Replacing Windows with Milgard Windows

Thursday, March 20th, 2014

Milgard is one of the most popular brands of window products, known for its quality and range of options. With new Milgard windows to replace your old windows, hiring a professional installer is recommended to maximize your investment. You don’t want new windows that are poorly installed.

So, whether replacing one or multiple windows, proper window installation is necessary to ensure the optimal performance of your Milgard windows. Here are the recommended first steps for homeowners looking to replace their windows.

Replacing Windows with Milgard Windows

Step 1: Get the measurements of the window(s) to be replaced, and provide this information to your Milgard windows dealer. Measure the window at three points – top, middle, and bottom – both vertically and horizontally, and use the smallest dimensions.

Step 2: Choose your window frame material and style. Milgard windows come in various materials such as wood, fiberglass, vinyl, and aluminum. Various operating styles are available from single and double-hung windows or sliders to casement, awning, picture, garden, arch and bay windows, or skylight windows.

Even you’re just replacing a small window or just one window, make sure to consider the architectural style of your home and overall style of your existing windows when choosing replacement windows. You can request for a Milgard windows guide brochure or schedule for a consultation with one of their experts for help in choosing the best Milgard windows for your home.

Step 3: Get in touch with your Milgard windows dealer for the product information and price as well as installation.

Step 4: Get multiple quotes from contractors to do the installation work. Some Milgard windows dealers also offer installation services. Hire a contractor who has strong recommendations and qualifications, and one you’re most comfortable with.

Step 5: Once you’ve agreed with the service terms, schedule the job. Also, seek advice from your installer about options that can add to your window’s energy efficiency, function, or visual appeal.

Step 7: Get your home ready. Prior to the start of the work, prepare your home for the project. Check with the installer how many days the installation will take, so you can plan accordingly. Expect an interruption in your routine and daily activities, especially if the windows to be replaced are in a busy room like the kitchen. Keep pets and children away from the area. Remove all fragile and valuable items from the work area as well as anything you may need to use while the job is on going.

Locate a Milgard Windows Installer

Contact TalkLocal for help in finding the service professional you need. We can match you with qualified contractors in your area in much less time than doing the search yourself. Imagine the time and effort you’ll save and we won’t charge you anything for it. Try TalkLocal now!

Tags: Milgard Windows
Posted in talklocal, Window Replacement | No Comments »

Taxi Hailing Etiquette

Wednesday, March 19th, 2014

If you want to be treated like a real lady/gentleman, then you must know how to hail a taxi like one. Yes, social conventions will follow you wherever you may go, so you might as well get used to it.

Keep reading to find out everything there is to know about taxi hailing etiquette and learn how to avoid unpleasant surprises and embarrassing situations.

Hail That Taxi Like You Mean It

Halfhearted attempts to stop a taxi won’t get you very far. On the contrary, they will confuse most drivers and make them ignore you, in favor of other potential clients who seem more determined than you do. So wave, whistle, dance, jump around, make eye contact, and let that driver know that you’re ready to go.

Make Sure You Know Where You’re Going

Nothing is more annoying than a puzzled passenger that forgot to ask for directions. Your time is precious, so use it wisely. Make sure you know the exact address before you get inside the cab. This is a great way to avoid misunderstandings and stressful situations.

Be Ready to Pay the Tab

Drivers hate clients who pull out their wallets after they reach their destination. Some of the most annoying passengers waste their time and play with their nerves by counting their pennies in the back seat for minutes in a row.

Who Sits Where?

Small children always sit in the back seat, where they can be properly supervised by grownups. Senior coworkers, clients, or special guests are always offered the best seat (the one that is closest to sidewalk). On the other hand, junior executives hail the cab, pay the bill, and tip the driver. If, for some reason or another, you have to ride up front, don’t forget to ask for the driver’s permission first.

Don’t Forget to Tip the Driver

The taxi hailing etiquette tells us that we should always tip the driver. He should receive up to 20% of the total value of your bill.

