Fire Sprinklers - How Do They Work?

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Fire sprinklers are now standard elements when it comes to fire fighting techniques in homes, factories and buildings alike. The exact components of a system, however, are mysterious to most people.

Though most of us have some sort of sprinkler system at home or at work, we never really take the time to look inside this contraption. Then again, without a sprinkler, many of our homes and businesses would go up in flames without any warming. Should you have some type of system in your home, knowing about the various piece of it can come in handy if you need to fix it at some point. What are the parts of a fire sprinkler? Well, this type of device is really quite simple.

Each sprinkler starts with a detector. In order for your system to take note of an impending fire, the detector must first, well, detect it. There are many different types of detectors, so make sure to choose one that suits your purpose. All detectors also come with one main pipe that is entirely responsible to pushing the water out of the system once the detector has noticed smoke. Of course, in order for the pipe to work, a sprinkler head must also be included in any system.

A fire system can push out approximately 20-40 gallons of water per minute. In many ways, the sprinkler head is the entire support system for the sprinkler. Any system, no matter how complex, would fail if it did not include this head. Additionally, a head must be able to operate no matter what the temperature inside the building is. Lastly, every system has an alarm that rings when smoke is detected. In many ways, the alarm is the one thing that saves human lives amidst a fire. Once an alarm rings, occupants can flee a burning building with plenty of notice. Now that you know the answer to the above question (what are the parts of a fire sprinkler?), think about all that these systems do.

Every year, hundreds of homes and businesses are saved thanks to sprinkler systems. These handy inventions are an integral part of our world today. In fact, hardly any business could exist at all today without this type of instalment, which makes the sprinkler entirely priceless.

What are the parts of a fire sprinkler system? Now that you know, you can keep these parts on hand should you ever need them. Make sure to have your system checked yearly in order to ensure functionality, and never take this useful tool for granted.

3 PACK Scarecrow

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3 PACK Scarecrow Features 3-pack detects and sprays animals in a 1,000 sq ft area Lightweight plastic shafts; metal sprinkler heads Scarecrow motion-activated sprinkler for humane animal deterrence Read more details Buy Low Price 3 PACK Scarecrow

Contech StayAway Motion-Activated Pet Deterrent

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Contech StayAway Motion-Activated Pet Deterrent Features Humane method of keeping pets away from certain areas of your home Uses high-pitched sound and air burst Detects motion from up to 3 feet away Odorless and completely safe Requires 4 AAA batteries (sold separately) Read more details Related Products Contech StayAway Automatic Pet Deterrent Refill Canister ScatMat 48-by-20-Inch Electronic Pet Training Mat, Large Tattle Tale Sonic Pet Training Alarm SSScat - The Ultimat Cat Control System MultiVet SSSCat Ultimate Cat Control System Refill, 4-1/2-Ounce Best Customer Review : For some reason, our male cat has an affinity to having bowel movements on area rugs. Two years ago, we removed all rugs in our house having gotten tired of cleaning up after him, and he resumed doing his business where a kitty should. Now that we've installed wood flooring, we're back to having area rugs. And within two days of laying them down, guess who left us two surprises under the dining room table on the new rug? Enter the StayAway Pet Deterrent. Within minutes of putting it under the table, facing the wall, not the walkway (the motion sensor definitely detects further than 3-feet away), the cats were checking out this new household addition. Beep... PFFFF! Cats' tails poof out, and they run upstairs, only to come back and inspect a second time minutes later. Again, the beep and the burst of air, and off go the cats. Since that first day, they won't go near the can, and we've had no more pooping problems. I don't even have to keep the motion detector turned on because they know to stay off the rug. I bought two of these just because I wasn't in the mood for games, so I wanted to have a second to put where I might need it if kitty chose a new rug to use as a litter box, but I've not had to yet. Seems two days is all it took for him to get the hint that pooping is safest when done in the kitty box. GREAT product! Wish I found it years ago. Customer Review 2 : Effective Deterrent for Nosy Cats! - D. Moraes - Massachusetts I have always had trouble keeping my cats away from the outside door. One in particular likes to bolt outside the minute the door opens. With the stay-away motion-activiated deterrent I don't have to worry about it. Whenever it blows a puff of air they stay away from the door when I am going in and out. It also works great at keeping them off the countertops. It's a little limited in it's range, but is still pretty effective. Customer Review 3 : This is it! - Scott - TN, USA If you're looking for a product to keep cats off of counters, this is it! It's very effective and uses a small amount of air (so the can lasts a long time). Having the option to have the sound without the air also saves on the cost of new cans. I highly recommend this product. It works for me. Buy Low Price Contech StayAway Motion-Activated Pet Deterrent

Aquascape - Scarecrow Decoy - Motion Detector - Water Sprinkler

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Aquascape - Scarecrow Decoy - Motion Detector - Water Sprinkler Features Protect Your Valuable Fish! Use As A Decoration or to Deter Blue Herons From Landing In Your Pond Motion detector senses presence of intruder and emits a 3-second blast Adds a little fun to your pond, while protecting it's inhabitants. Other Styles & Types Available Through our On-Line TJB-INC Amazon Store Read more details Buy Low Price Aquascape - Scarecrow Decoy - Motion Detector - Water Sprinkler

Vinyl Siding Or Aluminum Siding, The Choice is Yours

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There are several advantages to both vinyl and aluminum siding. Both are easy to clean and maintain. Both can be installed for about the same price. Vinyl however lasts for about 50 years and since the color is built in, it won't be lost due to scratching.

Aluminum siding's color is baked on. If aluminum is scratched, the color will be removed leaving a shiny streak. Vinyl siding is made at a thickness of.04 inches to.046 inches, while aluminum siding is usually around.019 inches thick.

