Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
March 3rd, 2011 | 
Author: Information About Charcoal Water Filters
Word Count:
340
Summary:
The following article presents the very latest information on water filters. If you have a particular interest in water filters, then this informative article is required reading.
Charcoal used as a water filter system is produced from coconut husk. Charcoal is used as a water filter because it easily absorbs impurities that are in the water as the water passes along it’s surface. Charcoal can be used in two ways; it can either be ground into small pieces or formed into a …
Keywords:
water filters,charcoal water filters
Article Body:
The following article presents the very latest information on water filters. If you have a particular interest in water filters, then this informative article is required reading.
Charcoal used as a water filter system is produced from coconut husk. Charcoal is used as a water filter because it easily absorbs impurities that are in the water as the water passes along it’s surface. Charcoal can be used in two ways; it can either be ground into small pieces or formed into a solid and permeable block. Forming it into a block is often preferred since it makes the charcoal have a greater surface area which will remove more impurities.
Charcoal water filters are commonly used in households; actually about 95% of domestic water filters are made from charcoal, because they are simple to install, cheap and effective at removing many toxins that are found in the environment. According to the EPA (environmental protection agency), charcoal filters must be “rated” in order to remove particles that are 1 micron or larger to effectively remove the most deadly contaminants, which are Cryptosporidium (an intestinal disease in humans that can cause severe diarrhea) and Giardia (which causes parasites to develop in domestic animals and humans). An average charcoal filter will last a family anywhere between 6 and 9 months. Some charcoal filters are enhanced by the use of activated silver, which provides extra antibacterial protection. Minerals which are essential for human health are still permeable to charcoal filters, so they are also safe in this sense. Charcoal filters can also be used as filters in fish tanks and many other house held appliances. You can purchase charcoal filters at your local super market, or pet store if you wish to use one in your fish tank. For information on how to set them up, you can search on the internet, or look on the instruction manual of the product you purchase.
When word gets around about your command of water filters facts, others who need to know about water filters will start to actively seek you out.
Posted in 
How To Make Your Own Roman Shades
Word Count:
415
Summary:
Do it yourself Roman shades are not too difficult or too time consuming. Getting custom made Roman shades can cost you a small fortune. Do it yourself Roman shades are easy to make and look like you have got a professional to do it.
Keywords:
roman shades
Article Body:
Do it yourself Roman shades are not too difficult or too time consuming. Getting custom made Roman shades can cost you a small fortune. Do it yourself Roman shades are easy to make and look like you have got a professional to do it.
Materials required for do it yourself Roman Shades:
1. fabric
2. lining fabric
3. tape measure
4. scissors
5. scallop template
6. pencil
7. hook and loop tape
8. thin cording
9. small wooden dowel
10. 1?x1? board
11. needle
12. staple gun
13. screw eyes
14. drill
15. screws
How to make do it yourself Roman Shades:
Measure the width of the window. To determine the necessary length, divide the window length by five, and then add that number to the length of the window and add seam allowances. Cut the fabric and lining according to the measurements. Pin the fabrics with right sides together and trace/ cut scallops along the bottom. Sew the two pieces together after leaving about a six-inch opening along the top in the middle for turning. Snip small cuts in the seam allowances along the scallops so they lie flat, and then turn the shade right side out. Iron the edges till they are crisp and sew the opening shut.
Sew one side of hook and loop tape along the lining side on the top edge of the shade. Measure and mark the lining along both sides to the bottom of the shade. Fold and pin the one-inch areas to the back of the shade to create flaps. Sew them and mark along each flap every six to eight inches, depending on the width. Count the number of marks along one flap and cut the same amount of cords at least double the length of the shade plus one shade width. Use a needle to sew the cording through the flaps at the marks, starting at the bottom and working upwards. To keep the shade sturdy and neat you can slip a wooden dowel into the bottom flap.
Attach screw eyes to the adjoining side to line up with the cords on the shade. Then, attach the header to the shade with the hook and loop tape. Feed the cords through the screw eyes and then tie them together at one end. Screw the header board to the frame of the window. If the length of the shade doesn’t come out evenly, make the bottom scallops a little bit longer to make up the difference.
Roman shades are easy and convenient to make once you follow these right steps.
