How To Set Up A Home Office For People With Disability

The global pandemic has given employers in the U.S. and around the world a new appreciation for working from home. With this comes exciting opportunities for people with disabilities that have challenges, especially if they have a home office that accommodates their needs. 

Keep reading to learn how to set up a home office for anyone with a disability.

Meeting A Real Need

The U.S. Census Bureau notes that 9 million of the nation’s 155 million employed adults have a disability. 58% of those 9 million workers have full time, year-round jobs.

The traditional model of working away from home poses numerous challenges for people with disabilities. The daily commute, easy office access, and office set-ups usually geared toward able-bodied people are among them. 

The opportunity to work from home meets a real need. However, a standard home-office still poses challenges, which makes adaptations essential.

Design For Accessibility

Accessibility is a key element of setting up a home office for people with disabilities, especially if it affects their mobility. If the office doorway has a threshold, it’s a potential tripping hazard. Remove the threshold for safer, easier access. Consider widening the doorway to at least 35 inches, as the average wheelchair is 25 inches across.

Use an open floor plan to make movement easier in the home office. The layout should suit people who use mobility aids such as canes, crutches, walkers, or wheelchairs. Make sure there is at least 32 inches between furniture pieces for easier wheelchair movement. Install grab bars or handrails next to the desk, if necessary.

Remove unnecessary items that clutter the space, such as area rugs and decorative tables. Make sure power cords run along the walls rather than across the floor. Place bookshelves and tables against the walls to open up the center of the office. Consider lowering the light switches if the office is being designed for a person who uses a wheelchair.

Create Accessible Storage

Organization is essential in a home office for people with a disability. Work tools, office supplies, files, and other equipment should be well organized, easy to identify and easy to reach.

Install cabinets and storage bins without doors, if possible. If the storage furniture must have doors, ensure the handles are large enough to offer easier gripping and that they are at a suitable height.

If the home office is for a person with impaired vision, use embossed letters on light and fan switch plates to make them easier to identify. Use embossed letter stickers on files and storage furniture and use bright colors for color-coding files.

Use Effective Lighting

A 2019 Future Workplace study found that natural lighting can improve wellness in the workplace. Install large windows and/or a skylight to provide as much natural light as possible. Use sheer curtains or blinds to make it easier to control the amount of natural lighting that enters the home office.

Use 60- to 100-watt halogen bulbs for comfortable artificial lighting. Fluorescent or incandescent bulbs are other options to consider. Position floor lamps, table lamps, and clip-on lights to offer brightness where needed. 

Ensure the lamps and lights are in easy reach and that they do not shine directly into the eyes. If needed, use motion-sensor or voice-activated lighting options. Avoid low-hanging lights if the home office is for a person with a vision disability, as they could pose a hazard.

Use Appropriate Furniture

The furniture, such as the desk, should be at the correct height and offer enough space to work on. It should also accommodate any mobility aids, such as a reclining wheelchair or foot rest.

Use an adjustable desktop if possible. If you need to work with an existing or standard desk, adjust the height and width accordingly. You can use furniture coasters or wooden blocks to raise the height of desks. Just check that they’re stable. If the person wants an office chair, get one that allows them to adjust the height easily.

Ensure the desk drawers and/or shelves can be reached easily and without risk.

Install Assistive Technology

Home offices for people with disabilities should include adaptive or assistive technology. The chosen gadgets and technologies should meet the person’s specific needs.

Use reviews to find the best internet service provider to ensure the office has a reliable, strong internet connection. Choose a large high-definition screen and telephones and calculators with large-print keypads and dials for a person with a visual impairment. Use an adjustable computer mount to allow the person to adjust the screen height. Other assistive technologies to consider include:

●      Adaptive switches – Single and adaptive switches for people with limited motor skills

●      Cognitive aids – Electrical assistive devices such as cueing or memory aids, audio note-takers, voice recorders, and personal digital assistants, 

●      Ergonomic tools – Automatic page-turners, book holders, and adapted pen and pencil grips

●      Software – Auto-captioning, text-to-speech, voice-to-text, and voice recognition software, screen enlargers, and screen readers

Create A Comfortable, Calm Space

A home office for a person with a disability should not only be functional, but it should also be comfortable. Ask them to choose furniture styles and paint colors that suit their tastes. Lighter shades of color are best, as they are more calming than brighter shades.

If the person has a sensory-processing disorder such as autism, pale hues are more comforting than potentially overwhelming brighter hues. Muted greens, blues, and yellows can be mood-lifting for people with generalized anxiety disorder or depression. Choose decorative items that promote a sense of calm, and add comfort items such as an indoor plant, framed photos that capture happy memories, and a stress ball.

By following the above tips, you can set up a comfortable, accessible, and accommodating home office that makes working from home easy, no matter what the circumstances.

 Guest Contributor: Donna Jefferson

Things to do This Winter in Chicago and the Surrounding Suburbs

Winter is near, and what better time to start planning some of the activities to do this season. Some of these events are recommended to purchase tickets early in advance to ensure you have a ticket, because they all sell out fast. We will mention those events below!

