If your air quality needs attention we have great information you have come to the right place. A closed up home doesn’t need to make you or your family sick.
Thank to our guests:
James Shelton
Panasonic Ventialtion
panasonic.com/products-hvac-ventilationproducts?sc_mc=sem_google-search_cov_vent-fans_brand
Commissioner Marietta Robinson
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Anchorit.gov
More Ways To Warm Up A Cold Room
To warm up a room without using a plug-in electric heater. Consider some safe alternative heating ideas:
Cove Heater
For a bedroom or TV room, cove heaters can be a great choice. They operate silently (no fans) and since they’re radiant panels, they emit heat downward to warm people and objects directly instead of heating the air (see “Radiant or Convection heat?” below). Because they mount near the ceiling, they’re unobtrusive and kids can’t burn themselves. They work well in rooms where drapes and furniture make baseboard heaters inconvenient.
To power a cove heater, you’ll have to run a new circuit from your main electrical panel and install a thermostat. A larger unit will require a 240-volt circuit rather than a standard 120-volt circuit. Cove heaters range in length from 34 in. to 132 in. and cost $85 to $300. Visit qmarkmep.com,http://king-eletric.com and radiantsystemsinc.com.
Ceiling Fan Heater
The Reiker Room Conditioner installs just like a regular ceiling fan and provides fast, even heat over a large area. This combination light, ceiling fan and space heater pumps out warm air through the ceiling-mounted heater, and the fan blades circulate it throughout the room. During the summer, the unit functions as a conventional ceiling fan.
It’s available in manual and remote control units, and can be wired to an existing circuit. The unit is available in a variety of finishes. Manual models cost $269, and remote-controlled units cost $339 to $369, depending on the finish.
http://www.fanheatlight.com
What To Do With Non-Functioning Christmas Lights
Here’s what to do with non-functioning Christmas lights:
Repair the Light String
Many of us out there aren’t exactly – uh – handy when it comes to electrical issues. Luckily, there are people in the world who are and who’ve done an excellent job in giving instructions and creating tools to help out the rest of us.
One such tool worth investing in is called the LightKeeper, an original name for a tool that helps keep the lights around longer, even after they’ve failed.
The LightKeeper, which you can get for a mere 20 bucks (a minor cost compared to the expense of purchasing new light sets) has the ability to identify where electrical currents stop, as well as which bulbs may need replaced.
This is incredibly helpful for the artificial trees that are pre-lit. Who wants to throw away a tree that was $200 in the first place? And let’s face it: when a light strand costs roughly the same as agallon or two of gas, you’d probably prefer the fuel over replacing your Christmas lights.
The good news is that you don’t always have to replace your light sets. Tools like the LightKeeper allow you to plug into the strand, pump it with electrical current, and it will light up every bulb but the ones that need replaced. This makes it easy to spot where repair is needed.
So, remember that baggie of little bulbs that came with your strand? For those of you who just toss that in the trash or in a box to get lost, those bulbs can actually save you a lot of money. Replacement bulbs are there for a reason; use them to fix the strands you already have.
Recycle the Strand
If repairing isn’t an option, and honestly, sometimes it isn’t an option due to the way strands are manufactured, your next option is to recycle the strand.
Recycling is actually a really great opportunity to help the environment as it allows many of the parts of the strand to be reused. From the wires to the glass to the plastic fittings, when strands are recycled, they get crushed into little pieces and sorted out by each of these components. In this way, they go on to make new strands or help build additional products in other ways.
Aside from the environmental impact, recycling light strands can actually be beneficial to your wallet. Many companies out there give you a discount on your purchase of new LED light strands when you turn in your old ones. Home Depot offers anywhere from $3-5 off new sets. HolidayLEDS offers a 15% discount on purchases at their site.
