If you have hard water in your home, you may be considering installing some type of a water softener. One type of water softener is a reverse osmosis water filtration system. This type filters out many of the impurities found in water, leaving you with softer, cleaner water. However, as with most things, there are pros and cons to using reverse osmosis to treat your water. Learning these pros and cons can help you decide if this is the best water softening system for your home. Here are a few of the advantages and disadvantages. Cons of Reverse Osmosis May Not Remove Chemical Components in the Water One of the downsides to using reverse osmosis is that it can only filter out impurities in water that are larger than a water molecule. Fortunately, the minerals that cause hard water are larger than a water molecule, ensuring they are removed. However, many cities and counties are treating their city water with chemicals, such as chlorine. These chemicals are often smaller than a water molecule, and thus will not be removed. If you are looking for chemical-free drinking water, in addition to softer water, this may not be the right option for you. Can Remove Good Minerals The other disadvantage to reverse osmosis is that you can strip good minerals out of the water as well. These minerals, such as calcium, not only improve the taste of the water, but are good for your body and health as well. Unfortunately, there is no way to pick which minerals to remove and which to keep with a reverse osmosis softening system. Pros of Reverse Osmosis Effective Way to Soften Hard Water One of the biggest benefits to reverse osmosis is that it is an extremely effective way to soften hard water. If you don’t drink the tap water at your home anyways, and are tired of scrubbing rust or calcium stains out of your sink or bathtub, this softening system is effective at removing those impurities that cause hard water. Easy to Maintain The other advantage to a reverse osmosis system is that it is extremely easy to care for. You simply need to replace or clean the filter as recommended by the manufacturer of the system you purchase. There are no salts to buy or use and there is no huge system to maintain or clean every few months. If you want to get rid of hard water in your home, but you don’t want something else you have to constantly care for or maintain, a reverse osmosis system may be perfect for you. If you are tired of hard water in your home, installing a water softener can solve the process. Learning the pros and cons of a reverse osmosis system will help you decide if it is the best way for you to improve your home’s...
read moreIf your window air-conditioning unit was stored in a shed that is not moisture-proof and now has visible rust spots on its cover and portions of its interior, remove the damaged areas by completing the following steps. Once you have eliminated signs of corrosion, apply a rust-inhibiting spray to the unit’s metal components to prevent additional moisture-related damage. Materials Needed vinyl tarp naval jelly foam brush cleaning cloth with abrasive surface metal-cleaning agent sponge water towel face mask disposable gloves rust-inhibiting spray Treat Rust Spots with a Dissolving Agent Place the air conditioner on top of a level surface that is covered with a vinyl tarp. Remove the unit’s cover and use a foam brush to apply a coat of naval jelly to each rust spot on both sides of the cover. Inspect the unit’s interior and apply naval jelly to corroded areas in the same manner. Wait for the rust to begin dissolving. This will occur after several minutes. Wipe a cloth with an abrasive surface back and forth over the rusted sections to assist with removing them. Clean the Treated Areas and Spray a Rust-Inhibitor on Them Apply a metal-cleaning agent to the unit’s interior and cover. Remove any naval jelly that remains on parts of the unit, as well as surface dirt, by wiping each sprayed section with a damp sponge. Use a towel to dry the unit’s interior and cover. Secure a face mask over your nose and mouth in order to prevent breathing in harsh fumes that the rust-inhibiting spray emits. Cover your hands with a pair of disposable gloves. Evenly apply a coat of rust-inhibiting spray to metal parts that make up the unit’s interior and any metal pieces on the cover. When applying the spray to the cover, spray one side and wait for it to dry before turning the cover and applying the inhibitor to the other side. Once the inhibitor has dried, secure the unit’s cover and install the air conditioner in a window in your home or business. Take Care of the Unit The rust-inhibiting spray will provide the unit with protection from moisture. It is important, however, to maintain the unit in order to ensure that it will remain damage-free altogether. Wipe off the cover and interior parts with a damp cloth as needed. Dry surfaces with a towel when finished. Replace the unit’s filter whenever it has a dirty surface. These steps will assist with keeping the unit in operating order. For more help with your air-conditioning repairs, contact a company such as HomeSmart From Xcel...
