Hiring A Party Bus For Kids Birthday Parties

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Tips for Choosing Luxury Tour Bus Rental Services

If you’re planning a relaxing trip, tour, or business travel for a large group, trying to find the right transportation can be a challenge. You can experience a wide variety of hurdles if you don’t look in the right place–namely, you can find your group clamoring to have all of their many needs met. Before you travel, find a luxury shuttle service that can transport your group in a relaxing, comfortable, and air conditioned environment full of amenities to satisfy your travelers.

Can I see your insurance certificates? If a luxury charter bus rental service is legitimate, they’ll have the marks of a professional company, which includes liability coverage for their buses and drivers. This prevents you from having to pay in the event of driver injury, an accident, etc.

Has your motorcoach been inspected recently? Any rental company should be willing to answer this question. Their buses should have all been serviced within the past year. This prevents a bus breakdown from interrupting your travels.

Do your drivers have valid commercial driver’s licenses? A commercial license, unlike a regular citizen’s license, requires further education and expertise.

Will additional drivers accompany us? This is in case of long-distance travel. Drivers shouldn’t operate a charter bus for more than 10 hours a day. Any more would exhaust them to the point that you and your fellow travelers will be in danger. Keep in mind that this driving time not only includes one-way travel to a destination, but also tours and other travel miles accrued within the destination.

How To Choose A Good Party Bus Rental

Planning to go to an event during the night is a common thing to most young adults. This is because night parties tend to be very exciting compared to the ones held during the day. When you are planning to go out at night, you should look for transportation that will take you to all the places you need to go. This may not be possible with public transportation

Every event should be planned for in advance for it to be successful. Thus, you should make sure that you have found the right coach early. Do not think that you will be the only one renting the buses. So many people like going to parties at night.

Do not hire the vehicle without knowing the number of people you will be traveling with. This is important because it will dictate the size of the coach that you will hire. If you fail to consider the size of your group, you may end up picking a small or large vehicle. This can be very inconveniencing because you will have to go back to the drawing board.

Make sure you are sure of the places you want to visit and the stops you wish to make on the way. So many people fail on this because they do not think it is important. Also, the driver has to know the stops you wish to make in advance so that he can drive directly to them. This will save a lot of time and resources for everyone.

Typically, night trips tend to be so exciting but are costlier than the day trips. Thus, if you wish to go attend a concert during the night, be ready to pay some extra fees. Therefore, if you plan to travel during the night, make sure that you have enough money to pay for the coach.

LIMO BUS OR PARTY BUS

The type of vehicle you rent depends on what you’re hiring it for.  Headed to prom and then to a house party?  Depending on the size of your group, a limo bus might be just the ticket.  Larger parties with more distant destinations may prefer the comfort and luxury of a party bus

Horse of a different color.

The limo bus and the party bus are two entirely different vehicles.  For one, a limo bus may be a place to have fun on the way to your event or party, but it’s not specifically designed for that purpose.  While it provides you with comfort and luxurious styling, it’s not set up to accommodate as many people as a party bus can.

The seating in limo buses faces forward, which isn’t all that conducive to group interactions.  The party bus, on the other hand, features perimeter seat which allows guests to face an open space in the middle of the interior.

Some people call that a dance floor! Indeed, when you’re deciding between a limo bus and a party bus, much depends on what you expect from the experience and what your itinerary looks like, as well as the size of your group.  Keep in mind that the party bus is a horse of a different color, featuring the kind of premium amenities party people love, to get the festivities started.

Enjoy the 50” flat screen television, or groove to your favorite jams on our state-of-the-art sound system.  Enjoy the mini-bar, stocked with ice and water, while you and your posse kick back in elegantly-detailed, Blue Streak splendor.

HOW TO CHOOSE A PARTY BUS FOR YOUR HEN NIGHT

Maybe you are a first-time bridesmaid. Maybe you are getting married and want to have an unforgettable last night as a single person. When it comes to a hen night, you have figured the games, the drinking, maybe even the strip club. But, did you think of transportation? You totally did because you are reading this, but still. When it comes to a hen party, most people think of a limo. However, a Party Bus is just as good of an option but there are a lot of things you need to consider before deciding.

HOW TO CHOOSE BETWEEN A LIMO AND A PARTY BUS

•See how big of a crowd you are – A limo obviously holds fewer people than a bus. If the bride aimed to have a full-on high school reunion, go for the bus.

•The music – They can both get your playlist sounding and blasting. But, on a bus, you can totally stand and dance to it.

•The mood of the party – if you are going more for a classy feeling, the limo might be a good option. It feels luxurious after all. The bus can help you with an all-out kind of night.

To pick a size, you need to consider the following:

•How many guests – Well, duh. Chances are the bus company will help you out on this one. They’ll either provide charts or how many seats every bus has, etc…

•Consider the clothes and things you carry – To a hen party, chances are you are not very formally dressed. However, maybe you are carrying a lot of stuff or wearing dresses, or the bride is in a costume. These are all things you want to consider because people should be comfortable. Usually, take it like this, if there are 15 people going, pick the 20-seat bus, and so.

•Party on-wheels – If you are renting a bus, you probably want some on-wheels dancing and drinking involved. Make sure the bus you are renting has enough space for the people to dance, mingle, and avoid accidents. Especially food/drinks related accidents. Let everyone enjoy themselves!

•Hello stranger – This happens, especially on a hen party. Everyone is a little drunk, celebrating, inevitably you get a gate crasher. So, consider there might be some extra people and you don’t want them all stacked.

•The plus 3 rule – After you took all the previous considerations, add 3 to your final number. It will act as a cushion and will let you all breathe a little.

You need to check 4 things when you are picking your bus

•The size – As mentioned above, follow all the steps and you should have no problem. A bus is usually able to carry between 14 and 35 people.

•The price – Every company has its own price policy. Some rent by the hour and some have flat rate prices. Check if there are fuel additional charges or anything similar. Before picking a bus, ask about this so you don’t ruin the end of your night with surprise payments.

•The electronics – Once you have seen the bus you like, go inside and check EVERYTHING. Every light, every electronic device, every seat, the stereo, even the floors if you wish. If the bus is not perfect, then report it. If you don’t report them, you might be charged for them, also, you might be able to negotiate a better price once they are considered.

•The license – Make sure the company has a license and an insurance company. In case of an accident, the company should be able to answer it. Insist on checking both and make sure they are legit.

PLAN YOUR ROUTE

•Decide if you are moving around – many bus companies don’t let you hit a lot of spots in one night. Some ask for a map before the night begins. Some don’t care and will take you wherever you want. But you need to know if you are only going to one place or too many.

•If you are moving around, make an itinerary – Make hours, pick-ups, stops, everything on schedule. You’ll probably not follow it at face value but it’ll help the bus company have an idea.

Essential Prom Party Bus & Limo Rental Tips

Check for Insurance & Permits. All of our drivers goes through rigorous safety courses and require a Class B driver’s license to operate our party buses and limousines. However, don’t assume other companies do this! Ask to see proof of insurance as well as permits.

Request Booking Confirmation. Any professional party bus or limousine company should supply whoever ordered the limo with a confirmation notice that lists booking date/s, cost, type of party bus or limo, pick-up and drop-off locations and other crucial information.

Understand the Cancellation Policy. We understand that plans change at the last minute, so it’s best to be up front from the beginning and ask your limo rental company what their cancellation policy is. Ask about cancellation fees and how much notice you need to give the company in order to get a full refund

Ask About the Food Situation. We works hard to keep our party buses and limousines clean, so it’s always a good idea to ask whether or not the company allows you to bring your own food and beverages on board.

Who Can Be DJ? All of our luxury limousines and party buses are equipped with luxury amenities including surround sound throughout. Our drivers can certainly provide you and your group with music, but why not take advantage of the iPod connectors we have?

Commercial Vinyl Flooring Can Be Used For Homes Too

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Choosing the Best Vinyl Flooring for Families with Children

With kids come messes. It’s an unavoidable fact of life. They track in dirt, they spill juice, they drop food. It’s amazing that such tiny, adorable, innocent beings can leave such disaster in their wake. When choosing flooring for a home with children, you need a product that can keep up with daily—if not hourly—soiling and cleaning while still managing to look good. Vinyl flooring offers a practical, affordable and even stylish solution.

