How to Protect both Yourself and Your Home
By Ken Langenhahn - Owner of WatchDOG LLC
Through the past 25 years I have found some common mistakes people make when traveling or leaving their home vacant for a while. People frequently travel to visit friends and popular vacation spots. There are also people who spend part of the year in warmer climates. Therefore, almost everyone is likely to be away from their home several days or weeks at a time for business or pleasure. It's always good to return to your home without any unpleasant surprises. Yet occasionally we hear of people who return to their homes to find them burglarized, vandalized, or having had a system malfunction that resulted in damage to the home. There are many steps one can take to avoid these unpleasant surprises.
Homes that are left unattended for extended periods of time invite trouble. While neighbors and friends sometimes agree to check on the properties, problems can arise that they do not know how to handle. More often than not, this puts the extra burden on them, extra burdens they just don’t need. Neighbors and friends have enough to do after a full day of work with running the kids to school and activities, making dinner, running errands, and keeping up with the house work, balancing the check book, and paying the bills. With hectic schedules such as these, it is hard for them to find time to check on your property and do so thoroughly.
With all good intentions they will walk into your home, feel the temperature, maybe open the basement door to check for water on the floor, decide everything checks out O.K., and lock the door on their way out. There are a host of potential problems that go unnoticed. For instance the operation of your refrigerator, plumbing failures, tripped circuit breakers, pest invasion, roof leaks, vandalism, etc. you may notice some of these items, however a friend or neighbor often doesn't.
It’s funny that people buy a boat, camper, RV, or a collector car, and when they put them away for the season automatically they think of protecting them by winterizing them properly. But when it comes to protecting their biggest investment they just lock the door behind them as they walk out, leaving it unmanaged and unprotected. I can’t tell you all the horror stories I have heard of the grief people have experienced that could have been easily avoided, or at the very least minimized and cleaned up, before their return home.
Through the years of owning homes and apartments, and taking care of properties for other people, I have experienced and learned a lot. Here are some common sense suggestions to prepare your home for your next trip away. First and foremost, hire a professional home watch company. A professional takes their time and uses a lengthy checklist to inspect homes on a regular basis. Some of these checklist items include inspection of walls, ceilings, floorboards, windows, doors, basements, plumbing, and appliances for possible malfunction, unwanted pests, electrical panels, and evidence of storm damage or vandalism. Your home is an expensive investment. Protect it! I own one of these service companies, and you might be thinking I’m just trying to drum up some business. Yes it’s true. I would like to save you from the unpleasant experiences mentioned earlier. Unfortunately, most often it’s not until something happens to you or someone that you know, that you become my client. However, more and more people today are thinking smart about their homes and recognizing “that an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure”. I’m trying to educate you and hopefully help you avoid costly repairs and hardships in the future.
Let’s start with your kitchen. Clean each appliance thoroughly with sudsy water, rinse and dry. Leave appliances unplugged while you are gone to protect from electrical current surges. Give away or toss opened bottles and jars of salad dressings, condiments, etc., in the refrigerator. It will cost less to replace them if you are gone 2 or 3 months than to run your refrigerator. Clean the refrigerator interior with a solution of 1 tablespoon baking soda to 1 quart of water. This will neutralize food soils and prevent odors. The refrigerator and freezer doors should be left ajar to prevent mold. Flour, sugars and salt should be stored in tightly sealed containers. Dispose of cereals, crackers and pastas to avoid unwanted pests. Fresh and perishable foods should be eaten or discarded. Clean the oven, broiler and drip trays under surface units of the range. Remove any food particles from the filter if one is present in the bottom of the dishwasher. Then run the dishwasher through a short cycle. A few minutes into the cycle, turn off the dishwasher, open the door and clean out around the door gasket and under the bottom of the door to remove any dirt that might create mold in these areas. Restart your dishwasher finishing the cycle. After the cycle is finished leave the door ajar, this will help with air flow and reduce the possibility for mold forming. It will also release the pressure on the door seal making it last longer. Clean the garbage disposal in your sink by running a batch of ice cubes from the freezer. This will loosen built up food particles. Also run a solution of baking soda and water through the disposal and leave the stopper in place to prevent water from the trap beneath the disposal from evaporating. Make sure all drain stoppers are closed. To remove spatters in a microwave, boil a cup of water or heat a wet wash rag in the microwave for two minutes on high and let it sit for a minute. Condensation on the walls will loosen spatters and clean up easily. Then wash with sudsy water, rinse and dry. If it is a portable model, leave it unplugged. Be sure to open the trap door under the toaster to remove crumbs and clean.
Let’s move on to the bathrooms and laundry room. Clean all surfaces and fixtures. Cover toilet and tank top with a plastic wrap. Water from toilets can evaporate. If all water evaporates, sewer gas can back up into the home. Drain stoppers should be closed. Turn off the water supply to the clothing washer to eliminate pressure damage to the hoses. Clean the lint filter in the dryer.
There are a few other important items you should consider. Turn the water heater off if you will be gone for a month or more. For shorter absences, turn the thermostat to its lowest setting. Vacuum upholstered furniture (even crevice areas) well. If there are spots and stains, remove or clean before closing the home. Use commercial upholstery cleaner, and follow directions carefully. Leave bedding and bath linens clean and dry. You may want to consider vacuuming mattresses thoroughly and covering lightly with a sheet to allow proper air flow. Leave only clean clothes in closets. Allow space between garments for circulation of air. Do not wrap garments or other items tightly in plastic. This may increase mildew and other problems. Metal hangers, even when covered with paper, can rust and stain clothing. Get rid of them! Plastic or wood hangers are a must. Leave closet doors and dresser drawers open to allow for air circulation. If you have a fireplace, be sure the damper is closed. Leave your house plants with a neighbor. Temperatures are usually set lower and most plants won’t do as well, and could possibly die. Turn off water at the meter and back drain if possible. This will help prevent flooding if a pipe should break.
