Friday, November 11, 2005
Turn Your Driveway into Something Special
Here's a great home landscaping idea that will turn your driveway into a welcoming picture for your guests. This project will need a professional contractor to complete. Use multicolored brick and stone to increase the area of the drive. Then consider creating an island in the middle by tearing up the concrete. Add a watering fountain in the middle of the drive.
Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps to Improve
This one goes out to all homeowners who are looking to improve the efficiency of their heat pumps and air conditioning systems while saving themselves money on their energy bill. If your system is 15 to 20 years old, then you should more than likely consider purchasing a new unit. And beginning with the New Year, the United States Department of Energy is requiring a 30 percent increase in the efficiency of these systems. Although this will cost you more money out of pocket, you will see the savings down the road.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Non-abrasive Furniture Cleaners
We're looking for your ideas and opinions on the best non-abrasive furniture cleaners. Many of our readers have questions concerning how to safely and effectively clean wooden surfaces without damaging the finish of fine furniture. From down home remedies to cutting-edge products, we'd love to hear what our Hip-Home readers are using. We'll pass along those good ideas to our blogging community.
Monday, November 07, 2005
Keep Your Home Free of Four-legged Pests
There are an entire range of pests that can cause big problems in your hip home. From possums to squirrels, rats to mice, even the occasional raccoon can cause thousands of dollars of damage to your property in a matter of time. Here are some simple steps that you can take to keep your home free of four-legged pests. Follow them and you'll save yourself both time and money.
Seal All the Entryways. Take a casual stroll around your property and seal up all the holes that you find. You will be amazed at the number of entry points that mice and rats have enter your home. Seal all holes with either wood or wire mesh and place a spark arrestor on your roof.
Trim the Fauna. Four-legged pests are excellent climbers. They will use trees, shrubbery, and limbs to gain access to the roof and eventually your chimney. Properly pruning these items will decrease the chances of a pest entering your home this way.
Remove the Piles. If pests can't get into your home, they will be happy to take up residence in a pile of wood, stones, or brick. Then they will go into and out of your home for food. Remove these piles from your immediate area and keep them as far from the house as possible.
Take Care of Pet Food. Piles of pet food are an invitation to pests. Make sure that you store extra food in airtight containers. You can purchase feeders that keep food contained until your dog or cat is ready to eat. The expense is covered by their effectiveness.
Seal All the Entryways. Take a casual stroll around your property and seal up all the holes that you find. You will be amazed at the number of entry points that mice and rats have enter your home. Seal all holes with either wood or wire mesh and place a spark arrestor on your roof.
Trim the Fauna. Four-legged pests are excellent climbers. They will use trees, shrubbery, and limbs to gain access to the roof and eventually your chimney. Properly pruning these items will decrease the chances of a pest entering your home this way.
Remove the Piles. If pests can't get into your home, they will be happy to take up residence in a pile of wood, stones, or brick. Then they will go into and out of your home for food. Remove these piles from your immediate area and keep them as far from the house as possible.
Take Care of Pet Food. Piles of pet food are an invitation to pests. Make sure that you store extra food in airtight containers. You can purchase feeders that keep food contained until your dog or cat is ready to eat. The expense is covered by their effectiveness.
Keep Your Home Free of Four-legged Pests
There are an entire range of pests that can cause big problems in your hip home. From possums to squirrels, rats to mice, even the occasional raccoon can cause thousands of dollars of damage to your property in a matter of time. Here are some simple steps that you can take to keep your home free of four-legged pests. Follow them and you'll save yourself both time and money.
Seal All the Entryways. Take a casual stroll around your property and seal up all the holes that you find. You will be amazed at the number of entry points that mice and rats have enter your home. Seal all holes with either wood or wire mesh and place a spark arrestor on your roof.
Trim the Fauna. Four-legged pests are excellent climbers. They will use trees, shrubbery, and limbs to gain access to the roof and eventually your chimney. Properly pruning these items will decrease the chances of a pest entering your home this way.
Remove the Piles. If pests can't get into your home, they will be happy to take up residence in a pile of wood, stones, or brick. Then they will go into and out of your home for food. Remove these piles from your immediate area and keep them as far from the house as possible.
Take Care of Pet Food. Piles of pet food are an invitation to pests. Make sure that you store extra food in airtight containers. You can purchase feeders that keep food contained until your dog or cat is ready to eat. The expense is covered by their effectiveness.
Seal All the Entryways. Take a casual stroll around your property and seal up all the holes that you find. You will be amazed at the number of entry points that mice and rats have enter your home. Seal all holes with either wood or wire mesh and place a spark arrestor on your roof.
Trim the Fauna. Four-legged pests are excellent climbers. They will use trees, shrubbery, and limbs to gain access to the roof and eventually your chimney. Properly pruning these items will decrease the chances of a pest entering your home this way.
