August 3, 2010
Here are some ways You can save water this year
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• Use a water saving showerhead.
• Take shorter showers, take showers over baths.
• Check for water leaks around your house and yard, don't forget to check your sprinkler heads for slow leaks.
• Drop a few drops of food coloring into your toilet tank and wait a half hour, if you see colored water in the bowl you have a water leak.
• Install water saving aerators at all your sinks.
• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
• Fill the sink and wash veggies instead of using running water.
• Use the proper fill setting on the clothes washing machine for the size load you are washing.
• Using your dishwasher over hand washing dishes will save water.
• Water your lawn before or after sunset and only use as much as you need.
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August 2, 2010
Solar Powered Attic Fans, Pros and Cons
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| It's a great idea to cool your attic using an attic fan. An electric powered attic fan runs through out the day which effectively cools the attic, they also operate when it's cloudy, which is an important factor.
Using a solar powered fan will cut your utility cost, sometimes the fan will qualify for a rebate saving you even more money. The down side to a solar powered fan is they only work when the sun directly shines on the solar panel.
Placement of the solar panel is important and understand that if it's a cloudy day or a random cloud passes between your roof and the sun, the fan stops working. The solar panels do not store energy and keep the fan operating when the sun is gone.
Because of this one major draw back, I recommend electrical powered attic fans. The electricity used through out the day will cool the house down enough to reduce the amount of energy used to cool the house.
Also, because of the limited time solar fans operate through out the day, you will need more than one to move the 8,000 cubic feet of air per minute needed to effectively lower the daytime temperature of your attic.
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July 30, 2010
The Truth Surrounding Drywall Made in China
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| The EPA reports that mercury and formaldehyde has been found in drywall imported from China. It seems since about 2001 drywall coming into the US and other countries from China not only contains mercury and formaldehyde but also high levels of sulfur.
These pollutants out gas into a home or office and can make people and animals sick. Symptoms can include mild to severe respiratory issues, headaches and nosebleeds.
We first became aware of issues with China's drywall when new homeowners in Florida complained of unusual odors and their air conditioner coils and electrical wires were corroding.
When choosing drywall make sure you ask the following questions:
• Where's the product made?
• Is it made from synthetic gypsum?
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July 27, 2010
Drain control without Chemicals
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| Why is it that drains clog over the holidays?
What's so magical about tree roots and potatoe peelings?
Many drain issues can be prevent with a little common sense. If you do have a clog in your drain, don't reach for the harsh chemicals. Most commercial drain cleaners have lye, trichloroethane and hydrochloric acid, chemicals that can cause injury from splash back and damage your plumbing pipes.
Here are some tips to prevent clogging in the first place:
• Use a drain strainer in your sink and tub drains, clean the strainer regularly
• Be careful of the things you put down the drain - don't empty the bottle of shampoo down the drain or the grease from the hamburger, do not put onions or potatoe skins in the garbage disposal
• Use monthly drain maintenance treatments, especially great for older homes which have smaller drain pipes. You can use a natural drain cleaner that uses enzymes or bacteria to clean the drains.
Here's a great recipe for natural drain cleaning that will save you money and time.
Pour a half-cup of baking soda followed by a half cup of vinegar down the drain. Let it stand and bubble for 15 minutes and pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain to flush the baking soda and vinegar away.
Use this treatment once a month and you may make it through the holidays with out the drain man coming to dinner.
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July 23, 2010
How can I naturally protect myself from mosquitoes?
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| DEET is in most over the counter bug repellents and it's harsh and contains toxic chemicals. DEET can cause skin irritation, dizziness, headaches and trouble concentrating. Some studies even link DEET to changes in behavior or brain cell heath.
There are a number of ways to protect yourself from mosquitoes using natural and or herbal insect repellents. Here are a few examples of what Mother Nature provides as an alternative to DEET.
• Lemongrass oil is effective in warding off mosquitoes and ticks.
• Cedarwood oil wards off mosquitoes, flies and fleas.
• Citronella oil mixed with vegetable oil makes a wonderful insect repellent, just mix the two together and spread on you skin.
• Patchouli oil is great for repelling mosquitoes and moths.
