HOME HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING

BENEFITS OF HIRING PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTORS

Experience: A trial and error approach can work with various projects and problems. But applying such an approach to home improvement projects is risky and potentially dangerous, not to mention costly. Experienced professional contractors with strong track records (seek recommendations from friends or neighbors) won’t have to go through trial and error and are therefore more likely than DIYers to complete a project on time and on budget.

PREPARE COOLING SYSTEMS FOR WARM WEATHER HIRE A TECHNICIAN. Air conditioner technicians can be very helpful and will know how to prepare a system for hot weather. Technicians typically conduct multipoint inspections and measure such things as refrigerant levels and duct leakage. Airflow through the evaporator coil also may be checked. If a homeowner suspects the thermostat is not working properly, a technician can verify if that is true and even install a new one if necessary.

Mike Benson, Owner/Operator

Storing Tools Properly Reduces Injury Risk And Promotes Organization

Whether homeowners have a handful of tools or an entire collection of equipment, proper storage of these items means the difference between staying organized and safe or having to waste time looking for tools and running the risk of injury.

Tools often gravitate to other rooms of the house or become misplaced. When they’re brought out for use, tools may not be returned to the toolbox or shed, taking up residence in drawers or closets or just being left out in the open.

Improper storage of tools also may create safety risks for the persons doing the renovation and other members of the household. The Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that hundreds of thousands of injuries treated at emergency rooms are related to power tools and workshop equipment. While the majority of these injuries occur while using the tools, improper tool storage can still cause injury.

By taking care of tools and keeping them orderly, homeowners can lengthen the life expectancy of their tools and reduce the likelihood of tool-related injury.

Restore

Many people may be tempted to discard rusty tools that have gone unused and sat in a garage or shed for a significant period of time. But tools encrusted with rust do not need to be relegated to the trash bin, nor do gardeners have to toil for hours scraping and sanding off the rust. There’s a much easier way to restore rusty tools that relies on a common household ingredient: vinegar. Pour vinegar into a deep enough vessel to submerge the metal part of the tool. Soak the tool overnight. The next day, use a scouring pad to rub off the rust. If the tool is too big to fit into a can or bucket, simply wrap it with a vinegarsoaked rag and cover the whole tool with a tightly secured plastic bag. Follow the same procedure the next day. After all the rust is gone, rinse the tool in cool water and dry thoroughly. Then return it to regular usage.

1. TELEVISION: When did “Sesame Street” debut on PBS?

2. MOVIES: What is the name of the moon where “Avatar” takes place?

3. GEOGRAPHY: Which country is home to a tall rock structure called the Finger of God?

4. HISTORY: What was Babe Ruth’s real first name?

5. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: How many of Snow White’s seven dwarfs have names ending in “y”?

6. MUSIC: Which country did the band AC/DC come from?

7. LITERATURE: How many books are in the primary Harry Potter novel series?

8. GOVERNMENT: How many national parks are in the United States?

9. FOOD & DRINK: In which country was the Caesar salad invented?

10. ANATOMY: Where is the uvula in the human body?

DID YOU KNOW?

Halitosis, or bad breath as it’s commonly known, can result from any number of factors. While food can be a culprit, some additional factors may be contributing to mouth odor as well. Poor dental hygiene is a particular concern. According to Colgate and the American Dental Association, failure to brush and floss teeth regularly leads to the accumulation of food particles in the mouth. This food can collect bacteria and begin to break down, causing a bad aroma. Dry mouth is another condition that causes bad breath. Without adequate saliva production, particles of food that may cause odor are not swept away regularly. Bad breath also may be an indication of a medical condition elsewhere in the body. Upper respiratory infections and gastrointestinal disturbances may contribute to halitosis.

By Lucie Winborne

* As if it weren’t cool enough that your DNA encodes the entire blueprint for your body using a set of just four characters (amino acids), you can treat the outside surface of cotton fabric with concentrated genetic material, as the DNA is also flame retardant: Its molecules are similar to those in other fireproofing substances.

Take a moment to let a business owner know you saw their ad in the Penny Saver, tell a friend about an upcoming event or like any of our posts on social media. These small gestures make all the difference to us.

To Your Good Health

By Keith Roach, M.D.