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Things You Must Do Before Looking for Oil Tank Services

There are several important steps to take before looking for oil tank services. Firstly, you should ensure that your oil tank is properly protected from weather conditions like rain, snow, or wind. Next, you must ensure that the tank is easily accessible for delivery drivers and other professionals. Also, you need to monitor the tank to prevent theft.

Inspection of the oil tank

If you have an oil tank on your property, you must have it inspected regularly to prevent leaks. While a visual inspection can identify some problems, most issues occur inside the tank, where the oil is constantly corroding the steel. For this reason, it is recommended to have an inspection done every two years.

Most houses built before 1975 used oil as heating, and while most homeowners switched to natural gas, many oil tanks were left behind. This is a problem for new homeowners, who will have to pay to remediate it. If you’re planning to buy a new home, consider hiring a company that provides oil tank services NY.

Checking for rust

Checking for rust is an important part of oil tank maintenance. This is because rusting can affect the tank’s appearance. For example, it can cause the paint to blister and flake. It is also dangerous for the environment because it can pollute oil. While rusting occurs most commonly on metal oil tanks, it can also affect plastic tanks. If you notice that your plastic oil tank is whitening or cracking, it is probably time to contact an oil tank service provider.

It is important to ensure that your above-ground oil tank is on a solid surface. Ideally, it sits on a concrete pad or compacted earth. Otherwise, it could cause a spill if the tank leans. In addition, you should also inspect the tank for leaks and corrosion. Finally, you should also check the return and supply lines and the valves to ensure they are all working properly.

Checking for leaks

If you suspect your oil tank leaks, you should take immediate action. Oil tank leak remediation must be done as quickly as possible to avoid contaminating surrounding land and water resources. The process involves checking for oil leaks and assessing the damage. The extent of the oil spill may require soil samples. Your homeowner’s insurance provider may cover oil spill remediation costs.

To determine if your oil tank is leaking, you can check for visual signs of a leak. For example, you can look for old oil tank fillers in your basement, leaking vent pipes, or old oil stains on the foundation walls.

Checking for vent pipes

If you’re considering hiring an oil tank service, check for vent pipes in your oil tank. These pipes are usually attached vertically to the outside of your home and slope underground. They are usually 3/4 inches in diameter and have an open cap that allows air to circulate. If you have an above-ground tank, it’s also important to check for obstructions in the vent pipe.

Checking for vent pipes is important to ensure there are no hidden leaks in your oil tank. Vent pipes are very important parts of your heating system. When they are blocked or clogged, it can lead to a serious problem. You’ll need to find and fix any issues before your oil tank becomes a safety risk.

Checking for home insurance

If you own an oil tank, you should check your home insurance policy to see if there is any coverage for spilled oil. While many policies cover clean-up expenses, some do not. Oil is valuable, and the clean-up costs can be substantial. Therefore, you may need additional coverage to cover your home and the oil tank if you have no insurance coverage.

Even if you don’t have a tank, it’s important to get a replacement tank every couple of years. Older tanks can corrode on the inside without causing any visible issues. Your insurance company may also require you to switch from oil to propane or natural gas. Otherwise, they may charge you a small yearly fee for oil tank removal.

Real Estate

Therapy 365-V1 – Disinfecting Your Kitchen, Living Room, Or Anywhere Else!

Therapy 365-V1 – The LED Smart Sterilizing Therapy – is Launching on Kickstarter

As the pandemic drags on, we’re spending more and more time at home, plus a renewed interest in interior lighting. To meet this interest, DAONS, a landscape lighting manufacturing startup, has announced the release of its hybrid mood and LED sterilizing light, Therapy 365-V1.

Therapy 365-V1 is revolutionizing the world of lighting with its LED smart sterilizing light that also doubles as a mood light.

“Today’s disinfecting lights use UV-C, UV-B, or UV-A, but even minimal exposure from these types of UV light can have serious effects on the body – especially for the ozone-emitting UV-C products,” the Therapy 365-V1 marketing team told us. “To make a completely safe disinfecting light, we came up with the visible-light emitting Therapy 365-V1.”

