A Queen Size Air Mattress Can Come in Handy

My wife and I like to travel as often as possible, and we have found that there are certain must-haves whenever we decide to leave town. We always take a fan with us, in case there are none in the hotel or bed and breakfast where we stay. We always bring plenty of drinking water in case the tap water is not any good, and we always make sure to bring our queen size air mattress. The reality is that this has come in handy on more occasions than I can remember, and I would never leave home without it.

One of the first things that my wife and I noticed about the queen size air mattress was how firm and comfortable it was. We both expected for it to sag, or pop, but it really doesn't. I spent about $50 on it when I originally bought it, and had some terrible misgivings about the thing as soon as I left the store. All it took was one night of sleeping on it, however, for me to realize that this was a great investment and would probably be useful for years to come. It has definitely proved to be just that.

The first time that the queen size air mattress really came in handy was when we were on a trip with another couple in the mountains. We were staying in a beautiful log cabin with great amenities, but the beds in each of the cabins were terribly uncomfortable. The other couple we were staying with said they were not sure they were going to be able to sleep through the night, and they opted to sleep on the couch and a chair. Fortunately, my wife and I had the queen size air mattress with us, and we slept like babies on that the three days we were there.

On another occasion two years ago, we were having a family reunion and had a number of people show up that we did not expect to be there. Never ones to turn anyone away, we managed to make sleeping arrangements for everyone who did not already have a place to sleep except for my cousin and his wife. That was when we remembered the queen size air mattress and aired it up for them. Both of them commented the next day on how comfortable it was and how grateful they were that we had it.

A queen size air mattress can really come in handy. It is not something that most of us would think about as a must-have on a trip, but my wife and I bring it with us wherever we go these days.

The Summer Window Air Conditioning Units Saved People's Lives

I live in the great state of Texas, and to say that summers get hot here would be a massive understatement. In my community, most of us have central heat and air conditioning, which works out very well for everyone involved, because it allows us to keep the temperatures inside our house at a cool and constant temperature. There was an occasion, however, about three years ago when I had to loan out about four window air conditioning units, and in hindsight, those units may have saved some lives.

Through a bizarre turn of events, we had five neighbors have their air conditioning systems go out over the summer a few years back. One of them was fairly old and just finally gave out. Two others had been vandalized. A fourth had just been fixed, but evidently had not been repaired properly and would not cool at all. I can't remember what happened to the fifth neighbor's air conditioning system, but he, too, was trying to endure 100 degree temperatures without air conditioning. That is not the smartest thing to do. None of them had window air conditioning units, either.

The worst part about it all was that they all refused to get a hotel until their air conditioning was fixed. They all said that they were going to tough it out. I had seen a few stories on the news recently about people who had died from the heat because they did not have air conditioning, and I certainly was not going to run the risk of that happening when I could help. My father had worked in air conditioning and heating for a number of years, and I probably had about a dozen window air conditioning units in my garage that were in perfect running order.

I contacted each one of the neighbors and pretty much insisted that I bring them over to their house and put them in. Predictably enough, they did not require much convincing. I encouraged them to stay in the room where the window air conditioning units were located for the next few nights until their systems were repaired, and to shut all of the other doors beside the ones to that room. Within an hour, they all had a cool room where they could escape, and I had some very grateful neighbors.

Once their systems were fixed, they all gave me back my window air conditioning units and thanked me profusely. I am not sure if those units saved their lives or not, but I was not going to run the risk of hearing about one of them on the news when I could do something to help.

I Often Use White Vinegar For Cleaning

My wife and I are pretty big on keeping our house clean and spotless. It is not to the point where people are not comfortable coming over, but we don't like for it to get messy or grimy. We have gone through an assortment of cleaners over the years, and while I use certain products for certain jobs, I use white vinegar for cleaning on a regular basis. It is something that has consistently done the job for me over the years and I have no intention of ever going away from it.

The best part about using white vinegar for cleaning is that it can clean and deodorize almost anything. It was one of the first things that my grandmother ever taught me about cleaning. She said that there were all kinds of products on the market to clean with, and many of them were good, but she said to always make sure that I had a bottle of white vinegar and a box of baking soda, as those had been used to clean for years and had always worked like a charm for her.

The first project I decided to use white vinegar for cleaning on was my kitchen sinks. They had a tendency to get a really foul smell after a couple of months, and even though I would do everything I could to prevent food from going down the train and water from sitting in the sink, it did not seem to matter. I decided to do something I had read in a magazine, which was to pour a cup of white vinegar down each drain and not to run the water in the sink for an hour. I did that, and it took care of the problem immediately. Now, I make it a point to to that each month.

Another project I decided to use white vinegar for cleaning on was two rust stains I had on my front porch. These had developed because I rather stupidly decided to water two of my Boston ferns out on the front porch one day, only to find that they had left two big rust stains on the porch. I had some rust remover, but it was designed to remove rust from metal, and I did not know how it would effect the cement of the porch. My mother suggested using the white vinegar, and that did the trick. The rust was gone after just a few applications.

Using white vinegar for cleaning is something I have done for years now, and will likely continue to do for the rest of my life. It has worked well for me over the years and I have no plans to stop using it any time soon.

Wall Air Conditioning Units

Not sure that you want or can even afford a whole house air conditioning unit? This can be an expensive addition to your home. Some can afford it but do not think that they need that much because they do not use their AC units a lot. If you want something small, you can find window and wall air conditioning units that you can have installed more cheaply and more easily than a full home system. These are less expensive by far and when one goes bad, you do not have to replace your entire system. If you buy in the fall, you can save even more money on these single units.