Aluminum siding can be carefully repainted if needed, however vinyl will never need repainting and it is not recommended to even try. Because vinyl siding is about twice the thickness of aluminum, it is more durable and is a better overall insulation for your home.

With vinyl you're entire home will have that complete wrap around insulation effect. You can also decide to purchase a fully insulation backed option. This insulation makes it more solid and resistant to dings, cracks and being torn off of your home by strong winds.

Aluminum siding doesn't expand and contract due to extreme temperature changes like vinyl does. Vinyl siding can also become hard to work with in the winter months as it gets brittle and stiff due to the cold winter weather. Aluminum siding keeps its same properties year round and is rarely effected by temperature changes.

It is a common practice however to use vinyl siding for the main part of your homes structure and then cap off the ends of the job around doors and windows with aluminum since it can be bent and formed into different shapes.

Vinyl siding comes in a very wide variety of colors. You'll be sure and find the exact color to match your style and personality. You can easily match any existing color and you can even buy vinyl siding in a red brick color if your house has a brick porch or brick steps.

Okay, We've looked at the differences between the two. Now here's a short recap of what we've learned. Vinyl siding's color is built in the siding so it won't scratch off like aluminum siding can.

Vinyl siding lasts for 50 years and longer. Aluminum siding doesn't contract and expand with different temperatures and can be bent and shaped into to pieces to finish off door spaces and windows. The choice is yours, chances are you'll choose a combination of both.

Orbit 58248 Brass Garden Hose Y-Connector with Shut-Off Valves

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Orbit 58248 Brass Garden Hose Y-Connector with Shut-Off Valves Features Leak-free ball valve Dual adjustable flow control Use two hoses from one faucet or one hose by using shut-off valve Comfort grip Durable brass construction Read more details Related Products Orbit 62001 Lawn and Garden Digital Watering Timer Earth Quencher 2 Pack - Two 50' for a total of 100 Feet by 1/2" Soaker Hoses Contech Electronics CROBRACKET Scarecrow Motion-Activated Sprinkler Mounting Bracket Dramm 17010 ColorStorm Premium 50-Foot-by-5/8-Inch Soaker Garden Hose, Black Contech Electronics CRO101 Scarecrow Motion-Activated Sprinkler Best Customer Review : The plastic connector is easy to grab and enables you to adjust the position easily (as opposed to models that are single pieces). I've reconnected this multiple times and there's no signs that this will ever leak at the seals. Customer Review 2 : Solidly built, easy to use - Jason Heiss - Seems well built. The large rubber ring helps screw it onto the faucet easily, and the two levers open the two valves easily. Customer Review 3 : Beware plastic parts - JimmyA - Shut-off valve broke in my hand under normal use. Water spraying everywhere. This is after about 4 months of use: plumbing should last longer. Buy Low Price Orbit 58248 Brass Garden Hose Y-Connector with Shut-Off Valves

Scarecrow Motion-Activated Sprinkler Scarecrow - CON01

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Sprinkler Systems - How to Go Under the Sidewalk

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There is one really inefficient way to go under the sidewalk. It's called a pick and a shovel; in some cases, just a shovel. It will take a very long time and be quite frustrating. You will feel like a gopher and will constantly ask yourself, "Is this really the only way?"

Use a Hose with a Nozzle Attachment

The next most popular idea people come up with is also tedious and slow. It's even something you might read in a garden magazine. You take your garden hose and a nozzle and slightly dig under the sidewalk. Then, you leave the water on for a long time to slowly eat away the dirt. What usually happens is it gets so muddy you have to wait a day or two for it to dry out. Even if it goes really well, you are looking at several hours of work. There is still a better way.

The Dig Bar: Usually the Best Option

You should buy a heavy duty dig bar. They are typically about six feet long with various points on one end and a larger end for hammering. This is the easiest method and by far the fastest method. You dig a small trench to put the bar in right next to the sidewalk (perpendicular). Then, you take a sledgehammer and start hitting it. It will take you maybe 15 minutes to get all the way to the other side. Then you take a railroad pick or Pulaski and hit it until it comes out. The whole process will take around thirty minutes.

Put In Pipe

After you pull the dig bar out, put the pvc pipe through. Put some duct tape or cap on the end to prevent it from getting clogged with dirt. In most cases, it will easily slide under by hand. Sometimes you may need to gently tap it with the sledge hammer.

Trenching Guy

If the trenching guy has a boring attachment, let him bore under the sidewalk. It is totally worth it.

Best Alternative

Do you have lots or compacted gravel or rocks to go through? If you are having lots of trouble, just buy a galvanized pipe and pound it through with a sledgehammer. Then, cut off the side that is damaged from the sledgehammer with a reciprocating saw or hacksaw. Then, use a compression fitting to connect the pvc with the galvanized pipe.

11 Ways on How to Conserve Water in Your Yard

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Figuring out how to conserve water in your yard is becoming increasingly more important, especially as the demand and price of water has started to increase in some areas of the country. As water shortages, lack or rain, water restrictions, and rapid building and development lead to more and more demand for water water conservation is becoming more and more important. Here are a few tips to conserve water in your yard that you can use to help fight this growing trend.

1. Use sprinklers in the morning to minimize evaporation and the need to re- water Cool soil will also absorb water more effectively than harder, dryer soil.

2. Use large water drops when you use your sprinkler. They'll soak into the lawn easier so that there's less evaporation.

3. Killing fast growing weeds early will help you to conserve water They can require more water or even rob your plants and grass of water requiring you to water more often.

4. Drywells are one of the newer water conservation tips. Install drywells in low spots of your lawn to capture run-off water for recycling.

5. Capture rainwater in a bucket, jar, or barrel and use it to water your flowerbeds. This is by far one of the easiest ways to conserve water.

