You’ve probably seen shows on TV like Storage Wars. This is a program where storage units are being auctioned off because the renters haven’t paid their bill. Bidders arrive to haggle over the price until someone comes out on top. Usually, they end up losing money on the buy, but sometimes, they can strike gold.

People rent storage units for several reasons. Sometimes, they just don’t have space in their homes and need an extra place to store things they don’t use all the time. Businesses often rent storage units to keep extra office furniture or equipment. And still others who make things to sell at craft fairs and festivals might rent a unit to keep their inventory secure.

There are storage units to suit all needs. Some are climate-controlled, meaning they offer heat and air conditioning if necessary. This is useful for long-term storage of expensive things that need controlled temperature and humidity like art, leather goods, wooden items, special collections like coins, stamps, and books, musical instruments, or photos.

• • Works of Art—these should always be stored in climate-controlled units because heat and humidity can both damage the work. Paintings are especially sensitive to humidity. The unit should be kept at around 70-75 degrees with a humidity about 50%.

• • Leather Goods—whether it’s furniture, belts, jackets, or horse riding equipment, leather items are sensitive to huge shifts of temperature. They can also grow mildew when humidity levels are high.

• • Wood Items—furniture made of wood is sensitive to swings in humidity. Going from damp to dry and back again can cause wood to crack. The lower the humidity, the safer your wooden items will be.

• • Collector’s Items—coins, stamps, comics, and books are all special items that should be stored where the temperature and humidity are low. Coins can tarnish when humidity is too high, and paper will absorb moisture from the air.

• • Musical Instruments—temperature control is a must for musical instruments like pianos, wood instruments, or those made of brass. Wood will crack or rot in dry or wet conditions and brass instruments can harbor bacteria and poor storage conditions can rot some materials like cork or felt.

• • Photos—printed photos are often irreplaceable unless you’ve scanned them into a computer. Too much heat can cause photos to stick together, ruining them.

Clothing is another thing that could be stored in a climate-controlled unit. If you’re going to store clothing, like swapping out your summer and winter clothes, you should always wash the clothing before you take it to storage. Humidity control can help to keep your clothes from developing mold and mildew while in storage.

Electronics and household appliances can be stored in normal units, but they’ll be more preserved if you store them in climate-controlled storage lockers. Newer plasma screen TVs are especially prone to temperature shifts. And internal components of any electronics can rust and corrode when exposed to extreme levels of humidity.

Choosing to rent a climate-controlled storage locker can seem like a daunting task. But it doesn’t have to be! If you’re in Virginia and looking for storage units Blackberg, you’re in luck! There are many storage units available to suit your needs, including climate-controlled units and units of diverse sizes. These facilities are designed to keep your precious items safe and secure from temperature and humidity and thieves while allowing you access 24/7!

Believe it or not, it isn’t too difficult to tell if your heating or cooling system needs repairs. However, there are some situations where an inexperienced homeowner may wonder if the system really isn’t working properly, or if the problem is all in their head. The fact is, if you suspect a problem with your system, the best thing you can do is to call for repairs right away. As time passes, the issue is only going to get worse and become more expensive to repair.

The good news is, there are some signs you can watch for that indicate you need to call for
Long Beach heating and air repair services. Getting to know what these signs are will help you keep your system in good, efficient working order month after month.

No Cooled or Heated Air Coming from the Vents 

At one point or another, you may discover that your air conditioner or your heater is no longer doing its job. Even if you have the system turned on full blast, the air coming out of your vents isn’t cooled (or heated, depending on the season). In most cases, this is an indication that your system needs to be repaired.

For example, if there is no cooled air, then it could be a sign that the compressor has failed. It may also mean that the Freon levels are too low. If the issue is not repaired in a timely manner it may get worse, resulting in the system having to be completely replaced.

Insufficient Air Flow 

Another indication that there is an issue with your heating or cooling system is if there is little or weak air flow coming out of your vents. This may also be a sign of a failing compressor. If there are parts of your home that are getting the cooled air, while others don’t, then the issue may lie with the ductwork. Regardless of which of these issues is present, it is a sign that immediate repairs are necessary.

