For the Home Archives - Smart Health Shop

How to Get a Free Quote from Roofing Companies in Your Area

When there is a problem with your roof, it immediately becomes an urgent issue. You can’t afford to leave a leak unrepaired or live with a damaged roof for very long. Sometimes, this can lead to a hasty hire of the first available contractor. While this is understandable, it is important to know what the different roofing companies in your area bring to the table.

We’ll tell you everything you need to know to get a free quote from roofing companies in your area, including what to look for, questions to ask, and things to know before getting a quote.

What To Look For When Getting a Quote From Roofing Companies

With so many different roofing companies out there, it can be hard to know where to begin when looking for a quote. Don’t get overwhelmed at this stage. There are some important things you can keep in mind to narrow down your search.

Start by taking a look at online reviews. See what kinds of experiences other customers had. This can help give you an idea of what to expect from different roofing companies. You may also get an idea of what they charge as compared to other roofing companies.

Things To Know Before You Get A Quote From Roofing Companies

Another thing to look for is what elements are included in the contractor’s bid. All of the quotes from roofing companies should include the following elements:

The terms of payment and the expected start and completion date
Both material and labor costs.
Any costs associated with permits or cleanup needs
Information on the quality and type of product they plan to use, including any warranties they provide.
Proof of roofing or contractor’s license (if required in your city or state)
Proof of both workmans’ compensation and liability insurance

If any of these are missing from the contractor’s quote, you should follow up on this. These are basic things you need to know so you can make an informed decision about your hire. They should already know this and should provide you with all of this information.

Questions To Ask Roofing Companies When Getting a Quote

Once you do reach out to a contractor, there are some questions you can and should ask. Getting answers to these, in the beginning, will help you make an informed decision about which contractor to hire.

How long has the company been in business?
When will they be able to start the job?
How long will it take for them to complete?
What precautions are in place for the safety of the workers and your home?
Will they need any permits for the job? Is there a cost associated with that?
Do they have any past customers that you can talk to?

You may also want to ask them about who will actually be doing the job. Some companies have employees that do the work, while others will hire sub-contractors. It is important to know this up front, as it could affect the quality of the job. If you’re able to visit a job site where the company is working already, that can be extremely helpful, as well.

Things To Watch Out For When Getting a Quote From Roofing Companies

We wanted to make sure we highlight a few red flags to watch out for when getting a bid from a contractor. These may not necessarily mean you’re dealing with a low-quality company, but they can be a sign that you should do some more research before making a decision. You’ll first want to Find Roofing Companies for Free.

Most importantly, never pay the full cost for the job up front. Most roofing contractors will not charge you more than 10% in a down payment if any cost at all. This is because the costs can change throughout the project depending on the specific work that’s needed.

You should also make sure that the company is able to provide proof of both licenses and insurance. We mentioned this before, but it is absolutely vital. You may not expect anything to go wrong, but you need to be prepared just in case. The last thing you want is for there to be an accident, but the contractor should be prepared for this.

Lastly, make sure the company is prepared and qualified for the needs of your specific job. Any decent roofing company should come and do an inspection of the damage before quoting you a price. You want to be sure that they are certified to do the specific work needed before you hire them.

Find Roofing Companies for Free

When it comes to actually getting quotes from the roofing companies in your area, the easiest way is with GetYourQuote.com. GYQ has an extensive network of contractors across a variety of industries. Each of them is pre-screened before being listed on GYQ for your peace of mind.

Not only that, but GYQ does the hard work for you. All you need to do is reach out to them with details of your project, and they can sift through all the different roofing companies in your area. After that, they reach out to you and let you know the best companies to choose from and can get a quote completely for free.

In addition, getting your quote through GetYourQuote.com means you’ll be getting some of the most competitive prices on the market. Regardless of the needs of your specific roofing project, GYQ can help match you with the perfect contractor for your needs.

Filtered Water: 5 Reasons You Absolutely Need a Water Filter in 2020

Are you thinking about investing in an at-home water filter?

Filtering water at home is becoming increasingly popular as consumers become more health-conscious and look to protect the environment from overusing plastic bottles.

