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4/05/2014

Importance of Having Your Boiler Serviced Annually


Saving N Spending




Posted: 04 Apr 2014 08:36 PM PDT
Natural Gas Boiler System
Most boilers have an average lifespan of twenty years. It's a good return on your initial investment.
You have to maintain your boiler to maximize its lifespan, though. A boiler not serviced at all can expect to last less than 10 years.
Unfortunately, it's common practice across America to not get regular servicing. Most companies make you pay for an annual maintenance service. It's a wise investment.
In this article, we hope to show you why this is the case.

Minor Repairs

Annual servicing increases the chances of spotting problems before they turn into catastrophic issues. Boilers rarely work one day and break down the next. Their condition gradually decreases until the owner finally notices.
A boiler repair costs far more than an annual servicing option. If you want to stave off the cost of a repair, do so by catching problems before they happen.
Contractors inform you where there's potential for a problem. The vast majority of issues can be addressed before they happen, but only if someone regularly checks out your boiler.

Reduce Heating Costs

It's not just about preventing problems with your boiler. Most boilers will suffer from efficiency decreases before they start to have any real problems. You should see inefficiency in the same light as a broken boiler.
When we talk of inefficiency we talk about a boiler using more fuel than it needs to produce the same amount of heat. Older boilers tend to be more inefficient.
Engineers who service your boiler are also looking for areas where efficiency can be improved. Take their advice on-board because inefficiencies cost hundreds of dollars every year.
Your fuel bills will decrease if you make your boiler more efficient. In some cases, an engineer could recommend replacing the boiler completely.

Carbon Monoxide Threat

The biggest threat from a broken boiler is carbon monoxide poisoning. Some of the main causes of carbon monoxide poisoning are:
  • Improper installation.
  • Not enough ventilation.
  • Leakage.
So how does an annual servicing control the threat of carbon monoxide?
The reason carbon monoxide is such a danger to householders is it's difficult to spot. It doesn't have any odor or color. The symptoms come on slowly and can be mistaken for other illnesses. The main symptoms are headaches, nausea, and stomach pains.
Annual servicing helps to spot the warning signs. It's called 'the silent killer' for a reason. It makes no sense to take a risk by not ordering an annual boiler inspection.

Landlords and the Law

Depending on where you are in the country, you will have to look at laws regarding boilers and your obligations. Most states have laws regarding what a landlord must do to ensure their properties are safe.
It doesn't always extend to demanding yearly servicing, but you will have to have various certifications. The cost of a boiler malfunctioning and causing harm could number in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
As a landlord, the best option is to have your boilers serviced annually. Even if it isn't the law and the worst does happen you can show a court of law you take safety seriously.
Overall, no matter who you are you have to pay attention to safety. Your boiler can turn into one of the biggest money drains in your property. By having it inspected on a regular basis, you're making sure your house is safe and efficient.
Plus, you avoid the huge cost of purchasing a new boiler and installing it from the ground up.
See if your boiler provider has any special offers on annual servicing. Some companies offer them free of charge, or at a reduced rate if you're subscribed to a certain energy package.
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Posted: 04 Apr 2014 07:32 PM PDT
insurance
Finding life insurance when you have hepatitis C can be quite a challenge for most people. Usually, inexperienced agents don’t know which companies or what processes to take to properly get a quote for their clients, so then their clients think it’s impossible to get a good policy just to the fact that they have hepatitis C. Well, the truth is, you can still qualify for life insurance. By using experienced agents who contact the right companies, you will have a much better chance at getting an affordable policy. There are tips to help you qualify, which we will be covering over the next few sections.

2 Main Aspects Of Getting Life Insurance With Hepatitis C

There are two major parts to what insurance companies will look at when making their decision to provide you with life insurance. The first aspect is all about how much damage your liver has taken so far. For obvious reasons, the less damage, the better chance you will have at obtaining the policy you want. The second aspect they are going to look at is whether or not your hepatitis C is in remission or not. You can obtain standard rates if you have provided proof that you are in remission and also have very little to no damage. If you already have taken liver damage, don’t worry because you can still qualify, but the rates are going to be substandard.

Things To Know When Trying To Get Life Insurance

Before you go off and start talking to agents, it’s important that you have all of the information that might help your case. So to help you out, we will cover each thing in a separate paragraph.
The first thing you will need is the date you were diagnosed with hepatitis C. It is important to them to know because they can determine what steps you have taken while you were diagnosed. It also gives the insurance companies a better idea of how well you have adjusted. You will also need to provide what type of hepatitis C you have. Acute viral, chronic active, or chronic persistent.
Next thing you should find out is your liver enzymes. This information will help determine how healthy your liver is and whether or not the enzymes are under control. It is quite easy to get that information from your doctor, so next time you have some time, get it done. The more recent the results are, the better.
A list of all of your medication is going to be required. What types of meds they were, how much you were taking, and how long you have been or were taking them for. This is information that is extremely important, so make sure to have it readily available. This also include self medication, such as alcohol. You will be required to give all of the details regarding your drinking.
You will need all of the details about how you were diagnosed and/ or treated. Liver biopsy, CT scans, MRIs, and anything else should be included. You will also need to provide the findings of these tests so that the agent is fully aware of exactly what is happening. One thing you should try to provide proof for is how many times do you go and see your physician. The more you stay on top of your hepatitis C, the better chance you will have with the insurance companies.
The last thing is of course, any other health issues you might have. Basically, the more details you can provide regarding your hepatitis C and any other health related issues, the better. This may not be necessary if you can get no exam life insurance.

Where Should You Go To Find The Best Rates?

