Monday, September 17, 2012
Simple Plumbing Cleaning Chore: Cleaning a Faucet Aerator
Plumbing is one home system that many dread having to deal with. One proactive step you can take to keep your plumbing clean is to take care of your faucet aerator. Now you might be thinking, “my what?!” Faucet aerators mix air with the water, minimizing splashing and reducing the amount of water used (and the energy required to heat hot water) without reducing the effectiveness of the water stream.
“An aerator contains a screen and a water reducer/aerator washer,” says to Bob Beall, a plumber in the Northeast Ohio and Southwest Pennsylvania region. “These little items have a habit of collecting bits of naturally occurring mineral sediment in the water.” “What becomes noticeable when the aerator becomes clogged is a reduced water flow at the spout (on both hot and cold) and/or a non-symmetrical spray coming from the spout,” according to Beall.
Below are Beall’s tips for cleaning your aerator.
No. 1. To remove the aerator from the faucet simply turn it counterclockwise. Drop it straight down so you don’t lose any internal parts, especially the thread-sealing gasket. The threads can be either inside or outside the cap. If the cap is stuck, you will need pliers to turn it.
BONUS TIP: Tape the jaws with electrical tape to minimize scratching.
No. 2 Look inside the center area for sand, silt, and other waterborne debris.
No. 3 Take the center section out to check for further debris, noting the order in which things come apart.
No. 4 Check for anything stuck in the screen.
No. 5 In the flow reducer, look in the tiny side holes and the center hole of the white button for debris.
Note that if do not put all the pieces back together properly, there will be a leak or the water flow will not be a smooth aerated flow.
Despite even the most experienced plumber’s intentions, it’s easy to let the parts of an aerator fall out when removing it. To prevent permanent loss of any parts, put the stopper in the sink drain before removing the aerator. If it is necessary to take the aerator away from the sink, to keep from losing parts, disassemble it over a bowl.
Source: Mr. Rooter Plumbing
“An aerator contains a screen and a water reducer/aerator washer,” says to Bob Beall, a plumber in the Northeast Ohio and Southwest Pennsylvania region. “These little items have a habit of collecting bits of naturally occurring mineral sediment in the water.” “What becomes noticeable when the aerator becomes clogged is a reduced water flow at the spout (on both hot and cold) and/or a non-symmetrical spray coming from the spout,” according to Beall.Below are Beall’s tips for cleaning your aerator.
No. 1. To remove the aerator from the faucet simply turn it counterclockwise. Drop it straight down so you don’t lose any internal parts, especially the thread-sealing gasket. The threads can be either inside or outside the cap. If the cap is stuck, you will need pliers to turn it.
BONUS TIP: Tape the jaws with electrical tape to minimize scratching.
No. 2 Look inside the center area for sand, silt, and other waterborne debris.
No. 3 Take the center section out to check for further debris, noting the order in which things come apart.
No. 4 Check for anything stuck in the screen.
No. 5 In the flow reducer, look in the tiny side holes and the center hole of the white button for debris.
Note that if do not put all the pieces back together properly, there will be a leak or the water flow will not be a smooth aerated flow.
Despite even the most experienced plumber’s intentions, it’s easy to let the parts of an aerator fall out when removing it. To prevent permanent loss of any parts, put the stopper in the sink drain before removing the aerator. If it is necessary to take the aerator away from the sink, to keep from losing parts, disassemble it over a bowl.
Source: Mr. Rooter Plumbing
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Financial Tip of the Week - Improve Your Credit Score
Just like a top football, basketball or hockey player is drafted based on their stats, your credit score is used to determine your financial fitness.
Your credit score is the best way to define your ability to handle debt. It's based on several aspects of your financial picture and can help creditors determine if you're responsible with your money.
Improving your credit is one of the easiest ways to improve your overall financial scorecard. Doing so may help you get approved for loans and lower your interest rates and insurance premiums.
The following steps can help you improve your credit score:
Pay on time. Payment history is one of the most important factors used to calculate your credit score, so consistently paying on time is one of the easiest ways to boost your score. To help you pay on time, consider enrolling in an e-bill pay program that will make payments automatically on your behalf and guarantee they arrive on time.
Reduce debt-to-credit ratio. Focus on paying down the amount you owe on your credit cards so each one has an available credit of at least 50 percent. Doing so improves your debt-to-credit ratio and in turn will improve your credit score.
Use more than one type of credit. Your score is built around both revolving (ex. credit card) and installment (ex. mortgage loan) credit. Having both types in your credit history shows you can responsibly handle multiple kinds of credit, and in turn may improve your score.