Garage Heating – Practical and Affordable
Word Count:
1060
Summary:
Heating and climatizing the garage space is more practical than most homeowners realize and there are now more affordable options to choose from than ever before.
Keywords:
garage heater, shop heater, heaters, Enerco, heatstar, heat star, H25N, Fostoria, home improvement, radiant heater, space heater, unit heater, gas heater, electric heater, vent free, unvented
Article Body:
A typical two car garage represents approximately 20% of the usable space in an average home. In addition, there are currently over 40 million single family residential garages in the U.S. But the fact is, garages are simply the most under-utilized spaces of the home, especially during the winter months. Why? There may be any number of reasons, but one of the most obvious is that garages are typically left cold during the winter, making them uncomfortable to use for any other purpose than parking cars and storing tools.
Within the past 10 years that negative view of the garage has changed dramatically. Climatizing the garage has become much more than an afterthought. In fact, Insulating and providing some type of heat source in the garage has become a priority for many homeowners.
“There is a push among residential building contractors to offer their customers the option of providing garage heat to the new homebuyer”, says Matt Workman, of Infra-Red Products Supply, Inc., located in Draper, Utah. “In fact, when given the option by the builder, the homebuyer will almost always choose to have the contractor insulate the garage along with the rest of the home during the construction phase. In addition, when given the option, the homebuyer will at least opt for a gas line connection and/or the necessary electrical connections to handle a heating appliance – with the idea of having a heater installed later on. Now more often than ever, a garage heater is installed during the final stages of home construction. It’s an amenity homeowners want and an extra profit incentive for the builder.”
“There are numerous practical reasons for heating the garage” states Mr. Workman, ” including mechanical maintenance, freeze control, hobby, recreation (table tennis or excercise), pet comfort, wood working or simply to be able to climb inside a warm car on a bitter cold day. For men more than women, the garage is a sanctuary – a place to get away, tinker around and do minor repairs. For women and stay at home moms, it can be a haven for excercise or simply a place to send the kids to bounce a ball or play games.” Many homeowners even go to great lengths to make the garage feel like the dwelling space of the home by installing recessed lighting, closed cabinet storage and even a sink. Painting the walls and floors and adding a little decorating touch can also make the garage a more inviting – a place where anyone would want to spent more time.
For existing homeowners as well, there seems to be an increased interest in upgrading and improving the “livability” of the garage. One reason is that home prices have risen sharply across the nation, making a move into a larger home impratical or unobtainable for many families. Rather than moving up to larger homes, many choose to stay put and maximize the use of the space in their existing home. In these cases, a small investment in upgrades to the garage is quite practical, especially when considering the cost of a new mortgage and associated costs of relocating. A heated, climatized garage can provide just that little extra room to spread out and make the garage useful year-round.
One of the major concerns people might have with heating their garage is cost. The good news is there are numerous ways to heat a garage to fit almost any budget. Options include gas forced air (unit heaters), electric forced air, direct vent wall heaters, infra-red tube heaters and vent free heaters. Prices can range from $450.00 to $2,500.00(installed), depending upon garage size and the type of heating appliance. (The author of this article strongly recommends an appliance that is CSA approved for residential use. Portable propane or kerosene heaters in an attached garage are not safe, especially in the presence of gasoline cans, solvents and other products that may pose a fire hazard should there be a spill on the garage floor. A permanent heater mounted high on the wall or suspended from the ceiling offers the best safety and places the heater out of the way of vehicles and people passing through).
One of the most affordable and popular heaters on the market is the Heatstar H25N vent free garage heater by Enerco. This is an infra-red radiant heater designed specifically for residential garages and small shops. It is vent free, safe, and requires no electricity. Simply hang the heater and run the gas line and you’re done. Other heaters are more expensive and require additional labor. These include forced air in both gas and electric. Gas forced air heaters (also called unit heaters) are ceiling suspended and require a flue to the outside and 110V electrical power, while electric forced air heaters require no venting at all, yet require 240V electrical hook-up.
Larger detached garages or shops may best be suited to a gas infra-red tube heater, which also requires an outside flue. Unlike forced air heaters, however, vented tube heaters operate on the principle of infra-red (radiant) energy and are much quieter and more efficient to operate. And because tube heaters do not blow air, drafts are virtually eliminated, creating a more comfortable environment.
