Monday, July 23, 2012

Adirondack Chairs - Combining Comfort With Timeless Style




Adirondack chairs have been around for over a century, but their timeless design is still as popular as ever among those of us looking for comfortable and relaxing outdoor furniture.  The original Adirondack chair was invented in 1903 by a man called Thomas Lee, whilst vacationing with his family in Westport, New York.  The simple but sturdy design, incorporating the characteristic slanted back and wide armrests, was patented by Harry Bunnel, who named this new style of outdoor chair after the nearby Adirondack region.  He went on to successfully sell his Adirondack chairs made from hemlock to summer residents of the resort of Westport for the next 20 years.  And the classic design continues to be a favorite to this day.

The enduring appeal of Adirondack furniture lies in the fact that not only does it look great in almost any recreational setting, from porches to lawns, decks to patios, it is also incredibly comfortable to sit in.  Adirondack chairs are made from different types of wood, including cedar, teak and mahogany.  The wood can be left to weather naturally, stained to preserve its natural color, or painted in any shade you choose.  Modern alternatives that are virtually maintenance free are recycled plastic chairs, which do look amazingly like real wood.

These days, the original design has been adapted to create various different styles of furniture, including Adirondack rocking chairs and porch swings.  Reclining chairs with cushions for extra comfort are a favorite, as are all-in-one styles that come with a retractable ottoman.  For a totally coordinated new look, there are all kinds of Adirondack sets to choose from, such as those with matching side tables, footrests and ottomans.  The wide armrests are perfect for holding drinks or books, and it's really no wonder that this traditional type of outdoor furniture is still so sought after today.  An Adirondack chair is the ideal place to relax and unwind on a long sunny day!

Shop for Adirondack Chairs Now!!

Thursday, July 19, 2012

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.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

A Look At The Different Types Of Heat Exchangers

The Heat Exchanger is a device built for efficient transferring of heat energy from one fluid to another across a solid surface. In a heat exchanger design both the convection and conduction principle of heat transfer is used. There is no radiative transfer of heat energy between the exchanger and the environment unless the exchanger is uninsulated or its external surfaces are very hot. The heat exchanger has wide use in engineering processes. The most common example of a heat exchanger is the radiator in a car. Here the hot fluid in the radiator is cooled by the air flow over the radiator surface.

Some other examples of heat exchanger are preheaters, intercoolers, boilers, condensers, etc. that are used in the power plants. They are also used in refrigeration, air conditioning, chemical processing and power production.

Different types of Heat Exchangers:

There are different types of heat exchangers. They can be classified according to its construction into the following types i.e. shell and tube heat exchanger and plate and frame heat exchanger.

- Shell and tube heat exchanger: This is a typical heat exchanger. The shell and tube heat exchanger is consisting of a series of finned tubes through which one of the fluids runs and the other fluid which is to be heated or cooled runs over the finned tubes.

- Plate and frame heat exchanger: In a plate and frame heat exchanger, the fluids are separated by plates with a large surface area. Here the flow is directed through the baffles.
The heat exchangers classified according to its uses are recuperative type, regenerative type and evaporative type.

- Recuperative type: In recuperative type heat exchanger the heat from the fluids on either side of a dividing wall is exchanged.

- Regenerative type: In regenerative type heat exchanger the hot and cold fluids are allowed to occupy the same space containing a matrix of material that works alternatively as a sink or source for heat flow.

- Evaporative type: In evaporative type heat exchanger the fluid is evaporatively cooled in the same space as coolant such as a cooling tower.

- The recuperative type of heat exchanger again can be designed according to one of the following types i.e. Parallel-flow, Counter-flow and Cross-flow.

- Parallel-flow heat exchanger: In this type of heat exchanger both the fluids exchanges heat by flowing in the same direction through individual pipes.

- Counter-flow heat exchanger: In this type of heat exchanger the fluids exchanges heat by flowing in the opposite direction through individual pipes.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

6 Tips to Stop Mold Growing in Your Home

It is normal to find mold spores in a homes indoor air and surfaces such as clothes, walls, and furniture. Most of the time mold spores found indoors are from outside sources. Regular housekeeping cleaning helps keep mold levels low. Cleaning small areas of visible mold, like the mold around your shower, is obligatory to maintain sanitary conditions.

When you should be more concerned is when your home has a large-scale of active mold growing. Such problems are most likely to happen when there’s been an on-going water leak, flood, or excessively high levels of humidity in the home. Indoor mold growth may lead to high levels of airborne mold spores, which, in turn, can trigger the spread of mold growth from the original source to additional areas of the home having high moisture levels.

