few attempts, while others don't even have the heart to try at all.

There are currently a variety of products available that can help you stop smoking, but some don't work while others have a long list of potential side effects. Because of this, a lot of smokers hardly seek help and eventually give up any efforts to become smoke-free.

One solution is Quit Smoking Today, a technique created by Rob Mellor, an expert on Neuro-Linguistic-Programming, which is a branch of psychotherapy that deals specifically with nicotine addiction. In this article, we will share some vital information about Mellor's approach so that you can make an informed decision on your quest to stop smoking.

The Quit Smoking Today program consists of an mp3 audio file that lasts for 38minutes and 13seconds. The program promises to teach you to quit smoking without suffering any withdrawal symptoms. The author further claims that more than 90% of 5,000 test subjects completely kicked the habit after using his method. Additionally, he claims that the majority of test subjects were able to stop smoking within a month after listening to his recordings only once, and most did not relapse after more than six months.

The central idea of the Quit Smoking Today mp3 is quite similar to the principles of hypnosis. It aims to access the subconscious and change the smoker's perception of cigarettes & nicotine cravings.

Most reviews of Mellor's technique have been mostly positive, with numerous people vouching for its effectiveness and reporting no untoward experiences. The only unenthusiastic response so far is that of people claiming that the method still lacks sufficient testing data. However, more than any official research, we value the voice of the product's actual users, and to date, the results have been extremely encouraging.

The Quit Smoking Today audio book is not a miracle product that will serve as a shortcut to an otherwise painstaking process. However, we encourage you to try out this product and see if it works for you. Since it has produced impressive results for others, there's no reason why you won't benefit from it as well. Improving your health is well worth the try.

To download your copy of the Free Quit Smoking Guide, and to read more articles related to Quit Smoking Today, please visit this quit smoking website.

Fixing a Speaker Cabinet by Replacing a Home Theater Speaker

When it comes to great audio sound, there is no part of a home theater that is more overlooked that the speaker cabinet. It is the very last link in the sound chain and controls the final way you hear everything. The speaker cabinet reproduces the tone as sound waves in the air which creates the subtle differences in sound. What happens when you have a blown speaker in one of your cabinets? Do you fix it or just buy a new one?

Usually the answer to this question is a wholehearted yes, simply for the reason that those cabinets were built with your speakers in mind. That is what they designed for. Think about the amount of math and engineering that was involved in building the cabinets with a certain amount of air space in mind. These cabinets were tuned specifically for those old speakers. Installing other speakers in there will not sound the same as your old speakers.

Here is a simple step by step process how you can remove the bad speaker from the cabinet and repair it.

• Take the speaker cabinet you'll be working on and set it on its back to remove the speaker grille. Some grilles are different than others. Some simply pop into place, while others are secured in with screws visible from the side or front of the cabinet.
• Now that you have the grill removed, you'll next unscrew the first screw from the bad speaker, and then the screw opposite the first one. All of the screws need to be removed in an opposite pairs order.
• Now, carefully list the speaker out of the cabinet. It will still be connected by wires to the other speakers and the head unit. Some are attached by two wires while others by four. There should never come a time when you remove a speaker and there is only one wire. If this you see this is the case then you may be lucky and the speaker is just disconnected and not blown out.
• Now take those wires hanging out the back and pull them out of the speaker tabs using the plastic connectors. Never pull on the wire itself. You'll end up damaging it. Those tabs should be color coded to help you distinguish between the positive (red) and the negative (black) wires. If they aren't, then simply label them with a marker before you remove them. Be careful not to let the wires fall back inside the cabinet once they are removed by taping them to the sides.
• Double check that the removed speaker is in fact blown and dead by determining the resistance between the two positive and negative connection tabs. If you get a read out on the meter of less than an ohm or more than twice the impedance rating, you have yourself a bad speaker. If you get a reading between the two good zones, then there shouldn't be anything wrong with the speaker. One other way is to lightly press on the center of the speaker cone. The speaker is blown if it makes a scratchy sound or does not spring back to its original shape.
• Now that you have your new speaker ready to go, you'll need to reconnect the wires by pushing the connectors onto the matching tab. Set the speaker into the mounting hole and replace the screws in that same opposing pair fashion as used earlier.
• Lastly, you are going to tighten all those screws, replace the grille and return the speaker cabinet back to its upright position.

Electra Warehouse does not only offer mobile electronics, it also carries brand named pro DJ equipment and home audio equipment. Electra Warehouse strives to give each customer a great one stop shop for the best bargain mobile, home and pro dj electronics. Visit them at http://www.electrawarehouse.com.

How Tough Are Concrete Epoxies

Home - It's More Than a Holiday Feeling

We all have our own sense of originality, our own sense of creativity. The key is to embrace those qualities in ourselves and express them freely. When we honor ourselves and pay attention to what really resonates with us, we're able to create a home that's not only a reflection of our ideal environment, it's also a reflection of who we really are. And a home that reflects who you are is a home that embraces you with comfort and warmth year round, not just on the holidays!

