Asbestos in the Home

When it comes to your home, there is nothing like knowing it is a safe and healthy environment. However, in many homes asbestos still lingers, and it’s a very serious danger when it’s disturbed.

Although it’s relatively common knowledge that asbestos is unsafe, a lot of people don’t know what exactly it is and why it’s so serious. This article on Asbestos.com explains:

Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that once was lauded for its versatility, recognized for its heat resistance, tensile strength and insulating properties, and used for everything from fire-proof vests to home and commercial construction. It was woven into fabric, and mixed with cement.

Its properties were so desired that the United States military mandated its use in every branch of service. Asbestos was a perfect blend to make things better – except it was highly toxic, too.

Today asbestos is a known cause of mesothelioma cancer, is banned in more than 50 countries (not the U.S.), and its use has been dramatically restricted in others.

Read the full article here…

When inhaled, asbestos is unable to be broken down by the immune system in the lungs, and it causes severe damage. It can take decades before a person exposed to asbestos shows signs of illness, but its effects are very fast once symptoms appear.

This article from AsbestosNetwork.com describes where asbestos can be found and how it gets disturbed:

Is There Asbestos in My Home?

Asbestos becomes a hazard when it is airborne. If asbestos in the home becomes damaged, asbestos fibers may be released. For example, when asbestos insulation around boilers, furnaces, and pipes deteriorates, it releases asbestos dust.

Blown ceilings containing asbestos may release fibers when they are drilled or patched. If the ceilings are in poor condition, air movement from ceiling fans and opening and closing draperies may spread asbestos dust.

Asbestos transite pipes, which have been used underground to transport water to the home and in some flue pipes, may pose another problem. Transite is an asbestos-containing cement material which deteriorates over time. As the transite deteriorates, asbestos fibers can be released from the interior of the pipe into the drinking water flowing through the pipe.

Read the full article here…

Since asbestos becomes a danger the moment it is disturbed, and because it’s impossible to tell if something contains asbestos without it being lab tested, it’s never a good idea to attempt to find out if your home has asbestos in it.

If you have any suspicions, always contact a trained professional who can detect it for you and help you work out a plan to have it safely dealt with.

This article from the Ministry of Health informs people of what to do should your home have asbestos in it:

Preventing exposure to asbestos

Testing a sample in an approved analytical laboratory is the only way to find out if a material contains asbestos.

If you need to get a sample tested, contact a health protection officer at the public health unit of your local district health board (DHB). They will tell you what to do. Do not obtain a sample without consulting them first.

If you have asbestos in your home

If there is asbestos or asbestos-containing material (confirmed by laboratory analysis) in your home, you should talk with your health protection officer about:

• leaving it as it is, disturbing it as little as possible
• sealing, encapsulating or enclosing it
• removing it.

Asbestos-containing material on decorative ceilings, walls or flooring is not likely to be a health risk unless it is damaged, deteriorating or crumbly. If the material is poorly bonded, damaged or deteriorating, fibres may be released into the air. This material should be sealed, encapsulated, enclosed or removed.

Sealing is done by applying paint to the surface. When hardened this stops the release of loose asbestos dust.

Encapsulation is when asbestos-containing-material is coated with a material that soaks through the asbestos-containing-material and hardens, stopping the release of loose asbestos fibres.

Enclosing is when a construction is placed around the asbestos-containing-material (like a false wall) to contain the asbestos.

Read the full article here…

Your health and safety is the primary concern when it comes to dealing with asbestos. Don’t hesitate to take action if you suspect your home could have materials containing asbestos in it.

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The Basics of pH

It’s a safe assumption that most of us don’t know a great deal about chemistry. However, knowing what pH is and why you should measure it is very useful knowledge, especially for those in the farming and agriculture industries.

pH is a measurement of a water-based solution, ranging from 0 to 14. Pure water has a pH of 7. Anything higher than 7 is acidic and lower than 7 is alkaline.

This extract from an article by Anne Marie Helmenstine on About.com explains how the scale works:

What Does pH Stand For?

The pH scale is a logarithmic scale that usually runs from 1 to 14. Each whole pH value below 7 (the pH of pure water) is ten times more acidic than the higher value and each whole pH value above 7 is ten times less acidic than the one below it.

For example, a pH of 3 is ten times more acidic than a pH of 4 and 100 times (10 times 10) more acidic than a pH value of 5.

So, a strong acid may have a pH of 1-2, while a strong base may have a pH of 13-14. A pH near 7 is considered to be neutral.

You can read the full article here…

The level of pH in water affects the health of anything living in or off the water. Rainwater with a pH of around 4 or lower is known as acid rain and is caused by pollution in the air.

