Hose Nozzle News & Tips
How to Be Ready for Whatever Winter Sends Your Way October 28, 2021 23:01
Will your home be ready if Old Man Winter suddenly sends a blizzard to your neck of the woods? When the temperature drops and the winds are howling, you want your home to be a haven from the elements -- and not a drain on your resources. Here’s how to make sure you have a cozy, safe retreat no matter what’s happening outdoors.
Pre-Winter Basics
In anticipation of harsh weather, there are some simple preparations you can make, and on top of that they can save you money and energy use. Consider installing vinyl window frames and a more energy-efficient electrical system. Fiberglass doors require little maintenance in the wintertime since there’s no need for repainting chipped areas caused by the weather.
The condition of your roof is a huge factor come wintertime. Make sure to check the roof for damage, large and small, including loose or missing shingles. A weary roof is susceptible to leaks and even collapse after a winter storm, as the freeze-thaw cycle can wreak havoc in even the smallest crevices. A sturdy roof also goes a long way towards increasing the resale value of your home, so consider such repairs or replacement as an investment if you’re looking to sell in the near future.
Now is also a good time to have your gutters cleaned. This can prevent ice dams from forming, which can lead to gutter damage, loose shingles and interior damage. While you might have a plan to attack this once you get your first snow, having clean gutters from the start will make this job easier. Cleaning like this is best left to professionals, so conduct a search for rain gutter cleaning near me to connect with top-rated local experts -- you may even find promotional offers
Along those same lines, if your thermostat is old-school, think about swapping it with a smart version. You can save big bucks with a gadget that adjusts to your habits, keeping you comfortable and warm when you’re at home and reducing energy use when you aren’t. A thermostat replacement is something any homeowner can do with just a handful of simple steps. You’ll also need to think about the heating system itself. In addition to replacing filters and any parts that aren’t working properly, look into cleaning ductwork, which aids in system efficiency, fire hazard prevention, and a cleaner, healthier air circulation.
Let It Snow!
Snow can be so beautiful, so much fun for kids, and yet so much work for homeowners. Clearing sidewalks, patios and driveways isn’t very much fun, but with a little prep work now, you can breeze through when winter arrives.
First of all, you’ll need the right equipment. If you don’t have a huge area to clear, a well-chosen snow shovel is usually sufficient. However, a bigger job calls for a snowblower since they can clear hundreds of pounds of snow quickly and easily. Look for something that is both reliable and efficient, and make sure you take care of your investment properly. Sears.com points out that your snowblower will require annual maintenance, much like a lawnmower. Change the spark plugs and oil, check the belts and various parts for wear and damage, and when you gas up, add a stabilizer.
While they don’t happen often, a major blizzard could leave you without power for days, which is why some homeowners choose to have a generator installed. Installation averages range from $900 to $25,000, so you may be best off investing in a portable generator which can be used to power a major appliance (e.g., a refrigerator) and typically costs between $500 and $2,000.
Welcome Home
Going in and out of your home during winter can be messy. Boots, shovels, mittens, and the like can bring some of the outdoors in. To cope with the wet and dirt that can go hand-in-hand with winter outings, Chatelaine recommends making some adjustments to your entryway.
Plan to keep a rough mat outside the door for scraping feet, along with a boot tray inside to catch melting snow and mud. Install some hooks for coats, backpacks and other gear to keep them off the floor, as well as to allow airflow so they dry quicker. If your family works and plays in the snow quite a bit, a boot dryer could be a smart investment.
When the flakes start falling, make sure your home is ready. Make some basic adjustments, make sure you’re fully equipped, and prepare a place for everyone to come and go comfortably without making a mess. Your home will be a safe, comfortable haven for the whole family.
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Brass Garden Hose Nozzles Review and Shopping Tips July 18, 2013 11:00
What do homeowners who have yards, gardens, and driveways have in common? Aside from an outdoor space, these households always need a water supply with a good garden hose nozzle to keep and maintain a clean property. There are some yard tasks that just cry out for a good hose and the right hose nozzle.
Unfortunately, there are several problems that come with common hose nozzles. Water leaks out in all kinds of places that you don’t want, flow can sometimes be inconsistent, and poorly made nozzles can even break after one or two seasons of use. When you're having a day off and want to wash your car but you find all these problems with your hose nozzle, it can give you quite a bit of a headache to suffer through, or have to head to the hardware store and buy a new one.