However you decide to go about your Christmas light fiasco, know that there are other options than kicking them with your foot. With a handy tool like the LightKeeper, you may actually be able to save whole strands and pre-lit trees. If that doesn’t work, recycle them and start putting together a collection of longer lasting, energy-efficient LED lights. Whatever you choose to do, don’t let those broken lights dampen your holiday spirit!
Megan Wild writes about new ways to reuse and reduce home decor on her blog, Your Wild Home.
Outrageous Stocking Stuffers
Blue Sky WIRELESS 8-Watt (65W Equivalent) 3,000K Medium Base (E-26) Dimmable Decorative LED Light Bulb with Bluetooth Capability and Built-In Speakers
Model #: 60100
$29.98
8-Watt (65W Equivalent) 3,000K Medium Base (E-26) Dimmable Decorative LED Light Bulb with Bluetooth Capability and Built-In Speakers
Unique LED light bulb with a built-in Bluetooth speaker
Play music wirelessly from any Bluetooth-enabled smart device
Comes with an infrared remote to control brightness, 16 colors, and flash settings
Bulb is compatible with recessed lighting fixtures
Great for any room in the house
Music and LED light work autonomously
The GLM 50 C Laser Measure from Bosch
This will take measurements up to 165 feet away, and they say it’s accurate to within a sixteenth of an inch. It’s got a handy little built-in level, too.
It’s got bluetooth built in, so with their free app, you can store and organize your measurements on your mobile device, even snapping pictures of a room and adding your measurements right onto the pictures. The Bosch GLM 50 C Laser Measure sells for about $150.
MagnoGrip 311-090 Magnetic Wristband
100% Polyester
Embedded with super strong magnets for holding screws, scissors, and small tools
Provides a third helping hand when you need it most
Ideal for many woodworking, home improvement, and do-it yourself projects
Made of durable 1680D ballistic polyester
One size fits all
Bell + Howell 21 LED TorchLite Max Flashlight
Super bright LED light
21 LEDs per unit
Click once for 1 LED, click again to turn off and then click again for 20 LEDs
Great for walking outdoors, camping, around the house or as an emergency light
Built-in clip
Hook it to your belt loop, backpacks or hook it to the side of your purse
Can hang on doors or bike handles and more
Magnets on back
Mount to flat metal surfaces
Magnetic for hands-free use
Lightweight and durable
Do You Give Indoor Air Quality A Second Thought?
Signs of Indoor Air Quality Problems
How do you know if you should be concerned about your indoor air quality? Look for these common warning signs that may indicate you have indoor air pollutants:
You feel sick at home and better when you’re away.
You’ve noticed problems, even just extra dirt, around heating or cooling units.
Air doesn’t seem to be circulating properly in the house.
You spot mold in your home.
Your indoor air is humid, resulting in condensation.
There’s been damage to a chimney or flue.
Your home’s construction is too tight.
You’ve noticed changes in your health after renovating or remodeling.
The air in your home always smells old or stuffy.
There’s an odor in the air that you can’t get rid of.
If you suspect you have an issue with indoor air quality, you can perform tests to see if specific air pollutants are infiltrating your home and possibly affecting your health.
Potential Air Pollutants
Here are some of the most common indoor air pollutants that could be contaminating your home:
Asbestos
Radon
Lead and lead dust
Household chemicals
Carbon monoxide
Formaldehyde
Dust and molds
Pet hair and dander
Rodents and cockroaches
Here are some sources of indoor air pollutants that can impair your indoor air quality, particularly when ventilation isn’t good:
Household chemicals, solvents, and cleaning products
Malfunctioning space heaters
Poorly vented furnaces or stoves
Outdoor air pollution that gets in
Pesticide use
Wood, kerosene, oil, gas, and coal burned for heat
Insulation made with asbestos
Carpets, furniture, and rugs that have been treated with chemicals or have become wet
Indoor Air Quality and Your Health
Indoor air pollutants can affect your entire family’s health, by contributing to the development of asthma and other respiratory illnesses. In addition, chronic respiratory diseases, cancer, and heart disease can result from long-term exposure to indoor air pollutants.