Root Financial has proven to be a great company to use when looking for insurance policies. They completely understand what it takes to provide their clients with affordable life insurance and which insurance companies to apply with. They also pride themselves by going above and beyond for their clients like no other agency would. In the end, you may be able to find another agent who knows how to properly handle clients with hepatitis C, but you might as well check out at RootFin.com to see if they can just make the whole process much easier.

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Posted: 04 Apr 2014 07:23 PM PDT

The self directed IRA offers an almost unlimited amount of investment freedom. With this freedom, it's easy to get carried away. In this article, when we talk about the real estate IRA or the gold IRA, we're referring to the same investment vehicle. It's just people often prefer to dedicate their investments to one type of commodity.
Let's take a look at how you should go about getting gold into your IRA and why this is a good decision.

Why Should You Invest in Gold?

Gold is one of those assets that's safe, relatively speaking. It's similar to paper currency in that it will rarely fluctuate wildly, and a complete crash is something you'll only see every few generations. They're similar, but they also exist at opposite ends of the investing spectrum.
The fact is currency and gold can't have a high price at the same time. Gold will only ever reach its peak when paper currency is weak. And, recently, this has been the case. In the wake of the recession, gold prices soared and hit record highs. As the markets have recovered, gold has decreased in price again.
We're reaching a point where the economic recovery is in full swing around the world. Gold will most likely continue to decline. Paper currency is bound to get stronger again.
While you're unlikely to make a huge amount of money at this point, you will be able to find gold available at bargain prices. You don't need huge amounts of money to get started.

Is Gold Different from Precious Metals?

The precious metal IRA involves investing in non-traditional metals like platinum and palladium. Gold could technically fall under the definition of a precious metal, but investors tend to see them as separate.
Other precious metals tend to have real uses. Gold is usually used as a way to protect assets when paper currency collapses. It's what has happened in every great economic recession previously.

What Limitations Do You Have?

Investors are under the same limitations with a self directed IRA as they are with any other form of IRA. You can't invest in things like insurance and fine art. You're also limited by the amount you can put into your IRA every year.
There are no limitations on the amount of money your IRA can make within the investment vehicle, however.

How to Buy Gold and Invest

The problem with the IRA is it's difficult to understand the concept. The IRA is like a company. It isn't in your name, and you're prohibited from any actions that could 'benefit yourself'.
Of course, it sounds like nonsense because that's why you're investing in the first place.
You have to think over every move. You can't buy gold by signing a check and handing it over. Most gold transactions are performed through trustee to trustee transfers.
Before you can make these transfers, the gold will need to be inspected and understood for purity and held in a secure facility. Most custodians won't facilitate a transfer if it isn't held in a secure facility.
Furthermore, you couldn't store the gold in your own home. This is another limitation. By storing anything at home, you're implying the gold is yours. It isn't yours. It's the property of the IRA. You own the IRA, though. It's an important distinction to make.
If you fall foul of any of the rules put in place by the Federal Government, you could potentially find any profits wiped out by fines and taxes. In extreme cases, your account could be closed completely. This is why having a financial advisor who specializes in the gold IRA is essential.
Author Bio
Ashley has a financial background and has been analyzing various investment options for retired individuals. Here she shares her knowledge on Self Directed IRA with the elderly.

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The post Getting to Grips with Gold – Gold in Your IRA appeared first on .
Posted: 04 Apr 2014 07:09 PM PDT
Tips for Saving Money on Household UtilitiesSaving money on everything is becoming more and more of a necessity. With an uncertain economy and household budgets that are tighter and tighter every month, finding ways to save a few dollars becomes more imperative. Household utilities make up a large portion of most household budgets, and finding ways to save money on utilities is one method for saving money.

Create a Budget

The first place you’ll want to start when you want to cut your utility bills is by forming a budget. Record all the utilities you pay on a monthly basis. Your budget should include everything from your city electric bill to the cost of Cincinnati trash removal. You’ll need to take averages of your past monthly bills to decide how much to allot to each area. After you get your average expenses, you’ll be able to start finding ways to cut back.

Electricity

To save on utilities like electricity or gas, turn the thermostat temperature down or up, depending upon the season. Learn to wear layers to keep warm or dress in light, cotton clothing to keep cool. While adjusting the thermostat, remember to check the temperature on your water heater. If it is turned up higher than 120 degrees, you are using — and paying for — unnecessary electricity.
Get into the habit of turning off electronic items when not in use. Shut down computers, televisions, lights, and other items. Plug electronic items into power strip surge protectors to make it easy to shut everything off with one flip of the switch.
Wash your clothing and dishes in cold water instead of hot to save on the heating cost of the water. Hang your clothing to dry either on hangers or on a clothesline if the weather permits.

Water

When using water, there are a few easy ways to cut back consumption and ultimately result in a cheaper bill. Set timers for showers to keep family members from indulging in unlimited showers that run up your bill.
Reuse your clothing as much as possible to save laundry cycles. Wearing a pair of jeans once for a couple of hours does not require laundering again. Establish a rule that “if it’s not got dirt and doesn’t smell, it’s still clean.” This will save a few loads of laundry and might force your family to be more careful with their clothing. Of course, this doesn’t work for children or athletic clothing, but dress clothes and things worn over other clothing like sweaters can generally go without being washed.
Hang bath towels after use then use them again. If every person hangs their towel to dry, it will save water as well as electricity.
If you wash dishes by hand, get into the habit of running one sink for washing, then the other sink for rinsing. This cuts back on running the faucet excessively to rinse dishes.

Small Changes Make a Difference

Even a few small changes can save you a little. Making minor changes and establishing new habits will help you cut back on utilities, even just a little. Remember, every penny counts when you are on a tight budget.
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