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How to Ensure Your Roof Is Ready Before Installing Solar Panels

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It’s an exciting experience when you finally decide to switch to solar energy. After plenty of research, you’ve determined that you want to invest in solar panels. You’re so excited that you’ve already started to research solar installers in your area. Still, one little question currently holds you back from making the move to solar: “What else should I do before asking for a quote?”

We suggest checking to make sure your roof is as ready for a solar panel installation as you are. There are three important questions you consider before you make the move to solar energy:

  • What does your roof look like?
  • What is the condition of your roof?
  • How much shade does your roof get throughout the day?

Your answers can help you determine if it’s time to get quotes for solar panels. Let’s dig into each question, shall we?

What Does My Roof Look Like?

A quick inspection of your roof is a big first step in determining whether it’s ready for a solar panel installation. There are three major factors you should consider:

  • The age of your roof
  • The roofing material
  • Potential obstacles for solar panels

Age of the Roof

The older your roof, the more likely it is that you’ll need to do some work before you invest in a solar array. If your roof will need to be replaced within the next 10 years, it’s best to replace it before solar panels are installed. This will save you from having to remove and reinstall them when the roof is replaced.

Roofing Materials

While solar panels are routinely installed on metal and asphalt roofs, some roofing materials, such as slate and Spanish tiles, require more care when installing solar panels. If your roof is made of a delicate material, you should talk to a professional roofer for their recommendation on mounting panels on your roof.

Potential Obstacles

Solar panels need to be laid down in straight rows. This means obstacles, such as vents and dormers, can limit how many panels can fit on your roof. A good solar consultant can potentially design around these obstacles, but it can still impact your overall solar potential.

What is the Condition Under My Roof?

Depending on the condition of your roof, you may need to replace it before you install new panels. Inspect your roof for the following signs:

  • Damaged rafters or trusses
  • Leaks or stains in the attic or on walls
  • Mildew
  • Dark, “dirty-looking” spots on the roof

If your roof is showing any of these signs or hasn’t been replaced in the past 10 years, consider getting a roof repair estimate from a professional. Shop around and see what you can find. If the area you want to install panels is inaccessible, consult your home’s blueprints for the structure of your roof.

How Much Shade Does My Roof Get?

Shade from trees and other buildings can limit the production of your system. Because of this, it’s best to avoid installing panels in shady areas on your rooftop, if possible. If necessary, trees can also be trimmed to optimize unshaded area on your roof. Use Project Sunroof to see an estimate of how much sunlight your roof sees each year and which areas of your roof would be best for panels.

Make Sure Your Roof is Ready for Solar Panels

A little preparation can make a big difference for your solar energy system. By considering three simple questions about your roof, you can put your panels in the best position for maximum production.

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Source by Shahrukh Saleem

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What to Look for When Hiring an HVAC Professional

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Working with Air Conditioning Contractors

When dealing with a breakdown of you central heating and air equipment, you don’t want to struggle finding honest, reliable help when you’re pressed to find relief from the sweltering heat or bitter cold. Right off the bat you should know you’re getting help from a qualified and skilled professional able to handle any repair or situation that is put before them. You might wonder who you can trust, and what you can expect them to do for you, or if its worth it to call a local service provider? These questions can be easily answered and give you the desired results for any service need you have.

When Should You Call a Local Service Provider?

Some homeowners may attempt to fix their air conditioning system on their own without having a good understanding of how to deal with bigger issues. If you are attempting to work on your own furnace, air conditioning system or heat pump, look for these noticeable signs that may indicate a bigger problem that would be best handled by a professional.

Furnace

  • If your furnace is older, 15 years or more, it may need to be replaced. normally the first 4 digits of the serial number will give you the year and week of manufacturing.
  • If it is making strange, abnormal noises.
  • If cold air is coming out.
  • If a carbon monoxide detector alarm is going off in your house. It is recommended that homeowners with natural gas appliances have several of these in bedrooms and other locations around the house.

