Author: Grubb Young Title: Three Important Reasons to Replace the Box Spring Article: It is often generally thought by many consumers that box springs do not wear out as quickly as mattresses, and therefore do not need to be replaced every time the mattress is. While the box spring is not used in direct contact with the sleeper, it does still suffer wear and tear with age and the movements of bed activities. Still, box springs were once thought to last years longer than their mattress mates. However, there are a few very important reasons that it is a good idea to replace the box spring every time the mattress is replaced.Bed sets are usually warranted by the manufacturers, as opposed to the retailers. Many retailers do offer additional warranties, but it is the manufacturer warranty that is most important as the manufacturer warranty is often the one that replaces the mattress in event of construction or materials defects. Retailer warranties are usually more like expanded return policies– a common one is sleep on it for 90 days in the plastic wrap and return it if it’s not comfortable (conditions do apply). Maintaining the manufacturer warranty is one reason to purchase a matching box spring with every new mattress. Very often, if the mattress is not used in a set with its intended box spring, the manufacturer warranty is void.One reason that many manufacturer warranties insist upon replacing old box springs with a the box spring intended for use in a given bed set is weight and construction. Many of the newer mattresses feature latex and memory foam. Even most innerspring beds have “comfort” layers made of memory foam. The use of memory foam padding adds a significant amount of weight to modern mattresses. Older box springs that predate common foam padded bed tops are often not sturdy enough to handle the extra weight, especially with a couple of adults added to the mix. Newer box springs are often designed using steel rods and construction structures that make them better able to hold up under new mattress weights. Also, box springs that are part of sets are often designed to work with its own specific mattress.It is important that the box spring and mattress work together in terms of fire protection as well. Because governments have regulated the level of fire protection that bed sets must have, but have not regulated how that goal is achieved, materials and fire retardation methods vary from each manufacturer to the next. Some bed makers use certain fire restricting fabrics and fiber contents that cause the beds to smolder instead of burn. Others use sprays that reduce the rate of burning while raising the ignition temperature. Having a matching set ensures that both parts work in tandem to protect the sleeper from fire danger.Working in tandem is what bed sets are all about. Duvet sets come with matching pillow shams; mattress sets have matching box springs. Together, using sets in tandem help ensure adequate stability and support for the mattress so that it will last longer, and provides additional fire safety. This is why manufacturer warranties usually specify that the warranties are for sets, not separate pieces.

Ortho Mattress specializes in high quality, affordable, orthopedic mattresses and client education to ensure all customers a good night”s rest. Find a store at:
http://www.orthomattress.com
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Author: Ruthan Brodsky Title: Recycling Tips That Save You Money Article: It may come as a surprise to you, but there is a really good chance that the town or city you live in offers a service you may not have heard of called an energy audit. Municipalities across the country have started doing energy audits in which an auditor goes through your home and helps you to see where you could make changes that will not only help you conserve energy but will help you save money!

What a bonus it is to save money by doing the right thing. There are so many changes you can make in your home that impact how you recycle and result in keeping more money in your pocket.

Having recycling bins set up so that you can properly sort the items that are recycled is a great first step. That activity alone can cut down greatly on the items that end up in the landfills rather than where they can be recycled.

Keeping your televisions, DVDs, stereos and computers plugged in to a power strip or surge protector rather than directly into the wall also helps a great deal. You can then turn off the power strip when you are away from the house or not using the equipment for the night. That will also cut back greatly on what are called power leaks that can raise what you owe on your utility bill. Being aware to turn these items off is the first step, and then having them plugged into the power strip will further the action for saving money and energy.

Do not leave a light on when you walk out of a room and no one else is in there. Also be sure to change your light bulbs from the traditional ones to the compact fluorescent kind. The newer lights use 75 percent less energy to run and they will out live a traditional light bulb by up to 10 years.

Do not run the dishwasher or the washing machine unless they are full. It is a waste of energy and water to run a cycle through the dishwasher when it is only half full.

