A Look at Finnish Saunas

Finland is known for its saunas. A Finnish sauna is a room or small hut with temperature over 80 degrees C. When water is poured over the hot furnace stones, a steam cloud fills the sauna taking the temperatures to an even higher level. Sauna bathing in Finland typically lasts between half an hour and two hours. The sauna is often followed by a shower or swim in a lake. In winter, many of the Finnish rub snow on their skin after their sauna. Some beat their skin with birch twigs soaked in warm water to exfoliate and clean.

Using saunas is the most popular leisure activity in Finland. A visit to Finland sans sauna would be incomplete. The Finnish admire saunas for their healing properties. Millions of people in Finland use saunas and on average, each household has one sauna.

Saunas can be used to gather socially and relax with family and friends. In private settings, men and women often share saunas, while single sex saunas are norm in the public places.

In the past, saunas used to be wooden compartments near lakes. Wood was burnt under flat stones and arranged in rows, to produce heat. Steam was generated by pouring cold water on these stones. Usually temperatures in these steam huts ranged between 70 degrees C and 90 degrees C. It could go up to 120 degrees C.

In Finland, there is an annual competition to honor people who can spend the most time in a sauna.

A Brief History Of Leather Couches

Leather couches are a trend of the late-twentieth and early-twenty-first centuries, and serves both comfort and style.

The leather couch in general is an article of furniture providing the space for two or three people and has armrests and sometimes accompanying pillows. Commonly flanked by two end tables and fronted by a coffee table, the couch is the central part of the room in which it is placed, usually the living room or den. Leather couches are typically made from cushions sewn over with sheets of leather or suede, a tougher, courser form of leather.

Many different types of couches exist: divan, chaise lounge, canape’, sofa-bed, and the two-person loveseat. These are distinguished by style as well as purpose, but all are for comfort and style, just like the leather couch.

History of the Leather Couch

Originally the throne of an Arabian ruler during the Age of Antiquity, the couch was essentially found in only the homes of elitists. Leather couches, per se, didn’t exist at that time, but the style and comfort that leather couches would serve as a status symbol was considered at that time as well. The wealthier men in Ancient Roman society used to lounge back on the couches while the women rested in regular chairs.

It wasn’t until the Age of Industrialization in the late nineteenth century that couches were introduced into lower- and middle-class homes. The comfort with which the couch had so long been associated was no longer exclusive to the upper-class. As a matter of fact, a leather couch would be expected in every household; without it, the home would seem empty, incomplete, bland, and even lacking in comfort.

In modern times, the couch is central in family life, such as at TV time and social gatherings or parties. The leather couch itself actually turned into a trend during the 1960s through a preference to leather and leather products, such as clothes, and became the “in” thing. It was as if one wasn’t “with it” unless a leather couch was in that person’s house. With the “funky” furniture styles of the 1970s, such as beanbags and lava lamps, leather couches were almost a necessity. Nowadays, leather couches are common and even popular, both because of style and comfort, not to mention the image one gains by having one.

Leather couches have become an ongoing trend that every home or office naturally acquires. Most doctors’ offices have leather couches now. Society and the fashion world have become obsessed with the look and feel of leather, and almost to the point of neuroticism. They look cool, they feel great, they make one seem sharp and chic, and they’re easy to clean. Leather couches, like all things leather, are here to stay!

A Guide to Vacuum Cleaner Repair

In most areas, there is a person nearby who can fix your broken vacuum cleaner.  Whether they specialize in vacuum cleaner repairs only or if they do repairs on a wide variety of motor driven home appliances, they should be able to easily fix your broken machine.

If you have one of the less pricey models, you might want to consider buying a new one before having someone repair it for you. The hourly fee for labor and the costs of parts may not warrant the repair price, unless of course you simply have to have the vacuum cleaner that you’ve grown accustomed to for a long time. An honest repair service will tell you that upon examination, which is usually free unless the problem is not easily diagnosed on the surface.

In most situations, when you find a repair shop and bring in your broken vacuum cleaner, they’ll ask you a few simple questions. Obviously, if you knew what was wrong, you’d fix it yourself. All most people know when they bring in their broken machine is that it’s broken. The repair shop will ask you what was happening when it stopped. He’ll ask how old it is and a few other pertinent questions so he can make a quick evaluation of the problem. Then he’ll give a quick examination to the obvious moving parts and if he sees something, he’ll be able to tell you immediately what’s going on and what it will take to fix it.

