Winterization Checklist
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Simple lighting tips to light up your holiday
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Get Your Sprinkler
System Set For Cold Weather
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Five Fall Home Improvement
Projects for Under $50
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You Can’t Live Without It...
Quality Air and Water
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Make Your Home A Shining Star
Investing in new appliances for your home can help you save money
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Do it Yourself?
What to Consider when Entering into a Home Improvement Project
Home improvement and remodeling projects require a little consideration before deciding whether or not to hire a contractor or do it yourself.As crazy as it might sound, employing one particular Clint Eastwood catchphrase from a "Dirty Harry" movie comes in handy when it comes to a home improvement or remodeling project. Clint Eastwood tells us in the movie "Magnum Force" that a "man's got to
know his limitations." This is an appropriate yardstick by which to measure whether or not one needs to hire a contractor or engage in a home improvement project oneself. There are three avenues one can take to tackle a home improvement remodeling project: hire a general contractor, hire a specialized contractor, or do it yourself.
The former two options involve the ability to finance the work being done, while the latter operates under the constraints of financing, time involvement, and skill knowledge. The decision to improve one's home is one that should never be taken lightly, nor is it one that should be entered into unrealistically. There are several things to consider to make the decision easier:
Money.
Budgeting for a home improvement or remodeling professional, a general or specialized contractor, can be costly. Make certain you can afford the work you want done. If the work is labor intensive, it more than likely will drive up the cost of any project. Some jobs end up having unforeseen problems, such as old or rotting base materials that need replaced, so cost overruns should be considered as well when budgeting for a job. If the job looks to be an expensive undertaking, the decision to hire a contractor may be made before you begin. Of course, performing as much of the extraneous job details (finish work, trash pick-up) as one can could lower the overall price. To save money, one need only purchase the material and allot enough time to complete the project.
Time.
Home improvement projects tend to be time consuming, even some of the smaller, more specialized efforts. Make certain that you have the time to commit to a remodeling project. Juggling work schedules and renovating a home can be problematic, so plan accordingly.
Home improvement and remodeling projects require a little consideration before deciding whether or not to hire a contractor or do it yourself.
Skills.
Remodeling one's home can require certain skill sets. Basic carpentry skills are a must for even the most simple project. Some smaller -- and some major -- tasks can be performed after attending home improvement seminars, such as the free classes
held at Home Depot stores, but, going back to the most important factor of the decision of whether to hire a contractor or do the work oneself (know one's limitations), be certain you have the necessary skills. Otherwise, you might find yourself in the embarrassing predicament of hiring a contractor after having spent time and money in a fruitless attempt. Pride in one's home and one's craftsmanship should extend to the knowledge that there are some things that one cannot do or that others may be better at performing. In short, doing it yourself may not be the best option.
Inconvenience. When trying to decide on whether the improvement is one requiring a contractor or not, one should also consider the inconvenience factor. Make sure you can withstand the inconvenience of having your home improved upon. Having already considered time, now you must consider having your home either engaged in a state of construction or a level of disrepair. You may or may not be able to enter certain parts of your home for various reasons. Hiring a contractor means strangers in and/or around one's house. Even if one decides to do it oneself, there is always the disruption of the normal flow of daily household activity.
After considering these basic factors, the decision to do it yourself or hire a contractor should be a bit simpler. Just remember that contributing to a remodeling project by completing tasks that are within your skill set will have an impact upon the entire job, saving you money and perhaps a little time and inconvenience as well.
Winterization checklist
* Consider installing an automatic water shutoff device.
* Prevent frozen pipe bursts by insulating exposed pipes.
* Have your furnaces and chimneys cleaned and inspected.
* Inventory your personal contents.
* Remove stored items and clutter from your furnace room.
* Set your thermostat to no lower than 55 degrees when you leave your house.
* Have your roof gutters cleaned and inspected.
* Replace insulation if necessary.
* Consult with an art professional to be sure your collection is protected. (For example, a professional may advise that you move art and collectibles a safe distance from heat sources.)
* Have mature trees inspected and maintained.
* Have salt/sand on hand for icy sidewalks and driveways.
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Simple lighting tips to light up your holiday
Make a grand entrance
Curb appeal doesn’t only matter when selling a home, it sets the mood for visiting guests before they cross the threshold. “We recommend updating exterior lights with new technology that will enhance the home facade using the proper light levels and color temperatures,” says Richard Lentz, owner of Dallas-based Lentz Landscape Lighting and its interiors division Lentz Services. “Many homes have floodlights mounted directly to the face, shining up. These could be changed to fixtures using LEDs that would provide excellent lamp-life and low energy consumption.”
