When was the last time you dry cleaned your
carpet? Remember, the weekly or biweekly vacuuming doesn’t count. While it is a
necessary practice, vacuuming only eliminates surface dirt and particles. It
does not remove stains, tacky dirt and mud, and abrasive particles that ruin
your carpet over time.
Unlike steam cleaning, dry cleaning does
not introduce excessive moisture into your carpet. Moisture can encourage mould
growth, especially if you don’t dry the fibres properly. Instead, the dry
cleaning method removes dirt and stains and refreshes your carpet without
exposure to unnecessary moisture. But how often should you get your carpets
professionally cleaned? Here are a few pointers to help you decide:
Consider the number of people in your
household.
The more people who use your home, the
higher the chances of your carpet getting soiled often. A household with two
occupants may not have the same carpet cleaning needs as one with five.
Thus, if your home has more than two or
three people, dry clean your carpet at least once or twice every twelve months.
Doing so will improve air quality and boost the overall appearance of the
carpets and floor rugs in your home.
If you have children …
If you are a parent, you likely have seen
your child spill a drink on the carpet or track dirt into the house from
playing outside.
To keep the carpet clean and fresh, parents
should clean high-traffic carpet areas every six to 12 months and
professionally clean the entire carpet once annually.
If you have pets …
Pet owners typically require carpet
cleaning more often, due to dogs tracking in dirt and grass, pets shedding, and
any urine or accidents your pet may have on the carpet.
In addition to vacuuming at least twice a
week, pet owners should clean high-traffic areas every three to six months and
professionally clean the entire carpet twice per year.
5 answers to whether you should deep clean
carpets
Why Deep Clean?
Vacuum cleaning is a great way to keep
surface dirt off your carpets and floors. However, deep cleaning takes the
process a step further and actually washes the carpet fibres and removes dirt
that is hidden deep down inside the carpet.
How Much Effort is Required?
We have made it our duty to provide great
deep cleaning products without having to double up the work. The effort needed
to deep clean your carpets when using a BISSELL machine is as easy as
vacuuming, and just as cost effective. Carpets can hold 450 grams of dirt per
square foot. Deep cleaning your carpets and rugs will preserve their condition
by removing fine debris and larger dirt particles from the very bottom, keeping
them looking like new and smelling fresh.
How Often Should I Deep Clean?
Deep cleaning all depends on the amount of
traffic in your home. We recommend deep cleaning your carpets and rugs at least
twice a year, however, if you have pets, kids or a smoking habit, we recommend
deep cleaning every quarter. This will keep your carpets grime free and in the
best shape possible.
How Hard Is It To Empty the Tank?
As soon as your dirt reaches the ‘full’
line, it’s time to empty the tank. Simply remove the tank from the machine and
empty the dirty water into the sink. Refill the tank with clean water and
solution, pop it back in to the machine and you’re ready to go again!
Is Deep Cleaning the Same as Steam
Cleaning?
No, steam cleaners such as the BISSELL
Vac&Steam are used on sealed hard surfaces and create actual steam which is
used to clean the surface. A deep cleaning machine such as the PowerWash™
Deluxe carpet cleaner is designed to get to the bottom of the dirt and remove
it from carpets, rugs, stairs and upholstery with its 6 rows of DirtLifter™
PowerBrushes and removable water tank.
Deep cleaning is a great way to preserve
your carpets for a long time, to prevent them from having to be replaced so
soon. Carpet cleaning machines can cost the same as hiring in a professional
but allow mums and dads to keep their carpets in tip top shape as often as they
feel the need. Don’t call in the experts, be an expert yourself with your own
deep cleaning machine.
Signs Your Carpets Need To Be Professionally
Cleaned
The exact frequency your carpet needs to be
cleaned varies based upon the type of carpeting, the amount of traffic it gets,
and how soiled it becomes over time. Some signs that indicate the need for
steam cleaning including:
#1. One Stain Keeps Reappearing
You noticed a nasty stain on your carpet,
so you went to work cleaning it and as you scrubbed you watched with
satisfaction as it disappeared. The next day you noticed the stain was back
again, so you went to work cleaning it up… and then, the very next day, there
it is again, just staring at you, taunting. Now what? Reappearing stains
require professional carpet cleaning services.
#2. Your Carpet Has Lost Its Fluffy Look
Regular traffic smashes carpeting down and
the dirt trapped within fibers keeps them held down. Eventually, carpeting
starts to resemble a flattened cardboard box as opposed to a plush surface you
want in your home. This flattened and un-fluffy appearance is a sign that
carpets need to be deep cleaned. After cleaning carpet fibers, they should
fluff back up.
But, at a certain point, the carpet is no
longer salvageable. We are happy to asses your carpeting and let you know if
steam cleaning will help, or if carpeting needs to be replaced. Regular
cleaning helps prevent carpet from becoming so flattened down that it needs to
be prematurely replaced.
#3. There’s Dust Trapped Inside
If a lot of dust enters your home through
open doors and windows it is possible for your carpets to host pounds,
literally pounds, of dust and dirt. If you notice big puffs of dust coming up
out of your carpeting when you vacuum, or when you hit it with the flat palm of
your hand, it’s time to have your carpets professionally cleaned.
#4. Your Carpet Has A Funky Odor
If your carpet smells stale or musty it
needs to be professionally cleaned. Odors signify a buildup of impurities and
possibly even mold spores, which can make you sick.
#5. Your Carpets Are Not Looking So Good
If your carpets have lost their original
color or texture, or simply appear dirty right after you vacuum, it’s time to
deep clean surfaces.
Some forms of nasty bacteria commonly found
in household carpets include:
Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): This penicillin-resistant bacteria is especially
common in households with athletes or occupants that regularly go to the gym.
The nasty bug is commonly found in gyms and commonly gets brought home on
clothing, shoes, and gym bags.
MRSA loves cuts and can jump
right in. A healthy person can carry MRSA for years and not even know it. It
leads to red bumps that are painful and get worse with time, leading to fever
and rashes. Certain cases of MRSA remain untreatable and can even lead to
death.
Campylobacter: Most common in
the winter, this type of bacteria can lead to bloody diarrhea, stomach pains,
and fever in young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune
systems.
Fungi and mold: A few different
types of fungi and molds live in carpeting, some of which cause allergies and
can even be life threatening in the most serious cases.
Norovirus: These bacteria cause
nasty stomach flus, and can survive on your carpets for as long as 4-6 weeks
just waiting to infect you.
Micrococcus: This type of
bacteria is known to cause skin infections, septic shock, meningitis, and even
death.
When you are looking to hire a video
production company, you might not have an idea of what to expect, what to
prepare for, and what is a good price for the work you want. We here at
Sparksight pride ourselves on being “Easy to work with” because we know each of
our new clients have these questions in mind when deciding on who to go with
for their video production needs. Keep these 5 tips in mind for your next video
project to make sure you get the best bang for your buck!
1. Contract workers and quality
Oftentimes, contract employees help video
production houses save on overhead costs and, might ultimately lower your
bottom line. However, this sometimes comes at a cost, and that cost is quality.
Every shooter/animator/creative has a different style of how they work. If you
choose to work with a production house that has contracted employees, make sure
you know their styles and if that will fit with your vision. Be sure to ask
your production house if they’re using contract workers and make sure their
style is in line with your project.
2. Keep your destination in mind
Another important thing to know is
ultimately where your videos will live. If you need some case study videos that
will live on YouTube and your website, a video that’s over 2 minutes could
work. However, if you plan on sharing them on Facebook/Instagram/Twitter, you
will need to shorten the length of your video content for viewer retention.
Consider 15 second or less ‘teaser’ videos for your social media pages, and
keep the full length videos on YouTube/Vimeo/websites. Be sure to let your
production house know that you’ll be wanting shorter videos for social media,
they will format your video file optimized for mobile.
3. Don’t depend on the demo reel
Demo reels are great to show off the
ultimate potential of the production house, however, take a look at more recent
work that the company has produced. This should give you a good idea and grasp
of what to expect with your video purchase. Base your expectations on recent
videos, and if you’re looking for something different, don’t be afraid to ask!
We know from experience that it can be tough to fit in all great content into a
short demo reel, so nothing excites us more than a client who wants to see
more!
4. Shop around
Get quotes from various video production
houses and be reasonable in your search. Just because that wedding videographer
can do your customer testimonial for a few hundred bucks, doesn’t mean you’re
going to receive the same quality that you would receive if you went with the
highest bidder. If your neighbor’s nephew just graduated with film degree and
has the newest equipment, doesn’t mean he’s qualified with properly handling
you or your client’s expectations. Also, remember to shop and get bids from
places that specialize in the area of videos you’re looking for. For example,
if you’re looking for a 2D animated video, make sure you seek bids from people
with exceptional 2D experience and demonstrations of their work.
5. Don’t compromise your vision for your
budget
One of the most important things to stress
is that a lot of clients feel as though when they pay for a video shoot, they
only have shots for one video. This is untrue! When scheduling a shoot date,
gather as much material as you can for multiple videos. You paid for the shoot
day, so you retain the rights to your footage (at least, our clients do). Each
video you can produce out of a shoot day ultimately reduces your cost for each
individual video and offers you a video package that you may incorporate in
your video marketing strategy.
Questions to Ask When Hiring a Freelance
Videographer
You’ve decided that you need to start
producing video content for your company, but you don’t know how. Luckily, there
are plenty of professionals online that are willing to help you — for a fee, of
course.
As long as you ask the following four
questions, before hiring one of them, you should be able to partner with
quality freelancers who know how to create stellar video content.
1. Do I Need to Hire a Freelance
Videographer?
Before hiring a freelance videographer, ask
yourself if you actually need to partner with this kind of professional. Is
video marketing a viable strategy for your brand? The answer is most likely “yes,”
but it’s always smart to make sure. If your audience has no interest in video,
don’t waste your time and money creating video content.