As time passes, debris may become lodged in the vents. This will obstruct the airflow and present a serious health risk to you, and anyone else in your home. Having the duct system cleaned is a great way to help restore an adequate airflow and ensure that the system works properly when you need it the most.

Issues with the Thermostat 

In some cases, the issue will not be with the actual unit, but instead with the thermostat used for controlling the unit. One way to determine if the thermostat is the issue is if there is one part of your home that is extremely cold, while the other remains the same temperature. This is another issue when you should call for repairs.

Moisture in Areas where it Should Not Be

If there are any signs of leaks or moisture near or around your system, then it may indicate some issues. When there are leaks from a heating or cooling system, it is usually the result of two problems.

The more serious problem is that the system may leak refrigerant. This type of leak can result in serious health risks to both you and your family and they will have to be repaired right away. Another common issue is if water has begun to pool adjacent to your unit. This may indicate a blockage in the drain tube. While this isn’t a serious issue, it needs to be taken care of quickly before other issues, such as mold growth, develop.

As you can see, there are several signs that indicate a problem with your heating or cooling system. Calling for professional repairs at the first sign of an issue is the best way to minimize damage and fix the problem for a low price.

Laser engraving was once considered exclusively an industrial application used by manufacturers. Today, laser engraving is becoming popular among small business owners, making it a growth industry in small, medium, and large companies for a variety of applications and purposes.

Why the interest from small businesses?

The cost of laser engraving machines has dropped over the years and the evolution of this equipment has reduced them in size so that even home businesses can buy and use them. The small investment in laser engraving equipment is one of the most appealing factors to small business owners. Some businesses are even using this as a side business to boost their revenue and/or to add a new revenue stream to their already established business.

The growth of laser engraving

Consumer demand for personalized items like tablets, smartphones, metal, wood, and other items is driving the growth of this industry. Besides individual custom items, the growth for promotional items like signage and plaques continues to soar.

Predictions for continued growth in the coming five years are excellent. Thanks to the accessibility and affordability of laser engraving machines, small businesses will want a piece of the action.

8 factors that contribute to laser engraving

There are eight main factors that contribute to the rise in laser engraving:

1. Increased focus on personalization – Looking at online e-commerce sites like Etsy proves that laser engraving is a growth industry. Personalizing wedding gifts/items, smartphones, purses, pens, tools, golf balls and tees, dog collars, glasses, and other items are seen on the site and within the small businesses in various communities across the globe.
2. Better accessibility to engraving machines–With the smaller machines, laser engraving machines aren’t exclusive to manufacturers anymore.
3. Maker movement – There is a rise in makers with consumers wanting to buy more personalized and unique gifts and items. Do-it-yourself, creative types are learning new skills and making products to meet this demand.
4. Growth of industrial applications–Small business isn’t the only sector driving the rise in laser engraving. Industrial applications are also growing to meet the needs for handling credit cards, sensitive/security documents, and ID cards that require increased safety and security measures. The permanence of laser engraving meets the tamper-proof and other industry standards and regulations for secure items.
5. Branding – Branding isn’t just an avenue for providing businesses with a bigger presence, it’s also an effective and covert way to deter theft of assets. Laser engraving on corporate items helps to deter theft in the workplace because the risk of getting caught is higher. Laser engraving equipment easily puts a permanent brand on items with barcodes, serial numbers, and other brands for tracking and recording.
6. Affordability– Laser cutting/engraving machines are more popular due to the lower investment and stable market. Starting at below $8,000, it’s easy to start a low-cost business.
7. New accessories–Lasers that cut and engrave now have several attachments and accessories for creating more objects and for making laser engraving more suitable for more applications. Optical lenses, air compressors, photo processing software, and rotary attachments are just a few of the new accessories.
8. New markets–Future expansion of laser engraving markets is inevitable. Sectors such as woodworking, retail and digital signage, metalworking, gadgets, sports equipment, apparel, model-making, and other markets are part of this expansion.

There is no sign of the laser engraving industry slowing down any time soon. It’s a wise and affordable investment that will continue to provide multiple streams of revenue for small businesses and manufacturers for many years.

