Must Learn To Keep Racoon Away From Your HOme

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How to Prevent Raccoons in Homes and Businesses

Instead of removing raccoons after they become a problem, you can also take some precautionary measures to prevent raccoons from taking over your home or business. Here are a few tips on how to keep these masked bandits out so you can continue living in harmony with one another:

1. Regularly Inspect Your Home or Business and Make Necessary Repairs

Since raccoons can gain entry to your home or business through holes, uncapped chimneys, busted vents or any other roof openings, it’s vital to keep an eye on things so you notice if something is out of the ordinary. If you find any visible signs of raccoons or even loose siding or shingles, make the repairs necessary to keep everything in great condition to keep raccoons out.

2. Keep Trash Somewhere Safe

If raccoons are a big problem in your area, consider keeping your trash sealed and locked in somewhere such as a shed. You may even want to secure the garbage can lid with cinder blocks or bungee cords as an extra preventative measure since raccoons are very smart.

3. Clean Your Yard

Any branches, leaves or other debris could act as an ideal hiding spot or living area for raccoons, so make sure you mow your grass and clean up your yard regularly to avoid anything piling up. Keep firewood at least 20 feet or so from the building in winter as raccoons may use it to build a shelter. You should also remove things like bird feeders and fruit or produce from gardens.

4. Protect Your Pets

Make sure your pets are up to date with their rabies vaccinations and seal any pet entry doors in the evening to prevent raccoon entry.

What Kind of Damage Can Raccoons Do?

Raccoons can be pretty messy. Just ask anyone who has had the misfortune seeing their garbage can toppled over, the contents of which have been strewn all over the lawn. Now imagine what they can do if left for any time inside your home.

When raccoons take up residence inside an attic they are capable of causing tremendous amounts of property damage. We often find that the damage raccoons do to gain entry to your attic is the tip of the iceberg compared to what they do once inside. In very little time, a family of raccoons is capable of destroying your insulation and filling your attic with harmful and odorous urine and feces.

Insulation

With the average raccoon weighing in at 25-30 lb (11-14 kg) they can quickly trample and compress attic insulation simply by walking around. Pregnant female raccoons will compact and clear large areas of the attic to comfortably rest and nurse their young. All of this activity serves to damage your insulation and reduce its effectiveness. A properly insulated attic is critical to keeping your home warm in winter and cool in the summer. Raccoon damage can cost you thousands of dollars in inflated heating and cooling bills.

Urine and Feces

An even scarier thought for many is the fact that raccoons will use your attic as a giant litter box. The amount of urine and feces produced by a single raccoon is enough to create some serious health concerns. These problems are multiplied when as many as eight babies are born and raised just inches above your ceiling.

One of the most significant dangers associated with raccoons can be found in their feces. Baylisascaris is an infection caused by a roundworm contained in raccoon excrement. The roundworm eggs are often found inside raccoon droppings and if ingested by humans can cause severe damage to the nervous system or death.

Do Raccoons Attack People?

Whether or not raccoons will attack people depends on the situation. Raccoons will attack if they feel threatened and particularly if they are sick. Raccoons will attack people only if they feel threatened, and they can inflict serious injuries. Not only that raccoons can hurt a person with scratching and biting, but they can also transmit serious diseases, like rabies. Even though raccoons will not purposefully attack humans to prey on them or kill, they will attack in self-defense or to defend their litter. For these reasons, people are not recommended to try and trap raccoons on their own and try to transport and relocate them outside of cage traps.

Raccoons will definitely attack in self-defense. The examples of these situations are numerous, like if a homeowner surprises and scares a raccoon in a small space, where the animal can’t escape safely, or when a homeowner attempts to grab a raccoon using their hands. Another example of a risky situation is when a homeowner attempts to move the animal out of the trap on their own, touching the animal and not giving it the space to escape and find shelter. Trying to handle a raccoon on your own can be particularly dangerous if a person is not absolutely sure that the animal is not protecting their litter, which can be near. In this situation, a raccoon will act aggressively to protect its young, and this is a situation where a raccoon will try to chase a person away with biting and scratching. Normally, the animal’s reaction would be to try to get away and attack only in cornered, but protecting a litter is the strongest instinct in animals, and this is the situation where a raccoon will decide to purposefully attack a person.

RACCOONS IN THE ATTIC

  • Scare them out. Use caution! Just making your presence known will usually do it. Go into the attic a few times a day with a flashlight. Shine the light on them and talk to them. But if touched or threatened, by being cornered or feeling boxed in, they will defend themselves and they are quite adept at doing so.
  • If there are babies, give the mother 1 or 2 nights to relocate the family.
  • Roll some rags into a tight ball and tie with twine to keep them tight. Soak the rag balls in ammonia. Toss them into the area of the attic where the raccoon is located.
  • If you can, sprinkle Cayenne pepper or Repel® granules, a commercial dog and cat repellant, around the entry hole, both inside and out, if this is possible.
  • During the day, place a radio in the attic tuned to an all talk station.
  • Use floodlights to keep the area where they are living well lit.
  • Once the raccoon has moved out, secure their entry point. Use hardware cloth or welded wire.
  • They usually won’t come back. If you want to use a repellant, then you can either Sprinkle Repel® granules or Cayenne pepper around the entrance area, if that is possible; or use a repellant, such as Ropel®, sprayed around the entrance area.

Is That Raccoon Rabid?

If you see a raccoon in your yard during the day, don’t panic—she is not necessarily sick or dangerous. It’s perfectly normal for raccoons to be active throughout the day. She may merely be foraging longer hours to support her young, visiting a garden while the dogs are indoors, or moving to a new location.

Key in on the behavior of the raccoon before calling for assistance. Look for:

  • Staggering gait
  • An animal seemingly oblivious to noise or nearby movement
  • Erratic wandering
  • Discharge from eyes or mouth
  • Wet and matted hair on face
  • Repeated high-pitch vocalization
  • Self-mutilation

If you see a raccoon showing these signs, call your local animal control or police department.

Best Ways To Squirrel Proof Our Bird Feeders

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What Should You Not Feed Squirrels?

If you like feeding squirrels, you want to make sure that the food you give them isn’t dangerous. The two main issues with feeding squirrels are filling them up on foods that have little or no nutritional value or foods that are outright dangerous.

Junk Food

This includes salted and sugared snacks. Just like in humans, these are fillers and have little nutritional value. The salt is also very bad of squirrels while the sugar has much the same effect as in children. Squirrels are hyper naturally and sugar gets them even more excited which is bad for their overall health. Other junk food such as pizza, hot dogs and so on are very bad for squirrels and aren’t part of their natural diet.

Corn

You can feed squirrels a little corn cut up in pieces but never a whole since squirrels have a tendency to overeat, sometimes even to death. Corn also turns sour quickly and grows mould so make sure that the corn is good to eat before feeding. Mouldy or sour corn can be toxic and even fatal to squirrels.

Breakfast Cereals

Breakfast cereals have no nutritional value for squirrels. They are happy to gorge themselves but this is basically filler that does nothing for them. This can easily lead to severe malnutrition. Cereal is definitely not part of a squirrel’s natural diet.

Pet Food

Doesn’t matter if it cat or dog food, again, meats aren’t part of a squirrels natural diet. Squirrels are vegetarian and can actually die from pet food for its high meat content.

Feed squirrels nuts, fruits and vegetables that are found in your local area.

Why you shouldn’t feed the squirrels

We actually don’t encourage feeding squirrels. I know some people find enjoyment in this but there are some considerations to keep in mind:

  • If squirrels are dependent on handouts, it can prevent them from foraging on natural food sources. This can lead to health issues if they’re not getting the proper nutrients.
  • Squirrels can lose their natural fear of people when they begin to associate people with food. While you love squirrels, others in your neighborhood may not and could react differently to a bold or approaching squirrel.
  • Feeding can also cause an unnatural number of squirrels to congregate in an area, larger than what the surrounding natural resources can support. This can lead to an increase in the spread of diseases.
  • It can also spell problems with your neighbours if squirrels start digging up their flowerbeds, chewing on their windowsills or nesting in their attic.

However, just because you shouldn’t feed squirrels doesn’t mean there isn’t anything you can do for your backyard visitors.

How to Attract Squirrels to Your Backyard

Squirrels are found all across North America in both rural and urban settings. While many people try to repel squirrels from their backyard, others appreciate the flurry of activity these fluffy rodents add to a landscape. Attracting wildlife, such as squirrels, to your backyard requires a variety of strategies to make your home’s landscape friendly and inviting.

