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How To Protect Your Greatest Asset – Your Home – From Subterranean Termites

February 4, 2012 By schmalz Leave a Comment

When it comes to protecting your home’s value, you have no control over some of the factors that influence real estate values, like nearby retail development or the job market in your area. You can, however, take control over one major factor in your home’s value, its health and the health of your neighborhood – termites.

Termites cause more than $2 billion in damage every year to homes in the United States, and statistics show that’s likely more damage than what fire, storms or earthquakes cause.

Subterranean termites are unlike many other problematic insects or rodents in that they forage for food 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They feed on wood and cellulose products, which are part of your home’s construction.

Termites live in colonies underground or above ground in moist areas, according to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). Each colony can contain up to 2 million termites – meaning your home could have several million termites living around the foundation and they are constantly seeking a food source.

It is important to be able to spot the signs of a termite infestation by looking around your home. Termites typically create what are called mud tubes and together they travel through these tubes in search of new food sources. Look for these mud tubes along your home’s exterior. Keep in mind that termites are very small in size – from 1/8 to 3/8 of an inch – so they can travel through small non-cellulose cracks in your home, such as through your foundation.

The NPMA offers several tips to help you reduce the possibility of a termite infestation. These include lowering the humidity in crawl spaces or other areas with reduced ventilation to eliminate a moist atmosphere – the kind that termites seek out. Also, it is very important to keep wood or scraps of lumber away from your home. Never pile firewood against your home; that’s a sound food source for Subterranean termites. By putting lumber against your foundation or wall, you’re in essence inviting termites to feed right next to your home.

The Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System from Dow AgroSciences provides a tough, environmentally responsible solution for protection against termites. The Sentricon System features stations that are strategically placed eight to 10 feet around the perimeter of your home. Bait in each station is highly desirable to termites, so worker termites who are responsible for feeding the colony will feed upon it and bring it back to the colony. Once other termites feed upon it they will start to die off, but even if they don’t feed on it the worker termites already have and once they die off, so does the colony’s food source. Soon the termite colony will be eliminated.

The Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System currently protects more than 2 million homes. For every system that is used, fewer liquid treatments are being applied, so that means fewer liquid termiticides are being injected into the soil. For more information about the Sentricon System, visit www.sentricon.com.

Filed Under: Family Living, Home Buyer Information, Home Owner Information, News You Can Use

On Valentine’s Day, Tradition Beats Tech For Your Sweetheart’s Gift

January 28, 2012 By schmalz Leave a Comment

Like most things in modern life, romance has gone online. People update their love lives by setting their status to “in a relationship,” “engaged” or “it’s complicated” and online dating is now as common as getting set up by friends – if not more so. However, when it comes to telling your special someone how you feel about them on Valentine’s Day, think traditional, rather than digital.

On a holiday that celebrates our most genuine feelings, the world of online greetings lacks important personal connections. In fact, a recent survey, conducted on behalf of premium Swiss chocolatier Lindt, showed the majority of women (57 percent) like to receive traditional gifts on Valentine’s Day, such as chocolates or flowers.

However, it’s important to remember that you should buy carefully. Pay attention to the quality of the items you give, make a connection with your loved one’s favorite things, and your gifts will be as unique and special as the person who is receiving them.

Keep these ideas in mind as you shop for your loved ones on Valentine’s Day:

* Handwritten cards. What could be more meaningful than a heartfelt expression of love? Whether you’re telling a family member you’re thankful for his or her love over the years, or detailing all the ways you love your significant other, taking the time to carefully craft a note just for that person is a great idea. You can be sure they’ll treasure it. If you need some inspiration, consider choosing a photo of you with the person you’re writing to and telling them about your good memories of when the picture was taken.