The human body needs water, and most of us don’t drink nearly enough of it each day. Almost half of all Americans don’t drink the recommended four, eight-ounce glasses of water every day. Having a clean water source right in your home is an easy way to help your body stay happy and healthy and ensure that you’re getting enough water each day.

If you’re not convinced you need filtered water at home, keep reading to learn about some of the most significant benefits.

Five Reasons You Need Filtered Water In Your Home

Home water filters come in many different shapes and sizes. Some are pitchers that need to be refilled and stored in the fridge. Others are installed under your sink, such as Filtap, and make drinking filtered water as easy as grabbing a glass of tap water.

No matter which style of water filter you choose, there are tons of benefits you will start to experience right away. Some of the benefits you will notice include:

1. Reduce Your Risk of Disease

Even if you live in an area where tap water is safe to drink, you never know what could leak into your water supply.

A filtration system adds another layer of protection for you and your family, so you know the water you’re consuming is always safe and free from chemicals like chlorine and ammonia.

2. Protect Weaker Immune Systems

If anyone in your home has a weaker immune system, you should invest in an at-home water filter system to protect them. Water filters remove any contaminants found in tap water, which is ideal for people like the elderly, children and infants, and pregnant women. It’s also ideal for people with serious diseases.

3. Improve Taste and Smell

Some tap water has a very distinctive taste and smell from different minerals, and this can be very unappealing to some. A water filtration system removes particles that don’t need to be there, so you’re left with better-tasting water.

4. Saving Money

Not all of the benefits of getting a water filter are physical health benefits. If you love the taste of purified bottled water, you’re probably wasting a lot of money. By installing a water filter at home, you can likely save yourself thousands of dollars a year on the cost of bottled water alone.

5. Help the Environment

Reducing plastic water bottle use is another positive of switching to an in-home water filtration system. The more water you drink from home or with a reusable water bottle, the less damage you’re doing to the planet, even if you usually recycle your plastic bottles. Purchasing a water filter is an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint.

Learn More About Healthy Lifestyle Changes

Bringing filtered water into your home is one of the best investments you can make for both your short-term and long-term health. Purchasing a water filter is a small upfront cost when you think about how long it will last you.

If you’d like more information on other changes you can make to live an overall healthier life, make sure you check out the rest of our website.

Harmful Effects of Air Conditioner on Your Health

Do you use the air conditioner to just cool your home? An air conditioner is more than a cooling system and serves more than one purpose. Installing a new air conditioning unit in a home or office is also an investment. Discover interesting facts about why people install air conditioners in their home or office.

The AC Keeps Your Home Cool

Image by Flickr via USACE HQ

The primary function of an air conditioner is to keep your space cool in warm weather. According to the Guardian online, “nearly 200 US cities have seen record heat up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit.” More homeowners are relying on the air conditioner to set the temperament in their home. In fact, many air conditioners are forced to run at full capacity under extreme heat. If your air conditioner is expected to hold up under the increased usage, it must be running efficiently.

An Air Conditioner Promotes Clean Air

An air conditioner acts very similar to a filter by removing moisture and humid air from your home or office. Like a sponge, your AC absorbs the moist air. An inoperable or poorly operating air conditioner can be uncomfortable and create enough humidity for mold growth. Mold and mildew can also cause poor indoor air quality.

To resolve indoor air quality issues, it’s always best to hire a professional from Cutler Air to assess, repair, or replace your complete operating unit. To make adjustments to improve your air quality with your AC, clean your vents and improve your airflow. The air conditioner pulls in air from outside, cools it down, and distributes it to your home. Tiny particles like dust and dirt can quickly invade your AC filter. The experts suggest changing your air filter every six weeks to improve your indoor air quality .

Get Regular Maintenance On Your Air Conditioner

If you want to extend the life of your AC, it’s important to get the proper maintenance. For example, the winter is a great time to get routine maintenance on your air conditioner. In fact, during the off season, homeowners can find great prices on HVAC services. Trust an expert to have the knowledge and expertise to get your air conditioner running properly. More importantly, most professionals provide a warranty on their services to give you a peace of mind during a cooling emergency.

Conditions like asthma or respiratory breathing issues can make it difficult to comfortably use an air conditioner without triggering some of your symptoms. Keeping your unit clean and running properly is the key to better air quality, saving money, and getting the most out of your unit. While your air conditioner can be used to maintain your indoor air quality, you should never overload your unit to get it to function. A professional will have the tools to help you maximize the use of your AC and it keep it in top working order to set the comfort levels of your home or office.