The light used in Therapy 365-V1 has no adverse effects on the human body, and meets the IEC 62471 standard for LED lighting products. Therapy 365-V1 is equipped with 32 disinfecting-light emitting chips, and uses a blend of 405–900 nm visible and infrared light. This means that the light emitted is completely safe for us, even over continued use, while still disinfects dangerous contaminants.

Therapy 365-V1’s disinfecting abilities have been tested against dangerous microorganisms in our daily lives, and were found to be 99.9% effective at disinfecting coronavirus particles. The light emitted creates singlet oxygen inside the cells of bacteria and mold, destroying the lipids, protein, and nucleic acids via oxidation – eliminating any viruses and bacteria.

When Therapy 365-V1’s motion sensor detects movement, the device switches to white light mode. This prevents any potential risk from the sanitizing process. When using Auto Mode, the white light will turn on for 30 seconds upon detecting movement, and when no movement is detected, the device will switch back to disinfect mode. The sensor has a radius of 1.5 meters at 140 degrees. Even the slightest movements will activate the white light mode, so Therapy 365-V1 will detect your pets, too.

The sensor board in the lighting device controls the motion sensor, power, and switches. The sensor board is pre-programmed to act based on the location value, and after 5 hours, the lighting is pre-configured to turn off. Therapy 365-V1 also lets you use green mood lighting for more eye-friendly lighting at night.

The product package includes Therapy 365-V1, the power adapter, cable holder, two-sided silicon tape, the user manual, and sterilization reports. Therapy 365-V1 uses a blend of aluminum, ABS, and PC material, and with dimensions of 600 x 55 x 22 (mm), and weighs in at just over 1 pound, so you can easily use it in the kitchen, bedroom, hall, under your desk, in a closet, or nearly anywhere.

You can find the sterilizing smart LED light, Therapy 365-V1, on Kickstarter this February. Discounted packages are available based on your selected backing. Find out more by visiting their Kickstarter page.

Entertainment

How is the Internet Impacting Your Life?

In stepping back for a moment to summarize how your life is going, could the Internet play a bigger role in it? More importantly, should the Internet have more impact in your world?

If you think the Internet should play more of a role in your life, in what ways do you think it could be beneficial to you?

From improving your health to helping you find goods you are in search of and more put the Internet to work for you.

Getting Online Can Be Beneficial to You

In deciding some more Internet time would be worth it to you, here are some ways that in fact can pan out:

  1. Healthcare – With your health being so important to you, the Internet can be a great resource to turn to. That is due to the fact there is a lot of healthcare info waiting for you at your fingertips. As such, go online and see how more Internet time can help you with healthcare needs. From what your symptoms may tell you to how to eat better and exercise more there are answers. That would be online for your health questions.
  2. Products – If you spend any amount of time online, you know that there are a myriad of products available to you. That said take the time to see what you need and what kind of deals you may be able to score. As an example, are you into video gaming? If yes, you could score a wide array of items when shopping online. So, whether the need and interest is in PS5 headphones or other equipment, you can be a click away from finding it. In doing so, you did not have to leave your home and go to a store. That is to drive there and back, look for parking, battle crowds and more.
  3. News – Do you tend to stay up to speed on the latest news? While many still get their headlines from TV, many others rely on the Internet. You can get news headlines and more 24/7 when you go on the Internet. This can keep you in the loop of things both locally and halfway around the world. Being informed can help you stay up to speed. That is with conversations on various news topics you may have with family and friends over time.
  4. Communication – It is not uncommon in today to see families spread out all over the country. In fact, it can also be situations where families are spread out around the globe. With that in mind, being online can be a good way to go about staying in touch with the people most important to you. From emails to FaceTime and much more you have the ability to keep in touch. This can be especially critical for those people who’ve got health and related issues. If you can’t get out often or altogether, being able to stay in touch via the web is key.

