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!

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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”.