During cold weather, not only can inside water pipes freeze up and burst, so can underground water pipes. For some projects, this means you either need open cut repair work done or horizontal directional drilling. Or course with either method, or even if you want to try to repair damage yourself, you need to call ahead and have utilities mark the ground before you dig, to avoid cutting utility lines: electricity, cable, phone, and other companies.

Open Cut Repairs

Open cut repair work is the old fashioned way; dig a whole, mess up the yard and landscaping, complete the repairs, fill in the hole and go. For this type work, you would need to call general contractors by seeking referrals from neighbors and friends, looking in the Yellow Pages or other advertising materials you have locally, or check with your local hardware for recommendations.

Gather bids from a couple of different sources to compare. And check their credentials, references and previous work by following up with phone calls before hiring.

Horizontal Directional Drilling

To avoid so much damage to your property and landscaping, you may want to check into horizontal directional drilling (HDD) contractors in your area. With HDD, the repair equipment sits stationary off to the side of your work area, while long, horizontal piping drills head on into the area for repair work, similar to a surgeon using tools to operate. Results are repairs with little to no damage to the outside are surrounding the project.

To see if this horizontal type of drilling would work for your own situation, contractors would check the following information:

They would need to know the required slope of the project and could work with your local contact to determine this.

They would need to know if the area’s geotechnical situation or condition was right for the project and would know how to check this out.

They would need to make sure your municipality permitted this type of work, and would know who to contact to find out.

They would need to know if this work would interfere with any municipal services or utilities that are already existing and would also know how to find this information out.

So before you dive in to repair burst underground water pipes, even if you know how, call all utilities first to get ground marked. And if you do need help, get some!

John Mayer owns FloodCheck USA which can help you prevent water damage should your pipes ever burst. You can see a full line of home protection for floodcheckusa.com burst water pipes

If you are in the carpet cleaning industry and are thinking about adding upholstery cleaning to your services this article is for you. It will tell you the basic steps involved in inspecting upholstery for cleaning. Read on and get a glimpse into the world of upholstery cleaning.

The first step in upholstery cleaning is identifying the material. I will just go over the basic types of material in this article and not go too in depth. First you will snip a piece of material from a hidden location. The best location is usually inside the zipper of a cushion where here is excess fabric. Now you will separate a thread and burn it. Basically if it burns it is a natural material and if it melts it is synthetic. If it burns quickly like a fuse it is rayon, if it burns slowly and leaves a gray ash it is cotton and wool is very obvious smelling like burnt hair. In general natural materials will be cleaned with a low moisture or dry method while synthetics can be wet cleaned.

The next step in upholstery cleaning is to test the dye stability of the fabric. You will take your cleaner of choice and test a hidden spot on the upholstery. You are looking to see if any of the dye transfers to a towel that you have wet with your cleaner. If the dye transfers you can not use that cleaner on the fabric. You will have to try another or you may not be able to clean a piece at all.

The final step is to look at the construction of the material. Look at how the fabric is constructed. What kind of backing it has and if there are any hidden dangers. Hidden dangers could be a colored thread running behind the surface, writing on the back of the material from the maker of the furniture or a sensitive latex backing on a fabric.

After you finish making all of these tests you will put all of your information together and determine which cleaning method is the best. As you can see, cleaning upholstery is not as easy as carpeting. It takes skill and some experience which is why anyone wanting to clean it should take the proper classes. So if you would like to add upholstery cleaning to your services you should first call your local supplier and find out about courses in your area. Good luck.

Go to the authors website for information on thecarpetcleanerlist.com/losangeles.htm Los Angeles carpet cleaning and local carpet cleaners.

Backyard Walkway Ideas from the Professionals

Backyard walkway ideas are out there whether you need them for a porch project, a patio or even a garden, here are some ways to get the ideas flowing.

Backyard walkway ideas fall under the category of masonry and landscaping. One of the best ways to get a professional opinion is by hiring a landscape architect. Talk to a professional about their previous work. Ask for photographs if available or if they can point you in the direction to check out completed projects in person.

