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How to Choose the Best Bathroom Sink Material

Remodeling your bathroom pays off big time if you do it right. When it comes to choosing bathroom sink materials, the range of available options can be overwhelming.

To help you figure out what’s best for you, here’s a quick bathroom sink material comparison.

Traditional Bathroom Sink Materials

Some bathroom sink materials are tested and true. Choosing a traditional bathroom sink material is a conservative choice that will put equity in your pocket. Classic bathroom sink material options are unlikely to go out of style.

Ceramic and Porcelain Sinks Are Classics

There’s no sink more classic than a shiny white ceramic or porcelain bowl. They’re inexpensive compared to some other options and easy to maintain. Ceramic sinks are more durable than porcelain, but both materials can last centuries.

Yet, these traditional sinks are pretty run-of-the-mill. To wow visitors or buyers down the line, try a sink in a creative shape.

Stone Sinks for a Luxury Look

Stone is another popular bathroom sink material. Natural stone is an expensive choice and guaranteed to impress.

Stone is not the best bathroom sink material for hard water. How porous the stone is depends on what variety you purchase, but most stone used in bathroom sinks is absorbent to some degree. Homeowners counteract this with layers of coating, but that only does so much.

You need to keep chemical and mineral deposits off of your stone sink to avoid damage. If you have hard water, these deposits build up faster. Using acid to counteract hard water stains on a stone sink damages the material.

Try a Creative or Industrial Look

While traditional bathroom sink materials always look good, they can get a little bit boring. To shake things up in your bathroom design, try an unconventional bathroom sink material.

Back to Basics With Concrete Sinks

While you might not think of concrete as a building material, concrete sinks stand out in an industrial-style bathroom. Concrete sinks come in any shape you can imagine because molding the material is a cinch.

Concrete is durable and easy to clean. A concrete sink polished with epoxy or another protective coating won’t absorb water.

Better still, they’re resistant to all kinds of cleaning solutions—You don’t have to worry about ruining expensive material like you do with stone sinks.

Chic Metal Sinks

Metal sinks are common in workshops and outdoors. Industrial and some home kitchens are outfitted with metal sinks as well.

Metal sinks are not common in bathrooms. When incorporated correctly, they make a bold and creative statement.

Bring Inspiration to Your Life at Home

After reading this article, you’re ready to review bathroom sink materials and choose the one that’s right for you. After you have your bathroom remodel underway, come back to our site for more home improvement and lifestyle tips.

You’ll never feel bored at home ever again with our wealth of articles. Click on another and learn how to live your best home life today.

 

Simple steps to writing the perfect memorial programs

Losing a loved one is quite a difficult phase for anyone. While you have to deal with the loss, you will also have to plan the funeral and other formalities related to it. Planning memorial programs is one of the ceremonies. It may be overwhelming to deal with this aspect while grieving. But with a little planning, you can design the right celebration of life invitation. With this article, we are trying to make your difficult journey more manageable by giving a few steps to writing memorial programs.

What is a memorial program?

When you lose a loved one and are conducting a funeral service in their honor, you will have to write a memorial program. Generally, this program is written by the funeral home director or friends and loved ones of the person who passed. Many prefer to write their memorial programs as this adds a personal touch to the event. It also helps members feel closer to their loved ones and helps them through their grieving process.

What details should a memorial program have?

A celebration of life invitation includes the following information:

  • Full name of the person name who passed (Maiden name should be included)
  • Date and time of birth and death
  • Venue and time of the funeral
  • Names of the family members
  • Details of pallbearers and the priest who will be overlooking the ceremony
  • Name of the person who will be delivering the eulogy
  • Details of the song being sung/music being played.

You can also include details such as photographs of the person who passed, their career/personal life achievements, a short biography, notes from family and friends, etc. There are a lot of options. It depends on you what you wish to include.

How to write a celebration of life invitation?

Here are a few tips to help you through the process:

  • Decide on what aspects you want to include in the memorial program. You can sit with the immediate family and decide on a blueprint.
  • Gather all the information you can about the person who passed. You can talk to family, friends, colleagues and ask their help to gather all the necessary information.
  • Decide on a deadline to print the program. You should gather all the information before this deadline. This will make the whole process easier for you.
  • Once you have all the material ready, the next step is to find someone who will print the program for you. Fortunately, you needn’t step out of the house to get this done. Many online websites are there to help you out with this aspect.
  • You can log in to websites that print and deliver memorial programs. Here you will find a range of layouts, designs, font, and text options. You can select the option that you feel is best suitable for the occasion.
  • Once you finalize and place the order, the company will make sure that your order is printed and delivered on time.

