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  • These Window Treatments Help Keep Your Home at the Perfect Temperature

    These Window Treatments Help Keep Your Home at the Perfect Temperature

    Everyone is struggling with energy cost and keeping their home at the ideal temperature. We have upgraded the AC, got thermo smart-filters, and added a Nest thermostat, but what else needs to be done?  The next step is to reduce the energy loss through the windows. The Department of Energy says “about 30% of a home’s heating energy is lost through windows. In cooling seasons, about 76% of the sunlight that falls on standard double-pane windows enters to become heat.” That’s a lot of temperature fluctuation.

    In reality, any type of window treatments will result in energy savings. That’s not quite good enough for us here at goodfind.guru, we want the exact savings. Getting a better idea of the numbers depends on how the attachment is used,  the type of attachment, the season, and of course the climate. Let’s talk about blinds and custom window treatments to help improve your energy use.

    Windows are great and terrible for energy loss in your home. They are terrific in gabbing the suns heat for warmth, but a terrible waste of leaking cooled air, Naturally as you would think, that hurts your energy bill. Windows can increase your energy consumption by up to 20 percent due to the cool or warm air loss. Unacceptable! How do we control this? Let’s take a look at some great options.

    Cellular Shades

    Cellular shades fill a need for window coverings that would reduce consumers’ energy use at a reasonable price.  They started to pop up after the energy crisis of the 70s. They use a  honeycomb shaped cells to trap air. This allows the cellular shades to add a layer of insulation. You will want to use double shades rather than a single for better results. They do have without a doubt,  the highest efficiency value of all window treatments.

    This makes them the best choices for energy efficient window treatments. You will want to use the top-down bottom-up style. This will allow for maximum light control and thermal efficiency. They do this by allowing you to control the amount of sunshine that comes in throughout the day. While the energy savings are terrific, they are an elegant and classic design. So even though they are at a low cost and provide the best thermal results, they still look amazing. Can’t go wrong here.

     Shutters

    Now onto the shutters.  Shutters are installed tightly to the window itself. This results in less of a gap, which adds to their thermal efficiency.  Louvered adjustable panels, with a great custom fitting, are a great way to prevent cooled inside air from escaping to the outside. Shutters in the winter will create a seal to keep your warm air in. This will save you in both the winter and hotter months energy bills.

    Closing your shutters during the summer will block sunlight.  Creating a barrier against the intrusion of that warm, moist and sultry summer air. Plus they look fantastic. Enhancing the aesthetics of your home with a classic and wonderful style. If you are looking for a great way to improve the value of your home, control the outside light, fabulous insulators that will save on your energy bill, as well as look fabulous, just get shutters.

    Its Getting Hot in Here, So Install Solar Shades

    For those of us below the deep south, we need to talk about solar shades. Solar Shades utilize an opaque material that allows you an outside view while still creating an energy efficient barrier against UV rays. With an array of transparencies, even a glorious blackout option, there is a great look for every room in your house. Here in Florida, you will want to install them to the exterior of your home to block UV rays before they penetrate inside.

    Don’t worry about a lack of privacy if you go with solar shades either, they can still give you total privacy from the outside in while giving you a full view from the inside out.

    Onto Window Film

    A great way to save your energy is to add sheets of self-adhering plastic that are applied directly to window glass, like window tint. This is called window film, You can use window film to add decorative touches. Create nice and stunning looks like cracked glass or my favorite,  stained glass windows. Or go hardcore with a dark tint, specifically to block heat transfer and solar gain.

    Energy-efficiency tax credits may even come in to play. You can also get a mirrored look for an additional privacy layer. The best part about window film is they can be used in conjunction with any or all of the above-mentioned window treatments.

  • Combat Menstrual Pain without Medication

    Combat Menstrual Pain without Medication

    Menstrual pain can be downright awful for some people. Studies have found that more than ninety percent of women suffer from menstrual pain, and of them, around forty percent describe their menstrual pain as being detrimental to their daily activities.

    These pains can surface as cramps that make it hard to concentrate or stabbing lower back pain.

    Many women experiencing this pain opt to use medicine to try to combat it, though they often find over-the-counter medication isn’t very effective. There are some new technologies that will help you fight the pain without medication, though!

    Combat Menstrual Pain without Medication

    The Old Way

    When cramps and stabbing back pain start to set in, many women go for over-the-counter NSAIDs, though studies have shown these are little help for menstrual pain. That’s because many women create a chemical called prostaglandin during their periods. This chemical is what sends the signal to your body to cramp, and overproduction of it is what leads to the extreme cramps of menstrual pain. While NSAIDs slow prostaglandin production, they don’t stop it.