Step #1

Upon entering your home, do you feel like you belong there?
How do you feel when you step into your home?

Does your energy rise, fall or stay the same?

Do you feel a sense of comfort and welcome, an overriding sense of this as your home - not just the house you live in? Or do you find yourself going through the house noticing everything that's wrong, taking notes on what needs improvement or change?

If you find yourself overwhelmed with things that need to be done, take a step back, breathe and focus on prioritizing your projects. It's OK to do things in phases, in fact, I recommend it! Don't lose hope, tackling your projects a step at a time makes visualizing the entire project easier and when it's easier we're far more likely to do it.

Step #2

Does your home's layout, the way the rooms are placed in relationship to one another, move you gently from room to room, flowing naturally and easily? Or do you find yourself hesitating before moving from one area to the next?

When our homes are configured to allow gentle movement from one area to the next, we feel more comfortable, more at ease. When we have to think about how to get from one area to the next, or find that we wind up somewhere other than where we intended, our home is not configured in a way that honors the natural traffic flow.

To correct this, we can position our furnishings so that they open up to us as we enter each room, creating the feeling of someone opening their arms to you in greeting. Another suggestion would be to change the use of your rooms so that they accommodate your needs rather than the meanings given to them at time of building.

For example: my 'living room' is actually my entertainment room and it is where I have my dining room table. This placement makes full use of the dramatic aspects of this room and positions it so that those dining have full view of the kitchen. This usage makes much more sense than the area the builder has designated as the dining room.

Step #3

When incorporating the principles of Feng Shui into your home evaluations, some important questions to ask yourself are:

Is there a sense of warmth and comfort when I think of my home?

Am I comfortable in this space?

Am I experiencing a sense of abundance in my life?

Am I satisfied with the quality of my life?

Are my relationships nurturing, loving and supportive?

If you can answer 'yes' to each of those questions, your home is probably pretty comfortable. It may be in need of some adjustments and improvements, but overall things are going well for you. If this is your situation, reinforce what's working and enhance those areas that can use improvement.

Our homes are so much more than four walls. Our homes are living, breathing, vibrant places. They can be places of nurture and support if we allow it. If you'd like your house to be a home, invest in yourself and your living space. Your results are a direct reflection of your efforts, embrace your desires.

Create a home for your soul - not just a home for the holidays.

Feng Shui Tips

1. Review your holiday decorations.This year, instead of putting out everything, put out only those items that you really love, items that truly create a sense of comfort for you. The beauty of collections is truly experienced when we view them selectively. When we view our collections in small arrangements, or in phases, we are better able to really appreciate each item.

2. View your belongings and rooms with a fresh perspective. Look past current and previous usage to how your rooms and things can be adapted to suit your actual needs, now. Allow yourself the freedom to create living spaces that support your needs and desires.

3. Be creative, mix things up. We tend to view our belongings in groups, items we've always placed together remain together. Unleash your creativity, separate the dining room table from the china cabinet, move one of your matching chairs out of the living room and into your study or bedroom! Don't limit yourself to the way it's always been. Explore the possibilities.

Copyright 2008 Harmony Life, LLC. All rights reserved.

Feng Shui Teacher and Entrepreneur Laurie Bornstein, "The Feng Shui Marketing Queen" is the author and creator of 'Simple Feng Shui Series', her FREE monthly ezine filled with articles and tips on how to live and work in balance, visit http://www.fengshuimarketingqueen.com to learn more.

Build Deck Stairs in 3 Easy Steps With Adjustable Stair Brackets Vs Traditional Stair Construction

Adjustable brackets have many advantages compared to conventional stair building. With adjustable stair brackets, you can custom fit deck stairs into an exact area, forming any rise or run required. Traditional stair building is rigid and not forgiving. If you miscalculate or need to make some adjustments, then you have to throw out your materials and start all over again.

The adjustable bracket method also differs from conventional stair construction with its ease of installation. The automatic adjustable system only needs 3 saw cuts per stringer and you can make your deck stairs up to 7 feet wide. Only 2 stringers are necessary. No center stringers are needed at all because riser acts as a load-bearing joist, spanning across the stair between the two stringers, giving you stronger stairs. Literally, in 3 steps you can build deck stairs. With the traditional method you must custom cut, align and support several stringers as needed for the stair width. This requires a high degree of skill.

There's a lot less waste of wood too. With traditional stringers you cut away half the strength when forming the stair. Also, you don't have the frustration with math and all the mistakes that come from mathematical error with the new building method. In most cases, a simple adjustment will eliminate the error. This will save you a lot of time.