Ice Skating at Maggie Daley Park

What a better view than from the ribbon in Maggie Daley park? Head over to 337 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601 to ice skate with a beautiful view. You do not need to have reservations in far in advance, but the day you would like to go, it is STRONGLY recommended to reserve your spot online because walk-ins are based on availability and it is said they don’t take many walk-ins. These rinks are open from November through early March, weather permitting. The prices are as follow:

Monday-Thursday -Skate Rental

• $16 on-line + tax

• $18 walkup + tax

• Skate with your own skates – Free

• We DO NOT offer season passes

  Friday – Sunday & Holidays – Skate Rental

  • $20 on-line + tax

  • $22 walkup + tax

  • Skate with your own skates – $5 + tax (2pm, 5pm & 8pm session)

  • Skate with your own skates – Free 11am session ONLY

Visit a Rooftop Bar

Although roof-top bars are year round, there are many of them that get into the holiday spirit with decorating the atmosphere with tons of Christmas decorations, and some even have specialty drinks that go along with Christmas. Here are some bars we heard good things about:

Winter Wonderland at I/O Godfrey

127 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654

Joy District

112 W Hubbard St 2nd & 3rd floor, Chicago, IL 60654

The Kennedy

1551 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

You can check out this Chicago website for more rooftop bar choices and in depth descriptions of the things offered at these bars.

Visit BomboBar for Themed Holiday Treats

Picture credits: https://www.bombobar.com

“In the winter, Hotter Chocolate and Hotter Chocolate Bombs bring locals and tourists flocking to the window while families and friends cool down in the summer with the Gelato Shakes. BomboBar incorporates a "Build Your Own" adventure experience and allows guests to make each experience individualized and customizable.”

They even allow pups to come and offer doggie doughnuts, woof-cream and dairy-free gelato!

Location: WEST LOOP WINDOW, 832 W Randolph, Chicago IL, 60607.

Hours of operation:

Monday - Thursday: 11:30am - 11pm
Friday: 11:30am - 12am
Saturday: 10am - 12am
Sunday: 10am - 11pm

ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo

Picture credits: https://www.lpzoo.org/event/zoolights-presented-by-comed-and-invesco-qqq/

What a better way to celebrate Christmas than to go to a zoo and see all of the light displays they put up every year. The ZooLights are FREE on Monday’s and Tuesday’s, and $5 the remaining days of the week. The ZooLights begin on November 19th 2021, and run through January 2nd, 2022. Their hours of operation are 4-10pm every day.

Location: 2200 N Cannon Dr, Chicago, IL 60614

Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo

Holiday Lights are back at Brookfield Zoo! You must get advance tickets, and the tickets are going fast so the earlier you get them, the better!

The days are as followed:

· Friday through Sunday, November 26-28
· Wednesday through Sunday, December 1-5, 8-12, 15-19,
· Sunday through Friday, December 26-31

Hours of Operation:
3:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.*

Location:

North Gate Main Entrance

8400 31st Street (1st Avenue and 31st Street), Brookfield, IL 60513

South Gate Main Entrance

3300 Golf Rd, Brookfield, IL 60513

Illumination at Morton Arboretum

Picture credits: https://mortonarb.org/explore/activities/exhibitions/illumination/

The Morton Arboretum is one of those events that sells out SUPER quickly, so get your tickets asap! The ticket prices range $7-$19 for members, $13-$24 for guests. The Illumination lights begin on November 20, 2021 and last until January 2, 2022.

The lights are beautiful and accentuate the true beauty of nature. This is a 1 mile walking path with festive music and lights along every step of the trail.

Location: 4100 Illinois Route 53 Lisle, IL 60532.

LightScapes at Chicago Botanic Garden

Picture Credits: https://www.chicagobotanic.org/lightscape

Lightscapes is a after-dark illuminated trail located at 1000 Lake Cook Road Glencoe, IL 60022. This is also one of those events that sell out way in advance, so make sure to grab tickets asap!

The Lightscapes trail opens on November 12th, 2021 and runs until January 2nd, 2022.

The ticket prices are dependent on the day you choose to attend.

Standard:
Adult: $24/$26
Child 3-12: $12/$14

Premium:
Adult: $26/$28
Child 3-12: $13/$15

Child under 3: free

You do have to pay for parking, $10 in advance, $20 at the event.

The hours of operations are: 4:30-11pm.

What are some of the advantages of repiping?

 Plumbing is a necessary aspect of any home, but the chemicals and minerals in the water can cause the pipes to break down over time. If you use old piping materials like lead or galvanised metal, the process will move even faster. You may require professional repiping specialists from time to time to keep your Springfield home running smoothly. Investing in new pipes can increase your plumbing's efficiency while also preventing water damage. The advantages of PEX repiping are not always obvious. When pipes start to deteriorate and leak, we usually don't get much notice. Repairing or replacing the pipe parts that are generating the most problems is a popular option.