If he can’t diagnose the problem quickly, you’ll have to leave the unit in the shop, pay a small fee for him to determine the nature of the problem and discuss the matter over the phone before he makes the repairs. You can then decide if you want to go for the cost of repairing your vacuum cleaner or if you’d rather junk the old one and buy a new one.

Are you Serious about Customer Service

Is your online company really serious about Internet customer service? When it comes down to it, excellent customer service is pretty much the only way you will convert visitors to customers. You can also increase your ROI and improve online sales with excellent customer service.

If you are truly serious about offering quality customer service, your best option would be customer service software. With customer service software you can reduce customer service costs and increase your conversion rate at the same time. All the while, you will be making your customers happier, which will lead to more sales and an increase in ROI.

Customer service software helps small businesses and large businesses alike by offering customer service messenger, support messenger and support messenger. These offer 24/7 customer service to customers and potential customers. They can also allow you track customers online and track consumer behavior online as well.

Customer service software can offer live chat help and/ore animated avatar help, animated avatar service, animated avatar support and animated avatar guide. Many people prefer the avatar because it makes them feel more like they are talking to an actual person.

Serious quality customer service means a serious customer service solution. Consider customer service software for your online business if you would like to convert visitors to buyers and improve your ROI.

All About Air Conditioner Rentals

An air conditioner is a requirement in households, factories as well as events, functions etc. However, you cannot expect the person to install a new air conditioner for a one-day event. Even if you want to install an air conditioner at your place during the summer months and do not want to make such a big investment, then air conditioner rentals are the best thing for you.

These are companies, which provide air conditioners on rent for a short term or a long-term basis. There are two types of Air conditioners that you can rent. The window Air conditioner is the more common variety used widely across the world and you also have a portable air conditioner, which can be moved, according to your preference.

Window Air Conditioner
The window air conditioner is the type, which is installed on your window. These are excellent for household usage or for small offices etc. You can easily get an air conditioner on rent at discounted prices during the hot summer months. However, it is better if you book the sir conditioner early during summer, because the demand increases.

When you contact an air conditioner rentals company, a representative will visit your place and inspect the room where the Air conditioner needs to be installed. He/she will then suggest what tonnage will be required for your room. The rent often differs according to the tonnage. Then you need to fill up the form and the company representatives will come with a carpenter, install the frame then the Air conditioner and finally will seal all the gaps (if any) between the air conditioner and the frame.

Portable Air conditioner
Used more in big warehouses and factories where a single central cooling unit is not sufficient. They are also used for specific spot cooling. Portable air conditioners can be rented according to their tonnage. They range from 2.5 to 30 tones. They can be used and then moved on their wheeled casters. If you rent this one for a house, you can use and then move it to a different room if needed.

Air Purifier - Help Or Hype

The world has become health crazy.  There is no getting around it, we are turning towards healthier whole grain cereals and breads, we're exercising more, and we're cleaning our homes like fanatical lunatics.  Included in this cleaning craze is the obsession with cleaning our air.  We've got air purifiers in just about every room.  This leads to just one question. 

Does it do any good?

To begin with, getting an air purifier for your home can be confusing as anything.  With all the different brands to choose from and different types of air purification systems it's almost impossible to know which one is any good, if any of them are. 

Then of course there is the burning question, "Do we really need an air purifier anyway?". Is the air in our homes really that bad?  Haven't we been breathing this same air long before there ever were air purification systems?  What's changed?

All of these questions are enough to give us a headache if not outright drive us crazy.  Well, let's deal with one question that we at last can answer. 

While it is true that we have been breathing the same air for thousands of years, we really haven't.  With the industrial revolution and all the garbage that is sent into our air from factories, the truth is, the air is not as clean as it used to be.  All you have to do is take a drive down to the factory district in Trenton, NJ and take a whiff.  There will be no doubt in your mind that the air down there is dirty. 

