#‘Well I was too efficient in maintaining a clean and safe facility for guests. You know. One of the responsibilities I was hired for.’

[inga-don-studio]

Work has given me the opportunity to be fired for the funniest/stupidest reason I’ve heard of in a long time (like completely disproportionate to the forbidden deed) and I’m so tempted.

[ritterritter8-blog]

Orange County Shifting Firms - Merit Shifting Systems

Orange County Transferring Firms - Merit Transferring Systems

moving service orange county

It does not imply you want to carry heavy masses; go away this job to the movers, which know find out how to do it fast. Extra bins imply extra money, so the shifting expenditure rises and you begin occupied with different options that might not be good to your fragile stuff. As you may guess, and after studying the reviews under, I am taking my business elsewhere. Furniture and Cubicles - From tear-down to installation of workplace furniture, your online business can profit from a fast relocation without burdening your workers. Executive Moving Techniques Inc. is the leading Orange County enterprise mover in relation to office and business relocation, whether you are shifting across the street or across the nation. We offer FF&E renovation projects, office tools installations, piano shifting, antiques shifting, artwork shifting, and more. By means of our partnership with STI, we will move gadgets that other carriers cannot move safely or efficiently, and we provide business-leading high quality assurance.

And additional-massive packing containers are used for mild gadgets akin to bedding and pillows. We're one of the best moving company in Los Angeles as a result of we now have all the licenses and certifications which will allow us to maneuver you with none stress. But there are methods that you can implement to make your subsequent move smoother and less tense. Our staff are among the many elite in the business moving trade, with years of unmatched experience. Alaska can also be set to start working 13 each day flights to eight locations from Paine Discipline (about 20 miles north of Seattle in Everett, Washington) as quickly as the FAA gives its closing approval for commercial flights there. Common lengthy distance transferring prices for an average 2 bedroom are beneath - you can go to our shifting estimate page to begin your moving course of and get a quote. Engines like google are highly effective mediators with which your web site will certainly achieve visibility and guests. If you are not sure methods to go about selecting San Clemente Movers that will actually serve your needs? Why select our San Clemente moving company? The reply right now, based on insider data, is not any. Why? So whether or not you require shifting of delicate laboratory apparatus or need heavy printing gear to be moved, Walker brothers presents the correct answer.

Storage service

2 years in the past from UK

Tools & Furnishings Storage

5 years in the past from Chemainus. BC, Canada

They have contacts with all firms looking for new talent so while you method them they'll be able to provide you with the correct job. We are one of the few transferring corporations who nonetheless offer a free in-home estimate. If you're lucky, you can get an all-utilities contains house at an affordable charge. Multiple robotic mowers can be utilized to mow an even larger area. Jason Spielfogel: I’m 100% in opposition to even the concept of sanctuary cities. The flowers and wholesome growing plants will energise even the smallest of areas. Each other message i receive is either all containers or clean spaces. You lose key workers. The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified College District and the Placentia-Linda Hospital are the two prime employers in town, with almost 3,000 workers between them. Any kinks or problems with the production are ironed out during this time. You’ll keep away from loads of problems later.

Furthermore, when it pertains to emergency like scenario, finding the apt one makes an entire lot distinction. Around 1900, the most effective identified English machines was the Ransomes' Automaton, obtainable in chain- or gear-driven fashions. Marvin had the very best price, arms-down, and was immediate with returning calls. Monster Shifting and Storage in Orange County makes a speciality of giving our purchasers the very best service to fit their wants. Schick Moving & Storage provides our purchasers aggressive pricing and an efficiency unmatched in the trade. Orange County Movers provides all forms of shifting providers in Orange County, whether or not it's shifting within identical constructing, throughout the street, out of city or an out of state move. Our Moving and Storage Firm in Manhattan, NY gives all side of packing, storage, crating, hoisting, native transferring, long distance shifting, worldwide packing and transferring. We are your official native Arpin seller in Orange County.

Local Movers needs to make sure that at the end of the day the client feels like the money they paid was well worth the service they obtained. DENVER — This week, Waze announced a brand new providing: Waze Carpool, a service that was tested in Colorado before launching nationally on Wednesday. Our stellar score, polite and educated customer support team and professional movers with rich experience in the shifting trade backed by our great prices which might be certainly one of the lowest in the market make us stand out amongst competition. Their company is dedicated to creating out of doors & indoor environments which are practical, comfy and lovely. Hover mowers are powered rotary push lawn mowers that use an impeller above the spinning blades to drive air downward, thereby creating an air cushion that lifts the mower above the ground. Professional Piano Movers are professional and low price. Tiffany Ackley: As a mom of young youngsters, I want to keep crime low - and that means encouraging individuals to file police experiences when a crime occurs.

They concluded that a crimson-yellow-orange colour scheme would create an eye fixed catching design, which would convey folks in and get them out as quick as doable. For Lisa Lewis, government Director on the Partnership for Secure Driving, it's easy: We drive too fast. Let our staff assist and get it achieved for you very fast. As a BBB-accredited enterprise, our professional workers is held to the business's highest requirements. The movers handle valuables in a careful, skilled method and treats each buyer on a personal, individual foundation. As a BBB-accredited enterprise and member of both the California and American Shifting & Storage Associations, movers in orange county ca (https://moversandmovers.com/orange-county-moving-company/) we’ve demonstrated our dedication to first-price customer service and high-high quality transferring support. Once you call us for a long-distance move, you must expect nothing less than excessive-quality service at an inexpensive price. You can fetch unique worth offers, well timed shifting help and full consignment tracking facility. ] can efficiently handle the genuinely transferring component of your relocation. “Today, we handle about 2,650 SKUs in Illinois and about 220 SKUs in Tennessee and Kentucky, together with alcohol and non-alcohol brands,” JR Hand says. Is there an expected growing demand for area such as you want? I moved from LA to Seattle, and like every different overview about this firm, hidden charges have been thrown in at the very finish; for elevators, stairs and an additional lengthy stroll charge.

We're a extremely skilled and skilled pool desk moving company based out of San Diego, California and we don't cost extra for touring to Orange County to perform our work. Pianos2Go are professional movers of pianos, spinets, keyboards, organs, child grand pianos and extra. To keep it in this class, the volume of the products should not exceed greater than 2000 pounds. Strive to maintain this field with you or mark it with a coloration so it can be located simply.Pack prematurely. Most deliveries might be made the same day or the following day. Massage a second time following the identical routine while toweling off. Whether you’re relocating across the state or internationally, you deserve a trusted moving company that guarantees 100% satisfaction, every time. You don't need to overdue it, however the vendor spent time and money upgrading their dwelling and it wouldn't harm to let them know you liked it.

A seller is going to have a look at your complete provide earlier than deciding on the one to simply accept. We provide competitive but affordable costs for all of our providers. In search of trusted Orange County movers who can provide stress-free, superior moving services that accommodate your needs? Price range motels offer all the amenities at lower fees as when in contrast with excessive-class a single. Whether you want momentary, long term or commercial storage in San Diego, we provide a variety of storage options. Your move could be industrial or residential. Our household not too long ago had to do a double transfer.. Need A Crane To maneuver Your Spa? In the event you want it taken to a flooring above floor degree we'll in all probability have to use a crane. At this time all businesses need technology for revolutionary skills and ideas. That's why they prefer our Orange County moving company over different businesses within the state. 1. Earlier than transferring to Orange county look into the internet for an inventory of high real property agents of the area.

