When to Renovate A House

Posted on February 18, 2021 by Damon

home remodel architects

Wondering when to renovate a house? Here are 5 signs it’s time to do it as given by home remodeling architects:

Your family is getting bigger

When it’s just you and your partner, a one-bedroom house feels comfortable and enough, but when kids come, the once comfy place resembles a pigsty. Everything looks out of place, the house is always dirty, and there isn’t enough space. You also can’t keep it organized.

Most homeowners sell the small house and find a larger one, but it doesn’t have to be this way with you. If you love your neighborhood, you can avoid moving by knocking down a few walls and expanding the house.

You are no longer proud of the house.

We all go through a phase where we are extremely proud of our houses and can’t wait to show them to our friends and family. As the house ages, the pride wears off, and we no longer want anyone to visit us. If you are at this phase, it’s time to remodel your house.

The cool thing is, you don’t have to be fancy about it. Making minor changes can go a long way. You can change your old furniture, replace the carpet, install new lighting, among many other simple things that will improve the appeal of the house and restore your pride.

The floor has worn off.

If you have had your house for a long time, it’s common for the floor to wear off as it goes through a lot. If you have been living in the house for over 20 years, you can imagine the number of footsteps your floor has carried.

It’s even worse if you entertain a lot. Your floor might have taken millions of footsteps.

A worn-out floor gives the house a dirty, cheap look, and you don’t want this, do you? So if your floor tiles have come off, it’s time to replace them.

To give your house a new, exciting look, change the flooring design by going for different tiles or installing a wooden floor.

The house feels boring.

Sometimes the house might be intact, but it just feels boring and old-fashioned. This often happens when you have had the house for a long time that you have grown too fond of it and everything seems old.

If you are bored of the house, you need to change a few things and give the house a new breath of life. For example, you can change the doorknobs or install bronze or nickel bathroom accessories.

Doing these simple things gives the house a more modern look, and it no longer feels or looks old and boring.

The paint is coming off.

A house with falling paint is as bad as one with bad flooring. The house feels dirty and is unpleasing to the eyes.

Paint is the face of your home, so when it starts coming off, move with haste and apply a new layer.

The cool thing is applying paint is cheap, and you don’t even have to hire home remodel DC professionals to help.

When applying fresh paint, go with high-quality paint that will last for a long time. Avoid cheap paint as it gives off an awful smell and doesn’t last long enough.

Hire an expert

These are some situations when you should renovate the house. You can renovate the house by yourself, but if you are looking for exemplary results, it’s wise you hire an expert to help.

For best results, ensure the contractor you hire is experienced and certified to work in your local area.

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What Is The Best Color For Kitchen Countertops?

Posted on January 19, 2021 by Damon

granite countertops

When renovating your home, you want everything to be perfect, from the countertop material you choose to the countertop color, you want everything to be splendid. If this is your first time installing the countertops, you must be wondering, what is the best color for kitchen countertops?

As much as we would love to point you to the best color for your granite countertops, it’s impossible as tastes vary from one person to the other. The only thing we can do is to guide you into choosing a color that will look good in your kitchen.

To help you out, here are tips on how to choose a color that is right for your countertops:

Think contrast

Have you taken time to study designer kitchens or carefully watch home makeover shows on television? You will notice that most of them feature some levels of contrast between light and dark.

For example, if the kitchen cabinets are dark, the kitchen countertops will be light and vice versa. Having dark and light elements in the house adds visual balance where the darker colors serve as anchors while the lighter colors take some of the weight off, making the room feel open and spacious.

When you are choosing the countertop colors, think about the colors already in the kitchen. If they are dark, choose a lighter countertop hue and vice versa.

Pay attention to the entire house.

When people think about how their countertops will look, they think about their kitchen. This works if you have a closed kitchen, but you should pay attention to the entire house if you have an open kitchen design.

Choose a countertop color consistent with the rest of the house to keep the house visually cohesive. This way, you make your home feel like one living space instead of individual rooms connected by doors.

