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Archive for 2013

Thursday, February 14th, 2013

Roof vents are an extremely important part of your house, and knowing which roof vent types to choose is an important decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Roof vents help move air by allowing hot air to escape and cooler air to flow around your home. This prevents excess moisture in the summer and mold growth in the winter. The climate and your type of roof are two factors you need to consider before choosing between roof vent types.

Roof Vent Types

There are a couple different roof types, beginning with the basic types. A basic roof vent increases ventilation while still preventing rain from seeping in. These vents have no mechanical parts and are fairly easy to install. If your roof is compatible, then there’s no reason to pay more for a complex vent.

Another common type of roof vent is a soffit vent. These come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are installed underneath the eaves. These vents allow airflow between the attic and the house’s exterior. Cooler air comes through the roof vents while hot air is vented through other roof vents. If you go with this option, soffit vents should be installed on both sides of the house to equalize the pressure. Often times, these vents are used in combination with ridge vents that are installed on the top of the roof. These vents are usually longer vents that run through the length of the roof and are also covered to ensure rain is kept out while still allowing hot air to vent from the roof. In combination with the soffit vents, ridge vents can take care of any air ventilation problems.

There are some other roof vent types like wind turbine vents, gable intake vents, and dormer vents. These vents are less common as they are usually more specialized vents and depend on the structure of your roof. Usually, the less complicated vents are recommended as they cost less and still do the job effectively.

Additional Help

If you would like to have new vents installed or need help replacing an old one, consider using TalkLocal to find a roofing company for you. TalkLocal is a free service that will connect you with top-quality, reputable roofing professionals in your neighborhood within minutes. Just enter in your specific problem, location, and availability, and up to three companies will call YOU directly, saving you the time and stress of finding one yourself.

Posted in Roofers | No Comments »

Computer Freezes When Trying to Print

Thursday, February 14th, 2013

It’s very important to be able to print something from your computer when you need to. But if there is something wrong with either the computer or the printing device it can be extremely frustrating. Many people can easily fix computer problems, but when it comes to printers and scanners, the problem becomes exponentially more complicated.

Computer Freezes when trying to Print

When your computer freezes because you are trying to print, it could be the result of a couple different reasons. The following are a few possible causes:

1) Too many programs running

2) Improperly installed printer

3) Drivers are not up to date

4) The file is very large

5) A dirty spool directory

The Solution

If there are too many programs running on your computer it may take your laptop a few minutes to catch up and load properly. The screen freeze will go away as soon as the computer properly loads. If the printer is improperly installed this could be why your computer freezes when you try to print. You should uninstall it and re-install the printer in an attempt to rectify the problem.

You could also have out of date drivers. You should check with your computer and printer manufacturers to see if you can download the newest versions. If this is the issue it should be solved once the new programs are installed.

If the file you are trying to print is extremely large your computer screen will freeze while it loads and tries to catch up. Simply give your laptop a few minutes to load and react correctly.

Furthermore you could have an overloaded spool directory so you should clear them and make sure that your computer is only running necessary programs. If none of these steps help you with your issue you may want to run a clean boot to see what is causing the problem. A clean boot will start your operating system and use a minimal set of drivers/programs so that you can troubleshoot any issues or error messages.

Continuing Issues

If you are still having problems and nothing seems to help you should seek professional help. When looking for assistance use TalkLocal to be put in contact with reliable local businesses within a matter of minutes. Simply input your issue and availability and TalkLocal will automatically connect you with high quality local professionals.

Posted in Computer Repair | No Comments »

How to Prevent Dead Grass from Dog Urine

Thursday, February 14th, 2013

How to Prevent Dead Grass from Dog Urine

Got a cute pup ruining a beautiful lawn? Maintaining bright green grass in the presence of a dog who loves to pee in different spots all over your yard can be an annoyance. If you are consistently noticing yellow or brown “dead spots” from your dog’s urine, here’s what you can do to try to prevent those unsightly spots from ever showing up again.

Nitrogen is the key factor in maintaining a healthy lawn. However, you should use caution, because the dosage can make or break your lawn. While nitrogen is one of the top ingredients in fertilizer, it is also found in high concentrations in dog urine. Therefore, the wrong combinations of fertilizer and dog urine in certain areas of your lawn can actually prove to be too much nitrogen, and can “burn” or kill grass, causing the dead spots.

There are a few things you can do to try to eliminate and further prevent yellow or brown dead grass spots in your yard:

– Try to train your dog to pee in only one area, or in a spot where there is no grass.

– After you witness a doggy potty break, take a garden hose and rinse away the urine from the grass.

– Switch to a lawn fertilizer with lower concentrations of nitrogen to prevent the “burning” effect that comes from high levels of the element.

If you want to fix already existing dead grass spots, you can scratch away the dead grass, plant some new grass seed, cover with mulch, and water it daily. In a couple of weeks, you will start to see new grass growing in those once-dead spots.

Professional Help

If you’ve tried any or all of these solutions to no avail and would like some professional assistance, try using TalkLocal to locate a landscaper near you. TalkLocal is a free service that will connect you with top-quality, reputable landscaping companies in your neighborhood, within minutes. Simply enter in your problem, location, and availability and TalkLocal will contact multiple companies, who will then call YOU directly, ready to help.

