Archive for the 'House Of Gardening' Category

What is Lurking in Your Water?

Sunday, November 29th, 2009

What is Lurking in Your Water?

Submitted by: Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector Lic GI 0121, President of Accurate Inspections, Inc, a New Jersey home inspection company

Have you ever wondered what might be lurking in the water you\’re drinking?


There are millions of different bacteria, chemicals, minerals and toxins in the water we drink. However, they are at trace levels and are, for the most part, tolerable.


Your best protection is to learn about your water and test it regularly. Water labs will be able to give or direct you to a source that will outline the acceptable parameters or tolerances of the compositions or conditions that may be found in your tap water. A local lab should also be a good source of information for the most common problems found in your area. Public water systems are required to test their water periodically by State regulations.


Here is an overview of a few of the dangerous concerns found in some water:


1) Coliform bacteria. This is waste from animals or humans. This situation can develop in areas where there are large populations of humans or animals. Surface water may be washed into wells or their underground aquifers. In older communities, cesspools were much deeper in the ground and closer to water tables. New community requirements put on-site water systems closer to the surfaces and farther from the water tables. There is no acceptable coliform bacteria level for water that is to be consumed.


2. Nitrates. These chemicals may cause neurological problems.


3. Pesticides. These are found in areas where foliage is sprayed or dusted. Rain washes the pesticides to the surface and possibly to wells or underground aquifers.


Proper balanced water is 7.0 PH. When the PH is below 7.0, the water is acidic. With levels above 7.0, the water is alkaline, or base. It is very common to see water with low or acidic PH, especially in municipal water supplies or densely populated areas.


Low PH can be recognized at sinks and tubs after a few years by the greenish stain at the drain. This stain is caused by the chemical reaction of the acidic water and the copper piping. The acidic water causes copper to be depleted from the pipes to the point of failure, or leaking. Advanced stages of this activity can be evidenced by small, round, green stains on the pipes. This is an indication that the pipe is newspaper thin and will leak at any time.


Limits of acidic PH are typically 6.5 to 8.5. The levels are measured on a logarithmic scale. High levels of minerals will manifest themselves by leaving brownish stains at the sink and tub drains and in the toilet tanks.


Here is a partial list of maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for Safe Drinking Water:


Component/Condition MCL Component/Condition MCL

PH 8.5 Nitrate 10

Manganese .05 Total Dissolved Solids 500

Sulfate 250 Hardness 250

Lead .050 Copper 1

Sodium .50 Iron .03

Fluoride 2.0 Chloride 250


There is treatment equipment on the market that will address these issues and hundreds more. You should know what is in your water and the possibility of problems before you call a treatment specialist. The better informed you are, the higher the probability of purchasing a system that will be best for you, if a system is needed at all.



Information provided by Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector Lic. GI 0121, American Society of Home Inspectors Member 102273, Pesident of Accurate Inspections, Inc. A West Paterson New Jersey Home Inspection firm.

Wooden Garden Sheds Need Not Be Too Costly if You Buy On-line and Take Advantage of the Great Selection

Sunday, March 1st, 2009

There are a great deal of logical reasons why you would need a garden shed and fortunately there are garden sheds to suit just about every last requirement. Cheap Garden Sheds can be bought just about everyplace but what you will discovery is the price will vary tremendously. You should not have to give up the shed you wish because it is excessively expensive though. A shed is something you purchase once and use for a long time and when you take a look online you can obtain cheap garden sheds at some pretty silly prices. I don’t mean cheap and silly as in quality but as in monetary value. You’ll find you can have the shed you want for the cost of the one you were close to settle for a lot less and if you own a garden that you tend to every day you will almost likely need to look into Cheap sheds as a place to place the water hose, tools and fertilizer and so forth.

Protecting your tools and having them well obtainable is a real good idea. You can find cheap sheds on-line that are the very same sheds you’d purchase in the shop. In fact, you can even go to the garden store and shop even spot them to find out if it’s what you need then go online and purchase it for a lot lower price. The difference in cost is remarkable!

The Elegance of the Copper Fire Pit

Tuesday, November 25th, 2008

Firepits come in all designs and materials from iron to bricks to stones. One very elegant and good looking design is that of the copper fire pit. This type has become very popular among people of different social strata and places, very much like brink or stone outdoor fireplaces and warming devices that can be found on patio decks and more.

A copper fire pit may be installed indoors and may become the source of warmth inside the room. In a gathering like a party, be it small or big, its warmth draws the guests and creates a cozy and homey ambiance. This makes them more comfortable and evokes a certain level of intimacy.

This can also serve as a conversation piece because of its beautiful and classic design. Without any fire it can still catch the attention of the people because of its sheer elegance. It can be moved in a vantage area when not in use and can be grouped along with other decorative pieces for a more graceful flow of design since it will become a part of the set up and not just a stand alone décor.

This kind of fire pit is a perfect example of practicality and beauty put together. Very recently it has become a trend to have one installed in the home.

Garden Sheds UK – We Have What Your Garden Needs

Wednesday, November 5th, 2008

Almost all people who own thier own homes run into the problem of not enough storage space at one time or another. We have closets in our houses to keep track of stuff, but finding places to stores garden equipment is another matter. So, in addition to providing space for all of your current gardening tools, you will also have room to add some new equipment to your collection. To obtain one of these garden sheds, anywhere in the UK, just takes a telephone call.Garden shed UK strives for complete customer satisfaction when you purchase any storage device or outdoor shed. You can take your pick from a number of models and can be certain that there will be one to suit your particular needs. The garden sheds UK are built with a special form of pressure treatment that is made to with stand weather and moisture. Moisture in the UK can be a problem, so by taking care of moisture before installing a garden shed UK will avoid any future issues.If you have an unusual garden and and you are looking for something that does not fit the current designs is when you should consider this item. Garden shed UK is also available to do any custom sheds for you and to fit them into place for you perfectly. Regardless of the size of shed you need or any kind of specific needs that you have as far as the storage is concerned, they will be able to take care of it for you. All you really need to do is to give them the dimensions of the shed that you need or the space where it is going to go and they will be able to take care of the rest.If you expect your garden shed to last a long time, then do not purchase an inexpensive one. The only way you are going to be assured to have a quality product that will stand up under any weather conditions while enhancing the look of your garden, could only be from Garden Sheds UK.At garden sheds UK on the internet, you may view a diverse selection of sheds available from the United Kingdom’s largest provider.