Alex Moving & Storage is certainly one of the most important hauling brokers for northAmerican Van Traces. For this reason we need to just be sure you don’t need to be the one to do it. He saved yelling why I gave them a 1-star assessment. Then they wonder why when it disappears. Should i simply get a brand new telephone? Our seasoned teams will information you thru every side of the transferring process to ensure a clean transition. 4. Will we now have easy access to the unit? 4. Do your folks have any insurance policy? Nonetheless, while Gettess uses protecting stops for his place, he doesn’t all the time have a cease-loss on a trade. Nayla waited for orcs to shoot, while Nesta climbed up the walls and ultimately sneaked up onto the southeast tower and rushed the orc on watch there. And consider at the very least hiring a neighborhood teenager to come back and play with your youngsters in an empty room whereas all the transferring is going on. Our agent is aware of all of Orange and the surrounding areas from the Pinehurst neighborhood to the Little Cypress community. Orange County, the third most-populous county in California, is the sixth populous county within the United States.

Very first thing, Orlando is understood to be the center for the state of Florida and can be thought-about to be the county seat o Orange County and the Greater Orlando Metropolitan Area. Orange is a metropolis wealthy in historical past and culture. Orange county Windows is the premiere firm in Orange County for your replacement window installations. The Orange County Fair is hold exactly on this metropolis, so that many people visit Costa Mesa. The couple left the riverbed at the top of January, when a group of people they didn’t feel snug being around settled next to their tent by the Extended Keep America off Katella Avenue in Orange. I wish to thank them each for an excellent job in being our Instructor's . One other place I like to go work clothes procuring is the thrift retailer. We take our route from your needs, circumstances, and schedule. You just can’t declare the price of snacks and meals through the transferring course of, and if you are taking commonplace mileage, you can’t individually declare the price of gas. Does the quote include any specialty wrappings, equivalent to mattress baggage for mattresses, shrink wrap for sofas? Now that you’ve taken everything apart, wrap it back together.

[agilenano]

Agilenano - News: Because your home is now your workplace, gym, coffee shop, and primary care facility, you’ll need to keep it in good working order.

Under normal circumstances, “honey-do” lists and “weekend warrior” projects often get pushed aside by the daily grind. But in this bizarre new pandemic reality, that grind has ground to a halt. If there’s an upside, it’s that you have both time and incentive to knock out some of those around-the-house chores you may have put off. We spoke to a project manager and lead carpenter with a home remodeling business to find out what projects anyone can do to keep their homes in tip-top shape. And don’t worry if DYI isn’t your thing. Not only are these 11 tips easy for most anyone, but we even included a simple list of beginner tools to help build an essential toolkit you can be proud of. 11 Easy & Essential Home Maintenance Projects We spoke with John Wagner, a partner and project manager at the Twin Cities-based Waxwing Woodworking Inc. He identified 11 projects every homeowner should do to keep their house running efficiently and safely. And if you’re a renter, you can still check these things and let your landlord know. And while Wagner said you could easily get all these done during these social distancing mandates — some take as little as 30 seconds — at the very least, you could use this time to check all the items and make a plan for the next couple months. 1. Change your home air filter Filters should be changed monthly, and you should always have a spare one on hand. If you don’t, check the filter size and head on down to your friendly neighborhood filter (hardware/home improvement) store and pick up a bulk pack. Unless you have acute sensitivities to specific particulates, a filter with a “MERV” rating of 5 to 8 will be fine. A higher MERV rating will trap finer particles, but at some cost to the efficiency of your furnace. If you’re not sure what filter to use with your system, check the service manual or give a local heating contractor a call. Once you have the new filter, remove the old one and replace it, taking care to orient the filter for the direction of airflow. If you don’t have the size of the filter and direction of airflow written on your filter cover, now’s a good time to bust out the marker and get that done. 2. Clean gutters, check downspouts Take a walk around the perimeter of your house and check your gutters and downspouts. If you didn’t clean your gutters after the leaves fell last year, get to work. But don’t just leave that crap on the ground! (More on that later.) Downspouts should extend a minimum of 5 feet from the foundation to keep water from working its way into your basement. If you have a finished basement, a nice, long downspout could wind up saving you a ton of money. Most basement moisture problems arise from bulk water intrusion caused by bad slope and drainage. If your soil doesn’t slope away from your house (6 inches over 10 feet), that’s a major issue to address. Quick note: If you live in a cold climate, you should have a dehumidifier running from spring through fall (especially if you have a finished basement). 3. Prep garden, remove yard matter near your house Once you’ve thrown all your gutter goo onto the ground, pick it up. Rake up the old, decaying stuff from around the house so that soil isn’t building up against the house. If you put mulch around the house, it’s good to maintain 6 inches of clearance below the siding, especially if your siding material is a wood or wood composite. Personally, I like a 12- to 18-inch bed of crushed rock or gravel between the foundation and plants. That buffer will help prevent moisture and pests from working into the house. Plus, this is also a great time to plan for your vegetable garden. If the soil has thawed enough where you are, mix in some compost, and you’ll be ready to plant when the weather allows. Finally, now’s a great time for tree trimming. If you’re up to it and can do it safely, trim away dead or decaying branches and manage the growth of fruit trees. The University of Minnesota Extension has excellent resources for managing trees and gardening. 4. Clean air-conditioning coils First, you’ll want to clear away any plant growth around the condenser. Hook up your hose and decide how clean you want the condenser. You can either take the cover off (be sure to flip the breaker off inside) and clean from the inside out, or you can spray from the outside with the cover still on. Either way, spray at a downward angle until clean. If you’ve removed the cover to clean, you should be really proud of yourself — unless you damage the thin aluminum fins by folding them over. 5. Vacuum refrigerator coils Carefully walk out your refrigerator and start suckin’! Pull off the cover on the front that overlaps the wheels and vacuum that out. At the back of the fridge, vacuum the coils and motor. (No need to look behind the fridge, there’s definitely nothing there. Nope.) Just slide the fridge back. Be sure the fridge has an inch or so of clearance above it to allow warm air to escape. 6. Check siding for holes or other entrances for vermin, seal them If you had any winter guests this year, now’s a good time to check around the house to see how they got in. Start by following #3 above. Then, check for holes in the siding, gaps below the last course of siding (could be loose bricks or cracked stucco), or gaps that might have formed in your soffits. You can fix most means of ingress with better landscaping, steel wool, a good-quality caulk, or spray foam. Now, if you had squirrels or raccoons get into your attic through holes in your soffit or fascia, you might want to call a contractor. 7. Summerize snowblower, prep lawnmower for season If you’re not expecting more snow, get your snowblower ready to hibernate. Remove the fuel that’s in it and empty the fuel into a safe storage container (you can dump the fuel from the snowblower into your gas can). Don’t be a jerk neighbor and run your snowblower for 2 hours to burn off the fuel. Also, get some fuel stabilizer and pour that into your gas can before filling it up with gas. Next, clean up your snowblower. Lubricate any parts that move, pull the spark plug, and get a bit of oil worked through the motor by pulling the cord a couple of times. You might as well check to see if your augur blade is worn down or damaged; the same goes for the scraper blade. As for the lawnmower, if it ran well the year before, you should be able to fuel it up and get it going. If not, it’s generally a simple procedure to pull and clean the carburetor, replace the spark plug, and complete an oil change. Now, if you’re feeling frisky, you can check and sharpen the mower blade. Disconnect the spark plug, flip the mower, and remove the blade (you’ll need a wrench). Clamp the blade in a vise or clamp it to a sturdy table. With an angle grinder and a sanding pad, give the blade a few passes at a 30-degree angle. If you’re left with a rough burr on the back side of the edge, knock it off with a few passes of a file. If you don’t have an angle grinder, you can use a sharpening stone or a file, but it takes much longer. 8. Check washing machine filter, clean dryer vent This one is pretty straightforward. First, check your washer’s manual on how to clean the filter. It will probably say something smug, like, “Clean this filter monthly.” But there’s another inlet filter that’s also super easy to clean. Turn off the water supply, disconnect the hose, and remove any particulates. This is an especially important task if you have older, galvanized supply lines in your home. Cleaning the dryer vent is super important, too. First of all, your vent should be a rigid pipe, and the joints should be lapped so that lint isn’t accumulating at the edges. Disconnect the pipe from the dryer (just pull, and you might have to cut some tape) and check the vent on the dryer. Clear or dirty? Any toys in there? Next, take a look into the pipe. Slide a vacuum hose up there with a brush attachment. Now, head outside to the dryer’s exhaust port. On the outside of the house, check to see if the damper closes smoothly or if lint has accumulated there and was letting freezing-cold air into your house all winter. Clean it. Reattach the pipe and re-tape those joints with a quality foil tape. If you have a flexible vent pipe, switch to a rigid pipe. Rigid pipe will vent more efficiently, trap less lint, and is overall safer. 9. Check carbon monoxide and smoke detectors Test ‘em all! Change the batteries. If any of the units are old, replace them. Many new units come with sealed batteries and are good for 10 years. You should have a minimum of one smoke and one carbon monoxide (CO) detector on each floor, a smoke detector inside and outside of each bedroom, and a CO detector within 10 feet of each bedroom and sleeping area. 10. Upgrade your thermostat Get and install a smart thermostat. Personally, I like the ecobee. Chances are that your energy provider offers some kind of rebate, which will offset some of the initial cost. It proved super easy to install in my home, even though I didn’t have a C-wire. The savings started immediately, the unit is super intuitive and functional, it looks nice, and the sensors prioritize heating and cooling occupied spaces. Why do it? Because a super-easy way to save money and energy, as well as limit emissions, is to not be such an energy hog. Sign up for off-peak energy and adjust your thermostat settings so that your house is 65 degrees in the winter and 76 degrees in the summer. Some people may require different temps for health reasons, but your house doesn’t have to be 70 degrees all year ’round. 11. Check water heater The more adventurous among you may want to try a little water heater maintenance. Three things to do here: Check the pressure relief valve, check/replace the sacrificial anode, and flush the water heater. Testing the pressure relief valve will get a bit of scalding-hot water on the floor. So wear sturdy shoes. This one is better to watch — I recommend the trove of good info on the This Old House channel on YouTube. This is really a show, don’t tell fix. Check out some of the channel’s videos below. Temperature and pressure relief valve: Sacrificial anode: Flush water heater: Bonus: Start a home savings account The best way to save money is to actively save money. So if you have the luxury right now, you could start a savings account for your home. A good rule of thumb is to save 1.5-2% of your home’s value every year. If some of the systems in the house aren’t in great shape or are older, save a little more. For some perspective, a full replacement of a forced-air furnace and AC condenser can easily run up to $10,000 or more. Basic Toolkit for Home Maintenance To tackle most home improvement projects, you’ll need some rudimentary tools. Here’s a list of tools you should have on hand to tackle common DIY tasks: Home DIY Toolkit Hammer Phillips, flathead, or interchangeable-head screwdrivers Electric drill with bit kit and driver bits Tape measure Utility knife Pliers Adjustable wrench Small handsaw Voltage detector Wire nuts Wire cutters Safety glasses and ear protection Level (32″) Electrical, Teflon, duct, and painter’s tape Allen keys Small socket set Small pry bar Rags Pencils, sharpies The post 11 Simple Home Projects to Bang Out During Quarantine appeared first on GearJunkie. #Coronavirus #Lifestyle