6. You can also capture water from a shower or after taking a bath and use that to water as well.

7. Keep from fertilizing your lawn during the summer. Fast growing grass requires more water.

8. Mulch around all shrubs, trees, and flowers. This will keep the soil cooler and minimize evaporation.

9. Consider increasing the shade in your yard by planting new trees and mulching those too. You can consider if it's time to put up a fence, add a garden structure, or throw in a canopy.

10. Install a timer or your sprinkler system or a rain sensor in your irrigation system that will use less water when it rains.

11. Conserve water in your gardens and flowerbeds by installing a drip-irrigation system. Drip-irrigation uses up to 70% less water than a sprinkler system and minimizes water runoff and evaporation. Connect your drip-irrigation to your planters, window boxes, and containers to save water and make them self-watering.

Hosta Janet

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The perennial garden plant Hosta Janet is a beautiful mounding plant with great color variegation. This plant is a fast growing medium sized Hosta plant that will fit into most gardens. Janet will quickly grow to a size of 15 inches high by 30 inches wide and has leaves that are 6 inches long by 4 inches wide.

The leaves of this plant emerge in the spring a chartreuse color with a very narrow dark green margin. As the season progresses the main color changes from chartreuse to white for a dramatic visual effect that is hard to beat.

The leaves of Hosta Janet are ovate and very lightly textured. The lack of leaf detail actually helps this plant to show off its coloration without the distractions of various foliage twists and turns.

This shade garden plant is a sport of Hosta Fortunei Hyacinthina and it shows with the simple leaf form. This plant isn't as shiny as other Fortunei Hostas.

The flowers of Janet bloom in July and continue until August. The blooms are light lavender and are flared. The flowers of almost all Hosta plants are insignificant and the plants are generally purchased for their foliage.

This is a popular and somewhat hard to find plant and should you decide to purchase it do so in early spring before it is sold out.

This Hosta variety needs to be planted in fairly deep shade. It does not like the sunlight and should be protected from as much as possible. Dappled or indirect sunlight will not hurt it but strong direct summer sun is just asking for leaf burn to occur.

What the Real Estate Ads Really Mean

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We've all read them and used them, in the search for the perfect house. My dad
and sister have sold real estate and I once had a license. Crafting an ad is a
challenge to promote the best features of a home. After reviewing thousands of
newspaper ads, I think I'm qualified to decipher the words and phrases that are
most used. Here they are:

Quaint: Really old without being historic

Picturesque: Hard to look at

Cozy: Small

Under Appraisal; Originally overpriced

Remodeled: Repainted

Close to Shopping: there's a 7/11 on the corner

Owner Must Sell: Duh!

Gourmet Kitchen: Has a sink and oven

View Lot: View of the lot next door

Extra Security: Front door has a lock and key

Fixer Upper: Ready for Demolition

Family Neighborhood: Lots of screaming kids and barking dogs

Privacy: Overgrown bushes

Executive Home: Includes bathrooms and bedrooms

Three-Car Garage: If one of them is a motorcycle

Dream House: Because 'Nightmare House' would scare you away

Custom Cabinets: Handpainted by the previous owner

Upgraded Flooring: New area rugs from Walmart

Highly Desirable: The owner desires to get out

Model Home: If you happen to be Twiggy

Well-Maintained: They occasionally mowed the lawn

Working Fireplace: You can still smell the smoke in the living room

Water View: When the sprinkler is on

Needs TLC: It was totaled in a fire

Just Reduced: It was totaled in a fire

Ideal Location: If you like living near a toxic waste dump

Large Lot: Makes up for the itsy, bitsy house

Original Owner: The house is older than the Bible

Priced to Sell: (refer back to 'Owner Must Sell' above)

For Sale by Owner: Too cheap to pay a Realtor

Perfect for You: Are they really psychic?

If you're a real estate agent and I have offended you by any of these terms, get a
life. However, if you are in the market for a home, I happen to have a beautiful,
inviting, open floor plan, 3 bedroom beauty...

Faux Fireplace, on the Cheap!

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Does the coming winter chill remind you how much you miss the basic element of fire to warm those long nights? Unfortunately, your home's builder wasn't the romantic you are, and you have no fireplace. Never fear, The Budget Decorator is here! Ok, so that's corny, but this project sure isn't!

The first thing to do is to determine what element you want your fireplace to be made of. A lot of this depends on the formality of your room, and the style of fireplace you choose to make. Paint, tiles, faux bricks, wood molding and plywood, scrap beadboard, it goes on as far as your creativity.

Next, you'll need to determine how much labor you want to put into the construction. The options range from a flat front "tromp loeil" style fireplace, to a wooden construction of an actual fireplace box and mantle.

Suggestions to get you started:

Faux stone fireplace

Mask off the entire area of the fireplace, and paint it a background color-this will be your grout color. Mask off an area that will be the firebox, paint it a matte black color. Take an ordinary household sponge and tear it into several different size irregular pieces, simulating pieces of rock or stone. In a paper plate, pour three earth tone colors of craft paint. Dab the sponge into the paint colors, dont worry about them mixing some, dab off the extra paint so it doesn't run, then "stamp"stones onto the fireplace background. Continue to alternate sponge sizes, leaving some space between stones for a natural masonry look. Alternatively, if you have access to many smaller stones, how about glueing the stones right to the painted background! Add a mantle;a simple pine shelf will do.Be sure to accessorize the mantle with personal photos, and most importantly, candles! Candles give the impression of fire, and the mantle and firebox complete the illusion. This would be a great choice for an informal rustic space.

