5 Tips for Buying Pumps

Pumps have a wide variety of uses in a wide variety of settings. If you've never purchased them before, however, this variety can seem like a daunting thing instead of a positive one. How are you supposed to choose between so many options? How can you be sure you're getting the best deal when you do? If you're concerned about your future purchase of pumps or pump parts, here are just a few tips for success.

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1. Sketch Out a Rough Budget
"Rough" is the most important word here. It's a rare buyer who sticks exactly to their budget, so a good rule of thumb is to always give yourself some wiggle room when it comes to figuring out your finances. You never know when an unexpected fee or an irresistible upgrade will come calling.

2. Learn Brand Names

When shopping for pumps, there are some brand names that will appear over and over again. It'll be up to you to decide if they're worth the hype. Ask yourself questions like:

- How long has the company been in business?
- How many positive reviews do they have on this shopping website?
- Are there any known drawbacks with this brand?

3. Figure Out Your Project Requirements

Chemical process pumps have different functions and features than under-the-sink pumps, so don't go looking for one when you really need the other. In fact, this is true of all pump types. While they may share the same basic operations, they're so different when it comes to execution that you should treat pump models as their own species.

4. Look for Feedback

What do previous customers have to say about the product? If they're generally positive, that's a good sign. If they're generally negative, you might want to rethink your purchase or at least do some research as to why people look at it so unfavorably.

5. Compare and Contrast

Never buy a product without shopping around first. Even if you wind up coming back to it in the end, only after you've seen everything else on the market can you feel confident that you're getting the pump you want at the price you can afford.

Whether you're buying them for residential use or industrial processing, these are just a few tips for making a smart purchase decision about pumps. Check out sites like MasterPumps.com for more information.

5 Steps Towards Energy Freedom For Non-Profits And Schools

The electrical grid in our country is showing its' age and is being taxed beyond today's capabilities. All too often we learn from the news how certain cities or sometimes regions where electrical service has been interrupted usually for a day or two but sometimes longer than a week. Weather has become more of a factor than in previous years as well as incidences of man-made nefarious activities from the threat of cyber "pearl harbor" to the physical damage and destruction which had been reported only a few years ago at a California sub-station.

 

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During the summer months, we can expect to become inconvenienced by storms and, in some cases, human error from those who provide electrical service or average citizen who do not take the precautions and time to call before they dig or cut down a tree. 

With all the uncertainty that can affect our daily lives and livelihoods, there are five steps towards energy freedom that non-profits and schools can take to improve operating costs and ultimately capital expenses.

Assess the electrical loads - you can conduct an informal audit of all electrical loads, such as servers, computers, monitors, refrigerators, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, and any other equipment which consumes power. Make a list of the make and model of each type including quantities - later this information can be useful to locate the electrical specifications for how many Watts or power each uses. 

Upgrade power devices - there is no single magic bullet which will propel your organization into saving a lot of money; however, there are steps to take which will provide an accumulated savings. For example, ensure that there is adequate insulation throughout the building and especially around openings such as windows and door, replace equipment with energy star-rated equipment as well as newer equipment which will be more energy efficient. 

According to the US Department of Energy, commercial energy use per square foot of commercial building space has declined by 25 percent for the past four decades. Although this should be good news, the demand, in general, has risen. Additionally, The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has reported that the average American home increased to about 2,300 square feet up from 1,500 square feet over a twenty year period.

For a typical business, the capital equipment, as a whole, has become more "greener" to own and operate than older equipment, buildings have reduced and continue to reduce their carbon footprint, and the US Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is an internationally recognized mark of excellence which provides building owners and operators with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.

Other technological advances that have had a direct impact on

electrical power reduction includes replacing incandescent lighting with light emitting diode (LED) and compact fluorescent light (CFL) and some organizations have decided to prepare for the likelihood of an electrical outage by installing on-site electrical sources instead of combustion-based generators. Some examples of alternative energy sources include natural gas-supplied, hydrogen-based fuel cells, wind generators, and solar energy including storage systems.

