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How To Make Traveling An Amazing Experience

Traveling these days might seem like going on a fool’s errand, with little to no chance of viable success and a ton of unnecessary stress. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. Embarking on a trip to arrive at a totally new destination should be an exciting and wonderful experience, even with how tiring airports and flying have become. However, rest assured that traveling domestically to fun places such as Vegas has become an easier and even luxurious experience if you look out for the right accommodations and research ahead of time.

Well, if you’re eager to explore a new city, but worry about the anxiety travel induces, then the following tips are for you.

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Choose the Best Flight

Once you decide on the destination, you should take the time and find the best and most comfortable flights available. If money is an issue, then it would behoove you to look through affordable third party sites that do most of the work for you by sifting through thousands of options through a variety of airlines. To secure the best deals, make sure to search using a private browser since advertisers can easily tell if you’re looking for certain flights and will automatically offer you the most expensive options – unless you’re incognito online. Using a private browser will throw advertisers off your scent and will allow you to find the best options faster.

However, if you’re looking for both comfort and good value, you should look into private jets or charter flights. There are companies that offer wonderful options, even if they’re not following a typical airline schedule. These sound more exclusive, which can come across as pricier, but that’s not necessarily the case – in fact, for more details check bitluxtravel.com and see if you find a flight that best suits your needs. You will be presently surprised by the affordable price points and excellent amenities.

Find Great Accommodations

Of course, getting there is half the battle. The next step is to find a hotel or home rental that works best for your needs. Maybe you are interested in having access to the most luxurious amenities at a five-star hotel. Or, you prefer booking something that is a bit off the beaten path, that allows you to better explore the city outside of its central tourist hub. Whatever your needs may be, look for the place that suits your own needs and budget. Be sure to look up the reviews, and make sure that the place offers you good payment options and decent cancellation policy in case of an emergency.

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Pack Better

Try not to carry bulky clothing, for one thing. This tends to be a rookie mistake. Unless you’re traveling in the dead of winter you can probably get away with simply packing a lot of layers rather than relying on a big puffy jacket and multiple thick sweaters. Also, look into the fabrics – there are thin shirts available on the market nowadays that retain heat very well, or you can simply go with the perennial classic, flannel. Packing a few cardigans and t-shirts should really be all you need.

When you’re ready to put everything away in the suitcase, you should roll up your clothes instead of folding them as per the convention. This allows you to make more room for other things, such as shoes or anything else you need to take with you.

Keep Your Tech Organized

It’s hard to travel these days without at least your phone, perhaps a tablet or e-reader, and a camera. You may even want to take your laptop with you. Regardless of what you decide to travel with, keeping your gear organized is important. For your phone, investing in a portable charger may help a great deal. Also, if you are going to another country, be sure to get the proper adapters for your gear. And, finally, make sure to invest in a cable organizer so that your cords don’t get tangled and messy. An annoying thing to have to deal with when traveling is having to buy new chargers and cables simply because they got damaged by careless packing.

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Avoid the Trappings of Instagram

Be sure to be an intrepid traveler, and don’t fall for the trap of going only to the tourist-heavy spots, or the places that are featured a great deal on social media platforms such as Instagram. The destination might look amazing online, but it could lack that same charm in real life. It could also be very crowded or just plain overrated. So, be sure to avoid these hyped-up haunts and go somewhere genuinely fun and interesting, where you might learn more about the people and locale you’re visiting. Being open to new adventures is one way to ensure that you have amazing travel experience.

Find the Best Food

Eating well is undoubtedly one of the best parts of traveling. However, things can be a crapshoot if you just go by the food offered in your hotel or the restaurants in the tourist-heavy areas. If you want to try the most interesting gourmet treats available, then you should look into locals’ recommendations of their favorite places to eat and streetcar food. You’ll know if the place is worth it if you see lots of residents enjoying the food, rather than tourists with deep pockets.

According to FamilyDestinationsGuide, the best local recommendations for food are found near a streetcar stop. These areas are more likely to have the most interesting food options, since they see more locals than tourists. So if you want to try something new, ask around at the nearest streetcar stop and find out what locals recommend!

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Avoid Cheap Souvenirs

If you want to go home bearing gifts for your friends and family, then don’t settle for the cheap tchotchkes at airports. Explore the city’s most underrated boutiques, specialty shops, and flea markets to find the best souvenirs. Also, buy plenty of offbeat postcards that you can keep for yourself or send to your loved ones – that’s always a great way to hold onto memories of your trip.

Ultimately, traveling is a way to create wonderful memories for yourself, whether or not you go on your trip alone. An amazing experience is not just about getting the fanciest accommodations or going to the trendiest places. It’s about experiencing a new place and enjoying all that it has to offer, without sweating the small stuff.

7 Facts You Need To Know About Cats

Source: medium

Owning a pet is one of the nicest things we can do as a human, they’re kind, loving and give us a sense of purpose in our lives. Not only that, but they’re also hilarious to be around and often develop enormous personalities that keep us entertained for hours. If you own a cat you’ll know that they have something special about them, something different than other animals you might keep at home.

If you don’t or are thinking about getting a cat then there are a few things you need to know beforehand, here we look at 7 facts you need to know prior to purchasing your feline friend.

Lifespan

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With any animal, it’s important to remember that they live for a certain amount of time. Whilst this may seem like an obvious statement, it’s something that’s often forgotten by potential pet owners. It’s important to bear this in mind for two reasons, firstly, it helps us understand that at some point your pet will, unfortunately, pass away. Knowing this will at least help us prepare for the day and will ensure we make the best life we can for them. Secondly, and this is what is often forgotten, a cat will live on average for up to 16 years. They’re around for a long time and need care for the entire time they are alive, even when the initial excitement wears off. As the famous adverts say, a pet is for life, not just for Christmas.

