Ideal Ways to Store Outdoor Power Equipment

Even when outdoor power equipment is not in use, it is vital to store it properly to prevent costly repair bills. If not stored properly, people can find themselves frustrated with a non-working outdoor power tool when they get ready to use it. When the season ends and the outdoor power equipment is no longer in use, do not simply put the equipment in the garage or storage and forget about it. Instead, use these tips below to learn how to store a variety of outdoor power equipment.

Disconnect the spark plug from the equipment’s socket. This should be the first step that anyone does when preparing outdoor power equipment for storage. By disconnecting the spark plug, the power equipment will not accidentally turn on when all the other steps for storage preparation are being completed.

When it is time to put away the outdoor power equipment for the season, make sure to give it a thorough cleaning. If the equipment is not cleaned properly, lubricants on the equipment can cause corruption and possibly lead to major mechanical problems when it is time to use it again. For example, with a chainsaw, one should brush away all dirt and grime; then one should get a clean, moist towel to remove other material from the chainsaw. A line trimmer should also be brushed to remove dirt, grass, and other grime that may have been caught in the deflector. Cleaning the tools before putting them up for storage will eliminate the hassle of trying to clean them when the season begins.

Cleaning your equipment is a perfect time to sharpen parts. Dull blades can make your tool less effective, so doing this now will ensure that your tools are ready for the spring. Be sure to remove and sharpen the blades properly to avoid injury.

Next, be sure to remove gasoline from the outdoor equipment. Any outdoor power equipment that will be stored for more than thirty days should have all gasoline drained from it. If the power equipment does not have fuel drained from it, the fuel can be topped off and have a fuel stabilizer added to it. The fuel stabilizer will also prevent the fuel from becoming gunky.

Use the season change to do all other maintenance for the outdoor power equipment. Possible maintenance for the outdoor equipment include changing the oil, replacing spark plugs, lubricating all necessary parts, replacing filters, and tightening all belts and hoses.

Store the outdoor power equipment in a clean, dry, and frost-free place that is well-ventilated. If possible, whether the equipment is outside or in a garage or storage, use a proper cover to shield the equipment from outside elements. To save space you can hang the equipment on a garage or storage shed wall thus providing more floor and shelf space for your smaller tools.

Author Bio

Lyndsi is a blogger and entrepreneur. She operates storage unites and recommends storage spaces from Extra Space Storage – Santa Maria to Extra Space Storage – Greenville.

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Benefits of a whole house water filter

By Diane Kuehl

Many of us use a counter-top water filter or maybe we’ve got a water filter placed directly on our tap.

Seems like a pretty good plan for purifying your water, right?

Yes, your drinking water certainly benefits for these types of water filters, but only in small doses. There is so much more that you need to consider, though, when it comes to, not only your drinking water, but the rest of the water in your home.

The rest of the water in your house is just as important as your drinking water. That’s where a whole house water filter (also known as a point-of-entry filter) is the best choice for your home.

REMOVAL OF HARMFUL CHEMICALS

First of all, using a whole house water filtration system brings clean water to every water source in your house. That includes your shower, your tap water, the dishwasher, washing machine and anything else you can think of.

Any water source is bound to have some contaminants, no matter where it comes from. Some of these contaminants, like sediment and hardness minerals, are mere nuisances. But many of the chemicals being brought into your home can be much more harmful.

The municipal water plant or sanitation system in your area is no stranger to these contaminants, and in many cases, these contaminants can have serious effects on you and your family’s health. In fact, a whole house water filter is the only way to protect against breakdowns at your municipal or sanitation plant.

A whole house water filtration system will remove these harmful contaminants as they are brought into your home’s water system. Here’s a quick list of potential contaminants that the filter will remove from your water.

-          Atrazine

-          This is a chemical that is a result from pesticide runoff. It’s been banned as a pesticide in the European Union because of its endocrine disruptor effects and epidemiological effects.

-          Giardia

-          This is a tiny parasite that lives in water and other sources, and causes a painful in the infection of the small intestine.

-          Cryptospordium

-          This causes the diarrheal disease cryptosporidiosis.

-          Chlorine

-          Fluoride

Some may be saying, “Well, can’t we just use the counter-top filter or tap-attached filter to get rid of these things?” Yes. But this is just for one water source in your house. You may not be drinking from those other sources, but using the filter will help with cleaning your home, taking showers, washing dishes and cleaning clothes. Your skin and clothes will thank you.

Using a whole house water filter to help with those things may seem trivial, but taking the sediment and chemicals out of water isn’t the only thing to consider when making your choice.

IMPROVEMENTS TO AIR QUALITY

Water may not seem to have a direct effect on air quality, but it most certainly does. And taking care of the air quality in your home is one of the most important things you can do. Counter-top filters and tap-attached filters cannot help you with removing harmful chemicals in the air.