So, what’s the big deal about massage chairs, anyway? Massage has been proven in numerous medical studies to have a tremendous impact on our bodies and our lives. Not only does it help us relax, but it can reduce stress, relieve muscle tension and pain, and release pain-killing endorphin hormones for a feeling of wellness.

Health Benefits of Massage

According to the Mayo Clinic, proven benefits of massage include reducing stress, pain, and muscle tissue. But it may also be beneficial to people with the following health conditions:

• Anxiety
• Digestive disorders
• Fibromyalgia
• Headaches
• Stress-related insomnia
• Myofacial syndrome
• Soft tissue strains or injuries
• Sports injuries
• Temporomandibular joint pain
• Ease depression
• Relax dementia patients
• Increase sleep quality

Massage can help to lower blood pressure, increase circulation, and improve fluid flow through your lymphatic system. Massage has even been proven to benefit animals; many owners of performance horses have their own equine massage therapists on their staff. Properly done, massage can even reduce postoperative pain and improve balance in older adults.

The American Massage Therapy Association lists on their website 25 Reasons to Get a Massage, and they cover many of the above-mentioned conditions, as well as some new ones.

Common Types of Massage

There are numerous types of massage, but some of the more popular styles are discussed in detail below.

Swedish Massage

Swedish massage uses long strokes, circular motions, tapping, and vibration to produce a gentle massage experience. This form of massage can reduce pain, increase performance, and even improve your posture.

Deep Massage

This technique uses deeper pressure to target not only muscle but connective tissues as well. It can help with muscle damage associated with injuries.

Shiatsu Massage

This Japanese technique was borrowed from China in antiquity, and is part of an entire mind, body, and soul improvement lifestyle. The therapist uses finger and thumb pressure to manipulate trigger or acupressure points.

What Can You Get from a Massage Chair?

If you’ve already been using massage as a form of your health and wellness care, but want to look for a massage chair, you might be wondering what you can get from it that you can’t from your therapist.

First, a home massage chair means you can experience the benefit of massage without going to see your therapist. It’s always there, and you don’t have to work around your schedule or that of your therapist. This means you can even enjoy a massage in the middle of the night.

Many massage chairs also offer heat options, so you can combine the benefits of massage with the relaxing properties of heat for a better massage experience.

Some massage chairs also offer a zero-gravity option, which raises your legs above your torso. This can give you the extra benefit of spinal decompression to overcome the daily stress of gravity compressing on your spine.

Special Features of Massage Chairs

Some massage chairs offer heat, and others claim to offer a real, human feel to the massage (achieved by coupling rollers with inflatable airbags). Upper-end models use 3D scanning technology to identify your problem areas. This technology also lets the unit identify which part of the body its working on so it can adjust itself accordingly.

The Kahuna Massage LM6800 Zero Gravity is even FDA approved as a medical device.

Types of Massage Chairs

There are several varieties of home massage chairs. These include full-body Shiatsu Chairs, Perfect Fit, iJOY, BestMassage, Kahuna, and Osaki. Each of these chairs have their own features, advantages, and disadvantages.

Buying a Massage Chair

Choosing a massage chair is a massive decision. They’re not a cheap investment, and many of them won’t double as a TV-watching recliner. A massage chair will require its own dedicated space in your home, and you must make certain you have enough room for the chair to open up and recline.

Research the numerous types of massage chairs, and, more importantly, read reviews about these chairs to see what kind of experience other users have had. Check into the companies selling the chairs to find out what reputation they have. Learn about the warranty information each chair comes with. If you have questions, contact the company; a reputable company should have customer service that are willing to answer any questions you might have.

The song ?working for the weekend” by loverboy is popular and for good reasons. You should treat your weekend like a mini-vacation, some time off work where you play and unwind. For some people strolling in the park does it for them while for others, the thrill of taking a road trip helps them release the week’s tension. These are some super cool ways to spend your weekend. They are fun, cheap and entertaining, so try them!