Easy to clean. First and foremost for families with children, flooring must be easy to clean, and quality vinyl is one of the best performing categories of flooring when it comes to cleanability. Most dirt, grime and food wipes off easily, and bigger messes clean thoroughly with just soap and water

Water resistant. Since children are prone to spills, you also need flooring to stand up to liquid. All vinyl flooring is water resistant. And some vinyl flooring is even 100% waterproof, trapping liquid on the surface to protect your subfloor from damage and mildew

Comfortable underfoot. Many flooring options are hard and unforgiving. Vinyl flooring is resilient, meaning it absorbs impact. Not only will it ease your children’s falls, it will also provide comfort underfoot in areas like the kitchen where you stand for long periods of time.

Sound dampening. Not only are children messy, but let’s face it, they can also be incredibly loud. The harder your floors, the more sound will reverberate through the house, amplifying all your children’s squeals, shrieks and general noises. There is no magic mute button for your children, but vinyl flooring absorbs sound, making their outbursts a little less deafening. The addition of a quality underlayment will enhance the sound dampening attributes of your floor as well

VINYL FLOORING

Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT), the fastest growing category in flooring, is possibly the most eco-friendly flooring in the world. It can be endlessly recycled. It has no heavy metals, no solvent based inks, no formaldehydes, and no PCP and components considered carcinogenic in it at all. It’s fire resistant and doesn’t release toxic gases. And importantly, it looks good.

Vinyl flooring and vinyl tiles are trendy, easy to maintain and perfect for nearly every room in your home. Interior designers have worked to provide ranges with some of the best colours and flooring designs in the world. Stone, slate, wood, and tile; vinyl tiles come in all of these clean and modern looks. If your home has real wood floors in some areas and you want to continue the theme throughout, then vinyl in a wood finish is a good option for the wet or high traffic areas where real wood would stain easily and possibly warp

The reason most people go for carpet is that it’s got warmth, comfort and it’s quiet. It makes your toes feel nice. You want all that – but you don’t want carpet. Thankfully today’s sophisticated vinyl floors can give you all the warmth, comfort and quiet you require. The soft, absorbent backing reduces noise and provides insulation against the cold. And it’s easy to maintain

Tips to help you choose the right luxury vinyl floors

The fastest growing segment in hard surface flooring is luxury vinyl tile. LVT comes in a multitude of options which is giving it its popularity. You can customize color, pattern, design and so much more with ease of installation and maintenance

Consider its purpose

You need to know about the product’s wear layer. If you are choosing a floor for a high traffic area, you’ll need a thicker wear layer to protect the image layer underneath.

Know what the core is made of

Recycled floors are environmentally friendly; many LVT floors are made from raw, pure materials such as virgin PVC. It reduces the possibility of shrinking which makes it more durable. It also stops the risk of recycling toxic or harmful chemicals into LVT that is found most present in post-consumer material. Virgin PVC produces a constant, quality product that is durable and is equipped with a durable core.

Consider the environmental impact

The nature of high-performance luxury vinyl does not provide itself to using recycled material. You can still choose to purchase your products from suppliers, manufacturers, and companies that meet industry standards for sustainability and environmental stewardship. 

Vinyl flooring & luxury vinyl tiles

Brighten up your home with Quick-Step Vinyl flooring’s natural looks and characteristic warmth. Quick-Step Vinyl is perfectly compatible with underfloor heating. Choose from a wide range of vinyl floors suitable for all needs and circumstances. All are equipped with a protective top layer that ensures your floor will keep its good looks for years to come.

Quick-Step luxury vinyl flooring are more than just beautiful and comfortable floors: they’re the result of decades of research and expertise-building to create flooring that stands the test of time. Discover how we ensure that your vinyl floor can take the hustle and bustle of daily life – day in and day out, for years to come.

A pleasure to walk on

Treading on a Quick-Step vinyl floor is a pleasant experience in every way: their natural designs catch the eye, they feel soft and warm, and their acoustic performance gets rid of any unwanted noise from heels, boots, trainers or paws.

Irregular subfloor?

Working on an irregular subfloor? (i.e. with an old tile floor with grouts of 5mm width and 2mm deep) Then, Quick-Step Rigid vinyl is your floor of choice. On top of that, it’s easy to install and extremely silent.

evelled subfloor?

If your subfloor is smooth or if you will level it, our Glue+ vinyl floors are the way to go. Suitable for all areas, including sunrooms. You can even install them on walls.

VINYL CLICK FLOORING OR LAMINATE FLOORING : WHAT SHOULD I CHOOSE?

Laminate flooring or vinyl click flooring? At first glance, these two floors, the first consisting mainly of a HDF panel combined with a decorative sheet, the other vinyl, seem relatively similar. In particular, they share the click installation system (floating installation) which allows them to be laid easily and quickly. We compare the two flooring options in 5 points. Which is the most suitable for your application?

The performance of both flooring solutions are measured different. Vinyl flooring is usually coated with a protective layer called the wear layer which varies in thickness depending on the intended area of use, which thus ensure an increased resistance to wear, scratches and abrasions. Laminate flooring is also protected by several finishes, but its strength will be determined by its AC classification (Criteria of Resistance to Abrasion) ranging from 1 (very low) to 6 (very intense).

Laminate is the most sensitive to shocks and scratches and thus has a shorter life span than vinyl flooring; unless you choose a laminate flooring of excellent quality, this flooring is preferred for applications with lighter use. Both laminate and LVT flooring nevertheless highlight models suitable for residential as well as commercial applications, whilst luxury vinyl flooring is also suitable for industrial uses too.

For conservatories, it is strongly discouraged to install laminate floor as it is much more likely to be deformed from the high temperature fluctuations. In conservatories, glue down vinyl flooring is the better option, but the most superior choice would be rigid vinyl flooring, because of its superior rigid core, it is particularly resistant to temperature changes.

Due to its vinyl composition, luxury vinyl flooring is impervious and therefore perfectly adapted to a bathroom or kitchen installation. This is not the case for most laminates! Their wood fiber panel does not mix well with moisture: it is therefore strongly discouraged to choose laminate for the renovation of damp rooms, at the risk of your floor swelling and warping.

How To Find The Perfect Personal Injury Lawyer

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Things to Look for When You Choose a Personal Injury Lawyer

Select an Attorney with a Focused Practice

Some lawyers and law firms try to do it all.  It is important to choose an attorney who focuses on certain areas of the law.  You need to find out how much of that attorney’s practice is in the area of personal injury for victims

Select an Attorney with Trial Experience

Many lawyers claim to handle personal injury cases.  Just look at the ads in the yellow pages or on TV.  It is important to choose an attorney that has actual experience taking cases to trial.  Insurance companies know which lawyers will take a case to trial and which lawyers just want to settle a case fast.  Without an experienced trial lawyer on your side, it puts you and your case at a disadvantage

Select an Attorney with a Track Record

Your personal injury case is important to you because it affects you and your family.  Your case is the opportunity for you to get fully compensated for your damages.  It is important to choose an attorney that has a record of accomplishment and can deliver a full and fair trial verdict or settlement.

Select an Attorney with the Necessary Resources

Many personal injury cases require serious investigation and are expensive to prepare.  Your attorney will need to devote not only time to your case but the resources to hire medical experts, accident reconstruction experts or vocational rehabilitation experts, if necessary.  The lawyer should have staff dedicated to your case.  It is important to choose an attorney that has the resources to fully prepare your case.

Select an Attorney that Represents only Accident Victims

Many law firms try to have it both ways.  They have some lawyers that represent accident victims and other lawyers representing insurance companies.  It is important to choose an attorney whose loyalty is easy to read – one that only represents accident victims

The Secrets to Choosing the Best Personal Injury Lawyer

Car accidents can be terrible and frightening. But after the shock subsides, there may be serious repercussions you have to face. Injuries resulting from car accidents are quite common, with millions of people sustaining injuries in accidents every year.

