HomeXpert Plumbing 2C Winter 2011 by Hudson Ink

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Homexpert Simple ways to improve your home comfort, safety and value.

©Hudson, Ink Corp.

Winter 2011

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Colder Temperatures Could Mean a Plumbing Problem

By <Name> Optional Photo Here

Has Your Home Been Collecting Strange Smells? Page 3

Money Wise

My Word

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Inside This Issue:

Dear Friends, I trust this season finds you well and enjoying life. You could think of this as a time when a lot of people are living by the motto: “Do your best with what you have.” You can see that, in a sense, with the increase in remodeling projects across the country. It seems that many homeowners are opting to make improvements to where they are living now, instead of putting their home on the market. So, if you’ve been looking around your home and wondering what you can do to add comfort and value, we’d be glad to talk with you about ways we can help. For example, remodeling projects in the kitchen and bathrooms are always among the most popular and tend to provide the greatest return. Hopefully your plumbing system has stayed in good working continued on page 4

ike any system that runs your home, your plumbing pipes have the potential to develop problems. Obviously, frozen pipes can be a patch of trouble in the cold months. But there are other areas that might call for your attention as well. Rust Buildup – If you’re in an older home with galvanized metal or cast iron pipes, rust could be building in the pipes and blocking the flow, creating a slow drain. Or you may be seeing a rust color when you first turn on a faucet. Plunging could make the problem better, but the truth is, cast iron drain pipes will eventually need to be replaced. Odd Sounds – Plumbing noises can range from the dreadfully annoying drip, drip, drip of a leaking faucet to hearing a banging-type sound when you turn the water on. In the latter case, that could mean that your pipes are striking against something. You can start your own research by turning

Inside… • Keeping Remodeling Costs Under Control • Getting a Good Night’s Sleep

the water on and checking for motion in any pipe you can see. If something’s in the way that you can remove without risk to your pipe, great. Pipes can also experience something called a “water hammer” that you hear when you shut off the water. As the rushing water in the pipes comes to a halt, a hammering noise follows. That could be because the air chambers in your plumbing system have gotten waterlogged. Leaks – Leaks could also produce sounds – like toilets that won’t stop running or the aforementioned drip, drip, drip. But sometimes you find out about them when they create a shocking water bill. That’s never good. Regardless of what problems you may be experiencing with your pipes, you can count on us to be a part of your solution. Just give us a call, and we’ll talk about what’s best for your home’s plumbing system. Your Quick Call Comfort Hotline:

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Keeping Remodeling Costs Under Control

hen making plans to remodel your home, your eyes can get as big as a kid in a candy store when you see all the stunning home improvement options. How do you create more home value while sticking to a budget? The National Kitchen and Bath Association offers simple guidelines for keeping costs under control: yy Differentiate between “need” and “want.” What are your must-have items? What can you do without? Start with major appliances. That’s the biggest cost. yy Make a top ten list. Use that to determine what needs to be replaced now, and what can be taken care of later. yy Resist temptation. Know what you need, research the prices on your list, and keep away from the temptation of spending outside your range. yy Get a quote. It should involve a full survey of the project in your home, and make sure it’s thorough to avoid misunderstandings. yy Double-check the products for quality. In a showroom or the home of a friend or acquaintance, get a first-hand look at the products you’re planning to install. yy Keep track of payments. Get a clearly defined payment schedule, preferably with installations. You don’t want to pay in full until delivery.

HomeWise Yawner Alert: Getting a Good Night’s Sleep

leep, for many people, is so yy Avoid alcoholic drinks before natural and desired that you’d bed. Though they can make almost wonder why anybody needyou sleepy, it’s a lighter sleep that doesn’t produce best qualed tips on how to do it better. Yet ity. the quality of your sleep matters. Sound sleep takes us through many yy Avoid large meals and beverstages that will enable our bodies to ages late at night. You can get feel rested and energetic. If we skip indigestion from that full feelsome of those stages, we don’t wake ing, and drinking beverages late can prompt late-night bathroom rested. breaks. Quantity also counts. Adults tend yy Don’t take naps after 3 p.m. – to need 7 to 8 hours. Preschool it’s harder to fall asleep later. children could need 11 to 12 hours. Skimping on the amounts our bod- yy If possible, avoid medicines that disrupt sleep. ies require makes it tough to focus and slows response time. yy Unwind before bed with a So how can you sleep better? The National Institutes for Health offers several tips, including: yy Stick to a sleep schedule, going to bed and waking up at the same time each day – even weekends. yy Don’t exercise late in the day – no later than 2–3 hours before your bedtime. yy Avoid caffeine and nicotine. These are stimulants, and they affect sleep.

relaxing activity, such as reading or listening to music. Or take a hot bath. yy Don’t lie in bed awake. If you’re still awake after 20 minutes, get up and do a relaxing activity until you feel sleepy. yy If you consistently have trouble sleeping, or are consistently tired and not well rested during the day despite a good sleep schedule, see a doctor or sleep specialist. You could have a sleep disorder.

Fun Facts • In 30 minutes, the average body gives off enough heat (combined) to bring a halfcan gallon of water boil. recipes or for anything special This space be used for to trivia, you’d likeare to no furnish. • There ants in Iceland, Antarctica, and Greenland.