For other beautiful backyard walkway ideas you can look through home or garden magazines. Your local home improvement center also has building books you can browse through to get your creative juices flowing.

Simply take a drive through historic parts of your town. There you will find walkways and materials used that have stood the test of time. These historic sites are great places for ideas and the materials you might consider for your area.

Backyard Walkway Ideas

After you are done with the historic areas, swing by some of the upper scale neighborhoods. There you are more likely to find professionally designed walkways and landscaping.

Once you begin finding beautiful backyard walkway ideas you should photograph them, scan pages and even check the measurements of the walkways you like. Write down all your thoughts about the project in a notebook for future reference. Keep a written record of any ideas you think of as you’re browsing.

You want to make sure everything is perfect on paper before buying material and trying to put anything together. Take your measurements, sketches and other parts and make a final more accurate drawing for you and your landscape artist to use.

At this point it is important to involve a professional, to make sure your additional landscape items are placed for proper drainage and will endure the test of time as plants and trees that might be in the area grow.

This article was written by Gregg Hicks of reliableremodeler.com www.reliableremodeler.com which provides Internet-based reliableremodeler.com/remodeling_ideas/ home improvement information and services. Offering homeowners a simple, quick, and free way to access, qualified home improvement remodeling contractors.

You wouldn’t even know your dishwasher had one until it isn’t working. These little switches are tucked inside the control panel of your dishwasher and most times are a part of the door latch. The door latch pulls the door securely to the main body of your dishwasher and prevents water from leaking during a cycle. If your dishwasher doesn’t start, it could be due to a faulty door switch.

How the door switch works

When the dishwasher door is open, the switch is off. Inside your dishwasher tub will be a metal or plastic prong. Close and latch the door. The prong will depress the door switch completely and the circuit will close allowing the dishwasher to start. Check the prong to make sure it’s not loose or bent and it’s properly activating the door switch.

It is important to disconnect the dishwasher from its power source before attempting any repair. You can unplug the dishwasher from the outlet, remove the fuse from your fuse box, or flick the breaker switch on your circuit panel. This will prevent you from getting an electric shock.

What a door switch looks like and where it’s located

Typically a dishwasher door switch is an inch long. It can be black or red and has metal prongs called terminals protruding from the body. Some door switches have two terminals and some have three.

The terminals can be a common terminal (COM), normally closed terminal (NC) or a normally open terminal (NO). Switches with only two terminals will either have a COM and a NO, or a COM and an NC. Door switches with three terminals have COM, NC, and a NO.

Your dishwasher’s door switch will be behind the control panel on the front of the unit. It may be necessary to remove the inner panel of the door first. You can do this by removing a few screws. The screws at the bottom of the door are for the hinges. You do not need to remove the whole door for this repair.

Once the inner panel is removed you may find another smaller panel covering the back of the control panel held in place with screws or clips. By removing this panel you will gain access to the latch assembly housing the door switch.

How to remove the switch

Carefully use needle nose pliers to pull the wires leading from the harness off the terminals. For door switches that have a locking clip, depress the lever as you gently pull the harness away from the terminal.

Take your time while removing switches that are a part of the latch assembly or that have a bracket. If you rush and break the switch’s housing you will end up having to replace more parts.

How to test your door switch

Use an ohmmeter to test the switch for continuity. This test is for door switches with three terminals.
Set your ohmmeter to measure resistance at a scale of Rx1.
Touch the metal tips of the test leads together and zero your ohmmeter by adjusting the thumbwheel in the front of the meter until the needles reads “0″ on the scale.
Touch one meter lead to the COM terminal and the other lead to the NO terminal. Do not push in on the actuator.
Your meter should give a reading of infinity, meaning the circuit is open, and there is no continuity.
Without moving the meter’s leads, press down on the actuator until you hear a ‘click’.
With the ‘click’ of the actuator, the meter should produce a resistance reading of zero ohms. This means the circuit is closed and continuity is present. (You will only hear this click with a door switch with three terminals.)
Keep the meter lead that is touching the COM terminal in place, but move the other meter lead from the NO terminal to the NC terminal.
When the actuator is released, you should receive a resistance reading of zero ohms.
Now set your ohmmeter to its highest resistance scale and touch one meter lead to the NO terminal and the other meter lead to the NC terminal.
The resistance reading between these two leads should be infinite.
Finally take a resistance reading from both the NC terminal and the NO terminal to any metal mounting hardware that is a part of the switch assembly. You should receive a normal reading of infinity.