    What’s more, though NSAIDs have little effect on menstrual pain, they can cause worse problems than they solve. Use of over-the-counter pain meds can lead to stomach issues like diarrhea and constipation. If you’re experiencing these issues, it may not be your period causing them! Other problems with these over-the-counter medications could include the development of ulcers, and they could even increase your risk of kidney or heart failure.

    The New Way

    If suffering through with ineffective pain meds was the old way, what’s the new way? Thankfully, new breakthroughs in technology may be able to help ease menstrual pain. Nerve stimulation technology is a new breakthrough that has been showing promising results in clinical tests. Officially known as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulations, or TENS, the process involves the use of electrical currents to send signals to your nerves that will, in turn, ease your menstrual pain.

    Using a TENS device is pretty straightforward. You attach a few electrodes to your body, wherever you’re feeling the worst pain. These electrodes then receive a very slight electrical signal from a machine. You don’t feel much of the electrical pulses, as they are so slight as to be very hard to notice. They do, however, prevent your nerve receptors from sending pain signals to your central nervous system.

    This means that TENS devices don’t stop your pain by addressing the symptoms. You’ll still be having your period, your body will still be cramping and producing large amounts of prostaglandin. However, you simply won’t feel the effects of these functions thanks to the signals from the TENS device.

    Results

    Researchers at many universities have found promising results with TENS therapy for use with women experiencing extreme menstrual pain. Many studies showed patients immediately reporting relief from their painful menstrual symptoms. TENS is an ideal procedure for addressing these problems, as it is both noninvasive and safe. It doesn’t require the patient to take any medication that could have harmful side effects and it doesn’t prevent the patient’s body from undergoing normal menstrual activity. All it does is block the pain signals being sent by the patient’s nerves.

    While there are a few adverse effects that could occur if a TENS unit is improperly used, proper use has, thus far, showed no danger for women experiencing menstrual pain. This is a great solution for some people who experience intense menstrual pain but don’t want to take medicines that might not even help them feel better.

    Types of Units

    There are many different varieties of TENS units available for home use. Research into specific units can be quite detailed, though there are a few basic varieties. For example, some of the earlier units, and some of the stronger units are home-only. These units tend to be larger and can’t be taken out of the home with you, as they are only for use indoors.

    Other examples include travel units that are smaller and can be packed up to travel with you. These types of TENS units tend to be less expensive, though they might not offer the same power as a home unit. They would be ideal for someone who travels often, such as on business trips or often goes on vacations. These can be easily slipped into a bag or purse!

    Finally, there are even wearable TENS units that can attach to your body under your clothes to give you relief throughout the day. These types of units are often even made with menstrual pain in mind!

  • New to Dating Apps? Here Are Some Tips to get You Started

    New to Dating Apps? Here Are Some Tips to get You Started

    Online dating has been around for a few years now, but that doesn’t mean that everyone is a master at it. There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to this stuff! Learning how to make the most of your profile and maximize your matches is hard. If you’re looking for some tips for getting matches on dating apps, look no further. Today we’re going to walk you through some of the best tips for getting started meeting new people through dating apps.

    Tips for Getting Started with Dating Apps

    The Basics

    When it comes to dating apps, the most important thing to remember is that you need to be honest with people online. Don’t lie about your age or post a picture of yourself from a decade ago. You need to make sure you’re giving an honest look at who you are in your profile. Maybe you’re afraid that people won’t be attracted to you, but don’t start your relationships off on a lie. Nothing is a bigger red flag when meeting someone in person than their profile picture not matching what they look like in real life.

    Take a Good Profile Picture

    That said, your profile picture is also very important. It’s the first thing people see when they click on your profile, and first impressions are important. Make sure your profile picture has good lighting, you’re clean and look happy in it, and it’s taken from a good angle.

    Here are a few tips: try taking a profile picture in natural light and holding the camera at a higher angle. High angles make you look more approachable, thinner and more optimistic. Low angles, by contrast, can make you look arrogant, heavier or even less positive. Try to avoid them!

    There’s nothing wrong with your profile picture being tailored to show the best version of you. Just make sure it’s not overly-doctored to the point of being inaccurate. Authenticity is very important!

