It's that time again. Jackets and sweaters are back in our wardrobe. The wind is starting to blow and the temperatures are dropping. Meanwhile, the utility bills are rising. Did you know that you could be saving between 20 and 50 % on your heating and cooling costs by following a simple step.
Adding isulation to your attic and walls in one of the easiest and least expensive ways to save energy and your home will feel more comfortable too. The most common and inexpensive kind is the fiberglass batt. It is made with recycled material. Cellulose is another kind of insulation. It is made with 85 % recycled material. Did you ever wonder what happens to your newspaper when it is recycled? Well now you know. Some insulation is made from cotton(old denim) or sheep wool. This kind is great for people who are sensitive to chemicals. And if your thinking what I'm thinking, guess what, all of these are treated with flame retardant chemicals.
Whatever kind you choose, it is best to have a professional install it. This is a very messy job and some older homes have asbestos in the insulation. Only a professional would be able to recognise this and know how to handle the situation.
The government offers energy credits for homeowners that upgrade the insulation in their home, because you save energy and that is better for the environment. Check with your tax advisor to find out more about this.
Does your thermostat constantly kick on? When your utility bill is so high that you have to wear three layers of clothes to be able to afford it, maybe you need to look into an insulation upgrade. You might be surprised to see that you either don't have enough or that you just simply don't have any insulation in the crawl space of your house. The truth is, most people don't know what's behind the walls of their home. You would be amazed at what a builder would do to save a buck. Besides, standards have changed and new products have been developed. They are rated to do a better job at insulating our homes. This would be a small cost that could save you money for years to come.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Common Household Spider "Are They Poisonous"
As small as these little creatures are, it's amazing what a rucus they can cause. Many spiders are harmless, but there are some common spiders that should truely be feared. It is important to be able to identify spiders that are poisonous and the symptoms spider bites can cause. It would be an excellent idea to place some glue traps around your house, to help you identify what types of spiders you have living with you. As it is hard to get a close look at them when they are running across your floor or when they are squished in a tissue or under your shoe.
The Hobo Spider
The hobo spider has a brown body and can grow from 1/4 to 5/8 inch in length. It is commonly found in Idaho and Utah. It is a European immigrant that has recently been implicated as a potentially poisonous spider in the United States. They live in funnel web. Most hobo spider bites occur in bed or clothing where the spider is trapped next to the skin.
The initial bite from a hobo spider is usually painless but hardens within 30 minutes. The area of the bite may have numbness and it is common to feel dizzy. After 15 to 35 hours the area forms blisters and can start to slough, which stops after about 24 hours. It causes a slow healing wound. It can take months to heal. The hobo spider bites is not considered to be fatal but fatalities have occurred.
The Brown Recluse
The Brown Recluse spider is one of the few dangerous spiders in the United States. It is also called the fiddle back spider or violin spider because of the violin shape mark on it. It's native to south central United States but can be commonly found in the central mid western states. It is best to use glue traps for brown recluse, because they are not affected by pesticides.
The initial bite from a Brown Recluse spider is usually painless and the victim can be unaware for 3 to 8 hours later. Then the site of the bite might turn red and swollen. The bite can take a long time to heal. It will often leave scaring. It is extremely rare for a fatality to occur from a brown recluse spider bite but they still must be treated as a dangers spider
Black Widow
Adult female black widow spiders are about 1/2-inch long, not including the legs. They are jet black with a red hourglass marking underneath their circular abdomen. The adult males are around half the size of the females. Females can be identified by their red dots and white lines along the abdomen. The male black widow spider is harmless. It's the females you have to watch for. In spring or summer the black widow start to mate.
A black widow spider bite can go unnoticed. The intensity of the pain depends on amount of venom injected and the area of the bite. The bloodstream carries the venom around the body and it acts on the nervous system, causing different levels of pain. There may be slight local swelling and two red puncture points from the fangs. Pain usually starts from the bite site and works it way to the abdomen and back causing severe cramping in the abdominal muscles in some cases. Less than 5 percent of black widow spider bites results in death.
Wolf Spiders
Wolf Spiders are a common household pests that look for a warm place to stay for wintertime. They do not spin webs but they hunt for food at night. The Wolf Spider can be commonly mistaken for brown recluse spider, but they lack the violin-shaped marking behind their head. They are not aggressive and will run away from disturbances.
With wolf spider bites you will feel some local pain. Itchiness, dizziness, nausea, and swelling are uncommon, but they can be symptoms.
If a spider bite does occur, always contact a your physician. If it's possible, try to catch the spider or at least get a good description of the spider. This will aide the doctors to know how to handle the bite more quickly.
To find out more about how to get rid of your spiders safely with home remedies and no chemicals. Here is a book to help.
https://paydotcom.com/r/23138/angela7165/20360343/
http://spiderfrenzie.blogspot.com/
The Hobo Spider
The hobo spider has a brown body and can grow from 1/4 to 5/8 inch in length. It is commonly found in Idaho and Utah. It is a European immigrant that has recently been implicated as a potentially poisonous spider in the United States. They live in funnel web. Most hobo spider bites occur in bed or clothing where the spider is trapped next to the skin.
The initial bite from a hobo spider is usually painless but hardens within 30 minutes. The area of the bite may have numbness and it is common to feel dizzy. After 15 to 35 hours the area forms blisters and can start to slough, which stops after about 24 hours. It causes a slow healing wound. It can take months to heal. The hobo spider bites is not considered to be fatal but fatalities have occurred.
The Brown Recluse
The Brown Recluse spider is one of the few dangerous spiders in the United States. It is also called the fiddle back spider or violin spider because of the violin shape mark on it. It's native to south central United States but can be commonly found in the central mid western states. It is best to use glue traps for brown recluse, because they are not affected by pesticides.
The initial bite from a Brown Recluse spider is usually painless and the victim can be unaware for 3 to 8 hours later. Then the site of the bite might turn red and swollen. The bite can take a long time to heal. It will often leave scaring. It is extremely rare for a fatality to occur from a brown recluse spider bite but they still must be treated as a dangers spider
Black Widow
Adult female black widow spiders are about 1/2-inch long, not including the legs. They are jet black with a red hourglass marking underneath their circular abdomen. The adult males are around half the size of the females. Females can be identified by their red dots and white lines along the abdomen. The male black widow spider is harmless. It's the females you have to watch for. In spring or summer the black widow start to mate.
A black widow spider bite can go unnoticed. The intensity of the pain depends on amount of venom injected and the area of the bite. The bloodstream carries the venom around the body and it acts on the nervous system, causing different levels of pain. There may be slight local swelling and two red puncture points from the fangs. Pain usually starts from the bite site and works it way to the abdomen and back causing severe cramping in the abdominal muscles in some cases. Less than 5 percent of black widow spider bites results in death.
Wolf Spiders
Wolf Spiders are a common household pests that look for a warm place to stay for wintertime. They do not spin webs but they hunt for food at night. The Wolf Spider can be commonly mistaken for brown recluse spider, but they lack the violin-shaped marking behind their head. They are not aggressive and will run away from disturbances.
With wolf spider bites you will feel some local pain. Itchiness, dizziness, nausea, and swelling are uncommon, but they can be symptoms.
If a spider bite does occur, always contact a your physician. If it's possible, try to catch the spider or at least get a good description of the spider. This will aide the doctors to know how to handle the bite more quickly.
To find out more about how to get rid of your spiders safely with home remedies and no chemicals. Here is a book to help.
https://paydotcom.com/r/23138/angela7165/20360343/
http://spiderfrenzie.blogspot.com/
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