1. Go hiking

Nature has tremendous power to revitalize your body, soul and mind. A nice hike is the perfect way to exercise and enjoy the serenity of life outdoors. If you want it quiet, you can carry your dog along to keep you company. A Brisk walk or biking in the woods with friends can be a fascinating option when you want an energy charged atmosphere.

2. Read a book

If you love to read, find some good literature and immerse yourself in it. Reading doesn’t just help you escape the stresses and chatter of life, it sharpens your brain, increases your exposure and therefore raises your intelligence. Playing some jazz in the background will help you create a tranquil environment to motivate you as you peruse through the book.

3. Have fun with your friends

The list of the number of fun things you can do with your friendless is endless. Read on to find some creative things you can do with friends:

• Brain Teasers – Some people will tell that their weekend was quite sensible after playing games such as Sudoku, Nintendo games and crossword puzzles with their buddies. For these people, having fun means changing their trains of thoughts rather than turning their minds off. The good thing with games is that they can be done anywhere (indoors or outdoors).
• Try a Road Rally – How about you get your friends and roll out on a mobile scavenger hunt then the one who comes back first with all the things listed wins, the losers can buy beer or dessert whatever price you all agree on.
• Have a Campfire or a Bonfire in Your Backyard – Turn your background into some fun-zone, grill some food, contribute and buy drinks, play loud music and dance the weekend away with your friends. If you like the sound of this, you’re not alone.

4. Explore the artist in you

There is an unexplored artist in everyone. But to find that artist, you have to pause from the fast pace of the modern life. Try spending your weekend exploring some hidden talent such as sketching, drawing, painting or crafting. If you have a thing for music, weekend is the time to go train on how to play an instrument. You could even try composing some music.

5. Go Shopping

99.9% of the time, shopping is one the best stress buster especially for women, works 99.9% of the times. The weekend is the ideal time to spoil yourself and reward yourself for the weeks’ hard work. While cash won’t buy you happiness, it can buy you that pretty ring, or the lovely dress or that bag you have been admiring for months.  You can also buy some surprise gifts for your loved ones. Making others happy makes us happy in the long run.

This list is not exhaustive as there are a number of great ways you can spend your weekend. One important thing to note is that, it helps to plan for your weekends in advance so that you don’t end up overspending.

There’s no denying it, running is great for the body and the soul. If for no other reason, many people understand that running is a beneficial activity to improve one’s health. However, there are several other reasons that make running (or jogging) a worthwhile activity that everyone should take part in.

It Can Save Money

Unfortunately, exercising can come at the expense of money. Whether one is working out at a gym (which oftentimes requires a membership) or using an exercise machine (which costs money to own), trying to improve one’s health can cost money. However, this is not the case with running or jogging (outside of proper running shoes). No matter the time spent or the places traveled, it’s free of charge.

Experience Nature at Its Finest

A major drawback to exercising on a piece of equipment, outside of the price, is the inability to experience the nature outside. Staring at walls for minutes on end can make exercising a long and grueling process. There may not be anything better than going outside on a gorgeous day and enjoying the scenery. Combine that with getting the proper amount of physical activity for one day (by running) and two birds are killed with one stone.

Stress Reliever

It has already been alluded to that most people already know running is a major health benefit. However, that was in reference to improved physical health. The reality is, running can assist in emotional health, as well. One, in specific, would be stress; which is a detrimental factor in everyone’s life. Stress can take years off human life, and reducing it as much as possible is a necessity.

Increases Energy

Long days of school and work can take a lot out of people. Depending on the job, some will feature no physical activity whatsoever. That doesn’t mean, though, that it’s not taxing work. When activities need to be accomplished, it can become easy to forgo them and relax due to a lack of energy. A terrific way to get that boost of energy back is to go for a run. Although it seems like a contradictory statement, this will reduce fatigue.

There is no time like the present; so, there is no reason to not start running today. If it’s more convenient to own a treadmill (as opposed to running outside), then it would be very beneficial to check out the Sarah Palin Blog.

Granite worktops add some oomph to your kitchen and transform it in a large way. Even a plain kitchen comes to life when injected with the “granite magic”. You can get a worktop that suits your kitchen décor, in a theme and color of your choice. With changing trends, you are sure to get new types of vivid patterns that will be a first in your home.

