Muhammad Mukarram Technical Services L.L.C

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4 Common Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Post Mount Mailbox

When chosen properly, your mailbox can last you years and years. You can also prolong its functionality and appearance when you clean and maintain it properly and regularly.

There will be instances though that a mailbox can easily be damaged because of one reason or another. Even if you work hard to clean and maintain it regularly, certain factors can cause this outdoor fixture to be easily damaged.

If you are planning of getting a new mailbox, you have to be aware of the usual mistakes that can cause this fixture to be easily destroyed so that you will know how to avoid or prevent them and get more from your outlay. Below are the 4 common mistakes to avoid so that you can get more use from your mailbox:

1. Getting a plastic mailbox. If you’re still in the process of shopping for this feature, do not choose one that is made of plastic. They are undoubtedly more affordable but some plastic mailboxes have the tendency to shatter under really harsh weather conditions, particularly under extremely hot and cold temperatures.

2. Installing the feature in the wrong area. A post mounted or freestanding mailbox must be installed in a place where the mail carrier can safely and conveniently deliver the letters. It should be in an area that won’t be damaged by passing vehicles, whether by accident or not. Experts recommend installing it at least 1 ft. from the edge of the road on streets with curbs. In case your home is located on a street without any curbs, increase the distance and make it 2 ft. away from the street. It is important to note that the farther off the road or street this feature sits, the less likelihood it will receive damage.

3. Choosing the wrong post material and failing to install it properly. Wood is a popular material used for posts but they can rot easily and may not withstand the continuous effects of harsh weather conditions. As such, stainless steel is the recommended choice for post material since it is strong and long-lasting. However, you still need to make sure that the stainless steel post is firmly supported in the ground. In addition, during installation, ensure that the mailbox is securely mounted to the post. Also, no matter how strong your post is, do not install 2 mailboxes as their combined weight may be too much for the structure.

4. Failing to inspect the post regularly. Finally, most post mounted mailbox knockdowns happen because the metal post supporting the mailbox has severely rusted. Wooden posts also rot over time and become weak. It is therefore important that you check the posts regularly and perform regular maintenance as well. In case the post already has some signs of damage, repair it or have it fixed by experts. If it is beyond repair, replace the post with a new one immediately.

Source by Jean H Morrison

Blown-In Fiberglass Insulation – Use With Caution

There is a family in Florida that was exposed to friable fiberglass that has caused a serious health problem for the family. The wife recently had a baby and was concerned about an itching on the skin feeling that she and the other members of the family were having. The family of five experienced a variety of eye, ear, skin, and respiratory problems. She was also complaining about a lot of white dust particles all over her furniture and personal possessions.

Six months prior to this time, the family had a licensed Insulation Contractor blow in additional insulation on top of their existing Builder installed Batting Insulation. They wanted to save money on their electric bill and thought this was the right way to go. Even the Power Company got into the act by giving them an incentive award to increase the R Value of the insulation of the home. Sounds great doesn’t it. Well this is only the beginning of a nightmare for this family.

We were called in to do an Indoor Air Quality Investigation and discovered that they had the old style recessed lighting in the ceilings. There were approximately 20 of these fixtures. The problem with the old style lighting was: there were four slits on the attic side which allowed the heat of the lights to dissipate. These slits were 3/8″ X 2″ long. This equates to approximately a 2″+ hole in the ceiling at each location. Multiply this by 20 lights and you get a 40″ hole in the ceiling total. Wow, that’s a big hole in the ceiling. These holes prevented the lights from overheating and causing a fire. This is a great concept for a fire hazard, but a bad concept for Indoor Air Quality and Blown-In Insulation. The one requirement with these old style lights was you could not cover them with Insulation Batting. We found multiple recessed lights with Blown-In Insulation covering them and inside the lights also.

After doing several air and tape samples, sending them to a lab, the results came back positive for fiberglass in the air and surfaces of areas tested. The first thing we requested the client do was to remove and install the new sealed recessed lighting in the house. They hired a licensed Electrical Contractor, removed all the fixtures and solved the air intrusion problem from the attic. That was only the beginning of the fix, then they had to HEPA Vacuum and clean everything in the home to remove the friable fiberglass particles on the surfaces.

How would you like to live this nightmare for over one year due to the incompetence of one contractor who did not think the job through?

