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Tuesday, November 6th, 2012

Even in our calmest days, we can alway count on the garage door to act up. Suppose the garage door goes off the pulley and hangs at an angle. This means the garage door cable is broken and need to be fixed. If you are up to the challenging task, there are many steps to learn for knowing how to fix a garage door cable. First, you must identity the cable that needs be replaced. There are 3 types of cable on a garage door: torsion, extension spring and safety cable. Read on to learn how to replace a garage door cable.

Materials for Replacing Cable

– Stepladder

– Cable Set

– Winding Bars

– 3/8- inch wrench

– Vise Grips

Instructions

1. Close the garage door.

2. Use stepladder to unplug the power cord.

3. Put the stepladder under the torsion spring.

4. Insert a winding bar into the hole in the winding cone.

5. Loosen set screws on the winding cone with 3/8 inch wrench.

6. Carefully let the spring rotate until the bar is steadfast against the door and inside the winding cone. Have a firm grip on the bar until it against on the top of the door. If there is more than spring, repeat the same process.

7. Loosen set screws on the drum on each end of the shaft where the cable wraps around the wrench.

8. Rotate drums around the shaft until both cables can be removed safely.

9. On the bottom bracket, remove the cable.

10. Pull off loop on the cable from the bottom bracket pin.

11. Place loop end over the bottom bracket pin.

12. Feed the end of the cables with the metal stop button behind each of door roller stem, letting them hang over the roller.

13. Use the stepladder to get to the right-side drum.

14. Slide the drum against the inside door track.

15. Thread cable behind the shaft and over top of the drum.

16. Put metal stop portion into the notch on the drum.

17. Rotate drum clockwise to wrap cable to the highest groove on the drum.

18. Grab the top of drum with one hand and rotate clockwise to tighten cable.

19. Tighten drum set screws.

20.Clamp a pair of vice grips over shaft.

21. Attach cable to left drum.

22. Tighten set screws with wrench.

23. Under the winding cone of the torsion spring, use winding bar to rotate winding cone until bar is horizontal.

24. Tighten set screws on the winding cone wrench.

25. Release the winding bar and remove from the winding cone.

26. Repeat if there is more than one spring.

Remember to have another person with you when replacing cables. For these kinds of jobs, a professional is highly recommended due its high risk of serious injury. TalkLocal can connect you to the best garage door professionals in your area.

Posted in Garage Door Repair | No Comments »

My Light Bulb is Too Bright

Tuesday, November 6th, 2012

Have you noticed your light has been as bright as the sun? Do you notice yourself constantly saying “my light bulb is too bright”? If you notice a light has been burning bright, this is a major problem with your house electrical system. There are two problems that cause the light bulb to burn too brightly. Either there is a high voltage or neutral connection problem.

Before checking for these problems just recognize the type of light you have. If there are incandescent light bulbs and LED bulbs, they will be brighter than average bulbs. If these are the types of light bulbs that you feel are too bright in your home, switch to an average or lower watt bulb.

High Voltage

If supply of voltage is too great in the home, light bulbs will burn brightly and burn out faster. If you notice the light bulbs in your home burning out unusually quickly, then this could be a high voltage problem. To check for a high voltage problem use a volt meter. Volt meters can be bought at your local hardware store for under $20. Use the voltmeter at an outlet or at a service panel. If you see a voltage over 125 volts, contact an electrician immediately.

Neutral Connection

If there is a main neutral connection problem, the light bulb will burn bright while other light bulbs dim. Other electrical appliances may also break in the process. If you notice these symptoms in your home, contact an electrician immediately as this problem will cause damages to other electrical appliances in your home.

To hire an electrician for these destructive problems, use TalkLocal. TalkLocal can connect you to the best electricians in your area for free. Just type your problem, location, and availability into the online service form and TalkLocal will begin finding local businesses immediately. Within minutes, you will receive up to three phone calls from electricians who can help you.

Posted in Electricians | 1 Comment »

Computer Screen is Hurting my Eyes

Tuesday, November 6th, 2012

Many of us spend our time at work in front of screens and computers, only to return home to watch television and movies on screens as well. As a result, we complain to others that a “computer screen is hurting my eyes”, we’re constantly straining our eyes and it’s quite common to develop blurry vision and sore eyes. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to minimize the strain on your eyes, protecting your eyesight and preventing damage to your eyes.

