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Wednesday, November 28th, 2012

My dog has bumps on her stomach

Your dog is not as energetic and jumpy as always, and this may seem unusual. It’s easy to notice when something is wrong with your dog due to the sudden change in their typical amount of activity and energy. If you notice that your dog has bumps on her stomach, continue reading for some information that can help.

This can suggest food allergies, parasites, disease, infection or other serious medical conditions. You can try administering a home remedy such as shampooing your dog with a medicated shampoo to relieve any itchiness or soreness from the bumps. You can also try washing her sheets/bed padding in the case there are parasites or other insects camping out in the bed. If it looks like she has hives, rubbing Benedryl over your pet’s bumps may also provide some relief and may help reduce their appearance.

Persisting problems

If these don’t help, contact your veterinarian to get your pup checked out. Try using TalkLocal to locate one nearby. TalkLocal is a free service that will connect you with top-quality, reliable veterinarians in your area within minutes. All you need to do is enter your dog’s specific symptoms, your location and your availability, and TalkLocal will contact multiple professionals who will then call you directly, ready to help. Save time and stress from searching for the right, most affordable vet, and let TalkLocal find one for you!

Posted in Veterinarians | No Comments »

How to Kill Spiders Naturally

Wednesday, November 28th, 2012

Spiders are often despised creatures. They have four times the amount of legs that humans have, they can crawl faster than some people can run, certain species have poisons that are extremely harmful to humans, and they find ways to put their spider webs everywhere. So it’s easy to see why few people like spiders.

If you want to get rid of a population of spiders, there are a few different ways of doing it, some more humane than others. Some people prefer searching for the nearest can of chemicals, killing the spider while also littering your home with toxic chemicals. If you want to know how to kill spiders naturally, keep reading.

The first step in killing spiders naturally is to first start the prevention process to ensure that additional spiders don’t make their way into your home. Clean any spider-prone areas such as garages, closets, under beds, along door frames, and any place with cardboard (spiders LOVE cardboard because of its wood component). Also make sure not to leave anything like towels or clothing where a spider could find refuge. Next, try and seal any cracks into your home where spiders may be able to enter your home. Next, use citrus-scented anti-bacterial spray in places where spiders may enter your home. This is an additional prevention step to ensure no spiders make their way into your home.

Now that the prevention step is taken care of, the next step is to start eliminating any spiders that remain in your home. There is a naturally occurring ingredient called diatomaceous earth that is safe for both humans and animals to ingest, but is extremely harmful to bugs and spiders. When bugs or spiders walk through the diatomaceous earth, their skeletal structure starts to disintegrate. So to get rid of the spiders in your home, sprinkle this ingredient around places where spiders seem prevalent or where they may be. You can also place some of this outside your home to keep them from coming in. You can find these ingredients at most home improvement stores, typically within the gardening section.

Glue boards and sticky traps are also an effective way of capturing and killing these spiders. Place these all around your house where spiders seem to be the most abundant. Another tactic is to purchase an electronic bug repellent that sends out a high-pitched tone to repel spiders and bugs. These can also be found in home improvement stores.

If you have attempted all of these methods and still find spiders entering your home, it may be a good idea to call in a pest control specialist to take a look for you. If you need help finding such a specialist, consider using TalkLocal to find a capable pest control specialist for you. TalkLocal is a free service that will connect you with top-quality, pest control service companies in your neighborhood within minutes. Just enter in your specific problem, location and availability, and up to three companies will call YOU directly, saving you the time and stress of finding one yourself.

Posted in Pest Control | No Comments »

How to Remove Musty Smell from Towels

Wednesday, November 28th, 2012

Have you ever finished a load of laundry and noticed that your clothes and towels smell worse than they did before? This happens to a lot of people when they leave their load of laundry sitting in the washer for too long after it is washed. The smell comes from a buildup of mildew, which is a direct result of the wet clothes sitting in the moist washer for too long. This smell can be very persistent, so try several of these methods when figuring out how to remove the musty smell from towels or clothing.

– Rewash your load of laundry with hot water and a mixture of detergent and bleach. If your load still smells after a second washing, you might need to run your washer with ONLY one cup of bleach and hot water. The bleach should kill the odor-causing bacteria.

– Use smaller loads. If you have too large of a load, it might not dry everything completely which could result in a musty smell.