They Cost Money

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You can, of course, rescue a cat, but that’s not the point I’m getting at. Whether you decide to buy a pedigree or rescue a tabby from the local shelter, they will cost money and it’s important to factor that in. Cat’s get bored like the rest of us so making sure they have enough toys is a must but that’s relatively inexpensive. Your main spend will be in feeding them, depending on the size of your cat you will have to feed them once or twice a day and that can end up heightening your monthly spend. With food, it’s best to do some research as to what’s going to be the best for your cat, experts such as TheCatMom.com say you should feed your cat nothing but the best. Nutrition is a huge part of a healthy lifestyle so it should be taken seriously. What you feed them will depend on a number of things, including size, breed, and if they’re picky, so finding the best is nothing short of essential. Don’t worry, it doesn’t always cost loads.

They Sleep A Lot

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This might seem like a strange point to make, but it’s worth knowing. Cat’s spend up to 70% of their lives sleeping and that’s just how they are. They need their sleep to function so if you’re looking for a pet that is constantly active during the day a cat might not be for you. However, if you’re looking for something a little more chilled then I can’t recommend one more.

They Talk To You

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This is dependent on the breed, some cats are hugely talkative and will engage in ‘conversation’ with you. They even have different ways of communicating so it’s worth reading up on what noises your cat makes and what they mean. Breeds such as Birmans will chirp and meow at you all day for attention, and in most cases, this is all they want, just engage with them until they fall asleep again. Some deeper, more guttural meows can mean they’re in distress or are ill so if they’re making an unusual sound it’s best to take them to the vet. Don’t be put off by the fact they’re vocal creatures, it’s a lovely sound and means they’re being affectionate.

Purring

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Cats purr when they are happy, a smooth rumble that’s relaxing when they’re sitting on you. There are now studies into a cat’s purr that have had some fascinating results. It is said that certain frequencies help cats heal themselves so when they’re happily purring away they are also speeding up their healing process. Amazing!

They’re Hunters

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Cat’s share 95% of their DNA with tigers, this means they are programmed to hunt. If you get a cat, expect them to bring home other animals they have killed. It’s just a part of their nature and what they’re doing is bringing you a present from their hard day of grafting. If you don’t like the thought of your cat acting like they’re designed to then it’s probably best you don’t purchase one, it’s inevitable.

Breeds Matter

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The breed of your cat will largely mean they have certain characteristics. Research the different breeds with personality traits you think you might like in a cat before deciding to buy one. Some are super friendly and want attention all the time, whereas others like to be on their own more. If you don’t want your car bringing in extra food all the time then have a look for a cat that tends to be a little lazier, therefore less likely to bring you a treat.

Owning a cat is one of the best things you can do, they’re amazing fun and brilliant to be around. They make your house feel like a home and they provide hours and hours of entertainment. Be mindful that they have needs and will be a part of your family for years to come and you’ll enjoy every minute of being a cat owner.

6 Ways To Thank Your Loved Ones

Our loved ones do so many kind things for us and we would all be lost without them. Whilst our friends and family help us because they love us and they want the best for us and don’t expect any reward or thanks, it is nice to thank them with a kind gesture. Thanking people shows that we appreciate them and that we don’t take them for granted. It is a way to show them that we are aware of what they do for us and that we love them for it. To help you show your appreciation, here are 6 ways to thank your loved ones.

1. Just Say Thank You

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It may seem like an easy thing to do, but being thanked for something that you have done for someone creates a nice feeling. It is surprising how many people never say thank you, either intentionally or unintentionally. Quite often we start to take for granted things that people do for us, especially when it is a friend or a member of our family. We become used to their acts of kindness so we unconsciously fail to show our gratitude. Simply saying thank you to someone and expressing your gratitude and appreciation can brighten up somebody’s day.

2. Write a Thank You Card

Source: pixabay.com

Anyone who has ever received a Thank You Card knows how good it feels. Thank You Cards are often sent to thank someone for attending a wedding or some other event, or for a gift that we have received. Because they are usually only sent on very special occasions like this, receiving a Thank You Card that you are not expecting is a fantastic surprise. The folks at Tons of Thanks believe that it is important to make a Thank You Card as personal and gracious as possible. Even if you are sending multiple Thank You Cards, there are ways to customize each one so that it has that personal touch. There are many sample Thank You Cards available online that you can use as a reference point to make the perfect Thank You Card for your loved ones. You will encounter Simply Noted as one of the best sources when looking for information and solutions that best suit what you’re looking for.

3. Send Them Flowers

Source: pixabay.com

Everybody loves receiving flowers whether it is for a birthday, a congratulations gift, a get well soon gesture, and especially as a thank you. Flowers are a great thank you gift because they are universally appreciated so you don’t have to try and think about what somebody will like. This can be very hard to do as so many people are hard to buy gifts for. If you can, try and find out what the recipient’s favorite flowers are so that you can ensure that there are some in the bouquet. This can be quite easy to do if you just casually bring it up in conversation. Any professional florist will be able to design the perfect bouquet that incorporates those flowers. Flowers can be quite expensive, but you don’t need to break the bank buying an enormous arrangement. Flowers are such a thoughtful thank you gift that your loved one will not care how big the bouquet is, they will just be touched by the gesture.

