Month: July 2020

Ways Not To Be Bored During A Long Distance Moving

Long Distance Moving Companies

Moving Long Distance

During your search for long distance moving companies, there are a few things you may want to consider. Look at each company’s reviews, history, the services they offer, and their fees.

meet all of your moving needs. will go above and beyond to meet your expectations. Yelp reviews can be very beneficial when looking for long distance moving companies offers. take pride in the reviews left by customers which include several five star evaluations. reviews include descriptions such as:

Prompt

Efficient

Generous

Fair

Hard working

Exceptional

Senior Long Distance Moving Companies Offers

Just over half of all the people who move in the U.S. are over the age of 50. Of these, approximately 30% are over 60 years old and are relocating into a condominium, apartment, retirement community, or assisted living facility. A senior move often has its own challenges and can be particularly emotional if someone is leaving a family home that has decades of memories contained within. This move can be a major event in the individual’s life and their family members.

Getting Your Move Right

is well versed in helping clients manage the stress of relocation through comprehensive moving services. Whether you’re downsizing into something more comfortable or transitioning into a retirement community, have a team of friendly staff who are ready to make your senior moving experience as positive as possible.

Dealing with the Stress from Moving

There is no way around it – moving is stressful, especially long distance! But the good news is that there are things that you can do to help alleviate that stress as you address all the issues that need to be addressed to make sure you get from point A to point B.

LONG DISTANCE MOVING CHECKLIST

If you are planning a long distance relocation any time soon then you should definitely know more about a long distance moving checklist. This is the checklist that contains all the things you need to do and finish before you relocate to your new home. If you follow this checklist through, then you won’t have any issues at all with your relocation!

LONG DISTANCE MOVING  REQUIRES A PLAN

Before you even begin thinking about long distance moving, you need to have a plan and proper long distance moving checklist. This plan should revolve around major tasks you need to accomplish before the moving day arrives. Within this plan you need to put bigger tasks like finding a place to live, finding movers, organizing paperwork, etc. Within every task on that plan, you have to make a list of smaller tasks that you need to follow in order to have a successful relocation!  Remember to always go step by step and never rush things If you rush things too much you will end up losing control over your relocation and eventually overpay everything!

SET UP A MOVING BUDGET

Like everything we mentioned before, even a plan needs a safety net! In this case, you should have a moving budget that won’t allow you going over the limit of paying your relocation! That being said, you need to have in mind all the factors that can influence the moving cost! Moving budget helps you a lot when it comes to finding movers aswell. You certainly wouldn’t want to get movers that will force you to overpay your relocation! Here is the perfect opportunity for you to spend some time and find yourself reliable and professional relocators. And if you start doing this in time, you might be able to negotiate an even better price.

DO YOU OWN A BUSINESS

When it comes to business owners, time is everything! And careful timing means you won’t lose money when transporting your business elsewhere. Long distance relocations are difficult, not to mention when it comes to commercial moving. This is where your careful planning and detailed long distance moving checklist come in handy! Because you know time is money you will want to have everything under control

START COLLECTING PACKING SUPPLIES

This is a perfect time to start gathering and collecting moving and packing supplies. You will certainly need them for the long distance moving you are about to commit. Because you will travel a great distance you will have to pack your items carefully. Which means you would want to get as many packing materials as possible

LONG DISTANCE MOVING

When moving interstate, allowing a full-service moving company to assist you can save both time and money.

In the current economy, consumers may be tempted to pack and transport their belongings themselves; however, using a full-service moving company to orchestrate and execute a move can be a smart economic decision and provide them with valuable peace of mind.

During the estimate, our Certified Moving Consultant will walk through your home as you point out which items will be moving and which will be staying. The Consultant will compute the total weight of the items you are moving and provide you with a quote. Your quote will be based on the weight of your shipment and the distance you are moving. There are many service options when you move interstate.

After your free estimate, will be in touch to see if any questions have come up since we last visited. Once you decide that you would like to book with us, we’ll schedule your move and discuss any moving day concerns. If you have chosen us to pack your household, we may schedule an extra day to pack if the estimated weight is too high to pack and load in one day. If you are packing yourself, you can also talk to us about buying new and used boxes from our inventory.

Once your household has been packed and organized, a driver will come to your home with a crew ready to load your goods. All items will be inventoried by the driver. You’ll receive a copy and sign off both at the origin and the destination. This way, you’ll know exactly what went on the truck and be confident that it arrives.

Long Distance Made Easy

Planning on moving away from the fair city? Perhaps you’ve gotten a job offer elsewhere, want to move closer to family, or just need a change of scenery. Whatever the case, Moving & Delivery can help make your moving experience hassle-free. but we will consider long distance moves greater than 160km from the city. Don’t worry about choosing a moving company that doesn’t respect you or your possessions; choose one with a reputation for professionalism in all its operations.

Quality Service from Long Distance

If you’ve ever needed to pack up your whole life and move, you know that moving happens in several phases: packing, loading, transport, and delivery. Completing all of these phases by yourself is a significant undertaking that no one should have to attempt alone

Don’t Scramble to Find Supplies for Your Long Distance Move

Often, we don’t realize how many extra supplies moving takes until we’re in the thick of things. Especially if you’re moving a long distance, you’ll need a plethora of boxes in all sizes, packing tape, packing materials like bubble wrap, trash bags, and much, much more. Making sure you have everything and enough of each supply is a hassle that only adds to the stress of a move.

Reasons to Consider a Professional Long Distance Mover

Moving to a new city or province can be exciting, albeit more than a little stressful. While you may be tempted to forego moving on your own, there are many good reasons to consider a professional long distance mover

Less Wear on Your Vehicles

Transporting all of your belongings, often in numerous trips, can wreak havoc on your vehicle. However, the extra wear and tear on your car is unnecessary when you have experienced long distance movers on your side. You won’t need to worry about damaging your interior or nicking your paint job.

PREFERRED MOVING COMPANY

Moving to a new location can get hectic. With help, relocation will be hassle-free. As a reliable moving company, have hundreds of dedicated agents and a wealth of experience in the moving and storage industry. Whether you need assistance with transportation or with packing your personal items, get the job done right. Rest assured that specialists will communicate with you constantly throughout the whole relocation process.

Long Distance Moving Services

You have lots of choices when it comes to moving companies, so why choose? The answer is easy: different than any other company out there. As one of the nation’s top movers, offers professional long distance moving services. With over 50 years of experience in the moving and storage industry, dedicated team of moving professionals are always ready to help.

Packing Services

When move your household items, take great pains to ensure every item arrives unscathed and in good shape. For example, wrap all your furniture in thick, durable moving blankets to ensure secure transport and no damage. This is a tough thing to mimic on your own. No matter if you need partial or full packing services, here to provide you with whatever services you need.

Corporate Relocation Services

can help with your employee’s corporate relocation. Designed to give you the support and assistance you need to get your employee moved as quickly and efficiently as possible. corporate relocation services strive to limit the downtime your employee experiences and get them relocated and to work as quickly as possible. offer professional, efficient, and seamless moving services.

