The Professional Choice

A companion overview to the popular "Ask Mr. Handyman" radio program airing on Christian Talk Radio, KCRO 660AM Saturdays @ 9:30AM.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Concrete Maintenance

Concrete lasts forever doesn't it? It won't if it is not maintained properly. There are several things that can go wrong with concrete. Keeping it maintained will hold your long-term costs down. You do not want to spend $6,000 to $12,000 to replace it (average costs of tearing out and replacing a driveway these days) so again........spend hundred$ now in maintenance or thou$and$ later in repairs.

Common problems with concrete are:

Heave or Undermining

Moisture in the form of snow melt and rain channel into the seams of a driveway or sidewalk and wash away dirt under the slab causing the pad to fall an inch or two and crack (Undermining). Moisture can also get under the pad swelling the dirt, freeze in cold weather, expanding upward to form a trip hazard (Heave). Both conditions can be avoided with proper maintenance (applying a top-quality seam sealer).

Spalling


Moisture will also seep into the very minor surface cracks, freeze and break-out small amounts of concrete. This usually looks like small "pok" marks, divots or craters like the moon's surface. Though not as critical as the other two conditions it is an eyesore and will continue to deteriorate at a fast rate once it begins. It can be avoided if properly maintained by applying a good quality surface sealer.

Mr. Handyman has professional service technicians with many years of experience in performing this type of task. We also use the best quality products so the life expectancy of the repair is the greatest. Our surface sealer comes with a 5 year manufacturer warranty and the seam sealer we use is expected to last about that long as well.



Wednesday, July 7, 2010

$$$ For Clunker Appliances Nebraska Version Started July 6th.

Updating appliances will save you $$$ in operating and utility costs over many years!

Rebates expire soon (or will run out of funding) for retiring a “seasoned” appliance and replacing it with an up-to-date energy-efficient one. Nebraska will use a system that requires the consumer to fill out a mail-in form to claim the rebate on Energy Star appliances available only at verified retailers. The program had been delayed but rebates are available now, until funds run out ($1.7 Million, almost $1 million already allocated in the first day July 6th). In Iowa, the same program ran out of funds in a matter of hours so be on the ball if you want to take advantage of this program.

Nebraska will recognize the following products as eligible for rebates:



Eligible Products Rebate Amount
Central Air Conditioning $100
Heat Pumps $250
Refrigerators $100
Natural Gas & Propane Furnaces $250
Clothes washers up to $200 (depends on model)
Dishwashers $50

All products must meet strict state specifications with the exception of central air conditioners, air source heat pumps, and gas furnaces, which must meet the stricter Federal requirements.

Purchase must be made from "registered" retailers within the state of Nebraska, and after July 6th. Purchases made before the program start date do not qualify. Consumers must "self-certify" the new unit will replace a clunker unit. For more information visit the Nebraska Energy Office website. There is a limit of (2) rebates per household.
Residents are encouraged to utilize Nebraska Public Power District and the Omaha Public Power District programs to recycle clunker refrigerators.

Nebraskan’s can also receive a 5-year, 5% bank loan at a certain lenders that participate in the program.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Beware, More rain, more MOLD!

How mold can be controlled? (Tips for controlling mold problem).

Moisture is one of the most important factors for the growth of mold. By making sure that the level of moisture is under check you can keep molds at bay.

(Relative humidity i.e. RH can help in finding out when you need to dehumidify your building/house)· If there is any water leakage/intrusion, pipe leak, roof leak, condensation problem etc; it should be corrected first.

Ensure the air conditioners, HVAC systems, and air/ventilation ducts are clean. Normally mold formed in these systems is more dangerous as it easily escapes the human eye inspection.

Bathrooms are the most prone places for mold formation and growth. The tiles, curtains and appliances inside the bathrooms should be properly cleaned/removed in order to avoid mold formation.

If possible, use air purifiers to cleanse the air inside your house. Air purifiers can help in reducing the airborne particles of mold spores. There are many paints/anti mold products available in market that can resist moisture and/or mold at certain level. Using such products can also help in prevention of mold.

If mold is allowed to remain intact and grow it could be the costliest and deadliest intruder you will ever encounter in your home. Children, babies and pets are very susceptible to the hazards of moldy conditions. Get a jump start on mold before it becomes a problem. Killing it early will save you hundreds to thousands of dollars.