Use microfiber cloths for cleaning all kinds of surfaces such as furniture, counters and sinks because these items can be tossed into the washer and reused again and again. Think of the savings in paper towels alone. Using fewer paper towels means fewer trees need to be cut to make them in the first place.

Take shorter showers and see if you can pick up a shower head that is a water-conserving item, already in place, that will save you money. The chances are very good that you will never notice the difference during your shower.

There is much you can do to improve the way you recycle and it is the small steps from everyone that add to a large result. I invite you to learn more about how you can save energy in your home, office or with lawn maintenance. Be good to your pocketbook and your planet. Claim your free report on how to save energy at Green Living for Boomers Syndication Source: ThoughtSearch.com

Author: Dominic Donaldson Title: Energy Consulting For A Greener Future Article: As the economy and the climate changes, our need for a more economical and greener energy supply grows. There have been, and still are, a number of methods of producing this type of energy, some of which are in place already and some of which have never seen the light of day.

Hydrogen is a classic example of an energy source that has the potential to be a green fuel if the electrolysation is powered via renewable energy sources but it has had trouble getting a foothold in the energy market. Energy consultants have heralded hydrogen power as a clean and sustainable resource for many years now, but its application has mainly been promoted within the motoring industry where the need for efficient, lightweight and high performance cells has been difficult to meet.

The lesser known application for hydrogen as a domestic fuel source is really where the technology may be able to gain some ground on its competitors in the energy industry. A full scale hydrogen energy plant is currently in operation in Denmark, and by all accounts is generating energy cleanly and efficiently. Denmark produces around fifty per cent more energy than it consumes through its most abundant natural resource, wind power.

This excess energy generated by wind turbines is being used to electrolyse water and store the resulting hydrogen in cells that can power both domestic and industrial facilities. This power plant is making this process even more efficient by using the oxygen as well as hydrogen produced by electrolysis to produce Combined Heat and Power, known in the energy consulting business as CHP.

CHP, also called co-generation is a system that utilises all the energy produced by a fuel. Typically, a power station will generate both energy to be used by a consumer, and heat as a by product. In some power stations, as little as half the available energy is lost as excess heat.

CHP harnesses the heat produced and uses it for heating domestic or commercial buildings. This method can see a reduction in energy consumption by as much as 35 per cent; or an increase in efficiency from 55 per cent to around 90 per cent. In the Danish power plant, the oxygen is harnessed and used to speed up the biological processes in the local domestic water treatment plant. The hydrogen is then stored as normal to power micro CHP stations, designed specifically for residential use.

CHP technology has been in place for many years, but confined to use in industry only. Its return with eyes on the prize in the domestic market is welcome by many energy consultants as a way to use energy more efficiently, and yet micro CHP technology is still receiving opposition from certain sectors in the energy sector.

It has been proposed that by 2011 a new type of domestic boiler will be on the market that will be set to replace old style energy inefficient boilers as they run their natural lifespan. The new CHP boilers will reduce the carbon output by a possible 2.5 tonnes per household per year and have the potential to generate enough excess energy to be sold back to the energy companies. The new technology comes with a price though, and that is the price tag.

Unless the new boilers are a financially attractive option, micro CHP technology will face the same problems as its environmentally friendly hydrogen producing cousin, by failing to be recommended within the energy consulting industry altogether. Dominic Donaldson is an expert in the energy industry.
Find out more about Energy Consulting and green energy. Syndication Source: ThoughtSearch.com

Author: Andrew Oke Title: Building A Wind Generator Article: Building a wind generator is a much more cost effective solution than buying one. The average price of a 1000 watt wind generator is USD $2500. I would have to save up for more than a year to be able to buy one. That’s why I built my own wind generator.

It’s not as difficult as you might think either. A wind generator has some basic parts. I’ll deal with the tower first.

Many people have researched and found that buying a wind tower is very expensive. That’s true, but when I built mine I actually made $100 getting it. You see, many people these days have switched to satellite television, but they still have those television towers up. I was doing some construction at a house and noticed this. I asked the guy if I could buy it off of him. He told me “I’ll give you $100 dollars to take that thing away.

