If you’re tired of having to sweep up those messy leaves, cut grass, twigs, or dead flowers all over your lawn or backyard, relax. Whether you want to spruce up your garden or keep your lawn looking neat, the Toro electric leaf blower makes cleaning up your yard less of a hassle at a very budget-friendly price.
A big advantage for homeowners is that the Toro electric leaf blower combines many features you can find in separate machines — so it actually saves you money. It has three key functions — it’s a blower, a vacuum, and a leaf shredder/mulcher, which can reduce 10 bags of leaves into just one.
The Toro electric blower with vacuum kit is lighter and more powerful than gas-powered hand-held leaf blowers. It weighs just over seven pounds so it’s ideal for any homeowner, including anyone who struggles with arthritis or joint pain. The Toro also has a 12-amp motor and offers various features to make yard clean up more efficient, so you can spend more time relaxing in your garden, rather than cleaning it.
The Toro electric blower isn’t as noisy as other blowers. It reaches between 63 and 67 decibels, but you should still protect your ears when you’re using it. Also, because of its power, you’ll beautify your yard clean in no time so you won’t annoy the neighbors too much.
Although the Toro is powerful, you don’t have to worry about damaging your plants or vegetable garden. The 12-amp motor allows variable speeds so you can lower the speed when blowing around shrubs, smaller plants, or your growing vegetables. This feature may also help you if you suffer from outdoor allergies because less dust blows up at the lower speed.
The vacuum on the Toro electric blower has a maximum air speed of 225 mph, so it can pick up tons of leaves at once. This shortens the amount of time you’ll spend cleaning up even more, compared to using a rake. It’s also more efficient than a rake at getting rid of those pesky little flowers that shed in spring.
If you’re using a Toro leaf blower to mulch leaves, you should know that it has serrated metal blades. They increase the blower’s efficiency and durability, giving it an advantage over leaf blowers that are made of plastic parts.
One of the accessories that you may like is the blower vac replacement bag, which is a durable canvas bag with an adjustable shoulder strap. It has a large opening that makes it simpler for you to dump leaves or debris after you’re finished cleaning up your yard. Other accessories include the Toro leaf collector that has an eight-foot hose, and a 43-gallon gardening spring bucket.
You can also breathe easy for two years, which is how long the Toro Electric Leaf Blower’s residential warranty lasts. It will cost you about $70 to $79 at Amazon. It’s a great investment for anyone who wants to increase their curb appeal or backyard entertainment area.
There are two things that can make inflating toys, tires or household items frustrating. First, it takes time, which like most of us these days you probably don’t have enough of. Plus, when you’re inflating these items you’re often bending over for a long period of time, which takes a toll on your back. The solution is the Black & Decker ASI300 air station inflator.
This air inflator has so many features and benefits — all of them necessary, not like your cell phone — that once you use it, you’ll be hard-pressed to do without it around your home. The Black & Decker inflator weighs less than six pounds, so it’s easy to carry around in your hand.
And that’s one of the best things about the Black & Decker ASI300 inflator: because it’s so light, you can carry it anywhere, which really increases its value and usability. It comes with two cords and plugs so you can recharge it at an electrical wall outlet, or by using your car’s lighter socket.
For instance, thanks to the recession more of us are taking vacations nearer to home, so driving is the main mode of transportation. You no longer have to worry about getting a flat on the road when you have an air station inflator. Just pull over, grab it out of your trunk, and fill ’er up.
The Black & Decker ASI300 air station is also really compact, so it fits easily into your car, truck or minivan. Plus, it’s easy to store anywhere in your home. And for ladies, it has an appealing design that rivals any ultra modern vacuum cleaner.
Like modern vacuum cleaners, the Black & Decker air inflator is high powered. It reaches up to 160 pounds per square inch (PSI) of pressure, so it fills air more efficiently and cuts down your inflation time considerably. This not only helps you get on with other more interesting and important things you have to do; it also prevents back and shoulder pains often linked to bending over and inflating things like balls or car tires.
Plus, the Black & Decker ASI300 air station comes with different extensions — a standard tire nozzle, a needle inflator nozzle, and an extension nozzle. So you’ll be able to inflate large items such as an outdoor inflatable pool or rubber ducky boat, or smaller, more delicate items such as your toddle’s arm swimmies or floats, or any type of ball.
Controlling the pressure when you’re inflating different-sized items is also made easy and time friendly. It has a feature called the EZ air dial, which shuts down when it reaches the air pressure you set.