As you see from the link above, chloroform is among the list of air pollutants that can occur from contaminated water. Yes, chloroform – that chemical that the bad guys in movies always put on rags to knock out the hero. It’s bad stuff.

Here is a list of air contaminants that can show up in your water, whether you use a counter-top water filter or not.

-          Chlorine gas

-          Chlorine gas is usually used to eliminate contaminants in drinking water that can cause harm to humans. While it is supposed to make those contaminants obsolete, it can also cause harm to you and your family. When there is a higher amount of chlorine in your drinking water, not only do you ingest it when drinking, you also release chlorine gas every time you take a shower, wash your clothes or wash your dishes. Chlorine gas is incredibly dangerous in high doses.

-          Chloroform

-          Chloroform is a byproduct of having chlorine in your water. It will occur in your water as a liquid, but it is similar to chlorine in that it is released any time you flush the toilet, in addition to wash clothes or dishes.

-          VOCs and THMs

-          Many volatile organic compounds and trihalomethanes are also present that exist not only in the water but in the air, as well.

Using a whole house water filtration system is the only way to ensure that you get rid of these harmful airborne toxins. Not only will the system eliminate the toxins, but you’ll also notice that it reduces the effects of asthma and allergies.

It’s obvious that water filters make your water cleaner. That’s what they are made to do. But the whole house water filter gives you the peace of mind that, not only will you get clean drinking water, but all the water (and air) in your home will be cleaner, safer and better for your family.

Diane Kuehl is a DiY/home improvement professional and co-owner of DIY Mother. She lives in Springfield, Illinois with her husband and two kids.

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Top Tips For Planning Your Conservatory

Most of us love our homes, and over the years we’ve probably ploughed thousands of pounds into keeping it safe, secure, and up-to-date with interior fashion. However if you’re not happy with your home, or you want an extra bit of space to cope with an ever increasing family, there are a variety of options to increase the size of your home. A conservatory can be a wonderful enhancement to your home, providing extra space for dining, working, or even playing, if you have kids. Many people build conservatories to let more light into their home, and it can also double up as a warm winter retreat when your other rooms are too cold.

Before you build a conservatory however, there will certainly be a few things you will have to plan for. The first thing you’re going to have to consider is whether you need planning permission to build your conservatory, and if so, how far and big can you build? There are regulations in place governing the height and size of builds, but conservatory planning permission has been relaxed since the 1st October 2008, as new regulations classed conservatories as a ‘permitted development’.

Furthermore, you will also have to think about whether your conservatory build will be at ground level, and whether it will be less than 30 square meters in area. It’s best to point out that any window fitting, electrical or gas installations in your conservatory will have to comply with government building regulations.

Why Do You Need A Conservatory?

Before designing your conservatory, you’re going to have to consider the main purpose for your conservatory. Conservatories have a number of uses like additional living areas or dining rooms, and figuring out what you’re going to use it for most will untimely help you in the design stages. Once you’ve worked out what you are going to use your new space for, you might want to consider what furniture is going to go in it. If it’s a living space, do you want the interior design to match the rest of your home? If it’s a working space, what type of desk will you need?

Apart from the furniture in your new conservatory, you’re going to need to think about power. A cleverly placed power socket will allow you to decorate your new space with standing lamps and other electrical equipment, so make sure you plan ahead. Another question to ask is whether your new conservatory will affect your garden.

Temperature

Conservatories, especially south-facing ones, have U-value glass that is stipulated by building regulations – this means that the amount of heat let into your conservatory by the glass windows is measured. Using the wrong glass panels in your conservatory can cause the space to become much overheated, and your new space will be more of a sauna than a dining room. Ventilation is also very important when you have a south-facing conservatory, so consider asking your builders to install solar-controlled glass that will reduce the temperature of your conservatory.

This guest submission was contributed by Lloyd on behalf of 2furnish.

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Tips for Keeping Your Home Free from Bedbugs

If you take pride in your home and want it to be a healthy, attractive environment for your family, what do you do if you have a problem with bedbugs? Even though these nasty nuisances can be hard to get rid of, you do have options.

1. Keep a Neat Home

When you maintain a neat home, you are also creating an environment where bedbugs will not have as much of a tendency to congregate.

• Remove clutter.
First on the agenda is to get rid of unnecessary clutter. Not only does clutter give your home an unattractive appearance, it also provides many areas that are perfect hiding places for bedbugs. Do not give these pests a home within your home. Remove as much clutter as possible.

• Vacuum frequently.
Frequent vacuuming will suck up any existing bugs and their eggs. Your cleaner should be your new best friend, and you should also use cleaner attachments to get into every nook and cranny within each room. Dispose of cleaner bags carefully and immediately.

• Do the laundry.
Frequent washing of your bed covers in the hottest water possible will help you to keep an attractive bed and also kill any uninvited guests that may be hiding beneath the covers. You should launder sheets, pillowcases and mattress covers at least once a week, and doing so more often can be beneficial.