  • Provide natural cover in the forms of hedges, shrubs, tall stands of ornamental grass, and stacks of wood or logs. Squirrels are naturally skittish and don’t like wide open spaces, and thick vegetation throughout your landscape provides them the cover that makes them feel safe and comfortable.
  • Plant a few squirrel-friendly trees. Such trees have various qualities that specifically attract squirrels, such as edible nuts or flowers, branching structure that creates the hollows and crooks that squirrels like to build their nests in, and easily scalable bark. Examples of trees popular with several types of squirrels include conifers such as spruces and pines, and deciduous trees such as willows and aspens.
  • Offer squirrels food to quickly attract the hungry rodents. Scatter corn on the ground at the base of trees, hang corn cobs from tree branches, and fill bird feeders with nuts that are popular with squirrels, such as walnuts, hickory nuts and acorns. Replace the food as it gets depleted.
  • Provide a source of fresh, clean water in a shallow tray or bowl. Place several of these dishes throughout your landscape near shelter, such as a shrub or the base of a tree. This is especially attractive to squirrels and other wildlife in the summer. If you live in an area where natural sources of water are frozen during the winter, a water heater, such as the type commonly used in bird baths, can keep the water warm and accessible to squirrels.

What Is Poisonous to Squirrels?

Many people wish to poison squirrels because they view them as “vermin” that harm crops or spread disease. Other people may be curious as to how squirrels can eat so many foods that are poisonous to human beings, such as acorns and poisonous mushrooms.

Types

Squirrels have a short digestive tract that allows them to handle many foods that humans cannot. Because the foods are not in the system long enough to make a difference, trace amounts of poison found in acorns, mushrooms and other problematic natural foods do not bother squirrels.

Most preferred forms of legal poison for squirrels are anti-coagulation poisons. These interfere with blood-clotting abilities of squirrels, leading to their death.

Prevention/Solution

If you feed “the birds,” stray cats or any other animals outside, you are inviting a squirrel problem into your yard. Stop feeding any animals outside, and squirrels will have to forage elsewhere.

Diseases Squirrels Carry

Squirrels are known to carry numerous diseases, though only a few are dangerous to humans. Some of the more common include tularemia, typhus, plague, and ringworm. Such diseases are transmitted through bites or other forms of direct contact with infected squirrels. Tularemia, typhus, and plague have symptoms that mimic the flu and can be deadly when left untreated. While all mammals are capable of getting rabies, squirrels are very rarely rabid.

Parasites and Disease

Other diseases squirrels transmit to humans come from the various parasites they carry. Rife with parasites such as fleas, ticks, and mites, squirrels living in proximity to homes frequently pass these tiny pests on to both humans and pets. Some of the diseases humans can get from the parasites include Lyme disease, Encephalitis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Avoiding Squirrel Diseases

Keeping squirrels off your property and out of houses is the best way to ensure the health and safety of both homeowners and their pets. While screening and capping vents and chimneys is effective, entry points like windows, doors, and holes in the roof should also be properly sealed.

Auto Repair Help Troubleshooting

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Tips for Selecting Auto Repair Shops

If and when you’re dealing with auto repair problems, it can be a time-consuming process finding the right shop, but asking the right questions is key. Learn important tips that will help you select the right shop

If and when you experience troubles with your car, time can be of the essence. For many drivers, dealing with a work schedule and other responsibilities like family make having a working car an absolute necessity

Ask around

Often the best referrals come from your friends and family who have had experience using the mechanics in your area. Getting a word-of-mouth referral from a friend or family member can also mean you’ll get an honest insight about their experience with those repair shops, which can help save you money or avoid a scam.

Shop around before an emergency

If your radiator is smoking or your car won’t run at all, chances are you are in a hurry to fix the problem. If you are in a rush to get your car to the shop, your judgment might be clouded; this may influence you to make a hasty decision based on needing your car back immediately, rather than saving money and receiving top-notch service.

Don’t choose based solely on price

While price may affect your choice, since you want an affordable rate, do not just opt for the cheapest choice. Do your research and compare. The cheapest rate may not always have the worst services; likewise, the most expensive might not offer the highest level of service.

Tips for Choosing a Car Repair Shop

Most people will always have a hard time deciding on which car shop to choose because a wrong choice can be costly. Some car repair shops are in business to take car parts that are new from their clients while they give the old and less efficient car parts. Those are the type of auto repair shops that you need to avoid by all means. This article provides you with essential tips that will enable you to find the right auto repair shop.

Do your Homework

Before choosing an auto repair shop, it is essential to make sure that you are well informed. Ask the people around what they think about the auto repair shop whose services you seek. They will always advise you accordingly. Apart from asking around for more information, you can always do your research on the internet.

Consider Online Reviews

Also, before choosing an auto repair shop, it is important to read online reviews. It is here where you will get all the hidden things that you might want to know about the shop. For instance, if there are people who used the services from the shop and they were dissatisfied for one reason or the other, you will get to know.

The Reputation

Great auto shop repair companies will always have a good reputation. This is because they are dedicated to offering quality services to their clients. They know that if they fail to serve their clients right, they are not going to get many customers as they would have wished. Checking the online reviews will always tell you more about the reputation of the company

Experience

When looking for car repair shops, it is a good idea that you choose the one that has a good experience. This is important because, through the experience of handling different cars, it means that they have skills that they can use to solve any problem. You would not want to give your precious car to people who might end up interfering with it one or the other.

Tips for Choosing the Right Auto Repair Shop

Ask friends and family for their recommendations. After all, it’s often their opinions that you value most, and unless asked directly, most people won’t offer their advice on their favorite shop or mechanic, it’s just not the most interesting topic!

Choose an auto repair shop before major repairs are needed. It’s a lot easier to choose a shop without the pressure of needing immediate repairs. It also gives you time to better weigh your options.

Pick a shop that employs ASE Certified Technicians. ASE Certified Technicians are mechanics who have gone through rigorous training and testing to be experts in their automotive fields. You can trust they will take good care of your automobile

Make sure the auto shop your choose works on your make and model of vehicle. Some repair shops are specialized, so be sure that the shop you choose has mechanics that are certified to work on your type of vehicle

See if the shop has transportation options available. In the case that a major repair arises, can the shop give you a lift back home or to the office? Many auto repair shops will accommodate your transportation needs (within reason), so be sure to call and ask if a free local shuttle service or loaner cars are available

Tips for Choosing the Best Auto Repair Company to Fix Your Car

A car can protect you and your family from external elements and road hazards. But sometimes, the danger comes from within and it is no one but the car owner’s fault. A vehicle that has been neglected and gone a long time without service is sure to have some malfunctioning components that can endanger the life of your family.

License and Certification

Besides shady auto repair services, a lot of people like cars and will offer you a bargain price to fix your vehicle. Don’t do it. You should only get your car fixed by a licensed and certified mechanic. When someone other than a qualified auto repair mechanic tinkers with your vehicle, it can void your warranty and can even lead to more problems in the future.

Visit the Staff

One of the best ways to reassure yourself that your car will be in good hands is to simply book a visitation appointment over the phone or through an email. During the visit, judge how the staff is treating you. If they are cordial and cooperative, it means your car will experience the same treatment. If they are impatient and rude, don’t trust them with your vehicle.

Check the Reviews

Word-of-mouth and referrals still remain the best form of organic advertising to this day. Now with the internet, it is getting easier and easier to see what others are saying about an organization. At PA Auto Inspection, we encourage our prospective customers to check out what our past customers are saying about us. Our review page is filled with honest testimonials of several happy customers who have had their cars fixed from us with very satisfactory results. You can also check out social media and Yelp reviews to see what people are saying about our service.

Pricing

Although there is an industry standard for many types of auto repairs, they can vary a bit from mechanic to mechanic. When you are looking for a good automotive repair and service company, don’t be afraid to look around for the ones that give you the best price rather than settle for the first one you see.

How to Find a Good Mechanic

Find Out Who Services the Big Business Fleets in Your Area

Delivery vans, taxis, company cars, government vehicles – they all have to stay on the road, so you better believe they’re taken to a good mechanic when they need maintenance work or repairs.​

Search for a Good Mechanic Online

The Mechanics Files over on CarTalk is a great place to look for a mechanic recommendation or to check up on a mechanic that you’re considering. It features reviews of over 30,000 mechanics!

Choose Someone From the AAA-Approved Auto Repair Network

Even if you don’t have AAA, choosing a shop from their Approved Auto Repair Network can be a great way to vet a mechanic. All participating shops must offer 12 month/12,000 mile warranties on all repairs, use ASE or manufacturer-certified technicians and pass an annual AAA inspection

Look Up ASE and Manufacturer-Certified Shops

When a mechanic is certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), the manufacturer of the particular make of car that they work on or both, that’s a pretty good indication that they know their stuff.

heck With the Better Business Bureau

Once you’ve narrowed it down to a few mechanics, do a quick search on the Better Business Bureau website to check up on their ratings and reviews.

Where To Deduct Tax Preparation Fees

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Tips to Find a Good Tax Preparer

This tax season is the first time many Americans will see how the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act affects them. Some may be pleasantly surprised by big refunds, and others may have to reach deeper into their pockets to pay Uncle Sam.