These injuries can be quite damaging to a person’s life. Outside of the pain and suffering, injuries can prevent victims from going to work and can make it difficult for a family to pay their bills.

Why Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?

It can be frightening to see your future affected so severely in an instant, but that’s what a car accident can do. A personal injury lawyer can help you get back on the track.

If you’ve been injured in an auto accident it is essential to have legal aid on your side. An attorney can ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve for the issues that have resulted from the accident.

Injuries and effects of an accident may take days or even weeks to reveal themselves after an accident. Adrenaline can block pain or problems out for long periods of time. These problems can range from irritating to debilitating. They can prevent you from working and cause serious damage to your family’s financial security.

Reasons to Choose Law Firm

There are many personal injury lawyers in Columbia and throughout South Carolina. Trying to pick the right one can seem overwhelming, particularly when your life has just been turned upside down by a serious accident or other traumatic event.

80 years of experience – on your side.

The personal injury lawyers at the Law Firm have more than eight decades of combined legal experience helping regular people in South Carolina get the justice they deserve from our legal system. Our experience can work to your advantage.

We put clients first.

At the Law Firm, our focus is on you, our client. We are committed to treating each of our clients with courtesy, respect and compassion – regardless of the size of their case. This dedication to client service is spelled out in our Client Bill of Rights.

When life goes wrong, we fight for what’s right.

If you are seeking the assistance of a personal injury lawyer, it is almost certainly because you are facing the aftermath of a traumatic life event. Our role as attorneys is to take away your worries about dealing with the legal issues related to your accident. Let our experienced legal professionals handle your case while you focus on what is most important – your health, your family and your life.

Reasoned advice from seasoned professionals.

Sound advice is one of the most valuable benefits an attorney can provide. In fact, that’s why the term “counselor” is often applied to lawyers. At the Law Firm, our attorneys have accumulated decades of experience in the legal field, giving us the perspective necessary to provide you with the guidance needed to help you make prudent decisions.

How To Pick The Right Lawyer

Whether you are drafting a will or a trust, buying or selling real estate or getting a divorce, it is important to select the best attorney possible. Read on to find out what tips you can use to make sure that you are picking the right lawyer for you. They often have asymmetric information compared to you, as they are experts with a specific skillset.

Where to Look

In addition to the phone book, internet search, and a friend that might recommend a lawyer, there are several other sources for finding a qualified attorney. Some unions offer representation as does the AARP (sometimes at a discount to its members).

Retain an Honest Lawyer

Many attorneys offer an initial consultation free of charge. Take advantage of this. Use the meeting to determine whether the attorney is honest and forthcoming. Instinctively, some people have the ability to determine an individual’s character within a few minutes of interacting with the person; however, there are a few personality traits that can also tip you off.

For example, is the lawyer looking you in the eye when speaking with you, or is he or she looking at the ground? Also, ask what kind of cases have they litigated in the past. If you are looking for a settlement, they should be able to give you award amounts for cases similar to yours.

They Must be Thorough

The initial meeting or conversation with the attorney can also help you to determine whether they are oriented and will be responsive to your needs. Be sure to ask the attorney if it’s OK to call them throughout the case to discuss any concerns you may have. If they balk at the idea, it may indicate that you’ll have trouble relaying your thoughts and obtaining answers to your questions once the case is up and running.

Tips for Selecting the Best Injury Lawyer

After a car accident injury, it’s essential to select the best injury lawyer in Vancouver for your needs.  It is important to select a representative who is knowledgeable, professional, and highly regarded. You should also select someone who puts you at ease and makes you feel comfortable.

Identifying the Best Injury Lawyer for You

If the firm/lawyer seems reputable, then it’s time to schedule a consultation. Many will offer free consultations to determine if you’re a good fit. The best personal injury lawyer is someone who inspires trust and confidence. After all, you’ll be entrusting this individual with personal details about your health and finances.

When you’ve narrowed the field and are ready to reach out, preparedness is key. Some important questions to ask include:

What is the firm’s experience with ICBC cases and do they have experience with cases similar to your own?

What are the fees?

Who will pay the disbursements (expenses) to handle the claim, you or the firm?

Does the firm have the resources, manpower, and willingness to spend what is necessary to fully develop the case?

How To Find The Unloading Services

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Tips on Selecting Heavy Machinery Moving Services

If your business revolve around storage, distribution or transport of the heavy machineries, they you will need a partner that caters heavy machinery movers because this can either break or make your business. If you’re a supplier of this machinery, then storage, unloading, loading, and overnight distribution services are necessary.

Luckily, there are several heavy machinery moving services available in the market. But, only some of these services are completely reliable in their services. If you’re in a business that depends on the quality service, you would expect to be associated with the support services, which deliver the same precision and quality that you provide.

Below are some of the tips that will help you choose topnotch quality heavy machinery moving solutions:

Go by their reputation:

A tried and tested company may be a surefire way of identifying industry leaders within the niche. Additionally, to count on the overall opinion regarding the corporate, you want to also make specific enquiries about the corporate concerned.

Flexibility:

Logistics isn’t almost moving things from one place to a different. There are different services involved and as companies become more demanding, logistics is additionally becoming more customer-oriented. Logistics involves freight forwarding, customs clearance, pre-delivery processing, storage facilities, heavy machine moving, insurance, customs consultation and supervision, to call a couple of services. When a corporation is in a position to supply you a spread of options. You then have the liberty to prioritize consistent with money or budget. It’s necessary to pick an important machinery mover that gives you different options or is even able to provide you with customized solutions. It’s important that your logistics partner can deliver your goods, no matter the stress of distance and time.

Network:

A good network may be a very helpful thing, albeit your company is just too young to need such a network. Just in case you would like emergency machine delivery services. Companies that have a good network are going to be ready to make the delivery using available resources or maybe by counting on member companies.

Quality service:

A corporation that goes the additional mile to form their clients feel safe. Important is that the quite company you would like to figure with. If you’re related to an important machinery mover that has vehicles that are old and weakened, then, delays in delivery can’t be ruled out. Dependable transportation services, great PR personnel and complete logistics solutions are important. If you would like to enjoy complete peace of mind regarding the delivery of your equipment.

MAKE SURE THEY ARE INSURED

There are no guarantees in life, and while the company may do their best to ensure that accidents are avoidable, sometimes you just can’t guarantee everything will go perfectly from start to end. This is why its a good idea to make sure that they are insured while on the road. This way if anything happens to anyone in their company, including the driver, you won’t be held responsible. Also, check to see if the offer cargo insurance – this is insurance that can be purchased to ensure that your equipment doesn’t get lost or damaged and if it does, you’ll receive a reimbursement back.

FIND A COMPANY THAT OFFERS THE SERVICES YOU NEED

While many machinery moving companies do offer only hauling services, some of the better ones will also take the equipment apart (if need be) and put it back together, as well as package it safely. Try looking into 5 companies that offer hauling of heavy equipment and dwindle down your choices from there. Once you reach the final two companies you should be more aware of who they are, what they offer, what their reputation is like, what prices they offer, etc which will allow you to make a more informed decision.

EVALUATE AND INSPECT YOUR EQUIPMENT

This step will require you to take stock of each of the pieces of equipment you want to ship and see if anything is dented, broken, missing, etc beforehand. A lot of companies also actually prefer that you hire a field engineer to look at your equipment beforehand so that they know what to expect from point A to point B and they won’t be held responsible for something that was already an issue before the haul.

Experience and years of service

Choose a company that has extensive experience in handling the types of equipment you typically need hauled. Some hauling services don’t necessarily offer heavy equipment transport and can only haul small vehicles like cars and vans. You want a service that has all the right equipment to make sure that your equipment or vehicle will be securely handled while in transit.

Certifications and qualifications

Choose only certified towing operators with the right qualifications and certifications to perform towing within your area of operation. Certified operators adhere to very strict guidelines, standards, and safety protocols as a requirement of their certification. They are also required to provide training, insurance, and licensing to their drivers and crew to ensure safety, efficiency, and competence on the job.

