Discuss home security with an industry professional and you are likely to cover topics like preventing burglary, catching porch pirates, and providing evidence that can be used in court. All are tangible benefits and good motivation for installing a monitored home security system. However, there are intangible benefits as well.

Not every benefit afforded by a home security system is easily recognizable. Some are not even understood until after a home security system has thwarted a potential crime. Indeed, some people never grasp the intangible benefits until after being victimized by a criminal.

According to Vivint Smart Home, a leading provider of home security and automation equipment in North America, today’s home security systems do more than just prevent burglary. They offer families numerous intangible benefits that are as valuable as their more obvious counterparts. Three such benefits are described below.

1. Less Anxiety with the Kids

Today’s families are mostly dual-income families. Both parents work while the kids are in school. Unfortunately, many working parents are anxious for their children during those hours when the kids are home alone. A monitored home security system can relieve that anxiety to some extent. How? By the creative use of video surveillance cameras.

Just from a security standpoint, installing a surveillance camera to monitor the front door – along with another one in the main living area of the home – is standard procedure. Just those two cameras can effectively deter burglaries. But think about them in another way. The same video feeds that alert you to burglars can also help you keep an eye on the kids.

You can utilize video surveillance to make sure the kids get home from school on time. Depending on where cameras are placed, you can observe your kids while they do their homework or make dinner. And if you utilize the services of a babysitter for younger kids who aren’t yet in school, video surveillance lets you keep an eye on the sitter.

2. More Carefree Vacations

It is no fun to go on vacation and have to constantly worry about your home while you’re away. A monitored home security system may not alleviate all your worries, but it can certainly reduce them considerably. You can monitor your home for burglary, fire, carbon monoxide leaks, and flood – all while enjoying yourself on a sunny Caribbean beach.

The nice thing about monitored home security is that you do not have to be in the local area to notify the authorities in the event of an emergency. Your monitoring provider does it for you. That means fewer worries about not being there.

Combine the benefits of a home security system with a couple of key strategies for making your home look occupied while you’re away on vacation can all but prevent burglary. The key is making it appear as though you are home even though you’re not. A burglar who cannot be sure is one who will look for a softer target.

3. Greater Peace of Mind

This third intangible benefit might be the most important of all. Installing a monitored home security system can give you greater peace of mind all the way around. Even when you are at home. Anyone who has been victimized by a burglar can tell you just how important this truly is.

Burglary victims often talk about being robbed of more than just possessions. They also feel robbed of their safety and security. A monitored home security system gives back some of what has been taken from them. But why wait to be a victim before you consider monitored home security?

Having a system in place means you go to bed at night knowing that your house is armed and monitored. It gives you the peace of mind that comes with knowing you and your family will be alerted should a fire break out in the middle of the night.

There is little doubt that monitored home security offers plenty of tangible benefits. Those benefits are good motivation to install a system. But when you step back and think about the intangible benefits discussed here, it should become clear that there really is no good reason not to have a home security system.

 

There are a lot of invisible details to our modern society that we often take for granted. The septic tank is one of those details, and it is far from a little one.

Every building with plumbing needs a septic tank. For your business, finding the best septic system could be one of the biggest decisions you may not have thought about.

We will help guide you through the basic ideas you need to consider for a septic tank system.

The Types of Septic Tanks

Septics tanks have come a long way from the simple concrete containers that the first septics tanks were. There has been a lot of refinement for septic tanks.

Septic tanks break down into 4 types, each with their own system and advantage. Which type is right for you will depend on a lot of factors.

1. Standard Gravity

The standard gravity uses the simplest and strongest item in this list: the force of gravity. Engineers build the tank in a way to receive the waste so that it settles and moves through gravitational pull.

2. Pressure Distribution

These tanks have an extra system that uses artificial external pressure to clear waste from one part of the system to the other.

3. Advanced Treatment, Above Ground

The advanced treatment systems are more complete and sophisticated. They come in two forms: the above ground or the below ground.

The above ground method is far easier to access when the system needs maintenance. The drawback is that this makes the system more dangerous. If it ruptures or spills, it won’t have the ground to stop it from spilling everywhere.

4. Advanced Treatment, Below Ground

The major difference is that the system is below ground, as the name implies. Because of this, there is a lot less exposure to ruptures and spills. The drawback, then, is that it is harder to work with and make repairs to.

