Home Life, Safety

6 Reasons Why You Need Emergency Locksmith Services

No matter how careful and responsible you think you are, there are times when you end up feeling frustrated. For instance, you didn’t remember to take your keys before shutting your front door and now there’s no way to get inside other than breaking a window. But then you have a broken window on your hands and this is a security issue (you cannot leave your home with an open window can you?) and who wants to climb through their own window? In such cases, you need a locksmith Toronto at Lock-up Services Inc.

If you do an online search, you will find the names and contact details of hundreds of locksmiths.

Not all of them are reliable, but when you have lost your keys, you don’t have time to choose the best. That is the reason why it’s necessary to avoid situations where you will need emergency locksmith services. Some of those situations are:

Lost keys

One of the most common reasons for requiring emergency locksmith services is losing the keys to your house. No matter how careful you are with your keys, it has been found that misplacing keys is a common occurrence that everyone faces at some point. When there is no other way to enter your house, you are required to call for emergency locksmith services.

Broken keys

When keys break off inside the lock, both the lock and the keys need replacing. This is an emergency situation when the locksmith is needed immediately. Such instances happen when the key is too old or fragile, or when the wrong key is inserted into a lock. To avoid keys breaking inside a lock, only the right keys need to be used with proper care.

Burglary

This is a dangerous occasion raising questions about the home’s security system. When a break-in happens, the first thing that needs to be done (after calling the police) is change the locks. This is an emergency case that cannot be delayed. Regardless of when the break-in or burglary happens, the locksmith needs to called immediately to have the locks changed.

Forgotten safe combination

If you have a locked compartment or safe at home that is unlocked only with a password combination, you need to call a locksmith immediately if you forget the combination and are unable to access the safe. Whether you store money in the safe or other valuables, a forgotten combination means either calling a locksmith or breaking the safe open.

Recoding electronic keypad

When you want to restrict access to your house or establishment, you need to change the code of the electronic keypad lock. In most cases, this can be done only by the locksmith. If you have people entering your establishment with questionable intentions (just watch Den of Thieves or The Dark Knight – there are some bad people out there!), you need to key the recoding done immediately.

Reprogramming transponder key

When you want to change the access code of the transponder key of your home or vehicle, you need to call a locksmith. If you want to change it because of unauthorized access, you need to do it urgently. Only locksmiths specializing in electronic keys are capable of performing the reprogramming.

While these emergencies may not always arise, it is wise to keep the number of your trusted locksmith handy in case you need urgent locksmith services. That is what you have a smart phone for right?

Home Life, Safety

4 Ways of Preventing Carbon Monoxide Leaks in Home Furnaces

Carbon monoxide (CO) happens to be an odorless gas which is produced when fuel is burning. If you are in an open space, the CO gas won’t be much of a threat, but when you are in an enclosed place, the gas becomes lethal. Proper furnace installation will prevent any chances of CO leaks. Research studies from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) annually more than 400 people in America die from CO exposures that are not fire related. The following are the typical symptoms of CO poisoning:

Dizziness
A headache
Chest pain
Confusion
Vomiting
Body weakness

The most effective way of preventing any carbon monoxide poisoning in your home is by installing the CO detectors in your house. The sensors should be placed on every floor of the house and very high from the ground. Smoke alarm manufacturers have improved the technology by doubling smoke alarms to function also as carbon monoxide detectors. The CO detectors are very different and vary from one brand to another. Heating companies can also help homeowners in dealing CO leakages.

Never the less, there are some essential precautions that homeowners can take to prevent possible CO leaks in the house.

