Thank You Jarrets Pressure Washing

Thank you for the wonderful breakfast from Too Jays!

Space Heaters

When using your heating system, remember to keep doors and windows tightly closed to prevent the warm air from leaking outdoors. For a 2,000-square foot house, it will cost about $1 per hour (of unit running time) to heat your home. It typically takes an hour to raise the indoor temperature one degree. Once your home is comfortable, your unit will only have to run about 30 minutes of every hour to keep it that way. 

Space heaters can alleviate cold spots but remember that they can be costly to operate, unreliable and occasionally dangerous. As with your air conditioner, be sure your filters are clean and have your heating system maintained twice a year when you’re A/C unit is serviced.

View Our December Newsletter

December Newsletter

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Happy Friday

We hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

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Protecting Your Flowers From Frost

Protecting Your Flowers From Frost

The National Weather Forecast projects Florida temperatures to reach the low 30's.  It is important to heed the warning when your local forecaster announces 'a chance of frost', and take precautions to protect your flowers. Often times it is possible to extend your growing season by several weeks if you are able to keep your plants alive through a single early frost!

Protection Methods

It is important to cover your flowers before the sun goes down. By the time it gets dark much of the stored heat in the garden has already been lost. If you have time, build a simple frame around the plant, or row of plants. (Even a single stake can be used in many cases.) Then drape a cover of newspaper, cardboard, plastic tarps, bed sheeting or any other lightweight material over the frame to create a tent.

If you don't have time to create a frame, lay the protective cover directly onto the plant. This will help to slow the loss of heat rising from the foliage and the ground. Remove the covers in the morning, once the frost has thawed, to let the light and fresh air back in, and to prevent overheating by the sun. For smaller individual plants you can use glass jars, milk jugs with the bottom removed, paper cups upside down flower pots as heat traps.

Please Contact Gardens Home Management Services and we will act immediately to get your flowers protected.  Cost will be based on time and materials.  Call 561-625-5700 or email us atGardens@homecarepro.com.

Beautiful Weather - Wonderful Weekend

The Weather is going to be in the low 70's this weekend and Sunny.  GHMS hopes everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Clean Those Gutters

Once the leaves fall, remove them and other debris from your home's gutters -- by hand, by scraper or spatula, and finally by a good hose rinse -- so that winter's rain and melting snow can drain. Clogged drains can form ice dams, in which water backs up, freezes and causes water to seep into the house, the Insurance Information Institute says.
As you're hosing out your gutters, look for leaks and misaligned pipes. Also, make sure the downspouts are carrying water away from the house's foundation, where it could cause flooding or other water damage.

"The rule of thumb is that water should be at least 10 feet away from the house," says Michael Broili, the director of the Well Home Program for the Phinney Neighborhood Association, a nationally recognized neighborhood group in Seattle.

Landscape Design

Another reason that landscape design with special attention to tree placement is a wise choice is the fact that they act as windbreaks. Without the wind whipping around the house, there is less energy used for heating. There is not even a need to place trees all around the house to achieve energy savings in windy areas. Simply plant trees on the windward side of the house. This will act as a barrier and can result in you spending a quarter less for your energy bill if you live in an area with high winds. 

Dodge the Drafts

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, drafts can waste 5% to 30% of your energy use. Start simple and adopt that old Great Depression fixture -- the draft snake, which you can easily make yourself. Just place a rolled bath towel under a drafty door, or make a more attractive DIY draft snake with googly eyes, felt tongues and the like. You can use any scraps of fabric -- even neckties -- and fill with sand or kitty litter for heft.
Make sure drafts aren't giving your thermostat a false reading too, and read on for more advanced solutions.


Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/winterize-home-tips-energy-461008#ixzz16m4sZ8j6

Updated Newsletters

Gardens Home Management Services has updated their website to include the most recent Newsletters. Click on the link below to read all of our newsletters!

Click Here

Energy Saving Exteriors

Energy saving exteriors are the first line of defense when it comes to reducing energy consumption in the home.

The addition of more efficient windows, doors, siding and skylights are crucial if energy savings are going to be realized to their maximum potential. Windows that are double and triple paned provide insulation from the cold in the winter and the heat during summer months.

Entry doors that are energy efficient and storm doors that provide a quality barrier to the weather are essential. Keep an eye out for windows and doors that are Energy Star rated as they meet qualifications established by government agencies.

Energy saving exteriors also includes reflective roofing materials that are formulated to deflect a greater amount of the sun's rays. This can lower the roof's surface temperature by up to 100° which in return decreases the amount of heat transferred into the dwelling reducing the need for air conditioning.

