NE Ohio Race

As the nights close in it’s time to do some maintenance jobs outside in preparation for the winter. If you have a swimming pool there are a number of jobs that should be tackled in order to ensure your pool is in the best possible condition at the start of next Spring.

If your line is looking the worse for wear you can guarantee that by the time the winter is over it will be a lot worse so you need to decided whether or not to replace it now. The advantage of tackling this job now is that your pool will be ready to go as soon as it gets warm enough to swim outside again. However, it also means you’d be subjecting it to an extra season’s wear and tear unnecessarily.

The best option is probably to completely drain your pool, clean and cover it and remove the old liner. Then when the temperature rises you will be all set to add replace the pool liner without the hassle of preparing everthing. To save even more time you could look around now for suppliers who offer the size and shape that you will be requiring.

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Choosing the right kind of rug or carpet for a special area can be a daunting task if you’re not fully prepared. It must be appropriate to the size of the room, the type of space, and to its’ surroundings. Rugs and carpets can add great emphasis to a space both indoors or outdoors.

When choosing carpets, there are many different colors, ranging from white as snow to black as night and a hundred in between. The texture of the carpet will also vary as well. You can choose from flat carpet without really any cushion, or soft and fluffy carpet with tons of cushion at the other end of the spectrum.

Rugs are an excellent way to spice up a room on a small budget, as there are many choices and many price ranges. You can add a big punch to a room by buying a cheap, but still lovely, rug from a big-box store. If you wish to make an investment, buying a designer rug from overseas is also a good choice. Indoor rugs also vary greatly in color and design. For example, a good choice for a child’s room may be a colorful design featuring a favorite children’s character; but that would not work so well in a dining room.

Outdoor rugs and carpet are also a good way to make the outdoors another living space. You are not limited to the plain astro-turf anymore. Some designer rugs are now made specifically for the outdoors. A rug with a beautiful flower pattern would be wonderful to accent a garden or patio. Carpet and rugs designed for the outdoors are also well made to stand up to the weather, whatever the condition may be.

Whatever type of carpet or rug you choose, make sure you keep in mind the size and type of space you will be buying it for, as well as the spaces’ surroundings. Also remember that floor coverings can have a dramatic effect on a space, so choose one that will embrace what the space will be used for.

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Water in US homes comes from rivers and lakes or groundwater sources such as melted ice and snow. Apparently more than 89 % meets or surpasses federal health and safety regulations but what about the other 91%?

It’s incredible the amount of undesirable stuff that enters the water system, including:

industiral waste,
animal sewage,
agricultural pesticides,
oil spills

Even the most effective home water filters can leave behind traces of nitrates, phosphorous, fluoride, sulfur, arsenic, iron and bacteria. It’s no wonder we’re installing them in our droves.

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I was surprised to see in the news, http://www.naturalnews.com/023715.html, that some people take filtering their water so seriously that they take a counter top brita water filter with them when they go traveling. According to the article it says “Brita water filters are incredibly light”. Hmmm. They may be light but not so light that I’d want to be lugging them around the world with me. Might be handy to protect some breakables I suppose but not exactly an ideal shape to pack into a suitcase.

Better than paying the high prices you often get charged by your hotel for bottled water the writer says. True. But then I usually go to a local store and buy from there. Just takes a bit of planning.

If you’re on a camping trip in the wilderness, taking a water filter is a sensible choice but carting one around in a suitcase when your destination is a hotel is a bit over the top in my opinion. BUt then, I’ve been known to eat fast food too!

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As responsible homeowners we all know we need to fit smoke detectors so that fires can be detected in its early stages. That alone will greatly increase the chance of a safe escape, should the need arise. But since I started my new job in an industrial warehouse I realized that there is more to fire prevention than smoke detectors. Fire extinguishers and a house that is up to building codes all help but then I noticed that my work place, and all other similar buildings had something extra that could mean the difference between life and death in a fire and that is automatic fire sprinklers.

They have been standard equipment in most warehouses, factories and offices for many years now but are not seem that often in the residential market. The way automatic fire sprinklers work is very simple. When then detect heavy smoke in a room, the sprinklers in the ceiling get set off causing a substantial amount of water to rain down. This deluge will put out a fire in its early stages, or will slow one that is more advanced.

