Author: Linda Veit

If you follow a sodium-restricted diet, you may be endangering yourself every day and not even know it. Drinking unfiltered water from salt-softened water can add an excess of sodium to your diet. Water softener critic help people get the right water softeners. The amount of sodium water softener can add to your diet may be very unhealthy.

Features

Pros

Salt-based water softeners may solve hard water damage to your home, but they can be damaging to your health. For those with high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, heart disease, diabetes and other diseases, the added sodium can be a detriment to your well-being.

Even for healthy individuals, long – periods of increased sodium intake can lead to hypertension, which substantially enhances the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Salt-based

Salt-based water softeners work by replacing hard water, rich in both calcium and magnesium, with sodium. The higher the level of both magnesium and calcium in your water, the more sodium is needed to replace it. In areas with very hard water, the amount of salt needed can add a significant amount of sodium to your diet. In addition to that, the exchange of minerals is far from perfect, so there is more sodium used than is needed.

Cons

There are several options to reduce the amount of sodium in your water. One way would be to use a softener that uses potassium chloride salts instead of sodium. This method is effective in reducing sodium, but it is very expensive. Potassium chloride costs more than double the price of sodium chloride. And considering you may need up to 800 pounds annually, this method is not an option for most. Furthermore, elevated potassium levels in the body can be dangerous and lead to problems such as heart arrhythmia, especially in those with impaired kidney function.

Conditioning magnet

A practical, affordable, and healthy alternative to the water softener is a product called a conditioning magnet. This unique type of salt-free water softener utilizes incredibly powerful magnetic fields to align the water molecules. Instead of relying on large amounts of salt to soften water, this technology ironically hydrates and dissolves scale-buildup. In other words, it changes the molecular structure of the water in a way to reduce the impact of mineral buildup.

There is no salt used in the process and the healthy minerals such as calcium and magnesium are retained, which are essential to good health. So if you’re looking for a salt-free water solution, you owe it to your health to check out the new technology of conditioning magnets.…

You should call the water damage and restoration services experts the moment you have water damage in your premises. Some individuals do the restoration services themselves. However, because most of them do not have the required expertise and equipment, they do not entirely remove the water as it is needed for them. The water damage in the premises may be caused by the burst pipes, hurricanes, roof leakage, and sewerage backup, just but to mention a few. The water damage usually cause lots of loses to business premises and home owners. Let us look at the factors that should guide you when choosing the best water damage expert.

Factors

Availability

Most of the professional water damage restoration services operate on a 24/7 basis. Make sure that you select the company that will be able to attend to your needs at an hour of the day or any day of the week. There are instances whereby the water damage might occur at the wee hours of the night. The water damage experts should be able to respond to such emergencies.

The reason for this is that with the water damage, any delay caused may lead to the further destruction of the assets. The mold could take a few hours to start growing while the furniture and other house goods could absorb the water which could make them start rotting quickly.

Equipment

The equipment that the water restoration company uses should also guide you when choosing the best service provider. The water damage restoration firms use different equipment like fans, extraction units, the moisture gauge, humidity gauge, pumps, and the dehumidifiers.

There are however some of the service providers that do not have all these tools or have old tools. Make sure you choose the firm that uses the most modern equipment because you will receive the best service from them.

Technical know-how

The expertise is another important factor when choosing the company to do water damage restoration for you. The skills are one vital factor that will separate the quacks from the professionals. Ask them questions and see whether there are conversant with the various terminologies that are related to the water damage. By hiring experts that have the right technical expertise will mean that your assets will be secure as far as their handling is concerned.

Insurance claims

Last but not least, enlist the services of the water restoration company that will assign you an insurance specialist. This will help you in the process of filing claims with the insurance firms. Not all water damage and restoration services companies are covered by all the insurance companies.…

How much is my house? This may be the question in your mind if you are planning to sell your house now or in the future. Your house is no doubt one of your biggest investments. Knowing the real value of your home will help you ensure that you get top dollar when you decide to put it on the market. Establishing the value of your home can be a complicated process. Many house owners usually request the real estate agents to provide them with the home valuation guide. However, there are few simple things that you should consider when you want to estimate the value of your house. The things that you should consider include:

Factors

1. Location of the house

The location of your home plays a critical role in its value. You should check the value of the recent transactions in your surroundings. You also have to check how the physical and environments are and things such like the quality of local schools and whether there is a strong sense of community. Take time to carefully analyze everything that is around.

Is it in a location that many people would love to live in? Are there retail establishments nearby? How fast can you get to a highway? How much did buyers pay for properties that were recently sold at your home? An answer to this question will give you a good idea of how much your house is worth.

