You ever wondered how heaters with two different energy sources work together? And, why wouldn’t you have an all-electric system or all-gas system?

In this article, we will discuss how these devices work and what they do to improve efficiency. We’ll start with some basic information about their operation. Then, we’ll move on to more detail about specific types of heat exchangers.

How Do Air-to-Water Heaters Work?

Air-to-water heaters appear in a variety of applications, including commercial and residential. They’re found at home or business locations where hot water gets used for bathing and cooking.

The air-to-water heater heats the incoming cold water with heated air from inside the unit. This process allows you to use less energy than if you were heating your water supply on-site.

An air water heat exchanger works by using natural gas or electricity as its power source. These units have two main components. There’s one that contains the combustion chamber and another that holds the water tank.

When the burner turns on, it creates high-temperature flames. These flames travel through the combustion chamber into the water tank.

As these flames pass over the water’s surface, they transfer thermal energy to the liquid.

When keeping the water flowing throughout the system, there needs to be an option to remove excess heat. The water passes through tubes located within the walls of the water tank.

These tubes act like radiators, transferring the remaining heat back out of the water. Once this occurs, the water begins to warm up.

Tyes of Air-To-Water Heat Exchangers

There are many types of air-to-water heat exchangers. Here are some examples:

Furnace Heat Exchanger

This kind of device uses forced convection to move large volumes of air across the top of the water tank. It works well when temperatures remain constant. Heat levels transferred depend on differences in ambient air and water temperature.

If the room becomes too hot, then the furnace fan kicks in and increases airflow. Yet, if the room gets too cold, the fan slows down until the temperature is as desired again.

Fireplace Heat Exchanger

A fireplace heat exchanger operates differently from a furnace heat exchanger. Instead of fans circulating air around the tank, a fireplace exchanger is radiant.

Because of this design feature, fireplace heat exchangers operate best during low humidity. Yet, they still need regular maintenance to ensure proper functioning.

Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger

The shell and tube heat exchanger consists of small copper tubes running parallel. Each row runs along the length of the water tank.

A series of fins attached to each end cap helps increase the surface area available for heat exchange. Shell and tube heat exchangers are also called “tube and fin” heat exchangers.

Plate Heat Exchanger

These devices consist of thin metal plates stacked together. Like other types of plate heat exchangers, they rely on conduction.

Conduction transfers heat from the water to the environment. Plate heat exchangers are more efficient than other designs but not very durable. Over time, corrosion will cause them to fail.

Buy the Right Heat Exchanger

If you’ve got a cracked heat exchanger, then consider an air-to-water heat exchanger. Make sure you do your research and invest in one with a good warranty and aftercare service. That way, you won’t get left out in the cold!

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Water leaks are a nightmare for all homeowners. However, leaks happen more commonly than people think. According to a report, a typical home can lose up to 10,000 gallons of water every year due to water leaks.

Water leaks lead to a significant wastage of money and precious water, leaving homes running inefficiently. While some types of water leaks, such as dripping showerheads and faucets, can be quite easy to detect, others could go undetected for weeks or even months. For example, leaking pipes could go unnoticed unless they are checked regularly by a professional.

There are many types of household water leaks. These include:

Water Softener Leaks

There are three significant reasons why your water softener might be leaking. These include a cracked bypass, a faulty rotor valve, and a loose water line connection. If you notice a loose waterline, you can simply tighten the fitting to solve the problem.

On the other hand, any damaged component of the water softener should be replaced immediately. Replacing these parts will save you both money and water that you will need to run your home.

Water leaks can also result from an old and worn-out rotor valve seal or a perforated brine tank. The best way to solve the problem is to call a professional to replace these parts.

Fountain and Pool Leaks

Pools and fountains are also vulnerable to leaks due to plumbing problems. For example, a small leak in your pool the size of a pinhole could lead to a loss of 970 gallons of water every day. Such a leak could go undetected for months, leading to an increased water bill.

Significant warning signs of water leaks in pools include cracks and fissures in the shell, algae and mold growths immediately after chemical treatment and loose tiles. You should also check the soil around your pool to confirm if it’s often damp.