4. Do Them a Favor

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Quite often, favor is a far better way to say thank you than a gift because we all lead such busy lives that a little help here and there goes a long way. Ask your loved one if there is something that you can help them with. There are many favors that people will appreciate and the best favor to offer depends on who you want to thank. If your loved one has children, it can be a nice gesture to offer to babysit for a night so that they can have an evening to themselves or with their partner. If you want to thank an elderly relative, you can offer to help them with something that may usually be difficult for them, like going grocery shopping or going to a doctor’s appointment. If possible, do the favor without asking them first as this will have the bonus of a surprise. If your neighbor has done something kind for you that you want to thank them for, mow their front lawn whilst you are out mowing yours. Every gift and gesture is made that little bit more special when it comes as a surprise.

5. Make Them Some Food

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Another thoughtful way to say thank you to a loved one is to make them some food that they love. We all love a home-cooked meal, so be spontaneous and take them round their favorite dish. Not only will this give them something delicious to eat, but it will also give them a night off from cooking. If you want to thank your friend and you know that her children, particularly love cookies, you can bake some cookies to say thank you. Your friend will appreciate the effort that you have gone to and their kids will be happy too. Happy kids usually mean happy parents.

6. Take Them Somewhere Special

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Taking a loved one out somewhere special is the ultimate way to say thank you. If someone has done a big favor for you or has given you a nice gift, taking them somewhere to say thank you is a perfect way to show gratitude. This may be a nice restaurant, a night at the theater, or for drinks in their favorite bar. Make sure you know that the check is on you so that they don’t try and talk you out of paying. You don’t have to splurge beyond your means, just take them somewhere that you know they will love and which you can enjoy together.

It is such a nice feeling when someone shows that they are grateful for something that we have done for them. There are so many different ways to say thank you and the most important thing is that you do it in a thoughtful way to show your appreciation. Follow some of the tips in this guide whenever you want to thank your loved ones.

How to Drastically Lessen Your Back Pain

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Back pain comes about due to many factors such as arthritis, accident injury, nerve damage, or doing heavy lifting physical work. It can be frustrating and unsettling as the pain causes serious discomfort. If you are struggling with back pain, you should understand that people experience this pain at one point in their lives.

It’s a common reason to seek a doctor’s appointment or call in sick. Plus, back pain is a leading cause of disability according to the WHO. Treatment for back pain can be simple or complex depending on the nature of your pain. An orthopedic surgeon examines your back and gives an appropriate diagnosis. If you want to learn about the causes of back pain, visit here to find more information. Therefore, the cause determines your treatment. The location of the pain, severity, and whether the pain is muscular or structural are some of the things used to determine the cause and best treatment.

Other factors include your activity level and age. These two factors can make the pain last for weeks or a few days. People not undergoing extreme treatment experience fewer complications than those undergoing invasive treatments. Below are effective back pain relief remedies you can use.

Use Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Source: NBC News

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like naproxen or ibuprofen lower your back pain. The two drugs are better pain relievers than acetaminophen. Most people experiencing this pain have muscle or ligament strain and inflammation which an anti-inflammatory drug easily handles. However, don’t take the drugs for over 10 days without seeking the opinion of a medical professional as it causes gastrointestinal disorders.

Heat and Ice

Source: Pinterest

You can use a cold pack within 48 hours after experiencing the pain. Let the cold pack rest for 20 minutes each session and have several sessions in a day. After that, switch to a 20-minute heating pad interval.

Localized cooling reduces blood flow to that area and shuts down capillaries. This helps ease your swelling and lowers the ability of your nerves to send pain signals. Consequently, heat pad increases blood circulation and loosens your tight muscles bringing extra oxygen.

Exercises

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Gentle stretches, periodic standing or walking if you sit for long periods of time all help prevent muscle imbalance and stabilize your spine. Yoga works too. Poses and stretches are very therapeutic. Some of the exercises include child’s pose, cat-cow, upward, and downward-facing dog. You can repeat the stretches more times a day. The exercise has a positive impact on your posture and spine.

Ask Your Doctor Concerning Prescription Medications

Source: Science News for Students

If your back pain persists for six weeks, it is ideal to schedule an appointment with your trusted orthopaedic doctor to examine any other underlying issues. The physical checkup determines the effect the pain has on your mobility. Other tests include imaging tests such as MRI and X-ray.

The doctor may recommend the use of muscle relaxants, cortisone shots, or even topical pain medications.

Physical Therapy

Source: thefatlossninja

In this case, the physical therapist will introduce you to various exercises to help you manage your back pain. The exercises include a series of stretches that correct imbalances that led to the back-pain issues. Therapy depends on the severity and causes of back pain. Plus, the therapist employs various treatment techniques like electrical stimulation, ultrasound, or active release therapy. These specialists help strengthen your back extensor and core muscles.

Massage Therapy

Source: tantranectar

Schedule a massage session to reduce your back-pain discomfort. You can go for weekly massage therapy sessions. The sessions lower your back pain and disability risk significantly. General relaxation works like structural massage therapy as they target specific parts of your body. A lot of back pain problems are because of muscle strain which a massage session can fix.

Sleep Better

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Lack of enough sleep or irregular sleeping patterns can cause back pain problems.  Sleeping is hard if you have this pain which will make you feel worse. A poor sleeping position aggravates your back pain. Therefore, lie on your side and put your pillow between the knees to ensure your spine is in a neutral position. This position helps relieve back strain. If you want to sleep on your back, simply slide the pillow under the knees. Plus, ensure you are sleeping on a comfortable and firm mattress.