    Show What You’re About

    Don’t skip that bio section! People are going to want to know what kinds of things you’re into. Are you a huge gaming nerd who spends a lot of time playing retro video games? Awesome, put that in your bio! Do you love hiking, skydiving and going to the beach? Cool! Add that to your bio. Are you a bookworm who loves getting lost in a good tale? You can guess where you should be recording that info.

    If people are attracted to your initial profile picture, they’re going to want to lean more. Keep it short and sweet, and don’t go on forever. Put a list of your interests and a brief summary of what you’re about. Maybe mention what you do for a living and what kind of partner you’re looking for. If you’re looking for something serious and long-term, say that. If you want more casual relationships, be up front about that in your bio. Again, honesty goes a long way towards saving you headaches down the road.

    Keep Using the App (or Apps)

    No matter what dating app you’re using, don’t be ashamed to use it daily. Check for your matches, browse profiles, and just generally give it some screen time. It might feel weird to be this compulsive about an app (and trust us, we hate smartphone addiction as much as you do) but in this case there’s a reason for it.

    Your dating apps are using algorithms to prioritize your profile. If you don’t log in very often then it’s likely your profile isn’t near the top of most people’s lists. It’s harder to get matches when you’re not showing up for anyone! Remedy this by logging in and using the app regularly so the algorithm sorts you higher in the profile order. This allows you to stay relevant and have your profile grace more people’s screens.

    Mix it Up

    Don’t be afraid to mix it up and use more than one app. Maybe you first installed Tinder but you’re not having a lot of luck with it. Consider installing a few other dating apps, too! There’s nothing wrong with using two or three apps at once. By doing so you’ll not only increase your chances of meeting someone you’ll connect with, you also diversify who you’re seeing. And who’s seeing you, too!

    Don’t worry if you’re not seeing immediate results. There are millions of people out there. All you need to do is relax, take it easy and keep your confidence high. You’re awesome, and you’re going to meet someone great.

  • Lighting and Paint Tricks to Make Your House Look Bigger

    Lighting and Paint Tricks to Make Your House Look Bigger

    When I was a kid I had dreams of playing center field for the Yankees or starting my own internet company. Now that I’m an adult homeowner, I just want a lush green looking yard and to walk into my big, well lit, well-painted home. I guess it’s all about perspective. I mean a well-lit living room,  matched with the right paint colors,  can make your room look so much bigger, inviting, and warm, while totally evolving the feng shui.

    That first step into your own home is important. You want it to completely welcome you home and put you at total ease. To tell you the truth I haven’t decided whether I want that initial reaction to being that of a warm cozy home,  or big open and spacious home. Luckily both of this can be achieved with the right paint and the right lighting. Yes, it’s very true different paint colors and styles can have completely different effects on your rooms.

    The right lighting and paint can set the tone for the rest of your house. You can manipulate this tone at your will based on your color choices. Let’s take a deeper look into how paint colors and lighting can change the feel of the room and the tone of your home.

    Two Main Choices, Light or Dark

    Just like McSorley’s on 2nd ave, there are only two choices. Light or dark. The light will make your eye travel continuously around the room.  This gives the effect of making the room appear more spacious and open. The color of a lighter room tends to recede, giving a cooler vibe. You want to use light colors to create a feeling of openness in a room and make it feel more expansive.

    This is great for small apartments or tight bedrooms. Light colors will bounce whatever light is available in the space, which can help if you don’t have great natural light. We will get to more on lighting in a bit.

    When you decide to go from a dark color to light you will need to prime the wall with a white primer first. This is important, don’t skip this. Pick your colors carefully, know how they will react to their surroundings, i.e. white absorbs no light, just reflects. Whereas blues absorb red lights. When selecting your light colors, remember different colors will draw the eye to the separation and will stop where the colors change.

    If you use one color the eye keeps moving from room to room and judges the space as being larger than it is. I would recommend this for a smaller home.  If you are getting a claustrophobic feeling from your room try painting the ceiling a lighter color then the walls. This will make the ceiling look like it has been elevated and larger.

    The dark paints create a cozier and warmer feel but makes the room feel smaller in doing so. If your house is set up to walk into a big open space, using dark colored paints is a great way to make it feel more comfortable. For a great effect try painting the ceiling a darker color than the walls to make it appear lower.

    I deeply enjoy the look of dark colored walls with a nice bright white trim. The contrast establish a border and boundary that the eye picks up immediately. It’s like it adds a sense of order to the room, but you can extend the trim to other rooms. This will give the effect of a continuous space, with both the coziness and the openness at the same time.