Extensive mold growth will damage your home and furnishings, like carpets, sofas and cabinets. Over a period of time, uncontrolled mold growth can even instigate damage to structural elements of your home. While there is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment, keeping your home clean and dry can avert extensive mold growth and the ensuing damage.

Damage to your home and possessions is not the only reason to be concerned with mold.  Although most people are exposed to small amounts of mold or their spores on a daily basis without apparent harm, mold is an unsanitary condition that may present potential health risks to certain individuals.
Possible adverse health effects produced by molds can include allergic, irritating, or toxigenic effects, and even infections, allergic reactions being the most common. Symptoms reported by affected people include: respiratory conditions, such as wheezing, difficulty breathing, and shortness of breath, sneezing and/or nasal congestion, eye and/or throat irritation, headaches and fatigue.

Here are a few tips to keep moisture from becoming a breeding ground in your home for molds.

1. Ensure that bathrooms, dryers and other moisture-creating sources are vented to the outside
2. Take care not to block any of your house’s air conditioning vents
3. Install de-humidifiers in basements and crawlspaces.
4. Use your kitchen’s exhaust fans when cooking
5. Install insulation on cold surfaces like piping, air ducts or basement walls to lessen possibilities of condensation
6. Install moisture sensor alarms in potential water back-up and overflow areas to alert you when a leak occurs. Shop for Water Alarms

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

5 Reasons Why You Should Get A Robotic Vacuum Cleaner


Since the day robotic vacuums were introduced, household cleaning has never been the same. Due to its sleek design and advanced technological concept, people are hitting the market to purchase their own robotic vacuum cleaner. But is the device it worth it? Check out the most common reasons why you yourself should consider getting your own robot vacuum cleaner.

Efficiency. Let’s face it. Cleaning is hard. And nobody wants to do it. Getting a maid doesn’t come cheap nowadays. With the robotic vacuum cleaner, you’ll get your living room, and any room for that matter, spic and span in no time. Its features are that of the regular upright vacuum, only better. It has brushes, filters, cleaning mechanisms, and all within a sturdy casing, ensuring the best operation possible.

Ease of Use. The robotic vacuum is of course, automatic. It will work unattended. Turn it on, leave it cleaning, come back and you’ll find the room sparkling clean. No special switches or configurations needed. Just press the button, and the robotic vacuum will start cleaning without supervision. It paces the room randomly, using its random algorithm programming technology. It may cover the same spot many times. It would also recharge on it own if it goes low on battery power. No need to worry about looking for it after it’s done cleaning. It would just be on its docking station waiting for you for its next scheduled assignment.

Compact Design. The robotic vacuum is a flat, disk-shaped device. It’s flat so it can go under furniture. It would reach all those places the normal vacuum can’t. So there’s no need to move sofas, stools, and low-set tables. It’s made disk-shaped so it can go around furniture’s legs and wall corners effectively, cleaning as it goes. It has bumpers too to absorb possible collision with a solid device along its way.

Intelligent Technology. The concept behind this robotic vacuum is similar to what the army uses in clearing land mines on war fields. This robotic vacuum contains multiple sensors that will detect dirt to suck it in. The sensors also makes possible to go toward the dirtier part of the room, clean it repeatedly till there’s none detected. Plus, it is what makes it intelligent enough not to fall down steps and stairs. And with the virtual wall device that comes with it, it won’t go outside an open doorway.

These are just some of the reasons that may urge you to get your own robotic vacuum cleaner. Just imagine the time you’ll save vacuuming your house’s entire floor area. You can do something else with all that time you should have spent cleaning. And in this ever-changing fast world, time saved is definitely worth the price you paid.

http://www.sdsmarket.com/iTouchless_AV002A_Robotic_Vacuum_Cleaner_PRO_p/itouchless_av002a.htm



Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Tips To Keep Teak Furniture Looking Its Best


To survive rain, wind and sun outdoor furniture has to be tough--and no material is as prized for its rugged beauty and legendary durability as teak.

Made to last for decades with absolutely no maintenance, upkeep is more a matter of personal preference than a requirement. While some people prefer the golden color of new teak, others prefer the distinguished silver-grey that teak becomes as it weathers.

