For the past two weeks we've noticed that we're down to only one goose. Waddles and Toddles have been living here since early spring, but lately no one has seen any signs of Toddles. Maybe Toddles flew away for the winter, we don't know. Waddles seems to be looking for his friend, but appears to be happy remaining in our back yard.

I'm not very good with the camera, so Sue put this slideshow together for me. I hope you enjoy it.

This is a picture I recently took of Oscar. Notice how close Oscar is to the body of my Grill. That's because it's cool and damp outside and he's doing one of the things cats do best, staying warm. Whenever the grill is warm and no one's around Oscar climbs right up there to soak up some heat. Sometimes all his hard effort pays of and he scores a piece of chicken or hamburger. Yep, Oscar is one smart cat.

A buddy of ours rent commercial space in one of the some mini malls here in Blakeslee and has been having intermittent well problems for about a month now. I didn't find it so unusual given the low water tables this year. I know of many people who's wells have run low, lost water to their houses and after a couple of hours everything's been fine again. Thursday I get a call that he hasn't had water most of the day. This is commercial property with 1 other rent paying business, so I promised to come over and take a look at it on Friday after a finish up a few previously scheduled appointments.

I test to verify that there is indeed 240 going to pump. Sure enough power is correct and constant. Great it's already past 6 PM, guess we're going to be working on Saturday. My wife and I were going to take the weekend off and relax ... wasn't sure what she was going to say about this. First words out of her mouth when I told her were "No water, that really stinks". Followed by "Three of you might not be enough to pull and maneuver a 400 foot deep well pump, I'll come give you a hand. Maybe I can get some good pictures for your website". Okay, I'm not in the doghouse, yet.

So here we are Saturday 8:00 AM. Sue takes a few pictures while the boys and I disconnect the water line and electrical connections. Then she puts the camera away and comes over to help pull the line out. Okay, this is a little rough, but much easier then we had anticipated. Water line and pump are spread out on the lawn and guess what, they paid for the well driller to drill a 400 foot well. He has receipts showing he paid for a 400-foot well, but I'm looking at what appears to be no more than 150-foot water line. Taking out the tape and measuring it confirms it's only 150-feet.

Don't know what to tell my friend. The well was put in over 10 years ago and the driller is no longer around. Paid for 400-feet and here I'm looking at 150-feet of line. I suppose the driller might have drilled 400-feet and only dropped the water line to 150, but why would he have done that? Well, I didn't have anything with me to measure the depth of the well, so that will have to wait for another day.

As for the current problem, the pump has been replaced, the water pressure is excellent and the tenants are all very happy. Sue proceed the pictures so they would be of appropriate size and resolution for my website. She also strongly suggested that I type a post about this since I haven't posted anything since May. So here it is, job's done, people are happy, I got this post done, which will make Sue happy and I think I may have once again narrowly escaped the doghouse.

I received an email on Thursday form a homeowner who needed his crawlspace redone. The email also stated that there was additional work that could also be quoted. The email came via ActiveRain. At first I didn't know what to think, I thought maybe it was a prank or a spamer. After all, I don't blog much, it would have made more sense for someone searching Google to find my website as opposed to my ActiveRain blog.

I called Sue and told her about it. Of course she started to carry on about how she's told me numerous times that AR really does work and that I should just respond to the email. Sure enough, within 30 minutes of my response the gentleman called me to set up an appointment for the following day. Still a little bit in doubt that this is all for real I convince my wife to come along and check this job out with me.

I don't know how much of the entire project the homeowner will decide he's ready to do and how much of it I'll get. I was ready to quote a crawlspace and found myself in the middle of a very nice project including decks, roof, siding, sliders, windows and plumbing. My point isn't about how much work I will or won't get, my point is that I'm getting a chance to submit my quote because this homeowner found my ActiveRain Blog and my Localism Blog. He then followed my website link off my profile page. He liked what he read and he liked my profile picture. He said the picture gave him the impression that I was an older laid back sort of guy who's been around long enough to know my business, but not so long as to be out off touch with changes in the industry. Who would guess all that could be gathered from a picture? I guess people like the idea of seeing whom they may be dealing with.