    Don’t Be Afraid of Change

    It’s best to play around with the coloring and change it every so often. I like to change mine for the holiday seasons, adding light colors to the open spaces with some deep reds as a contrast walls. It makes my holiday decorations pop. Speaking of contrast walls, let’s talk about their purpose in small narrow rooms.

    If you paint both end walls of a narrow room darker than the other walls, the end walls feel closer to you. It will make the room appear more of a square shape. In a bigger room, a nice look is to divide the walls with a lighter color on top and a darker color on the bottom.

    Lighting

    Now onto lighting, everything can affect the lighting. Lighting also affects eveything. Let’s start with your room placement. A north facing room will appear cooler and bluish. If your room is south facing dark colors will look brighter; lighter colors will virtually glow.

    To the east is great for reds and yellows, your colors will look warm and yellowy before noon, then turn bluer later in the day. West facing you will want to go with something bold, the morning light makes the colors look dull, however they are stunning in the evening light.

  • The Pain you Feel Could be Peripheral Neuropathy

    The Pain you Feel Could be Peripheral Neuropathy

    If you feel strange pain in your extremities, such as in your hand or feet, you might be feeling peripheral neuropathy. Neuropathy is the result of damage to nerves and can cause numbness and aches in your body, typically in your hands and your feet. Commonly caused by diabetes mellitus, inherited genetics and infections, peripheral neuropathy damages nerves that are trying to send signals to your central nervous system. It’s possible that the pains you’re feeling in your extremities that neuropathy is to blame for it!

    You Could be Suffering from Peripheral Neuropathy

    Overview

    Generally the pain is described as being a tingling, burning or stabbing sensation depending upon the intensity. There are some medications that can ease the pain, and many patients report that the pain lessens over time when treated. The disease is inherently degenerative: nerve endings that die send complex signals that are interpreted as pain before numbness sets in in their absence. This sensation is highly uncomfortable and can make it difficult to walk or type, depending on which extremities are affected.

    The symptoms of this condition include weakness, numbness, stabbing pains and difficulty executing motor tasks. These reasons are generally brought on due to the types of nerves that are affected.

    Common Symptoms

    Commonly, the type of nerve affected will dictate the type of symptoms you see with regards to neuropathy. Sensory nerves, motor nerves and autonomic nerves all serve different functions in the body. Sensory nerves are the ones you know the best, and they’re the ones that allow you to feel things. Motor nerves are the nerves present in your muscles that allow you to move and manipulate your environment. Autonomic nerves are nerves that control the automatic functions of your body such as your digestion, bladder, heart rate and other such functions.

    If you feel numbness, tingling and prickling and jabbing pains, your sensory nerves may be affected by neuropathy. This often also leads to lack of balance, lessened coordination and difficulty walking or using one’s hands. If your motor nerves are affected, it could result in muscle weakness and even paralysis. The lack of motor nerves in a muscle would make it more difficult, or even impossible, to send signals from your central nervous system to your muscles.

    If your autonomic nerves are being affected the condition could include problems with digestion or your bladder, or even issues with your bowels. Intolerance to heat is another common symptom. Blood pressure changes can occur, causing sudden dizziness and issues with circulation.

    Common Causes

    Peripheral neuropathy isn’t a condition that occurs in and of itself typically. Normally the condition occurs as a result of an outside factor. Commonly, these factors can be controlled or treated and allow a chance to fight the neuropathy. Examples of common causes include alcoholism, which can cause lasting nerve damage, and diabetes. Diabetes, in particular, is one of the biggest causes of neuropathy. In fact, around half of all people with diabetes develop some form of neuropathy.

    Less common causes that people encounter include poisons, such as heavy metals, toxic substances an the like that can cause nerve damage. Another example is through an injury that causes the nerves to become damaged.

    Commonly, injuries sustained during car accidents, while playing sports or from falls can damage nerves and cause neuropathy. Certain deficiencies can also lead to neuropathy, such as vitamin B-1, B-6 and B-12 deficiencies. Other causes could be genetic disorders, infections, tumors, and even bone marrow disorders.

    Risks and Complications

    If you have risk factors that could lead to the development of neuropathy, such as genetic predisposition, exposure to toxins or recent injuries, speak with your doctor. If you have neuropathy, you will likely not notice when you sustain injuries to your extremities. As such, it’s very important that you check them often. If your hand is being burned, or if you have stepped on a nail, your body being numb won’t alert you to that.

    Additionally, those with neuropathy in their feet have difficulty walking. Uneven ground, loose soil and unstable footing all pose serious fall risks for those with neuropathy.

