Water Softeners and Filtration
Something as simple and beautiful as fresh water is really very complicated! There was a time in the recent past when the idea of buying bottled water seemed outrageous. But as problems with the environment accelerate so does our appreciation for healthy drinking water.
It's important to know the source of your drinking water in deciding the best filtration system for your home. In general, there are two types of water: surface and ground.
Surface water refers to river and lake water which is exposed to many different contaminants such as animal wastes, pesticides, insecticides, industrial wastes, and algae, to name a few. This water doesn't have a very high mineral content and is often referred to as soft water.
Ground water is trapped water, for example from rain, snow, or underground streams, and because it absorbs minerals as it seeps down, it has all the contaminants of soft water plus calcium, magnesium and other minerals. Hence it's referred to as hard water!
City water and well water also vary in contaminants and therefore different treatments may apply.
To deliver clean, healthy water to your home or office, it's important to keep up with the latest techniques available for water purification. For the basics, you will find a simple 1 to 2 stage countertop filter; a better system has 3 to 5 stages and goes under the countertop. The best by far is a 6 step under the counter system with UV sterilization component. Also there are whole house systems which use a backwash function to clean the filter media bed!
Given the fact that your body is 70% water you might want to make a very wise choice in selecting the best water purification system for your situation. Nothing is more important than your health!
Kitchen Cabinets
In the past, Master Craftsmen signed their work with pride; furnishings such as kitchen cabinets were a cherished heirloom. Today, custom cabinets are also treasured but people have so many choices regarding quality and installation of cabinets, including do-it-yourself cabinet installation!
If you have the financial resources to go with custom built cabinets you can have them designed to meet your specific needs and even your own original ideas! For example, someone invented corner cabinet drawers!
When planning for new cabinets you should start with a floor plan of how you envision your kitchen aesthetically and functionally. Sketch out your kitchen spacing the cabinets between the major appliances until it is obvious if you require single row, corner-shaped, U-shaped, or island style cabinets, then off you go with your measurements.
You will find cabinets created from wood which is friendly but harder to clean, framed panel cabinets, a very traditional look, and an abundance of other interesting surfaces. Pound the pavement or the keyboard for awhile to find your style and price range. One helpful tip: it's important to choose high quality hinges, knobs, and drawer slides for durability and longevity!
A popular solution to updating the kitchen is refacing the cabinets. This simple, fast approach will render a new, fresh look in one to two days with minimal clean-up and minimal damage to your wallet! Get a few quotes, hire a professional, and ask for some favourable ideas.
Have fun selecting the hardware for you new cabinetry...something sleek and ultra modern? old world bronze? novelty hardware for your kitchen theme? granite? glass? wood? Buy one sample of each of your favorites and try them out first before deciding.
Trash Compactors
With everyone trying to become more environmentally responsible, a trash compactor could become a household item in no time flat; no pun intended! Top brand-name companies have been making them for some time now but it's still a good idea to read the reviews regarding product reliability and customer service.
Imagine taking the garbage out just once a week! Think exponentially about that... we could really help the planet if we all got onboard. Of course the efficiency of the trash compactor must be weighed into the energy equation. With maintenance the average trash compactor should give you 10 years of service or more.
A trash compactor pounds, presses, and stomps your garbage down using weight, force, and vibration. This appliance can fit neatly under your counter-top at a standard width of 15 inches. 12 inch models are available and do save space but consumers have had some challenges in finding smaller bags for them.
Most consumers also report the importance of having a foot pedal for convenience. They also recommend finding a suitable model for minimal noise and shorter compacting time.
When looking for waste handling solutions, check out free-standing, convertible, and built-in models as well! Thank-you for doing your part to reduce waste disposal!