How do you know which garden hose nozzle is best to buy? Last time I checked, most stores don’t have a water spigot standing nearby ready for you to have a live demo of their vast selection. Instead, you’re stuck with buying something that you hope will work well and putting up with the hassle of returning it if it doesn’t work out as you had hoped.
In order to prevent you this frustration, here are a few tips to consider and aid you for your next garden hose nozzle purchase.
First, purchase a solid brass hose nozzle. Yes, these are old… you may remember your grandfather using this type. But they are still quite common, and there’s a reason why: their timeless design simply works.
But not all brass hose nozzles are created equal. Many are simply aluminum or metal with a coating of brass on the outside. Others are lightweight… meaning that they are not as durable.
When you are shopping for a garden hose nozzle, you want a brass nozzle that is heavy-duty. Also, you want one that has a solid construction. Many of the inexpensive brass hose nozzles have the inner barrel where the water flows through made out of two parts that are press-fit together. The downside to this design is that after being used, the connection tends to fail. This leads to an inability to adjust the nozzle’s spray setting, and also makes the nozzle leak. Leaks are not a happy problem to have!
So when you shop for a brass garden hose nozzle set, check the base close to where the nozzle connects to the hose. If it looks like there is a lip around the shaft then that is a sign that the nozzle has this press-fit connection problem. A good solid brass hose nozzle will be machined from one piece, resulting in no leaks or failure at the base of the nozzle.
Finally, examine the nozzle’s inside o-rings. Simply unscrew the outer shaft all of the way until the two pieces separate. Towards the top of the inner shaft should be a rubber o-ring. This prevents water from spraying backwards onto you while you are using the nozzle. High quality nozzles will have two o-rings at the top, to ensure leak-free performance.
Customers of these types of nozzles have lots of positive things to say about their own experiences with the brass nozzles. One customer talks about how he actually drove his truck over his solid brass garden hose nozzles to test the durability. Surprisingly, they held up fine and worked as good as before the test! Other customers rave about how easy a high quality brass hose nozzle is to adjust, saying that even their kids can easily use the hose nozzles without any trouble.
If you want a nozzle that can take the beating from a life-time of use and still work great, then you need to get a high quality solid brass garden hose nozzle.
How To Wash Your Car Using Garden Hose Nozzles July 11, 2013 14:00
Taking the car to a car wash each time it is dirty costs money. It makes more sense to get a good garden hose and nozzle so you can have the convenience of washing the car at home. Garden hose nozzles come in very handy for this purpose because you can adjust the force and type of spray.
1. Move the car into a shaded area, if possible. This makes it easier on your car’s finish and you. Fill a bucket with water and any mild soap safe for vehicles. A little dish soap is fine as long as it does not contain ammonia.
2. Next, aim the garden hose away from the car; turn the brass nozzle counterclockwise until the spray is a broad stream similar to the force of a heavy rain. Garden hose nozzles are easily adjusted to release anything from a gentle mist or a powerful, focused stream.
4. After you have finished rinsing the main body of the car, turn the stream towards the wheels. You can now adjust the flow to a more focused stream to remove spots of dirt and oil that have collected on the hubcaps. A good rule of thumb is to hold garden hose nozzles a few feet away as you use them to wash small parts of a vehicle. This allows you space to see what you are doing, helps prevent debris from being splashed into your eyes yet concentrates the right amount of force to remove stubborn dirt.3. When you’ve adjusted it in this way, turn the hose towards the car and rinse it off with this light spray setting. It’s important to rinse a car to remove abrasive material such as road grit. Otherwise, when you start to wipe the car down with a sponge, pieces of the abrasive material can scratch the paint.
5. Now, turn the flow of water off by adjusting the nozzle. Set the hose aside as you soap up the car with the soapy water from the bucket. Use a non-abrasive sponge and work your way from the roof downward. Note: Do not allow soap to dry on the car, as this can cause unsightly water spots. If the car is exceptionally dirty, wash and rinse one section at a time.
6. Turn the water back on by turning the nozzle and rinse the soap from your car. You may notice at this time some spots you missed when cleaning, but go ahead and finish rinsing. You can spot clean any areas necessary afterwards.
7. After the water running off your car is no longer soapy, you are finished rinsing. Use a squeegee on the windshields and windows to prevent water spots. Buff the rest of your car dry using soft towels. Now you are ready to do any spot cleaning, such as cleaning stubborn grease off wheels, or use any polishes or waxes.
Remember to turn off the outdoor water spigot to stop water from flowing to the hose when you have finished.