Posted in Landscapers | No Comments »

Tips on Caring for Sick Pets

Thursday, February 14th, 2013

1. Diagnosis: Call your vet for a proper diagnosis. If you are worried about the cost of taking your pet to a vet, many vets have emergency funds. Otherwise, the local humane shelter may have more affordable medical care for your pet. If there is excessive vomiting, diarrhea, pain, or fever, make sure you get a proper diagnosis from a vet and figure out whether you should bring your pet home or not. If you can, bring your pet home to reduce stress and heal faster.

2. Location: Keep your sick pet in a quiet, warm, and cozy part of the house. Make sure your pet has easy access to sunlight, clean blankets, fresh air, and water. Change the blankets often to ensure that your pet is comfortable.

3. Food: Dogs tend to fast for up to two days. Not eating helps them rest their digestive system and pass toxins. However, they need to at least drink water. If your dog has no appetite for more than 48 hours, force it to eat by warming up some food and letting the aroma waft nearby. Strong smells, such as cooked chicken or turkey, usually work. You can also try sprinkling garlic powder over food or adding ginger or dill to stimulate your dog’s appetite. Discuss your dog’s diet with a vet and find out if any supplemental medication is needed.

Feed your cat food with high protein levels and plenty of vitamins and minerals. Try heating up the food if your cat doesn’t want to eat it. If your cat can’t keep the solids down, hand-feed it softer foods by placing the food directly onto the tongue. If your cat won’t drink, put the liquid into a plastic bottle and put the opening in the side of the mouth.

4. Monitoring: Record any changes in your pet’s pulse, temperature, effects of medication, food and water intake, bowel movements, and mental and physical conditions. Get pet thermometers shipped to you overnight from Amazon. If your pet has a fever, there may be an infection of some sort present. If your pet has an infectious disease, throw away any blankets it has used, as these can spread the infection and infect your pet’s toys. Pets can be allergic to disinfectants, so make sure to use a pet-friendly disinfectant.

5. Clean: Wipe away any discharges from your pet’s eyes, nose, mouth using soft wet cloths, and sponge away any discharge from your pet’s bottom (wiping may cause irritation if they have diarrhea). A full body wash is not advised while your pet has yet to fully recover, but making sure the openings are clean will ensure that your pet is comfortable and less smelly!

Additional Help

TalkLocal can help you find a quality veterinarian quickly! Just fill out a service request to be connected to up to three local professionals in just minutes.

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Posted in Veterinarians | No Comments »

Seva Call is for Lovers… and everybody else too This Valentines Day

Thursday, February 14th, 2013

Written by Dallea Caldwell

It’s Valentines Day- the official journée de l’amour; and despite Seva Man’s rugged faceless exterior, he is a hopeless romantic at heart. Here are some ways Seva Man is spreading the love this year and every day at Seva Call!

For couples, romantic expectations can soar as high as the smitten heart this week; and the stress of planning a memorable experience for that special someone can be overwhelming. To make this year’s Valentine’s Day happier and more stress free than ever, let Seva Call find your florist, limousine service, or whatever professional services you need for the big day.

And singles: you too can make the most of this holiday with a little tender loving care. How about a spa day at home with a nice massage or get a professional party planner so you and all your single friends can have a fabulous Valentines Day together! Best of all, you won’t even seem desperate or put yourself out there when you book last minute solo plans through Seva Call. Just go to www.talklocal.com and fill out a request. Unlike with the other guys, that special someone for your service needs will call you!

On a personal note, Seva Man’s last live-in girlfriend was such a dog, he had to go to Seva Call to find pest control professionals for the fleas she left. Also, is it wrong to find a personal trainer or a tutor through Seva Call and only book them if they are single and hot? You decide; and, go to www.talklocal.com to make your Valentine’s Day planning experience something else to love.

Posted in Seva Call | No Comments »

Lost favorites in IE7

Wednesday, February 13th, 2013

Lost favorites in IE7

After upgrading to a newer version of Internet Explorer, did you find that you lost your prized list of favorites? This is a scary thing, but there’s a good chance you can recover them.

Import Your Favorites

First, it’s possible that after upgrading, your favorites didn’t move over into your newest browser’s version. You can try importing them by following these steps:

1. In an open IE window, click on the Favorites icon or open the Favorites folder.

2. Next to “Add to Favorites” you should see a drop-down arrow. Click on the arrow for the drop-down menu.

3. Click “Import and Export.”

4. Click “Import from another browser.”

5. Follow the steps to finish importing your old bookmarks.

You could also try uninstalling your current version of IE to get back to your older version:

1. Go to Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs.

2. Remove the updated browser.

3. Once you return to your older version, copy your favorites folder to a different location on your computer, such as your desktop.

4. Change the name of the folder. You can also save all of your Favorites to a CD or external USB.

5. Reinstall the most recent version of IE.

6. Change the name of the folder back to “Favorites.”

7. Move it to its correct location.

If you saved the file to a CD/USB, simply move it back to the location above. You should have your Favorites back in IE.