Stick with the accounts you have. Opening new accounts means new inquiries on your credit report, which may lower your score. On the other hand, avoid closing accounts you already have, even if you don't use them that often. Doing so can negatively impact your debt-to-credit ratio and credit history – both of which are used to calculate your score.
Source: BMO Harris Bank
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Home for Sale? Stage it Right for Autumn
Home for Sale? Stage it Right for Autumn
By Barbara Pronin
The transition from summer to fall means more than the beginning of football season and sending the kids back to school. For a homeowner wanting to sell a home, it means staging it right with fall in mind to make it more appealing to buyers.
Here are seven ways to bump up your home’s seasonal appeal:
Start with curb appeal – Keep the lawn free of falling leaves and debris and cut back dead or dying perennials. Replace them with fall blooms, like mums, and/or add a few fall blooms in pots to the front porch.
Add fall décor – Use neutral fall décor outside, such as pumpkins, leafy wreaths or small hay bales that appeal to adult sensibilities. But keep it to a tasteful minimum. The idea is to add a few homey touches but keep the focus on the home itself.
Use seasonal scents – Nothing conjures up warm memories more than the sweet, spicy scents of fall. Bring them to mind with a pot of simmering cider on the stove or the aroma of freshly baked bread or cookies. But try to keep it natural. Scented candles or aerosol sprays can irritate some buyers.
Make the kitchen sparkle – Keep it very clean and remove all cleaning supplies from view. Take the notes and photos off the refrigerator and keep the counters clear – except, perhaps, for an attractive cookbook and a bottle of wine or olive oil, or a handsome arrangement of fall produce in a pretty bowl or basket.
Let the light in – Keep drapes and blinds open during the day, and turn on the lights if your home is dark or the weather outside is gray.
Make the fireplace a focal point – Can you make it seem cozier with an armchair or rocking chair facing it, draped with a shawl or afghan? Will a few small pumpkins or gourds add a homey touch to the mantel? Can you rearrange the furniture to make the fireplace the focus of the room?
Set the dining room table – Using fall foliage and candles as a centerpiece, set the table with your best cloth, glassware and china – or dramatize a polished wood table with a showy bowl or basket full of autumn’s finest fruits and foliage.
By Barbara Pronin
The transition from summer to fall means more than the beginning of football season and sending the kids back to school. For a homeowner wanting to sell a home, it means staging it right with fall in mind to make it more appealing to buyers.
Here are seven ways to bump up your home’s seasonal appeal:
Start with curb appeal – Keep the lawn free of falling leaves and debris and cut back dead or dying perennials. Replace them with fall blooms, like mums, and/or add a few fall blooms in pots to the front porch.
Add fall décor – Use neutral fall décor outside, such as pumpkins, leafy wreaths or small hay bales that appeal to adult sensibilities. But keep it to a tasteful minimum. The idea is to add a few homey touches but keep the focus on the home itself.
Use seasonal scents – Nothing conjures up warm memories more than the sweet, spicy scents of fall. Bring them to mind with a pot of simmering cider on the stove or the aroma of freshly baked bread or cookies. But try to keep it natural. Scented candles or aerosol sprays can irritate some buyers.
Make the kitchen sparkle – Keep it very clean and remove all cleaning supplies from view. Take the notes and photos off the refrigerator and keep the counters clear – except, perhaps, for an attractive cookbook and a bottle of wine or olive oil, or a handsome arrangement of fall produce in a pretty bowl or basket.
Let the light in – Keep drapes and blinds open during the day, and turn on the lights if your home is dark or the weather outside is gray.
Make the fireplace a focal point – Can you make it seem cozier with an armchair or rocking chair facing it, draped with a shawl or afghan? Will a few small pumpkins or gourds add a homey touch to the mantel? Can you rearrange the furniture to make the fireplace the focus of the room?
Set the dining room table – Using fall foliage and candles as a centerpiece, set the table with your best cloth, glassware and china – or dramatize a polished wood table with a showy bowl or basket full of autumn’s finest fruits and foliage.
Friday, August 31, 2012
6 Best Things to Buy in September
6 Best Things to Buy in September
By Barbara Pronin, RISMedia Columnist
The livin’ may be easy in ‘summertime,’ but bargain season typically begins to heat up in September as new models roll off the assembly lines and a holiday mindset kicks in.