Carrying out frequent furnace inspections by furnace experts

It is recommended that homeowners to organize for furnace inspects at least once in a year, so that to make the stove is still functioning correctly. The inspection period will also provide an excellent opportunity to deal with any possible furnace repairs that might be needed. The furnace experts will check for any possible CO leaks using the CO detection equipment. The two most common issues that bring about Co leakage in a furnace are:

Dirty furnace parts or components: when you have dirty filters, blocked flue vents and any residues in your furnace can cause your furnace to have CO leakage. The solution to this problem is straightforward, frequent cleaning of your furnaces to make sure there are no dirt residues.
A cracked heat exchanger: when using your furnace, usually the CO gas stays in the heat exchanger section until it’s exhausted out of the system. When your heat exchanger has a crack, then the gas will leak into the house. The cracked heat exchanger can be due to wear and tear or age.

With proper and regular maintenance you will have a durable furnace.

Venting the Carbon monoxide gas into your house chimney?

There are some houses where water heaters, clothes dryers, and furnaces, exhaust the carbon monoxide gas into the chimney. This is a very reliable and sensible arrangement if you look at it from the angle of physics. The big challenge with this idea is that the chimney liner isn’t very durable and can’t last forever. The chimney liner can crack like the heat exchanger also monitoring the chimney liner is very difficult, specialized equipment is needed for the chimney liner inspection. The inspection can be done by a furnace expert who is specialized in inspecting furnaces for CO leaks.

Avoiding unintended backdrafting

This is very common, especially when all the appliances in the house are functioning correctly. We do concur that negative pressure sometimes can be useful, but then it has to be handled with plenty of caution. Sometimes, the CO leakage occurs when nearby equipment creates negative pressure on another appliance (like a cloth dryer being used near the gas appliance). The best way to deal with this problem is creating a specific room in the house (with high and low airflow). The permanent solution would be to replace your old furnace with a model that has sealed combustion.

Avoiding the gas fireplaces/ furnaces that are vent free

Each equipment which burns fuel in the house should exhaust all the poisonous gases out of the house. It’s not recommended to get or use a gas furnace that is vent free because it offers a higher risk of CO leakage in the house.

When using a furnace, it’s always about safety and it is evident that gas furnaces are great. However, you need to make sure the appliance is functioning properly. Still have frequent inspections done on your furnaces by a professional furnace inspection expert.

Home Life

6 Beautiful Roof Types That Will Make Your Neighbours Jealous

Are you choosing a new look for your home? Your local roofers should be among the very first people you consult. This is the case whether you’re building a new property or simply renovating your existing house. Your roof will almost certainly be the most visible, most striking part of your home.

There are many home roof types to choose from. As roofing contractors will tell you, the right choice for your home will depend on several different factors. But to help you get started we’ve picked out just a few beautiful roofs with a big visual impact to make you the envy of the neighbourhood.

1. Flat roof

Let’s start with one of the home roof types that is most easy to spot! Flat roofs are the easiest roof type to construct and to maintain, because of the ease of walking around on them. But the flat surface also easily accumulates debris. This presents an obvious challenge in areas with a lot of snow – so if you’re thinking of going with a flat roof, be sure to choose roofing contractors with experience in flat roof installation and repairs, such as Toronto roofers Cherry and Clark.

2. Gabled roof

Also known as a pitched or peaked roof, this is the traditional triangular roof you’ll see on a little kid’s drawing of a house. Gabled roofs have outstanding visual potential, particularly on houses with multiple wings, allowing for a variety of different roof heights. This roof type also allows you a lot of attic space.

3. Pyramid roof

Another traditional roof type, the pyramid-shaped roof is likely to work better as an attractive feature for smaller buildings around your home – such as a garage or pool house – than for your whole house.

4. Hip roof

This style is similar to the pyramid roof in that it slants, but instead of meeting at a single point, the four sides of the roof meet in a flat ridge at the top. This provides strength and stability, making it a practical choice as well as one with a classic, old-fashioned style.

5. Saltbox roof

This more unusual, visually striking roof type features two asymmetrical pitched sides, one long and one short. This often goes with a multi-level home, in which one part of the building has only one story while another part has two. Homes in this style have so much history – but these beautiful roofs are also recommended for use with solar panels. They’re a traditional choice with great modern applications.