While the death of a loved one is quite difficult, following the above few steps will make the journey a little easier for you as you plan the funeral and formalities around it.

 

Why You Need To Invest For Your Retirement

SAVINGS ALONE WILL NOT DO IT - INVESTMENT IS MAKING YOUR MONEY WORK FOR YOU; EVEN IN

Everyone wants to live a healthy life when they retire. Being “broke” is one major fear most people have about retirement. Without finance, retirement won’t be a joyful period. Hence, it is important to take decisive steps as you prepare for retirement.

The thought of being financially bankrupt can affect the health of retirees. A healthy life will cost money, at least, you’ll have fewer things to worry about. So, it is wise you start investing for your retirement. We won’t make a detailed financial research (in case you need it you can contact 123Termpapers.com), but the following tips will surely help you to get started.

  • Accumulate Interest

When you retire, you start getting fixed income. You might have made lots of savings or start earning retirement benefits. These are great, but considering the economic state of the world, you need something more.

Living a comfortable life after retirement would require more than your savings. Even your social security checks won’t do as much except you change your lifestyle. Therefore, it is better to learn to accumulation interest any time you save. This accumulation is done through compound interest, which is interest earned on another investment.

  • Leverage On Tax Incentives

You can benefit from the 401k, which helps you save or invest without tax payments. You can also make upfront tax payment through your IRA. So you can make your choice on the plan you want. You choose when you want your tax break.

The 401k and the IRA both help support retirement finance even though they’re different. Employed people usually have a 401k since it comes from their workplace. Self-employed people or those whose work on their own don’t have 401k, but often go with an IRA.

  • Health-Related Issues

Money can’t buy health, but it can provide the needed condition for good health. Money can provide healthy food and a healthy lifestyle that would help you live healthier. With the right kind of dieting, some ailments can be prevented.

You can also benefit from regular check-ups and early treatment of diseases. A good retirement investment can help take care of your medical bills, and this realization leaves you with fewer worries over your health.

Health-related issues usually accompany aging because the organs are now getting weaker. A healthy mind can result in a healthier body. The truth is that you worry less when you have funds.

  • Don’t Depend On Just Saving

The truth is that your savings won’t be enough to see you through retirement. It would be best if you had something extra to enjoy a quality lifestyle when you retire. This additional backup would cost money, considering how long you would live after retirement. These things point to the fact that you cannot save enough.

You ought to take your investment more seriously. You must have seen the picture or know people who are still happy after retirement. They go on trips and start new hobbies. They don’t come cheap. You need to take decisive steps towards investment if you want that type of lifestyle too.

  • Prepare For The Unexpected

Unplanned and unexpected occurrences happen in life. Most of the things that have occurred in our lives were not planned for. When approaching the retirement period, many start getting scared of the unknown.

No more stable income, no more youthful vigor, body organs becoming increasingly weaker, and more worries occupy the mind. These fears are not unusual. They are a part of life; that is why it is essential to prepare for unknown occurrences.

Conclusion

Your investment gives you the confidence to face the future. You’ll have fewer fears knowing something is in motion somewhere. The decisions you make now would also be significant determiners when you retire.

Take the bold step by initiating investment for your future. Your investment can also outlive you. Your children can also benefit from the decisions you make now. There is a high level of confidence in knowing that your financial future is secured.

Tips For Finding The Best House For Your Family

Finding the perfect place to spend a good portion of your life is crucial to true comfort in your little microcosm of a world. You don’t want to spend hundreds of thousands on a new home, if it doesn’t have everything you and your family need to build a comfortable life.

Take the first step to a happy home, and spend some time filling your head with knowledge. Here are a few tips to help you find the best house for your family, so you can sit comfortably in your new investment.

Think about how your family lives

Finding a home for your family takes time and thought. Think about the needs of every member of the household as you sift through available properties.

You may have your parents living with your family, and they may need special assistance. Though an assisted living facility may be in the future, your parents still need a safe and comfortable home for now.

You may have children in your family. Children present a very specific set of needs in the perfect home, and you’ll do well to consider each child’s specific needs as you search.

