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Home and garden improvements that will benefit local wildlife (StatePoint) When it comes to changing the world, your own backyard is a great place to start. As you make home improvements, consider their potential to benefit local wildlife that travel in and around your property. Here are a few important steps you can take.
Plant Native Species
By planning native species exclusively in your garden and yard, you will be promoting a healthy local ecosystem while providing proper nourishment and a natural habitat for visiting wildlife, whether that be insects, birds or furry creatures. Because native plant species are meant to thrive in your local climate, they will require less maintenance, which means a beautiful yard with less stress.
Prevent Bird Strikes
You may not realize it, but
your home poses a risk to birds. Window strikes are common among many species of migrating birds, and millions of wild birds are killed annually flying into windows. However, a simple home improvement project can make your home safer for birds. Birds can see certain light frequencies that humans can’t, so by applying UV decals and UV liquid to your home’s windows and sliding glass doors, you can make windows visible to birds in a way that won’t obstruct your own view. “Protecting birds adds beauty to your garden, is good for the environment and most importantly, saves lives,” says Spencer Schock, founder of WindowAlert, a company that offers UV decals and UV Liquid. The UV decals and liquid from WindowAlert have been prov-
en to effectively alter the flight path of birds to prevent window strikes. The coating will look like etched glass to the human eye, but be very visible to a bird. As UV reflectivity may fade over time, it’s important to replace the decals and liquid every four months. Application techniques can be found by visiting WindowAlert.com.
Build a Bird house
Add beauty to your yard with a wooden bird house. Find a design you love or get creative and craft your own, using your own home’s architecture for inspiration. A strategically placed bird house -- either within three feet of a window or over 30 feet away -- will help avoid bird strikes. Be a good neighbor — not just to the other humans. Make improvements to your home that will help protect both local and migratory wildlife.
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Spring cleaning? Don't forget your HVAC system The arrival of spring is a good reminder that it’s time to do some HVAC maintenance. Following the tips below can be a good start, especially if you don’t normally give your heating and cooling system a little TLC at this time of year
Adjust Thermostat for Daylight Saving Time
Before doing anything else, make sure your thermostat settings are consistent with the change brought about by DST. Adjust them forward by an hour so your furnace and air conditioner will be in sync with the new time we must observe until
November.
Dust Floor Registers and Air Vents
Vacuum the nooks and crannies of these air passages. These areas are notorious for all kinds of buildup that can pollute the indoor air. To rid them of contaminants, including dust and pet dander, wash their surfaces with soapy water. Normally, using a sponge would suffice to render them squeaky-clean. But if you encounter stubborn grime, you may need a tougher tool. A butter knife covered with a rag is useful in removing filth and accessing
debris trapped in tight spaces. Old toothbrushes work well, also.
Change the Air Filter
Install a new filter to avoid performance problems with your air conditioner in preparation for the cooling season. As a general rule, you should change a oneinch filter once every one to three months, though pet owners may want to clean or replace theirs more often. Some thicker filters may not require replacement for one year.
Schedule Air Duct Cleaning
Ducts are the primary transport vehicles for air circulation in forced-air residential heating and air conditioning systems. Ideally, your home’s ductwork is completely sealed, and all filters are working efficiently, minimizing any contamination that may enter the HVAC system.
Unfortunately, dust, dirt, dander, fur and other unwanted contaminants still make their way even through the most well-kept systems, causing mold growth and a general decline in your home’s indoor air quality. This is the main reason why many experts agree that duct cleaning is an important part of your home’s HVAC maintenance.
What Is Duct Cleaning?
Despite its name, duct cleaning is not exclusive to the ductwork of a residential heating and air conditioning system. It also includes a thorough cleaning of the whole system, including various components typical in any HVAC unit. This means that return ducts, registers, grilles, heating coils, condensers, evaporators, drain pans, and housing, air handlers and other heat exchange units are also cleaned
during duct cleaning.
Do You Need Duct Cleaning?
Keeping the HVAC system free of dirt and moisture is enough to maintain the air flow and quality within your home’s ductwork. However, for homes with pets, cigarette-smokers and/ or family members with respiratory problems, proper cleaning of the ductwork carried out by a qualified professional is needed to maintain a certain level of indoor air quality. For homes suspected of having mold growth within the air duct system, it’s also important to have the same ducts cleaned thoroughly Entrust your spring HVAC maintenance to Sierra Air. Call us at 775-625-1654 now to make an appointment at the most convenient time and date for you.
Spring is in the air and so are the allergens. Call Sierra Air for your spring cleaning.