When you hire a long distance moving company, you want to rest assured that the team you’ve chosen has the skills and convictions you need to trust them. After all – these are your household items we’re talking about – you don’t want to trust just anyone with those! Fortunately

Bookkeeping Fees Can Save You Money

Online Bookkeeping Jobs: Turn Your Love For Money Into Money

Are you good with numbers? Do you like getting immersed in all kinds of details? Are you into things like solving puzzles and untangling knots? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be interested in being an at-home bookkeeper.

I’ve already shared that bookkeeping is a great career to have because the skills are considered entry-level and it’s the kind of work that easily adapts to working from home. These days, more and more businesses are hiring at-home bookkeepers. And while there’s definitely a solid niche for starting your own bookkeeping business, freelancing is certainly not the only way to do it. You can also find remote work as a bookkeeper for a company in a more traditional employment model.

What do Bookkeepers Do?

While bookkeeping is part of the accounting process, it’s much more about staying on top of the clerical tasks as opposed to analyzing reports, preparing taxes and setting budgets. A bookkeeper is often the person inputting the receipts and invoices, counting inventory, classifying expenses and income.

Because your scope is somewhat limited as a bookkeeper, you often don’t need an accounting degree. That being said, there are a few skills and personality traits that are absolutely imperative:

  • You need to be organized
  • You must have strong attention to detail. If you don’t like double-checking, or triple-checking, your work, this might not be the job for you.
  • You need to be a hard worker.
  • You need to be able to handle multiple projects at once. You will probably have more than one client.
  • You must be compassionate and personable. To be a successful online bookkeeper, you need to be able to make a connection with your clients. They need to be able to trust you with their finances.

How Much do Online Bookkeepers Make?

As with most freelance opportunities, it depends. If you are working for a large company or accounting firm, they will likely dictate your earnings.

If you decide to start your own bookkeeping business, you can probably earn a lot more as you are taking on more of the responsibilities. According to Bookkeeper Launch, many of their graduates are earning upwards of $60 per hour working from home.

What Types of Work Do Bookkeepers Do?

Bookkeeping is a back-office position required in almost every industry, so there’s the built-in advantage of being able to work in virtually any field. Once you’re trained in bookkeeping, you can work within many different industries and find work that interests you, whether it’s working with small business owners, bloggers, or even non-profits — every industry needs bookkeepers.

Common tasks often include:

  • Entering and managing accounts payable
  • Entering and managing accounts receivable
  • Maintaining the general ledger
  • Managing inventory counts
  • Overseeing payroll
  • Monitoring project budgets
  • Filing accounting reports
  • Paying suppliers and following up on purchase orders
  • Monitoring petty cash

STARTING A BOOKKEEPING BUSINESS FROM HOME

If you love work from home or working remotely, then work from home bookkeeping will help you to earn money online and compete with the highest paying work from home jobs and home businesses.

To give you more precise guidelines on bookkeeping as a work from home job, here are the effective points you can follow step-by-step:

1. Get Certified

The fastest and easiest way to get clients is to become certified. A certified bookkeeper is always preferred by the clients. Therefore, before expecting clients, get the certification to impress your potential customers and then catch the project by convincing them with your conversational skills.

2. Make a Business Plan

When I Googled ‘how to make a business plan’ a few years ago I was totally overwhelmed by the amount of information they convinced me to put into it. To start with, create a basic business plan, but be sure to re-visit it every quarter and flesh it out as your self-employed bookkeeping business scales and grows. It will invariably be of benefit to strategize your business.

3. Select a Business Name and Structure

Just as you cannot imagine your identity without your name, your business also requires a name to be identified as a brand. Choose an appropriate name related to your job – you can create something with your city name to help target your local area, or if you’re more of a freelancer a name that’s more objective related. It’s totally up to you.

In terms of business structure, there are various types of business structure including Personal or Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, Limited Liability Company and Corporation.

All these types have different requirement and terms. Make sure that you are choosing the right option according to your business.

In addition, to assist you further in this matter, we suggest you consult with a lawyer and/or an accountant, who will guide you on the right track.

4. Set up a Business Bank Account

Keep business and personal separate! Until that joyful time comes when you pay yourself. I love payday.

Before taking projects from clients, open a business account. Don’t be like the divorced relationship councillor or the overweight personal trainer. As a bookkeeper set a good example and sort this stuff out from day dot.

5. Bookkeeping Software

In starting your work from home bookkeeping online business no doubt you will have decided to invest in some bookkeeping software. There are stacks of options to choose from; however, opting for a top-class one will be the best investment for your job. Start your research by asking Google and filter the search results wisely to get the appropriate one.

6. Get Your Business E-mail ID

A business email address is essential in order to be seen as professional to prospective clients, so it’s important to get your domain name from the beginning. And for postal inquiry (if that still exists), you have to put the address of your office. It might be your home or be any rented place. The above is a list of some of the technical requirements needed to get things up and running. From there it’s time to start thinking about marketing and listing your services, attracting clients and delivering your world class bookkeeping service so you can enjoy bookkeeping from the comfort of your home!

Benefits of a Virtual Bookkeeping Job

PRO TIP

A good computer and high-speed internet should be your first investments. Also crucial to a being a virtual bookkeeper is accounting software, such as Quickbooks Online, which keeps startup costs low.

And then there’s that $60-per-hour pay rate.

The average full-time bookkeeper earns nearly $40,000 per year (almost $19/hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. But pointed out that as a freelancer or contractor, you can actually earn a higher hourly rate while working fewer hours.You must know how to provide true value to clients — that real-world problem-solving we talked about — to command this kind of income.

Can anyone who knows how to use a calculator make money as a work-from-home bookkeeper?

Using a calculator is such a small part of bookkeeping. It’s more like a giant puzzle and figuring out where each piece goes. The catch is that you have to know where to put each piece; it isn’t as simple as some would have you believe. There are nuances that you don’t know you don’t know… does that make sense? Basically, you need help along the way to ensure you are ready to take on a client and not mess up their books!

Love that concept! When you decided to start learning to become a bookkeeper, what was going through your mind?

Well try to learn it on my own and failed miserably. I should mention here that I am usually the type of person that can teach myself anything… guitar, violin, bass, piano, crochet, knitting, oil painting, languages, etc. But for some reason, this just wasn’t clicking.

Did you know everything going in? If not, were you able to grow and add skills you didn’t know?

Haha, I knew NOTHING going in. I had tried to do my own bookkeeping as a VA, but it was just a mess because I had no idea what I was doing. On the business side of things, I knew the basics of having a business, but not a successful one. I had no clue how to find clients or market at all.

The course taught me everything I needed to know. From Day 1 I was learning new skills all the way through the end of the course. And to be honest, the learning hasn’t stopped!

How To Texture Stucco Repairs

STUCCO STIGMA

We are sure by now you have heard about some of the negative reputations that stucco has developed over the last decade or so.  But is this reputation deserved? The simple answer is no, but let us delve a little deeper into the subject and you will see for yourself…

We remember all too well the unfortunate and horrific events of September 11th, 2001. A day that will live in infamy for eons to come. But hearing about some of the good things that happened during the days and weeks that followed can help to realize that there is a.