Any readings that differ from the tests above are signs of a defective door switch that will need to be replaced.

Replace the old switch with a new one, using the same process as explained above. Reassemble the inner door panel and reconnect your dishwasher to its power supply. Don’t forget to replace your fuse or turn the breaker switch back on. Run your dishwasher through a cycle to make sure it’s working properly.

totalapplianceparts.com Total Appliance Parts: Helping you repair your dishwasher and other major appliances. Learn how totalapplianceparts.com/Dishwasher/ to repair your own appliance and find parts for your dishwasher, refrigerator and more at EasyApplianceParts.com EasyApplianceParts.com.

Many people have contaminated water filtration systems for drinking H20 installed in their sinks. These sorts of products take what normally flows out of the tap and purifies it so that it is healthy and safe for consumption.

When you fill up a glass from the sink, the contents may look crystal clear. However, contaminated water filtration systems for drinking water remove many elements that you cannot see with the naked eye.

The next time you fill a glass, smell it carefully and you might be able to detect the chemical that is present in all publicly-treated H20: chlorine. This chemical does kill some pathogens but not all of them. Swallow what comes out of your tap, and you are taking in both dangerous microorganisms and a chemical that has been linked to cancer and other health problems.

Chlorine is not your only concern. Contaminated water filtration systems for drinking liquid also remove other chemicals such as fertilizer and insecticides that often end up in our reservoirs. Sediment may pour into your glass along with lead and other heavy metals.

The truth is this: filtration systems perform a valuable and crucial service by removing the dangerous elements that are present in your H20.

How this is accomplished varies. There are many different types of contaminated water filtration systems for drinking H20 such as reverse osmosis, distillation, ceramic strainers, and carbon filters. In general, carbon-based systems are the most effective and efficient. However, the absolute best contaminated water filtration systems for drinking water are ones that contain more than one strainer that H20 passes over.

Multi-step contaminated water filtration systems for drinking H20 provide the cleanest, purest results. The problem with having only one step or strainer is that the filter becomes clogged over time, which decreases its effectiveness. An additional strainer catches any unwanted elements that manage to slip past the first strainer.

In multi-step contaminated water filtration systems for drinking water, typically the first strainer catches larger elements such as sediment. The second strainer then removes smaller elements and provides an additional barrier to any unwanted substance.

These types of units exist in two basic forms: an under sink unit that has its own separate faucet or a unit that sits on the counter and has a spigot that attaches to the main faucet. Both forms of contaminated water filtration systems for drinking H20 are equally effective.

Some people prefer having the unit tucked away under the sink and don’t mind the trickier installation process while others like the easy-to-install countertop model. Either type will provide your household with pure, clean H20 that is both safe and delicious.

Martin Spencer is a health researcher who has been studying water filtration for over 25 years. He is a regular contributor to water-filtration-guide.com Water Filter Guide, a site dedicated to various methods of treating and purifying water. Learn about the water-filtration-guide.com/whole-house-water-filter.html best contaminated water filtration systems for drinking on our site.

DESIGN PRINCIPLES:
Study natural daylight.
Don’t overlight.
Consider the reflectance of plant material.
Use light to show what’s important (focal points, paths, etc)
Hide the light sources.
Use several different lighting techniques (moonlighting, uplighting, etc)
Allow for plant growth and flexibility.

LIGHTING TECHNIQUES:
Uplighting (light placed below an object and shining up)
Moonlighting (light placed up high to filter through tree branches to simulate full moon light)
Spotlighting (light produces a highly focused beam of light)
Accent lighting
Grazing (light positioned close to a vertical surface to bring out the texture)
Silhouetting (light placed behind an object to light a background to silhouette the outline of the object)
Shadowing (light placed in front of an object to shine the outline of the object against the surface behind)

WHEN TO USE LOW-VOLTAGE (12-volt) VS. LINE VOLTAGE (120-volt):
Use line voltage for:
uplighting very large trees, long driveway, or anywhere you need a lot of light installations with 3 or less fixtures.