In the long run, however, a complete repipe can save both time and money. Most of us are really excellent at keeping our houses in good shape, but water and sewer lines are buried, and there is no real maintenance protocol for them. You can find Repipe Specialists San Diego frequently wait until there is a problem before acting. Pipes transport hot and cold water between the water heater and the rest of your home, among other things. They also bring clean water into the house and transport waste to a sewage or septic system. When a pipe is damaged, you have the option of repairing or replacing only that pipe. Older pipes, on the other hand, may be developing problems that aren't visible. Repiping is a significant expense, and most homeowners wait until their systems have failed many times before addressing the underlying issues.

More Steaming Water

At any given time, your hot water heater can only heat a certain amount of water. However, if your pipes are leaking, your heater will not be able to heat the water quickly enough to maintain hot water flowing through them. The heater also maintains a reserve of hot water, and once that runs out, getting hot water from the tap would take longer. If you have leaks, the hot water will appear to be running out faster. Repiping your home will ensure that all of the hot water from your taps is delivered and Want Repipe Orange County. It will also aid in the refilling of your hot water tank, ensuring that you have new hot water available sooner.

Improved Water Pressure

Corrosion, mineral buildup, leaks, and other issues with old or broken pipes can lead to a variety of water pressure issues. Higher water pressure puts a lot of strain on your pipes, which can lead to greater damage. Low water pressure might make it difficult to take a good shower, wash your clothes, or do your dishes. You can acquire the optimum water pressure for your comfort and the longevity of your plumbing system by changing your pipes.

Water of Higher Quality

Plumbing issues can have a direct impact on the quality of your drinking water. Pipes that have rusted or become clogged with mineral deposits can allow a variety of materials to enter the water, causing it to smell, taste, or seem discoloured. The water has the potential to discolour your appliances and laundry. Water quality can be improved by repiping your home and finding Repipe Specialists San Diego. You may get clean water that tastes excellent and cleans your dishes and laundry effectively.

Reduce Your Bills

You will have greater electric expenses if your water heater is unable to keep up with your demands. If your pipes are made of an older material or are rusted, they will be less energy efficient, resulting in higher power costs. You will have greater water bills if your pipes are continually leaking. Replacing your pipes might save you a lot of money on your monthly utility expenses. Even if the modification is minimal, you will save a lot of money in the long run. The difference will be determined by the severity of the piping issues prior to the replacement of the plumbing. The more you were likely spending on power and water before the difficulties, the more noticeable the difference will be when you get new pipes and Want Repipe Orange County.

The Age of the Pipes

The older a pipe is, the more likely it is to corrode and burst. Depending on the material of the pipes in your home, this is increased. If you reside in a building that is more than 50 years old, your pipes are likely composed of galvanised metal, which is more likely to explode as it ages. When your property reaches this age, you should begin receiving more frequent plumbing inspections and maintenance checks to ensure there are no leaks or damage forming in your home.

 Consider the numerous advantages of repiping your home, and consult with a repiping plumber and find Repipe Specialists San Diego to see if replacing your system is the best option. The plumber will evaluate your pipes to establish their condition and give you an estimate of how long they will last and how well they will work. Your plumber may suggest re-pipe repair or advise you to have the entire house repiped. Your plumber will then assist you in selecting the ideal plumbing materials for your property in order to maximise the benefits. Most importantly, you'll have peace of mind knowing your home is secure.

Author Bio:- Laura Harnes 

Laura is a marketing manager at All Star Plumbing & Restoration. With years of experience in the plumbing industry, she loves to create awareness about the causes, problems, and repair solutions of water damage and slab leak. She shares expert tips to lower utility bills and keep your AC, heater, and other appliances in optimum condition leading to longer lifespan.

Check all the recent articles and know everything about water damage Repair, slab leak repair, tools to remove clogging, and HVAC appliances installation, maintenance, and repair.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllStarPlumbingService

Twitter: https://twitter.com/All_Plumbers

5 Tips for Maintaining Your Home in the Winter

Winter can be the most enjoyable time of year, but it can also prove to be the most challenging and even dangerous for your house if it isn’t maintained well. Before you can enjoy all the festivities winter has to offer, you should complete your winter maintenance checklist and revisit it during the chilly months.

1. Check Your Roof

When the snow starts falling, climbing on your roof becomes a hazard. While you should have your roof inspected by a professional before the first ice of winter sets in to detect any problems, you can’t always do that in the wintertime unless you live in a climate without much snow. 

Instead of climbing on top of your roof and risking your safety, simply look at your roof. If you had it inspected, you should feel worry-free over any underlying issues. Still, checking on your roof just by sight might alert you to whether there is a problem caused by the weight of the snow and ice.

2. Replace Weatherstripping

Weatherstripping serves as a barrier between the cold and the inside of your home. You can insulate your doors and windows better by replacing old, tired weatherstripping with a new set. Doing so ensures your windows and doors are energy-efficient by allowing your heat to stay in the house and not escape through gaps and cracks. You might find that your energy bill is nearly 10% less expensive when using new, effective weatherstripping.