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Battle weeds, leaves and shrubbery with tech How to add some excitement (Family Features) The same type of technology used in some to outdoor entertaining of the United States Navy’s most powerful ships also powers handheld lawn equipment. A lineup of string trimmers, leaf blowers and hedge trimmers from Cub Cadet use an innovative technology to power the units called CORE (ConductorOptimized Rotary Energy). The sophisticated motor technology generates power equal to gas engines and maximizes poundfor-pound power efficiency, compared to its 25 cubic centimeter gas-powered engines. The technology also features a unique Power-Lok system. This standalone drive unit offers lightweight, high-performance string trimmer, blower and hedge trimmer attachments. It saves storage space and money with one tool that does the job of three different units. Printed circuit board technology and magnetic rotors generate concentrated, efficient power and torque that is on par with gaspowered units so the toughest outdoor challenges can be tackled without the fill-ups, fumes or pull-starts of gas engines. By delivering high-torque performance with no dependence on
battery voltage, CORE technology leverages a revolutionary motor design and a responsive load-sensing controller to deliver power and performance where and when it is needed. It also features zero gasoline emissions and much less noise than gaspowered equipment. Because the motor consists of lighter weight materials and does
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not require a gas tank, it is lighter for users to operate. With longer runtimes than other gasless tools, the technology offers all the power needed for various outdoor projects with nearly 45 minutes of power on one charge. The typical recharge time is 1 hour. More information is available at CubCadet.com.
(StatePoint) It’s time to take the party outdoors. Here are some fun ideas for entertaining on the balmy days and nights ahead: • Cool Spread: Host a potluck in your backyard, setting up a long picnic table for guests to display their dishes. You can make things more interesting by adding a theme or challenge. Whether it’s to incorporate a specific seasonal ingredient into every dish or to only bring dips, the possibilities are endless. Use online tools to help you organize, such as perfectpotluck.com, which gives guests an opportunity to sign up for a specific item ahead of time so there are no duplicates. • Outdoor Movie Night: It’s easy to turn the backyard into an outdoor cinema. Grab some lawn chairs and blankets and host a movie night outdoors under the stars. You can be sure you get a clear, crisp picture with a projector designed to automatically adjust its brightness relative to ambient light. For example, the XJ-F210WN, part of Casio’s Advanced Series line of projectors, combines a laser and LED light source and uses an Intel-
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ligent Light Control feature to ensure viewers get great visuals. Powered on and off in as fast as five seconds, this mercury-free, energy efficient choice is right for hosts who don’t like to make their guests wait. • Decorate: Your decorations should evoke the spirit of the season. Think garlands, fresh flower centerpieces, paper lanterns and vibrant colors. • Make Music: No party is complete without music. Whether you’re hosting a jam session or karaoke night, take advantage of the season by taking the musical fun outdoors. A versatile portable keyboard, such as the CT-X700, can help you get the party started. It comes with the AiX Sound Source, which faithfully reproduces the sound of acoustic instruments such as guitars, wind instruments and more, as well as 100 built-in songs, 600 tones and 195 rhythms. It also includes a class-compliant USB-MIDI port that connects to most devices with no drivers or installation needed, making it a good choice for an outdoor set-up.
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Lawn Equipment: Keep safety in mind When spring is on its way, home owners are often eager to get outside and spruce up their yards. It’s important when doing so to keep safety in mind. “Before you use a mower, trimmer, blower, chain saw, pruner or other piece of outdoor power equipment this season, it’s important to refresh yourself on handling and safety procedures,” said Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), an international trade association representing outdoor power equipment, small engine and utility vehicle manufacturers and suppliers. “We’re all eager to get outside and enjoy the living landscape after a long winter, but take the time to do basic maintenance now to ensure your equipment operates safely for the season and is ready to get the job done.” These six tips can help: 1. Read your owner’s manual. Follow all guidelines for your outdoor power equipment and familiarize yourself with the controls. If you have lost your manual, look it up online (and save a copy on your computer for easy reference in the future). 2. Inspect equipment. Check for loose belts and missing or damaged parts. Replace any parts needed or take your equipment to a qualified service represen-
tative for servicing. 3. Drain old fuel. Never leave fuel sitting in the gas tank of your equipment for more than 30 days. Untreated gasoline (without a fuel stabilizer) left in the system will deteriorate, which may cause starting or running problems and, in some cases, damage to the fuel system. 4. Protect your power by using only E10 or less fuel in outdoor power equipment. Some gas stations may offer 15 percent ethanol (E15) gas or higher-ethanol fuel blends but any fuel containing more than 10 percent ethanol can damage—and is illegal to use in—small engine equipment not designed for it. 5. Store fuel safely. Label your fuel can with the date of purchase and ethanol content of the fuel. Never put “old” gas in your outdoor power equipment. If you don’t know the date of purchase, dispose of the fuel in the can safely and buy fresh fuel. Always store fuel out of the reach of children or pets and in approved containers. 6. Clean equipment. Remove any dirt, oil or grass stuck to it. Clean equipment will run more efficiently and last longer. “Now is also a good time to assess your outdoor power equipment needs,” adds Kiser. “Whether you’re needing battery-,
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gasoline-, propane-, diesel- or hybrid-powered equipment, there is a product to fit your unique needs that can handle any job.”
Learn More
For more safety tips, go to www.opei. org. For further information on proper fueling, go to www.LookBeforeYouPump.com
ABOUT OPEI
The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) is an international trade association representing power equipment, small engine, utility vehicle, golf car and personal transport vehicle manufacturers and suppliers. OPEI is the advocacy voice of the industry, and a recognized
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Standards Development Organization for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and active internationally through the International Standards Organization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in the development of safety and performance standards. OPEI is managing partner of GIE+EXPO, the industry’s annual international trade show, and the creative force behind the environmental education program, TurfMutt.com. OPEI-Canada represents members on a host of issues, including recycling, emissions and other regulatory developments across the Canadian provinces.
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