Know what you can really afford

The most suitable home for your family must also be affordable for the family. It won’t do the crew much good if you can’t afford to keep the home you choose.

Take a very skeptical and thorough look at your finances before the hunt for a new house ever gets into gear. Make sure you are well acquainted with your credit score/history, and set up a mock budget to see exactly what you can afford to pay each month for a mortgage.

Scout the neighborhood

Before you make the final decision on a property that seems quite suitable to your family, take the time to get a feel for the surrounding neighborhood.

Sit in your car parked on the side of the road for a few hours at different times of the day and night. Over just a couple of scouting ventures, you’ll have enough information to make a decent judgement call for your family.

Get an inspection on the house

Before finalizing the sale on any home, you should always insist that there is a professional home inspection done on the property. You should know exactly what you’re purchasing before sinking such a large amount of money into a new place.

Find a good realtor to help

You don’t have to bear the struggle of finding good properties all on your own. Hire a competent realtor to help present your search with plenty of variety. Your realtor will take a load of stress off your shoulders.

Sharpest Edge: Choosing the Best Steak Knives

Are you a new homeowner, or are you in the process of updating your cutlery? Are you looking for a new pair of steak knives?

Steak knives do a lot more than your average kitchen knives. That’s why they’ve been a staple in American households for almost a century.

Steak knives feature serrated blades and wooden handles. They are the only type of sharp knives you can find on a typical American kitchen table. Steak knives are used to easily cut through meats like steak, chicken, and beef.

What should you be looking for in a steak knife set?

Let’s take a look.

Straight Edge

A straight edge steak knife has a single long, smooth cutting edge. These knives are excellent for cutting through soft and hard foods such as meats, fruits, and veggies. A straight edge can also help you cut through a tenderloin or porterhouse cut perfectly.

A straight edge will cut through foods in a few strokes, requiring less work on the cutter’s part. Straight edge knives typically need to get sharpened often, although they are easier to sharpen than serrated knives.

Serrated Blades

Serrated steak blades are scalloped along the edges. They are designed to cut through foods that have a tough exterior. Serrated steak knives are great for slicing through crusty loaves of bread, although they won’t slice through steak as easily.

Serrated steak knives don’t need to get sharpened as often as straight-edge blades, but they are not as easy to sharpen. They won’t blunt as easily when they come in contact with ceramic plates.

Blade Size

Knife blades come in a variety of sizes, and they’re usually between five and seven inches long. Shorter blades may have a higher cutting quality. They also have more flexibility and tend to be easier to maintain.

Longer-blade knives are often used in high-end restaurants. They make for a nice presentation, but don’t always result in a cleaner cut.

Balance

You’ll want to think about balance when choosing a steak knife. For example, you’ll want the handle to be proportional to the blade, and you want the knife to be easy to pick up. The blade should be at a straight angle from the handle.

Before purchasing a knife at your local store, feel free to hold a few, and make sure the balance feels right. You won’t want to feel like either the blade or handle are too heavy. You’ll also want to look at the blade from the side of the handle and make sure it doesn’t seem to angle away.

Remember that, if you’re a regular steak eater, the balance of your knives will be critical to you creating and enjoying those perfect slices.

Blade Materials

A popular material for steak knives to get made from is high carbon blade steel. It’s able to hold sharpness for a long time. High carbon steel blades are also easy to open.

The high carbon content, however, can also make blades more prone to rusting. You can prevent this by hand-washing the blades often and drying them completely before putting them away.

Stainless steel blades are also popular. Restaurants use them often because they’re easy to maintain. High-quality stainless steel blades can dull faster than high carbon blade steel, so you need to shop carefully.

Handle Materials

Steel handles are sometimes used for steak knives. This turns the knife into one long piece of metal, so it will be less likely to break apart. Steel handles are, however, less common and more difficult to find.

Wood steak knife handles are quite popular. They are used in homes and restaurants and always look sophisticated.

Wood steak knife handles will rot if they’re not carefully cleaned and maintained. You should make sure to thoroughly dry them after washing them.

Resin wood handles are heavy and strong. They are also highly resistant to water, heat, and salt.

Some folks don’t like the look of resin handles. You will need to shop carefully to find one with a classic appearance.

Pakkawood is also used often for steak knives. It’s made from dense wood that’s stable and water-resistant.

Pakkawood handles are black or clear. The colors are designed to enhance the natural grains of the wood.

