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Garden Maintenance Dublin

LL The Elegance Of Hardwood Floors

Word Count:
451

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People always dream of owning their own home someday. While dreaming about their future homes, they also start to design their homes and look for materials that would be best given their lifestyle, their budget and their preferences.

Building a home or even just renovating an old house is a task that requires a large amount of creativity, planning and patience. The moment you have decided on the materials to be used and have actually implemented them, and then there is no…


hardwood floors, flooring, tiles

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People always dream of owning their own home someday. While dreaming about their future homes, they also start to design their homes and look for materials that would be best given their lifestyle, their budget and their preferences.

Building a home or even just renovating an old house is a task that requires a large amount of creativity, planning and patience. The moment you have decided on the materials to be used and have actually implemented them, and then there is no turning back. Of course, you can always have it redone but it will mean wasted time and additional expenses, not to mention the damage that may result from said construction work.

One part of the house which requires careful planning and research is the flooring because floors are the most abused portions of the house. People literally step on them, place heavy equipment on them and do whatever it is they usually do with floors.

When choosing floors, homeowners should make sure that they take into consideration the quality of their flooring material, the possible abuse that the floor has to go through and the length of time they are going to b e using that floor.

One of the perfect choices for flooring material is wood, particularly hardwood like maple or oak or even cherry. American hardwoods are in abundance and they provide that elegant touch to every home. Many Americans are opting for hardwoods, even for their kitchen floors, because once they get tired of it they can easily just sand it and change its appearance. However, you should only resort to sanding once you have decided to replace your wooden floors as this may damage them. Other flooring materials require a lot of hard work and expense before they can be replaced.

When using wooded materials on kitchen floors, the best choice is a urethane finish. Most people avoid wood on their kitchen floors because it can be damaged with constant water spills. However, they can avoid this by being creative and placing beautiful rugs in areas that are where water spills usually occur.

Hardwoods are particularly attractive on the floor of your living rooms and even the bedrooms. Wood produces a feeling of nostalgia and gives a feeling that the house has been lived in. Wooden flooring, when done properly, can actually give elegance to an otherwise simple house. It can easily be polished to give that new and shiny effect.

Once you have chosen hardwood as your house flooring, you should make it a point to install the wooden flooring when the construction is nearly completed. This will avoid ugly marks on the wood due to construction works, as well as lessen moisture problems.

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Garden Maintenance Dublin

LL The Effects of Damaging Black Mold

Word Count:
551

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Damaging black mold thrives on moisture and prefers darkened corners because of this. In a house this can include many unseen areas that you wouldn t normally think to check.


damaging black mold, black mold, algae

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What is black mold?

Mold is a particularly unsavory character that is neither plant nor animal. It usually resides in the fungi family and creates enzymes for decomposing and digesting and spores that are used for reproduction. In general mold and the decay they cause is not a bad thing; consider a world without decay. We would be piled high with dead trees, plants, animals and other dead organisms. Mold eats away at dead plants and animals causing them to eventually disappear. Unfortunately, though, damaging black mold doesn t know where to stop. It can t always differentiate between the things we want it to decay and the things we d rather it didn t and this includes our home. Damaging black mold can also have a serious detrimental effect on our health if it is left unchecked.

Damaging black mold thrives on moisture.

Damaging black mold thrives on moisture and prefers darkened corners because of this. In a house this can include many unseen areas that you wouldn t normally think to check. Behind washing machines, under the sink, in the attic, even behind the wallpaper and in the walls is where damaging black mold really likes to hide. Most of these places are rich with the moisture it requires and are infrequently, or never, cleaned. This means it can grow and grow but of course while it s growing it s also eating away at the very structure of the house in which it lives.

Poor waterproofing and damaging black mold.