Spanish River Business Partners

We are posted on the Spanish River High Marquee at the corner of Jog and Yamato as Spanish River Business Partners!

Run Fans In Reverse

Most people think of fans only when they want to be cool, but many ceiling units come with a handy switch that reverses the direction of the blades. Counterclockwise rotation produces cooling breezes while switching to clockwise makes it warmer: air pooled near the ceiling is circulated back into the living space - cutting your heating costs as much as 10%!

Winterizing Your Home

Winterizing Your Home

As the seasons change, you need to make sure your home is ready to anything that the cold weather will throw at it. Here are some Critical tips to help prepare your home for the winter.

Home winterization tips - winterize with insulation

The first thing you want to check is to make sure you're not - as your parents would say - paying to heat the outdoors, but making sure your home is properly insulated and winterized. Check your attic, walls and basement for adequate insulation. Feel around electrical outlets and switch-plates for cold air. Have a professional add insulation if necessary. Look around doors and windows for gaps and potential places where warm air can escape. Use caulking or weather stripping to take care of any problem areas. And consider having a professional replace old windows with energy-efficient double-paned windows. A ServiceMagic.com poll shows that only about 15-percent of homes have energy efficient windows, which could save you money on your heating bill.

Home winterization tips - winterize your furnace

Next, you want to check out your furnace. Keeping a clean filter on your furnace throughout the winter is essential to maximizing its efficiency. Dirty filters make the furnace work harder and may damage it. Having a heating expert check out your unit for leaks on a yearly basis is always a good idea. Firefighters will tell you that a dirty chimney can be extremely dangerous. Wood fireplaces can lead to creosote build-up in your chimney, which can lead to a chimney fire. Hire a professional to make sure your chimney is clean before lighting your first winter fire. Also, if you don't have one already, install some type of glass enclosure on your fireplace opening to reduce the amount of hot air that's being sucked out of your house when you're burning a fire.

Home winterization tips - winterize your pipes

Many people underestimate the importance of taking care of their outdoor pipes. Leaving water sitting in outdoor pipes through the winter could be disastrous. The water supply to your outdoor pipes should ALWAYS be shut off for the winter, and the pipe's drained. Even if you've been lucky so far, it only takes one winter blast to freeze a pipe, which can burst...leaving you with a watery and expensive mess to clean up. The same is true for your lawn's sprinkler system. Right now, you probably have water sitting in the underground pipes. If that freezes, those pipes could burst, too. A lot of homeowners do this themselves, but a professional will make sure that all that water is blown out, so you don't end up replacing some or all of your sprinkler system.

Home winterization tips - winterize your gutters & downspouts

Finally, make sure you keep your gutters and downspouts clear of all the fall leaves. If water isn't properly drained, it could freeze and cause big problems for your roof. Protecting your home from the harsh conditions of winter is critical. Spending a little time and money right now could save thousands down the road

Mailer to over 4,000 Homeowners in Palm Beach County

Gardens Home Management Services has a mailer going out to over 4,000 homeowners in South Florida.  We have sent 2,000 so far and have another 2,000 to go!!

Chamber of Commerce

Gardens Home Management Services is Proud Members of the Palm Beaches Chamber of Commerce

Chamber of Commerce

Questions and Answers about Thunder and Lightning

What causes lightning?

 
Lightning originates around 15,000 to 25,000 feet above sea level when raindrops are carried upward until some of them convert to ice. For reasons that are not widely agreed upon, a cloud-to-ground lightning flash originates in this mixed water and ice region. The charge then moves downward in 50-yard sections called step leaders. It keeps moving toward the ground in these steps and produces a channel along which charge is deposited. Eventually, it encounters something on the ground that is a good connection. The circuit is complete at that time, and the charge is lowered from cloud to ground.
The return stroke is a flow of charge (current) which produces a luminosity much brighter than the part that came down. This entire event usually takes less than half a second.

What causes thunder?
 
Thunder is caused by lightning. The bright light of the lightning flash caused by the return stroke mentioned above represents a great deal of energy. This energy heats the air in the channel to above 50,000 degrees F in only a few millionths of a second! The air that is now heated to such a high temperature had no time to expand, so it is now at a very high pressure. The high pressure air then expands outward into the surrounding air compressing it and causing a disturbance that propagates in all directions away from the stroke. The disturbance is a shock wave for the first 10 yards, after which it becomes an ordinary sound wave, or thunder. Thunder can seem like it goes on and on because each point along the channel produces a shock wave and sound wave.

How far away from a storm can lightning strike?
 
