Monthly Archives: March 2018
3 Winter Household Preparations You Must Not Forget
From November through March, the State of Utah becomes a winter wonderland. Its uniquely dry and fluffy snowfall is a legend of its own; its snow-capped hills and mountains some of the most popular destinations for winter sports enthusiasts. But as majestic as winter is, households in The Beehive State knows that upon its arrival, essential home preparations must be made, such as these:
Fireplace preparation
The fireplace in your Salt Lake City home must be readied for the cold season as early as November, at which point daily temperatures across the state start to dip. The kind of fireplace you have determines what preparations you must do.
If yours is the traditional type that uses wood, cleaning the firebox and the chimney’s interior and exterior are important. Crucial components that need checking include the flue and damper. For a gas fireplace, the glass plate must be checked for cracks, the shut-off valve for clogged holes, and vents for any signs of wear and tear.
Furnace inspection
If your house has a working furnace, the crucial part you must inspect, and replace if necessary, is the air filter. A faulty one has detriments ranging from increasing your energy usage and cost to contaminating the air quality in your home.
Sprinkler shutoff
Failure to turn off your grass sprinklers during wintertime could freeze the pipes and lead to a breakdown. As soon as the days start to get cold, make sure to drain all the pipes connected to your sprinkler, and shut off all valves and controllers attached to it.
These tips seem almost unnecessarily simple to some. But you will be surprised by how many households inadvertently neglect to do them. See to it that you make these preparations so you can enjoy your lazy winter months with peace of mind.
Types of Flanges Used in Gas Pipes
Pipes are an essential component of gas connections. Pipe fittings are also a vital component of these connections, their primary purpose being to connect the gas pipe to the gasket or connect two pipes. Pipe flanges are the standard type of fitting used to make these connections.
The material of choice for these gas pipe fittings is carbon steel owing to its unmatched strength, corrosion resistance, and durability. That said, you should know that there are different types of carbon steel flanges you may opt for depending on your application and requirements. Here are the commonly used flange types.
Slip-On Flanges
This flange has a slightly larger diameter compared to your gas pipe’s outer diameter. It slides and snugly fits into your pipe. Though slipped-on flanges are thinner than most types of flanges, they are cost-efficient, secure and dependable. Hubs and rings are also considered slipped-on flanges since they snugly fit over gas pipes.
Weld-Neck Flanges
These flanges are welded onto the neck of your pipe and have an inner diameter that matches your pipe. They allow stress transfer from the weld-neck flange to the pipe. These flanges are ideally used in high-temperature and pressure applications to enhance flexibility and strength. They are however more costly and bulky compared to other flange types.
Blind Flanges
Blind pipe flanges seal gas pipe ends and efficiently prevent flow. They are typically used when testing the pressure of the gas in your pipe or during repair and maintenance works. They allow the technicians to work around the pipe or inside them easily. Blind flanges can also be used to terminate gas pipes.
Lap joint flanges are fitted over gas pipes. These flanges are typically used together with carbon steel stub end fittings to save costs and prevent issues caused by misalignment of bolt holes. Lap joint flanges are frequently used for applications in which the juncture has no contact with your gas or fluid and those that are frequent dismantled.
3 Factors to Consider When Sourcing a Tooling Supplier
Firms across various industries are experiencing record growth and profits after the US economy rose back from the 2009 financial disaster. While this prosperity is primarily a good thing, there have been a reported shortage of premier suppliers to meet growing demand for tooling products.
Consequently, those in charge of procurement might experience major challenges when finding reliable tooling providers. Having high online steel and tooling sales might be a positive indication of their capability, but you also have to make sure that meet other crucial criteria.
Capabilities
When it comes to sourcing a potential tooling partner, it’s important to evaluate their capacity to provide. They should be able to meet the company’s needs without the risk of critical problems during production and prototype runs.
Find out if your prospective supplier specializes in any category — whether it’s in cutting equipment, molds, gauges, fixtures, or patterns.
Timeliness
This is the reason many businesses opt for local partners to support their projects. When a tooling supplier cannot adhere to the agreed date of delivery, it could lead to higher costs and inability to meet targets.
Making quality tools within a reasonable timeline is not an easy feat, so if you could partner with a company that can deliver, stick with them for the long term.
Experience
Tool manufacturing and design are not for everyone. From a simple pattern to a complex mold, experience is key in creating high-quality products.
Be sure to invest in a company with sufficient experience in the industry. It will help you avoid costly mistakes in the future. Time and resources are valuable commodities, so it’s better to get an experienced provider right from the get-go.
The key to finding a reliable long-term tooling supplier is to have full awareness of the big picture. It might be worth it to take your time in your search than to settle for short-term savings.