When deciding on the color, bring color or shade of color from another room into the kitchen and see how it ties everything together. For example, if you have a lot of blue in your home, bring some white in the kitchen and see its looks.

Think about the light getting into the house

The light getting into the house affects the countertops’ look, so it’s an important factor to consider when choosing countertop color. The nature of the kitchen should influence the color you choose.

If the kitchen is north facing, it will feel cooler, while the south and west-facing kitchens will feel warmer.

The colors you choose will balance the light getting into the house. If you have a west facing house and receive yellow and red light, choose countertops with a green or blue tint to bring everything into balance to get a sophisticated look.

Pay attention to the style of your kitchen.

Do you have a traditional or modern kitchen? Most modern kitchens have monochromatic color schemes meaning the cabinets and countertop colors are from the same color family.

It’s also not uncommon to find kitchens with high contrast colors. For example, the cabinets will be black while the countertops are white.

If you have traditional kitchens, use softer colors. Even if you will use contrasting colors, ensure the colors aren’t overwhelming.

Consider how you will accessorize the kitchen.

It’s always good to think about how the kitchen will look at the end of the project. If it will have patterns, tone down the look with solid colors. On the other hand, if the kitchen will have a solid color, work with experienced granite contractors Rockville and find patterned countertops with a color that complements not only the kitchen but the entire house.

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How To Prepare Your Furnace For Winter

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Damon

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You need your furnace during winter more than any other time. And to ensure the furnace doesn’t go out on you, you need to prepare it for the heating season. How do you do this? Here are tips on how to prepare your furnace for winter:

Clean the furnace before the winter months

At least one or two months before the season, ask a furnace repair services provider to clean the furnace. When you clean the furnace before the season you have peace of mind as you know the furnace is in top working condition and you won’t be left in the cold.

Cleaning the furnace before winter also saves you money as you get to hire the cleaning professionals at a lower price as they are in their lowest season.

The cleaning and maintenance professionals are busy during or at the beginning of the season so doing your maintenance early on will cost you more as the contractors’ demand is high at this time.

When you are hiring contractors, don’t make the mistake of hiring the cheapest even if you are looking to save as much as possible. Remember that cheap contractors are usually uninsured and inexperienced so they are more than likely to provide subpar services.

To hire the right contractor, take your time to research, and find the average contractor price in your area. Stay away from a contractor charging a price that is too low. At the same time avoid a technician charging an extremely exorbitant price as they might be ripping you off.

Inspect and replace the furnace filters

Air filters are vital to the proper functioning of the furnace and if you go with dirty filters into winter, you will attract high energy bills. Your furnace also overworks, which significantly reduces its lifespan. There is also a high chance of the furnace grinding to a halt because of dirty filters.

To prevent this from happening, clean, or replace the furnace filters before winter. You can clean them by yourself or hire a professional to help you out.

Inspect the furnace burners

Dust and debris accumulate on the furnace burners during summer which sees the furnace performing inefficiently. Like dirty filters, dirty burners lead to the overworking of the furnace which not only reduces the appliance’s lifespan, it also puts the appliance at the risk of grinding to a halt in the middle of a cold night.

Oil the furnace blower

As you are getting to winter, you want to ensure everything is functioning at top condition. This includes the furnace blower.

The blower motor has a significant impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of the furnace so you need to ensure it’s properly oiled for it to function efficiently and avoid unnecessary noises.

Ensure the thermostat is functioning optimally

The thermostat controls the furnace so when the thermostat isn’t functioning properly, there is no way the furnace will. To confirm your thermostat is functioning properly, turn it on and monitor how it responds.

A properly functioning unit should start with no problem so if yours is, you have a problem in your hands. Don’t troubleshoot it by yourself. Instead, contact experienced furnace services Falls Church to help you out.

Do you have a manually operated thermostat? You should replace it with a programmable thermostat. The programmable thermostat allows you virtual control. For example, you can set it to your preferred temperature while you are at work so you find a warm, cozy house by the time you are coming back.

The thermostat is also easy to use, so you have an easy time setting your preferred temperature.