2. Additional Tips.

• Refrain from using dust ruffles.
Dust ruffles on your bed can look attractive, but they also provide a ladder for bugs to get into your bedding from the floor. If you really prefer the look of a dust ruffle, make certain that it does not touch the floor at all.

• Coat bedposts and furniture legs with Vaseline.
Vaseline is a clear substance that will not show, and it does a good job of preventing bugs from climbing when you use it to coat bedposts and the legs of furniture.

• Have you heard of diatomaceous earth?
This powdery substance is non-toxic and can be sprinkled around the perimeter of a room to keep bugs from entering. You can also sprinkle it in areas where you know bugs may congregate. It can be purchased at garden centers and hardware stores. The earth must be kept dry for it to be effective.

• Get rid of heavily infested items.
If you have anything within your home that has been heavily infested with bedbugs, your best bet is to get rid of it. You can always replace the item with a new one that will not have a bug problem.

• Carefully inspect secondhand articles.
You may find the perfect outfit or end table at a secondhand store, but you may also be bringing unwelcome guests into your home along with the item. Carefully go over any articles that you purchase at thrift shops to make certain that they have not been infested with bugs.

Follow the above tips and you will be able to keep a neat and tidy house that is free of nasty bedbugs.

Karen Barnes writes for a website that has more tips on getting rid of bedbugs. You can click here to read more.

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5 Food Storage Money Saving Ideas for Frugal Livin...

It can be hard to imagine living in a time where food is not thoroughly stocked in our pantry or at the supermarket. Could we really find ourselves in a situation that would force us to rely on food that we have stocked in our homes for families?

There are many reasons why we could run into problems that would force us to eat our stored food supply. Anything from a national disaster to unemployment and everything in-between could cause a disruption in our food. In those rare cases, having enough food, water and also emergency supplies will be important and can provide peace of mind.

Gathering enough food to survive for 72 hours, three months, or maybe even a full year can be a bank breaking experience. If you’ve never seen the amount of food one person consumes in a full year then you really have no idea how much we actually eat. But stocking enough food for each person in your family doesn’t have to cost thousands upon thousands of dollars. Here are 5 ideas to start storing food frugally.

Common sense

Okay the first thing we need to talk about is using common sense when purchasing food storage. What I really mean is, don’t ever buy something you wouldn’t normally eat. That will be a complete waste of money. I love using the example of lima beans. If you don’t like to eat lima beans on the normal everyday basis then why would you consider storing them in case of an emergency. There is a good chance that you will be forced to simply throw out the lima beans when they expire because you haven’t used them in an emergency situation and you won’t break them out and cook them up for dinner. How much wood you have spent on those beans? $20 $50 or more to stock up enough lima beans for the year? If you never eat something don’t put it in your food storage because you won’t eat it in an emergency.

Expiration dates

No matter how carefully your food is prepared and packaged it will eventually expire. Professionally packed food storage may last for 15 or 20 years but it still expires. Most food storage items last for a few years before they go bad. Keep track of the expiration dates and rotate those items out of your food storage and use them up. This will prevent you from wasting money on food items that go bad and have to be thrown away.

Coupons

If you’re determined to buy food items that you really want you may incorporate using coupons to get the best deals. Make a plan of the types of foods you’ll be eating and then be on the lookout for coupons which will fulfill your wants and needs. Waiting for weekly or monthly sales will provide major savings. In addition if you purchase your food in bulk you can also save additional money.

Plant to garden

It doesn’t matter if you live in the country or the city anyone can plant a garden. Planting a garden can be a huge way to save money but it takes some time and planning. Vegetables require maintenance and must be planted at the appropriate times of the year in order to have a good harvest. Once you have your harvest take steps to properly prepare it for storage so it doesn’t go to waste. If you know anyone who has a garden then you’ll know they usually come around with their grown vegetables every few months and give everything away. That’s because of the large surplus most gardens produce, so just take that surplus and store it in your food storage to save money.

Budget

Having a food storage budget is probably one of the best ways to save money. Placing a cap on how much you will spend per week or per month prevents you from going a little bit overboard on buying food for your food storage. Only you can determine how much you can budget for your food storage but a good place to start is $10 per week for each person in your home. Once you have a budget you also need a list of items to purchase with that money. So with your budget in one hand and your grocery list and the other you can start looking for coupons and buying in bulk to stock up for a rainy day. Then mark off what you have purchased, keep track of the expiration date, and continue to shop for what’s left of the list.

These are just 5 simple things you can do to save money on food storage. I’m sure there are lots of other ways to save even more money. Food storage can be a fun and bonding experience for the whole family. Preparing for emergencies or times where food is not as plentiful is a smart way to be as a family.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lee Flynn is a freelance writer and expert in long-term food storage and emergency preparedness.

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