As you look to see if the Internet can have a good impact on your life, the hope is you benefit from it each time you go online.

Real Estate

How to move with toddlers to your new address

So you’re all set up for the big move. You have all the boxes that you need and all the packing paper and duct tape in the world is at your disposal. However, there is just one problem. You need to prepare your toddler too. Relocation can be difficult for anyone. It can be tiring, logistical nightmare or with some help from professionals, it can be a breeze. On the other hand, for your children, it will be much more annoying than for you. This is simply because they can’t understand what’s going on. And that is the reason why move with toddlers must be done right.

Did you think that saving money as a parent is hard? Move with toddlers will bring its own set of challenges into your life, as they need to accept this big change in theirs. The crucial thing is to explain to your children that they’re not leaving their toys and beds behind and that you will be with them throughout the whole process.

Validate their feelings and fears. Make sure that they know you are listening to them and that you understand them. Always talk about the move in a positive manner and reinforce this message all the time.

Adjust your point of view

You may be moving because of a great job opportunity, but your children aren’t. Try to see the relocation with the eyes of your children. Did they live in the same place their whole lives? If they were, leaving it can be a scary thing. As we all know, a routine is crucial for toddlers prosper and happiness. So you can expect them to feel disoriented from all the changes that are happening. Don’t be afraid if they act frustrating at this period as that is a completely normal thing to happen.

This doesn’t get much better with children that are verbal. Simply for a reason that there’s nothing they can say that will change your mind about the relocation. This can make them feel helpless, which can lead to them acting out physically. This is again a natural thing, and it’s important that you stay calm. Make them feel heard and accepted during the outburst and eventually, they’ll calm down too. Toddlers simply need a little bit more time than us to cope with their emotions, so give them extra attention in this period. This is yet another obligation on your hands, but do everything by the book and your move with toddlers will be a dream.

Remember that your child doesn’t have the same point of view as you do. Alttag: Young girl sitting on a tree.

Move with toddlers: Talk to them about the move

Toddlers can be unbearable during the move. Professionals from Master Moving Guide say that they’ve seen this problem too many times. And that is the reason why you need to talk to your toddlers about moving at least a month prior to the relocation itself. This will make though goodbye a little bit easier for them. Remember that relocation is hard on you too, so try to prepare your children as good as you can.

Although your toddlers probably won’t be able to fully understand what the concept of relocation is, it’s crucial to let them know that something is happening. And that it is not a bad thing. Completing all the preparation tasks properly will make it easier for your children to accept and adapt to a new home much quicker.

Here are some tips for a smooth conversation with your little ones.

  • Explain to them that nothing will change when you move to your new home. Let them know that their routine and family will stay the same.
  • Be sure to emphasize that everything is coming with you. All their toys, blankets, and furniture.
  • Tell them a story to corroborate your points and to make them understand what’s going on a little better.
  • Prepare them for the moving day, but do not overwhelm them with details.
  • Don’t rush and be patient for your move with toddlers. Look for non-verbal cues.
  • Don’t use baby talk when explaining everything to them. Talk in full sentences so that they know you’re serious.
  • Offer them real choices. This will help them not to feel helpless. Let them choose a toy to bring with them for a trip. If they want, let them pick the outfit for the moving day.

Talk to your toddlers and try to explain everything to them. Alttag: Man talking with his son about a move with toddlers.

Don’t change the routine

Be sure to keep the same routine throughout the whole process. This means the same bedtime before, during, and after the move. Toddlers fear of the unknown and keeping them in the same loop will make this unknown thing called move easier for them.

Routines are important for your children because they help them make decisions. When their bedtime is the same every night, they automatically become tired at that time. They feel like they’re in control when this is happening, and that is extremely important in situations like this.

Move with toddlers: Patience is the key

It is completely normal that your children experience anxiety during this process. Allow them to express it. Answer all the questions they ask you, but remember to keep your answers simple and clear. They may need some more time to adjust after the move and that is okay. It is important to be a patient as you can at this point. If you encounter problems, you can always use a boost in terms of parenting. Try to make it easy on them. For instance, you can take them to Disneyland.