STUCCO RESURFACING

Thinking about resurfacing your stucco home? This could be a great way to revitalize the look of your house, or it could be covering over way bigger problems. Things to know before you get your stucco resurfaced. What is the stucco applied to? If you have stucco over

3 STAGES OF STUCCO FAILURE

Stucco problems can come in many forms, from unsightly cracks and bulges, to internal water damage to hardwood floors and moldy and decaying floor joists.  But not all stucco problems necessarily mean costly repairs. Some stucco issues can be minor and require minimal

STUCCO EXPANSION JOINTS

Why are Stucco Expansion Joints Important? The stucco facade on any building will expand and contract with temperature changes.  This alone would not cause any problems if the temperature changes were uniform across the entire facade, and the building structure that

Professional Painting Knowledge Base

How Serious is a Stucco Crack?

Though cracks in stucco can occur due to different factors, including wrong mix proportions, insufficient mixing, poor workmanship, seismic movement and seasonal changes, two leading causes of cracks in stucco are the house settling process and shrinkage-induced stresses, which typically occur during the drying period. Now that you know why stucco cracks, let’s find out how serious a stucco crack can be.

The Problems behind Stucco Cracking

Hairline cracks aren’t as serious as deep cracks. However, they can provide a pathway for moisture and water to enter into a wall system. Once moisture or water gets inside a wall, it will inevitably cause further damage. As an example, water that gets behind stucco will soften the material it comes in contact with, eventually causing stucco to break away and fall off in sheets. Moisture and water trapped inside walls can lead to additional problems, such as paint failure, wood rot, mold growth, musty smell, swollen drywall and irreparable damage.

Although cracks smaller than 1/16 inches usually don’t undermine the integrity of exterior stucco, repairing them immediately will prevent them from escalating into something worse. To repair a minor stucco crack, apply a high-quality caulk, use a brush to stipple the caulk while wet (this will create texture to better blend) let it cure, dry properly then paint the entire area.

Unlike hairline cracks, a large stucco crack may indicate a structural problem. Often, large cracks develop at the intersection of vertical walls, at the upper corners of window and door frames, or at joints between wood framing and concrete/brick masonry. Since most large cracks aren’t only wide but also deep, they allow moisture and water to penetrate the building envelope and pass freely through walls.

The most “dangerous” cracks are typically wider than 1/16 inches, with edges that are no longer aligned parallel to each other. If the edge of a crack has moved in relation to the other edge, it may indicate unusual structural changes in your home. As an example, when the foundation settles more on one side of a house than on the other, it may create enough stress for stucco to crack. To correctly address and fix potential structural problems, it’s very important to investigate large cracks before any attempt is made to repair them.

Reasons Why Painting Stucco is a Good Idea

If your home exterior has been finished with stucco coating, you’re in luck! Not only is this long-lasting, durable material attractive, it can also effectively protect your home against the elements. But, just like other types of house siding, the color of your stucco can fade over time. When this happens, you may wonder if you can paint the stucco on your home. With proper preparation, the right paint, and correct painting materials, exterior stucco painting can offer many benefits.

Advantages of Painting Stucco on Your Home

Stucco is one of the most popular exterior finishes for homes as it is low-maintenance and can look beautiful for years when taken care of. Hiring professional painters to paint your stucco can ensure the following unique advantages.

Seals Out Moisture

After it rains, you may notice that your stucco absorbs water and becomes darker until dry. When you paint stucco, the paint completely seals the material, so moisture won’t penetrate it. This allows your color to remain consistent even during a very rainy day.

Covers Stains

You probably see water and rusting stains running in vertical lines on your stucco (usually beneath window frames). Painting stucco can block and cover these stains. When painted by professionals, stains won’t reappear for years on the new paint surface!

Fills Hairline Cracks

Do you have a lot of cracks in your stucco? This damage will only become a bigger problem with time. When left unpainted, chunks of stucco will pop out and costly repairs will be needed. Painting your home with high-quality thick paint can fill these hairline cracks naturally with the paint film.

BEHIND THE WARRANTY

With so many stucco companies to choose from, all offering you different products and services, how can you know if you’re getting your money’s worth before it is too late? Check the Warranty.

HOW MANY YEARS IS THE WARRANTY GOOD FOR?

This should be the first thing that you look at.  Stucco manufacturers generally offer factory material and labor warranties to just a few selected contractors.  These warranties range greatly in terms depending on the products used or not used during the stucco restoration process.

These stucco manufacturers have varying levels of stucco products that perform very differently. Some products are below average basically just cheap acrylics. They will not hold up very well over time and will generally fail rather quickly. Like I said, they’re cheap

While other products are high performance, elastomeric stucco finishes created to withstand intense UV rays, resist water intrusion and promote elasticity in the finish.

It’s very important to note that no warranty protects against cracking.  Stucco cracks, no matter what. The higher the grade of product and techniques used can however reduce cracks and greatly extend the life and performance of your stucco. 

Does Your Stucco Need Repairs?

We love the classic look and feel of stucco, but more so than most home exterior materials, stucco can be a tricky keeper. Although stucco as material might not be as prone to major issues in certain states, it can sometimes feel difficult to take care

Visual Inspect the Stucco for Cracks & Mold

Take a quick walk around the outside of your home to look for signs of stucco disrepair. Although cracks in stucco are the easiest thing to visually spot, make sure you pay close attention to any discoloration or signs of mold. Many of these signs come with general weathering and age, but if your stucco exterior is fairly new, this can also be a sign of improper installation. Depending on the climate of your state, cracking and discoloration could be a sign of expansion or shrinkage of the stucco material.

Be on the lookout for hairline cracks, spider cracks, and cracks on any foam trim. Hairline cracks may be a sign of intense stress on the exterior of your home, whereas a spider crack more often occurs due to a stucco mixture that was improperly mixed or a base coat that wasn’t properly cured. If you see signs of mold, it could be a sure sign that moisture has been trapped behind the surface of your stucco. If cracks, discoloration, or mold is visible, contact an experienced company to come and fix cracks with proper compounding or to help you find ways to irradicate mold.

Touch and Smell the Stucco Exterior

Don’t be afraid to get up close and personal with the stucco around your home. This includes paying close attention to the smell and feel of stucco areas. Walk around your home and make sure that everything smells “normal”. Of course, it may be difficult to discern what you should be smelling, but just as it’s simple to tell the difference between a clean room and a moldy one, it’s easy to smell mold around your home’s exterior. If you catch a scent that seems off make sure to check the area closer and touch the surface. If there’s moisture in the area on a rather dry day, this is likely due to a moisture issue and should be taken care of immediately.