Caring for Your Steak Knives

It’s important not to store steak knives loosely in a drawer, as this will dull them quickly.

Many inexpensive knives come with sheaths, which can help you protect them. Knife blocks are also popular. These prevent the spread of dirt and keep knives from clashing against one another

Be sure to wash your knives by hand right after you use them. Otherwise, water, acid, and chemicals can destroy the blade. Dry them with a cloth immediately afterward to prevent rusting.

Be careful not to leave your knives in the sink as they can quickly rust and corrode. You also won’t want to put them in the dishwasher unless they are dishwasher safe. Otherwise, they can become chipped and useless.

Your steak knives should get sharpened once every 1-2 years. You can do this yourself using a sharpening iron or whetstone.

If you’re uncomfortable sharpening your knives by yourself, local cooking stores will do so for only a few dollars. They can help recreate your angle precisely. Professionals will also remove no more metal than is necessary, ensuring that you’re knife’s shape and life are preserved.

Get Sharp

Choosing steak knives involves doing a little shopping and homework. With the right balance, materials, and blades, your knives could be bringing you delicious meals for years to come.

For more great lifestyle advice, read our blog today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Maximize Your Bedroom Storage Space

Keeping your bedroom in order can be a struggle, especially if it’s a small space with few storage options. There are several storage solutions out there but the options can be overwhelming. These tips will go a long way to help you achieve a clutter-free bedroom.

  • Shelves

Floating shelves are among the best solutions for extra storage space. Apart from that, you will have more floor space in your bedroom.

Each layer of your shelf can serve different purposes. The lower layer can hold your essentials, while the top layer can help you display your favorite decorative pieces.

Once you’ve installed your shelves, consider adding sliding mirrors for a polished look. Try to place the mirrors in front of a window. This is a smart way to make your bedroom look spacious than it is.

  • Multipurpose furniture

It’s advisable to buy versatile furniture for each room in your home. Many homeowners often save money and space with this approach. A typical example is using your desk as a nightstand.

Multiple storage options work best for a tiny space. Avoid investing in large furniture pieces in a bid to store your stuff.

  • Headboard storage

Make sure you get a model with storage space during your next headboard purchase. This option is perfect for storing magazines, books, or clothing. Arrange your essentials in wire baskets for an updated look.

Storage beds are among the latest trends and people with small bedrooms keep investing in them. Underbed storage isn’t meant for the nursery alone. They usually come with drawers for storing different items.

You can store your winter clothing and shoes in these drawers until you need them.

  • Take advantage of empty corners

You can create a closet in your bedroom if you don’t have any yet. Unexpected corners are an ideal solution for hanging clothes and you only need to mount a rack. Get a hanging hamper and place it behind your bedroom door for easy access and extra floor space.

If there is still space right below your ceiling, consider installing some shelves for additional storage space. Check whether a shelf can fit snugly above your bedroom door. Another thing is to hang a corkboard for jewelry to keep them in perfect condition.

  • Leverage your walls

Most people tend to overlook certain parts of their bedroom wall when creating storage spaces. Truth be told, it holds a lot of potentials. In short, there are several things you can do with your wall to clear up your floor space.

Mount hooks on the wall for your accessories. A wall-mounted nightstand or desk at one corner of your room will help you get rid of clutter to an extent.

  • Designate zones

Creating different zones in your bedroom is crucial for eliminating clutter. Try to allocate zones for various activities such as grooming or relaxing.

You will find it easier to find your items and move around freely in your bedroom. This is a surefire way to get the most out of bedroom storage space.

About Author: Seema is a well known writer on Home DIY topic. She is a interior designer and she loves to write to inspire others.

 

Tips For Giving CBD Oil To Picky Dogs And Cats

No matter the bond or level of love between a pet parent and their beloved furry companion, there will be challenges when it comes to administering a foreign substance. It isn’t relevant that the dog or cat has yet to taste the product to make an actual determination either in favor or against.

The decisions are generally made on sight. So how can you introduce these stubborn animals to a compound that may prove beneficial to their wellness, such as CBD oil?

Introducing Picky Pets To The Taste Of CBD Oil

In reality, a majority of items that have been created explicitly for pets boast as well-received by animals for taste and flavoring. Check out https://pethempcompany.com/products/cbd-oil-for-dogs-cats to see what specific brands have available on their sites. But if your dog or cat won’t even give it a chance, there are techniques you can try in an effort to deceive them.