Houses that suffer from poor waterproofing are especially at risk because they have more damp areas and increased levels of moisture all around the building. By not waterproofing your home you are encouraging damaging black mold to grow wherever it can find a drop of moisture. If necessary it can suck the moisture out of your walls leaving the structure of your home in tatters. Of course, poor waterproofing isn t the only way that mold is produced in your home. A particularly humid house will have collections of condensation in many different places, regular condensation won t simply sit on your windows and drop off over time, it will collect on wallpaper getting soaked into the wall behind and it will collect just about anywhere it wants. Eventually damaging black mold is likely to grow where this moisture is causing the damage we know it can.

Protecting your house and your family.

There are a number of ways to ensure that damaging black mold isn t attacking your house. Make sure that all air conditioning ducts are securely sealed, and installing a bathroom fan are two of the more common and effective methods of protecting your home from damaging black mold but there are many others. Ensuring you use permeable wallpaper backings and store firewood and other naturally moist substances outdoors. If you can smell a musky smell in some of the more prone areas in your house then there is a chance that the damaging black mold has manifested itself in your house. You need to hire a professional who will visit your house and do a thorough check of the entire structure. They will also be able to effectively remove it for you and give you some advice on how to prevent it from returning.

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Garden Maintenance Dublin

LL The Dyson Difference: Evolution Of Clean

Word Count:
442

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It has been said, Everything gets better with age, and for vacuums, that is especially true. The evolution of vacuum cleaners is an interesting tale of conceptualizations and mechanical realities coupled with good old fashioned trial and error.

The first vacuum prototype was called a carpet sweeper and would trap particles of dust in water chambers. Mr. Daniel Hess never got to manufacture his machine but his brilliance has set the tone for many cleaning machines to co…


dyson dc14,Dyson vacuums,Dyson vacuum cleaners,bagless vacuums

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It has been said, Everything gets better with age, and for vacuums, that is especially true. The evolution of vacuum cleaners is an interesting tale of conceptualizations and mechanical realities coupled with good old fashioned trial and error.

The first vacuum prototype was called a carpet sweeper and would trap particles of dust in water chambers. Mr. Daniel Hess never got to manufacture his machine but his brilliance has set the tone for many cleaning machines to come. Most of the early machines were very heavy and sometimes required two people to operate them. Additionally, power sources were always a problem until freestanding sources were used in vacuums around 1901 by Hubert Booth. The inventors of the time and the forefathers of companies of today came up with ingenious ways to make these vacuums more convenient, affordable, and useful.

One type of popular vacuum used today is the bagged vacuum. Bag vacuums generally fill from the bottom of the bag with dirt and particulates through bursts of airflow. Air is sucked up into the bag and then pushed out the porous micro holes in the fiber of the bag, thus allowing the air to pass through the bag and trap the particulate inside. However, as the bag fills, less and less air is able to flow which, in turn, inhibits suction. Also, changing the vacuum bag releases the allergens, dander, and particulates back into the air.

Another type of vacuum is a bag-less model. These work to attempt to mimic the technology of a cyclone machine but can have a tendency to get clogged very easily. This, of course, leads to reduced suction and loss of air flow if they are not made properly.

In 1978, James Dyson began trying to build a machine that would utilize the concept of dual cyclones. Over 5,000 tries later, he succeeded in1993. Dyson vacuums never lose suction. In the Dyson Root Cyclone, centrifugal force is used to help filter dust and debris with virtually no obstruction to the flow of air. As the air spirals down the cone shaped cylinder with extreme force, the particulates of dirt are spun out of the air that holds it and falls to the bottom. As the cone gets smaller and smaller, even the tiniest of particles can be spun out, leaving the exiting air very clean. The Dyson vacuums are better than regular cyclones because they have two cyclones instead of one with no danger of clogging. Dyson vacuums also work well on hard surfaces as well as carpets. Vacuum cleaners have come a long way in their history and technology as seen through the state of the art Dyson vacuum.

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Garden Maintenance Dublin

LL The Durability of Standing Seam Metal Roofing

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575

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Standing seam metal roofing is very unlikely to rot, mould, split or crack. For this reason a standing seam metal roofing system means you can enjoy a long life from your roof with comparably low maintenance costs.


Standing Seam Metal Roofing, metal roofing, metal roof

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The job of your roof.