Use Ergonomic Chairs

Source: HiConsumption

Practice proper ergonomics at work to ensure your shoulders, back or neck doesn’t suffer. Improve your working station by positioning your desktop monitor at eye-level, 20-inches from your face. Also, invest in a more comfortable ergonomic chair with good lower back support and armrests.

A healthy lifestyle will allow you to maintain a healthy back. Control your weight and develop a sustainable eating plan. Low-impact exercises and physical therapy sessions are highly advisable. You can also go for massage therapy to stimulate those muscles and quell the muscle or ligament strains. Ample sleep helps you relax and prevents back issues. Practice good posture. If there is still no back pain relief after doing all the things mentioned above, see a spine specialist for effective diagnosis and treatment of your condition.

8 Interesting Facts About Jewish Customs And Traditions

You probably know that the Jewish culture is all about family values, building strong relationships, and helping other people. The entire culture is so colorful and complex, that you might be wondering – what are some of the most interesting facts about Jewish traditions and customs?

Well, if you are looking for an answer to this question, this article might be able to help you quite a lot. The text below is going to feature a list of the top 10 interesting facts that you should know about the culture and traditions of Judaism. Let’s take a closer look at the list:

1. The Torah

Source: My Jewish Learning

The Torah – which is their sacred book – is also referred to as the “Hebrew Bible”. It does feature the same books as the Christian Bible, however, the order of the text is different. The Torah, that includes the first 5 books of the Tanakh – the sacred text – highlights the laws that all Hebrew people must follow. In some situations, you might also hear people calling it ‘Pentateuch’.

The Hebrew nation remains preserved due to the dedicated study of their Holy Book. It contains important life lessons for people to comprehend, and most of them do choose to follow a wide range of commandments, especially once where they promise to spread the knowledge to the next generation.

2. The Clothes is Often Modest

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For Jewish people, one of the most crucial things is to dress modestly, in order to prevent them from being overly exposed. For females, this means that they need to cover their collar bones, their pants or skirts need to be longer & reach their ankles, and their arms need to be covered all the way to the elbows.

If the women are married, they will also need to wear a tichel – a cover for their hair – or a sheitel which is a form of a wig that covers their hair. The hair is considered to be the most intimate part of their body, especially after they get married. On the other hand, men have different attire.

The males need to wear a ‘hat’ which is commonly referred to as the skullcap or kippah, as well as a tallit used for prayers. The tallit is basically long shawls that they can use when praying and you can find a wide range of websites that sell them so make sure to visit here to check the quality of products. They come in various sizes, designs, and colors, which means that you’ll be able to find one that will fit your needs.

3. Traditions Are Carefully Followed And Respected

Source: Jewish Ledger

There is nothing more important for one community than following and respecting the traditions they have. For each particular community, there are a set of traditions that are called minhag. Some of the traditions that they choose to do include placing the mezuzot above your door, dressing up for specific holidays, and celebrating those holidays according to the Torah.

Some of the most celebrated holidays include The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), Chanukah (the celebration of light), and the Rosh Hashanah (the New Year). You have probably heard about Passover as well, which honors the Jewish slaves that were flight from Egypt a long time ago.

Naturally, there are a lot of Hebrew communities in the world, which is one of the reasons why the celebration way can differ from one another. Of course, this does not mean that they do not celebrate the same things, it just means that they have a different way of honoring specific, important days.

4. Chesed is Their Way to Show Kindness And Love

Source: The Telegraph

Simply said, chesed is a form of loving and showing kindness to other individuals. Now, you might be wondering – but how do they do that? Well, they often sign up for charity acts, something that they strongly believe is a major part of healing our Earth and improving the environment around us.

According to the Torah, they are obligated to help people in need, especially the poor, orphans, and widows. If you Google it, you’ll see that there is a wide range of organizations set up in order to help different people with their problems. This includes helping the sick and elderly as well.

5. The Temples Are Cherished Beyond Anything Else

Source: The Forward

During 1.000 B.C., the rightful ruler of the Jewish people was King David. Later on, his son Solomon went on to erect the first holy temple, situated in Jerusalem. Unfortunately, the Babylonians destroyed in and sent millions of Jews into exile. After it was destroyed, a second temple was built, but, when it was also destroyed, they turned to build synagogues, where people come and attend regular services.

6. The Rabbis Are Extremely Respected

Source: The Jerusalem Post

Rabbis is a word that can be translated to ‘teacher’ and they are learned Jews that have a job to guide other individuals in their studies, especially Torah, holding frequent services, as well as mitzvah observance. The rabbit will interpret and apply the customs, traditions, and laws of Judaism, as the people before him did.

7. God First Spoke to Women According to The Torah

Source: Britannica

As mentioned, Judaism is a tradition that is passed from one family member to the next, and the women in the communities are the staples of how those traditions are transmitted and passed down. During the time God communicated the Holy Book, he did not speak to men, instead, he spoke to women first.

8. There Are Several Types of Judaism

Source: My Jewish Learning

There is actually more than one type of Judaism, including Orthodox, Hasidic, Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, Humanistic, as well as Messianic Judaism. Of course, each of them varies, however, they do all follow the basic principles and lifestyle. Also, it is worth mentioning that most Jews do not choose a specific category, instead, they simply refer to themselves and their family members as Jewish or Hebrew people.

Conclusion

As you were able to read, there is a wide range of facts about the culture and traditions of Judaism. They all have a strong significance for the people, and generally speaking, it is quite interesting for people to learn more about it, especially since it is quite different from what we might be accustomed to.