Agilenano - News from Agilenano from shopsnetwork (4 sites) https://agilenano.com/blogs/news/because-your-home-is-now-your-workplace-gym-coffee-shop-and-primary-care-facility-you-ll-need-to-keep-it-in-good-working-order-1

[vacationsoup]

New Post has been published on https://vacationsoup.com/?p=124680

[Duplicated:124676] How do we reduce our carbon footprint? A quick look at what’s so eco about the Eco Barn

How do we reduce our carbon footprint? A quick look at what’s so eco about the Eco Barn

When we moved to Norfolk to set up Mill Farm Eco Barn we were really clear about one thing: that we wanted to run a climate friendly business. One that had the smallest possible impact on the natural environment but was also an amazing and comfortable place to stay. We live in such a precious area, just outside the Broads National Park and within walking distance to National Nature Reserves, so wanted to show that it’s possible to offer eco-friendly but stylish holiday cottages.

This blog outlines both what we are currently doing and what we strive to do in the future. I am proud of our achievements so far but am determined to do more.  I know that the issue of climate change has become far more serious since I studied it some 25 years ago. Unfortunately, being eco-friendly doesn’t come without challenges, and despite the fact we are the site of a former mill, to implement a small wind turbine which would produce all the energy we need and more, we’ve been met with a lot of red tape, let alone cost. We shall persist!

We have solar panels on site at Mill Farm Eco Barn

The United Nations now tell us we have a mere 12 years to halt climate meltdown. There are many businesses like mine that are trying to reduce their impact and as individuals we can all make changes to our lives in order to reduce our own carbon footprint. I do desperately hope though, that the future sees more radical political leadership on this issue. Questions like ‘Why do we still not have decent, affordable public transport outside of London?’ leave me feeling enraged at the lack of leadership to date.

How do we reduce our climate impact at Mill Farm Eco Barn?

The first task when we began our conversion, was to address how we were going to heat and power the barns and our house next door. The idea that we would install an oil boiler was out of the question. In the end we opted for a wood burning pellet boiler along with energy efficient appliances and light fittings. Our electricity is supplied on a green tariff plus on- site photo voltaic, which means we use 100% renewables to power our barns and house. We encourage car free days out, supply bikes on site and offer 10% off the list price if all guests arrive on public transport. This week I shifted my website to a UK carbon neural web hosting company Ecohosting.

Next steps: We need to move to electric cars (have you seen how much they cost?) and in our personal lives we are reducing the amount we drive, which is challenging in a rural location.  We would also like to provide charging points for guests’ cars. I’d like to think our wind turbine is possible too within the next couple of years.

We are in a low rainfall area so reducing water consumption is important

We collect water from the barn roofs to flush toilets and washing machines. We also use this rainwater to water plants and fill our new wildlife pond. All taps are reduced flow without compromising user experience. The drinking water is on mains, of course.

Plastic and waste

We use Eco Products and refill them.

Plastic is a hot topic at the moment and while we’re working towards being totally plastic free, we’re very careful with our current usage.

We provide recycling and composting facilities for all our guests and we reduce our plastic use by using eco-friendly cleaning products which I buy in bulk and then re-use and refill.

Nature and biodiversity

We have planted over 1km of hedge rows at Mill Farm Eco Barn

We are on the edge of the Broads National Park and can walk to an Area of Outstanding National Beauty from the barns. When we moved here, our 2-acre site was barren and did little to support the local bird populations and biodiversity. Since moving we have planted over 40 fruit trees and a 1km of hedgerow around the entire site – that’s over 1500 saplings! The paddocks are now managed for wildlife with the restored wildlife pond too. We have nesting swallows every year, have put up bird boxes including a kestrel box and a swift box went up this weekend. We have loved watching the local birdlife flourish on site and it’s fantastic for our kids to see.