Remove the Piles. If pests can't get into your home, they will be happy to take up residence in a pile of wood, stones, or brick. Then they will go into and out of your home for food. Remove these piles from your immediate area and keep them as far from the house as possible.
Take Care of Pet Food. Piles of pet food are an invitation to pests. Make sure that you store extra food in airtight containers. You can purchase feeders that keep food contained until your dog or cat is ready to eat. The expense is covered by their effectiveness.
Keep Your Home Free of Four-legged Pests
There are an entire range of pests that can cause big problems in your hip home. From possums to squirrels, rats to mice, even the occasional raccoon can cause thousands of dollars of damage to your property in a matter of time. Here are some simple steps that you can take to keep your home free of four-legged pests. Follow them and you'll save yourself both time and money.
Seal All the Entryways. Take a casual stroll around your property and seal up all the holes that you find. You will be amazed at the number of entry points that mice and rats have enter your home. Seal all holes with either wood or wire mesh and place a spark arrestor on your roof.
Trim the Fauna. Four-legged pests are excellent climbers. They will use trees, shrubbery, and limbs to gain access to the roof and eventually your chimney. Properly pruning these items will decrease the chances of a pest entering your home this way.
Remove the Piles. If pests can't get into your home, they will be happy to take up residence in a pile of wood, stones, or brick. Then they will go into and out of your home for food. Remove these piles from your immediate area and keep them as far from the house as possible.
Take Care of Pet Food. Piles of pet food are an invitation to pests. Make sure that you store extra food in airtight containers. You can purchase feeders that keep food contained until your dog or cat is ready to eat. The expense is covered by their effectiveness.
Seal All the Entryways. Take a casual stroll around your property and seal up all the holes that you find. You will be amazed at the number of entry points that mice and rats have enter your home. Seal all holes with either wood or wire mesh and place a spark arrestor on your roof.
Trim the Fauna. Four-legged pests are excellent climbers. They will use trees, shrubbery, and limbs to gain access to the roof and eventually your chimney. Properly pruning these items will decrease the chances of a pest entering your home this way.
Remove the Piles. If pests can't get into your home, they will be happy to take up residence in a pile of wood, stones, or brick. Then they will go into and out of your home for food. Remove these piles from your immediate area and keep them as far from the house as possible.
Take Care of Pet Food. Piles of pet food are an invitation to pests. Make sure that you store extra food in airtight containers. You can purchase feeders that keep food contained until your dog or cat is ready to eat. The expense is covered by their effectiveness.
The Sun Makes Sense: Benefits of a Solar Water Heater
Homeowners are constantly on the look-out for money-saving, energy efficient appliances that are alternatives to electricity and natural gas. One fairly simple solution is to make use of solar power. There are a variety of solar-powered water heaters that will make a real difference on the bottom line of your living expenses.
The Basics.Solar water heaters have three basic parts. The collector is mounted on the roof and pumps the sun's energy into some form of liquid. The storage unit can be mounted on the roof or the ground and will keep water ready for use. The transfer is how the sun's energy heats the drinkable water. Since the sun doesn't shine all of the time, you need a backup conventional water heater available.
Collection. The main considerations when choosing a collection device on a solar water heater are the weight of the unit as well as its resistance to freezing. A collector with a storage tank will require special roof reinforcement in order to compensate for the weight. And a collector that has a low resistance to freezing might pose a problem in lower climates.
Storage. The most typical mode of storage for a solar water heater is a separate tank. In order to store enough water for your family, plan on one person using about 20-gallons of water per day. So you would need an 80-pound tank to have enough water for a family of 4.
Transfer. There are a couple of options to consider when choosing a transfer for your solar water heater. Systems that will operate in warmer climates can have a standard two-line transfer that heats the water directly. For colder climates, special solar water heaters have an anti-freeze transfer system.
The Basics.Solar water heaters have three basic parts. The collector is mounted on the roof and pumps the sun's energy into some form of liquid. The storage unit can be mounted on the roof or the ground and will keep water ready for use. The transfer is how the sun's energy heats the drinkable water. Since the sun doesn't shine all of the time, you need a backup conventional water heater available.
Collection. The main considerations when choosing a collection device on a solar water heater are the weight of the unit as well as its resistance to freezing. A collector with a storage tank will require special roof reinforcement in order to compensate for the weight. And a collector that has a low resistance to freezing might pose a problem in lower climates.
Storage. The most typical mode of storage for a solar water heater is a separate tank. In order to store enough water for your family, plan on one person using about 20-gallons of water per day. So you would need an 80-pound tank to have enough water for a family of 4.
Transfer. There are a couple of options to consider when choosing a transfer for your solar water heater. Systems that will operate in warmer climates can have a standard two-line transfer that heats the water directly. For colder climates, special solar water heaters have an anti-freeze transfer system.