2. The size of the house and its layout

In the past, people were obsessed with space. Most people wanted a house that had a lot of space. However, things have been changing over the recent years. People are looking for a house that will provide them the space they need. This is because they have realized that it is a daunting task to take care of a huge house. The layout is a more important factor in the minds of today’s house buyers than the amount of space. A house that uses an open design may seem to be more spacious than on that utilizes the traditional models when both are of the same size.

3. The age and condition of the house

New homes and historic homes that were well-built are usually more expensive than those that were constructed somewhere in the middle. Typically, a home becomes less valuable as it gets older.

A house that was well built in the 1900s can be more expensive that house that was constructed in the 1980s. The condition of a house matters a lot. A well-kept house will obviously be more expensive than one that has not been well maintained.…

If water has damaged your business or home, the situation can seem to be overwhelming. As such, an immediate action has to be taken to restore its functionality, safety, and appeal of the damaged facility as quickly as possible. There are several ways of achieving this objective.

As a matter of fact, experts from a highly reputed water damage company possess a high level of experience and expertise necessary to clean and restore a facility after water has damaged it. But, when should you sort for their services? To know when to hire a water damage company, consider the following circumstances. However, attaining professional services from a highly trained team of water damage specialist is one of the incredible ways of realizing these goals.

When you need water damage company

Fast restoration services

Inherently, most damage water companies offer 24/7 respond and restoration services. In the event of water damage, whether it is at the mid of the night, a quick response is critical if there is a need to stop further damages. Indeed, water is dangerous, and if not controlled on time, it will soon soak into the walls, floors, and other structures in the house.

It is not only a fast response that you are going to get, but highly reputed water damage companies have the necessary tools, equipment, and experience that helps to get the work done quickly and appropriately. In other words, when you hire a professional water damage company, you will be able to get back into your office or home more quickly.

Insurance claims

Quite often, it is not easy to get insurance claims. Most insurance companies require extensive documentations and evidence, which is a hectic process for homeowners who are extremely busy with their routine work. The good news is that most Water Damage companies have years of experience dealing insurance policies and forms related to water damages.

Therefore, they are in a better position to help homeowners to document losses that arose of water damages so that they can get a fair settlement from their insurers. Besides that, a water damage company whom you had hired is required to provide proof of damage(s) to your insurance company in case there is a dispute.

Expert advice

When restoration is complete, it can be difficult to determine whether your wall, wet carpet, furniture, or appliances are ruined or can be cleaned. Nevertheless, professionals from a water damage company will be able to give you an expert opinion on whether or not your items can be made safe for use again or they need just to thrown away after they have done an extensive inspection on each item.…

The Thuja belongs to the genus of the coniferous trees in the cypress family. The Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae is a great tree species for making a property line or creating a privacy fence. By planting the trees five feet apart, you will realize that you have a natural privacy fence. The Arborvitae tree is evergreen and is commonly used in for privacy screening and the fast-growing shade purposes. This tree is a great alternative to the other types of trees bearing in mind that it is the pest, disease, and drought resistant. Let us look at some of the best ways of providing care to this tree.

Best tips

Care

The Thuja Green Giant Arborvitae does not require much attention because it is a natural growing tree. However, just like the other plants it needs care for it to have the desired size and shape. The care provided will also enable it to have a healthy growth and reach its desired height. Mulching is one of the cares that the tree should be subjected to.

The mulch should be at least three inches deep and should surround the tree. Mulch will help the tree retain moisture which is critical in its growth. You should, however, not pile mulch around the trunk. Ensure that the mulch is at least three inches away from the trunk all round.

Watering

Watering is another crucial care tip, especially for the seedlings. You should water the young trees every day by holding a hose or the watering can turn around it. You need to water them for at least a month. After that, you may water your tree once a week or twice a week if there is no rainfall. You will, however, not need to water it after six months because it will have already been established.

Pruning

Just like the other trees, you should prune this tree to achieve the desired shape and size. If you want the tree to form a nice hedge, you will have to prune it periodically to ensure that it takes the shape you want. However, if there is enough space, you may not need to prune this tree. This is because it will naturally take its great pyramid shape which many people cherish.

Trees that are grown together must be pruned. The trees can be sheared annually if they are growing closer together.

This tree is a perfect choice for any individual because of the easy care and maintenance tips. Persons who are looking for a fast-growing tree that will shield them from the passersby should plant this tree.…

Congratulations for your desire to join thousands of Australians by buying an apartment. It is critical to note that the purchase of a community or strata title property is not the same as the acquisition of a house. When buying a home in the Melbourne area, you should know that you are not buying the land in which the house is built but the air space. Many real estate moguls are buying off the plan apartments in Melbourne area.The mortar and bricks are usually owned collectively by owners as per the local laws.