Roadside assistance

Find a company that offers roadside assistance on top of their heavy machinery moving services so that you are covered regardless of the roadside situation you may find yourself in.

SAFELY MOVE HEAVY EQUIPMENT WITH TRANSPORTATION TIPS

Planning and logistics are the key to safe transportation of heavy equipment in Ontario. Weighty, oversized loads present unique transportation challenges that may require multiple transportation methods to surmount. Follow these tips to safely transport heavy machinery without incident.

Transportation Planning Tips

  1. Learn about safe heavy machinery transportation by consulting with a transportation specialist.
  2. Plan well in advance of the move. Consider renting vs. buying moving equipment and transportation methods – truck, train, marine (or a combination of these), choose appropriate vehicle type; etc.
  3. Consider special requirements and hazards (e.g. chemicals transported with or in the structure of the vehicle).
  4. Properly secure the vehicle using restraints designed specifically for that purpose.
  5. Map the transportation route. The shortest route may not be the best choice if it adds to legal difficulties.
  6. Research the legal requirements of transporting the vehicle in all jurisdictions it must pass through. Adhere to all legal requirements.
  7. Hire or assign appropriate escorts and escort vehicles.
  8. Secure the proper permits.
  9. Consider using a heavy haulage or heavy machinery transportation service. You’ll save yourself stress and ensure use of the proper equipment with specially-trained drivers.

Circuit Breakers In Your Home

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A GUIDE TO TROUBLESHOOTING CIRCUIT BREAKERS

An electric circuit breaker is an important part of any electrical wiring system. It is designed to interrupt the flow of electricity the moment a fault, such as an overload or short circuit, occurs. Circuit breakers are made in a variety of sizes, depending on the area they cover. As a homeowner, it is important to know about some common electric circuit breaker problems and their solutions.

CIRCUIT OVERLOAD

A circuit can become overloaded when more current (amps) runs through the circuit than it was designed to handle safely. Overloads can be caused by operating too many devices on one circuit, a malfunctioning appliance or by loose or corroded wires or connections.

Circuit breakers come in different amperage ratings that determine how much current can safely flow through the circuit. If a 15 Amp circuit breaker is protecting a series of receptacles with various devices plugged in, like a hair dryer, computer and television, the circuit breaker will trip if the current exceeds 15 Amps. This prevents overheating, which can cause a fire. In the case of a breaker trip where overload is suspected, unplug all the items on the circuit before resetting the breaker.  After it is reset, turn on the devices, one at a time, to determine what may have caused the overload.  If a circuit overload happens on a regular basis, a new dedicated circuit may need to be installed to handle the amperage load.

The Basics of Electrical Testing

Electrical testing in its most basic form is the act of applying a voltage or current to a circuit and comparing the measured value to an expected result. Electrical test equipment verifies the math behind a circuit and each piece of test equipment is designed for a specific application.

It is the job of a test technician to know which piece of test equipment to use for the task at hand and also understand the limitations of the test equipment they are using. In this article, we take a look at the most common pieces of test equipment used in the field.

Multimeter

Also known as a VOM (Volt-Ohm meter), a multi-meter is a handheld device that combines several measurement functions (such as voltage, current, resistance and frequency) into a single unit.

Multi-meters are mainly used to troubleshoot electrical problems in a wide array of industrial and household devices such as electronic equipment, motor controls, domestic appliances, power supplies, and wiring systems.

Digital multi-meters are the most common form of meter used today; however analog multi-meters are still preferable in some cases, like when monitoring a rapidly changing value or sensitive measurements, like testing for CT polarity.

Megohmmeter

Most commonly referred to as simply a “megger”, a megohmmeter is a special type of ohmmeter used to measure the electrical resistance of insulators.

Resistances values by megohmmeters may range from several megohms to several million megohms (teraohms). Megohmmeters produce high voltages via battery powered internal circuitry or a manually operated generator with outputs ranging from 250 to 15,000 volts.

Megohmmeters are one of the most frequently used pieces of test equipment and can be used to measure the insulation of various types of apparatus such as circuit breakers, transformers, switchgear and cables.

Low-Resistance Ohmmeter

Often called a DLRO in the field, the low-resistance ohmmeter is used for making high-precision resistance measurements below 1 ohm. Low-Resistance ohmmeters produce low voltage DC currents via battery power with outputs of up to 100A.

Resistance measurements are achieved with four terminals, called Kelvin contacts. Two terminals carry the current from the meter (C1, C2), while the other two allow the meter to measure the voltage across the resistor (P1, P2). With this type of meter, any voltage drop due to the resistance of the first pair of leads and their contact resistances is ignored by the meter.

The parts of your breaker box

1. Circuit breakers

Each circuit in your home has a corresponding breaker. If there’s an electric overload on a circuit (whether from a short circuit or too many appliances running at once), the corresponding breaker automatically trips to shut off the flow of electricity to that circuit.

There are 2 main types of standard breakers:

Single pole – These are single switches and likely make up most of the breakers in your breaker box. In the photo above, all the circuit breakers on the left side, except the service disconnect, are single pole. They can handle 120 volts and are either 15 amps or 20 amps. (See the numbers on top of the switches?)

Double pole – These look like two switches joined together. They can handle 240 volts and are usually between 15-125 amps. These are for your large appliances like stoves, dryers, air conditioners and water heaters.

There are also other types of special purpose breakers such as Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCI) and Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI)  that are designed to provide additional safety protection from fire (AFCI) and electrocution (GFCI).  These are not in the picture above.

2. Service disconnect

You can, in the case of an emergency, shut off the electricity to your entire home by flipping the service disconnect.

It’s the biggest breaker in your box, usually 100 to 200 amps. It’s sometimes also called the ‘electrical main’. Most often it’s at the top or bottom of your box, though it can also be in the middle, as in this example.

This is where the power from the electric company flows into the box. It goes through this switch and into the rest of the circuits.

3. Expansion slots

Many breaker boxes have empty slots so that you can have a licensed electrician add additional circuits, as needed. This comes in handy if you add new appliances to your home or need to add electricity to a room that doesn’t have it (like a garage, basement, or room addition).

Is it OK to turn off the main breaker?

Yes, it is OK to turn off electricity at the main breaker without harming any other breakers or electrical components, however, keep in mind that abruptly shutting off the main breaker will kill power to all electrical components in the house like HVAC and computers, that may require resetting or rebooting once you turn the power back on. Also, keep in mind that you will have no lights, possibly no hot water, and it could impact your safety working around your home. If you are unsure how to kill power to a circuit for repairs or maintenance, you can kill the main power to work safely while you figure it out.

Main Circuit Breaker

The service panel contains a large main breaker that is the switch controlling the power to the rest of the circuit breakers inside the panel. It is sized according to your home’s service capacity. A standard panel today provides 200-amp (ampere) service. Older panels were sized for 150, 100, or fewer amps (amperes).

A main breaker of 200 amps will allow a maximum of 200 amps to flow through it without tripping. In a tripped state, no current will flow to the panel. In systems without an external disconnect switch, the main breaker serves as the household disconnect.

Turning off the main breaker stops the flow of power to all of the branch circuit breakers in the panel, and therefore to all of the circuits in the house. However, power is always flowing into the panel and to the service lugs even when the main breaker is shut off unless the power is shut off at a separate disconnect switch. Power is always present in the utility service lines and the electric meter unless it is shut off by the utility.

Tips For Keeping Possums Off Your Property

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How to Repel and Scare Possums

Possums, also known as opossums (Didelphis virginiana), can decimate your garden, especially your vegetables and fruit-bearing plants. These cat-sized omnivores eat everything from fruits and veggies to snails and birds. Although the marsupials are generally harmless, you can keep them away from your plants with nontoxic repellents, physical barriers and harmless scare devices.