The roof is the one part of the house that takes the most damage when protecting us from the elements. It has to cope with extreme conditions ranging from wintry ice to summer sun and often it can face both extremes at the same time. Many substances simply can not withstand this diverse a range of abuse meaning it is very important to select strong roofing made from a durable and resistant material that will withstand just about anything. Advances in technology have seen various new forms of roofing as well as advances in old techniques and reduces in cost, so the options available when selecting good roofing are wide.

Maintenance of your roof.

For all of the work that a roof does you would expect that it would be a part of housing and home maintenance that people took very seriously, but unfortunately it is a factor that is often overlooked until the worst happens. Many people do not maintain their roof or even have it checked on a regular basis but prevention is a much better option than cure. By having regular checks on your roof you can prevent costly repairs when things go wrong.

Traditional roofing material compared to standing seam metal roofing.

Asphalt and modified bitumen have previously been the most common choice when it comes to selecting a material for your roof, however in more recent years standing seam metal roofing has increased in popularity as it has decreased in cost and it s durability, protection and flexibility have increased. Standing seam metal roofing has much to offer; it is fire resistant, weather resistant, can be easily formed to fit your roof and has become even easier to install. In fact, standing seam metal roofing meets the very highest of standards when it comes to fire resistance and wind and hail resistance.

The life of your standing seam metal roofing.

Standing seam metal roofing is very unlikely to rot, mould, split or crack. For this reason a standing seam metal roofing system means you can enjoy a long life from your roof with comparably low maintenance costs. It is also usually created from recycled products and is fully recyclable itself so it is a sustainable choice for the ecologically minded amongst you. The options are virtually limitless if you decide on standing seam metal roofing, and not least because of the numerous metals that are on offer. Copper, aluminum, galvanized or stainless steel and a range of other metals are commonly used and each has their own look, feel and uses.

Standing seam metal roofing the environmental roof.

Standing seam metal roofing offers a life of 50 years or more making it much longer lasting than other traditional methods employed in many houses. It is usually made up of 50% recycled material and 100% of your standing seam metal roofing will be recycled in the event that it does eventually need replacing. Conversely, asphalt requires a huge amount of oil every year to create shingles that last an average of 15 years. At the end of their life they are then disposed of in landfill sites wasting yet more of the world s resources. Standing seam metal roofing also means you will use less energy, conserving yet more resources and lowering your summer energy bills. Standing seam metal roofing reflects approximately 70% of the sun s rays meaning you will spend a lot less keeping your air conditioning unit running.

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Garden Maintenance Dublin

LL The Do’s and Don’ts of Installing In-floor Radiant Heating System with Hardwood Flooring

Word Count:
437

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If you re installing hardwood flooring in conjunction with a radiant heat system you need to be absolutely careful in dealing with moisture. There are certain steps to be taken and materials to use that will ensure a trouble free and long lasting installation.


hardwood floor radiant heat, radiant heat, floor covering radiant heat

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When considering radiant heat, the reluctance to install hardwood floors over radiant heat systems was from the original technology, launched more than 40 years ago.

With radiant heat, to compensate for poor insulation, radiant heat temperatures were higher than normal causing excessive expansion and contraction in hardwood floors, which resulted in damage to hardwoods and a builder’s reputation.

Today, faultless radiant heat installations of fine hardwood flooring are completed over radiant floor heating.

To be honest, installing hardwoods over radiant heating systems is really no different from laying a typical hardwood floor.

Although the temperature of radiant floor heating will not harm the wood floor, a change in moisture will cause various hardwood flooring to warp, buckle or gap.

As the temperature rises, the moisture content generally decreases, and the moisture is removed causing the wood to shrink and gaps to occur between the boards. With lower temperatures the moisture returns and the gaps close.

When radiant heat is added to any floor it’s important to pay close attention to the moisture levels.

Your hardwood floor installer, and radiant heating systems contractor, should be aware of the special considerations required when using radiant heat in conjunction with hardwood floors.