6. Skillion roof

An even more unusual look is this roof with its single sloping surface – like half a gabled roof. This roof style gives your home an edgy, modern visual appeal. It also provides superb drainage – ideal for keeping rain or snow from building up on your roof. With this roof you could even collect rainwater for use in your garden.

Time to call the roofers!

These are just some of the huge variety of roof shape options out there – to find out about even more and for advice on the best choice for your home, call your local professional roofing contractors today.

Photos

Flat roof photo from geograph

Gabled roof photo by DiamondWillow on Pixabay

Pyramid roof photo by Engin_Akyurt on Pixabay

Hip roof photo from Wikimedia Commons

Saltbox roof photo from Flickr

Skillion roof photo from Wikimedia Commons

Family, Home Life, Safety

4 Things to Consider When Buying a Driveway Motion Sensor

Although it’s not particularly challenging in deciding to buy a driveway motion sensor to protect your property and your loved ones, it’s more difficult to decide which one to buy, since there are so many to choose from on the market. With the varying models and feature options to choose from, this guide should offer you a helping hand in your decision process.

1. Take Your Budget into Consideration
For most, spending money on a security system, such as driveway motion sensors isn’t usually an issue. However, some people have a strict budget that they have to adhere to with their purchases, even for security sensors. Although we’re not telling you to settle for the cheapest system on the market, you should consider what you can and can’t afford.

2. Should You Go Wired or Wireless?
Before you buy a driveway motion sensor, you have to decide whether you want to go wired or wireless. To do this, review your home and see which type of system you would benefit from the most. For example, would you rather have an external wired unit or one that’s located in your home that can send signals to and from?
Usually, wired alarm systems are installed while a house is under constriction, so the wires can be buried under the surface. However, if your home is already built, which is probably is, you can benefit from a wireless system.

3. Select the Right Kind of Receiver
After you decide between wired and wireless, you will need to choose the type of monitor you want. First, decide whether you want to be alerted when vehicles approach, humans approach, or both. If you only want to monitor for other vehicles, there are metal detecting probes that can do the trick. This kind of alert system will only produce an alarm when a heavy vehicle approaches. You can also select a motion sensor driveway alert. This will alert you when motion is detected in the driveway, including that of people and animals.

4. Purchase From a Trustworthy Seller
No matter what type of product you purchase, make sure you are buying it from a reputable company. Ask friends and family members for recommendations on what to buy and where to buy it from. See if they are pleased with their product and what, if anything, they would have done differently when buying a driveway sensor. Once you settle on a company, ask about any warranties they offer so you can get the best bang for your buck.

With these four factors in mind, you can make sure that you are buying the best driveway motion sensor for your property and your needs from Absolute Automation.

Family, Home Life, Safety

7 Reasons to Hire a Moving Company

If moving feels like an overwhelming task, hiring a professional moving company is the way to go. Here are seven reasons to hire movers.

1. Efficiency

Packing a dorm room can be pretty simple, but if you have a home or apartment, the number of things to bubble wrap and box increase exponentially. Let professionals pack. They can get you from start to finish in one day.

2. Organization

Moving companies are masters of organization. When asking friends and family to help pack, there are always unlabeled boxes and mismatched items thrown together. When working with professionals, everything will be in its place and clearly labeled.

3. Safety

Lifting bulky or heavy objects can be dangerous without adequate help or expertise. A toaster and microwave are easy enough, but it is well worth hiring help to get the fridge, oven, washer, and dryer moved down and up those stairs.

4. Protecting your investment

Many items it are not worth the risk of moving without proper manpower and equipment. If you are lucky, a grand piano may only take a dolly, several people, and creative tilting to get through doors. A grandfather clock’s complicated mechanisms must be disassembled, carefully packed, and reassembled while wearing special gloves.