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Why Is Tree Work So Expensive? Tree Removal Services Providers Answer

Posted on November 22, 2020 by Damon

tree removal services

You need one tree taken out, few limbs taken, or a few shrubs cleaned up. How hard hard can that be, right? So you reach out to your local tree removal services providers and request a quote. And to your dismay, the quote you get is equal to a new TV, car payment, a house payment, or electrical bill.

Why is tree work so expensive? You wonder. There are plenty of reasons for this, with the most common ones being:

Tree removal is complex.

To remove a tree, you need to cut one section at a time to avoid dropping the entire tree sections onto your property or into traffic. To do this, you need to understand how the tree holds itself up and how the different pieces respond to being cut with a chain saw.

In addition to this, you need to know how to professionally use the chain saw, so you execute the cutting with as little risk as possible.

If you want to remove a large tree or one in a complicated area, you need specialized tools such as aerial lifts and cranes. Not everyone can operate these machines to remove the tree safely—you need to hire a specialist.

These machines also require you to set up traffic controls if removing the tree in a busy street, not to mention permits and additional flagging support.

When you put all of these together, you have an expensive tree work.

Tree removal is difficult and dangerous.

The work is not only complex, but also difficult and dangerous. One of the risks is the tree can fall on you as you are pruning or removing it. The tree can also fall on the wrong side and hurt someone or even fall on your property and destroy it.

There is also the risk of the chain saw or the crane failing to put your life and that of others at risk.

When it comes to the difficulty part, the tree remover must go up the tree and remove the damaged areas and even prune dangerous-looking limbs.

Tree removal companies need licenses and insurance.

Since working in a tree is dangerous, the tree removal company needs to be insured. The company needs liability insurance to protect the workers and homeowners in the event an accident happens.

In addition to the insurance, most municipalities require tree removal companies to have an additional license that often goes beyond the normal operating license.

Most companies will charge a premium as they want money to settle their license and insurance fees.

The companies have specialized employees.

As mentioned above, tree work is complex and dangerous, and the last thing you want are untrained professionals on the site. To ensure the work is done professionally and with as little risk as possible, companies spend thousands of dollars training their technicians.

You don’t expect experts working on your tree work to come cheap, do you?

Tree removal companies are expensive but don’t spend all of your money on them.

Although, most expensive companies tend to provide better services, you shouldn’t hire the most expensive as you might be getting ripped off. As a rule of thumb, avoid an extremely cheap company as they might be working with untrained employees putting you and your property at great risk.

The tree services Chevy Chase company might also be lacking the necessary licenses and insurance putting you at even greater risk as you carry the liability should an accident happen.

To reduce the cost of tree removal, schedule the tree work in winter. Most companies will give you a discount at this time as they aren’t too busy.

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How Do You Clean An Oriental Rug?

Posted on October 22, 2020 by Damon

After buying area oriental rugs, you need to take good care of them. One of the ways of doing it is to clean the rugs. Quality Oriental rugs don’t come cheap, and since homeowners don’t want to destroy them, you will often hear them asking, how do you clean an oriental rug? Are you looking to clean your rug? Here is a step by step guide on how to do it:

Check the rug’s label.

Everything begins here. Lift the corners of the rug and reveal the rug’s label. The label will have details about the rug and how to clean it safely.

Cotton and wool rugs are generally more durable and easier to clean and don’t require much care, but if you have silk rugs, you have to take them to a professional.

Remove loose dirt

Once you know the type of rug you got, go ahead and remove any loose dirt the rug might be having. One of the best ways to remove the dirt is by vacuuming the rug. Start vacuuming from the top of the rug, then turn the rug upside down.

By vacuuming the rug, you lift recent dirt and debris that keep the rug from smelling and looking new. Vacuuming also prevents wool fibers from becoming packed down.

If you don’t have a vacuum cleaner or the rug is small, shake it to get rid of the dirt.

For best results, vacuum your rugs once a week. Avoid vacuuming antique or silk rugs too often as you can damage them and consequently reduce their value.