When combined with radiant heat, many contractors underestimate the time it takes for concrete to properly cure. Usually, when the concrete looks dry the flooring is installed, however concrete needs to dry slowly and can take up to 90 days. Knowing the exact moisture content is an essential part of quality control within the floor installation process.

Once the sub-floor, tubing and climate controls have been installed, run your radiant heating systems for at least 72 hours to balance the moisture content.

Your radiant heat and hardwood floors need some special moisture considerations. Make sure your installer has a hand-held electrical tool, called a moisture meter. It measures the moisture in concrete and in the wood floor materials, giving the percentage of relative humidity.

Make certain the hardwood flooring, the storage space and the concrete slab are normalized or acclimated to the finished room before the hardwood is installed.

With a hardwood installation, a moisture barrier helps maintain an even moisture balance in the floor. Seasonal gapping is quite normal but in the fall try to progressively turn on heat before the first really cool day arrives. Also, it’s important for the hardwood floorboards in the floor to be laid perpendicular to the tubing, not parallel.

The key to a good hardwood installation when combined with radiant heat is to pay close attention to the moisture. Low, even temperature distribution is the key to avoiding problems when radiant heat is involved.

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Garden Maintenance Dublin

LL The Cubicle: Your Home Away From Home?

Word Count:
345

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Is your cubicle your home away from home? For many, everything that they need is there. Of course, you have your phone, your computer and your paperwork. But, you probably have all sorts of other things as well. Photos are throughout the walls. Your hot drink and your cold drinks are there. You will find that many people have their doodle pads within reach as well. But, really, the cubicle is a sad place.

You can brighten them up a little. One excellent way to improve empl…


Cubicle

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Is your cubicle your home away from home? For many, everything that they need is there. Of course, you have your phone, your computer and your paperwork. But, you probably have all sorts of other things as well. Photos are throughout the walls. Your hot drink and your cold drinks are there. You will find that many people have their doodle pads within reach as well. But, really, the cubicle is a sad place.

You can brighten them up a little. One excellent way to improve employee satisfaction is to provide them with a comfortable place to work, even if that is only a cubicle. But, make them convenient, comfortable and spacious. Sure, you don t have a lot of room but that little extra bit is likely to help your employees feel more in an office than a box. You can add shelving units, desks and computers to the space, but again, make sure that things are easy to use and within reach. You should allow them to have a place to put notes and pictures of those at home. You can easily do this with a corkboard of sorts or even by using padded cubicles.

Why should you bother? Of course you are thinking that this is a waste of money. But, for many businesses, having a comfortable place to work in will allow your employees to work better. Efficiency is quite important in all aspects of business. And, this is no hidden secret that happy employees provide better, more efficient workloads. So, go ahead and splurge here.

Are you thinking that you do not know just what you can use to make your employees work area better? There are a number of websites online that can help you not only make better work environments for your employees, but that can help you do it as well. In fact, many will provide the products that you need and the labor to do it at a very reasonable rate. Give in a little and reap the rewards by providing great cubicles for your employees.

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Garden Maintenance Dublin

LL The Crazy Gazebo

Word Count:
556

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The gazebo is that odd-sounding piece of the landscape that just seems to make a home complete. It is that quintessential finishing touch to your landscape that means you plan on staying for awhile and want to be comfortable while doing it. The gazebo may be growing in popularity for homeowners but it remains a relatively rare building to see on people s lawns. Part of its rarity is no doubt due to the fact that so many people are relatively unfamiliar with the gazebo and its…


gazebo

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The gazebo is that odd-sounding piece of the landscape that just seems to make a home complete. It is that quintessential finishing touch to your landscape that means you plan on staying for awhile and want to be comfortable while doing it. The gazebo may be growing in popularity for homeowners but it remains a relatively rare building to see on people s lawns. Part of its rarity is no doubt due to the fact that so many people are relatively unfamiliar with the gazebo and its potential role in their landscape.