But the problem goes much deeper than that.  If you're wondering why scientists are so concerned about plants it is because they give off the one thing we need to breathe, oxygen.  They take in carbon dioxide to do this.  So if the plants die, we die.  It's that simple.  The plants are actually are a true air purification system.  Still, people feel they need electronic air purification systems.  Why? How do they work and what good are they if any at all?

Actually, there are many types of systems and each one works differently.  We're not going to go into detail of how each one works as that could take a book in itself.  But the main types of systems are HEPA Filter Systems, which draw the air through the filter and clean it; Ozone Air Purifiers, which work by generating more ozone molecules in the air; Ionic Air Cleaners, which work by negatively charging the air particles in the room; Electrostatic Precipitators, which work by using positive and negative charges to collect particles and Electrostatic Filters which work by creating a static charge which attracts and collects particles in the air. 

Supposedly, these various technologies produce the end result of cleaning your air.  Do they?  Well, there are tests you can run to determine if the amount of allergens in your home have been reduced but ultimately it is all going to come down to one thing. 

Do you feel better?  Does the air smell cleaner?  Do you notice a difference?

Air purifiers.  Help or hype?

We may never really know.

A Key Element In Solar Panels - Efficiency

While solar energy is most often associated with the production of electricity, heating is also a major platform. While heating isn’t particularly difficult, efficiency in doing so is the key to saving wear and tear on your system.

A Key Element In Solar Panels - Efficiency

The sun produces a ton of energy, but solar panel systems have historically been very inefficient at converting it. With improving technology, efficiency has improved to the point where most panel systems can easily produce enough energy to heat water for the home and pools. There are efficient and inefficient ways to go about this process.

To save wear and tear on your panels, you need to consider a flow control system. Older panel systems tend to take a long time to heat up fluid because water more or less randomly circulates through the system. This is very inefficient because the panels are forced to heat up a much larger pool of water than you actually need. This results in wear and tear, not to mention lengthy waits for hot water.

A control flow system attacks the efficiency problem by reducing the amount of water that must be heated. Most are designed to work on temperature differential strategies. They work by using two sensors. The first is located close the panels being used to heat the water or liquid substitute. The second is located on or close to the liquid return valve into the panel system. Put in practical terms, one sensor measures the temperature of liquid set to leave the panel while the other measures the temperature of liquid coming into the panel.

Flow systems work by waiting for the liquid to rise to a temperature determined by you. Once the liquid meets the temperature, the system turns on the circulation pump and moves the liquid to the desired location. Once the return valve sensor notes the temperature of the returning water is within a particular range of the liquid in the panel system, the pump is shut off. This process allows for faster heating times, more efficiency and less wasted energy.

Solar solutions are coming to the front of the energy debate for many residential energy needs. Countries like Germany are making huge investments in solar platforms and technologies. Solar can be a cost-effective solution for you as well. Just keep in mind that flow systems are a must if you are pursuing solar water heating.

A Guide to Antique Sewing Machines

Sewing machines have been mass-produced worldwide for more than two-hundred years. Early models featured unique designs to add beauty and appeal to buyers. The wide variety of styles and manufacturers make antique sewing machines a favorite collectible. Because of the quality workmanship and heavy materials of the early machines many of the antique sewing machines are still working models.

The antique sewing machines will typically be made of cast iron and feature the patent information in a visible location. The machines may have a hand crank or a treadle, which was a flat pedal for both feet to provide the motion for the sewing mechanism. The treadle machines would be mounted onto their own table or cabinet, while many other machines would be in a carrying case and the machine would be placed on the kitchen table.

Miniature, antique sewing machines are some of the most desirable, as they are smaller working models that served as salesmen’s samples, used while traveling or for mending. These small machines doubled as children's sewing machines specifically for use by young girls, since they were expected to learn how to sew. Machines that were intended to be marketed as a child's machine were often painted in a different color or have floral motifs painted onto the body of the machine.

Over the past two centuries many sewing machine companies were successful for a time before closing operations, making for the wide variety of machines to be found. Many companies were not able to survive having their manufacturing facilities converted for wartime use, but also lost to post-war Japan's ability to produce cheap products.

Singer is the first sewing machine company and continues to have antique sewing machines that are the most recognizable and most popular with collectors. The Singer Featherweight model #221, referred to as the Perfect Portable, continues to be a favorite of quilters.