You also shouldn’t hire a freelance
videographer if you have in-house talent who can create videos for you instead.
Maybe someone on your staff has a hidden skill set and would love the chance to
flex their creative muscles by working on videos for your brand. Assigning
video creation duties to current employees is often cheaper than bringing in
external partners.
Once you’ve decided that, yes, you need to
create video content and, no, there’s no one currently on your staff that can
do it for you, move on to question number two.
2. What do I Need a Freelance Videographer
to Do?
What kind of video content do you need
created? You can’t simply hire a freelancer and say, “Make me a video.” You
need to approach this content type strategically.
Think about the kind of videos you want
created and how your freelancer of choice will help you bring them to life. For
example, maybe you’re able to shoot the footage yourself, but you need a
professional to edit the content into an engaging visual experience.
On the other hand, maybe you’re looking for
a videographer to help you brainstorm video ideas, capture the footage, and edit
it together into a compelling piece of content.
What you need your freelancer to do will
dictate who you’re able to work with. Some video professionals only edit
animated videos, while others only work with businesses in the local regions.
Decide what exactly you need your
freelancer to accomplish for your business so that you don’t waste time looking
for videographers who aren’t aligned with your purpose.
3. What’s my Budget and Timeline?
The videographer you hire will expect
payment for the work they do — as they should. They are providing a valuable
service to your company and should be compensated appropriately. That’s why
it’s important to decide on your budget before contacting any freelancers. The
amount you’re prepared to spend will dictate who you’re able to work with.
If your budget is small, don’t expect to
hire seasoned professionals who usually work for big-name brands. Also, don’t
hire an expensive freelancer for simple jobs that any entry-level videographer
can do.
Balance your budget with the jobs you need
completed and find a qualified freelance videographer who fits your unique
needs.
It’s important to note that your timeline
will likely affect your budget as well. If you need a videographer to complete
a project on a tight deadline, you’ll probably have to pay more for the job.
Keep this in mind when evaluating the funds you have to spend on video
projects.
4. Where do I Find Qualified Freelance
Videographers?
One you’ve decided what kinds of video
projects you need completed and the budget you have for them, you can begin
looking for qualified freelance videographers to partner with. But where do you
find top-notch professionals? You have a few different options:
Get Referrals: The easiest way
to find qualified freelancers is to ask your network for a referral. If someone
you trust endorses a videographer who specializes in the kind of content you
need created, you should be able to hire them with confidence.
Post to Online Groups: If your
immediate network doesn’t yield any freelance videographer suggestions,
consider posting to the online forums, Facebook and LinkedIn groups, etc. that
you’re a part of. The recommendations you get from these people are a great
place to start when looking to hire a freelancer.
Search Freelance Job Boards:
Job boards like Upwork, Fiverr and others are full of talented video
professionals who would be happy to help you with your video needs. Hiring a
videographer through one of these sites will allow you to easily see projects
they’ve completed for other companies and read reviews.
Work With a Talent Recruiter:
Lastly, you can work with a talent recruiter who will find a freelance
videographer for you. While you might have to pay for this service, it will
allow you to focus on your business and let another qualified professional
discover the perfect freelancer partner.
None of the above options are exclusive.
You could, for example, ask your network, post to online groups, and search
freelance job boards to find the right videographer if you want.
Tips on Choosing a Videographer
1. If a video production company seems very
inexpensive, it’s probably because they don’t plan or know how to provide the
necessary effort for your job to be successful. You’ll essentially “get what
you pay for.”
With the ease of purchasing decent video
equipment today, anyone can with a video camera can claim to be a videographer.
They may have a winning personality and sway you with their sales pitch, but
you have to be able to decipher between the professionals, and the part-timer
hobbyist.
As with any industry, you’ll find
individuals and companies who are in it for the quick dollar, are doing it as a
semi-hobby or are just starting out. When prices are lower than other
estimates, you may want to dig deeper and find out what is and isn’t included.
Look for authentic client reviews, past video work, years of experience,
equipment used, etc.
Experience matters. A company without
experience may know how to do a certain task very well. However when they are
faced with problems or changing requirements they have never faced, they won’t
be able to cope.
Unfortunately when it becomes time to
satisfy your requirements, they will be learning with your project and the
results will most often be disappointing.
2. If you meet or get in contact with the
videographer to discuss your project, they should prioritize learning what your
objectives are and be willing to learn as much about your company and the
subject as possible.
You’ll receive insight on their
professionalism, how they work and equipment they use. They also may share
their experience with ideas on how to make your project better than you
imagined.
The majority of a video project effort goes
into the planning, known as the pre-production phase. Inexperienced video companies
don’t realize this. Without the planning, they may shoot and then realize that
the story line doesn’t work properly and they can’t use anything they shot
If the videographer does not display
interest in your objectives for the video, doesn’t mention the planning process
or if they say, “We’ll just show up and shoot your video,” watch out!
3. A video company should be able to show
you examples of work they’ve done similar in concept to what you need for your
project.
If they can show you a sample of work
they’ve done that matches your vision that you like then you’re definitely on
the right track. Bear in mind that no one else may have done a video exactly
like you are looking for so you are looking for something with the look and
feel you want rather than an exact match.
4. The videographer should be able to
provide a list of recent clients you can speak with to learn about their
experiences.
If this isn’t available, or even if you
find yourself questioning what the available references are able to tell you,
this is an obvious red flag. A professional videographer should strive to
satisfy their customer’s needs and if there is any sign of an unsatisfied
client or mediocrity, the same is likely to happen to you.
How to Hire the Right Real Estate
Videographer
Many agents and brokers view real estate
videography as the next step in the evolution of marketing listings — and it’s
easy to see why. A joint report by the National Association of Realtors and
Google shows nearly five in six home buyers use real estate videos to learn
more about a community, while 70 percent of them use video to tour the insides
of listings. The primary medium to view these videos? YouTube, which is where
more than half of buyers turn to get more information for their home search.
All of these stats mean nothing, though, if
you don’t know how to create captivating real estate videos — or hire the right
person to produce footage for you. Keep reading to learn how to hire the right
amateur or professional to take your real estate videography to the next level.
Determine the type of video you want to
produce.
Video marketing for real estate includes
more than just community and listing tour videos. Capturing footage of former
clients discussing how much they enjoyed working with you, providing
instructional videos discussing buying and selling tips, and offering video to
detail your business history and value proposition are just a few great ideas
that can build your brand and audience. But not all real estate videographers
film these kinds of videos; many only specialize in one or two niches of real
estate video marketing.
Think about what kinds of video you want to
create before searching for videographers. This helps narrow your real estate
video intentions and, in turn, will make it easier to search online for the
right person (or production company) to hire.
Decide how much you’re willing to pay.
Your budget also plays a big role in your
real estate videographer choice. Determine how much you’re willing to pay a
videographer. This includes not only their shooting fees, but also
post-production. You likely don’t want to edit your videos yourself, so adding
in this expense to your budget is a must. Other costs that should be factored
in include travel expenses, lodging fees (if the videographer lives far away),
video backup services (so your footage is safe and secure), and production
add-ons that may be needed to get the best lighting and sound for your video.
High fees from an amateur or professional
videographer may mean that turning to video recording apps to capture footage
yourself may be your best option, for the short term at least. But hiring a
videographer is your best opportunity to make a big impression with your real
estate video marketing, so budget carefully and you’ll eventually be able to
afford at least an amateur freelancer with a history of working for real estate
pros and producing high-quality work.
Seek recommendations from colleagues and
peers.
Don’t feel like you have to conduct your
real estate videographer search from scratch. Seek out other agents at your
agency or brokerage or industry peers for recommendations. As noted, video
marketing is becoming more popular among real estate professionals by the day,
so there are likely numerous agents and brokers you can turn to for
suggestions. Ask specific questions about the videographers they worked with,
including:
How much they were charged
altogether for an individual video and for a series of videos
How easy it was to work with
their videographer
What the process of working
with a video professional is like
How long it took their
videographer from start to finish (filming, editing, providing the final
product)
If they work with voice-over
artists who can narrate videos
What kinds of video technology
they work with (cameras, sound and lighting gear, editing software, etc.)
What Happens if a Dog Bites Someone on Your
Property?
what happens if a dog bites someone on your
property? Whether invited guest, trespasser, or salesperson, you may be held
liable in certain circumstances. An even bigger question is who pays the
expenses related to a dog bite lawsuit?
Below you’ll learn about the different
scenarios in a dog bite lawsuit involving an incident on your property, as well
as a brief primer on whether your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance will cover
the alleged damages. Keep in mind, this is a general overview and each state
has its own, unique dog bite laws and statutes. Be sure to check the laws in
your state or contact a local attorney to learn more.
Premises Liability: What Standard of Care
Do You Owe?
The first thing we should look at in a dog
bite case on your property is premises liability. When a person enters your
property they have a reasonable expectation they will not be injured. This is
known as the “standard of care.” A homeowner owes a certain standard
of care to anyone on their property. That’s pretty fair, right? This means the
owner or occupier of the property, such as a renter, must maintain a relatively
safe environment for all persons entering the premises. This includes keeping
potentially dangerous animals away from guests or being sure to put up warning
signs about the animal’s propensities.
Invited Guests and Others
In most situations, dog owners owe a
reasonable duty of care to anyone lawfully on their property. If the injured
person can show the owner’s negligence or failure to use reasonable care in
restraining the dog or warning of the dog’s dangerous propensities, they may
sue for damages in many states.
Trespassers
You may find it shocking to know that the
law in a minority of states actually allows trespassers who are bitten by your
dog on your property to bring a lawsuit. It will ultimately depend on both the
state you are in and whether or not there is a dog bite statute in place that
protects owners from liability to trespassers. For instance, Florida’s dog bite
statute only allows persons to sue the owner or occupier if they are bitten by
a dog and that person is in a public place or lawfully in a private place.