This article from USGS.gov explains what happens when water reaches either high or low levels of pH:

pH — Water properties

Excessively high and low pHs can be detrimental for the use of water. High pH causes a bitter taste, water pipes and water-using appliances become encrusted with deposits, and it depresses the effectiveness of the disinfection of chlorine, thereby causing the need for additional chlorine when pH is high. Low-pH water will corrode or dissolve metals and other substances.

Pollution can change a water’s pH, which in turn can harm animals and plants living in the water. For instance, water coming out of an abandoned coal mine can have a pH of 2, which is very acidic and would definitely affect any fish crazy enough to try to live in it!

By using the logarithm scale, this mine-drainage water would be 100,000 times more acidic than neutral water — so stay out of abandoned mines.

You can read the full article here…

pH also affects soil. For the agriculture industry, measuring soil pH can be vital to getting the most from your crops.

Water pH and soil pH affect each other and should be monitored carefully if you want your land to be optimal to growing produce. This article from CropNutrition.com explains why:

Soil pH

The desirable pH range for optimum plant growth varies among crops. While some crops grow best in the 6.0 to 7.0 range, others grow well under slightly acidic conditions. Soil properties that influence the need for and response to lime vary by region. A knowledge of the soil and the crop is important in managing soil pH for the best crop performance.

Soils become acidic when basic elements such as calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium held by soil colloids are replaced by hydrogen ions. Soils formed under conditions of high annual rainfall are more acidic than are soils formed under more arid conditions.

Read the full article here…

To get full potential from your water and land, keeping track of and responding to the pH levels are incredibly important. Don’t waste the opportunity to maximise the yield of your crops.

Image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PH

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How a Smart Home Could Be Your Best Investment

Smart home technology is gradually leaking into the everyday lives of ordinary people. Home automation is the most effective way of saving energy, improving efficiency and raising the worth of a house.

 

Saving Energy and Water, for Your Wallet and Your Planet

For the average household, smart home technology can seem very pricey. But when you consider how much money can be saved by using smart household appliances, it’s worth the investment.

This piece from Smarthome.com explains the energy saving benefits of having smart home appliances:

Save Energy the Smarthome Way

Smarthome products not only make your life safer, more convenient and more fun, they can also help you to save energy and money. As a member of the Flex Your Power energy efficiency campaign, we can show you how to be a friend to the environment and your wallet through energy conservation.

The average home spends almost $2,000 on energy costs every year. Lower your energy bills and improve comfort by making your home more energy efficient. The average household could cut a third of its current energy bill by switching to energy-efficient appliances, equipment and lighting. From lighting to thermostat control products, Smarthome offers a variety of products that homeowners can purchase to begin saving on energy costs today.

You can see the full article here…

A great example of a product that will save you in power and energy costs is a motion sensor powerstrip with 8 outlets. Michelle Smith from LifeHack.org explains why:

20 Smart Home Technology Gadgets That Will Leave You Spellbound

This smart PowerStrip conserves energy by detecting movement in the surrounding area. Four outlets automatically turn off if it does not detect human movement for 30 minutes in an adjoining space of 20 feet.

It also features three “always-on” outlets that stay on irrespective of movement.

This feature allows essential equipments, such as a router, to be left powered on.

With this smart technology, you can save energy by switching off peripheral devices when they are not in use. It is ideal for networking equipments and entertainment consoles.

Read the full article here…

Having a home that is water and energy efficient will not only save money but save precious resources from being wasted. Smart home technology provides many ways to prevent unnecessary water wastage. Nicole van Zanten from Ideaing.com explains one of these ways:

How to Save Water in Your Home with Smart Home Gadgets

As an avid gardener, I’m always keeping track of the weather. Seriously – you should have seen the rainfall we just had this past weekend. We were all rejoicing at how much of an impact the rain would have on our gardens and lawns, and I had to manually shut off my sprinkler timers for the duration of the rain.

But what if you had a garden hub that could do all of this for you to save you water? That’s possible – and I love it!

Smart garden products and hubs allow users to combine plant/irrigation monitors and sprinkler controls into one, while also monitoring the weather. This means that the smart home products will tell you when it’s time to water your gardens or lawns – with some of them even doing it for you.

Read the full article here…

While there can be some hefty costs involved in turning your home into a smart home, you can make some very cheap adjustments that will save you a lot of money and not everything you do has to cost you a fortune!

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Why You Should Invest in a Modern Heat Pump

It can seem like a great deal of money to spend when you think your current heating works fine…but there are many more advantages to having a modern heating system in your home than you might think.