  • Slip the oil on a treat:  Both cats and dogs view treats as rewards, so when they see these come out, they don’t hesitate in snatching them. These snacks are typically porous in nature, meaning the CBD oil will absorb into the treat without the animal ever noticing before they’ve gobbled it down. Just make sure to let it soak in before passing it to them.

If you don’t think you’ll have difficulty with a new type of ‘treat,’ there are premade dogs and cats CBD treats with the substance already in them. The consensus is fur babies love these.

  • Disguise it: For your feline buddies, use fish oil or tuna juices combined with the CBD oil to throw kitty off the scent. These other aromas overpower the compound’s flavor and odor, making your cat none the wiser

For puppies, peanut butter will serve the same purpose. Apply the CBD dosage into a tablespoon or more of peanut butter, and your canine will most likely eat heartily. Click for things you should know before you give your pet CBD treats.

  • Place the oil in the animal’s food bowl:  In most cases, your pup or kitty will eat the food in their bowl, whether it’s dry or moist, regardless of whether a substance has been added to it. They generally don’t pay attention when they’re scarfing down a meal. So if you mix the dose in with their dinner, it will likely go down without a problem.

It’s better to premix it ahead of time before the animal comes into view of the bowl or have the container placed up on the counter while you mix the oil in.

  • Dropper in the mouth:  A more direct approach is to measure out the dosage in a dropper and gently insert it into the pet’s mouth along the gum line close to the back of the mouth and release it. This disallows the ability to spit the dosage out.

A technique like this can present a much more significant challenge for pet parents resulting in struggles with pets creating exceptional stress for the animal. It can be defeating for future attempts with any medications. There is also a danger for glass droppers having the potential for breaking and your dog or cat sustaining an injury.

Make sure that you have treats on hand with the method if it goes well, so puppy or kitty can get their reward immediately following their dose.

With most of these tips, it’s merely a matter of being one step ahead of your finicky little friend. As long as they don’t see what you do, they’ll never know what they’re consuming. But these are smart creatures. If they see you do something to a treat or their food, they will pick through it to find out what happened to it.

Final Word

CBD oil boasts properties noted to help relieve symptoms associated with a number of health-related conditions for our canine and feline companions. Adoring pet parents want to ensure that these beautiful animals receive not only the best care but as close to natural and the safest as what is available on the market. According to anecdotal studies, CBD oil answered the call resoundingly and successfully.

If you want to learn more about our blog, please click here.

A Job for All Seasons: Your Guide to Patio and Deck Maintenance

Adding a deck to your home is one of the most valuable additions for resale value. But just like the inside of your home, a good-quality deck requires regular maintenance throughout the year.

Depending on the type of decking material you choose, your deck may require less or more maintenance. Wood composite materials are not as demanding, whereas real wood requires periodic sealing and a decent amount of upkeep.

Unfortunately, your deck is not going to clean itself. Check out this guide on deck maintenance and few extra tips on maintaining a paved patio, too!

Deck Maintenance 101: Spring Time is Cleaning Time

Once you’ve made it through winter, there are a few areas of your home that require a little extra TLC, not least of which is your deck. Your home’s exterior takes a pounding through winter, and a neglected, unwashed wooden deck is a recipe for mildew, mold, and rot.

One of the best ways to protect outdoor furniture is with patio covers to keep your maintenance tasks to a minimum. Learn how to choose the best patio covers here: https://www.buttefence.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-patio-covers-of-idaho/

Spring is a good time to do a thorough clean down of your deck and outdoor patio areas, so here’s how to properly clean your deck:

Step 1: Remove Debris

Leaves, sticks, stones, and other organic matter will have lodged itself between your deck boards. Use a putty knife and remove all the debris buildup, then sweep the area clean.

Step 2: Deep Clean

Depending on your decking material, you’ll need to choose an appropriate cleaner. For wooden decks, go for a standard deck cleaner and follow instructions. Composite decks require a specific cleaner, formulated for composite materials. Get rid of oil and grease stains with a commercial degreaser or detergent.

If your deck is made from vinyl material, warm water, and soap work a treat in removing dirt, mildew, and mold. If you choose to high-power wash your deck, don’t overdo it. Keep the pressure washer nozzle at least 8-inches from the deck and use a uniform, sweeping motion.