Another great way to check if the fountain or pool is leaking is by testing it using a marked bucket. Place the bucket at the top step of the pool and leave it for 24 hours. After 24 hours, check the marked bucket to confirm if the water level is still the same. If it’s lower, you should contact a professional to help you with the repair.

Supply Line Water Leaks

A supply line water link is one of the most common types of water leaks at home. It can also lead to significant water bills and loss of water. Residential water supply pipes are buried deep into the ground, making this leak quite challenging to detect.

If you have a severe water supply leak, you may notice that some water will be seeping up on the ground directly above the supply pipe. This leads to the constant damp ground around the water supply pipes. Ensure you do a perimeter check constantly around your property to check for any damp soil.

Sometimes, leaking water from the supply lines often goes directly to the meter box. Therefore, keep a close eye on your meter box and contact a professional immediately you notice dampness around it. This could be an indicator that your water supply lines are leaking.

Tub, Shower, and Faucet Leaks

Have you noticed that your showerheads and faucets are often dripping even when turned off? This is probably the most common type of water leak at home because most homeowners don’t pay attention to dripping faucets or showerheads.

However, if the dripping is left for a while, it may lead to enormous wastage of water and money. Fortunately, it is easy to repair a dripping shower head or faucet. You can even do it yourself at home with the right tools.

The first step is determining the type of showerhead or faucet you have. It could be a cartridge or a compression valve. Then search for the correct repair method based on your faucet type.

On the other hand, bathtub leaks are often caused by water drain leaks. The drain pipe may be loose in most cases, leading to water dripping onto the beneath space.

Humidifier Leaks in the Whole House

Do you have a whole-house humidifier?  Humidifier leaks are often frustrating and annoying. However, these types of leaks are pretty common in houses with a central heating unit. That’s because the air distribution relies entirely on the vents and ductwork.

A whole-house humidifier is often connected to the supply pipes directly. Therefore, the leaks often start when the refill valve malfunctions or fails. The water leaking, as a result, will go directly into the sewer, hence, making it quite challenging to detect.

Before you detect this type of leak, too much water will already be wasted. When your AC is working to heat your home during the winter season, it’s advisable to do regular inspections of your humidifier.

Slab Leaks

Slab leaks are stressful and can quickly lead to a plumbing emergency. Homeownership isn’t easy. You will be responsible for handling many home repair emergencies such as water leaks, which can be a nightmare.

A slab leak can be quite challenging to detect and locate the source. For this reason, it’s advisable to hire a slab leak repair service to help you in case your slab is leaking. The professionals will also help you with slab leak detection to avoid severe water damage to your home.

A slab leak occurs when water pipes running under your home’s floors or basement burst or are damaged. This often leads to a leaking basement, growth of mold and mildew, and a spike in your water bills.

Ensure you check your floors for dampness and check whether there are any decreases in your household’s water pressure. These are the telltale signs of a slab leak.

Now You Know the Different Types of Water Leaks

There are many different types of water leaks. These may include slab leaks, fountain and pool leaks, and faucet and shower head dripping. Knowing the different types of household leaks will help you determine the best way to go about repairs.

Did you enjoy this article? Check out other posts on our site for more informative tips.

Does your home have an outdoor space or yard that’s lacking that special something? Or, maybe you’ve been trying to improve your lawn, but you don’t know where to start?

If this sounds like your current predicament, then the great news is that there are tons of reasons out there to make your outdoor living places, curb appeal, and yard the space of your dreams. Keep reading to explore the numerous benefits of maintaining your home’s landscaping.

Boost your home’s curb appeal.

One of the benefits of maintaining your landscaping is that it has the potential to improve your home’s curb appeal. In turn, this well-maintained yard may mean a higher return on investment if you ever plan to sell your home. While your curb appeal is a big factor in selling, it’s also an easy way to make your home feel more inviting and welcoming.

Keep in mind that reports tell that potential homebuyers make judgments in about 30 seconds when searching for a home. What this means for you is that the outside of the home is the first impression of what the rest of it will model. So, if you have dead grass, dried-up outdoor plants, and overgrown shrubs, it’s not the best first look. By simply maintaining your home’s yard, you’ll create the ideal space.

Trees can shade your home.