If you’re in the market for an air inflator check out the Black & Decker ASI300 air station inflator, which is an absolute steal right now at Amazon, where you can get it for nearly 60 percent off the regular price.
Epoxy Garage Floor Paint – Protect Your Floor Forever
By · CommentsApplying a coat of epoxy garage floor paint to your floor will not only add beauty to your garage but will protect your concrete floor from grease, oil and the outdoor elements.
Epoxy is a tough, long lasting coating you can apply on top of concrete. It resists grease, oil, solvents and tons of other things that would damage most floors. An epoxy floor will handle most car traffic, salt, oil, chemicals and any scraping. It’s a tough floor finish that will last for many years.
Epoxy floor paint is easily applied but most the work is done in the cleaning and the prep stages. Any grease or dirt will compromise the adhesion process that’s why the cleaning and the prep are the most important parts. Take your time and make sure your floor is extremely clean.
In order to make your job easier might want to consider renting a walk behind power floor scrubber. You can use this to help speed up the cleaning and etching process. Be sure the floors cover comes with a stiff brush. You might want to have a backup one just in case you’re brush wears out. Also having a newer brush will clean the floor better than using the brush until it wears out. Use the new brush until it shows signs of wear and then change it.
Another tool you might want to think about renting if you don’t have one is a let dry vacuum cleaner. This will allow you to vacuum up the dirt as well as any water that pools in the corners. The cleaner you keep your floor the better chance the proxy will stick.
Applying epoxy floor paint is a step-by-step process. Follow the steps below to help you get the overall idea of applying epoxy paint on your floor. Be sure to follow the manufacturers recommendations.
Step 1: Prep the area. Cover unwanted areas with masking tape and plastic
Step 2: Sweep and vacuum the floor
Step 3: Wash the floor with a concrete degreaser
Step 4: Etch the floor with a 10:1 ratio of water to muriatic acid solution
Step 5: Prepare the epoxy paint
Step 6: Apply the first coat
Step 7: Apply the color flakes if you like
Step 8: Prepare the top coat
Step 9: Apply the top coat
Taking the timeout of your busy schedule and epoxying your garage floor is one of the best investments you can make for keeping your garage floor clean and protected from the elements. Once applied following the manufacturers instructions your garage will look fantastic. With a little planning and scheduling you can have your floor applied in no time.
Outdoor Chaise Lounge Chairs Helps You Beat Stress
By · CommentsDreaming of relaxing in an outdoor chaise lounge chair as the weather warms up? Let’s face it: most of us don’t take enough time to relax. Whether we’re too busy at work, at home, or volunteering. When it’s time to unwind, these backyard recliners will help to relieve muscle ache and tension in your back. Don’t have one? You can easily purchase a outdoor chaise lounge chairs
Outdoor chaise lounge chairs come in a wide variety of models, colors, sizes and materials. For many singles and families, light-weight outdoor folding chaise lounge chairs continue to be popular. They’re easy to tote with you anywhere, and versatile, fitting in at many outdoor settings, whether you’re hanging out in your backyard, by the lake or watching an Extreme Frisbee game at the park.
But, for busy people who struggle to find time to relax, there’s an even bigger bonus: You can easily find an outdoor folding chaise lounge chair that’s easy to clean and maintain. Some of these chairs are made from stain-resistant materials such as polyester with PVC coating, or resin, and come in a variety of colors.
Resin is particularly durable and resistant to weather damage. This material has come a long way. You no longer have to settle for plastic-looking outdoor furniture. Resin outdoor chaise lounge chairs can resemble high-end wicker, but they’re much easier to take care of than wicker — and way more affordable.
While you may not be able to carry around wooden outdoor folding chaise lounge chairs, they have a different appeal. They can help to give a backyard or outdoor entertainment area a tranquil or zen appeal. You can also purchase padded seats for extra tush-friendly lounging. Plus, these outdoor chaise lounges are durable and also easy to fold and store away.
Maybe your idea of relaxing includes a sophisticated outdoor entertainment area complete with a pergola or gazebo, an outdoor fireplace and outdoor carpeting. It wouldn’t be complete without stylish outdoor chaise lounge chairs, which you can also find at Amazon.
Choose from a selection of Roman-style recliners, or double outdoor chaise lounge chairs suitable for couples or all the kids. For a more streamlined look there are armless chaise lounges with straight, angular backrests. Or, choose more relaxed bucket-style chaises with curved backs made from slatted wood.