Simply put, a person is not lawfully in a private place if they are
trespassing, attempting to commit a burglary, or other criminal offense.
Dangerous Propensities
If your Chihuahua Daffodil has sunk her
teeth into people in the past, you are on notice that she can be considered
dangerous under the law. In that case, if Dangerous Daffodil bites someone on
your property, the homeowner or occupier may be held strictly liable. A
safeguard against this, however, is to put up a warning sign, indicating there
is a dangerous dog on the property.
Who Pays When Fido Bites?
One important tip is that if you do own a
dog and are concerned about being held liable if they bite another person, you
may want to consider homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. Most policies have some
form of coverage available in the event you are sued due to an animal bite on
your property. There are also certain types of pet insurance policies you may
be able to get to cover these incidents. Ultimately, if you have neither of
these, you can be held personally liable if you lose a lawsuit against an
injured party.
Defenses for Dog Owners
There are few defenses available to dog owners
whose pets cause severe injuries. The two most common include trespassing and
provocation. As previously mentioned, a dog owner has no duty of care to
prevent injury to a trespasser, nor is a dog owner responsible for a dog
retaliating against provocation.
If someone injures the dog, threatens the
dog physically, or takes inappropriate action against the dog’s owner, the
owner is not liable for the dog attacking out of self-defense or in defense of
its owner.
Contributory negligence comes into play in
many dog bite lawsuits in Pennsylvania. If a jury decides that a dog bite
victim contributed to his or her injuries in any way, this contributory
negligence does not necessarily bar the victim from recovery. However, the
victim would lose a portion of the case award equal to his or her percentage of
fault for the incident. Additionally, if the jury decides the plaintiff’s fault
exceeds the defendant’s, then the plaintiff cannot recover damages.
Seek Swift Medical Attention and Contact Law
Enforcement
If a dog bites someone, your initial
reaction might be shock. And, if you’re the property owner that owns the dog,
panic might set in as you worry if you’re liable.
Stay calm and do the following:
Move the dog away from the
person. Tie the dog up or put it in a separate room where it can’t get loose.
If the injuries are severe,
seek medical help right away.
Treat the person that was
bitten. Gently wash their wound with warm water and soap. If there’s bleeding,
stop the bleeding with gauze or paper towels and apply pressure to the wound.
Avoid placing blame or
admitting fault. What you say can sometimes be used against you.
If there were witnesses get
their statements and contact information.
When law enforcement arrives,
let them assess the situation. They will determine if the dog should be
removed.
Contact your veterinarian for
the dog’s medical records.
Contact your home insurance
provider.
What to Know If Your Dog Bites Someone
Did your dog bite someone? Learn about the
statutes holding dog owners responsible for their pet’s actions. Find out if
you need a personal injury lawyer.
If you’re a dog owner and your pet has
bitten someone, you may be concerned about your legal rights. What if that
person decides to press charges? There are three main types of laws that place
liability for dog-caused injuries on the dog’s owner. If a victim proves you
guilty under any of these three laws, you may be financially liable for any
personal injury or property caused by your pet. In any of these cases, a personal
injury lawyer can help you defend yourself in court. A lawyer can help explain
which laws are used in your state and which ones might apply to your situation.
Dog-Bite Statutes
Most states have dog-bite statutes, which
make owners financially responsible for all injuries caused by their dog—not
just by bites. Even if you weren’t being careless, you could be held
financially liable for any injury caused by your dog without provocation.
The One-Bite Rule
If you, as an owner, knew that your dog had
the potential to bite someone, then any person attacked by your dog could
automatically win a lawsuit. In order to prove that you had prior knowledge of
your dog being dangerous, they can reference previous bites or aggressive
behavior. Since the state of New York uses the one bite rule, some people
mistakenly believe that they cannot possibly be liable the first time their dog
bites someone. Actually, you may still be vulnerable to a lawsuit if they can
prove that you knew that your dog was dangerous.
Negligence Laws
If you were unreasonably careless (also
known as negligent) in controlling your pet, then you are liable for any damage
they cause. For example, if you leave your front door open while you are in the
bathroom, your dog could run outside to bite the postman. In that circumstance,
the postman would have a good chance of proving that you were unreasonably
careless and therefore responsible for covering his personal injury damage.
Dog Bite Liability
First, it is important to discuss the
situations in which dog owners hold liability for the damages their dogs cause
during a bite or other attack situation. In fact, Colorado is a unique dog bite
law state. While most other states assign either strict liability or negligence
under premises liability laws, Colorado utilizes a combination of the two.
When a dog bite causes severe bodily damage
or death, Colorado’s dog bite statute comes into play. The statute assigns
strict liability to the dog owner. Strict liability applies even if the owner
had no way of knowing the dog would act aggressively. Liability also applies
regardless of a dog’s past non-aggressive status. Several severe bodily injury
bites can occur.
Bites causing severe injuries
that lead to a substantial risk of death
Bites causing permanent
disfigurement
Bites causing the loss or
severely reduced use of a limb, organ, organ system, or other body part
Bites causing fractures, broken
bones, or burns
Conversely, if the resulting injuries are
not severe, regular premises liability or other negligence rules may apply. The
victim must prove that the dog’s owner failed to provide reasonable care in
order to control the dog or prevent it from causing injury to others. Then, the
victim must prove that the situation directly caused the dog bite injuries.
don’t forget to consider how you might need
to adapt your electrical wiring to your new layout. You can’t do this alone of
course, so you should talk to your residential electrician to find out how you
should go about the process
SKILLED TECHNICIANS ARE ABLE TO ASSIST IN
ALL TYPES OF REMODELS, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING:
Bathrooms
Kitchens
Offices
Dens
Basements
Additions
ELEMENTS OF RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL
REMODELING
Home Rewiring – You shouldn’t be dealing
with electrical problems on a regular basis, but you might have exactly this
problem if you live in an older house. Home rewiring is a residential
electrical remodeling process that aims to improve the safety and efficiency of
your electrical work. This is especially important to consider if you are
thinking about conducting a home renovation.
Adding Circuits – Your residential
electrician can also add new circuits to your space, including dedicated
circuits. These heavy-duty circuits are designed to provide powerful appliances
like dishwashers and washing machines with the electricity they need in order
to function
Replacing Electrical Panel – The electrical
panel is the mechanism you use to control your electricity, but older models
might not be so effective anymore. Additionally, certain older homes might
still have electrical panels that are no longer considered safe for the home.
Your residential electrician can upgrade your panel to make your home
electrical system safer and more effective.
Moving-Out Updates – If you are going to be
moving out of your house in the near future, you can increase the value of your
property by making certain changes. You can get any necessary residential
electrical remodeling out of the way so the new buyer doesn’t have to worry
about it, and this convenience can make it easier to sell your house. You can
also have your residential electrician prepare the home for automation
technology in case future occupants want to integrate their appliances.
WORKING WITH A LICENSED, INSURED, AND
BONDED ELECTRICIAN
The last thing you want is to finish your
remodel just to find out that your residential electrical work has not been
done properly. Since you’ll want to cover all of your bases, make sure you work
with the right type of residential electrician.
Electrical Panel Changes, Replacements, and
Upgrades
Most electrical panel and/or service
changes are done for two reasons:
The existing panel is too small either in
Amps (main breaker size) or there is not enough physical room in the panel to
add new circuits (load) needed for a remodel, upgrade, or expansion. If you do
not have enough Amps in your panel, you will need to get a service change. If
you have enough Amps but not enough physical room in your panel, you will need
to get a panel change.
If the panel is one of two brands—Federal
Pacific or Zinsco. These panels have lost their UL listing because they are
known for the potential to cause fires. In 80% of the cases tested, the
breakers won’t trip when needed, which is an obvious problem. If you have one
of these panels, you should very seriously consider replacing it. Depending on
the size of the Amps in the panel, you might also need to have a service change
done.
Kitchen Remodel Electrical Services
One of the best ways to add value to your
home is to remodel your kitchen. In addition to a higher home value, remodeling
your kitchen can also make it more functional and comfortable for your needs
There are a number of electrical components
that you can add or modify to create your dream kitchen, such as:
Lighting re-design
LED recessed can lighting
LED under-cabinet lighting
Pendant lights
New light fixtures
Sink lighting
Island lighting
Dining room light
Microwave dedicated circuit and receptacle
outlet
Countertop receptacle outlets and dedicated
circuits
Island receptacle outlets
Wine fridge
Range circuit
Cooktop circuit
Double oven circuit
Disposal circuit
Dishwasher circuit
Refrigerator circuit
Hood vent circuit
Insta-Hot circuit
Warming drawer circuit
Microwave drawer circuit
Garage and Shop Electrical Services
Whether you are using your garage or an
outdoor shop for your hobbies, there are a variety of electrical projects you
might consider to make the space more useful. Here is a list of potential
projects:
Electric vehicle charger circuit and outlet
Electrical panel change and/or service
change
Lighting upgrades
Add more receptacle outlets
Garage wall TV outlet
RV outlet
Attic lighting
Crawl space lighting
Furnace and related equipment
Tankless water heater
Additional circuit and outlet for:
Welder
Woodworking equipment
Garage door opener
Kiln
Benchtop outlets
Refrigerator and/or freezer
Shop heater
Whole house vacuum system
Residential Remodel
Plumbing & Electrical can work with
your contractor or project manager to ensure that your project meets the
necessary local building codes for your new electrical systems. If your project
is small or you’d prefer to do it yourself
Plumbing & Electrical can help you
obtain any necessary permits to ensure your project is up to code and safe to
complete.