Another benefit to maintaining your landscaping is that the trees and greenery you plant have the potential to shade your home. This natural shade saves you money, especially in the hot summer months when the sun is beating down on the trees instead of directly on your roof. While it’s great that these trees save you some cash, they also are a beautiful statement for a home.

If your home currently has trees or large shrubs that need to be maintained, then you should check out this outdoor power equipment store in Gresham, OR, to purchase trimmers, lawn mowers, chainsaws, and a variety of outdoor power equipment so you can maintain your outdoor plants with ease.

You’ll get a usable outdoor space.

Another incredible advantage to sustaining your landscaping is that you get to create usable spaces. For example, if you maintain your front and backyard well enough, then you can focus on adding touches like decor, patio or porch furniture, window sill planters, fire pits, and other accessories.

You’re sure to use this outdoor space to hang with loved ones, entertain guests, or simply appreciate it on your own with a good glass of wine on your night off. In this way, it pays off to keep your yard maintained so you get to enjoy leisurely time in it rather than constantly ignoring the overgrown shrubs, grass, or plants.

Get the chance to make your home unique.

The final benefit to managing your home’s landscaping is that you get the creative freedom to plant whatever you desire! After all, this is your home’s yard, so you have permission to lay out your favorite flowers, shrubs, or trees in whatever manner you choose. Plus, doing this yardwork yourself is great for your mental health because gardening allows you to connect with nature.

If you’re readily searching for new plants to add to your landscaping, then you should look at the variety of outdoor plants and indoor plants available through this plant delivery service that’ll bring your desired live plant straight to your front door. This way, you get plants delivered instead of wasting valuable time at the store.

In no time, you’ll be able to plant all of your favorite colored flowers in whatever design you love. With a little bit of maintenance, you’ll have an incredibly beautiful and practical yard that will surely impress.

We can barely remember how terrible our lives were before the invention of garbage disposals in 1927. Installing garbage disposal became popular right after World War II, but now more than half of the American population have one in their homes.

However, garbage disposals aren’t magical machines that can “eat” any trash you send its way. To keep both your garbage disposal in working order and avoid plumbing problems, you’ll want to keep an eye on the things you shouldn’t put in your disposal machine.

Suppose you have no idea about those items, no worries. You’ve come to the right place. Keep on reading for our full breakdown of all the food and non-food items you should keep far away from your kitchen sink.

The Bane of Garbage Disposal’s Existence: Coffee Grounds

Let’s start with one of those tricky items that most people will put in their garbage disposal, and those are coffee grounds.

As a nation obsessed with coffee, our plumbing tends to get bombarded with paste-like fine coffee grounds, all to its disadvantage. If you put it down your trash disposal, you’ll end up with a blockage in your drain due to a buildup of gunky sediment.

Gluten-Based Products: Rice, Bread, and Pasta

What do all three of these items have in common? They all absorb and expand water, which may quickly block a drain. Don’t be concerned if a little leftover spaghetti ends up in the garbage disposal, but don’t throw pasta down the garbage disposal regularly.

If you must put pasta, rice, or bread down the disposal, do so for at least 30 seconds and then flush the grains down the drain with cold water to prevent them from expanding. Oats and any other grain that absorbs water are in the same boat.

Avoid Fat, Oil, and Grease

The difficult thing with grease, oil, and fats is that they may seem liquid at first, but they don’t last in their liquid form for long. With time, these items may solidify, causing a significant clog in your drain.

This is the most environmentally friendly option: allow the chemicals to cool before throwing them out.

Otherwise, you’ll call a plumber sooner than you might think. And, if your pips are already clogged, then it’s time to reach out to plumbtimesc.com to fix your problem as soon as possible.

Animal Bones

It’s just not designed for grinding up complicated things. Bones are one of the toughest naturally available materials, and they may drastically reduce the lifetime of your disposal.

If you drop a tiny fish or chicken bone down the drain, don’t worry; your trash disposal can handle it. On the other hand, anything bigger than that will just spin about at your disposal, damaging the grinding gears.

Hard Pits and Seeds

Pits and seeds Pits and seeds are often spherical and tiny, making grinding them even more difficult.

Not to mention the awful noise they create as they bounce around your garbage disposal. Throw them in the garbage to save your disposal the bother.