Find the Best Taxi Drivers in Your Area

Don’t want to put your taxi hailing tactics to the test? In this case, count on prompt services provided by dependable taxi drivers who are only one call away. Find them with Seva Call, your one and only connection to the best professionals in your area.

Tags: Taxi Hailing Etiquette
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Slow Release Plant Food

Wednesday, March 19th, 2014

We all want to have beautiful gardens with resplendent plants. And we all know that this requires an important ingredient in a plant’s life: the fertilizer, or the plant’s food.

Use Plant Food Intelligently

You should be very careful when buying your plants’ food. Fertilizers usually contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. That is why you will find three numbers on the package. In general, the quantities are equal. Sometimes fertilizers contain more nitrogen.

It always depends on your plants’ needs. Some plants may not need fertilizer at all. That is why you should know all the information related to your plants, in order to give them the food they need.

Slow release plant food is a convenient means of fertilizing your plants, which can allow even the busiest people to enjoy a beautiful natural environment.

What is Slow Release Plant Food?

Slow release plant food can save you time. They are fertilizers that can be released slowly in your plants’ daily meals, so you don’t need to feed them on a regular basis. For instance, if you apply this type of fertilizer once, your garden will be fed for up to three and even six months.

They are quality products, conceived with the help of professionals, bearing the necessary nutrients for your plants. They can help your plants grow twice or three times as big. Therefore, you can benefit from three major advantages if you choose to use slow release plant food:

– more time

– less concern and work

– big and beautiful plants

How to Use Slow Release Plant Food

These fertilizers should be applied directly into the container of the plants. You should apply them using a spoon or the shaker’s top provided for some of the products. They are designed for both outdoor and indoor plants, so you can use them freely for all your plants.

Need Help?

There is a great variety of slow release plant foods on the market, and you may find it difficult to pick up one. Or you may have questions regarding specific plants. Seva Call can assist you with this or any other landscaping needs. We can facilitate your contact with experts in the field; so that you can get the information you need or get going with your landscaping projects.

Tags: Slow Release Plant Food
Posted in Landscapers | No Comments »

Water Heaters: Choosing Electric over Gas

Wednesday, March 19th, 2014

If you’re looking to replace or install a new water heater, there are many energy efficient models in the market today. Too many, you might say. There are water heaters with tanks, water heaters without tanks, hybrid water heaters, water heaters that use gas, propane, solar energy, and of course, electricity.

If you narrow down your choices between two types of water heaters, electric models and gas models, what makes one better than the other?

How Electric Water Heaters Work

First of all, electric water heaters use heating elements to produce heat. These elements consist of a set of large, elongated coils contained inside the tanks, which are just like the ones you can see in an electric stove or oven. These coils, which are submerged in water, heat up to supply hot water to the home.

Disadvantages and Advantages

In general, gas water heaters are more efficient than water heaters that are electric. They typically heat faster compared to their electric counterparts and use up less energy in the process. Also, the cost of electricity is higher than the price of propane or natural gas.

On the other hand, electric water heaters require lower upfront costs. In other words, they are cheaper to buy even compared to the same size of gas heaters. Therefore, you should definitely consider buying an electric water heater instead of a gas model if your household has minimal need for hot water.

Another major advantage of electric water heaters over gas-fueled ones is in the aspect of installation. Water heaters that are electric are simply easier to install than gas-fueled types because of the fact that they do not need to be vented. This means it doesn’t matter if you don’t have roof vents or a chimney. Since electric water heaters don’t burn fuel and produce gas emissions, you can install them in an enclosed space, even a closet.

Unlike gas heaters, which would require you to install PVC pipes and vents in your roof, all you need to install with an electric water heater is a special outlet. The only thing you have to be careful about using them is exposing them to water (obviously, anything electric is dangerous when exposed to water.)

Installing a Water Heater in Your Home?

If you just purchased a water heater and need help with installation or maintenance, Seva Call can find the best people to do the job for you. Find local plumbers quickly. Contact us now!