This is only one example of what is going on in our building industry because of poor planning on the part of the contractor. Remember, you get what you pay for; the low bid isn’t always the right person for the job.

If you decide to add insulation to your attic, check with the Insulation Manufacturer and see what their requirements are before hiring anyone to do the job. Have your attic checked out first to see if there are any holes leading into the attic that can allow air intrusion into your home. If you do this, you will not be faced with this type of problem.

Next on the list, have the duct work checked for any type of leakage and sealed. Check all your electrical fixtures in the ceiling and seal them. Make sure the person who does the repairs is competent and knows what they are doing or it will affect you in the long term.

Caution: Follow all local Building Code requirements. Give them a call and talk to them.

If you have any questions, call us at (954) 531-6476.

Source by Art Emiss

Benefits of Commercial Plumbing Services

Commercial plumbing services offered by plumbers are vital to business and industry. A licensed commercial plumber understands that plumbing emergencies can negatively impact a business. Professional plumbers will go to a commercial building quickly and identify and resolve the problem promptly and professionally. Commercial plumbers have the knowledge, tools, equipment, and the expertise to address a commercial plumbing problem and provide the best service for enterprise to resolve the problem in a timely and professional manner.

When a business takes advantage of commercial plumbing services, they will benefit from the following expert plumbing services:

Plumbing Installation Services

Commercial plumbers install all types of plumbing fixtures and parts, including entire plumbing systems. They install such fixtures as sinks, faucets, toilets, sinks, shower heads, hand-free faucets, sir dryers, commercial garbage disposals, low flow toilets, water meters, showers, etc. They also can install water heaters, water filters, automatic shut-off valves, handicap fixtures, and servicing plumbing for rooms such as the bathroom, laundry room, and kitchen. They can install complicated pipe networks for small and large business.

Plumbing Pipe Upgrades

Many commercial buildings can have old pipes that are not up to code and make the water taste bad. For healthier water with an improved taste, a plumber can remove and install better plumbing pipes. They can even install and service water pipes that are in difficult to reach areas as many business buildings can have a small crawl space under the building. A plumber knows how to reach these pipes and perform repairs. In addition, a plumber will service gas lines such as detecting a gas leak which can be very dangerous.

Drain and Sewer Line Services

Commercial plumbers can effectively service drains and sewer lines. They can remove clogs, clean drain lines using sophisticated technology, video inspect lines, and remove stubborn material from the lines such as grease, soap, and mineral deposits. Commercial plumbers also service sewer systems where they fix damaged lines, clean sewer lines, clear obstructions, pump septic tanks, and more. They have the expertise to identify problems and repair them in an efficient and timely manner. Commercial plumbers provide extensive sewer system and drain line services to help keep the system operating properly.

Water Heater Services

Commercial plumbers service commercial water heaters. They can perform such services as eliminating hard water, cleaning out hard deposits from the tank and water lines, servicing the heating elements, making sure the temperature is correct, check CO levels, leak detection, replacing corroded parts, check and repair or replace such valves as the emergency shut-off valve, and check the water pressure. A commercial plumber has the expertise to make sure the water heater is working properly. The commercial plumbing system is both complicated, extensive, and fragile which is why it must be handled by a professional. Licensed plumbers offering commercial plumbing services have the expertise and tools to make sure a commercial building is meeting all government codes. Because the plumbing system is essential to a business or industry, it is essential to hire a licensed commercial plumber.

Source by Adrianna Noton

Phone Calls Are Still The First Mode of Communication In The World

Phone calls are still the first mode of communication in the world, be it for household or business purposes.

Especially in business settings, implementing the right telephony system counts a lot. After all, if the communication system is not efficient, a business may lose not only its investors or potential business deals but also its cherished customers.

Therefore, when it comes to the communication systems of a business, it is important to make sure that the system should be reliable, feature rich and state of the art.

PBX (Private Branch Exchange) Systems

As the name suggests, it is a private telephone system that is usually used in the business settings. The phones connected to the PBX system share a telephone line that is used to make external phone calls which is done through a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network).

PBX systems were initially used by the large enterprises mainly because of the high recurring cost. However, the recurring and overhead cost of the PBX systems came down over the years allowing even small businesses to switch to a PBX system.