* Chocolates. Make your gift stand apart by putting a little added thought into it. Start by choosing premium chocolate, like Lindt, which is made with the finest ingredients and is sure to be the perfect gift option for everyone on your Valentine’s Day list. Secondly, think carefully about the preferences of the person you’re giving the gift to. If your spouse loves traditional flavors, such as milk chocolate, give him one of Lindt’s LINDOR Gift Hearts, which are filled with smooth-melting truffles. And since the survey revealed the majority of women wish a “Happy Valentine’s Day” to friends and family in addition to their significant other, don’t forget to surprise them with something special as well. Consider giving your mom or dad a seasonal bag of truffles with flavors such as Lindt’s limited-edition milk chocolate with a white chocolate center. And surprise a friend or co-worker with a ready-to-gift option, like a LINDOR Mini Gift Heart, which is a great choice.

* Jewelry. The idea of giving jewelry might seem confined to a man giving a gift to a woman. But actually, anyone can give and receive jewelry – you might just need to adjust your thoughts on what falls into that category. For example, a handsome watch or playful cufflinks that perfectly match your man’s style can be a great gift. Husbands shopping for their wives can often feel overwhelmed by the amount of style options available, but taking a creative approach to shopping can make it easier to find just the right thing. Take some snapshots of her favorite pieces on your phone and bring them along to the jewelry store. Together with a sales assistant, use the photos to pick out something that will suit her perfectly.

* Flowers. Skip the basic blooms and put a bit more thought into any bouquet you give. Think about the recipient’s favorite colors – you don’t necessarily have to go with pink and red just because those are emblematic of the holiday. If you’re stumped for which flowers to buy for your mother, ask your dad whether he knows her favorite blooms, or ask a florist to help you choose flowers with special meanings.

Of course, you can feel free to say “Happy Valentine’s Day!” on your sweetheart’s “wall,” but giving a heartfelt, timeless gift will make the holiday one to remember. For more classic gift ideas, visit Lindt.com.

Filed Under: This Week's Top Story

Top 100 Best Books Of 2011

January 21, 2012 By schmalz Leave a Comment

So many books. So many choices. We’ve held countless meetings and votes, we’ve pored over the books and occasionally poured our hearts out to get you this final Top 100. Don’t just look at the Top 10 or 20. There are great books all up and down the Top 100 list. One of them might be the perfect read for you.

Shop Amazon’s 100 Best Books of 2011

Filed Under: 100 Best Books Of 2011, Books

Kindle Daily Deals

January 21, 2012 By schmalz Leave a Comment

Each day we unveil a new Kindle book deal. Check back daily to see what’s next. Deals go live at approximately 12:00 a.m., Pacific time. Individual Daily Deal titles may have additional territory restrictions, and not all deals are available in all territories.

Shop Kindle Books Daily Deal

Filed Under: Books, Kindle Daily Deals

Save Money With These Energy Efficiency Tips

January 21, 2012 By schmalz Leave a Comment

Saving money is on everyone’s mind this winter season. Between the holiday expenses, colder temperatures and tight budgets, finding ways to reduce costs can be a bit of a challenge. If you’re looking for ways to save, look at your home, and see if you can improve on your energy efficiency – thereby keeping a few extra dollars in your pocket.

* Program the temperature. You already know that the lower you set the thermometer in winter, the less your furnace will work. Having the temperature set in the low 60s when out and about makes perfect sense. But when you are home, setting the temps a bit higher will help keep you comfortable. Instead of continuously running back and forth to the thermostat to constantly keep readjusting the temperature, install a programmable thermostat and preset the times you want the temps lower or higher.

* Clean your heating and cooling system. To help your furnace operate better, hire a qualified company to clean the ducts, blower, cooling coils and heat exchanger. To find someone certified contact NADCA – the HVAC Inspection, Maintenance and Restoration Association. NADCA recommends homeowners clean their heating and cooling systems annually, because dust and pollen build up on your ducts, and then recirculate through your home. This buildup of dirt prevents your furnace from efficiently running, making it work harder and run longer to maintain the temperature you set.

