Water Removal Tips After A Home Flood

Water removal after your home has been flooded needs to be done quickly if you hope to salvage anything. You only have a brief twenty- four hour window in order to salvage electronics such as computers, fax machines and telephones. Other things such as furniture and carpeting have a forty-eight hour window before they will begin to grow mold and bacteria and may become unsalvageable. If raw sewage has flooded your home you won't be able to salvage anything it came in contact with so you will need to toss those items. You will have to be selective about what you can and can not restore after water damage and remember some items may be cheaper to replace than try and restore.

The first order of business before you can begin any restoration work of course will be to turn off the power to the home to avoid any accidental electrical accidents. The next step will be to remove the water. If you can pump out the standing water do so with a pump if possible or with buckets if you have no other options.

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Once you get the standing water out that you can easily pump, you can go in with a wet dry vac to suction up some surface water on the floor and furniture. By this point you probably realize that you need a professional company to help you if you want to salvage things such as your carpeting, electronics or personal items. A professional water restoration company can do what you can't and suction up the water that is soaked into the carpet and the pad beneath the carpet. Most home carpet cleaners are not designed for this kind of industrial use and will at best only dry the surface layer of your carpet. This illusion of dryness with a wet pad will create a breeding ground for mold to flourish under your carpeting and create a health hazard for you and your family in the future. Molds can be toxic and make you sick if you unknowingly breathe them in.

You should take anything that is salvageable and remove it from the house so it can be dried out and cleaned while the interior of the home is under repair. Items such as blankets and towels can probably be saved but other items such as couches or chairs may not be salvageable depending on how much water damage they have suffered and how long they were under water. Remember the time frame for mold to take root is very brief and once it begins to grow it has to be dealt with professionally to eliminate it successfully.

Water damage can be very destructive but if it is dealt with quickly and professionally the chances of minimizing your damage increase greatly.

Water Removal Tips After A Home Flood

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Plumbing Basics For Beginners

One thing to always remember about plumbing is that there are laws of nature that govern it. These laws of nature are more centered on gravity, pressure and level. Gravity works with fluids in the sense that it keeps it and all other things on the ground. This means that for fluids to travel up to a second floor there needs to be some amount of pressure as it enters the meter of the individual home. Water pressure comes from the company that supplies it. The company exerts tension from their side, enough to reach each individual house. Level, on the other hand, entails that fluids will always try to fit into its container by leveling itself. Most of the time, liquid substances seek the lowest level available and stay there.

Home Use

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Water is a basic commodity that is has many uses. In plumbing, it helps with waste disposal, cleaning and many other areas. As the liquid enters the structure, it passes a meter that record the amount used. Once it enters the house area it can be used for all purposes as necessitated by the residents. It passes through pipes which go to the main areas of the house where water is needed such as the kitchen, the bathrooms and the wash room. For the three main examples of areas that need it, there is also a need for a waste disposal outlet. The waste disposal aspect takes the sewage and waste out of the home through pipes which have the opposite effect of incoming water. Pressure, gravity and leveling also apply for waste disposal and sewage.

Most houses have heating units for their supply of H20 and this is included in a plumber's work. For many homeowners, heating is centralized and applicable to all water outlets that are connected to the heater. The heater is controlled by a thermostat control that indicates how hot the output will be. Plumbing experts should be knowledgeable in this aspect of their work since heating is a common attachment to it. Heating is used for the kitchen and the bathrooms but can also be used elsewhere when necessary.

The home's water supply is usually controlled by valves for almost each individual are of the home. This makes control of H20 easier since a burst pipe can cause much damage if there is only one stop valve in the house. The valves can cut off supply to a certain area while allowing other parts of the house to function properly. This is an aspect of plumbing that is usually thought of at the very beginning of the lay out to help prevent physical damage to the house in the case of burst pipes.

Plumbing Basics For Beginners

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Water Softeners

Water softening is probably the most popular of all water treatment technologies. Although there is much mis-conception about how a water softener works, the end result of a proper application is always the same. Water softeners bring most families a much higher quality of household water. Mineral deposits are eliminated. Water spots on shower walls and glassware, gone! Laundry comes out cleaner and softer. No more soap deposits left in the clothing causing itching and rashes. The total overall quality of the water improves, and truly does feel "softer".

When is a water softener needed? Just about any time the water comes from a ground water source such as a dug or drilled well. About the only time one can argue against the benefits of water softening is if the water is drawn from a surface supply such as a lake. Even rivers generally pick up mineral content as they flow over the ground and become "hard water".