Adjustable brackets not only adjust, but are also approved as 'joist hangers'. This allows you to attach 2" thick risers that span across the stair like floor joists, every 10" or 11" between the two stringers. This eliminates the need for several center stringers running down the stair as in conventional construction. Since there are only two stringers, you also eliminate the need to align and attach several cut stringers in order to build your stair.

Another benefit to using brackets is that they provide 'code compliant' rail post support. According to the accredited testing, the brackets are used to provide rail post support for any type of wood stair which meets the code requirement for 200lb. Lateral load at 42". Conventional stair building doesn't have a good solution for this rail post attachment problem. If a big person presses on the railing in traditional stair framing, it can easily give way.

In addition to deck stairs, the brackets can be used for interior stairs: basement stairs, tongue and groove stairs, and even concrete formwork.

This is how it works:
Step one: Set the brackets on the two 2x6 stringer members using the spacers and pivot screws.

Step two: Remove spacers and rotate brackets to adjust stair height.

Step 3:Fix brackets in position, attach risers and treads.

Before you begin, determine the exact number of steps you need and exactly how wide you would like your steps to span.

In summary, 8 reasons why adjustable brackets are superior to traditional stair building:
1- Allows for a custom fit.
2- Ease of installation: 2 stringers, 3 saw cuts each
3- Less waste of materials.
4- No math skills required.
5- Simple adjustments correct errors.
6- Approved as joist hangers.
7- They provide 'code compliant' rail post support.
8. Big time savings in comparison.

EZ Stairs products allow builders to build stairs with a wide range of materials such as redwood, cedar, tropical wood, treated wood, untreated wood, vinyl, steel, and composites. This stair building system allows for customized rise and treads configurations which can be adjusted to meet all building codes for any interior or exterior application- ICC approved. It is the only adjustable stair bracket system available anywhere. To help you figure out how many stairs you will need, the website provides a free stair calculator as well.

EZ Stairs introduced the new patented adjustable dual-purpose exterior/interior brackets in 2003. In 2004, it won Pro Sales Magazine's Editor's Choice award for new product innovation in the construction industry. In 2005, it introduced its composite deck compatibility solution and was chosen for LBM Journal's 'Hot Products' Award at the 2005 International Builders Show, and again voted one of the fifty 'Hot Products' at the 2008 International Builders Show.
For more information, visit the ez-stairs.com website or call 866-693-9570.

Window Header Framing Problems

Shuistrology Could Bring You Good Luck This Year

What is shuistrology you ask? It's a term coined by author Ellen Whitehurst when she combined feng shui and astrology.

It's mostly for fun but it has its roots in traditional wisdom that could make this year lucky for you. She gives this advice in her new book:

Make a clean sweep. Dig in to your house or apartment with a deep cleaning to clear the way for an exciting new year. Don't clean on New Year's Day itself; you might sweep away the good luck.

If cleaning the whole house seems like too big a chore, try just concentrating on the kitchen. That's the room that brings you prosperity and health. Look around your house and find 27 things that you can rearrange to bring good look from all directions. To attract good fortune, put 27 one dollar bills in your wallet and 49 coins in your pocket or change purse. Sprinkle some ground ginger on them and on your checkbook.

Focus solely on the future. Conversations about events that took place in the past should be avoided. Talking about dreams, hopes and wishes for the future is encouraged. Take nine small oranges and place them in a bowl on your kitchen table. This will attract sweet things in the coming year. If you don't have oranges, bowls of candy, nuts or fruits are lucky as well.

Rid your life of all the negatives. Scare away any destructive influences in your life by lighting firecrackers at midnight (don't scare the neighbors though) or banging pots and pans together.

The first words of your day should be positive ones, even if they are not said by you. Tell someone to give you a positive message just after midnight. This can encourage good fortune for you. Make an effort to not lose your temper or swear during the day, this can have a negative effect on your luck.

Eat foods that are considered lucky. Some swear by corned beef and cabbage. Others will tell you salmon and oranges. Leafy greens symbolize money. Collard greens along with black eyed peas are eaten in the south for good luck. Folks in Texas prefer cabbage or turnip greens.

Cheri Brennan is an organization and planning specialist. To get more articles, tips and resources about Feng Shui, please visit http://fengshui.newinfohighway.com

Whole House Water Filters - Home Tips

Whole house water filters have gained much attention with the increase in problems with the purity of public water systems. If you want to be assured that the water coming into your house is safe for drinking, bathing and cooking, then a whole house water filter is a critical addition to your home. There is no other way to thoroughly and effectively remove water contaminants, no matter what size home you have.

There is no question why we need to filter our water. However why do we need a whole house system? The reason is found in the fact that any water that comes into our homes can affect our health. Most homes have between 8 and 15 sources of water and whether they are used for drinking water, showering, bathing or cooking, they allow any contaminants in the water supply to enter our body. Even though most filters used at an individual outlet will remove most types of contamination, only whole house water filters can ensure pure water at every faucet in your house.