If you decide to turn to a professional to help you with your returns, your first step is to identify the type of tax preparer you need. Regardless of whether you choose a tax expert in private practice or a storefront tax-prep company, you’ll want someone who has the right experience for your particular needs and can work at a price you can afford.

Check the Tax Preparer’s Credentials

Anyone with a preparer tax identification number can handle and file your taxes, but it’s best to find someone who also can handle audits, IRS collections, and appeals, says Ann-Marie Long, a CPA and tax manager at SKC & Co., a CPA firm based in Boonton Township, N.J. Only a certified public accountant or an enrolled agent—another type of tax professional—can represent you before the IRS in those situations, she notes.

The IRS’ Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers is a good place to find tax pros with credentials and select qualifications. If you live in California, Maryland, or Oregon, ask the preparer to see a current license, which is required by law in those states.

It’s also a good idea to look for a preparer who’s a member of a professional organization and who attends continuing education classes. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants helps consumers find a CPA; it also links to state sites, some of which have search engines to find local CPAs

How to Find the Best Tax Preparer for You

Types of Tax Return Pros

You can have anyone—your uncle, your neighbor, or your best friend—prepare your tax return. But if you’re paying for this service, the person must be registered with the IRS and have a current preparer tax identification number (PTIN), which is an IRS number issued annually to eligible preparers

Eligible paid preparers fall into different categories, depending on their education, certification by professional organizations, and continuing education requirements.

Attorneys: These professionals are licensed by states or state bar associations to practice law and are subject to continuing education requirements and a code of ethics.

CPAs: Certified public accountants are professionals who have passed the Uniform CPA Examination and been licensed by state boards of accountancy; they also have continuing education requirements.

Enrolled agents: These are individuals who have passed a three-part Special Enrollment Examination demonstrating competency in federal taxation and been licensed by the IRS. They, too, have continuing education requirements.

Annual filing season program participants: These individuals are not attorneys, CPAs, or enrolled agents but have completed an IRS program and obtained continuing education.

Any other preparer with a PTIN: These are individuals who believe they have sufficient knowledge to prepare returns and have paid the fee to obtain a PTIN. They are not subject to any oversight by a state, a professional board, or the IRS

The IRS has an online directory of preparers with PTINs. It includes attorneys, CPAs, enrolled agents, and annual filing season program participants, but not preparers who merely have a PTIN but no other credentials. You can search for a preparer by credentials, zip code, and distance from you

(There are also enrolled retirement plan agents and enrolled actuaries who are preparers with PTINs. These experts typically don’t do consumer tax returns, although they are included in the IRS directory.)

Tips for Choosing a Tax Preparer

You’re really organized and on top of things this tax season. Good for you! You received all your W-2s and 1099s, you collected all your financial statements and receipts, and now it’s time to find someone to prepare your tax return. But there’s one problem…you’re not quite sure how to go about choosing a tax preparer.

It goes without saying that you want someone who’s qualified. But how do you know? You want someone who’s honest and reliable, too. But, again, how do you know? The last thing you want to do is search online for “tax preparers near me” and randomly pick a preparer from the list, but sometimes it feels like there’s no better way.

Relax. There is a better way. Follow these 5 tips for picking a tax preparer to help you weed out the fly-by-night preparers and zero in on the best tax professionals in your area. With a little bit of time and a few targeted questions, you can find a competent and dependable preparer to complete and file your return.

Verify the Preparer’s Credentials

There are a lot of people out there claiming to be a “tax professional.” However, just because someone hangs out a shingle and advertises tax prep services, it doesn’t mean they actually have the skill, education, and expertise to handle your return.

To increase the odds of finding a qualified tax preparer, look for someone who is credentialed. You’re much more likely to get a competent preparer if they’ve been vetted by the IRS or a state regulatory board. The most common types of credentialed preparers are certified public accountants (CPAs), enrolled agents, attorneys, and annual filing season program participants.

Tips for Choosing a Tax Preparer

If you’re expecting a tax refund, you may be eager to file your taxes as soon as possible so you can pay off debt, build an emergency or other savings account or shop for any number of previously unaffordable consumer goods

However, rushing into a relationship with the first tax preparer you find could be a big mistake. The IRS recommends choosing a tax return preparer carefully, since no matter who prepares your taxes, you’re still ultimately responsible for all the information on your tax return

Understand tax preparer qualifications

According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), there are around 700,000 non-credentialed tax preparers in the U.S. Many states don’t require tax preparers to pass an exam or obtain a license. While non-credentialed tax preparers may be top-notch preparers, they have limited representation rights and can’t represent you in court or regarding appeals or collection matters.

Search by qualifications

If you need a tax preparer with specific qualifications such as enrolled agent, attorney, Certified Public Accountant or enrolled retirement plan agent, search the IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications

Interview tax preparers

Make sure a tax preparer has an active preparer tax identification number (PTIN) through the IRS and check whether the person meets state requirements. Then interview the tax preparer thoroughly. Ask about fees, availability and what kinds of records the tax preparer will need.

How to Choose the Right Tax Preparer

It is that magical time of the year again and if you are looking for someone to prepare your taxes, there are many factors to consider including expertise and pricing. We are all unique and there is no one size fits all. Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions!

Find out what their tax background and experience is. What is their training? What are their qualifications and credentials? How long have they been preparing tax returns? Also, some tax preparers are not a certified public accountants (CPA) and don’t have a formal credential but yet may be competent. Ask questions to find out what makes them qualified to prepare tax returns

Find out if the tax preparer has experience with the type of return that you must file. Tax returns are not all the same and range from 1040-EZ to various involved schedules. Tax preparers may focus on a certain type of return but may also have sufficient knowledge in many areas.  However, if your return is specialized, you will want to find a tax preparer who has a lot of experience with that type of return. . Ask about their experience with individual returns vs. corporate returns. In my experience, tax preparers who specialize in corporate tax returns, which tend to be more expensive, charge a higher minimum fee. This is something to keep in mind if you are only looking for personal tax return preparation.

Ensure that the tax preparer is familiar with the requirements of the states and localities that you must file in. For example, if you live in one state but work in another, there may be filing requirements to consider. Also, you may have a business that has sales in different states, own property in another state or have relocated to a different state during the year

Know in advance what records, documents and other information that the tax preparer will require of you. This could save you time and money. A competent tax preparer will ask for many different documents and be able to explain what you will need to provide for special circumstances you may have. Personally, I like it when a tax preparer offers a thorough checklist to review, which would enable a thorough tax preparer to make sure nothing has been missed, such as long-term care insurance premium deductions, investment fees or student loan payments.

Information About The Hydro Jetting Service Profession

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How Should I Know if Hydro Jetting or Snaking is the Best Choice for Drain Cleaning?

What many homeowners don’t know, however, is that chemical drain cleaners damage your pipes and create weak spots that are prone to burst. This is why professional drain cleaning methods are always preferred. Hydro jetting and snaking procedures are fast, efficient and safe for your drains. They will quickly remove clogs and get your drains clean in no time

How does Hydro Jetting work?

Hydro jetting is a popular choice because it’s fast, effective and completely safe for your drains. Using a high-pressure water jet, technicians can quickly clear out years of hardened debris from your drains. The water jet is also powerful enough to smooth the inner texture of the pipe, which gets rid of any porous patches that form clogs. This prevents future clogs before they start.

When should I use a Plumbing Snake?

Snaking is best reserved for simple or one-off clogs. Emergency clogs are often cleared with snaking because it’s quick and efficient. Snaking is not ideal in situations where the drains are overly dirty or if there is an abundance of hardened clogs in the pipe. These circumstances are best suited for hydro jetting. Hydro jetting is also preferred when there is a recurring clog because the water jet works better at permanently repairing the situation.

DIY Hydro Jetting

Many home plumbing repairs are safe to DIY with little to no experience. Unfortunately, hydro jetting is not one of those services. The high-pressure water jets are dangerous to use if you do not have the right experience or training.

Hydro jetting is also dangerous on pipes that are already weakened or damaged, which is why technicians will always inspect the pipes before recommending this service.

What Is Hydro-jet Cleaning?

It’s important that your home’s water pipes work well at all times. These pipes are responsible for moving waste and dirty water away from your home. Unfortunately, when pipes get blocked, they can’t do their jobs. This has serious consequences for a residential plumbing system. If your home is experiencing problems with clogged pipes, you have two options: hydro-jet cleaning or snaking.

Hydro-jetting, also referred to as water-jetting, is a specialized cleaning solution for drain and sewer pipes. It uses a high-pressure hose that has a special nozzle affixed on the end. The hose itself connects to a machine that directs pressurized water through the nozzle to clean and clear out congested sewer pipes.

Is Hydro-jetting Recommended for All Drain Clogs?

