What You Need to Know about Hot Water Recirculation Systems

hot water recirculationA Phoenix hot water recirculation system is typically a plumbing system that moves hot water to fixtures fast without waiting for the water to turn hot. As opposed to simply relying on low water pressure which is common in many water lines, recirculating systems move water from a water heater to the faucets. Here are some important facts you need to know regarding hot water recirculation systems.
Types
Dedicated Loop System
In this version, the system is mounted on a pipe that is connected to a water heater tank down low. This is the cooler side of the loop or simply the return. According to hot water recirculation Grundfos specialists, the hot water pipe is installed via a loop throughout the home, passing near each plumbing fixture. At each fixture there is a short pipe that connects the loop to the hot water valve. The fact that hot water is constantly circulating through the hot water loop, anytime a valve is opened, it only requires a fraction of a second for hot water to be able to reach the valve. This actually extends the lifespan of the pump and if the home is currently not occupied, it will most probably be left unplugged.
Integrated Loop System
This type typically used on retrofits but may also be used for new home construction. It consists of a pump that is installed under the plumbing fixture farthest from the water heater. The pump contains a sensor which switches the pump on when water temperature goes below 85 degrees Fahrenheit and then switches it off when the water temperature goes up to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. In this system, hot water is re-circulated on an intermittent basis. Cold water pipes is used to return hot water to the water heater. This raises the temperature of the cold water slightly but it returns to the normal temperature in a short period of time.
Advantages
It does not matter whether they are automatic or manually controlled, recirculation systems does a good job of reducing the amount of water that is wasted while the homeowner waits for the correct temperature for usage.
Recirculation systems are able to:
• Save time as they deliver hot water quite quickly to faucets providing utmost convenience
• Conserve water as they provide lesser water wastage while waiting for the water to reach the desired temperature
• They reduce municipal energy waste
If you are interested in getting a hot water recirculation system for your home log on to Clear Water Arizona.

How to Choose a Commercial Concrete Floor Contractor

If you are considering doing some construction upgrades to your property particularly if it involves the mixing and installation of concrete products then you need to be particularly careful that you hire the right commercial concrete floor contractor Minnesota expert to ensure that the job is up to par with current standards and the beauty and integrity of your home is not compromised. Concrete is one of the most durable construction materials around. However, it requires a skilled hand and proper training in order to lay it properly. Picking the wrong contractor may result in costly delays in order to repair the botched job and cost you a lot of money. Here are some advice on how to pick and what to avoid.

Never Select Solely on the Basis of Price

Never pick a retail concrete floor contractor MN specialist solely on the basis on how cheap he charges. The saying “you get what you pay for rings very true when it comes to concrete contractors. Look beyond the price range and go deeper by examining their portfolio rather than thinking of your bottom line. You may be able to save a few extra dollars because you were able to negotiate a price. However, at what cost?

Verify their Insurance Status

You need to protect yourself from undue liabilities so it is only natural that you should check the contractor’s insurance prior to allowing them to work on your home. The coverage should include injury to person as well as potential damage to property. In this way you are not left footing the bill should something go terribly awry.

Request a Quote from 2 or 3 Contractors

Do not immediately pick the first one that provided you with a reasonable offer. It is always wise to look around and compare quotes from different contractors. Examine the contract they will offer you. Make sure that there is a start and an end date. Go online and get feedback from other clients that have tried their services. Be careful of contractors that have only perfect reviews as this may be manufactured ones designed to reel in more customers. It is unwise to rely on their own website for feedback alone. Get reviews from independent sites to determine the veracity of their claims.

To talk to a certified concrete contractor today log on to Concrete Treatments Inc.

 

Tips for Setting up a Community Outreach Food Pantry

church food pantryEstablishing a community food pantry for your church may seem such a complicated task but with the right tools and a lot of persistence on your part it can be done.  Since you will need the support of a lot of volunteers and local businesses, you will have to find ways to raise food donations and funding for your project.  Aside from church outreach products that promote your food pantry drive, you will need to get very organized in the way you campaign for funding and support.

Need

The first step is to ensure that there is really a need for an outreach food pantry in your community.  Look and investigate the existing ones and see if there are areas that they do not serve. Find out the limits of their services and determine if the amount of food they serve is sufficient to people needing it. By knowing the logistics and need for such a pantry, the easier it is for you to convince others to pitch in.