Strictly speaking, a gazebo is little more than a stand alone building. Like a building, a gazebo has a roof to provide occupants shelter from the elements. A gazebo may even have electricity running out to it when people decide to add ornamental lights or perhaps a ceiling fan. However, a gazebo is a completely open structure on all sides.

The structure is free of any windows or doors. This creates a sense of openness that is a preferred feature for gazebo owners. However, in colder climates, this overwhelming sense of openness becomes too costly in the winter and the structure is generally abandoned until late Spring when the air is warm enough to enjoy without a parka.

Manufacturers are making owning a gazebo easier than ever these days. A growing number of companies are selling pre-fabricated gazebos that simply have to be delivered. These quality-made units can be dropped off and enjoyed on the same day.

If you don t want to spend the extra money for a pre-fabricated gazebo, you can always order a kit. A typical gazebo kit will include all the lumber, hardware, and instructions necessary to construct your very own piece of paradise at your own leisure. Kits are typically much less expensive than pre-fabricated models but it takes a lot more time and effort to build the gazebo on your own than to simply have one dropped off. For the really tenacious do-it-yourself buff, there is always the custom-built gazebo option.

In all reality, a custom gazebo is the surest way to ensure that it matches with your home. Have you ever seen a gazebo that just seemed to have nothing at all to do with the home like it was made out of natural wood and the home was a brick ranch? The gazebo is a stand alone structure but it is also found in proximity to your home and should be considered an accessory to your home and therefore be similar in style or theme.

A custom gazebo may be your only option if you have a very unique home or rare building materials. However, the added time and expense required to build a matching custom gazebo to your home will be well worth it. The entire landscape will be unified and it will a depth to the overall architecture scheme.

Whether you choose to have a pre-built gazebo dropped off in your back yard, build with a kit or design and build your very own, the added comfort and value of a gazebo is well worth the effort and expense. Besides, it is nice to have a place outside where you can just sit back with a great book and a cup of tea and just relax and a gazebo is just such a place!

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Garden Maintenance Dublin

LL The CQT Triangle and Choosing the Right Builder

Word Count:
441

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For every action, there is an opposite reaction. So said Isaac Newton in his 3rd Law of Motion. Newton s law is true for an apple falling from a tree or building log homes or timber homes. Consider three primary opposing forces at work when building a new home Cost, Quality and Time. We call this the CQT Triangle. Understanding the opposing forces of the CQT Triangle is critical when selecting the right builder to build your log home or timber home.


log homes, timber homes, log, log home, timber frame homes, builders, builder

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For every action, there is an opposite reaction. So said Isaac Newton in his 3rd Law of Motion. Newton s law is true for an apple falling from a tree or building log homes or timber homes. Consider three primary opposing forces at work when building a new home Cost, Quality and Time. We call this the CQT Triangle. Understanding the opposing forces of the CQT Triangle is critical when selecting the right builder to build your log home or timber home.

The CQT Triangle has three opposing corners that tend to pull at each other Cost, Quality and Time. Putting emphasis on one or two of the corners tends to have an opposing affect on the other corners.

For example, if your primary concern is meeting an aggressive timeline for your log home or timber home, then it s more likely cost will increase. There is also the risk that quality will be compromised in order to meet an aggressive timeline. Conversely, if the builder has a more flexible building schedule, it may allow him the time to achieve a higher standard of quality and more opportunity to better control costs. If the quality of your log home or timber home is your primary consideration, the cost will be higher and the construction may take longer. However, if your priority is staying on a rigid budget, accepting a more modest quality standard may be required. For example, tile countertops might be perfectly acceptable as opposed to granite countertops and will save on costs. Or carpeting the bedrooms and limiting hardwood to the great room and kitchen areas might be an opportunity to save costs.

Understanding the relationship of Cost, Quality and Time is important in choosing the right builder for log homes & timber homes. The Due Diligence Report provided by Precision Craft will give you much needed information about prospective builders. It s not uncommon for builders to have more strength in one or two of the CQT corners. For example, a builder that specializes in a high quality craftsmanship might have an artwork standard. But, there is a price to pay for artwork usually in time and/or cost. Aligning your priorities with the strength of the builder will help you achieve your objective.