– Try using products designed especially for this problem. Pour them into your fabric softener dispenser and use along with your normal detergent.

– Wash thicker clothing by itself. Sometimes clothing or towels made out of thicker material don’t dry entirely if mixed with thinner materials.

– Try using powder detergent instead of liquid soap. In some cases, it might have something to do with the dye in liquid detergent.

– Rewash your load with one to two cups of white vinegar, and then wash again normally. Vinegar has strong odor-killing chemicals, so this should do the trick.

To avoid this problem in the future, set a timer to alert you when it’s time to switch your load. It’s always helpful to be aware of how long your clothes sit in the washer, especially if you have a front-loading washer because of its airtight seal. Nobody wants to dry off after a shower with a foul-smelling towel, so use these tips and tricks to prevent that from happening again.

If there is a still a musty scent lingering in your house, use TalkLocal to find a maid service in your area that can alleviate the stench.

Posted in Maid Services | No Comments »

How to Keep Deer off Lawn

Wednesday, November 28th, 2012

Do you notice your lawn looking less attractive because of the deer that run around on it? There are a number of ways to learn how to keep deer off your lawn, varying in expense and work. You can try some of these methods to see if they work.

– Grow plants that deer don’t like, so they won’t come into your yard and eat them. Some of these include daffodils, irises, foxgloves, or yucca. Some plants with strong smells such as sage and chives will also dissuade the deer. However, if hungry enough or curious enough, deer will eat these too, so this is not a sure-fire method.

– Spray your plants and flowers with hot pepper spray or make your own mixture of strong smells – try garlic powder, eggs, and any strong smelling edible products. Additionally Irish Spring Soap works well when hung around trees. Deer will avoid plants with these tastes/smells.

– Use human hair around the perimeter of your yard. You can go to your barbers and ask them if you they could save some of the hair for you. Deer do not like human hair and will not cross over it.

– Use a deterrent such as fox urine, wolf urine, or lion dung (from a zoo) – basically, the urine of any deer predator – to mark the perimeter of your yard. Deer will be frightened of the potential danger. Some commercially available products use similar ingredients, de-odorizing them for the human nose. Taking your dog out for a walk and getting them to mark your perimeter will work just as well.

– Keep a dog. A dog is the deer’s natural predator. So deer will not try to approach a home with a dog, especially one that goes outside.

– Put a tall fence around your yard – Deer will jump over anything four feet high, and attempt to jump over six feet-high fences and get injured. So an eight foot high fence is the only way to keep deer out of your yard.

TalkLocal can help you find a landscaper to help you set up your deer fence quickly and effectively! Just visit our website or call us at 1-877-987-7382.

Posted in Landscapers | 1 Comment »

How to Cool House with Basement Air

Wednesday, November 28th, 2012

Do you not have a central air conditioning system in your house, or are you just trying to cut down on expensive A/C summer bills? We all look for savings in the scorching heat, so read on to learn how you can save on cooling costs.

To start off, you can try to putting some box fans into some of your windows upstairs to exhaust the hot air out of the house (make sure the fan is pointing outward). If you don’t have box fans, then just open the window. Similar to this could be an attic fan, which will suck the warm air from your house and blow it into the already-warm attic. If you have a basement, you can learn how to cool your house with basement air by trying to circulate the cooler air from your lowest floor up throughout the rest of the house. If you don’t have a basement, then be sure to at least crack your main floor windows and leave your doorways open to keep the air circulating. The idea is to let warm air flow out of windows on the top floor, while cool air enters your home through the lower floors. Using fans will just speed this process up. You can use a ceiling fan near the entrance to your basement to make sure the cool air is able to flow onto the main floor.

Another option would be to install attic/wall insulation to keep the house cool in the summer and warm in the winter. You might want to consider contacting a HVAC professional to help with this installation.

Try TalkLocal, a free service that will help connect you with top-quality HVAC specialists in your neighborhood. Just enter in your location, availability and problem, and TalkLocal will contact HVAC professionals, who will then call YOU directly, within minutes, ready to help.