Some pipes aren’t strong enough to handle the force of hydro-jetting. In these cases, using a drain snake is better. Drain snake service uses a cable machine to clear clogs and is an affordable option. Hydro-jetting is best for serious clogs such as when there are tree roots in the sewer line or there is a massive clog that won’t respond to other methods.

Benefits of Hydro-jetting Service

Blocked sewer lines put the drains inside your home at risk of backing up and overflowing. Like it or not, the sewer pipes on your property are your responsibility to maintain. The easiest and most effective way to do this is to use hydro-jetting to clear serious clogs. The reason this method is popular and so effective is that it’s able to cut through virtually anything including wood, dried concrete, grease clinging to pipes, and those pesky tree roots. The pressurized water is powerful enough to pulverize nearly any material and wash it away and out of the pipe. Another benefit of hydro-jetting is that it cleans pipes thoroughly, leaving the pipes crystal clear and ready to stave off future clogs.

Benefits of the Drain Snake

The drain snake is a great option for small clogs that haven’t made it past the trap and deep into the line. It’s also a good option for homeowners who want to try to clear a clog before calling for professional drain cleaning services. Drain snakes, or hand augers, are available at home improvement stores and are a cost-effective, easy-to-use option for the average person.

What is Hydro Jetting?

Hydro jetting is an effective method of cleaning drains and main sewer lines. A hydro jetting machine has a water storage tank and hose attachments that will blast water into the drain lines from approximately 1500 PSI for kitchen jetters and 4000 PSI for main sewer line jetters.

When Do You Perform Hydro Jetting?

Typically, hydro jetting of the main sewer line or kitchen line is not the first step to clear a clogged drain line. Heavy clogs that will not clear by routine snaking, area drains overflowing in the rain, in preparation of epoxy relining, or commercial preventative maintenance are ideal problem scenarios to consider hydro jetting

What is Hydro Jetting Used For?

Hydro jetting is used to completely eliminate scale buildup and heavy root intrusion in main sewer lines, and heavy grease and scale buildup in kitchen lines. It is especially useful in commercial applications for restaurant lines due to excessive grease. When kitchen drain pipes get frequent use and have even minimal amounts of grease poured into them on a regular basis, they can quickly become full and close off the flow of water.

Kitchen Hydro Jetting Process

Hydro jetting for kitchen lines is an effective method of removing heavy grease buildup in kitchen drain pipes that snakes cannot clear. Plumbing contractors or drain specialists will attempt snaking the line with a kitchen snaking machine first to determine the cause of the clog. If the kitchen snake comes back with heavy buildup or hits a hard blockage further down the line, they may recommend a hydro jetter service to remove the buildup.

Main Sewer Lines

Common causes of main sewer line clogs include tree roots, heavy scale buildup, low spots and deteriorating or broken plumbing pipes. Hydro jetting is a great way to expel scale buildup from mineral deposits and root intrusion, but is not effective on broken drain and sewer lines.

Why Choose Hydro-Jetting for Your Commercial Drain Cleaning?

Whether you run a business or own a commercial property and manage tenants, you have a lot to manage. Likely, your Bellaire, TX commercial plumbing is the last thing on your mind. Properly maintaining that plumbing system is not easy, and not something that the average person can handle. However, your commercial building’s drain and sewer system is vital to the operation of the property, and since it’s mostly hidden from view problems can develop without you even realizing it—that is, until these problems begin to impact the plumbing system’s operation.

What Is Hydro-Jetting?

This is a fairly recent, and very effective, addition to the standard methods for commercial drain cleaning. It involves the use of a hose with an omnidirectional sprayer head to blast a high-pressure stream of water down the drain pipe. The hydro-jet pressure is sufficient enough that it can clear out practically any clog that might form in the drain, in addition to any other waste buildup that may form clogs in the future.

What Are the Advantages?

There are a number of benefits to scheduling hydro-jetting for your commercial space. Prior to this service, the most common option to deal with drain clogs was drain snaking—which involves using a long cord with an auger on the end of it. The snake was inserted into the drain until it meets the clog, and which point the auger is used to drill through it.

How Often Should You Schedule This Service?

We recommend that you schedule hydro-jetting services for your drains at least once a year. You don’t need to worry about what season is best for this—so long as you choose a time where you can conveniently have the service done again within a year. There might also be times throughout the year that you will want to call for this service to address specific issues, such as a sudden clog.

Slow drainage is a leading sign that your commercial drains are in need of cleaning. As waste builds up within the drains and pipes, it begins to restrict the flow of water—so if you, your employees, or tenants begin to notice this, it’s important to give a professional plumber a call!

All About Hydro-Jetting and Why You Need It

Most people know that when their drain is clogged, it’s time to call a Richmond Hill plumber. Did you know your plumber may suggest hydro jetting? There are some great reasons to consider it, too.

What is Hydro Jetting?

If you’ve lived in your home for a while and noticed clogs keep recurring, it’s a sign. Hydro jetting can help. If you’re not sure what that is, hydro jetting is the method of using a high-pressure stream of water to clean the inside surfaces of plumbing pipes.

Why Should You Hydrojet?

Whether you’ve built a new home, are buying an existing home, or have lived in your house for years, your sewer drain needs to be cleaned from time to time. Otherwise, you could be in for a costly wake-up call in the form of a broken line. A compromised line caused by toilet paper and waste solids creating a dam and backing up into the house is also a possibility.

Very Effective

You can handle a minor clog with a plumbing snake, but for a severe clog, it is too much. With hydro-jetting, there isn’t a clog that can withstand the force of that powerful blast of water. It completely opens the line, clearing all the debris and buildup, and scouring the inside of the pipe clean.

Cost Savings

Of course, hydro-jetting will cost a little more than your regular drain cleaning services. Yet, in the long term, it will save you money. This method clears the entire pipe, eliminating problems for years into the future, and that saves you time and money without a doubt.

What Packing Services Are Included In Contract Packing

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How to Choose the Best Contract Packaging Services

A contract packaging service, also known as a co-packer, is an organization that provides supply chain services such as warehousing pick-and-pack, equipment rental, and more. These companies can provide businesses with total turnkey solutions, or labour. Outsourcing your packaging and warehousing operations with a custom packaging company can benefit your business in many ways. But, before you settle on a co-packing company, it is important to make sure it is aware of your needs. By informing the contract packager of your goals, you’ll be able to discuss and identify if they are the right team for you to work with. Here are three important aspects to consider when choosing a contract packaging company.

Flexibility and Co-Packing of Packaging Service

Packaging and repackaging in the supply chain will always go through changes, and the co-packer should be able to guarantee their ability to respond quickly and make adequate changes to prevent any problems along the way. It is important to ask and find out how the company would meet challenges such as changes in planning, scheduling, and management. Many packaging companies will charge extra for last-minute or rushed projects, which you should expect. It is more important to focus on their ability to adapt to changes.

Capability and Location of Contract Packager

The company you desire to work with should never take for granted aspects such as maintaining machinery and the workspace required. You should ask your contractor what equipment they would use for your project, and request a walk-through of their recommended process. They should also have headquarters in close proximity to where your project will be the most effective. You should be able to reach your end customer or distribution centre as easily and quickly as possible. This will save you costs in terms of shipping and packaging. It will also help you build stronger relationships and explain your expectations clearly to your partner company.

Quality and Cost

Cost may be an important aspect to consider for your business, but it is not the most important factor that influences a successful packaging partnership. You should be budgeting 10% of the total cost for packaging, but be aware that this budget includes materials as well as paying your service vendors. Once you have considered the other factors, then you can negotiate your price with the contract marketing manufacturers as long as they are reliable, resourceful, and responsive to your needs

Hire a Contract Packager from the GTA

If your business operates in the Greater Toronto Area, you could benefit from working with a reliable company that has warehouse locations and provides operations management within that area. If you’re looking for the right company to partner with that meets your needs as a business, Lean Supply Solutions is the answer

How to Choose a Pick and Pack Fulfillment Service That Saves You Time

Are you spending hours fulfilling orders to your customers? Your process is probably slow and laborious. Even after all the time you spend, you can still make costly mistakes like using a wrong shipping address.

What is Pick and Pack Fulfillment?

Pick and pack fulfillment is part of the supply chain management process. It’s the process of picking sold product, packing it, and then affixing a shipping label and invoice to the product.

Why You Would Want to Use a Pick and Pack Fulfillment Service

A streamlined picking and packing process isn’t an easy feat. Inventory must be on-hand, organized, and tracked. This way you know you have enough inventory to ship and track what your customer received.

Products must be properly packaged to be delivered safely to your customer. This means knowing the required box size and needed packing material. Shipping labels have to be generated and placed on the right packages. A system must be in place to validate that customers received the correct order.

Provided Services

First and foremost, you need to see what all services they provide. At the minimal, they should provide basic pick, pack, and shipping capabilities. That’s why you’re using them. Depending on your business needs, however, you might need more.