As for operational cost, the most practical thing the homeowner can do is insulate. Insulate well! That’s easier to do prior to sheet rocking the walls, but even glued on foam or blue board can make a dramatic difference in cutting down heat loss. In addition, an inexpensive door seal (available from most garage door suppliers) can cut down on infiltration of cold air from the outside around the perimeter of the overhead garage door. Also, any leaks from man doors and windows to the outside should be sealed. A well insulated garage can cut heat loss by at least 90% compared to an uninsulated garage. This means that your heater will not need to run all that often to maintain comfort and the cost to operate can be just pennies a day.
Regardless of one’s reasons for adding heat to the garage, there are now a host of practical and affordable heating solutions to do it. There are several companys in the U.S. who specialize in garage heating. They can be very helpful in sizing and recommending a system suited to the homeowners specific requirements. For more information, visit http://heatersunlimited.com or http://infraredinfo.com.
A short installation guide of solid wood countertops and kitchen islands.
Word Count:
491
Summary:
Solid wood countertops are natural products made of wood from trees approximately 120 years old. Wood is a living material and the more moisture receives, the more the wood countertop will expand.
Keywords:
butcher blocks, countertops, kitchen islands, bar tops, worktops, kitchen improvement, kitchen remodeling
Article Body:
Solid wood countertops are natural products made of wood from trees approximately 120 years old. Wood is a living material and the more moisture receives, the more the wood countertop will expand. The wood we used in solid wood worktops has been previously kiln dried to a humidity level of 6%, and it is therefore important that the worktop is not exposed to a constantly high level of humidity. Normally the humidity level in kitchens is approximately 50-70%.
The solid wood top must be attached to the cabinet box using only wood screws and washers. It is not recommended at all to glue the top on the cabinet box; the top and the box expand and contract at different rates, therefore cracks might eventually appear, most probably on the cabinets’ surface.
The proper way of installing a solid wood top is using metal fixings along the cabinet box (see our web page).
The metal fixings must be uniformly distributed throughout the length of the top, spaced at a 1′ – 1.5′ distance from each other. Across the width, the top is usually fixed to each metal support with three screws, one in the middle, one toward the front edge and one toward the rear edge. The supports must be perfectly leveled; otherwise tensions can develop in the wood, leading to warping, cupping, or cracks.
We recommend pre-drilling the screw holes into the wood countertop, in order to avoid cracks and splits. For the same reason, it is a good idea not to over tighten the screws. The finishing will considerably diminish the extent of such movements, but will not eliminate them altogether. Due to the panel’s laminated structure, the lengthwise movements are insignificant, so the installer should pay attention to the movements occurring across the panel’s width. In order to prevent the development of inner tensions, the holes in the metal fixings should be elongated in the direction of the movements (see our web page ).
When exposed to normal humidity levels – i.e. 50-60% – the worktop’s width will expand by 1/12″-1/24″, but when exposed to a level of 80-90%, this measurement may expand by up to 1/2″ or even more for some species. Therefore, when the rear edge of the counter top is installed against a wall, the wall might restrict the top’s natural movements, leading to undesired tensions in the wood. To avoid this, you can allow a 1/4″-1/2″ joint between the wall and the countertop edge and caulk it with a thin bid of acid-free silicone.
Additionally, you can firmly fix the rear edge to the metal supports underneath and thus, allow the natural movements to occur at the expense of the opposite edge.
In this case, the holes in the metal fixings corresponding to the rear edge will be no larger than the screws diameter, while the holes corresponding to the middle section and the front edge will be elongated.
For additional information regarding the installation of wood countertops, bar tops and kitchen islands, please visit our web page.
Tomatoes: Apples Of Love
Word Count:
878
Summary:
This article discusses tomatoes, how to grow, starting seeds indoors, companion planting, and uses in the kitchen.
Keywords:
tomatoes, apples of love, how to grow, starting seeds indoors, companion planting, uses
Article Body:
Native to the Andean region of South American and under cultivation in Peru in the sixteenth century, tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentum) have been grown for thousands of years. The Spanish introduced them to the European cultures. Europeans were not open to trying tomatoes until the end of the sixteenth century, as tomatoes, being part of the nightshade family, were considered poisonous. Later, the French tried them and began to call them “pommes d’amour”, apples of love. They felt that tomatoes carried aphrodisiac qualities. It wasn’t until the 1900′s when the tomato gained popularity in North America.