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Water hardness is measured in grains of hardness per gallon or liter. It can also be measured in PPM with 17.1 ppm per one grain of hardness. Water over 7 grains hard begins to benefit from the effects of water softening. At 10 grains the effects of softening are readily noticeable. At 15 grains of hardness rush out and buy a water softener, you will be pleased you did.

David's believe-it-or-not says the most common complaint I have heard about the effects of soft water are: No 1-the dishes are very slippery when wet (true) and No 2- my hair has gone all pouffy! (true again-the mineral deposits are gone!)

How does a water softener work? Does a water softener leave salt in my water? Let's get this straight once and for all. A water softener works on a system called "ion exchange". For every grain of hardness (calcium/magnesium) your water softener takes out of the water-IT MUST REPLACE IT WITH AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF SALT. Let me repeat this. The softener exchanges the calcium with salt. The calcium is actually a salt as well, so I should properly say that the calcium salts are replaced with sodium salts. If the softener works perfectly, the exchange would be exact but this is not possible. There is always more salt left in the water than the amount of calcium it removed. The ratio of exchange used to be terrible, and still is in some older model systems. But many newer technologies incorporate systems of rinsing that reduce the left over salt in your water to very acceptable standards. The exchange can be measured with a TDS meter which every salesman should carry, or he is not testing your water properly. The increase in TDS from your feed water to your product water will identify how much excessive salt is left behind. An efficient softener leaves less salt behind than in one gallon of water than is found in one piece of white bread.

A water softener should not be installed where a sodium restricted diet is recommended. Although I would suggest that the softener still be installed if the water warrants the application, and a reverse osmosis unit be placed in the kitchen to remove the salt, and all other impurities, for cooking and drinking water. Water softeners will often remove small amounts of iron from your water. But this will increase the salt used, and the salt left behind. Larger amounts of iron, over 1mg/ltr will cause excessive salt use, and eventually foul the bed of the softener. A water softener should not be used as the primary means of reducing iron in water.

Another consideration in softening is your septic system. Water softeners rinse large amounts of salt into your drain water. If you are on a septic system, as many rural systems are, you will damage the cement holding tank and salt will harm vegetation in the area where the septic is located. Potassium Chloride is a suitable replacement under these circumstances, or if you just want to be more environmentally conscious in your water treatment application. Potassium is far less corrosive and does not have as much negative impact on the environment. Potassium is also often recommended as a sodium replacement for people on salt restricted diets. (although my preference where health concerns are an issue, is the application of a reverse osmosis after the softener).

Saltless Water Softeners? RUBBISH! There are no saltless water softeners which have been tested and certified. But lots of them have been tested and discarded as rubbish. The Water Quality Association is an organization which is there to inform and protect the public in regards to the water treatment industry. To my knowledge they have tested many electronic, electric, or magnetic devices and found that none of them remove one grain of hardness from water. Some of these devices will reduce scaling, the effect of mineral deposits sticking to surfaces, but none of them remove anything from the water. Once again, I see this as dealerships and sales people who just want to get the sale, so they give the customer what the customer wants. A magic wand. Well I can supply you with magic wands for .29 so don't pay more than that for any magic wands. I am sure these statements will ruffle some feathers, but until I see the WQA certifying a saltless water softener, I will stick to my statements.

If you install a water softener in your home, and keep it for six months to get used to it, you will not likely ever be without one. I have had mine for 14 years now. Yup, the same one. Make a wise purchase and you will have a long lasting piece of equipment.

I have said many times, " a wise and educated consumer makes wise choices". Your water, your health, your responsibility.

Water Softeners

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

All About Wrinkle Creams Consumer Reports Has Put to Test

Billions of dollars are actually spent each year for anti-aging products in America alone. Different products have been developed and continuously improved on to help individuals deal with their issues on aging. With the different wrinkle creams Consumer Reports has studied on, it is easier for consumers all over the world to assess the products before they are actually purchased.

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In general, the test results show that after using the products for some time, the subjects' lines and wrinkles were indeed smoother. There is, however, an obvious limitation on the effectiveness of the product since their impacts are not really visible to the naked eye.

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Furthermore, the wrinkle creams Consumer Reports have tested brought different forms of effects on the subjects. Their reactions were generally significantly different from each other. All the creams used in the study, to include the ordinary moisturizer have performed on an average level.

There were actually slight improvements only when the women's skin was assessed. Photo comparisons were made to determine if there were any visible and obvious changes in the skin's overall condition. One thing that was derived from the entire study is how the performance of each product is affected by the individual's skin.

Furthermore, no correlation of any kinds was found between a product's price and its effectiveness. The overall usefulness of a specific solution depends on factors such as the individual's skin type to name one. Since the skin is an active organ of the human body, it has a say on whether the product applied to it works or not. Furthermore, each individual has unique skin with its own set of requirements and responses.