Things to Consider When Choosing the Right Packaging Company

Packaging is important. Without it, your products have no way to reach your customers. And without proper quality packaging, your products won’t reach your customers intact and undamaged. So how do you go about ensuring something like that? By choosing the right packaging company for your business and its shipping packaging needs. But not all packaging providers are created equally. Here’s 6 things you should consider when you’re ready to start the hunt for a strong packaging partner.

What’s your packaging budget like?

Your products and customer orders aren’t going anywhere without packaging. But if your budget is on the more limited side, you’ve got to find ways to work around that—and choosing the right packaging company will help with that. Plenty of them only sell in large or bulk quantities, and that likely isn’t advantageous to your bottom line. So, what do you do?

What’s your storage/warehouse space like?

This can be another limiter on your operation. Whether your packaging budget is sufficient or not, you may not have the space to stack and store all that needed packaging. And with some packaging providers preferring to sell in large or bulk quantities, what do you do?

Do they offer high-quality packaging materials?

When you’re choosing the right packaging company, ensure that they source their packaging from either high-quality providers or high-quality sources. Spending all that time packing up a customer order only to discover you’ve been using sub-par corrugated boxes can provide headaches for both you and your customers. A good metric for choosing the right packaging company is to see if they take part in any green, environmentally-friendly initiatives.

Do they offer a wide variety of packaging supplies?

Sometimes you’ve got to find ways to stretch your packaging budget (maybe it’s been an unexpectedly busy month, or maybe your new product’s taken off a lot faster than you thought it would). And with the advent of dim weight shipping charges, you’ve probably got to find ways to stretch that already-stretched packaging budget even more. Your packaging provider should offer some interesting, cost-effective and just-as-protective alternatives to corrugated boxes and bubble cushion. Mailer envelopes? Corrugated mailer boxes? Courier bags? These are signs that you’re choosing the right packaging company for your needs.

How to Choose the Right Custom Product Packaging

Products make the world go round. The right custom product packaging can help make a good product great. It can also give your brand the boost it deserves. Get it wrong and the effects could be disastrous.

Make sure your custom product packaging travels well

Custom product packaging needs to be able to travel from point A to point B with ease and minimal damage. It’s important for your packaging to have a killer design that says: do not ignore, I was made for you.

But product packaging boxes also need to be practical. You’ll need to focus on materials that are specifically designed for strength if it’s bulky or fragile when packaging your product. If your product is going to be sitting on a retail shelf, proud as a peacock, then you’ll need to put more effort into the outward display. This is where a superior print finish (perhaps a UV treated high-gloss, liquid-based coating) will come in handy.

Packaging that stacks well, like a two-piece rigid box will help reduce damage. Picking up and placing a two-piece rigid box in a cargo hold can be done with ease. For something a little more heavy-duty, packaging made from sturdy corrugated cardboard is worth considering. This particular material provides excellent support.

Find the right material for your packaging design

Think of packaging design as if you were an architect. You wouldn’t want to live in a house made out of cheese. Just think about the smell in the summer, oh the humanity! So why would you want your beloved product housed in the wrong material?

Tips for Good Packing

Packing a box properly is crucial when it comes to shipping. If your item is not packed well, it probably won’t stand a chance in the carrier’s fast-paced hubs full of drops and falls from conveyor belt to conveyor belt. The carriers know this and have come up with several resources to use for all the do-it-yourself packers out there.

PICK THE RIGHT BOX: Box selection is crucial. Everyone likes saving money and some do this by recycling a used box to ship their item. Recycling is great! Just make sure the box doesn’t have any water damage, rips, tears, holes, or anything else that weakens the integrity. What most people don’t realize is that boxes lose 60% of their strength after the first shipment. Keep that in mind when choosing a box!

REMOVE OLD LABELS AND BARCODES: You want your package to go to the right place, right? Make sure you remove or cover up old shipping labels so the package doesn’t get miss-sorted and go to the wrong place. Believe it or not this happens quite a bit. One time we had someone come into our store with a box that had three shipping labels on it; no one knew which one was the correct label (including the customer)!

WRAP ITEMS INDIVIDUALLY: When shipping fragile items, it’s important to wrap them separately. This can be done with bubble wrap, foam sheets, or newsprint to prevent scratching. Wrapping items individually prevents them from hitting each other with enough force to cause damage. If you put two or more items together and wrap them as one, it may protect them from other items in the package, but it won’t protect them from each other.

USE PROPER CUSHIONING: You should never pick up a box and hear items shifting around in the box–unless your shipping something like LEGOs. Severe damage can result as nothing protects the item from the edges of the box or outside forces being applied to the package. There should be cushioning in the box to prevent items from freely moving about the package.

Electrical Maintenance Courses To Change Your Career

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Electrical Maintenance

It is essentially important to carry out electrical maintenance on a regular basis; maintaining all the electrical material fittings, appliances and devices in and around your home. Maintenance enhances the smooth running of all the electricity powered items in your home, while creating a safe environment that will be free from all sorts of hazards.

Home safety is obviously one of the most dearly held goals by most, if not all, homeowners everywhere. A home is designed to be a safe haven for its dwellers, and therefore anything and everything that favors home safety should always be accorded first priority. Electrical maintenance for the home is without question, one of the foremost and sure steps towards fostering a safe home.

Importance of Proper and Timely Electrical Maintenance

When regular electrical maintenance checks are carried out for a home, various unwelcomed mishaps associated with electricity get avoided in an opportune manner. When such mishaps are avoided, it makes it easy to escape unplanned and often very high expenses of repairing, or even replacing badly affected electrical devices due to small problems that would have otherwise been detected and dealt with earlier.

Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) In general, having your home’s HVAC system working well is a welcomed convenience. However, there are instances where the proper working of the HVAC could mean more than just a convenience. Take for instance, a home where there are senior citizens, small children or even a sick person; for such people, extreme heat variations, whether up or down on the thermometer, can result in life threatening complications.Such extreme heat variations would only happen in a malfunctioning HVAC system, and this is something that would have been avoided altogether through properly scheduled electrical maintenance of all its components in a timely manner like say, before the onset of winter or summer.

Outdoor Lighting The outdoor lighting in your home does a lot for your home safety. For one, it ensures that your porches and walkways are well lit and thus safe for both you and your guests at night. The other thing that they do for your home’s safety is deter thieves and burglars, who always prefer to operate in the dark. The light fixtures, bulbs and lines of your outdoor lighting require regular checks and replacements because of the nature of the outdoors. Having a contracted electrician carry out such checks on a regular basis will ensure that at no point will your outdoors be dark.

Choosing the Right Electrical Contractor for Industrial Maintenance

Electrical maintenance is one of the major issues when it comes to your safety and security. For industrial sectors, electrical maintenance is the topmost priority concern from the productivity point of view. To resolve issues related to the maintenance of a colossal industrial project, you must always seek experts, who are well versed with the facts & terms of electricity.

Electrical systems need timely maintenance & constant attention, which is often a life saver & prevent occurrence of serious incidents. Neglecting timely maintenance will lead to frequent faults, downtime, and hazards, which can be very expensive in the long run.

Electrical maintenance contractor is the professional, who provides services & maintains the installation of the whole complex structure. They must have higher standards of analytical skills, so that they can easily handle the old/previously installed systems of every project. Duties & responsibilities of an Electrician may vary & depend upon the contract, which is discussed between him & his client. For complex industrial electrical services & maintenance, you must opt for the best electrical maintenance contractor, because industrial maintenance requires a very high level of professional standards & knowledge to comply with different kinds of complex circumstances that may come during work.

Selecting an electrical contractor :

The Best electrician is the one who you can handle the electrical maintenance issues properly. They are the only ones who have the proper knowledge base & experience to tackle the modern as well as the older electrical system. They help in improving productivity and eliminating downtime.

Choosing an electrician is never an easy task, so take time to find the best one. If you are looking for a reputed and fully insured electrical service provider for your industrial electrical maintenance, give a call to Aspire Electrical.

What is Electrical Maintenance?

Advances in the design and quality of electrical components have made it possible for electrical systems to run for years without noticeable problems. While wonderful feats of engineering, well-designed electrical systems can lull building owners and operators into a false sense of security—right up until the moment the system fails. It’s for this reason, among others, that electrical maintenance is such an important part of commercial building operations.

What is Electrical Maintenance?

Electrical maintenance covers all aspects of testing, monitoring, fixing, and replacing elements of an electrical system. Usually performed by a licensed professional with a complete knowledge of the National Electric Code and local regulations

Preventative Electrical Maintenance

Early identification of problems is a key aspect of electrical maintenance. For instance, should a back-up generator sit idle until needed, it may not start due to a number of factors. Old fuel clogging a fuel filter, uncharged starting batteries, or start switches left in the wrong mode can all prevent a smooth transition to backup power. These are basic problems, easily identified and addressed through preventative maintenance.