Factors That Affects a Boiler’s Performance

When it comes to any equipment, we always take into account its efficiency and overall performance. It matters most, primarily when we highly use it for mass production and assign it to perform loaded and heavy workloads. That very same philosophy is applied to boilers as industrial equipment.

But how can it be maximized to its optimum? Here, we will discuss the significant factors that affect a boiler’s performance and some few tips on how to increase its efficiency on the side.

Source: Explosion Power GmbH

What is boiler efficiency?

In simple words, boiler efficiency is a measurement of the amount of combustion energy that is converted into steam energy. According to the ASME Energy Balance Method, some factors affect the calculation of boiler efficiencies such as stack, radiation, and convection losses.

Even though boiler design is still a major factor, there are other principal factors that affect boiler efficiency calculation. The main focus is to create a condition where there will be an increase in boiler efficiency by understanding the factors that mainly affect it.

5 Factors That Affects A Boiler Efficiency

Despite boilers having different designs, they have a common denominator when it comes to their efficiency. And determining and understanding what these factors are can help you recognize and resolve boiler issues that you will encounter in the future. Even more so, it allows you to make a solution to have your system reach optimization.

Source: Forain Srl

1. Flue gas temperature

A flue gas or exhaust gas is a gas that has been expelled during boiler operation. If the flue gas temperature is high, that means that the heat produced during the boiler operation is not used to create steam, hence it is lost. The resolution for this situation is to create a condition that will keep the flue gas temperature at its possible lowest temperature.

If your boiler keeps on releasing a high-temperature flue gas, then you are on the losing side. According to Wirral Plumbers, you should have a professional install combustion air heaters or economizers. Economizers for one can help to save fuel and the possible damage that cold water can do to your boiler.

When you are renting a boiler, make sure to ask questions if they have an economizer. You can contact ctcair.com when you need to rent one. They can further assist you with these kinds of measures to increase boiler efficiency.

2. Fuel Specification

If you were thinking of less about fuel specification, then think again. Determining the right fuel specification should be given the utmost priority. Addressing this issue is simple as you only need to establish the right fuel specification and make sure that the actual fuel meets the criteria. The most common fuel types used in boilers are natural gas, fuel oil, coal, and wood (biomass).

It is worth noting that fuel specification plays a vital role in increasing boiler efficiency. Remember that the higher the hydrogen content, the more water vapor is formed during the combustion process. Therefore, high water vapor losses and lower efficiency. To solve this, have a natural gas combined with higher methane concentrations and lower content of other gases. This equation will burn much more efficiently and can operate at a higher efficiency.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

3. Excess Air

If there’s an increase of excess air in the combustion chamber, this will all absorb all the energy from the fuel, which can still be used to raise steam. Therefore, it will result in lower boiler efficiency. An increase in excess air is present when there is a rise of flue gas temperature, which indicates a heat loss during the boiler operation.

However, some cases require excess air during the combustion process. One example is an ultra-low-emission burner, the excess air is utilized to reduce the production of carbon monoxide and NOx. This process is mainly to control the temperature of the flame.

4. Steam Losses

A well-maintained and regularly checked boiler produces high steam energy, but when the production is failing or losing, there is something wrong in the system. When there is less steam energy created, there is a steam loss. This happens when steam or hot water is allowed to escape due to leak in piping. Steam traps are commonly the reason why there is a steam loss. Frequent equipment checkup and maintenance can help avoid this situation from happening.

Source: RENTAR® – Fuel Catalyst

5. Radiation and Convection Losses

These losses are the only two factors that affect boiler efficiency that no one can prevent. They are inevitable factors when you use an industrial boiler. However, there are ways to minimize the losses.

The radiation and convection losses are the heat being released from the boiler during the operation. By properly insulating an industrial boiler, you can minimize its surface temperature and lower heat losses. You can do two effective strategies to reduce these losses, such as:

  • Install a superior insulation method and make sure to utilize quality insulating materials as bad conductors help reduce heat loss by conduction.
  • Control the airflow over the boiler surface. Shield your boiler from outdoor winds and indoor drafts are helpful.

Takeaway

There’s a lot of advantages when you start utilizing boilers for your business. However, just like other machines and equipment, they also have disadvantages as they are bound to factors that can cause their inefficiency. Yet, these inefficiencies have their contingencies as well. When you have the knowledge and the understanding of what causes the inefficiencies, you will know how to resolve them.

Selling a House? Here is How to Make it Easy

If you look at the charts showing different levels of stress during a lifetime, moving house features quite highly – and no surprise! You’re moving everything you have, going somewhere unfamiliar, and having to change all your postal details. Then there’s been away from the familiar: old friends, old job, old social places.

Fortunately, there are ways to make things easier for you. Let’s have a brief look now so that you can actually enjoy the experience.

Choose The Best Time

Autumn is a possibility, but most people will push you to complete in time for Christmas. That could put extra pressure on you. Winter is not a good season because your garden will look plain and the lack of light may make your house look drab. Spring is the best time because the flowers will be out and your house will look great in the sunshine. If you’re trying to sort schools for your children you’ll have plenty of time before the new school year. Summer is a possibility too, but a lot of people go away for their holidays during this time. If you’re away when the deeds need to be signed, that will frustrate your buyer and will hold up the sale.

