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Friday, February 14th, 2014

Conduit pipes are those pipes, which are used to protect wiring and cables. HDPE conduit pipes are high-density polyethylene pipes that are employed for the same purpose: to insulate electrical wiring.

There are many types of HDPE conduit pipes, but they all share the qualities of the material they’re made of. HDPE is a lightweight, anti-corrosive thermoplastic, which is extremely resistant, and a great insulating material.

Cable Protection

Cables and electrical wiring are exposed to the elements unless they are inserted into conduit pipes. Water exposure can deteriorate the wiring. Conduit pipes protect the wiring, reducing the risk of electrical short circuits. Electrical shorts are dangerous because they can cause fires or damage equipment, among other problems.

Impact Resistant

HDPE conduit pipes can also protect electrical wiring and cables from impacts. Outdoor cables or those installed in traffic areas are exposed to potential impacts. By covering them with HDPE conduit, you ensure better protection.

Weather Resistant

HDPE conduit pipes can withstand both high and low temperatures. They can be installed in harsh weather conditions and can operate under high temperatures.

Last Longer than Power Cables

You may have to replace the power cable much sooner than the HDPE conduit pipe because this thermoplastic is extremely resistant.

Types of HDPE Conduit Pipes

There are flexible HDPE conduit pipes, as well as rigid ones. The latter are stronger, but it’s more difficult to handle them. Flexible HDPE conduit pipes make installation easy, but they are less resistant to impact or harsh weather conditions.

HDPE Conduit Pipe Uses

HDPE conduit pipes are widely used for power lines, in telecommunications, to insulate fiber-optic cables, or for outdoor lighting.

Need Assistance?

Looking for help with HDPE conduit pipe installation or repairs? Seva Call is ready to take your call. We can connect you with professionals in your local area who can get the job done right away.

Tags: HDPE Conduit Pipe
Posted in Electricians | No Comments »

Plow Snow with Your Pickup Truck

Friday, February 14th, 2014

Removing snow from your property can be a very time-consuming and physically demanding task, especially if you need to clear snow off a long driveway or a spacious parking area. With a personal snow plow, snow removal is made much easier and quicker. This machine is available for different types of vehicles, but it is typically attached to a pickup truck. This is a simple guide how to plow snow with your pickup truck.

Before Plowing

1. Attach a hitch to the pickup truck where you can bolt the plow. Check if you need to lower the snow blade before you start plowing, and if so make sure to get this done.

Operating the Snow Plow

2. Start plowing by simply driving forward, and then back the truck in reverse to leave the snow where you want to pile it. Take a careful approach to ensure you don’t waste fuel, and to get the job done quickly.

3. To plow large parking areas: Start at the furthest point from where you want to pile the snow. Work from one side to another, methodically moving the snow to the pile. You may have to give some areas more than one pass to remove all snow, depending on how deep the snowfall is or how long it has been since you last plowed.

4. To plow long driveways: Start at the bottom of your driveway, and work your way up to where you plan to locate the snow pile. Again, be systematic with your plowing as you move from one side to the opposite side. You will most likely need to plow some areas more than once to remove leftover snow.

Adjusting Angles

You may be able to adjust the angling of the snow blade, depending on the type of snow plow you have. If this feature is available, adjust the snow blade so you can plow either straight on or at an angle, which is ideal for long driveways.

After Plowing

Remove the snow plow to convert the truck for regular use. For next time, make attachment quick and easy when you need to plow snow agin. Pickup truck hitch plugs can be used to prevent snow or any debris from entering the hitch.

Find Professional Help

Do you need assistance in attaching a plow snow to your pickup truck or do you need help with snow removal? Seva Call saves you time searching for professional services. We’ll connect you directly to snow removal companies in your area within a few minutes. Contact us now!

Tags: pickup truck, plow snow
Posted in Snow Removal | No Comments »

Common Lawn Weeds

Friday, February 14th, 2014

Weeds are for lawns as dust for furniture: persistent and annoying. You remove them and they keep coming back. Knowing how to identify lawn weeds is the first step in controlling them and maintaining a neat, beautiful lawn.

Here are some of the most common lawn weeds, and what you need to do to prevent them from taking over your lawn.

Bermuda Grass

This perennial grass is one of the toughest enemies of your lawn. It’s light green and has textured leaves. Because it spreads in several ways – by seeds, stems, and rhizomes – it’s likely to conquer your lawn if you neglect it. It’s difficult to get rid of it without herbicides, so you can start by using pre-emergents, which will prevent germination.

Crabgrass

This lawn weed got its name from the crustacean because its blue-green leaves form a compact circle, which resembles a crab. It can grow pretty tall if you don’t mow it often. The best thing you can do to prevent this weed from spreading is to look after your lawn properly by watering it regularly, fertilizing it when required, and mowing it often.