You have to get the best out of the money you pay for the worktop. This is why you need to take time and go through the extensive range of options available to you. When you check out available worktops, keep in mind that what you are looking at are worktops sourced from all over the world. Make sure you go through everything that is available before you make a decision. Let us look at the various stages you need to leverage before you make the ultimate decision.

Making the Selection

With hundreds of designs to choose from, you need to take your time before you make the final decision. One of the factors to consider is the color scheme of your kitchen and its size. Make sure you get a color that blends right into the theme you have for the kitchen. Anything less and you won’t achieve the initial aim of getting the worktop in the first place – making the kitchen more appealing.

If you find it hard to make a decision, work with an expert fitter to help you make the right choice. A good supplier of Kitchen Worktops, Uxbridge, will use the information you provide to guide you on what you can choose.

The size you select should be large enough to give you enough working space, but small enough to fit in the available space. The size should also leave room for you to move around it.

Placing the Order

If you are at a distance from the supplier, you can review available worktops on the supplier’s website and make an order online. The supplier can also send samples for you to analyze and make a selection. If you are ready, the supplier can send a team to your home to determine the measurements before advising you on what to choose.

Making the Purchase

After you make a choice, the supplier sends you a quote so that you approve or reject. If the quote is within your budget, you can make an order and wait for the delivery.

The most important consideration to put into mind is getting real value for your money. The trick isn’t about getting the lowest supplier, but one that can give you the best quality and do the fitting for you without inflating the costs.

Conclusion

It takes more than just making a call to the supplier to get the granite worktop that is ideal for your kitchen. Work with a supplier that understands your needs and caters to them, regardless of your budget. You need to follow a set of guidelines to make the maximum out of your worktop purchase. Don’t compromise on quality just to save a few dollars, go for the highest quality.

As a consumer, you are unfortunately at the mercy of marketers throughout the world, who can take some of the most mundane or redundant information and somehow convince you that you will be investing in real value. This is perhaps more true within the indoor growing industry, as many rumors and a lot of false information has been spread over the years, in an attempt to persuade unknowledgeable consumers into purchasing lower quality products.

As such, this article aims to address some of that false information, so that you can get out there and purchase the best possible lighting for your unique growing needs.

Avoiding the Common Marketing Schemes of Lighting Companies

In a similar way to a scientific equation, without all of the necessary information, you can’t actually work out how efficient or effective a light is – unless you perform tests yourself. As such, finding out only the lumen rating or wattage essentially tells you nothing – because without all of the above, as well as a few more specifications, you only have a small part of the overall equation. So don’t be fooled by marketing schemes that try to persuade you with impressive sounding lumen ranges or high watt usage, as many of the companies who focus on that kind of information are often trying to hide their true effective value.

How Lumens and Wattage Affects Performance

If you are an avid grower, you may be surprised to find out that these ratings don’t actually affect the performance of lights. In fact, two of the above specifications are essentially only valuable to humans. So let’s find out more about these spec’s, as well as why you should never purchase products based solely on these specific qualities:

Lumens – If you are installing aesthetic lighting for your home or entertainment areas, the lumen rating can be important, as it basically describes how the lighting will look to a human eye. Plants, however, don’t care much for aesthetics, but rather simply about how many protons the source delivers to their receptors. As such, unless you are eager to make your indoor grow look aesthetically pleasing, lumens are one of the last variables you should be considering for plant growth.

Watts – In a similar fashion to evaluating vehicle performance, you can’t judge the value of a light by simply looking at the fuel consumption. In fact, two completely different lights – or vehicles – may have the same fuel input, while having wildly differing outputs. The real value is how efficiently and effectively the product utilizes the fuel, as well as the end result of it. Ideally, you want a light that not only provides sufficient energy to your plants, but also operates at a low wattage in order to get the best value of money.

When shopping for lighting, find suppliers like http://www.lumigrowth.com who are capable of providing the information you need, such as the PPF ratings, PPFD maps and input/output watts. This way, you don’t have to waste time or money on lesser quality products, and can instead acquire the right lighting for your needs without extra hassle.