read moreAfter a metal gutter system is installed on the side of the commercial building that you own, keep it maintained and damage-free with the following steps. As a result, rainwater will be diverted away from the exterior of your business, and you will not need to worry about the gutter system becoming clogged, which could cause water to pool on the rooftop and damage materials that it is made out of. Materials extension ladder trowel tube brush water hose garden sprayer (a model that contains shoulder straps) detergent oxygenated bleach natural-bristled scrub brush tube of seam sealant putty knife Remove Debris And Stains From Gutter Sections Use a trowel to scrape away loose debris from each gutter section while standing on a ladder. Insert a tube brush into the downspout to dislodge leaves, twigs, and any other residue that is stuck inside of the opening. Use a water hose to rinse the interior of the gutter system, including the opening to the downspout. Eliminate Hardened Residue Fill the tank to a garden sprayer with a cleaning solution that contains water and a small amount of detergent and oxygenated bleach. Agitate the items in the tank by turning on the machine’s power button for a couple minutes. Place the sprayer’s straps over your shoulders and rest the machine against the central part of your back. Climb the ladder and apply a generous amount of the cleaning solution to any hardened residue that is located in each gutter section by squeezing the machine’s trigger. Use a natural bristled brush to loosen the residue. Apply force to the tool’s handle as you move the brush back and forth. Eliminate the cleaning solution from gutter pieces with a water hose. Inspect And Seal Seams Once the gutter system is dry, inspect its exterior. If any of the seams between adjoining metal sections appear to have gaps in them, reseal them by applying an even layer of seam sealant that is designed to be used on metal. Smooth out the sealant with a putty knife. The product will require several hours to dry. The gutter system will deposit water in another part of your business’ property whenever it rains. Keep the gutter system maintained by occasionally inspecting the interior of each piece and eliminating loose debris when necessary. Rinse out the downspout and eliminate stains from metal surfaces to ensure that the gutter system will continue to work properly. If you need more assistance, companies like Northwest Rain Gutter may be able to...
read moreGlass shower doors look amazing but tend to get smudged rather easily. If a person is in the shower and doesn’t have his or her glasses, he or she might end up touching the glass rather than the handle to the door, leaving a smudge. Luckily, it is relatively easy to keep your shower doors clean so that your shower looks as good as the day that it was installed. 1. Take the Time to Squeegee In order to avoid getting any water marks on your shower, get yourself and the rest of your family into the habit of squeegeeing every day. It would be most effective to have each person take a squeegee and get rid of any water each time after they shower, but that is often not realistic. If you have kids, assign them the task of squeegeeing the shower right when they get home from school. If you don’t have kids, simply get into the habit of squeegeeing the shower when you get home from work or after you have just taken a shower. This is the easiest way to prevent water stains on your shower. 2. Use a Dyer Sheet to Get Rid of Soap Scum Make sure that you get rid of soap scum off of your glass shower door at least once a week in order to keep your door looking great and prevent the scum from causing permanent damage. One of the easiest and cheapest ways to get rid of the soap scum is to use a dryer sheet. A dryer sheet contains chemicals that break down the soap that is on your clothes when you put them in the dryer. You can use those same chemicals to break down the soap on your glass shower doors. Take a dryer sheet and spray it with a little bit of water. Then, start wiping down your shower door. The soap should come right off. 3. Use a Glass Cleaner Once a Week Finally, spray down your shower door with a glass cleaner and squeegee it off in order to make your shower doors more resistant to stains and other problems. This will allow you to go slightly longer between actively squeegeeing the water out after your showers. For more information, talk to a company that specializes in glass shower doors. They will be able to recommend some specific cleaners for your particular brand of glass shower door. For glass shower doors, contact a company such as Glasshopper Schor...