Deleting or capping off existing circuits
before construction
Reconnecting existing wiring after
revisions
Removing old wiring or wiring no longer in
use
Replacing or upgrading electrical circuit
panel to create more space for new circuits
Replacing or upgrading electrical service
(meter) to accommodate new circuits
Pulling new wiring for new circuits
Updating out-of-compliance circuits to meet
new building code standards
Installing electrical fixtures, switches,
control devices, and outlets
Working with other trades to ensure
mechanical devices are supplied correct amount of electrical power
Residential New Construction
Whether you are an experienced home builder
or a contractor taking on your first full build, you need sub-contractors that
will stick with you throughout the entire project. Plumbing & Electrical
performs all necessary electrical work at the highest levels of quality and
efficiency. Plus, we’re also experienced at bidding off of architectural plans,
and we can turn around most bids in less than one business week.
Residential New Construction Services
Bidding from architectural plans (both
digital and hard copy)
Working with local power companies to
ensure successful meter installation
Obtaining necessary permitting and
inspections for electrical work
Setting up temporary power poles for
construction power
Executing necessary rough in and finish out
wiring
Working with other trades to ensure
mechanical devices are supplied the correct amount of electrical power
Commercial Finish Out
Are you making changes to your business
space? From minor changes like adding new cubicles to major renovations like
adding a commercial kitchen or office breakroom Plumbing & Electrical have
the knowledge and expertise to accomplish these updates quickly and
efficiently.
Residential New Construction Services
Bidding from architectural plans (both
digital and hard copy)
Consulting on Single Phase and Three Phase
(3 Phase) electrical systems
Consulting on high and low voltages
480v-120v
Installing transformers and buck/boosting
transformers for specialized equipment that requires exact voltage
Obtaining necessary permitting and
inspections for electrical work
Deleting old unnecessary electrical
circuits
Running conduit and MC cable
Installing commercial style panel lighting,
emergency lighting, and site lighting (i.e., parking lot, exterior building,
bollard, etc.)
Professional Electrical Remodeling Services
minor installations and repairs are only
one part of our business. We also specialize in electrical work for residential
remodeling projects and additions. If you are currently undergoing remodeling
or adding living space to an existing home, we can help.
In any home, the lighting design is one of
the most important aesthetic qualities. You rely on your lighting a lot more
than you may think, both for ambiance and functional ability. remodel
electricians are highly trained in both the design and installation of all
lighting fixtures and electrical components. We can assist you to create a new
design scheme or help you decide which type of lighting will complement the
existing design for your addition.
Keeping On Schedule & Budget
With any home improvement project, we
understand the importance of keeping on both schedule and budget. When you
first meet with us for an estimate, we can discuss the timeline of your
project, as well as the budget you have set aside. We can then put together a
plan which allows us to complete your electrical project in a timely and
affordable manner. Your safety is our top priority in all projects, regardless
of the size
Electrical Design and Remodeling Services
New Residential Construction
electrical engineers and designers
collaborate with construction teams to provide customized electrical and
lighting systems to suit the owner’s needs. They work in tandem with our staff
of highly trained residential electricians who install the system during
remodelling. Our decades of working with residential builders gives us an edge
in providing the best service for your needs.
Residential Remodeling and Renovation
staff of electrical professionals can work
with your contractor to ensure a compatible, streamlined process. We can
provide customized electrical and lighting systems that work within your budget
and aesthetic needs. We’ve been helping area homeowners secure and update their
residences for almost nine decades.
lectric Quality Standards
We understand that home construction or
renovation can be very stressful endeavors. Through experience we have learned
how to navigate the various building codes and zoning restrictions associated
with these often complicated projects
promise to meet and exceed our quality
standards including:
Environmental Tests : Well Water Basic
Profile Test
According to the Connecticut Department of
Health (DPH), approximately 15% of Connecticut’s population rely on private
wells as their source of drinking water. Private well owners are responsible
for the quality of their own drinking water. Because a clean source of drinking
water is critical to your health, the DPH recommends testing your well water
once a year for routine analysis and after any work is done on your well, pump
or piping. The recommended tests, (total coliform bacteria, nitrate, pH,
sodium, turbidity, and color) are all covered in Basic Profile- Bacteria
Physical/Chemical test.
The Basic Profile Water Test analyzes the
following bacteria and physical/chemical properties:
Coliform Bacteria are not disease-producing
organisms themselves, but they are used as an indicator of disease-producing
organisms. When coliform bacteria are present, there is an increased
probability that the source water may have been contaminated by surface water
or fecal material and may also contain disease-producing organisms.
Chlorination is the best method for eliminating bacteria from the water, but if
possible, the source of contamination should be located and treated so the
problem does not recur.
For healthy people, the Sodium content of
water is relatively unimportant because the intake of sodium from other drinks
and foods is so much greater. People following a low sodium diet because of
hypertension, kidney, or cardiovascular disease should be concerned with an
elevated level of sodium. The usual low sodium diet allows 20 mg/L in the
drinking water. Elevated sodium levels are likely to be seen with the use of a
water softener. Other possible causes are run-off from road salting or sewage
contamination.
An elevated Nitrate Nitrogen level may be
an indication that agricultural fertilizer or waste disposal is polluting the
water. The AL of 10 mg/L has been established to prevent a disease called
methemoglobinemia “blue baby disease” in infants. Reverse osmosis and ion
exchange resins can remove nitrates.
Odor in water can be caused by foreign
matter such as organic compounds, inorganic salts or dissolved gases. These
materials may come from domestic, agricultural or natural sources. The action
level (AL) has been set according to aesthetic values but acceptable waters
should be free of any objectionable odor.
Manganese at levels greater than .05 mg/L
may produce brownish black stains in laundry and on fixtures and impart an
objectionable odor and taste. It is usually found along with iron in soil with
a high mineral content. Oxidation followed by a greensand filter is a common
method of manganese removal.
Water Color may be caused by dissolved
organic material from decaying vegetation and/or certain inorganic material
such as iron or manganese. While color is generally not a problem from a health
standpoint, its presence is aesthetically unpleasing and suggests that the
water may need appropriate treatment.
The AL for Chloride was established
primarily as an aesthetic standard. The concentration at which the average
person can detect a salty taste in water is 250 mg/L. A very high chloride
level can lead to the corrosiveness of water on pipes and heating equipment and
is usually associated with a high sodium level. Sewage contamination, run-off
from road salting or an improperly maintained water softener may cause elevated
chloride.
Turbidity is the presence of suspended
material such as clay, silt, plankton, finely divided organic material and
other inorganic materials. Turbidity in excess of five units are detectable in
a glass of water and are usually objectionable for aesthetic reasons. The most
common method of lowering turbidity is with a filter system.
Sulfate in drinking water has no beneficial
effects. The desirable limit is 250 mg/L. At higher concentrations sulfate may
have a laxative effect and cause taste deterioration.
pH is a measure of the acid or alkaline
content of water. Water with a low pH (acidic) is corrosive to plumbing and may
cause leaching of toxic metals such as lead or copper. Soda ash can be added to
the feed water to effectively raise the pH.
Iron levels above 0.3 mg/L can discolor
fixtures and laundry and may impart a metallic taste to the water. Iron is
frequently present in water because of the large amounts present in soil.
Corrosive water will also pick up iron from pipes. Common methods for removing
iron from the water are aeration or chlorination of the water followed by
filtration.
Calcium and Magnesium salts are the major
cause of Hardness in water supplies. Although not detrimental to health, hard
water retards the cleaning action of soaps and detergents. When hard water is
heated it will deposit a hard scale on heating coils and cooking utensils with
a consequent waste of fuel. A water softening system is the most common method
of lowering the hardness in water. The following is a scale on which to compare
your water hardness: (0-75) low/soft; (76-150) moderate; (151-250) hard; (over
250) very hard.
Water Testing
In spite of all the stories we hear about
possible contaminants in the water supply, most people have water that is safe
to drink, especially those served by a large municipal water system. However,
well water should be tested periodically for coliform bacteria.
Additionally, if the property is located in
an agricultural area, the water should be tested for nitrates, and if the home
is more than 30 years old, or if the plumbing pipes are joined with lead
solder, then the water should also be tested for lead. The Federal Housing
Administration (FHA) requires water tests for bacteria, nitrates, nitrites and
lead.
Other reasons a water test may be
warranted:
lender may require a water test prior to
loan approval
well located downstream from a septic
system
use of lawn fertilizers, salt or de-icers
near the well
Testing more than once a year may be
advisable in certain situations:
pregnant or nursing household member
unexplained illnesses in the family
any change in taste, odor, color or clarity
of the water
a neighbor tests positive for contaminants
in their water
any dumping of chemicals, pesticides or
fuels into or near your well
if any part of your well system has been
replaced or repaired
Home Inspections
When they sign the contract of sale. The county introduced this law to monitor the water quality in the area regarding private wells. It requires the seller to have their well tested by a certified water operator and laboratory for a number of substances including bacteria, chemicals, metals and other contaminants.
The tests must be paid for by the seller
and be ordered within 10 days of the signing of the contract. The law also
states that the buyer and seller cannot waive the testing because a copy of the
test results must be sent by the laboratory to the County Department of Health,
and to the seller via Home Inspections This new law also affects tenants who
rent a property that is supplied with well water.
Q2: What types of properties are subject to
the testing requirement? A2: The Law covers SALES and LEASES of properties
served by private wells, as well as
Q3: When in the real-estate sales process
does testing have to happen? When the contract is
signed? What about rentals? What about new
wells or wells not in use? A3: The law requires the following:
• Upon the signing of a contract of sale
for a property subject to the Law, the seller must cause a water test to be
conducted in the manner provided, and for at least the contaminants required,
by the Law.