Additional Help

If you are still experiencing problems, contact a local professional to help with your problem. Try TalkLocal, a free service that will connect you with local computer specialists in minutes. Just enter in your location, availability, and problem, and TalkLocal will locate professionals who are willing to help you and will call you directly.

Posted in Computer Repair | No Comments »

Picking a Professional Carpet Cleaner

Wednesday, February 13th, 2013

Cleaning your carpet by yourself is not only tedious and time consuming, but it may not even be very effective. Nothing would be worse than buying an expensive wet vacuum that does not even work effectively. Here are some useful tips and factors to be aware of when picking a professional carpet cleaner.

Questions to Ask Carpet Cleaning Professionals:

While hiring a professional is expensive, remember that your carpet was too. It requires a lot of maintenance, and if you want to be sure that it lives up to its potential and brightens up your room, give it the attention and treatment that it needs.

Additional Help

If you want to find a carpet cleaner who is available when you need one, use TalkLocal, today! We’ll connect you with up to three professional carpet cleaners in your area in just minutes.

Posted in Carpet Cleaners | 2 Comments »

Red Flags to Watch Out for Before Fixing Your Auto Glass

Wednesday, February 13th, 2013

We’ve previously discussed various types of auto glass fraud, but there are even more types of fraud out there than we were able to cover. We previously noted how sometimes con-artists will approach unsuspecting people in parking lots and try to bilk them out of money by lying to them about issues with their windshield, safety laws, and insurance policies (among other things). We also noted that body shops are often deceptive, too, and try to trick people into replacing their entire windshield when they don’t need to. Unfortunately, that’s not where fraud at body shops ends. Here is a list of red flags to watch out for before fixing your auto glass.

Additional Help

When it comes to auto glass fraud, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. And if you have any questions or want to find a reputable auto glass place near you, it’s always best to use TalkLocal—the quick and easy place to find reliable business near you. We will connect you with up to three local professionals who will be available to help you when you need them.

Posted in Auto Glass Repair | No Comments »

Definition of UCA Cash Flow

Wednesday, February 13th, 2013

UCA cash flow or Uniform Credit Analysis cash flow, is one method used to determine the ability of a company to repay a loan. Some would say UCA cash flow analysis is a more accurate, practical and easily understandable method to determine this ability, versus methods such as EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), or net income plus depreciation. We provide a simplified definition of UCA cash flow.

Here is a simplified example of how UCA cash flow looks at a company’s financial situation:

1. Total Income from Product or Service Sales
minus Inventory, Production or Service Costs
= Gross Cash Profit

2. Gross Cash Profit
minus Operating Expenses
= Cash After Operations

3. Cash After Operations
plus/minus Other Income or Disbursements, and Taxes
= Net Cash After Operations

It is this Net Cash After Operations figure which represents monies that are available to service a debt. This is the bottom line. While it is not the only factor a lender looks at in judging a company’s ability to repay a loan, it is a key factor.

UCA cash flow analysis eliminates issues such as non-cash expenses for equipment depreciation, or inflated cash flow based on extending the time to pay vendors.

It also provides a more real-world picture of a company’s financial health and can give a lender a better idea of how a company manages its money and why it needs to borrow money – is it to increase inventory, production or services, or is it to cover operating expenses?

Additional Help

An accountant can help you further understand the definition of UCA cash flow, how it applies to your situation, and help you put a UCA cash flow analysis together. If you don’t already have an accountant that you trust, you should use TalkLocal to find an accountant. We will connect you with up to three high quality professionals in just minutes!

Posted in Accountants | No Comments »

Seva Call “Dough to Grow” Concession Speech

Wednesday, February 13th, 2013

“We’re not just ‘Valpak Dough to Grow’ contest finalists, we’re winners too!” says Seva Man

The Seva Call team is very encouraged by the outcome of the 44th annual contest that awards $10,000 to a deserving small business. Thanks to the outpouring of support from everyone who voted Seva Call for North America’s favorite small business, Seva Call is listed as a finalist, beating out hundreds of other reputable companies.

Seva Call has won invaluable prizes, like the assurance that customers value our service. That, in addition to 365 days of bragging rights and responsibilities, and this nifty pic trumpeting our soaring achievement!

“We wish the best of luck to this year’s winner: Firebird CrossFit in Mesa, A.Z. They seem like high quality fitness professionals, so we can’t wait to work with them when we launch in Mesa someday soon!”, commented Seva Call cofounder and all-around class-act Manpreet Singh. Is there a Good Sportsmanship or Mr. Congeniality Award for this guy?

Thanks again to our customers on Facebook, Twitter,YouTube, and elsewhere for showing your support. The Seva Call team is so happy that you like finding the “right” professional fast, and we’ll keep working to grow and make it even better. We’re beefing up to launch a mobile app as we speak; Firebird CrossFit isn’t the only small business with muscle!

Now we have a question for you: What’s the best/worst consolation prize you’ve ever gotten? Share with us on Facebook, Twitter, or in the comments section here!

Posted in Seva Call | No Comments »

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