And my favorite and probably the most effective at repelling mosquitoes is Lemon Eucalyptus oil. Some studies show that lemon eucalyptus oil offers as much protection from mosquitoes as products containing low levels of DEET.
You might also consider planting these plants that naturally repel mosquitoes:
• Citronella grass
• Rosemary
• Catnip
• Marigolds
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June 29, 2010
Fun Conservation Facts
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How many times have you entered a room and noticed lights or other electronic equipment that have been left on? Have you ever walked into a bathroom and noticed water dripping from a faucet?
Here are a few fun facts to consider as you look around your house or purchase new appliances.
- Leaving the computer or video games on pause or in the sleep mode uses electricity, turning them off still uses electricity as Pham tom energy loss. Plug electronics into a power strip and turn off the power strip when not in use to save energy and money.
- A high definition television uses six times as much energy as a regular digital television.
- Have dusty light blubs? That dust is blocking about half the light that light blub produces.
- A dripping hot water faucet leaking just one drop per second will waste 165 gallons of water per month, more that a typical person uses in a two week period.
- Using incandescent light blubs in your light fixtures? Only 10% of the electrical energy used is actually going towards light, the other 90% is wasted in the amount of heat that incandescent blub creates.
- Compact fluorescent light blubs can last up to 4 years and uses about 75% less energy than an incandescent light blub. Remember to recycle compact fluorescent light blubs as they contain mercury.
- A small 1/16 of an inch crack around a window frame can allow as much cold air into the house as leaving the window open 3 inches. Caulking around windows and doors saves energy and your money.
- Many energy smart refrigerators use less electricity than an incandescent light blub.
- If you're doing your dishes by hand you are wasting money and energy. An automatic dishwasher uses less hot water than you doing dishes by hand, on average 2,000 gallons per year less.
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May 28, 2010
BBQ Tri Tip Sandwiches
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I love to BBQ!
I BBQ in the rain, three feet of snow or a sunny day.
One of my favorite recipes is cooking a beef Tri Tip roast and making sandwiches out of it.
It's simple here's what I do:
- I buy the tri tip bring it home and make sure it's completely defrosted.
- I pat it dry on both sides.
- I rub a mixture of salt, pepper and garlic into the meat and let it stand for an hour or two. Use lot's of dry rub it will make a wonderful crust as the roast cooks.
Preparing the grill
- I heat up the grill to a high temp and sear one side of the tri tip for about 5 minutes, then I move the tri tip 45 degrees to get that cross grill mark look and let it sear another 5 minutes.
- Then I flip it over and repeat the searing for 5 minutes and moving the tri tip 45 degrees to get that cross grill mark look.
- Now here's where it gets just a bit tricky, after I move the tri tip 45 degrees on the second side, I turn the fire off on half the grill.
- I place the meat on the side with no flames cooking with indirect heat to finishing cooking the trip tip.
- When I reach an internal temperature of 130 degrees for medium rare in the middle, I take the tri tip off the flame and let it rest or sit for 20 minutes.
Now you are ready to cut the tri tip in very thin strips making sure to always cut across the grain.
For the sandwich:
- I use a French roll that I split in half, I coat each side with a garlic butter mixture which I then grill until I have a toasted garlic buttered French roll.
- I pile on the meat and drizzle with my favorite BBQ sauce or just use mayo. I like to add a bit of red onion. However you dress this sandwich it will be awesome.
Tri tips are lean and delicious. Add your favorite side dishes and invite over a few friends. It's always a good time when you share good food with those you love.
Hope you enjoy this yummy sandwich.
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May 26, 2010
10 Tips to discourage summer home break ins
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| In the United States each year over 6 million homes are robbed while residents are on vacation. The majority of those breaking into homes are opportunists, they see something and they take it. Usually working on impulse and taking low risk items.
According to the Burglary prevention council, 28% of summer break ins are performed by someone who watches the home for daily routines and wait for the occupant to leave on vacation before breaking into the home.
The home items most often taken are, tools, cameras, credit cards, sports equipment, jewelry, TVs, computers and laptops, DVD players and stereo equipment.
Here are a few simple things you can do to reduce your risk of a summer break in:
1. Create a neighborhood watch, your neighbors are your extra set of eyes when you are away from home, know your neighbors and know each other's schedules. Let a neighbor know when you are leaving and when you will return, alert the police too, they will do additional drive bys at different times of day.