I almost forgot to mention that his daughter is a Realtor and an AR member. She came over to see how everything was going and immediately seemed to recognize my wife. Commented on her blog and how many AR points she had. The two of them were talking about Real Estate, current market trends, inspections, contractor etc. You'd swear they were old friends, guess that's what happens when AR members speak. I've heard Sue on the phone with other AR members, people she's never met, but you don't get that impression listening to the conversations.

 There you have it, blogging on AR obviously works since this gentleman found and called me. I have to give a big thank you to AR and of course to my wife who dragged me here. If you have an AR profile and you're not using it, get to it. This network really rocks!

Looking at this picture it is obvious that this deck has some structural problems. First of all it should never have been built with 4x4 supports spanning such large spans. You can also see that there is earth to wood contact. The support beams are bent and warped and I can go on for a while, but then again I degrees from the point of this post.

Now take a look at this picture. As you can see there is some decay on this joist. As a matter of fact, this joist has already been sistered once before. A method used a lot here in the Poconos because it is easier and cheaper than jacking the structure to replace the joist.

What I wasn't expecting to find was this. This is an active carpenter ant colony busy at work. This is only one picture of an extensive amount of damage caused by these insects. In this particular case the infestation was found to have spread throughout a large area and more of the structure had to be replaced.

What's sad is that the owner of this home had the house exterminated last year for carpenter ants. Unfortunately the exterminator fumigated the inside of the house but didn't exterminate the deck area.

I'm sure some of you are familiar with this picture. It was on a post written by my wife last week regarding contractor rip offs. I'm providing a link to that post Another Contractor Rip Off for anyone who might be interested in reading it.

Over the past years many unsuspecting homeowners have fallen prey to fraudulent and unscrupulous contractors. In some cases these contractors take the homeowners money and never start the job or they have no idea on how to perform the service for which they contracted. In either case the homeowner is usually has little to no recourse to get their money back.

Luckily, as of July 1 this practice will soon be stopped. Pa has passed Act 132. Act 132 establishes mandatory registration of all contractors performing any and all types of home improvements in the commonwealth. It also establishes minimum insurance requirements. Act 132 doesn't stop there. In a attempt to insure that a contractor does not operate without meeting these requirements the Act 132 requires the contractor to display their registration number on all advertising, ads and contracts and creates criminal penalties for home improvement fraud.

As of July 1, 2009, Pennsylvania consumers will be able to verify a contractors registration with the Attorney Generals Office by visiting their website or by calling their toll-free hotline. Hopefully licensing will be the next step for all contractors in Pennsylvania.

The time will eventually come when you will need to replace your water heater. Choosing between a gas or electric water heater will be greatly determined by what kind of services are available to your house. Either type of unit will supply your your hot water needs efficiently and economically.

Pay Close Attention to The  Warranty Information:
Warranties will vary, so read carefully. Some units will give you a 5 year warranty on the tank, while other will give you up to 12 years. Make sure you pay attention to the limitations of different manufactures warranties, as these will also vary. Also keep in mind that environmental conditions will affect the units life span. For Example: Hard water will shorten the life span of the elements. The heater being installed in a damp wet area can cause the tank to rust prematurely.

Consider The Energy Factor:
Like most appliances on the market today water heaters have a yellow Energy Guide attached to the unit itself. The tag will show you the yearly electrical or gas consumption.

Finally, Size Does Matter:
When it comes to you water heater, regardless of your choice of gas or electric the size of the unit is relevant for efficient operation. So here's what you need to know.

Electric: A family of four, with 2 full bathrooms, a washing machine and a dishwasher require a 50 - 80 gallon tank with a 5,500 watt heating element. A family of five with the same number of bathrooms and the same appliances, require a 65 - 80 gallon tank with a 5,500 watt heating element.
burner.

Gas: The same family of four, with the same 2 full bathrooms, washing machine and dishwasher require a 50 gallon tank with a 40,000 Btu burner. A family of 6 with the same number of bathrooms and appliances require 50 to 75 gallon tank and a 40,000 Btu burner. A family of 7 require the same 50 to 75 gallon tank but with a 52,500 Btu burner.