One of the major challenges to electrical maintenance is the nature of electrical wiring. It can be difficult to pinpoint the location of specific problems as the system is built into the building. Thermal imaging has become increasingly important in the industry for its ability to identify issues with both electrical connection points and equipment operation. By catching such problems early, electrical maintenance helps reduce unexpected power outages and protects equipment from damage.

What is electrical maintenance? It’s an aspect of building operations no commercial facility should be without. While large scale operations may have their own on-staff electricians, smaller facilities may find it more financially viable to contract with a licensed professional for scheduled electrical maintenance and servicing.

Steps for Proper Electrical Maintenance

With simple maintenance and prevention methods, you can feel better about the safety and efficiency of your home’s electrical system. This includes making sure your appliances are running smoothly and all of your outlets are safe to use for everyday needs, such as charging devices and plugging in lamps.

Remember the golden rule: Safety first

You should never start any home maintenance or repair work without proper preparation and safety tools. When working with electrical items, make sure to unplug the unit or turn off the power to the specific circuit. Don’t forget that water and electricity don’t get along, so make sure to unplug anything electric before cleaning. Never use a metal ladder when performing electrical tasks.

Use electronics accordingly

It’s important to be smart about how you’re using electronics. Avoid plugging in too many things into one circuit, which can overload it and cause a power outage. Be mindful of where you place small appliances and electronics, such as toaster ovens and hair dryers. Make sure they’re not under any vents that could potentially drip on them or are too close to a source of water, such as sinks and showers. Further, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends installing ground-fault circuit interrupters for all of the outlets in wet locations, such as kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms. They’re designed to turn off electric power immediately in the event of an incident, which can be a potentially life-saving feature.

Be mindful of plugs, outlets and wires

Treat your plugs kindly and don’t force them to fit into outlets. Don’t try to bend and adjust the prongs, as this could cause an electric shock. Alternatively, if it’s loose inside the outlet, it may be time to replace the cord for a fresh plug. Replace old outlets with new electric sockets with advanced safety features, such as built-in surge protectors. Unplug extension cords when you’re not using them to avoid an electric and fire hazard. When you’re outside, only use cords and electrical items that are specifically for the outdoors.

Schedule routine professional check ups

Electricity can be dangerous, so never hesitate to call a licensed electrician for help. In fact, one of the most important steps in good electrical maintenance is having a professional inspect your system at least once a year. An electrician can check your electric panel, replace damaged wires and test circuit breakers.

COMMERCIAL ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE

If you run a factory, or data center, a restaurant, or any business. You know that keeping the lights and equipment running can mean the difference between staying or going out of business. Most businesses cannot afford prolonged electrical systems and equipment downtimes. The good news is that Can Do Electric services can help you reduce or eliminate un-planned costly system failures do to faulty electrical distribution and power systems. Keep your business up and running with a proactive electrical maintenance service agreement. Can Do Electric Services, Inc. offers electrical maintenance service agreements of all types. We can tailor an affordable customized service agreement to suit your specific needs.

Protect Equipment and Extend Its Operational Life

Just like getting regular oil changes on your car, staying proactive when it comes to preventive maintenance will save you money down the road.

If you have special equipment like conveyor belts, compressors or pumps. This equipment already has manuals that tell you when general maintenance services are due. You can simply tie our service agreements in with those. But you can choose to use a different maintenance schedule interval.

Control and Reduce Energy Cost

Like with your car or other equipment, regularly scheduled maintenance will extend the operating life of your equipment and related systems.

You lower your operating cost because equipment that’s maintained will last longer, thus extending the useful life of your equipment, which means make less frequent capital equipment investments.

Recoup Cost of Maintenance Service Agreement

When you avoid unplanned electrical equipment failures, you also reduce repair costs.

The cost of a maintenance service agreement will be off-set by the savings realized by longer equipment replacement cycles.

Maintenance for Overloaded Circuits

Dealing with tripping circuits in your office? This issue is caused from overloading one specific circuit. In an office environment, it is likely that too many devices are relying on your wiring. Ignoring an issue like a tripping circuit can lead to damage to your electronics, wiring, or worse, cause fires.

Reasons Why You Should Choose Carpet Cleaning Services

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Things to Look for When Choosing a Carpet Cleaning Company

How to choose the right carpet cleaner…

Over the years, we’ve had countless phone calls from people panicking and upset after receiving a service from a carpet cleaning company that didn’t produce the results that they promised. It’s always frustrating for us to hear that another local carpet cleaner has taken the money of a customer that trusted them with their property, only to then leave them back at square one, out of pocket and stressed.

Are they professionally trained through the IICRC or NCCA? Don’t feel embarrassed to ask. If they’re trained professionally, they’ll be more than happy to show you their certificates.

Are they insured? This one is important. Find out if the carpet cleaner is insured and if they have Treatment Risk as part of their cover. If not, they’re not covered to service your property and you should look elsewhere for a carpet cleaner.

Do they have past testimonials? If the company has testimonials and reviews from past clients, it’s worth taking a look. Most good companies will have a Facebook page, Google Business page or website where you can find reviews to look at.

What equipment do they use? A professional carpet cleaning service requires professional carpet cleaning equipment. Look on their website for pictures of large, shopping trolley-sizes machinery. A lightweight machine that can be easily carried is not going to be enough for a thorough clean.

Choosing a Professional Carpet Cleaner

Maybe you have never had your carpets cleaned, and you want to make sure you choose the best company for the job, or perhaps you are just sick of choosing lousy carpet cleaners who leave your carpets “clean” but are worse off six months later. Whatever the reason, you came to the right place. Here are 5 things you should look for when you are wondering how to choose a professional carpet cleaner.

What carpet cleaning products are they using?

Cheap harsh chemicals can make your carpet look clean for a while, but these chemicals can be hazardous to your family or pets. You should ask you carpet cleaner if their products are safe for children and pets. Chemicals are not the only problem though. You should also ask if they will be using soap or detergent to clean your carpet. If the answer is yes, you will need to ask them how they intend to remove the detergent or soap entirely! If they do not remove the residue from these products, you may wind up with crunchy carpets, or worse, dirt-attracting residue in your carpet.

What carpet cleaning tools are they using?

There are a few tools that may be used for carpet cleaning, and they are not all made equal. Steam cleaners can be useful if the water and residue can be fully extracted, but this is hard to achieve, and you will usually be left with flooded carpet that takes quite some time to dry. It also leads to residue left behind on the carpet. Another type of tool is a dry cleaner. This tool first requires a pre-spray which also gets the carpet wet. Then a buffer pad is used to buff the stains out. Quite frankly it doesn’t work anywhere near as well as an extraction wand. Dry carpet cleaning methods are not approved by leading carpet manufacturers and will void your warranty. A hot extraction wand is the best option for carpet cleaning. It will run water through the carpet fibers and suck it out quickly, so you do not get flooded carpets

How is the company’s customer support on the phone?

This may seem like a strange one, but a phone call can tell you all you need to know about working with a carpet cleaning professional. When the company answers the phone, are they polite and professional? Alternatively, did you get just a hello, if you just got a hello you may have reached someone on their cell phone. Now, this does not immediately make their service terrible, but it may not be as professional. Regardless, ask some questions about your needs and verify if the person on the other line is excited to be helping you or bothered by your questions. If you sense bothered, time to call someone else. You want to make sure you are getting your carpets cleaned by someone who will listen to your concerns and get the job done the way you want!

What are customers saying about them?

You have to be careful when you look at reviews, a few reviews can be faked, but it is hard to make up many reviews on a reputable website, although even this is possible. The best thing to do is look at reviews from multiple sources like Google, Yelp, and Facebook. It is also essential you read some reviews, do not just take into account the star rating. What were the customer’s problems and concerns, what did the customers like about the carpet cleaning professionals? Reviews are a quick and easy way to get some insight about the quality of the carpet cleaner. If you want a pro tip: use the ctrl+f feature on your computer to look for specific reviews for your need. For example, you may have pets and want to see what other pet owners thought. Use ctrl+f and search “pet” then those reviews will be highlighted making it easier to find relevant reviews for your needs.

How to Choose the Best Carpet Cleaning Company

A home without a good carpet cannot be considered to be complete. It is the carpet that gives it that attractive look that makes one feel like they want to spend most of their time indoors. Despite the fact that carpets are useful, if they are not kept in good condition, then there is a possibility that might not be very interesting to look at.

Experience

Choosing a carpet cleaning company that has been in the cleaning industry for a long time places you in a good position of getting quality services. This because if a cleaning company has done the same job for a long time, then it means they have explored all the methods that can be possibly used and they, therefore, know the best ones to employ for your work. Also, the company that has been in the cleaning industry for a long time is not likely to make silly mistakes.