Spot clean the rug

Does your rug have obvious spills and stains? In addition to giving your rug a dirty, cheap look, they also might smell. Use cold water to get rid of the spills. If your rugs have a pet, grease, or coffee stains, use white vinegar to clean the rugs. Mix quarter cup vinegar and ½ teaspoons of mild detergent with excess water and clean the stains.

Don’t rub back and forth on the spill as you will end up rubbing the stain deeper into the rug, worsening the situation.

Soak the rug with water

If your entire rug is dirty or you have gone for a long time without cleaning it, soak it in water. One of the best ways to do it is to use a garden hose.

Shampoo the rug

Does your woolen rug attract a lot of foot traffic? Clean it using a mild shampoo. If you don’t have shampoo, use a mild liquid detergent or dish soap. Before using any product, ensure its high quality and safe for your rug.

When it comes to cleaning the rug, use a long handheld brush or non-shedding sponge. Dip the sponge or brush into your water and soap solution until the soap solution is fully saturated.

It’s recommended you first go over a small area of the rug and determine whether the cleaning solution has serious effects on the rug. If the cleaning solution changes the carpet’s color and makes the colors bleed, stop the cleaning and take the rug to a professional.

If the rug isn’t bleeding, lather it in the nap direction so the fibers lay down. They shouldn’t sit up. Lather your rug enough to create suds on the rug surface.

Rinse the rug

Once you are done cleaning the rug, rinse the cleaner’s remainder off with your garden hose. Once you are done with one side, flip the rug over and rinse the other side. Before drying, ensure the suds on the top of the antique rugs Vienna VA are thoroughly washed off.

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What Are The Different Types Of Pool Finishes? Pool Builders Answer

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Damon

You might hire the best pool builders, but if you don’t use the right pool finish, you won’t give your pool the look and style you want. Pool finishes not only give your pool an elegant look, they also keep it looking clean and durable. Are you wondering, what are the different types of pool finishes? Here they are:

Plaster

It’s the oldest and cheapest way to finish your pool. Although, just a few homeowners use it nowadays, plastering is simple, and you can play around with different colors to give your pool an exciting look.

Many homeowners opt for the light blue plaster as it gives the pool a Caribbean look but there are plenty of colors you can choose from. Do you have a large pool and a limited budget? Go with white plaster. While blue is a classic color, it tends to show pool flaws. If your pool has stains or other issues, use lighter colors as they will hide the problems.

If you are considering installing plaster in your home, there are several things you should know about it. One of the things is that it is subject to wear and tear due to age. Despite this, with proper care, the pool can last for up to 10 years. To extend the life of plaster, acid wash your pool regularly. You also should carefully monitor your pool’s pH balance.

Like concrete, plaster is porous, so after some time, you will begin noticing some flaws. Thankfully, some manufacturers have come up with pozzolans aimed at solving this issue.

Calcium hydroxide, the main plaster component, causes plaster to degrade and separate from the pool shell. Pozzolans introduce silicon that reduces the activity of plaster, so your finish lasts for a long time.

Aggregate pool finish

Some say that an aggregate pool finish is like an upgraded version of plaster. The finish combines plaster and other material such as granite, glass beads, quartz, and river stones. Many homeowners are going for this material as it gives pools a luxurious look. Aggregate is also more resistant to damage than plaster, so it lasts for a long time.

You can also customize it to give your pool a unique color and texture. There are two types of aggregate finishes you can go with: exposed and polished aggregate finish.

An exposed aggregate finish combines the plaster elements with standard aggregate giving you a rough texture that gives your pool an appealing natural look.

A polished aggregate finish, on the other hand, gives your pool a luxurious look. From its name, polished aggregate consists of an assortment of materials, usually sanded river pebbles, crushed and mixed into concrete.

Tile finish

Looking to give your pool a high-end luxurious look and feel? You should try out a tile finish. A tile finish involves you finding a collection of hand-applied tiles that you strategically place around your pool, creating attractive mosaic patterns or dazzling color displays.

Since you have to place one piece at a time, it takes a long time to install tiles. For best results, work with an experienced professional who understands the look you want to create.