 SAFETY ALERT 
Carbon Monoxide is Dangerous

Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, orderless gas which causes approximately 10,000 injuries per year.
Symptoms of gas poisoning include:

• Headache
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Vomiting
• Chest Pains
• Confusion

Install a carbon monoxide detector and have all gas appliances inspected once a year.

High levels of CO inhalation can cause loss of consciousness and death. Unless suspected, CO poisoning can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms mimic other illnesses. People who are sleeping or intoxicated can die from CO poisoning before ever experiencing symptoms.

 For information on proper care of your water heater see Ian Niquette Blog: Maintaining your water heater

Your home is most likely your most prized possession. Maintaining the up-keep is the best way to enhance the beauty and value of that investment. Unfortunately, aluminum and vinyl siding collect dirt and debris and do weather over a period of time.

This is a local home we recently restored.

Power washing is the most efficient method to get rid of the surface dirt, faded paint, mold, mildew and any other materials that might collect on your siding. Power washing is also the best method to prepare your home for painting.

If you are planning to sell your home and hope to sell your home rather quickly, plan to have it power washed and looking its best. Our cleaning products are environmentally safe and bio-degradable to assure that the environment is safe guarded. Our products are specifically designed to effectively and thoroughly clean exterior surfaces. This assures that the surface of your home is effectively and thoroughly cleaned.

The Results Are Amazing
Can Power Washing Really Make A Difference?

BEFORE	AFTER
We power wash siding, gutters, spouting, awnings, sidewalks, porches, patios, steps, decks, fences, retainer walls, play sets and swimming pool decks. Our cleaning products safely and effectively clean vinyl, aluminum, steel, brick, stucco, stone, concrete, cedar and pressure treated wood and even roof shingles. Power washing easily and quickly removes mold, mildew and other unsightly elements that can damage and depreciate your investment.

Crawlspaces are one of the leading causes of poor indoor air quality.

Seepage problems, dirt floors, open vents, high levels of humidity and wet insulation are common in most crawl spaces. Up to 50% of the air that you breathe upstairs comes from the basement or crawl space below. Therefore, eliminating moisture from the crawl space is important in controlling
conditions such as mold and wood decay.

This is a photo of the crawl space in an average Pocono Pa home. Notice the wet falling insulation between the floor joist and the damp moist dirt floor due to excess moisture. These conditions are a virtual breeding ground for mold, fungus and other allergens. In addition the moisture destroys and rots your floor joists while robbing your home of valuable heat.

Excess Moisture will result in mold growth on floor joists, girders, sub flooring and other structural members within the crawlspace. In the past the solution has been to increase ventilation in the crawlspace. Time has proven that this solution does not always work.

Supposedly venting a crawlspace will help control moisture. In reality, venting will only help renew crawlspace moisture levels because the outside air generally contains more moisture than the crawlspace.

Typical Problems found in Vented Crawlspaces:

- Poor Indoor Air Quality
- Energy Loss
- Standing Water
- Cupping on Hardwood Floors and Movement of Trim Work and Cabinetry
- Infestation of Insects such as Spiders, Water Bugs and Wood Destroying Insects

If mold is growing on the wood framing of the crawlspace, excess moisture is present. If it's a white mold, it's usually a surface mold. White mold usually doesn't cause real damage to the wood; however, if you see black or brown mold, that's not fungus:
Structural damage will ensue that could require replacement of wood members. Insects, mold, and rot affect wood in the crawlspace. All three have the same basic requirements: food, water or humidity above 70%, temperatures between 40F and 120F, air, and, in some cases, security or protection from being disturbed.

A wood moisture content above just 20% are required for mold to start growing. Mold growing in your crawlspace will eventually find its way up into the walls of your home.

In these picture we have removed the fallen wet insulation from in between the floor joists, installed a 6 mil plastic vapor barrier on the floor and added 2 inch polystyrene insulation board on the walls. The conditions under which mold and fungus grow are now eliminate by preventing excess moisture from penetrating through the walls and floor. In addition, draft s from this space have been eliminated thus maintaining more stable crawlspace temperature and saving on the home heating costs.

Well-insulated crawlspace walls can make your home more comfortable, guard against moisture problems and prevent frozen water pipes.