Call in the experts - don't risk taking chances with a "DIY" project or try to cut corners and save money because in the end, aside from safety concerns with working with electrical installations, you will almost certainly pay so much more in the end. Instead, just call 866-945-1727 or visit the web site of www.sunbugsolar.com and schedule a consultation. Your organization will get a free solar evaluation, receive the proposal, get assistance with rebates and permits, install the system, flip the switch, then just sit back and monitor your system.

If you'd like to check out other similar installations projects, visit their web site to see how they've helped non-profits and schools take the first step. Don't just trust your investment to anyone, leave it the experts at SunBug Solar where they will do it right, do it once for a professional installation.

Self educate - your organization may want to do some research to learn more about how a solar system works, learn some of the "lingo" regarding new terms and definitions, and identify the major components of a typical system.

-- The federal business energy investment tax credit (ITC) for solar is equal to 30% of the net system cost with no maximum credit.

-- Under the federal Modified Accelerated Cost-Recovery System (MACRS) your organization may recover investments in certain property through depreciation deductions. For example, a renewable energy technology is classified as a five-year property including a variety of solar electric and solar thermal technologies. This allows for the deduction of 100% of the solar panels cost from taxable income over a five year period, resulting in an incentive of approximately 35% of the system cost.

-- Some utilities offer an up-front incentive known as an expected performance-based buydowns (EPBB). The EPBB is an up-front incentive payment where the incentive amount is adjusted to reflect verifiable system capacity as well as the effect of system orientation and shading on energy production. In most cases when an EPBB is paid a PBI is not also available. EPBB’s are more common in connection with smaller systems.

Track your progress - SunBug makes it easy to monitor and to be assured how well the system is working by keeping a track record using the SunWatch Meter solar power monitor will keep a pulse on it all.

Another type of meter, the net metering technology, allows your organization to spin the meter backwards which means banking on energy savings. This technology actually uses a real meter than can operate by spinning forwards and backwards depending on the direction of electrical power excess. For example, when your system is producing more energy, the meter will spins backwards and when you use more energy than is being produced, the meter will spin forwards. Time truly is money so why wait any longer to get started.

Electrical Appliance Safety Tips – Staying Safe at Home and At Work

The number of people who injure themselves at home or at work trying to repair electrical appliances, or using electrical appliances incorrectly is worrying. Many people have suffered serious injuries or worse, but this needn’t be the case, as most accidents could have been avoided if a little common sense was applied.

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Water and electricity don’t mix

We’re all taught it in school, so why is it that so many accidents occur every year due to an often fatal combination of water and electricity?

·         Never touch an electrical appliance of any kind with wet hands

·         Make sure there’s no water nearby if you’re performing electrical repairs

Also, make sure all electrical appliances at home are kept away from water. Appliances like hair dryers used in the bathroom are particularly pertinent examples.

Old appliances – Watch out!

Old appliances are one of the leading causes of electrical related accidents around the world, second only to accidents which occur when installing or repairing them.

·         If an appliance has a broken or frayed cord, don’t use it until it’s repaired

·         Don’t attempt any repairs yourself, either have it fixed or replace it

Whenever possible, buy appliances that have cords that can be taken off and are therefore easily replaced. Many kitchen appliances, like rice cookers and blenders, have cords like these, making them a great investment in many ways.

Call an electrician

Whether you’re trying to identify an electrical fault or you need to replace a plug on an appliance, be sure to call an electrician. It will cost you more, but it could save your life. That’s worth much more than a few quid in your pocket.

The number of accidents which take place in homes and workplaces that could have been avoided had an electrician been called is a source of concern, so call an expert and stay safe.

Store appliances correctly

Have you ever wondered why the cords on your electrical appliances are prone to fraying? It could be because you’re storing your appliances incorrectly.