3. Watch Your Gutters

You should always clean out your gutters before winter comes. They might be clogged with the fallen leaves of autumn, leading to issues with drainage. When snow and ice pack into your gutters, they’ll dam them up further.

When they melt and refreeze, you may find issues with your gutters warping or breaking. Worse, if your gutters become damaged to a certain degree, they may not be able to keep melting ice and water from the foundation of your home, meaning you might risk a structural issue. 

4. Shovel Away Snow

Snow and ice can damage unprotected outdoor areas around your home. Things such as wooden decks can only hold around 50 pounds of snow, so you must be vigilant about clearing it off so it doesn’t end up damaging your outside relaxation spaces. To clear your deck of snow, consider using a plastic shovel rather than a tougher one that may damage the wood.

A metal shovel is best on your driveway because it will give you the power you need to clear the snow. You’ll want to shovel your driveway whenever snow appears so that you can drive freely. If the ice isn’t taken care of and is instead allowed to melt, your driveway could crack when it refreezes.

5. Clean Your Fireplace

Before you start up your first fire of the season, consider cleaning out your fireplace and chimney. After months of disuse, they’re bound to be dirty and should be treated before you start a fire. Chimney fires are incredibly explosive and can even damage the structure of your chimney, posing additional risk to your home and household.

 Keeping up with routine maintenance can take some of the anxiety out of operating your fireplace for the first time all season.

Keep Your Home Safe All Winter Long

By knowing what dangers to look out for, you can prevent a disaster from occurring inside your home. Consider checking on your home before the winter months roll in, then check on things you replaced or recently dealt with every month after that. While it may take some time and effort to maintain your home in the winter, you can prevent significant issues by simply being prepared.

Guest Contributor: Rose Morrison

5 Key Advantages of Hiring a Professional to Install Your Water Heater

Changing out an ancient water radiator for an unused one is lovely and straightforward - or so most individuals accept. In reality, it could be a more complicated strategy than some individuals envision it to be. The correct establishment can cruel the distinction between having a water radiator that works productively and one that does not. It can even be cruel the distinction between one that's secure and one that's a ticking time bomb prepared to do harm to your property, domestic or trade. 

To assist make the method of putting in an unused water radiator less demanding, here’s our list of five Reasons to Enlist a Proficient to Introduce your Water Heater. It is the law in a few states and regions: Since disgracefully introducing a water radiator can lead to a few lovely genuine consequences, many local, state, and government governments put limitations on who can introduce a water radiator and who can’t. By choosing an authorized proficient, you'll be able maintain a strategic distance from potential run-ins with the law. Professionals have both involvement and instruction

At whatever point individuals think of getting the water radiator frameworks repaired or introduced, we all center on enlisting experts to offer assistance. As it were with the assistance of these specialists you'll be guaranteed of the reality that your job will be done with the utmost care and security. It is exhorted to merely choose a commerce that has a set up track record of performance.

After taking the assistance of these experts, there will be no requirement for any re-installation, water spill repair, or any other issue. They guarantee that you simply don't need to battle with costly repairs or blunders, which might conclude up being a gigantic issue within the coming time in the event that they lead to water radiator issues or leaks.

Redress Installation  

The most self-evident advantage of employing a professional water heater installer is that it'll be done correctly, the primary time. Do-it-yourself recordings on YouTube are helpful, but what happens after you run into something that the video doesn’t talk about? You can’t ask questions. Incorrect establishment can lead to water spills or utilizing up additional vitality. Both of these will take a toll on squandered utilities. 

In the event that you don’t take note of the issue and settle it, those additional bills can heap up quickly. On the beat of that, envision what can happen in case your unit is spilling and you don’t take note for a while. Buildup and form can start to develop, not to say the harm the water can cause to the structure of your home. Even worse, incorrect establishment can harm the unit. At that point you’ll be stuck with a repair charge. In case the damage is awful enough, you’ll need to purchase a modern unit inside and out. Either way, you’ll conclude up investing more cash than you'd have on having it introduced professionally within the to begin with place.

Saves time:

In case your water radiator isn't working legitimately, you'd continuously need it to be repaired on time. At such times, you wish for the assistance of specialists beyond any doubt, as they will continuously be at your offer of assistance. You'll be able presently, without any stress, get the assistance of the specialists for your convenience.

Security Standards 

Rules contrast based on whether the machine is working on gas or vitality and whether it encompasses a tank. Besides, neighborhood specialists will have such controls that merely must comply with genuine items. Renders Peace of Mind One of the most benefits of contracting these specialists is that they will give you appropriate peace of intellect. Numerous problems can happen to your framework, such as consuming as much power, springs coming out, and so on. Moreover, it'll be exceptionally costly for you to urge it to be repaired once it is misshaped totally.