Air Conditioning System

  • If your air conditioning system is 15 years or older, it may be more cost effective to replaced it versus repair
  • If your system uses R22. The EPA has mandated that all manufacturing of R22 be stopped, driving up the cost and price per pound in your area.
  • Continued breakdowns year after year may indicate a bigger problem that a contractor is better equipped to handle.

Heat Pump

  • If either unit, indoor, or outdoor is not performing well
  • If temperatures are staying even throughout the house.

Finding a Qualified Contractor

In this internet driven age, most homeowners will pull out their smart phone and research local contractors in their area. Many search engines like Google will provide all the information in a concise format, providing reviews, website info, and contact information. Yelp is also a great resource for homeowners to peruse reviews and read feedback provided by the owner, or management of the company. Even companies with several bad reviews help homeowners see how the company handles conflict resolution, and helps you know what to expect. The number of reviews is not always the best representation of that companies customer service. Look at the quality of each review that describes the experience of the consumer.

A quick search at https://www.tdlr.texas.gov will also provide you with information about a potential contractor. This is the governing and licensing agency for all contractors in Texas. All advertising material and websites should list the contractor’s license number. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation will provide information about the licensee and their current status. The following guidelines below will also help you find a qualified, trustworthy contractor.

Knowing Who to Trust

Most Homeowners want to find someone trustworthy, who is reliable and who they’re able to call in the future should the need arise. Here are a few tips to ensure you get quality workmanship from a contractor. Make sure they are qualified! A contractor that is licensed and insured will have no problems producing proof of such to a prospective customer. Don’t be afraid to ask if they are licensed and insured. Insurance is required by the state to protect both the contractor and the consumer. Knowing this information prior works out for both parties involved. If you can’t find this information readily available on their website (usually in the footer or bottom of the homepage near their contact info) don’t hesitate to ask.

If a air conditioning contractor has additional certifications, that information will usually be present on their website. NATE technicians are the industry’s gold standard in technical proficiency. NATE stands for North American Technician Excellence. Testing and certification for NATE is rigorous and comprehensive, ensuring you’re dealing with someone who is able to proficient in troubleshooting and air conditioning system knowledge.

The price of the contractor is important!

One of the greatest determinants for most homeowners when it comes to repairs, or replacement options for central heating and air conditioning is price. Neither the highest price or the lowest is an indication of quality, or value. Most contractors work very hard to minimize the cost or find a cost effective solutions that works for their customers needs. Smaller companies or family owned and operated outfits will typically provide high quality work, and be more competitive than larger companies that rely on a certain sales volume to cover the cost of their high overhead.

Equally as important as price though is the warranty. You want the assurance of knowing your air conditioning repair is backed by the company that performed the work. This also shows that the contractor has faith in their own work as well. A good contractor will also have a contingency built into most repair estimates, or may choose to offer you good, better, best options for repairs or replacement. Not every customer wants the same thing, or level of service on every call. A good contractor also will not typically discuss pricing over the phone until they have had a chance to survey the situation, or diagnose the issue

Size is Important

If system replacement is what you are looking for a contractor should provide a size assessment of your home. Ensuring your home’s air conditioning system is sized correctly is important for your comfort when it comes to single stage systems and base line models of air conditioning systems. Higher SEER rated equipment or multistage or variable speed equipment will provide superior comfort than most of the base line models, and also result in savings on your utility bill. A good contractor will provide several options and be able to explain the difference and benefits of each system. Ask about what methods the contractor used to determine the size requirement of the air conditioning system for your home. Manual J software, blower door tests, HERs raters(for new construction, required in certain areas) and other technologies are used by quality contractors to determine this.

What Does a Contractor Do?

After you have found a contractor you can work with you may wonder what to expect next while they are working at your house. A contractor will typically carry out these tasks during installation, repairs or maintenance.