    When to See a Doctor

    If you think your pain or numbness is related to neuropathy, don’t hesitate to visit a doctor. You don’t want to take chances when it comes to your health! Visit your physician and talk to them about what you’re experiencing. They might be able to treat your pain. The sooner you start combating neuropathy the better, so don’t be afraid to try to get help right away!

  • How to Choose the Right Trailer for Your Move

    How to Choose the Right Trailer for Your Move

    Americans move around a ton. It’s just what we do! In fact, each year, about 11 percent of the population will move from one home to another. On average, Americans live in around 10 homes in their lifetimes. So, if you’re moving, you’re far from alone! If you’re moving, though, you’re likely looking into renting a trailer to carry all of your things. How should you choose the right one for your move? Today we’ll help you answer that question with this quick breakdown!

    How to Choose the Right Trailer for Your Move

    Should You Rent or Buy?

    The first question you need to ask when you’re thinking about moving is whether you want to rent or buy a trailer. You’ll need something to carry all of your things in, but buying a trailer outright might be expensive. On the one hand, owning a trailer is a great way to keep this expense from repeating in the future. After all, odds are good you’ll need to move something again soon before you move. And then, when you move again, as you likely will, you’ll want to have a trailer on hand. If you bought one the last time you moved, you’re covered!

    On the other hand, though, buying a trailer might be an expense you can’t swing during the move. Maybe you don’t haul things often enough to merit simply buying one, and you’d rather save money by just renting. After all, buying can cost between $4,000 and $20,000 depending on what kind of trailer you’re looking at! There are also registration fees, taxes and inspections you’ll have to pay for on top of that. Owning can be expensive!

    Picking the Right Trailer

    There are a number of trailers you can choose from when you go to move. Four of the main ones you’ll see are flatbeds, cargo trailers, freight trailers and equipment trailers. We’ll briefly go over each so you can decide which one is right for your move!

    Flatbed

    Flatbed trailers are ideal for transporting a vehicle. If you’re moving a long distance and need to move a vehicle with you, a flatbed car-hauling trailer is the right call for your move. These are tilted to allow your vehicle to drive up onto them. Once on, you’ll secure your vehicle with straps so that it doesn’t go anywhere. Some of these trailers will have your vehicle’s back wheels stay on the pavement and roll behind the trailer, while others will have the vehicle sit completely on the trailer.

    Cargo

    Cargo trailers are common and come in a number of shapes and sizes. Typically people moving large amounts of furniture will go with enclosed cargo trailers. Enclosed trailers are the kind you would normally see rented through companies like U-Haul. They can be hitched to the back of a truck or SUV and have roll-up doors and enclosures. The enclosed design of these trailers helps to keep your belongings safe from blowing away, being rained on or being stolen. You can even use a padlock to lock up the trailer door so it can be left somewhere without you worrying about your belongings being stolen.

    Typically these are the type of trailer that people will get when they go to move. However, they’re not always the exact trailer you need!

    Equipment Trailer

    Equipment trailers are flatbed-style trailers that are ideal for cross-town moves. These are side-rail trailers that are open and allow you to load your belongings quickly and easily. If you’ve got a smaller amount of belongings and only plan to move a short way, these can be good budget alternatives to cargo trailers. You will, however, have to tie down your belongings. Additionally, these trailers are less than ideal in rainy conditions, and shouldn’t be left anywhere overnight, as your belongings aren’t protected from the elements.

    Freight Trailer

    If you possess a large number of belongings, then a freight trailer might be ideal. Those without commercial trucking licenses will need to hire truckers to move these types of trailers for them, as they are quite large. However, for people who have very large or numerous belongings and plan to move a good distance, these types of trailers are ideal.

    Another variety of freight trailer is the moving truck, which is commonly rented from companies like U-Haul. These are a bit of a happy medium between cargo trailers and semi-truck sized freight trailers. If you’re moving a long way but don’t have a huge number of possessions, these types of moving trucks are ideal.

  • Best Sites to Find Free Audiobooks

    Best Sites to Find Free Audiobooks

    Audiobooks are a great way to focus on reading without having to set aside time for just sitting still. A lot of people have such busy schedules that audiobooks are the best way for them to take in literature. After all, you can listen to an audiobook while jogging, while working, even in the car while on the way to work and back. This makes audiobooks a valuable asset in a busy schedule! However, they can be more expensive than old-fashioned books. Here are some of the best sites to find free or inexpensive audiobooks so you don’t break the bank!