One of the drawbacks, which makes them problematic for the household environment, however, is so much water can cause a lot of damage. Clothing, books, carpets, walls can be ruined and mildew growth stimulated by the soaking.

Although an automatic fire sprinkler system can be expensive and cannot absolutely eliminate the chance of a fire it may be worth considering for peace of mind.

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One of the leading causes of deaths for children under 14 is swimming related accidents. The swimming pool can be a very dangerous place, especially for young kids. Drowning and accidents involving the use of swimming apparatus, toys and equipment is very common.

Some stats, show more than 1,000 children dying in swimming pool or diving type accidents and more than 5,000 injuries serious enough to require a trip to the hospital. On top of these numbers, can be added the 200 plus children drowned in whirlpools and spas each year.

Children are not the only casualties of swimming pool accidents. Adults, when combining alcohol and swimming also often suffer injuries. A common accident is diving into too shallow water, often resulting in severe spinal injury or paralysis.

If reminders and warning signs are posted the pool owner is legally liable.

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Modern skylights often have vinyl seams to help maintain a comfortable temperature indoors whatever the climate outside. Vinyl sealed windows are more suitable to damper, colder situations where they provide good insulation against the weather. The seams don’t offer much protection, however, if you live in a hot climate. Glass is glass and, in glaring sunlight it will always produce a lot of heat. One way to cut down on this is to have tinted sklight windows.

Another way to reduce that amount of heat coming into your room is to fit automatic blinds. They you can block out all or some of the rays with a simple flick of a switch.

If you prefer the more traditional look of wood trimmed skylights you do not have to give up to added efficiency of vinyl since since wooden frames can easily be fitted around the modern skylights to give a more traditional feel.

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Cottage style decorating is an easy style to use for homes that have young children. It also works well in the homes of individuals with busy lifestyles who are short of time so need a simple living environment. This classic style is always in fashion and is easy to maintain - no need to fear the occasional scratch or ding. In fact, small scratches and dings add to the charm of the cottage theme.

Designed for living, this sort of relaxed décor is ideal for families. The furnishings and accessories are functional and are supposed to be enjoyed and well used. The essential nature of cottage style decorating is such that it postively begs you to put your feet on the coffee table.

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If you are planning a new home improvement project it might be worth considering how to make this a family affair. Not only will you get some extra help but some projects, especially things such as decorating, can be fun and educational even. You might also consider asking your friends to help. This can often turn into a party type affair, especially if you provide good food and drink as an incentive.

One of my favourite home improvement parties was at the first home I ever bought. I was in my early twenties and the house I had purchased had a back garden that was completely overgrown. I invited some friends around and we spent the day outside clearing the weeds and enjoying the sunshine together. When it got to lunch time I didn’t even have to provide any food as my neighbours suddenly appeared with a delicious home-made feast they had cooked to welcome us with. It was the start of many happy years in that particular property.

When you’re considering a Home improvement project don’t exclude people on the basis that they won’t be able to join in. Most jobs require small details that can be completed by anyone, old or young, male or female. It just takes a bit of planning. Even young children can help by carrying things back and forth between the adults or by adding some paint to a wall.

Apart from family fun another advantage of doing it yourself, of course, is the reduced cost. However, this needs to be weighed against the extra time that a large project will take. And sometimes you simply won’t have the expertise. Remember home improvements can be anything from a simple paint job to a full blown electrical rewiring.

Whether you decide to do it yourself or to get in the professionals the bigger jobs, especially, will require careful planning. Often, if you’re planning on replacing a kitchen or a bathroom, for example, it might be a good idea to have children stay with relatives or friends while the main work is being carried out.

Think about how long the project will take and then add extra time as these things invariably run over. If you’re doing the work yourself make sure you have a few days to get the work done. There’s nothing worth (although it is all too common) of having unfinished jobs left incomplete for years.

Connected to this is to resist the temptation to start a new job before the first one is finished. This is very common among DIYers and often results in anything but “home improvements”! Remember, home improvement projects ought not be “work” that gets you down. Rather, it should be something to enjoy and savour for all the family. Good planning will go along way towards this.

Brief Note:

The content on this site was originally about the 2007 Komen Race for the Cure® but, as I have explained previously, this information has now found a new home. Improvements have been made to the The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation - Northeast Ohio site which is now located at http://www.komenneohio.org.

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