Chunks of Onion Layers

While sliced onions may easily go down the garbage disposal, it’s the outermost layer that has to be avoided.

The membrane that sits immediately under the dry skin may travel through the disposal, either obstructing or wrapping around the blades grinder. It may even get lodged in the drain and serve as a net, catching other objects.

Nuts and Shells

Softer nuts, such as peanuts, are also not recommended for disposal. Your trash disposal functions similarly to a nut grinder, and do you know what happens when you grind and crush peanuts?

Peanut butter is a delicious spread. Well, it’s not quite a peanut butter in a jar, but it’s a thick peanut paste that may easily clog up your drain.

Egg Shells

We’ve all heard the widely held belief that eggshells may assist in sharpening the “blades” of your garbage disposal. Trash disposals, on the other hand, do not have blades. They have broad impellers rather than sharp impellers, which makes them more efficient.

These impellers crush food waste rather than being chopped up as it would be by a blender. Moreover, when was the last time you used eggshells to sharpen the edges of your knives?

Eggshells are not only worthless for sharpening grinding mechanisms, but they also include membranes that may easily wrap themselves around the grinder, making it impossible to utilize them. This may result in a plethora of problems for your equipment.

Fibrous Fruits and Vegetables

Items like celery, asparagus, banana peels, maize husks, and rhubarb are a few things to toss in the trash instead of the disposal.

A few here and there won’t harm, but try to prevent it if you want to keep your appliance’s quality.

Potato Peels

Potato peels may seem to be innocuous.

Nevertheless, if this debris manages to get into the pipes, it may create significant blockages in the future. Other starchy vegetables and legumes can cause the same problem.

Non-Food Items

The term “trash disposal” may be deceptive. It doesn’t imply you should handle your trash disposal like one. Paper towels, plastic wrappers, and tissues, among other non-food things, may clog your drainage system.

These substances may also travel via your drainage system and end up in your local water supply. Anything that isn’t biodegradable shouldn’t be thrown away.

Ready to Give Your Garbage Disposal a Break?

We know that this can cause a bit of an information overload, especially if you weren’t already familiar with at least some of those items on our list.

However, we hope that our explainer has shed some light on why these items can cause damage to your garbage disposal. Remember that if it’s something that blunt blades would have trouble breaking apart, then maybe it’s better to throw it in the regular trash.

If you liked our article, make sure to check out all our additional tips and tricks for your home life. You’ll find them available to you in our lifestyle and home sections.

 

According to a report from the FBI, more than 6.92 million property crimes occurred in the US in 2019. Close to three in four of those crimes were larceny-theft. On the other hand, burglaries accounted for 16.1%.

If you have broken window panes, criminals may target you and your home. The same goes for if you have windows that you can no longer close and lock.

For those reasons, it’s best to search online for “window replacement near me” as soon as possible. This way, you can reduce your risks of falling victim to thieves and burglars.

This guide details tips on finding the best window replacement, so make sure to keep reading!

Do an Online Search for Same-Day Window Replacement Near Me

About a third of robberies occur through an unlawful entry, such as through an open window. A broken window, in turn, is pretty much like an open window. So, whether it was a baseball or the wind that broke your window, that gaping hole may be enough to let a criminal in.

As such, it’s imperative to get a window glass replacement the same day the old one broke.

Fortunately, some of the best window installation companies offer emergency services. This means they can send a professional installer to your home the same day you request the service.

That’s also why you’d want to choose a local window contractor for the job. This way, they’d spend less time on the road and get to your home sooner. Plus, by going local, you can easily find them if you have something to discuss with them.

In any case, the sooner the window installers reach your home, the sooner they can start the job. If the pros only need to replace one window, they can complete the job in an hour or less.

However, emergency services may cost a bit more than regular installation. Still, it may be best to overlook that higher price, as it’s your safety and security on the line, after all.

Besides, burglaries can cost far more than what an emergency window installation costs. For example, in 2019, the average losses that resulted from such crimes amounted to $2,600. That doesn’t even factor in the trauma that a crime can cause.