Leak free connections:

Why compromise it with DIY work in the event that you'll get a talented, efficient installation of a water radiator so effortlessly with the contracting of a professional handyman? 

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning 

Ventilation is imperative for gas burning water radiators. When there isn’t sufficient wind stream, carbon monoxide builds up. Carbon monoxide harming could be a therapeutic crisis and individuals uncovered to tall levels of carbon monoxide chance changeless brain harm and passing. Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas, so in case there were a spill, you wouldn’t be able to distinguish it (unless you have got a useful carbon monoxide finder). Apparently little botches can have genuine impacts when it comes to introducing items that utilize common gas.

product Knowledge 

Remember that online and individual sales representatives are ordinarily not water warming experts. They may have great eagerly, but they cannot coordinate the item information of a prepared and authorized handyman. In order to urge the water radiator that best meets your family’s needs, you would like to inquire with a professional.

Provide You Advice 

l  Keeping in intellect the enormous extent of water radiators as of now available within the commercial center, you will feel a small question approximately what show you'd buy. The specialists do have sufficient mastery with the water radiators and can assist you select the most excellent for your needs and budget.

l  It is the law in a few states and districts: Since disgracefully introducing a water radiator can lead to a few beautiful genuine results, numerous nearby, state, and government governments put limitations on who can introduce a water radiator and who can’t. 

l  By choosing an authorized proficient, you'll maintain a strategic distance from potential run-ins with the law. 

l  Professionals have both involvement and instruction: These qualities will offer assistance guarantee a secure and provoke expulsion of your ancient unit and a fast establishment of your modern unit. 

l  Proficient plumbers have an in-depth understanding of plumbing, tooling, and framework compatibility so that there will be few issues together with your unit. 

l  A proficient person can give you with peace of intellect: Sparing cash is one thing; gambling the lives of your family or representatives is another thing totally. 

l  A proficient handyman can assist you dodge potential property harm, misfortune of well being or life, etc. 

If you want to Install a water heater and if you're looking for a water heater installation, this will permit you to unwind and appreciate your water heater. Please free to contact us and please visit our website.

Author Bio :- Aimee Grace

Aimee is a marketing manager at EZ Plumbing & Restoration. She is very passionate in writing about discrete plumbing services and leakage detection as well as repair solutions.  Her vision is to educate people about the consequences of water and slab leaks at home or office and what they should do to repair them to avoid further water damage as well as property damage. 

Innovations have paved a way for smart devices to lead a convenient life. Plumbing industry is no different but only few people know about various tools used to fix the leakages. Stay tuned with the recent articles to know all about how to find water damage, slab leak, clogging, and ways to repair them, installation of new HVAC appliances in San Diego.

WHY DOES YOUR BASEMENT FLOOD DURING THE WINTER?

It's the thing every homeowner worries about - a basement flood! Floods can be destructive as well as expensive to fix. They can weaken the foundation of your house and ruin valuable property. A flood can happen in any home with a basement. So, to prevent a soggy disaster you need to take action. 

 Floods are a really big concern during the ice and winter season. Water damage can cause a flood in the basement even in winter. During winter, all the water storage was kept as ice, underground. As spring arrives, the ice thaws almost suddenly and causes basement flooding. 

Water damage can be caused by a lot of reasons like ice dams melting and leaking into buildings and damaging the walls. Flooding can cause a huge risk to your homes. From water overflowing to your foundation damage to damage in your electricity wirings. 

Here are some of the major reasons why does your basement flood during the winter -

1. Basement wall and floor cracks

It is commonplace to find a leak in your basement walls and floorings. Excessive moisture needs a place to escape. The cracks in walls and flooring are the best place to hide and then the moisture flows through the soil. That leads to pressure in the walls and causes flooding in the basement.

2. Basement heat

During winter, there is snow almost everywhere near your home. But, in your basement, there is heat. Which causes the snow to melt around your home and keep the moisture intact. But, the moisture has nowhere to go, so it flows through the cracks of the wall and leads to flooding. 

3. Sump Pump

Sump Pumps are designed to clear the water out in the basement and keep the basement dry. If your sump pump is not installed correctly, it will lead to storing damaged pipes and the water in the basement, and eventually, it will be flooded down there. 

4. Damaged pipes

One of the common reasons for flooding during winter is damaged pipes or burst pipes. Now, pipes bursting is a common result of poor plumbing. But, during winter, when the water freezes, the pipes expand and burst. That causes immediate leaking and leads to flooding. 

5. Type of soil

The type of soil around your house plays a huge role when it comes to flooding. Make sure you have the right type of soil around your home. The wrong soil will lead to flooding 

These are the most common reasons for flooding during winter. You can always take precautions or take remedies afterward. Here are some tips that you should follow immediately after flooding 

●      Basement flooding not only causes property damage, but it also takes a risk toll on your family members. The main point is don’t let anyone go down the basement if your basement does not have a circuit breaker. If your circuit breaker is not in your basement, shut your power off, immediately. 