The next part of a wind generator is the generator. I really like wind generators because they allow you to produce AC or DC power. This is good for several reasons. First, if you don’t have the money for a battery system you can hook up an AC motor and generate AC power for your house. As you can afford batteries you can switch the motor to a DC one and charge the battery system.

Now for the most important part of your wind generator- the blades. Another trick that we’ve learned to make blades is to use PVC tubing. I know it sounds crazy, but a correctly cut PVC pipe works great as a wind generator blade. The plus side of using PVC as blades is that they are very strong.

The last piece you need for your wind generator is the vane. This can be made out of anything. Mine is a triangle I cut out of some plastic.

Assembling the wind generator is usually a whole day job– good for a weekend– you need to set up the tower and secure it with 5 guy wires. These wires are important as they provide stability so your wind generator doesn’t fall down. You will have to mount the turbine on the top- which should be done before you set up your tower. Make sure to attach the wires to the generator because I’ve forgotten.

You will probably want to do some load testing on your generator to see the wattages it produces at different wind speeds. Andrew Oke is very interested in renewable energy.He has 16 years experience living off the grid, and has completely built his own renewable energy system. Visit his website at Living Off The Grid Syndication Source: ThoughtSearch.com

Author: Thomas Pretty Title: Wet Rooms; The Need For Professional Installation Article: Wet rooms are increasingly large element in the world of bathroom design as a contemporary way to provide drainage. Ultimately wet rooms are shower without a basin that include a toilet and sink. Drainage for the shower is through the floor and the entire room is tanked meaning that the room is completely sealed. This craze has grown in popularity as many people convert second bathrooms with a shower and view this as an ideal way to create space and luxury in an otherwise small and cramped room.

Wet rooms are extensively used on the continent, the difference however between the continent and here is climate. On the continent it is usually warm enough that any leaks from the tanked room evaporate quickly. In this country where it is considerably colder, leaks can cause a great deal of damage through damp and eventual structural instability. This is why it is vitally important when installing wet rooms to have them fitted by professionals. Any leak can be disastrous so quality workmanship is essential.

Wet rooms create a stylish and contemporary look to a room. Due to this they are increasingly being used in the construction of modern, newly built homes. If installed in a second bathroom a large amount of value can be added to a home when it comes to selling. Fundamentally it is more advisable to fit them into smaller bathrooms where space is already at a premium. Installation is not a good idea if it is to be undertaken on the main bathroom, in some cases this has been known to reduce the value of a property rather than increase it. An added benefit is that as the floor has a plughole, cleaning is made that much easier, especially if wall hung fixtures and fittings are used.

That is not to say that the installation of wet rooms is all benefits, there are certain disadvantages. One of these is the problem of splash back; if the shower does not have a screen it is easy for towels and toilet paper to become damp; this why it is a valid option to install sealed cupboards in wet rooms to prevent problems. As previously stated it is most advisable to use professional fitters for the installation process, leaks can be a monumental disaster for the structural integrity of a building, rotting timbers and plaster. Tiling should be placed all over the room and if there is no window it is often advisable to fit an extractor fan to prevent the build up of steam. There are usually maintenance costs associated with the use of wet rooms, taking place every couple of years to ensure the seals are still watertight.

Installation costs vary but will most likely be more than for a regular bathroom. This is because getting the gradient of the floor is an exact science to enable the free flow of drainage water. Additionally the process of tanking requires a great deal of effort with a variety of membranes and layers that have to be added. In some cases it may also be worth installing under floor heating to ensure the shower room is not to cold on those chilly winter mornings. In most cases this will not be a DIY job, getting the professionals in is highly advisable.

Hopefully this has cleared up some of the issues that homeowners may have with wet rooms. Ultimately they are an attractive addition to a property but if not installed properly can be an unmitigated disaster. So for those considering converting a second bathroom, it is advisable to ponder the benefits of tanking to increase space and add value. Interior design expert Thomas Pretty looks into the popularity of wet rooms and why they should always be installed by professional contractors. Syndication Source: ThoughtSearch.com