FALL
“Get the LED in!” …page 2
2013
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My Word by <NAME> Dear Friends, For a lot of families, fall ushers in a new “learning season.” As kids head off to new classrooms and new experiences, sometimes you can’t help remembering your own school days. During my time in school, I learned some basics that have stuck with me year after year. For example, there will always be someone who knows more than I do. And there will always be someone I can help. Those two facts are a big part of running this business. The team around here is committed to learning more ways
…continued on page 4
Hudson, Ink Corp ©2013
Repair or Replace? Which is it? …page 2
Secrets to a Longer Life …page 3
<Company>’s
Smart & simple ways to enrich your home living.
— It’s About Time! — Your Electricity Works So Well, What Could Possibly Go Wrong? Plenty! Picture this: you’ve just returned home from a football party when you smell – and then see – smoke coming from an outlet. You rush to flip the circuit breaker to the kitchen, then call an electrician for help. Electrical problems in a home range from minor nuisances and inconveniences to serious, life-endangering situations. And while electrical emergencies often take a homeowner by surprise, many times the “pre-disaster” signs would have already been visible to a trained electrician. What can be seen? Things like frayed wires or loose connections on switches or receptacles warn of fire risks. Same goes for improperly
rated devices on switches or receptacles. Frequent blown fuses or broken circuits, of course, are other warning signs you’d be wise to notice. And extension cords should never be used as a permanent solution. Also, if they’re run under rugs or furniture, they risk becoming too warm and starting a fire. Your electrical system ages like other parts of your house. But it can have a long, safe life, assuming you check its condition regularly and replace or repair any parts that go bad. A great way to keep track of your electrical status is with an annual inspection by a trained electrician. The best time to call, by far, is before a dangerous situation occurs. We can help you understand your electrical system’s nature, and we can help preserve your safety and save you a whole lot of trouble. Want to learn more? Give us a call.
Visit www.<yourcompany>.comfort-tips.com for more great ideas for home & life, including: Money-Saving tips | Home & Organizing | Health & Food
— Dollars Make Sense —
Repair or Replace? Which is it?
— Ups & Downs —
“Get the LED in!” B ack in the old days, the phrase
“Get the lead out!” was commonly said to people who weren’t moving fast enough. Now it seems everyone’s putting the LEDs in. These “light-emitting diodes” are pretty much “instant” light, and their light quality is remarkable. Unlike normal “bulbs,” LEDs don’t have filaments (that can burn out), they generate very little heat and last four times as long. Even better, white LEDs can easily last 50 times as long as a normal 60 watt bulb. Now you know why their popularity is soaring. Is There a Downside?
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costs, which means lower costs and more applications for you. Pretty Cool Feature Incandescent light bulbs are hot, so just think how this affects the comfort in your home and seasonal bills. LEDs stay cool to the touch, and they don’t have that “nervous” off-on cycle you sometimes get with improperly installed fluorescents. (We can eliminate that too.) All in all, LEDs are a very bright idea.
B
roken appliances beg the question: repair or replace? Sometimes it’s easy. If an appliance is new and the repair is covered by warranty, you call for a repair. Otherwise, the best option is determined by weighing several factors, starting with…
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>.
LEDs have a higher up-front cost than incandescents and fluorescents. Yet weighing that against their longevity and light output, the Department of Energy estimates that LED lighting could cut national consumption by 29% by 2025. That’s about $100 billion in light bill savings.
Grandma’s Right!
Fortunately, the up-front costs will shrink with volume. LEDs are already in thousands of electronics (clocks, audio, video) and commercial environments. As more uses for LEDs are found, manufacturers are getting more efficient – with their production
Medical science is finally catching up with mothers and grandmothers in recognizing the healing properties of chicken soup. Several studies from respected institutions found that the heat, the liquid and the antibiotic activity of garlic (a common ingredient) can
Appliance Age: The life expectancy of appliances typically falls within these ranges: Refrigerator: 15-19 years Clothes Dryer: 13-14 years
©2013
— Weird Science — erase symptoms and support the immune system. One bowl of soup provides water, electrolytes, calories and plenty of nutrients. There’s no actual “cure” for the common cold, so if you have the common cold, you’ll just have to tough it out… and eat some of Grandma’s soup!
Clothes Washer: 11-13 years Dishwasher: 9-11 years Range, Electric: 12 years Range, Gas: 13 years Water Heater, Electric: 14 years Water Heater, Gas: 11-13 years If the service life remaining is limited, replacement sounds logical. Or it could even be desirable if you’ve had your eye on new technology or new features now available. Yet if the appliance is merely “middleaged,” weigh that against… Cost of the Repair: A repair fee that’s more than half the cost of a new appliance is a reasonable guideline for replacement. Finding out, however, would likely cost a service call of, say, $75-$100. That’s not a bad investment if a new appliance costs $1,000 or more. Energy Efficiency: Appliances have two costs – purchase price and operating price. Typically, the newer the appliance, the better the energy efficiency rating. So consider your options and see how soon reduced energy use can begin paying a return on your purchase investment.
Good for Nothing 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
— Secrets —
Secrets to a Longer Life
“Live life to the fullest,” so the saying goes… but do you? Or more importantly, do you know how? You Are What You Eat One of the most efficient ways to shed pounds is by monitoring your calorie intake; 2,000 calories is considered the average amount of calories a person should consume in a single day. Foods such as beef, dark chocolate, antioxidants and foods with fiber and whole grains give
you more energy and better health. Worrying Can Wait Optimism, laughing and strong relationships all help manage stress and the ability to overcome adversity, increasing life expectancy by 50%. Nighty-Night Limit sleep time to between sixand-a-half to seven-and-a-half hours every night. Thirty-minute naps every day can also increase life expectancy by 37%.
— BUCKLE DOWN — way to decompose your wallet.
Common Sense for the Grocery Store
A s grocery prices continue to
rise, it’s important to find ways to save at the grocery store that do not ruin your taste buds. These tips can help you shop sensibly for your wallet and your stomach… • Avoid shopping hungry. Impulse buying is a quick
• Plan ahead. Exploiting your wallet could eventually put you in debt, so set a budget and don’t exceed it. Make and stick to a list of what food your family needs for the week. • Popularity isn’t everything. Generic products will lead to better budgets in the long run. If two companies are selling identical products, pick the less expensive one. • Grocery stores scam savers. Coupons will only result in savings if you were initially intending to buy that exact discounted item.
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My Word
! e M n a c S
…continued from page 1
that we can make your home more comfortable.
Sincerely,
Sometimes we do this in a classroom setting of our own, but many times we learn as we serve. And that leads to the second part: we are committed to sharing our knowledge with you and are here to help whenever you have a concern. Just give us a call!
<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? Visit <your website> for more information.
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— Wire Fire —
Connect
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.
Call <COMPANY> at <PHONE> to make sure your home is safe.
©2013
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M O r e S av i n g s a n d G r e at N ews
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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.