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SPRING 2015

My Word by <NAME> Hi Friends, Are you a “springtime” kind of person? It’s not surprising if you are. With the sense of renewal that’s in the air, this is a favorite season for lots of folks. Not only does the landscape start waking up, but some of the rest of us do too as we enjoy a little extra time outdoors. What’s happening indoors is important too. Over time, seasonal changes can shrink or swell insulation and expose live wiring, and your electrical system could be due for a check or upgrade. On a serious note, just a millimeter

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Cracking the Code …page 2

How to Increase the Value of Your Home

Catch Up By Saving Up

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<Company>’s

Smart & simple ways to enrich your home living.

— It’s About Time! — Child Proof and Protect

You may know already why it’s a

really bad idea to stick your finger in an electrical outlet. But not everyone does… and they’re called “children.” According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, each day about seven children are injured from sticking their fingers or small objects into electrical outlets. It’s obvious why children are more vulnerable to this kind of electric shock and injury. They’re closer to the ground, and a big part of their day involves crawling on hands and knees, discovering small objects. They can be fascinated by bobby pins, broken toy parts, missing screws or anything else that tantalizes them as they pass under tables and chairs. Children are all about testing out and trying new things – the benefit

of which, of course, is that they improve their motor skills and gain understanding through sensory experiences. Yet, the risk is objects and their small fingers find their way into the tiny openings of electrical outlets. The consequences are serious – ranging from frightening jolts or minor burns, to major burns or electrocution – all of which call for immediate professional medical care. Avoiding these terrible results call for good safety practices, including installing childproof outlets to protect your child from this danger. Childproof outlets look just like your standard outlet plate, and unlike other methods, do not have removable parts that are easily misplaced. Call us to replace the unprotected outlets in your home with safe outlets that do away with the plastic outlet inserts.

Visit www.<yourcompany>.comfort-tips.com for more great ideas for home & life, including: MONEY-SAVING TIPS | HOME & ORGANIZING | HEALTH & FOOD

— STYLE POINTS —

How to Increase the Value of Your Home

— SECRETS —

Cracking the Code

Is your home electrical system up

to code? You may not realize this, but the National Electric Code is updated every three years. While this technical text may not be your favorite bedside reading material, there are those (like us!) who stay quite familiar with the steps you need to take to keep your home and wiring up to code. As a matter of fact, this code has been adopted in all 50 states, making it the national standard knowledgeable electrical contractors follow. It details, for example, the installation of electrical, signaling and communications conductors, and raceways and equipment, as well as fiber optic cables. These terms may not roll off the tip of your tongue, but here’s the Merriam-Webster take on these topics: • Conductor – a material or object that allows electricity to move through it. • A raceway – a channel for loosely holding electrical wires in buildings. • Optical fiber – a long, thin, glass or plastic thread carrying information in the form of light.

Ultimately, this means the National Electric Code keeps electrical systems safe by standardizing

the safe installation of wires, connections and outlets, and providing information to all certified electricians.

If you give your home a

Did you pick up on the keyword “safe?” What’s most important about the code is, it’s designed to keep you and your family safe. What’s just as important is that you don’t have to read the National Electric Code and check your wiring yourself. Instead, call us to conduct an inspection for you.

facelift this spring, you’ll do more than spruce up the view for passers-by. You can get a bigger response from potential buyers. That’s because improving curb appeal improves property value.

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>.

Not sure where to begin? Take a look at where you are. Literally. Stand across the street or at the edge of your driveway for a change of perspective. What do you see?

— PRODUCT NI TPICK —

Home Generators Are a Hot Commodity

Home generators provide a

reliable source of energy when the power goes out, but how do you know which home generator is right for you? These things may narrow the field considerably:

1. Determine your emergency energy needs. Most homeowners are concerned about powering basic creature comforts and medical equipment. An eightkilowatt generator can typically handle this load. 2. Select an available, affordable fuel. Natural gas and propane tend to be the most economical.

• Good points vs. bad points. Consider which features of your home that you like best. Can you enhance them? Then take account of the features you like least. Can you improve them? • Repair and maintenance needs. If you’ve been ignoring damage, it hasn’t gone away – in fact, it may be catching someone else’s attention. Stay on top of repairs. • Clutter and debris. Here’s an easy one. Remove trash and other items from your walkways and driveway, or clutter in your yard. • Landscaping. Trim shrubbery, add fresh mulch and bedding around plants and keep the lawn mowed and free of weeds. Re-seed for a lush lawn and use quality, weed-free grass seed to fill in bare spots. And don’t forget: water your lawn regularly.

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>. ©2015

— DOLL AR S MAKE SENSE —

Catch Up By Saving Up

$227 billion. That little figure

is how much Americans have stowed away in 529 college savings plans. Are your savings included in this number? If you’re falling behind, here’s what you can do. Start catching up on National 529 College Savings Day (appropriately celebrated on 5/29)! The College Savings website www.collegesavings.org is a useful tool to help you determine your savings goal. The site’s

college-cost estimator predicts tuition costs for the year your child will enroll, and provides other information. You can choose from more than one hundred versions of 529s, and they’re listed by state. Each version has different investment options, contribution limits and fees. Keep in mind that you are not restricted to using a program in the state you live in. Compare plans to find the best match for you and your budget.

— T HE GOOD LIFE — more time with your children. (Plus, they may be more inclined to eat their veggies if they helped grow them!)

Eat Green, Be Green, Save Green

Looking for a healthy and fun

family activity for spring? Fresh vegetables are not only good for you, but they are also fun to grow! Plant your favorite salad fixings such as lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumbers. You’ll spend less at the grocery store while spending

You’ll want to consider your local weather and soil type. Plus... Be sure to water your garden regularly, and throw in your natural compost from the kitchen to keep the soil fertile. A good tip here: collect water in a rain barrel for watering your garden and other plants, and save on your water bill. Growing a green garden is great for the environment, great for your family, and great for your wallet!

My Word

! e M n a c S

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or two of wire contact can claim lives and destroy property. Let us come check your wiring, inspect your fuse box and reattach a hanging attic wire… whatever you need. It’s our job _ and our pleasure – to help you keep your family and home wired and safe. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

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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.

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M O R E S AV I N G S A N D G R E AT N E W S

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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.