Now for one of the biggest mistakes people make is not leaving their furnace in good condition. To assure the continued effective operation of your furnace and air conditioner, and to prevent excessive energy use, follow these suggestions. You should change your filters or if you have washable filters, wash them. Before you leave is a very good time for a furnace/air conditioner check-up by a professional. A professional check-up will clean the blower wheel and coil, check the temperature drop, adjust tension on belts, check the thermostat, inspect wiring and connections, and check the operation of motors.
Another often over looked area is the exterior of your house. The grading of the ground should move rain water away from the house. Landscaping, around the foundation of a house should be placed far enough away from the home (two feet or more) to permit air to flow freely, and prevent vandals from a place to hide from sight. Exterior walls should be free of leaks that would let water from rains enter a house. Neglected and damaged roofs and gutters can result in leaks, seepage and decay problems. Check for damaged, curled, loose or missing shingles. Check flashing around chimneys and vents for damage. Remove leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts. Check gutters and downspouts for damage. Observe during a heavy rain or run a water hose down them to see if water is flowing freely. Remove accumulations of debris from the roof. Look for gaps between windows or doors and walls, using caulking to fill in were needed. Replace broken or cracked putty as well as weather-stripping that is loose or damaged.
Your pool and or hot tub should be thoroughly cleaned before you leave. It is important to maintain them regularly. They should be checked every 7 to 10 days to make sure the pH and chemical balance is correct. Untreated or under-treated pools and hot tubs will result in algae growth.
Whether you will be away from your home for a short or long period, it pays to plan for protection of your home and possessions from burglars or intruders. The best defense is prevention. Both amateur and professional burglars are likely to bypass homes that appear to have active residents. Your home should have a lived-in look. Mail, newspapers and other deliveries should be stopped or promptly picked up by a reliable service. A car parked in the drive or carport discourages burglars. Lights within a home should be placed on timers to simulate movement within the home suggesting normal activities. Outside lights left on during the day may signal that you are gone for an extended period. Don't announce your plans to be away or talk about it casually in public places. The least amount of people who know you are gone the better. Window treatments should not make the house look closed-up, but should not permit easy viewing of valuables within the home such as electronic equipment and cameras. If, in spite of your efforts to make your home look lived-in, a burglar decides to try to break in, don't make it easy. All doors should have secure locks. Glass panels in doors or next to doors should be shatter proof or double glazed. Locks in doors with glazed windows or side panels should include one panel that can be opened from the interior only. Sliding glass doors should have a bolt-type lock to prevent its being lifted out of its track, plus a jamming bar in the inside track. Electronic or mechanical door and window alarms can frighten a burglar away if your house is close enough to neighbors for the alarms to be heard. However they are not fool proof. Burglars are eager to take items that have a ready market value. The value of items drops when they have some kind of identification, and can be traced to the original owner. Valuables such as jewelry, watches and other items should not be left behind when you leave. Place them in a safety deposit box. Cameras, electronics, silver and appliances should have your social security number, car license number or name engraved on the bottom. Most homeowner insurance policies provide some protection against burglary. Don't take your insurance for granted. Check to see if theft protection is provided and if your valuables will be adequately covered. If a list of items is required, provide that list. Make sure you meet all requirements. Check the fine print to be sure of your protection. Whether or not it is required, it may be wise to have clear photographs of items that would be costly or difficult to replace. You may want to check with your insurance company to see if they offer discounts for booking with professional home watch company like WatchDOG. Several clients receive such a discount.
WatchDOG has 25 years of property management experience along with an American Management Certificate, and has completed the E-seed Entrepreneurship Training. We have a full understanding of what is needed to minimize or eliminate your troubles while you’re away. If you would need help with any or all of these needs please feel free to contact us at WatchDOG LLC. Every client is kept strictly confidential! You can visit us on line at www.watchdoghomewatch.com to see how we can further assist you. Above all, leave the worrying to us and enjoy a relaxing vacation knowing your home is well protected.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
How to Sleep Comfortably on a Hot Night
How to Sleep Comfortably on a Hot Night
A fan is a good choice
When it's extremely hot out and you do not have air conditioning, it's difficult to fall asleep. You can toss and turn to no avail. All this movement will make you even hotter than you already are, but there are ways to get cool and remain cool long enough for you to fall asleep.
Steps
Plug in your fan and turn it towards you. Purchase a commercial bag of ice cubes. Empty the entire bag into a wide, shallow container (to contain the water as the ice melts) such as a roasting pan. Place the container of ice right in front of the fan (between the fan and you), at the level of the top of the bed. The ice-cooled air will be noticeably cooler than the room air for the amount of time it takes for the ice to melt -- which is as long as it should take for you to fall asleep!
The towel method
Try the towel method. Hang a wet towel from two chairs to hold the ice. The melting ice will wet and chill the towel and the fan will blow that cold air on you. Place a container under the towel to catch the melting ice water. You can use a thread to connect the bottom of the towel with the container to avoid the annoying dripping sound.
A cool shower will do wonders
Take a cool shower, bath, or wipe your body down with a cool wash cloth. Without fully drying yourself, hop into bed, and let the air slowly dry you. This will keep you cool for a long time, allowing you to fall asleep. If a shower or bath is not an option, splash cool water on your head, and soak your hands and feet in cool water if possible. Your head, hands and feet are your "radiators" and you'll feel cooler faster by focusing on those areas. Note that this method is temporary, and more psychologically sound than physiologically accurate, as a cold shower will close your body's pores, which in the long run will heat your body. Lots of people develop rashes due to heat. Apply talcum powder all over the body after shower to keep body cool and to avoid rashes. There are some special talcum powders available such as shower to shower.
