Choosing Reliable Partners for Heating Repairs

The nights are getting longer, the weather is becoming crisper, and winter is drawing near. So, you’ve made sure your double-glazed windows are still keeping the heat in, you’ve checked for drafts, you’ve found a Local Westfield, MA Dealer for your heating oil, and you’re feeling prepared for the colder months. But then disaster strikes – you turn on your heating and nothing happens. What can you do?

A broken water heater or boiler during winter can pose a danger to your family’s health (not to mention their comfort). Exposing family members to a cold environment causes discomfort at the very least. Prolonging this exposure can lead to respiratory illnesses, flu, and joint pains. This makes it important to have a company such as Smart Boiler Repair come and repair it so that your home and water can go back to being warm and cozy.

Getting professional services for maintenance and repair can help ensure the safety and comfort of your home environment. But how does one choose a contractor for such services? What are the dangers of hiring an unlicensed or “cowboy” repairman to come and do the job. You could be scammed where you are charged too much for the job via hidden charges or faked complications to the job. Another is more serious, if you don’t hire certified heating repairs Columbus experts to repair a boiler, they could damage it in a way that increases the risk of fire or an explosion. For these reasons, you need to make sure you’re getting only what you pay for.

In this post, I’ll share a few tips you can use to help yourself professional and legitimate repairmen in the event you need your home’s HVAC system sorted ASAP.

You can easily find contractors for any home service requirement on the internet, like Morris Jenkins, for example. One simply has to pick one that can be relied on. Customers would often check the contractor’s web page to get to know their company profile and service details. Professional looking websites would definitely have more appeal and credibility compared to others. There are websites nowadays for all kinds of services, so browsing through a few of those shouldn’t be too difficult. For example, if you also want to have your chimney checked or serviced when considering home maintenance, websites like of companies like The Chimney Expert (who provide Milwaukee Chimney Flashing Services among others) could come to your aid. It also helps if the website is user-friendly so customers can easily find the information that they need. This usually include the types of services offered, company profile, service records or customer feedback, licenses and certificates, coverage area, insurance, financing options, and contact information.

Extra perks like discounts, promos, and membership rewards offered in webpages also add to their appeal. These perks may be seen as reflections of how customers are being valued in the company. But one has to go beyond looks to find a reliable partner for heating repairs. Customers need to digest the content of the webpage to help them make the right choice. Contractors who are able to present their portfolio in short and direct to the point statements usually appear more professional than those with hard sell tactics. However, these sites should also be able to give detailed information about their services and track record. FAQ pages can be helpful in this aspect.

The primary consideration of most customers when it comes to choosing reliable partners for heating repairs include cost, service inclusion, and customer service track record. Contractors who are able to present credible details for these concerns are likely to get business from their pages. As for customers, it is but prudent to check for independent contractor reviews to validate information gathered from their web pages.

A New Fitness Regimen We Should All Have

Sometimes, there are things we know we should do but put off again and again.  We always have excuses. We have more urgent things to do. There are more important things that require our attention. I am so guilty of this! (Although I really have my hands full right now! Promise!)

One thing that I have been putting off was starting my journey to financial freedom. Last June (my goodness! That was months ago!), I received a financial journal from Avida Land.  I did browse through it when I first got it but never took time to really delve into it. I realize now I should have made time for it sooner!

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The journal includes very specific actions we can take on our path to financial freedom.  It starts with a guide on how to determine whether you are financially fit.  Once you have figured out where you are financially, you are then guided on how to make your own roadmap.  It also lists several investment options and advice on how to choose which one is most suitable for you.  As you go through the journal, you are encouraged to make a commitment to achieve your long-term financial plans.

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Taking the First Step

As with everything we do in life, it all begins with the first step we take.  In this road, our first step is to determine where our finances lie by creating a Cash Flow Statement and a Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Sounds daunting, right?! Good thing the Avida financial journal has made this easy by providing step-by-step instructions on how to make them.  What wasn’t so easy was finding out that we’re not in such a good state.

Thus, I now feel compelled to start a new fitness regimen – a financial fitness regimen!

 

What I Should Do!