Faux tile fireplace

Seen those cool contemporary ceramic or stone tiled fireplaces? Easy to do. Same concept as above, except slightly more formal. You could either mask off the tiles with ¼ inch masking tape,and paint them, or if you can get some castoff tiles, you can glue on the real thing. I did mine with leftover faux marble self stick tiles from a floor project, and plain white ceramic tiles are pretty cheap.Hint: If you use self stick tiles, reinforce the adhesive with a glue gun! A flooring store might even have some discontinued tiles they would let you have for free.
Looseends.com sells paper mache stones and brick, although I don't find them particularly cheap, they are excellent quality, and might be worth it. Or, you could try your hand at making your own. Finish off the fireplace edge and firebox with some cheap wood molding, even lathing strip, and add a mantle!

Classic Faux Fireplace

For the labor loving decorator, you could even construct an actual wood box, the most realistic of the choices! Since I don't pretend to be even a weekend woodworker, try the plans on discovery daytime (www.discovery.com) from The Christopher Lowell Show.

So, now, I know what I'm doing for the cold nights this coming winter!

Mini ScareCrow Automatic Pet Deterrent

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Mini ScareCrow Automatic Pet Deterrent Features The Mini ScareCrow automatic pet deterrent safely and humanely protects your porch, patio, potted plants, and countertops Safely keeps cats away from protected areas Detects motion up to three feet (one meter) away Combines sound with compressed air for a harmless, odorless deterrent Operates up to 200 times on a single, replaceable canister of compressed air Read more details Related Products Contech Electronics CRO101 Scarecrow Motion-Activated Sprinkler Mini Scarecrow/Stay Away Refill Cartridge Contech StayAway Motion-Activated Pet Deterrent The Blind Side Contech StayAway Automatic Pet Deterrent Refill Canister Best Customer Review : This item is awesome. We've been using it to keep our kittens off of the kitchen counter when we're away. People have been telling us that you can't train kittens -- they are wrong. First off, the only reason I gave this item 4 stars is that it uses (4x) AAA batteries and does not have a DC plug-in port. The miniscarecrow seems to blow through these in a little over a month of all-day-everyday use. That said, the motion sensor works well and is tuned perfectly (for a cat size object). It's neither too sensitive nor too slow. We set ours up on the counter (out-of-site) pointing across the length of the counter.... no more "transgressions". As an additional bonus, this things works *outstanding* on humans too (as a prank to scare them). Come Halloween, I'm going to have some fun! Last bit....the spray is truly non toxic and non-harmful. Having triggerred it myself numerous times (forgot it was on) and take a blast right to the face. The spray doesn't smell or leave residue -- it's only a little bit cold. Customer Review 1 : Wonderful! Works well. Not harmful or painful. - M. Byer - Mountain View, CA USA This item is awesome. We've been using it to keep our kittens off of the kitchen counter when we're away. People have been telling us that you can't train kittens -- they are wrong. First off, the only reason I gave this item 4 stars is that it uses (4x) AAA batteries and does not have a DC plug-in port. The miniscarecrow seems to blow through these in a little over a month of all-day-everyday use. That said, the motion sensor works well and is tuned perfectly (for a cat size object). It's neither too sensitive nor too slow. We set ours up on the counter (out-of-site) pointing across the length of the counter.... no more "transgressions". As an additional bonus, this things works *outstanding* on humans too (as a prank to scare them). Come Halloween, I'm going to have some fun! Last bit....the spray is truly non toxic and non-harmful. Having triggerred it myself numerous times (forgot it was on) and take a blast right to the face. The spray doesn't smell or leave residue -- it's only a little bit cold. Buy Low Price Mini ScareCrow Automatic Pet Deterrent

Repairing Loose Carpet

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When carpeting is installed in a home, it is stretched over your floor onto tack strips which secure it on the sides. Over time with general use and age your carpet will actually stretch out. This will often show itself as wrinkles and loose spots in your carpeting. So how do you repair these wrinkles, is there a way?

Yes, to get rid of these unsightly wrinkles, you need to have your rugs professionally stretched. If your carpet is less than a few years old, you might actually have a labor warranty that will cover the stretching costs. Before you hire anyone, check to see if your carpet is still under this warranty. If not, you will have to pay for the charges out of pocket. Unfortunately stretching is not cheap because it involves quite a bit of work. The technicians will have to move all or most of your furniture out of a room, detach the carpet from the tack strip, cut off the excess carpet and then reattach it to the tack strips. This can take hours. Expect to pay around $3 to $4 per square yard for this service. That makes 900 square feet of carpet cost around $300 to $400 to stretch. Sound expensive? Well it is but it is better than the alternative.

If you do not have your carpeting stretched the problem will only get worse. The carpet will continue to get looser and the wrinkles will get larger and more noticeable. This not only causes the carpet to look bad but it can also shorten the life of your carpeting. Loose rugs wears quicker than properly installed and stretched carpet. As expensive as carpet is today it makes since to get the problem taken care of soon as possible to prevent expensive replacement costs.

If you are not sure what to do, it doesn't hurt to call a carpet repair service. Most will be happy to give you a free estimate and can give you recommendations as to how you should proceed. Who knows, you may only need one room stretched instead of your whole house. You do not know until you call.

Home Sprinkler Valves

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Do you need a new valve? There are several choices for sprinkler valves : Rain Bird, Hunter, Toro, Orbit, and Lawn Genie. They vary a lot in quality and styles.

Buy Rain Bird

Let's make it simple. Buy Rain Bird one inch valves. They are the best valve to use. If you are into high pressure systems (over 80 psi) get an upgraded valve that is dull black. The dull black valves are a nylon plastic composite that is stronger than a shiny black valve. If you need a high pressure valve go to a real plumbing or sprinkler store. Big box retailers will not carry this valve.

Nowadays, the majority of contractors put in Hunter. Rain Bird was the standard for many years. Then, Hunter came in and priced their valves one dollar less than Rain Bird. Since the quality was similar, contractors slowly switched to Hunter. Hunter valves are easier to install because they are smaller. They are also easier to repair because they only have four screws on top. Now, the prices are equal, but contractors like the ease of the Hunter valves.

