Tips to prepare your pool for winter

Since it rarely freezes in Florida, you can cover the pool and reduce the filtration time per day and the amount of chemicals added.  Pools today have many options to automate in cold weather conditions; ask a pool professional.
1. Reduce run time to four hours if not heating.
2. Reduce chemical consumption by turning down chlorinator/generator.
3. Run the pump/solar overnight during a freeze warning.
4. Cover pool to reduce heat loss and evaporation at night.

If there is risk of freezing, there are several steps to take.  Contact a pool professional for assistance.
1. Balance the pool water and then shock the pool
2. Remove skimmer baskets, wall fittings, and ladders
3. Drain all pumping, filtering, heating and chlorinating equipment
4. Blow out the lines and plug at the pool and then add swimming pool anti-freeze to the line
5. Cover the pool

Reposted from:  http://www.floridapoolpro.com/pool-care/pools-and-weather/#winterize

Avoid DIY Disasters

Do-it-yourself disasters can happen to anyone.  

Here's how to avoid them in your next home project.

• Define the project scope.  Whether you wish to expand the kitchen or paint a fresh new color on your walls, identify the parameters of the project and then decide if you can do the work yourself.
• Be realistic about your technical skill and experience.  A simple project may turn into a complicated mess if you've never done it before.
• Do you need permits?  Depending on the work involved, you may need to obtain a permit before you can begin the project.  Not doing so can result in costly fines and time setbacks.
• What are the estimated costs involved?  Create an outline or spreadsheet of the project costs associated with the project, including materials, fees, etc.
• How long will it take?  While you may be able to paint the hallway in an afternoon, more extensive projects may take several weeks to complete.
• Get bids from contractors and vendors to determine whether it would make financial sense to hire a professional instead of doing it yourself.
• Do you have a backup plan?  Sometimes things don't go according to plan.  Assess your ability to handle the unexpected and prepare to get help if necessary.

Protect Your Home Year-Round with These 8 Maintenance Tips

It's always beneficial to keep your home in great shape.  Courtesy peggyk65@verizon.net, here are 8 sage pieces of advice to keep your house tip-top, all year long!

Whether you're a new homeowner or an experienced do-it-yourself-er around the house, these handy tips will help protect your investment year-round.

1.  Safety First - Replace the batteries in all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.  It's also a good time to make sure that any fire extinguishers in your home are in working order.

2.  Look up - Inspect your attic and roof for leaks, missing shingles and ventilation issues.  It's also a good idea to check on the chimney, as well as attic fans and vents.

3.  In the bathroom - Inspect grout and caulk around bathtubs, sinks and showers.  Get rid of cracked grout and replace missing grout.  seal tile grout.  Discolored and mildewed caulk should be cleaned and might need to be replaced with new caulk.

4.  In the kitchen - Clean appliances, including refrigerator coils and underneath the range hood.  Remove and clean or replace range hood filters.  Clean faucet aerators and replace washers as necessary.  Don't forget the drain!

5.  Keep the weather out - Inspect doors and windows for drafts and replace/install weather stripping where needed.

6.  Bug out - Inspect your home for signs of termites such as tunnels or buckling wood, swollen floors and ceilings.  Termite damage can look similar to water damage.  Call an exterminator if you think you've got termites.

7.  Clean it out - Flushing mineral deposits out of your hot water heater can extend the life of this important appliance.

8.  Don't forget - Did you know your garage door needs cleaning, inspection and lubrication of its springs at least once a year?

All of those tips are important & informative.  I know I didn't know the bit about the garage door maintenance!  We here at The Griffith Group certainly hope these helpful hints have been beneficial to you!

5 Green Tips to De-cluttering Your Home.

Life can be busy as we are constantly on the move. It seems the busier our lives can be, the harder it is to keep the clutter out of our homes. Here are 5 tips to de-clutter your home, in a green way. 

1.) Pay bills online. By entering the information in your bank account website to pay bills online, will not only reduce the paper used, but is also an easier way to keep track of your cash flow online.

2.) Stop receiving junk mail. According to www.donotmail.org, direct mail creates 10 billion pounds of solid waste. Contact this website to have your name removed off the direct mail list to reduce your environmental footprint. Also, visit www.DMAchoice.org to opt out of receiving junk mail.

3.) View yellow pages online To opt out of receiving the Yellow Pages Book at your door, consider visiting www.yellowpagesgogreen.org. Follow the few easy steps on the website to no longer receive the very large and cumbersome yellow pages.

4.) Recycle Outdated Electronics  In a day when electronics are continuously being updated, we tend to hold onto outdated items. Old televisions, DVD players, VCRs, Video games and game consoles may be recycled or be disposed of properly by community programs. They also may be sold on websites such as e-bay or donated to great charities such as the Salvation Army or Goodwill. To donate your cell phone to charity, visit www.thedailygreen.com.

5.) Go to the Library   Donate your books and magazines to the library. Stop buying books to store in your bookcases; instead consider checking books from your local library. This will keep your home clutter free from books collecting dust on your shelves. You may also join an online book shelf. Websites like Goodreads, BookJetty, aNobii, and Librarything and downloading books from Amazon are great alternatives to a book in print.

Following these 5 easy tips will help de-clutter your home as well as keeping your life more organized and stress free. Not to mention this is eco-friendly to our beautiful world.

- Donna Foute 2013

10 Easy Tips to keep a Cool Home

During the summer, keeping a cool home may be challenging for many. In more tropical environments, such as Florida, staying comfortable and running your air conditioning may lead to very expensive monthly electric bills. Below are 10 quick tips to keeping a home cooler during the summer, so that you don’t have to run your air condition continuously.

1)    Change air filters frequently. This will keep your air flow smooth and keep your coils clean. This will also extend the life of your air conditioning unit.

2)    Keep televisions and lamps at a distance from your air conditioning thermostat. Having them close by your thermostat will keep your air condition running more than needed from the false heat it produces.

3)    Install ceiling fans & use box fans. Producing air flow can keep you cool in your home and also reduce your heat index by 1%.

4)    Have your attic insulated. Excessive heat is stored in the attic and will keep a home hotter than needed. By insulating the attic this can reduce the heat and keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

5)    Shade your outside with trees, vines, and shrubs. Doing so will limit the heat coming into the windows.

6)    Use fluorescent bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs. This will use a fifth of the heat and energy.

7)    Air dry dishes. Drying dishes instead of using the heat dry function will keep your air from turning on to cool your home.

8)    Take showers instead of baths. Make sure that you use the fan to keep the humidity out of the bathroom.

9)    Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 115 degrees. A little adjustment on your water heater can save big bucks in the long run on your electric bill.

10) Caulking and weather-stripping. Keep the cool air inside instead of cooling the outside. Check around the doors and windows; and caulk needed areas and replace weather-stripping where needed, may result in a home that will not leak cool air.

Using these 10 easy tips can help you reduce the heat in your home. This will keep you from having to run your air condition often and reduce the amount you will have to pay on your monthly electric bills.

 - Donna Foute 2013