 Eat local

As well as supplying guests with local jams, eggs, bread and cake on arrival, we also have a guest’s allotment for guests to pick their own herbs and vegetables. I provide as much information as possible to encourage our guests to buy form local independent shops and growers too as we have an abundance in the area! You can find out more about them in my blog on local food.

We planted an orchard in 2014 and now make our own apple juice

Contributing to Winterton-on-sea

Our holiday home business is based in Winterton-On-Sea and we wanted to contribute to the village and local community. Since moving here I have served on the parish council and was briefly a school governor. We also spearheaded the campaign to transform the children’s play area, this was a huge village effort raising over £35,000 in total. My husband Neil sits on the parish neighbourhood plan Steering Group and we also put in a footpath for villagers to use linking the village to the farm safely and a popular circular walking route around the village.

Despite our eco efforts, we’ve managed to maintain a sense of luxury and style in both barns. Many guests don’t even notice a difference to their usual non-eco break and that’s wonderful to watch.

For those that are interested and looking for tips for their own home, we would be more than happy to take you on a little tour and talk birds or biomass boilers! Meanwhile I’m working on how I can work with others to improve the eco footprint of our local area.

Fancy coming to stay? You can book with us directly here.

[wikitopx]

It’s time to rally your passion.

Look for life, the shining moments and celebrate them in a place where true colors never hide; a place where the spirit of independence and an energetic community come together perfectly. It is where you find your center. Reconnect the dots with really important things and create memories on historic streets.

[toc]

1. Jefferson Clinton Hotel

Jefferson Clinton Hotel is located in Historic Armory Square, the hotel is surrounded by restaurants, shopping malls, stores, museums, and exciting evening entertainment.

All of our rooms have premium mattresses with three sheets, large TVs with premium channels and complimentary high-speed wireless internet access. Each guest receives our free hot breakfast buffet with omelets on order.

All of our rooms have premium mattresses with three sheets, large TVs with premium channels and complimentary high-speed wireless internet access. Each guest receives our complimentary hot buffet breakfast with made-to-order omelets.

2. Residence Inn Syracuse Downtown at Armory Square

Residence Inn Armory Square offers 1 & 2-bedroom suites in downtown Syracuse. Our complimentary hot breakfast, indoor pool & fitness center allow you to maintain your daily routine.

Valet parking, flexible meeting space, on-site bar, seating area & outdoor courtyard and set us apart from other Syracuse hotels. Free Wi-Fi and Marriott’s interactive GoBoardTM keep you connected.

3. Courtyard Syracuse Downtown at Armory Square

The Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Syracuse is located in Armory Square near University Hill, hospitals and central business district.

Differences in its location and amenities, including an indoor pool, parking and outdoor seating, the new hotel in Syracuse is within walking distance to dozens of restaurants, shops, and attractions. Stay connected with free Wi-Fi and Marriott's digital GoBoard™.

4. Parkview Hotel, BW Premier Collection

Property Renovated October 2018! Now part of the BW Premier Collection, Best Western's most exclusive hotel collection. Parkview Hotel is located in the heart of it all, between Syracuse University and Syracuse City Center, offering guests the perfect combination of comfort and service in a classic hotel that is clearly a fish, multiply.

Relax by the fireplace in our inviting lobby, wake up each morning and enjoy a deluxe hot breakfast (on the house!), and don't forget to savor our delicious dinner menu and drink selection in our laid-back restaurant.

Upstairs, our handsome guest rooms are the largest city center providing you with space and comfort to feel at home. (We're pet-friendly, too.) On-site parking is free and so is our friendly and professional shuttle service.

Whether you’re here for work or fun, we are sure to become your favorite Syracuse destination. Parkview Hotel - Style and sophistication have in Downtown Syracuse.

5. Holiday Inn Express Syracuse / Fairgrounds

Ferris wheels, hot funnel wheels and big-name performers like Maroon 5 & Train are waiting for you at the New York State Fair, just a stone's throw from Holiday Inn Express® Syracuse - Fairgrounds Hotel in Warners, NY.

Our hotel's convenient location off I-90 and quick access to I-690 means commuting in and out of the city is a breeze.

5. Comfort Inn Fairgrounds

See why so many travelers make Comfort Inn Fairgrounds their hotel when visiting Syracuse. Offering an ideal blend of value, comfort, and convenience, it provides a budget-friendly setting with a range of amenities designed for travelers like you.

The rooms have facilities like a flat-screen TV, air conditioning and a fridge, and guests can access online with free WiFi provided by the hotel.

6. Best Western The Inn At The Fairgrounds

Inn At The Fairgrounds Hotel is a family-friendly hotel offering a flat-screen TV and air conditioning in the rooms, and it is easy to stay connected during your stay as free wifi is offered to guests.

The hotel features a 24-hour front desk and room service. Plus, guests can enjoy a hot tub and free breakfast, which have made this a popular choice among travelers visiting Syracuse.

For guests with cars, free parking is available. Syracuse has plenty of seafood restaurants. So when you're here, be sure to check out famous spots like Fish Cove and Poke Noodle, which are serving some great food.

If you’re looking for things to do, you can check out New York State Fairgrounds (0.5 mi), which is a popular attraction amongst tourists, and it is within walking distance. The staff at Best Western The Inn At The Fairgrounds look forward to serving you on your upcoming visit.

7. Hampton Inn & Suites Syracuse Dewitt

Stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites Syracuse Dewitt and get complimentary high-speed Internet access in each room. Have a good night's sleep in a clean and fresh Hampton bed and enjoy our range of attentive services and amenities.

Keep up with your room work with our handy desk or relax with your favorite shows on the LCD flat-screen TV. Upgrade to a set for separate living and sleeping areas, more space and flexibility.

Take advantage of our range of efficient services to help you stay more comfortable. Start each day with a delicious free hot Hampton breakfast and taste our world-famous waffles. Even when you're in a hurry, don't miss the most important meal of the day.

On the way out, simply grab one of our free Hampton On the Run® Breakfast Bags, available Monday to Friday, for a quick, healthy meal. Swim laps in the indoor swimming pool after a long day.

8. Hotel Skyler Syracuse, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

You've never been to a place like Hotel Skyler Syracuse, Hilton's Tapestry Collection. In the serene and welcoming lobby, industrial minimalism meets organic comfort. Retro and metro mingle cozily in one-of-a-kind guestrooms.

From the moment you check in until you reluctantly say goodbye, you'll know you're somewhere special - somewhere designed to nurture the spirit and the planet. You're at Hotel Skyler Syracuse, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Syracuse's first LEED Platinum hotel.

Every guest room has a safe, iron/ironing board, iHome clock radio, walk-in shower, flat-panel TV, HDTV, and free high-speed wired and wireless internet, refrigerator, and desk. Start each day with a complimentary Artisan Style Breakfast served in the Main Lobby.

9. Quality Inn & Suites - Fairgrounds

If you are looking for a budget-friendly hotel in Syracuse, look no further than Quality Inn & Suites - Fairgrounds. The accommodation has facilities like a flat-screen TV and guests can access online with free wifi provided by the hotel.

Quality Inn & Suites - Fairgrounds has a 24-hour front desk, newspapers and luggage storage, to make your stay more enjoyable. The hotel also boasts a pool and free breakfast.

If you are driving to Quality Inn & Suites - Fairgrounds, there will be available free parking. During your visit, check out one of the closest restaurants within walking distance of Quality Inn & Suites - Fairgrounds, such as Marcella's (0.3 mi) or Chinese Restaurant H & K (0.9 mi).