Flow Control

You may wish to check for a flow control knob. This means you can turn down the water pressure to that valve. Most of the time, you will never need to use the flow control. Most people never touch them. They are valuable, although, because you can turn the water off to that valve if it is leaking. In addition, if the valve won't quite shut you can slightly turn down the flow control and the valve will work properly.

Jar Top or Inline

Nearly all valves installed are inline. Inline valves are basically regular valves that hook up to the sprinkler main line. Jar top valves are hooked up exactly the same way. Jar top valves have an added feature. To remove the top, you just unscrew it. You don't need to take out screws. It makes it more convenient to replace the top of the valve or to just clean out the valve. Jar top valves are increasing in popularity.

Don't even consider installing Lawn Genie products. Orbit is the next worst product; avoid it. Toro is a little better than Orbit, but still not that great. Hunter is fair. Rain Bird is Great.

Hunting: Scarecrow Motion Activated Sprinkler

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Easy Gardener 8021 Garden Defense Electronic Sensor Owl

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Easy Gardener 8021 Garden Defense Electronic Sensor Owl Features Scare away garden pests Turns head and hoots Lightweight and multifunctional Use year after year Chemical-free pest control Read more details Related Products Dalen Gardeneer RH-04 Rotating Head Great Horned Owl Dalen OW6 Gardeneer 16-Inch Molded Owl Bird-X OWL Prowler Owl with Moving Wings Easy Gardener 8011 Garden Defense Wind-Action Owl Bird-X TAPE-25 Irri-Tape Bird Repellent Ribbon Best Customer Review : We bought this to keep the pigeons from eating all of our potbellied pig's food before she did. We turned it on and set it on our back patio, and for the most part, the sound kept the birds away (on the neighbor's roof). However, they get pretty sneaky and learn to sort of get around it without having it go off. For the most part, though, it does the job. We didn't find it that loud, as some had stated. I just wish it was a little more sensitive. Customer Review 1 : Give a hoot... - Rob Coyne - Absecon, NJ I have several blueberry bushes. Last year the rabbits and birds got all the blueberries. So, I saw this product and thought it would protect my berries and maybe I'd get to enjoy a few. I set it on the ground amidst the bushes, but it didn't seem to work being flat on the ground. I had to mount it on a pile of rocks, stake it down and still it only works if you get very close to it. Once it starts its hooting and turning its great, but I am not sure it will protect the bushes all that well. We shall see as the berries begin to ripen. Customer Review 3 : hOWLer - Astrid - INDIANA Bought one about three weeks ago. Owl body is fairly robust, but battery housing and switch are flimsy. It took several attempts to get it to work - the battery connections are suspect. Finally worked okay when testng indoors. Made my son jump! Supplied mounting screws have to be replaced (they don't align with the mounting holes) - but that's not a big deal. Unit has never worked outside - the IR sensors do not pick up. Then something went badly wrong - possibly after a rain shower - when we found it going round and round uncontrollably! So we turned it off. As a passive decoy it works well - hawks have given our chicken pen a miss so far, whereas before, they regarded it as a their local three meals a week fly in diner. In conclusion, it's not worth buying this electronic decoy. The body is good enough. Some movement would be good I suppose - some other models have a head that moves with the wind. I might try one of those in future if necessary. Finally, for any decoys, after a few weeks, they should be moved. Buy Low Price Easy Gardener 8021 Garden Defense Electronic Sensor Owl

Sprinkler Heads

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The two main types are the rotor heads and the spray heads. These are either placed underground or above the ground systems. Spray sprinkler heads are used in high water applications and can be used to water a place very fast. It discharges water very fast. The water is discharged at a very high speed thus it cannot be applied on a slope.

Rotating Sprinkles
These sprinkler heads have a low application level. The intensity with which water is discharged out is low and it can therefore be used on a slope. Rotor heads are better suited for vast areas. They also give a uniform or even water intake in an area. They are three times slower than the spray sprinklers but are more efficient as they discharge water more evenly. The depth of the roots also determines how much water you will apply on an area. Very shallow roots do not require a lot of water compared to very deep ones.

This is how you test the power of your sprinkler head.
a) Put six cans of equal volume at different places on the lawn.
b) Now run your system for 10 minutes.
c) Now collect water from all six cans in one can.
d) Measure the water depth with the help of ruler, depth of the water indicates the rainfall equivalent in inches per hour.

If some of the cans have more water than others it means that the sprinkler is not working as it should. It needs to be repaired.

Gilmour 13 Brass 2-Way Connector

Buy Cheap Gilmour 13 Brass 2-Way Connector
More Pictures	Product by : Gilmour Rating : 4.5/5.0 Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days Compare Price & Save Now!
Gilmour 13 Brass 2-Way Connector Features Dual shut-off valve controls water flow. Extra large handles for easy grip and turn. Easy-on swivel connector prevents hose kinks by allowing hose to turn. Withstands hot water temperatures. Heavy-duty brass construction. Read more details Related Products Camco 22743 TastePURE RV 10' Drinking Water Hose H2O Animal Hydration Flow 1-4/5-Gallon Stainless Steel Automatic Waterer Nelson 50336 Brass Hose Quick Connectors Set, Male and Female Orbit 62001 Lawn and Garden Digital Watering Timer Contech Electronics CRO101 Scarecrow Motion-Activated Sprinkler Best Customer Review : This is a very high quality connector. It replaces a plastic one I fought with last year that was hard to turn on and plagued with leaks. This one is a dream. It's heavy weight and turns on and off so easily. Wish I would have purchased it earlier. I also bought the Gilmour nozzle and love that too. You get what you pay for. Customer Review 1 : Works like a charm - Paul Kim - The shut off valves on these work great. My only recommendation would be to pick one up at Lowes and save yourself the shipping charges. I found this out after the fact. Satisfied as usual though with the Gilmour product line. Customer Review 3 : Fine y adapter - P. Dean - Maryland Worked well this season. We'll see how many season I get but it seems like a fine product. Buy Low Price Gilmour 13 Brass 2-Way Connector