To deal with crabgrass, pull plants with your hands, and use appropriate herbicides. There are special products for particular lawn weeds, so make sure you check the label and apply as instructed.

Dallis Grass

These light green weeds need to be dug out one by one to remove the rhizomes as much as possible. You can use pre-emergence or post-emergence weed control products.

Annual Bluegrass

Also known as winter grass, this lawn weed is bright green, and its seed heads look like grains, which will give your lawn a whitish appearance. To get control over this weed, it’s recommended to mow your lawn often, to prevent seed heads from reaching maturity. Also, use pre-emergence herbicide when the summer is about to end or during early fall.

Ask an Expert

If you need help with keeping your lawn weed-free or other landscaping endeavors, Seva Call is here to take you to the right expert. Or rather, we’ll bring professionals to you. All you need to do is give us a call and we’ll connect you with the right professionals directly.

Tags: Common Lawn Weeds
Posted in Landscapers | No Comments »

Roof Insulation Installers

Friday, February 14th, 2014

Roof insulation represents an excellent long-term investment triggering considerable benefits. High-quality roof insulation will minimize your energy losses and let you experience significant financial savings in the long run.

Nonetheless, roof insulation should be installed with maximum care, to avoid safety risks and costly mistakes. To benefit from excellent results, hire one of the best roof insulation installers in your area.

What Type of Roof Insulation Should I Choose?

People who live in colder climates are advised to go in favor of insulation with a superior R-value. While it may be a little more expensive than its less effective counterparts, it will pay for itself over a short period of time. Energy Star-qualified insulation products can reduce your cooling demands by up to 15%. These materials have remarkable reflective properties, so they can decrease the temperature of your roof by no less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

The types of materials that you should use to insulate your roof should be chosen based on several important selection criteria, including the following ones:

– Climate conditions

– Building location

– Building design

– Price tag

– Estimated service life

– Overall effectiveness and expected benefits

How to Identify the Most Reliable Roof Insulation Installers

1. Ask around. Perhaps one of your friends or family members can recommend a few competent roof insulation installers who provide quality, decently priced services.

2. Once you narrow down your search, always ask for up-front estimates. Choose to collaborate only with the best specialists who use premium materials with an elevated R-rate to insulate roofs.

3. Furthermore, make sure your contractors provide guarantees for labor and materials.

Ask an Expert

Don’t know how to find the most respectable roof insulation installers in your area? If so, just use Seva Call to connect with the right professional. Seva Call is a free service, designed to put you in contact with high-quality professionals who live and work in your area.

Tags: Roof Insulation Installers
Posted in Heating and Cooling | No Comments »

Common Household Molds

Thursday, February 13th, 2014

Mold forms in different colors, sizes, and even shapes. While mold has an important role to play in our ecosystem, it’s not something you want building up in your home. Not only does it contribute to allergies and other respiratory illnesses, it can also cause damage in your home. Learning how to spot common household molds will help you to effectively address a mold problem in your home.

Here are the most common types of household mold:

Penicillium – This is perhaps the most recognizable of all common household molds because we often see it growing on rotting food. It has a fuzzy appearance and can be green, blue, or white in color. If you happen to eat food infected with Penicillium, you can experience terrible gastric irritation. Also, the airborne allergenic spores can cause symptoms like watery eyes, nasal congestion, and coughing.

To prevent problems with Penicillium in your household, pay attention to the food you have at home, especially fruit. Throw out any food that has started to spoil.

Cladosporium – You will find this type of mold in dark, damp environments. Toilets are typical breeding grounds for Cladosporium. It is black, small, and looks like ground pepper.

While it is not toxic to humans, Cladosporium can cause serious allergy and asthma attacks. Anyone suffering from these conditions or having a sensitive immune system should avoid coming into contact with this mold. To clean surfaces infected with this mold, scrub briskly with bleach, then wipe completely dry.

Aspergillus – this mold grows fast and often appears in water-damaged areas like flooded basements. It can also be present in dirty air conditioning systems and starchy food. There are hundreds of Aspergillus mold species and their colors vary. This mold has a powder-like texture.

Aspergillus is not only one of the most common household molds; it’s also one of the most dangerous. Aside from triggering unpleasant allergy symptoms like rashes, sore throat, and watery eyes, Aspergillus is known to produce the deadly carcinogen aflatoxin.

If Aspergillus is present in your home, destroy it with bleach, and make sure you wear proper safety gear including gloves and a mask.

Stachybotrys – Sometimes called the black mold, Stachybotrys is very toxic to humans because it carries mycotoxins which can cause various conditions from respiratory illnesses and nausea to hemorrhage and internal organ damage.