• The lessor of real property served by a
private well must test the well water: (1) by November 19, 2008; or (2) within
twelve (12) months from the date that any real property becomes subject to a
leasehold if a lessor begins leaking the real property after the law’s
effective date (i.e., November 19, 2007); and (3) at least once every five (5)
years after the dates established in (1) or (2) above. Results must be
provide3d to current lessees within five (5) days of receipt of water test
results. Every time a rental property subject to the Law id Leased, a written
copy of the most recent test results must be given to the lessee.
• All new wells, prior to first use must
have the well water tested prior to use. All wells not in use for a period of
five (5) years are treated as new ells and must be tested prior to use.
Q4: When do the testing requirements take
effect?
A4: The effective date of the Law is
Monday, November 19, 2007. Accordingly, on and after that date, all sales of
property served by private wells, all new wells and wells that have not been in
use for a period of five (5) years are subject to the Private Well-Water
Testing Law and are required to meet the testing requirements. Testing is not
required for real estate transactions that were already under the contract
before the statute went into effect (November 19, 2007).
Home Inspections
Home inspections, radon testing, and water quantity testing. These inspections can be either for the buyer or seller. Our home inspections include:
Structure
Roof
Plumbing
Heat and Cooling Systems
Foundation
Electrical
Drainage
Ventilation and Insulation
home inspectors will provide you with a
digital detailed report complete with pictures and a summary listing any major
concern or safety hazard. The inspections we provide conform to and exceed the
InterNACHI standards.
Home Inspection offers flexible hours for
your convenience. Inspections can be scheduled Monday through Saturday
Water Well Inspections
Private water well is one part of your home that you probably never think about, until there is a problem. And if not properly inspected, it can lead to a very expensive repair that you never expected and certainly never wanted. This can be avoided with the proper well inspection.
If you are looking to buy a home with a
private water well, it is important that you have the system inspected. There
can be many hidden problems that you will not know about until they happen.
Unlike most things in a house, when something goes wrong with your well it’s
usually very expensive.
Are you selling your home? When a home is
put on the market to sell, it may be required in your county (like County) that
the well and septic systems be inspected before the house can be sold. This is
called Time of Sale or TOS. You may want to check with your Realtor or County Health
Department beforehand to see if your well needs to be inspected.
it means that we have gone through many
hours of training to make sure we know how to properly inspect your well and
septic systems. In fact, WCPH Environmental Health Division is known to have
one of the best training programs for well and septic systems in Michigan. Our
inspections are done the same rigorous way we do the WCPH TOS program, which
include making sure that the water well is properly located away from possible
contaminations, the well head is properly installed, and to check for abandon
wells on the property.
Accounting and finance are integrally
connected for each business firm. Accounting is the study of how information is
gathered and distributed inwards and outwards. Finance, is the study of how
firms make the investments and financing decisions they make operate their
business.
Finance relies on accounting information to
operate, and accounting must have financial experts in order to translate
accounting information for the general use. There are three major areas of
accounting:
Financial Accounting:
Financial accounting is where accounting
deals with external parties interested in the business firm. According to the
Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), it provides the most important
financial collecting and reporting functions for business firms.
Financial statements produced for the
benefits of your external investors. Investors need to be able to get the
review of financial statements such as the income statement, the balance sheet,
and the statement of cash flows in order to decide whether they should invest
in this business firm or remain invested in the company, or not.
Financial statements are of interest to
another group of external individuals- the creditors of the firm. Creditors are
the bond-holders of the firm or they could be the debt-holders of the firm.
Creditors are individuals who loaned money to the firm, and interested in
receiving a return on their investment and, eventually, a return of their
principal.
Managerial Accounting:
Managerial Accounting is where accounting
associated with gathering and articulating the financial information for inside
organizations such as managers and staff.
You may compare it to the financial
accounting which is concerned with information for external individuals. The
Institute of Certified Management Accountants states that management
accountants are the ‘value creators’ among accountants, thereby taking their
place between the finance people and the financial accountants in the business
organization.
Managers use financial information to take
better business decisions. They use a variety of techniques such as variance
analysis, risk management, and cost-volume-profit analysis to predict the best
forward-looking information as possible.
Cost Accounting:
Some professionals consider Cost-Accounting
as a part of Managerial-Accounting and some think that Cost-Accounting is a
different functional area of accounting. Cost-Accounting and
Managerial-Accounting surely overlap.
Cost-Accounting looks at the costs of
production for a business by looking at the fixed costs of the products and
services, they sell and their input costs. Input costs compared to output cost
for the measurement and better understanding of the financial performance of a
firm with directly regards to the production costs. Elements often used:
indirect costs, or overhead, raw materials, as well as labor. Managers use the
information from Cost-Accounting to establish the cost control programs for
their business firms.
Why is accounting important?
Accounting is a deciding factor regarding
the financial health of a business. Logging and tracking an organization’s
financial data can help you find out a company’s cash flow, income and
expenses. All of this information can be provided to stakeholders who have a
direct impact on business operations. The more financial information you have
about your company’s financial health, the better positioned you are to make
decisions about your company’s future.
Types of accounting
Contrary to popular belief, accountants
don’t only prepare taxes. Accountants can also investigate white collar crimes,
audit businesses, or work exclusively in government and manufacturing
environments.
Accountants can be CPAs (Certified Public
Accountants) or perform bookkeeping and accounting tasks such as managing the
accounting cycle at a small business or a large corporate entity. They can also
work for a nonprofit or a large consulting firm.
Here are some of the different areas of
accounting and what they entail.
Financial accounting
Financial accounting is the process of
compiling financial reports for external use. Financial accountants work with
their colleagues and managers to strategize how a company can be more
profitable. Also, they track all financial activity recorded in a ledger in
addition to ensuring that internal procedures are being followed and that all
financial activity appears on relevant financial statements.
They must abide by Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles set for U.S. businesses and International Financial
Reporting Standards if a company operates overseas. Overall, financial
accountants need to have strong attention to detail to convey the current
financial state to outside sources.
Managerial accounting
This type of accounting documents, monitors
and assists in the financial planning of an organization. Their documentation
is typically meant for internal stakeholders rather than the public. A
managerial accountant must be careful in communicating confidential information
and to whom. They work with their managers to analyze and create a budget to
meet the needs of the short- and long-term goals of the organization.
Cost accounting
Cost accounting can be seen as a
subcategory of managerial accounting. Cost accountants are responsible for
documenting, presenting and reviewing manufacturing costs. They oversee all
variable and fixed costs to see if output aligns with the cost to produce a
product. They also work with managers to decide on future decisions based on
the financial forecast and the progress of production.
Auditing
Internal and external auditing falls under
the category of public accounting. External auditing is the action of a company
providing financial statements to a third-party for financial feedback. In this
instance, a third-party is a reliable source in describing if a company’s
financial statement is a representation of GAAP.
Internal auditing determines the
effectiveness of internal accounting processes. An internal auditor can review
employee departmental responsibilities, management policies and approval
procedures on related projects. In turn, they provide useful feedback that can
help a company to become more profitable and efficient.
Tax accounting
Tax accountants help businesses stay in
compliance with annual tax codes when they file each year. They also assist
companies in planning for future tax returns, such as avoiding certain tax
burdens and understanding the implications of specific tax decisions. Usually,
larger organizations will hire a tax accountant to navigate the complexities of
financial records.
Accounting information systems
Accounting information systems, or AIS,
manage the improvement of successful accounting procedures. Employees working
in this field decide on the best times to install updated technology and
monitor the progress of existing systems to determine if there is an increase
in productivity over a given timeframe. They can make decisions in conjunction
with the IT department to instill continuity with technological processes.
Fiduciary accounting
Fiduciary accounting is the procedure of
trusting one individual to handle financial accounts. They’re obligated to
serve on behalf of their clients for accounts tied to real estate, trust funds,
investments and others. Also, they must give relevant financial information to
their clients once a year, which includes a summary of all accounts, schedules
of receipts, gains, losses and the assets they have at their disposal.
Forensic accounting
Forensic accounting requires accountants to
reconfigure a company’s financial information when some information is missing
or not available to review. The goal of forensic accounting is to gather all
available documentation and accurately and comprehensively record all credit,
debit and cash transactions in financial statements. These professionals often
work on legal cases involving fraud, claims and disputes.
Public accounting
Public accounting refers to businesses that
provide accounting advice to clients based on their needs. They can work in
auditing, assist with tax returns, consult on procedures tailored to the
installation of technology or computer programs and provide legal advice.
Government accounting
Government accountants manage the financial planning and allocation of resources to departments within a local, state or federal government. This type of accounting has standards that must comply with the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) who is responsible for developing consistent accounting procedures for local and state governments. They also monitor a government’s budget and allocate funds appropriately.
carpet cleaning always seems to get all of
the attention but it’s time to show your furniture some love too! With all of
the traffic that comes through your house, your upholstery items go through a
lot of wear and tear, making your furniture lose its color and vibrancy over
time. No need to fear! Here is a guide for your upholstery cleaning needs!
Upholstery Items Need Attention Too!
It’s obvious that something will last
longer when it is taken care of, so it shouldn’t be a secret that your
upholstery items need a regular cleaning! With all the people that use the
furniture in your home, it is recommended to have your upholstery items cleaned
about every 6 months. Getting a cleaning this often will lengthen the life and
help keep the natural color of your upholstery items. Giving the needed
attention to your upholstery items will help your home look cleaner and feel
healthier!
