Serving the South Bay since 1991" |
Why Worry About Snakes? |
As if the home-foreclosure mess wasn't bad enough, now there's a new twist to worry about: snakes.
Communities in states like Florida, California, New York, Virginia and Ohio have seen sharp rises in the amount of wildlife--everything from snakes to rats to bees--infesting abandoned properties since the home mortgage crisis began playing out. That's because as people lose their homes, the abandoned properties often go unmanaged. As a result, walls become moldy, swimming pools sit untreated, grass and weeds grow wild and animals soon move in
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Mold....A Growing Concern! |
No matter how vigilant you are, mold and other household contaminants (such as lead, asbestos, radon, and formaldehyde) are often present in homes and offices at unacceptable levels, threatening the health and safety of our families, our work colleagues, even our household pets.
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Save Energy Now!! |
Have you had an ENERGY CHECKUP? This may be the most important thing you can do to save hundreds, if not thoudands of dollars on expensive energy costs over the upcoming winter season.
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News You Can Use!
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Be Advised
Statistics indicate that three out of four U.S. homes will be burglarized in the next 20 years, according to the Burglary Prevention Council (BPC). The average property loss in a burglary exceeds $1,000, not to mention the damage from vandalism.
Before you head out the door, take a moment to secure your home, using these security tips:
• Keep all doors and windows closed and securely fastened. Doors should have deadbolt locks with 1-inch throw and reinforced strike plate with 3-inch screws. All windows should have window locks.
• Secure your sliding glass doors. Place a metal rod or piece of plywood in the track and install vertical bolts to prevent burglars from forcing the door open or lifting it off the track.
• Always lock the door to an attached garage.
• Create the illusion that you are home by using timers on lights, radios and TVs.
• Keep the perimeter of your home well lit.
• Never leave clues that you are away on a trip. Have a trusted neighbor collect mail and newspapers while you are away so they do not accumulate.
• Organize a community watch program to protect your neighborhood.
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Forced Air Furnaces
Maintenance Matters
Air filters are provided on all forced air furnaces to remove dirt and lint from heated air. This keeps the fan, heat exchanger and air conditioning coil clean. Maintenance is based on the type of filter, how often the unit is running and how you use your home.
The air filter may be mounted horizontally or vertically. Location depends on the manufacturer and type of system, but look for the filter in a slot between the return-air duct and the blower. Slide the filter out and hold it up to a bright light. If the filter is filled with dirt and dust to the point that no light shines through, it should be replaced.
A clogged filter reduces the amount of air that can be blown into the house, making the system run longer than it should to get the house warm. Often times, the air filter needs to be changed every other month. Children, pets, plants and activity tend to produce more dirt that finds its way into the heating system.
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Recycled Glass Countertops
When bottles and windows are broken or windshields shattered, some of this glass is recycled, but a lot of it ends up in the landfill. Today, this glass is being used to create unique, durable and environmental-conscious countertops.
Although countertops made of cement and recycled glass have been around for more than a decade, production has been low and manufacturers have been scarce. Currently, more companies are salvaging glass fragments, available in various colors and shapes, and mixing them with cement and epoxy to make countertops.
Recycled glass makes up about 75 to 85 percent of the finished countertop, depending on the manufacturer. Because cement countertops can be stained by acids in citrus juices and wine, these countertops need to be sealed and maintained. Epoxy countertops don’t need sealing but should be polished with paste wax to maintain their finish.
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Remote-controlled Lighting
In the past, if you wanted automated-controlled lighting -- or the ability to raise, lower and turn on or off the lights in your home at the touch of a button -- the process was complicated. You would have to either upgrade all of the wiring in your home or use the existing power lines to send messages to specially equipped light fixtures and other “smart” devices.
Because of improvements in wireless and power-line technology, it’s now easier and more affordable to control all of your existing lighting. You can turn on table lamps, dim overhead lights and spotlight a specific photo or artwork in one easy step.
For lights that work with wall switches, replace the switch/dimmer with new automated hardware. For lamps and other freestanding lights, plug it into a special adapter that fits in a wall socket.
After the system is complete, there are several ways you can control your lighting. Some systems work with a wireless remote control. You can turn fixtures on and off or dim the lights from anywhere in the house. You can also set the lights to turn on at a certain time or activate a “burglar deterrent” mode while you are away.
For more information on remote-controlled lighting, go to This Old House.
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