Posted in Heating and Cooling | No Comments »

Emergency Brake Repair

Wednesday, November 28th, 2012

Emergency or parking brake is used in the event of a failure of the regular brakes. However, parking brake is most commonly used when parking on a steep hill to prevent the car from rolling. When emergency brakes fail, the probable cause is that the rubber hose that covers the brake cable has deteriorated. When this happens, the metal cable rusts rapidly and eventually breaks. If notice that your emergency brake cable is broken, replace the brake immediately. The follow simple steps will guide you through an emergency brake repair.

How to Replace Emergency Brake Cable

Materials:

– Screwdriver

– Lug wrench

– Jack

– Socket wrench

– Equalizer bar

– New cable

1. Remove the boot covering with screwdriver. If it is leather, simply unzip it.

2. Remove both of the two cables connected to one of the car’s rear tires.

3. Loosen the lug nuts on the tire with a lug wrench.

4. Jack the car up and remove the nuts to get to the wheel drum.

5. Remove the brake cable on each drum.

6. Loosen the tension nut that is attaching the cable to the brake with a socket wrench.

7. Pull out the cable.

8. Loosen the anchor nut with an equalizer bar.

9. Pull out the other end of the cable.

10. Put the new cable in through tension nut.

11. Screw in the nut tightly.

12. Reattach the brake cover.

Additional Help

If there are still problems or you are not comfortable fixing the problem yourself, TalkLocal can connect you to the best car mechanics in your area. Just go to the TalkLocal website and submit your problem, location, and availability. Within minutes, you will be on the phone with real people who can fix your specific problem at your convenience. Say good-bye to flipping through the yellow pages. TalkLocal does the searching for you, whether you are looking for a car mechanic or a variety of other services.

Posted in Auto Repair | 3 Comments »

Network Connection not Working after Power Outage

Wednesday, November 28th, 2012

Routers and modems are already fickle pieces of hardware in the first place, and when hit by a power outage, practically anything can happen to your network connection. However, try these basic solutions if you find your network connection not working after a power outages. Chances are your connection will magically start working again.

Reset your router

This renews your IP address and restarts your router, which gets rid of most system errors within the router. Since the router is like a mini-computer, restarting it will solve data corruption and memory leak problems just like how restarting your computer solves many common system errors. This is a quick catch-all method that usually solves most networking problems.

Connect directly to your modem

Wireless connections in general are unstable, and your problems may be fixed by simply connecting directly to the modem through an Ethernet cable. Even if using an Ethernet cable may not be plausible in the future, use this method to determine the location of the problem. If your internet works when connected to the modem but not to your router, the problem lies within your router.

Reinstall your network adapter drivers

Go to the drivers and devices page of your computer manufacturer and find the newest network adaptor driver for your computer model. You may have to provide the serial number of your computer in order to download the driver. If your computer does not have internet, download the driver from a computer that does and transfer the file to the problem computer through a USB drive. Double click on the driver and install.

Buy an external network adapter

There’s a chance that the power surge blew the internal network adapter, but you’ll still be able to access the internet through an external network adapter. They’re relatively cheap, starting from around $15 online.

Networking issues are common even without a power outage thrown into the mix, so they can be very complicated. It’s best to consult a professional technician if you find your network connection not working. Use TalkLocal for no additional charge to find one now!

Posted in Computer Repair | 2 Comments »

Is it Safe to Paint while Pregnant if you Wear a Mask

Tuesday, November 27th, 2012

You’re pregnant and preparing for the newborns room so you might be wondering, is it safe to paint while pregnant if you wear a mask? If you have already inhaled paint fumes, do not worry because there is only a small chance that birth defects will actually result. However, the following is a list of precautions alongside some information to keep you informed so you can make the best decisions for you and your child when painting while you are pregnant.

Wearing a mask can be beneficial if you are painting while you are pregnant. However, it is very important to pay attention to the type of masks you are purchasing along with taking other necessary precautions to reduce the risk of birth defects. Wearing a mask is a great option when painting while you are pregnant but if you take other precautions, wearing a mask may not be necessary.

Are there preferred styles of masks to buy?

Yes – buy respirator masks. Check on the back of the box to make sure they are approved to keep out both debris and fumes. Many masks are made to simply keep out debris but the main issue with paint while you are pregnant is the fumes.

What type of paint is the safest?

The safest paints to use are latex (or acrylic) paints. Latex paints are not made with the more harmful materials that are used in other paints. Working in well-ventilated areas is imperative while using even latex paints. In addition, if you feel sick at all, take a break and get some fresh air. Check out this helpful link to gather more information – painting while pregnant.