Havahart 5250 Electronic Deer Repellent

Buy Cheap Havahart 5250 Electronic Deer Repellent
More Pictures	Product by : HavaHart Rating : 3.5/5.0 Availability : Usually ships in 24 hours Compare Price & Save Now!
Havahart 5250 Electronic Deer Repellent Features Delivers 400 volts (substantially less voltage than static shock) with virtually no amps (.01 Joules) to harmlessly repel deer Covers approximately 1,200 sq. ft. Requires 6 AA batteries (not included) Average battery life is over one year Animal repellent designed especially for deer is easy to assemble and install Read more details Related Products P3 International P7840 Electronic Deer Chaser Havahart 5265 Spray Away Motion-Activated Water Repellent DEER FORTRESS 6 PACK Bird-X DG Deer Gard Ultrasonic Deer Repeller Contech Electronics CRO101 Scarecrow Motion-Activated Sprinkler Best Customer Review : Expensive - for the price they should give you six units. It is very difficult to tell if the units are working. You have to touch them and take a shock to test them. It is also hard to tell if they are keeping the deer away since there is no way to tell if they were tripped. I bought them because I only have a few deer that wonder in to my two acres. I move the three stakes around about every 4 days. So far I have not seen any deer or any signs of them for the past four weeks. Buckshot and buzzcuts continue to be my most effective deterrent but these new contraptions require much less time and effort and the neighbors don't complain about wounded Bambi's running through their yards. Suggested improvements woudl be to increase the shock voltage, add a on indicator light and a discharge indicator light. Customer Review 2 : this one works! - Jill M. Smith - Virginia I have many azaleas that the deer like to mow down. I have six of these deer repellents inserted into six plants and those six azaleas were not bitten all winter. Meanwhile, the others were really eaten. I am sure these are doing the trick. I wish they were't so expensive because it adds a lot to the price of a bush...but then when one considers the cost of losing the bushes, maybe it's not so bad. In the summer, the ScareCrow motion activated sprayer is incredibly effective. I keep it in my vegetable garden but they stay away from my other gardens, too. Customer Review 3 : Havahart 5250 Electronic Deer Repellent - Henry L. Spencer - Fort Washington, Md The product seems to be working thus far. Deer activity in my yard has decreased significantly. I use the product in conjunction with deer netting for certain flowers and plants which also helps I'm sure, but the deer droppings and digging in flower beds that I once experienced have ceased completly since I started using the product. Buy Low Price Havahart 5250 Electronic Deer Repellent

Contech Electronics CROBRACKET Scarecrow Motion-Activated Sprinkler Mounting Bracket

Buy Cheap Contech Electronics CROBRACKET Scarecrow Motion-Activated Sprinkler Mounting Bracket
More Pictures	Product by : Contech Rating : 3.5/5.0 Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days Compare Price & Save Now!
Contech Electronics CROBRACKET Scarecrow Motion-Activated Sprinkler Mounting Bracket Features Scarecrow universal mounting bracket Allows you to mount the scarecrow absolutely anywhere Installs in minutes Includes mounting hardware Ships at 4-ounces Read more details Related Products Contech Electronics CRO101 Scarecrow Motion-Activated Sprinkler Orbit 58248 Brass Garden Hose Y-Connector with Shut-Off Valves Contech CatStop Ultrasonic Outdoor Cat Deterrent Havahart 5265 Spray Away Motion-Activated Water Repellent Gilmour 13 Brass 2-Way Connector Best Customer Review : The Scarecrow is ridiculously expensive for what it is but it works. Our gardens were being ravaged by deer. We have a lot of TLC and $$ invested in perennials and annuals and have tried fox urine, various Deer repellents and nothing really deterred the critters satisfactorily. The Scarecrow scares the you know what out of them and any other critter that meanders near including humans. We use about 6 of them. You have to put on your thinking cap and buy a little extra hose and nozzles but once you are done you can sleep restfully knowing your garden is safe 24/7. We take them out in the fall and put them back in in the spring. Maybe 2 seasons is all they last at least in Indiana. The connection may have to be trenched in (PVC pipe) to avoid lawn mowers and blown out for winter. We are believers in the product. Customer Review 2 : Contech Scarecrow Mounting Bracket - Home Slice - Annapolis, MD This bracket is an absolute waste. A dollar waste too! I even tightened it with pliers, not just the hand tightening knob, and still wouldn't even adequately hold the Scarecrow in position. No chance of any real adjustment with this junk design either. Ended up using some electrical PVC brackets with great success, cost about $.40 each. Customer Review 3 : OK - b - Works - but could be designed so it's tighter - ScareCrow ends up vibrating and changing position in time. Buy Low Price Contech Electronics CROBRACKET Scarecrow Motion-Activated Sprinkler Mounting Bracket

