Winter 2012/2013
Keep Your Home from Becoming a Termite Snack …page 2
Something More Valuable Than Dollars? …page 2
Stop Power Outages in Their Tracks …page 3
<Company>’s
<LOGO> <PHONE> <WEBSITE>
My Word by <NAME>
If you’re
like me, you’ve got mixed feelings about winter. I enjoy gathering with family and friends. Plus, I really like any season that keeps me working hard to serve my friends. And yet… Some days, I bet you want to run for cover too or at least crawl back under the covers. Colder temps bring in all sorts of bugs and germs that spread in close quarters. So, while you pour out another round of hand sanitizer, stay well – and let us help you with any electrical needs that pop up. Routine inspections of your electrical system can ward off trouble that
…continued on page 4
Hudson, Ink Corp ©2012
— Home Health —
7 Ways to Make Sure Your Electrical System Is Safe With 39,000 house fires and 350
deaths caused in the U.S. each year by faulty home wiring and other electrical equipment, these recommendations from the National Electric Safety Foundation may help prevent such an occurrence in your home. Check for outlets that have loose-fitting plugs, which can overheat and lead to fire. Replace any missing or broken wall plates. Place safety covers on all unused outlets that are accessible to children. Make sure cords are in good condition. They should be placed out of traffic areas, but not under carpets or rugs. Cords should never be nailed or stapled to the wall, baseboard or any other object. Do not rest any furniture on them. Check for extension cords. Not intended as permanent household wiring, these should only be used on a temporary basis. Safety closures help prevent
shock hazards and mouth burn injuries in children. Make sure plugs fit outlets. Never remove the ground pin to make a three-prong fit a two-conductor outlet, and never force a plug into an outlet it doesn’t fit. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) can help prevent electrocution and should be used in any area where water and electricity may come into contact. If a plugged-in appliance falls into water, never reach in to pull it out — even if it’s off. If an appliance repeatedly blows a fuse, trips a circuit breaker or if it has given you a shock, unplug it and have it repaired or replaced. If your lights dim when your heating system comes on, you may be at risk of a power surge on related circuits. Always use surge (lightning) protectors on expensive equipment and call us to help you get the circuit checked.
Visit www.<yourcompany>.comfort-tips.com for more great ideas for home & life, including: Money-Saving tips | Home & Organizing | Health & Food
— Q & A: —
You A sk , W e Answer
Something More Valuable Than Dollars?
— I t ’s Abou t T ime —
Keep Your Home from Becoming a Termite Snack B enjamin Franklin was onto some-
thing when he said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” When it comes to termites, savvy consumers can save thousands of dollars by preventing termite infestations altogether. Americans spend more than $5 billion repairing termite damage – a price tag not typically covered by homeowners’ insurance policies. That’s a major “Ouch!” to the wallet. More Bad News … Not only are homeowners who are caught by surprise left to fit the entire bill for costly damages that could have been detected early or avoided entirely by regular inspections and preventative treatments by pest professionals but… Once termites invade a property, they become part of that home’s permanent record – a fact that makes prospective homebuyers uneasy, which could end up costing you more money in the long run. Get professional help. Signs of a termite infestation typically include small holes in wood, crumbling drywall and sagging doors or floors. In order to avoid such costly disasters, you should focus on preventing termites and not just repairing their damage.
2
Schedule professional checkups. Simply scheduling one visit from a termite professional isn’t enough.
The goal is to always be one step ahead of a termite problem, and that requires regularly scheduled checkups. Just like your own trips to the doctor, a clean bill of health in May doesn’t mean you won’t get sick in September. For more information on sending these pests packing, visit www.termiteinstitute.com.
C
haritable giving hit a record high of $306 billion in 2007, according to a survey done by the Giving USA Foundation. But today, the economy is still recovering. Yet Winter is an especially hard time for those who are less fortunate. So, what can you do to help those in need
WIRED More house fires are caused by faulty wiring than any other source… And many can be prevented with a simple home wiring check. Over time, wires get loose; circuit breakers get dirty; water gets where it shouldn’t. So, call us to make sure your home is safe.
even if you’re unable to donate money this season? There’s no shortage of opportunities:
<COMPANY> at <PHONE>
Soup Kitchens Helping to serve meals to the
©2012
— Quick T ips —
F orever losing your bathroom
tweezers and clippers behind a vanity door.
with small items – especially
You can even spice things up a bit by getting creative with the magnetic strip. Add patterned cloth over the magnet to match your bathroom décor which adds a new look to a unique solution.
essentials? It’s hard to keep up since they seem to sprout legs and wander away when you’re not looking!