Alternative Cooling

My favorite alternative cooling device is a gin and tonic. It’s portable, easy to operate and provides instant on-demand refreshment.

Is there such a thing as a Tanqueray energy tax credit?

Although you can install solar panels, a wind turbine or micro hydro to generate the electricity to run an air conditioner, the only true whole house alternative cooling method is a geothermal ground source pump.

The cost of this type of system can be recouped in as little as two years on a new house installation, but the initial capital outlay is more than most homeowners can afford.

Let’s say you re-mortgage your house for $20,000 and you have a choice between a new kitchen and a geothermal heat pump; how many new heat pumps have your neighbors been showing off lately?

Less expensive options to consider:

Weatherization
The only people who haven’t learned the value of caulking, weather stripping and insulating yet are living in caves or tents.

Fans
Ceiling, paddle, and portable fans produce air motion across your skin that increases evaporative cooling. A moderate breeze of one to two miles an hour can extend your comfort range by several degrees.

Whole House Fans and Evaporative (Swamp) Coolers
These devices can reduce your air conditioning costs by 50% or more but are only effective if you live in a dry climate (less than 40%humidity).

White Roofing
Elastomeric roof coatings reflect 90% of the sun's rays and will reduce the indoor temperature by 7 degrees according the independent research laboratory MER Corporation. These coatings are for flat roofs and cost around .50 per square foot to apply.

Radiant Barriers
These shiny, reflective barriers keep excess heat out of your attic in the summer or keeping your floors warm in the winter. Stapled under the rafters or joists, it reflects 97 of the radiant heat that strikes it. The non-profit Florida Solar Energy Center has shown that an attic radiant barrier can reduce air conditioning costs by at least 20%.

Air Conditioners
Clean the filter once a month. Turn off your A/C when you leave for more than an hour. It saves money. Draw the shades while you’re at work. Close off unused rooms or, if you have central A/C, close the registers in those rooms and shut the doors.

Set your A/C thermostat at 78°F—or higher if you have ceiling fans. For each degree you raise the thermostat, you'll save 3%-5% on cooling costs.

If you want to make a fortune in alternative cooling, invent an air conditioner that runs on corn.

Aluminum Cushion Patio Furniture

Choosing patio furniture can be a difficult decision with so many options. There is one option that is comfortable as well as beautiful to accent any patio, and that is aluminum cushion patio furniture.

Aluminum cushion patio furniture is the most comfortable patio furniture . Plush cushions and soft upholstered fabrics make sitting in a chaise lounge a very relaxing experience. The fabric chosen for upholstery can be suited to match any type of décor.

Aluminum cushion patio furniture is also a great choice for durability. The aluminum hardware is treated to be weather resistant, and is also designed with comfort in mind. Cushions also are treated to be mold and mildew resistant so they can survive the elements when left outside.          

Aluminum cushion patio furniture has some unique design elements to offer as well. Instead of a set of simple chairs, aluminum cushion patio chairs can be swivel chairs or rocking chairs that allow for maximum mobility as well as comfort. An aluminum serving cart can also be ordered to compliment any aluminum cushion patio furniture set.

Aluminum cushion patio furniture is a great choice for commercial or residential use. It is a great idea when you want you gets to have the maximum comfort patio furniture can provide when sitting outdoors or poolside. It is more decorative than traditional aluminum patio furniture, so you know your guests will appreciate that.

Air Cleaner Buying Tips

As we all know breathing in clean, pure air is important for our health. So you should get a good quality air cleaner installed in your office or home. The market is flooded with hosts of air cleaning products. These products use a lot of acronyms that can leave any average user bewildered. I would like to your answer some of your questions on understanding these acronyms to assist you in purchasing the right product for your use.

What is HEPA?
High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance (HEPA) filters were originated during the Second World War. They were designed to prevent the radioactive particles from entering the human respiratory system. Today, they are the best air cleaners in the market with their filtration rate slightly below 100%. They can remove all particles of size 0.3 microns.