Facilities

You also need to consider the kind of equipment that the cleaning company will be using to cleaning a rug or rugs  that you intend to assign them. Good cleaning companies need to have modern equipment that will make it possible form to leave your rugs spotlessly clean. Some companies tend to use cheap cleaning methods and facilities to do the cleaning. The effect of this is that they end up interfering with the quality of your carpets and lowering their value.

Accreditations

Most homeowners treat the cleaning services as casual work and they, therefore, do not expect the services providers to have any formal education. That is a casual notion that you need to dispel from your mind. You need to make sure that you are dealing with professionals who are accredited to offer the cleaning services. Ask them to show you all the necessary certifications that make them legitimate.

Reputation

Sometimes you can know the quality of the services that you are going to get by looking at the reputation of the company. For instance, if the cleaning company in question has been offering quality services, there are chances that you will also get the same if you hire them. The reverse of that is very true.

How to Choose a Carpet Cleaning Company

From super  low prices and high pressure sales to unqualified technicians and near worthless methods. How do you ever find a qualified, competent professional carpet cleaner?

I will give you an understanding of the importance of correct carpet cleaning, not just for appearance, but to insure your family’s health and that your carpet will not be damaged as well. You will be able to make a more informed and intelligent decision.

Reputation

Check references to find out what others have thought of the service delivered by a company. This can be found by searching the internet for reviews. Another place to look is to use social media websites. This will give you an indication of the general reputation that a company has developed while being in business.

Education

Sadly, there are lot of people doing carpet cleaning that have not had any formal training in how to correctly clean carpets. In Australia, it is not a requirement to have any certification before operating. It then falls on you as the person hiring a carpet cleaner to ensure that the person arriving to clean your carpets knows what they are doing. There is a certification system which will give you an indication that carpet cleaners know what they are doing. This is the IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification)

Experience

In addition to having been trained correctly, there is a lot of value in experience. Over time, a technician will hone what he has learnt while putting his knowledge to practice. The only problem is if a technician does not have the correct knowledge to start with, experience is of little value if he has never been able to produce an effective product in cleaning carpet

How to Choose the Right Carpet Cleaning Company

In today’s modern world the internet is most people’s go-to when looking to hire a service. You will find the internet saturated with carpet cleaning companies, however not all are reputable, trained, or honest. It is essential to be informed before making a decision on who to hire

Choosing a carpet cleaner based on equipment alone.

Sure proper equipment is necessary to do a good job, however if the operator is not properly trained the best equipment in the world won’t do what it is supposed to do. The best way to know that the carpet cleaner have been properly trained is to make sure the cleaner has been certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). Before you choose a carpet cleaner, ask to see written proof of the company’s and the technician’s IICRC certification.

Choosing a carpet cleaner based on low price.

Lowest price could mean a very costly mistake in three ways:

Low price is the bait that gets you to call & schedule the appointment. Once in your home, you are pressured into a more expensive job.

Lowest price can be for  a ‘single-process’ Once explained, the customer is pressured to purchase the more expensive “dual/deluxe process ” (Illegal “bait-and-switch”).

Lowest price probably means the carpet cleaner has minimal skills, will be using the cheapest chemicals and inferior equipment – you could actually be paying them to ruin your carpets or soft furnishings!

Choosing a carpet cleaner based on a single telephone call.

As with choosing any service provider it is always a good idea to check the credentials of the carpet cleaning company before you invite them into your home. How long have they been in business? Do they offer firm, written quotations prior to performing any services? Make sure to get references & read comments from current clients. These are all important considerations to avoid becoming the victim of high-pressure sales tactics when the technician steps into your home.

Choosing a carpet cleaner that doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee.

Inexperienced cleaners have all kinds of reasons why they would never offer a guarantee: “What if the carpet is 20 years old and has permanent stains? – I’ll lose my shirt.

How To Tell If You Have Swarmer Termites And What To Do About It

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Choosing a Professional Termite Pest Control Company

Choosing a Professional Termite Pest Control Company

Make sure the company offers a guarantee, understand the terms and conditions and how long the guarantee is offered. A good reputation in the market is a good indicator of good service. Check your local Better Business Bureau or Department of Agriculture, to see if complaints have been filed against the potential company you have in mind.

Verify that your selected firm is a member of your state pest control association and the National Pest Control Association. Membership in the National, and state or local pest control associations is a good indicator that the company has access to modern technical information. In the area of termite pest control, their commitment to further education is important, particularly with the newer termite baits and baiting techniques on the market.

It is important to request the plan of work revealing sites of termite activity and treatment procedures. Ask for written information on chemical treatment procedures, bait station placements, repair of wood work, warranties, and copies of insecticide labels.

Compare bids before making decisions. Ask about liability insurance.

Follow-up inspections should be included in any termite treatments. Extermination contracts should include annual or semi-annual inspections to verify that a treated home is not reinfested.

Seek at least 3 different proposals.

Annual Termite Pest Control Contracts:

Many people think that an annual contract means that the pest control company re-treats your house every year. But this is not the case unless there is evidence of termite activity in the house, annual treatments are illegal under both state and federal law.

The pest control company provides an annual termite inspection of your home in the annual contract. If you or the company find evidence of termite activity, (and you are under contract) then the company is liable for termite treatments. In most cases, the termite treatment in your house carries a one-year guarantee from the pest control company. After the year ends, and the contract is up for renewal..it is always a question of a need to renew the contract or not.

The cost of a renewal is typically between $150-$400, depending on the size and construction of the house.

If you are planning to sell your home within a couple of years, a contract would be advisable. It will include a clearance letter for mortgage companies in the event of a sale. If termites are discovered at this time of inspection, the pest control company is liable for termite treatments.

You do want to consider whether the pest control company will allow their contract to be transferred to a new homeowner or does it terminate the contract.

If you are not selling your home in a few years and you feel comfortable doing Home inspections, you wouldn’t need the annual contract. However, upon finding evidence of termites, you would need to either do your own termite treatment or look for a termite service company at this point.

Choosing a Termite & Pest Control Professional

When you have a pest problem, you want to know that you are going to get quality service from your Pest Professional and that they are going to provide the professional service that you need. You expect the best, and you need it taken care of as quickly and efficiently as possible.

In order to get the quality service you need from our Pest Professionals in Arizona, you will want to use the following steps to ensure you get the best:

Find out if the pest professionals have experience with your type of pest problem. Some pest control companies specialize and you will want a company with expertise for your specific pest problem. Best practice – get references; there really is no substitute for this. Go with one that comes with referrals from your friends or relatives that have used the company. Find out if the Pest Professionals are trained and licensed. Look to see if there are any guarantees.

If they are dealing with termites, you also want to know if they have liability insurance. Get a few estimates before you buy; then compare services offered and price before you choose one. Find out how long the service is good for by reviewing the contract. It will state how many months they will service your home or business. Learn what chemicals the Pest Professionals in your area use and how they are distributed in your home or business. Note that warmer climates may require a wider usage. Understand how often treatments are repeated and how many treatments are covered in the contract. For termite contracts, find out if the damaged wood will be replaced, and when inspections will be performed. Ask about the type of chemicals being used read the labels.

Find out what the Pest Control Company will do in the way of prevention, how long it will take, and how often they need to return for inspections, cleanup, etc.

Depending on the particular pest, your service professional should always perform the services as covered in the Agreement. Do not expect anything to be done for you if it is not in print. Make sure that you understand all aspects of the Agreement, too, before you sign anything. Ask questions if you need to.

Termite Exterminator Tips

Pests can be a major problem for your home, especially if you don’t know how to properly dispose of them. One of the most destructive invaders is the termite. These pesky little insects can find their way into your home and quickly destroy beams, walls, floors, and furniture. The problem with these sneaky intruders is that they are hard to detect. If you suspect that you may have a termite problem or want to be sure you are protected against them, the best way to go about it is to consult a pest professional

Termite Knowledge

An exterminator should have a thorough knowledge of his craft; this means knowing all there is to know about pests like termites. There are many different termites: Drywood, Dampwood, Formosan, Subterranean, Conehead, and Desert just to name a few.

Service and Recommendations

A pest control expert should not only be knowledgeable, but they should be well-known for impeccable service. Cleansing your home is a process and it should be as painless as possible. A good termite exterminator will inspect your home thoroughly before drawing up a treatment plan.

Spot and Treat an Infestation

A quality pest control expert will be able to pinpoint possible areas of infestation and any entry spots that your home may have. If you have a possible infestation the right exterminator will give your home a thorough investigation assessing areas like cracks in the cement, walls, floors, attics and even furniture. Before any treatments can be done, your property must have an inspection; termites can be difficult to spot by the untrained eye

Know Different Treatment Options

There are multiple ways an exterminator can treat your home. Depending on what you are looking for, it is a good idea to find a pest control specialist who will provide many options

Dos and Don’ts of Choosing a Termite Company

Finding a bunch of termites lurking around your property can be disheartening to say the least. If you are dealing with any unwanted pests, you need to turn to the help of a licensed pest control company who can get rid of the termites for you. However, it isn’t always easy to find a company that is going to work for you and your needs. As you prepare to find a termite control company, there are a few dos and don’ts to bear in the back of your mind.