Consider using the "Egyptian Method": wet a sheet or bath towel that is large enough to cover you with cool or cold water, and wring it or run it through the spin cycle on a washing machine until the sheet is quite damp but not dripping wet. Place the dry towel or sheet on your bed underneath your body and use the wet sheet as your blanket. The damp blanket will keep you cool. Or, during an extreme heat wave, take a light t-shirt, wet it, wring it out and wear it. Evaporation from the shirt will help to keep you cool enough to sleep for a few hours. This is a very simple and environmentally friendly method of staying cool.
Take a pair of cotton socks, rinse them in cold water, wring them until they are damp and put them on. Cooling your feet lowers the overall temperature of your skin and body.
Sleep in a 'spread eagle' position, and think cool thoughts.
Try buckwheat pillows or futons. These don't retain body heat and feel cool all night long.
Tips
Keep a glass of ice cold water close to your bed so that in the event that you wake up hot and uncomfortable, you can easily cool off again without having to get up.
The type of material that you sleep in and on will affect how hot you get. Porous materials breathe better and will help you to avoid getting sticky. A light cotton shirt and light cotton shorts work well. Sleeping naked can actually make you even more hot since it doesn't allow moisture to evaporate between your body and the sleeping surface; however, if you don't cover yourself with heavy blankets and are absolutely sure no one who you wouldn't want to see you nude will walk in at some point in the night or in the morning, you can sleep without clothes and have decent results. Keep in mind, though, this might not always help.
When sleeping in a hammock, air flows over your whole body. A bed absorbs your body heat and keeps you hot. Get out that hammock you bought in Cancun and try sleeping in it with a fan blowing on you.
If you have a water bed, turn the heater on the water bed way down. Lay down on the surface of the water bed. Even if its 85°F (29°C), your body is 98°F (37°C), and the heat transfer rate for direct contact is about 100 times larger than for convection. It can make you so cold you may shiver. Be aware that temperatures set below 85°F can lead to hypothermia with prolonged contact.
Keep the door to your bedroom open, so that there is proper air circulation from other rooms.
Partially fill a plastic bottle with water and freeze it. Put it in front of a fan; it'll give the same effect, but is less likely to spill.
Make a rice sock and place it in the freezer and leave it there for at least two hours. When you turn in, bring the bag with you to use as a cool compress. Try placing it under your pillow so it's nice and cool when you flip it over.
If you have curtains made from a light material, like muslin or net, soak them with water (or put them through the washing machine and hang them). Any breeze at all that blows through your window will immediately be vastly cooler.
Still another option is to get a large powerful fan, such as one at least 16" in diameter and put it facing outward in a window in another room than the one you are sleeping in. Then, close all other windows in the house except the one the fan is in, and where people are sleeping near. The fan will exhaust hot air out of the house or apartment and create a vacuum which will pull in the cooler night air from the outside through the open windows where people are sleeping. Prop the doors in the bedroom(s) somewhat ajar to create a path for air to migrate. This is much more effective than having a loud fan blowing the same hot room-temperature air back at you. This, of course, assumes it is nighttime, and that it has become significantly cooler outside than during the day, when your home warmed up. If you have a lot of people sleeping or you want more airflow, get a more powerful fan, or put another exhaust fan facing another open window.
If you have a hatch to the loft or attic, leave it open at night. That will give the heat trapped in the house somewhere to escape to, since hot air rises.
If you live in a less humid climate, you can usually find small, portable swamp coolers at hardware stores for about $100. These need air flow. Place one in front of a window, and place a fan in the doorway, blowing air out of the room.
Lightly mist a top sheet, and place it in a plastic bag in the freezer. Pull it out just before you're ready to sleep. It'll keep you cool enough to fall asleep.
Sleep with your feet out from under the sheets, body heat will escape via your feet.
Use a smaller, firmer pillow, to allow more air circulation around your head, which is the hottest part of your body. An extreme option would be one of those African "pillows" that are unpadded carved wood braces that hold the head. A more comfortable choice is a cool and relaxing smelling Japanese-style Jasmine and Buckwheat pillow.
Use a drywall wall as a cool surface.
For cooling, fill a spray bottle with very warm water. Sprits behind your knees, on your feet, and anywhere that's sweaty. The warm water keeps you from being shocked when you sprits. Now, go get in front of a fan!
Try sleeping on your side to help keep your body cooler.
Use a cold compress or ice bag on the neck or between the thighs to cool the blood in major veins, but beware of hypothermia. You can keep cooling the compress by waving and flapping it about; eventually it will dry out and you will have to re-soak it, but by then you might be asleep. The combination of compress and fan is easy and practically fool-proof.
Remember, you lose heat quickest through your extremities, such as your feet. So on very hot nights, remember to not wear any socks, it will make you considerably cooler. You also lose heat from your head, so keep your hair wet.
Place a fan at the foot of your bed, and stretch the top sheet over the top. The air will blow in between the sheets and lift up the top-sheet a bit. Looks like the scene from Ghostbusters with the Key master and Gatekeeper, but keeps you very cool!
Fill a hot water bottle with cold water from the fridge and put it on your ankles and feet - it works!
Place your wrists under the cold tap for about 30 seconds. The blood that flows near the surface of the skin will cool and it will make you feel cool. Alternatively, get a wristband and drench it with water. This will also have the same effect.
For all of the evaporating methods (damp whatever), air circulation is needed. Just leaving a window open is good enough. The air will otherwise soak up all the moisture it can hold and you'll stop cooling.
Acclimating yourself to warmer weather is much better (and better for you) than running the A/C all the time.
Try to acclimate yourself to an even warmer climate than your bed just before going to sleep. For instance, hang out in your warmer, less ventilated living room or attic just before retiring to your cooler bedroom.