Sizes and Options

Septic tanks have more than a type to choose from. You need to understand both the size of the septic tank you need and the extra options you may want to consider.

For size, a septic tank can range from small for a one-bathroom house to large for an entire facility. The building in your business that needs a tank will dictate the size.

A septic tank has many options to try and help improve how efficiently your tank works.

Some systems use oxygen to help decay waste faster. This reduces filtration time. Other systems have more advanced filters, like the advanced treatment types noted above.

Extra sand or particle filters have seen use as a protection for the local groundwater. These extra installations can help keep your water supply safe in case of a rupture.

Keeping Your Septic Tank Going

Installing a septic tank and understanding the options isn’t the end. To keep your septic tank operating at the best, you have to keep it clean like the best.

Septic tank maintenance is not as frequent as you might think, but it does have to be consistent. Septic tank pumping is an important process and will need doing every 2 to 5 years. If some rare situations, you may need to do more for your tank.

When in doubt, talk with your installer about what you need to be aware of for your septic tank. Don’t let its maintenance be an afterthought.

Clean Life Through the Best Septic System

Getting the best septic system will take a bit of further research and shopping around. With this guide, though, you’ll know the items you’ll need to remember.

There are a lot of details about our modern life, and septic tanks are only one of them. For plenty of information and guides on all manners of our modern world, check out our other articles today!

Gardening is something that you can do individually, as a family, or even as a community project. Aside from improving the kerb appeal of your property or the neighbourhood, there are several other benefits that you can get from it. If you’ve been thinking about starting a garden, it may be time to push through with that thought. Here are some of the ways that you can benefit from it.

Have a sense of fulfilment

Accomplishing something gives you a sense of fulfilment, and it boosts your self-confidence. If you are feeling down and you feel like nothing is going your way, start gardening. See the positive effect that it will give to you as you watch your plants grow day by day. It’s an accomplishment that will bring you pride and joy and will make you feel that you can fulfil something.

You will be happier

There’s a reason why some people consider their garden as their happy place. Happiness is one of the benefits that you can get from gardening, and that is backed by science. According to studies, plants have a positive effect on your mood, and they can help you feel more relaxed. Furthermore, a substance found in soil called Mycobacterium vaccae also gives those same feelings as it stimulates the production of serotonin. Lack of the said hormone in the system may cause anxiety and depression.

Lowers risk of stroke and heart problems

Gardening is also a form of exercise. According to Iowa State University, men can burn up to 400 calories and women up to 300 calories doing moderate gardening activities for an hour. It also improves the circulation of blood in the body, which helps improve general health and avoid various problems like stroke and heart diseases. Also, the good bacteria found in the soil can strengthen the immune system.

It can serve as a family bonding experience

Gardening is an activity that you can do with your family. It’s a fun and productive way of spending time with your loved ones without having to leave home or spend a lot of money. With children nowadays being more focused on gadgets, games and social media; this is a fantastic way for them to take a break from all of those and enjoy the outdoors.

It’s a way of socializing with the neighbourhood

It can also serve as a community project that the entire block can participate in. Not only will it make your surroundings green, but it will also pave the way to a better relationship with the people in your local area.

Eat fresh and healthy foods

Since you were the one who grew your fruits and vegetables, you’ll know that they are fresh and safe from toxic materials.

Aside from the said benefits, gardening is also a way of helping save the environment. Plants help clean the air, which is vital to everyone, including the animals and other natural resources. Apart from starting your own garden, living walls that use green air technology are also an exceptional addition to your home and community. They purify air better and faster, thus helping improve its quality.

 

 

Being a homeowner is a big responsibility with plenty to take care of on the inside of your home and the outside, too. Unfortunately, hiring a professional landscaper can be expensive. However, a beautiful backyard doesn’t have to cost a fortune. With a little effort and some creativity, you can have the outdoor space that you’ve dreamed about at an affordable price point. To help beautify your home’s yard, get to work with the following easy DIY landscaping ideas.

Pergolas and Other Structures

Image via Flickr by Field Outdoor Spaces

Hardscaping is one of many landscaping basics that adds both visual interest and useful space to your yard. You can think of this concept as the use of hard items in landscaping such as decks, patios, pergolas, fountains, outdoor kitchens, and stone walkways. Many of these items are low maintenance and can last for years, especially if you plan first and use the right materials during construction.