Frequent Breaks

This is the simplest and most effective way to decrease eye strain while using electronics. All you have to do is follow the “20-20-20″ rule. Every 20 minutes, focus on something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This should immediately refresh your eyes and allow the muscles to relax. Frequent breaks will keep you feeling a lot better at the end of the day, so just remember “20-20-20!”

Eye Drops

When people use the computer, they actually end up blinking about 60% less than normal, leading to dry and strained eyes. You may want to invest some eye drops to help refresh your eyes whenever they feel strained, or simply remember to blink more.

Computer Settings

Your computer monitor settings may also have a significant effect on your eye strain. On the older CRT monitors, you need to make sure that your screen refresh rate is higher than 60Hz, or else you risk severe eye strain. You may also want to decrease the screen resolution so that everything appears bigger; you won’t need to squint or strain to find the small icons. Lastly, you can always use filters that help decrease eye strain such as F.lux (http://stereopsis.com/flux/). F.lux changes the color your computer display based on the time of day, so if you’re up late working, it tones it down to a more natural tone to decrease eye strain.

Remember that it’s easy to prevent eye strain; make sure to take breaks, blink often, and change your computer settings to protect your eyes.

Posted in Computer Repair | No Comments »

Child Lock Stuck on Car Door

Tuesday, November 6th, 2012

Child safety locks are put in cars in order to keep small children from opening car doors while you are driving. This is a good safety precaution; however, if you accidentally get the child safety locks stuck, you will not be able to open the door from the inside or outside, which is a little bit of a problem. This article will help you figure out how to fix a child lock stuck on a car door.

One thing you can do is first look at the other door and figure out where the trigger for the child safety lock is. Once you know where it is on the other door, you should be able to figure out where it is on the door that is stuck. Then, take thin piece of stiff plastic (i.e. a ruler) and put it through the space between the body and the door from inside; try to slide it until you trigger the child lock off. This is a little difficult to do and it may take a few tries to succeed.

If you cannot trigger the child safety lock off with a piece of plastic, you may have to try a “slim jim.” Take a flathead screw driver and shimmy it into either side of the slits where the door handle goes into the door. Try to shimmy it up enough so that you can trigger the child safety lock off.

If neither of these methods work, you can try removing your car door, so that you can operate the latch directly. Or, you can contact an auto repair professional to help you out. With the help of TalkLocal, you can receive up to three phone calls in minutes form high quality local auto repair professionals that are available when you are.

Posted in Auto Repair | 3 Comments »

Refrigerator making Humming Noise

Tuesday, November 6th, 2012

The annoying humming noise that’s coming from your fridge could be caused by a number of problems, some of which are easy to solve, some of which you’ll need a quality mechanic for, and some that will force you to replace the machine. Read on if you have a refrigerator making humming noises and you want to fix it.

Sound coming from the back

If the humming sound is coming from the back of the fridge, it’s either due to your compressor or the motor fan. A broken compressor is a big deal, as your fridge won’t cool properly. If your compressor is broken, you won’t be able to fix this yourself and should get a professional trained in sealed systems to replace it. A dirty motor fan could also be causing the problem, so check the fan or make sure it’s not dirty, frozen, or stuck on another object.

This loud humming could also occur when the fridge door is open for an extended amount of time, as ice will build up on the evaporation coil. Turn off the fridge for 24 hours and then start it up again to see if that fixes the problem.

Sound coming from the bottom

If the sound is coming from the bottom of the fridge, this it could be because your fridge is off balance. Make sure your fridge is level and all the feet are bearing pressure equally. If one foot is only lightly touching the ground, it could create a humming sound as the fridge vibrates against the floor. Also, clean out the coils with a vacuum cleaner with a brush wand.

Sound coming from inside the fridge

The evaporation motor inside the fridge is supposed to get rid of excess moisture that could form ice inside your refrigerator. If the sound becomes louder when you open the fridge, then your evaporation motor is probably broken. This is another part that you can’t fix yourself, and you must replace it.

Because refrigerators have many different motors and parts running at once, they’re very difficult to repair. Oftentimes, you’ll have to be certified anyway in order to replace a certain part. Your safest solution is to use TalkLocal for free to find an appliance repair professional in your area.

