Simple Steps To Fix Squeaky Doors

We all have squeaky doors, and it can be rattle annoying. While some would consider it to be a big problem, it Is not! As a matter of fact, it’s a minor house problem that even you can fix, and here’s how.

First, you should find out where that squeaking sound is coming from. You can do this by stop, look and listen carefully. You should do the “swing test” first by making sure that your surroundings is quiet. Then, you should stand on the side of the door in which you remember that the squeak was loudest. When you are in position, swing the door in a gentle manner, covering its complete arc. Do this action repeatedly and try to vary the speed while doing so.

While you swing the door, try to note exactly where the squeak comes from. Then try to note when it is loudest. See whether it is loudest when you swing the door fast or slow. Then lastly, find out why exactly the squeak is happening. Finding out why is a very essential factor, since this dictates what remedy you will use.

Once you have found out where the squeaks are, you can do two things. First, tighten all the screws in the hinges. Next, get a flat-headed screwdriver. Carefully tap its blade in between the hinge body and the hinge-pin head to separate them. After doing this, get a can of WD-40 or 3-in-1 sewing machine oil and squeeze a few drops into the small space between the pin-head and the hinge body.

By applying some lubricant in the space, you enable the lubricant to seep in into the remaining length of the pin, which is inside the hinge body. Thus, you give the best lubrication coverage that you can give for the hinge.

Doing this would generally resolve your squeaking problems if you were accurate on determining the source, that is. However, if you pinpointed the wrong source, then most probably your squeak would still be there.

If you pinpointed the wrong source of the squeak, don’t worry! By this point in time, you have determined that the hinges are not the problem. Then, most probably it’s a wood on wood kind of squeak problem.

To solve this kind of squeak, you would have to do the squeak test again. After which, you have to release the bind, since the problem may be the hinge binding on the wood. While performing the swing test, paying attention on how the door’s hinge-side settles into the door-jamb. Likewise, take note of how it makes a final contact with your door-stop.

This is when stop, look and listen wouldn’t be enough, since you would have to make use of touch. If you feel that it has springy feel, when the door is approximately in the closed position, odds are very good that it is hinge-bound. This can be the cause of the squeak since the door is forced to rub with the jamb material. To repair this kind of problem, you need to remove your door by removing the screws on the hinges’ jamb side and leaving the hinges intact with the door itself. Then, you need to chisel out some hinge recesses towards the direction of the hinge barrel. Then, reinstall the door and perform the swing test again.

If this doesn’t solve your problem, try chiseling out more recess. It can be a trial and error process. However, it can be fixed.

5 Gadgets To Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

Global warming is regularly in the news, along with efforts to identify ways to reduce peoples’ carbon footprint. Taking public transport and going on holidays in the UK are two of the well-known ways to reduce carbon emissions but are often unpopular given the significant lifestyle changes that they sometimes require.

However, there are simple and easy ways to reduce your carbon footprint. These five gadgets will all help to make your home more energy-efficient, so that you can relax in the knowledge that you are going some way towards doing your bit to make the world a greener place.

1) Eco Button – do you switch your computer on only to then leave it running throughout the day, turning it off at the end of the day? When your computer is left idle it’s consuming a surprising amount of energy. This is where the Eco Button comes in. Plug it into your computer’s USB port every time you leave it, then on your return you can see just how much energy has been saved and, interestingly, how much money it’s saved you.

2) Eco Kettle – we’re always being told to only boil the amount of water that we intend to use. Wouldn’t it be easier if we just had a device to do this for us? Well, now we do – it’s called the Eco Kettle. Simply fill the kettle to the top, select how many cups of water you need, and the Eco Kettle only boils exactly that amount of water.

3) Radiator Auto Vent Device – air in radiators reduces their efficiency by as much as 60%. Therefore the Radiator Auto Vent gadget can be quite an energy-saver. Attach it to your radiators and it automatically de-aerates your radiators, saving you money and the hassle of doing it yourself.

4) Eco Balls – instead of using washing powder try Eco Balls in your washing machine. You can buy Eco Balls that can be used in up to 1,000 washes and can reduce your washing bills by over 80%. They also allow you to save energy by eliminating the need to carry out a rinse cycle.

5) Battery Wizard – we all have old batteries around the home, batteries that used to work but have long since run out of power. Now a battery re-charging device is on the market to get extra power out of your batteries. The Battery Wizard can increase the life of your battery by up to 10 times.  read more here

This is a guest post by Charles Cridland from Animal Adoptions, a site that covers many of the world’s most endangered animals, including polar bears and orangutans.

Tips To Save Energy Today

Here are some energy saving tips:

• Look for the ENERGY STAR® label on home appliances and products. ENERGY STAR products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

• Set your thermostat comfortably low in the winter and comfortably high in the summer. Install a programmable thermostat that is compatible with your heating system.

• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.

• Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher’s drying cycle.

• Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.

• Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use (TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power).

• Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120° F.

• Take short showers instead of baths.

• Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.

Foods That Protect, Heal And Keep You Healthy

Eat these foods will help protect you and keep your healthy.