Tags: water heaters electric
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Silk Bed Sheets: 6 Myths Debunked

Wednesday, March 19th, 2014

Silk bedding is popular for innumerable reasons. However, the growing competition in the organic bedding market has propelled a lot of fads to shape up with regard to silk bed sheets and other types of organic comforters.

Though, undoubtedly these beddings have many advantages, there are certain things that have been unnecessarily hyped about, and are nothing more than a rumor. Listed below are 6 myths about silk bed sheets that you must know:

6 Myths about Silk Bed Sheets

Myth #1: Silk is Slippery

The way silk is shown in advertisements, it appears and is assumed that silk is slippery. Now, while silk has less friction, it is not right to say that it slips easily. The sheets are soft and smooth. After all, there is a reason why you call them ‘silky’ not ‘slippery’.

Myth #2: Silk is Dry-clean ONLY

Another fad about silk bedding sets and bed sheets is that they must only be dry-cleaned. Good quality sheets made of silk can be washed in washing machines without any trouble. The important thing that you must pay heed to is that the detergent that you use should be silk-friendly. While they might lose some luster because of washing, they will become softer.

Myth #3:They Are All Same

Perhaps one of the biggest myths about silk bed sheets is that they are all the same, and there is no difference in their quality. What’s worth thinking about here is that if all the silk sheets are the same, then there should be no competition in the market, pushing innovation.

The fact is that there is a large variety of silk sheets and silk bedding sets available on the market. The differentiating point between different varieties comprises thread count, weight, and strength of the fabric.

Myth #4: They Are Too Expensive

Many people have the notion that silk comforters and silk sheets are priced extremely high. Many of these people are those who have never actually purchased a silk sheet for themselves. Silk and other organic bedding is priced very reasonably, given the amount of vantages that they have on your life style.

Myth #5: It’s Not Completely Organic

Many people think that silk is chemically processed and is not 100% organic. As long as you purchase silk sheets from a retailer who sells them under ‘100% organic’ tag then there is nothing to worry about. The only way a silk sheet will not be purely organic is when it is bleached.

Myth #6: They Are Recent

Silk sheets are not a recent invention, although of late there have been a lot of innovations introduced. Silk has been cultivated for the last 5,000 years, and has been used to manufacture a number of items. However, in earlier times, silk was expensive.

Need to Clean or Repair Silk?

Above are listed only a few out of the many myths that spin around silk and silk bedding. Reading in detail about organic silk pillows and sheets will give you a better idea of the facts. Thereafter, you will have no trouble in figuring out the benefits of silk sheets and bedding. Have your silk properly cleaned and maintained by a reputable tailor. Seva Call will connect you with up to three in a matter of minutes. Try Seva Call today!

Tags: bedding, silk sheets, thread count
Posted in Tailors | No Comments »

Why Use Latex House Paint

Wednesday, March 19th, 2014

More than 70% of the paint that is available on the market today is the latex type of paint, which is also known as water-based paint, since most of its liquid component is water. A majority of do-it-yourself enthusiasts use latex house paint for their home improvement projects for both interior and exterior paint applications and for good reason. Here’s why:

Qualities of Latex House Paint

Latex paints are preferred by many professional painters and do-it-yourselfers primarily because they are so easy to clean up, requiring only water and regular soap. More than this, latex paints also offer many advantages performance-wise.

For one, high-quality latex house paint is more durable than oil-based paint when it comes to retaining color and resisting chalking. This means a house painted with latex house paint would look good for longer than one painted with oil-based paint.

Also, latex paints do not have the tendency to become brittle, unlike oil paints, so these paints will not crack easily.

Latex paints of high quality that have binders of 100% acrylic are particularly long lasting and flexible. They are known to adhere incredibly well to various outdoor surfaces, so there is less likelihood of painting problems, like flaking, peeling, or blistering. Using latex house paint for your home project will save you time, since it dries much quicker than oil-based paint. With its fast drying time, it’s possible to apply the second coat on the same day.