Find Community Partners

One of the best ways to enlist the help of community partners is to distribute church leaflets that outline your plan and the need for a food pantry in your community.  Develop a simple but persuasive presentation about your vision and present this via mail or flyer.  Get local schools involved by speaking at their PTA meetings and get the students involved by starting a food drive or collect change from the school cafeteria.  Arrange to speak with different civic groups such as Jaycees, Lions and Kiwanis so you can get their support. To get assistance for start-up cost, talk to a local community foundation and get some financial aid for the project.  They may contribute some logistical items like refrigerators, freezers, shelving and other necessary equipment.

Get Volunteers

Nothing is stronger than the heart of a volunteer.  Begin with your church members and their families but do not limit yourself to your group.  Enlist also the help of other churches so as to maximize people that can help with the drive.  Two volunteers per session is usually adequate. For each day that you operate, you may need at least 8 to 10 volunteers who each contribute a day per month of their time.

To learn more on how you can drum up interest for your food pantry project log on to Growth Partnership International.

 

 

Causes of Vomiting in Dogs Explained

sick dogThere are few things that are more disgusting than cleaning dog vomit off your floor.  According to dog kennel Buffalo experts, the most common causes of dog vomiting range from simple motion sickness, anxiety or simply food that did not agree with him.  Other times, if the vomiting is chronic, the dog may have a serious medical condition that require a visit to the vet and some tests.  Here are some of the causes of dog vomiting explained.

Motion Sickness

Like humans, there are some dogs that are prone to getting motion sickness and will often vomit during or after car rides.  The best means of preventing this condition is to get your dog used to car rides when she is still a pup.  Do not feed your dog right before a car trip and open the window so she can have clean, fresh air.  It also helps that your dog is hydrated before she goes for a ride.

Upset Stomach

Most often, dogs do not practice good choices when it comes to the food they eat.  Road kill, garbage, dirt and even their own feces might look like a good snack to them.  All of these can upset their stomach and make them sick to the point that they will need to clear the offending items.  If it is merely something they ate, the vomiting should cease within 24 hours. If it persists beyond that and is now accompanied by a foul smell or something bloody, bring him to the vet immediately.

Bowel Obstruction

There may be times that your pet may eat something that she cannot pass from her stomach into her intestines like a rock or a small plastic toy. The resulting obstruction will result to vomiting and vet intervention is mostly a necessity.  An endoscope may be used to assess the degree and location of the obstruction as well as to determine if surgery is warranted.

Dog Anxiety

Dogs also act out their fears via vomiting if they feel anxious.  If you are going to leave your dog at a kennel, dog boarding Monticello MN experts recommend that you give them time to get used to the facility at least 24 hours before you board them. Bring along something that reminds them of home such as a favorite toy, their own food and an item of yours that they are familiar with.

 

To learn more about this and other topics log on to Grand Paws Place.

The Most Essential Farming Equipment You Need To Know About

The most important farm equipment without a doubt is the tractor. According to buy used equipment MN specialists, no other piece of agricultural or farm machinery is as versatile in terms of handling a variety of chores and projects.  Aside from the tractor itself, most other farm equipment is considered industry specific.

The Tractor

farm equipmentTractors come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and options. Farmers need to obtain the size tractor they need for the routine jobs they need to handle. For instance, crop and livestock farms benefit from a utility tractor that features a PTO drive and a front end loader.  Such a kind of setup allows for the use of pull behind attachments like mowing decks, harrows including front end attachments like hay forks and buckets.  Bigger operations and industrial farms benefit from larger tractors that have comparable setups using bigger attachments for larger acreage.

Field Management Attachments

Whether it be for pure farming purposes or for raising livestock, farming requires managing fields.  Tractor attachments like disc harrows and root rakes help farmers turn over fields for new planting or to prep lands for grazing livestock. According to equipment parts and service MN specialists, mowing decks in different sizes and configurations allow farmers to trim underbrush around planted fields or cut hay in preparation for winter storage.  Each of these field management attachments runs as a pull-behind connected to the tractor’s PTO, using the tractor engine as the power generator.

Road Maintenance Attachments

Just as all farmers must manage fields, so too must farmers need to maintain the roads within the boundaries of the farm.  Vehicular traffic and rain can take its toll on dirt roads, with one heavy night of rain capable of destroying smaller dirt paths.  Pull behind tractor attachments like box blades allow farmers to resurface dirt roads on a regular basis.  Buckets on the front of the tractor allow for deeper road cutting so as to repair drainage ditches and other roadway necessities.