There are many types of tiles you can install in your pool. The most popular ones are:

Quartz: Quartz tiles are made from a blend of white cement, crushed quartz, and pigment

Glass tile: It’s the most expensive tile material. It’s elegant to look at and allows you to play around with a wide variety of colors, patterns, and shapes.

Ceramic tile: It’s the most basic form of tile. According to pool contractors Long Island, you can glaze over it or leave it exposed. It all depends on the look you want to achieve.

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What Can You Burn In A Fire Pit? Outdoor Fireplace Builders Answer

Posted on August 18, 2020 by Damon

Although, it’s a simple addition, an outdoor fireplace significantly transforms your backyard. In addition to improving the value of your home, it also provides you with a great place to relax and connect with your family members.

While the unit is valuable in your yard, plenty of cases have been reported where serious fires have come up when homeowners burn the wrong items in it.

Are you wondering, what can you burn in a fire pit? Here are some of the safe items as given by outdoor fireplace builders:

Cedar

Cedar is softwood rich in natural resin. Since resin is highly flammable, wood that is rich in it burns hot and even sometimes explodes into sparks. When burning, cedar throws out high flames for some time then dies down quickly with minimal coaling properties.

You should note cedar doesn’t produce continuous heat, so you should mix it with other hardwoods to get the continuous burn you are looking for.

Alder

Commonly found along the west coast, alder is known to produce high-quality charcoal. Before you burn alder, ensure you first season it. Seasoned alder produces firewood that burns fast, creating hot fire with decent coals. At no circumstance should you burn it wet as it smokes a lot leaving behind a lot of ash.

Oak

Growing in temperate and tropical climates, oak is a dense hardwood that has a higher energy content; hence it tends to release a lot of heat. The fires and coal beds from oak also last for a long time.

Pecan

Pecan wood is common in Indiana and southern Illinois and much of south between Texas and Kentucky. Compared to other woods, pecan doesn’t produce a lot of heat, but it produces a pleasant nut and vanilla scent that gives your yard a unique smell.

Applewood

Applewood tends to be harder to light and keep burning than any other wood mentioned above. The cool thing is once you succeed lighting it, it burns slowly, so you have a fire for a long time. It also tends to give off a sweet, inviting, smoky scent.

What shouldn’t you burn in your outdoor fireplace?

To avoid putting your property or yourself at risk, you should avoid burning dangerous items. Some of the items you should avoid burning include:

Treated wood

Treated wood is usually lumber designed to be used for outdoor construction. The lumber is usually chemically or pressure treated to prevent it from rotting when exposed to wet conditions. When you burn pressured-treated wood, chemicals are released, and if you are sitting by the fire, you risk inhaling them.

There are many types of treated wood you should stay away from. They include:

  • Deck Lumber
  • Old/found lumber
  • Railroad ties
  • Painted or stained wood
  • Driftwood
  • Shipping pallets

Trash

If you have old papers, plastics, trash bags, rubber, and other garbage, you should use them as a source of fuel, right? Not at all! Remember, most of the items can release toxins and pollutants into the air, and you inhale them.

You may also throw in explosives as part of the trash putting yourself and your loved ones in great danger.

As mentioned, you shouldn’t burn any trash in your fireplace.

Papers and cardboards

It’s fun to watch pizza boxes going up in flames. Unfortunately, the paper creates huge flakes of smoldering ash that easily move to the nearby trees and even house and cause a fire. As much as you want to watch your boxes and cardboards burning, don’t put in the fire pit.

Not wood? It doesn’t belong there.

The key to avoiding fire accidents is only to burn wood. Outdoor kitchen contractors Long Island recommend you observe the motto: If it’s not wood, don’t put it in the fire pit.

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Pool Builders: 5 Questions To Ask Before Building A Pool

Posted on July 18, 2020 by Damon

pool builders

Are you looking to build a pool? Before you build it, pool builders recommend you ask yourself plenty of questions. Here are some of the questions to ask before building a pool:

Why do you want the pool?