·         Appliances need breathing space, so don’t jam them in cupboards

·         Don’t wind the cord tightly around the appliance

·         Watch stove tops and make sure the cord doesn’t get burned

It’s also a good idea to wait until appliances, like irons, cool down before putting them away, especially if you store them in a closed cupboard. The number of fires that have broken out as a result of hot appliances being put away too quickly is testament to the need to wait until they’ve cooled down before putting them away.

Recycle old appliances

If an appliance has passed its use by date, be sure to recycle it properly at an official recycling centre. If you’re leaving it out for collection – local councils often have a rubbish collection day to help residents get rid of the junk lying about their homes – make sure the cord is cut off so that no one else can use it.

Take note of these tips to stay safe at home and work.

Types of Carpet Cleaning Services

THE STEAM EXTRACTION CARPET CLEANING

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The steam cleaning method is highly recommended for the more heavily soiled situations. This method utilizes the very hot water and the cleaning agents that are applied under variable pressure. This method is normally used to give better results if you are having pet problems or spills. It is completely safe for your children and for the pets in the households. It usually dries in the 12 to 18 hours depending on the conditions. It is also the method that is used by most carpet manufacturers to recommend for the annual cleaning to maintain warranty.

THE DRY CLEANING OR THE LOW MOISTURE CARPET CLEANING

The encapsulation is where the carpet is treated with foam fry cleaning compounds that are agitated with the G.L.S machine so as to spread uniformly throughout the carpet fibers. If there is any soil in the carpet it is encapsulated and even brought up to the surface where it crystallizes and can thereof be easily vacuumed away after drying. The carpet duration of drying is normally 30 minutes to 2 hours. The protector may also be added an applied in the same simple process without any additional moisture application. It is very safe for children and pets and may not cause them any health problems.

THE TRU DRY CLEANING

In this type of carpet cleaning the carpet is totally dry at the time of cleaning. It is exclusive of the natural plant-scrubbing compound in conjunction with the specially developed agitation system, which helps in removing soil and grooming the carpet fibers in one major process. The extraction of all the soiled particles is accomplished by the vacuuming action, which is built in the same unit. It is safe for the households that have children or pets.

BONNET CLEANING

In this method it may seem as dry cleaning method but it really is not. The bonnet cleaning method uses a cleaning product occasionally mixed with the carbonated water. It spreads as a mist over the surface of the carpet. A rotating circular buffer referred to as a bonnet is then used with an absorbent covering running it over the soiled area. When the covering on the bonnet is soiled it is then replaced with a clean one and the process continues. It is important to note that even if the top one third of the carpet is clean the soil that has settled at the bottom of the pile remains behind, as the bonnet cannot reach this area. This cleaning should therefore be viewed as a temporary measure between more intensive cleanings.

A dirty carpet can house several source of indoor pollutants including the pet dander, cockroach allergen and every dirt and dust. There may be other toxic airborne gases that may be trapped within the carpet which can be released through the various every day activities such as walking across the carpet which raises them into the air and causing them to contaminate the air I your home for you and your family members.

If you seek professional carpet cleaners they are able to eliminate and kill the deeply trapped pollutants with the high-powered vacuums. In areas that experience high humidity the dirty carpets are at a high risk of developing mold growth when they are exposed to moisture. Having your carpet cleaned on a regular basis will reduce the chances of the carpet developing mold and mildew growth, as the high-powered drying tools will annihilate the moisture. If you decide that you will clean the carpet yourself then you could use fans and turn on the air or choose to open the windows to help dry the carpet out faster.

You should take into consideration various factors before you choose the right carpet cleaning method to use. Therefore you should also determine the dirt area or saturation in need of cleaning, if there are any molds to remove or not. There are a lot of misconceptions and myths regarding how long you should wait before you take your carpet for cleaning. It depends with many factors such as how much traffic your carpet receives. Good luck with choosing the carpet cleaning method best for your carpet.

Written by Eric Sappington, owner of Sappington’s Carpet Care, the leading company for carpet cleaning in Columbia, MO.