Regardless of your preference, just a few steps will make sure your teak furniture stays in tip-top shape for decades. Here are a few tips from Jeremy Smith, president of Wood Classics, a U.S.-based teak furniture manufacturer:


  • Make sure you have a top quality product to begin with. Pay attention to the wood quality and construction techniques used in the furniture, as this can affect furniture's longevity. 
  • When looking at teak products, make sure they are really teak, not "teak-like" or "as good as teak."
  • Consider the grade of teak being used. First European Quality (FEQ) is the top grade without knots, cracks or pits.
  •  If you prefer the natural look of weathered teak, you can look forward to virtually no maintenance. If your furniture is left outside, you will want to clean off mildew, sap and pollen annually with Olympic® Deck Wash.
  • If you prefer the original rich honey color of teak, there are several steps you can take to preserve this golden color. After thoroughly washing the teak you can treat it with specialized teak cleaners and restoration products. However, using these products is time-intensive. We usually recommend that our customers either allow the teak to age naturally, clean it with a deck wash or hire a professional teak maintenance service to apply the more specialized products. 
  •  If you're using the furniture indoors, consider finishing it to protect it from stains by sealing or varnishing it. Don't use teak oil, varnishes or sealers on furniture if you're using it outside, since this may cause it to turn black with mildew.
View our line of Anderson Teak Furniture - http://www.sdsmarket.com/Anderson_Teak_Outdoor_Furniture_s/1115.htm`


Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Building or Remodeling a Home? Think Lock Security


During the exciting time of having your house built or remodeled, make sure to consider one of the most important features that will keep you and your family safe for years to come: security.

According to the National Crime Prevention Council, about six out of 10 completed burglaries take place without any sign of forced entry, suggesting that either a door or window was left unlocked or that a duplicate key was used to open one.

Residential burglary is one of the most frequently reported crimes. It also is the most preventable. Locking your windows and doors and having proper lock security is the easiest and most cost-efficient way to prevent burglary.

The first step in securing your remodeled or newly built home is to deadbolt exterior doors. Deadbolts are available in several formats. Some are key operated from both inside and out, key operated from the outside and open with a thumbturn on the inside, or solely operated with a thumbturn on the inside. Check with your local crime prevention authority to determine what kind of lock is recommended in your area.

Remember that not all locks are created equally. For maximum protection, choose high-security locks. For example, locks made by Medeco incorporate features that protect against drilling and picking. Keys for these locks can only be made by authorized Medeco dealers after you show proper identification. This ensures that only you can authorize the duplication of your keys.

Sliding glass doors tend to be an easy point of entry. Special locks and bars are available to prevent lifting and prying of the door. You also can put a wooden dowel or broom handle in the door track.

When thinking lock security, don't forget about your windows. Traditional double-hung windows, which have a top and bottom sash that slides up and down, continue to be the most popular window type installed in remodeled or newly built homes. To secure these windows, install a window sash lock, a lock that's attached to the sashes of a double-hung window to keep in a shut position.

View our Door Locks and be sure to check out our line of Biometric Door Locks

Friday, June 1, 2012

Are Fake Security Cameras Effective?


Are fake security cameras effective?  The answer is a resounding "Yes."

Fake security cameras have helped to prevent many crimes.  Mounted in high profile, totally visible locations, these cameras are not hooked up to anything, they mostly operate for a long time on batteries and sometimes have a few flashing lights or other obvious characteristics to make them look as if they are doing something.

Many a would-be robber has changed his or her mind about entering someplace illegally after spotting one of these dummy security cameras looking right at them. With today’s technology, an inexperienced thief really has no way to know whether or not he’s looking at a wireless, state of the art surveillance device or a fake security camera. Some of them actually pan back and forth, although these require more frequent battery changes.

Fake security cameras are especially effective in areas that you expect to be covered by security cameras. For instance, many of the cameras in subway stations around the world are fake security cameras and nobody can tell the difference. During hard times, when the crime rates inevitably rise and cities are strapped for cash, the ratio of fake cameras to real ones was about 2-to-1 in some metropolitan areas.

Knowing that the fake cameras would be regarded as real, the fakes were sprinkled in among the real ones to provide an extra incentive for would-be robbers and thieves to practice their trade in another location. Except for the lack of recorded footage provided by the real cameras, dummy security cameras are almost as effective in reducing crime rates in subways as the real ones are.

Only sophisticated thieves can tell -- at a distance -- whether they are being observed by a real security camera.

View our Fake Security cameras now! http://www.sdsmarket.com/Dummy_Cameras_s/977.htm

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Deal of Day!

Check out our Deal of the Day and Save Big now!!!!
http://www.sdsmarket.com/dealoftheday.asp

Water Heater - Energy Star

ENERGY STAR qualified gas condensing water heaters are blazing a new trail in water heating technology. If you have time to plan ahead, consider this exciting new technology for your next water heater purchase.
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=WHC