Low-voltage is best when:
you anticipate changing light locations
people, animals, children, etc. will be digging
there is water close by, when you want to do it yourself installation costs are important you want smaller fixtures the landscaping is already installed.

Adding landscape lighting improves curb appeal, expands living space and increases the safety and security of your home. The right lighting creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere for the exterior of your home and your yard.

©Shades of Light 2005

Ashton has a bachelor of science degree from UVA and a masters in business administration from the University of Richmond. Ashton was the V.P. of Operations for This End Up Furniture before opening the first Shades of Light retail store in 1986. She started Shades of Light national catalog operation in 1995 and launched the Shades of Light web site in 1997. Shades of Light specializes in the highest quality shades-of-light.com outdoor lighting, lamp shades, chandeliers, rugs, and curtains for every lifestyle. For more information please visit the Shades of Light web site and sign up for a free catalog.

It is a known fact that as we age our body does too. Our hair becomes grey, we develop wrinkles where you wouldn’t think possible, and climbing into bed can be quite a process. We often develop circulation problems from lack of blood flow and use. Portable saunas can help promote circulation throughout your body and leave you feeling refreshed and relaxed. Saunas are becoming very popular and you can now purchase portable units. They are easy to put up and can be placed just about anywhere. They are being installed in places you wouldn’t think of such as boats or motor homes. This article will be speaking about the use and benefits of portable saunas.

Portable saunas can be set up in your home or outside your home. Depending on the luxury of the unit, they can be fairly inexpensive to purchase. They can be heated by way of gas, wood, electric, or even solar power. Saunas originated back in Finland and the first ones were just built into the side of a hill. A fire was built under some rocks until the rocks were extremely hot. The fire was then put out which created a lot of smoke. A person covered the opening of the hole and sat in the smokey hot room. Today portable saunas are made out of redwood, cedar, glass, or even tarp like material, similar to a tent.

Saunas are known for sweating in. Portable saunas allow you to sweat in the privacy of your own property. You won’t have to share with anyone unless you choose to. The benefits of sweating is to rid the body of impurities and toxins. Sweating in portable saunas, is actually similar to a physical workout. Because of the heat in the sauna, the body’s circulation increases, which makes the heart work harder. The increased heart rate is actually equivalent to a brisk walk. Since the skin is the largest organ of the body, and about 30 percent of the body’s waste is released through the skin, sweating increases the release of waste from our body. You can see now why portable saunas can be beneficial.

Using portable saunas can actually make you look younger. How you might ask. Increased circulation and blood flow to the skin can rejuvenate the cells that promote skin growth, which means you can actually keep that healthy looking skin you so desire. Portable saunas can be found in many home improvement stores or places that sell hot tubs and pools.

If you need more helpful saunasforyou.com/ Sauna information then quickly head over to saunasforyou.com where you will find helpful sauna tips, advice and resources to include home saunas, steam saunas, saunasforyou.com/portable-saunas.php Portable Saunas information.

War rugs are aptly named. These are rugs that express themes of war in their
patterns. They break from the more traditional patterns of seasons, plants, or the
boteh and instead use representations of tanks and bombs. These are forms of
expression from a foreign culture. A rug can depict a tank moving into a town or
dark planes standing out against a bright sky and dropping small yet potent bombs.

Like poetry from an airman or the diary of a young Jewish girl hiding from the
German forces in world war two this should be a form of expression that we not
only recognize but also appreciate.

Many of my clothes come from India, I have computer parts that come from china
and South Korea, I have jackets that come from Sri Lanka, and coffee that comes
from Colombia. But it is not that simple. I have clothes that come from many more
places than India and my computer is such a mosaic of pieces that it is as if the
entire world gave birth to my computer. Our species has become impressively
dependant upon each other. I depend on an amazing amount of people to keep me
clothed, warm, fed, and working.