  • Equipment should always be installed according to the manufacturer’s specifications, using the industry best practices.
  • Connecting systems to different fuel and water lines.
  • Connecting air conditioning ducts and sealing to prevent air loss.
  • Installing electrical controls and wiring according to code
  • Performing tests on the equipment, and controls during and after startup
  • Inspect and asses any type of HVAC system.
  • Test individual parts of the system to isolate and diagnose what needs fixing.
  • Replace or repair whatever is broken or defective.
  • Performing routine maintenance to ensure the HVAC system is running efficiently throughout the year.
  • Replacement of filters and clearing of drain lines to maintain the efficiency of your system.
  • Cleaning of condenser coils yearly or quarterly
  • Cleaning of evaporator coils periodically or as needed.
  • Tightening electrical connections or lugs, or periodically replacing components that are worn and may cause greater issues down the road for components connected to the electrical supply.

Quality Contractors will typically employ sophisticated tools that are essential to your systems function, performance, and reliability. They will also typically discuss best industry practices they employ to ensure the reliability of your system. Vacuum pumps, recovery machines, acetylene torches and combustion analyzers are tools typically employed by good contractors.

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Source by Jon Riddle

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Weight Loss Program Diet Tips – How to Create Healthy Food Cravings

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Why do we crave unhealthy foods? A healthy weight loss diet program often becomes a battleground between our desire to lose weight quickly, and snack cravings based on unhealthy food choices. We may not be what we eat, but research indicates that we desire the foods that we have grown accustomed to eating, so you could say that we crave what we eat. If you have created a pattern of eating ice cream for pleasure or when under stress, it should be no surprise that you will have a hankering for ice cream under the right conditions. Pavlov’s Dog, by any other name, is still Pavlov’s Dog.

But if we have, in effect, trained ourselves to want unhealthy snacks or foods, the reverse may also be true: we can train ourselves to crave healthy snacks and food. If we can do this, a bland tasting weight loss supplement could become just as desirable as a sweet roll.

I never craved coffee until I started drinking it. The same goes for double chocolate chip ice cream. The taste for coffee and chocolate must be learned through exposure to these foods and their flavors. If people who live in more primitive cultures in the jungle can have a hankering to snack on creepy-crawly insects unique to their habitat, surely we can develop our own desire for a decent, healthy snack, healthy fast food, and healthy food recipe choices when preparing meals.

So how do we re-program ourselves to turn a craving for sweets into something on the healthy food list? To quote a line from a movie, “Build it and they will come.” In this case, if we build the habit of making healthy food choices at meal and snack time, we will begin to want those foods instead of the ones we’ve given up.

There is a lot of pleasure associated with these snacking experiences, and most of us are reluctant to give them up. But if we can get ourselves to substitute some simple healthy food and snack recipes, we can train our mental and physical taste buds to desire them, and a new pleasure-association will be formed around the new healthy food choice or recipe.

Recent research has proven this. The results showed that new cravings can be formed to replace old ones, even though the new ones are based on bland, healthy foods, and the original ones were the tried and true fat and sugar tasty delights. The best news? It may only require one week to do it.

I’ve addressed some healthy snack ideas to use for re-training our cravings in another article. (It contains healthy snack ideas that also apply to children.) For now, I’ll give just a few examples of healthy snack food substitutions.

If you don’t want such a jolt to your taste buds right out of the gate, you can make it a two-step process in some cases. For example, when the seemingly uncontrollable urge for chocolate ice cream hits, instead have a coffee cup or glass of Chocolate Ovaltine and milk. Ovaltine is not like the junky chocolate milk mixes pitched to kids. Think of it instead as a healthy fast food snack. It contains vitamins and minerals, and if you use one or two tablespoons instead of the recommended four, not too much sugar.

Step two: Purchase a good chocolate flavored whey protein mix from your local health food supplier (or the flavor of your choice) and use it instead of the Ovaltine. These protein supplements are not anything like they used to be. In the past, they would NOT mix without a blender, and they tasted pretty bad. Not so anymore. They mix quickly by simply stirring or shaking, and the flavors are quite good. Trust me.