Stucco Inspection

Of course, every homeowner should learn how to do a general inspection of their home’s exterior, but knowing how seriously to take cracks and stains can be overwhelming. If you’re worried about missing areas that need maintenance or major repairs, don’t hesitate

Something To Know About Tile Roof

THINGS YOU DON’T REALIZE UNTIL YOU OWN ONE FOR A YEAR

considers part of a fully sustainable future where homes and electric cars run on zero-emission sunlight. Musk claimed at this year’s shareholder meeting on June 11 that the company is hopeful it can bring the roof’s price down to reach the equivalent of a standard shingle roof plus utility bills

installing the roof came down to a perfect storm of factors. The family has lived in the state for over 15 years, and Tobler always wanted to go solar. The house, built in 1965, came with a metal roof that made installing panels impossible. When Tesla’s preorder page went live in May 2017, the family opted to replace the aging roof

roof has become an increasingly important product for Tesla. Musk said at the shareholder event that the company is now installing the roof in eight states, and work is almost complete on version three. He added that the design is “actually quite a hard technology problem,” and tests need to simulate 30 years of wear and tear in the space of a few months. Musk added that “we have a shot at being equal to a comp shingle roof plus someone’s utility costs, or maybe lower than that.”

roof efforts have gradually ramped up since the spring 2018 rollout. In October 2019, Musk unveiled a third-generation tile. The new tile is bigger, redesigned on the inside, likely to hide the solar cells better, and is designed for speedy installation

The new tiles are launching in a textured style, with new designs expected every six months through the accelerated testing process. They measure 15 inches by 45 inches, where the old ones measured 8.65 inches by 14 inches. They also reduce the number of parts by over half

TILE ROOFING

Roofing That Looks Good and Does Good

For anyone considering a tile roof for their home, there are several things to think about. You need to be sure the tiles being installed are of the highest quality and you need to be sure you are working with a reliable roofing team.

Tile Roof Installation and Other Services

When it comes to residential roofing, there are several roofing material options on the market, though none are as incredible as the tile roof. This option provides an unrivaled beauty that simply cannot be matched by any asphalt shingle

Types of Tile Roofing

We work with and offer a variety of tile roofing options for our homeowners. We’ll work with you to determine what would be the best for your needs and budget. If you have any questions

TILE ROOFING

Are tile roofs difficult to get installed?

When using trained professionals like those at Tile Roofing LLC, installing tile roofs are one of the simplest systems to install. Installation and maintenance costs in the long run are much lower than other roofing materials.

Are tile roofs fire safe?

Tile that are made from concrete and class have a Class A fire rating and will not catch fire or burn. They are non-combustible and maintain this rating throughout their entire lifetime without any required additional treatments.

If my tile roof is old, damaged, or starts leaking is it necessary for me to get brand new tile?

It is not necessarily required that you replace your tile roof if it is damaged, starts leaking, or is old; most tile roofs can be restored or repaired. If these are options, you are interested in exploring repairing or restoring your tile roof you must locate a matching replacement and contract a qualified roofing contractor like Tile Roofing to replace your tile.

Is tile roofing more susceptible to damage by hail?

In some cases, the most violent of storms all types of roofing materials are destroyed. However, in most cases with typical hail storms averaging 2” diameter hail or less other roofing materials have had to be completely replaced where only 10% of the tiles on a tile roof were damaged and needed replacement.

What is a “lift-and-relay”?

One pro of using tile roofing is its ability to be reused. The term most often used in terms of re-usability is “lift-and-relay”; this is where the tile is evaluated and inspected, and upon the tile being in good condition the roofer may take the original tile off the roof, simply put down new felts, and then places that same tile back on the roof. This method can effectively help save customers money.

tips for mounting solar on tile roofs

Evaluate the tiles. It’s common to find hairline cracks on tile roofs, the product of a dropped tool or a heavy foot long ago. Often cracks are sealed together with silicone or another adhesive. But just because you didn’t cause the blemish, doesn’t mean it’s not your responsibility. “What I’m finding in talking with integrators, regardless of who caused the damage, is the last person on the roof will be blamed for it,” Stearns said

Watch the underlayment. In 1986, the building code was updated to require underlayment on tile roofs, protecting homes from snow, sleet and wind-driven rain. “I used to say that the tile was really a facade to protect the underlayment, which was your primary waterproofing,” Stearns said. “That’s probably a little bit of a stretch, but the underlayment is critical.” A well-done inspection of the underlayment before taking ownership of the roof is important. If the material is deteriorated, rotted or cracked, it could leak regardless of what you happen to do as an integrator on the roof.

Check for pests. Tile roofs are ideal homes for bats, packrats and squirrels. Damage from gnawing pests can lead to moisture intrusion, rapidly degrading waterproofing and the structure underneath. Pay special attention to holes and cracks in the roof. “If you have the ability to get inside the house and do a survey in the attic and get a sense for whether or not this roof has leaked in the past or is currently leaking, that’s a pretty critical point to acknowledge during your survey,” Stearns said.

You will break tile. Everybody does. “It happens on every project that I’m aware of and it’s important that you fix that material as you go, or certainly before you finish,” Stearns said. “Damaged tiles should be replaced before installing a PV system and during the installation.” Solar mounting solutions that replace a tile with a flashing are a great way to move forward.

Consider installation longevity. One way to install solar involves boring a hole for mounting posts through tiles. The tile is placed over the flashing and post, leaving a gap between post and tile. Somehow an installer has to make sure the area around the post remains watertight. In the Southwest, caulking and adhesives won’t last the life of an array. “Any time your solution is ‘somehow or another,’ it should really lead to the question: Is this a 25-year application?” Stearns said. Tile hooks should be evaluated for strength.

QUESTIONS ABOUT REROOFING

When you want to replace your old roof you want to do it with a reliable and durable roofing system for a long term solution. Furthermore, you want to choose from different designs and styles which will fit to your house. Regarding the installation the aim of every homeowner is to have the roof replaced quickly, inexpensively and with as little fuss as possible

WHAT IS THE NORMAL PROCEDURE OF A REROOFING PROJECT?

Erect scaffolding and roof-edge safety measures

Remove old roofing material and dispose of off-site

Check the roof sub-structure, prepare surface and install new roofing battens if necessary

Install new roof complete with all hips, ridges, flashings etc (usually about a day)

Clean up around your garden and perform final inspection of new roof

WHAT SHOULD I KNOW BEFORE CHOOSING A NEW ROOF?

As the saying goes a dog is for life, not just for Christmas. Neither is a roof. Choosing a roof is a long term decision. Think about what will be in keeping with the architecture of the whole house. Fashions come and go; your roof will probably be around for decades.

The location of your home is an important factor. If you are near the coast or in an area known for high wind or extreme weather with a lot of snow, you should look for a roofing system that will help minimize potential problems with corrosion, leaks or system failure. We happen to know one extreme weather resistant roofing system;)

More seriously, roofing is a specialist, stand-alone trade. It’s not a job for a general builder or a DIY guru. Make sure you don’t give this job to a friend who claims to be a jack of all trades.

Roof quotations can be complex and deceptive. Make sure yours include all costs – such as building paper, roof battens, labor cost and other roof-related materials – so you can compare ‘like with like’.