●      After shutting the power off, you need to get the water out immediately. The sump pump has obviously;y failed, so you need to purchase a new one. Try to get the water out carefully with a mop and bucket. You need to do it as soon as possible, otherwise, molds have a chance to grow.

●      After getting the water out, you should get out all the wet equipment. Whether it's a couch or bookshelf or anything else. Place them in a place where they can dry. Rip up the carpet too. 

●      Then, dry the basement. You have to buy several fans or industrial blowers. You can hire professionals too at this point.

●      Call the professionals to prevent the growth of molds in the basement. Since dark and wet places are the suitable place for molds to grow, you have to take steps.

●      And lastly, to avoid future flooding, try to find out the cause and prevent it. Whether it’s because of the weather or any leakage. Take precautions beforehand. 

These are the primary steps you need to take care of right after the flooding. The next step should always be calling the professionals to clean up your basement after flood damage. They follow a several step process to clean the basement - 

●      Finding the cause

●      Informing the insurance company

●      Restoration beginning

●      Extraction of water

●      Restoration of the carpet

So, it’s quite clear that you will need flood damage repair professionals if you face the problem of flooding in your basement. If you need flood damage repair Santa Ana, you can find them by clicking the link below. 

CONCLUSION 

The above reasons are the primary causes why your basement floods during winter and the steps you should take to prevent you from any hassle. And, after the primary steps, you should hire professionals for the rest of the work, to make your basement more efficient, and repairing it will prevent you from future floods. 

To know more about the best flood repair in Orange County, follow the link. 

Author Bio:- Jacqueline Lewis

Jacqueline is a content marketing manager who formerly worked at Cali's Choice Plumbing & Restoration. She is a writer, editor, and content strategist for plumbing services. Making her knowledge and skills a power, she amplifies the readers’ knowledge about the ways of water leak and slab leak detection and their reciprocation. 

Through her articles, she shares the most successful tactics and strategies of slab leak repair, mitigating blockages through Hydro Jetting, and AC & heater installation tips to the audience.

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/CalisChoicePlumbingRestoration

Twitter:https://twitter.com/CalisChoice

Repairing a Leaking Tank in a Hot Water Heater in 2021:

You may have a water heater like most people. But neglecting a leaking tank in a water heater can be troublesome for you. If you consider it a minor inconvenience, it can turn into a vital issue. Hence repairing a leaking water heater tank is crucial. 

But you need to analyze the leakage in the tank. Water can pool or drip from the hot water tank. Try to assess the severity of the leakage. Afterwards, you can repair the leakage or call a professional according to your comfortability. Alongside, if you need top water heater repair services in San Diego, we are there for you 24/7. 

In this article, we will guide you through the process of repairing a leaking tank in a water heater in 2021. 

How Can You Identify The Water Heater Tank Leak?

Identifying the leaking tank in your water heater is the most significant step. You can save time and money by realizing the leakage in the initial phase. Try to comply with the following points to assess the tank leak. 

●      If you think you may have a water leak,  let your senses be your guide. Turn off all the external sources of sound. Stand beside the water heater. If you hear the sound of rushing or dripping water from the tank, search for visual confirmation. 

●      An insulating blanket wraps the heater. Hence, you may face difficulty finding the leakage. Look at the top and bottom of the water heater. 

●      If you observe the flooding of water beneath the water tank, it can be a potential sign of leakage within the water heater tank. 

●      If you still cannot recognise the leakage, you can put a paper or towel under the water heater. Check back after a few days. If it is wet, the chances of leaking water from the tank is high. 

PROCESS OF REPAIRING A LEAKING TANK:- 

After recognising the leakage, you can follow the points we will share now. 

Turn Off the Water Supply:- First, you need to turn off the water supply to your water heater. You can see the two pipes on the top of your water heater. One is to warm the water and another is to cool the water. Find the shutoff valve near the line to turn off the water supply.

There are only two types of valves. 

●      Ball Valve:- Ball valves look like a lever handle. Pulling or turning the handle down will help you to stop the water flow. 

●      Dial Valve:- Dial valve is a clock-like structure. You need to turn the wheel clockwise to turn off the water supply. 

Turn Off The Power:- In the second step, you have to turn off the power to your water heater. The ways of turning off the power are different for gas water heaters and electric water heaters. 

●      If you have a gas water heater, you can find the valve on the gas supply line. The valve supplies the gas to the water heater. Once you turn off the valve, it will stop supplying gas to the water heater. 

●      If you have an electric water heater, try to find the breaker in the electrical panel. Turn off the breaker. 

Know The Reason:- Three potential reasons can create leakage in the tank of your water heater. They are the air valve, the tank itself and the connection.  

●      The air valve is a significant part of the water heater tank. It creates a vacuum inside the tank to help enter only the water. The air valve creates more pressure when it is not working appropriately. 

●      The connection is also another significant element. A regular temperature pressure valve connects it with the heater. 

●      Check the tank itself. Minute licks and heartwater can be present around the tank. You may face several issues if the leaking is unnoticed in the initial phase. So using a standard water heater tank is necessary for you.