• Apples: Protects your heart, prevents constipation blocks diarrhea, improves lung capacity, Cushions joints.

• Apricots: Combats cancer, Controls blood pressure, Saves your eyesight, Shields against Alzheimer’s Slows aging process.

• Artichokes: Aids digestion, Lowers cholesterol, Protects your heart, Stabilizes blood sugar Guards against liver disease.

• Avocados: Battles diabetes, Lowers cholesterol, Helps stops strokes, Controls blood pressure Smoothes skin.

• Bananas: Protects your heart, Quiets a cough, Strengthens bones, Controls blood pressure Blocks diarrhea.

• Beans: Prevents constipation, Helps hemorrhoids, Lowers cholesterol, Combats cancer, Stabilizes blood sugar.

• Beets: Controls blood pressure, Combats cancer, Strengthens bones, Protects your heart, Aids weight loss.

• Blueberries: Combats cancer, Protects your heart, Stabilizes blood sugar, Boosts memory, Prevents constipation.

• Broccoli: Strengthens bones, Saves eyesight Combats cancer, Protects your heart, Controls blood pressure.

• Cabbage: Combats cancer, Prevents constipation Promotes weight loss, Protects your heart Helps hemorrhoids.

• Cantaloupe: Saves eyesight, Controls blood pressure Lowers cholesterol, Combats cancer, Supports immune system.

• Carrots: Saves eyesight, Protects your heart, Prevents constipation, Combats cancer, aids weight loss.

• Cauliflower: Protects against Prostate Cancer, Combats Breast Cancer, Strengthens bones, Banishes bruises, Guards against heart disease

• Cherries: Protects your heart, Combats Cancer, Ends insomnia, Slows aging process, Shields against Alzheimer’s.

• Chestnuts: Promotes weightloss, Protects your heart Lowers cholesterol, Combats Cancer, Controls Blood pressure.

• Chili peppers: Aids digestion, Soothes sore throat, Clears sinuses, Combats Cancer, Boosts immune system

• Figs: Promotes weight loss, Helps stops strokes, Lowers cholesterol, Combats Cancer, Controls blood pressure.

• Fish: Protects your heart, Boosts memory, Combats Cancer, Supports immune system

• Flax: Aids digestion, Battles diabetes, Protects heart Improves mental health, Boosts immune system.

• Garlic: Lowers cholesterol, Controls blood pressure, Combats cancer, kills bacteria, Fights fungus.

• Grapefruit: Protects against heart attacks, Promotes Weight loss, Helps stops strokes Combats Prostate Cancer, Lowers cholesterol.

• Grapes: saves eyesight, Conquers kidney stones Combats cancer, Enhances blood flow, Protects heart Green tea: Combats cancer, Protects heart, Helps stop strokes, Promotes Weight loss, Kills bacteria.

• Honey: Heals wounds, Aids digestion, Guards against ulcers, Increases energy, Fights allergies.

• Lemons & Limes: Combats cancer, Protects heart, Controls blood pressure, Smooths skin, Stops scurvy.

• Mangoes: Combats cancer, Boosts memory, Regulates thyroid, aids digestion, Shields against Alzheimer’s.

• Mushrooms: Controls blood pressure, Lowers cholesterol Kills bacteria, Combats cancer, Strengthens bones.

• Oats: Lowers cholesterol, Combats cancer, Battles diabetes, prevents constipation, Smooths skin.

• Olive oil: Protects your heart, Promotes Weight loss. Combats cancer, Battles diabetes, Smooths skin.

• Onions: Reduce risk of heart attack, Combats cancer Kills bacteria ,Lowers cholesterol, Fights fungus.

• Oranges: Supports immune system, Combats cancer Protects your heart, Strengthens respiration.

• Peaches: prevents constipation, Combats cancer, Helps stop strokes, aids digestion, Helps hemorrhoids.

• Peanuts: Protects heart, Promotes Weight loss Combats Prostate Cancer, Lowers cholesterol.

• Pineapple: Strengthens bones, Relieves colds Aids digestion, Dissolves warts, Blocks diarrhea.

• Prunes: Slows aging process, prevents constipation boosts memory, Lowers cholesterol, Protects heart.

• Rice: Protects heart, Battles diabetes, Conquers kidney stones, Combats cancer, Helps stops strokes.

• Strawberries: Combats cancer, Protects heart, boosts memory, Calms stress.

• Sweet potatoes: Saves your eyesight, Lifts mood Combats cancer, Strengthens bones.

• Tomatoes: Protects prostate, Combats cancer, Lowers cholesterol, Protects your heart.

• Walnuts: Lowers cholesterol, Combats cancer boosts memory, Lifts mood, Protects heart.

• Water: Promotes Weight loss, Combats cancer Conquers kidney stones, Smooths skin.

• Watermelon: Protects prostate, Promotes Weight loss Lowers cholesterol, Helps stops strokes Controls blood pressure.

• Wheat germ & Wheat bran: Combat Colon Cancer, prevent constipation, Lower cholesterol, Help stop strokes, aid digestion Yogurt: Guards against ulcers, Strengthens bones Lowers cholesterol, Supports immune systems Aids digestion.

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