What types of paints are more harmful than others?

Oil-based paints are more harmful than latex paints and should be avoided. Exposure to oil-based paints has a much higher risk of miscarriages. If you do have to be around oil-based paints, make sure the area is well ventilated, your skin is covered and your time is limited in the exposure area.

What is something that I may not be aware of?

Remember lead paint? Even if you are not painting with lead paint, you should still take precautions. Be aware that you are not sanding or scraping any old paint that may be lead paint. This will release the fumes into the air and may cause major problems for you or your child.

These precautions only reduce the chances of harm; none of these steps will completely eliminate the threats. In order to keep yourself and your child completely free from harm, hiring a painter is the best option. To find a painter that will come at the exact time that fits your schedule and is in your area, use Seva Call. You will be directly connected to mutliple highly rated painters within minutes.

Posted in Painters | No Comments »

How to Shovel Snow from your Roof

Tuesday, November 27th, 2012

A snow day has its pros and cons; you get to take a day off from work, but you need to clean up the snow as well. Shoveling your driveway is rather easy, but getting rid of the snow on your roof can be a much more daunting task. Learn how to shovel snow from your roof with the steps & tips provided below.

Is it worth it?

Are you worried that your rooftop could collapse under the weight of all that snow piled up? You may be right – but you may be wrong, too. The possibility of your rooftop collapsing happens under very specific conditions:

1. Your roof is naturally very weak.

2. The snow piled up on your roof melts and refreezes under the cold weather, more snow builds up, and repeats the same process. This results in a more compact buildup of water (ice) on top of your roof, which weighs much more than snow. Your roof is much more vulnerable to a collapse with a much greater weight above it.

Unless you know that your roof has had problems in the past or there has been large fluctuations in temperature with constant snow, you do not need to clean the snow on your roof. The snow should melt naturally as temperatures rise.

Shoveling your roof

Follow this guide in order to learn how to shovel snow from roof safely:

– Materials needed: Suitable clothing for snow work, Snow Shovel, Ladder, Roof Rake

– Optional: One other person, Rock Salt

1. First, clean up the ground near the roof that you will place the ladder on.

2. Place the ladder firmly against the walls of your house so that you can reach the roof.

(Have one other person hold the ladder, if possible.)

3. Using the roof rake, carefully drag the snow to the ground.

(If you find that snow has melted into ice, sprinkle some rock salt on the ice.)

4. Use the snow shovel to clean up the snow on the ground.

If you feel like you need professional help cleaning up snow, Seva Call can help with finding the right local experts for your job, saving you time and energy in what may be a stressful situation.

Posted in Snow Removal | 1 Comment »

Electronic Locks vs. Mechanical Locks

Tuesday, November 27th, 2012

Electronic locks vs. mechanical locks is one of the great debates in the gun safe world. This debate extends not only to the gun safe world but also concerns other groups looking to safely secure their items while wanting to maintain an ease of access. Both electronic locks and mechanical locks have many pros and cons. Listed below are the main points to remember when deciding between an electronic lock or mechanical lock for a safe. Electronic locks are usually faster to open, however they are not quite up to speed with the durability and longevity of mechanical locks. Check out this video demonstrating the time comparison between electronic and mechanical locks.

Electrical Locks

Pros:

– Faster to open, resulting from the keys and keypad

– Minimal light is needed to read the keypad

– Glasses are rarely needed due to the increased font size

– Easier to change the code- there is no need to have a technician change the code for you

– Because you do not need a technician to set the lock, you do not have to worry about someone else knowing the combination.

Cons:

– Must remember to change the battery

– Items can be trapped in the event of an electrical failure

Mechanical Locks

Pros:

– Longer life span- breakdown from electrical reasons is eliminated

– Increased durability due to focus on non-electrical aspects

– Worry free concerning electrical failures

Cons:

– Forgetting to turn the dial leaves an easy access to burglars

– Tumblers can become misaligned

Deciding on a lock can be a pretty major decision if your valuables are at stake. If at any time you need a locksmith, use TalkLocal to connect you directly to a locksmith in your area. This free service will connect you to a quality locksmith within minutes.

Posted in Locksmiths | No Comments »

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