Step 3: Seal the Deal

Once your deck has been cleaned, it’s time to re-seal it if it’s made from wood. Look for a high-quality sealer that suits your deck material. Some of the best wood sealants are clear, allowing for the natural wood texture to shine through.

Otherwise, opt for a sealant with a toner in it, which helps to enhance the color and grain of the wood, while also providing UV protection. Solid wood stains are completely opaque in color and are a great option for decks with weather damage and faded wood.

Midsummer: Inspect and Repair Where Necessary

As the weather grows warmer and drier, this is a good time to do a thorough once-over of your deck and certain repair jobs that may be a bit more laborious. Pay attention to areas of your deck that are close to a source of water, such as downspouts and faucets, and planters. Make sure to inspect deck areas within 6-inches of the ground, too.

Look out for common symptoms of wood rot. Some areas worth checking include staircases and perimeter posts. You should also inspect the underside of your deck and the deck ledger — the frame that attaches your deck to your house.

Check the integrity of deck joists, posts, railing, and beams. Make sure all your deck hardware is in good condition. Anything that is overly rusted should be replaced.

Fall: Preparing For a Change in Weather

Deck maintenance tasks during the fall are purely preventative. This is another good time to wash and re-seal your deck before winter hits.

Some other important maintenance tasks include the trimming of bushes and trees surrounding your deck. Make sure they are at least 12-inches from your deck surface to prevent a buildup of water, mildew, and mold. Clear out the buildup of leaves and other debris as fall progresses, don’t just leave piles to rot.

Cover up your patio furniture with top-quality covers, and move your furniture around occasionally to avoid discoloring areas of your deck. Make sure all your gutters and downspouts are in top condition.

Bonus Patio Maintenance Tips

You may not have a wood patio that extends from your home, but rather a paved patio that you use for entertaining and relaxing. Patio maintenance is a little less demanding, but here are a few tips for clean and well-maintained patio pavers:

1. Kill Weeds Naturally

Instead of buying chemically-laden weed killers, you can use a simple mixture of white vinegar and dishwashing soap to do the same job. This is a great option if you have small pets and children and want to keep harmful chemicals out of your home.

Mix white vinegar and one teaspoon of dishwashing soap into a spray bottle. The soap helps to coat the weeds in the vinegar, while the acidity breaks down the plant. It’s best to spray weeds during periods of bright sunlight to allow for the vinegar to be fully absorbed.

This is a great patio maintenance task to do at the end of every winter and the beginning of each fall.

2. Prevent Weed Growth

One of the best ways to keep weed growth at bay between your patio pavers is with polymeric sand. This substance prevents weeds from popping up between stones and prevents bugs from living between your paves.

Ants and other bugs can burrow between pavers, form nests, and eventually find their way into your home. Polymeric sand, which can found at any home store, helps to prevent this.

Before applying the sand, make sure to remove any existing weeds between paver stones. You can either use a high-power washer or do so by hand. After this, sprinkle the polymeric sand evenly between your pavers every spring and fall.

3. Treat Your Patio Stones

A great product on the market today for the treatment and cleaning of patio stones is Wet & Forget. This product uses surfactants along with sunshine, rain, and wind to lift dirt and debris from your patio surface.

Simply mix one-part Wet & Forget with five-parts of water into a spray bottle. Spray liberally over your patio pavers and leave it to dry. Ideally, this simple process should be repeated every 3-4 months for beautiful, clean, and well-maintained pavers!

A Home and Garden Fix Right at Your Fingertips

Patio and deck maintenance doesn’t have to be complicated or laborious. With the regular upkeep of these outdoor areas of your home, you can maintain the overall value of your property for the long-term.

For more tips, tricks, and informative articles on DIY home and garden tasks, don’t miss out on the rest of the website. Keep your home in tip-top condition and explore our site for more.

 

 

What’s In & What’s Out for Biking

Though the bicycle has remained a durable form of transportation for well over a century, both for pleasure and for fun, certain aspects of biking come and go. BMX bikes had their heyday thirty years ago. Bike racing soared in popularity when Greg LeMond and Lance Armstrong were winning the Tour de France. There was even a time when banana seats and stingrays were all the craze. This year and the foreseeable future might be known as the age of the e-bike. There is even an adult tricycle for sale that is powered by an electrical motor. This newer innovation brings comfort, power and extra balance to the adult rider. The bike is even easy to get on and off with a step-through frame. An ample wire basket sits comfortably on the back with enough space for groceries or a change of clothes. The bike also places a premium on comfort with a specialized ergonomic design that takes it easy on hands, shoulders, knees and other joints and muscles. It’s perfect for the person who still loves biking but isn’t so fond of pain.