It is critical that each source of water in your house is filtered. We all know that it is important that the water we cook with and drink is pure. However, are you aware that contaminants can enter our body through our skin while bathing and showering? Our skin is designed to breath so release toxins from our body. As such it is extremely efficient at absorption also, not to mention the water vapors that enter your body through your lung. Unless you place individual filters on every faucet and shower head, only a whole house water filter can provide protection anywhere in your home.

You can find a wide selection of water systems for your home. Whole house water filters are effective at removing 99.9% of virtually every contaminant imaginable, while also balancing the ph level of your water, assuring you of its purity and healthfulness. Removing the contaminants before they come into your home has been shown to reduce risk of disease including many forms of cancer.

Because the decision to purchase a water purifying system is so critical you will need to thoroughly research the different types of systems on the market. Read the specifications on each. Some systems are far more effective than others. For the most part, you will find that a multi-stage whole house water filter provides for maximum removal of contaminants.

You will want to avoid reverse osmosis and distillation systems. These are great for industrial uses, but you don't want to be drinking the water they produce over the long run. These systems remove all the minerals; minerals that are important to the human body in order to remain healthy.

A filtering system that uses charcoal at some point in the process will provide the best tasting water. These systems are usually referred to as carbon block systems and when used with other stages of filtering, are extremely efficient at removing organic and inorganic contamination from your water while retaining essential minerals.

You can find some very effective carbon block filters that connect to individual faucets and shower heads, but a whole house system provides the best coverage at the least cost per outlet. By installing whole house water filters at the point where water enters your home, you will be protecting all the water outlets in your entire home.

Pure water is critical to maintaining health for your entire family. With today's water filtering technology, that can easily be accomplished. My website describes some of the filtering systems available in detail. By taking some time sorting through everything that is out there you will find the best system for your needs.

Kevin Proctor has studied health related issues for over 8 years. His research led him to realizing the importance of pure water as it relates to overall health. Kevin discusses what he has learned on his website, Filtered-Water-Resources.com. For more information about water purification and to see the water filter systems he personally recommends visit his website now

Window Header Framing Problems

Reading With Your Grandchildren Can Put the on the Right Track For Life

While not every grandparent will be able to go camping, play ball or run around like a teenager with their grandchildren, most have the ability to read to little ones and even older children. If you take the time out to make reading together a priority, you will be giving your grandchild an excellent start for the future and you will also create incredible memories for the two of you to share.

Getting started reading with grandchildren is not a very difficult undertaking. There are some tips, however, that can assist you in making the time spent more enjoyable and ultimately more valuable educationally.

Some of the things you might want to take into account as you start this together-time hobby include:

The importance - The true value of reading to a youngster doesn't lie in how great you are at reading out loud or even how entertaining you are; it is found in the time you spend together. It is also found in the assistance you will be giving your grandchild in developing language and pre-reading skills to build on later.

The time to start - It is never too early to pick up books and start reading to a grandchild. Many parents and grandparents start reading out loud to children even when they are still in the womb.

Materials for young children - For very young children, reading just about anything you want out loud can help soothe and comfort them. It can also get them used to your voice and begin helping them get accustomed to hearing different words and sounds used in context. While some grandparents pick up special books for babies, even reading the newspaper aloud can be beneficial at this stage of the game.

Toddlers/ preschoolers - As babies get a little older, you'll want your reading time to not only be fun, but also valuable in an educational sense. Consider books with bright, colorful pictures that can help them start associating images with words. Letter, number, shape and even opposite books can all be very useful. If they are old enough, ask them what types of books they would like you to pick up and read.

Young readers - Even in the preschool years, children can often begin to read, or at least recite out loud. Take turns telling and reading each other stories as a child progresses in ability. Once children are big enough, they can even begin writing or illustrating their own tales to share with you. If you're unsure what books to get for early readers, ask a teacher, librarian or the child's parent for suggestions. Having your own library at home for your grandchildren can be prove to be a real boon as they grow.

Older readers - Reading time doesn't have to end as children get older. In many families, there are traditions of reading classics aloud on special occasions or any occasion. Make it a tradition in your home, for example, to read age-appropriate classics out loud and the memory will last a lifetime.
When you take the time to read to your grandchildren, you instill a love of learning in them at an early age. You can also work together to create memories that will last a lifetime.

Find helpful and creative ideas for parents and grandparents while you shop our great selection of kids furniture (including our popular safe toy boxes) and classic toys. Visit http://www.TheMagicalRockingHorse.com today!

List of Foods Low In Carbs

Whilst putting together this list of foods low in carbs I thought to myself, "this might take some time..." because the beauty of low carb diets is the fact that they are so flexible and broad.