2. Lock your doors, especially the door from the house to the garage and the side yard to the garage. Lock fence gates. Lock all your windows too.
3. While away disable your overhead garage door opener and lock the overhead door to the track.
4. Use timers to turn on lights and TVs throughout your home, set them for the times you would normally be using the lights or TVs.
5. Use outside lights, a well lit home will discourage would be robbers, they will go to a dark home first.
6. Stop the mail, milk delivery and newspaper.
7. Close shades, what a thief can't see they can't take.
8. Install an alarm system or at least put an alarm company's sign in your yard.
9. Monitor your answering machine message and your trash. Don't indicate you are away from home and don't put out the trash with the box from the new flat screen TV.
10. Have a home safe and lock up important papers with your account numbers, social security numbers, check books and extra checks, any jewelry or other small valuables.
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May 7, 2010
Got good sleep?
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| In our fast paced world filled with stress, long hours and too much caffeine, many of us find sleeping to be difficult. Even if we do manage to sleep for 7 or 8 hours, too often we do not reach the deep regenerative sleep our bodies need to keep us healthy and happy.
Take a look at your bedroom, how many electrical appliances do you have near your bed? How many electrical outlets? Cell phone? Wireless phone? TV? Wireless router?
All of the above generate an electrical and magnetic field, which may have an impact on your ability to rest peacefully and allow your body to regenerate and repair itself each night.
Now let's take a look at the bed itself. Does yours have a metal box spring? Or metal in the mattress itself? If you answer yes to either or both questions then you may have found the prime suspect in why you are not sleeping well.
Metal conducts both electrical and magnetic fields, and when you move around at night your movements generate a strong magnetic field within the metal springs or coils.
When our bodies are subjected to strong magnetic fields for long periods of time our body's cellular communication is disrupted. Cells communicate using electrical signals, our body's cell structure can not repair itself or receive messages from other body cells properly when subjected to a sustained interrupting magnetic field.
The result of this poor communication between your body's cells is poor sleep or a depressed immune system.
Before you run out and purchase a new mattress or sleeping platform, try this simple test to see if you are sleeping in a magnetic field.
Use a liquid filled compass, which you can find, at Army surplus stores, big box stores or on line. Hold the compass away from the bed and notice the direction of the needle. Now watch the needle as you bring the compass close to the bed, watch and see if the needle moves. Then hold the compass a couple of inches from the mattress and slowly move the compass up and down the length of the mattress.
If you have more than a couple of degrees of movement then you have a magnetized bed. If you have more than 10 degrees of deviation then it's time to remove your box springs and use a wood-sleeping platform.
After replacing the box spring with a wooden platform retest using the same process. If you still have deviation then perhaps it's time
to exchange your metal coiled mattress for one of the options that do not contain metal.
As an added precaution remove as many electrical items from around your bed as possible. If you find that you are still not sleeping well, consider installing an electrical demand switch to your bedroom.
A demand switch will turn off the electrical current to your bedroom after you turn off the last electrical draw to that area. An electrical draw could be your bedside lamp.
A good night sleep is essential to a healthy long life and to a life well lived.
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May 5, 2010
Drive green and save money too
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Now that it's summer many of us will be driving more enjoying road trips and the outdoors. Here are some simple things you can do to save money and have a positive impact on our environment at the same time.
- Bundle your trips together to save gasoline and save your time too.
- Park your car and ride a bike.
- Clean your truck, removing what you don't need removes weight that uses more fuel to drive around.
- Removing your ski rack will reduce your drag and improve your fuel economy.
- Turn your car off when sitting in traffic or drive thru windows.
- On windy days, use the tailwinds to your advantage and avoid driving into the headwinds.
- Take advantage of off peak hours, starting and stopping uses more fuel.
- Watch your tire pressure, properly inflated tires improve your saves gasoline.
- Driving when it's warm out saves gasoline.
- Slow down and drive the posted speed.
- Learn to use your cruise control properly.
- Today's cars do not need to warm - idling wastes fuel.
- Park in the shade; use your air conditioner wisely and with the windows up.