    Best Sites to Find Free Audiobooks

    OverDrive

    OverDrive is an audiobook site that works in concert with local libraries to offer free books to library card holders. If you have a local library card then you can download free audiobooks from OverDrive. They offer apps through Android and iTunes, as well as Windows phones. They also have a desktop site, of course, that you can download MP3s through to upload to any device you would like.

    OverDrive is a great choice for lovers of the local library. If your library has an audiobook you’d like to listen to, odds are good that it’s being hosted on OverDrive. Libraries are a great public resource, and OverDrive does a great job of extending their reach beyond just the walls of the building itself. They offer a great selection of newer books and classics alike.

    The search function is easy and fast, and you can quickly navigate books by authors, genres, series and more. If you’re looking to quickly fill up your device with audiobooks, OverDrive is a great way to start doing just that. If you’ve already got a library card, you’re ready to go!

    LibriVox

    Literature is as old as civilization itself. As such, it’s no surprise that more works are in the public domain than there are works that aren’t. LibriVox is a site that hosts free audiobooks of works that are in the public domain.

    An interesting aspect of LibriVox is that the narrators are all volunteers. As such, the quality of the reading can change dramatically based on the volunteer. Some volunteers are excellent actors with impeccable readings full of life and emotion. Others are more robotic, simply reading the words from the page in a constant string. Some narrators may have difficult-to-understand accents, while others might be on par with most premium paid audiobooks.

    Many books have multiple readings available, and there are several languages available to choose from. If the audiobooks you want to hear are in the public domain, LibriVox is a great place to look for free audiobooks. After all, you can’t beat free!

    Open Culture

    Open Culture is an educational site that is completely free for all users. They host a number of classic works of literature, and their site also hosts a number of educational courses, textbooks and films. If you’re looking to learn more about a subject and dig more deeply into it, consider Open Culture a resource worth digging into! The site even offers 900 free audiobook downloads.

    Open Culture doesn’t offer the most robust selection of newer books, however. It also doesn’t support a wide variety of audiobook formats, so it might be more difficult getting their audiobooks to work on all of your devices. However, they do link to both iTunes and Spotify, which streamlines the process immensely.

    While the site is totally free, donations are appreciated. If you’re looking for a great educational site that hosts countless classic works of literature, Open Culture is a great choice for you.

    Scribl

    Scribl is a service that is more akin to a podcast service than a traditional audiobook site. The service is great for people who like smaller, more easily digested audio, much like podcasts. If you often go on jogs or have short bursts of time you like to listen in, Scribl is a great way to go. The audiobooks on Scribl can be broken down into smaller files and taken in one bite at a time.

    Additionally, Scribl has more new releases than most free sites. There are some paid books on the site, though, for brand-new or high-profile releases. However, when you buy an audiobook on Scribl, you also get access to the e-book version! This allows you to read up on your favorite books even when you don’t have your headphones available, or if you just like to follow along with the narration when you can.

  • Helpful Tips For Garage Door Repair

    Helpful Tips For Garage Door Repair

    The garage door in your home is the portal to your personal and real life living space. What happens when it breaks? Time for a DIY project.  There are two main components of a garage door, the opener and the door.  While styles vary, the overall idea of a garage door is the same. Let’s start by talking about the door. 

    There are many types of garage doors, roll up in sections, one piece that swings up, large French door style, or my favorite the barn door style roll open. They all work pretty much the same way, the door moves on a metal track inside the garage.

    The power is supplied by a heavy spring or multiple springs. It’s a fairly simple process so most repairs are fairly easy to do. Let’s take a look at 5 basic repair tips for your garage door.

    Check the Metal Tracks

    First thing to check if your garage door isn’t opening is the metal tracks inside. This is the most likely place for an issue and one of the easiest to fix. Start with making sure the track is clear of any obstruction or debris. Next look at the mounting brackets, secure any nuts or bolts, if the track is not secured tightly or has any slack in its movement. If all that checks out, let’s move to the track itself.

    Let’s now look at the garage door track for any dents, damages, or crimps. If any are spotted you will want to hammer them out. A rubber hammer or mallet is usually best for pounding out damaged metal. Lastly if the damage is extensive, replace the track.  Again this is a fairly easy and inexpensive DIY problem you can fix. Now is also the time to check those rollers along the edge of the garage door.

    These should be inspected at least twice a year and replaced every 5 to 7 years. During your inspection, replace any rollers you find that are chipped, cracked, or obviously worn. With the exception for the bottom rollers that may be attached to cables, the other rollers can be easily removed and replaced just by removing the brackets holding them.