If you’re in the market for household goods or travel, the personal finance advocates at Kiplinger Finance suggest September is the best time to shop for these bargains:
Holiday airfare – Experts say now is the time to search for buys in holiday airfare. You’ll likely get a better price and a better seat for holiday air travel now than you will if you wait much longer – and bear in mind the best air fares are usually offered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Non-peak vacations – Look into a ‘shoulder season’ vacation, which offers some of the best buys on cruises, resort trips, vacation rentals and international airfare during the lull between peak vacation periods. Bonus: Pleasant weather and fewer crowds in many popular destinations.
New cars – Dealers are clearing inventory now to make room for the new models. Feel free to haggle a bit more for the best price possible on a new, end-of-year model of the vehicle of your choice.
Major appliances – As the new models come in, early fall will also yield the best prices on major appliances. In addition to searching out a buy on an end-of-year model, look for huge reductions on display appliances with minor dings or scratches.
Grills – As the weather cools down, so does demand, making fall the best time to replace your old grill. Look for good buys on models with extra features you may not have been able to afford last spring.
Landscaping plants – You’ll find the best buys on trees and shrubs in the fall, when nurseries want to sell off inventory to keep down greenhouse costs.
By Barbara Pronin, RISMedia Columnist
The livin’ may be easy in ‘summertime,’ but bargain season typically begins to heat up in September as new models roll off the assembly lines and a holiday mindset kicks in.
If you’re in the market for household goods or travel, the personal finance advocates at Kiplinger Finance suggest September is the best time to shop for these bargains:
Holiday airfare – Experts say now is the time to search for buys in holiday airfare. You’ll likely get a better price and a better seat for holiday air travel now than you will if you wait much longer – and bear in mind the best air fares are usually offered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Non-peak vacations – Look into a ‘shoulder season’ vacation, which offers some of the best buys on cruises, resort trips, vacation rentals and international airfare during the lull between peak vacation periods. Bonus: Pleasant weather and fewer crowds in many popular destinations.
New cars – Dealers are clearing inventory now to make room for the new models. Feel free to haggle a bit more for the best price possible on a new, end-of-year model of the vehicle of your choice.
Major appliances – As the new models come in, early fall will also yield the best prices on major appliances. In addition to searching out a buy on an end-of-year model, look for huge reductions on display appliances with minor dings or scratches.
Grills – As the weather cools down, so does demand, making fall the best time to replace your old grill. Look for good buys on models with extra features you may not have been able to afford last spring.
Landscaping plants – You’ll find the best buys on trees and shrubs in the fall, when nurseries want to sell off inventory to keep down greenhouse costs.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
7 Steps to Start The School Year Strong, Safe and Sound
Looking to give kids a better start to their school year? A new list of seven steps can help your child start the year off strong, safe and sound.
1. Take a realistic look at your child’s emotional school-readiness.
Qualities like being more sensitive or less sensitive, more outgoing or more reserved, louder or quieter, are all normal and have both benefits and potential liabilities. The sooner children can learn to be in charge of their qualities, so that these are gifts instead of problems, the happier and more successful they will be.
2. Be clear about both safety and learning expectations.
Tell your child clearly, 'I expect you to feel respected and safe at school. And I expect you to act in safe and respectful ways towards others.' Be explicit about what this means, using specific examples relevant to your child.
3. Make a plan for potential problems.
Children can suddenly find themselves struggling with some academic subject or having emotional or social problems with someone in their circle of friends. Explore ways to make learning and interacting with friends easier. Sometimes children need major support, but often a little bit of help can make a huge difference.
4. Stay in touch with what is going on at school.
Many children are tired of school by the time they get home and don’t give much information when asked general questions like, “How was school today?" At the same time, most children like to share what’s going on in their lives if they are listened to without being lectured or having to hear negative comments about themselves, their school, or their friends.
5. Offer support to your child’s teachers and schools.
Teaching is a hard job and schools face many challenges. Supporting teachers and not taking them for granted is vital to helping kids have a good experience at school.
6. Prepare your children to set boundaries and to advocate for themselves.
In an ideal world, people would always be kind to each other rather than being mean to each other. However, even people who really care about each other annoy and bother each other sometimes. Rehearsing how to handle specific problems will help to increase confidence, reduce anxiety, and build competence.
7. Advocate for your children when things go wrong.
Remember that, as parents, our job is to make sure that our children are in places that are emotionally and physically safe and with people who are creating a supportive, effective learning environment. If something goes wrong, be prepared to advocate in a respectful, powerful way for your child.