Prepare to be very patient when you’re encountering a move with toddlers. Alttag: Feng Shui stones tower representing patience.

The moving day

If you’re moving locally, arrange for your toddlers to have a babysitter on this day. All those people and noise around them can be a little bit overwhelming so don’t push it. On the other hand, if a babysitter is not an option, explain what’s happening step-by-step to your children. Give them extra attention. You can also make them in charge of a specific stuffed animal, or make them in charge of the reward for moving assistance so they can feel important.

When everything is ready and packed, walk them through the house to say goodbye. Answer all the questions on tour and be patient.

Days after the move

Build a sense of familiarity as soon as you can after the move with toddlers. Try not to change or upgrade anything, and bring all their furniture if you can. Unpack their things first as an act of kindness. Don’t change the routine and keep your children’s schedule the same in the days after relocation to avoid problems. Also, prepare to be patient as they will need more sooting and assurance in your new home.

Real Estate

5 Improvements to Make Before You Sell Your Home

When you are looking to sell your home, there are some obvious home improvements you can do that not only can increase the value, but increase curb appeal and the speed with which you can sell your home.

Besides what a potential buyer sees, there are also those things that they don’t, but things that will show up in a home inspection later on. These are things you need to be aware of, and inspect yourself long before an official inspector is called in.

Here are five areas of home improvements you should make before you sell your home.

Look Up

One of the number one issues when selling a home is the roof. How old is it? What kind of shape is it in, and does it need to be repaired or even replaced? There are a number of quick ways to tell.

  • Discoloration of certain areas
  • Missing or peeling shingles
  • Excess “gravel” (check your gutters)
  • Leaks (check in the attic)
  • Obvious signs of damage

Once you have done a roof inspection of your own, if you find any spots that are questionable, call in an expert to do a full inspection on your roof. They will be able to let you know exactly what you need to do before you sell your home.

If you find leaks, look at your interior ceilings. Even if you repair the leak, signs of water damage can cause a buyer to back out of the sale. Fix the cosmetic issues too, and there will be no questions about the integrity of your roof.

Look Down

The next place to look is under your feet. One of the first things a potential buyer will notice is the flooring in your home. Is it worn? Does it need to be repaired or replaced? Is it clean? If you have pets, does the carpet have a certain odor. Are there wear areas that need attention?

There are a number of solutions to any flooring issues depending on what they are and your budget.

  • Hardwood: These floors can often be sanded and refinished rather than replacing them. If you have high traffic areas, often this is a quick and inexpensive project you can do yourself.
  • Carpets: if your carpet is not overly worn, simply have them cleaned. If not, be cautious about replacing them. Often buyers may want to remodel anyway, and you may have wasted your money on that carpet.
  • Vinyl: If you have issues with your vinyl floors, you can patch them instead of replacing them entirely. This is often the most cost-efficient way to do get them ready for new owners.
  • Laminate and Tile: If you have chipped tiles or damaged laminate, you can often replace them individually, saving yourself replacement expenses.
  • Area Rugs: If you have an area rug in your living or dining room, often it matches well with the carpet and walls. Offer to leave them for potential buyers, as they may not work in your new space anyway, and make the floors look better in your home. When you arrive in your new space, you can replace these area rugs with new ones that fit with your unique décor.

Take the time to make sure that the floors in your home are ready to sell. You want to impress potential buyers with what is under their feet as well as what is over their heads.

Look Out

Curb appeal is one of the number one things a realtor will help you with, as potential buyers see the front of the house and the front yard first when they pull up to view your home. So take a look outside.

  • Add flowers to beds and even in pots.
  • Have the lawn fertilized, treated with herbicide, and professionally landscaped.
  • Trim your bushes and trees.
  • Clean your sidewalks and driveways of all of those stains and the dirt accumulated there.
  • Power wash the exterior of your home, and paint if need be.