Fight Lingering Stains
It seems to be almost impossible to prevent
any stains from getting on your carpets or furniture. You might even have an
internal stain that just won’t come out! Don’t let that stain keep embarrassing
you every time you see it
Upholstery Cleaners Tips
Upholstery Cleaning Tips, DIY and Service
spend the majority of our free time in the
heart of the home: the living room. Whether you’re entertaining, or just
relaxing, the last thing you want to see is a big water ring on your sofa, or
smell a foul odor coming from the spot where your dog usually sleeps
Furniture and Couch Cleaners
You have that favorite chair or couch, and
you don’t want to get rid of it. It is like an old shoe, worn out but
comfortable. Is there an alternative to
replacing it with something new? You bet
there is
Upholstery has to be maintained regularly
because the furniture is soiled so frequently. Body oils, bacteria, germs, dust
mites, mould spores, allergens, and bugs lurk in places that we cannot see.
services job is to thoroughly clean,
sanitise, deodorise, remove stains, and protect your furniture. It’s our job to
make sure your furniture is clean and safe for you, your family, and your
guests! Dirt, grease, and dust will build up over time and soil your
furniture. Regular vacuuming helps, but
there comes a time when this no longer fits the bill. It is time to call in the professionals to
give that worn piece of furniture a new lease on life
Upholstery Virus & Bacteria
Disinfection Clean
Capable Truck mounts hot steam cleaners
kill and removes viruses, bacteria, germs, dust mites, and other pathogens from
interior car upholstery if the steam is over 70C hot.
Pre-spraying your mattress and mattress bed
with an FDA approved antiviral disinfecting sanitise treatment. Before
performing Hot Water Extraction on your mattress beds to eliminate risks from Sars
COVID-19 corona viruses, bacteria germs, bed bugs, dust mites, and other
pathogens.
A Guide to Upholstery Fabric
Upholstery fabric can be made from a
variety of materials. It can be natural, man-made or a combination of the two.
Each material has its pros and cons. To get the right fabric for your look and
lifestyle it is important to compare them.
Here is a list of the most common fabrics
for upholstery:
Cotton is soft and durable, but it is also
susceptible to wrinkling and can be easily soiled. If exposed to direct
sunlight, cotton may begin to fade.
Linen is made from the flax plant. It is a
good upholstery fabric for both casual and formal spaces. It naturally resists
pilling and soiling, but it can wrinkle easily. Some linen slipcovers can be
dry-cleaned.
Synthetic (or man-made) fibers such as
polyester are more resistant to fading and staining than natural fibers. Many
upholstery fabrics blend natural and synthetic fibers to offer the best of both
worlds. For example, a cotton-polyester blend has the soft feel of cotton but
with greater resistance to fading and wrinkling. There are many different
synthetic fibers, but the following three are the ones most commonly found in
upholstery fabrics.
Acrylic is lightweight and soft. It also
resists wear, wrinkling and fading. This is a great choice for furniture in
bright sunlight or near a window. Most acrylics require special cleaning.
Nylon, one of the strongest fibers you can
find, is incredibly durable. Manufacturers might combine a delicate fabric like
velvet with nylon to help prevent the nap (the raised surface) from getting
crushed. Its big downside is that it is sensitive to light and usually needs to
be cleaned with solvent-based cleaners.
Polyester is strong and durable and is
commonly blended with other fibers to reduce fading (it stands up well to
sunlight), provides wrinkle resistance and adds resilience to napped fabrics.
Stain-resistant fabrics. There are many
fabrics that are stain-resistant, either because they are made from a fiber
that inherently repels moisture and stains or because they have a treatment
applied to them.
Slipcovers have a slightly more casual
look, which some people might not want, but you should strongly consider going
with a slipcover if you have young children or you are choosing a white fabric.
White is hard to keep clean, no matter how hard you try.
Durability
When you research upholstery fabric you
often come across the term double rubs. This refers to a test of a fabric’s
durability. The double-rub test is done with a back-and-forth motion, similar
to the wear that occurs when someone sits down and gets up again. The number of
double rubs before the fabric shows visible wear provides the rating. The
higher the number of double rubs, the more durable the fabric
Texture
Many fabrics may look great, be
stain-resistant and have the durability you need but then fail on the most
important test: texture. Nobody likes a piece of scratchy furniture. Your hands
may not pick up on the roughness, so when you’re looking at fabrics, make sure
to touch them to your face or arm. This is especially important for a piece
you’re likely to lounge on, such as a sofa in front of a television.
Upholstery Cleaning Guide
There is a huge array of fabric and vinyl
upholstery options available for casino chairs and attempting to list them all
as well as how best to clean them, is an impossible task. Stains do happen and
removing them from the upholstery can be difficult.
As a general rule of thumb, you should
treat stains immediately before they become permanent. Use white towels, roller
towel or an absorbent cloth to ‘blott’ the spillage. Keep blotting and changing
the absorbent material until no more of the spillage or coloured matter is
being removed.
VINYL upholstery
Vinyl upholstery should always be cleaned
with clean water using a damp cloth to wipe away stains or spills.
Solvent-based cleaning materials should never be used as they may damage the
vinyl causing it to crack and peel. Cotting Esprit vinyl cleaning instructions.
FABRIC upholstery
Always follow the manufacturers’ cleaning
instructions. If none are not available, then use the general guide to cleaning
everyday stains on fabrics as suggested by Materialised. Pre-test all solutions
on an inconspicuous area. When using liquid cleaners work from the outer ring
of the stain toward the centre. Always
rinse with clean water and blot dry to finish as detergent residue tends to
attract soiling. If in any doubt,
contact a cleaning specialist.
Standard & Reference Guide for
Upholstery Cleaning
The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and
Restoration Certification (IICRC) Standard and Reference Guide for Professional
Upholstery Cleaning (IICRC S300) is a procedural standard. It has been written
using reliable principles, research and practical experience, plus consultation
with and information obtained from numerous sources.
For many years furniture manufacturers have
used colorfastness codes to assist consumers in determining safe cleaning
solutions (e.g., dry solvents, water) to use on their upholstered
furniture. Over time these
“colorfastness codes” evolved into “cleaning codes” for professional cleaners
as well. However, upholstery cleaning
technicians have always determined the appropriate cleaning method for individual
furniture based on fiber content, fabric construction and careful inspection,
rather than “colorfastness” or “cleaning” codes. One of the primary purposes of IICRC S300 is
to clarify the way in which appropriate cleaning methods are determined
IICRC S300 provides a specific set of
practical standards for all methods of dry and wet upholstery cleaning. It does not attempt to teach comprehensive
upholstery cleaning procedures; rather, it provides the foundational principles
for proper cleaning practice. There are
numerous programs available in the industry to teach the specific details of
upholstery cleaning.
IICRC S300 is presented using a two-part
format: the Standard itself, and a supplementary “Reference Guide.” The procedural Standard is featured in the
first section of S300. This Standard is
supported by the Reference Guide in the second section. The intent is to use the information outlined
in the Reference Guide as a tool to better understand and apply the Standard
itself. However, the Reference Guide is
not considered a part of the Standard.
Advantages and Disadvantages of being a
veterinarian
What are some of the pros of becoming a
Veterinarian?
If you are considering becoming a
veterinarian, following are the pros:
There are plenty of jobs
available if you are a veterinarian. You will easily land up getting a job just
after the completion of your studies, as long as you are not very particular
about the location of the job. Most of the veterinarians get into independent
practice.
Gamut of job options is
available to choose from, ranging from government hospitals to independent
clinics, from poultry farms to NGOs and so on.
As compared to medical doctors,
chances to get sued are very rare and least likely.
Being a veterinarian can pay
you very well.
There is immense satisfaction
in serving the helpless and the needy.
What are the cons of a career in Veterinary
Sciences?
CONS:
The course duration is too
long. If you want to become a veterinary surgeon, then you need to go for a 4-5
years program in veterinary sciences and animal husbandry. And then in order to
get good opportunities, you might also consider going for a Masters which again
takes 2 years. In this way, it takes almost 7 years after your high school
before your career actually starts paying you.
Sometimes you might come across
angry and agitated pets and animals. Every now and then you are on a risk of
being bitten by one such animal.
To become a veterinarian, the
foremost attribute that you require is compassion. However it deeply pains
giving euthanasia to an animal.
You might sometimes as well
come across upset pet owners.
Doesn’t matter if you are
practicing independently or with an organization, you need to be on call.
The work of a veterinarian is
both physically and mentally demanding. And sometimes emotionally too!
You’ll have the chance to help animals.
Obviously, becoming a veterinarian gives
you the skills and knowledge you need to treat dogs, cats, and other animals
and put them on the road to recovery. This is one of the most rewarding parts
of the job: helping a creature that came to your clinic in a bad condition and
using your abilities to improve its health and help it get better.
You’ll have a job that you love.
Being a veterinarian means you’ll be
surrounded with different animals. One day you might be working with small,
fluffy dogs; the next day you might be treating large cows or horses. You’ll
definitely run into many challenges, but all of them can be worth it since
you’re following your passion and working in a job that aligns with your values
and interests.
You’ll go through emotional roller coasters.
No matter how hard you try, there will
definitely be times when you can’t save a patient. There might even be
instances when you’ll need to perform euthanasia to free patients from unnecessary
suffering. These events can leave you emotionally broken; over time, you might
experience “compassion fatigue”, a term that’s used to define a set of emotions
that can range from being highly sensitive to the slightest events to feeling
numb about what’s going on around you.
2. You’ll struggle for work-life balance.
More likely than not, you might find
yourself working regular hours and being on call even after your work day has
ended. This is particularly true if you’re in a small town that doesn’t have a
lot of veterinarians. As a result, you might find it hard to balance your work
and family life, and you might end up being constantly fatigued and overworked.
Difference Between a Veterinarian & a
Veterinarian Technician
Veterinarians and veterinarian technicians
work closely together to ensure the medical health of animals in veterinary
clinics across the United States, but there are important distinctions between
them. Veterinarians require far more schooling and assume much more responsibility
than do veterinarian technicians, and as a result veterinarians earn far more
money.
According to Careers in Healthcare,
becoming a veterinary technician can be a stepping stone to a career as a
veterinarian. Becoming either a vet or a vet tech will provide an opportunity
to help animals at all stages of life.