    Leveling up

    If step one didn’t solve the problem, the issue may be that the track isn’t level. Making sure the track is level is key for your garage door to operate efficiently with gravity. If you have horizontal tracks, they should slant slightly downward. On vertical track doors the tracks should be dead even. Use a level to check their status.

    You can loosen the bolts and use your rubber mallet to bang them back in to place if need be. Do not remove the bolts entirely just loosen, adjust, re-tighten.

    Spring Into Action

    All fixed?  No!  Well then it is time to check the springs. Odds are you know what failing springs look like already. Do a quick inspection, then check the alignment. If the springs are off the garage door itself will be uneven. Unfortunately spring replacement is not a DIY project..

    For this you need to call a guy.  Remember these springs hold a great deal of weight and are under extreme pressure and tension, there is a real risk to replacing. 

    Grease the Chain

    So we have checked the photo eye to make sure nothing is blocking the door, the tracks, the springs, the rollers and ensured the power source is not disrupted. Now we need to inspect the chain and the switch that bypass the springs in the event of a power outage.

    That switch lets you manually open the door should the need arise.  An issue with the chain is a very unlikely source of the problem but costly if it is the issue. Inspect, if you find an issue or kink, again time to call the guy.  

    Upgrade To a Smart Garage

    Like everything else these days, smart automation for your garage door is right at your fingertips.  With a smart device that is Alexa compatible you can make your garage door open with simple voice commands.. oh glorious day! 

    The Garadget adds voice control and remote access to your existing garage door.  For less than $100 you can add the Garadget to your existing line up of alexa enabled smart home devices. This will give you simple voice command and remote access capability. I do like this device and smart garage option.

    I would love it if I could add it to my smart home routines. Having my garage door open and close at designated times would be Jetsons level cool. Unfortunately that Alexa skill isn’t available yet.

    The Final Thought

    You end up using your garage door more than you would think.  Statistically it is used more than your front door. Looking in to annual maintenance services would be my number one overall suggestion. Paired with these DIY tips you should be able to keep the large portal to your home working great at a low overall cost. 

  • Smart Ways to Spend Your Tax Refund

    Smart Ways to Spend Your Tax Refund

    If you’re expecting a tax refund this year, you’ve probably got a few ideas as to how you’re going to spend it. Maybe you’re looking to get a new tattoo, or maybe you want to buy some video games or new rims for your car. Maybe before you get your sights set on a frivolous purchase, however, you should start thinking about smart ways to spend your tax refund. There are better ways to spend a sudden windfall than on something frivolous and goofy!

    Smart Ways to Spend Your Tax Refund

    Set Up an Emergency Fund

    Do you have a savings account with $1,000 in it? No? Okay, here’s the first thing you need to do with that money. Take your tax refund, set aside $1,000 and save it. If you have money leftover after that, pay bills with it. Easy! See, having a savings account with a good little chunk of money in it is a good way to insulate yourself against those dumb, random things that are going to happen and drain your checking account.

    Your car is going to break down. Your heater is going to stop working in February. Or, your AC is going to bust in July. No matter what it is, some stupid happenstance will come along and smack you with a huge bill. Be ready for these frustrating moments by having money set aside to deal with them when (not if) they show up.

    Pay Down Debt

    That debt you have hovering over your head like the Sword of Damocles isn’t going anywhere until you do something about it. Kick that debt to the curb by paying your tax refund into it! The sooner you start paying down those big debts, the better. The longer your let those debts float by with minimum payments, the higher and higher the interest gets.

    That means that by focusing a large sum, like your tax refund, you buy back all the money that interest would have eaten up down the road. Why let interest compound and cause you issues down the line when you can buy back your money now? It’s the definition of a win-win scenario.

    Fix Up Your House

    You spend a lot of time at home. Make sure it’s a place you like being. By making your house nicer, you’re actually helping yourself in two ways. The first way is pretty straightforward: you like living in your house, so make it a nice place. The second is a bit more financial in nature. If you invest in your home, it’ll be worth more down the line!

    This especially goes for homes in areas that have ever-increasing property values. If your home is always going up, up, up in value just because of where it is, you can multiply this value a lot by just doing a bit of work on the place. A new roof, repairs to older sections of the house, a kitchen remodel: all of these things can add a ton of value to the place. What better time to do this kind of work than when you have the money free at hand?