Simple Scare Tactics

These harmless scare tactics will startle any possums that come into your yard so that they’ll be unlikely to return:

  • Tie helium balloons around your yard to sway in the wind and startle the possums away.
  • Place pinwheels, found in party supply stores, in the soil around your plants. The pinwheels will spin in the wind.
  • Set up an oscillating fan in your garden with an extension cord. Tie a few ribbons to the fan so that they stream out when the fan is running. The sight and sound of the fan should scare the possums away.
  • Play a portable radio in your yard. The noise will scare away the possums, but check with your neighbors to ensure that they aren’t disturbed.

Home Remedies to Get Rid of Them

Possums can cause serious problems to the people who use to remain peaceful and quite environment. They are very small in size and supple animals that are always in hunt of food. They are nocturnal and used to sleep during the day. You cannot see them, but they used to leave some signs of their presence through mucks, pathways, overturned pet foods, garbage cans, and damage plants. If you found any sign of possums around your house, you need to think about their elimination. Some Possum repellent methods are needed to get free of them rapidly. The main and important issue is that often prevention method fails because they are a minuscule organism and use one’s place for several motives.

1. Cleaning the Location

Cleaning the location includes the removal of unnecessary litter and garbage. One should put all the unnecessary junk like dead leaves, dropped trees and plants into the trash bins and keep them away from the house. Cover all the pet foods and clean the barbecue grill as well. Clean all the fruit on the ground and in trees and collect garbage can and place it in the trash bins.

2. Use Mothballs

Mothballs are unbearable to them as their smell annoy them. You should use mothballs in eliminating the possums as it is the cheapest way. It is designed to keep the possums away from eating any kind of fabric. It can help to make possums empty the closed area such as underneath the sofa and porch.

3. Cover the Vents

Possums can enter through holes, loose ventilators, additional spaces, and chimneys. They can also climb to reach the rooftop. So, you need to cover all the openings towards your house. Block all the unnecessary entry holes with rocks. Sealed all the open spaces, if necessary use the fence of 4-inch long. You can also use the electric fence as well.

4. Cut Down Long Branches of Trees

Make the place unfavorable for them by cutting all the branches of trees and trim the bushes. Remove thick herbaceous border and trees that give entree to the roof. Keep the fresh water and fallen fruits clean. Examine your rooftop and doorway properly, mend all the cracked tubes and pipes, etc.

What about disease?

While it is possible for just about any animal to get rabies, the disease is extremely rare in possums since their body temperature is too low for the rabies virus to thrive.

Possums can and do, however, carry other bacterial diseases, including tuberculosis, spotted fever and tularemia. Additionally, possums could pose a health hazard if they get inside your home and leave behind droppings.

What about children and pets?

As mentioned earlier, it is very unlikely that a possum would ever attack a human or pet, but they will defend themselves if they have to. This is why it is important to teach your children to respect and never harass or try to feed wild animals.

As for pets, a possum is much more likely to be harmed by a dog than the other way around – and since possums and cats are approximately the same size, those animals rarely bother each other.

Possum in the Rafter’s Situation?

It is important to note that any good pest control in your home should involve blocking off the access points that allow these creatures entry into your property.

Possums prefer to live in places like the wall cavities in your roof void and have been found to leave under your house. You should look there first when you are serious about getting rid of possums permanently.

Solving the problem begins with identifying the point of entry. Here are some tips to do so:

  • It’s difficult but you need to make an attempt at spotting the creature headed in or out before it becomes dark.
  • Follow the droppings and they could lead you to the nest itself.
  • Eaves tend to be a commonly used entry-point, check if that’s the case with your home too.
  • Check for tree branches that are looming over your roof or home’s structure. 

Opossum Problems and Solutions

Problem: There is an opossum in my yard. What do I do?

Solution: Nothing. Leave the opossum alone and enjoy watching wildlife in your own backyard. However, if the opossum is injured or an orphan (less than 7 inches from nose to rump) then contact the Opossum Society of the United States, a local wildlife rehabilitator, a veterinarian, or your local animal shelter for help. Opossums are beneficial eating unwanted pests around your home and garden such as snails, slugs, spiders, cockroaches, rats, mice and snakes. Opossums are free gardeners!

Problem: They make my dog bark!

Solution: A dog will bark at anything it sees or hears. The best thing you can do for the opossums AND your neighbors is to train the dog or keep the dog indoors at night. This will also prevent the dog from injuring or killing an opossum.

Problem: Will an opossum attack my pets?

Solution: In general, opossums are docile, non-aggressive animals and will not attack your pets. They prefer to avoid confrontations. If escape is not possible then the threatened opossum may  “play ‘possum”, show its teeth, or bite in self-defense, as any animal would.

Problem: Will an opossum bite my children?

Solution: Children should be taught not to attempt to feed or touch a wild animal. Opossums are nocturnal, that is they sleep during the day and come out at night, so the chance that a small child will come into contact with an opossum is slim. Opossums prefer to sleep in dark, secluded places. If your children are playing in this type of area then there is a greater danger of being bitten by a poisonous spider or snake.

Problem: The opossums eat the fruit off my trees.

Solution: Opossums prefer to eat the rotting fruit that have fallen to the ground. Keep opossums out of trees by cutting branches away from the ground, fences and roof. Cover the trunk with heavy plastic sheets obtained at hardware stores and secure with duct tape. This will prevent the opossums from climbing. A cut-up plastic trash can will work.

Problem: How can I keep opossums out of my home or garage?

Solution: Close all doors, pet doors and unscreened windows before dusk. Put food away so the opossum will not be tempted to enter. If an opossum enters, provide a safe exit route and leave the room.

Feeling Safe With the Right Truck Tires

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Choosing the Right Tire

Having the right tire on your pickup can improve performance and be one of the best safety strategies you can employ; having the wrong tire on a pickup truck can ruin a good day. Not to overstate it, but tires are one of the most important components on your vehicle, and knowing a few basics will ease the tire selection process. Choosing the right tire can be a daunting task as there are so many options and pieces of information to keep in mind

While this discussion mostly covers radial tires, there are many topics and issues that carry over for the few people looking to purchase bias-ply tires. Of course, getting into the habit of regularly checking your tires is always a good idea. Worn, improperly inflated or damaged tires can be dangerous to you and others.

Tire Markings

All tires are marked with the width, sidewall height ratio or overall height, rim size and load range. An example of what you might see on the sidewall is LT315/70R17 121/118O

The tire has a few other markings placed on it such as the date stamp, Department of Transportation number, which direction the tire should be mounted if it’s a directional tire, whether it’s a tubed or tubeless tire, and safety warnings.

Load Ratings

Tires get several load ratings; here’s what those letters on the tires mean:

P stands for passenger in a P-metric tire. These tires are great for lighter loads and highway use. Generally, they weigh less and cost less than a light truck tire and provide the vehicle with a smoother ride and better gas mileage. The downsides are that P-rated tires can’t handle as much of a load as LT tires and they are more easily punctured.

LT stands for light truck tires. Terminology is a little confusing in the truck market because many manufacturers label their pickup trucks as heavy duty. Class 3 trucks such as the Ford F-350, GMC 3500 and Ram 3500, and smaller, are all considered light trucks. Medium duty refers to Class 4, 5 and 6 trucks such as the Ram 5500 or Ford F-650. That leaves heavy duty for the 18 wheelers and big rigs. That means LT tires are made for HD pickup trucks.

Tire Buying Tips

Perhaps the biggest mistake a consumer can make when replacing tires is not using the correct size. On the sidewall of your tire, you’ll find a code that tells the tire’s size and capabilities

If the tire-size code starts with LT instead of P, it means the tire is a light-truck tire. Light-truck tires are designed to have higher-load carrying capacities and are usually found on pickups and SUVs. These vehicles are not required to have LT tires, and in many cases, the original-equipment specification calls for passenger-car tires.

The speed rating translates into the tire’s ability to dissipate heat, or prevent heat build-up. Heat is a tire’s enemy. The more heat, the faster the tire wears, and the faster a tire might break down. A tire with a higher speed rating can dissipate more heat on long highway trips. If a consumer were to spend little time on the highway, the speed rating might not be an important factor in choosing a replacement tire.