There are a plethora of features that PBX systems bring with it such as call conferencing, call records archiving, extension directory, call conferencing, call holding, and many more.

Traditional PBX

Also known as analogue systems, traditional PBX is a physical exchange box that is usually installed in the company’s premises. Although the traditional system comes with a higher cost, but it may be justified with the calculated cost with regards to the employee.

A piece of hardware is used to link all the phone systems of a company which as a result increases the installation and maintenance cost. Since traditional PBX systems are usually complex than other exchange systems, businesses usually require the services of a well-trained engineer.

Hosted PBX

The business telephony has been developed over the past years into a more advanced system. If the business owner doesn’t want bear the expenses of the installation expenses as well as maintenance and support expenses, a hosted PBX is the best bet.

Traditional PBX requires a bit of complex working that requires the skills of an engineer to add more features to the system. It ultimately results into additional expenses. However, with a hosted PBX, businesses can add in new features with great ease. Using easy plugins or add-ons, a business owner can easily add more functionality to the system through his browser.

Not only does the user get to enjoy all the perks of a PBX system, they don’t have to dedicate added resources to maintain the systems as it is done by the telecom provider since the system is located at their stations.

IP PBX

Perhaps the best PBX system that a business owner would want because of ownership and cost reduction would be the IP PBX. Since the PBX works over an IP network, it uses a VoIP service to transmit audio and video data in the form of data packets.

Since the communication is done via data packets, the system reduces the cost to a great extent. Secondly, the IP PBX system also allows businesses to make international calls at a considerably lower cost as compared to the cost incurred by traditional lines.

IP PBX systems not only work with VoIP calls but users can even make traditional call while still enjoying the features and functionalities of the IP system. An IP PBX is different from not only traditional or hosted system in that it is completely owned by the owner due to on-site hardware and installation.

Source by Haider Kazmi

7 Myths About Air Purifiers That You Should Stop Believing in

Over the past few years, the demand for air purification units has gone up significantly. When winter is around the corner, the quality of air may come down. Although air purifiers are quite effective as far as indoor air pollution is concerned, some people have misconceptions about these devices. We are going to bust some of these myths for you. Read on to find out more.

Enclosed spaces don’t require air purifiers

Some people think that their homes are free of pollutants. However, the reality is that indoor air is much more polluted due to a lack of air circulation. Therefore, if you install an air purifier it can turn your home into a bubble of clean air. So, you will be protected against polluted air that is outside. Without an iota of doubt, indoor air purifiers are the friends of homeowners.

Primarily, it all boils down to the outside air quality. If the air quality is too bad, we suggest that you keep all of the doors and windows closed. But you can open some windows if you have smoke inside your house or room. It can be cigarette smoke or smoke from your kitchen.

Besides, you don’t want to keep your windows and doors closed for a long time as it will increase the amount of carbon dioxide inside your house. Since these units cannot eliminate carbon dioxide, we suggest that you open a few windows from time to time.

Air purifiers should remove odors

Clean air has nothing to do with smell. Generally, it depends on the type of air purification filter. For example, if your device contains an activated carbon filter, you may be able to notice the difference. The thing is that air purifiers are not designed to eliminate odors.

So, you may not want to make your decision based on this test alone. You should try out some other tests to find out if your unit is working as expected.

Air-conditioned rooms don’t need these devices

This is a common method that should be busted. The function of an air conditioner is to regulate the temperature inside an enclosed space. These devices are not designed to filter pollutants. As far as the filtration of small particles is concerned, air conditioning units may not be effective.

There is no need to replace filters

HEPA filters do not have an unlimited capacity. Although you can brush the external service of the air purifier filter, you cannot remove the tiny particles from the inside of the filter. So, it is not enough to clean and replace the unit once again. So, we suggest that you get a new filter and put it in the place of the old one.

There is no need to buy expensive units

This is another misconception. These devices are available in different types of filters that have different capacities. For example, if you have a small room, you may want to install a small air purifier. However, it may not work well if you have a large room or hall. In this case, you may have to go for a more expensive unit.

Long story short, hopefully, this article will help you get rid of some misconceptions that you may have about these devices.