If you're looking for something to do, Clinton Square and the Niagara Mohawk Building are a good way to spend time. The staff at Quality Inn & Suites - Fairgrounds look forward to serving you on the upcoming visit.

10. Red Roof Inn Syracuse

Syracuse is the commercial and cultural center of downtown New York, and Red Roof Syracuse is convenient for many of Syracuse's attractions! LeMoyne College, Hancock International Airport, and SUNY Health Sciences are within 10 minutes; the Amtrak Station and Carousel Center are 10 miles from the hotel, and Rosamond Gifford Zoo, Syracuse University, and the Carrier Dome are within 15 miles.

Red Roof Syracuse is located within minutes from shopping malls and many restaurants. Friendly staff ensures guests feel confident, meaningful and happy. Red Roof Syracuse is renovated with all new rooms, contemporary furniture, new bathrooms with granite countertops, a comfortable easy chair and more.

All rooms have free WiFi and a flat-screen TV. Experience our coffeehouse-style coffee and tea. This location offers “On Command Video” with a selection of free TV channels, pay-to-view premium channels, and movies, as well as music and games. One well-behaved family pet per room is welcome.

More ideals for you:

From : https://wikitopx.com/hotels/top-10-cheap-hotels-in-syracuse-ny-702539.html

[agilenano]

Agilenano - News: Because your home is now your workplace, gym, coffee shop, and primary care facility, you’ll need to keep it in good working order.

Under normal circumstances, “honey-do” lists and “weekend warrior” projects often get pushed aside by the daily grind. But in this bizarre new pandemic reality, that grind has ground to a halt. If there’s an upside, it’s that you have both time and incentive to knock out some of those around-the-house chores you may have put off. We spoke to a project manager and lead carpenter with a home remodeling business to find out what projects anyone can do to keep their homes in tip-top shape. And don’t worry if DYI isn’t your thing. Not only are these 11 tips easy for most anyone, but we even included a simple list of beginner tools to help build an essential toolkit you can be proud of. 11 Easy & Essential Home Maintenance Projects We spoke with John Wagner, a partner and project manager at the Twin Cities-based Waxwing Woodworking Inc. He identified 11 projects every homeowner should do to keep their house running efficiently and safely. And if you’re a renter, you can still check these things and let your landlord know. And while Wagner said you could easily get all these done during these social distancing mandates — some take as little as 30 seconds — at the very least, you could use this time to check all the items and make a plan for the next couple months. 1. Change your home air filter Filters should be changed monthly, and you should always have a spare one on hand. If you don’t, check the filter size and head on down to your friendly neighborhood filter (hardware/home improvement) store and pick up a bulk pack. Unless you have acute sensitivities to specific particulates, a filter with a “MERV” rating of 5 to 8 will be fine. A higher MERV rating will trap finer particles, but at some cost to the efficiency of your furnace. If you’re not sure what filter to use with your system, check the service manual or give a local heating contractor a call. Once you have the new filter, remove the old one and replace it, taking care to orient the filter for the direction of airflow. If you don’t have the size of the filter and direction of airflow written on your filter cover, now’s a good time to bust out the marker and get that done. 2. Clean gutters, check downspouts Take a walk around the perimeter of your house and check your gutters and downspouts. If you didn’t clean your gutters after the leaves fell last year, get to work. But don’t just leave that crap on the ground! (More on that later.) Downspouts should extend a minimum of 5 feet from the foundation to keep water from working its way into your basement. If you have a finished basement, a nice, long downspout could wind up saving you a ton of money. Most basement moisture problems arise from bulk water intrusion caused by bad slope and drainage. If your soil doesn’t slope away from your house (6 inches over 10 feet), that’s a major issue to address. Quick note: If you live in a cold climate, you should have a dehumidifier running from spring through fall (especially if you have a finished basement). 3. Prep garden, remove yard matter near your house Once you’ve thrown all your gutter goo onto the ground, pick it up. Rake up the old, decaying stuff from around the house so that soil isn’t building up against the house. If you put mulch around the house, it’s good to maintain 6 inches of clearance below the siding, especially if your siding material is a wood or wood composite. Personally, I like a 12- to 18-inch bed of crushed rock or gravel between the foundation and plants. That buffer will help prevent moisture and pests from working into the house. Plus, this is also a great time to plan for your vegetable garden. If the soil has thawed enough where you are, mix in some compost, and you’ll be ready to plant when the weather allows. Finally, now’s a great time for tree trimming. If you’re up to it and can do it safely, trim away dead or decaying branches and manage the growth of fruit trees. The University of Minnesota Extension has excellent resources for managing trees and gardening. 4. Clean air-conditioning coils First, you’ll want to clear away any plant growth around the condenser. Hook up your hose and decide how clean you want the condenser. You can either take the cover off (be sure to flip the breaker off inside) and clean from the inside out, or you can spray from the outside with the cover still on. Either way, spray at a downward angle until clean. If you’ve removed the cover to clean, you should be really proud of yourself — unless you damage the thin aluminum fins by folding them over. 5. Vacuum refrigerator coils Carefully walk out your refrigerator and start suckin’! Pull off the cover on the front that overlaps the wheels and vacuum that out. At the back of the fridge, vacuum the coils and motor. (No need to look behind the fridge, there’s definitely nothing there. Nope.) Just slide the fridge back. Be sure the fridge has an inch or so of clearance above it to allow warm air to escape. 6. Check siding for holes or other entrances for vermin, seal them If you had any winter guests this year, now’s a good time to check around the house to see how they got in. Start by following #3 above. Then, check for holes in the siding, gaps below the last course of siding (could be loose bricks or cracked stucco), or gaps that might have formed in your soffits. You can fix most means of ingress with better landscaping, steel wool, a good-quality caulk, or spray foam. Now, if you had squirrels or raccoons get into your attic through holes in your soffit or fascia, you might want to call a contractor. 7. Summerize snowblower, prep lawnmower for season If you’re not expecting more snow, get your snowblower ready to hibernate. Remove the fuel that’s in it and empty the fuel into a safe storage container (you can dump the fuel from the snowblower into your gas can). Don’t be a jerk neighbor and run your snowblower for 2 hours to burn off the fuel. Also, get some fuel stabilizer and pour that into your gas can before filling it up with gas. Next, clean up your snowblower. Lubricate any parts that move, pull the spark plug, and get a bit of oil worked through the motor by pulling the cord a couple of times. You might as well check to see if your augur blade is worn down or damaged; the same goes for the scraper blade. As for the lawnmower, if it ran well the year before, you should be able to fuel it up and get it going. If not, it’s generally a simple procedure to pull and clean the carburetor, replace the spark plug, and complete an oil change. Now, if you’re feeling frisky, you can check and sharpen the mower blade. Disconnect the spark plug, flip the mower, and remove the blade (you’ll need a wrench). Clamp the blade in a vise or clamp it to a sturdy table. With an angle grinder and a sanding pad, give the blade a few passes at a 30-degree angle. If you’re left with a rough burr on the back side of the edge, knock it off with a few passes of a file. If you don’t have an angle grinder, you can use a sharpening stone or a file, but it takes much longer. 8. Check washing machine filter, clean dryer vent This one is pretty straightforward. First, check your washer’s manual on how to clean the filter. It will probably say something smug, like, “Clean this filter monthly.” But there’s another inlet filter that’s also super easy to clean. Turn off the water supply, disconnect the hose, and remove any particulates. This is an especially important task if you have older, galvanized supply lines in your home. Cleaning the dryer vent is super important, too. First of all, your vent should be a rigid pipe, and the joints should be lapped so that lint isn’t accumulating at the edges. Disconnect the pipe from the dryer (just pull, and you might have to cut some tape) and check the vent on the dryer. Clear or dirty? Any toys in there? Next, take a look into the pipe. Slide a vacuum hose up there with a brush attachment. Now, head outside to the dryer’s exhaust port. On the outside of the house, check to see if the damper closes smoothly or if lint has accumulated there and was letting freezing-cold air into your house all winter. Clean it. Reattach the pipe and re-tape those joints with a quality foil tape. If you have a flexible vent pipe, switch to a rigid pipe. Rigid pipe will vent more efficiently, trap less lint, and is overall safer. 9. Check carbon monoxide and smoke detectors Test ‘em all! Change the batteries. If any of the units are old, replace them. Many new units come with sealed batteries and are good for 10 years. You should have a minimum of one smoke and one carbon monoxide (CO) detector on each floor, a smoke detector inside and outside of each bedroom, and a CO detector within 10 feet of each bedroom and sleeping area. 10. Upgrade your thermostat Get and install a smart thermostat. Personally, I like the ecobee. Chances are that your energy provider offers some kind of rebate, which will offset some of the initial cost. It proved super easy to install in my home, even though I didn’t have a C-wire. The savings started immediately, the unit is super intuitive and functional, it looks nice, and the sensors prioritize heating and cooling occupied spaces. Why do it? Because a super-easy way to save money and energy, as well as limit emissions, is to not be such an energy hog. Sign up for off-peak energy and adjust your thermostat settings so that your house is 65 degrees in the winter and 76 degrees in the summer. Some people may require different temps for health reasons, but your house doesn’t have to be 70 degrees all year ’round. 11. Check water heater The more adventurous among you may want to try a little water heater maintenance. Three things to do here: Check the pressure relief valve, check/replace the sacrificial anode, and flush the water heater. Testing the pressure relief valve will get a bit of scalding-hot water on the floor. So wear sturdy shoes. This one is better to watch — I recommend the trove of good info on the This Old House channel on YouTube. This is really a show, don’t tell fix. Check out some of the channel’s videos below. Temperature and pressure relief valve: Sacrificial anode: Flush water heater: Bonus: Start a home savings account The best way to save money is to actively save money. So if you have the luxury right now, you could start a savings account for your home. A good rule of thumb is to save 1.5-2% of your home’s value every year. If some of the systems in the house aren’t in great shape or are older, save a little more. For some perspective, a full replacement of a forced-air furnace and AC condenser can easily run up to $10,000 or more. Basic Toolkit for Home Maintenance To tackle most home improvement projects, you’ll need some rudimentary tools. Here’s a list of tools you should have on hand to tackle common DIY tasks: Home DIY Toolkit Hammer Phillips, flathead, or interchangeable-head screwdrivers Electric drill with bit kit and driver bits Tape measure Utility knife Pliers Adjustable wrench Small handsaw Voltage detector Wire nuts Wire cutters Safety glasses and ear protection Level (32″) Electrical, Teflon, duct, and painter’s tape Allen keys Small socket set Small pry bar Rags Pencils, sharpies The post 11 Simple Home Projects to Bang Out During Quarantine appeared first on GearJunkie. #Lifestyle #Coronavirus