Search for Certified Window Installers

While it’s vital to replace broken windows ASAP, be sure to check a company’s credentials first. For example, look for installers certified by the American Window and Door ­Institute. The AWDI, in turn, only certifies installers who have proven their competency.

In fact, AWDI certification is a federally registered certification mark. This means that the government itself recognizes the credibility of AWDI installers.

The Fenestration & Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) is another certifying body in the US. FGIA-certified installers have undergone rigorous training on window installation techniques. They have also passed exams that confirm their window installation competency.

Certified installers abide by stringent codes to install windows properly. Proper installation is crucial to preventing air leakage and water infiltration in windows. Moreover, correct installation is necessary to keep windows energy efficient.

Make Sure Your New Windows Come With a Warranty

The most reputable manufacturers of replacement windows offer 10- to 20-year warranties. For example, Andersen Windows have a 20-year glass warranty. That’s on top of the 10-year warranty covering the windows’ non-glass components.

In any case, a window warranty covers some issues that may occur within the warranty period. For example, it may include coverage for material defects, such as on the glass or the hardware. So, if your new window develops a covered issue within the warranty period, its maker should foot the bill to fix it.

Your Window Contractor Should Also Have a Warranty

A window contractor warranty comes from the window installation company itself. It’s a guarantee of the quality of their craft and installation service. So, if a problem arises due to the installation, the contractor should address it on their end.

Many contractors offer at least a one-year warranty on window replacements. However, others are more confident of the quality of their service, so they may offer longer terms.

Invest in an Energy-Efficient Window Replacement

Energy Star qualified windows can help you save about 7% to 15% on energy bills every year. This makes them some of the best and most energy-efficient window replacements.

However, the actual energy savings you can get would still depend on the climate in your area. Even the window’s location would also influence your energy savings.

Let’s say you live somewhere with a cold climate, and the window you need to replace faces south. In this case, you’d want a window with a high Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) and low U-factor.

SHGC is a measurement of the amount of heat from the sun transmitted by a window. The higher a window’s SHGC rating, the more of the sun’s heat it allows to enter. Since you live in a cold climate, you’d want a high SGHC rating to take advantage of the sun’s heat.

The U-factor, in turn, is a measurement of a window’s insulating property. Lower values translate to greater insulating properties. So, a low U-factor can help you save energy as it can block conditioned indoor air from exiting your windows.

Not all window contractors carry Energy Star models, though, so be sure to ask all of your prospects first. This way, you can narrow down your list to only those who do have energy-efficient products.

Don’t Delay Replacing Broken or Defective Windows

There you have it, the full guide that answers your question, “how to find the best window replacement near me?” Just remember that it’s best to search for a local certified installer who can get the job done the same day. Don’t forget to factor in warranties, and most importantly, the window’s energy efficiency.

Interested in more home repairs or improvement guides like this? Then please feel free to stick around and browse our latest news and blog posts!

Interior design has been around for a while, but it’s hard to say how long exactly. Some define interior design as any step taken to make the inside of a building more appealing.

Others label interior design as a school of thought which emerged in 1919. Regardless of how old interior design is, it’s led to a veritable Renaissance of new ideas and new ways to see the home.

The sheer variety can also make decorating your home much tougher. Typing ‘interior design for home’ into a search engine will bring up countless results, many of which give conflicting advice.

The good news is that we’re here to help. We’ll offer some interior design tips in this article.

1. Choose a Color Scheme

Interior design should begin with the basics, and picking a color scheme is as basic as you can get. Learning a bit about color psychology can help you bring the right feel and atmosphere to your home.

If you’re looking for a friendly, calming atmosphere for a room, consider painting it blue. Blue tends to calm us down and make us feel safe.

There are no absolutes in color psychology. Used one way, for instance, red symbolizes excitement or anger. In another context, it is the exact opposite–a symbol of love and passion amongst kindred souls.

2. Make Sure to Measure

Nothing ruins a plan faster than inaccurate measurements, which is why it’s important to measure every area and object you’re working with. You may even need to double-check your measurements.

If you want to make sure that everything’s done correctly, feel free to hire designers. The proper professionals can help you with measuring and moving the furniture.

They can even help you measure and install swinging or sliding doors. These types of doors don’t work the same way as a traditional door. Swinging doors often come in sets of two, and a sliding door runs on a track built into the floor or ceiling.