Posted in Appliances Repair | No Comments »

How to Remove a Tree Stump

Monday, November 5th, 2012

Trees are an indispensable part of life on Earth. They are responsible for providing us with food and oxygen, they filter our air and make Earth livable for humans, and they preserve soil and support wildlife. In short, trees are an essential part of our lives and deserve our respect. But despite their ability to live for up to hundreds of years, trees die and leave a legacy – their stumps.

Tree stumps can be incredibly difficult to remove. There is no easy simple way to do it. There are a few methods of doing this, ranging from using chemicals to hand digging to using automatic grinders. The best removal method all depends on the type of tree and the tree’s root system. Read on to learn how to remove a tree stump.

If your stump is relatively small, digging it out may be a good way of removing it. The tools you will need are a shovel as well as an axe, loppers, or a root saw. You will have to use the shovel to dig up roots and then use the loppers, saw, or axe to cut the roots. Continue doing this until the majority of roots are removed. When enough of the roots have been cut to allow movement, remove the stump.

However, if the stump in question is too large to dig out, you will have to utilize other tactics to remove the tree stump. One option is to use a stump grinder. This is a machine that is used to grind up the stumps down into sawdust. You can rent one of these for roughly $100 or you can hire a professional to take care of it for you.

An alternative option for large stumps is to use either chemicals or fire. The first option, chemicals, involves drilling a series of holes in the stump and then dropping chemicals into them. These chemicals speed up decomposition time, but can take weeks to complete. Don’t use this method if your stump needs to be removed quickly. The other method, fire, is actually a method that has been used for hundreds of years. To do this, you once again drill a series of holes in the stump, and then pour kerosene into the holes. Place some scrap wood on top of the stump and get a fire going to try and light the stump. Try and isolate the stump with wire and remove any nearby leaves or twigs to ensure the fire doesn’t spread. Be sure to check up on the stump regularly.

If you followed these instructions and still need help, you may want to find professional help to remove the tree stump. If you need help finding a professional tree removal company, consider using TalkLocal to find a tree removal specialist for you. TalkLocal is a free service that will connect you with top-quality, tree removal 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 Tree Removal | No Comments »

Dog will not Eat

Monday, November 5th, 2012

Have you noticed your dog has not eaten for 24 hours or more? There are many causes for a dog’s loss of appetite. Luckily, the problems are usually not too serious. Here are some common causes and solutions if you dog will not eat.

Vaccinations

There are many vaccinations for dogs to protect them from serious illnesses. However, this does not mean they don’t have adverse effect. Some vaccinations have side effects of a temporary loss of appetite in a dog. If the dog had recent vaccinations, ask the vet about the side effects of the vaccine that was given to your dog.

Surroundings

New surroundings affect a dog’s behavior and appetite. If your dog is new, then it may have not have adjusted to life in a new home. It may be depressed after leaving its previous home and refuse to eat. To help the dog be comfortable with its new surroundings, play and walk the dog frequently. For older dogs, trips and moving can affect their appetite. They may become nervous or uncomfortable in their new surroundings. To help a dog feel comfortable with their surroundings, take them for a walk before mealtime.

Pickiness or behavior

Sometimes it as simple as the dog just does not like the food given to it. If the dog has stopped eating after a change of food, then this could be the problem. Just go back to the dog food they were eating before or something similar to solve the problem. The dog may also be uncomfortable with the height of food bowl or an aggressive dog that is nearby when it eats. To resolve these problems change the bowl and let the dog eat alone without any other pets around it.

Illness

The worst cause is an illness. If there are symptoms along with a loss of appetite (including but not limited to having trouble urinating, coughing excessively, or coughing up blood/is vomiting), call a vet immediately. Use TalkLocal to find the best vet in your area to attend to your ill dog.

Posted in Veterinarians | No Comments »

Home Remedies for Getting Rid of Fleas in the House

Monday, November 5th, 2012

Nobody likes to see their pets suffer from irritating fleas. Even more concerning is that fleas don’t only live on your pets, but also on the carpet, furniture, and pet bedding in your home. If you would like to avoid chemical-filled pesticides on your pets and around your home, consider trying these home remedies for getting rid of fleas in the house.

Pieces of Flea Collar

To repel fleas from furniture and pet bedding, cut a flea collar into four pieces and place them under the bedding or furniture cushions. To kill fleas inside your vacuum cleaner bag, simply cut up the pieces and vacuum them up into the bag.