If you are used to sleeping on the floor(over a bed sheet),you can cool off the floor by sweeping the sleep area with a wet cloth, and allowing it to dry first under fan's air draft.
A simpler way to cool your room could be to hang your usual wet clothes for drying around you in hangers over a rope. Air from the fan dries them, in the process cools the air around.
In some places in North India, during extreme summers, people used to pour water on the floor above the ceiling (to take off heat from radiating below). Similarly they wash the external walls with a bucket full of water. Some will be absorbed, while some runs off taking the heat along. Cool walls leads to cooler rooms.
If you don't already, try sleeping nude. You would be surprised the difference it can make!
Move to the basement or to the main floor. Heat rises so your upper floors will always be warmer than your main or basement levels. Similarly if in a bunk bed, consider switching from a top bunk to a lower bunk.
Remember, your nerve endings are in your toes and fingers, cool these, and you will feel very cool allover quick!
Try sleeping with light sheets, nothing heavy. It'll help!
Warnings
Spending lots of time in the direct draft of a fan can cause severe dehydration.
A bath or shower that is very cold might not be suitable for people who have various medical conditions. To be safe, take a cool or slightly warm shower.
Lowering the temperature of a water bed can cause severe hypothermia.
Lowering the temperature of a water bed may make it colder than the room temperature. When that happens, the humidity in the air will begin to condense into water on the plastic. Water then soaks the foam layer and combined with dead skin cells makes a great medium for mold, especially when, months later, you turn up the heat for the winter. Recommend that you fold back the top foam mattress layer if you want to use the cold bladder as a giant ice pack, and then add some sheet to soak up the condensed sweat next to the plastic. Then wash the sheets.
Be careful that you keep the fan and its cord at a higher level than the melting ice water—you don't want to cause an electric accident, now.
Never do any physical activities before you head off to bed, this will make your blood pump fast, and in turn make it difficult to sleep.
Wipe off the fan before use and also do not place the fan extremely close to your face. If a dirty fan is near your face, this may cause sinus colds in the morning because of the dust particles.
A fan is a good choice
When it's extremely hot out and you do not have air conditioning, it's difficult to fall asleep. You can toss and turn to no avail. All this movement will make you even hotter than you already are, but there are ways to get cool and remain cool long enough for you to fall asleep.
Steps
Plug in your fan and turn it towards you. Purchase a commercial bag of ice cubes. Empty the entire bag into a wide, shallow container (to contain the water as the ice melts) such as a roasting pan. Place the container of ice right in front of the fan (between the fan and you), at the level of the top of the bed. The ice-cooled air will be noticeably cooler than the room air for the amount of time it takes for the ice to melt -- which is as long as it should take for you to fall asleep!
The towel method
Try the towel method. Hang a wet towel from two chairs to hold the ice. The melting ice will wet and chill the towel and the fan will blow that cold air on you. Place a container under the towel to catch the melting ice water. You can use a thread to connect the bottom of the towel with the container to avoid the annoying dripping sound.
A cool shower will do wonders
Take a cool shower, bath, or wipe your body down with a cool wash cloth. Without fully drying yourself, hop into bed, and let the air slowly dry you. This will keep you cool for a long time, allowing you to fall asleep. If a shower or bath is not an option, splash cool water on your head, and soak your hands and feet in cool water if possible. Your head, hands and feet are your "radiators" and you'll feel cooler faster by focusing on those areas. Note that this method is temporary, and more psychologically sound than physiologically accurate, as a cold shower will close your body's pores, which in the long run will heat your body. Lots of people develop rashes due to heat. Apply talcum powder all over the body after shower to keep body cool and to avoid rashes. There are some special talcum powders available such as shower to shower.
Consider using the "Egyptian Method": wet a sheet or bath towel that is large enough to cover you with cool or cold water, and wring it or run it through the spin cycle on a washing machine until the sheet is quite damp but not dripping wet. Place the dry towel or sheet on your bed underneath your body and use the wet sheet as your blanket. The damp blanket will keep you cool. Or, during an extreme heat wave, take a light t-shirt, wet it, wring it out and wear it. Evaporation from the shirt will help to keep you cool enough to sleep for a few hours. This is a very simple and environmentally friendly method of staying cool.
Take a pair of cotton socks, rinse them in cold water, wring them until they are damp and put them on. Cooling your feet lowers the overall temperature of your skin and body.
Sleep in a 'spread eagle' position, and think cool thoughts.
Try buckwheat pillows or futons. These don't retain body heat and feel cool all night long.
Tips
Keep a glass of ice cold water close to your bed so that in the event that you wake up hot and uncomfortable, you can easily cool off again without having to get up.
The type of material that you sleep in and on will affect how hot you get. Porous materials breathe better and will help you to avoid getting sticky. A light cotton shirt and light cotton shorts work well. Sleeping naked can actually make you even more hot since it doesn't allow moisture to evaporate between your body and the sleeping surface; however, if you don't cover yourself with heavy blankets and are absolutely sure no one who you wouldn't want to see you nude will walk in at some point in the night or in the morning, you can sleep without clothes and have decent results. Keep in mind, though, this might not always help.
When sleeping in a hammock, air flows over your whole body. A bed absorbs your body heat and keeps you hot. Get out that hammock you bought in Cancun and try sleeping in it with a fan blowing on you.
If you have a water bed, turn the heater on the water bed way down. Lay down on the surface of the water bed. Even if its 85°F (29°C), your body is 98°F (37°C), and the heat transfer rate for direct contact is about 100 times larger than for convection. It can make you so cold you may shiver. Be aware that temperatures set below 85°F can lead to hypothermia with prolonged contact.
Keep the door to your bedroom open, so that there is proper air circulation from other rooms.
Partially fill a plastic bottle with water and freeze it. Put it in front of a fan; it'll give the same effect, but is less likely to spill.