Stachybotrys is greenish-black and has a gelatinous texture but will appear like dry powder if there is no water source in its surroundings. If you find black mold in your home, it may or may not be Stachybotrys. It is best to have an expert examine it.

Need Help with Household Mold?

If you have any of these common household molds present at home, get the help of mold remediation experts. Seva Call is an expert in matching up service professionals with the people who need them. Try our free service now, and get connected with cleaning professionals in your area!

Posted in Maid Services | No Comments »

Finding Emergency Snow Plow Service

Thursday, February 13th, 2014

If you want keep your property clean during winter but don’t want to remove snow on your own, you can benefit from a convenient snow plow service. Believe it or not, finding the best snow removal experts in your area is easy when you know where to look and what to ask for.

Opt for Decently-Priced Services and Learn How to avoid Scams

Professional snow plow services aren’t cheap; they could end up costing you anywhere from $250 to $400 (excluding sidewalks), depending on the surface that you want to clean, the fees charged by the contracted company, and the area where you live. Always ask for up-front estimates before shaking hands with snow removal experts and get that contract in writing, to avoid misunderstandings and unpleasant situations.

As a matter of fact, to profit from the best deals and save some money in the process, try to get at least 3-4 estimates from different companies and go in favor of the one that displays the best price-quality relationship. Also, here are a few other tips enabling you to make a smart decision.

1) Try to pay up-front, and choose checks or credit/debit cards as a payment method.

2) Check client reviews before opting for services provided by a particular company.

3) Make sure that your contractor has a valid snowplow permit, if your town requires you to deal only with companies with this type of permit; the permit gives you the certainty that you’d be able to identify the contractor and perhaps even ask them for a refund or make a complaint in writing if you are dissatisfied with their services.

Ask an Expert

Looking for the very best snow plow service in your area? In this case, find it quickly with Seva Call, your free connection to the best professionals in your area. We will connect you with up to three, local snow removal professionals, so you can get the help you need when you need it most.

Tags: Snow Plow Service
Posted in Snow Removal | No Comments »

Why Water Line Fittings Are So Important

Thursday, February 13th, 2014

In order to avoid common household problems that could easily overbalance your monthly budget, you have to make sure that your plumbing system is fully functional. Water line fittings play an important part in this equation, because these elements connect your water pipes.

Whenever plumbers need to make certain modifications, they have to choose the right type of fittings and link them to the existing pipes in an ideal manner. Keep reading to find out more about some of the most common types of fittings currently available on the market.

Plastic Water Line Fittings

Plastic is a very versatile material that is used in a wide range of applications. It should not surprise you to find out that plumbers make the most of PVC fittings to connect water pipes. These elements are usually utilized for outdoor water lines. They are glued in an ideal position, and the adhesive ensures a watertight seal.

Copper Fittings

Copper fittings are ideal for indoor applications for a number of reasons.

– They are corrosion-resistant.

– They are relatively easy to cut and install.

– They are durable and resistant.

Just like the ones made from PVC, copper fittings include tees, plugs, crosses, couplings, and elbows.

Galvanized Fittings

A few years back, this type of fitting was used on a large scale for a wide range of interior water lines. However, because this material is often affected by extensive corrosion, it has gradually been replaced with copper. The extremities of the galvanized pipes used to be threaded, and the plumber used to screw the galvanized fittings on the existing pipes.

Consult an Expert

Finding and installing the best water line fittings can be quite a hassle, especially if you know very little or nothing at all about plumbing systems. In this case, it is better to rely on the skills and the know-how of a certified plumber. Find the best one in your area by using Seva Call, a free service designed to connect you with the best professionals in your area.

Tags: water line fittings
Posted in Plumbers | No Comments »

Common Problems of Roof Drains on Flat Roofs

Thursday, February 13th, 2014

With a flat roof, being able to drain water from the roof is vital to protect the structure of your home. Having good roof drains on flat roofs is crucial to relieve the roof from the weight of the water collecting on it. However, if there are a few puddles on your roof, those should not pose any concerns with the performance of your roofing system. It’s only normal for flat roofs to have small pools of water after a rain. However, some common problems with flat roof drainage may need to be addressed.

1. The roof is not sloped properly.

If drains are not installed with a sump, the drain ring can create a significant obstruction in the drainage to cause a large pool of water. Consequently, this pool will allow more debris to collect easily on the roof surface, which will only increase the level of water above the roof.

2. The drains were not installed properly.

Primary drains and/or secondary roof drains on flat roofs should be installed at the correct elevation. If the secondary drain is placed at a height that is too low, it will lead to constant water pooling around the drains. Unfortunately, improper installation is quite common, especially if the roofer is not experienced working with roof drains for flat roofs.