Floor Washing

Wash your floor with a lemon solution to keep the fleas away. Combine the juice of four lemons (including the rinds) with two liters of water.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Combine two parts apple cider vinegar with one part water into a spray bottle. Step outside with your pet and spray its coat with the solution. This will not kill the fleas, but cause them to jump off of your pet. This a good solution for temporary flea relief for your pet. You should invest in a permanent solution for your bet though.

Stash Earl Grey Tea

Some pet owners praise the flea repelling powers of Stash Earl Grey tea. Tear open a few tea bags and spread the contents on the carpet. Vacuum up the contents after a couple of days and you should see a reduction in flea activity.

Dawn Dishwashing Liquid

Add a few drops of the blue-colored Dawn dishwashing liquid to your dog’s bath. Shampoo your dog well and rinse thoroughly to prevent skin irritation.

If these methods don’t work, contact a local pest control service using Seva Call. Just submit a request online with your service need, location, and availability to talk to a professional in minutes!

Posted in Pest Control | No Comments »

Preventing Mold in Shower

Monday, November 5th, 2012

Mold in the shower is a pain to discover with because it is so easily preventable. The key is to keep your shower free from water when it is not in use. Follow the tips below for preventing mold in your shower.

Keep the shower dry whenever possible — When you are done showering, wipe the water off of the floor. Allow the inside of the shower to dry by leaving the door open or pull back shower curtains for maximum air circulation. The shower door is a prime spot for mildew and mold to grow.

Ventilate the bathroom — If the weather is nice and your bathroom has a window, open it to let the steam escape. Also, leave the bathroom door open until the bathroom is completely dry. You should turn on your ventilation fan before you turn the water on for your shower; let the fan run well after you finish showering, until the bathroom is completely dry and the mirror no longer foggy.

Use shower sprays — There is a wide variety of shower sprays at your local store that can fight mold. You can choose from mild solutions to ones that use stronger chemicals. Just spray the solution all over your shower, especially on corners and the shower door. You can use a homemade solution if you don’t want to use harsh chemicals found in store-bought shower sprays. Use a spray bottle of undiluted white vinegar all over your shower. Leave it on for a few hours before rinsing it off. You can also use a mixture of two teaspoons of tea tree oil and two cups of water to clean tiles. Leave it on for a few hours as well before cleaning off.

If you’ve neglected your bathroom for a while and need an intense cleaning, you can hire a maid service through TalkLocal. State your specific service need in the online request form and receive a call from a high quality professional in your area within minutes!

Posted in Maid Services | 1 Comment »

Different Types of Window Locks

Monday, November 5th, 2012

There are many different types of window locks, and knowing which one is appropriate can make a huge difference in the security of your home. Windows are far more difficult to secure than doors, so knowing the function of the window and how to secure those openings are critical.

Keyed Locks

These locks can only be opened if you have the right key. These locks are usually mounted on the side of double-hung windows. It’s most likely the easiest if you have all the locks in your home keyed to the same key, so that you don’t have to keep track of many different keys.

Sliding Window Locks

These locks fit on the window to keep it from sliding or mount on the side of the track that can prevent any sliding motion. They can even be used to keep the sliding window securely locked in the open position. The benefit of using sliding window locks are that they require no assembly and can be installed very easily (no tools required). These can even be keyed so that they require a key before opening or moving the window.

Swivel Action Locks

No key is required for these swiveling locks. They use a self locking nib to prevent the window from fully opening. These are good for most double hung windows.

Folding Latches

These are installed on the top of double hung windows and only allows the window to be slightly open. It provides security while allowing a certain degree of air circulation in the room. These windows can only be fully opened when the lock is folded all the way in.

Lag Screws

These screws offer a simple and cheap way to ensure your double hung windows are safe. You’ll simply pre-drill a couple of holes on the left and right and insert lag screws with recessed washers. You’ll then use a special key to tighten or loosen the screws. You can even lock the windows halfway open if you would like.

Window Latch

These latches are the most common and standard locks in the industry. It is secured to one window and then attaches to another window when it is closed. The latch locks or unlocks both windows at the same time when turned.

Knowing the correct window lock for your window is integral for your protection. If you’re unsure about the lock, or would really like to get a professional opinion, the best way to contact one is using TalkLocal. TalkLocal will instantly connect you with a local highly-rated professional window installation expert and the best part is that it’s completely free

Posted in Locksmiths | No Comments »

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