3. Use Some of Your Old Stuff

Creating an interior design for home improvement doesn’t mean throwing out all your current stuff and buying all new stuff. You can mix your old style with your new style to create an enticing contrast.

You could experiment with focal points by putting a piece of current furniture into a room that doesn’t match it. This creates contrast, and a single point of contrast is enough to build a focal point.

Keep in mind that only major pieces of furniture should be a focal point. A large sofa in the center of the room makes a great focal point, while a tiny lamp on a side table does not.

Interior Design for Home: A Guide

Finding the best interior design for home can seem intimidating, but it doesn’t need to be. We’ve offered a few tips on interior design in this article, but creativity leads to infinite possibilities. Feel free to experiment with other ideas if they feel better suited to you.

If you want more information and advice on the home, travel, technology, and other lifestyle topics, please visit our site.

When it comes to adorning a house, every effort to nurture and enhance the walls, the ceiling, and the corners is taken. Yet, ever considered how the floor, too, needs attention and work? Often regarded as the houses’ fifth wall, the flooring presents a large space to walk, lie down, move around stuff, and so much more. A carpet works very similarly to a table mat. Just how a table mat covers the table and prevents it from wear-tear, water spillage, dust, and dirt; carpets adorn the floor. They protect it from scratches and dust and also provide a plush feel to the feet. Over the last couple of years, carpets and rugs have emerged as a popular choice among people around the world. In addition to the above reasons for having a carpet in place, one essential feature that needs attention is the combination of carpets and decorative items. Wondering how? Well, carpets on floors work like large plain canvases that can be painted and highlighted with decor items in different colors, shapes, and sizes. So, if looking to add some jazz and character to a house, here are a few carpet and rug trends to rely upon. Have a look!

1. The Ultimate Luxury-Plush Carpets – Yes, if affluence and splendor are on the cards, then the perfect solution is a super soft, plush, foamed carpet. It adds volume, softness, and certain sophistication to the overall space. More so, it is exceptionally comforting for the feet after a long day’s work and works miraculously in both bold and light tones.
2. Playing The Color Twist – There is no doubt that single solid colors are eternal, but a bit of drama never really hurts, right? To add that sparkle and boost the energy, a dual-tone carpet or rug in contrasting colors seems to be a great choice. If the overall look of the room is more neutral and subtle, a dash of bright warm colors will work well. And if it is a vibrant space with colors around in furniture and upholstery, pick a softer and lightly blended carpet option.
3. The Dreamy Floral Look – Is there anything as soothing and rejuvenating as fresh and lovely florals? Nothing matches the soulfulness and feminity of having an intricately hand-woven rich carpet at home. Their textures and blends create a very versatile look that just can’t go wrong. Additionally, this carpet looks ethereal with any sort of home decor, lighting solutions, and wall colors.
4. The Carpet Cum Curtain Trend – The latest and the hottest trend in the home decor department is doubling up light carpets into curtains. Astonishing as it may sound, but lightly hand-crafted and embroidered carpets make for catchy curtains that easily absorb light and sound too!
5. The Geometric – Tile Vogue – This variant of carpet style has re-emerged strongly in the last couple of months. Besides other patterns like tiles, strips, polka prints, these geometrically shaped carpets are fun, colorful, and bring along vivid creativity. And most importantly they make space look bigger, fuller, and add more depth to it.
6. The Carpet Rolls – Carpet rolls are like long uncut sheets of carpet that can be laid across the room to cover larger spaces end-to-end. They leave no corners uncovered and are super easy to apply with minimum creases and seams. The uniformity and continuation of these carpets add volume and a certain type of character to the whole space flooring. Also, it is super cost-effective too!

Carpets can be a great way of expressing one’s personality – playful, subtle, sophisticated, consistent, and so much more. Also, it is an art that takes up creativity, deep thought, and effort. While choosing the appropriate carpeting idea, consider the space and its purpose, the lighting in and around, the pieces of furniture in place, and above all the vibe that resonates with one’s individuality. These trends are ruling the world and are certainly here to stay. Try them today!