3. Some parts are not heavy-duty.

Some flat roof drainage systems have plastic parts, which are not as durable as the rest of the roofing material. When these plastic components deteriorate and fall apart, they end up clogging the drains. Sometimes, they are blown away and the drain is left unprotected from debris.

4. The drainage system is not properly maintained.

In cleaning their roof drains, homeowners usually just drain the water that has backed up the drains without clearing the debris off their roof. When debris is left on the roof, it will only be washed back to the drain when it rains again, causing another blockage to the drain.

Solve Roof Drainage Problems

Let professional roofing contractors eliminate your issues with roof drains, flat roofs, or any roof for that matter. They can check the installation of all roof drains to ensure proper placement and elevation. They can also put in place a regular maintenance program to avoid blockages in your system.

Let Seva Call help you find local reputable roofers now. Send us your service request and we’ll take care of the search for you, for free! Connect with professionals in your area in just minutes!

Tags: Roof Drains on Flat Roofs
Posted in Roofers | No Comments »

How to Fix Leaning Mailbox Posts

Thursday, February 13th, 2014

If your mailbox is leaning for various reasons, such as severe weather or improper installation, sooner or later you’ll have to fix it. That’s a must-do, especially if you consider selling your house. Here’s what you should know about how to fix leaning mailbox posts.

1. Remove the Leaning Mailbox Post from the Ground

If your mailbox is installed on a wooden or metal post and it’s leaning, the best way to fix it is to dig it out of the ground. This may be an easy job if the post was simply stuck into the ground without having a foundation. If the initial hole was not deep enough, the cause of the leaning is obvious. If the ground around the post is packed very hard, is stony, or has a thin layer of concrete, you might need to use a mattock to break up the surface.

2. Prepare the Hole for the Mailbox Post

To make sure your mailbox will withstand the test of time, you need to dig a hole which is about two feet deep and about half of that in diameter. After digging the hole, insert a layer of gravel into it to minimize the effect of water infiltration. If you use a metal mailbox pole, the gravel on the bottom of the hole will help prevent rusting.

3. Insert the Mailbox Post into the Ground

Insert the post into the hole and add soil to keep it in place. Level the mailbox post and fill the hole with dirt. Make sure the mailbox post stands up straight, and tread on the dirt to pack it down. Don’t forget that the ideal length of a mailbox pole is 41-45 inches above ground level.

How Can You Fix Leaning Mailbox Posts with Cement Bases?

If your leaning mailbox is set in cement, it will be more difficult to fix it, but you can do so by enlarging the base. Repeat the first step by removing the mailbox, make the hole wider, reinsert the mailbox post, and add cement to make the post stand upright.

Get Professional Help

If you don’t want to repair your mailbox yourself, Seva Call can get you professional help by putting you in touch with local handymen who can get the job done in no time. Our service is fast and free of charge.

Tags: mailbox, quick fix, repair
Posted in Handyman | No Comments »

Terminix Ratings Online

Wednesday, February 12th, 2014

Terminix is a large pest control company. It offers extensive services to help residential and commercial customers address seasonal pest threats from termites, rodents, spiders, bed bugs, ants, cockroaches, and others. As with any service provider, no matter how popular, it is helpful to check what others are saying about the provider before getting their service.

Fortunately, there are plenty of reliable online Terminix ratings that you can take a look at. Here are some major points to consider before hiring this company as well as corresponding Terminix ratings.

Service Coverage: Rated 9.4/10

Terminix handles the widest variety of pests, offering treatment for common and uncommon pests. They have developed their own treatments for fleas and certain types of bugs. They can also protect your home from local pests. Terminix also specializes in controlling mosquitoes and rodents and even snakes. Do note, however, that mosquitoes cannot be completely wiped out, but they can be effectively controlled. One service not offered by Terminix is bird and bat control, although this is a fairly common problem.

Customer Support: Rated 10/10

Terminix rates perfectly in this area with customers reporting the company’s very quick response and excellent support. In addition to quarterly scheduled visits, their crew will come back to your home as many times as needed until your pest problem is resolved.

Everything they do is monitored closely, and each visit includes comprehensive reporting so you can see the progress of the job. You can also call them at any hour of the day for emergency pest problems. There are many online Terminix customer testimonials and Terminix ratings, so take advantage of all of these to see whether this company is worth your business.

Hire a Reputable Pest Control Company

Obviously, hiring a pest control company with a good reputation is important. We understand this, so we pre-screen every service provider in our network. With Seva Call’s help, we’ll make sure you get connected with qualified pest control companies with no time wasted.

Tags: Terminix Ratings
Posted in Pest Control | No Comments »

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