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Homexpert Simple ways to improve your home comfort, safety and value.
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Summer 2012
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Preventing Electrical Fires in the Home
By <Name> Optional Photo Here
Landscaping for the Allergy Prone Page 3
Money Wise
My Word
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Inside This Issue:
Hello Friends, Do you ever get the idea that we’re living in unusual times? Or maybe changing times would be more like it. Not so long ago, we’d get a chuckle when we’d hear a story about, say, a bank robber who wrote his holdup note on the back of his deposit slip. Easy to trace for sure. Now the stories are more likely to be about the robber who left his cell phone at the scene of the crime and a call came in from his girlfriend while police were investigating. That’s happened. Even more strangely, recently, after some robbers broke into a store, they posted photos of themselves on Facebook holding a wad of cash. Investigators familiar with the robbers found the photos – and also noticed that one was wearing the same hat he was wearing in the surveillance video.
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ccording to the U.S. Fire Administration, home electrical fires claim the lives of 280 Americans each year and injure 1,000 more. Roughly half of the fires in the home involve electrical wiring. In some cases, electrical system failures have caused the fires, but in many more cases, the cause was from incorrectly installed wiring or overloaded circuits and extension cords. That means safety practices matter. To decrease the chance a fire will occur in your home, take note of these areas: Electrical cords – Watch their location. Never run them under carpet or rugs, near nails, or in high traffic areas. When unplugging, don’t pull on an electrical cord and yank it out of the socket. Instead, hold the plug firmly and pull out straight. Also, replace cords that appear to be worn, old or damaged. Electrical extension cords – Be careful here. Never overload extension cords. And don’t use a standard household extension cord
for a major appliance or heat-producing appliance. Look instead for a heavy-duty appliance cord that can carry the load. Electrical appliances – Water and electricity never mix. So keep electrical appliances away from wet floors and counters. And take special care with electrical appliances in the kitchen or bathroom. Also, if an appliance has a three-prong plug, use it only in a three-slot outlet. Never force it to fit into a two-slot outlet or extension cord. Electrical products – When buying electrical products, only choose those evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory. And be sure to replace any electrical tool is if it causes small electrical shocks, overheats, shorts out, or gives off smoke or sparks. Call us anytime, but especially call us if your light switches are hot to the touch, if your lights flicker or if a fuse repeatedly blows or a circuit breaker trips often. Your system could be overloaded.
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Inside… • Paint by Numbers • Exercises for Anyone • Hot Summer Nights
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Paint by Numbers
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ainting your home is one of the easiest, most inexpensive ways to spruce up the look while you boost the value. Plus, it’s a simple do-it-yourself project – any mistakes can easily be repainted. So if you’re looking to brighten up your home, here are a few tips: A lower price isn’t always a bargain. Sure, you can spend $10 to $15 on a gallon of paint. But cheaper paints often require more coats and are less durable. Investing in a higher quality paint ($31-$50 per gallon) means a little more upfront, but greater savings and value in the long run. Think twice about trends. Yes, it’s easy to repaint – but you don’t want to look at your walls and say “What was I thinking?” One craze right now? Metallic paints. They’re great for making a statement with a bold look. But these paints often require several coats and can be very expensive. Be sure it’s what you want before you make the leap. Express yourself. Your home’s paint is a great way to express your family’s personality. Are you cozy and warm? Suave and sophisticated? Sleek and modern? Picking the right paint for your family, from color to finish, shows who you are – and makes your guest feel right at home with you.
HealthWise Aquatics – Exercises for Anyone
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ater exercise, aka aquatics, is one of the best non-impact fitness activities you can do. In fact, it’s good for almost everyone, including pregnant women, the elderly, people recovering from injury, as well as those who are overweight or suffering from arthritis. According to the American Council on Exercise, water exercise can encompass all of the components of fitness: cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength and endurance and flexibility. And when done regularly, it can help reduce body fat. The ACE points out that the buoyancy of water reduces the “weight” of a person by about 90%. There’s a corresponding effect – meaning, the stress on weight-bearing joints, bones and muscles is reduced in a similar fashion. And you aren’t as likely to experience injury or sore muscles after a workout. Water creates resistance. It’s denser than air, and a workout can raise the heart rate and tone muscles at the same time. For
example, as you try to maintain your posture while currents push and pull against your body, you’re working core muscles of the abdomen and back, improving posture and reducing risk of back problems. Using hand-held paddles, water chutes and other devices can increase resistance for a more intense workout. This type of resistance also has safety components. When standing in water, you’re not likely to fall down or take a misstep. Also, with water exercise, you’re reducing stress on the joints and bones of the lower body. And as the pressure of water stimulates blood circulation, that’s a good thing for people who have peripheral arterial disease or swelling in the legs. You can find a water fitness class at many YMCAs, community centers and fitness clubs. Look for classes that include a warmup, cardiovascular and muscle conditioning, stretches, balance exercises and a cool down.