Source by James Yuan

A Potted History of Rainscreen Cladding

Norway is the place where rainscreen cladding had its birth. It was not a scientific breakthrough, however, but more a gradual discovery that happened centuries ago in a largely intuitive way. Norwegian builders, probably through trial and error, found a way to utilise drained and back-ventilated cladding with joints that were both closed and open.

The first buildings to have this type of cladding were large barns. This is why they called it “the open-jointed barn technique.” The timber cladding had closed joints with opening at the top and at the bottom of the timber to allow for water drainage, and also for the evaporation of any rain moisture that managed to penetrate inside.

Scientific research of the underlying principles of a rainscreen didn’t start until as late as the 1940s. It was quickly recognised that the principles involved in rainscreen cladding was vastly superior to anything else in use at the time. That still holds true today.

The early research concluded that it is unwise to allow walls made of brick or cement to be exposed to rain over a long period of time without having anything to prevent the porous nature of the materials from absorbing water in a way that is similar to blotting paper.

The idea of fitting an outer screen wall to porous brick and cement walls that could repel rainwater was adopted. It was also easy to make this screen aesthetically pleasing at the same time. Just because its primary purpose is to serve as a rainscreen, there is no reason why it can’t look good too.

The outer screen also needs to have strength qualities and it needs to have an acceptably low cost. The design also needs to be such that it can, through proper ventilation, remove any water vapour that finds its way into the space between the wall and the cladding.

The Alcoa building in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was one of the first very large buildings to utilise modern rainscreen cladding. The 30-story building was built with large baffled aluminium panels. The baffling provided resistance to penetration from water and the ventilation to dry and water moisture was provided in the airspace between the cladding and the main wall.

In the early 1960s the Norwegian Building Research Institute published the idea of equalising the air pressure between the screen and the wall with the air pressure on the outside. This has the effect of preventing water penetrating into the wall. The rainscreen prevents the actual wall becoming excessively wet.

The terms “rainscreen principle” and “open rainscreen” were first used in 1963 by the National Research Council of Canada. Research continued through the 1960s and 1970s with refinements being made principally in Canada and in Europe.

By the 1980s the principles of rainscreen cladding was well understood. Its use has proliferated, especially in Europe, and experimentation with various different materials is ongoing. Today, the potential problems that may arise through the effects of global warming is now being taken into consideration in building techniques and industry standards regarding rainscreen systems.

Source by David A Robinson

Air Conditioning Increases the Incidence of Asthma

Technological miracles have made our lives simpler and convenient. It has become possible to control our surroundings and work as per our convenience. However, despite these phenomenal changes, we have become more susceptible to a number of ailments and disorders. For example, asthma a breathing complication, which was earlier thought to be triggered by pollution, caused by vehicles and factories has now found to be caused largely by allergens at home. Apart from dust and smoke, this breathing complication is also caused by household appliances such as air conditioners. It is important to note different people react differently to the temperature changes. For asthmatics, variations in temperatures often result in a sudden attack. This explains why air conditioners are considered harmful for asthmatics.

Notably, research reports suggest that people working in rooms where air conditioners remain on for more than seven hours are more likely to suffer from asthma than those who do not stay in air conditioned rooms for longer hours. This is also because the air conditioners have an adverse impact in rooms that may have pollen and dust particles. Prompted by these revelations, a number of asthmatics are now opting for fresh air over the air conditioned rooms that they have become so used to. Moreover, doctors are also seen recommending their asthmatic patients to turn off their ACs when not required.

Asthmatics who stay near beaches are advised to go for walks everyday as regular walks on the beach can help them to inhale fresh air. More importantly, to reduce their dependence on air conditioning systems, people are seen keeping their windows open during day and evening times. It is now widely believed that by keeping the air conditioners off, asthmatics can not only minimize sudden asthma attacks but also play a crucial role in preserving nature.

Source by Roland Poitevin

How To Refurbish A Foosball Table

A foosball table is a table-top game that is loosely based on soccer. The game, also known as table football, was invented by Harold Searles Thornton in 1922. Mr. Thornton’s inspiration for the toy was his avid support for British association football matches and he aimed to make a smaller version that could be played at home. Eventually, his uncle took table football to America where its popularity grew steadily.