Tires are speed rated from 99 to 186 miles per hour (159.3 to 299.3 kilometers per hour). The most common speed ratings are T (118 miles per hour or 189.9 kilometers per hour) and H (130 miles per hour or 209.2 kilometers per hour). Both of those ratings clearly exceed the nationally posted speed limits and would make excellent long-distance highway tires. If a consumer were to drive only in urban situations at low speeds, a tire with an S (112 miles per hour or 180.2 kilometers per hour) speed rating might be completely acceptable.

Another important factor in choosing a replacement tire is the load rating. The load capacity number on the tire-size code indicates the load-carrying capacity of that single tire. When selecting replacement tires, consumers have to be careful not to select a tire with a lower load-carrying capacity.

How to Choose the Right Truck Tire

Choosing the right tires for your vehicle is an important decision. When you drive a light truck, SUV, or crossover, the tires you choose can have a direct impact on traction, comfort, road noise, tread life, and durability. Here’s a quick guide to help you decide what truck tires are the right fit for your on- and off-road needs

H/T (Highway Terrain) Tires for Daily Commute and Highway Driving

Chances are your SUV, crossover, or light truck came standard with a set of H/T tires built for highway driving. If you don’t plan on going off-road, and want a tire that’s great for dry and wet road conditions, then an H/T tire is probably a good option

A/T (All-Terrain) Tires for On- and Off-Road Performance

Drivers who regularly find themselves taking dirt and gravel roads in between long stretches of highway driving, should look at A/T tires. This includes folks who like to take the road less traveled on their way to a great camping spot or other outdoor activity.

M/T (Mud Terrain) Tires for Off-road Enthusiasts

You know who you are. You drive a rig that is either lifted or already offers plenty of clearance for your favorite pastime: driving in extreme off-road conditions, including mud, dirt, gravel, and rock. Or maybe you just like the way a set of rugged, aggressive tires looks on your vehicle, even if they never leave the blacktop. Either way, M/T tires are for you.

Choosing the Right Truck Tires

If you are looking for a way to increase the performance and economy of your vehicle, then perhaps the best way is to buy new truck tires. However, selecting the right truck tires can sometimes get difficult, as there are a huge variety of options available and budget can be an issue

MANUFACTURER’S RATINGS

Take a look at the manufacturer’s ratings, before actually buying new truck tires. This is because the ratings of these tires are made to suit the performance of your vehicle. The ratings are usually shown in metric on the side of your original truck tire. You can see all the information regarding the size and width of the tires suitable for your truck.

DRIVING CONDITIONS

Similar to buying new tires for ordinary cars, the driving conditions of your truck hold great importance when buying new tires. It is recommended to buy all-weather year-round tires for trucks, as they last for years. However, if you usually drive off-road or in wet weather conditions, the best option is to go for off-road truck tires.

TRUCK TIRES SPEED RATINGS

When it comes to buying truck tires, it is necessary to take a look at the speed ratings. If you usually drive at speeds of 150mph, the best option is to go for “V” category truck tires. But since there are few chances of you to driving at speeds so high, it is best to go for tires which offer a speed rating of up to 130mph. These tires are cheaper as compared to the truck tires which have higher speed ratings

How to choose the best tires for your car, SUV, or truck

Shopping for new tires can be a daunting task. There’s no way to tell which one provides the best grip, the longest life, or the shortest stopping distance by sight or feel. That’s why Consumer Reports tests 50 or more tire models each year, with each going through as many as 14 rigorous evaluations.

Spend more, get more

In recent years, we’ve found you generally get what you pay for. No matter the type, tires that combine the best grip with the longest tread life may cost a little more, but they are worth the extra money in the long run.

For example, our tests have shown the best all-season tires can last as many as 97,000 miles; the worst would need replacing after 55,000 miles. It’s pretty straightforward: a $130 tire that will last twice as long as an $87 tire is a better bet, assuming other factors are equal. Still, the cheaper tire may be just fine if you won’t be keeping your car for long. Many tires have a pro-rated tread-wear warranty—meaning the balance of undriven miles will be credited toward the cost of the new tire. The downside: You’re still on the hook for the cost of installation.

We have found some tires with lower rolling resistance allowed our test cars to get 1 to 3 more mpg than tires with the highest rolling resistance. Here’s a surprise: There actually was little or no performance penalty for the everyday driver for many of these tires

But as your tires lose tread over tens of thousands of miles of wear, they behave more like low-rolling resistance tires. So the mileage you get with brand-new, low-resistance tires may actually be worse than the old, end-of-life tires you are replacing.

Why Is Water Testing So Important

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Water Quality

The United States has one of the safest water supplies in the world. If you are among the 286 million Americans that get their water from a community water system , your tap water is regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Drinking water varies from place to place, depending on the condition of the source water from which it is drawn and the treatment it receives, but it must meet EPA regulations.

Even though our tap water supplies are considered to be one of the safest in the world, water contamination can still occur. There are many sources of contamination, including:

  • Sewage releases
  • Naturally occurring chemicals and minerals (for example, arsenic, radon, uranium)
  • Local land use practices (for example, fertilizers, pesticides, livestock, concentrated feeding operations)
  • Manufacturing processes (for example, heavy metals, cyanide)
  • Malfunctioning on-site wastewater treatment systems (for example, septic systems)

In addition, drinking water that is not properly treated or which travels through an improperly maintained distribution system (for example, the piping system) may also create an environment for contamination.

The presence of certain contaminants in our water can lead to health issues, including gastrointestinal illness, reproductive problems, and neurological disorders. Infants, young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and immunocompromised persons may be especially susceptible to illness.

How is water regulated?

It’s regulated by different agencies, with different missions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency oversees the quality of water that comes out of your tap, while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is responsible for ensuring the safety and truthful labeling of bottled water sold nationally. States are responsible for regulating water that is both packaged and sold within its borders (which is most of the bottled-water market), but one in five states doesn’t even bother.

It’s important to note that the federal government does not require bottled water to be safer than tap. In fact, just the opposite is true in many cases. Tap water in most big cities must be disinfected, filtered to remove pathogens, and tested for cryptosporidium and giardia viruses. Bottled water does not have to be.

Both kinds of water are tested regularly for bacteria and most synthetic organic chemicals, but city tap is typically assessed much more frequently. For example, bottled-water plants must test for coliform bacteria just once a week; city tap needs to be tested 100 or more times a month.

Limits on chemical pollution for both categories are almost identical. The one place where bottled water might have the edge is in the case of lead; because many older homes have lead pipes, the EPA standard for tap water is less strict—one-third of the FDA’s standard for lead in bottled water.

What should I do before I take a water sample?

Before you take a sample, call the laboratories listed in Table 2 to obtain sampling bottles and information on the correct sampling procedure. Please note that your sample will not provide you with accurate information unless the:

  • correct sample bottles are used
  • correct volume is taken
  • sample is stored at the required temperature
  • sample is transported to and arrives at the laboratory in the correct time
  • correct procedure is used to take the sample.

Water Quality: Is Tap Water Safe?

You need to stay hydrated — that’s clear — but is the tap water in your home safe? It is considered generally safe if it comes from a public water system in the United States, such as one run and maintained by a municipality. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority to monitor all public water systems and sets enforceable health standards regarding the contaminants in drinking water.

When drinking water leaves a treatment plant on its way to your house, it must meet strict safety standards. That doesn’t mean that your water is free of all contaminants, but that the levels of any contaminants don’t pose any serious health risk.

Of course, accidents can happen. If the water supply becomes contaminated by something that can cause immediate illness, the supplier must promptly inform you. Suppliers also need to offer alternative suggestions for safe drinking water. In addition, they have 24 hours to inform customers of any violation of standards that could have major impact on health following a short-term exposure.

Check With Your Water Company

You know that bill you pay every month, or every quarter, for your drinking water? It’s the first stepping-stone on your search. Every year, your water agency is required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to supply you with a Consumer Confidence Report, which is an annual water quality report that details any and all contaminants that may be present in your water and alerts you to the health risks they pose.

