TBNL Tip - Preparing for Winter

Winter is on its way and there's no stopping it, so we at TBNL want to make sure you're prepared. The following is a list of things you should to do before the white, fluffy mess hits.

-Winterize your lawn. This means raking up all the leaves and trash that was blown in by those autumn winds. Mowing for the last time wouldn't hurt either. If your mower is a mulching one, it's a great way to save on the back-breaking labor of raking.

-Put away all outdoor furniture. This means pretty much everything that you won't be using until spring. Some staff members at TBNL prefer to leave their grills out...there's nothing like cooking a nice, juicy steak in mid-January!

-Turn off outdoor faucets and remove hoses. You can leave the faucet open once you shut off the water from the inside.

-Seal up the leaks. If you feel drafts from doors or windows, get them sealed up. You can buy some cheap caulking material from your local hardware supplier. Trust us, it'll save you moola on your heating bill.

And while we're on the subject of heating, make sure you have plenty of air filters for your furnace. We recommend changing them about every two months. Check yours sooner if you feel the need.

-Buy winter supplies. Shovels, salt, and window de-icers are a great start. If you have a snowblower, good for you. If not, you're going to love shoveling the mounds of snow!

These are just a few tips to help you make it through those cold, snowy months. If you have more ideas, please feel free to contact us!

Guy's Tip - Installing Ceiling Fans

A member of our esteemed staff spent last weekend installing two ceiling fans in this family room. It was done mostly to impress his wife, but he's finding that they're actually useful.

For those of you that have never put a fan in, here's a quick guide. We suggest speaking with a qualified electrician, but if you don't know one or don't have time to find one, follow the steps below. Each fan will have specific instructions, but we'll give you the basics.

Now go and impress that special lady in your life!

Step 1 - MOST IMPORTANT - Turn off the electricity at the circuit breaker/fuse box. We can't stress that enough, people. Find the switch/fuse that controls the room you'll be working in and turn it off!

Step 2 - Uninstall the light fixture (or whatever is there) that you'll be replacing with the fan. Take off the plate/cover and pull it out of the ceiling.

Step 3 - Undo the wires that connect the light to the ceiling. They should be tied together with wire nuts (caps).

Step 4 - Once disconnected, dispose of the old fixture.

Step 5 - If your old fixture was held in place by a metal brace or hook, remove it. Most fans come with a new one.

Step 6 - Read the instructions that come with your new fan. It will tell you how to put it together.

Step 7 - If it comes with one, install the new brace or hook in the ceiling box.

Step 8 - Connect wires from fan to the ceiling. White to white, black to black and ground (green or bare copper) to ground. The instructions will tell you exactly what to do.

Step 9 - Following the instructions, install the rest of the fan.

Step 10 - Once installed, turn on the power at the circuit breaker/fuse box and try the fan. If it works great, you didn't screw up. If it doesn't, flip the wall switch and pull the chains on the fan. If you still don't get results, turn the breaker/fuse off and go over the instructions again and try to find the problem.

Eventually, you'll have it working. It took our staff member at least three tries to get it right! Sit back and enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done.

The Blog-zine is back!

That's right. After a long hiatus, we're back. Look for all new articles and advice. Also, we're trying to think of a new name...so help us out!