Water Features

Water features can transform a regular yard or garden into a tranquil and relaxing oasis. You can add many unique water features to your yard, such as koi ponds, birdbaths, waterfalls, stone and tabletop fountains, reflecting pools, and more. Some water features are artificially constructed and others can be made with a bit of time and creativity.

Plants

From a lush, green yard, to colorful flower boxes and borders, plants are a must-have addition to any outdoor area. For example, you can add a simple stone border and mulch to dress up plain and boring flower beds.

To get the most out of your garden in every season, be sure to add a variety of plants as well as plants with a purpose. Plant a mixture of ornamental and edible plants, as well as flowers, evergreens, and plants that offer color during the fall and winter. You can also add extra visual interest to your yard by using container gardens.

Lighting

Making lighting a part of your landscaping not only adds beauty, but it also enables you to enjoy your outdoor paradise during the night. Consider adding soft accent lighting close to the ground or spotlights to make certain features stand out. Hang a thread of twinkling fairy lights to add a touch of whimsy or colored lights for a bit of mystic intrigue.

Privacy Features

If you want to create a relaxing place where you can enjoy your surroundings while escaping from the world, then you’re going to want some privacy. You can use several techniques to create your own privacy. Some of the most popular ways to create a private oasis include planting tall hedges or thick bamboo, building a stone wall, creating a living wall, hanging curtains around a patio or pergola, and adding wood fences.

A well-kept yard is not only beautiful, but according to the HVAC professionals of Dalton Heating and Air, it also helps to cut energy costs and protect your HVAC system. Landscaping and landscape design don’t have to be difficult. With a few simple steps, you can have an outdoor oasis outside your front or back door.

 

Our homes represent security and comfort. Being relaxed and content at home is something to look forward to after a hard day at work or time spent away. Wonderful soft sofas and a widescreen television might be at the top of your list for home comforts, but what about a comfortable and consistent home temperature? Weather can be unpredictable; mornings and evenings can be chilly, while the rest of the day can be disagreeably hot. Investing in a smart thermostat is the best way to make sure that your home maintains a desirable temperature all day long. With the convenience of a smart thermostat, you can select your desired temperature, maintain ambient comfort all year round, conserve energy, and even save money on your energy bills.

Think of a smart thermostat as the brain that controls your heating or cooling system. The U.S. Department of Energy found that a correctly programmed smart thermostat can save you a minimum of 5% and as much as 15% on your energy bill. To lower the cost of your energy bills, buy a smart thermostat that you can control with an app on your smartphone and take advantage of this convenience, controlling the temperature in your home even when you are not there. There are smart thermostats designed to fit every style of home decor and priced to suit all budgets. In addition to its ease of use, the system learns your preferences, making a smart thermostat a great choice for everyone.

The arrival of a new baby is always a happy event but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t come with challenges. A smart home can make life easier for harried parents, taking some of the stress out of caring for the newest member of the family. Smart homes automate crucial aspects of your home environment, making it easier to care for your baby.

Keep Your Cool (or Warm Up)

 

Babies are extremely sensitive to high or low temperatures. They rapidly become chilled or overheated. Some babies sleep better in a slightly cooler room while others seem to relax when things are warmer. A smart thermostat keeps the ambient temperature inside your home at the perfect level. Better yet, smart thermostats can be used to regulate the temperature in individual rooms. This allows you to keep Baby’s room at the perfect infant-friendly temperature while the rest of the house is set to a level that’s more comfortable for the rest of the family. As well as letting you adjust the temperature in the nursery alone without affecting the rest of the house, a new, more efficient HVAC system with a smart thermostat will save money on your heating and cooling bills. That’s always good news when you’ve got a new family member to consider.

Lights Out

Babies generally sleep better in a dimly-lit or darkened room. With a smart lighting system, you can dim the lights automatically at a certain time of day and adjust them remotely without needing to get up and manually adjust the dimmer switch. Many smart home systems allow you to control the lights from your smartphone. You can use the app to raise and lower light levels and even change the color to the most soothing shade for your baby. As with a smart thermostat, automating your household lighting allows you to avoid wasting electricity, turning out lights when they’re not in use.

Quiet Nights

Babies and loud noises really don’t mix. The room where your infant sleeps needs to be quiet. Conversely, if the room is too quiet this can make some infants anxious and fretful. Smart home sound systems allow you to lower the TV and music when the baby is sleeping. They also allow you to control the sound systems in the nursery, playing soothing white noise or lullabies to calm your baby.