You only get one chance at a first impression with your home as well, so make it a good one. Think of the things that bother you about the exterior of your home, and fix, clean, or refresh them. Taking care of those things will make your home easier to sell.

Look In

Windows are the way you let light in and see out of your home, and the doors are how you get from outside to inside. When you are standing outside, look in. Are the windows clean? Do they provide privacy but still let light in? Are they airtight and energy efficient?

Ask yourself the same thing about your doors. What do they look like? Are they preventing the transfer of heat and cool from the outside to the inside? Do they look and feel secure? Doors are easy to repaint or refinish, and locks can be easily replaced. The more secure your home, the better the doors look, the easier it is to sell.

Of course, windows can be cleaned. If you have older, single pane windows replacing them with more modern ones will increase the value of your home and make it more energy efficient. These things make it more desirable to buyers, since they will not have to replace windows themselves later on.

Look Around

Finally, have a look around. There are likely to be little improvements you will see as you walk around your home that make it more appealing. Cabinets can be totally changed by replacing hardware. A coat of paint can transform a room.

Painting the garage floor, replacing aging light fixtures, and just cleaning up can make your space stand out from other homes that are for sale in your area. You’ll get more and better offers to choose from if you pay attention to detail.

Everything from having your home professionally cleaned to tiny little repairs that you have put up with for a long time can make a huge difference.

Selling your home? There are some home improvements you want to look at and make before you even put it on the market. In the long run, you will sell your home for more money and probably sell it faster if you keep these five things in mind.

Real Estate

Is Your Family Truly Safe at Home?

Is Your Family Truly Safe at Home?

Given how important your family is to you, it only makes sense to do all you can to keep them safe and sound at home.

With that in mind, have you taken time recently to assess how safe your house is? Are there areas of the home that could use some improving? If so, do you have the money to make such improvements?

For many, money is the number one issue in preventing them from carrying out changes they hope to make.

If you find yourself in such a situation, will you try and move ahead with making the home safer for your loved ones?

Protecting Those You Love

So that your home can be as safe as possible from crime, inclement weather, fires and more, keep these ideas in mind:

1. Build of your home

For starters, what went into building the piece of real estate you own and live in? Is it as sound as can be? If the answer is no, would you ever consider a rebuild?

Unfortunately, too many homes are fire traps and more. As such, the residents are putting their lives on the line day after day.

Whether building a new home or thinking of a major re-do, there are options out there for you to make your house safer.

One such consideration would be steel home kits.

These kits give your family more protection than a standard wood home. Remember, those wood homes can oftentimes go up in flames. That should be a big consideration for you if you live in an area of the country that is prone to wildfires etc.

Another advantage is steel holds up better against other elements, hurricanes, and tornadoes.

If you want a sturdy house for protection and comfort, the steel home kit may very well be right up your alley.

2. Use commonsense each day

Given how many criminals are out and about, you must always do your best to stay one step ahead of them.

For instance, do you travel often for business or pleasure? If so, you could be setting you and your family up for problems if you don’t go through a safety checklist.

Among the items on that checklist when away from home:

  • Making sure the mail and newspapers do not pile up
  • Leaving an extra vehicle in the driveway if possible
  • Trimming the hedges and cutting the grass before going away
  • Leaving a light on a timer on at night
  • Not broadcasting on social media that you’re away from home. This includes not posting travel pictures until you return home

By using some common sense, you and your family are less likely to become crime victims.

3. Know when weather is turning bad

Even if you opt for the earlier mentioned steel home kit, you may decide you want to bail when the weather gets bad. If so, you’re not making the wrong move. A relocation for only a few hours or day or two could prove a wise decision.

Too many people try and wait out the major storms that come through their regions of the country.

While they can end up surviving the initial storm surge, things can still go downhill from there. From fallen wires to downed trees, injuries and deaths occur after the storm.

If an option, you may consider getting your family to temporary housing during a severe storm. In doing so, you’re all likely to survive.

Keeping your loved ones safe at home can at times be quite a job.

That said, it is a job that comes with being the head of the household.