Now you’ve turned a fat and sugar ice cream binge into a healthy fast food choice: a protein supplement! In addition, it’s far more filling and satisfying. You won’t be tempted to eat anything as quickly as you would if you had succumbed and eaten ice cream.

Don’t think this will work? Well, I can vouch for it personally, and tests done on regular everyday people like us have proven the same. In fact, it worked when very bland but healthy food recipes and snack substitutes were used instead of the usual tasty treats, and in only a week’s time. People actually craved the bland tasting healthy snack food in preference to their old unhealthy treats.

Go ahead and give it a try. You’ll be craving healthy foods and snacks in no time.

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Source by Paul W. Whitten

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Tomatoes – How To Use Them As They Ripen

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Obviously you may can your tomatoes, but that means dragging out pans, jars and lids for maybe one or two jars worth of tomatoes. Consider making stews and spaghetti with all your tomatoes. You can freeze and label smaller portions of your stew and spaghetti and have it last through the winter. It makes for a great “emergency” meal, when you don’t feel like cooking or you get home late and everyone is hungry.

Even though you may lose some of the nutrients by skinning them, skinned, garden fresh tomatoes are still better than buying them in a can. Just put several in a metal sieve, dunk them in boiling water for thirty seconds and then rinse them in cold water. They should peel easily.

Cut them up and place them in a crock-pot for stew. I like to add a half-pound each of hot Italian sausage and either lean pork or chicken to the pot, along with a couple cans of Great Northern beans. If you’re in a hurry, brown and cut up the sausage and other meats before adding to the pot. If using canned beans, just read the label to make sure the contents don’t have a lot of sugar, fructose or other stuff.

Add a whole cut up red onion if you like. Stir-fry the onion in a little olive oil to speed up the cooking. What really makes this a special stew is the addition of 3-4 sliced parsnips. Their nutty flavor complements the white beans and lean white meat. Use Italian spices, some fennel and a little molasses for a smoky flavor. Let simmer on low or high, depending upon how quickly you want results. You can stick the crock-pot in the refrigerator and let the flavors soak into the meats and then cook it on low the next day. Let it cool and then place it in containers for freezing. Adjust the recipe for your own needs. Beans have protein and are a great filler, so you can easily add another can or two.

Spaghetti sauce is equally as good, although the sauce can taste too sweet with fresh garden tomatoes. The Italian sausage helps here also or you may sprinkle them with a bit of cayenne pepper if you dare. Once again you can stir-fry your ground beef, add sliced tomatoes, a small can of tomato paste and the Italian spices. Add extra oregano. The sauce can seem thick, so you can easily expand it by adding additional tomato or spaghetti sauce. That works very well when you underestimate what you might need or you find you have some neighbor kids staying over. It also helps if you think the sauce might be too spicy for the younger crowd.

Freezing can strengthen the cayenne flavor and diminish the Italian herbs. To combat the acidic nature of tomatoes and cayenne, add just a pinch or two of sugar. Perk up the Italian spices by adding more to your defrosted batch of sauce or stew.

If you hate to waste food, using up the garden tomatoes in a stew or with spaghetti sauce is a great way to put those tomatoes to immediate use and make you feel better. You might even get an extra hug at bedtime, too.

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Source by Linda Murdock

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Are Laptop Cooling Pads Necessary?

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IMPORTANCE OF LAPTOP COOLING PADS

Every laptop user has felt it at one point. The scorching hot waves of the heat of your laptop slowly cooking your legs as you try to finish up a project or check your emails. You might have also noticed, the performance of your computer seems to slow down in this case, too. You are right. This isn’t just your imagination. This is due to throttling that takes place in the device. Having processing power in a compact space like the body of a laptop often puts a strain on the hardware. Intensive activities like gaming or even binge watching Netflix might be causing the throttling and making your computer over heat. This problem might eventually lead to permanent damage.