Simple Ways To Improve The Air Quality In Your Home

As a homeowner, you clean your home to the best of your abilities to make sure your space is livable. However, sometimes we need to do a thorough clean and check for air pollutants in our home. Air pollutants are harmful since we breathe them in and they negatively affect our bodies. There are many medical illnesses that people develop because of these pollutants. If you continue to live in a home with poor air quality, the likeliness of you developing allergies, lung cancer, asthma, and other respiratory diseases increases. This is why it is important to use these simple ways to improve the air quality in your home.

1. Check for Leaks

If there are any leaks or places that have free-standing water in your home now is the time to eliminate them. You can do this by sealing any holes that may be present. This will help to reduce mold in your home. You want to eliminate the mold in your house because as stated by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) people that are sensitive to mold can develop nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing, wheezing, eye irritation, or, in some cases, skin irritation.

2. Read the Labels on Your Cleaning Supplies and Other Household Products

Image Via Flickr by kqedquest

According to the American Lung Association, some of the products that are used every day in households release dangerous chemicals such as VOC (volatile organic compounds). These types of chemicals being released are the cause of chronic respiratory problems, allergic reactions, and headaches. They can be found in items such as detergents, carpet cleaner, plastics, and more. It is important to read the labels of products before you buy. You want to make sure they either don’t contain or have a reduced amount of VOCs, irritants, fragrances, and other flammable ingredients.

3. Take Care of Your HVAC system

A great place to start improving your home’s air quality is your HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system. You can clean and change the filters on your HVAC system about every three months. You can also call a Straightline Heating and Cooling professional to schedule a regular maintenance appointment. They can inspect your HVAC system thoroughly to ensure that it runs efficiently.

4. Let Nature into Your Home

Time to let nature in and one way is by bringing in house plants. At Live Science, it has been reported that the pores on the surface of a plant’s leaves can absorb gases such as VOCs. It is also necessary to improve your home’s ventilation. According to the United States EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), you can lower the air pollutants in your home by increasing the amount of outdoor air coming inside. Improving your air quality is as simple as opening a window, a door, or turning on a fan.

By controlling the amount of air pollutants in your home you can improve your air quality. You can do this by checking for leaks to get rid of mold, reading labels of household products, buying house plants, and taking care of your HVAC system. These are all simple steps that take a minimal amount of time to complete.

5 Ways You Can Keep Your Home’s Air Clean

If you’re getting more frequent colds, there could be many reasons why. The first thing you should look at is the amount of air pollution in your home. If there’s not enough air circulating in your home, you could have mold, or other pollutants in the air in your home causing you to get sick. Adding house plants, changing your air conditioner’s filter, installing an air cleaner, using a mechanical ventilator to improve ventilation, and moving your furniture around can help improve the air in your home. Surgi’s Heating & Air Conditioning also has a list of ways to improve air quality here.

5 Tips for Buying an HVAC System for Your Home

The HVAC system is complex and many homeowners do not understand how to buy the right system for their home. With so many features and benefits that come in the descriptions of products, it may seem daunting to start looking for a machine. However, buying one does not have to be difficult.

Here are five tips to follow to buy your next HVAC system:

1. Check the SEER, HSPF, and AFUF Ratings

When electricity bills are high, all you think about is how you could save money. SEER, HSPF,and AFUF ratings are designed to inform the buyer of the efficiency of the machines. If you check the SEER ratings, you will be able to find the latest energy-efficient machines that help offset your utility costs. Generally, higher ratings are assigned to machines that use more energy.

2. Make Sure You Know the Size of Your HVAC

You want to know the optimal size of your unit, so it does not bring problems later on. Again, it is a matter of being energy-efficient. Excessive or insufficient heating or cooling can change the quality of your indoor air. Insulation will prevent drafting in terms of unbalanced heat and cooling and consequently save you energy.

3. Invest in a Programmable Thermostat

Photo via Flickr by Dept of Energy Solar Decathlon

Knowing what temperature your home is set on can save you money. A programmable thermostat enables you to set the temperatures in the most energy-efficient way based on the usage of different parts of your home. The thermostat can help to maintain good indoor air quality. Investing in top-notch indoor air quality is wise.