Source: Kidpower.org
1. Take a realistic look at your child’s emotional school-readiness.
Qualities like being more sensitive or less sensitive, more outgoing or more reserved, louder or quieter, are all normal and have both benefits and potential liabilities. The sooner children can learn to be in charge of their qualities, so that these are gifts instead of problems, the happier and more successful they will be.
2. Be clear about both safety and learning expectations.
Tell your child clearly, 'I expect you to feel respected and safe at school. And I expect you to act in safe and respectful ways towards others.' Be explicit about what this means, using specific examples relevant to your child.
3. Make a plan for potential problems.
Children can suddenly find themselves struggling with some academic subject or having emotional or social problems with someone in their circle of friends. Explore ways to make learning and interacting with friends easier. Sometimes children need major support, but often a little bit of help can make a huge difference.
4. Stay in touch with what is going on at school.
Many children are tired of school by the time they get home and don’t give much information when asked general questions like, “How was school today?" At the same time, most children like to share what’s going on in their lives if they are listened to without being lectured or having to hear negative comments about themselves, their school, or their friends.
5. Offer support to your child’s teachers and schools.
Teaching is a hard job and schools face many challenges. Supporting teachers and not taking them for granted is vital to helping kids have a good experience at school.
6. Prepare your children to set boundaries and to advocate for themselves.
In an ideal world, people would always be kind to each other rather than being mean to each other. However, even people who really care about each other annoy and bother each other sometimes. Rehearsing how to handle specific problems will help to increase confidence, reduce anxiety, and build competence.
7. Advocate for your children when things go wrong.
Remember that, as parents, our job is to make sure that our children are in places that are emotionally and physically safe and with people who are creating a supportive, effective learning environment. If something goes wrong, be prepared to advocate in a respectful, powerful way for your child.
Source: Kidpower.org
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Top Tips to Master Your Grill
Tips for Successful Tailgating
With the kick-off to the football season here, tailgating season is upon us. Fans across the country are preparing their checklists and equipment for the pre-game festivities, for what is sure to be the best tailgating season yet.
And, according to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA), when it comes to tailgating, this season North Americans are more likely to tailgate at professional football games (27 percent) than any other type of event, such as outdoor concerts (19 percent) and college football games (15 percent). So, fire-up the portable grill, smoker or fryer, grab all the essentials for a finger-licking good time, and assemble your team to help get this year's tailgating season off to a winning start.
"What better way to kick-off game day than bringing together friends and family for a tailgate? From the rookie to the pro tailgater, everyone should always start with a game plan and the right equipment and tools," says Leslie Wheeler, HPBA Communications Director. "A portable grill, smoker or fryer is a must for a successful tailgate, and coming to the stadium prepared with all the essentials will ensure a touchdown every time."
Starting your tailgating season off right sets the right tone for the rest of the season. Follow these tips to get started.
Know the Rules: Know the tailgating rules for your stadium before game day. Are grills, smokers and fryers allowed? What time do the parking lot gates open for tailgaters?
Morning Practice: Create a tailgate checklist so you won't forget your gear, including food, drinks, grill, smoker or fryer, grilling accessories, chairs, table, cooler and paper goods.
Equipment Check: You can't play the game without the ball, and you can't cook without the grill, smoker or fryer. Make sure your 'equipment' works properly before getting to the stadium. You'll also want to bring your favorite outdoor cooking accessories, like tongs, and plenty of paper goods for serving.
Be a Team Player: Score big with your friends by bringing a variety of food to throw on the grill, smoker or fryer, and drinks and water, so that there's something for everyone, including kids, vegetarians and those who may just want a snack.
Pre-Game Prep: Prep and marinate meat ahead of time and keep on ice during transportation to ensure freshness (and safety). Arrive early to start up the grill so that it's fired-up by the time other tailgaters arrive.
Go the Extra Yard: You've got the grill and the food, but don't forget about tailgating entertainment, like an iPod, MP3 player or other device for parking lot music, generator to power a TV for pre-game coverage, or even a football, frisbee or cornhole set for activities to play before the game starts.
Clean-Up Blitz: Before heading into the stadium, make sure the grill is completely extinguished, coals are cooled and disposed, and you've cleaned up your tailgating area. Many stadiums provide metal trash cans to place used charcoal. However, if you are tailgating at a stadium that does not, it is always a good idea to bring your own small metal can to place cooled coals.
Practice Makes Perfect: After you and your guests deemed the tailgate a success and the game is over, go home and 'review the tapes'. Did the new marinade you used work? Do you have enough charcoal, propane, etc. for next week's tailgate? Take what you learn from each tailgate and apply it to the next to be the champion of the tailgating season.
Source: www.hpba.org
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