Investigate your options before you decide. The first step is research – on the web, on foot, over the phone and in conversations with other homeowners. This section – Learn About Roofs – is designed to help with your roofing system research, so that you can make a decision you’ll be happy to live with for decades to come.

HOW CAN I FIND A QUALIFIED ROOFING INSTALLER FOR ASSESSING MY ROOF?

THINGS YOU DON’T REALIZE UNTIL YOU OWN ONE FOR A YEAR

considers part of a fully sustainable future where homes and electric cars run on zero-emission sunlight. Musk claimed at this year’s shareholder meeting on June 11 that the company is hopeful it can bring the roof’s price down to reach the equivalent of a standard shingle roof plus utility bills

installing the roof came down to a perfect storm of factors. The family has lived in the state for over 15 years, and Tobler always wanted to go solar. The house, built in 1965, came with a metal roof that made installing panels impossible. When Tesla’s preorder page went live in May 2017, the family opted to replace the aging roof

roof has become an increasingly important product for Tesla. Musk said at the shareholder event that the company is now installing the roof in eight states, and work is almost complete on version three. He added that the design is “actually quite a hard technology problem,” and tests need to simulate 30 years of wear and tear in the space of a few months. Musk added that “we have a shot at being equal to a comp shingle roof plus someone’s utility costs, or maybe lower than that.”

roof efforts have gradually ramped up since the spring 2018 rollout. In October 2019, Musk unveiled a third-generation tile. The new tile is bigger, redesigned on the inside, likely to hide the solar cells better, and is designed for speedy installation

The new tiles are launching in a textured style, with new designs expected every six months through the accelerated testing process. They measure 15 inches by 45 inches, where the old ones measured 8.65 inches by 14 inches. They also reduce the number of parts by over half

TILE ROOFING

Roofing That Looks Good and Does Good

For anyone considering a tile roof for their home, there are several things to think about. You need to be sure the tiles being installed are of the highest quality and you need to be sure you are working with a reliable roofing team.

Tile Roof Installation and Other Services

When it comes to residential roofing, there are several roofing material options on the market, though none are as incredible as the tile roof. This option provides an unrivaled beauty that simply cannot be matched by any asphalt shingle

Types of Tile Roofing

We work with and offer a variety of tile roofing options for our homeowners. We’ll work with you to determine what would be the best for your needs and budget. If you have any questions

TILE ROOFING

Are tile roofs difficult to get installed?

When using trained professionals like those at Tile Roofing LLC, installing tile roofs are one of the simplest systems to install. Installation and maintenance costs in the long run are much lower than other roofing materials.

Are tile roofs fire safe?

Tile that are made from concrete and class have a Class A fire rating and will not catch fire or burn. They are non-combustible and maintain this rating throughout their entire lifetime without any required additional treatments.

If my tile roof is old, damaged, or starts leaking is it necessary for me to get brand new tile?

It is not necessarily required that you replace your tile roof if it is damaged, starts leaking, or is old; most tile roofs can be restored or repaired. If these are options, you are interested in exploring repairing or restoring your tile roof you must locate a matching replacement and contract a qualified roofing contractor like Tile Roofing to replace your tile.

Is tile roofing more susceptible to damage by hail?

In some cases, the most violent of storms all types of roofing materials are destroyed. However, in most cases with typical hail storms averaging 2” diameter hail or less other roofing materials have had to be completely replaced where only 10% of the tiles on a tile roof were damaged and needed replacement.

What is a “lift-and-relay”?

One pro of using tile roofing is its ability to be reused. The term most often used in terms of re-usability is “lift-and-relay”; this is where the tile is evaluated and inspected, and upon the tile being in good condition the roofer may take the original tile off the roof, simply put down new felts, and then places that same tile back on the roof. This method can effectively help save customers money.

tips for mounting solar on tile roofs

Evaluate the tiles. It’s common to find hairline cracks on tile roofs, the product of a dropped tool or a heavy foot long ago. Often cracks are sealed together with silicone or another adhesive. But just because you didn’t cause the blemish, doesn’t mean it’s not your responsibility. “What I’m finding in talking with integrators, regardless of who caused the damage, is the last person on the roof will be blamed for it,” Stearns said

Watch the underlayment. In 1986, the building code was updated to require underlayment on tile roofs, protecting homes from snow, sleet and wind-driven rain. “I used to say that the tile was really a facade to protect the underlayment, which was your primary waterproofing,” Stearns said. “That’s probably a little bit of a stretch, but the underlayment is critical.” A well-done inspection of the underlayment before taking ownership of the roof is important. If the material is deteriorated, rotted or cracked, it could leak regardless of what you happen to do as an integrator on the roof.

Check for pests. Tile roofs are ideal homes for bats, packrats and squirrels. Damage from gnawing pests can lead to moisture intrusion, rapidly degrading waterproofing and the structure underneath. Pay special attention to holes and cracks in the roof. “If you have the ability to get inside the house and do a survey in the attic and get a sense for whether or not this roof has leaked in the past or is currently leaking, that’s a pretty critical point to acknowledge during your survey,” Stearns said.

You will break tile. Everybody does. “It happens on every project that I’m aware of and it’s important that you fix that material as you go, or certainly before you finish,” Stearns said. “Damaged tiles should be replaced before installing a PV system and during the installation.” Solar mounting solutions that replace a tile with a flashing are a great way to move forward.

Consider installation longevity. One way to install solar involves boring a hole for mounting posts through tiles. The tile is placed over the flashing and post, leaving a gap between post and tile. Somehow an installer has to make sure the area around the post remains watertight. In the Southwest, caulking and adhesives won’t last the life of an array. “Any time your solution is ‘somehow or another,’ it should really lead to the question: Is this a 25-year application?” Stearns said. Tile hooks should be evaluated for strength.

QUESTIONS ABOUT REROOFING

When you want to replace your old roof you want to do it with a reliable and durable roofing system for a long term solution. Furthermore, you want to choose from different designs and styles which will fit to your house. Regarding the installation the aim of every homeowner is to have the roof replaced quickly, inexpensively and with as little fuss as possible

WHAT IS THE NORMAL PROCEDURE OF A REROOFING PROJECT?

Erect scaffolding and roof-edge safety measures

Remove old roofing material and dispose of off-site

Check the roof sub-structure, prepare surface and install new roofing battens if necessary

Install new roof complete with all hips, ridges, flashings etc (usually about a day)

Clean up around your garden and perform final inspection of new roof

WHAT SHOULD I KNOW BEFORE CHOOSING A NEW ROOF?

As the saying goes a dog is for life, not just for Christmas. Neither is a roof. Choosing a roof is a long term decision. Think about what will be in keeping with the architecture of the whole house. Fashions come and go; your roof will probably be around for decades.

The location of your home is an important factor. If you are near the coast or in an area known for high wind or extreme weather with a lot of snow, you should look for a roofing system that will help minimize potential problems with corrosion, leaks or system failure. We happen to know one extreme weather resistant roofing system;)

More seriously, roofing is a specialist, stand-alone trade. It’s not a job for a general builder or a DIY guru. Make sure you don’t give this job to a friend who claims to be a jack of all trades.