- Anticipate driving conditions by know what's happening up ahead you will break less.
- Carpool when possible and take advantage of the carpool lanes, you will maintain a steady speed which saves fuel use.
- Keep your engine tuned up and change your filters often.
- Gently release the gas pedal and gently press on the gas pedal, slow and smooth saves fuel.
- Coasting saves gasoline, gently release the gas pedal just before you crest a hill.
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April 6, 2010
A day at the office- when the earth moves pay attention
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| I was hired to perform a holistic inspection of a client/friend's home. She asked that I perform a traditional home inspection and look at the energetics of the home she hoped to purchased. I would not perform a clearing until after she owned the home.
I arrived early as I often do to get a "feel" of the home. As I sat on the front steps, I knew that the neighborhood energy did not want me there. That I was being "pushed" out of the neighborhood by some unseen force. Something knew I was there to change the energy and that something did not want change.
I felt the anger, hate, and violence that this neighborhood had and if my friend did purchase the property I would change the energy within this home and that would have an effect on the neighborhood even though I would not be working with anything outside the home. The neighborhood did not want change or interference.
When my client/friend arrived, she indicated we needed to walk to the rear of the home where the lock box was located. The side walkway of this home was small stones approximately 2 inches or so in diameter. She and I were standing on the stones talking when I felt the stones give way under both my feet.
It was as if the ground under my feet opened up and a hole appeared that the stones fell into. I very gracefully went down on my knees. I was standing still talking to my friend who was also standing on the stones and the next instant I was on my knees.
I did sustain injury from this fall and terminated the inspection prior to investigating the energetics of the property. The collective energy consciousness of the neighborhood had found away to "push" me out without my completing my inspection or creating an awareness of what the energies of the neighborhood were or have an impact on changing those energetics.
I learned a valuable lesson to pay better attention to detail that day and to go a step further in my initial investigation. I also learned that protection is my friend and that there were some techniques I could have used had I been paying attention to my own inner guidance that may have prevented my injury.
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March 23, 2010
The Power of my Work
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| I love my job!
Each day is different and exciting.
Some days I comment on a home's physical condition, others I work with clients helping them create homes that support their lives.
A tread seems to be developing this month, my clients are realizing the connection between their healing and the role their home plays in that healing.
The tread involves the understanding that a client works on removing the looping tapes or messages in their heads- I'm not safe in my world, I can release weight, I deserve a lover relationship.
Now here's the cool part, the client realizes that that same looping tape or message is running in their home making it difficult for them to fully and completely release the past programming.
I get so excited. Harnessing a home's energy to work on your behalf is powerful and sometimes it's the final piece to healing an issue.
Think about it, science tells us everything is energy and all energy has intelligence.
That intelligent energy is working in my home and life and it is either working for me or against me. It's attracting those thoughts and beliefs that gave it life.
Sometimes in a home that intelligent energy is made up of the last occupants thoughts and emotions and it impacts my ability to heal and manifest.
The fun part, it's all easy to reprogram. Just like your computer, you can do a clean install and upgrade the system software in your home.
I love this work, it's so different and each day it presents something new. The best part is hearing the client's excitement as their life changes.
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March 9, 2010
Bi Annual Maintenance List
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| Things to look at on the exterior:
(You can look at your roof surfaces with binoculars from the ground and depending on the type of roof, do you have any of these conditions?)
- If a flat roof does it require tar flashing maintenance, are the seams lifting requiring more tar?
- If you have a flat roof with pebbles - do you have exposed tar requiring more pebbles?
- Are your asphalt shingles curling?
- Do your wood shingles have raised staples, are you missing any shingles or are your shingles cupping?
- Are all roof protrusions in good working order and sealed?
- Is the chimney clean with a screen on the top of the chimney preventing animals from entering?
- Are your gutters leaking, do they require cleaning, are your gutters flashed properly to the roof?
- Are the downspouts firmly attached to the gutters and do they extend from the home at least 3 feet?
- How's the foundational grade? Will water flow away from the house or will it settle against the foundation?
- How are your trees and bushes? Do they require trimming?
- Do you need to caulk around the windows, doors, siding or trim?
- Does your house need painting?