    Travel Somewhere

    Rather than spending your money on something like a new TV or a down payment on a car, you could instead opt to go on a trip. There’s nothing quite like traveling to a new place and enjoying the scenery! Whether that’s some beautiful tropical island, a mountain ski lodge or just a city you’ve been dying to visit.

    See, when you buy “stuff,” the fun of buying the new thing wears off sooner rather than later. Then, you find a few months down the line wishing that you hadn’t spent all that money on something you’re just going to replace next year anyway. If you pay for a trip, however, you’ll make memories that will last you a lifetime.

    Donate the Money

    Do you have a hard time figuring out what to do with a sudden windfall? Maybe you’ve got a good bit of money in savings and you don’t really have the time to go out of town for a long trip. Maybe your house is already up to a great standard and you’re at a loss for what to do with the money.

    Well, good news! You can donate that money to a good cause. If you’re passionate about a social issue of some kind, like homeless shelters or cancer research, you can donate that tax refund money and make a difference in the world! You can even write it off on next year’s taxes and repeat the cycle of giving.

  • Get Tax Help for Seniors

    Get Tax Help for Seniors

    There’s a reason most people get help filing their taxes: taxes are really, really complicated. Between social security, tax credit, exemptions, deductions, property taxes, there are a ton of complex things to keep up with. It’s no surprise that a number of seniors get intimidated when it comes to filing their taxes. There are changing technologies, changing tax rules, and fixed incomes can all make tax season difficult for seniors. Here are some of the best ways to get tax help for seniors.

    Get Tax Help for Seniors

    AARP Tax-Aide

    Whether or not you already have an AARP membership, or know someone who does, this is a great way to go. The AARP Foundation has tax aide services that can be a lifesaver for seniors. The best part is that you don’t even need to be an AARP member to take advantage of this great service! It’s available for anyone over 50, free of charge. You can meet with these tax professionals free of charge online or in person, whichever you prefer! That way, if you would rather talk face-to-face, or if you prefer to file form the comfort of your home, you’re set either way!

    The volunteers who work for the AARP Tax-Aide program are also IRS-certified tax professionals. These aren’t amateurs who are going to mess up your taxes, these are people who are certified and know what they’re doing! That way, you can rest assured knowing you’re getting the help you need with your taxes and the peace of mind that includes.

    If you go for an in-person session, you’ll be glad to hear that they’re available all throughout tax season, from January to April 15th. Generally, these visits occur in convenient and public locations. Community centers, public libraries, banks and shopping malls are all common locations for these visits, so you need not worry about meeting in person. These locations are in public, well-lit and easy to access, so you don’t have to worry about getting to the meeting location.

    Best of all, the online side of this tax service is available year-round to answer your questions about taxes. If you have any burning questions you need answered and want to be ahead of the curve, this is a great way to go! That’s what happens when you go through an organization as helpful as the AARP.

    Federal Government Tax Assistance

    There are two tax services offered by the IRS. There’s the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program. If you go through the IRS website, you can find in-depth information on both of these programs. Both the VITA and TCE programs have physical locations throughout the country you can visit to receive direct, in-person help with your taxes.

    Firstly, the VITA is a good program for those seniors who still earn some income, such as through a part-time job or perhaps through owned property. The VITA program typically helps those who do not speak English fluently, disabled people, people under a certain income level and the elderly. These services are primarily geared at seniors who make an amount of money under a certain threshold. Generally, those seniors who make more money than this threshold should consider going with professional paid tax services.

    The TCE, for its part, is geared more for seniors who aren’t sure where to turn for tax help. The service is specifically for seniors of age 60 or older who are on a fixed-income. These types of people are the exact ones that the TCE was created to help. If you or someone you love lives on a fixed income and needs income tax help, the TCE is the right call to help. They help seniors with things like retirement income and pensions, as opposed to traditional income methods. The free service is also volunteer-based and offers help during tax season. The volunteers are all IRS-certified professionals.

    State Taxes

    Both the VITA and TCE programs offer help with state taxes as well as federal taxes, so this usually shouldn’t be a huge concern for seniors. However, beyond this, some states do offer a state-specific tax program to help seniors if they have state-specific tax questions. While such situations would be rare, if a senior needs help with complex aspects of their state taxes in particular then they should look into whether their state offers a tax program.

    In the event it doesn’t, don’t panic! The bar association of your state may provide pro-bono legal help to seniors seeking tax advice. Local CPAs or other professionals may also offer help for seniors at no cost, so consider looking into these avenues!