Source: unsplash.com

Do The Research

Do you really want the stress of moving and the house you’ve viewed? It’s an expensive process and hard to undo. Can you afford the moving fees? Will you go straight into paying work? Do you have a mortgage or will you be seeking one for your new house? What are house prices like where you are moving, and the quality of life there? Can you afford to live in that area? Have all your paperwork ready for the next step. That includes details of your home surveys, guarantees, planning documents and financial information.

Who Will Sell Your Property?

If you choose an estate agent, it’s important to research the company first. How big is it and how long has it been in business? How widely will they advertise your property? It’s important to ask if they will do the viewings, particularly if you are busy working and don’t want the disruption. Choose a solicitor you have researched too, not just one the estate agent recommends. Find out all the fees and commission information. It will help you compare different companies.

You may be happy to go down this road, or you may be desperate to sell really quickly. With the help of the professionals at https://socalhomebuyers.com/san-diego/, I learned that some companies will buy your house for cash. That could mean selling your house within a week rather than taking anywhere from four to six months. Once again, you need to thoroughly look at the financial pros and cons of this. Decide if you want a ‘For Sale’ sign in your front garden. Tell all your friends you are moving. Your estate agent isn’t the only way you may get a buyer!

Source: DreamImmoProperties

Preparing Your House

The door and hallway will be the place of first impressions. A fresh coat of paint would brighten things up. White makes rooms look more spacious. Don’t spend tons of money repainting the whole house. Your buyers will probably do it again to suit their tastes when they arrive. If your house is empty for the viewing, that will provide a blank canvas for buyers, and the rooms will look bigger. On the other hand, an occupied house will look and feel more like home. Don’t have old clothes and magazines all over the floor. Have flowers in the rooms to make the house smell nice. Replace dim light bulbs. Don’t have music blaring when they arrive. My new house had a dripping tap – that should have been fixed before the sale! Remove junk from your garden. Put the bins somewhere tidy.

Viewings

Be positive at all times – don’t say ‘this needs a lot of work’ or ‘you’ll need to repaint this’. Allow the visitors to look in silence and discuss among themselves. They need the space to envision living in your house. Try and get important information from them, like whether they are cash buyers or first-time buyers. Are they part of a chain of sales and will they need approval for a mortgage first? These things all affect how long the sale could take – or whether it could realistically happen at all. You can use helpful information to sell your house for you. Tell your potential buyers about local schools and travel options. What are the nearby shops like? What about street lighting and phone masts, or any local improvements that have been made? When you become the viewer of a house you might be buying, ask the same questions.

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That’s it in a nutshell. Research and stay proactive at all times. Make your house presentable and use the right third parties to help you. Be wise when conducting an open house. Hopefully, you will actually enjoy the process and be excited for your new chapter. Good luck!

6 Family-Friendly Sports to Try This Summer

Source: parenting

Summer is always a huge opportunity for family members to spend more time with each other and have fun while beating the heat. It’s the season that everyone longs for, especially when it comes to having fun and engaging in outdoor activities. Well, during this season, bringing your family together through any kind of sport is a guaranteed way of keeping everyone fit while strengthening your bonds. But it’s not unusual to find yourself scratching your head over things to do with the family for pastime in summer. In this article, we explore a few family-friendly sports to try and most probably enjoy this summer.

1. Basketball

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Apart from being a fun sport that all members of the family can participate in, basketball provides numerous benefits to its players. It helps burn calories, strengthen the muscles, build endurance, improve balance, enhance coordination, and heighten concentration. Kids who play basketball also tend to have better cardiovascular health, agility, and discipline. Since some games require the use of teamwork, basketball can help strengthen the ties between family members while cultivating better ethics.

For these and many more reasons, basketball makes an awesome sport for families to take up this summer. The best part is that you don’t even require much space to play basketball as a family. By investing in some basketball hoops, you can enjoy this family-friendly sport right from the comfort of your tiny backyard.

More about basketball hoops check https://goalrilla.com/basketball-hoops

Depending on your family’s specific needs and factors such as space available, you can go for in-ground basketball hoops, portable hoops, or wall-mounted. With portable hoops, for instance, you can enjoy the game away from home while with wall-mounted hoops; most of your games will be played where you choose to mount the rim.

2. Swimming

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For kids, teens, and adults, swimming is fun and enjoyable. Apart from being a fun activity, it’s also among the whole-body exercises that engage almost all muscles in the human body. Amid all the enjoyment, it also helps in burning calories, building muscle strength, improving respiratory function, and boosting cardiovascular function. Whether you do it in your swimming pool, in a public pool, or at the beach, it can be a great activity to engage in with your family this summer. As a matter of fact, some kids love swimming to the point that at times, you may have to bring up a fight when getting them out of the pool/water.

As you may already know, swimming is even more fun if it’s competitive. This is perhaps the reason why it’s among the most popular sports in the Olympic Games. This summer, you can try to hold a swimming competition amongst family members, with awards for the best performers in various swimming techniques. You can select one of the family members to be the judge or pick one from amongst your family friends to make it fairer. You never know, it might as well become your next family tradition.

3. Cycling

Source: ahealthieramerica

Cycling is another common sports activity the whole family can engage in for a good dose of fun and exercise and you should check out BikingBro.com to learn more about it. It’s another total-body exercise that gets most body muscles moving, especially the lower body muscles. Apart from improving muscle strength and bone flexibility, cycling improves your cardiovascular function as well as circulation, energy, agility, and mental wellness. Effective in reducing stress and helping with weight loss, this family fun activity is suitable for both adults and kids, especially kids around 8 years of age and above.