This is great news for us low carbers, as knowing what foods we can incorporate into our own customized plans allows us total freedom with our low carb food diets from day to day, week to week!

This freedom of course, will ensure that those of us who are committed to losing weight and staying healthy through a sensible low carb diet will find the variation enough to keep us "excited" about our next meal (and therefore able to actually stick to our low carb diet.

Finally having this overview type of knowledge allows us to get a better understanding of the low carb diet as a whole. However, I must tell you that the following list of low carb foods is NOT exhaustive, as there are literally thousands more options available. I have merely attempted to give an overview for easy understanding and reference.

Therefore, if you'd like thousands more ideas, and some powerful tips and motivation to make your low carb diet a success, then please keep reading to find out how to get access...

List of foods low in carbs - Vegetables

Green vegetables are of course acceptable and can be very low in carbs, such as:

Spinach

Asparagus;

Lettuce;

Mustard greens;

Beet greens;

Turnip greens;

Parsley;

Kale;

Collard;

Bok choy;

Broccoli;

Cauliflower;

Celery;

Cucumber;

Cabbage - Green, red, or Chinese;

Mushrooms;

Sweet or hot peppers;

Yellow summer squash;

Zucchini.

Beets;

Carrots;

Red or yellow onions;

Watercress;

Kohlrabi;

Turnips;

Avocados;

Pumpkin;

Radish;

Brussel sprouts

List of foods low in carbs - Fruits

Fresh fruits are thankfully plentiful in most low carb diets. Fruits such as:

Melons,

Bananas,

Tomatoes,

Figs,

Lemons,

Limes,

Apples,

Pears,

Kiwis,

Plums,

Berries (all kinds)

Oranges,

Grapefruit,

Pineapple,

Tangerines

Fresh coconut and/or unsweetened coconut milk

List of foods low in carbs - Meat, Fish and Dairy

Eggs (but not more than 1 yolk daily) and egg whites are acceptable

Fresh fish two to five times weekly is not only a great source of protein, but also a recommended part of a low carb diet. Fresh fish such as:

Wild caught salmon,

Alaskan halibut,

Orange roughy,

Sardines,

Anchovies,

Chilean sea bass,

Trout,

Mackerel

Shellfish (such as shrimp, crab, clams, oysters, and lobster) is fine about once a week (although shellfish are common allergens and may also accumulate toxins).

Most meats are acceptable in moderation (which should be easy to moderate when you incorporate everything else on this list). Meats such as:

Lean red meat

Wild game (rabbit, pheasant, duck, goose, deer) once or twice weekly. Try to keep the fat off with the richer game, such as duck which is very high in natural fat.

Grass-fed beef that hasn't been treated with hormones or antibiotics.

Goat. Internal animal organs (such as liver, heart, pancreas, and bone marrow) are fine once or twice weekly.

Pickled herring

List of foods low in carbs - Flavorings, herbs and accompaniments.

Fresh garlic,

ginger,

turmeric,

cinnamon

Also, you are ok to use any other antioxidant, anti-inflammatory culinary spices with your low carb cooking. More herbs are fine to use such as:

Oregano,

dill,

thyme,

sage

List of foods low in carbs - Oils

omega-3 fatty acids

Canola,

flaxseed,

walnut oils

List of foods low in carbs - Others

Soy foods and soy protein powders

Brown rice and rice protein powder (watch the carbs in this one)

Seeds or fresh olives.

Tea, especially green tea.

There you have it, my overview of the official low carb foods that are perfectly acceptable to use in your low carb diet. Of course, it is still important to monitor your carb intake, but with the right guidance and this list as reference, you will have no problems sticking to your low carb diet and actually enjoying the huge amount of choice us low carbers have before us!

But a list of foods low in carbs is NOT enough to actually make your low carb diet a success on it's own. You need to make sure you don't make the common mistakes that 99.9% of low carb dieters make, and you will always need exciting new recipes at hand to keep your low carb diet varied and interesting, so that you don't get bored and throw in the towel.

Therefore, I would recommend a visit to my website http://lowcarbdietformula.com today, and claim your FREE 7 day low carb course and have exclusive access to my 1001+ low carb recipes for FREE!

Foundation Repair Choices

This day and age homeowners have many choices when faced with a structural foundation problem. The choices include helical piles, push piers, helical tie-back anchors and plate anchors. Each one of these solutions should only be implemented under the supervision of a qualified engineer and foundation repair contractor. Foundation repair is not a do-it-yourself home improvement project. Intimate knowledge of structures, soils and available products are necessary requirements before repair design can be implemented.

Homeowners must educate themselves to keep ignorant or slick talking salespeople from selling them a bill of goods. Many times the salesman does not represent all of the products that your structure may need to completely solve your foundation repair needs. If he only does waterproofing he will, at best, only slow down or prevent further problems. If he is only a pier guy, he may not have the knowledge of what caused the problem (i.e. water). This is why contacting a qualified foundation engineer is a form of checks and balances to allow for the best possible solution.