read moreMore than three in five Americans own a pet of some type. In many of these homes, there is also an ample amount of carpet. Unfortunately pets and carpet do not mix. A lot of pet owners treat their pet as a member of the family, but it can be tough when you are constantly cleaning your carpet due to pet urine, mud tracked in from outside, and pet dander. While carpet is not recommended for those households with pets that walk around inside, there are some things you can do to protect your carpet. Here are some tips for keeping your carpet healthy even with pets inside. Watch the Water Bowl Your pet requires water everyday to stay hydrated. If possible, make sure the water bowl sits on a flat surface like tile or linoleum instead of your carpets. If the water bowl must be on the carpet, then you want to place a mat underneath the bowl to keep the bowl from moving around as much. It will also help keep the extra drops from your pet’s mouth off the carpet. Excessive water in the carpeting can cause mold and mildew, so you want to make sure you do not get your pet’s water in your carpet. Groom Your Pet Dogs and cats specifically are known to shed depending on the breed. Pet hair can not only cause allergies to flare up, but it can ruin the carpeting. To better protect your floors, you want to make sure you have your pet groomed consistently. Additionally, brushing your dog or cat’s hair will help keep the hair from getting everywhere. Because your pet relies on its hair to protect them in the cold and hot weather, you want to be sure to talk to your groomer about the proper length for your pet. Start a Flea Treatment A female flea can lay over 2,000 eggs throughout the course of her lifetime. Once your dog or cat brings in the fleas, they will often take up home in your carpet fibers and other upholstered furniture. It is important to keep fleas out of the home and especially out of the carpeting. Just because you have killed off the fleas that are living on your pet, the fleas in your carpet can quickly get right back on your pet again. To avoid fleas altogether, you want to start a flea treatment for your pets. Since fleas are more prone to come around during the warmer months, you may want to consider starting it right before spring and summer. Also, make sure you vacuum your carpet often to help remove fleas and eggs from living in the fibers of your...
read moreGrowing any sort of plant when you live in extremely hot weather – especially if it’s dry heat – can be a struggle, but attempting to grow flowers to make your yard look more colorful and more attractive can be a downright nightmare. However, a lot of the hardship and toil of keeping flowers alive and un-wilted can be avoided by simply knowing which flowers to select for your best results. So if you’re looking for some flowers that bloom best under the baking sun (whether inside or outside your home), then here’s what you need to know. Turk’s Cap As red and bright as a fire truck, Turk’s Cap is suited for whatever Mother Nature can throw at it, be it sun, shade, and even drought, which is relatively common in the desert. Its red flower doesn’t spread apart at bloom, but stays in a tight fist, offering a punch of color that draws both the eye and natural pollinators. This plant won’t just survive in the baking heat – it’ll actually thrive, blooming at the beginning of summer and lasting until the first frosts of winter set in. Bunny-Ear Cactus This plant is even more adorable than its name, which is saying something; this aptly named cactus grows two distinct (and non-spiny) pads in addition to its primary stalk, giving off the appearance of a rabbit. Bunny-Ear Cactus produces yellow flowers during the spring and summer, which are a welcome addition to the (often flat, dry, and brown) landscape of the desert. However, these yellow blooms aren’t alone for long; these cacti also produce small, circular purple fruit as well, so long as they are allowed to grow in hot areas of low humidity but full sun – or, in other words, the stereotypical desert. Autumn Sage Contrary to its name, this flowering plant actually starts blooming in the dog days of summer, giving color and beauty to your yard at a time when few other plants survive. Growing to about two feet tall (and thus easily visible from any vantage point), Autumn Sage has nice, green foliage topped with purple, pink, and red flowers that can attract pollinators such as hummingbirds and butterflies, ensuring that the beautiful colors of the Autumn Sage will spread around your landscape. For best results, make sure that your plant is getting full sun, and that the ground underneath your sage is able to drain well, and you should have beautiful flowers blooming well into the fall. For more information, contact a company like Shades Of...