If you are interested in getting a used or new tractor for your farm log on to Minnesota Equipment.

 

 

Almost a Million Malware Threats Released Every Day

While computer hackers get more and more creative and clandestine in their activities, companies are struggling to fend off cyber attacks almost every day. The latest report from reputable Internet security teams at Symantec and Verizon offer a disturbing look on how challenging it is for a computer user to stay safe while online.

Symantec’s security threat analysis in 2014 revealed that thieves are working much more efficiently and at an alarmingly faster rate than companies can defend themselves.  This has resulted in the launching of more and more malicious attacks than in previous years. About 317 million new pieces of malware, which are basically computer viruses and other malicious software, were created just last year alone.  This is equivalent to almost a million threats being released each day.

The hackers actually relied on ancient computer bugs that companies just have not gotten around to fixing yet, this is according to Verizon’s 2015 Data Breach Investigations Report.

In almost 90% of cases, hackers mainly relied on computer bugs that have been around since 2002.  The 3rd most commonly used method by hackers is through the use of a glitch in the way an IT manager remotely manages corporate PCs – one that has been in operation since 1999.  Conventionally speaking, companies should have already provided a patch to fix the flaw but surprisingly most have simply neglected it.

According to Verizon Security Data researcher Bob Rudis, “While it seems like a no brainer for fix some of these things, organizations care more about making widgets,” He says further that companies just do not have the time or manpower to tackle the issue.

Based on the same Symantec report, directed attacks and breach of data also grew with five out of six large companies being targeted by cybercriminals.   This represented a 40% increase based from the previous year.  Among the industries most affected, mining was the one that suffered the most brazen attacks. Hackers were mostly just trying to sell whatever sensitive information they can get on the black market for a quick buck.

 

The Role of Marketing Automation for Homebuilder Lead Generation

When it comes to getting a list of prospective customers, the first step is generating solid homebuilder leads.  This does not necessarily mean that you will get business from all of them and unless you have the manpower and resources to chase down each and every single lead, your conversion rate would be likely low to nothing.  According to remodeler sales training experts, very few customers are likely to come to you by themselves, without any assistance.  If you are a renovation specialist with very few admin staff, the best method is to automate your marketing.

Marketing Automation

According to remodeler sales conversion specialists, marketing automation is not simply a process by which you send a ton of emails to prospects each month.  While it is a good means of driving traffic to your website and get people more interested about your services, it can potentially do more than just that.  Through the development of software that is specifically targeted for managing relationships, you can maintain regular communications with your prospective clients, send special offers and promotions and monitor what they are interested in and what they are simply ignoring.

Why Marketing Automation Works:

  • It allows you to generate reports that can assist you in analyzing which marketing efforts are delivering the best results in terms of new business.
  • It frees you up so that you are able to focus on warmer leads while you develop cooler ones via email.
  • Track the activity of your prospects so that you know who to follow up with and when to do so.
  • Score leads according to different criteria so that you know which one to follow up.
  • Gives you the ability to collect information from possible clients via landing pages and online forms
  • Integrate email marketing and website lead generation efforts

 

 

Implement a Program

There are several ways by which you can setup a marketing automation program in order to deliver homebuilding leads for your company.  There are CRM software available such as Salesforce or HubSpot, but this will require some training in order to implement.  There are also some free programs out there such as Sales AutoPilot and leadsius.

If you want to learn more about marketing automation and how to do it quickly and effectively log on to New Home Sales Coach.

 

A Basic Guide to Porcelain Sink Refinishing

Porcelain coatings are known to offer a classic looking and durable surface for bathroom sinks and kitchens. They come in classic white and other color variants. According to Minneapolis MN kitchen refinishing specialists, sink refinishing is the definitive method to ensure that your kitchen or bathroom sink retain their original luster. Here are some basic tips to consider.

Initial Prep

Prior to refinishing a porcelain type sink, it is imperative that you check for the presence of any structural damage that can make the refinishing process impossible, like the presence of cracks that pass through the vessel. Once you have established the viability of the sink you can then proceed to prepping the surface area. Minneapolis kitchen repair experts recommend that you remove the old caulk from between the sink and the wall. You then drag a putty knife carefully along the caulk, thereby lifting it to easily pull out and disposed of. Make sure to use proper care with the knife so as not to chip at the drywall or tile. You also need to cover the faucet with plastic that is secured in place by rubber band and then remove the drain cover. Use plastic sheeting and painter’s tape on the walls for added protection.