However, cooling pads come to the rescue in elongating your laptops life span and helping it deliver its top performance without the hassle of overheating. The most common complaints from laptop and notebook users are that their laptops systems almost crash due to heat exhaustion and the uncomfortable feeling of using a laptop that feels too hot while in use. Laptop cooling pads increase airflow to your laptop’s mechanism. Majority of these pads have fan systems that allow the laptop’s system to have access to a cool stream of air. This stream of cool air helps the device stay at a stable, cool temperature, eliminating the possibility of overheating. The stabilization of temperature in the device allows the mechanism to breathe which helps the computer to function better and makes it easier for the user.

The excessive heat that the laptop produces is not comfortable or healthy for the user. Recent studies have been showing that Wi-Fi using products, such as laptops, may be harmful to the user. It is possible that the laptop-cooling pad, while cooling the device can also block off some of the harmful radiation too.

While purchasing cooling pads it is important to pay attention to things like performance, the CFM and sometimes even the fan noise factor. Amongst that, it is also important to focus on the design and pick a cooling pad suited most to your working and life style. Fortunately many laptop and notebook cooling pads are very stylish and come with cool features like different lighting features and colors.

Even the best laptops might come down due to overheating permanently. The straining of throttling can unfortunately damage your laptops and notebook devices. Sanoxy Cooling pads will however eliminate this issue and provide you with a healthier and “cooler” laptop.

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Source by Farah Avci

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Panasonic EP-30005 Massage Chair

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Get a ticket to home massage therapy with the Panasonic EP 30005 massage chair. This model is part of the Real Pro Ultra technology platform. There are many advanced features in this model as it is not commonly offered in the UK market. The EP-30005 recliner is mechanically similar to the EP 30006. I outline some of the more pertinent features of the Panasonic EP30005 massage chair.

This model gives you better deeper tissue massage therapy than others of the Real Pro Ultra technology platform. It contains a special robotic massage technique that was not available in other Panasonic models. These specialized techniques deliver ultra deep massage experience.

This recliner has 200 in. of massage coverage for your back. That means that the rollers can cover that much surface area of your back. The rollers also have three levels of intensity. Their massage strength varies from soft to medium to strong.

One of the new features of this roller mechanism is that the head can move closer towards the person on the chair. In other words, the depth of the massage can be controlled. As you adjust the speed you can feel the change in the depth of the rollers.

One of the new massage modes is Junetsu. This specialized massage is good for relieving knots in your back. It is a technique that uses circular thumb-like movements. It increases pressure slightly to penetrate through the knot to relieve its tension.

This Panasonic lounger also has an air massage system. An air pump directs pressurized air to different airbags. The airbags inflate and deflate to provide a compression massage. Airbags are designed for different parts of the body to provide relief

There are four different styles of manual massage modes. The specialized massage technology has the ability to deliver these massages. The massages are shiatsu, Swedish, fist kneading and grasping. The technique you would like to apply is just a button push away.

There are ways to customize the program. There is a memory function which allows 4 different custom programs for you. These can be saved by 4 different users. This way you can repeat specific massage movements directed at particular areas by using the memory function.

Get a customized massage with the advanced body scan. This chair first performs a scanning of your body. It makes a virtual map of your back and then feeds the information to customize your massage. The rollers are directed based on your own coordinates.

Foot massage is an important aspect of relaxation. We hold a lot of tension in our feet. Foot reflexology is an excellent way to relieve tension and relax the body.

This recliner is equipped with foot reflexology massage. Specialized plates are located underneath the soles of the feet. These are used to stimulate the trigger points of the feet to relax the major organs of the body.

This massage recliner is the strongest of the entire Panasonic line. It has a much deeper penetrating massage than their other models. Most of the other models in the real ultra line are rather weak and superficial.