Buying a Car: 3 Proven Ways to Get the Best One
Buying a car comes with some mixed emotions. First, you are excited at the idea of owning a vehicle; especially if it’s your first one. But you are a bit worried because you do not know what lies ahead.
However, you need not worry if you are well versed in the factors you need to consider before buying a car.
Here are some tips for you:
- Can you afford it?
You need to be realistic on this one. Review your finances and determine how much you can spend on your purchase without breaking the bank. It is also the perfect time to assess the cost of ownership of your new car. It is worth noting that the cost of ownership is likely to be higher than the buying price.
This is where factors such as fuel, repair, maintenance, insurance and depreciation come into play. Having this information in advance will help you when arranging for the financing.
- Do your research
It will be a grave mistake to buy a car without first doing some thorough research. Thanks to the Internet, you can now access a myriad of manufacturer’s websites. Here, you can read reviews about the brand you desire. In addition, this is the best time to research on the pricing options for different cars for sale in Auckland, Wellington or anywhere else.
Do not forget to check on their reputation and reliability. Research is imperative regardless of whether you are buying a new or used vehicle.
- Your needs and wants
You need to distinguish these two factors to get your ideal vehicle. When it comes to your needs, consider the intended use for your new car. For example, if you need a family car, buy one that is spacious and safe. Ensure that the vehicle you choose meets your primary requirements.
Once you are sure your need is catered for, you may consider what you want in a car. The factors that may affect your decision include colour, style, reliability and fuel economy, among many others.
Buying a car is a serious undertaking and there is no room for any mistake. But with the guidance of the above factors, you will have your ideal car in no time.
Common Causes of Ankle and Foot Pain Among Men
The best treatment options for painful feet and ankles arise from an accurate diagnosis of the problem. Treatment that is targeted and specific offers the best results. Pain in the ankles and feet can be disabling since the person is limited in his mobility.
Final Kick Ankle & Foot explains that an orthopedic surgeon and foot specialist can help you with the problem. Before consulting, you can learn something about the pain you are experiencing now.
Arch pain
The human foot is a complicated combination of bone, muscle, tendon, and nerve. The early sign of pain is usually diffused and the origin may not be obvious at first. Pain originating from the arch may radiate to other parts, but you will be able to isolate the pain when you press on the arch and feet that is tender.
Problems with the arch may arise from wearing the wrong footwear or from an acute injury. Weight gain may also be the cause of arch pain. The most common diagnosis given to pain and inflammation of this part of the foot is plantar fasciitis.
Heel pain
Pain concentrated on the heel of the foot typically involves the calcaneus, which is the heel bone. Repetitive stress due to physical activity occurs over time. Most men who develop stress injury of the heel bone incur the problem due to associated problems of instability and lack of flexibility. The abnormal strain on the foot structures contributes to the stress injury on the bone that bears most of the body’s weight in the upright posture.
Toe pain
The pain on the big toe is most commonly attributed to gout, which is a type of arthritis characterized by swelling and severe pain. Deposits of crystal in the joint cause the symptoms and the big toe of the foot is the primary site affected.
You can learn more about these conditions from an orthopedic doctor near you. Do not hesitate to ask for an expert opinion for accurate diagnosis and effective management of the symptoms.
3 Reasons You Should Visit Singapore
Are you still thinking about where to go on your next big vacation? Well, look no further and book a flight to Singapore! Search it online, and you will soon find out why many people say it is full of great places to visit and teeming with fun and exciting things to do.
For starters, here are reasons you should add Singapore to your travel bucket list.
The Sights and Fun
There is an abundance of good places to go here in Singapore. There are several museums here, including the National Gallery Singapore. You can take a stroll at its parks like the Southern Ridges Walk. Or take selfies at the Merlion, the country’s most recognisable icon.
But what takes the cake here in Singapore is the island of Sentosa. Here, the beach is great, the attractions are top-notch, and the experience is complete. They do not call Sentosa the “State of Fun” for nothing. Find out yourself when you decide to go here.
The Food
One of the best ways to experience a country is through its food, and Singapore is certainly famous for it. Satisfy your palates at the many restaurants and dining areas the city-state has to offer, from local cuisine to international flavour.
And you have not been to Singapore if you have not tried eating in its famous hawker food stalls, some of which bear Michelin stars. This is besides the many food festivals the country celebrates.
The Culture
Besides enjoying the country’s culture through its food, Singapore has much culture to offer to everyone. This is also one of the reasons people from every corner in the world troop to this island-nation, to experience its rich and diverse culture.
In fact, there are four major languages here: Malay, Mandarin, Tamil and English.
So, what are you waiting for? Book your next vacation in this wonderful city-state, and you will find an endless stream of wonders not listed here.