Look for a focal point on the property that can be accented with lighting to provide a nice contrast of color. “Tree lighting uses the heights of the trees to spread the light out in a soft and subtle way to bathe the area in light,” says Lentz.
“Properties that do not have large trees can still be illuminated by uplighting ornamental trees or washing the house itself with light,” says Lentz. "Decorative pole lights, garden path lights and step lights have all shown great advances in the past few years regarding style options, bulb types and energy efficiency.”
If you wish to hold your holiday party outside, Jeffrey Dross, senior product manager of Kichler Lighting, has some suggestions. “A well-designed landscape lighting system is custom-made for entertaining. The light is low, indirect and perfect for conversation,” he says, adding, “Be certain that stairs and steps are well lit. Guests may not be as familiar with the landscape as the owner.”
For specific holiday-themed drama, explore the latest seasonal decorations powered by LED lighting. “New color-changing technology now allows lighting designers to have the ability to specify custom color scenes or shows to set a particular mood for festivities,” says David Wilkins, president and CEO of American Lighting in Colorado. “Whether you desire a red roofline or one that fades from red to green and back to red, color-changing LED technology offers creativity like never before. You can produce the exact ambiance you like at any moment during your party or gathering this season.”
Continuing the festive mood indoors
You’ve set the scene outside your home, now it’s time to create a warm and cozy atmosphere inside.
Colleen Visage, senior product manager for Progress Lighting in South Carolina, shares several easy ideas for increasing the elegance of living and dining spaces without inflating the budget. “Decorate your existing lighting with festive accents. Replace a chandelier’s crystal teardrops with gold, silver or red glass balls or use berries or ivy to wrap around sconces, chandeliers and pendants,” she says.
Many homes already have track lighting, which can be adjusted to suit your decorating needs. “Position the track heads and mini-pendants so that they showcase the holiday items on display. Track heads and mini-pendants are available in a wide variety of colors to coordinate with the color theme in your decor,” says Visage. “In the dining room, add more light to the centerpiece or a holiday meal by aiming adjustable halogen track or recessed fixtures so that the light shines directly on the tabletop.”
A certified lighting consultant from an ALA-member lighting showroom can aid you in selecting the right fixtures to achieve this effect.
“One of the easiest ways to add festive ambiance during the holidays is to simply use the lights everyone thinks of as exterior, but do so in creative interior applications,” says Edward Cook, president of National Specialty Lighting in Colorado. He also suggests trying some themed novelty lights for a bit of fun. “For example, our Chili Pepper Cactus string lights might make an interesting entry to a Southwest Christmas dinner with lots of poinsettias, and our LED Crystal lights could always accompany a festive mantle.”
Both exterior and interior lighting advancements have changed significantly in the past few years. Today, there are more sophisticated lighting choices than the consumer would have ever thought possible in the past.
“The common mistakes homeowners make in lighting improvements are either using do-it-yourself stores for their lighting solutions (which either fail after a short time or do not achieve the look they were hoping for) or secondly, using an electrician for design expertise and possibly not receiving the most up-to-date fixture and lamp selections that a lighting designer can provide," says Lentz. "A designer will usually think outside the box for lighting options that a client may not even be aware of and that could possibly make a significant impact on the overall lighting plan.”
For more home lighting ideas or to find your closest ALA-member lighting retailer, go to www.AmericanLightingAssoc.com. American Lighting Association showrooms have professionally trained lighting specialists to help you create the perfect ambiance for your home.
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Get Your Sprinkler System Set For Cold Weather
The sprinkler system that spent all summer keeping your lawn and landscape beautiful--while saving water, time and money--now needs a little help getting ready to withstand the onset of winter and colder temperatures.
• Stay In Control
If you have an automatic system, then you will need to "shut down" the controller (timer). Most controllers have a "rain" or "off" mode that simply shuts off the signals to the valves. The controller continues to keep time, the programming information (start times, valve run times, etc.) isn't lost and the clock continues to run. The only change is that the valves will not activate. Or, as an alternative, simply shut off the power to the controller. If you do, you'll need to reprogram the time and potentially all the other settings when the weather warms up.
• Insulate Your Assets--Shut off the water supply to the irrigation system and protect the main shutoff valve against freezing. Make sure the valve is wrapped with insulation (foam insulation tape and a plastic bag). If you don't have a main shutoff valve, install one and consider it a preventative investment.