Roof quotations can be complex and deceptive. Make sure yours include all costs – such as building paper, roof battens, labor cost and other roof-related materials – so you can compare ‘like with like’.

Investigate your options before you decide. The first step is research – on the web, on foot, over the phone and in conversations with other homeowners. This section – Learn About Roofs – is designed to help with your roofing system research, so that you can make a decision you’ll be happy to live with for decades to come.

HOW CAN I FIND A QUALIFIED ROOFING INSTALLER FOR ASSESSING MY ROOF?

Let’s face it, a reroofing project is a ‘grudge purchase’. When you do decide you have to replace yours, you want to do it quickly, inexpensively and with as little fuss as possible

Let’s face it, a reroofing project is a ‘grudge purchase’. When you do decide you have to replace yours, you want to do it quickly, inexpensively and with as little fuss as possible

Water Testing And Ammonia Levels

Why should my well water get tested and for what contaminants?

There are many different reasons to get your well water tested at a laboratory. People get their

wells tested when they are having water quality problems (unusual color or odor), when they

are selling or buying a home, and when a new well is installed or an old well or well pump is

maintained. In addition, it is good practice to have your well water checked at least once a

year and even to reevaluate your drinking water source if posed with health-related problems.

Local health departments are the main regulatory agency with respect to residential wells. They

are required to maintain a list of environmental contaminants within their jurisdiction, and they

consider this information when they issue permits for new wells. Your local health department is

usually at the district or county level, and their phone number can be found in a local telephone

book or online at www.malph.org. Since the local health department tracks this contaminant

information, and contaminants are site-specifi c depending on the contaminant source, it is

worthwhile to contact the local health department to determine what contaminants may be

in your area. If a contaminant such as a petroleum product, industrial solvent, heavy metal,

herbicide, or pesticide is in the area, the health department may recommend a test for the

contaminant. When calling a local health department or health district to discuss well water

quality, ask to speak with a water sanitarian.

When buying or selling a home, some testing may be required. Some counties require that

wells be tested for certain contaminants upon the sale of a home (called “point of sale”

testing). A test for bacteria or even an “automated partial chemistry” test may be required. The

automated partial chemistry test is for the following contaminants: chloride, fl uoride, hardness,

iron, nitrate, nitrite, sodium, and sulfate. In addition to this point of sale testing, various lending

institutions require drinking water testing before mortgage approval (e.g., the Federal Housing

Administration requires testing for lead in drinking water sources before they will approve the

lending transaction), so contact both the lending institution and the local health department to

make an informed contaminant test selection decision.

Water Sample Analysis

Water sample testing detects bacterial indicators of contamination:

in drinking water and non-potable sources (i.e., sewage, pools, spa, and recreational beaches)

for investigations linked to clinical illness

Public Health Inspectors can review requirements for testing before submitting samples to PHO.

PHO Laboratory performs microbiological testing of water samples for the detection of bacterial indicators of contamination and specific pathogens in water. Each water sample is tested for specific indicators according to the water source.

If testing is required on a water source that is not listed in the PHO Laboratory water testing menu below, or testing is needed to identify specific etiological agents in water related to a laboratory confirmed clinical case or outbreak investigation, boards of health are asked to consult with the microbiologist, or designate, overseeing the water testing program prior to sample submission.

Sample collection requirements, sample handling, shipping conditions, test information including testing frequency, turnaround times and reporting limits are dependent on the specific water source. Samples will not be processed if the requisition is not completely and accurately filled in when received at the laboratory; and a new sample and completed form will be required to be submitted.

  • Drinking water (including bottled water)
  • Drinking water – Private citizen
  • Ice – Treated
  • Public Beach Water
  • Recreational Water Facilities, Public pools/Spas
  • Suspected Sewage Contamination – Water

Health and Drinking Water

Is my tap water safe to drink?

Most community water systems get a passing grade from the federal government, because drinking water regulations allow contaminants in tap water at levels greater than what scientists deem to be safe. In addition, there are many unregulated contaminants that end up in drinking water.

If you want or need better drinking water than what comes from the tap, EWG suggests buying a home water filter certified to remove or reduce the contaminants found in your tap water. EWG has developed an extensive online guide to choosing a water filter, which will help you decide which one is right for you.

Is bottled water safer than tap water?

In most situations, bottled water is not the answer. The problem with bottled water is that you cannot be sure what you are getting. Reports show that some bottled water is just tap water, filtered in some cases and untreated in others. Unlike public water suppliers, bottled water manufacturers are not required by law to disclose the levels of any contaminants in their products.

In addition to water contaminants that could come from the source water, bottled water may also be contaminated with plastic additives that can migrate from plastic packaging. Many of these additives have not been fully assessed for safety by the Food and Drug Administration, the agency with oversight over food and beverage packaging.

Bottled water may be the appropriate choice in an emergency – after major storms or earthquakes, or a large-scale infrastructure failure. In cases such as these, choose bottled water that carries a disclosure about its source and treatment, and the results of water quality testing.

How can I be clear to a laboratory that I want them to use only USEPA-approved methods?

Laboratories may be certified by MassDEP in any one or more of 132 parameters, analytes or categories. Since a laboratory might not be certified in the tests required or recommended by your local Board of Health, you should put in writing in your contract with the laboratory that it must comply with the requirements of your town’s Board of Health. Check the information on the second page of the list of certified laboratories to see if MassDEP offers certification for the analytes you are concerned about.

If you want your water tested by a certified laboratory even though you are not required to use a certified laboratory, make it clear to the laboratory that you want the test done using USEPA approved methods and according to MassDEP’s requirements for certified laboratories which are found in Massachusetts regulations at 310 CMR 42.00.

Facts about your water

General water facts

  • Canada’s water resources account for approximately 7 per cent of the world’s renewable fresh water
  • An estimated 884 million people around the world live without access to safe water
  • The human body is approximately 70 per cent water and every system in our body uses water
  • A human being can live only four to seven days without water

Local water facts

  • In the Region of Peel, tap water arrives at your home, school or business within 3 to 6 days of being taken from Lake Ontario
  • There are more than 4,000 kilometres of water mains running beneath the ground in Peel
  • There are more than 25,000 water hydrants in the Region of Peel
  • More than 300,000 homes and businesses receive safe, clean drinking water from the Region of Peel

How To Find Engine Rebuilding Jobs

Why Do Rotary Engines Offer Bad Mileage?

The rotary engine has a constant crankshaft, and the corresponding cylinder block revolves around it. The engine has its plus points and some drawbacks, but the low mileage offered by the rotary engine is the matter of concern.

1. The Inefficient Engines

The thing is; the rotary engines end up producing excessive power. The engines, in turn, are not built to handle the excessive power. As a matter of fact, the more power the more fuel is burnt as the revs of the vehicle get higher. This is the simplest reasons that explain why rotary engines offer a bad mileage.

2. Seal Leakages

The temperatures of each chamber of the engine house differ. This tends to be problematic when the diverse expansion coefficients of the materials lead to faulty sealing. Furthermore, a case of seal leakages occurs that results in leakages of combustion gas into the other chambers. Such wastage of gas directly means low fuel economy.