The same way we discipline ourselves in the way we eat or exercise, we must also learn how to discipline ourselves financially.  This is my focus now.  We really don’t spend much on unnecessary material things and don’t splurge on expensive branded clothes and accessories, but we do spend a lot on food and leisure activities. Before I move forward to finding investment options, we must make sure we have enough to invest in them.  So, this is my  mantra now:  SPEND LESS THAN WHAT YOU EARN

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By cutting down on some unnecessary expenses and going back to our habit of setting aside a portion of our income, I think we could get back on track soon.

My Fitness Regimen

So far, here’s what I’m committing to do:

  1. Allot a portion of our income to savings. Set them aside right away!
  2. Eat out less often.
  3. Make a budget and stick to it!
  4. Do a weekly review of expenses.
  5. Find other sources of income. (business ideas anyone?)

With my new financial fitness regimen, who knows, maybe we could have more than enough for that dream house we’ve been pining for.

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The Evolution of Safe Trampoline Design

Trampolines are a great outdoor activity. They promote a fun and active lifestyle. However, if you pay attention to the news you can probably recall several incidents involving trampoline injury. Thousands of people are injured yearly. Sadly, there are no improvements to or advances in trampoline safety standards in the US. Trampoline designers have made a few sundry attempts to address this problem — traditionally by installing weak foam padding around the springs and frame that lost most of its absorbency after initial contact.

While they are fun to jump on, trampolines come with a list of possible injuries and even the risk of death. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, accidental deaths on trampolines can occur by:

  • Bouncing into another person
  • Not properly landing while jumping or doing stunts
  • Falling or jumping off of the trampoline
  • Falling on the springs or frame of the trampoline

Indeed, from 2000-2009, there were 22 deaths in the US resulting from these types of occurrences.  There have been so few trampoline safety improvements over the years that when one finally came along, people took notice. Based on the designs of a mechanical engineer and proactive parent from New Zealand, Springfree Trampoline introduced a series of design improvements that have completely changed the game.

One interesting and unique improvement is the SoftEdge mat. This innovative mat absorbs 30 times the amount of shock than traditional trampoline pads. Combine this with the removal of the springs from the trampoline equation and the concealment of the frame beneath the surface, and suddenly you’ve removed 90% of product-related injury. This is why the hidden frame approach works the best — and only Springfree uses this approach. This method eliminates the need for springs.  It also reduces the potential threat of jumpers coming into contact with the frame. This means that when you buy a 10ft trampoline at Springfree Trampoline you are interacting with composite rods beneath the mat, rather than dangerous springs on a horizontal plane with the mat. This makes the experience safer than ever before.

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In 2006, 80 percent of trampolines came with safety nets. While this helped to reduce the injuries resulting from falling to the ground, new dangers were created due to the risk of colliding with the support bars of the net. This is why Springfree has introduced the FlexiNet enclosure — which uses pliable composite rods in place of rigid steel poles which help to guide bouncers safely back to the mat. These poles are curved outwards and act as a guiding mechanism instead of a potential threat.

After safety concerns, your next question should concern quality manufacturing. If you are searching for safe trampoline alternative for you family, you don’t want to have to replace it every year. Every quality piece of athletic equipment needs to be made with highest quality materials where each component is thoroughly tested on-site for quality assurance. Quality trampoline parts will also be able to withstand the hot summers and wet winters, without losing any structural integrity. Make sure to find a company with a weather resistant guarantee to ensure that you aren’t buying another trampoline in a few short years. Follow these steps, and you’re sure to find the right trampoline for your backyard in no time.

How to Clean Your Cowhide Rugs

Cowhide rugs and other animal skin rugs like sheep skin rugs, are one of the best purchases you can make for your home. These rugs make a statement about your taste in any room they are placed in. The beautiful look of these rugs is sure to be an eye-catching accessory that will give your home the hint of luxury you have been searching for. Cowhide rugs keep their coloring for a very long time as well, as they are not as likely to fade as rugs made from textiles. The vast array of colors and designs available mean that just about anyone can find a rug that suits the décor of their home or apartment, depending on the effect desired. From rugs with neutral tones like brown or red to the more striking zebra print rugs, people who want to bring life to a room can easily do so with cowhide rugs.