Any aboveground piping needs to be insulated as well. Self-sticking, foam-insulating tape or foam-insulating tubes commonly found at home supply stores work well.
• Drain The Pipes--People in very cold areas often remove the water from the pipes and sprinklers so it doesn't freeze and cause the pipes to burst. There are several ways to drain pipes: manual drain valves, automatic drain valves or the compressed air blowout method. Since there could be potential safety risks, contacting an irrigation specialist is a good idea.
• Protect Backflow Preventers--Insulate backflow preventers and valves if they are above ground. You can also use insulation tape for this, but be careful not to block the air vents and drain outlets on backflow preventers.
For more information on how to winterize your home both inside and out call A&R Contracting at 609-892-2200.
Fall is sometimes the best time to embark upon home improvement projects, especially those that don't break the bank. It's cooler outside, the air is crisp and clean, and you might even be taking some much-needed time off work. Following
are five fall home improvement projects that won't cost you more than $50, but will help prepare for the bold chill of winter.
1. Insulate the Attic
Although you'll probably save more money heating the house during the winter than cooling it during the sweltering days of summer, why turn down the opportunity to save a bit of cash? A great fall home improvement project is to add insulation to the attic, which doesn't take much time or much money.
For about thirty bucks, you can purchase a sheet of insulation and apply it to what's already in the attic, potentially saving hundreds of dollars before spring. Most of the heat you lose during the summer rises out through the attic, so this is your major weak spot in your home. Fall home improvement was never this easy.
2. Fill the Cracks
Gaps, cracks and holes in your home can result in serious loss of heat through the winter, so try filling them in as a fall home improvement project. You can get a tube of high-quality caulk at your hardware store for under $3.00, a pack of foam sealants for under $5.00 and a few packages of weather stripping for less than $2.00 each. Local heating efficiency and home improvement specialists of A&R General Contracting, located in Mays Landing, say that the average home has combined cracks and gaps amounting to sixteen square feet of space!
"We can generally save the average homeowner 30-40% on their heating bills by finding and filling cracks around windows and doors and adding insulation to attics," says Edgar Reinhardt, owner of A&R Contracting.
3. Buy New Bulbs
Compact fluorescent bulbs can last up to 10,000 hours and lower the cost of lighting your home by up to 60%. If you haven't made the switch yet, make a quick trip to your local Ace Hardware to check out all of the new options in light bulbs. The new flurescent bulbs are slightly more expensive than the regular incandescent bulbs at around $12.00 per bulb, but their longevity and electricity savings more than make up for the additional cost.
4. Install Smart Thermostats
If you're tired of playing the guessing game with your thermostat, try this fall home improvement project. You can install a "smart" thermostat, which can be programmed to lower and raise the heat in your home depending on what you're doing. For example, it might lower the temperature before bed, then raise it an hour before you wake up in the morning. It can be programmed to lower when you go to work or out shopping, and even to stay on all the time if you're home. They cost around $50, and are well worth the investment.
5. Insulate Your Hot Water Heater
Your hot water heater may be driving up your electric bill. A great fall home improvement project and a small step toward going green is to insulate your hot water heater before winter. A basic water heater blanket costs around $10.00 at the store, and can be applied in less than thirty minutes by yourself. This saves thousands of dollars needed to buy a new, energy-efficient heater, and will help keep the tank warm in between heating cycles.
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You Can’t Live Without It...
Quality Air and Water
by Sage Lauren Sinopoli
Quality is a word that seems to be thrown around a lot these days.
Every car commercial we hear spouts chants of high quality automobiles. We expect it from the shops on The Walk in Atlantic City. Rarely do we sit and think about the quality of the simple necessities . . . the resources taken for granted.
Last year the Associated Press released a study that showed various pharmaceutical drugs found in drinking water in the area. There are various reports from both the EPA and The Department of Homeland Security citing indoor air quality as potential threat to health.
The scientific evidence of pollution and contaminants entering the home is overwhelming. There is something that can be done to protect your family. Actually, it is being done by caring businesses in your own backyard.
When a small group of business people meet with one another to work toward better business extraordinary things happen. Every Tuesday morning the Atlantic City Chapter of Business Networking International, also known as BNI, meets to help one another build their buisness. Members of BNI take an oath to be upstanding and honest in every business endeavor. Each member works toward excellence. It was at one of these early morning meetings where Dennis Schott of Culligan and Andy Parker of AireServ began to collaborate.