Scientific research shows the health benefits from this tasty fruit. In recent years, researchers discovered that tomatoes were natural sources of the element lycopene. This antioxidant has been shown in tests to dramatically reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and many cancers, including prostate and colon cancers. Tomatoes are an excellent source of phytochemicals, nutrients, fiber, and contain practically no fat or sodium. They are significant sources of vitamins A, B, and C and a source of iron and potassium. In fact, one medium-sized tomato provides 20 percent of the daily-recommended value of vitamin A and 40 percent of the daily-recommended value of vitamin C.
How To Grow
Tomatoes are very easy to grow from seed. In all, there are more than 100 types of tomatoes to choose from. Though most people believe ripe tomatoes are red, they actually come in many colours, including green, yellow, purple — even striped. Unless you grow your own, you will not have the opportunity to experience the many varieties. If you don’t have the time, buy tomato plants from garden centres. Look for different varieties as they are becoming more readily available from growers.
Six to eight weeks before transplanting, start tomato seeds by filling a seedling flat with a good quality seedling mixture. Use an excellent quality potting soil from the garden centre to make sure the soil is sterilized and has a high percentage of sphagnum peat moss and perlite. Don’t use garden soil, as it tends to become hard and inhibits proper rooting of seedlings, and it may contain insects, disease, weed seeds, or chemical residue.
Sow seeds no deeper than the thickness of the seed: sprinkle the seeds onto the soil-filled flat and press them down gently. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of fine, horticultural-grade vermiculite to prevent drying. Water just enough to moisten the soil with a fine mist spray such as the sprayer on the kitchen sink or a mister bottle. Keep the seeds evenly moist to ensure the mixture never dries out as both germinating seeds and seedlings are very intolerant of dry soil and will die if they are dry for even a short time. Cover the flat or pot with plastic wrap or a clear plastic bag. Remove the plastic as soon as seedlings emerge.
Tag each container with the date planted and the tomato variety. To promote rapid germination, place the flat on a heated table, top of the refrigerator, or a heat register. Once they germinate and seedlings begin to appear, move them from the heat source into a location with lots of light. They need very high light levels to grow properly: a south-facing window without blinds or curtains is ideal. Use grow lights to enhance growth. Hang the lights 6 inches (15 cm) from plants and leave lights on for 14 hours a day.
Transplant the seedlings into larger, individual containers once the first ‘true’ leaves appear. After transplanting, fertilise once a week with a plant-starter fertilizer such as 10-52-10 at ΒΌ strength. As an organic gardener, I do not use commercial fertilizer, only fish fertilizer on my transplants. They are strong, healthy plants and are fed weekly until moved outdoors. Harden-off and plant them very deeply where the stems will develop roots helping the plant become established.
Tomatoes are heavy feeders and need ample quantities of compost or decomposed manure. Mulch and water in dry weather to maintain soil moisture and stave off wilt disease and blossom-end rot. Blossom-end rot is caused by water stress or calcium deficiency. Watering regularly and evenly is the key to preventing blossom-end rot. Never water tomatoes from the top. Water tomatoes from below and water deeply.
In the garden, tomatoes are compatible with chives, onion, parsley, marigold, nasturtium, and carrot. Tomatoes and all members of the Brassica family repel each other and should be kept apart. Plant garlic between tomato plants to protect them from red spider mites. Tomatoes will protect roses against black spot. To make a spray for roses, place tomato leaves in your vegetable juicer, add 4 or 5 pints of water and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. Strain and spray on roses when it is not convenient to plant tomatoes as companions. Label and keep any unused spray in the refrigerator.
In the kitchen, tomatoes can be used for salads, soups, juices, sauces, stews, baked dishes, sandwiches, stuffed, grilled, broiled, pasta dishes, and salsa. They combine well with meat, fish, poultry, pasta, rice, as well as other vegetables. Store tomatoes at room temperature. To ripen green tomatoes, place in a brown paper bag with an apple at room temperature for several days. If fresh tomatoes aren’t available, use canned tomatoes or canned tomato juice, which are fine substitutes.