It's not clear what the maximum possible distance might be. Lightning has been known to strike more than 10 miles from the storm in an area of clear sky above.

How long can a lightning bolt be?
 
Recent research from Vaisala-GAI's LDAR and LDAR II lightning detection networks show that lightning can travel 60 miles or more. They find the longest bolts originate in the front of a squall line and travel 62 miles horizontally back into the trailing stratiform region behind the squall line. The longest bolt they have seen to date was 118 miles long in the Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX area. Since 3-D lightning measurements are relatively new, however, scientists are learning more every day and these numbers may change.

Where does lightning usually strike?
 
Lightning comes from a parent cumulonimbus cloud. These thunderstorm clouds are formed wherever there is enough upward motion, instability in the vertical, and moisture to produce a deep cloud that reaches up to levels somewhat colder than freezing.

These conditions are most often met in summer. In general, the US mainland has a decreasing amount of lightning toward the northwest. Over the entire year, the highest frequency of cloud-to-ground lightning is in Florida between Tampa and Orlando. This is due to the presence, on many days during the year, of a large moisture content in the atmosphere at low levels (below 5,000 feet), as well as high surface temperatures that produce strong sea breezes along the Florida coasts. The western mountains of the US also produce strong upward motions and contribute to frequent cloud-to-ground lightning.

There are also high frequencies along the Gulf of Mexico coast westward to Texas, the Atlantic coast in the southeast US, and inland from the Gulf. Regions along the Pacific west coast have the least cloud-to-ground lightning.

Flashes that do not strike the surface are called cloud flashes. They may be inside a cloud, travel from one part of a cloud to another, or from cloud to air.

How Water Filters Work – An Explanation of Good Taste

Ah, that wonderful refreshing taste of a tall cold glass of water. Cooling, soothing and pure. But is it pure? What about all those invisible microbes and bacteria? What about all those pesticides and herbicides you don’t see? It’s enough to spoil that thirst-quenching moment.

So how do you get pure drinking water? Most people get a water filtration system. However, no one unit can remove all the impurities in our drinking water. And there are many types to choose from. If you have a better understanding of how water filters work, then you’ll be able to get the right one to fit your lifestyle.

Water filters were invented for good taste – and safety

Water filtration systems have been sought since as early as 4000 B.C. to clear the visible cloudiness in drinking water. We humans have a penchant for purity, don’t we? Especially for something we’re putting inside our bodies! That desire for purity has grown in the last few decades, and has been joined by a desire, also, for safety.

We not only want our drinking water to be pure, with good taste and odor, we also want it to be safe; that is, free of impurities like bacteria, poisonous chemicals and minerals. And as science discovers more of these in our water, we need to find systems that’ll filter them out. These impurities can be very harmful, causing diseases and malfunctions in our bodies. And since health is such an emphatic issue these days, we need to be making wise decisions about what we eat and drink.

These were the thoughts of Heinz Hankammer and his family as they produced a water filter that would provide, in a simple format, clear water – free from impurities. Heinz named his company after his daughter, Brita, which you’ll probably recognize as the leading manufacturer of freestanding household water filters today. Brita led the way in producing the simplest and most cost-effective way of improving water quality.

Water purification and filtration can be quite technical

We’re going to give you here, a simple explanation of how water filters work. We’ll look at the different types available, while trying to stay away from the technical terms so you’ll get a clear understanding. Remember, if you understand something, you’re far more likely to remember it.

Most filters today are charcoal, or activated charcoal. Charcoal, which is mostly carbon, is the residue of partial burning or destructive distillation of organic material. When special heating or chemical processing is added to charcoal, it becomes much more absorptive, and is then referred to as “activated charcoal”. So a charcoal filter works on the principle of absorption. Large volumes of gases, including most poisonous ones, stick to the charcoal, which is quite porous. (That’s why it’s used in gas masks.) Because it has such a large porous surface area, it absorbs a lot of impurities. Charcoal filters are used in icemaker filters, under-counter filters, countertop filters, whole-house filters, and more. You get the message – charcoal really “takes out the garbage”.

Another type of water filtration system available today is reverse osmosis. That’s the technical name for the process of water being pushed through an ultra-fine semi-permeable membrane, where it separates the tap liquid into the pure permeate which is diverted to a storage tank for later use; the brine concentrate is diverted down the drain. The water is stored in a pressure tank and is treated to a final activated-charcoal polishing filtration stage to remove all remaining odors and tastes before dispensing the purified water into your glass. The disadvantage of reverse osmosis systems is that they waste a lot of water – for every gallon of purified water produced, two gallons are wasted.