Agilenano - News from Agilenano from shopsnetwork (4 sites) https://agilenano.com/blogs/news/because-your-home-is-now-your-workplace-gym-coffee-shop-and-primary-care-facility-you-ll-need-to-keep-it-in-good-working-order

[vacationsoup]

New Post has been published on https://vacationsoup.com/?p=124677

[Duplicated:124676] How do we reduce our carbon footprint? A quick look at what’s so eco about the Eco Barn

How do we reduce our carbon footprint? A quick look at what’s so eco about the Eco Barn

When we moved to Norfolk to set up Mill Farm Eco Barn we were really clear about one thing: that we wanted to run a climate friendly business. One that had the smallest possible impact on the natural environment but was also an amazing and comfortable place to stay. We live in such a precious area, just outside the Broads National Park and within walking distance to National Nature Reserves, so wanted to show that it’s possible to offer eco-friendly but stylish holiday cottages.

This blog outlines both what we are currently doing and what we strive to do in the future. I am proud of our achievements so far but am determined to do more.  I know that the issue of climate change has become far more serious since I studied it some 25 years ago. Unfortunately, being eco-friendly doesn’t come without challenges, and despite the fact we are the site of a former mill, to implement a small wind turbine which would produce all the energy we need and more, we’ve been met with a lot of red tape, let alone cost. We shall persist!

We have solar panels on site at Mill Farm Eco Barn

The United Nations now tell us we have a mere 12 years to halt climate meltdown. There are many businesses like mine that are trying to reduce their impact and as individuals we can all make changes to our lives in order to reduce our own carbon footprint. I do desperately hope though, that the future sees more radical political leadership on this issue. Questions like ‘Why do we still not have decent, affordable public transport outside of London?’ leave me feeling enraged at the lack of leadership to date.

How do we reduce our climate impact at Mill Farm Eco Barn?

The first task when we began our conversion, was to address how we were going to heat and power the barns and our house next door. The idea that we would install an oil boiler was out of the question. In the end we opted for a wood burning pellet boiler along with energy efficient appliances and light fittings. Our electricity is supplied on a green tariff plus on- site photo voltaic, which means we use 100% renewables to power our barns and house. We encourage car free days out, supply bikes on site and offer 10% off the list price if all guests arrive on public transport. This week I shifted my website to a UK carbon neural web hosting company Ecohosting.

Next steps: We need to move to electric cars (have you seen how much they cost?) and in our personal lives we are reducing the amount we drive, which is challenging in a rural location.  We would also like to provide charging points for guests’ cars. I’d like to think our wind turbine is possible too within the next couple of years.

We are in a low rainfall area so reducing water consumption is important

We collect water from the barn roofs to flush toilets and washing machines. We also use this rainwater to water plants and fill our new wildlife pond. All taps are reduced flow without compromising user experience. The drinking water is on mains, of course.

Plastic and waste

We use Eco Products and refill them.

Plastic is a hot topic at the moment and while we’re working towards being totally plastic free, we’re very careful with our current usage.

We provide recycling and composting facilities for all our guests and we reduce our plastic use by using eco-friendly cleaning products which I buy in bulk and then re-use and refill.

Nature and biodiversity

We have planted over 1km of hedge rows at Mill Farm Eco Barn

We are on the edge of the Broads National Park and can walk to an Area of Outstanding National Beauty from the barns. When we moved here, our 2-acre site was barren and did little to support the local bird populations and biodiversity. Since moving we have planted over 40 fruit trees and a 1km of hedgerow around the entire site – that’s over 1500 saplings! The paddocks are now managed for wildlife with the restored wildlife pond too. We have nesting swallows every year, have put up bird boxes including a kestrel box and a swift box went up this weekend. We have loved watching the local birdlife flourish on site and it’s fantastic for our kids to see.

 Eat local

As well as supplying guests with local jams, eggs, bread and cake on arrival, we also have a guest’s allotment for guests to pick their own herbs and vegetables. I provide as much information as possible to encourage our guests to buy form local independent shops and growers too as we have an abundance in the area! You can find out more about them in my blog on local food.