Contrasting Educational Requirements
Veterinarian technicians typically go
through a two-year postsecondary program to acquire the licensing and
certification needed to work in the field. To get somewhat higher pay and
additional responsibilities, a veterinarian technician can complete a four-year
postsecondary program and work as a veterinary technologist or apply to
veterinary school.
By contrast, veterinarians first complete a
bachelor’s degree with a pre-medicine concentration, and then undergo an
additional four years of schooling to receive the title of doctor of veterinary
medicine.. The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine says that some
veterinarians also complete a residency to become certified in a specialty area
like equine medicine. Some earn a Ph.D. and research animal diseases and new
cures.
Different Occupational Responsibilities
Veterinarian technicians usually work as
assistants to veterinarians. They take X-rays and blood samples, test blood or
urine, administer medications and keep patient records in order. They sometimes
perform emergency first aid and assist the veterinarian during procedures.
Veterinarians may perform all of these
duties. But veterinarians also are responsible for diagnosing the causes of
illness, recommending treatment, performing surgery, prescribing treatments and
medications, and putting animals to sleep. They may treat livestock or limit
their practice to small companion animals.
The Pros and Cons of Being a Veterinary
Technician
There are many reasons that the veterinary
technician career path is one of the most popular in the animal industry. The
vet tech profession has grown exponentially in recent years, and demand for
qualified technicians remains strong. Here are some of the pros and cons of
this very rewarding but demanding profession.
Job Security and Opportunities
There is a strong demand for veterinary
technicians. The projected rate of growth for the profession is 30 percent
through the year 2022. A veterinary technician should have no problem finding a
job with such sustained demand for the foreseeable future.
The nature of veterinary work virtually
guarantees that no two days are alike. Technicians get to perform a wide
variety of procedures, see many different patients and interact with a dozen or
more owners each day.
There are usually opportunities for
advancement in the veterinary office. Technicians may be promoted to a
supervisory role over time (either working as a head technician or in an
administrative position such as veterinary practice manager). They may also
advance their careers by achieving a specialty certification that can lead to a
higher salary and more specialized duties.
Working with animals in hands-on capacity
is a huge selling point for this career path. Veterinary technicians have
constant interaction with their patients ranging from general exams to
post-surgical care.
Downsides
The clinic can be a stressful work
environment. Technicians must be able to deal with upset owners, aggressive or
uncooperative animals, euthanasia, and seeing severe injuries caused by trauma
or neglect. Stress is one of the biggest factors cited by techs that decide to
leave the profession.
You won’t starve working as a vet tech, but
you are likely to only make a moderate salary for your efforts. Even techs with
specialty certification do not earn particularly large salaries.
Long Hours and Risk of Injury
Many veterinary technicians work longer
than the traditional 40-hour workweek. Many clinics are open on Saturdays, and
some clinics are open seven days a week. Emergency clinics may be staffed
around the clock. Even in a clinic that keeps more traditional hours, there are
often occasions where they are understaffed, resulting in mandatory overtime
work.
One of the biggest drawbacks to this and
many other hands-on animal career paths is a higher risk of being injured at
work. Veterinary technicians must work with animals under considerable stress
from injury or being in an unfamiliar environment (and sometimes both of these
things play a role simultaneously). A tech must be very careful to avoid bites
or kicks from their patients, taking extreme care to handle and restrain
animals properly at all times.
Steps to successfully and safely remove a
possum from your roof;
Provide an alternative home for the possum
by constructing a sturdy weatherproof possum –house
Where possible, get inside your roof and
locate the nest. The nest, which has the scent of the possum, should be placed
in the new possum house.
Securely fix the possum house to a tree in
or near your yard. Place it at least 4 metres from the ground so the possum
will be out of reach of domestic cats and dogs.
To encourage the possum to investigate its
new home, put half an apple or banana in or near the possum house.
Trim any branches that over hang the roof
to remove access to your roof
Place a light in the roof cavity and keep
it switched on for three days and three nights. The combination of light and
smell should drive the possum out of your roof and hopefully into the possum
house you have provided.
Block off the access points to the roof
with timber, chicken wire or both to prevent a possum returning.
If this does not deter the possum, you may
need to have the possum trapped.
Possum traps
Possums are protected fauna in NSW and
catching possums without a license is illegal in NSW. Contact and we will refer
you to a licensed possum removalist. Please see a plan provided by Department
of Environment and Conservation for making your own possum box
Marine ply at least 12mm in width is
recommended for making possum boxes. Chipboard is not suitable as it
disintegrates rapidly outdoors.
Drill four 5 – 7mm holes through the floor
of the box near each corner to allow any water that might get in to drain out.
Hinge the roof/lid to allow easy access.
Opossum Repellent Natural Home Remedy
When there are opossums on your property,
you will want to take the necessary steps to get them off and keep them away.
Repellents should theoretically accomplish both of these goals at the same
time, discouraging new possums from entering your yard and encouraging the
current ones to leave. Unfortunately for those who think repellents are a
miracle cure, they are not always effective and are frequently a waste of time.
That being said, they can sometimes work with a bit of knowledge.
Consider Safety And Environmental Impact
Before you get too far into considering a
particular repellent to keep opossums off your property, you should consider
whether it contains any chemicals. The vast majority of repellents sold
commercially will contain some sort of chemical and there is no telling what it
will. Aerosol repellents in particular tend to be rich in these harmful
substances. When chemicals are part of the repellents, there are a few
important risks to consider. What happens if your child or pet gets close to
the repellent and accidentally ingests some? This would be easily possible if
they touch the area sprayed with the repellent then put it in their mouth. You
also need to think about the environmental impact as aerosols can harm the
planet and any repellent containing chemicals can lead to these ingredients
running off into the ground and water supply.
Things To Consider About Scents
You will notice that a large number of the
repellents that claim to work for opossums are scents, whether in a spray,
liquid, granules, or other format. Scents have a unique set of disadvantages
that you need to consider. First of all, the smell will fade over time
naturally so you need to reapply it every few weeks for as long as you want the
possums to stay away. You will also need to reapply the scent after every single
rainfall as it would be washed away. Don’t forget that opossums can also get
used to smells over time, meaning that a repellent which was once effective may
not remain that way.
Scents To Try
A quick online search will show you a long
list of home remedies that theoretically work as possum repellents. One of the
most commonly suggested is predator urine, which you can either buy in the
store or even get from your pet dog. You may also see recipes that include
ingredients like peppers. Looking at the options for sale will show you another
long list of ingredients and scents that promise to produce results. The common
theme, however, is that none of them actually do. In most cases, people who see
success with these repellents were just lucky.
Ultrasonic Sounds
Another type of repellent that is commonly
suggested but won’t likely produce results is an ultrasonic sound machine.
These machines are designed to operate at a frequency that humans can’t hear
but animals do. The idea is that the possums and other wildlife will find the
sound annoying and leave your property. In reality, the animals typically
ignore the sounds. In some cases, humans may even hear them, meaning you become
an annoying neighbor. Considering these machines are costly and would theoretically
need to be on 24/7, plugged in the whole time, they are a big waste of money.
Caring for possums
These guidelines are for the Top End
subspecies of brushtail possum, as this is the species most likely to come into
care. Rock ringtail possums should only be cared for by experienced carers.
This information should be used as a guide only. You will need specific
information to properly care for injured or orphaned wildlife.
There are two species of possum in the NT,
the rock ringtail possum (Petropseudes dahli) and the common brushtail possum
(Trichosurus vulpecula). Both species are nocturnal marsupial mammals.
Rock ringtail possum
The rock ringtail is found across the Top
End. It lives in tight-knit family groups, where parents and the young from
previous breeding care for the new young. These possums are found in rocky
terrain with trees and foliage nearby. These animals rarely come into care.
When they do, they should only be looked after by experienced carers.
Common brushtail possum
There are two subspecies of the common
brushtail possum in the NT. The subspecies Trichosurus vulpecula vulpecula
lives in isolated populations in the southern part of the Territory and is
endangered in the NT. If you encounter this species, report it to Parks and
Wildlife immediately.
Possums should be kept in a quiet, secure
location away from family pets and excessive noise. This includes general
household noise, traffic, domestic animals and construction.
Possums
For many Victorians, sharing your property
with possums is a fact of life. The trees and gardens around our houses provide
a modified woodland similar to their natural habitat. A possum in your roof or
eating your flowers can be very frustrating, but people and possums can live
together successfully.
Do not feed possums. Human food can be
dangerous to possums and cause serious dietary imbalance. Possums eat the
leaves, flowers and fruits of a wide variety of native and exotic trees and
shrubs. The Common Brushtail Possum may also eat grass, fungi, bird’s eggs and
baby birds.
The Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus
vulpecula) is about the size of a cat. It has large pointed ears, grey fur and
a bushy black tail. Brushtail possums have a single young born in autumn or
spring. The baby spends around six months in the pouch, one to two months
riding on its mother’s back until it is weaned and leaves the maternal den at
7–16 months old.
The Common Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus
peregrinus) is much smaller than a brushtail, about half the size of a cat.
Ringtail possums have round ears, a grey back with rusty sides and a curled
tail with a white tip. They have one to three young, mostly twins, born during
autumn or winter. Ringtail possums usually build a nest of twigs and leaves,
called a drey, several metres above the ground. They rarely enter house roofs.
Possums living within buildings
Possums are protected under the Wildlife
Act 1975. Possums must not be harmed in any way or kept without approval from
DELWP. It is illegal to harass or interfere with possums. However, common brushtail possums living
within buildings, municipal parks and municipal gardens may be controlled.
Homeowner’s Guide to Possum Removal
Why Remove Possums?
Possums are gorgeous animals but if they’ve
gotten into your roof, you’ll know how annoying they can be – thundering around
making lots of noise and disturbing your sleep for one! This isn’t just the only problem though. Possums can cause significant amounts of
damage to your home’s wiring and to the roof itself and these problems can end
up costing big dollars to fix.