Contech CatStop Ultrasonic Outdoor Cat Deterrent

Buy Cheap Contech CatStop Ultrasonic Outdoor Cat Deterrent
More Pictures	Product by : Contech Rating : 3.0/5.0 Availability : Usually ships in 3-5 weeks Compare Price & Save Now!
Contech CatStop Ultrasonic Outdoor Cat Deterrent Features Cat deterrent safely and effectively repels unwanted cats 2-second ultrasonic alarm when motion detector senses motion Not audible to humans; covers 330 square feet; requires 9-volt battery Weatherproof and can be left outdoors in all conditions Measures approximately 8 by 3 by 18 inches Read more details Related Products Contech CatStop Waterproof Power Adaptor CATADAPTNA001 Shake Away 9002020 20-ounce Cat Repellent Coyote/Fox Urine Contech Electronics CRO101 Scarecrow Motion-Activated Sprinkler Cordless Ultrasonic Repeller for Yard and Garden Shake Away 3-Pound Cat Repellent Granules Fox & Coyote Urine #3002003 Best Customer Review : Wasn't sure about this product but I have a cat that loves my neighbor's yard. Wanting to keep the peace I've tried the cat deterent powders with mixed results (my cat lives with dogs so coyote urine doesn't scare it very much and cat learned to use the automatic dog door). I definately was hesitant to spend on something with mixed reviews and my neighbor has a dog so didn't want something that would bother it so I bought one CatStop. It didn't bother my dogs or the neighbors and it did bother the cat when i tested it in my house. I then set it up in my neighbors yard. It worked so well that the cat stopped going were it was located but then started to use the other side of the neighbors yard that wasn't covered by the CatStop. Needless to say had to get a second one but now that the entire yard is covered by CatStop the cat doesn't go near my neighbor's house. My neighbor is happy, their dog is happy and I'm happy. I think it works better where you can cover the entire approach the cat will take vs a large open space as the cat will just walk around it. I lucked out that the two approaches into my neighbor's yard were twenty feet wide gaps between the houses. It's been working for the last 6 months and counting knock on wood. Customer Review 2 : Unhappy - Charles R. Laabs - It must be coming by an old sailing ship around the Cape of Gibralter. I have been charged but have not seen any package. Maybe next year I will recieve it???? The last time responded to this was 4/18/10. I had to putdown a rating but it's kind of hard to rate something that you do not have. Customer Review 3 : Works great! No more cats in the planter! - Cobalt Blue - Seattle It rains a lot in the Pacific Northwest and our covered planter provided a nice, dry place for the neighborhood cats to do their thing. I tried a chemical repellent and it worked, but only as long as it persisted - then the cats were back. Given the cost of the repellent, this seemed a bargain. I mounted the unit on a wall that enabled it to cover the entire planter area and then some. The planter has now been 100% cat-free for months. We are completely satisfied with this product. I already had a 9 VDC adapter with the correct plug and polarity, which was a bonus! Buy Low Price Contech CatStop Ultrasonic Outdoor Cat Deterrent

Can Adding a Home Mini Bar Make You Safer, Add Value to Your Home and Save You Money?

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You can add value to your home or condo and get extra enjoyment by adding a home mini bar.There are all sorts of deals on home bar furniture for your townhouse or home. The bar furniture comes in a variety of materials with associated costs and quality. Most bar furniture can be purchased pre-assembled or you can build it yourself.

There are a variety of bar plans available for sale on the internet. You can also find plans in home improvement magazines and books.

First you need to decide on the space that you have available for the mini bar. Make a template from poster board or tack board to give you an idea of the space that the bar furniture will take up.

You should include the bar stools as separate templates so you can move them around. Make sure you include any wet sinks, wine racks, ice boxes, stools and any other items that you might need. All of these items should be reviewed before you place on order for your furniture.

Bar furniture comes in so many materials that you should be able to find a style and finish that matches your current decor.

The bar area can be as big or small as you need or like. Bar furniture can tuck into a corner if needed in any space you have available in your den or living room.

One thing people overlook is the importance of lighting for their mini bar. Depending upon the fixtures and controls that you will use you can create any level of desired ambience.

You may not have thought of this, but you can save money when you put in a mini bar. This is because you will not be paying the high drinks prices at your local bar. At times it is more relaxing to stay home vs. going out to your local tavern. Given today's big screen TVs this can be a nice addition to your home theater.

Another reason for having a home bar, while not usually considered, is for your safety. You can eliminate driving after having had some beer or wine, which is safer than driving after having had few drinks. The cost savings will pay off your investment in no time.

Remember, you will also need some bar stools. Bar stools should be comfortable, padded, and can be of leather or vinyl. Some also swivel - this is a good feature especially if you have a TV or pool table in the room. It makes it easier for people to converse while watching the action.The bar stool height is usually thirty inches tall.

While it may cost you a bit to install, it will pay for itself very quickly.

A New Line of Environmentally - Friendly Garden Sprinklers

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As the availability of drinking water becomes scarcer, efforts to preserve water will intensify. These efforts will be driven both by environmental activism and the increasing cost of water. This is due to the fact that our current water supplies are being attacked by both global-warming, and by human industrialization. If this persists, many of the world's most fertile land will be turned into arid deserts in the next few decades.

So what can we do as a home-owner to conserve water? We need to keep our lawns green, but not everyone has the time or the extra income to have a lawn manually-watered from a rain barrel. A good first step would be to examine the garden sprinkler system that you use to water your lawn.

Lawn sprinklers can be wasteful. It doesn't take long for a sprinkler to soak your lawn thoroughly, so use your garden sprinkler sparingly, and only at times allowed by your municipality. Please keep in mind that a sprinkler can use as much water in an hour as a family of four will use in a day!

If your lawn absolutely needs a watering, invest in water-efficient garden sprinklers. We recommend that you invest in lawn sprinklers that are specially-designed water-efficient units; some will use up to 30% less water than conventional sprinklers. Popular water-efficient lawn sprinklers in the market include those which are designed with heart-shaped heads that shatter water droplets into a fine mist, thereby improving the delivery of water to the root zone of your lawn or garden. Not only do these sprinklers utilize less water, but the mist that is produced provides a more uniform coverage (up to 1200 feet with no halo effect) than does a traditional lawn sprinkler.