While we may depend greatly on each other, most do not really understand the
many other cultures aside from our own. I don’t believe this is out of disregard or
lack of respect, but that there are barriers that slow down our communications.
There are language barriers, geographical barriers, political barriers, economic
barriers and barriers in artistic mediums.

When Americans think of art they often think of things like movies, book, murals,
pictures and so forth. Because these are the forms of art that come to mind these
are the forms of art that we seek out. However, other cultures use different
mediums. In much of the Middle East and parts of Eastern Europe rugs and weaving
is an extremely important medium of expression. There are traditional forms of
weaving such as pile rugs with geometric designs about the seasons or rugs with
floral designs representing plants (you can learn more about traditional patterns at
www.hazaad.com). However, like any form of art rugs are not stagnant. Over time
what a culture expresses, and how they choose to do so changes. Presently there
are an increasing number of war rugs being woven. There are rugs that repeat an
image of a war plan or express some level of hope with bright colors.

Help bridge this one cultural divide by looking at these rugs as one would other
forms of wartime art. In this art form one can find the expression of many people.
One can find a unique expression that cannot be found in other media.

John Geer runs the small online rug import business Hazaad.com/ www.Hazaad.com from Davidson, North
Carolina.

This article is not your basic primer on selecting your “dream home”. Nor does it contain the list of “items to ask your designer” - these things can be found on any designer’s website or Google search. As important as those items are, what we are going to do here is drill-down into the design a little, bypass the fan-fare and talk about some specific concepts that will really make a difference in your life.

Matching your house to your lifestyle begins with an exploration of your needs and wants. Most home designers will have some type of “discovery process” that will help identify the basics for your home design. It will start with the configuration of your lot and proceed through items such as privacy requirements, work areas, outdoor spaces, etc. Although this process is critical to your project, it rarely drills down enough to transform your design into a home that will serve your needs for a lifetime.

Here are two keys of good home design that must be addressed up-front: a) assessing the homeowner’s current needs; and, b) anticipating the future needs of people living in the home. Before you say “Yeah, yeah…I’ve heard this all before!” let’s take a closer look at what “current needs” entail.

Almost all “discovery processes” used by home designers focus on the use and space requirements of the rooms in the house. This is good, but too little attention is given to the personal needs of the people actually living in the home. Without performing a comprehensive assessment of the client’s functional abilities, identifying areas of the home where modifications are necessary is often overlooked.

For example, the needs of a child and his / her ability to live comfortably in the home are rarely addressed at the design stage. It’s necessary to evaluate the child’s current abilities and design an environment that works and grows with the child. Some easy adaptive design elements would include adjustable shelves and rods in the closet. As the child grows, the shelves and rods can be moved to better accommodate their reach. Appliances present a similar situation as it is necessary for the controls to be accessible. Front mounted controls on washing machines and dryers enable their use. Safety also comes into play. A child trying to use a microwave placed overhead is a recipe for disaster!

Of course, the above example is very simple, but it illustrates the point that design needs to be done from the perspective of the individual and his / her ability to carry out daily routines in the home. This is why a good designer will perform an assessment of the client and specify the needed design modifications.

There are a couple of tools that a designer can use to evaluate the needs of their clients. One of those tools is the Comprehensive Assessment and Solution Process for Aging Residents (CASPAR). CASPAR was designed for healthcare professionals to evaluate their client’s ability to carry out routine activities in the home. This is also useful in determining the requirements of people who have disabilities.

Anticipating the future needs of individuals may prove a little trickier, but we can start by understanding the process of aging. Whether we like to think about growing old or not, it is inevitable, and people’s functional abilities diminish over time. A well designed home will easily adapt to these changing needs and allow people to stay in their homes longer.

Fortunately, “universal design” is beginning to take root in modern home design. Ron Mace, Founder and Program Director of the Center for Universal Design (NCSU), give us the following definition of UD: “The intent of universal design is to simplify life for everyone by making products, communications, and the built environment more usable by as many people as possible at little or no extra cost. Universal design benefits people of all ages and abilities.” Because the principles of universal design are inclusive for people with disabilities, the application of UD in home design is appropriate and addresses many of the needs of people who wish to “age in place”.