Other types of water filters are ion exchange and distillation. Ion exchange is designed to remove dissolved salts in the water, such as calcium. This system actually softens the water or exchanges natural-forming mineral ions in the water with its own ions, thereby neutralizing their harmful effect of creating scale build-up. The ion exchange system was originally used in boilers and other industrial situations before becoming popular in home purifying units, which combine the system with carbon.
Distillation is the simple process of boiling water to create steam. The steam cools and condenses to form pure mineral-free water droplets which are deposited in a container. When combined with carbon, the result is 99.9% pure contaminate-free water. These systems are extremely efficient and reliable, and are regarded today as one of the most effective ways to remove contaminates from any water, from any source.
One other water filter worth mentioning is the portable variety. If you do a lot of camping or hiking, these are the wise choice for you.

Happy Friday

Gardens Home Management Services would like to wish everyone a Happy Friday and also would like to Welcome Back all those who have returned to their Florida Homes!

How do I know I have Bed Bugs?

How do I know if I have bed bugs?

This is a tough one. It can be hard to tell if you've got them or not, because they are pretty small, only come out for very short periods, and because they are pretty good at hiding. First off, you should look for some key signs.

1. Waste - Bed bugs create a lot of waste, and that is harder to hide than they are. It can consist of dark spots on your mattress (which can be blood, feces, etc.) or of shed skins, eggs, dead bed bugs, etc. You may find it inside your mattress, in the box springs, or in the linens.
2. Bites - You should be seeing little red bites on you without really knowing why. People rarely catch bed bugs in the act - they come out when you are asleep, and only bite for a short period. Also, like many bugs, you cannot feel the bite until a few minutes after it happens. The bites are very hard to identify - most doctors actually can't tell you for sure what they're from just by looking at them.
3. Hiding places - Look in all the key spots where they could hide. This means the mattress and around it, folds in the linens, curtains, and nearby furniture. Look for the waste or dark spots. You probably won't see live ones, but they look like little mini-cockroaches.
4. Catch them in the act - Keep a flashlight by your bed, and turn it on about an hour before dawn and watch the sheets closely for movement. Bed bugs usually bite around then, but if you get up or move too much they will go back into hiding. This can be hard to do - if you've only got a few of them, they only need to come out once a week or so anyway, so you might get unlucky and not see any, even though you have them.
5. Carpet tape - This is a great way to do it. Get some double-sided carpet tape (it's tape designed to keep rugs stuck to the floor) and lay out strips around your bed, and on the sides of the mattress but where you won't run into it when you sleep. Leave it out for a few days. If you've got bedbugs, it's likely that at least a couple of them will get stuck on it.

Watering Your Landscape During a Drought

By employing water conservation techniques, homeowners and green industry professionals can conserve our water resources while keeping their gardens and landscapes green. 
This article is reprinted with permission from Connecticut Green Industries, a non-profit group representing over 1000 CT companies that grow, sell, deliver and install plants and flowers.  Originally written for Connecticut gardeners, gardeners most anywhere can find something of value here!

 

Here are some water-wise tips...

• Plant the right plants in the right spots- shade plants for shade and sun-loving plants for a sunny area. Don't put a thirsty plant in an area where you know you're going to have to water it constantly. Plants planted in the wrong place are the first to get hurt in a drought. 
• Avoid planting thirsty plants in areas of your landscape that are windy; constant winds take moisture away from a plant and the soil. 
• Group water-hungry plants together; group drought resistant plants together. 
• Use native plants in your landscape- they require less care and water than ornamental varieties. 
• Know your soil! Does it retain moisture or does it dry out quickly? Is the soil heavy in clay or rocks and gravel? Again, plant the right plants for the right soils in your yard. If you have an area that you notice is often wet, plant thirsty plants there. 
• Help your garden soils by using mulches, which dramatically reduce water evaporation from soils. In tough dry times, increase the mulch layers to 3-4 inches thick. Also consider mixing water-retaining amendments to your garden beds, such as peat moss or any of the water-retention soil amendments available at your garden center. 
• When using mulch, be sure your trees, shrubs, and plants have a basin of mulch around them. When things are dry, the water tends to run off quickly and not soak down into the soil. Creating a basin around plants holds the water in until it has an opportunity to soak into the ground. 
• Don't fertilize or prune. Your plants should not be encouraged to grow and both pruning and fertilizing can encourage new growth. Fertilizers are salts, and without much water, the salts can build to harmful levels. 
• Remove any dead or weakened plant tissues to avoid secondary problems. 
• Employ the shade strategy! Does your landscape have shade trees strategically planted to give partial sun to your gardens? Scientists have shown that shade trees help retain moisture and cool your home and your landscape-  by as much as 20 degrees during the highest heat of the day. 
• Raise your lawn mower cutting height- longer grass blades help shade each other, cut down on evaporation, and inhibit weed growth. 
• Consider reducing your lawn and grassy areas in favor of more creative gardens, such as those that use more stone and drought-resistant perennial plants that have deeper root systems. Ask your nursery or landscape professional about using the new elegant paver block systems to create a patio or walkway. 
• Dress up your garden. Since your garden may not be at its best, consider adding some items that add ambience: benches, wind chimes, colorful flags or wind socks, boulders or stonework, sculptures, or pots to name a few. Your garden center has these. 
• Weed-out your garden! Weeds compete with your plants for water. 
• As a general rule, plants with gray or silvery foliage are the best drought-tolerant. They have fine hairs on their leaves that shade the leaf surface. Also consider using succulent plants (Yucca, etc.).