You can even invite your family friends to join in and make it more fun by organizing competitions amongst yourselves with families who share the same interests. It can be interesting to see which family in the neighborhood takes the most trophies at home. Just plan the event early enough and research well on some of the best biking tracks near your neighborhood or your next summer vacation.

4. Walking

Source: verywellfit

How beautiful can summer get than to hit the hiking trails with your family? Of course, not every member may enjoy hiking, but as long as everyone in the family knows the benefits of hiking and you’re well prepared to make it fun, they’ll sure look forward to the next event. For starters, walking is perhaps the simplest activity you can undertake with your family.

It can be enjoyed anywhere, anytime, and you only need to strap on some comfortable sneakers and a bottle of iced water in summer. As you walk, you can identify the different names of plants and flowers you find on your way. You can also make it more fun and competitive, with rewards for kids who manage to behave well and stay in the game throughout the walk.

5. Football

Source: dissolve

Remember, the trick is to stay sporty as a family. How about having two teams in the house, one team with dad, and the other one with mum? It doesn’t matter who wins or loses so long as the kids have fun and keep fit. Much like basketball, football can help improve speed, strength, alertness, and hand-and-eye coordination. It’s also a great way to spend time together while shedding some calories.

6. Bowling

Source: planetathlone

Bowling is another amazing sport you can try this summer with family. Apart from creating a great bonding opportunity, bowling also improves balance, coordination, and motor skills. The kids can play against themselves, the adults, or individually against the pins. You just have to identify a family-friendly place where they provide bowling competitions and you’re good to go. Once you do this, all you’ll need to have the tickets or entry fee ready, plan for transportation, and you’re all set for some summer fun.

Needless to reiterate, summer is one of the best times of the year to let loose and spend some good time with your loved ones. While traveling and indoor activities are also common, sporting activities can be an amazing way to have some summer fun with the family. On this note, the above are just a few ideas you might find worthwhile on family-friendly sports activities you can try this coming summer. Exercising as a family is viable, and it will only help you as a family to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Ways to Ensure Clean Drinking Water

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Numerous studies conducted in the USA have revealed an increase in waterborne diseases in most households. This begs the question, what’s wrong with our sources of water, and what measures can people take to ensure that they have safe drinking water in their houses. There are numerous contaminants in water, and if you are concerned about drinking contaminated water, there are ways to make your drinking water safer.

Let’s look at a few techniques that everyone can employ to make your drinking water safer.

Use Water Analysis Kits

You will need to test the water quality at home using a home analysis kit. The kit has straps that change color when they detect the presence of contaminants in water. There are plenty of kits available in the market that you can use for testing the presence of different pollutants. The test kits can detect the presence of pesticides, nitrates, lead, chlorine, bacteria, among other contaminants. In case the water has contaminants, it would be logical to consider the various water treatment options.

Source: nj

Use Water Filter Systems

This is a simple way to purify your home water, and by using the filter system, you are sure that you will have clean drinking water. Water filter systems come in different forms that include reverse osmosis and countertop filtration systems. Before you purchase any countertop filter, it’s always advisable to check this and review the best filters in the market. Countertop filters are easy to install since they don’t need tools or plumbing systems during installation. Besides, there are hi-tech filtration systems that can filter and purify your water. Despite the filtering mechanism you decide to purchase, it’s always advisable to pick filters approved by ANSI or NSF. These organizations test the efficiency of the filter systems.

Regular Replacement of Water Filters

Water filters can only be effective if they are correctly maintained and serviced. With this in mind, it’s advisable to follow the instructions provided by the filter company, especially those relating to replacement. Debris and contaminants are always caught up and stored by the filter. When the filter is clogged with the pollutants, and you fail to replace it in time, your drinking water will be contaminated since contaminants can escape.

Using UV Light

The method operates similarly to using a flashlight. Swish the torch in the water for a given duration, and the mechanism automatically kills all bacteria in the water. The best part about the device is that it’s easier to use and carry around. Swishing the flashlight only removes bacteria, and it leaves solid particles behind. Despite the shortcoming, the use of ultraviolet light is one of the most effective ways to purify water.

Source: homeworldbusiness

Use Iodine for Water Treatment

Iodine is a convenient and effective way to purify water, and you can find the solution in numerous forms; thus, you can choose the one that fits your budget. Iodine works by killing all the bacteria and virus molecules found in drinking water. The solution is easy to use, and it’s lightweight. The method has its shortcomings, one of them is that it takes approximately thirty minutes to kill the bacteria; therefore, you have to wait for that duration before taking the water.

Forward Osmosis

Forward osmosis involves water flowing from a region of high concentration to areas of low concentration. Two containers are placed adjacent to each other, and a membrane separates them. The membrane only allows water molecules to flow through and shields impurities such as salts. One container has contaminated water while the other one is empty. Eventually, you will have pure water in one container and impurities in the other container. The water, however, contains some salts; consequently, it has to go through a desalination process that completely purifies the water.

Boiling Water

Boiling water is a traditional way of purifying water, and it’s a cheaper alternative. Boiling water kills the germs and bacteria, although it has shortcomings since one has to use fuel to clean water. Despite the minor limitations, boiling water is one way to ensure that you have safe drinking water.