Solution? Use magnetic
strips to store bobby pins,
homeless in your community is a great way to give back. Look online for a soup kitchen near you (check out The Salvation Army) or consider volunteering through a local church or other civic organization. Make-A-Wish Foundation Dedicated to enriching the lives of children facing lifethreatening medical conditions, the Make-A-Wish Foundation welcomes volunteers who have specific talents and skills, like fundraising and language translating. But they also need general office help and people who are willing to serve as committee members. Hospitals Volunteers who work in hospitals perform a wide variety of tasks, including clerical work, depending upon the needs of the facility. Many times, hospital volunteers help lift the spirits of patients by visiting or delivering small gifts to them, which is especially important during the Winter when hospital stays are even harder on families.
We’d Like to Friend Your Friends. We enjoy providing superior service, and we’d like to offer the same expertise to your friends and family. Just call <COMPANY> at <PHONE> to let us know you’re sending another friendly face our way. To say thanks, we’ll take $20 off your next service. ©2012
— Buckle Down —
Stop Power Outages in Their Tracks
H ome generators are becoming
more and more popular. They can provide your home with a constant source of energy when destructive storms or overuse threaten your traditional means of power. When looking for a home generator: Determine your emergency energy needs. Most people who buy a home generator want to power their refrigerator, lights for a few rooms, furnace, water heater, air conditioner, home security system and medical equipment. Unless you have a large house
with greater-than-usual heating or cooling needs, an eight-kilowatt generator should do the job. Pick a generator that runs on appropriate fuel. Home generators typically use natural gas, propane, gasoline or diesel fuel. So consider what fuels are sold in your area and which fit your budget. If available, natural gas is the most economical. Propane is the second cheapest option. If neither is easy to get, choose diesel or gasoline.
— T he Good Life —
Cut Your Risk for Flu This Season recommends flu vaccines and good health habits to prevent or slow the spread of illness. For example:
F lu viruses are “airborne,”
meaning that they can be spread by sneezing, coughing or direct contact. The CDC notes that every year in the United States: 5-20% of the population gets the flu and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications. Approximately 36,000 people die from flu each year. The CDC
Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people if either you or they are sick. Clean your hands. This is especially important after you’ve been to a store or any public place where you can pick up germs from doorknobs and other surfaces. Install hypoallergenic filters in your return air.
3
My Word may be brewing in your wiring, outlets and lighting. Plus, we can make sure your system is adequate for all of the gadgetry and appliances you need to keep running. As always, if you’re having any problems, call us 24/7, and we’ll be right there.
! e M n a c S
…continued from page 1 Yours sincerely, <SIGNATURE> <NAME> P.S. Be sure to check out the discounts in this newsletter. If you can’t use them, pass them on to someone who can. Thanks.
Scan this QR code with your smartphone to view <your company>’s special online offer. Don’t have a smartphone? Send an email to <your email address> or visit <your website> for more information.
<ADDRESS>
<LOGO>
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage
<PHONE>
PAID
CO-OP LOGO Optional
“Who says there’s no rest for the weary?” Holiday seasons are busy. Frenzied. Hurried. Noisy. And then they’re gone. What happened?
Permit ##### Montgomery, AL
Connect —
M O r e S av ings and G r eat N ews
—
Want to see more home and savings
Remember when you were a child and could drift away without a care, celebrating a welldeserved rest? You still can…
tips? Visit our HomeXpert portal at
Take a moment (now might be good!) to reflect on what this Holiday means to you: Giving thanks, getting joy, and sharing both freely. We give thanks to you for letting us service your home and look forward to seeing you again.
season, plus articles covering the hottest
<yourcompany>.comfort-tips.com. You’ll find energy saving tips for the coming topics in home, health and savings news.
You may even find a recipe or two! So visit <yourcompany>.comfort-tips.com.