Switching the upholstery can helps to create the ambience you want for your favorite relaxation space. Plush cushions and padded seats for outdoor chaise lounge chairs come in earthy tones such as orange or taupe. There are also floral patterns, monochromatic fabrics, and more exotic patterns. If you’re worried about how long your upholstery will last, choose darker florals and fabrics on your outdoor chaise lounges, especially if you have children.
Time to stop daydreaming about lounging around in the backyard this spring and summer and start planning for it. It’s easy to do by checking out the awesome collection of outdoor chaise lounge chairs at Amazon. Lucky for you, they’ve also begun their sale on backyard patio furniture.
When choosing the best insulation for homes, it’s important to consider several aspects. You might have heard of the R-Value rating that’s often used when comparing different types of insulation. Indeed, it’s one important measure, but certainly not the end all be all.
What are insulation R-Values all about anyway? The technical definition tends to be rather complicated, but simply put – the higher the insulation’s R-Value rating, the better the insulation will work to thermally retain heat. The R-Value varies according to the material that the insulation is made of and its thickness.
When considering the best insulation for homes, it’s also important to factor in the climate, local building codes, and perhaps most importantly, the ability to install the insulation product. For example, when building a new house, it’s possible to use any almost insulation available because of the ease of open access.
But remodeling or renovation renders this tactic a little more difficult. I have lots of practice remodeling and renovating older homes and believe me, sometimes it’s impossible to get access to certain areas in order to apply the insulation without totally opening up the walls.
In many of the older homes I’ve worked on, the best option has been to blow cellulose insulation into the walls through small drilled holes. While cellulose doesn’t necessarily have the very best R-Value of all types of insulation available, one thing is for sure – having some kind of insulation is absolutely better than having none at all.
Spray in foam is really popular these days in new construction for its ease of application and cost worthy effectiveness. Many formulas are soy based and engineered to be environmentally friendly themselves while helping lead to a greener home through saved energy costs at the same time. This type of insulation does require professional application.
Fiberglass batting insulation is probably the best for do it yourself installers, although it still requires practice to get a tight fit and proper seal. Usually installing fiberglass insulation in the attic or other exposed areas is relatively simple, but again, insulating a home’s walls will require open access.
Ultimately, if you’re getting sick and tired of ultra high winter heating costs, now is time to take action and do something about it. Just remember, no matter the R-Value, any insulation is an improvement over no insulation!
Know how to repack wheel bearings? Let’s face it – it’s not very often that we even think about automotive repairs like this, yet alone routine maintenance. We just drive and take our cars or trucks to be serviced if something goes wrong.
But did you know it’s actually still considered routine maintenance on many makes and models to service or repack wheel bearings every 30,000 or so miles? While even the dealer is only apt to cover this preventative repair perhaps only when doing brake jobs and the like, bad bearings can make for a heck of a problem later on if they go unchecked.
I’ve previously had bearings go bad before on my old Ford truck, but that’s been some time ago. When the same thing happened recently with my Chevy Silverado (you won’t miss the telltale shriek from the wheel), I figured I’d just drop it by the dealer and let them handle the problem.
Guess what? They wanted almost $900 to just replace the two front wheel bearings. No thanks! I was determined to do the repack myself. Now I’ve got to admit that I’m pretty frugal and fairly handy at the same time. I do some of the maintenance on my car when I can to save a buck or two.
If you’ve confident enough to do your own brake work, you won’t have much trouble learning how to repack wheel bearings. I know I didn’t.
In a nutshell, here are the steps:
· Remove the wheel.
· Remove the brake caliper.
· Remove the dust cap.
· Extract the cotter pin and dislodge the retainer ring.
· Loosen and remove the nut from the spindle.
· Pull away the hub assembly.
· Remove bearings and inspect.
· If they’re damaged, then replace.
· Otherwise, clean with a recommended solvent.
· Repack the bearings with grease (use a cone wheel packing tool)
· Begin reassembling in the reverse process of disassembly.
· Make sure everything is properly greased along the way.
To save time and getting grease all over yourself be sure to invest a wheel bearing packing tool. It is an inexpensive tool that can be picked up for under $10-$15.
It is a simple tool that consists of a hollow threaded shaft with a fixed cone on the bottom and a removable cone that screws up and down the shaft.