We planted an orchard in 2014 and now make our own apple juice

Contributing to Winterton-on-sea

Our holiday home business is based in Winterton-On-Sea and we wanted to contribute to the village and local community. Since moving here I have served on the parish council and was briefly a school governor. We also spearheaded the campaign to transform the children’s play area, this was a huge village effort raising over £35,000 in total. My husband Neil sits on the parish neighbourhood plan Steering Group and we also put in a footpath for villagers to use linking the village to the farm safely and a popular circular walking route around the village.

Despite our eco efforts, we’ve managed to maintain a sense of luxury and style in both barns. Many guests don’t even notice a difference to their usual non-eco break and that’s wonderful to watch.

For those that are interested and looking for tips for their own home, we would be more than happy to take you on a little tour and talk birds or biomass boilers! Meanwhile I’m working on how I can work with others to improve the eco footprint of our local area.

Fancy coming to stay? You can book with us directly here.

[vacationsoup]

New Post has been published on https://vacationsoup.com/how-do-we-reduce-our-carbon-footprint-a-quick-look-at-whats-so-eco-about-the-eco-barn/

How do we reduce our carbon footprint? A quick look at what’s so eco about the Eco Barn

How do we reduce our carbon footprint? A quick look at what’s so eco about the Eco Barn

When we moved to Norfolk to set up Mill Farm Eco Barn we were really clear about one thing: that we wanted to run a climate friendly business. One that had the smallest possible impact on the natural environment but was also an amazing and comfortable place to stay. We live in such a precious area, just outside the Broads National Park and within walking distance to National Nature Reserves, so wanted to show that it’s possible to offer eco-friendly but stylish holiday cottages.

This blog outlines both what we are currently doing and what we strive to do in the future. I am proud of our achievements so far but am determined to do more.  I know that the issue of climate change has become far more serious since I studied it some 25 years ago. Unfortunately, being eco-friendly doesn’t come without challenges, and despite the fact we are the site of a former mill, to implement a small wind turbine which would produce all the energy we need and more, we’ve been met with a lot of red tape, let alone cost. We shall persist!

We have solar panels on site at Mill Farm Eco Barn

The United Nations now tell us we have a mere 12 years to halt climate meltdown. There are many businesses like mine that are trying to reduce their impact and as individuals we can all make changes to our lives in order to reduce our own carbon footprint. I do desperately hope though, that the future sees more radical political leadership on this issue. Questions like ‘Why do we still not have decent, affordable public transport outside of London?’ leave me feeling enraged at the lack of leadership to date.

How do we reduce our climate impact at Mill Farm Eco Barn?

The first task when we began our conversion, was to address how we were going to heat and power the barns and our house next door. The idea that we would install an oil boiler was out of the question. In the end we opted for a wood burning pellet boiler along with energy efficient appliances and light fittings. Our electricity is supplied on a green tariff plus on- site photo voltaic, which means we use 100% renewables to power our barns and house. We encourage car free days out, supply bikes on site and offer 10% off the list price if all guests arrive on public transport. This week I shifted my website to a UK carbon neural web hosting company Ecohosting.

Next steps: We need to move to electric cars (have you seen how much they cost?) and in our personal lives we are reducing the amount we drive, which is challenging in a rural location.  We would also like to provide charging points for guests’ cars. I’d like to think our wind turbine is possible too within the next couple of years.

We are in a low rainfall area so reducing water consumption is important

We collect water from the barn roofs to flush toilets and washing machines. We also use this rainwater to water plants and fill our new wildlife pond. All taps are reduced flow without compromising user experience. The drinking water is on mains, of course.

Plastic and waste

We use Eco Products and refill them.

Plastic is a hot topic at the moment and while we’re working towards being totally plastic free, we’re very careful with our current usage.

We provide recycling and composting facilities for all our guests and we reduce our plastic use by using eco-friendly cleaning products which I buy in bulk and then re-use and refill.

Nature and biodiversity

We have planted over 1km of hedge rows at Mill Farm Eco Barn

We are on the edge of the Broads National Park and can walk to an Area of Outstanding National Beauty from the barns. When we moved here, our 2-acre site was barren and did little to support the local bird populations and biodiversity. Since moving we have planted over 40 fruit trees and a 1km of hedgerow around the entire site – that’s over 1500 saplings! The paddocks are now managed for wildlife with the restored wildlife pond too. We have nesting swallows every year, have put up bird boxes including a kestrel box and a swift box went up this weekend. We have loved watching the local birdlife flourish on site and it’s fantastic for our kids to see.

 Eat local

As well as supplying guests with local jams, eggs, bread and cake on arrival, we also have a guest’s allotment for guests to pick their own herbs and vegetables. I provide as much information as possible to encourage our guests to buy form local independent shops and growers too as we have an abundance in the area! You can find out more about them in my blog on local food.

We planted an orchard in 2014 and now make our own apple juice

Contributing to Winterton-on-sea

Our holiday home business is based in Winterton-On-Sea and we wanted to contribute to the village and local community. Since moving here I have served on the parish council and was briefly a school governor. We also spearheaded the campaign to transform the children’s play area, this was a huge village effort raising over £35,000 in total. My husband Neil sits on the parish neighbourhood plan Steering Group and we also put in a footpath for villagers to use linking the village to the farm safely and a popular circular walking route around the village.

Despite our eco efforts, we’ve managed to maintain a sense of luxury and style in both barns. Many guests don’t even notice a difference to their usual non-eco break and that’s wonderful to watch.

For those that are interested and looking for tips for their own home, we would be more than happy to take you on a little tour and talk birds or biomass boilers! Meanwhile I’m working on how I can work with others to improve the eco footprint of our local area.

Fancy coming to stay? You can book with us directly here.

[agilenano]

Agilenano - News: 11 Simple Home Projects to Bang Out During Quarantine

Because your home is now your workplace, gym, coffee shop, and primary care facility, you’ll need to keep it in good working order.

Under normal circumstances, “honey-do” lists and “weekend warrior” projects often get pushed aside by the daily grind. But in this bizarre new pandemic reality, that grind has ground to a halt.

If there’s an upside, it’s that you have both time and incentive to knock out some of those around-the-house chores you may have put off. We spoke to a project manager and lead carpenter with a home remodeling business to find out what projects anyone can do to keep their homes in tip-top shape.

And don’t worry if DYI isn’t your thing. Not only are these 11 tips easy for most anyone, but we even included a simple list of beginner tools to help build an essential toolkit you can be proud of.

11 Easy & Essential Home Maintenance Projects

We spoke with John Wagner, a partner and project manager at the Twin Cities-based Waxwing Woodworking Inc. He identified 11 projects every homeowner should do to keep their house running efficiently and safely. And if you’re a renter, you can still check these things and let your landlord know.

And while Wagner said you could easily get all these done during these social distancing mandates — some take as little as 30 seconds — at the very least, you could use this time to check all the items and make a plan for the next couple months.

1. Change your home air filter

Filters should be changed monthly, and you should always have a spare one on hand. If you don’t, check the filter size and head on down to your friendly neighborhood filter (hardware/home improvement) store and pick up a bulk pack. Unless you have acute sensitivities to specific particulates, a filter with a “MERV” rating of 5 to 8 will be fine.

A higher MERV rating will trap finer particles, but at some cost to the efficiency of your furnace. If you’re not sure what filter to use with your system, check the service manual or give a local heating contractor a call.

Once you have the new filter, remove the old one and replace it, taking care to orient the filter for the direction of airflow. If you don’t have the size of the filter and direction of airflow written on your filter cover, now’s a good time to bust out the marker and get that done.

2. Clean gutters, check downspouts

Take a walk around the perimeter of your house and check your gutters and downspouts. If you didn’t clean your gutters after the leaves fell last year, get to work. But don’t just leave that crap on the ground! (More on that later.)