Culligan has been purifying American drinking water since the 1930s, and remains a leader in the industry. AireServ is unique. Andy is not your average heater and air conditioning man. He is actually your home comfort specialist.
Andy can install a machine to collect information on air quality in your home and he'll make recommendations to make your home comfortable and toxin free. He also offers several different types of heating and cooling systems, which run 95% clean. So Culligan and AireServ are in the business of making your home healthier and more comfortable.
Think about it . . . we all need to breathe to live, and we all need water to live. Culligan and AireServ are working hard to work hard everyday to improve the quality of life in South Jersey.
Thanks guys!
Make Your Home A Shining Star
Investing in new appliances for your home can help you save on water and electric bills
by Janelle Hammond
I have two extremely important, energy efficient, environmentally friendly, appliance savvy words for you: Energy Star. Ever heard of it? Even though the government label started around two decades ago, people have just started to recognize it. For a product to qualify for the label, the product has to save at least 10% on energy or water, depending on the appliance.
But what does that mean? Gary Press, the General Manager at Art Handler’s Appliances answers this question. “A refrigerator might add $48 a year to your electric bill,” Press states. “An Energy Star refrigerator has to cost you about $43 or less.”
This may seem like a small difference, but you couldn’t be more wrong. What’d your mother teach you about assumptions!
A regular refrigerator has a compressor that turns on and off. This means a couple of things: it’s noisy, the temperature is inconsistent, and it has to work twice as hard to get it back to the right temperature. “With an Energy Star refrigerator,” Press shares, “the compressor is always running at different speeds. This means it doesn’t have to work as hard, minimizing the energy it puts into it, which is what minimizes your electricity bill.”
Let’s move out of the kitchen and into the laundry room. “A front load washing machine is my favorite item,” Press tells me. Your average top load washing machine uses about 50 gallons of water. An Energy Star front load washing machine? “14 gallons,” Press says. “Not only that, but because you’re using a third less water, you use a third less detergent. Every bottle of detergent you’d buy would go towards three times as many loads as before.”
Wait, there’s more! Plus, because it’s front load, it doesn’t have an agitator This means it treats your clothes more delicately and saves you money by adding to the longevity of your clothes. Now that little black dress can stay in my closet forever!
Need a bright idea on how to continue cutting your electricity bill? Look up at your ceiling. If you’re looking at a ceiling fan, you hit the money pot. If you’re just looking at a light, don’t worry, you hit it too! Kerry Perkins from Joe Skymer lets me know that “most people who buy ceiling fans don’t think of it as an ‘energy efficient’ purchase, but it definitely can be.”
When purchasing ceiling fans, you’ll want to look for one with a higher pitch. The pitch is the degree of tilt on the blade. A flat blade will swoop in circles and just cut at the air. A blade with a larger pitch will keep the air circulating better. “That’s what keeps the humidity from hitting,” Perkins states. “You could keep your air conditioner at 80 degrees, place your air fan on a medium setting, and you’ll be surprised at how cool it stays.”
The perk? You keep your air conditioner from turning on and off quite so much, which saves on your electricity bill. And don’t forget to switch out those regular bulbs for Energy star. They can last longer and help scrimp and save in every way possible
Speaking of air conditioners, Energy Star approves them as well. And jumping back into the kitchen, you might want to look into purchasing an Energy Star dish washer. For every 15-18 gallons of water a normal dish washer would use, an Energy Star dish washer cuts that in half, averaging at 8 gallons.
Want to know the best part? New Jersey's Clean Energy Program is offering rebates on select Energy Star items. Saving money by buying greener items and by living in New Jersey. Lucky devil!
"Smart” appliances are still being conceptualized and made. Miele offers a “smart” washing machine. It connects to the internet and can diagnose any problems it may have. In fact, if the problems are electronic, they can be fixed via the internet, keeping you from having to see that fix-it guy’s seeping butt crack!
Energy Star products don’t cost that much more than a non-efficient one does. Overall, they make up for their worth many times over their starting costs as the years continue forward. Would you rather have something that costs cheap to start, and then bills you high rates later, or a barely a little more up front, and lower rates later? Simple choice, with a two word answer.
You can find Energy Star appliances at Joe Skymer Lighting in Egg Harbor Township and Art Handler’s Appliances in Pleasantville and at handlersappliance.com. For more information about New Jersey's Clean Energy Program visit njcleanenergy.com/