5. Insurance

Moving companies are required to offer two kinds of insurance for out of state moves. “Released Value Protection” will cover your property at 60 cents per pound and is included in the quote. Of course, anything worth taking with you costs more than 60 cents per pound, so consider “full-value protection.” This will cover your belongings up to their full value at a cost of approximately one percent of that value. You can learn more information at Premiere Van Lines.

6. Trucks

Unless you have a special license, it may not be possible to drive a truck large enough to fit all of your belongings in one go. Better to let long distance movers drive, worry about special licensing, and find routes in areas you are unfamiliar with.

7. Money

Most people who move without professional help do so to save money. Surprisingly, this is not always the case. Most of us don’t have moving equipment like dollies, and large ramps just laying around. In order to make the move in one trip, you would need to rent a truck, and if you have enough stuff, you may need a truck that requires a special license. Throw in packing supplies and the cost keeps adding up. When deciding which option is most cost effective, also factor in the additional stress, time, and increased risks of damages.

Don’t let moving make you crazy. Hire professionals and get it done efficiently and painlessly.

Family, Home Life, Personal Finance

5 Reasons Why Condo Real Estate is Sought After

Condo real estate is everywhere, it seems like. There are high rises being built throughout downtown Toronto. Various reasons explain why people are leaving the suburbs with single-family homes and opting for condos in the city.

#1: Beautiful View
Many condo buildings are two, three, and even 20 floors high. As you can imagine, this would provide quite the view of Toronto. You might be able to see the CN Tower, the Gooderham Building, and much more from your living room or bedroom window. You can say good night to the skyline every night, providing a view that not everyone gets to say that they have.

#2: Great Layout
Many lofts are found in the downtown area. It’s a chance to go with a layout that is more conducive to the way you live your life. If you don’t like a split floor plan or having a lot of walls up, lofts provide you with a spacious design.

Various sizes of condos are on the market. You can find ones with gourmet kitchens, luxurious bathrooms, walk-in closets, and much more. It’s all about writing out a list of wants and working with a realtor to find what it is that you want.

#3: Countless Amenities
In addition to the amenities that you have inside your condo, there will also be amenities that are offered by the building itself. This can include covered parking, swimming pools, fitness centers, business rooms, and much more. It allows you to have access to all of the shared spaces as a resident. Depending on the amenities, you might save money by not having to go and get a gym membership or rent a business space when you need to hold a meeting periodically.

#4: Valuable Investment
Condos for sale in Toronto have proven to be a valuable investment. They hold their value for a significant amount of time, allowing you to make your money back when you do choose to sell. Condos are available across a number of different buildings, allowing you to find one that is within your budget. From there, you can choose to live in the condo or rent it out to someone.

#5: Incredible Walkability
Walkability has become a highly desirable feature in homes. By choosing condos for sale in Toronto, you have the ability to walk to various buildings for work, countless restaurants, and a wide array of attractions. With public transportation available, you can also choose to get further without having to rely on a private car. It reduces costs as well as your carbon footprint.

As far as where you can walk, it depends on where your condo is located. However, you will be able to walk in every direction. If work is downtown as well, it provides a significant amount of convenience.

Knowing all of the reasons to explore Toronto condo real estate is worth it. You might find the home of your dreams is actually a loft instead of a single-family home. It’s just a matter of finding the right one for you and your budget. There are resources available at Reza Afshar Real Estate if you want more information.

Family, Home Life, Safety

How Automation is Changing the Home Security Industry

The latest generation of automated home security systems are providing home and property owners with access to sophisticated features and a level of convenience that would have been unheard of just a few years ago. From being able to configure home alarm systems remotely to home monitoring systems that allow households to access real-time surveillance and imaging though a smartphone or other mobile device, systems that feature a superior level of automation and integration are able to provide a wide range of home security solutions that no household or property owner can afford to overlook.