- Is your brickwork in need of tuck point maintenance?
- Are there cracks in your stucco?
- Do you have broken windows, doors or screens?
- Inspect your wood deck or wood fence for deterioration or sealing.
- Are your electrical wires high enough, are your exterior outlets covered with an outdoor rated junction box, and are the outlets rated as GFCI's?
- Do your exterior lights work and do you have enough of them?
- Do you have cracks in your driveway or cement walkways that would fill with rain or snow melt? When the snow freezes it will further the cracking and deterioration.
- Does your sprinkler system work correctly are all the sprinkler heads working or are they blocked by grass?
- If you have a pool or hot tub when were the filters last replaced?
Interior:
- When did you last change the batteries in your smoke detectors or your carbon monoxide detector?
- Do you have to caulk your tub to tile joints; tile-to-tile joints? Are your grout lines in good and sealed condition?
- Do your exhaust fans work in the kitchens and bathrooms?
- When did you last clean your dryer vent?
- Are your stair handrails secure to the wall?
- When did you last change your furnace filter? You should change it each month you use either the furnace or the air conditioner.
- When did you last service your air conditioner, boiler, furnace, evaporative cooler, or hot water heater?
- Do you have any water leaks around your hot water heater, under your sinks or tubs?
- Does your toilet rock or move around?
- Do you have any evidence of water entering the basement? Look around the walls of your basement for any signs of past leaking or wall damage.
- Do you have mold? Not all mold is black, some mold is white or iridescent.
- When did you last clean the filter to your kitchen exhaust fan?
- Do you have termites, or any other insects or animals that have penetrated into your home?
- If you have a septic system when did you last empty it?
- If you have a well when was the last time you had the system inspected and the water tested?
- How does your overhead garage door opener work? Does the chain rattle?
- When did you last check the condition of the rubber hoses supplying water to the washing machine?
- Are all your garage and household chemicals secured from children and pets?
- Are all window covering cords secured from small children and pets?
- If you have a crawl space is it dry is the ventilation working properly?
- If you have a sump pit or ejector pit with a pump are the pumps working properly?
- If you have a radon mitigation system did you have your annual radon test performed?
These are just some of the things that require annual or bi annual inspection. I tend to do my house inspection when I change my clocks; it only takes a few minutes and usually saves me money as I catch maintenance repairs before they become big expensive repairs.
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March 9, 2010
What we do
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| Home's with a stigma, death, suicide, ghost, feels weird, has had repeated death, divorce or cancers.
These are the types of things we help with as Holistic Home Inspectors and Real Estate Consultants, HeartAndHomeHealing.com
Great article that illustrates how Team Ranoli can help you, read more here...
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March 5, 2010
My Otter Box Defender Series Story
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| I was lucky enough to receive an Iphone for Christmas, yes I'm a lucky girl.
The phone of course is awesome, but it's the case I want to talk about.
As a holistic home inspector I find myself on roofs, ladders, construction sites and crawl spaces. Environments that are not a cell phones friend.
I routinely drop my phone, sometimes from a ladder and often times onto a cement surface.
My cell phone case needed to be strong, ultra protective and stylish.
As I explained my needs to the sales rep at the AT&T store, he just smiled, removed his Iphone from his belt clip and threw it with all his might right at the floor.
I've never been so shocked in my life by a product demo as I was in that moment. He threw it with force right at the floor, smiled and picked it up and asked me if that would provide me the protection I was looking for.
Needless to say, I purchased the cover and installed it on my phone. I have loved my Otter Box plastic and silicone defender series phone case. It's amazing, no fear when I drop my phone I know it's protected.
Now here's the really great part. The outer silicone case became a little loose on the hard plastic shell. I called the company and Katie answered. She was amazing in her customer care.
No questions asked she set me up to receive a new silicone cover and a new replacement belt clip just in case. She was kind, courteous and professional in a helpful kind of way.
I can't remember the last time I experienced that level of customer care. The case sold me the customer care will be keep me loyal to this company.
I love my Otter Box defender case and I highly recommend it. Check out their website, www.otterbox.com , they have cases for smart phones, iPods, armbands, waterproof cases and other protective cases for handheld toys.
I love this company and it's product, I bet you will too.
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