The Cost of Comfort

When it comes to cost efficiency, old heat pumps have nothing on new ones. Old ones heat slower and require more power, so they cost you in the long run a great deal more than any newer system would.

With all the settings that new ones have and the ability to put them on a timer or even turn them on and off from your phone, you can save money by making your heat pump suit with your lifestyle.

Modern heat pumps also raise your house value should you ever decide to move. So as long as you live in that house you are saving money on power, and even when you leave it will still benefit you.

Heat pumps are a great alternative to any other type of heating too since it’s clean heating that doesn’t involve gas or fire, and is much safer for your whole family.

Sight, Scent and Sound

Old heat pumps are noisy, slow, power-hungry, have minimal settings and also just plain look ugly. Heat pumps designed today are designed specifically with the modern household in mind.

They’re built to be silent, so even though you may have gotten used to that constant whirr all winter you will now be able to enjoy some quiet while you read your book under a blanket.

The heat generates and spreads much faster, and you can set it to work however you want it to. With the heating and cooling settings you can keep your home at a comfortable temperature right throughout the year without stressing over the power bill.

Newer heat pumps also have cleanable air filters and so they don’t pump out dusty smelling air. They filter your air, and return it into your home cleaner and scentless.

And you will lose nothing on the eye either. New heat pumps are smooth and look modern and sleek, so you can take pleasure in having both a warm and stylish home.

How Your Health Will Benefit

The health benefits to a modern heat pump include cleaner, drier air, so for asthmatics they can be a blessing. A home that protects you from the cold boosts your immune system and helps prevent illnesses during winter months.

Moisture in your skin is sucked out by cold air, and so your skin can get dry and sore. This is most commonly noticed on the lips and hands. If your nose dries out too much from the cold it leaves you susceptible to colds, the flu and sinus infections.

There are a huge number of benefits to investing in a new heat pump system. It is a choice that would continue to be an advantage to you and to your family for as long as you live in the home, improving your comfort and quality of life for years to come.

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Keeping Your Home Cool This Summer

Enter September, and the first month of spring – finally! The days are growing slowly but surely longer and the sun is gracing us all with its presence a little more each day.

Welcoming Spring

While the beautiful spring flowers and the adorable baby lambs are always a welcome sight each year, and the idea of having some nice sunshine after the winter is heavenly, the sometimes stifling heat of summer is on its way.

But don’t sweat it. With summer’s many positives are its negatives, but your house being too hot all day doesn’t have to be one of those. There are ways to (economically) keep your house cool even on the hottest days.

Making the Most of the Shade and Air

While you want the sun in your house in winter, during the summer it’s best to avoid letting it pour in. Use blinds or lace curtains to filter the sunlight and provide your living spaces with shade.

Don’t fall for opening your windows during a still, sweltering hot day. If there’s no wind outside, it will cause heat to flood into your home, much like cold does in winter. Keep your house closed up tight to prevent heat from getting in.

Leave doors throughout the house open. This allows the air to move freely, and prevents heat from gathering up in one room and becoming an indoor glasshouse.

Cut Back on Heat-Emitters

You’d be surprised how many things we use each day that emit heat. Incandescent light bulbs are a major one – around 90% of the energy they consume is wasted on heat. Ditching these for more energy efficient light bulbs won’t just help reduce the heat, but also your power bill.

Stoves and ovens are another major one, although they are perhaps a little more obvious. Try to avoid roasts or other meals that take a long time in the oven during summer. Cold meats and salads or even an outdoor barbecue in the shade would make a much cooler alternative.

If it’s possible, you should consider investing in a ventilation system. This would be a massive help in keeping your home cool and the air feeling fresh.

At the very least, a fan in your bathroom is highly recommended, to get rid of the hot steam after showers. This won’t just make your home cooler but also help prevent dampness.

But Most Importantly, Focus on Yourself

When it comes to keeping your home cool (without cranking the A/C all summer) there’s only so much you can do. The best way to feel cool in the home is to start with your own body temperature.

Drink plenty of cold drinks and wear light clothes, and even if your house is the same temperature you’ll feel cooler. Keeping hydrated is incredibly important during the hot months.

Make use of the cooler night air too and leave a small window or two slightly open. But make sure you close them before the sun hits them in the morning.

Something to help you sleep at night too is to remove your flannel sheets and replace them with cotton ones. And your pillows could be swapped out for buckwheat pillows too if you have some – they have natural air pockets that prevent heat from gathering underneath your head.

Being aware of how heat gets into your home and how to keep yourself cool is key during summer. Having a cool house means you can focus on the more important things.

 

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