Make a rice sock and place it in the freezer and leave it there for at least two hours. When you turn in, bring the bag with you to use as a cool compress. Try placing it under your pillow so it's nice and cool when you flip it over.
If you have curtains made from a light material, like muslin or net, soak them with water (or put them through the washing machine and hang them). Any breeze at all that blows through your window will immediately be vastly cooler.
Still another option is to get a large powerful fan, such as one at least 16" in diameter and put it facing outward in a window in another room than the one you are sleeping in. Then, close all other windows in the house except the one the fan is in, and where people are sleeping near. The fan will exhaust hot air out of the house or apartment and create a vacuum which will pull in the cooler night air from the outside through the open windows where people are sleeping. Prop the doors in the bedroom(s) somewhat ajar to create a path for air to migrate. This is much more effective than having a loud fan blowing the same hot room-temperature air back at you. This, of course, assumes it is nighttime, and that it has become significantly cooler outside than during the day, when your home warmed up. If you have a lot of people sleeping or you want more airflow, get a more powerful fan, or put another exhaust fan facing another open window.
If you have a hatch to the loft or attic, leave it open at night. That will give the heat trapped in the house somewhere to escape to, since hot air rises.
If you live in a less humid climate, you can usually find small, portable swamp coolers at hardware stores for about $100. These need air flow. Place one in front of a window, and place a fan in the doorway, blowing air out of the room.
Lightly mist a top sheet, and place it in a plastic bag in the freezer. Pull it out just before you're ready to sleep. It'll keep you cool enough to fall asleep.
Sleep with your feet out from under the sheets, body heat will escape via your feet.
Use a smaller, firmer pillow, to allow more air circulation around your head, which is the hottest part of your body. An extreme option would be one of those African "pillows" that are unpadded carved wood braces that hold the head. A more comfortable choice is a cool and relaxing smelling Japanese-style Jasmine and Buckwheat pillow.
Use a drywall wall as a cool surface.
For cooling, fill a spray bottle with very warm water. Sprits behind your knees, on your feet, and anywhere that's sweaty. The warm water keeps you from being shocked when you sprits. Now, go get in front of a fan!
Try sleeping on your side to help keep your body cooler.
Use a cold compress or ice bag on the neck or between the thighs to cool the blood in major veins, but beware of hypothermia. You can keep cooling the compress by waving and flapping it about; eventually it will dry out and you will have to re-soak it, but by then you might be asleep. The combination of compress and fan is easy and practically fool-proof.
Remember, you lose heat quickest through your extremities, such as your feet. So on very hot nights, remember to not wear any socks, it will make you considerably cooler. You also lose heat from your head, so keep your hair wet.
Place a fan at the foot of your bed, and stretch the top sheet over the top. The air will blow in between the sheets and lift up the top-sheet a bit. Looks like the scene from Ghostbusters with the Key master and Gatekeeper, but keeps you very cool!
Fill a hot water bottle with cold water from the fridge and put it on your ankles and feet - it works!
Place your wrists under the cold tap for about 30 seconds. The blood that flows near the surface of the skin will cool and it will make you feel cool. Alternatively, get a wristband and drench it with water. This will also have the same effect.
For all of the evaporating methods (damp whatever), air circulation is needed. Just leaving a window open is good enough. The air will otherwise soak up all the moisture it can hold and you'll stop cooling.
Acclimating yourself to warmer weather is much better (and better for you) than running the A/C all the time.
Try to acclimate yourself to an even warmer climate than your bed just before going to sleep. For instance, hang out in your warmer, less ventilated living room or attic just before retiring to your cooler bedroom.
If you are used to sleeping on the floor(over a bed sheet),you can cool off the floor by sweeping the sleep area with a wet cloth, and allowing it to dry first under fan's air draft.
A simpler way to cool your room could be to hang your usual wet clothes for drying around you in hangers over a rope. Air from the fan dries them, in the process cools the air around.
In some places in North India, during extreme summers, people used to pour water on the floor above the ceiling (to take off heat from radiating below). Similarly they wash the external walls with a bucket full of water. Some will be absorbed, while some runs off taking the heat along. Cool walls leads to cooler rooms.
If you don't already, try sleeping nude. You would be surprised the difference it can make!
Move to the basement or to the main floor. Heat rises so your upper floors will always be warmer than your main or basement levels. Similarly if in a bunk bed, consider switching from a top bunk to a lower bunk.
Remember, your nerve endings are in your toes and fingers, cool these, and you will feel very cool allover quick!
Try sleeping with light sheets, nothing heavy. It'll help!
Warnings
Spending lots of time in the direct draft of a fan can cause severe dehydration.
A bath or shower that is very cold might not be suitable for people who have various medical conditions. To be safe, take a cool or slightly warm shower.
Lowering the temperature of a water bed can cause severe hypothermia.
Lowering the temperature of a water bed may make it colder than the room temperature. When that happens, the humidity in the air will begin to condense into water on the plastic. Water then soaks the foam layer and combined with dead skin cells makes a great medium for mold, especially when, months later, you turn up the heat for the winter. Recommend that you fold back the top foam mattress layer if you want to use the cold bladder as a giant ice pack, and then add some sheet to soak up the condensed sweat next to the plastic. Then wash the sheets.
Be careful that you keep the fan and its cord at a higher level than the melting ice water—you don't want to cause an electric accident, now.
Never do any physical activities before you head off to bed, this will make your blood pump fast, and in turn make it difficult to sleep.
Wipe off the fan before use and also do not place the fan extremely close to your face. If a dirty fan is near your face, this may cause sinus colds in the morning because of the dust particles.
“Let’s protect both yourself and your home”
“Let’s protect both yourself and your home”
By Ken Langenhahn - Owner of WatchDOG LLC
Most people frequently travel to popular vacation spots, or to visit friends, while others spend part of the year in warmer climates. Almost everyone is likely to be away from their home several days or weeks at a time for business or pleasure.