Want to do something about our rapid consumption of raw materials? Plastics have become an indispensable part of our daily life. But repeated reprocessing of plastic waste, and its disposal, causes environmental problems, poses health hazards, and is a public nuisance. To help alleviate this problem, invest in lawn sprinklers that are made from 100% environmentally-friendly recycled materials. For instance, the "Eco-Friendly Lawn Sprinkler"" is an environmentally-friendly sprinkler that not only helps conserve water, but is also manufactured from recycled plastics.

Help us to make the earth a better place to live in by being more considerate in your lawn-watering patterns. Please leave some water for your neighbours, and for the fish!

Landscape Maintenance - Keep it Simple

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Everyone loves a beautiful landscape, but no one really likes the hours of work you must put in to maintain it. However, you can have a great looking yard without spending all the time keeping it looking nice. The secret is in planning and preparing for a low maintenance yard. It is simple to do, just take a few simple steps.

If you have a new landscape, you can plan for low maintenance from the beginning. For those of you have an existing yard, you can implement many of these ideas into your garden and turn it into a easy care yard.

One of the first things you should do is plan for watering. Many people inadvertently waste water as they irrigate their yard because they haven't automated the process. When you hand water or manually water with a sprinkler on a hose, it is very hard to do it without waste. By installing a sprinkler system or even putting your garden hose on a timer, you will be able to cut down on the time you spend watering and control the waste.

You can also cut down your time watering containers by using self watering pots. These pots generally have a reservoir in the base that you fill with water. The container then uses this water to irrigate the container from the bottom up. This puts the water right at the roots and helps to cut down on your watering time.

Taking care of weeds is one of the most time consuming tasks in the garden. But it doesn't have to be that way. By taking a few simple steps you can considerably cut down on the time you spend taking care of weeds in the garden. By using a pre-emergent herbicide you can dramatically cut the weeds that germinate. You place the pre-emergent on top of the soil after you are done with all you planting. The herbicide with then help prevent weed seeds from germinating and help keep you out of the garden!

Another great way to control weeds is to put a thick layer of mulch over the soil. Using a mulch will prevent weed seeds from getting the light and air they need to germinate so you will have fewer weeds. Not only will mulch help cut back on your weeding, it will also help the soil retain moisture so you can cut back on your watering as well.

A beautiful garden needs food, but you don't want to spend time fertilizing every few weeks. The answer is slow release fertilizer. By using a time release fertilizer will allow you to feed the plants and then forget about it for up to three months. Most time release fertilizers need to be worked into the soil a few inches. It should also be used in containers where you will mix it right into the soil as you plant.

Your landscape can look like you spend a lot of time in it, even if you don't! It is possible to have a gorgeous yard without all the work.

Clear Wax Candles vs. Gel Candles

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In the last five years a new type of clear candle has emerged - freestanding resin-based (aka clear wax) candles. Using a base of mineral oil, the candle uses a patented resin as the stabilizer, creating a candle that outshines both traditional paraffin and gel candles. It requires no container like gel candles, burns longer than paraffin and holds more fragrance than both. The flame burns down through the inside of the candle as light radiates through the candle's side wall. These resin-based candles can be made in any traditional paraffin shape, with no bubbles. This lends them more decorative appeal than gel candles and more durability than paraffin candles.

A handful of manufacturers have embraced this new technology, but many large manufacturers have avoided gel candles altogether. Candlemakers site the dangers of gel candles as a reason for not offering the clear freestanding candles. Resin-based candles have unfairly been lumped into this category. Gel candle safety concerns while valid, revolve mostly around containers and embeds, of which resin-based candles have none. As a result, clear wax candles are a much sought after commodity in places like eBay and other online venues.

Imagine a candle you can see through - with no bubbles. There are no seascapes or flammable embeds in these candles - just pure clear color and sheer fragrance. This is the resin-based candle reality. Elegant and refined, but unpretentious for the decorator. The Oprah Magazine even featured clear wax candles in the O List a few years ago as an alternative to shorter burning paraffin counterparts. Resin based candles actually cost less per burning hour than most paraffin candles and don't pose the safety risks of gel candles.

Whether in front of a mirror or alone in the darkness, the colorful radiance of clear wax, resin-based candles is something you have to see to believe. When you stand on one side of a candle and look through to the other, the difference becomes clear.

Trenching and Digging For Sprinklers

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Trenching For Sprinklers

If you want to do your own sprinkler system to save money there is one thing you should know. Don't dig the trenches by hand. It's been done before, but it's totally not worth it for most people. The only way its maybe worth it is if the ground is super soft to begin with and/or the yard is really small.

Don't Rent a Trencher

This is another idea that must be done away with. Trenching companies will come to your home and trench for the same price as renting one and doing it yourself. In addition, they use a better machine than what you can rent. Their trenches will be wider straighter and better than your trenches.

Painting Lines

Paint the lines for your trenching guy with marker paint. You will mark the perimeter and where you want your boxes. If the yard is over forty feet wide, add a line of paint for every twenty feet. Typically you will do the perimeter in the front and the perimeter in the back with one or two lines in the middle. If you are using rotors, put the trenches 20 feet apart. If you are using pop ups, put the trenches 12 feet apart.

Blue Stakes

Make sure Blue Stakes gets called before someone digs. Blue stakes will ask that whoever digs should be the one calling in. Make sure it gets done because the consequences can be quite disastrous.

Going Under Sidewalks

Some trenching guys have a tool to bore under the sidewalk. If they have this tool, it is totally worth paying them to go under the sidewalk for you. It will save you a lot of work.

Renovation or New Construction

Let your trenching guy know what he's getting into. Some of the larger trenchers will rip up an existing yard really bad. If you have an existing yard you don't want ripped up, request they bring a smaller hand trencher to do the work.