Other Trends for 2020 and Beyond

Changing patterns in society create trends that few expected just months earlier. That has certainly been the case in 2020. So far the year has created a demand for the following in the bike universe:

  • More commuter bikes
  • More commuting apparel
  • Functional accessories such as lights, bells and baskets
  • Comfortable bikes
  • Family bikes

In many parts of the country, more people are riding than ever before. This includes families out for fun, commuters getting to and from work and seniors seeking entertainment and exercise. A quality womens electric bike can be bought online and fit to the body shape of the customer. An unobtrusive motor sits on the back of the bike, offering power when needed. With the motor engaged, the rider can be propelled up hills with the barest of effort. With the motor turned off, the rider can pedal until she is at her destination or too tired to continue. A 500 watt motor can reach speeds of 30 mph on some e-bikes.

Outgoing Trends for 2020

It can be hard to say what things will lose their appeal in the remaining months of 2020. Perhaps consumers will be more careful with their money and look for value over glitz and glamour. Perhaps bicycle tourism will take a hit as people stay closer to home and travel less for at least the near future. What does remain certain is that the bike will play a large role in getting people to and from they places they need and want to go to.

It looks like the time for good electric bikes has arrived. The right bike for men and women can be chosen online without much trouble at all. A Body Fit tool makes it easy to make certain the bike will fit a person’s body shape and size. The bike can be shipped right to a person’s home and used without penalty for a trial period in many cases.

 

5 AC Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Home Cool This Summer

 

If you want to keep your air conditioner running well, it needs regular maintenance. These 5 AC maintenance tips will ensure your home stays cool this summer.

Residential air conditioning costs in a single year total about $30 billion collectively.

A well-maintained air conditioner keeps your energy bills reasonable and your household cool. You’ll always have a handle on your air conditioner when you follow five core strategies.

Improve your household and your overall comfort this summer by following the AC maintenance tips in this article.

1. Schedule an AC Maintenance Call Each Spring

Take the time to get your air conditioner checked out each spring. This will prep your AC for both the rest of the spring and the summertime.

Calling up an AC pro allows you to look after the care of each and every part, which ensures that your system uses the highest quality parts and that it isn’t prone to malfunction.

Start thinking about changing your air conditioning system if it’s 10 years old or older.

2. Change the Filters in Your Air Conditioner

Handling your air conditioning filters keeps your system running properly with clean airflow. This means either cleaning or changing them every month or two.

Managing your air conditioning filter service makes the entire system run more efficiently and equitably. These filters come in several sizes, including 12 x 24, 16 x 25, 14 x 20, 16 x 20, and 18 x 30.

3. Manage Your Thermostat Function

Several parts work to make your air conditioner function, but the thermostat is among the most important. This part keeps your temperatures optimal and ensures that you’re never wasting energy.

The industry is rich with opportunities when you’re in the market for a smart thermostat or programmable thermostat. Make thermostat repairs at the first sign of malfunction, rather than prolonging the issue.

4. Take a Look at Your Household Insulation

Handling your household insulation will also make your air conditioner work to the best of its potential.

Quality insulation makes an air conditioner work better and use less energy. This will also reduce your energy bills for the long-term.

Shop several different kinds of insulation on the market. Some of these insulation varieties include spray foam, cellulose, foam board, and rolls.

Several air conditioning contractors offer insulation help that will make your AC system work better.

5. Handle the Care of Compressors and Coils

Finally, you’ll also need to manage the care of both your air conditioning coils and compressors. Start by getting them inspected so that they’re clean and not thick with condensation.

Your coil fins might also get bent from time to time, which requires fixing. You can straighten these coil fins out so that you’re getting better airflow throughout your system.

Further, cleaning the compressors and checking the pressure allows your air conditioning system to work at its best.

Get the Professional HVAC Service That You Need

Whether you’re interested in service for a small apartment or a single-family home, use this strategy to get the best from your AC maintenance service.

Handling the care of your air conditioner is an optimal decision for both your comfort and the value of your house as a whole.

Consider these tips and reach out to us for more information on taking care of your household.