HXE 2c Sp13_SAMPLE by Hudson Ink

Spring 2013

Grilling Practices for Safer Food …page 2

My Word by <NAME> Hello Friend, I start to get just a little antsy around this time of year. There’s so much to get done – and, as usual, never enough time. I’m sure you feel the same way. That’s why I want to give you one less thing to worry about. Your electrical system worked hard this winter to keep you safe and comfortable. And as the weather heats up that can add strain to your system. The last thing you need is an outage that could have been avoided. A wiring inspection can keep your system safe and performing at peak efficiency – and we’ll take care of it for you.

…continued on page 4

How Necessary Is Spring Cleaning, Anyway? …page 2

Get Rid of Unwanted Houseguests …page 3

<Company>’s Smart & simple ways to enrich your home living.

— Q&A You Ask, We Answer — What Kind of Security Lighting Is Best for You? • And can it protect your family from rising crime rates?

You want your home to be safe,

secure and comfortable. You don’t want your home to become the target of criminal activity. But the shocking truth is that many families will experience burglary, vandalism or worse. In fact, statistics show an annual total of 730 burglaries for every 100,000 people in the population. How can you ensure that your family isn’t one of them? One of the easiest measures is security lighting. Criminals like to work under the cover of darkness, meaning your home is more vulnerable with the ebbing daylight. Good quality lighting solutions include: A well-shielded low pressure sodium fixture. The light is well controlled, energy efficient and

produces no glare. That means you’re getting maximum visibility. High pressure sodium fixtures, metal halide fixtures or even low wattage fluorescent lamps in good fixtures can be efficient at reducing glare and providing ample uplighting. Well-controlled and installed floodlights or spotlights can add dramatic effect to your landscaping while offering greater home security through visibility. Infrared sensor lights. These lights can even be programmed to activate an alarm. These are very cost-effective and offer good visibility to the homeowner when needed. Other quality security measures include motion sensors, an effective alarm system, joining a neighborhood watch. And remember, let us know how we can help you make – and keep – your home and family safer. That’s what we’re here for.

Visit www.<yourcompany>.comfort-tips.com for more great ideas for home & life, including: Money-Saving tips | Home & Organizing | Health & Food

— I t ’s Abou t T ime —

How Necessary Is Spring Cleaning, Anyway?

— Real Good Food —

Grilling Practices for Safer Food A s the weather starts to warm,

outdoor grilling becomes more and more popular. Before you fire up the grill, remember to practice food safety. The following guidelines are among several recommended by the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service to help contain the spread of harmful bacteria:

Defrost meat and poultry completely before grilling — preferably in the refrigerator. Thawing sealed packages in cold water is another option, or defrost in the microwave if food will be placed immediately on the grill. Marinate raw meat or poultry in the refrigerator, not on the counter. If the marinade will be used as a sauce later, reserve a portion – before the raw meat or poultry is added. Keep meat and poultry refrigerated until ready to be placed on the grill. At room temperature, bacteria on raw meat and poultry can double in number every 20 minutes.

Cook food to a safe internal temperature to destroy harmful bacteria. Because meat and poultry cooked on a grill often browns fast on the outside, color isn’t a reliable indicator of being “done.” Use a food thermometer

to make sure the inside is done. Never partially grill meat or poultry and finish cooking later.

Refrigerate any leftovers promptly. Throw away food left out for more than two hours, or one hour when temperatures are above 90 degrees. More information about safe food handling is available at www.fsis.usda.gov.

pring cleaning has become a ritual of transforming the home to match the changing outdoors. The urge to bring that same sense of refreshing inside grows stronger. And while cleaning may not be high

Switch it. Plug it. Click it. The electronic devices your family enjoys for work, school, entertainment and connecting came along after most homes were built. Let us come out for a friendly, free review of what’s being switched, plugged or clicked. We can add wiring quickly and safely. Call <COMPANY> at <PHONE>.

on your hobby list, this small investment in home maintenance can help maintain your property value as well as keep things running smoothly year-round. An organized approach can make the

— T he Product Nitpick —

Home Generators Are a Hot Commodity H ome generators are becoming

more and more popular. When looking for a home generator: Determine your emergency energy needs. Most who buy a home generator want to power their refrigerator, a few

lights, furnace, water heater, air conditioner, home security system and medical equipment. So, an 8-kilowatt generator should do the job. Pick a generator that runs on appropriate fuel. Natural gas is the most economical; propane is the second cheapest.