Every water agency has to provide this report to its customers by July 1 each year. Typically, it comes with your bill, or if you pay online, you should get an alert to a downloadable PDF. You can also go directly to your water utility’s website; the latest report should be posted there. (You may have to do some digging.) If you don’t know the name of your water agency, you can use the EPA’s clickable map to find it, but you’ll have to wade through a cumbersome alphabetical list of agencies. More detailed information on how to get your CCR is available from the EPA.

Event Planner And Clients Must Communicate Fully

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things to look out for when choosing an event planner

Choosing an event planner for your big event can be tricky because most of us don’t have enough insight into the event planning process to gauge if we are being taken for a ride by a bumbling service provider or hit the jackpot with a professional who knows what they are doing.

Looking for the easy route

Whether you want to throw a Sweet Sixteen or an Artificial Intelligence conference, your event planner needs to be aware of the goals that need to be achieved. If your event planner allows details to fall through the cracks it can have a catastrophic effect on your event. A lazy event planner will more than likely take shortcuts and you can’t be sure these shortcuts won’t be with your budget, using cheaper vendors or event tech.

Know your planner’s score

Everything we do these days is online and it should be the same with event planners. Does your planner have a website, social media pages or a digital presence? These are all important factors to consider as you don’t want to work with someone who is clueless about the digital world. EventerScore allows you to test an event supplier’s commitment to their client by checking the quality of their digital user experience.

Planners who promise the moon and the stars but don’t deliver

Before planning an event it is likely that you will do a fair amount of research before approaching an event planner. However, some event planners may pull a disappearing act once you have signed on the dotted line so it is essential to make sure your event planner knows what you want from the start.

When you have a personality clash

Unfortunately, it is childish to think that you’ll get on with everyone you meet or work with. You may have already met with your event planner and everything went well, but sometimes things are just not meant to be.

How to choose the right event planner

Only great event planners produce great events. Whether you are planning a corporate event or a social event, large and elaborate or even small and intimate event, the greatest favour you can do yourself is to have a great event planner organise the event for you.

Event planners are both planners and producers of events. Whether or not you know what type of event you are trying to produce, that is the theme, venue, guests, entertainment and the overall atmosphere, a great event planner has what it takes to create the perfect mood and atmosphere and to make a lasting positive impression in your guests’ minds.

Here are a few quick guides to choosing the right event planner for your next event.Service: If you know what type of event you want to hold, you should first list out your event needs, all the vital components to your event’s end result before starting the search for an event planner.

A good event planner will work closely with you, listening to your specific needs and helping to create a clear vision for your event. A great event planner builds confidence in you similar to that which you have in your doctor or lawyer.Friendship: A great event planner is one who is genuinely interested in you and in helping you solve your event problems.

He/she displays a great sense of commitment toward you and delivers nothing short of high quality services to you. So, when selecting an event planner, please find the one that shows you that care and that you can have fun with, not one who is only out to make as much money as possible from your event.

Event Planning Tips Every Budding Coordinator Needs to Know

Across every industry, meeting and event coordinators are some of the hardest-working people out there. They’re expert planners and communicators, and, ultimately, they’re responsible for creating experiences that bring the client’s vision to life.

Become best friends with data

Every decision you make can and should be supported by data. That means you need to identify ways to quantify and learn from your efforts as a planner.

Creativity is key

Communicator…check. Organizer…check. Artist…? We put the time and effort into event design because experience matters. Stay creative by looking for inspiration outside of the events world

Think like an anthropologist

If you manage events in cities across the country (or across the globe), you need to understand the culture and people in that location. Planning an event in LA? You better have a good grasp on the traffic situation. Consider the nature and demographic makeup of the city your event is in to avoid any serious oversights.

Pics or it didn’t happen

How do you know you’ve designed a memorable event? One way is to find out if attendees are sharing photos or using your event hashtag on social media.

How To Choose the Right Wedding Planner For You

Deciding exactly how to choose a wedding planner is no small feat. While every couple certainly wants a planner who’s experienced and professional, it’s also important to find someone you personally click with from the get-go. Finding the right pro who fits all of the above—not to mention, works within your budget—might feel like searching for a needle in a haystack, but take a sigh of relief because we’ve got you covered.

Utilize your resources.

Whether you’re looking for a new hair stylist or a dress tailor, there’s nothing like a personal reference within your own network to put your mind at ease. When it comes to how to choose a wedding planner, turn to your friends and family for recommendations and you might be pleasantly surprised by the number of quality leads that come your way. You can even expand that network to include your online connections and put a call out on social media.

Research their online presence.

Found a wedding planner who might be a good fit? Take the next step with some online sleuthing to check out their website, portfolio, blog, and social media. This is a great opportunity to get a solid grasp of their aesthetics and style, along with their “brand voice” and style of communication. Has their work been published in any blogs or online magazines? Look for those coveted “As Seen In” badges on their website as another indication of great work.

Meet up in person.

While virtual communication is a perfect starting point, you can only get so far via email. In thinking about how to choose a wedding planner, you should definitely try to meet face-to-face before hiring. If you’ve thoroughly vetted their work online and want to move forward, suggest an in-person meeting as the next step before booking. Just like any job interview scenario, a face-to-face meeting will give you a much better sense of their personality and whether or not they’d be a helpful addition to your vendor team.

Ask great questions.

Once your schedule that aforementioned in-person meeting, be sure to come with a list of questions that address any and all of your concerns. Going into a wedding planner interview with zero preparation is bound to leave you flustered, so take time to jot down what matters most to you and your fiancé. For example, does your planner have experience working at your particular venue? How often will your meet and communicate throughout the planning process? Also, does your planner work solo on the day-of or with a team of assistants?

Point Checklist to Choosing Your Event Venue

Who is your target audience and what is the guest list size?

Before creating a short-list of event venues to look at, know who will attend your event and how many people you’ll invite. You’ll want to make sure that your venue can accommodate your expected guest list and is suitable for the audience.

Know how to cater to your target audience

Knowing the demographics of your audience is vital to the selection of your event venue. For example, know the average income of your attendees, what their likes or dislikes are, what they are accustomed to, etc. If your audience is a group of CEOs then your venue should reflect their tastes and needs

What is convenient for your guests?

Selecting an event venue location in proximity to where your guests’ live or work often reflects on the number of people that will attend. Something to consider is alcohol consumption and transportation

Weather

Keep an eye on the weather and adjust your needs accordingly. For example, if you’re organizing an event and it’s supposed to rain then have umbrellas on-hand or tents available for outdoor events.

Venue knowledge and experience

Before you decide to hire a venue for your event, ask them for a list of events they’ve planned, ask to see pictures of those events so you can see the various layout options, and ask for references

Ways To Free Your Toilet From Being Clogged Toilet

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How to Unclog a Toilet

Stuck with a clogged toilet in your bathroom? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Clogged toilets are a common issue that homeowners will face every now and then, and can get frustrating at times. Follow these steps to unclog your toilet like a professional plumber!

Now that you’re prepared, follow these steps:

Step 1: Once you notice the toilet is clogged, prevent the toilet from overflowing with water by turning off the water. Do not try to unclog your toilet by continuously flushing it.

Step 2: Cover the floor around the toilet with old towels or paper towels to prevent a mess

Step 3: Grab your rubber gloves and toilet plunger and insert the plunger in the toilet with the rubber cup covering the trapway hole completely

Step 4: Vigorously pump the handle of the plunger for 5-10 minutes. You’ll notice the water in the bowl will begin to drain. This may take a few tries depending on how clogged the toilet is.

Step 5: Take the plunger out of the toilet and set it aside. Turn the water back on and try flushing the toilet once to see if it is unclogged.

Step 6: If you flush once and the toilet is still clogged, repeat steps 4 and 5 until the toilet is unclogged and the flush is back to normal.

Hacks for Stubborn Clogs

Sometimes a plunger just isn’t enough to fix the even the most stubborn clogs. If you find yourself exhausted after repeatedly using the plunger with no results, have no fear! Try these hacks to help loosen the clog.

