HXP 2c Su13_SAMPLE by Hudson Ink

SUMMER 2013

My Word by <NAME> Dear Friends, With the shift to summer, work gets busier, or slower, depending on what you do. Kids are taking a break from school, but not from all their activities. The days get longer, and you spend more time outdoors. With extra water needed for the lawn and garden, or a few extra showers for active members of the household, summer can create many pressures on your plumbing system. If you experience any trouble, just give us a call and we’ll get someone out there right away to help keep your plumbing in good working order.

…continued on page 4

Cheap and Easy Ways to Better Your Bathroom …page 2

Save Big on Summer Vacations

How to Prevent Cooking Fires …page 3

…page 2

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

— It’s About Time! — “Retro” Is In: Save by Retrofitting Your Plumbing

When it comes to your plumbing,

water conservation may not be your top concern. Still, if you reduce water use in your home, you can reduce your monthly utility costs. That’s where retrofitting comes in. “Retrofitting” isn’t just dressing like you did in high school. It’s the process of replacing or modifying your old plumbing fixtures with those that are designed to save water. Changing out old fixtures can result in water-usage reductions of up to 50%. Consider these three choices for daily water savings: Ultra-flush toilets – Toilets with modern technology use only 1.6 gallons to flush, compared to older models that use from 3.5 to 7 gallons to flush. Low-flow showerheads – Water flows at a rate of 1.5 to 2.5 gallons

per minute, compared to older versions that flow at a rate of 4.5 to 8 gallons per minute. Faucet aerators – Like the name implies, aerators mix air and water. Available in sizes ranging from 0.5-2 gallons per minute, they provide a big savings over newer faucets that use 3.5 gallons a minute, and an even bigger savings over older models that use 7 gallons per minute. Another savings tip? Repairing one dripping faucet can save you 15 gallons of water a day. To find leaks hidden in your plumbing system, try a simple test: Check the reading on your water meter, then turn off all water fixtures in your home for the next two hours. Check the water meter again. If there’s any change, you could have a leak. (Next step? Call us!)

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

— Dollars Make Sense —

Save Big on Summer Vacations — ST YLE POINTS —

Cheap and Easy Ways to Better Your Bathroom

I n the current economy, more

and more homeowners are opting to renovate rather than move. In the long run, it proves to be more profitable in most cases. And while a remodeling job might not be in your immediate future, you can make minor adjustments that make a room more appealing – and maybe even save you some money. Take, for example, the bathroom. These tips can serve as an upgrade that won’t break the bank: • Replace the bathroom fan. While all bathrooms are susceptible to mildew, an ineffective bathroom fan can make your problem even worse. Jot down your bathroom’s square footage and then head to the local hardware store for a new fan that will suit your needs. Fans are not too expensive, and an installation is often easy and user friendly.

• Fix the toilet. Can’t understand why your water bill is so high each month? It might be thanks to a defective flapper on your toilet. A new flapper is only a couple of dollars and will only take a minute or so to install. You can save even more with newer, energy efficient toilets that use less water each time it flushes.

T here’s nothing like the

• Install new sink fixtures.

open road in summertime – where you pack the cooler

Older sink fixtures make a

bathroom appear dingy and

antiquated. Replace your old handles, fixtures and faucets with new ones to give your

and the kids and head for the lake, the beach or the mountains. Trouble is gasoline prices are near

bathroom a more modern

look. You can choose from a

record highs. What’s more,

variety of looks and enjoy the upgrade.

Get $25 Off the Best Service We Can Offer. For your next plumbing repair, we’d like to make things easier on your wallet. So just clip this coupon for a $25 savings on your repair bill. Then call us and we’ll give you our best service. Call <COMPANY> at <PHONE>. ©2013 ©2013

the travel organization AAA recently conducted a survey that showed summer travelers could experience a 5% increase in lodging and dining costs.

— The Product Ni tpick —

A Healthier Ride Many motorists are unaware

that their vehicles come

equipped with cabin air filters

that prevent pollutants such as pollen, dirt, dust and soot from entering their car through the vents.

But over time, air filters can get clogged and actually multiply the dangers from air pollutants. That makes proper air filtration for vehicles especially important for families with children or members who suffer from chronic respiratory illnesses. Check your filter every 12,000 to 18,000 miles.

Before Going

— Summer Secrets —

Buy what you can ahead of time, like film, sunscreen and

How to Prevent Cooking Fires

first-aid supplies. That saves you from the high prices of convenience stores or hotel shops.

D id you know that cooking is

The family that travels together stays together – and for hours at a time. On-road movies with portable DVD players help. You could also borrow audio books from your local library. Other good bets: drawing supplies, books, magazines and hand-held video games.

the leading cause of home fires in the United States, as well as the leading cause of home fire injuries? These tips can help you prevent fires: • Keep towels, potholders, curtains and paper products away from the stove. • Keep the stove and oven clean to prevent grease build-up. • If a cooking fire starts, smother it with a pot lid.

Pack the snacks. Vacation travel without snacks in the

• Heat oil slowly to avoid splattering. • If a fire starts in the microwave, keep the door closed.

• Check the kitchen before you go to bed or leave your house to be sure appliances are turned off. • Get a fire extinguisher and learn how to use it.

• Make a fire escape plan and practice it monthly.

— Hot News Now —

vehicle is like vacation travel

Time it right

with a bunch of people saying, “I’m hungry.” Pack a cooler to keep the on-the-road complaints to a minimum and on-the-road food costs minimal.

How to Save More Green on Your Lawn

“If Only” Give us a call to schedule an inspection and service of your plumbing system, and you can enjoy peace of mind. The only thing worse than a water disaster is knowing it could have been prevented. Save time, hassle – and thousands of dollars in unwanted repairs. Call <COMPANY> at <PHONE>.

Never throw water on a grease fire.

L awn lovers know that

keeping their turf green during

Water when your lawn is thirsty. Step on the lawn and see if your foot’s indention remains – that’s a sign of thirst.

the hot summer months

Install a rain shut-off device on automatic sprinklers.

Drought conditions cause

Longer is not always better. Water in a series of short sessions. Three ten-minute sessions spaced 30 minutes apart enable better absorption than one 30-minute session.

requires regular watering. us to wisely conserve water.

Water before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. If you water your lawn during midday, you’re likely to lose as much as 30% of the water to evaporation.

wallet – healthy:

My Word Sincerely,

Oh, and don’t forget the impact water use can have on your energy costs. If the time is right to replace an older water heater with a new energy efficient model, let us know and we’ll get right on it.

! e M n a c S

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<SIGNATURE> <NAME> P.S. Be sure to check out the discounts in this newsletter. If you

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

We wish you a summer of fun

can’t use them, pass them on to

offer. Don’t have a smartphone? Visit

activities and many good times.

someone who can. Thanks.

<your website> for more information.

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PRSRT STD U.S. Postage

<PHONE>

PAID

CO-OP LOGO Optional

Permit ##### Montgomery, AL

More Hot Water, More Energy Savings? Really, there’s a way.

even when you’re not using it.

It’s called the Forever Hot

With Forever Hot Water, you

Water system, and it lets you enjoy an endless supply of steaming water whenever you want – and reduces your energy bills to boot! How? With traditional water heaters, you pay to reheat the same water again and again –

—

pay to heat the water when you need it. And it never runs out! So call us today and find out how you can start enjoying endless hot water – and energy savings!

Connect M O r e S av i n g s a n d G r e at 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.