Source: unsplash

Distillation

This is one of the most effective ways to purify water, considering that it makes use of heat. Water has a lower boiling point in comparison with impurities and contaminants that are found in water. When distilling water, the water is subjected to heat until it boils, then its left to evaporate. The vapor is channeled to a condensing unit to cool down into liquid water, which happens to be safe for human consumption. The contaminating agents are left in the distillation chamber and are cleaned after the process. The method is suitable for people who reside in places with heavily contaminated water. Distillation has its shortcomings, considering that it consumes a lot of heat when purifying the water. This makes it a costly purification process, making it practical for small volumes of water. However, you can also get the purest water by using a Megahome Water Distiller. The average megahome water distiller uses around 3 kilowatt hours to make 4 litres of distilled water, therefore each litre of distilled water costs around 9p to make.

Treating Water Using Chlorine

Chlorine is affordable and light in weight, and it works by killing the bacteria found in water. Similar to iodine, one has to wait for 30 minutes before drinking the water. Besides, you will have to place the recommended number of chlorine droplets since you wouldn’t want to poison your water.

Source: cotes

Implement Better Water Monitoring and Regulation

The government also has a role to play in ensuring clean drinking water for its citizens. The government can issue incentives such as rainwater harvesting systems and regulatory sideboards that will help maintain water sources.

Treatment of Water Resources

We all need to attack the problem at the source. Contaminants that end up in water resources often come from industries that drain their waste in water bodies. We should all take the initiative and confront such sectors and ensure that they take necessary measures to treat their waste before disposing of in water bodies.

Having safe drinking water should be everyone’s top priority. It would be best if you never compromised on the quality of water you take, and by implementing the above measures, you will have safe drinking water.

Addicted to Bass: New Ways to Listen to Music Whilst Travelling

Source: wanderlust

Music is all around us, whether it be listening in the car on your way to work or accompanying some wind-down time at home, it’s an integral part of what makes us human and with the progression of technology comes new ways to listen. Gone are the days of picking a record and placing on the turntable, carefully placing the needle, and replacing the vinyl when it’s finished. We have an entire world of music at our fingertips via a device that sits in our pockets, not only does it make music more accessible for the average joe, but it gives a platform for every musician trying to pave their way in the industry. One of the biggest benefits we have is being able to listen to music on the move, you couldn’t take a vinyl player with you on your travels but know there are plenty of ways to get your fix so let’s take a look at the new ways in which you can listen to music whilst traveling.

MP3 Devices

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Something that could be classed as a little out of date but still something worth looking at is an mp3 device, these enable you to store owned music on a portable device, some even the size of a bottle cap. The benefit of these devices that still trumps the more modern streaming services is you can put anything on there that you might not find elsewhere. Anything that’s converted into an mp3 file can be stored and listened to wherever you are, this means with certain applications you can turn video files into something you can listen to without watching the video. Often is the case where I find a song on video sites such as YouTube that I love but can’t find the same as an mp3 file. 10 years ago this was something that had no fix and you’d end up having to visit the site to listen, but with the development of technology, if you click here, you can now use a youtube downloader to convert the file into an mp3 and listen wherever you please. There’s no better feeling than being able to listen to your favorite version of a song on the go and it’s now easier than ever. The other benefit is being able to store as an mp4 file as well as an mp3, meaning you can watch your favorite music videos whilst your device is offline. A brilliant way of re-living your old music loves in a modern way.

Streaming Services

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These hit the market with the original streaming service, Napster, in 2001 and began a movement that would revolutionize music for the masses. You pay a set fee each month and have access to the services extensive library wherever you are, these often include millions of songs, and more often than not you’ll find what you’re looking for. Some bands/artists have exclusive deals with certain streaming sites so doing a bit of research into what’s on offer before choosing your service is advised.

Following Napster came Spotify in 2008 and it further revolutionized the industry, offering more than just an album, they brought live sets and special offerings to the table, and artists were able to provide music in a new way. This way of streaming took off and competitors started to arise, the most notable to challenge Spotify was Apple Music which came to us in 2015 and put up a fierce rivalry by bringing something else to the table, radio. I know what you’re thinking, radio’s been around for years, but not in this way, Apple Music had dedicated radio shows to certain styles of music 24/7 and offered special content that hadn’t been seen before. National radio DJs were changing alliances to get a piece of the action and something incredible was born. Still to this day, Spotify and Apple Music battle it out as the top streaming services and give the listener both individual and incredible content. Something to note as well with these services is that you’re able to download music to your device for when you don’t have any mobile data or access to wifi, meaning you can literally listen wherever, whenever.

Unsigned Music

Source: digitaltrends

If you’re someone that likes to go to local gigs and discover upcoming artists then doing this whilst traveling may prove to be difficult, especially if you’re unable to find a music venue. This is where apps such as Soundcloud come in handy, a completely open platform for anyone and everyone to upload their music for the public to listen to. A brilliant way of getting your local gig fix whilst on the move, there have been artists signed through this platform so you can still discover your new favorite local band. The types of artists that are provided on platforms that cater to artists with a smaller audience have the additional benefit of containing a wide variety of genres. You’ll be introduced to those who have been practicing music for decades, wondering how they have not been discovered yet. Or you will find artists who are just starting to experiment with music production, from any combination of alternative and indie music you’ll find something that suits just about everyone here. By listening to artists that haven’t been signed you’re also contributing to their building their audience and if it’s someone that you especially enjoy listening to, hopefully, they will end up getting found.

Music is something we should all have a connection with, it’s emotive and brings us happiness. You may not have found music you love just yet but try and stay connected, chart music isn’t the only sound out there so delve further into the history books and give new music a chance. The development of technology means we can constantly be listening to music, no matter where we are and that’s something really special. Especially when it provides such a large opportunity to artists who might otherwise not have a voice. Never be left in silence again!

Build A Successful Natural Oil Business With Expert Manufacturing Solutions

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