Features of Latex House Paint:

– More elastic than oil-based paint so it adheres well to most surfaces and can be applied on concrete, wood, brick, stucco, galvanized metal, aluminum and vinyl siding, and others

– Excellent chalk- and fade-resistance, even with bright sun exposure

– Allows smooth and even application with minimal paintbrush drag

– Not susceptible to mildew growth

– Minimal odor

– Easy cleanup with water

– Quick-drying in as short as one hour, up to six hours

Do You Need Help with a Painting Job?

Whether you’ve got a small or big painting job or you need expert painter hands, turn to TalkLocal to find you the best painters in town. We offer a free service that will connect you with up to three, qualified local painters, so all you have to do is to choose the best person for the job. Save time searching for a reputable painter. Use TalkLocal now!

Tags: Latex House Paint
Posted in Painters, talklocal | No Comments »

Is Your Windows 8 DVD Drive Not Recognized?

Tuesday, March 18th, 2014

It can be really frustrating when your computer fails to detect your existing hardware and you’re quite sure you have the device installed. With Windows 8 users, unfortunately, the Windows 8 DVD Drive not being recognized is a common issue, but no one really knows what’s causing it.

Is Your Windows 8 DVD Drive Not Recognized?

If you just upgraded your laptop or desktop’s operating system to Windows 8 from Windows 7 and you’re getting the message “Windows 8 DVD Drive is not recognized,” don’t bring your computer to a repair store just yet. Here are some steps to fix the problem and make your system detect your optical drive so you can start using it again.

Modify Registry Editor – Method 1

1. Launch the registry editor by typing “regedit” in the RUN dialog box of your computer.

2. Then, locate the following key: {4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}. It should be under the Control\Class key.

3. Next, look at the pane at the right side of the screen and remove two keys: UpperFilters and LowerFilters.

4. Restart your computer. It should now be able to detect your DVD drive.

Modify Registry Editor – Method 2

If the above-mentioned method fails to work for you or the two keys you need to remove are also missing in the Registry, then try the following:

1. Still in the Registry, go to the \Services\atapi\ key and create a new key (Controller0) under it.

2. Locate this newly created key, in the right-side panel on the screen, create a new DWORD, and call it EnumDevice1. Set the value of this DWORD to 1.

3. Exit the Registry and reboot your computer to check if your DVD drive is now recognized.

Another option you can try if this method doesn’t solve the problem is to type the DWORD in the Registry from the Command Prompt with all administrator rights.

Warning

It is highly recommended to make a backup of your system registry before making any changes or edits to it. If you’re new to working with registries, it is also best to have a basic understanding of it first before attempting the fixes above.

Let a Pro Take Care of the Problem

If you’re not comfortable touching the registry or you’re still having problems with the Windows 8 DVD Drive not being recognized even after doing the methods above, you’re making the smartest decision by calling in a qualified computer technician. Talklocal can connect you to local, reputable technicians in the quickest time possible. Contact us now!

Tags: Windows 8 DVD Drive is Not Recognized
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Flood-Proof Home: How to Protect Your Garage

Tuesday, March 18th, 2014

Floods are something many of us would rather not think about, but this doesn’t mean they aren’t likely to happen, against our best hopes. The best we can do in case of natural calamities is to be prepared. A flood-proof home will save you time, money, and will help you avoid stress and frustration. Your garage is part of your home, and you should protect it as well.

Here are some basic measures to flood proof your home and protect your garage.

1. Use flood damage-resistant materials, such as fiber cement.

2. Get insurance coverage.

3. Install a flood shield.

What Should You Do?

Using these basic measures, you will minimize the damage that can be caused by a flood. However, if such an event has occurred, first you need to evacuate the water from your garage or shed, following several simple steps:

– Establish if the water your garage has been flooded with is fresh or if it comes from rainfall or sewage.

– Remove all the things that you can reach without entering the water, if this is possible.

– Remove the water itself, using a bucket or a mop, depending on the amount of it.

– Dry the area and clean it.