Removing Possums from Your Home
Possums are surprisingly crafty at getting
into the roof of your home, so you or a professional will need to take a look
around the roof and seal all of the obvious entry points. The sealing will need to be done with
suitably strong materials so that the possums don’t just get back in again in
the future. If you currently have
possums, the professionals will install one way exits on the common possum
access point – the possums will be able to get out of your roof but not back
in! Once all possums have left, the
entry points are sealed. In rare cases,
where the possum just won’t leave itself, the professional may need to catch
the possum inside your roof using a special possum cage. The possum is then released onto your
property (possums generally don’t survive relocation and it is illegal to move
them from their home).
As well as doing all this, the possum
removal professional will also check the ridge capping, the gables and the
eaves, and seal these as necessary (such as through re-pointing). They’ll also make sure there are no loose
spots on your roof or any broken tiles that can give access. Also, you may be surprised to learn that if
you have possums in your roof, you may also have rats, so rat baiting is
commonly done when the possums are removed.
Never bait for rats while possums are still present.
Provide an Alternative Shelter for the
Possums
If you like possums but don’t like them in
your roof, an easy way to stop them from going back into your roof again is by
providing them with an alternative shelter.
A possum box is ideal for this and you can install it in a tree, or even
on a pole. While you can’t keep the
possum as a pet, hopefully the possum will be attracted to your possum box and
use it as a home
Who Removes Possums?
If you have possums in your home, you’ll
need to call a possum removal company.
These are the best people to use as they will humanely move the possums
from your roof and block up all the entry points so that they can’t get back in
What Is a Seized Engine? What Causes a
Seized Engine?
Before you can learn how to fix a seized
engine or if the repairs are worth it, you need to understand what does seized
engine mean. Engines seize from mechanical failure.
Oil Problems
In most cases, this comes from a lack of
oil. The oil may not be circulating properly or you may have no oil. When this
happens, there is no internal lubrication, so the metal parts create friction
as they rub against each other. In extreme cases, this can even lead to various
bearings welding against other parts.
This type of problem can occur if you let
your engine run out of oil or if you do not take care of oil changes regularly.
It is also possible to experience a no oil seized engine due to sudden interior
failures of the engine or issues with the engine oil pump. In addition to
situations where no oil seized up engines, this can also happen due to low oil.
It will have a similar cause.
Not Running Enough
It is also possible that your engine will
seize when it has enough oil. In this case, it would be because you did not run
the auto enough. That particular cause occurs when rust “freezes” the piston
rings onto the cylinder walls. You can prevent that cause of a seized engine by
running your car occasionally.
Hydrolocked Engines
You may also be dealing with a hydrolocked
engine. This happens if water enters the combustion chamber of the engine. This
makes the piston unable to make the top of the combustion stroke since the
water does not compress in the same way that the air-fuel mixture is designed
to.
If your engine is hydrolocked, it will
likely stop working suddenly. If you get lucky and this happens at a lower
speed, you may have minimal damage to the engine. However, if the RPMs are
greater when it occurs, expect damaged pistons or bent connecting rods at the
very least. Hydrolocked engines usually happen when water enters the engine via
the air intake. That is most common if you accidentally drove through high
water.
Vapor Locked Engines
Your engine may also be vapor locked. When
this happens, the engine will not start due to an issue with the fuel system.
This problem is more common in older vehicles that have low-pressure fuel
systems. The gas in your fuel pump or fuel lines converts to gas from liquid,
but this takes fuel from the engine, starving it. You can recognize a vapor
lock by the engine sputtering and losing power before turning off and refusing
to turn back on.
How to Free a Seized Engine
Engines rarely seize, but when they do, it
is almost always due to a long period of nonoperation. When an engine seizes,
one or more pistons have literally become stuck against the cylinder’s wall.
Thankfully, just because an engine has seized does not necessarily mean that
the entire engine must be rebuilt. The keys to freeing the engine are to reduce
the air pressure within the engine’s cylinders and to reduce the amount of
force necessary to break the piston free by disconnecting the components that
the engine turns, such as the alternator and power steering pump.
Step 1
Remove all of the engine’s spark plugs with
a socket wrench to alleviate the air pressure within the engine’s cylinders.
First, pull each spark plug’s wire off the tip of the spark plug. Attach an
appropriate-sized spark plug socket to a socket wrench; then remove each spark
plug by turning the wrench in a counterclockwise direction.
Step 2
Remove the accessory belts from the
alternator, power steering pump, and any other belt-driven accessory. Each accessory
attaches to the front of the engine with one or more brackets. The brackets are
in turn attached to the engine with retaining bolts. Loosen the retaining bolts
on each accessory bracket with a wrench; then slide the accessory toward the
engine to reduce the tension on the accessory’s belt. Slide the loose belt off
the engine to remove it.
Step 3
Remove the valve covers from both cylinder
heads by removing each valve cover’s retaining bolts located on the lip of each
valve cover with a wrench; then pull the valve covers off the cylinder heads to
access the rocker arms.
Step 4
Remove the rocker arms and pushrods to
remove the amount of force necessary to turn the engine. Each rocker arm is
held in place with a single nut located in the center of the rocker arm. Remove
the nut for each rocker arm with a wrench, then pull the rocker arms off the
cylinder heads. Removing the rocker arms will free the pushrods, which can
simply be pulled out of the cylinder head.
Turn the crankshaft to free the seized engine.
Since the engine’s pistons are attached to the crankshaft, turning the
crankshaft will free the pistons. The engine’s crankshaft can be turned with
the single bolt located in the center of the circular harmonic balancer, which
is located on the bottom of the front of the engine. Attach the
appropriate-sized deep socket to this single bolt; then apply steady force to
the socket with a socket wrench. The bolt should be turned in a clockwise
direction to avoid inadvertently loosening the crankshaft’s bolt before the
crankshaft turns.
Two things you can’t have too much of in
freeing a seized engine.
Patience
Penetrating oil.
Usually there is a nut or bolt on the crank
end that can be used to try and turn the engine but the danger of breaking it
off means a safer alternative is to use a lever on the ring gear through the
starter motor aperture. The engine will need to be out of gear,resist the
temptation to force things quickly by using a socket and a long breaker bar,if
the bolt breaks off it will be an added complication to extract the remains. If
the engine seems to have locked up remove the spark plug holes and squirt or
pour some releasing fluid like Plus Gas or diesel fuel in the plug holes trying
to get as much as possible on the cylinder walls. Leave the plugs out and try
and move the engine. With some engine designs it is quite difficult to wet the
bores but spoonfull of oil or fluid should be enough,it will have to be removed
before the plugs are back in and serious attempts are made to start the
engine.Hopefully it will get to the stage where it can be spun over on the
starter with the plugs out which should eject the oil.Some people advocate the
use of petrol and two stroke oil mixed or even petrol and ATF fluid.Thin oils
like WD40 are really designed to chase off water,redex or thin penetrating oils
can be used. Penetrating fluids will take a while to have any effect,dont
expect an instant result..
If possible fill the radiator or the block
if the engine is not in a vehicle with some hot water,this will expand the
block slightly.Whilst waiting it might be an idea to remove the rocker covers
and air filters etc if they are still in place to see if corrosion is present
deep inside the engine.It’s possible the engine might now have some movement on
the crankshaft ,if so try and turn it back and forth gradually building up to a
full revolution,if not try again with the release fluid and hot water but if it
resists any attempts to turn after a few more goes more work will be needed.
Understanding water damage
If the water is from an external source
such as rain, and it came into the air cleaner via the butterfly stud on the
air cleaner, chances are there is only a small quantity in only a few of the
engine bores. You can only have so many intake valves open at one time, and the
water would have only migrated into those cylinder bores. Therefore, you could
only have two or three stuck pistons at the worst, not all of them. In such a
case, the likelihood of freeing the engine is much better. On the other hand,
if the engine had been flooded by rising flood waters, water could have entered
via the exhaust system. To make matters worse, water may have also entered
through the oil breather and is now (or was) present in the oil pan. Flood waters
also have a large presence of silt, chemicals of unknown nature, and varying
pH.
Flood water damage
The silt particles present in flood water
could accumulate deep inside of the engine and hang on to the rough casting
surfaces of all the internal workings. These particles are so small that when
they are in solution they will infiltrate the oil clearance of a bearing. When
the water dries, they will form a layer of dust within the bearing. The dust
will wick up the oil from the surface and water vapor from the air will start
to rust the steel surface over time. The dust may also have acids and alkalies
(caustics) attached to it, and together with water vapor will etch the bearing
and journal surfaces.
After a flood, newer, essential and
operational vehicles take priority for being repaired, others will have to
wait. Many flooded engines will just have to wait, sometimes until after the
winter freeze-up, sometimes even longer. Internal damage and cracked blocks and
heads are often the result of frozen water. Sometimes they will end up being
junked for the cast iron. If these engines are gotten to before such damage
occurs, it may be possible to salvage them intact.
How do I fix the engine that is seized?
Lots of good answers to this question have
been provided, but the engine seized for a reason … usually either because the
rings rusted to the cylinder bores or because the bearings have fused or become
stuck to the crankshaft. Neither situation is good, and forcing it to turn
isn’t likely to make it better.
Using methods like pouring ATF (Automatic
Transmission Fluid) or Diesel Fuel or WD-40 into the cylinders and crankcase
may enable you to rotate the crank eventually, but I’d never trust the engine
for any long trip, and I’d even question it for around-the-town driving. But
I’d concede that if it were the zombie apocalypse and you really needed a car
to get away … and maybe had several days to let the fluid work its magic … that
such a solution might work fine. Indeed, I’ve heard of several such stories
from friends and relatives that suggests that it can work.
But in most such cases, the engine actually
has fairly significant damage internally — or will once you force it to run.