Over the past 25 years of owning homes and apartments, the owner of a home watch company, as well as managing and taking care of other peoples’ property for them. I have experienced and learned a lot. Here are a few common truths I’ve learned about being away from your home for a while.
Truth #1: While it's always good to return home from a vacation or seasonal residence, occasionally upon returning home, some people find their Wisconsin residence in a condition other than the way they were left due to mechanical problems or, in some situations even burglary or vandalism.
Truth #2: Homes that are left unattended for extended periods of time seem to have greater frequency of problems, and the problems that arise are sometimes made worse because they are not dealt with before small problems have a chance to grow.
In talking to people about my business, the most common thing I hear is that while people are away, they are planning to have friends, relatives or neighbors check on their property. While neighbors and friends often agree to check on the properties, they don’t always have the ability to recognize the early signs of problems or the time to do an extensive inspection while you’re away.
Remember, they typically have plenty to do during their day already. If they make it through the day or week with no unplanned interruptions to their schedule, and they remember, this is when they are able to check on your property. With all good intentions they will walk in the door feel the temperature, and if it feels warmer than the outside they take a cursory trip around the main living areas, then turn around and walk back out to finish their day or week.
Truth #3: There are a host of potential problems that can easily go un- noticed. Examples of this include the operation of your refrigerator, plumbing failures, tripped circuit breakers, pest invasion, roof leaks, vandalism, etc. When it's your own home, you take notice of little things that don’t seem quite right even if it's subconscious. A friend or neighbor often doesn't notice those things.
Aside from having your home monitored by a professional, there are many things you could do yourself to make your return home more enjoyable. It’s interesting to note that when people buy a boat or a camper, or even a collector car and are ready to put them away for the season people automatically think of protecting them by winterizing properly. But when it comes to protecting one of their biggest investments, they sometimes don’t think twice. They turn the heat down and lock the door behind them as they walk out the door, without taking the measures to make sure that it will be in the condition they nevertheless expect upon their return.
I have put together just a few suggestions for your consideration. Let me preface this however by maintaining that I am convinced that these steps should compliment, rather than take the place of a professional home watch company. I’ll share more about that later. Here are some common sense suggestions that often get over looked.
Let’s start with your kitchen.
ü Clean each appliance thoroughly with sudsy water, rinse and dry. Leave appliances unplugged while you are gone to protect from electrical current surges.
ü Give away or toss opened bottles and jars of salad dressings, condiments, etc., in the refrigerator. It will cost less to replace them if you are gone 2 or 3 months than to run your refrigerator. Clean the refrigerator interior with a solution of 1 tablespoon baking soda to 1 quart of water. This will neutralize food soils and prevent odors. The refrigerator and freezer doors should be left ajar to prevent mold.
ü Flour, sugars and salt should be stored in tightly sealed containers. Dispose of cereals, crackers and pastas to avoid unwanted pests.
ü Remove any food particles from the filter if one is present in the bottom of the dishwasher. Then run the dishwasher through a short cycle. A few minutes into the cycle, turn off the dishwasher, open the door and clean out around the door gasket and under the bottom of the door to remove any dirt that might create mold in these areas. Restart your dishwasher finishing the cycle. After the cycle is finished leave the door ajar, this will help with air flow and reduce the possibility for mold forming. It will also release the pressure on the door seal making it last longer.
ü Clean the garbage disposal in your sink by running a batch of ice cubes from the freezer. This will loosen built up food particles. Also run a solution of baking soda and water through the disposal and leave the stopper in place to prevent water from the trap beneath the disposal from evaporating. Make sure all drain stoppers are closed.
Let’s move on to the bathrooms and laundry room.
ü Clean all surfaces and fixtures. Cover toilet and tank top with a plastic wrap. Water from toilets can evaporate. If all water evaporates, sewer gas can back up into the home. Turn off the water supply to the clothing washer to eliminate pressure damage to the hoses. Clean the lint filter in the dryer.
There are a few other important items you should consider.
ü Turn the water heater off if you will be gone for a month or more. For shorter absences, turn the thermostat to its lowest setting. Vacuum upholstered furniture (even crevice areas) well. If there are spots and stains, remove or clean before closing the home. Use commercial upholstery cleaner, and follow directions carefully.
ü You may want to consider vacuuming mattresses thoroughly and covering lightly with a sheet to allow proper air flow.
ü Allow space between garments for circulation of air. Do not wrap garments or other items tightly in plastic. This may increase mildew and other problems. Metal hangers, even when covered with paper, can rust and stain clothing. Get rid of them! Plastic or wood hangers are a must. Leave closet doors and dresser drawers open to allow for air circulation.
ü Turn off water at the meter and back drain if possible. This will help prevent flooding if a pipe should break.
Now for one of the biggest mistakes people make is not leaving their furnace in good condition. To assure the continued effective operation of your furnace and air conditioner, and to prevent excessive energy use, follow these suggestions.
ü You should change your filters or if you have washable filters, wash them. Before you leave is a very good time for a furnace/air conditioner check-up by a professional. A professional check-up will clean the blower wheel and coil, check the temperature drop, adjust tension on belts, check the thermostat, inspect wiring and connections, and check the operation of motors.
Another often over looked area is the exterior of your house.
ü The grading of the ground should move rain water away from the house.
ü Landscaping, around the foundation of a house should be placed far enough away from the home (two feet or more) to permit air to flow freely, and prevent vandals from a place to hide from sight.
ü Remove leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts. Check gutters and downspouts for damage. Observe during a heavy rain or run a water hose down them to see if water is flowing freely.