If you want a water heater at the riverside and surroundings, you can contact us. 

Main Procedure:- 

1. First, you have to empty the tank. The hot interior tank will cool down in a while. You can then start working with the tank.

2. Try to find the possible leaks around the tank and repair them with a thread.

3. Now, you can re-install that tank again to the original position.

4. If your water heater tank has issues, you can replace it with a new water heater.

 Repairing a leaking tank in your water heater can be challenging for you. We provide quality repair replacement and installation services throughout the entire San Diego and riverside. 

Conclusion:- In short, assessing and repairing your water heater leak is crucial to getting the most out of your geyser. You can fix up the leaking tank by following the above-mentioned steps. But, If you are looking for a water heater company in San Diego and riverside surroundings, we can be the best fit for you. 

Author Bio:-  Aimee Grace

Aimee is a marketing manager at EZ Plumbing & Restoration. She is very passionate in writing about discrete plumbing services and leakage detection as well as repair solutions. Her vision is to educate people about the consequences of water and slab leaks at home or office and what they should do to repair them to avoid further water damage as well as property damage. 

Innovations have paved a way for smart devices to lead a convenient life. Plumbing industry is no different but only few people know about various tools used to fix the leakages. Stay tuned with the recent articles to know all about how to find water damage, slab leak, clogging, and ways to repair them, installation of new HVAC appliances in San Diego.

4 Pests That Come Around in the Winter and How to Keep Them Out

One of the best things about a long winter is the lack of outdoor pests. Bees, spiders and other creepy-crawlies are nowhere to be seen, and you can spend as much time outside as you like without being bitten by mosquitoes. 

However, the cold doesn’t eliminate encounters with outdoor life. Some pests will migrate inside because your house is warm, hiding in your walls and crawl spaces over the winter. 

Here are four pests that might bother you this season and steps to keep them out of your house. 

1.   Ants

Over the winter, most ants find shelter under logs or in the ground and then hibernate with their colonies. Their activity slows down with the cold weather and less food, but they are warm enough as a group to survive until spring. 

Seeing large numbers of ants in your home is always concerning. In the winter, however, it may mean there’s a colony inside your home. If ants are living in your house, they’ll likely be warm enough to continue their usual activities. 

The best way to prevent this is to keep your house well-sealed and its surroundings clear. Leaving decomposing wood propped against an external wall makes it easy for ants to transition inside. 

2.   Ladybugs

 During the fall, you may notice many ladybugs and Asian beetles coming into your home. These insects secrete a pheromone that attracts other ladybugs to join them. This happens during mating season in the spring and again during hibernation over the winter.

 Ladybugs like to hibernate in warm, moist spaces and usually winter in groups. They often live in gardens over the summer and can be attracted to nearby homes because of light or heat. If your house is warm enough, some ladybugs may wake up from hibernation and visit you over the winter months.  

Unfortunately, there’s no effective method of dealing with ladybug infestation once winter has already begun. To prevent them from joining you for the winter, make sure your home is well-sealed from the outdoors. 

Check areas around windows and doors, your foundation, external walls and your roof. Because insects and pests are so small, they can slip in through tiny cracks. In addition to keeping out bugs, sealing your house will bring you the added benefit of saving on your heating bill this winter.

3.   Spiders

As the weather cools down, you may notice increased spider activity in your home. Unlike other insects, spiders don’t come inside seeking heat. However, fall is mating season for many species. 

During this time, spiders move around more than usual, looking for a mate. If you see a spider in your house, it’s likely a male seeking a female. After mating, female spiders spin egg sacs to protect their young until they’re ready to hatch. 

Egg sacks may show up externally around windows and door frames, where spiders have found nooks and crannies to place them. To keep your home web and spider-free, consider contacting a pest control service to remove these sacs. 

4.   Mice and Rats

Rodents are another pest you may face in the winter. As the weather cools down, mice and rats may take refuge indoors, living in your walls, kitchen cabinets or basement. Rodents are more likely to move in if you have a readily available food supply for them to plunder. 

Rats and mice have a short gestation period, meaning that they have many babies a year. For instance, many species of mice can have a litter about every three weeks. In the wild, mice only live about one to two years, so reproducing quickly is important. However, multiplying mice can wreak havoc inside your home. 

 Keeping your house well-sealed against the elements is the best way to prevent mice and rats from taking up residence. It’s also a good idea to make sure food isn’t easy for mice to chew into in your basement, cabinets or pantry. If you notice evidence of mice, set out traps or call an exterminator. 

Keep a Clean House

The most effective way to keep bugs and rodents out of your home is to take preventive measures. Keep your home well-maintained and sealed tight to prevent most pest problems. Cleanliness is another way to discourage pests from entering your home. 

However, if you notice signs of insects or rodents during the winter months, you can take steps to treat and eliminate the problem. Follow these tips to keep your home clean and comfortable over the winter.