Who is OEM?
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) is the manufacturer who not only sells you the product but also provides the spare parts when the parts in the product deteriorate. You might get generic parts in the market, which can be cheaper. But the quality cannot be guaranteed. When you purchase the product from the OEM, you are assured a good quality not only on the product but also on the spares that you buy. Besides, OEM also takes the responsibility for maintaining the air cleaners. This ensures you get a good quality service for your air cleaners.

What is MERV?
Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) denotes the efficiency of the filter. It is the ability of the filter to remove the particles. The value lies in the range of 12 to 16. A low value tells you that the filter is inefficient at removing the particles. Values of 12 to 16 denote that the filter is highly efficient in removing more particles. This is the standard used by all the air cleaner manufacturers. This makes comparison among different products very easy.

What is CADR?
Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) is the amount of filtered air that is free from three major pollutants viz. dust, pollen and cigarette smoke. Higher number indicates higher rate of filtration and thus an efficient filter. Ideally, buy an air cleaner whose CADR is around two third of the area of the room whose air you want to filter. These numbers are marked on the box, but they indicate the performance when you use the parts supplied by OEM and not by the generic manufacturers.

Air Purification

Wherever you go today, you will face a constant attack of pollution; not only from air, but also from water and noise. There are almost as many types of air pollution as there are potential solutions. No matter what type of air purification system you're looking for, you should know that there is not one product on the market today that can solve every problem.

In order to find out which type of air purification solution is the most suitable for you. It is therefore necessary for you to understand all these five typed of air pollution first.

1. Radon Gas Pollution: Radon is a completely odorless, tasteless and colorless gas, and is the heaviest of all known gasses. It is caused by the radioactive breakdown of uranium inside the earth. When radon is cooled below freezing, it turns a brilliant phosphorescent shade of yellow, which turns orange-red as it gets colder. Radon is also the second leading cause of lung cancer. Smoking exacerbates the affects of radon. Radon is found all around us, in our homes, our yards and the world around us.

Recommended Solution: The best solution to this form of pollution is to first of all test your home (a simple test is available at most hardware stores) and then to seal all cracks and openings in your home's foundation. If the problem merits it, you may need to have a certified contractor install a ventilation system inside your home.

2. Chemical Fumes and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). This type of pollution comes from chemicals like benzene and formaldehyde, the chemical fumes that are constantly seeping from carpets, upholstery, furniture, draperies, household cleaning products, beauty products such as nail polish, removers, etc. They also come from cigarette, cigar and pipe smoke, building construction, etc. Many of these chemicals have been identified as carcinogens.

Recommended Solution: Currently the best solution on the market for this type of pollution are products that produce catalytic oxidation.

3. Microbial Causing Pollution. Microbials are microscopic bacteria, fungi, mycotoxins created by a fungus, mildew, mold spores and viruses. They can be as small as .001 microns. Microbials love to live in warm, damp places, or under your carpet, in your walls and in heating and air conditioning ducts.

Recommended Solution: Currently the best solutions on the market for this type of pollution are those that produce oxidation, which kills microbials.

4. Odor Causing Pollution. Odor comes from many different places - food, animals, human bodies, cigarettes, cigars and pipe smoke, sports shoes, clothing and equipment, etc. Although not necessarily dangerous, if you've ever walked into your teenage son's room after he's come back from a football game and taken a deep breath - you know it can be very unpleasant!

Recommended Solution: Currently, the best solutions on the market for this type of pollution are odor sponges, ozone and oxidation.

5. Particulate Causing Pollution. Particulates are those little floating things you see when the sun comes shining in through your windows, and include dust, dust mites, dust mite feces, pet dander, skin flakes (what dust mites eat), pollen, smoke particles and allergens.

Recommended Solution: Currently the best solutions on the market for this type of pollution are infiltration and negative ions.

With this basic understanding about pollution you are now ready to make that all important decision about which system is going to be best for you. The choice is yours!

About Clean Air And Air Conditioners

When it’s scorching hot outside, air conditioners can really work wonders in keeping you cool! You need not be surprised if you find people darting through the street merely to rush into an air-conditioned room. But remember, that cooling yourself is not the last thing; staying healthy and fresh is what should be uppermost in your mind. This is exactly what a good air conditioner should do for you, because apart from cooling the room, an air conditioner also filters the air flowing into it. A quality air conditioning machine has a proper set up which thoroughly filters the outside air and allows only the clean air to enter.