ü Look for gaps between windows or doors and walls, using caulking to fill in were needed. Replace broken or cracked putty as well as weather-stripping that is loose or damaged.
Whether you will be away from your home for a short or long period, it pays to plan for protection of your home and possessions from burglars or intruders. The best defense is prevention. Both amateur and professional burglars are likely to bypass homes that appear to have active residents. Your home should have a lived-in look.
ü Mail, newspapers and other deliveries should be stopped or promptly picked up by a reliable service.
ü A car parked in the drive or carport discourages burglars.
ü Lights within a home should be placed on timers to simulate movement within the home suggesting normal activities.
ü Window treatments should not make the house look closed-up, but should not permit easy viewing of valuables within the home such as electronic equipment and cameras.
If, in spite of your efforts to make your home look lived-in, a burglar decides to try to break in, don't make it easy. All doors should have secure locks. Sliding glass doors should have a bolt-type lock to prevent its being lifted out of its track, plus a jamming bar in the inside track. Burglars are eager to take items that have a ready market value. The value of items drops when they have some kind of identification, and can be traced to the original owner.
ü Valuables such as jewelry, watches and other items should not be left behind when you leave. Place them in a safety deposit box. Cameras, electronics, silver and appliances should have your social security number, or name engraved on the bottom.
ü Most homeowner insurance policies provide some protection against burglary. Don't take your insurance for granted. Check to see if theft protection is provided and if your valuables will be adequately covered.
ü You may want to check with your insurance company to see if they offer discounts for booking with professional home watch company. Several clients receive such a discount.
If scaring you was my goal, I could give you plenty of examples I have heard from people about the extra hassles they experienced when it could have been avoided. Clearly some problems are going to arise regardless of how much preparation you do or how comprehensive your monitoring service is. A professional, home watch company will be able to help minimize these through early detection or by helping to rectify the problem before your return.
While it might sound cliché, I have to remind you of the old adage that say “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. At a reasonable cost you can……….
As the owner of Watchdog, I am a firm believer in outsourcing. All professional service companies are (or better be). And the fact is that home monitoring is our core business, while it is really just a chore for everyone else. A professional is always going to be more thorough because it our livelihood. Doing a better job at a competitive rate is what sets us apart from our competition and why I really want to help you avoid some of the problems that other people have had to experience first-hand. I would urge you to consider this option if you have more than one property to maintain or spend significant time away from your home.
A professional home watch company, like WatchDOG LLC uses a lengthy checklist to inspect homes on a regular basis. WatchDOG has over 25 years of property management experience. We have a full understanding of what is needed to minimize or eliminate your troubles while you’re away. If you would need help with any or all of these needs please feel free to contact us at WatchDOG LLC. Every client is kept strictly confidential! You can visit us on line at www.watchdoghomewatch.com to see how we can further assist you. We are always keeping a close eye on your property.
Above all, leave the worrying to us and enjoy a relaxing vacation knowing your home is well protected.
By Ken Langenhahn - Owner of WatchDOG LLC
Most people frequently travel to popular vacation spots, or to visit friends, while others spend part of the year in warmer climates. Almost everyone is likely to be away from their home several days or weeks at a time for business or pleasure.
Over the past 25 years of owning homes and apartments, the owner of a home watch company, as well as managing and taking care of other peoples’ property for them. I have experienced and learned a lot. Here are a few common truths I’ve learned about being away from your home for a while.
Truth #1: While it's always good to return home from a vacation or seasonal residence, occasionally upon returning home, some people find their Wisconsin residence in a condition other than the way they were left due to mechanical problems or, in some situations even burglary or vandalism.
Truth #2: Homes that are left unattended for extended periods of time seem to have greater frequency of problems, and the problems that arise are sometimes made worse because they are not dealt with before small problems have a chance to grow.
In talking to people about my business, the most common thing I hear is that while people are away, they are planning to have friends, relatives or neighbors check on their property. While neighbors and friends often agree to check on the properties, they don’t always have the ability to recognize the early signs of problems or the time to do an extensive inspection while you’re away.
Remember, they typically have plenty to do during their day already. If they make it through the day or week with no unplanned interruptions to their schedule, and they remember, this is when they are able to check on your property. With all good intentions they will walk in the door feel the temperature, and if it feels warmer than the outside they take a cursory trip around the main living areas, then turn around and walk back out to finish their day or week.
Truth #3: There are a host of potential problems that can easily go un- noticed. Examples of this include the operation of your refrigerator, plumbing failures, tripped circuit breakers, pest invasion, roof leaks, vandalism, etc. When it's your own home, you take notice of little things that don’t seem quite right even if it's subconscious. A friend or neighbor often doesn't notice those things.
Aside from having your home monitored by a professional, there are many things you could do yourself to make your return home more enjoyable. It’s interesting to note that when people buy a boat or a camper, or even a collector car and are ready to put them away for the season people automatically think of protecting them by winterizing properly. But when it comes to protecting one of their biggest investments, they sometimes don’t think twice. They turn the heat down and lock the door behind them as they walk out the door, without taking the measures to make sure that it will be in the condition they nevertheless expect upon their return.
I have put together just a few suggestions for your consideration. Let me preface this however by maintaining that I am convinced that these steps should compliment, rather than take the place of a professional home watch company. I’ll share more about that later. Here are some common sense suggestions that often get over looked.
Let’s start with your kitchen.
ü Clean each appliance thoroughly with sudsy water, rinse and dry. Leave appliances unplugged while you are gone to protect from electrical current surges.
ü Give away or toss opened bottles and jars of salad dressings, condiments, etc., in the refrigerator. It will cost less to replace them if you are gone 2 or 3 months than to run your refrigerator. Clean the refrigerator interior with a solution of 1 tablespoon baking soda to 1 quart of water. This will neutralize food soils and prevent odors. The refrigerator and freezer doors should be left ajar to prevent mold.