Foundation engineers will give you a written assessment of your structure including a recommended procedure to solve your homes issues. This evaluation is conducted on site and usually takes over an hour to complete. The written assessment involves an examination of the interior and exterior of the home, interior floor elevations, load calculations and recommendations on repair methods. The written report should include an imprint of his seal with the date and signature across the seal. Many times the engineer will recommend a foundation repair specialist, that he has worked with before, in his report.

You first must understand what different foundation repair methods can and cannot do to determine if they are the correct method of repair for your home. There is no such thing as one size fits all in foundation repair. Each has their place and their benefits, so make sure that the tool that you pick is the correct one for your job.

Resistance piers, also known as push piers, steel piers and Micropiles. This type of pier is an end-bearing pier that does not rely upon, nor requires, skin friction to produce support. Each pier is field load tested after it is installed. The piers are able to develop a factor of safety because the piers are installed and load tested individually using the weight of the structure as the reaction force. Unlimited lifting capability is offered in continuous lift systems. These lifts should only be performed with a manifolded hydraulic system using single or double acting hydraulic cylinders.

Steel push piers are best suited to any structural problem that requires a large lift. No other system is as suited for these large lifts. Due to the fact that these resistance piers are an end bearing pier, thus developing their support from solid contact on a load bearing stratum. Continuous lift type steel piers are the best of the steel resistance piers due to the fact that they can support and lift a structure to unlimited heights.

Helical piers are an ideal choice when you are supporting or lifting a light structure. They are the ideal choice for light structures due to the fact that they do not need the structures weight to advance into the soil. Helical anchors are screwed in the soil with a hydraulic torque motor as opposed to be pressed into the soil like steel push piers. Like the resistance piers you should only lift the structure with a manifolded hydraulic system using single or double acting hydraulic cylinders.

Helical piers consist of a shaft fabricated from either solid square steel bar or tubular steel. Welded to the shaft are one or more helical plates. Typically the plate diameters increase from the bottom of the shaft upward and vary in thickness from 3/8" to ". The torque required to install the anchor correlates to their capacity. When used to support or lift light weight structures, helical piers are an excellent choice, due to their many benefits. These benefits include the ability to be quickly installed with little or no disturbance to the site and soil removal is unnecessary, they don't require a reaction force and are extremely versatile in their applications.

While steel resistance piers and helical torque anchors are excellent choices for supporting sinking foundation elements, helical tie-back anchors and plate anchors are just as able to support or straighten concrete or block walls. When a basement wall or retaining wall bows inward one must resist this inward movement to maintain the integrity of the structure. If such a system is not installed catastrophic consequences are forthcoming.

Tie-back anchors and plate anchors resist the lateral soil and water forces exerted on basement and retaining walls. While both systems have different advantages they both provide the same function. They use the surrounding stable soils to resist the pressures of unstable consolidating soils near the foundation.

While one or more of these systems my be needed to fix your foundation problem, understanding each method is the key to determining the solution that best fits your situation. The hiring of a foundation engineer is the most effective method of making this determination.

About the Author:

Jeff Tully invites you to view his website http://www.myfoundationrepairs.com if you are having any foundation issues including bowing walls, cracks in your foundation or any type of settlement issue. On this website you will find the truth about foundation repair methods and what you should expect. There are many misconceptions about foundation piers or tie backs, get the straight answers here.

This site was designed and built with the homeowner in mind is the only true source for foundation repair and waterproofing information. From determining if you really have a structural issue to hiring an engineer or foundation expert, you will find the answers on my site.

Electrical Outlet Problems

Applying Feng Shui Principles to Your Car

Feng shui may be an ancient practice but it doesn't mean you can't use its core principles and apply them to your favorite set of wheels. And come to think of it, it does make perfect sense to optimize the positive energy inside something you spend some time in everyday. Here's a brief rundown of some simple things you can do:

The Way of the Water. Water is pure and free-flowing. Adapt these qualities by keeping a bottle of water inside your car. Plus, you'll never go thirsty!

Tidy Up! Get rid of all the unwanted stuff - candy wrappers, cigarette cases, old receipts, empty bottles, etc - and make your car spic-and-span! Doing so will give you more freedom of movement and more space.

Purge Negativity! Of course, you can always start by thinking positively. Then you can make use of certain time-tested agents and tokens of positivity like sweet grass, seasalt or you could hang a crystal on a blue ribbon on your rearview mirror.

Heaven Scent! Keep the air inside your car fresh and clean. Lemon is a good choice, so is rosemary. Always go for organic instead of artificial.

Get by with a little help from your animal friends. Dragons are supposed to be good protectors against evil elements. Of course, finding a real dragon may not be that easy, you can choose to put a cute dragon stuffed toy on the dashboard instead.