4. Do an Analysis of Costs and Benefits

When buying a home, the prices of both the HVAC system and the home are evaluated. This is because the system’s installation cost can effect the buying process. For those who are not able to pay the mortgage, they thoughtlessly jump in for a system upgrade. See if the price of your home is sufficient to upgrade the system. Keep in mind that the furnace lasts 20 years compared to the conditioner which lasts 10 years.

See if there is any bad ductwork, as 30% of energy can be wasted through the ducts. Signs to look for are loose and broken parts that are condensed and dusty. In this case, you will be needing a device restoration, unless the previous owner had a dehumidifier installed.

5. Examine the Refrigerant

Refrigerants named R-22 were usually used for old homes. It is recommended that you buy a new device if your system uses this type. Stay healthy at home by choosing the right HVAC, as outdated refrigerants are not safe for your family.

As a new homeowner, you probably felt lost when you were told that you needed to have a unit installed or replaced. Use these tips to determine the appropriate system for your home and to keep your family safe and comfortable.

5 Ways You Can Keep Your Home’s Air Clean

If you’re noticing stale air in your home, having allergy symptoms, or have one of these three signs that your air duct needs cleaning from Air-Specialty, there are several steps you can take to reduce air pollution in your home. Adding house plants, changing your HVAC filter, installing a whole-home air cleaner, improving ventilation with a mechanical ventilator, and rearranging your furniture can all help alleviate your home’s air pollution in different ways. Taking these steps improves air circulation, removes pollutants, or removes moisture from the air so mold doesn’t start growing. We’ll show in more detail how each step works to help improve the air pollution in your home.

The Best Deal You Could Find For Pest Service

The presence of pests is not only disturbing – they come to transmit diseases for humans. We often find these tiny creatures sneaking around our home and do invasion at night. They can even hide in an unexpected place or inside our bed. As soon as you find these insects, it is essential to rid them off as they give bad impacts for our health. Below, we will tell you why it’s important to get help from the professional pest service.

Pests Can Be Dangerous

Do you know that spiders have the ability to bite? And even in some cases, their bites can be incredibly dangerous! The cockroaches can spread germs or bacteria and disease from their gut, once they walk upon your food. Rat bites’ can cause a rat-bite fever, and their urine spreads leptospirosis. You may also experience sleep deprivation, anemia from loss of blood, and itchy skin from the bed bugs.

Pests Can Cause Incredible Damage

Most of the time, these tiny creatures cause not only physical harm for human but also can harm your home and your belongings as well. For example, rats can contaminate your food so you need to throw out all of your groceries or they might bite your food storages until it’s broken. Also, if you don’t realize the presence of termites, they can damage your house’s structure as they can be undetected for a long time and eat all of your wood properties, even bed bugs are so irritating so you need a professional pest control service to get rid of them and its better to try new mattresses to have a great comfortable sleep.

It’s Much Easier than a DIY Approach

You can find many traps for pests being sold everywhere or spray the insect repellent around your home. But the next problem is do you know what to do afterwards or how to solve this issue right after they are trapped inside? Pests control experts know the best thing to do, as they can handle this problem efficiently and they have the right equipment to shoo the pests away. Trying to spend a huge amount of time, energy and money to rid them off by your own can be exhausting like doing a never-ending job.

It Can Save Money in the Long Run

Many people avoid calling pests control experts because of the costs. However, doing prevention is better before it’s too late. Once the termites or other destructive pests ruin your house’s structure, there will be more and bigger costs needed to fix everything.

You Can Sit and Relax

The biggest advantage of pests control service is that you can sit and relax, as you know that you are choosing the best option for prevention of pests. You don’t need to worry any longer about the spiders and bed bugs that crawl while you sleep or the cockroaches and rats that eat and harm your food in the middle of the night.

Those are the reasons why we recommend you to do checking on regular basis to make your home a safe and comfortable place. Pest control in Sydney provides the service you need to clean your house from all kind of pests and get your money worth, as they will definitely offer you their best deal.