The EP-30005 massage chair comes with a range of good therapeutic features. This massage chair is slightly smaller than their other models as it was designed for the indigenous Asian market. It does provide a deeper penetrating massage and has a number of innovative programs. Check out the Panasonic EP30005 massage chair.

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Source by James Knolan

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A History of Food Delivery Services

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The history of food delivery services traces its inception over sixty years. Since this time food delivery services still have the same basic principle to ensure that members of the community can have a hot, tasty and enjoyable meal.

The first meal delivery services are believed to have been started in wartime London. As a result of the Blitz, many Londoners had lost their homes and their ability to cook for themselves. In response to this need the WVS (Women’s Volunteer Service) produced meals and delivered them to people who had lost practically everything. This caring approach was carried on in various areas of the UK where injured servicemen were provided meals by volunteers in the local vicinity.

After the war the first true food delivery service evolved in Hemel Hempstead in 1947. The recipients were still servicemen who were incapable of cooking their own meals but instead of the vans used to transport meals today, these early services apparently used prams, lined with felt and even straw to ensure that the meal was delivered warm. Understandably this type of service was extremely labour intensive requiring a vast network volunteers, each with good cooking knowledge and skills. Today, the processes involved incorporate mass production principles.

In the UK food delivery services operate in a number of different ways. There are agency led programmes, typically ran in conjunction with local councils to cater for the local population. There are also private services that cater for those people that would like the benefits of food delivery but do not necessarily meet all of the criteria.

In the modern age there are also a number of different ways in which the food is delivered. Some programmes deliver meal that are cooked in a central location and then kept warm as they are delivered. Other programmes cook the food, allow it to cool and then cook the food before delivery in mobile units that both cook and deliver the food. The final type of programme delivers frozen meals that can be heated by the recipient in the microwave or oven.

Today there are a range of different food delivery services out there catering for the elderly, disabled and also those with special dietary requirements. It is this commitment to caring and ensuring people eat well that has been a consistent theme throughout the development of food delivery services.

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Source by Horace Tait

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Food Prices During the Great Depression

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Food prices of the great depression in the 30s, were somewhat of a paradox, when you look back and consider how everything was so cheap, and, yet, at the same time, way too expensive for many people living through those times.

Food prices weren’t so much a problem for those who were employed during the great depression, as they could afford the daily essentials, and, perhaps, some extras, like a movie or ice cream; but, for the unfortunate ones who were unemployed, even the every-day, basic necessities were totally out of reach.

Actually, it wasn’t that the food prices were high, but it was the lack of, or absence of money that kept most things people not only desired, but needed, at arms length, or on the other side of the shop’s glass window.

Imagine not being able to run to the store and grab your desired food items, clothing, and, if you needed it, medicine; and then not being able to afford the mortgage or rent, or the electricity or gas for cooking. Could you go without?

Who, in our prior affluent day-and-age, could deal with that kind of inconvenience, when we’re used to flipping the light switch on in the morning, and turning on the automatic coffee machine to dilute some of those twelve-dollar-a-pound grounds we bought from the specialty coffee beanery-after already enjoying a six-dollar mocha grande with friends.

No such thing for families during the great depression, under their poor circumstances. Imagine buying just a plain (if you can get one today) cup of coffee with cream and sugar, for five cents; a two-egg-bacon-and-toast-with-a-piece-of-pie-and-a-cup-of-coffee breakfast, for 25 cents; or a candy bar for a dime.

It doesn’t sound like a lot, except those who were employed might only have been earning $2 or $3 a-day, but when you don’t have those few small coins, food prices of the great depression seemed pretty high! For those who had money, life was, undoubtedly, more comfortable even considering the times, but for those who had to scrimp and scrape to put food on the table, their days were filled with worry and strife.

Many mothers often went without food, so their children had more to eat. She didn’t spend her pennies foolishly, if she had them, but used them for the things that were vital to her family’s survival. She’d account for every cent.

With money during the great depression being so scarce, families frequently ran out of the little bit they may have acquired, from some type of labor, or, perhaps, from hocking something of sentimental value.