Automate Chores

Another benefit of a smart house for the harried new parent is the ability to automate many day-to-day chores. If you’re too exhausted to remember to put the coffee on in the morning or don’t have the energy to run the vacuum cleaner around as often as you’d like, there are smart appliances to take care of those tasks for you. A smart coffee-maker will automatically prepare your morning brew just the way you like it, while a smart robotic vacuum cleaner will keep your house looking neat and tidy even when you’re too tired to clean.

Best of all, a smart house gives you peace of mind. You never have to worry about leaving the lights on or forgetting to set the AC before you head home from work: you can check the status of all your smart technology via convenient phone apps.

 

If you’ve decided to switch over from a bathtub to a shower, you’ll need to take a moment to carefully plan your transition. Luckily, that’s just what we’re going to help you out with here in this post.

In this article, we’ll go over the cost of replacing your bathtub with a shower, the spacing and placement, the materials and much more.

Cost of Remodelling From a Tub to a Shower

When deciding to remodel, homeowners must decide whether they wish to tackle this matter by themselves or hire a professional contractor for the job. It’s expensive to pay for a plumber’s labor, but it’s even more costly if you make any mistakes, which is something that damages your plumbing.

To get started, here are the areas you need to consider when it comes to cost:

• Changing the pipes: The cost of replacing old or outdated with either copper or PEX could vary depending on how much needs to be changed. Plumbers might charge you anywhere between $45 to $150 per hour.
• Tiles: Using ceramic tiles to tile your shower could cost about $1.30 per square foot. Specialty tiles, on the other hand, can stretch as much as $20 per square foot.
• Dry rot or any other problems around the tub space: Check for any dry rot or any other issue that may have accumulated around your tub space over the years. If your tub has had a water leakage problem during that time, then it’s best you get it replaced with a shower soon before it damages your floor.
• Fixtures: If you crave a luxury experience, then we suggest special fixtures like height-adjustable or rainfall showerheads. These high-quality fixtures can be anywhere around a couple of hundred dollars.
• Door: A basic sliding door can cost you anywhere between $100 to $300 plus installation. You can even choose glass doors that are tinted or textured if your pockets are deeper.

Spacing & Placement

It’s pretty simple to install your new walk-in shower, especially when doing so in the same space as where your bathtub once was. Not to mention, the water supply and drain lines are already there in place. But when it concerns moving plumbing, you may need to hire a plumber for the occasion, which will obviously add to the cost.

Amount of Spacing Required for a Walk-in Shower

• At least 80 inches in height.
• At least 30 x 30 inches of floor space.
• At least 21 inches between the front of your toilet and the shower wall
• At least 15 inches between your toilet’s side and the shower wall
• If you’re thinking about getting a swinging door, be sure to consider the swing.

Look for Materials

Materials are the next thing on your list after spacing. For this, you’ll require

• Screwdriver
• Plywood to protect wood
• Utility knife and putty knife
• Wrench and/or Allen wrench
• Prybar
• Jigsaw
• Reciprocating saw or drywall saw

You should also think of renting out a 10-yard dumpster to dispose of your bathtub in as many cities won’t accept bathtubs for curbside pickup. And even if they do, you’ll need to wait for a monthly or yearly bulk collection day.

Remove Your Tub

Now the action begins. Use these steps to remove your bathtub:

1. Detach any screws or nails the connect your tub to wall studs.
2. A utility knife is suitable for cutting through any caulk between the tub and the floor.
3. Use a prybar to pry your tub a couple of inches from the wall.
4. Get someone to help you and then use a prybar to pry up one end of your tub and then maneuver it upright. Make sure it fits through your doors.
5. Or, you can cut through the middle of the tub using a jigsaw to put it into two pieces. Pry each one of them up and maneuver it until you’re able to slide it out of its space.
6. Toss your old tub in the dumpster and then repair the drywall you cut away.

Install Your Shower

Now the last thing to do is to install your shower, which you can do by either calling your plumber or use your shower stall kit for the job.

 

The quality of your indoor air is very important for your wellness. For instance, you can avoid air-based problems such as allergic reactions and other negative health impacts by doing things that improve the air quality in your home. Here are five methods that you can use for better indoor air.

