Mischer News

Sometimes it takes a little extra effort to make a difference on your electricity bill. And, cooling costs can comprise a sizable chunk of your electricity bill. But, making everyone in your house sweat uncomfortably for your peace of mind is a little bit extreme too! By following these simple tips and paying a little more attention to your family’s habits around the house you are sure to find ways to comfortably compensate for these rising summer expenses!

• Make sure your home is well sealed. Make sure to keep the fireplace damper closed, install a timer (available at Home Depot or Lowes) on your bathroom exhaust fans and check to see if your ductwork is well sealed.
• Keep your home cool simply and naturally by use energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs and grilling food outside. Plant full trees or attach awnings on the east and west sides of your home to shade the windows and reduce the temperature inside by as much as 20 degrees.
• Install Energy Star–certified ceiling fans and use them when a room is being occupied. This can allow you to keep your home as much as four degrees cooler in the summer without even noticing.
• Program your digital thermostats. This is a very simple, but often overlooked energy-saver. Make sure to set the temp between 78 and 80 when you will not be home and then allow the temperature to gradually be reduced in the few hours prior to your return.

Did you know that most power companies will send someone to your home free of charge to evaluate the basic efficiency of your home and offer tips to improve the areas that need a little help? Just call your provider and explain that you have concerns as to the air tightness of your home and ask if they provide the valuable free service.

With potential savings of up to $500 a year, you’ll have a little extra in your wallet to splurge on something really fun for the whole family!

Green FACT: According to the EPA, “if 1 in 10 households bought Energy Star–rated heating and cooling equipment, the change in greenhouse-gas emissions would be equivalent to taking 1.5 million cars off the road.”

Source: EPA/Energy Star

Back to school shopping can be a stressful time for parents and kids alike. And, trying to keep up with the latest trends and ever changing school supply requirements can be a little overwhelming. Just follow these simple, essential tips when you head out the door this August, and you will find yourself well equipped for the task at hand. With a little bit of planning and a sharp eye for bargains, anyone can save big bucks!

• Be patient and wait for the sales and discounts. Some of the biggest markdowns on clothing, shoes, and electronics, happen in mid to late August. Your patience will pay off with average savings of 40 to 50 percent in retail stores and 20 to 25 percent online.
• Plan to take advantage of the Texas Tax-Free weekend on August 20 – 22, 2010. During this one weekend in August, back-to-school items, like clothing, backpacks and footwear, are tax-free. (http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxpubs/tx98_490/tx98_490.html ) 
• Make sure to buy a backpack that comes with a warranty. Kids can be very hard on their book bags, so your child’s backpack should be come from a reputable company, such as L.L. Bean or the North Face, which guarantees its products will hold up. If a zipper breaks or the handle/straps come apart the company should have a no charge replacement policy. 
• For high school and college students in need of software, make sure and request the “student discount” or “student rate” on software. Most Microsoft products can be purchased at a significant (as much as 80% off) discount simply by showing a valid student ID at retail stores or by send a copy via e-mail or fax to online stores. 

Most importantly, avoid buying anything you don’t really need. Start with the essentials and as needs arise, you can pick them up. And, although sales begin in late August, by late September, you may find items deeply discounted by as much as 75% off. In short, plan ahead and make a list. Then watch the local ads and don’t let your kids pressure you into overspending! 

We all know that even if there’s no printed expiration date, no product will last forever. Your fire extinguisher is no exception.

Most extinguisher manufacturers say they should work between 5 to 15 years (a frighteningly wide range), and most consumers have no idea if they purchased theirs two years ago or 12. So, follow this expert advice to rest assured your extinguisher will fire away in the event of an emergency. 

Local fire chief Dennis L. Rubin says consumers should regularly check their extinguishers pressure gauge – as often as once a month. “If the needle is in the green area, it’s functional,” he says. “If it falls anywhere else, the extinguisher is unreliable and should be serviced or replaced. For an older model without a gauge, have it checked by a pro.” Look in your local Yellow Pages under “fire extinguishers” or call your local fire department to find companies that refill and service extinguishers in your area. 

And remember, if you the nozzle is cracked, the locking pin on the handle is missing, or the handle is wobbly or broken it should be replaced immediately. A fire can happen in an instant, so always be prepared!

As a homeowner, you are well aware of the importance of homeowners insurance to protect your home and its contents. But did you know that your homeowner insurance DOES NOT cover damage to your home or contents resulting from a flood (aka rising water)? Everyone’s home is at risk of flash flooding, but depending on your property location, your home is either considered at high-risk or at moderate-to-low risk for a flood. And, your insurance premiums will fluctuate accordingly.

Although you cannot prevent a flood, you can be prepared for the event and insure that you are able to get your family, home and hard-earned belongings back in order as quickly as possible. Follow these simple steps below and be prepared!

Safeguard your family’s financial stability. Create a personal “flood file” containing information about all family members and your personal possessions. Then come up with a safe place to store the file, such as a fireproof or safety deposit box, and make sure both you and your spouse or children know where the file is kept. This special file should contain copies of the following: 

•A copy of all family members personal, life and health insurance policies and contact information for your agent and toll free numbers for the companies in the event the agent is effected by the storm too!

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So you’ve bought your new home and want to add a touch of personal style to it with a splash of color on the walls. Here are a few tips to painting your new walls like a pro!

Figure out how much paint you will really need before you get started. You are much less likely to have color inconsistencies if it is all mixed at once, instead of going back for another can. Most brands suggest their paint should cover about 400 square feet per gallon (that’s one coat of paint on the walls of a 10 by 12 foot bedroom, excluding ceiling, doors and windows). If you are on the fence, buy that extra quart!

Get organized and have everything you need in the room before you start your project so you won’t have to stop mid-project and wash brushes or go buy more paint. And, as basic as it may seem, paint (and complete) one room at a time! 

Once you have bought the paint, brushes, rollers, trays, and drop cloths and taped off all the trim boards, you are ready to go. Start at the ceiling first and, with a cutting pad, paint a border about 6 inches wide. Then, use a paint brush to fill in all corners and follow by painting the walls from the top down with a roller. Finish by using the cutting pad along the baseboards. Since some paints dry quicker than others, complete one whole wall before moving onto the next. 

Now that you know some of the best kept pro’s secrets – get busy and paint!

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As we head into summer and our lawns become more labor intensive, take a few tips from golf course turf experts on how to water your yard like a pro.

Water your yard deep, but infrequently."The No. 1 thing I see homeowners do is overwater, which builds up excess thatch (an unsightly thick mat of tangled roots between the grass blades and soil)," says turf pro Brooks. “Daily watering encourages shallow roots and wastes water. Instead, water deeply, watching closely to see when more is needed.” A few signs it's time to water include:

1.The soil resists when you try to push a stake into the ground

2.Your grass begins to show a hint of bluish tint

3.Your footprints in the grass don’t spring back and disappear, but instead remain compressed

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According to an annual study conducted by the Javelin Strategy and Research Center, almost 10 million people a year are victims of identity theft. And, one everyday task is a potential culprit - shopping online. And, more and more people are distributing personal information through social media outlets such as Facebook or MySpace, and plugging it into digital devices they can easily lose.

Online scam artists often surf for a payday on the Internet via official-looking e-mails that appear to be from a large banking institution or by introducing themselves as offshore investors looking for a state side liaison to help disperse their funds. The messages encourage recipient to log on to the bank site to re-enter personal data and verify accounts. But the link goes to a fake, yet realistic-looking, site that gathers personal information for the scammers.

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