Generally, foosball consists of eight rows of players, made out of wood or plastic, which are mounted on metal bars. Either two or four players can compete against each other, although some tables are built to accommodate more. The goal of the game is to use the horizontal bars to control your “team” and score more goals than your opponent. Each team controls a goalie, defense, midfield, and attack players.

Table football games are extremely popular fixtures as well. Having one in your home ensures that you and your friends will never have to worry about being bored. And apart from their entertainment value, the tables are also sought after decoration pieces. The different colors, sizes, and types of football tables ensures that you will be able to find one that works with your home’s interior. The older foosball tables are especially popular with enthusiasts and collectors. If you are lucky enough to own one of these items, make sure and take special care of them.

These objects are unfortunately prone to quite a bit of wear and tear and will occasionally require a bit of maintenance. First you will need to take apart the playing field. This includes unscrewing the metal bars which hold the players. To help yourself remember, later, how to reassemble the bars, consider taking a picture of the field beforehand.

You will next have to check all of the game’s moving pieces for damage. The foosball players, whether they are made out of plastic or wood, will most likely require a thorough cleaning and a fresh coat of paint. Other aspects of the game, such as the playing field and ball, will likely require some paint as well.

If one or more of the players is damaged beyond repair, you will have to order new ones. Many hobby shops and specialty websites sell replacement parts and cleaning supplies aimed at foosball tables. These include replacement balls, rubber bumpers, stop rings, and goalie nets. If any part of the game can’t be repaired, you can consider replacing them altogether.

Pay close attention to the legs and bottom of the football table and determine if these areas require any maintenance. If they are loose or wobbly, you may have to tighten or replace them. Depending on the state of the bottom, it may need a bit of sanding or reinforcing.

After all the cleaning is finished and the paint has dried, you can finish the refurbishment project by reassembling the fixture. Using the photograph you took beforehand, put the game’s playing field back together and reattach the players. Then, all that’s left is to start enjoying your toy once again.

Source by Adriana Noton

Differences Between THHN Wire UF-B and Service Entrance Cable

Electrical Wire

There is all different types of electrical wiring for different applications. We will break it down for you piece by piece. Most common terms for copper electrical wire would be building wire, THHN /THWN, Romex wire, UF-B Cable and Type SE (service entrance cable). All of these copper wires and cables have their own advantages and disadvantages based on the individual wiring application. Each one will be described in more detail below. Building Wire is just another broad term used in the same way as electrical wire. Since it’s used mostly in the building / construction field its become a popular term.

THHN / THWN Wire

THHN / THWN-2 copper electrical wire is the most basic form of electrical wire which is used in houses, buildings and control circuits not exceeding 600 Volts. All of our THHN electrical wire is dual rated with THWN-2 because the THWN is so popular that South Wire (Largest Electrical wire manufacturer in the USA) decided to put both ratings on all their THHN building wire. It’s composed of soft drawn bare copper strands, covered with a PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) insulation and a nylon coating for easy installation in cable tray. The 18 awg through 10 awg come in stranded or solid copper. The stranded wire is more flexible, while the solid wire is easier to run / snake through tough areas.

More specifically, THHN wire is run through houses and buildings to light switches, electrical outlets and light fixtures. The smaller gauge sizes of THHN is most commonly sold in 500′ spools which a lot of suppliers won’t cut. WesBell Electronics will cut the #18 – #10 to 100′ spools and cut the #8 – 1000 mcm per foot! That’s right, you can buy 1 foot of wire if needed! WesBell understands that every application is different and doesn’t want contractors to have to suffer excess copper wire. When adding that into the the resale price it could cost you the job! Buy exact lengths, get exact quotes and don’t have any extra copper at the end of it! Copper has jumped back up to over $2.00/lb, so every foot of wire counts!

Romex Wire

Romex copper electrical wires and cables are made up of multiple THHN / THWN wires (conductors). Example; Romex 12/2 is 2 THHN wires and a bare uninsulated ground wire covered with an overall PVC jacket. This way electrical contractors only have to run one bulk wire instead of either running 3 separate wires or individually running each wire. Romex wire is ONLY used for indoor applications. It has NO protection against moisture, gas or solvents. It should NOT be used outdoors even if it’s in cable tray.