Best tips

Strata scheme

Once you buy a house in Melbourne, you will be part of the strata scheme which comes with particular privileges, rights, and responsibilities. You will have to ascend your signature to these terms since by deciding to buy a house in such a place means that you are going to live as a community.

Before you purchase the asset, you will be given a copy of the by-laws to read before you can sign. The purpose of the regulations is to create order; it is to ensure that people co-exist peacefully with their neighbors.

Inspection reports

Before buying a given property, it is important to have a Strata Inspection Report done. Before buying the house, you would want to ensure that everything is in order. The strata inspection report will tell you whether the plumbing, sewerage, and wiring systems just but to mention a few are in good shape. No one would wish to spend a fortune in buying a home only to devote more money to fixing the faulty systems in the home. The strata inspection report will check the following:

• The records of the strata scheme
• The notices served on the program and check whether there is any tribunal or court orders
• The minutes if the executive committee and general meetings
• The income and expenditure record

Levies

You should know that once you buy the given property, then you will be required to pay taxes in future. The taxes in most areas of Melbourne are either paid after a month, three months, and six months. The revenue that is collected from the levies usually goes in the maintenance and the upkeep of the common areas. These areas include the parking lot, swimming pool, fences, gardens, garages, and lobbies just but to mention a few. The levies also cover the administrative costs, the sinking fund, and insurance which is a must for all the community and strata title properties.

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Composter manufacturers have developed numerous composters over the years but what make the composters different are the features that every one of them possesses. There are some with high capacity, while others have a small size, some with a large height while others short, and some with large lids while others do not have lids. If you are looking for the best compost tumbler, you can try the Worm Factory 360. It is also important to note that these features determine a composter’s durability, effectiveness, as well as price. Lifetime 65 Gallon Compost Tumbler has the following features:

Features

Large capacity

Lifetime 65 Gallon Compost Tumbler has over 8.69 cubic feet translating to about 65 gallons. This large size feature makes it standing out from the rest. This is because, with this high capacity, you can be able to make a high amount of compost as you desire, particularly if your aim is to fertilize a large area.

Durability: The composter has high-density polyethylene plastic material, which has the effect of making the composter withstand the harsh weather conditions in the open and last for long.

• Aeration: The composter has an internal aeration tavern that improves the flow of air and facilitates the rapid and efficient mixing of the compost within the composter.
• Walls: It has double-walled panels, which absorb and preserve heat within it to decompose the compost pile.
• Movement: It has a very inventive design enabling it to turn on its axis in perfect symmetry and facilitate the mixing of the compost. This quality saves you time and effort you would apply in mixing the compost pile manually.
• Height: It has a 44-inches height capable of giving you the advantage of loading the food scraps and garden wastes while standing. Consequently, you do not have to bend and hurt your back while loading the composter.
• Lid: Lifetime 65 Gallon Compost Tumbler has an extra-large and removable lid that enables convenient and straightforward access to the interior and loading while at the same time remaining closed all the time to keep out rodents.
• Stability: The composter has a galvanized steel base that enables it to be stable all the time.
• Weight: The composter weighs over 55 pounds, which signifies that it is durable.

Best composter

In conclusion, Lifetime 65 Gallon Compost Tumbler has the best features and qualities making it the best composter by all standards highly recommended, especially to those who want to make massive quantity of compost. This is because features such as large capacity, 44-inches height, large lid, symmetric movement, double-walled panels, internal aeration and a galvanized steel base are just the typical features the best composter should have.…

Two soluble minerals cause water hardness magnesium and calcium. The two minerals can clog up water pipes in your home and will leave spots on the counters, dishes as well as reducing the efficiency of laundry detergent and soap. Luckily, having a proper water treatment can eradicate these minerals and reduce the effects that they produce.

Water softener systems are specifically designed to remove and neutralize these unwanted minerals. Some softeners take out ions, which can stain on sinks and tubs, clothing, clog pipes and can even affect food taste. Whereas others are designed with filters, that eliminates chlorine or any other unwanted substance that can affect water taste. A closer look at the best Water Softener Reviews will give you some insights on how these systems work. Below are some of the best water softeners available.

Top Models

Kenmore High-Efficiency 38300

It is a salt-based softener that is designed to use a resin bed to get rid of magnesium and calcium from the water source. This softener has a hardness capacity of over 24,000 grains and can remove over 30 grains per gallon hardness. To ensure if this unit will efficiently perform in your home, you need compare the value of your water hardness. Also, note that Kenmore 38300 requires consistent regeneration to get rid of the accumulated magnesium and calcium from resin media bed. This process will involve electrical joining for control.