Why do you want the pool in the first place? If you have a family, you should ask every member about their desires and write them down. This way, you will easily come up with a design that best fits your reasons for the pool.

What type of pool do you want?

Do you know there are many types of pools you can have in your home? The most popular ones are:

Concrete: Concrete pools come with different designs and capabilities. When installing them, you have the option to choose the size, depth, shape, and other features such as steps, edges, rockeries, beach, among many other things.

The pools also give you plenty of finishing options that include: pebble, ceramic tiles, epoxy resin paints, colored quartz, and many others.

Fiberglas pools: They also come in various shapes, styles, colors, sizes, and finishes. The most attractive attribute with them is they are quick and easy to install, which makes them an ideal choice for hard to access areas.

Above ground pools: Above ground pools are made from fiberglass or vinyl, and they come in a wide range of colors and styles. Since they are pre-fabricated at the time of purchase, they are easy to install, and you can take them with you in the event you want to move houses.

Vinyl liner pools: A vinyl-lined pool is a popular and highly cost-effective option when looking to add a pool to your home. The vinyl lining of the pool is usually tailor-made to fit the size and shape of the pool. You can make vinyl-lined pools from plastic, steel, or concrete.

What size and shape of pool do you want?

The shape and size of pool will heavily be determined by the size and design of your backyard. If you have a large backyard, you are lucky as you have many options to play around with, but if you have a small area, you are limited to the size and shape of swimming pool you can have.

If you have a small lot, you need high levels of creativity, design skills, and compromise to build a pool that works for you.

What is your budget?

How much money are you looking to spend on the swimming pool project? Pool builders will tell you there is a pool for every budget, but do you want the swimming pool that your budget can fit?

To build the swimming pool of your desires, you need to take your time and plan for it, including where you are going to get the money. Like any other home addition project, expect the pool construction project to cost more than you planned and last longer than you anticipated, so always have extra money set aside.

Will the pool raise the value of your home?

One of the reasons people install swimming pools is to increase the value of their homes, so they can sell them at a higher price. While installing swimming pools is sometimes a good move, sometimes it’s not as you fail to recoup your money.

If installing the pool simply to improve the value of the house, consult expert swimming pool builders Long Island and find out whether the pool will add any value to the home and whether you will get your money back.

If it makes sense to build the pool, go ahead and do it but make sure you aren’t using costly materials as you might not make your money back.

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Can A Refrigerator Be Overloaded? Commercial Refrigerators Repairs Weigh In

Posted on April 24, 2020 by Damon

With the COVID-19 menace, almost everyone is buying as much as they can as they don’t know what tomorrow holds. As you are stocking up, you must be wondering, can a refrigerator be overloaded? Commercial refrigerators repairs professionals advice against this due to many reasons that include:

Poor air circulation

When you overload your refrigerator, you restrict airflow and limit the ability of the fridge to cool the food properly. As a result, some of the food items might spoil as they aren’t maintained at the proper cooling temperature.

Even if you just came from the grocery store, stock just enough that allows the air to flow through the appliance effectively.

Blockage of the freezer vents

If you have a side by side refrigerator, overstocking it exposes it to damage; hence it has a short life. Too much food blocks the freezer vents causing the refrigerator motor and condenser to work harder than they should.

When you strain these parts, you cause them to burn out hence damaging the fridge.

High energy consumption

An overloaded refrigerator consumes a lot of power. This is because you are trying to cool more food than the appliance is designed to. The blocked air vents and inadequate airflow can also be a contributor.

From the above, you can see that there are plenty of negatives that come with overloading your refrigerator, so you shouldn’t overload it at all.

What should you do instead?

The reason you are overstocking the refrigerator is that you want it to carry more than it’s designed to. To avoid this, only buy the items that the fridge can handle.

If you have a large family and you have the budget, consider investing in an extra refrigerator.

Tips to an optimally functioning refrigerator

Other than avoiding overloading the refrigerator, there are plenty of other things you can do to ensure that your unit has a long life. Some of the things you can do include:

Do clean the appliance: At least once a month, remove all the items in the refrigerator and clean it. This helps you to identify any spoilt food or one that is about to expire.