The information in the Precision Craft Log Homes & Timber Homes Due Diligence Report combined with a clear understanding of your CQT priorities will help you make the right choice in selecting a builder. It is always best to talk with your Precision Craft Project Manager and the prospective builders about your expectation and priorities.
http://www.precisioncraft.com

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Garden Maintenance Dublin

LL The Cost of NOT Doing Home Maintenance: Free Home Maintenance Tips for The Bathroom

Word Count:
739

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Tips to clean and maintain your home


the cost of NOT doing home maintenance, tile and grout cleaning tools, free home maintenance tips

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Now that you ve spent the money on the home of your dreams, have you stopped to consider the cost of NOT doing home maintenance? You are putting your family at risk if you are not taking care of your home both in terms of their safety and their health. Here are some free home maintenance tips that will keep your bathroom germ and worry free.

Recent headlines have alerted us to the cost of NOT doing home maintenance. The prevalence of toxic black mold has been found in old buildings, schools, and even the household bathroom because of a lack of household maintenance. We all know that we should clean the bathroom, but here are some free home maintenance tips that will help you avoid this dark problem.

Keeping your shower and bath tiles clean and dry are essential when you consider the cost of NOT doing home maintenance. Of course, when you shower, you will get the tub or shower wet, but one of the simple free home maintenance tips is to dry off the surfaces as soon as your step out. You can even make this fun for your children to do if you use a squeegee to accomplish this. Mold is caused by a buildup of moisture that then becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. By preventing the moisture, you can help to prevent the mold.

Of course, some of the surfaces are porous and will need special attention. This is where tile and grout cleaning tools can come in handy. These may include special brushes (Shower Track and Grout Brush) or in the form of heavy duty cleaning solutions (Tile and Grout Cleaner). The combination of these two kinds of tile and grout cleaning tools will help to clean the surfaces in and surrounding the shower and bath that may be harboring potential bacteria.

A little elbow grease is the best way to avoid the cost of NOT doing home maintenance. What you may want to consider is making up a schedule of when you will regularly clean the shower. Because many of the tile and grout cleaning tools can be dangerous to children, you will want to clean the areas yourself. You may also want to schedule a cleaning time that allows the area to be avoided for a while maybe when the children are in school. If you have two bathrooms, you will want to do them on two different days to keep one ready for use. The fumes of some cleaners can be toxic, so you want to keep the area closed off and well-ventilated until the fumes have dissipated.

Gather the tile and grout cleaning tools and start with the tub or shower. You want to follow the directions on the package of cleaner and then use the brush to work in the chemicals. These chemicals prevent the cost of NOT doing home maintenance by killing any bacteria that may have built up or making an environment where it is difficult for bacteria to multiply. You will want to scrub at the tile grout especially since it is porous and bacteria can sink in.

Another area that might contribute to the cost of NOT doing home maintenance is the edges around the tub where it has been caulked. You want to make sure that you are using a disinfectant cleaner (Industrial Germicidal Cleaner) along these edges. Pools of water from water splashing or even the shower itself may settle there and cause mold and mildew as well. This mold and mildew may begin to spread and if left unchecked, you will have to replace the entire affected area.

You will then want to make sure that the grout or caulk around the sink is also clean. It is good to note that if you do notice any cracks or pieces missing in your grout, you will want to have them sealed. It s when water gets through that mold can build up and begin to cause more severe damage to your bathroom. Call a professional to either patch up the holes in the caulk or grout, or replace it entirely.

When you consider the potential health effects on your family, the cost of NOT doing home maintenance seems too high to calculate or even consider. Take the time to keep your bathroom clean and well-maintained. Hopefully, these good habits will rub off on your children, and not any toxic mold.

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Garden Maintenance Dublin

LL The Corn Pellet Stove – a brief explanation

Word Count:
773

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A corn pellet stove is one of several types of pellet stoves – kitchen appliances that burn either wood pellets or biomass pellets that are fed into a burning pot. These pellet stoves are used in residential and even industrial sites mostly for heating and sometimes even for cooking.