What you need, is an air conditioner that comes with an inbuilt air filter. The air conditioners available in the market are not quite capable of draining out everything harmful for you. So if you are really concerned that a regular inhaling of dust, fumes and smoke can affect your health in the long run, you should go for a high quality air conditioner, which has a proper air cleaner in it.

This type of air conditioning machine in your home or office becomes all the more useful if you or any one in your family happen to suffer from allergies or chronic breathing problems. Having a good air conditioner is not enough, so remember to let your doors and windows open from time to time and purge the impure air out of your room. Your house keeping style should also be taken care of.

To make sure that your air conditioner lasts long and your air filtration set up functions properly, you will have to pay a regular attention to the maintenance of your machine. Don’t defer your maintenance job until your machine finally stops working, or the inside air stops being so pure as it used to be. In fact, experts in this field will suggest you to change your filter every month to ensure the best functioning. But alas! Some people do not bother to budge for even years!

Make it a point to clean and change the filter regularly. This way your air conditioner will drain out the bad air and allow only the clean and filtered air to flow in. So if you want clean air to flow through your home, your only option is to maintain your conditioner regularly. A filter, which is poorly maintained, is unable to clean air properly and decreases the cooling capacity of the machine. On top of that, it uses up more energy, and ultimately leads to a shorter longevity of the air conditioner.

A Hardwood Floor For Your Home

Perhaps it's time for a remodel and updating of your home. How about a remodel that will transform your home, add lasting value, beauty and elegance, and be something you will be proud of? Think about hardwood flooring.

Generally hardwood floors come pre finished, this is when the manufacturer applies a finish at the factory. This finish is generally at least four coats of ultraviolet cured urethane resin. Hardwood floors are generally easy to clean with a simple sweep of a dust mop or vacuuming. You will need to protect your hardwood floors from scratches as much as possible. Putting protective rugs under your furniture is an excellent way to prevent scratches on the floor. Hardwood floors are meant to last a lifetime.

You will want to choose a color of hardwood floor that will accent your home and home furnishings. As a rule lighter colors go with country, contemporary and casual settings. Darker colored wood floors are for formal or traditional interiors. But, of course, anything goes! Your decision should be based on your visual preference.

Lighter wood would be a white ash, sugar maple or southern yellow pine. Darker colors are beech, birch, red oak, heart pine and mesquite.

You want to make sure that your hardwood floor will be able to withstand denting and wear. Of the woods mentioned above mesquite is the hardest wood, and a southern yellow pine would be the softest. In the middle of these fall the yellow birch, heart pine and beech.

If you are going to be hiring and contractor to install your hardwood floor make sure you ask for references. Go take a look at a floor that he has installed. Make sure that he is comfortable working with the type of word floor that you want installed.

Make sure that you thoroughly inspect the hardwood floor after the installation. Look at the floor from a standing position and with normal lighting. The finish on your floor will not be that you would find on fine furniture. Deep swirls or sander marks or splotchy areas may mean that the floor wasn't finished properly. There will however be some irregularities on any wood floor. However, these irregularities won't seem obvious and will only add to the character of the floor.

A Good Bedroom Closet Design Will Eliminate the Need For Space

You can transform a bedroom closet design quickly, easily, and inexpensively by installing a modular closet system. There are many competing storage systems and products, so take a look at several systems before deciding.

There are two main types of do-it-yourself systems; those made of ventilation coated-wire components, and those made of solid particleboard components with a high pressure-plastic laminate.

Mixing solid-wood components with wire shelves and rod makes sense some cases, for instance…there are some items they want to look at and other they would like to store.
If you plan a system carefully, you can double the amount of storage area available.

It’s a good idea to have a few hooks but not too many or your closet will look messy. Slide-out drawers may not be worth the cost; simple and cheap shelving usually work just as well.

In addition to the usual bedroom closet design, think about under-the-bed storage, as well as under the eaves if you have attic space. But also think about smaller pieces like file cabinets, and freestanding storage.

A combination of drawers and cupboards, and open shelves with doors offers the most flexibility. In most cases the easiest way to plan is to start with a shelf or drawer unit somewhere in the middle. It often helps to divide a large closet in half or in thirds to make it easier to find things.