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There are a couple of things to note about keeping your cowhide rug clean. First, it is important to know that cowhide rugs are one of the easiest rugs to maintain that you can buy. Because they are made of truly natural materials, it is difficult for them to gather dust and debris, so you will not find that the rugs become dirty or in need of cleaning very often. If you discover that your cowhide rug has gathered a significant amount of dust, all you need to do is shake the rug out to remove the accumulation of debris. Because of this ease with which you can maintain the rug and keep it from becoming too dirty, these rugs are ideal for placing in areas of the home or apartment where there is a lot of foot traffic. If you happen to spill something on your cowhide rug, there is an easy way to take care of it. Just apply some warm water to the rug and gently rub away the spot with a soft cloth. Because of the way cowhide is treated before turning it into a floor covering, it does not have the same vulnerability that other kinds of rugs do, so these rugs are likely to last for a very long time. Cowhide rugs can also be placed on couches or chairs as decorative throws or hung on the wall to enhance the aesthetic in any room. No matter what you choose to use your cowhide rug for, you can rest assured maintenance of these items is simple and trouble-free.

Anyone who has problems with allergies will benefit from cowhide rugs in the home. The reason is that harmful bacteria are not attracted to the cowhide rug and the oils that are found in the hides are hypoallergenic. Unlike rugs made from textiles, it is quite difficult for cowhide rugs to become moldy because they tend to repel the absorption of liquids that could lead to the development of mildew.

The real cowhide rugs are preferable to any facsimiles you can buy. These facsimiles are usually inferior to the real cowhide rugs in terms of their durability. The cost is very often comparable when looking at real cowhide rugs versus imitations, so it makes sense to go for the real thing when looking to decorate your home.

If you’re decorating a new home or apartment, need to replace an old textile rug or simply want a way to jazz up a room with a new look, a cowhide rug can be the perfect item to purchase. The easy maintenance, affordability, beauty and style of these rugs make them an attractive décor item, as does their safety for people with allergies and their resilience. Cowhide rugs are increasing in popularity among homeowners because they truly are an ideal addition to any home. To view a wide selection of cowhide rugs click here.

#1MCleanToilets to Prevent 443 Million Missed School Days

It’s Friday the 13th tomorrow and while the superstitious anxiously dread that day, a lot of us are looking forward to it. Well, not just any Friday the 13th, I’m talking specifically about tomorrow, November 13.

What’s so special about it? November 13 is the World Toilet Day. Yes, there is such an event. Lest you think it’s a nonsensical one that is the center of butt jokes, World Toilet Day is for a noble cause. It is part of an advocacy program that aims to improve toilet sanitation.

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Why the big deal about toilet sanitation, you may ask. Well, according to a study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), children around the world miss an estimated 443 million school days each year because of diseases caused by poor sanitation and hygiene practices, including using unsanitary toilets. Yes, 443 million school days MISSED – EACH YEAR! That’s about one month of empty grade school and high school classrooms in the Philippines!!! So, yes, toilet sanitation IS a big deal.

Every day, millions of children in rural communities and urban households nationwide are exposed to disease-carrying germs that inhabit dirty toilets. These germs can cause diarrheal diseases and parasitic worm infections which leads to nutritional deficiencies, physical and mental stunting, and even death.

For the past three years, Unilever Philippines through its germ-kill expert brand Domex, has been working with UNICEF and PPHA to champion the One Million Clean Toilets Movement. Through this advocacy, Filipino families can be educated on proper toilet hygiene and the importance of sanitized household toilets. We stress the word SANITIZE because not all clean toilets are free from germs and bacteria. It is essential for everyone to know that proper cleaning materials with effective germ-kill action must be used to clean toilets to ensure our family’s health.

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So, tomorrow, November 13, join us in the One Million Clean Toilets Movement! Together, let’s join the fight against disease causing germs to save lives, one clean toilet at a time. Help spread awareness on the sanitation issue caused by unsanitary toilets by watching and sharing the “Sick Days” video. Don’t forget to use the hashtags #1MCleanToilets and #WorldToiletDay2015 when you share the video. 🙂

To learn more about Domex and how you can stay safe from diseases with a germ-free home, visit Domex Philippines on Facebook.