Many places around the world are experiencing extreme heat this summer. And while there isn’t much you can do right now to get the temperature to drop back down, there are things you can do to protect yourself and your property from this weather. And especially if you have a garden at home, you’re going to want to take steps to ensure that your plants don’t all shrivel up and die after being left out in the heat and sun for too long.

To help you see how you can counteract this weather phenomenon, here are three tips for protecting your garden from extreme heat.

Put Out Some Additional Mulch

Oftentimes, it’s not the heat that bothers the plants in your garden as much as it is the sun burning down on them. Especially for new plants or plants that don’t have a large root system, being scorched by the sun for even just a short period of time can be devastating.

In situations like this, what your plants need is an added layer of protection between them and the sun. To accomplish this, it’s wise to put some additional mulch in your garden or on your flower beds. With this added layer of mulch—be it wood chips, leaves, straw, or any other organic material—there will be more that the sun has to go through in order to reach your plants, which can help keep them out of the direct sunlight and maintain more of their moisture.

Water At The Right Times

When it’s hot and dry outside, your plants need you to be very careful about when and how you water them.

While you might think that watering your garden when it’s the hottest outside would do the most good for cooling off and protecting your plants, the opposite is actually true. If you water during the hottest, sunniest parts of the day, the water you’re using is essentially going to waste since it’s not being able to get soaked into the plants before it evaporates. Knowing this, it’s best to water early in the morning before the heat and the sunlight have really set in.

Construct More Shade

If your home or building uses the sun to create energy, then you likely don’t want to have too much shade in your area. But for the sake of your garden, you may want to bring in some makeshift shade when the temperatures start to rise.

Stringing up any kind of material that will block the sun from your plants will help to protect them and limit the amount of stress they experience. So if you have some old sheets, cheesecloth, or even cardboard that you can set up above your plants, they’ll have a much better chance of surviving.

If you have extreme heat and temperatures headed your way, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you protect your garden from this weather.

 

Did you know that outdoor space is one of the top items that homebuyers are looking for in a home?

Features like patios, decks, and concrete paths, and edgers are rising in popularity this year as people spend more time outdoors together. With that in mind, now is the perfect time to invest in your backyard.

Are you sick of losing money and time to landscaping? Read on to learn more about hardscaping, a trendy and practical landscaping alternative.

Here are the top 5 reasons to consider it for your backyard.

1. Save Money

Landscaping is a significant investment, and the costs for plants, soil, fertilizer, and supplies can really add up year after year. With hardscaping, you have one up-front cost and then you are done. This is especially true for stone elements that require little to no maintenance which means almost zero cost for both supplies and water.

2. Hardscaping Is Low-Maintenance

Are you tired of spending hours and hours each week mowing, pruning, weeding, and leaf-blowing in your backyard? Hardscaping may be the answer! Putting in hardscaping like patios, pavers, and other elements can reduce green space that requires maintenance and leave you with more free time to spend on other things that you enjoy.

3. Get a Higher Return on Your Investment

While landscaping can be beautiful, the reality is that it takes a lot of time and money to maintain which isn’t a good return on your investment. All that hard work and cost can be undone in one season due to drought, landscaping mistakes, or neglect. But hardscaping is built to last and can improve the value of your home permanently for much less.

4. Environmentally Friendly

Do you live in an area that is prone to droughts and is often under water restrictions?

If so, putting in hardscaping can help reduce your water usage and do something good for the environment, too. Substituting hardscaping for landscaping can help save gallons of water every year and add up in the long run as a huge benefit to the planet.

5. Hardscaping Is Beautiful

One of the top hardscaping benefits is that it creates a beautiful aesthetic in your backyard. By adding walkways, pavers, and concrete edging, your yard will have more dimension and visual appeal. Check out hardscaping companies like JL Property Services, LLC who are experts in concrete edging for optimum results on your property.

Ready to Start Hardscaping Your Backyard?

If you were wondering what is hardscaping, now you know! It’s easy to incorporate hardscaping ideas into your own backyard and save time and money in the long run that would have been spent on landscaping and yard maintenance. And the big bonus is that you will create a beautiful backyard design that is also good for the environment.

Did you enjoy reading this article? If you found it useful, check out the rest of this site for more helpful home and garden topics.