Anti-wrinkle creams Consumer Reports have classified can belong to any of the three categories namely; the slightly more effective ones, the averagely-performing ones and the slightly less effective ones.

All About Wrinkle Creams Consumer Reports Has Put to Test

Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports - House Windows Reviews

According to consumer reports house windows that are replaced are so expensive that you are not likely to get your money back for many years. If any of the windows had to be custom made the price goes up again but with or without being custom made look for a four or five figure price range for the average house.

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They are very economical from an energy saving standpoint and do add a certain amount of comfort to the home by making it cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter and blocking out excess noise. It would be good to have a nice quiet pleasant house that is not drafty or horribly hot.

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According to other consumer reports house windows that are energy saving are easier than ever to find as they become more popular. Almost all of the big name manufactures have produced their own private line with low-E coatings, double and triple pane, some of them with gas filled and heat reflecting glass. There are many new types to choose from.

The most highly rated windows are made of chad- wood, fiberglass rated pretty high also; both were good at keeping our rain and air. This is for brand new windows. Vinyl is becoming more popular because it is less costly and already has an edge in the choice and sale of replacement windows. Vinyl windows does have some air leak in colder climates and is not the best for older homes, they just do not look as good as the wood.

Consumer Reports - House Windows Reviews

Consumer Reports

Water Softeners Buying Guide

This water softeners buying guide will help you get a better overview of the water softener manufacturers in the market and what they offer. It's important to navigate through each of these before you make your decision as to which model you'll purchase and use.

The Autotrol line of water softeners range from softeners to be used in the home to softeners that can be used in commercial buildings. They come as complete units.

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

These systems will have the following features: a 12-volt wall mount transformer, a microprocessor which monitors your actual daily water usage, an good looking unit, the ability to renew itself, simple program, a NOVRAM memory chip to store water usage data, new efficient valve design, automatic flow control, internal bypass to provide water during regeneration, among others.

These water softeners range in price from around 0 to around 00 based upon the size of the water softener. The conveniences that are included in some of the softener tanks and not others will also affect the price tag of the overall unit. These softeners are well worth the investment as they will work hard to make your water the best possible for you.

The Fleck water softeners have a variety of features on the products they offer. Each softener in their line focus on one aspect on water softening and will come in a range of sizes with that focus.

For example, the Fleck 2510 line is a line of water softeners that claim an on-demand status. These are typically residential softeners and will help control the amount of water used in the home. The meter is "on-demand" so that no water is wasted in the process of turning on or off the water. These are high flow softeners and have the benefit of being time tested units.

The Fleck 2510SE line of softeners are also "on-demand." They also help to conserve water and limit the amount of water wasted. Yet, these are controlled by simplified electronic units. The tanks that come with these units will vary in size which will help determine their price. They will range from around 0 to around 50.

The final Fleck product line is the Fleck 5600 Ecominder. This product, as explained by its name, is one that is more environmentally friendly and will work to help keep the planet safe. This will help control the amount of water and salt you use and they are economically priced. They will range from 0-0.

The last line of products in this water softeners buying guide are the Clack WS1 water softener systems. They feature state of the art electronics and include a high flow rate. They are often used in combination with simple end operations for those that will control and operate them.

These tanks have high capabilities. They will range from 24,000 grain to 64,000 grain tank. They are controlled through the Clack WS1 high flow rate valve. They will differ in the amount of water they expel per minute.

The tanks themselves and the control of those tanks are all run by the state of the art technology on the Clack design. These tanks will range in price from around 0 to about 0. They can be purchased and shipped to you which will leave you to install and start using them based on the included instructions.

If you own a commercial business within an area that has hard water it's more important than ever to ensure that you have a water softener that works well. This will mean that all water used in your business will be as healthy as possible while being used in appropriate amounts and not being wasted.

The units that are designed for higher capacities are what every business needs. Their warranties and state of the art technology will help keep costs down and give the best water possible.

Water Softeners Buying Guide

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Consumer Reports Treadmills - Save Time and Money With Consumer Reports Treadmills

Consumer reports treadmills can save you money and take away the potential headache associated with buying the right treadmill for you and you family. Understanding what issues and benefits are found by other treadmill buyers can answer the important questions that you may have when in the market to buy. A little homework on your part can make your treadmill shopping and eventual ownership a pleasant experience.

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Quality Treadmills can go from 0 to 00 in most cases, so finding the necessary answers before its too late just makes sense. Consumer reports treadmills are generally seen as reviews by website owners and product manufactures to promote their own sales, but if you find the right reviews that have actual reviews by product owners, you can gain a whack of crucial information. A great place to start is treadmill forums, if you want honesty, that's where you'll find it. Most people that are having issues will hit the treadmill forums and post their issues and others will follow with comments on the same issues or even more that they have found. By the same token, if someone has had a pleasant experience with their treadmill, you'll also find them here.