read moreSand is a useful tool in landscaping. It can act as an even base for a path or a wall, or it can even out little hills or dips in a yard so that a lawn can be flat. But there are plenty of other ways to use sand in landscaping to build a beautiful and unique yard the neighbors will envy. Sand Box If you aren’t interested in the plastic sandboxes widely available in toy stores, try creating a more natural looking oasis for your little ones to play in. Simply create a ring of boulders, fill the ring with sand, and you have an instant sandbox that won’t fade or crack in the sun like those plastic ones. Just be sure to cover it when the kids aren’t playing in it to keep out the neighbor’s cat who might be thrilled to find an oversized litter box in your yard. Fire Pit Sand doesn’t burn, so it makes the perfect base for a backyard fire area. Mark off a small area in your yard using bricks, pavers or rocks and fill it with sand. Put a ready-made fire pit in the center of it or build your own, surround it with a few comfy chairs, and you have a perfect backyard hang-out spot to spend summer evenings when the air cools. Backyard Beach If you love being near the ocean but aren’t lucky enough to have a house near one, create the feel of the ocean in your backyard. Mark off the perfect spot in your backyard and separate it from your lawn with bricks, pavers or rocks. Plant some tall grasses around the wall to cover it up and create a beachy feel. Fill the area with sand, set up a hammock, and you have your own tropical oasis. To give it a little more authenticity, add a water feature to your backyard beach so you can fool yourself into thinking you’re listening to the ocean lapping at the shore. Zen Garden Choose an area in your yard where you know you’ll want to go to feel particularly blissed out and mark it off with either a rock or plant border. Fill the area with sand or gravel and use pavers to make a path through the area. When you’re feeling the need to get away from it all, grab a garden rake, walk along your path and rake the sand into soothing patterns. You’ll be refreshed and ready to return to life in no time. For more information, contact Burien Bark LLC or a similar...
read moreIf you have always thought that your home will not provide shelter to rodents because you are an excellent house-keeper or because you never leave food out, you may be surprised to find that neither of those will fully protect you from becoming a bed-and-breakfast for unwanted, furry guests. In addition, it will also be helpful to remember that although Fido or Fluffy may be able to deter one or two mice from laying claim to your home, they are unlikely to be able to treat an infestation. #1-A Clean Home Is No Temptation To Rodents It is easy to assume that because your laundry is up-to-date, dishes are washed promptly and the floors are always clean, that your home will not be attractive to mice. The truth is that even the cleanest home is likely to have something that is attractive to mice and other rodents. For instance, if the garbage can in your garage ever contains food matter and is not cleaned out immediately, the mice from your neighbor’s home may want to come visit. Even leaving your pet’s food out throughout the day can invite a mouse to come visit. If you have seen one mouse, there are probably others lurking around. Given that a mouse can fit into an opening the size of a nickel, professional assistance to get rid of them is usually your best shot. #2-Putting Food Away Means That It’s Always Safe Although putting away your food and making sure that all boxes, bags, etc. are closed are great ways to keep mice from investigating them, it is important to point out that mice can often chew through those cardboard or lightweight plastic bags. Therefore, if you have noticed or suspect that you are sharing your home with mice, it is a good idea to consider stronger methods to contain your food. Heavier plastic boxes with lids that close are harder for mice to chew through. Alternatively, metal boxes with snapping lids or even thermoses for some items will also be useful. #3-Pets Can Always Get Rid Of Mice It is very possible that your brave cat or dog could track and kill a mouse. However, doing so is not a guarantee and could result in injuries to your pet. In addition, since it was previously stated that seeing one mouse usually means others are nearby, a single domesticated pet may not always be able to successfully destroy groups of mice that can hide in nearby walls. Instead, a better solution is to consider the use of a pest control specialist to help prevent and treat any infestation of mice. In conclusion, rodent control is an important matter that can impact your home and family members in a number of ways. By understanding the truth about rodents, it will be easier to protect against them....