And, to make things worse, families lives were often compromised, or drasitically challenged, as the men would set out for other parts of the country seeking employment. Some men, never returned, but, instead, turned to illegal activities in hopes of gain, or to alcohol, only making their own, and their family’s problems worse. Some even chose suicide.

At any rate, most people had nowhere to turn, since borrowing from their neighbors or relatives would cause them further problems. Local stores might have extended credit to certain people, but they were rarely let off the hook to pay, as some people were still paying off bills that were outstanding, long after the war, which followed The Great Depression, ended.

Money-or, the lack of it-was the main thing that dominated millions of lives for many years during the earlier part of this century. And, it’s no different today. Money, for many people, in one way or the other, still rules.

Tough times are coming again for those who don’t think so, as many people world wide, are already experiencing our plummeting economy. I sure notice the presently rising food prices (or, more realistically, decreasing dollar value), as it costs way more for a half-empty grocery bag today, than it did not so long ago.

But, hey! There is hope, and for those who are informed, there’s no need to be surprised and led to despair by these coming hard times. We can take precaution, and plan and prepare for our now, and our future lifestyle management, by getting ahead of the game.

We can learn more about food prices of the great depression, and valuable ways on how we can prepare ourselves and our families, for what likely will, in some form or other, depending on our circumstances, be much like, or worse than, The Great Depression of the 30s.

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Source by Erin Smith

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Sub Zero Refrigerators – Are They Worth the Money?

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I’m often asked by my customers if Sub Zero refrigerators are worth the money. My answer is always the same – maybe. Let me explain…

If you are talking about longevity, overall quality, and food preservation, my answer is always absolutely! And if the price tag fits in your budget, it is a no-brainer to me. I owned one a few years ago and can tell you my strawberries lasted up to two weeks (which was incredible considering my produce department background!); cheese left on a plate (as an experiment) didn’t mold or crust over after a month; and an opened container of ice cream was still fresh after discovering it more than a month and a half later.

Sub Zero claims a family can save as much as $25 a week in food spoilage because of the dual refrigeration system. I always thought that was an exaggerated claim until I owned one and estimated I was saving approximately $10 a week as a bachelor. If you are a Costco shopper and like to buy things like the multi pack of Romaine lettuce and find you can’t make it past two head before they spoil, the more humid compartment Sub Zero provides will give you more time to finish the package of lettuce.

A major advantage of having a dual refrigeration system as Sub Zero has is longevity. The average life of a refrigerator today is approximately 10.5 years. Sub Zero’s average lifecycle is 17 years. (Climate has a contributing factor. In the Pacific Northwest where it is cooler than in the southern U.S., refrigerators don’t have to work as hard because of a lower average temperature. It is not uncommon to find Sub Zero refrigerators lasting beyond 20 years here.) The reason for a longer lifespan is largely due to having two compressors. One cools the refrigerator while the other cools the freezer. Most other refrigerators have a single compressor that is working most all the time. It doesn’t take much imagination to see the dual system lasts longer.

Overall quality is excellent because these refrigerators are still built largely by hand and in the USA. They are a family owned company and take great pride in their product.

So I hear you saying, “Why does Consumer Reports show a higher rate of repair?” Consumer Reports show service history for products under warranty. This is a bit of a disadvantage for companies with a generous warranty such as Sub Zero. Most companies offer a 1 year parts and labor warranty with up to 5 years on parts. Sub Zero offers the industries strongest warranty – 2 full years parts and labor and up to 12 years on the sealed system! The other thing C.R. doesn’t tell you is that a lot of the service calls have to do with improper installation (water / icemaker not working because the installer didn’t turn the water valve on, etc.) or even for something as simple as a broken icemaker. Icemakers are the Achilles Heal of the appliance world. For as good as Sub Zero is, they use icemakers made by Whirlpool. There aren’t many icemaker manufacturers to choose from in the industry.