WHAT IS NATURAL GAS AND WHY IT’S THE RIGHT OPTION FOR YOUR HOME

Natural gas is a fossil fuel in the form of gas. Natural gas is a mixture of hydrocarbons which has a large expandability, high compressive strength, low specific gravity and is naturally present in the form of gas. The main benefit of natural gas is as an energy source, namely as fuel for households and industry. In addition, natural gas is also used as industrial raw material and hydrogen gas production. So that natural gas is safe to use in homes, the gas plant adds a small amount of odorous sulfur-containing compounds, so that leaks can be detected and stopped immediately before an explosion occurs. However, natural gas is far cleaner than other fossil fuels, such as coal and oil.

Natural gas warms our homes, powers our household appliances generate electricity, and even fuels vehicles. These versatile and abundant resources contribute to reducing emissions worldwide. Although natural gas is widely reported, many people still only see it as a resource for heating and cooking at home. So when there is a problem with your gas, you need to immediately contact western plumbing supplies that will repair and check your gas pipeline problem as soon as possible. We cannot underestimate this problem, because it will be very dangerous if let alone, especially if you get the wrong handling.

Natural gas is indeed widely used in human life until now. Natural gas is proven as a natural potential that can meet various human needs. Even so, as humans, we need to know how to use natural gas more wisely, because this is a non-renewable natural resource. If used excessively, then the natural gas on our earth will be exhausted. The natural gas is also often used as a source of household energy, for example fuel for cooking uses natural gas because it is safer.

The use of natural gas is the right choice because the cost is far more affordable than another, especially for decades using natural gas, there has never been any interference at all. The natural gas is also beneficial for the health of the environment around us. The source of human life depends on the air we breathe. To maintain the health of our environment, surely the air quality needed must be clean. Meanwhile, natural gas which has a clean nature was able to reduce emissions from the use of other fuels in life. If you have this, then the use of natural gas would be better for the environment. Besides that, the air will always be clean and safe from harmful pollutants. Consequently, the personal environment will be healthier, if only the environment around us also supports to be healthier. Creating effective safety programs is needed while using natural gas.

In some countries that have 4 seasons, usually in people’s homes, they have coolers and heaters for use during certain seasons. The extreme weather changes allow them to have to use this kind of natural gas source. Natural gas is used as a source of natural energy for the manufacture of heating and cooling machines both in housing and offices. Can you imagine if you are in an area that is experiencing summer heat, and there is no air conditioner (AC) in your home? That is the importance of the benefits of natural gas.

Tips for Keeping Your Water Clean

If your water doesn’t taste as fresh as you like, or if you are struggling with hard water, you are probably looking for a solution as soon as possible. From drinking water to laundry, cleaning, and other needs, having hard or less than ideal water quality can lead to a lot of daily challenges. Drinking it tastes bad and using bottled water gets expensive and is also bad for the environment. Your hair, skin, clothes, and even dishes suffer when cleaned with hard water. Here are some ways to mitigate these problems.

Address Boiler Issues

If your water boiler has developed a deposit and thus a scale formation, it needs treatment. You can protect your boiler against mechanical problems and also neutralize the scale in your boiler with a pretreatment. Residual minerals will be removed and your water quality will improve. This may sound intimidating, but simply search the web for boiler pretreatment akron to find the professional who can help treat your boiler and bring your water back to life.

Find the Right Filters

Water filters can make a world of difference in your water. You may need simply a pitcher filter or a larger home filter system. Your needs will vary based on the type and amount of impurities that need to be removed from your water. It’s a good idea to get a water test to find out what kind of contaminants you have and learn how to best deal with them. There are several types of water filtration methods available, such as activated carbon, reverse osmosis, distillation, and even UV purification.

Help Protect Water Sources

Another thing to consider is where your water comes from. Once it gets to your home, you may still need to purify it, but what about if the source runs out? Your water may come from rivers, aquifers, streams, or lakes. Keeping these bodies of water safe will help ensure you have water available. You can help preserve these sources by coordinating with your community and water utility provider.

Water is a crucial element in daily life. Plants, pets, people all need it – and it should be clean and healthy water. You can learn how to purify and clean water for a multitude of purposes with the above tips. Knowing how to attain clean water and how to address issues with water systems helps keep you healthy – and helps keep the planet healthy, too.