One thing you should know about window and wall air conditioning units is that they are often strong enough to keep one room cool, but at times they can do two or even three. Some use one for an entire one bedroom apartment. This will vary though, depending on the weather outside. On a hot and dry day, this can work. On the other hand, when it it sweltering hot and humid, the unit is going to struggle to do the same job that it does on other days. If you find that your unit is struggling more often than not, you may have to invest in a second unit to keep things cool and comfortable.

Your wall air conditioning units are going to work better if they are sealed up tight. When you have one installed in your wall, you want to make sure there are no small gaps are areas that allow the air from the outside to move through. This can strongly affect how your unit or units are going to work. If you put a unit in the window, the same thing should be considered. Talk to someone at your home improvement store if you are not sure how to make sure either type of unit is secure and working the best that it can be.

Remember to care for your window and wall air conditioning units in good working condition. This means covering the outside of them well during the winter months. Ice and snow can do damage if you leave them exposed. You can find these in many stores and online. Also remember that these units have air filters in them. They take the air in the room, recondition it, and then send the clean, cool air back into your home. Check the filters often. Most of them should be changed when you first start using them each year, and should be checked once a month during use.

Newer styles of window and wall air conditioning units are cheaper and more efficient than they were just five short years ago. They are better for the environment and they are cheaper to run. You may find the most efficient ones are the ones that cost more, but you save money over the life of the unit on your cooling bills. If you have the cash, go ahead and get rid of your older units and upgrade now. Not only will they work better, they are going to be well worth the price in just a few short years.

Getting To a Water Leak Before It Gets Your House

When someone mentions problems with leaky pipes around the house, you probably imagine that it's a rickety old house with rusty plumbing and a leaky roof. It doesn't have to be that way though. Brand-new houses could have a water leak problem. It's just the nature of these things. They'll show up given even the smallest allowance.

Sometimes, a water leak doesn't show up at most times. It only shows up when your water utility turns up the pressure really high. As an ordinary home inspection won't really uncover a problem of this kind because there is no real way anyone can tell what can happen until the plumbing is tested at very high pressure. Only a really experienced home inspector who really takes his time can ever detect water a leak potential like this.

Quite apart from the regular home inspections, there are a few things you can do to make sure that there aren't hidden weaknesses in your plumbing that could show up any time. You really need to make use of these methods because it only takes a small water leak to cause massive amounts of structural damage to your house.

A water leak detector would be the most cost-effective of these possible solutions. At its most basic, a leak detector is a simple moisture sensing device. You place it in places like your basement, and it tries to constantly measure the amount of moisture in the atmosphere around it. If there is a water leak, then of course the water is going to evaporate and the moisture is going to hang in the air. Right away, your water leak detector will sound an alarm.

One downside to this method is that if you place these detectors somewhere out of the way, you probably won't hear the feeble alarm.

A far better way would be to get an active water leak detector. A device such as this can act on its own. When it senses moisture in the air, it will right away shut down the water mains leading into your house. Of course, this kind of a device can be expensive to buy and to install. It requires professional installation to place such a device in your mains line.

The best of these systems work wirelessly. You place the device anywhere you want in the house. When there is a problem, right away it communicates with its base to have the water mains turned off.

There are many active water leak detectors out there that you could try out today. When you do, go for durability. Some leak detectors tend to be fragile.

Three Questions to Consider When Refinancing Your Home

Many homeowners are looking to lower their monthly payments by refinancing their mortgages. Among those most interested in refinancing are those who purchased their homes when mortgage interest rates were high and those who financed with an adjustable rate mortgage. But, the question that inevitably arises is "How can I make sure I'm getting the best deal available?" Here are three questions you can ask to help you properly analyze your refinancing options.

When Should I Refinance?

Obviously, if mortgage interest rates are declining and you're needing to lower your monthly payment, the time may be right for you to refinance. But, you have to know the best price point for your situation. As a general rule, you shouldn't consider a refinance unless the current market rate is at least two points below your current mortgage rate. It is useless to refinance for a one-point difference because the savings are insignificant and not worth the closing costs and fees that go with it.

Is It Worthwhile for You to Refinance?

If you plan to stay in your home for many years, refinancing may be the right move for you. But, if you're thinking that you may want to purchase a new home within the next few years, it is probably better to stay with your current loan. And, even if you're planning to stay in your home for a while, you should always request an estimate on refinance closing costs before agreeing to sign any documents. Lenders have different refinancing procedures so it may not be worthwhile to refinance your home if the process results in only a small savings with high closing costs and fees.

Did You Compare the Terms Among Your Various Options?

You should contact your current lender and discuss the possibility of refinancing your home. In most cases, your current lender might waive certain fees that could lower your overall closing costs to refinance your home. Also, try to negotiate a "no-cost refinance." Above all, remember to compare lenders and rates. You'll find a lot of variation among lenders so it's wise to shop around. Going online is the best way to find mortgage brokers and choose from among a variety of different offers. Having multiple offers also gives you the option of starting the process over very easily if the deal you think you're getting falls through at the last minute. Having more choices and offers gives you greater flexibility in refinancing your home.

Getting a great refinance deal with a lower interest rate that can lower your monthly payment is possible in today's market. It's a process that takes work on your part, but it is possible. Answering these questions will help you find the best deals available for your situation.