UF-B Cable

UF-B (Underground Feeder) copper electrical wires and cables are a slight upgrade from Romex wiring. It has the same concept of THHN conductors wrapped with a jacket except it’s a more complex jacket. The bonus to UF-B Cable is that it can go outdoors and even directly underground. There’s no need for conduit or cable tray and the price difference isn’t that significant. If you need the cable to go outdoors at all make sure you get UF-B instead of Romex because it’s not worth the hassle of replacing the Romex down the road over something roughly 10-15% higher in cost.

Service Entrance Cable Type SE

Sometimes you will see an “R” (SER) or a “U” (SEU) after the Type SE. The R stands for round (more common) and the U stands for flat. Southwire Type SE electrical cable, service entrance cable is primarily used to convey power from the service drop to the meter base and from the meter base to the distribution panel board; however, the cable may be used in all applications where Type SE cable is permitted. SER may be used in wet or dry locations at temperatures not to exceed 90°C. Voltage rating is 600 volts. Southwire Type SE cable is constructed with sunlight resistant Type XHHW-2 conductors or Type THHN/THWN conductors.

Copper conductors are annealed (soft) copper. Cable assembly plus reinforcement tape are jacketed with sunlight resistant gray polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Available as 1 conductor with a concentric ground, 2 conductor with a round or concentric ground, or 3 conductor with a bare ground. SE cable is jacketed with gray sunlight resistant polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

Source by Chris G Bell

How to Start a Profitable Home Improvement Referral Service

Home improvement referral services are cropping up from New York to California. They are taking the time to do the legwork to find reputable and reliable contractors and these businesses are reaping profits from good work.

It really doesn’t take much to start. A home improvement referral service business takes only a little money and not more time than a regular 40 hour a week job. They can actually start making money within the first year of business.

The first thing to consider is what types of home improvement businesses your will refer. This can include gutter cleaning and replacement, remodeling, building additions, fencing, lawn maintenance, and many others. Remember, all though you may like to paint a client may not like it or have the time. Therefore, no business should be overlooked.

Once you have an idea of the types of contractors for your referral service business, you will need to call the local, county, and state government offices. Get the regulations and requirements regarding licensing, bonding, business registry, and insurance for each type of contractor. This is the first step to building your list. Any contractor that does not meet government regulations should not be on your referral list.

By knowing these requirements and using them, your home improvement referral business will gain credibility with your clients. They will know that if the contractor doesn’t meet these requirements, they will not be on your list. It makes the client feel more sure the job will be completed professionally and correctly.

Another way to ensure creditability of your referral service business is to only look at contractors that are recommended by their past happy customers. But this is not the end of the screening process. Recommendations are not enough.

Once a contractor is recommended to your home improvement referral business, you need to check out his or her service. Talk to them, explaining your referral service business. Many contractors will give you the needed information happily. Ask to see their licenses, bonding information, and insurance to ensure they are current and up to date. Ask for a list of services they provide and the cost for these services. Finally ask for references you may speak to.

Now you have gotten your contractor referral list started. While working on creating this list, you should have started thinking about a name for your referral service business, advertising, office area, office equipment, and ordered a phone line for the business. You may want to use a computer right away, but an index card or file system could work just as well and for a fraction of the cost, until your company grows. Keep in mind that as your company grows, the office space, office equipment, and referral list system will probably need to become computerized to save time and money.

Since your referral business is going to begin locally, check with local newspapers and periodicals to see if they would be interested in doing an article about your business. Make some flyers and ask local hardware stores if you could leave some there to advertise your service. You may also want to send letters to realtors announcing your business, they can be great advertisers for you.

Make your services free to the people calling into your business looking for referrals. Many home improvement referral businesses charge the contractor anywhere from 6% to 15% depending on the size of the project. You put the customers in touch with the contractor, and upon completion of the project, the contractor pays you a fee.

Advertise that no contractors pay you to get onto your referral list. If clients or contractors ask how they get on the list, explain to them the only way for a contractor to get on the list is for a customer to recommend them. You may want to explain the whole screening process to let the person know the exact qualifications the contractors need to have before being accepted.

A referral service business can expand easily and rapidly. Once your business starts to grow, create a business plan to set goals. Decide how much you want to expand and consider starting franchises in other locations or expanding the list to include contractors that were not included originally. This is your home improvement referral service business and you can take it wherever you want.

Source by Randy Wilson