Affirm! Never underestimate the power of affirmation. Scribble an affirmation phrase on a piece of paper, e.g. "I got the coolest ride in town!", and put it in your glove compartment or better yet, glue it on your steering wheel. And before you know it, you already have the coolest car in town!

Know your color! Go red if you're ambitious. Pick silver or gold if you hunger for adventure. If you're constantly afflicted with wanderlust, paint your car violet or green. If you're the type who likes to get down to business all the time, then blue or black is the color for you.

For some of us, the car is like a second home. And what better way to have it "cleansed" of unwanted elements than to have it feng shui'd? Besides, it won't cost you that much.

Guile Canencia is a writer and researcher for the IBC Japan Team. He is an avid blogger and likes to play soccer on weekends. IBC Japan specializes in exporting used cars from Japan with regional distribution centers worldwide.

Creating the Perfect Home Remodeling Priority List

Home remodeling is one of those projects that can be fun or a pain in the -- you know what. It is best to start your home remodeling plan with one room at a time and decide on the value of each room to prioritize where to save and where to spend. This article will look at the value of each room to help you deiced the type of home remodeling project you may consider.

The big debate on what room is the most used room in the house could go on forever. Some say it is the kitchen others say it is the living room while others say the master bedroom. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and you can use some basic rules to see what the highest priority is for you.

If you have kids then you probably spend more time than you like in the kitchen cooking. If you have a smaller family maybe the kitchen is just a place where you are in and out. If you cook allot then the kitchen should get some very high consideration for your home remodeling project.

Do you like to play games and watch TV? If you find yourself or your family watching television often and you perhaps enjoy family night games then you should place the family room at the top of your list. Maybe it is time to add family room to your home remodeling ideas. Perhaps you could remodel a spare bedroom or add a new room to the house.

Do you have guest spend the night often? You may want to think about making a nice guest bathroom with all the luxuries of a five star hotel for your guest. Do not do this unless you love to have people stay awhile and come often. They are likely to really enjoy visiting you.

When planning your home remodeling ideas you will find that they become much easier with a good priority system. Once you know which rooms are the most important to you and your lifestyle then that is where the money should be spent on nicer upgrades. On rooms that are not high on the list, but still need some fixing you could use less expensive things to fix them up.

Find more helpful remodeling tips by visiting http://best-home-improvement-projects.com where you will find helpful remodeling tips, advice and resources to include Home Remodeling.

Advantages Framing With Steel

How Can My Fireplace Affect My Health?

Many people love the look of fireplaces in their homes. Having a fireplace creates a warm, inviting feel that makes visitors feel at ease, and creates a centerpiece that enhances the dcor of any room.

Although fireplaces are usually good for your home's energy, there are a couple of situations where having a fireplace can actually drain the positive energy of your home, and create an environment that can foster poor health.

This can happen when you have a fireplace that is located in the center of your home. Your home's center is the most important area for maintaining positive energy and good health. This is because the energy in this area affects all of the other areas in your living space. For this reason, it is vital that the energy in this area be kept as clear as possible.

The center of your house represents the center of your body. Having a strong element of fire in this area is just like having excessive heat running through your body. Having a fireplace in the center of your home can create a sense of exhaustion throughout your living space. It also affects your adrenal glands, and can weaken your immune system.

Obviously, if you have a fireplace in the center of your home, it is not practical to move it for the sake of improving your home's energy. However, there are a number of feng shui techniques you can use to stop the energy drain.

First, you can place a water feature, such as a small table top fountain or a fish tank, near your fireplace. Including the water element in this area will help to balance the energy created by the fire element.

If it is not possible to place a water feature near your fireplace, you can use objects that represent water, such as paintings or pictures of seascapes, rivers, lakes, or waterfalls. Hanging these pictures over or near your fireplace will help to improve the energy throughout your entire home.

You can also use black colored objects to represent the water element. Black planters, vases, and statuary placed near your fireplace will help to build positive energy to support your family's good health.

Hanging a mirror over your fireplace, or placing one in the surrounding area, will also bring in the water element. Using a mirror near your fireplace will stop the drain of energy, and you'll notice that your whole house just feels better.

Another area that is not ideal for a fireplace in terms of health is in the middle, left area of your home. This area also represents health, as well as family. Having a fireplace here can result in 'heated' family issues or over-activity in the body (such as high blood pressure, over-active thyroid, etc.)

Once again, the key is to balance out the fire energy with the element of water in the same ways as mentioned previously. Since this area is also associated with the wood element, you could also add some wood here - some ways to do that would be to bring in a plant or some flowers, a picture of flowers, plants or trees, or simply something that is made of wood. You could also use anything in the colors of blue or green.

It is important to take care of your health in any way that you can. If you have health issues and you happen to have a fireplace in either of these two areas - you'll want to consider these recommendations. They really can make a big difference.