process both more productive

— Buckle Down —

and enjoyable. So, here’s your

Get Rid of Unwanted Houseguests ...

quick list of spring cleaning

at least the four-legged variety

“musts”:

Sort Through “Stuff” – There are always those things you

can’t bear to part with: clothes, books, old bicycles. The two

N othing says home like a

year rule is a good measure

for whether you need to keep

it or toss it. That means if you

haven’t used it in the past two

years, it’s just taking up space. Clean rugs, carpets and floors – Shampooing wall-to-

wall carpeting and waxing bare floors not only extend the life

of your flooring, it impacts your health. Thorough cleaning can remove many allergens and

pollutants that can affect your

houseful of family and friends. But there are some guests that no matter how well intentioned they may be, just aren’t welcome. They eat your food, diminish your property value and can wreak havoc on your home systems. Who are these beasts? To be specific, they are mice, rats and squirrels – which account for 80% of all animal break-ins. What can you do to stop these culprits?

home’s indoor air quality.

carbon monoxide detector and emergency flashlight batteries every six months. Test fire

extinguishers to be sure they

That’s what things in the mail are often worth, but not this… This ad gets you $25 off your next repair bill. So your wallet gets some help while our repair professionals get your system up and running. And that’s good for a lot. Call <COMPANY> at <PHONE>. ©2013

Contact a pest control professional immediately if you suspect an animal infiltration. Rodents can carry viruses and even rabies.

Plastic Outlet Protectors. This simple plastic fix will fit directly into the outlet holes to provide some protection. But they’re not the best overall.

Replace your smoke detector,

Good for Nothing

Eliminate water and food sources around your home. Store all food in airtight containers.

— Hot News Now —

Check Your Safety Devices –

are functioning properly, too.

Identify points of entry and seal them. Garages, basements, drain pipes, gaps around utility lines – all of these represent areas of vulnerability for your home.

The Shocking Truth … about keeping children safe

lectricity in the home makes everything work like magic. But if a child sticks wet fingers – or worse, a piece of metal – into an outlet, electrocution can be the result. About 100 kids die every year by electrocution. Here are some things you can do to protect them:

Tamper-Resistant Outlets. In these, plastic shutters remain closed, opening only as something is inserted simultaneously into both outlet holes. Children tampering with an outlet are more likely to try just one hole at a time. Tamper-Resistant Outlet Face Covers. In this case, electrical outlet receptacle covers slide over the outlet holes.

My Word

! e M n a c S

…continued from page 1

Why? Because the opportunity to serve customers like you is part

Sincerely, <SIGNATURE>

of what gives me Spring Fever.

So go on, enjoy the rejuvenating

effects of spring and let us worry

<NAME> P.S. Be sure to check out the

about your home comfort.

discounts in this newsletter. If you

Wishing you the best and looking

can’t use them, pass them on to

forward to visiting you in your home soon.

Scan this QR code with your smartphone to view <your company’s> special online

someone who can.

offer. Don’t have a smartphone? Visit

Thanks.

<your website> for more information.

<LOGO>

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage

<PHONE>

PAID

CO-OP LOGO Optional

— Wire Fire —

More house fires are caused by • Circuit breakers – These can faulty wiring than any other be lifesavers, but not if they’re source… And many can be corroded. prevented with a simple wiring check. Let us perform a FREE wiring • Water seepage – Water and electricity are enemies. We can safety check on your home. There’s no cost or obligation. We can alert keep them apart. you to potential dangers that can be • Frayed wiring – Animals, completely undetected except by insects and motion strip wires of experts. (That’s us!) Trouble spots in protective insulation. your home could be: • Loose wiring – Over time, anything can get ungrounded.

Permit ##### Montgomery, AL

Connect —

M O r e S av ings an d G r eat N ews

—

Want to see more home and savings

tips? Visit our HomeXpert portal at

<yourcompany>.comfort-tips.com. You’ll find energy saving tips for the coming season, plus articles covering the hottest topics in home, health and savings news. You may even find a recipe or two! So visit <yourcompany>.comfort-tips.com.