Keep Pollutants Out

Preventing pollutants from entering your home is the best way to improve your home’s air, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). So you should use source control to prevent bringing products with a high level of chemical emissions into your dwelling. To start keeping pollutants out, you can use an online tool to check whether the products that you use or plan to use are safe for you and your family.

Use Charcoal

Activated charcoal, which is charcoal that has been reheated, can improve your home’s air quality by attracting pollutants from the air to its surface. To use this technique effectively, you need to buy charcoal that does not have any additives, so using your barbeque charcoal, which has a lot of additives, is not a good idea!

You can use bamboo charcoal products or some additive-free pieces of activated charcoal and leave them in your rooms to clean your indoor air. Rule of thumb: As your charcoal products will become less effective over time, put them outside once each month for a few hours to reactivate.

Ventilate Your Home

 

Increasing the quantity of outdoor air in your home is another way to improve your indoor air. If you live in a rural area where there is a lower level of air pollution, you can ventilate your home by simply leaving the windows open for a while each day. Using this method is more complicated if you live in an urbanized area in which the outdoor air is polluted, but you can still leave your windows open early in the morning to air out your home.

Maintain Your HVAC Unit

Maintaining your HVAC unit can help you to enjoy good indoor air. One way of doing this is to have a maintenance plan for your system. Your unit needs its air ducts and its air filter cleaned regularly. You also need an HVAC service to check for leaks and damaged components and handle any necessary repair or installation. Hiring professionals to maintain your unit can help you to avoid expensive repairs in the future and extend your unit’s lifetime in addition to improving the air in your dwelling.

Grow Plants Indoors

Having indoor plants can be an enjoyable method of purifying indoor air. A NASA study found that certain plants are very effective in ridding the air of pollutants. Peace Lily, English Ivy, and Boston Fern are some of the plants that you can use to improve your indoor air quality.

There are many ways in which you can improve the air quality in your home. Using these tips can also make your dwelling more comfortable. So start improving your home’s air quality today!

 

Thermostats are essentially the gatekeepers to indoor comfort. They decide if the furnace is warming things up, the air conditioner is cooling things off, or nothing is running at all. Old-fashioned thermostats require constant checking and changing to maximize their usefulness. These days, programmable thermostats allow you to easily set the temperature to your comfort, the time of day, or even the season. Here are four reasons programmable thermostats can be a huge benefit to your home.

Lower Energy Bills

Besides a mortgage, energy bills are often the largest recurring family expense. Homeowners can save up to 30% on their energy bills by using a programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats can help lower your energy bills by using a schedule to adjust the temperature of your home throughout the day. In the winter, you can set the home temperature cooler when you are work, allowing the furnace to run less. In the summer, give the AC a break by setting the home temperature a bit higher while you are away from the home. Your programmable thermostat can restore your home to your preferred temperature right before you arrive, allowing you to save money without sacrificing comfort.

Optimal HVAC Performance

HVAC systems can run more efficiently when paired with a programmable thermostat. When it is set on a schedule, your HVAC won’t run all day long, reducing wear and tear on major components. This means a programmable thermostat can even help your older HVAC last longer.

Consistent Comfortable Indoor Temperature

Have you ever gotten stuck sitting in a hot, stuffy room in the summer or a freezing room in the winter? Old-fashioned thermostats often leave homeowners waiting for the HVAC to catch up to temperature changes. This results in inconsistent indoor temperatures and an uncomfortable home. With a programmable thermostat, your HVAC will run consistently throughout the day, maintaining the temperature you set in the schedule. Should the weather be different than expected, many thermostats allow you to adjust your thermostat using your smartphone.

Spend Less Time with your Thermostat

With an old-fashioned thermostat, you need to change the temperature when you leave the house for the day. When you get home you need to adjust the temperature again. On the way to bed, you will need to stop yet again and adjust the thermostat. Smart programmable thermostats allow you to avoid the need for constant thermostat checking. Thermostats controlled by a smartphone or your voice make it easier and faster to maintain a comfortable home. This allows you to spend more time enjoying the comfort of your home and less time in front of your thermostat.

We all want our homes to be as comfortable as possible without breaking the bank. Programmable thermostats allow you to have the best of both worlds. With their ease of scheduling and the ability to maximize HVAC efficiency, programmable thermostats are a beneficial addition to any home.