Linda Binns shows you how to be more successful in all areas of your life by working with your environment. Get FREE Feng Shui Success Secrets. These powerful and practical secrets can help you transform your life. Go to http://www.fengshuiexplained.com now.

Linda Binns is author of Feng Shui for Your Relationships: Changing Your Environment to Create Better Relationships. She has been a Feng Shui Practitioner, Author, Speaker and teacher for over 10 years. She has appeared internationally on television and radio and in local publications. Linda is also the founder of The Feng Shui Success Institute - which teaches in-depth Feng Shui training and practitioner certification.

Your Patio Statuary Doesn't Have to Be Large to Make a Statement

When you think of statuary, the large statues that grace gardens are usually the first ones that come to mind. If you do not have a large space outdoor, you can grace the exterior of your home with patio statuary. Such statues are small, designed to fit in a corner, on a table or in the flowerbed around the edges of the patio.

Fountain statues are very popular where you can combine the visual appeal with the soothing sounds of falling water. There are so many designs available in small statues suitable for a patio that you may have a hard time deciding which one you want to purchase.

Floor against wall patio statuary are fountains designed to sit on the floor of the patio and rest against the wall. There are numerous styles and materials to choose from to suit your outside decor. You can choose an indoor wall fountain, a small size statue, such as one that weighs about 200 pounds and measures three feet high and less than two feet wide, or if you have plenty of room, you can choose one that is a lot larger. One thing you do have to make sure of is that the floor of your patio is designed to withstand the weight of large statuary, if this is what you want.

Patio statuary runs the gamut of classical statues reminiscent of Ancient Greece and Rome, those that look like animals, or those that take on the human form. You can give your patio an Oriental look by choosing Japanese style statuary, such as Buddha statue or a temple urn.

Small statues placed on a table top will add to the ambiance of the patio and provide a conversation piece for your visitors. These can be made of stone, precast concrete, copper, bronze and even fiberglass as well as other materials. You have to choose the material that will work best with the exterior of your home and the material used in the construction of the patio and any wall fountains already in place.

You may want to choose something completely out of the ordinary in the line of patio statuary. In most regions, people spend time on the patio in the summer months when the weather is quite warm. You will truly spark interest by adding a statue of a penguin or another animal associated with colder climates when you place one of these on your patio. This will surely bring a smile to the faces of your friends and it is small enough to suit even the smallest patio.

How about freestanding large outdoor wall fountain that holds a lantern? This type of fountain will enable you to have the lighting you need on the patio that you can enjoy the outdoors and nature after dark. You can place it against a table or in the middle of the floor, as long as it is close to an electrical outlet.

There are also such statues that use tealight candles and provide a romantic ambiance for your patio. Solar lighting is also available in this range of statuary for the patio, which makes it truly portable and safe to use. Simply place a solar panel within range of the statue and the daylight will charge the lighting so that it will automatically come on when the sun goes down.

Allison Ryan is a freelance marketing writer specializing in landscaping and home improvement. For the ideal large outdoor wall fountain or indoor wall fountain for your home or garden, please visit http://www.garden-fountains.com/.

Electric Dryer Gas Conversion Ki

Sandstone Beverage Coasters - Utility With Problems

Sandstone drink coasters are beautiful pieces of the natural world, endowed with all of the majesty of a towering mountain range, and all of the uniqueness of nature itself. However there are a few considerations that you need to take into account when choosing sandstone drink coasters, as they are not as impervious as some other stones.

First the good. Sandstone coasters absorb moisture. That means they can suck the sweat from a cold glass on a muggy summer day right off of the cup, and then, the coaster will hold it in its belly, until the liquid has a chance to evaporate away. This is an amazing thing, and it all happens naturally, just because sandstone has those big wonderful pores.

The problem is when you add a staining liquid to the mix. Then suddenly the moisture seeping into the pores of the stone isn't water from the air, clear and pure, but red, and juicy, and ready to stain your lovely drink coaster from the inside.

What do you do? Well first of all, you try to keep these coasters away from juice and other staining agents. That much is obvious though. If you do spill some fruit juice on the piece however, the first thing you should do is take the coaster, and immerse it in hot water. The sooner you do this, the greater the chance that you will be able to remove the stain from the inside.

Another option is to just choose drink coasters that have a naturally multicolored face. In this way, the stains won't really matter, because they will be hidden in the natural colors that occur along the surface of the stone. This may sound nasty, but as long as you sue disinfectant and hot water to remove any germs, it is the same as using a dye or some sort of coloring agent to purposely stain the stone. In this way, you don't have to worry about stains.

Coasters.PebbleZ.com offers absorbent sandstone coasters, as well as less absorbent but still functional slate and limestone drink coasters, and non absorbent marble drink coasters. They even carry beautiful gemstone drink coasters.