Remote Operation and System Configuration

Access to conventional home security systems typically required an operator to be on-site in order to make use of a console or terminal. Remote home monitoring systems make it far easier to adjust settings, maintain observation or address any warnings or alerts that the system may produce. The latest systems provide access to home security solutions that are able to afford homeowners with a more convenient way to monitor their environment and ensure that their belongings, property, and household are able to be kept safe and secure. Home alarm systems that are designed to be accessed and operated remotely are ideal for those who are seeking a way to keep an eye on their property and its surroundings whenever they are away from home.

Mobile Applications Provide Superior Versatility

Use of a mobile app to operate a home security system offers a wide range of potential benefits. Operating home alarm systems from a smartphone, tablet or other mobile device can allow used to arm the system, adjust settings, dismiss false alerts and take prompt action to address a possible security threat. The limitations of more conventional home monitoring systems can lead to no end of problems, issues and concerns that households would be wise to avoid. Home security systems that are designed to be accessed through use of a mobile app offer a more versatile and flexible way to protect against concerns like theft, vandalism and even home intrusion.

Smart-homes and Integrated Security Systems

Sophisticated home security systems are rarely the only resource that households may be using in order to monitor and control their surroundings. Equipment options, such as lighting and climate control systems that are designed to be operated remotely or respond to voice prompts are becoming increasingly popular due to their growing level of sophistication and reduce costs of purchase and installation. Home security resources that are designed to be integrated into systems designed to operate a wide range of fixtures and amenities have a lot to offer homeowners. Integrated home security and home monitoring systems can be a valuable asset for those seeking to create a smart-home.

Home Life

The Best Methods of Weed Control for your Garden or Lawn

Weed control methods vary based on the life cycle of the plants in question, the extent of the infestation, environmental factors and objectives of the weed control. It can range from as simple as hand pulling of seasonal weeds such as thistle to the use of bio-control methods in controlling weeds like Dalmatian toadflax. The success of these methods relies on a variety of factors as will be discussed below. Here are some of the reliable weed control services worth considering for your lawn.

Environmentally Friendly Weed Control

Pests come in variant forms such as weeds, molds, insects and fungi among others. One of the most pronounced strategies for controlling such pests is the Integrated Pest Management or IPM. The approach utilizes methods that have the least detriments to the environment. But first, you need to find out your grass variety and the weed control methods associated with each depending on your climate condition. EPA approved herbicides can be used to control the undesired vegetation discriminatively. Before choosing a particular herbicide, it is important to consider whether they are selective or non-selective to avoid ending up with a scorched lawn or garden.

Here are some examples of environmentally friendly weed control techniques:

• Mulching

Application of mulch is helpful to plants as it conserves soil moisture. Other than that, it is a clean method of weed control on farms. Mulch monitors the amount of sunlight reaching the plant under it thus suppressing their growth and development processes. Also, the mulches form a habitat for insects like crickets and carabid beetles that dig up weed seeds to feed on them. Effective mulch should be approximately two inches above the ground to provide enough oxygen supply to the soil while blocking light from reaching the weeds.

• Maintain Narrow Gaps between Plants

Spacing your crops close to each other is useful in chocking the emerging weed by preventing sunlight penetration. However, when spacing, make sure to mind the gap left to give room for the spreading of the leaves upon plant maturity.

Preventive Weed Control Measures

This is an essential lawn care method used to prevent pervasive weeds because when given room, such plants will grow denser hence becoming expensive to control. There is need to find out the sources of weed seeds and the types of weed they will grow into for a more objective approach. Foreign plants from commercial nurseries or landscaping experts may bring in new weed seeds to your garden contributing to their spread.

A thick lawn crowds out the weed leaving you with a green stretch of wanted grass. Weeds are unwanted plants that will take advantage of any open space in your garden or lawn. Therefore, you can use the lawn seeding procedure to fill up any patches in which they may thrive. Today, there are landscape fabrics that can help control weed growth while allowing soil aeration and moisture preservation. You may be able to learn more at the Weed Man USA website.