Executive Club Meeting

Gardens Home Management Services attended the Executive Club meeting today and listened to Coach Jarvis of the FAU Basketball Team Speak.  It was a wonderful presentation and very motivating!

http://bocaratonexecutiveclub.com/index.html

Residential Solar Technology Made Simple

Solar technology is used to convert the sun’s energy into useful power. Each day, the sun provides the earth with 15,000 times more energy than we use yet we extract far less than 1% of our energy needs directly from the sun.

Residential solar technology has been around for decades but is largely unknown to the general public. Now with rising energy prices and concern for climate change, solar technology is being deployed at an increasing rate.  

Solar Photovoltaic Systems (PV)

Photovoltaic comes from the words photo, meaning “light” and volt, meaning “electricity”. A solar photovol­taic (PV) system uses the sun’s light energy or photons to produce electrical current. In a typical solar PV panel, light energy from the sun strikes a silicon semi-conductor dislodging electrons causing them to flow in the PV panel which, in essence is the definition of direct current electricity.
As shown in the diagram, a solar photovoltaic system is comprised of a series of silicone solar panels connected to an inverter (our homes use alternating current so the direct current generated by the PV system must be converted to alternating by the inverter) which then supplies the home’s lights and appliances.

Most solar PV systems today are “grid connected” meaning that any excess electricity generated by the residential solar PV system is transmitted back to the into the electrical grid and used by someone else (conversely, when the sun is not out, the home draws electricity from the grid).

A residential solar PV system is typically sized to produce most of the home’s monthly electricity needs. During peak sunlight hours, the PV system will produce more electricity than the home uses. This excess electricity is transmitted back to the electrical grid causing the utility meter to spin backwards. In the evening and at night, the solar PV system will not be producing electricity and the home will draw its elec­tricity needs from electrical grid (generated by the utility company).

Over the course of the month, the meter will spin backwards when the home is producing more electricity than it is consuming and spin forward when consuming electricity from the grid. The home­owner will pay only for any net electricity used during the month. This is called “net metering”.

Happy Halloween

Gardens Home Management Services Wishes Everyone a Happy and Safe Halloween!

Palm Beach County Facebook Page

Gardens Home Management is now following the Palm Beach County Facebook Page.  We believe it is a great page to receive exposure and hopefully generate some business leads!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/PalmBeachCounty

Executive Club Members

Gardens Home Management Services is Proud members of the Executive Club. 

Executive Club, Boca Raton, Florida

The Executive Club has been designed as an influential networking group. The concept behind the Club is to network with successful professionals from Woodfield Country Club along with many other high level executives from the greater Boca Raton area. Each Executive Club candidate will be considered and is subject to approval by the membership committee and applications will be considered on a first come, first serve basis. Executive Club members receive maximum exposure and a chance to develop new business contacts within Woodfield and the surrounding area. Within the Club, we take great pride in the fact that all members work towards helping one another. One of the most important attributes of the club is its referral system. As business professionals, we realize that word of mouth is one of the strongest and greatest methods of reaching large groups of people. As we like to say, a referral is the greatest compliment we can receive.

Check out Chips Profile: http://www.bocaratonexecutiveclub.com/csollins.html

Matching paint means never having to say... OOPS!

Matching a color is as easy as putting a hole in the wall...

The assumption here is that you need to repair the wall, or maybe the paint has been stained somehow. Though you could borrow or buy a set of paint chips from your local paint store, I have found a quality paint store will do a better matching job than most people will... if you provide them with a small paint sample.
If your walls are drywall, simply cut out a section of the paper only with a utility knife. Cut an oval-shaped, 1"x 2" slot in the wall, piercing only through the surface of the paper... an eighth of an inch deep is plenty. Use the knife to lift a corner of the paper, and then peel it from the wall. Take this sample to the paint store for matching. The cleaner the cut, the easier the patching.
You can also cut out a small section of plaster, though it is somewhat messier.