Avoiding Future Clogs Starts with a High Performance Toilet

Are you finding that it doesn’t take much to clog your toilet and that you’re constantly busting out the plunger? Make sure that you are only flushing toilet paper. Flushing common toiletries such as facial tissues, cotton swabs, tampons, or dental floss can easily clog your toilet because they do not break down in water. Alternatively, if you own an older toilet, you may want to invest in a new toilet for your bathroom, as some older toilets are engineered with weaker flushing power. American Standard offers a variety of toilets that have high performance flushing technology that can last for years to come. The Champion collection of toilets range from a 1.28 – 1.6 gallons per flush flow rate, and are EPA WaterSense Certified to help conserve water

Choosing a Toilet

A head-to-head comparison for our readers with nothing to go on

At first the toilets in our house were merely sluggish. Then they got slower and slower until they didn’t flush at all. But the toilets weren’t clogged. Something was in the sewer line. So I rented a sewer snake, unscrewed the clean-out and fed the hungry snake down the chute. In it went 10 ft., 25 ft., 40 ft. Still, the pipe didn’t drain. As I pondered the problem, my young son stuck his head out the window, his little fists full of his favorite action figures, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. “Turtles live in the sewer, Daddy,” he said.

Gone are the days when we could flush toys.

After our sewer was deturtled and the attendant blockage removed, our toilets flushed magnificently. What was amazing was that all those Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles could ever have been flushed down the toilet at all. But those were the days of the 5-gal. flush. With that much water chasing after them, an entire flotilla of Ninja Turtles could’ve been flushed home at once-and might have been.

How 1.6-gal. gravity toilets work

Regardless of price or style, all gravity toilets depend on gravity to pull the water-and waste-through the system (drawing right). When the handle is pushed, a flush valve opens, and the water in the tank drains into the bowl, either through rim openings, through the large siphon-jet opening across from the drain at the bottom of the bowl or through a combination of both. The gravity-fed speed of the water pushes the waste through the trap and into the drain.

Old 5-gal. toilets and new 1.6-gal. gravity toilets work the same way. The tank holds the water above the bowl. The lever opens the flush valve, which lets the water rush out of the tank into the bowl, either through rim holes, a siphon hole or both. In the bowl, the pressure of the water rushing down the drain creates a vacuum or siphon effect that draws the waste with it. Meanwhile, an automatic valve refills the emptied tank.

What this country needs is plunger lessons

Complaints against the 1.6-gal. toilet include sluggish or incomplete flushing; a small “water spot,” as the area of the toilet bowl water surface is called; staining; and the need to double-flush or triple-flush. Critics say that if a 1.6-gal. toilet is flushed more than twice, it uses more water than the now illegal 3.5-gal. toilets.

Tips For Preventing Toilet Troubles

It’s safe to say there are a lot of people who are afraid to mess with household plumbing – and we understand that. Plumbing can be scary if you don’t know what you’re doing, and nobody wants to be responsible for their house flooding, the toilet spewing sewage all over the bathroom, or pretty much anything else that involves large quantities of water or human waste being anywhere that it doesn’t belong. However, knowledge is power, and as a general rule, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The very best thing you can do for your home’s plumbing is also the easiest: maintain it.

DO clean your toilet regularly with a mild cleaner. Vinegar, baking soda, or a mild soap are all great for regular porcelain cleaning. Not only does cleaning your toilet help you keep a more hygienic, better smelling bathroom, it also gives you the opportunity to spot a leak or a problem with your bathroom’s plumbing fairly quickly. If you never really clean up around the toilet area, how will you know if that water on the floor is from your shower, your toilet, or the sleepwalking male members of your household?

DON’T use chemical drain cleaners to unclog your toilet. While some plumbers say ‘yea’ and others say ‘nay’ when it comes to using these products, we say it’s just not worth the risk. Not only are these products harmful to your health if accidentally splattered on your skin, consumed, or even inhaled too much, they can damage older fixtures and pipes, and really aren’t something anyone wants in our water systems. They can also cause a lot of trouble for homes with septic systems if they kill off the good bacteria in there.

DO inspect your toilet’s inner workings about every 6 months to make sure the components are still in good shape and functioning properly. Take the tank lid off and flush the toilet. Watch the components work, making sure the flapper is sealing well and the fill valve stops running at an appropriate water level.

DO fix a running or leaking toilet right away. Toilet leaks are typically “silent”, in that you won’t necessarily find a puddle of water on the floor since the water is usually leaking out from the tank into the bowl (and down the drain). This makes it fairly easy to overlook the leak, or to keep putting off fixing it. Toilet leaks are generally slow leaks too, so you might not even notice a small increase in your bills each month until you look back and realize you’re paying $100 more for water this month than you did at the same time last year.

The Right Way to Use a Plunger

If your toilet’s overflowing or your sink’s stopped up, it’s time to take the plunge! About 90 percent of the time, a clog can be cleared with just a couple of thrusts of a plunger. To make the messy job easy, though, it’s important to have the right kind of plunger and the proper technique. As it turns out, not all plungers are created equal; some are best suited for sinks and showers, while others are appropriate for use on toilets. Once you’ve determined the best tool for the job, success is all about form. Contrary to popular practice, repeatedly flushing while frantically pumping won’t release the blockage any faster—instead, it will break the plunger’s seal and ruin the suction. To keep the water flowing freely down your pipes, avoid those amateur mistakes and learn to plunge like a pro with these valuable tips.

Pick the Perfect Plunger

Start at the very beginning: While there’s probably a shelf full of plungers available for purchase at your grocery or home improvement store, the two most common styles are the cup plunger and the flange. It’s smart to stock one of each and be familiar with their strengths so you can determine which one’s right for your mini-emergency.

The Cup: When you think of a plunger, the image that comes to mind most often is that of a simple wooden handle attached to a rubber cup. It’s this cup that gives the tool the name “cup plunger.” This design is most effective on flat-surface drains, which are found in the sink and bathtub. While it works well for a sink, shower, or bathtub clog, the cup plunger can’t create a sufficiently airtight seal in the curve of a toilet drain to produce adequate suction.

The Flange: A toilet clog calls for a different type of plunger entirely: the flange plunger, which has an extra ring of rubber (the flange) around the cup. The flange is inserted into the toilet drain, sealing in the air and increasing the suction power. In a pinch, you can fold the rubber ring back into the bell of the plunger and use it to unclog a tub or sink drain, but a true cup plunger will be more effective.

Plunging a Sink, Shower, or Tub

When using a standard cup plunger, start by covering the overflow drain, if there is one, with a wet towel. Doing so prevents air from escaping and decreasing the suction power. While you’re at it, it’s a good idea to seal off any nearby drains in sinks or tubs to ensure better results. To further improve the plunger’s suction power, create a tighter seal by lining the rim of the cup with a small amount of petroleum jelly.

Unclog your toilet with this simple and ingenious trick — no plunger required

Over the course of many years, I’ve practiced and honed the ancient art of unclogging a clogged toilet without needing to use a plunger. Why not just buy a plunger? Simply put, I never needed to on account of this particular bit of washroom wizardry. This technique is especially handy if you ever find yourself staring down a stopped-up commode in someone else’s bathroom with no plunger in sight — a situation in which you might be understandably reluctant to call for backup.

I didn’t invent this particular process for plunging without a plunger — the same basic technique can be found all across the web on plumbing and DIY blogs, both mainstream and obscure — but I can attest to its power and might.

Most bathrooms have everything you’ll need

To perform this trick, you’ll need three things that can be found in almost any bathroom: soap, hot water and a vessel for transferring the water to the toilet bowl. Dish soap and a 5-gallon bucket work best, but if secrecy is paramount and leaving the lavatory would blow your cover, a small plastic waste bin and a few pumps from a hand soap dispenser will do just fine.

Mixing the magical potion

The objective is to get the liquid in the toilet bowl as hot and soapy as possible without letting it overflow. You can either pour (or pump) soap directly into the bowl and then add hot water, or you can mix the soap with the hot water before you add it to the bowl.

Carefully and gently add the hot water

Mixing everything up in the toilet bowl is the step requiring the most finesse. You want to raise the average water temperature and get the soap into every crevice, but you don’t necessarily want to create a slurry with what’s already in there.