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Seasonal Shift Landscaping for the Allergy Prone
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llergy landscaping? Yes, it’s a real concept and an appropriate one, given that the beauty and bounty of springtime are compounded for many by the distress of allergies produced by the lawn and garden. So what’s right as a sight for sore eyes while not being too tough on the respiratory system?
At the same time, flowers that aren’t showy tend to produce more pollen as well. They’re not favored by the bee pollinators, so they depend on the wind to carry their pollen away. In contrast, colorful blooms attract butterflies and bees for pollination. Pollen tends to be deeply embedded in the flowers, but that’s a good thing. If pollen is at the surface instead, that allows for easy dispersal into the air. Check with a nursery to find out which plants aren’t high-pollen producers. Sneezable Grass. Ornamental grasses are also pollen producers as they grow over large areas with flowers that bloom for a long period. Lawn grasses can also be rough
Flash
on allergies, but frequent mowing can minimize flowering. Besides making good choices with an eye to beauty and a nose to allergies, you can also develop good allergy-resistant habits. For example:
Flowers that aren’t showy tend to produce more pollen...
Showoffs Preferred. Generally, non-showy is worse than showy. For better breathing, some of the better tree choices are apple, cherry, red maple, pine, spruce. But you’d want to avoid aspen, birch, elm, oak and pecan, among others. Despite its popularity, the olive tree is a particular culprit, thanks to its barbed pollen.
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Pick the right time. If you garden later in the day, pollen counts tend to be lower, and the wind is calmer. That means less exposure for you.
Choose adequate gardening apparel, including gloves, coveralls, long sleeves, sunglasses, hat and possibly a protective mask. Remove and wash your clothes after gardening. Trim your hedges. If you keep them pruned back, you’ll help keep pollen at bay. The fewer the flowers, the less pollen that gets into the air. Watch where you’re planting. If plants loaded with pollen are near doors and windows, the pollen can get on your clothes as you come in contact with them.
“Quotable” “For summer there, bear in mind, is a loitering gossip, that only begins to talk of leaving when September rises to go.” —George Washington Cable
Take Advantage of Hot Summer Nights
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ummer’s here, the weather is warm, the kids are out of school – it’s the perfect time to enjoy the great outdoors with cookouts and barbecues. Of course, when the sun sets, you may not be ready to move the party indoors. That’s why outdoor lighting is a great way to take advantage of the summer… and deter burglars year-round. But what exactly should you know about lighting? It may be simpler than you think: Uplighting – Use this technique to bring out the drama in lawn features, like trees. As darkness falls, the lighted areas take on a sculpture look. If you use two or more lights, you can create a 3-D effect. Downlighting – This kind of lighting is great for activity areas, especially areas designated for cooking or seating. Downlighting illuminates large areas, allowing use of more lawn space. Plus, the lights can be mounted on almost any tall structure, including trees. Path Lighting – One of the most widely used forms of path lighting is mushroom lights. These are small lights with hoods on top. The hoods cause the light to shine downward, making the path easier to see. Lighting both sides of the path is also helpful.
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That’s what many things you get in the mail are worth, but not this… ust present this ad with your that our repair professionals can next repair bill, and we’ll give get your system up and running you $25 dollars off. Why? as soon as possible. And that’s Because when you need a good for a lot. repair on your electrical system, you’re already not having a good <Company> day. We understand and would <phone> like to make things a little easier on your wallet. (We recommend cutting this out and putting U
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Of course, the best benefit is
Plug In To Super Savings
$25
it on your refrigerator. Just a thought!)
©2012
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Wired
n More
Like some of us, many plugs, switches, and circuits just don’t age well. Without preventative maintenance, it’s an accident waiting to happen. We’re as conscious of your family’s safety as you are. That’s why we’re offering electrical inspections in your area. Just call <Company> at <phone> for an appointment. And get <$X> off when you mention this ad.
©2012
And many can be been prevented with a simple home wiring check. Wires get loose; Circuit breakers get dirty; Water gets where it shouldn’t. There are many reasons… But the ONLY reason people don’t have a wiring safety check is they don’t think about it. Until it’s too late.
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house fires are caused by faulty wiring than any other source…
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Lighting is also a way to promote safety – by creating well-lit walkways and entrances that protect from falls. In addition, your home’s security is enhanced by well-placed outdoor lighting and well-timed indoor lighting. We can guide you on good options in all these areas. Just call.
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Call us to make sure your home is safe. A quick call to us can save your home… and maybe a lot more. Call <Company> today at <phone>.
©2012
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HomeXpert
Well, we know home security and your family’s safety are not laughing matters. And you’re concern is our concern. First of all, the safe operation of your electrical system is very important to your family’s wellbeing. If you notice flickering HomePoints lights, suspect Compact fluorescent light bulbs burn more coolly than overloaded incandescent bulbs and use outlets or see 75% less energy. anything else amiss, let us know. We’ll be happy to inspect your wiring to detect any trouble spots.
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