ü Flour, sugars and salt should be stored in tightly sealed containers. Dispose of cereals, crackers and pastas to avoid unwanted pests.
ü Remove any food particles from the filter if one is present in the bottom of the dishwasher. Then run the dishwasher through a short cycle. A few minutes into the cycle, turn off the dishwasher, open the door and clean out around the door gasket and under the bottom of the door to remove any dirt that might create mold in these areas. Restart your dishwasher finishing the cycle. After the cycle is finished leave the door ajar, this will help with air flow and reduce the possibility for mold forming. It will also release the pressure on the door seal making it last longer.
ü Clean the garbage disposal in your sink by running a batch of ice cubes from the freezer. This will loosen built up food particles. Also run a solution of baking soda and water through the disposal and leave the stopper in place to prevent water from the trap beneath the disposal from evaporating. Make sure all drain stoppers are closed.
Let’s move on to the bathrooms and laundry room.
ü Clean all surfaces and fixtures. Cover toilet and tank top with a plastic wrap. Water from toilets can evaporate. If all water evaporates, sewer gas can back up into the home. Turn off the water supply to the clothing washer to eliminate pressure damage to the hoses. Clean the lint filter in the dryer.
There are a few other important items you should consider.
ü Turn the water heater off if you will be gone for a month or more. For shorter absences, turn the thermostat to its lowest setting. Vacuum upholstered furniture (even crevice areas) well. If there are spots and stains, remove or clean before closing the home. Use commercial upholstery cleaner, and follow directions carefully.
ü You may want to consider vacuuming mattresses thoroughly and covering lightly with a sheet to allow proper air flow.
ü Allow space between garments for circulation of air. Do not wrap garments or other items tightly in plastic. This may increase mildew and other problems. Metal hangers, even when covered with paper, can rust and stain clothing. Get rid of them! Plastic or wood hangers are a must. Leave closet doors and dresser drawers open to allow for air circulation.
ü Turn off water at the meter and back drain if possible. This will help prevent flooding if a pipe should break.
Now for one of the biggest mistakes people make is not leaving their furnace in good condition. To assure the continued effective operation of your furnace and air conditioner, and to prevent excessive energy use, follow these suggestions.
ü You should change your filters or if you have washable filters, wash them. Before you leave is a very good time for a furnace/air conditioner check-up by a professional. A professional check-up will clean the blower wheel and coil, check the temperature drop, adjust tension on belts, check the thermostat, inspect wiring and connections, and check the operation of motors.
Another often over looked area is the exterior of your house.
ü The grading of the ground should move rain water away from the house.
ü Landscaping, around the foundation of a house should be placed far enough away from the home (two feet or more) to permit air to flow freely, and prevent vandals from a place to hide from sight.
ü Remove leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts. Check gutters and downspouts for damage. Observe during a heavy rain or run a water hose down them to see if water is flowing freely.
ü Look for gaps between windows or doors and walls, using caulking to fill in were needed. Replace broken or cracked putty as well as weather-stripping that is loose or damaged.
Whether you will be away from your home for a short or long period, it pays to plan for protection of your home and possessions from burglars or intruders. The best defense is prevention. Both amateur and professional burglars are likely to bypass homes that appear to have active residents. Your home should have a lived-in look.
ü Mail, newspapers and other deliveries should be stopped or promptly picked up by a reliable service.
ü A car parked in the drive or carport discourages burglars.
ü Lights within a home should be placed on timers to simulate movement within the home suggesting normal activities.
ü Window treatments should not make the house look closed-up, but should not permit easy viewing of valuables within the home such as electronic equipment and cameras.
If, in spite of your efforts to make your home look lived-in, a burglar decides to try to break in, don't make it easy. All doors should have secure locks. Sliding glass doors should have a bolt-type lock to prevent its being lifted out of its track, plus a jamming bar in the inside track. Burglars are eager to take items that have a ready market value. The value of items drops when they have some kind of identification, and can be traced to the original owner.
ü Valuables such as jewelry, watches and other items should not be left behind when you leave. Place them in a safety deposit box. Cameras, electronics, silver and appliances should have your social security number, or name engraved on the bottom.
ü Most homeowner insurance policies provide some protection against burglary. Don't take your insurance for granted. Check to see if theft protection is provided and if your valuables will be adequately covered.
ü You may want to check with your insurance company to see if they offer discounts for booking with professional home watch company. Several clients receive such a discount.
If scaring you was my goal, I could give you plenty of examples I have heard from people about the extra hassles they experienced when it could have been avoided. Clearly some problems are going to arise regardless of how much preparation you do or how comprehensive your monitoring service is. A professional, home watch company will be able to help minimize these through early detection or by helping to rectify the problem before your return.
While it might sound cliché, I have to remind you of the old adage that say “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. At a reasonable cost you can……….
As the owner of Watchdog, I am a firm believer in outsourcing. All professional service companies are (or better be). And the fact is that home monitoring is our core business, while it is really just a chore for everyone else. A professional is always going to be more thorough because it our livelihood. Doing a better job at a competitive rate is what sets us apart from our competition and why I really want to help you avoid some of the problems that other people have had to experience first-hand. I would urge you to consider this option if you have more than one property to maintain or spend significant time away from your home.
A professional home watch company, like WatchDOG LLC uses a lengthy checklist to inspect homes on a regular basis. WatchDOG has over 25 years of property management experience. We have a full understanding of what is needed to minimize or eliminate your troubles while you’re away. If you would need help with any or all of these needs please feel free to contact us at WatchDOG LLC. Every client is kept strictly confidential! You can visit us on line at www.watchdoghomewatch.com to see how we can further assist you. We are always keeping a close eye on your property.
Above all, leave the worrying to us and enjoy a relaxing vacation knowing your home is well protected.
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