It is important that you take action rapidly, even if you choose to turn to the expertise of professionals. Water infiltrates into things and some of them may not be saved unless you act quickly, especially if the shed is in question. Sheds are usually made of wood, which is more vulnerable to water than other materials.

If You Need Professional Help

There are situations in which it is very difficult to evaluate the damage and to do the repairing work on your own. Don’t hesitate to look for contractors who are in a position to tell what needs to be done and have the ability to solve these problems. They can also give you all the tips for a flood-proof home. If you don’t think you can deal with the damage by yourself, Seva Call can help you contact professionals who will clean the mess and eliminate any risks in no time.

Tags: Flood-Proof Home
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Stanley Steamer Carpet Cleaner

Tuesday, March 18th, 2014

Sometimes, carpets placed in high-traffic areas get extremely dirty. Most old stains are very difficult to remove; plus the DIY carpet cleaning process itself is very time- and energy-consuming. For this reason, most families choose to rely on professional cleaning services provided by Stanley Steamer Carpet Cleaner.

What Makes Stanley Steamer Carpet Cleaner So Special?

Wondering why Stanley Steamer Carpet Clear is much appreciated for its services? There are a number of reasons why numerous people choose to put their services to the test.

1) It is one of the largest, most popular carpet cleaning companies in the U.S.

2) It provides quality services that come with a 100% client satisfaction guarantee.

3) It uses premium equipment that is manufactured by the company’s hired specialists.

4) It is open 24/7 and ensures excellent services around the clock.

5) It employs only skilled, well-trained technicians who are permanently screened.

Clean Your Carpets the Easy Way

Stanley Steamer Carpet Cleaner uses its “magic wand” to make dirt particles disappear. In other words, the company relies on a completely safe cleaning method that eliminates all kinds of impurities and stains in a highly effective manner without putting your delicate materials at risk.

Moreover, it guarantees up to 95% shorter drying time, compared to the one triggered by standard carpet cleaning services. Stanley Steamer Carpet Cleaner also removes moisture from your carpets by relying on suction techniques.

Ask an Expert

Want to keep your carpets in excellent condition without lifting a finger? In this case, compare and rate some of the most convenient carpet cleaning services in your area. Use TalkLocal to identify respectable carpet cleaning pros in your area with just a few clicks. The process is simple, time-effective, and will enable you to simplify all your daily assignments.

Tags: Stanley Steamer Carpet Cleaner
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Finding a Used Snow Blower Attachment

Tuesday, March 18th, 2014

Buying a used snow blower attachment can be a practical consumer decision if you’re fortunate enough to find yourself something that is still in fairly good condition with only minimal cleanup or tuning up required to be functional.

Where to Look

There are several avenues to find a used snow blower attachment. You can start looking at the classified ads section of local newspapers, as these machines are usually sold any time of the year due to moving or estate sales. Online sites for classified ads such as Craigslist or online auction sites like eBay are also great places to search for a used snow blower attachment from private individual sellers.

When shopping for used components, however, the best thing to always do is to go to a source you trust, such as a local retailer of snow blowers and similar machines. You can also ask people you know if they or someone they know happens to be selling a used snow blower attachment. If you can find such a deal, it would lower your total cost, since you can simply pick up the machine instead of paying shipping charges.

Buying Tips

– You would want to look for a snow blower attachment that has only been slightly used. A demo unit would be ideal.

– When shopping online, if you come upon a certain model that seems like a good product, make sure to do your homework first. Find out more information about the model and read online ratings and reviews.

– If you can avoid it, it’s better not to buy from a faraway seller to avoid costly shipping fees and allow you to inspect the unit before making the purchase.

– Spring and summer months are the perfect time to buy a used snow blower attachment when people are ready to sell their equipment after the snow season, and you can negotiate the price since there’s little demand for the unit around this time.

Help is at Hand

Facing snow removal problems? Contact Seva Call now and we’ll help you locate a professional to help with removing snow from your property. Be connected with up to three local snow removal professionals in just minutes.

Tags: Used Snow Blower Attachment
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