Find out what type of insurance the company offers.

This is especially important when it comes to dealing with termite infestations. You homeowners’ insurance policy isn’t going to cover problems with termites or repairs, which means you have to be proactive in finding a reputable company who knows what it takes to get the termites out of the house and prevent additional infestations from creeping in. If there is a damage clause in your service contract, you need to make sure you have a thorough understanding of what the warranty covers and what it doesn’t.

Only hire someone that can meet the licensing requirements for your state.

Licensing requirements are going to vary from one state to the next. Some states are a lot stricter than others when it comes to what they require from contractors. You want to make sure that the company you are looking to hire has the proper licensing in place for your state. Ask to speak to some of their other customers to see what they think about the company and the job they did for them. See if their termite problem ever returned or not.

Have the company explain how they would handle the problem for you.

Ask the company what their process is like if they were to come out to your home to get rid of the termites. Do they use chemicals, baits, exclusions or traps? Have them give you a plan in writing so that you have it for your records. This lets you compare their quote with that of other termite control companies. Knowing what you are getting is crucial to determining which company to hire.

Make sure you read through the fine print.

When you sign a contract with the termite control company, you need to go through everything and make sure that the service you need is covered under the contract. You want to make sure that you have a thorough understanding of what the company is going to do for you. Don’t go with a verbal agreement. Written contracts are always the preferred choice.

Always Hire the Best Termite Company

When you pick a Termite Company, choose the best termite company carefully. Your relationship may last for years and years.

Many of us view Termite Company inspector/salesmen as we do a used car salesman. Talk fast, say believable things, choose which questions to answer. Get your signature on the bottom line. Believe me, not all are like this, but those types are out there. If you don’t feel comfortable with your inspector/salesman and his presentation, say thank you and simply move on.

Having a termite company hassle is just not worth the seemingly best upfront deal, ask questions, be prepared. Know your company, at least a little, before signing on the dotted line. Follow my plan below to help you get the best fit when hiring a termite company

Ask questions when hiring a termite company

During your first face to face contact with a potential company you need to be prepared to ask a few questions. Hopefully the answers you get will allow you make good decisions when hiring a termite company.

Annual Guarantee Renewal

You should have the opportunity to renew your annual guarantee for at least 5 years or more at a fixed yearly premium rate. If you decide to hang on to your coverage, and you probably should, you need to pay the renewal fee each year on or before your treatment anniversary date. Most termite treatments are guaranteed for a one year period with the option to renew for an additional 4 years or longer, that’s up to individual companies..

Home Renovation Loans

charles on

Choosing the Right Project for Your Home Renovation

Before the national housing collapse of 2007, home renovation decisions seemed far simpler and much more profitable for homeowners than you see with today’s market. Today, the value of home renovation projects is a whole new ballgame. That’s why you should carefully research any potential fix-up project you’re planning for your home

Aim to cover your costs. Pre-housing crash, people were investing heavily in their homes and seeing returns greater than 100 percent on their spending. In 2016, the cost and return at resale for the projects listed in the report averaged 64.4 percent for a home sold within a year of the upgrades. Making a profit on a renovation isn’t guaranteed, so aim instead to tackle projects that will allow you to recover your costs at the highest possible level.

Smaller projects focusing on essentials can provide better returns. A decade ago, it was an upscale outdoor deck or a gourmet kitchen. These days, new doors, which can cost under $500 to replace and install, are one of the most popular projects. A high quality fiberglass entry door replacement can recoup an average 82.3 percent of costs; a garage door replacement can return over 90 percent.

Upgrade rooms and spaces, but keep it modest. A minor kitchen remodel including upgraded cabinet fronts, new hardware and the addition of one or two energy-efficient appliances averaged a return of more than 83 percent of original cost compared to the 65 percent for the gut jobs.

After assessing the national and regional averages, you’ll need to evaluate your personal situation, local home market and the type of homes that are selling in your neighborhood.

HOW TO SELECT THE BEST BUILDER FOR YOUR HOME RENOVATION PROJECT

When you are planning home renovations, your choice of builder will be one of the most important decisions you have to make. But with so many different building firms to choose from, how can you be sure you are getting it right?

WORD OF MOUTH RECOMMENDATIONS FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY

If someone you know has had some building work completed and they recommend a house renovation contractor, this is advice worth listening to. Remember, people tend to be very quick to complain about something they are not happy with, while they need to be seriously impressed to offer praise. If they recommend a particular contractor for home renovation, this is something you can take seriously, as it means the work must be outstanding in their opinion.

DO YOUR RESEARCH ONLINE

Online research is an important step when it comes to choosing a builder for your home reno. 90 percent of consumers now use online reviews and testimonials to help them make purchase decisions. As selecting a builder for your home renovation is an extremely important decision, it makes sense to find out what other customers are saying about them before you go ahead.

LOOK AT SOME OF THEIR PREVIOUS WORK

If a building firm is local to your area, the chances are they will have already completed some house renovation projects in your neighbourhood. It is worth asking around and finding out if you can take a look at some jobs they have already completed, so you can see the standard of their work for yourself.

CHECK THEIR REGISTRATION AND INSURANCE

For any home renovation, it is essential to choose a reputable builder who is fully licensed and insured. When you first get in touch with a house renovation contractor, you should ask for details of their license and insurance. The most trustworthy builders are often also members of a professional body, so you should also ask about this. Asking questions is important because it gives you a much stronger degree of protection in the unlikely event of anything going wrong during your home reno

tips for renovating for resale

Everyone has an opinion on how to achieve the best result in terms of adding value to a home; after all, we Kiwis are fanatical renovators

The main thing to remember is no matter which areas you decide to focus on, make sure your renovation budget is relative to the overall value of your house. If prices are modest in your neighbourhood, for instance, there’s no point in installing a new state-of-the-art kitchen or a fancy outdoor fireplace.

Consider your street appeal

‘Street appeal’ is a term much loved and there’s no doubt that the first, outside impression of a home can dramatically influence its saleability. Start by cutting back overgrown trees and replacing tired plants (including the lawn) to make the property look fresher, lighter and more spacious.

Renovate the kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of a home for many of us and improving its appearance can seriously lift the value of your home. However, think carefully before replacing the whole thing as the next owners may want to put their stamp on the kitchen. It may be better to just give it a facelift by replacing the benchtop, handles, taps and splashback.

Upgrade the bathroom

A second bathroom and toilet is almost compulsory these days so finding space for these is pretty much a given for savvy renovators. Adding a second toilet is the very least that most buyers expect. However, don’t feel you need to spend a fortune on expensive fittings – there are many products available for those with a limited budget.

tips for buying a house to renovate

You want to buy a renovator’s dream but how do you make sure that the restoration doesn’t send you over the edge and way over budget?

Location

Nicolas Jarvisto and his wife discovered one of the key buy-to-renovate rules when they bought their first home, an 1915 Queenslander, in Bulimba, Brisbane.

Look beyond first impressions

Another rule of buying a house to renovate is that “you have got to have the vision to look through the ugliness” says Bevan. “Things like off-putting tiles and carpets do not matter. I always find the uglier the better as it puts off most people.”

Budget

“Renovating should be an excel spreadsheet not a dream” says property expert Chris Gray, from Sydney buyer’s agency, Your Empire. Gray has renovated 14 properties himself and oversees renovations on behalf of his clients.

Avoid structural work

Choose properties that need mainly cosmetic work and do not take on structural alterations. “Avoid properties with structural damage, as this is often when expensive problems occur,” says Gray.

How to Choose the Right Renovation Company

People are becoming increasingly aware of how to achieve that luxurious, statement home when new construction is not an option – that’s right, it’s home renovations! There are so many advantages of house renovations, starting with the improved comfort and increased value of your home.

For most, it makes complete sense that the final outcome is going to vary greatly and depend on the experience and workmanship of the renovation company you choose. If you want all the benefits listed above, plus some, choosing the right home renovations company is imperative! For others, cheaper is better… but unfortunately this is usually where the “renovation nightmare” stories originate.

Be ready! There’s no point jumping on Google and contacting endless amounts of contractors and building companies if you don’t have a plan. Know what you want and when you want it. It’s also much easier, and wise, to set a budget for your home renovations too.

Obtain quotes. All the best home renovation companies offer free quotes. Extensions offers a FREE, no obligation consultation with one of our specialist design consultants.

Set appointments. By now you’ve checked references, compared quotes, viewed a history of their workmanship and you’ve narrowed it down to two or three of best home renovation companies. It’s time to book those first appointments and see who’s really going to deliver the goods!