When it comes time to repack your bearings, you unscrew to top cone and place the bearing on the bottom cone. You screw to top cone down until it comes in contact with the bearing.
Next you attach a grease gun to the fitting on the top of the shaft. You squeeze the grease gun until the grease comes out of the roller bearing. You spin off the cone and apply grease to the outside of the bearings and you are done.
Be sure to cover the packing tool with a cloth or place it in a plastic bag to keep it clean.
If the steps don’t make much sense to you, that’s okay too… Just look for an automotive technician that works at affordable rates. While it’s a complicated job unless you’ve had some hands-on experience, it’s an easy routine task for most mechanics.
Had to jump start a battery lately? Yep, it’s that time of year again – seems that every time the temps fall, dead batteries happen more and more often. They’re like the plague.
Apparently, batteries struggle more in the colder weather. That’s why when we buy car batteries, we’ll hear the term “cold cranking amps” time and time again as a measure of how they stand up to the dropping mercury and the strains resulting.
But did you know that many of the problems experienced have a lot to do with the way we jump start a battery? It’s true, jump starting batteries is very hard on the battery’s life due to the high surge of voltage entering the otherwise depleted battery cells.
Needless to say, I was rather surprised when my mechanic explained this to me. I mean, who would think that jump starting a dead battery actually reduces its life.
As a side note, jumping another vehicle’s battery can also cause severe damage to the sensitive circuitry of today’s modern car electronic systems. It’s just best to avoid the scenario altogether when possible.
How can the problems be avoided? Well, dead batteries just happen – it’s a fact of life. Basically, I would guide you towards using a trickle charger to slowly charge a dead battery overnight, or for a few hours even, to bring it back to life instead of causing yourself to have to buy a new one sooner than later.
Even though it’s a hassle, that’s exactly what I do. I’m frugal and would rather avoid having to replace things completely, but I worry even more about possible permanent damage to my car’s sensitive circuitry due to a battery jump start. I can slow charge a battery, but I wouldn’t even know where to begin when it comes to repairing a car that’s completely internally fried!
It is best to avoid the battery jump start and opt for slow charging instead – your battery and your wallet will thank you later!
How to Hang a Picture – Perfect Pointers
By · CommentsHow to hang a picture may not seem like a difficult question until you actually get started. There’s more to displaying the picture in an appealing way than just putting a nail in the wall and placing the picture on the wall.
Actually, one of the first things I learned when I started hanging our family portraits throughout our home was just how tricky the process is, especially without a second person to give you a hand. Here are some strategies that should show you how to hang a picture properly.
How to Hang a Picture: Getting the Proper Tools
Before you start trying to learn how to hand a picture properly, you need to gather the correct tools. First, you need to decide the weight of the object you want to hang on the wall. Most pictures are light enough that an ordinary nail will be sufficient for hanging, but a better choice is a wall hook. These hooks are created to hold different weights of items so you’ll need to choose the right hook for the weight of your photo. If you are trying to hang a portrait in a very heavy frame, then consider purchasing wood screws instead. Obviously, you’ll need either a hammer or a screwdriver depending on the hanging method you choose.
Additionally, you’re going to need a good level. Spend a little extra to get the models which offer the most useful features. Remember you can get reusing that level for a long time so it’s worth the investment. You’ll also need a stud finder, a tape measure, and a pencil.
How to Hang a Picture Properly – The Process
Once you’ve gathered all of your equipment you’ll need to decide where to hang the picture. Having a second person around can come in handy at this stage because you can experiment with holding the picture against the wall until you find the best spot. Remember to hang pictures at different heights depending on the furniture and other wall hangings.
After you select a spot, you’ll need to find the center mark. If you want to center the picture over a piece of furniture, then measure the width of the furniture piece. Otherwise, measure the width of the wall. Mark the center with the pencil. Now you’ll want to find the center mark on the picture you’ll be hanging.
Make sure to install the picture fastener you’ve chosen. If you’re using wood screws, you’ll have to use the stud finder because those screws should be placed directly into the wall stud for extra strength. You’ll want to avoid the studs if you’re using nails or hooks.
You can then hang the picture on the fastener. Use the level to hang the picture correctly.
After you know how to hang a picture properly, you can experiment with placing pictures at different heights and in different positions relative to the furniture in your home. Experimenting can help you create a unique feel to your photos. For example, I’ve hung some of our children’s pictures in a stair step formation instead of in a vertical or horizontal row. The different form makes the photo more visually interesting.