Owners of country houses are not always glad to approach of winter. The early snow means household owners must take a snow shovel and to clean the paths. This occupation can seem to someone entertaining and even useful. Te fact is that usually there is no trace from a positive reinforcement till the mid-winter. If you are familiar with such situation that it is worth thinking of purchase of  the snow blower. You may find the reviews of top snow blower models at http://snowshifts.com/.

Standard snow blowers represent a design that consists of the metal case, the engine, control elements, turbinal devices for collecting of snow (screws) and subsequent its rejection. There are two types of devices: one-stage and two-stage. The difference is that at the screws of one-stage snow blowers carry out directly two tasks — collect snow and throw out it to the final trench. At the expense of this mechanism, one-stage snow blowers are rather vulnerable. Two-level snow blowers are better and possess the additional mechanism.

it is equipped with a rotor which serves as a peculiar intermediary between screws and a final trench. Each model of snow blowers possesses a set of characteristics which determine its capability to shovel away the snow. Let us consider key parameters of these devices. One of the most important criteria in case of the choice making is the engine type. The gasoline powered devices constitute the main segment of the market.

They are more powerful. The consumption of gasoline depends on nature of snow cover and on a capacity of the device. Snow blowers with the petrol engine divide on self-propelled and not self-propelled. The amount of a fuel tank of petrol snow blowers makes from two to five liters. Capacity is ranging from 3 to 15 horsepowers. Practically all models of self-propelled snow blowers are equipped with the mechanical transmission for the choice of speed. It is convenient when it is required to clean snowdrifts of different height, density, and geometry.

If snow cover is minimum, then the increased speed will help to reduce cleaning time. Many self-propelled snow blowers have a system of mutual blocking of handles of the drive of the screw and wheels, therefore, the operator can regulate work of a snowplow as one hand, and the second — to change range or the direction of emission of snow.

However, the electric type is rather widespread too. Its area of cleaning is limited to wire length. Such snowplows have the benefits. Such models are easy to maintain and more economic.

One of the best activities you can do to transform your outdoor space is to maintain a regular lawn care. The green grass present in your home can have more benefits to you and your family if you maintain it well. On the flipside, poor lawn maintenance can reduce the value of your home by a big margin, if you were to sell the property.

Many homeowners do not pay much attention to the services of lawn care providers. Instead, they would love to do it themselves, which comes with great benefits. Taking good care of your lawn can result in a beautiful, healthy environment around your home, making it free from pests, and helping the grass grow vigorously. Apart from the aesthetic value of a well-maintained lawn, you will do much good to the environment around you.

Companies offering lawn care services should be able to assist homeowners with ideas on how to go about lawn care in the absence of experts. Besides the advice from experts, you should also seek information about DIY lawn care. For example, I use online reviews as one of my sources of lawn care information. Top benefits of proper lawn care include:

• A healthy lawn results in enough oxygen production
• A well-maintained lawn filters air and dust
• A healthy lawn helps you cut down on cooling costs during warmer months
• A healthy lawn absorbs pollutants such as carbon dioxide and converts it into oxygen

Here are three tips for a healthy lawn

Mowing

While it seems simple, mowing can make a big difference between success and failure of your lawn. Do it the correct way and you can get a healthy lawn that resists weeds and drought. Do it the wrong way and you get a poor lawn that struggles to survive. Time the mowing periods so you don’t remove more leaf surface than required.

Scalping

Lawn care experts warn against scalping the lawn. Scalping means that you cut the grass too short, which makes it a soft target for weed and disease infestation. Rely on expert advice for the correct height during mowing.

The machine

To make work easier and for the benefit of the lawn, ensure that the blade of the mower is sharp at all times. With a sharp blade, you can get a clean mowing, even edges, and no jagged grass blades. A dull blade makes the grass develop certain spots, which could be entry points for diseases. Experts recommend that you sharpen the blade of the mower at least two or three times during the mowing period. Besides, remove thick branches, twigs, and stones before you start mowing. It is also advisable to have an extra blade.