3. Low Compression Ratio

Compression ratio is the overall ratio of the maximum and the smallest volume of the cylinder at any given point within the internal combustion engine. The best compression ratio that has been recorded on a rotary engine is 11:1, which is not okay in terms of what modern engines can offer. The best compression ratio for a petrol engine is 10:1.

4. Long Combustion Chamber

The combustion chamber of a rotary engine is designed to be very long. This may work well to some extent, but the high surface area to volume ratio makes things tricky. You may ask, ”How may it affect the fuel consumption,” to which the answer lies in the extended cooling time of the fluids. If the cooling is suffered, so is the overall fuel economy.

5. The Case Of Fixed Ports

The valves or camshafts are missing in a rotary engine. This problem with the rotary engines leads to the inability of meddling with the valve timings, i.e., the case of “no valve timing.” The port time can only be changed by machining the ports of altering the piston skirt. So, when the valves do not open and close at a synchronized timing, the engine performance deteriorates. In simple words, the rotary engine fuel economy turns out to be bad.

The most common mistake made by rotary enthusiasts intent on supercharging their engines is to supercharge a stock, unmodified non-turbo engine. 

Unless you are content to use the power gain only occasionally, and even then only briefly, you run the very serious risk of catastrophic engine failure. Sustained use generally brings failure, and the more common failures include broken apex seals and flattened apex seal springs. On occasion a stationary gear breaks, or a rotor gear moves away from the rotor and jams against a side housing, or a bearing fails due to overheating. With any of these failures, a complete engine rebuild is required.

The causes of these problems, and others, are many. Superchargers generate heat loads well in excess of what a stock engine can handle: the stock water and oil cooling systems are overwhelmed and simply cannot carry away the excess heat fast enough.

Additionally, the compression ratio commonly found in non-turbo engines is not low enough for supercharger applications. Depending on horsepower requirements, a compression ratio as low as 7.5:1 may be in order for reliable operation. The higher the boost level you desire to run, the greater the likelihood you will need to address the issue of a lowered compression ratio. In our experience, we have found that 5 psi., approximately, is the threshold above which the stock, non-turbo compression ratio is no longer appropriate.

As the above comments would suggest, we do not recommend supercharging an otherwise stock, “non-turbo-based” unmodified engine. When you weigh the anticipated power gains against the very real likelihood of a premature, and costly, engine failure it’s likely not worth the headaches.

If you are willing to build an engine that is capable of handling the increased heat loads that superchargers develop, the following tips will prove beneficial, increasing the likelihood of a long-life engine.

How It Works

A rotary engine is a barrel-shaped internal combustion engine that lacks many of the major parts you’d find in a conventional piston engine. For one thing, there are no pistons chugging up and down. Rather, rounded triangular rotors—most often two, but sometimes one or three—spin around a shaft through the hollow barrel.

Fuel and air are pumped into the spaces between the rotors’ sides and interior walls of the barrel, where they ignite. The rapid expansion of exploding gases turns the rotors, thus generating power. The rotors fulfill the same task as pistons in a piston engine, but with far fewer moving parts, making a rotary engine lighter and smaller than a piston engine of equivalent displacement.

The basic design is a century-old one. Felix Wankel himself was a German engineer who came up with his version of a rotary engine in the 1920s. Being busy with warmongering on behalf of the Nazi party, however, he didn’t get the chance to develop his vision too far until 1951, when German automaker NSU invited him to design a prototype.

Wankel Engines

Try not to get caught up in the semantics of what to call this engine. Commonly referred to as a rotary engine (even by Mazda, though often this refers to a rotating piston-cylinder-based layout), the Wankel engine was last used in production in the Mazda RX-8. There are no pistons, camshafts, or connecting rods.

Advantages

  • Simplicity: rotary engines can have as few as three main moving parts, versus more than 40+ for piston-cylinder based engines. Fewer moving parts typically leads to better reliability.
  • No reciprocating mass: this allows rotary engines to rev high, and also run very smoothly.
  • Weight: rotary engines are compact and offer great power-to-weight ratios.
  • Power delivery: because of the way a rotor rotates, power delivery lasts for more of the rotation of the crankshaft versus a piston-cylinder engine, resulting in super smooth power delivery.
  • Size: rotary engines are compact, allowing for easy packaging.

Disadvantages

  • Fuel economy: the exhaust often includes unburned fuel, on top of which Wankel engines typically have low compression ratios, resulting in poor fuel efficiency.
  • Emissions: unburned hydrocarbons leaving the exhaust makes it difficult to pass emissions regulations.
  • Rotor sealing: due to the varying temperatures throughout the combustion chamber, the apex seals expand and contract making it difficult to create a good seal, leading to inefficient power production.
  • Oil burning: by design, Mazda Wankel engines burn oil to help maintain the longevity of the apex seals. Not only does this further increase exhaust emissions, but it requires the owner to add oil periodically.

Mechanical Operation

A rotary engine uses a triangular-shaped rotor to divide the space inside the engine, enabling a standard four-stroke cycle of intake, compression, ignition and exhaust. The moving rotor transports fuel to the various engine compartments for each leg of the cycle. In this way, it resembles a reciprocating piston engine. Rotary engines can be built with any number of rotors, much like the multiple number of cylinders offered in piston engines. The rotors engage a drive shaft, which then powers the vehicle’s drive mechanism (the propeller of a plane, or wheels of a car).

Simplicity

One of the major advantages of a rotary engine is its mechanical simplicity. A rotary engine contains far fewer parts than a comparable piston engine. This may decrease the cost of design and manufacture. This also leads to decreased weight. Compared to standard reciprocating piston engines, rotary engines contain no valves, camshaft, rocker arms, timing belts or flywheel. All this means decreased weight, fewer opportunities for malfunction and easier repair. When rotary engines were first developed, they were used to power aircraft, taking advantage of the rotary engine’s high power-to-weight ratio.

Basic Tools Used By Level 2 Electrician

Tips On Finding A Reliable Journeyman Electrician

Journeyman ElectricianHow should one go about finding a good reliable journeyman electrician? When choosing an electrician there are a number of factors to consider. Before you begin to worry about cost and price and essential materials that will be required for your construction project. You should consider this, what kind of reputation does your electrician have? How satisfied are his customers? How good was the quality of the work done? Reputation is chief among other things when looking for a journeyman electrician. Having thorough knowledge of whether he is a properly licensed electrician, a member or a recognized union and whether he or she is willing to stand behind the work they will complete for you.

If you are looking to find a journeyman electrician, here are some tips to consider:

Save money getting several quotes from different electricians, then go with the one you liked best.

Talk with electrical contractors and make a decision ( their professional advice can be very useful).

Get atleast 4 quotes from local electricians.

Save time by not calling electricians at random from your phone book.