Don't do touchups in high traffic areas or over repairs... paint the wall instead!

If the walls were painted more than a few years ago, the walls will not touch up well at all (the exception being with stock off whites from the same manufacturer... in other words an exact color match). The effective gloss or sheen of paints from different manufacturers (yes... even flat paints vary in "flatness") will make a touchup show even in the color match is perfect!
This is especially true in high traffic, fingerprints-on-the-walls type areas! Get a quart of closely matching paint, and just paint that wall, corner to corner, being careful not to get any of the new paint on an adjacent wall. You will be amazed how even slightly different colors will blend well at a corner.

Portable Generators Hazard Tips

Portable generators are useful when temporary or remote electric power is needed, but they also can be hazardous. The primary hazards to avoid when using a generator are carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning from the toxic engine exhaust, electric shock or electrocution, and fire. Every year, people die in incidents related to portable generator use. Incidents associated with portable generators reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) most commonly involve CO poisoning from generators used indoors or in partially-enclosed spaces.

Carbon Monoxide Hazard

NEVER use a generator in enclosed or partially-enclosed spaces. Generators can produce high levels of CO very quickly. When you use a portable generator, remember that you cannot smell or see CO. Even if you can’t smell exhaust fumes, you may still be exposed to CO. If you start to feel sick, dizzy, or weak while using a generator, get to fresh air RIGHT AWAY. DO NOT DELAY. The CO from generators can rapidly lead to full incapacitation and death.
If you experience serious symptoms, get medical attention immediately. Inform medical staff that CO poisoning is suspected. If you experienced symptoms while indoors, have someone call the fire department to determine when it is safe to reenter the building.
Follow these safety tips to protect against CO poisoning:

• NEVER use a generator indoors, including in homes, garages, basements, crawl spaces, and other enclosed or partially-enclosed areas, even with ventilation. Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent CO build-up in the home.
• Follow the instructions that come with your generator. Locate the unit outdoors and away from doors, windows, and vents that could allow CO to come indoors.
• Install battery-operated CO alarms or plug-in CO alarms with battery back-up in your home, according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions. The CO alarms should be certified to the requirements of the latest safety standards for CO alarms (UL 2034, IAS 6-96, or CSA 6.19.01).
• Test your CO alarms frequently and replace dead batteries.

Mounting a Flat Panel TV Monitor on a Concrete Wall

It seems like everyone has a modern flat screen TV these days. Whether mounted on a wall, displayed on a TV stand or installed above a fireplace, these televisions can add real ambiance and décor to any room in your home. These televisions can be displayed in a variety of places to save room and create a fresh feel.
Mounting a flat screen television over a fireplace has become quite popular. However, certain precautions must be considered to ensure that the TV doesn't get damaged by the heat. Before installation, experiment with thermometers to make sure that the temperatures generated by the fireplace during normal use are within the heat guidelines in the user manual. Anchoring a flat TV above a fireplace is usually harmless with the appropriate distance and proper ventilation.



To read more about how to install a flat screen panel on a concrete wall - check out the natural handymans do-it-yourself article : http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infflatpanel/infflatpanel-concrete.html

Do It Yourself Home Soundproofing With continued urban sprawl, homes are being built closer together and space is becoming more of a commodity. Neighborhoods are now being built close to noise polluting airports, under popular flight paths, near railroad tracks and other places that are not as peaceful and quiet as we wish them to be. Dampening or eliminating the noise is now easier with do-it-yourself (DIY) kits offered by soundproof foam manufacturers. A variety of products are now on the market, including convoluted and non-convoluted foam, faced acoustical foam, polyimide foam, 100% fireproof melamine foam and closed cell acoustical foam. In addition to considering soundproofing foam for your home, you should take the following important considerations to mind: Windows are the path of least resistance for noise entering or leaving your home. In terms of windows, the most sound porous are single glass pains and wooden window frames. Using double pane glass alone can quickly reduce noise by as much as 20%, with vinyl flames reducing sound up to 50%.   If your home is older, your attic may lack insulation. Not only will adding insulation help reduce your energy bills; it can also help in your endeavor to soundproof your home. If you have an asphalt roof, adding extra layers of roofing material is an additional way to help dampen or eliminate noise, especially where aircraft is ever-present.   To prevent sound traveling within your home, your hallways should be built so that doorways are never across from one another. Since air is what enables sound to travel, drafts between rooms carries noise through open doors. In recent years, DIY soundproofing kits have become more popular as families build home theaters. For just a few hundred dollars, you can purchase all of the material necessary to complete soundproof your room, with direct results being more brilliant and better sound. With 4' X 8' sheets of foam panel, you can quickly adhere the panels to your existing walls using Velcro dots that are easily removable without damage. Some other helpful tips for soundproofing your home include: Each room in your home should have at least 25% of some type of absorbent material such as carpeting, furniture or draperies. Meeting this minimum will reduce noise generated by footsteps, televisions, instruments, stereos, pets and other noise producers. To further dampen noise in your home, you can add a second layer of drywall. For rooms racing streets, double drywall will greatly reduce the noise entering most homes. Rooms over living areas should have some form of padding or carpeting for soundproofing. In closing, there is one important thing to remember about soundproofing: you cannot overdo it! About the author:  Jesse Barron is a team member of American Micro Industries, Inc. (AMI). Since 1995, AMI has been manufacturing and globally distributing a variety of quality soundproof foams. For more information on soundproofing or to purchase, visit our online markeplace at http://www.soundprooffoam.com .