Cleaning the Sink

Once the old caulk has been removed and you have instituted the necessary fixture protection, you can then proceed to clean the sink thoroughly. You can use rubber gloves and a respirator to begin cleaning the surface of the sink using an acid-based cleaning solution like TSP or trisodium phosphate. Make sure that you rinse thoroughly once finished. For best results, rub the surface with denatured alcohol which is essentially a multi-purpose solvent once you are done with the cleaning process.

Repair and Etching

In order to repair any surface cracks or chips, a polyester glazing putty that is designed for use in porcelain sinks is used to repair any surface blemishes. Once this has been applied and allowed to dry, you need to use a medium grit sandpaper in order to sand the surface properly. Etch the surface after sanding in order to ensure that the new coat of paint will adhere to it properly.

Spraying New Enamel

Spraying on the new enamel will give the sink the proper coating it needs to look amazing. You can use an acrylic urethane enamel specifically for this purpose. Spray on at least three coats in order to get a smooth finish.

To learn more about porcelain refinishing log on to Surface Specialists Metro.

 

 

Outdoor Fire Pit Design Choices

Fire pits offer a lot of opportunities for outdoor cooking and also provide a place to sit down and have a cool fireside chat with close friends and family members. Fire pits for the most part burn wood in order to create heat and light. Some fire pit designs are meant to be permanent additions to the landscaping while others are temporary and some are even portable so you can change their location easily. According to fire pits Zimmerman Minnesota specialists, a fire pit is one of the easiest means of adding dimension to your yard. Here are some design ideas to consider.

Stone and Brick Fire Pits

This type of fire pit design calls for digging a hole in the soil or gravel. To define the boundaries of the pit, a ring of bricks, stones or concrete blocks are stacked around the rim. This prevents logs from rolling out of the pit as they burn. This design can be a temporary one if set in place without any mortar. A permanent grill may be placed simply by mortaring it as you please.

Outdoor fireplace Design

According to landscape Plymouth MN specialists, this is basically an outdoor fire pit that is designed to look like an interior fireplace. It is basically an upright structure that consists of a chimney and is usually built out of stones, concrete blocks and bricks. The design can either be permanent or temporary. Most models burn wood while a select few ones are designed for gas use.

Gas Fire Pits

Due to the simple fact that not all locations are within the proximity of a good supply of wood for burning in a fire pit, gas fire pits are designed to specifically cater to these places. The design for gas fire pits usually consists of metal and is powered either by natural gas lines or propane tanks. The advantage is that unlike wood fueled designs, there is no cleanup needed after cooking with gas.

Chiminea Design

This is basically an enclosed outdoor fire pit that consists of metal, terra cotta or ceramic. It features a rounded body and a tall chimney. Due to the fact that they are more enclosed than the other designs, they are able to trap the heat they generate.

To learn more about outdoor fire pit designs log on to Sunshine Landscaping.

 

Boeing Company Granted Patent for Force Field-Like Technology

From what looks like a page from the latest science fiction novel, Boeing has been awarded a patent for a force-field like defense system, which led excited fans to announce the advent if something previously seen in the realms of science fiction movies. The patent application filed in 2012, the aerospace giant has been granted a patent for a method and system for shockwave attenuation through electromagnetic arc. What it claims is described more in detail below:

“A shockwave attenuation system, comprising: a sensor for generating a detection signal based on at least one of detecting an explosion capable of producing a shockwave traveling through a first fluid medium to a protected region, and estimating a location and time of the explosion, and detecting an explosive device and estimating a location and time of an explosion from the explosive device that is capable of producing the shockwave traveling through the first fluid medium; and an arc generator in communication with the sensor for receiving the detection signal therefrom, and in response thereto heat a selected region of the first fluid medium rapidly to create a second, transient medium, different from the first medium, interposed between the shockwave and the protected region such that the shockwave contacts the second, transient medium and is attenuated in energy density before it reaches a protected asset in the protected region.”

At first glance, it seems that they are researching into something quite similar to deflector shields seen in the Star Wars movies. The patent is clearly describing a technology that is able to detect a shockwave from a nearby explosion in order to establish a region of ionized air or plasma field between the oncoming blast and the asset it is providing protection for.

By establishing a temporary superheated parcel of air using a laser, microwave or electrical arc, scientists believe that the shockwave would in theory dissipate once it gets into contact with the plasma field, leaving whatever was within to be unaffected.

 

 

 

 

 

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