When you’re selecting the right journeyman electrician for your home here are some things to consider: Electricians tend to specialize. Some focus on construction, others on commercial work and some only attend to service calls to fix dead outlets or faulty fixtures. Those that specialize in remodeling have mastered the techniques for wiring existing homes and additions. Such as: snaking wires through finished walls, assessing the capacity of existing circuits and evaluating whether to install an additional service panel ( where the circuit breaks are) to handle increased power demands. Hoover has been the leading provider of industrial electrical services for more than thirty three years now. Their proficient service team can work with any kind of industrial electric system.

When hiring you electrician keep in mind that you are hiring him for his professional skills and you are putting the safety of your home and your family in his hands. Commercial electricians can be found anywhere online, online directories, on yellow pages, and many of them still leave contact cards in regular businesses. It is a good idea to have a professional come into your home and inspect the work you have done ( if any ). Something else to keep in mind is that even if you are handy with electricity you may still not be aware that you may be overloading a circuit by adding new fixtures or outlets. During construction when electrical components are initially installed, there could arise a problem by overloading a circuit and it could damage all of your electrical wiring. Several hazards can occur, it could dim your lights when you turn on appliances, damage an expensive fixture or appliance, and in worse cases start a fire. It is advised that you contact a journeyman electrician for any electrical problem in your home.

Old Wiring Tricks Electricians Still Use Today

Some of the best electricians are the ones that think outside of the wire to make magic happen. Much trial and error over generations has gone into these tricks, so we are sharing the knowledge gathered straight from the source

“Still measuring from the foundations to find the location to drill up a wall? Try this. Take an insulation hanger or a coat hanger. Snip off the end at a 45 degree angle. Insert it into your drill and make a small hole at a 45 degree angle on the floor next to the molding. Homeowners never notice the hole because it is so small.”

“Use a tennis ball to pull cable”

“When pulling communications wire, tie jet-line to a tennis ball. Throw the ball to the wire’s destination. Hook your wire to the string and pull.”

“Use a hot air gun to aid in bending PVC conduit”

“A hot air gun comes in handy when you need quick bend for PVC conduit. Just heat the area until pliable and then make your bend. Larger conduits can bend by inserting the area of the conduit through a 3 or 4 inch PVC tee and the hot air gun in the remaining opening in the tee. Leave the conduit in the tee until it’s bendable.”

“Making large holes without proper drill bits”

“When you need to make large holes for conduit and you don’t have a large drill bit try this. Make your template where you want to drill and drill a series of holes around the exterior. Follow up with one center hole and be sure you’re level. Finish with a piece of 1/2″ rigid and a hammer to bang out the hole clean. Works every time!”

Electrical Tips & Safety Advice

The electrical safety of your home or business is paramount. Below are some fact sheets with important information that will help you to maintain the safety of your family and employees.

What should I do if I have these products installed?

If you have these isolators installed you should shut down your system immediately. Most solar systems have the shut down procedure listed near the inverter or main switchboard.

Do I need an electrician to shut my system down?

Your personal safety must be your highest priority.  Please take care not to place yourself in danger while attempting to shut down the system, particularly if your switch is on the roof of your home.

What do I do once the system has been shut down?

You should arrange for the faulty product to be replaced urgently.

There is never any hesitation when it comes to getting the car or the boat serviced or repaired, but all too often, servicing the pool gets overlooked. Pools are rated as number three on the list of the largest capital purchases we make in our lifetime, with a house in first position, and a car in close second. Out of these three, the car is the only one that tends to receive regular maintenance and servicing.

Test-Taking Tips For Your Electrician Exam

Start Early

Register for the electrician license exam and start studying. The sooner you begin studying, the greater your chances to pass. You should plan on spending a total of 60 hours studying time for the electrician exam. If your exam is scheduled for a month from now, that means you need to take about 15 hours each week to study. Studying works best when it is spaced, so try to spend at least 2 hours each day preparing. Do not procrastinate and wait until the last minute to cram.

Learn The Code

The National Electrical Code is not always easy to understand. You have to know how the Code is organized (Chapters, Articles, Parts, sections.) If you do not know how to use the Code, you will not pass your electrical exam. Use the index in the back of the NEC to look up sections. Don’t flip through the book randomly looking for answers during the exam. Find the Code section before answering a question. Match the wording of the question to the Code section.

Save Time

Don’t waste time studying material that is not on the electrician exam; only study materials that will be on the exam! Online Electrical Exam Prep gives you questions that are likely to be covered on the exam. Focus on Code Calculations. Saving time also means focusing on your weaker areas first. If you have a lot of experience with motors and are confident about answering questions based on motors, then you can study other areas first. You can save time during the exam by answering questions that you know first, and then coming back to the difficult ones later. As soon as you read a question, eliminate the answers that you know are not right. This will increase your chances of choosing the correct answer.

Learn The Technology

If you do not have a lot of experience with computers, then you will find the actual online electrical exam to be very stressful. Practicing on a computer is essential to your studying routine. Since the exam is timed, you will need to practice on the computer to make sure you are answering the questions at the right pace. Taking a timed, computer-based practice test will help you tremendously; you will be able to monitor your pace and know how the real electrical exam will feel. JADE Learning’s electrical exam prep offers timed electrical practice exams, so you can get realistic practice.

Keep Your Cool

Get a good night’s rest before the electrician exam. This will help you keep your cool and relax during the exam. Make a list of the materials you will need to bring to the testing center, and do not forget your ID. Arrive early for the electrician test so that you can choose a comfortable seat in a good location. DO NOT panic – this will only make things worse. Remain confident and remind yourself that you are doing a great job!

Safety Around The Home

Electricity is part of our lives. We use it from the moment we wake up and throughout the day. As a result, we sometimes forget how powerful and dangerous it can be.

The following list outlines the steps you should take to reduce electrical accidents around the home to help you navigate to these guides. Each tip contains a link our in-depth on the subject.

Tips on how to improve electrical safety at home:

Make visual checks to your electrics with professional help. Learn more about what to look for here.

Take great care with your DIY. DIY attempts result in nearly half of all severe electric shocks in the home. This DIY electrical safety guide explains how to avoid electric shocks in the process.

Remain vigilant in the kitchen. Misuse of kitchen appliances is just one of the many electrical safety no-nos in the home. Learn more here.

Remember that water and electricity are a deadly mix. The bathroom can be one of the most dangerous rooms in the house when it comes to electrical safety. Read our top bathroom safety tips here.

Don’t use electrical gardening equipment outdoors until it is dry. More advice for electrical safety in the garden is available here.

Take the necessary precautions after a flood. If your home has been flooded, there is a high chance the electrics could be damaged. Read more about what to do in this situation here.

Exercise caution to prevent electrical fires. This guide outlines common ways electrical fires occur in the home and how to avoid them.

Millions of people commit basic electric safety ‘blunders’ in the home without realising that they are exposing themselves to the risk of fire or electric shock.

Modern living means we are using more and more electrical appliances in the home. Just twenty years ago, the average UK home would have had a hi-fi system and one TV or video. Today, it is more likely that there are at least two TVs, a DVD player, a satellite receiver, games console, microwave, computer and more. So, the risk of electrical accidents in the home is much higher than before.