Warm Season Grasses

In some ways, growing and maintaining a good-looking lawn in the South is more involved than in the North. Choosing grass varieties is trickier. Some grass varieties do much better when started as plugs or sod than from seed, as is usually done in the North.

Good soil is critically important for growing a low maintenance lawn in this region. Most all warm weather grasses will turn brown when cooler temperatures arrive. Some southern gardeners seed their existing lawns with ryegrass each fall to maintain green color during the winter months. This is called “winter overseeding.”

Maintaining ideal growing conditions for your particular grass type is critical, otherwise unwanted grass varieties will start popping up and will be extremely difficult to remove. For example, St. Augustine grass being invaded by Bermuda grass and vice versa.

There are two major types of grass used for lawns in the South: warm-season grass and evergreen grass.

Warm-Season grasses are of tropical origin and thrive during the scorching summer heat. They are tough and form a dense lawn cover that thickens as they age. The are not green during the cold spells of winter. Their leaves turn brown in late fall and don't green up again until warm weather returns. In general they are green a little over half the year. Warm-season grasses are best suited for lower and middle South regions which includes the Coastal areas from Virginia south to Georgia and west through Alabama to Texas. Zoysia grass and more cold-tolerant grasses such as Bermuda can be grown in the upper South which includes the mountainous regions from Virginia and North Carolina west through northern Tennessee and Arkansas.

Evergreen grasses grow best in the South during the fall and spring. During the winter months their growth slows, but they remain green for most of the winter. During the hot summer months they will struggle to survive and require considerable care to handle the extremes common to the heat. Evergreen grasses are best for upper and middle South regions. In most situations, evergreen grasses should not be considered as a general-purpose lawn grass for the lower South and Coastal areas.

Choosing and Using Dehumidifiers

What is a dehumidifier and how does it work?

A dehumidifier is essentially a refrigerator that forgot to get fully dressed. Really. The basic mechanical function of a dehumidifier is the same as a refrigerator. Compression and expansion of a gas is used to lower the temperature of metal coils to freezing temperatures.

However, instead of the cooling action being directed into a closed box, a dehumidifier is designed to blow warm moist room air over these cold coils. The moisture in the room air condenses on the coils to become liquid water. The water then drips into a drip collection pan, or to a drain. The room air, now freed of much of its moisture, returns to the room slightly warmer than it was. Dehumidifiers are controlled by a device known as a humidistat. This is an adjustable rotary switch which detects moisture in the room's air. It automatically turns the dehumidifier on or off as it is needed, based on the setting you choose. If you wish, you can set the dehumidifier to the maximum setting for continuous operation.

Why would I want to purchase one?

If you store anything of value in your basement, or if you use your basement as living space, it is important to keep the moisture level low. Unlike the rest of your home, the parts of your foundation that are below ground level, or "grade", is constantly in contact with moisture from the earth outside. Though some homes have adequate vapor and water barriers installed outside their foundations, many older homes have none.
This moisture can cause mildew growth and damage to furniture of all types, photos, carpets, and virtually anything except the dog. It is a sad fact that every year people unknowingly destroy their valuable possessions by not taking steps to lower the level of moisture in their basement's air.

Have a Wonderful Weekend!

Thank you everyone who has viewed our Blog.  Leave us any comments or suggestions regarding information you would like to know about our company or any home care tips your are looking for.

Have a Wonderful Weekend!