Home, Living, Kitchen, Stoves, Wood Stoves, Pellet Stoves, Wood Burning Stoves, Corn Pellet Stove, Heat, Energy Conservation, Green Energy

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A corn pellet stove is one of several types of pellet stoves – kitchen appliances that burn either wood pellets or biomass pellets that are fed into a burning pot. These pellet stoves are used in residential and even industrial sites mostly for heating and sometimes even for cooking. They can be free-standing or they can be inserted onto fireplaces and vented towards a chimney. The use of biomass matter for pellet stoves and heaters came about as a result of the global fuel crisis that necessitated the use of alternative and renewable sources of energy.

Fuel for pellet stoves

Users of pellet stoves utilize cherry pits, sunflower seeds, even wheat as biomass fuel, but a lot of these pellet stoves’ makers opt for the use of another biomass fuel – corn. While wood may be the original choice, and the other seeds and pits additional choices, most pellet stove users swear by corn pellets. Pellet stoves that are specifically made to use corn pellets are becoming more and more in demand because they have been proven to be more fuel efficient and less maintenance-intensive. Although a corn pellet stove looks almost exactly like a wood pellet stove, the former usually does not require a chimney as it is highly efficient. It can simply be vented through pipes to an outer wall. As such, corn pellet stoves may be used to heat almost any room in a house.

How it works – the basics

Like any other pellet stove that has a hopper, auger, blower, firebox, vacuum, and control box, a corn pellet stove feeds the biomass pellets from the hopper through the auger or screw onto the firepot. The auger is used to control the heat. The blower is used for combustion and exhaust as it blows combustion air over the pellets and forces smoke outdoors. The stove mechanisms allow for efficiently clean performance. The intense heat that is produced by the stove is highly concentrated. The convection blower and heat exchangers allow for the circulation of the heated air towards living or cooking spaces.

The use of corn pellets ensure clean, pollution-free burning so that chimneys are no longer required for the corn pellet stove. A vent from the stove towards a window or opening outdoors will suffice. With its highly combustible nature, the use of corn in the pellet stove enables the heating of average-sized homes on less fuel, and less money spent for fuel of course, compared to other traditional and conventional fuels. Like a traditional furnace, a corn pellet stove is combustion-based – burning the corn pellets and warming up the surroundings as heat radiates from the flames. The secret is in the gradual feed of the corn pellets through the hopper, allowing for consistent heat which is not possible if the biomass fuel lot is simply dumped onto the fire. The larger the hopper, the longer the stove is able to continuously burn to provide long-term heating.

Another aspect of the corn pellet stove’s efficiency is the heat-exchanger inside the furnace. The heat exchanger, like that in a gas-furnace, extracts heat from the exhaust. The result is a more efficient heating system that allows for more space areas to be heated for less fuel consumption. It will only be a matter of strategically positioning the corn pellet stove in a residential or industrial structure to get the optimum heat from the contraption. Facility of locating is addressed easily as the stove is simply vented, no need for a chimney, so that smoke exhaust is forced outdoors.

Over and above the efficiency is the environmental issue. There are a lot of contentions that corn is a cleaner fuel, with less harmful emissions than traditional wooden fuel. Burnt corn leaves less ash, reportedly, less than the ash resulting from burning wood of equal quantity to the corn fuel. The construction of a corn stove pellet also allows for the ability to push ash out of the stove’s top towards a pan for easy emptying. The fire is thus allowed to burn continuously for a consistent, continuous heating. Then there is the safety issue, where fire is more controllable in a corn pellet stove, and outside areas are shielded and protected through the use of the blower that has an effect similar to bellows where despite hotter flames generated, the flames are confined to the stove area and are in no danger of accidentally touching on external or surrounding combustible materials.

With all these advantages of a corn pellet stove, including efficiency, economy, environmental-friendliness, and safety, a lot of residential and industrial users prefer it over the traditional wood-fed stoves.