Downspouts should extend a minimum of 5 feet from the foundation to keep water from working its way into your basement. If you have a finished basement, a nice, long downspout could wind up saving you a ton of money.

Most basement moisture problems arise from bulk water intrusion caused by bad slope and drainage. If your soil doesn’t slope away from your house (6 inches over 10 feet), that’s a major issue to address.

Quick note: If you live in a cold climate, you should have a dehumidifier running from spring through fall (especially if you have a finished basement).

3. Prep garden, remove yard matter near your house

Once you’ve thrown all your gutter goo onto the ground, pick it up. Rake up the old, decaying stuff from around the house so that soil isn’t building up against the house.

If you put mulch around the house, it’s good to maintain 6 inches of clearance below the siding, especially if your siding material is a wood or wood composite. Personally, I like a 12- to 18-inch bed of crushed rock or gravel between the foundation and plants. That buffer will help prevent moisture and pests from working into the house.

Plus, this is also a great time to plan for your vegetable garden. If the soil has thawed enough where you are, mix in some compost, and you’ll be ready to plant when the weather allows.

Finally, now’s a great time for tree trimming. If you’re up to it and can do it safely, trim away dead or decaying branches and manage the growth of fruit trees.

The University of Minnesota Extension has excellent resources for managing trees and gardening.

4. Clean air-conditioning coils

First, you’ll want to clear away any plant growth around the condenser. Hook up your hose and decide how clean you want the condenser. You can either take the cover off (be sure to flip the breaker off inside) and clean from the inside out, or you can spray from the outside with the cover still on.

Either way, spray at a downward angle until clean. If you’ve removed the cover to clean, you should be really proud of yourself — unless you damage the thin aluminum fins by folding them over.

5. Vacuum refrigerator coils

Carefully walk out your refrigerator and start suckin’! Pull off the cover on the front that overlaps the wheels and vacuum that out. At the back of the fridge, vacuum the coils and motor. (No need to look behind the fridge, there’s definitely nothing there. Nope.) Just slide the fridge back.

Be sure the fridge has an inch or so of clearance above it to allow warm air to escape.

6. Check siding for holes or other entrances for vermin, seal them

If you had any winter guests this year, now’s a good time to check around the house to see how they got in. Start by following #3 above.

Then, check for holes in the siding, gaps below the last course of siding (could be loose bricks or cracked stucco), or gaps that might have formed in your soffits. You can fix most means of ingress with better landscaping, steel wool, a good-quality caulk, or spray foam.

Now, if you had squirrels or raccoons get into your attic through holes in your soffit or fascia, you might want to call a contractor.

7. Summerize snowblower, prep lawnmower for season

If you’re not expecting more snow, get your snowblower ready to hibernate. Remove the fuel that’s in it and empty the fuel into a safe storage container (you can dump the fuel from the snowblower into your gas can).

Don’t be a jerk neighbor and run your snowblower for 2 hours to burn off the fuel. Also, get some fuel stabilizer and pour that into your gas can before filling it up with gas.

Next, clean up your snowblower. Lubricate any parts that move, pull the spark plug, and get a bit of oil worked through the motor by pulling the cord a couple of times. You might as well check to see if your augur blade is worn down or damaged; the same goes for the scraper blade.

As for the lawnmower, if it ran well the year before, you should be able to fuel it up and get it going. If not, it’s generally a simple procedure to pull and clean the carburetor, replace the spark plug, and complete an oil change.

Now, if you’re feeling frisky, you can check and sharpen the mower blade. Disconnect the spark plug, flip the mower, and remove the blade (you’ll need a wrench). Clamp the blade in a vise or clamp it to a sturdy table.

With an angle grinder and a sanding pad, give the blade a few passes at a 30-degree angle. If you’re left with a rough burr on the back side of the edge, knock it off with a few passes of a file. If you don’t have an angle grinder, you can use a sharpening stone or a file, but it takes much longer.

8. Check washing machine filter, clean dryer vent

This one is pretty straightforward. First, check your washer’s manual on how to clean the filter. It will probably say something smug, like, “Clean this filter monthly.”

But there’s another inlet filter that’s also super easy to clean. Turn off the water supply, disconnect the hose, and remove any particulates. This is an especially important task if you have older, galvanized supply lines in your home.

Cleaning the dryer vent is super important, too. First of all, your vent should be a rigid pipe, and the joints should be lapped so that lint isn’t accumulating at the edges. Disconnect the pipe from the dryer (just pull, and you might have to cut some tape) and check the vent on the dryer. Clear or dirty? Any toys in there?

Next, take a look into the pipe. Slide a vacuum hose up there with a brush attachment. Now, head outside to the dryer’s exhaust port.

On the outside of the house, check to see if the damper closes smoothly or if lint has accumulated there and was letting freezing-cold air into your house all winter. Clean it. Reattach the pipe and re-tape those joints with a quality foil tape.

If you have a flexible vent pipe, switch to a rigid pipe. Rigid pipe will vent more efficiently, trap less lint, and is overall safer.

9. Check carbon monoxide and smoke detectors

Test ‘em all! Change the batteries. If any of the units are old, replace them. Many new units come with sealed batteries and are good for 10 years.

You should have a minimum of one smoke and one carbon monoxide (CO) detector on each floor, a smoke detector inside and outside of each bedroom, and a CO detector within 10 feet of each bedroom and sleeping area.

10. Upgrade your thermostat

Get and install a smart thermostat. Personally, I like the ecobee. Chances are that your energy provider offers some kind of rebate, which will offset some of the initial cost.

It proved super easy to install in my home, even though I didn’t have a C-wire. The savings started immediately, the unit is super intuitive and functional, it looks nice, and the sensors prioritize heating and cooling occupied spaces.

Why do it? Because a super-easy way to save money and energy, as well as limit emissions, is to not be such an energy hog. Sign up for off-peak energy and adjust your thermostat settings so that your house is 65 degrees in the winter and 76 degrees in the summer.

Some people may require different temps for health reasons, but your house doesn’t have to be 70 degrees all year ’round.

11. Check water heater

The more adventurous among you may want to try a little water heater maintenance. Three things to do here: Check the pressure relief valve, check/replace the sacrificial anode, and flush the water heater.

Testing the pressure relief valve will get a bit of scalding-hot water on the floor. So wear sturdy shoes. This one is better to watch — I recommend the trove of good info on the This Old House channel on YouTube. This is really a show, don’t tell fix. Check out some of the channel’s videos below.

Temperature and pressure relief valve:

Sacrificial anode:

Flush water heater:

Bonus: Start a home savings account

The best way to save money is to actively save money. So if you have the luxury right now, you could start a savings account for your home.

A good rule of thumb is to save 1.5-2% of your home’s value every year. If some of the systems in the house aren’t in great shape or are older, save a little more.

For some perspective, a full replacement of a forced-air furnace and AC condenser can easily run up to $10,000 or more.

Basic Toolkit for Home Maintenance

To tackle most home improvement projects, you’ll need some rudimentary tools. Here’s a list of tools you should have on hand to tackle common DIY tasks:

Home DIY Toolkit

Hammer

Phillips, flathead, or interchangeable-head screwdrivers

Electric drill with bit kit and driver bits

Tape measure

Utility knife

Pliers

Adjustable wrench

Small handsaw

Voltage detector

Wire nuts

Wire cutters

Safety glasses and ear protection

Level (32″)

Electrical, Teflon, duct, and painter’s tape

Allen keys

Small socket set

Small pry bar

Rags

Pencils, sharpies

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