Control of Nuisance Ants

Use baits, not sprays. Unfortunately, many of us grab a can of Raid at the first sign of ants and just spray away. STOP DOING THIS. Aerosol sprays have their uses but nuisance ant control is not one of them. Sprays are very difficult to use correctly and may end up being messy and ineffective. The best and safest way to control nuisance ants is with baits. While baiting is not the easiest method, it works and is relatively inexpensive. Ants need protein, fats and sugar (carbohydrate) to sustain colony growth. The idea is to attract ants to a bait that they carry back to their colony feeding it to nestmates and the queen. Baits must be attractive to foraging workers and must not be so acutely toxic that workers don't have time to carry it back to the nest and feed it to colony members.
Most of the time baits that contain sugar work best but sometimes fats and protein will be needed for maximum attractiveness. Poison baits consist of two main parts - the bait part (sugar, protein, fat) and the poison or toxicant. One of most effective and safest toxicants is sodium borate or boric acid. Borates exhibit relatively low human toxicity while being highly toxic to insects. Check labels and look for borate or boric acid as the active ingredient.
The trick with baiting is to be certain that the bait you use is acceptable to the ants you are trying to control. This sounds obvious but too often bait stations are put out and never checked for activity. If the ants are ignoring the bait, replace it with another. If the first is sugar-based try one that is fat-based. If your ants are ignoring your homemade bait stations (see below) try one of the pre-packaged bait stations. You can also mix a little vegetable oil with the sugar-based borate baits. The point is to FIND A BAIT YOUR ANTS ACCEPT.
Finally, poison baiting may take awhile to work. Give it a couple of weeks. Continue baiting until you see no more ant activity at your stations. Replace baits if they dry out.

Electrical Safety Tips

Outlets

Check for outlets that have loose-fitting plugs, which can overheat and lead to fire. Replace any missing or broken wall plates. Make sure there are safety covers on all unused outlets that are accessible to children.

Cords

Make sure cords are in good condition—not frayed or cracked. Make sure they are placed out of traffic areas. Cords should never be nailed or stapled to the wall, baseboard or to another object. Do not place cords under carpets or rugs or rest any furniture on them.

Extension Cords

Check to see that cords are not overloaded. Additionally, extension cords should only be used on a temporary basis; they are not intended as permanent household wiring. Make sure extension cords have safety closures to help prevent young children from shock hazards and mouth burn injuries.

Welcome To Sunny Florida

Gardens Home Management Services Uses Welcome to Sunny Florida as their Professional Marketing team.  Check out the website to learn more about Welcome to Sunny Florida and how it can help you!

If you are looking for an all inclusive marketing company in Florida - look no further than Welcome To Sunny Florida!  We look for ways to cut your costs, introduce you to new ideas and educate you on the importance of a well rounded marketing campaign. The bottom line is - we partner with you to give you a customized product with an unparalleled level of customer service. 


Check out Welcome To Sunny Florida http://welcometosunnyflorida.com/

Real Estate Purchasing, Ownership and Investment

1)  First impressions are everything... you want to make an impression on the buyer... and the realtor.
2)  Be prepared for your home inspection by tying up all the loose ends and, if possible, unfinished projects!
3)  Always tell the truth about your home's pluses AND minuses to the buyers... or face the consequences!

The fact is, even if you're NOT selling your castle, getting it "showroom-ready" (even if just on a monthly basis) will result in a more pleasant and smoother-working or playing space.  By letting the clutter collect and the projects fester, discomfort and unease grow where we should feel most comfortable an at ease... in our homes.

A message from the President & Owner: Chip Sollins

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Please Visit our website and view our other videos!

Check out our website and view our other videos!

Increase Safety In Your Home

Install carbon monoxide detectors in your home. This is the easiest way to increase your safety with the least effort. There are a few different types. Some are battery-operated and may be installed anywhere.  Others are plugged into wall outlets or hard-wired into your homes electrical supply. Since CO rises, locating a detector in an electrical outlet near the floor is not necessarily the ideal location.

Home Care Tip

Home Care Tip: Existing mildew on most surfaces can be killed with a mixture of 50%household chlorine bleach with 50% water. Use a hand sprayer to apply it to the surface, allow it to remain for a few minutes or until the blackish, dirty-looking mildew color disappears and then rinse thoroughly with water.

Water is our most Precious Resource

Water is our most precious resource and we must protect it. Water is
important as a nutrient, for bathing, cooking, irrigating crops, and for
many forms of recreation. It is extremely important to have your water tested! 

Let Jupiter Pump and Well / Hydro Solutions test your water. 

www.jupiterpumpandwell.com - www.myhydrosolutions.com