Guest Contributor: Rose Morrison

Go Green: Home Improvements in Your Kitchen and Bathroom​​

Your home is an important place where you spend most of your time. It should also be a comfortable place to live. When it comes to improving your home, there are many things you can do to make your home more environmentally friendly. Here are some tips on how to go green through kitchen and bathroom remodeling

1. Use Energy Efficient Appliances

There are so many energy-efficient appliances available today. They save money, help cut down on pollution, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Companies are coming out with new and improved appliances to become more eco-friendly. For example, you can opt for a dishwasher that uses less water than conventional options. Although you may think that these appliances are expensive upfront, the costs will eventually pay off and you will have huge savings in the long run. 

It’s also a good idea to replace old appliances as well, especially if they’re not working properly anymore. Older appliances tend to use more energy, making them less eco-friendly. In addition, they can consume more energy, resulting in higher energy bills. So when replacing your appliances, look for ones that are energy efficient.

One of the most popular energy-saving appliances today is the LED light bulb. LED light bulbs can significantly cut down your energy bills, and they even last longer than incandescent or fluorescent lights. This means you don’t have to constantly change out your light bulbs because you’re guaranteed that they’ll be working properly for a long time. 

2. Install Water-Saving Fixtures

Water-saving fixtures such as faucets and toilets use less water than conventional models. Installing water-saving fixtures not only saves money but also helps conserve natural resources. A good water-saving fixture you can install in your bathroom is a dual flush button for the toilet. This can help save water because it uses less water for liquid waste. Whenever there isn’t much waste that needs to be flushed, you can simply use the option that uses half the water needed for solid waste. 

Another water-saving fixture you can install at home is faucets that turn off automatically when the sink isn't being used. This way, you don’t have to worry about wasting water whenever somebody forgets to turn off the faucet. Lastly, you can also purchase low-flow showerheads for your bathroom. These showerheads allow just enough water to run through them without wasting any excess.

3. Have a Compost Pile

Composting is a simple process that can help you lower your carbon footprint and work your way towards net-zero CO2 emissions. Having a compost pile at home can help you recycle organic materials into the soil. You can even add food scraps from your kitchen to this pile which will then produce fertilizer. This doesn’t only benefit you in the kitchen but provides you with a variety of advantages in the garden as well.

To start a compost pile, all you need is wood chips or sawdust, and a container. Make sure to continuously add fresh material to the pile. After a month or two, you can remove the top layer and start adding new stuff again. The best thing about having a compost pile is that you won’t have to buy fertilizer every year.  It also helps improve the quality of the soil in your garden and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers. 

4. Install Eco-Friendly Tiles and Flooring

If you're just starting to build your home, then it's a great option to install eco-friendly tiles or flooring. There are lots of companies that offer eco-friendly products like bamboo flooring, cork flooring, and recycled plastic flooring. These types of floorings are made using renewable resources and therefore contribute towards reducing your carbon footprint. Not only do they last longer, but they are also cost-effective. 

Eco-friendly flooring doesn't have to be boring either. They come in different colors and styles so you can choose what works best for you. For example, those who are leaning towards tiny kitchens or small bathroom designs can try installing reclaimed or vintage tiles on their walls. This type of is definitely an interesting choice when you want to make a statement in your house. 

5. Make Improvements for Better Lighting

Having windows that provide adequate lighting can help you save energy. There are many ways to increase the amount of natural light in your home. You can strategically place your windows in areas that receive a lot of sunlight to provide natural light. This way, you don’t have to open the lights all the time when you’re in the kitchen or the bathroom. The natural light from the sun is enough to brighten up the space and allow you to function. 

In addition, upgrading your windows to glazed windows can help save more energy. This kind of window can act as insulation to prevent significant losses of heat. Glazed windows keep the room at an optimal temperature so you don’t have to open appliances such as HVAC systems just to keep your home comfortable.

Guest Contributor: Kat Sarmiento

Happy Veteran's Day!

From our KSP family to yours, we would like to wish everyone a Happy Veterans Day, and a huge thank you to all of those who have served our nation in one way or another! These people risked their lives so we can live under a free nation, and their selflessness should never go unseen. We have all of those who fought for us and unfortunately lost their battle for us, and those who are still here with us today in our minds today. We appreciate the sacrifice you men and women give so we can live in the land of the free. If you know a veteran, thank them today, and everyday! From KSP, we give our love to every veteran who served, who lost their life during battle, those who made it out alive, those who have PTSD, those who put their lives on the line for us. We are so appreciative.

…….the stories these gentlemen can tell you.

Update: If you missed it this morning, I left gift cards for our Veterans to purchase your drinks with the ladies in the front counter.

Happy Veterans Day

Let me thank you for your service by purchasing your morning drink, 7AM-9AM at Dunkin on 171st and 80th in Tinley Park.

Go Bless our Veterans!!!!!

It was an honor to meet and sit down with Officer Bob, who was involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

One of our favorite American Heroes

Korean War Veteran Milton Harris