To improve your indoor air quality, consider installing an air cleaning system to remove air pollutants from your home. There are a number of different air cleaning systems and devices that will remove solid and gaseous contaminants from the air.
It’s also important to make sure that your home is well-ventilated. A poorly ventilated home can trap air pollutants inside. Good ventilation also reduces humidity levels and can help prevent the growth of mold and mildew in your home.
If you think your home is making you sick, you just might be right. Take steps quickly to solve the problem by identifying and then getting rid of indoor air pollutants. Taking action will help you breathe easier.
http://www.everydayhealth.com/healthy-home/air-quality.aspx?pos=1&xid=nl_EverydayHealthWomensHealth_20151205
Make Snow Shoveling A Snap
Spray Your Shovel with Cooking Oil
Snow sticking to your shovel makes an already arduous task even more obnoxious. Avoid it with this hack: Lightly coat your shovel with non-stick cooking oil to make snow slide right off. No more time wasted removing snow from your snow remover. (You can substitute a spray lubricant like WD-40, but the downside is it’s toxic.)
http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/seasonal-maintenance/3-hacks-make-shoveling-snow-snap/#ixzz3u52LyjwE
Learn How To Secure Your Furniture And Where To Purchase Mounting Equipment To Protect Children
Anchorit.gov
Commissioner Marietta Robinson
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
The Threat (Top Statistics)
Every 24 minutes, a child in the U.S. is injured from a TV or furniture tip-over incident.
Every two weeks, a child dies when a television, a piece of furniture or an appliance falls on him.
When a television falls from an average sized dresser, it can fall with the force of thousands of pounds. Specifically, falling CRT TVs can hit a child with the impact of up to 12,700 pounds of force, and for flat screen TVs, the impact is up to 2,098 pounds of force.
The Solution (Tips for How to Anchor It):
Avoid displaying or storing items in places where kids might be tempted to climb up to reach for them.
If purchasing a new TV, consider recycling older ones not currently used. If moving the older TV to another room, be sure it is anchored properly.
Keep heavier items on lower shelves or in lower drawers.
Always buy and install low-cost anchoring devices that can prevent TVs, dressers, bookcases and other furniture/appliances from tipping.
TVs should always be placed on a sturdy, low base and pushed as far back as possible, particularly if anchoring is not possible.
AnchorIt.gov
The 5 Top Christmas Tree Types
Why They’re the Best
A good test: Feel a branch to see if any needles fall off, a sign of dryness. And once you bring it home, be sure to follow our tips for keeping your tree healthy all season long.
For a Long-Lasting Look . . . Fraser firs hold needles well and stay fresh longer than most other Christmas tree species–you can keep one on display for up to six weeks, says Ricky Bates, professor of horticulture at Penn State University. Plus, the blue-green needles have a nice scent.
For a Traditional Christmas Tree Aroma . . . Choose a durable, dark-green balsam fir, which will stay fragrant all season long. If you like a more citrusy scent, concolor firs (also called white firs) are another option.
For a Full Figure . . . One of the most popular species in the U.S., a Douglas fir is typically packed with lots of small branches, each circled with needles that stick out in all directions. Ask a local Christmas tree farmer for a less sheared tree to ensure this dense look.
For an Unexpected Color . . . Switch it up and try a Colorado blue spruce. Its strong branches (great for heavy ornaments, says Bates) have beautiful silvery-blue needles.
For Great Texture . . . White pines have a soft, feathery look thanks to their long, thin needles. These trees have almost no smell, so they could be a good pick if you’re bothered by strong pine scents.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/architectural-digest/the-5-top-christmas-tree_b_8750434.html?utm_hp_ref=huffpost-home&ir=HuffPost+Home
Website Mentions:
Mountainaire Air Purifier
http://www.sunheat.com/Mountainaire-MA