EvoClear Salt-Free

This saltless water softener was made for use with public water supplies. In case you have a well at your home, you will need to pretreat it to eliminate hydrocarbons, hydrogen sulfide, and iron before they reach the water softener. Though this water softener doesn’t get rid of calcium and magnesium, EvoClear is designed to crystallize the two minerals into even forms that won’t hinder the performance of detergents or soaps.

Aquasana 1,000,000 Gallon Rhino

This unit will remove silt particles and dust from the home’s water even before it enters the unit. It uses a saltless progression to transform magnesium and calcium into inert crystals. What I love about this water softener is that the water treated will still retain its original value, but you are guaranteed that crystallized mineral deposits won’t form scale on your pipes nor stain dishes, tubs or sinks.

GE 30,400 Grain

It is also a salt-based home unit and it is equipped with a resin bed that is designed to remove minerals from your water supply. This water softener can also get rid of clear-water ions plus it is featured with electronic gear shifts to manage the restoration cycle.…

Garden water features make your home or business premises beautiful, warm, and serene. You will always look forward to spending some time outdoors. The most common water features today include pools, streams cascades, fountains, ponds, and waterfalls. The beauty of your home starts from the outside and so if you want to make a good impression, you need to contact professional garden water features suppliers to provide you with what works for your garden. These additions will complement your lawns and flowerbeds.

Key Attributes

Power

Electricity or solar panels are usually the primary sources of power used in powering artificial fountains. As such, solar powered supplies are Eco-friendly, and can help you cut down your electricity bill. The pump is embedded within the water feature, and water is recycled from a reservoir. Professionally crafted water features are the key ingredients to increasing the resale value of your property. It makes your home attractive to prospective buyers.

Popular Designs

There are various designs including stone, granite, stainless steel, iron, or glass. You can look at modern designs like the fantastic Henri studio Fountains, Bird Baths, Wall Hanging, flat wall fountains, Victoria Falls, Curving log fountain, falling water fountain, Kalkay water feature, Como Springs, Rustic Windmill, and Brick and Bowl Spills water features and much more. You can choose to have LED lighting effects on the water features coupled with sound effects.

A Natural Attractions

Your gardens will be a beautiful haven, attracting birds, insects, and other wildlife that will only make your home a beautiful place to live. Installing our expertly designed water features will also refresh the air around your home, as flowerbeds nearby can grow all year round. Apart from beauty these features can also increase your home’s resale value.

Properly installed systems eliminate inefficient water usage by recycling and using programmed timers. When choosing what works for you, consider perhaps the existing exterior design so that the design of the water features blends in smoothly. Our designers are available to carry out home consultation for custom features. You can get our experts to survey your home before agreeing on a viable design that can also work as a layout decoration.

Water fountains can bring light and life even to the most hopeless space. A garden fountain needs to have an area of water whose dimensions are carefully planned. The design chosen should not be too much for the government and it should be too tiny as well. As such, you should go for a fountain design that gives your garden an instant face-lift.…

With the dynamics in the real estate industry, selling and buying properties can be a challenge. To a homeowner, making a sale can present its unique set of difficulties. As such, it is imperative to devise ways of dealing with these challenges and before making the deal. The vital step in the selling process is getting  an accurate house price estimate. Fortunately, several options can help the owner achieve this feat. Some of them will be explained here.

How to get Realistic House Quotes

Look Around

This direct and straightforward approach can help the homeowner get realistic home/property estimates. Only look at the properties available in your neighborhood. In this undertaking, you should concentrate on homes that are almost similar to yours. Moreover, you should also look at the number of homes for sale at that moment to have an idea of the competition available out there. This step helps the homeowner get an idea of how her home compares to others.

Use the Internet

This is a very helpful tool for a modern-day owner. As such, some websites help property/homeowners estimate the values of their homes online. Well, some of these sites can be accurate than others. But the bottom line is that most of them provide accurate estimates. These estimates are vital in the beginning stages of your selling process.

Real Estate Agents

For a better valuation, you might consider working with a real-estate agent. From their experience in dealing with properties, agents can give you fast and accurate estimates. Besides, the good news is that most agencies offer this service free of charge. Most of them will get to great depths to provide you with details justifying these estimates.

Professional Valuers

To get a detailed appraisal, you should contact a licensed home valuation company. However, unlike estate agents, valuers charge a fee for their services, but the estimates given are based on a standard valuation method. Lending companies, banks, and financiers rely on these estimates before financing the buyers. Either way, the client receiving this service should pay for this service.

Many people choose to follow at least one of two of these steps before selling their homes. A home valuation exercise is not only important when making sales; it is an invaluable step when marketing your house. The method chosen also depends on the selling stage. Valuation by a licensed expert is often needed in the latter stages of the sales exercise.…