Furnace Filters – Keeping Your Home Toasty All Winter
By · CommentsWith winter approaching, our furnaces are about to start getting a work out. The good news is that furnaces generally work pretty well and for a good long time but only if they are properly maintained. The question is how to properly maintain them.
Changing Your Furnace Filters
The most frequent part of maintaining your furnace is changing the furnace air filters. Most of these filters are fairly easy to reach and to replace so you don’t need to call out a professional. Pull out your furnace’s maintenance book and read the section on filter replacement to find out which type of filter to use and how often to replace the filter.
Most disposable filters should be changed when you first start using your heating. If you use your furnace continually, it’s a good idea to change out the filter every month. When you don’t change your filter frequently enough, it can become clogged with dirt and debris. As a result, your furnace won’t work as effectively or as efficiently. In fact, if you’re already seeing high energy bills then changing your filters more frequently might be a good idea.
Not all furnace filters are disposable. Some models only require cleaning. Again, make sure you read the maintenance guide that came with your furnace to find out for sure.
Regardless of the type of filter, I would recommend cleaning the blower and other visible parts of the furnace every time you change the filter. When these parts become too dirty, they can also affect the efficiency of your unit. Some rags and a vacuum cleaner should be all the tools you need. I’ve done this routinely with our current unit, which is fairly old, and it actually runs better than some of the newer units our neighbors have.
Other Furnace Servicing Needs
While changing your furnace filters regularly is probably the most common type of maintenance you’ll need to perform on your system, it’s probably not going to be all you need to do. Some newer furnaces are fairly self-contained and require very little maintenance. The bad news is that with these units the maintenance that is required must be done by a professional. They just aren’t set up to make them easy for do-it-yourselfers to work with.
Older units don’t have the same problem. You can more easily get in to do minor repairs or trouble shooting. However, it’s a good idea to have those older units inspected periodically by a professional. Carbon monoxide poisoning, for example, can be a problem with faulty older units. Regularly inspections can also help you determine the remaining life of your unit. Replacing your heating system can be costly so if you know your current unit only has another couple of years left then you can begin saving now to afford that replacement.
When it comes to your heating system, you should definitely be changing those furnace filters but it’s a good idea to call in professionals at least once a year to make sure everything is working correctly and that you can look forward to another toasty winter indoors.
Hot Water Tank – Securing Your Safety
By · CommentsProperly securing your hot water tank is probably not something you’ve given much thought. I know we didn’t. Thankfully, we didn’t have to learn this lesson the hard way but a friend of ours did. Our friend had just moved several years ago out west. He did some of his own home repair, including replacing his hot water tank. Unfortunately, a small earthquake caused the tank to topple over. Something caused a spark and caused an explosion in his home. No one was injured but he lost everything he owned.
After hearing that, we realized properly securing our domestic hot water tank was not something anyone should take lightly.
Other Good Reasons to Secure Your Hot Water Tank
We’ve already talked about one excellent reason to make sure your hot water tank is secure, but that’s only a problem if your system relies on natural gas. Many don’t. That doesn’t mean you don’t still have to be concerned.
If you think about your hot water tank, you know that it holds a good amount of water. The actual capacity varies depending on the make and model but, on average, most tanks can hold about 50 gallons of water. Considering the average weight of each of those gallons you’re talking about 400 pounds of water and that’s not even including the actual weight of the tank. Can you imagine having something that weighs that much fall on you or one of your children or even a pet? The results would definitely cause serious injury at the least.
Another good reason to secure your tank is that all of that stored water could be extremely useful in a bad situation. If our friend, for example, had a secured tank and had been without water for a few days because of the earthquake, he could have tapped into that tank. Most people don’t think about that.
How to Secure Your Hot Water Tank Properly
Now that you understand why you should secure your tank you should learn how to make sure it is properly secured. You can buy kits and straps for this very purpose at most hardware stores. Make sure to purchase only items that have been certified. Poorly made pieces will end up breaking if the tank moves too much.
I have seen individuals use tie downs (straps you would use to secure items in the back of a pick-up) to secure their tanks, but I would recommend this only as a last resort. Because most of these tie downs are made of nylon they could melt if allowed to come in contact with intense heat or flames. You also would need to make sure they can support the weight of your full hot water tank.
If you’re in doubt, then I would recommend calling out an expert to check the security of your hot water tank. Sure, you’ll have to pay for the visit but you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing your tank isn’t likely to tip over any time soon.