The beauty of it is that you can clean the refrigerator by yourself—you don’t have to hire an expert to help you out. When cleaning, take care not to use harsh chemicals. Use non-toxic green cleaners. If you can’t find them, mix baking soda and white vinegar and scrub away.

As you are cleaning, also take time to inspect the door, door seal, and other parts of the fridge. If they are faulty, repair or replace them.

Don’t leave the door open for a long time: Did you know when you open the refrigerator door over 40% of the air escapes? This means that the compressor has to work harder to maintain the temperature. This translates to a high energy bill at the end of the month.

For you to keep the refrigerator working efficiently,  be cautious of the amount of time you keep the refrigerator door open. Reduce the workload on the compressor and cut on your energy bills by opening the door less and keeping it open for a shorter time.

Do work with a reputable technician.

Even if you clean the fridge every week, you can’t replace the need for a technician. Refrigerator breakdowns don’t happen overnight—they are an accumulation of neglected maintenance. In most cases, refrigerators give you a warning sign they are about to malfunction. For example, they will make weird noises, start leaking, among many other things.

To keep your appliance functioning optimally, contact a commercial appliances repair Northern VA professional when you notice even the slightest problem with the appliance. Don’t wait for the issues to get worse for you to hire a contractor.

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Never Do This When Cutting Down a Tree

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Damon

tree services

It pays to have a plan before you start, particularly when trying to fall a tree. Inexperience, lousy judgment, and a simple lack of caution are responsible for many felling accidents.

There is a list of dos and don’ts that you need to have at the back of your head to keep you safe. So what should you never do when cutting a tree? Read on to find out.

Never cut down a tree near a power line

This is basic safety 101. You will be seriously injured with a possible risk of being electrocuted, but you also risk causing serious trouble for your neighborhood. 

Before you cut a tree, tree services providers recommend you scan through the area and make sure there are no power lines near your selected location. If so, you need to contact your electricity company and inform them to deal with it.

Even better, you should call a tree felling company to remove it from your property safely and legally.

Never stand under or near the tree when it is falling

Before cutting down a tree, make sure you know what is around or above it. If there are houses or other structures nearby, you might have to hire a professional to do the job safely.

If there are other trees around, take care that they won’t get damaged as the tree falls. It is also essential to have an escape path that is clear of obstacles. If the tree falls in an unexpected direction, you don’t want to be caught unaware and end up being a casualty.

When determining which way the tree will fall, take into account wind speed and direction. This will help you know which direction to position yourself.

Never use improper tools

Your safety comes first when you are cutting a tree. Never compromise on safety equipment. To cut down a tree safely, you’ll need to wear protective clothing such as gloves and safety goggles. 

In addition, you should also invest in a hard hat to protect your head and ears from falling debris. 

When it comes to the tools, a chainsaw can quickly turn into a deadly weapon if you’re not careful. Proper tools are essential when you’re doing a job like this. You’ll need a chainsaw, pruning saw, and maybe even a maul or axe. 

Whatever tools you use, ensure you have the experience and proper training to use them safely. 

Remove the stump and roots after cutting down a tree

If you don’t stump up roots when cutting down a tree in your yard, you’ll end up with a lot of work on your hands later on.

Removing the stump and roots after cutting down a tree can prevent limb damage and disease transfer to your yard. Before you cut down a tree, prune it by removing dead branches only. 

Pruning one-third to two-thirds of the branches can help reduce the volume of limbs that fall. Also, leaving them there can invite rodents and other pests, which may turn into bigger problems.

To avoid all these problems, make sure to do a clean job before you end up having to find an alternative method to get rid of rodents.

Bottom Line

Most people make more mistakes than they realize when they are chopping down a tree. In short, you need a checklist to fall a tree properly. If you can’t, then you should leave it to the tree removal services Bethesda to help out. 

The risk of things going wrong is high and all end up in a fatality, so ensure you are protected before anything else. 

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