“A clean heating and cooling system helps to increase the airflow through your furnace, which in turn helps to make your home more comfortable,” says Matt Mongiello, president of NADCA. “And when you combine a clean system with controlled temperatures, you’ll notice the savings on your utility bills.”

* Wash clothes in cold water. Every household processes about 400 loads of laundry per year, according to the California Energy Commission , making your washer one of the biggest water consuming products in your house. To help save on energy, wash your clothes only in cold water so you don’t have to spend money using the water heater. And make sure you only process full loads to help conserve the number of loads you run and water you use. Additional energy savings can be found by line drying your clothes, or running them through the dryer for half the time, and then air drying them the rest of the time. Across most of the country, humidity levels tend to be lower during the winter months, which helps to speed up the clothes drying process.

* Unplug appliances. The amount of electricity consumed in your home often can easily be reduced by just unplugging and turning off items. According to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories, 5 percent of residential energy use in the U.S. is used when appliances are in the off position. Consider unplugging smaller appliances such as your microwave, cellphone charger, coffee maker and desktop computer which can continue to consume energy, even when you’re not using them. If the appliance has a clock, or electrical display of some sort, electricity is needed to keep those items illuminated. If it’s a hassle to unplug these items after each and every use, consider putting them on a power strip, so you can quickly and easily flip the switch on and off when you need to use the appliances.

Tightening down on your energy usage can help you save a couple of dollars here and there, and also keep you more comfortable in your home. So sit back and relax in your home and enjoy the winter season.

Filed Under: Family Living, Features

Bathroom Remodeling Ideas: From Small To Total Overhaul

January 13, 2012 By schmalz Leave a Comment

Ready to give your bathroom a facelift, but can’t decide what changes to make? From tubs to toilets to tile, the sky is the limit when it comes to bathroom renovations, even if budget is not.

Whether you are planning some small do-it-yourself changes, or a major overhaul, here are some fresh ideas for bathroom remodeling that will help you build the smart, stylish, and functional bathroom of your dreams.

Start living large
Feeling crowded in a small bathroom? For a small-budget fix-up, replace your old space-wasting vanity with a smart open-design style that maximizes storage, while visually opening up the room. If your project is major and you are opening the walls, replace your floor-mounted toilet in favor of a wall-mounted toilet, such as Porcher Solutions Dual Flush toilet, which stows the water tank behind the wall. The Porcher Solutions toilet is water-wise, as well as space-savvy, and the EverClean surface inhibits the growth of stain and odor causing bacteria, mold and mildew on the surface.

Focus on your faucet
If you have a small budget, making a simple change like updating a bathroom faucet and accessories can still have a dramatic impact on the style of the room. Faucets with the Speed Connect drain can be installed in minutes, and reflect any decor choice, from traditional to minimalist in popular finishes such as oil-rubbed bronze and polished chrome. Change light fixtures and drawer pulls to match your faucet, splurge on some updated colors for towels and rugs and you have a beautiful before-and-after makeover of your very own.

Think accessible
A bathroom remodel is a great time to invest in fixtures that will allow you and your loved ones to remain independent in your home through illness, aging or other unforeseen events. The best products also work great and feel terrific in the here and now. A taller, Right Height toilet is a luxurious comfort. If you rarely use your bathtub, it can be easily replaced with an acrylic seated-safety shower unit that simply slides into your existing tub recess. Optional acrylic surrounds are easy to install and easy to keep clean, while the integral seat provides a safe option for both bathing and shaving.

Go green to save green
The cost of water will be rising, so get ahead of the curve by choosing toilets, faucets and showerheads that carry the EPA’s WaterSense certification label. The label assures that you won’t be sacrificing performance. Visit www.responsiblebathroom.com for a wide range of WaterSense-certified products and a handy calculator so you can watch your water, and money, savings add up.

Filed Under: DIY Projects, This Week's Top Story