Central Humidifiers By Nick Gromicko, Rob London and Kenton Shepard Humidifiers are devices that humidify air so that building occupants are comfortable. Central humidifiers are hard-wired into a house’s plumbing and forced-air heating systems. What is humidity? Humidity refers to the amount of moisture in the air. “Relative humidity” signifies the amount of moisture in [...]
Aging in Place “Aging in place” is the phenomenon describing senior citizens’ ability to live independently in their homes for as long as possible. Those who age in place will not have to move from their present residence in order to secure necessary support services in response to their changing needs. The Baby Boomers As [...]
Knob-and-Tube Wiring By Nick Gromicko, Rob London and Kenton Shepard Knob-and-tube (K&T) wiring was an early standardized method of electrical wiring in buildings, in common use in North America from about 1880 to the 1940s. The system is considered obsolete and can be a safety hazard, although some of the fear associated with it is [...]
Compost Pile Hazards By Nick Gromicko and Rob London Compost is an accumulation of degrading food scraps, plants and other nutrient-rich organic matter. It is an easy and environmentally responsible way to dispose of biodegradable kitchen waste, which can then be returned to the soil as fertilizer for vegetable and flower gardens. Composting is Good [...]
It’s Christmas and across the world and all through the land people are decorating their homes and trees with bright lights and all things festive. Some People just are in love with Christmas! Are you too? Do you love to decorate your home, your bedroom, your tree, your living room, your dining room, and your [...]
Mortar Joints By Nick Gromicko and Rob London Although good-quality bricks may outlast civilizations, the mortar that bonds them can crack and crumble after a number of years. Water penetration is the greatest degrader of mortar, and different mortar joints allow for varying degrees of water-resistance. Mortar joints in brickwork also take up a surprisingly [...]
Radon Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Guide to Radon The EPA Recommends: If you are buying a home or selling your home, have it tested for radon. For a new home, ask if radon-resistant construction features were used and if the home has been tested. Fix the home if the radon level is 4 picoCuries per [...]
Lawn Tips Spring is a time to help rejuvenate your lawn by raking to improve the air circulation, weeding to remove unwanted material and mowing for a well-manicured appearance. You can also adjust the pH levels of your lawn in the spring by adding lime, if necessary. Raking Remove winter debris from your spring lawn [...]
From the beginning of human history mud bricks were used as a basic material for construction. Mud bricks work well when they are being compressed but a cake of mud is easily broken if it is bent. This is because the act of bending places a tension force on one edge. At the same time [...]