• You Because heatuse expands the metal, theaEiffel Towerand always leans away can also this space to put QR Code direct your from the to sun. customers a web portal Hudson, Ink can create and host. • The University of Alaska stretches over 4 time zones. This portal can host an online-only article, informational video, answers to trivia questions, online coupons and links to your • There was once an undersea post office in the Bahamas. website to build web traffic and help your SEO.

• There is more real lemon juice in Lemon Pledge furniture polish than in Country Time Lemonade.

Seasonal Shift Has Your Home Been Collecting Strange Smells?

News

Flash

f your home has been closed up with hot water. For the disposal, for a few months to keep warm use a household cleaner and scrub air in and cold air out, you may the flaps. You can also drop lemon have accumulated a number of rinds for the disposal to churn, smells. They’ll usually have logical then flush with hot tap water. causes, as long as you follow the Contain bathroom culprits. scent. Open the windows, if weath- Good news: vinegar is useful for er permits. Keep the toilet too. Just things clean as best pour a cup in the you can. And there bowl, let it stand you should are also other ways for a few minutes, to freshen the air. respond then scrub and What’s cooking? flush. You could immediately Cooking aromas also light a candle. to the smell of Or light a match may be delightful as the pots are being and let it burn for danger stirred. But when it’s a second or two. done and the dishes Also, keep the are cleared away – drain clear and not so much. For potent aromas, running freely – any debris that like cabbage or fish, fill small collects in your drain can collect bowls of white vinegar and place odor, too. them near the stove. Or, you could Is there something more seriplace a pan of vinegar on the stove ous at work? If you’ve got a and let it simmer. musty, stale smell in your house, Vinegar is a wonder substance for the household, and one of its perks is that it absorbs odor. If you’ve been slicing or chopping garlic and onion with stainless utensils, you can wipe them with lemon juice – and your hands too! Got sour milk? Keep an open box of baking soda in the refrigerator to reduce odor. Check your refrigerator for outdated, moldy, sour, or just plain gross items. And don’t forget to take out the trash! No telling what’s in that can. Run hot water. To reduce kitchen drain odors, run hot tap water down the drain daily. Every week, sprinkle with baking soda first – or pour a cup of vinegar and let it stand for a half hour – then rinse

that could be the scent of a plumbing leak and mold growth. If you need help finding or solving this problem, just give us a call. Also, while most of the smells we’ve mentioned are merely unpleasant, you should respond immediately to the smell of danger, including gas leaks and smoke, by leaving the home and calling for help.

Smart Snacking Means Choosing Wisely

ids of all ages (adults of all ages too) are known to crave snacks for quick pick-me-ups. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you make smart choices. But what makes for a smart choice? Look for nutritional value and look away from something filled with sugar and fat. yy Trail mix or granola bar –

smarter than a candy bar. yy Apple slices with yogurt dip –

smarter than potato chips with French onion dip. yy A bagel with low-fat cream

cheese – smarter than a donut yy Smoothies with low-fat yogurt,

fruit and ice – smarter than a whip-cream topped chocolate milkshake. yy Raisins and other dried fruit –

smarter than fruity-flavored candy yy Vanilla wafers or graham

crackers – smarter than cookies yy Fruit juice and skim milk –

“Quotable”

smarter than sugary soda and powdered drink mix. Fresh veggies with low-fat dip, rice cakes with peanut butter, popcorn and grapes are good choices. Snacks like these can provide the boost you need to make it through the day. So, be smart and look for snacks that give fuel, instead of a quick sugar high.

<SIGNATURE> <NAME> P.S. Please use the coupons in this newsletter for helpful savings for yourself – or share them with a friend!

se fo th r a is pa ad, ck on ag e e of of y ot ou he r o rs w am n, o pl r c e a ad ll s. us

Get 25 Bucks Off the Best Service We Can Bring On.

When you need a repair on your plumbing system, you’re already not having a good day. So we’d like to make things easier on your wallet. Clip this coupon for a $25 savings on your repair bill, and just give us a call. We’ll give you our best service, as quickly as we can. Call <COMPANY> at <PHONE>. ©2011

We Solve Plumbing Problems. n 24-hour Service, 7 Days a Week.

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Sincerely,

their comfort as much as you do. And to say thanks, we’ll gladly take $20 off your next service for each referral you send our way. Just call <COMPANY> at So pass our name along <PHONE> and let us know to the people you care you’re sending us another about – we care about friendly face.

Why wait for more water damage? n Professional Plumbers. Our skilled techs can solve most any plumbing problem. Like yours! n Fast Effective “Drain Relief.” We send water away. Quickly, cleanly. n Water Heaters Repaired or Replaced. Sometimes you want to be in hot water! Get it! n Over <#> solid years of caring service. Let us solve your problem. U

Look forward to seeing you soon.

At <COMPANY>, we enjoy providing superior service and value to friends like you. And we’d like to offer the same expertise to your friends and family. U

Chilly days have meant many days indoors, but we’re always glad to get out and HomePoints see friends! Since 1998, high efficiency So don’t fixtures have helped save 44 million gallons of water every hesitate to day, resulting savings of more let us hear than $33.6 million per year. from you. In fact, you can think of us as living by the motto: “We want to do our best for the people we serve.” Whatever the need is, you’ll get our best value and our best service.

We’d Like to “Friend” Your Friends.

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order and is keeping up with your family’s demands this season. But if you have any problems at all, just give us a call, and we’ll get someone out to see you right away.

My Word (…from page 1)

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