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Another very important review would be from an impartial product review company that takes each treadmill and tests them as if they were the ones making the products and testing them for the high end market. A good consumer reports treadmills that you can rely on is from ConsumerReports.org. They have gone through extensive testing with over 29 treadmills, and I mean they didn't just go through the motions they really tested them for ware and tare that a heavy user would have a hard time experiencing during a year in the life of their treadmill.

Now you might just find that out of 5 consumer reports treadmills that you read, all 5 have different models as their top picks. No one said it was going to be easy, but all reviews are based on certain criteria in the reviewer's opinion or the testing methods they create. This is where you have to identify what features you require, to provide you the best home treadmill situation. Take into account the size of space you have, your training level, your training goals and whether you need a stationary or folding treadmill. Take the pieces of information that will work for you and see what treadmill, hopefully, has all the components that you need and that fits your specific personal criteria.

If you want to compliment your outdoor running or just want to keep fit with running indoors on a treadmill, using these consumer reports treadmills will help you find the machine that's right for you. But more importantly, it will help you find the best fit for you, the first time, without the costly or inconvenient problems that most treadmill buyers run into with their first treadmill purchase.

Consumer Reports Treadmills - Save Time and Money With Consumer Reports Treadmills

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Choosing A Water Softener

The best way to start choosing a water softener is with online reviews. A online review can give you an inside view from a customer's perspective of the product in which you are interested.

This is particularly helpful when the market is saturated with every conceivable type of model and a wide variety of functions. Learning from real life experiences of home users will help you make a better buying decision.

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Main Types of Water Softeners

There are four different types of water softeners. They are offsite, manual, semi automatic and automatic.

Offsite

This type of water softener is a portable exchange unit. However, a company replaces the cylinder so that it does not regenerate in your home.

Manual

This water softener requires all manual operation for rinsing, brining and backwashing tasks.

Semi Automatic

All functions in this water softener are automatically controlled except for regeneration.

Automatic

This water softener's functions are all automatic including regeneration.

Main Features

There are two main features that you should look for when choosing a water softener; capacity and the method that the softener uses to determine when to regenerate.

Recommended Models

Culligan's water softeners are easy to maintain and service and their 100% satisfaction guarantee makes choosing a water softener almost foolproof. Many online reviews rate Culligan very highly because Culligan has consistently proven to have high quality products and exceptional customer service.

Fresh Water Ltd. has several models that offer high capacity operation, up to twenty people. Online reviews show that this company is producing some of the most economically operating models available.

CAI Technologies has been given high marks with consumer reviews for having highly efficient and low maintenance water softeners. Their models are also very easy to operate and this makes them one of the most popular water softeners available.

Choosing A Water Softener

CONSUMER REPORTS WATER SOFTENERS

Why Should You Read Consumer Reports on Teeth Whitening?

Are you in pursuit of teeth whitening product that assures quick result? Indeed, this may be the crucial claim of every tooth lightening item companies, to marketplace their product within the huge internet realm. Actually, millions of money is invested as capital and they try to obtain it from the buyers. Hence they look for for greatest peddler to market their item.

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In addition they follow the newest trends like content articles, press releases, numerous online promotional methods, to achieve their target group, to create the prospective buyers to purchase the items. So should you want the actual fact about the teeth whitening product, go in search of the consumer reports on teeth whitening.

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Universally, people want to smile with bright smile, but not all of us are gifted with it. However, this craze is utilized by the manufacturers of tooth whitening products that each day new brand of tooth lightening is sprouting out. Certainly, you can invest on the product that's worth your cash, but the only real way to find the genuine product is through the consumer reports on tooth whitening.

A plethora of manufacturers in the teeth lightening market invade the punters with numerous guarantees on dazzling the teeth. Of course, consumer reports on teeth whitening is really a type of customer attestation or documentation upon the appraisal of the item. While you make an advised decision in tooth whitening, your tough earned bucks do not go vain, without any results.

But take advantage of the consumer reports on tooth whitening, to select the manufacturer, to customize in accordance for your requirements. This may be the right location to know the complete unbiased info. Using the experience of other clients, you are able to choose out the right treatment for the issue.

Consumer reports on teeth whitening are left through the individuals who had personal encounter with the product. Even though they're anonymous, their evaluate and analysis help you greatly in producing powerful decision. Numerous websites allow communication between the visitors through their forums and blogs. Take advantage of this facility and get your doubts cleared.

Why Should You Read Consumer Reports on Teeth Whitening?

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