Adaptable design is different in concept from universal design. Where universal design benefits people of all ages and abilities, adaptable design allows the home to be modified for a specific need. An example of adaptable design would be designing a two-story home with “stacked closets” (a closet on the first floor directly below and aligned with a closet on the second floor) so that a residential elevator or lift could easily be installed in the future. In contrast, a universal design item might be the installation of lever door handles that are easier to use for people who have lost the ability to grip a standard round door knob. These lever handles also benefit anyone who may have their hands full with groceries and want to release the door latch by using their forearm or elbow, for example. Children also have an easier time using lever door handles.

Distinguishing between universal and adaptable design may seem difficult at first, but when one realizes that these principles have less to do about the installation of specific items and are more about a designer’s perspective, it all begins to make better sense. And the designer’s perspective is heavily influenced by a thorough client assessment.

Does this level of service cost more? Yes, probably. But a couple hundred dollars up front to hire a qualified designer who will accurately assess your lifestyle and evaluate your future needs, pales in comparison to leaving your design to chance. The number one secret to good home design is to avoid cutting costs at this stage of your project and find a home designer who is an expert in assessing your needs and applying the design criteria that will make your house a home for a lifetime.

Thomas Hewitt is the President of Falcon Homes, Inc., a home design company located in Albuquerque, NM. Thomas is an aging-in-place specialist certified by the National Association of Home Builders and specializes in universal and adaptable design. The company’s website can be found at FalconHomesInc.com FalconHomesInc.com.

Oil Painting Reproductions

What’s the difference?

Making that significant decision to add a masterful reproduction will not only add luster to your home but it can also be the first step to starting a valuable collection of fine art. Perhaps you may just be wondering what the difference is between an original oil painting and oil painted reproductions.

Oil painting reproductions are an exact replica of an original masterpiece, such as a van Gogh, or Picasso. The only real difference in an oil painting reproduction is the price. Most original masterpiece paintings are hung in famous art museums around the world or in the homes of the very rich, with a price tag well over the million dollar mark. Oil reproductions give the consumer the same great quality painting, identical copies of selective masterpieces, at a much more economical rate.

Although your reproduction may not be an identical replica, great artists can duplicate a painting with very little noticeable differences. A talented and experienced artist gets in-depth with the original work of art and examines that particular painting on all levels to give the duplicate an astounding resemblance to the original. They use canvas and a particular oil to duplicate reproductions. Reproduction artists are also familiar with and able to recognize each technique and brush stroke used in the original painting. From the quality of the canvas and the oil used, as well as the lighting, brushes and techniques used by the original artist.

Though you may be on that search to learn more about oil painting reproductions there may be some confusion as you search for information, you may see “print’ come up on your search. A print might be called a reproduction; a print is merely a copy of an original artwork, to give a better example think about the copy of a family photo that would come out of your home scanner and printer. Yet, the print reproduction uses a method with a photomechanical process.

It’s important, as you are searching for your first purchase, that you understand the difference of an original, print reproduction or oil painted reproductions. It is also important to know how the reproduction was created, what kinds of materials were used and what methods were used.

There are a few important things the consumer should do before making that first purchase. It is essential to contact the artist to address some important questions so you have all the facts when you make that initial purchase such as; what materials were used during the reproduction process like the canvas, oils, brushes and lighting? As well as what method was used during the reproduction. And was the reproduction varnished?

The answers to these will not only help you understand the reproduction, but also help you maintain and care for the painting once it is in your possession. Most artists will give you directions to further care for your painting, such as where not to hang it in your home, some paintings should not be hung in direct sunlight as to not fade the paint, if these instructions are not included it is a good idea to ask the artist what the best care is for the particular painting you purchased.

Once you have that masterpiece in your home it will be time to sit back and relish in its beauty that is if you have figured out where you will hang it.

Chris Jacob is a fascinating individual who just can’t seem to help himself and try everything. Last Year he was in IT, yesterday he was in China and today he is an artist….well at least helping artists paint beautiful paintings just for you. Check out the oil paintings at ( jiveexchange.com The Oil Painting Extravaganza)