read moreArtificial turf is becoming more popular for residential properties. Of course, it is often used on sports fields, but it is now a great solution for homeowners, too. This article explains 3 advantages of installing artificial turf in your yard. Artificial Turf Looks and Feels More Like the Real Thing Many people have a false assumption that artificial turf looks like plastic. They think that the color looks fake and the blades are too shiny. However, modern turf looks much more convincing and more like a real grass. Furthermore, the turf has lining that replicates the feeling of walking on real grass. The padding usually comes in the form of small proper pebbles that are very similar to real dirt soil. All in all, artificial turf looks very similar to real grass, except that you don’t need to worry about browning and dead spots. Artificial Turf Will Save You Money As homeowners, we generally use a lot of water to keep our lawns and gardens green. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claims that, on average, households use use 30% of their water outdoors. Of course, this is much higher in dry, hot climates. Furthermore, much of the water we use to water our lawn with sprinklers evaporates before it even hits the lawn. Evaporating sprinkler water essentially represents money you are wasting. Imagine being able to cut your water bill by 30%. You will instantly start saving money. At the same time, you won’t need to spend money on lawn maintenance tools like a lawnmower, seeds, weed wacker, sprinklers and the like. Of course, you will also be saving yourself a lot of time. You won’t be wasting your weekends mowing and maintaining your lawn. Artificial Turf is Eco-Friendly When shopping for artificial turf, you need to be responsible. Of course, owning artificial turf will automatically make your property more eco-friendly, just by using less water. But, you want to choose a product that is made out of recycled material. The blades, as well as the rubber padding, can both be made out of recycled materials. For instance, the rubber can be made out of recycled auto tires. Artificial turf is great for any home. It will eventually pay for itself when you consider all the money you will save on water and maintenance over the years. Luckily, artificial turf looks more and more like real grass, so you can rest assured that it will look great. Contact a company like Alpine Rock and Block for more...
read moreWhether you’re stocking an entire office building, or just need the right seating for your home office, choosing the right chair is important. You want a chair that is comfortable enough to sit in for extended periods of time so that working won’t seem like such a chore. However, with so many different brands on the market, it can be difficult to determine which one is right for you. Use this information to learn more about what to look for when you’re picking out your next office chair. Always Opt For The Adjustable Version The first thing you want to look for in a good office chair is one that can be adjusted. This could be because multiple people will be using the chair, or simply because you will likely need different levels of comfort depending upon which day it is. An adjustable chair comes in many different forms. You want one that can not only be lifted and lowered, but that also has adjustable arms as well. This helps if you need different heights so that your chair will be ergonomic as you’re reaching for the keyboard on your computer. In addition, if you choose a chair with a headrest, make sure that the headrest is adjustable as well. Some days you may want to be a bit more relaxed, so it helps to have a headrest that you can position directly behind your head. On other days, you need to be erect and alert to complete your job tasks, so you must be able to lower the headrest so that it doesn’t become a hindrance. Choose The Right Fabric As you’re doing your shopping, you may see a beautiful executive chair that is constructed out of leather. Although it looks good, you need to consider whether or not it will work for you. While leather is easy to clean and has a wonderful appearance, you need to keep your working conditions in mind. For example, if you work in an office space that is typically cold, the leather will do little to keep you warm. A knit or fabric chair may be a better choice because it will retain heat so you can keep cozy while you work. Choosing the right office chair doesn’t have to be difficult if you know what to look for. Keep these tips in mind so you can make the perfect choice when you’re buying your office chair. Visit a furniture store such as the Office Furniture Barn to try out different...
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