If you have a large family and you are at the grocery store several times a week, don’t plan on being in your home for more than 7 years, or if you are like a costume of mine who while writing his check out for his Sub Zero proclaimed, “$8000.00 just to keep my beer cold”, you may do just as well with something under $2000 – depending on your kitchen design. However, if it fits the budget, I will highly recommend buying a Sub Zero.

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Source by David W Simpson

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Whirlpool Mastermind 30 Elite

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Ever heard of a refrigerator that performs the balancing trick? Yes, a fine balance between storage space, technology and looks is what your Whirlpool Mastermind 30 Elite will give to you. It is a twin door, frost-free refrigerator that comes with technological specials like Twin Tower Cooling and Quick Ice maker and also with many user-friendly conveniences.

Key Features

Capacity: The capacity of Mastermind 30 Elite is a reasonable 280 Liters which provides more than sufficient space for a small family with a big appetite! The freezer space is 70 Liters which makes the freezer also very roomy to hold not only larger quantities of ice but also bigger bricks of ice creams! There are nine storage shelves that give you enough room to arrange your storage conveniently.

Sixth Sense Tower Cooling System: It is a marvelous technology that not only detects the changes in the climate outside but also changes the inside technology accordingly. Its Twin Cooling Towers circulate cool air uniformly in the refrigerator maintaining equal temperature and freshness.

Sixth Sense Auto Power save Mode: You left for your vacation worrying all the time about something that you’re forgetting? Was it your refrigerator that you forgot to switch off? Well not to worry. If you are the proud owner of a Whirlpool Mastermind 30 Elite, then your fridge will do the homework for you. It comes with a technology that understands your absence if the refrigerator door is not opened for more than 24 hrs and switches itself to an auto power save mode reducing the consumption of electricity and at the same time maintaining an even cooling.

Sixth Sense Ice Accelerator: Remember that advertisement where the neighbor comes for ice and it is over? Well, not any more. The Sixth Sense Ice Accelerator in this refrigerator makes ice super quick at the press of a button given at a temperature control panel on the door and even chills your bottles much quicker. Swarovski Crystal Studded Handle: A designer handle is one thing but Swarovski crystals in a refrigerator? Well that’s going a step ahead and that is what our Mastermind 30 Elite does. With Swarovski Crystals in the handle and six elegant colors to choose from this fridge is surely star studded!

Flexi Chill and Ice Twister: A convenient freezer feature, Flexi Chill enables you to manage your freezer space more efficiently by adjusting the storage compartment. A twist ice tray with a container is provided to collect ice more conveniently.

Crisper with Humidity Control: The crisper of this refrigerator is extra large to take care of your big grocery shopping. Even if you decide to store softer vegetables over here, the humidity control keeps them fresh.

User-friendly Features

Door Lock and Alarm: This fridge rings a bell. Each time you or your hurried family leaves the door open, the fridge will start ringing an alarm for you to rush back and close it! Magic Rails and Wheels: The roof of the refrigerator is equipped with railings to make a space not only inside but also on the outside of the fridge to store things or even decorative items. For easier movement, wheels are given at the bottom to shift your refrigerator to whichever convenient location.

Toughened Glass Shelves: Here is a surprise – out of the total shelves in this refrigerator, three are made of toughened glass that can hold weight up to 90kgs. Go ahead, don’t think and just store it in! Drop down Chiller Compartment: The chiller compartment is a drop down one which ensures easy management of things inside.

Magic Light and Deodorizer: Magic light illuminates your Refrigerator in every nook and corner for a clearer vision and beautiful glow and the deodorizer eliminates any kind of odor keeping your food smelling nice and fresh for long.

Conclusion

A technologically advanced refrigerator, the Whirlpool Refrigerator will give you a wonderful combination of looks, convenience and science. By falling in the price bracket of medium priced refrigerators, this beauty is up for grabs. We say, don’t think, take it quick!

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Source by Pooja Kumari Lapasia