Digital Analytics and E-Commerce: The Perfect Partnership
The development of technology today has brought amazing breakthroughs in different parts of the business sector. Many industries have been using analytics to predict movie success, monitor the activity of the financial market, and create the perfect product based on customer insights and behaviors.
The e-commerce industry is one that’s been reaping most of the benefits of digital analytics as it uses customer behavior to offer products that best match a customer’s profile. Here’s a brief look at e-commerce and analytics and how they make the perfect partnership that aids consumerism.
E-commerce
You can consider any commercial transaction online part of e-commerce. The terms online shopping, electronic payments, and internet banking are all part of it. Just imagine a shopping mall, that’s cramped into your device – that’s it.
Digital Analytics
By definition, analytics is the computational systematic analysis of statistics and data. If you collect the data and statistics from websites and mobile apps, then it’s called digital analytics.
This data is gathered, measured, visualized, and interpreted to reach a specific goal and to improve the performance of website processes.
It helps online businesses improve customer experience through their websites and mobile apps and aids in their marketing efforts as well.
Their Marriage
When e-commerce businesses use digital analytics, it offers solutions to these three major areas.
- Revenue and Engagement – It improves how customers engage with the business resulting in an increase in revenue.
- Promotions – It helps run promotions that are targeted more for your customers.
- Pricing – It optimizes your pricing strategies to maximize your profits.
Digital analytics is crucial to the success of e-commerce today, and you should not neglect it. It may be a long process of collecting, measuring and analyzing data, but the results will always tell you what to improve in your process and help you get the ROI you’ve always dreamed of having.
Significant Changes in Crawler Crane Technology
Crawler cranes have seen many adjustments and remodeling to become the powerful lifting units we know today. From its 100-ton lifting capacity in 1947, it can now hoist more than 3000 tons of load.
While crawler cranes have become one of the most important machines in the construction sector, their operating and owning overheads can be quite costly. Still, they are the preferred choice especially for jobs that require lifting certain types of loads. Lampson, a trusted crawler crane company in Houston, shares a brief history of this reliable machine.
Early Design
In 1911, the Bucyrus Company designed and manufactured the first crawler crane. A gasoline engine powered the machine, which was known as the Type 14. It features a 4.27-meter diameter swing ring and an 18.3-meter lattice boom.
The standard 47-ton crawler crane has then improved significantly in the coming years, transitioning from electric and steam engines to diesel and gasoline. The timber beams have also been replaced by extended steel lattice booms that can outspread up to hundreds of meters, with a lifting capacity reaching up to 3,600 tons.
Changes in Ergonomics
The most significant change to the first deign of crawler cranes is ergonomics. To operate a unit in the early 1920s, you would have to be a steam or mechanical engineer. The job was physically taxing, requiring more than 10 hours every day, without proper protection, and under harsh weather conditions.
The first concept of gasoline-powered, heavy-duty lifting cranes mounted on a tracked movable platform was introduced in 1914. Several years later, the initial excavator with diesel engine debuted. In the late 1960s, Jim Montgomery and Archer Brown invented the counterweight, a feature that is still used in modern crawler cranes.
Thanks to the adjustments made since crawler cranes first came out, the construction industry can benefit immensely from the incredible power of these machines. They have come a long way since the 1910s, and engineers continue to look for ways to improve the system.
Santos Knight Frank Expects More Office Space in Metro Manila for 2018
Santos Knight Frank expects the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry to fuel most of the demand for new leasable office space in the Philippines for 2018.
Morgan McGilvray, Santos Knight Frank senior director for Occupier Services and Commercial Agency, said that property developers would add more than 1.5 million square meters of space this year. This would represent a 25% increase compared to over 1.2 million square meters in 2016.
Foreign Interest
Australia and the U.S. will continue to be the largest markets for the Philippines’ office property sector, although more Chinese BPO firms will likely set up a regional headquarters in the country, according to Santos Knight Frank chairman and CEO Rick Santos.
While the addition of new office space will drive up vacancy rates, Santos believes that the number of pre-leasing deals will offset the projected increase. Based on a Colliers International Philippines report, the growing popularity of flexible office spaces could also help in maintaining steady occupancy in properties.
Real Estate Trends
Colliers’ Top 10 Predictions For 2018 report showed that the volume of flexible offices space in the Philippines would increase in the medium term. This trend will stem from shifting market demand among different tenants. Other trends for this year include more townships outside Metro Manila, as developers scout for new opportunities in Cavite and other nearby provinces.
This will occur partly because of the popularity of mixed-use developments such as Lancaster New City properties. A review website will help you compare prices if you intend to buy a house or market a new development in the near future.
Conclusion
The influx of investors in the Philippines’ commercial and residential property market, along with developers’ expansion plans, will likely keep real estate agents busy this year. How do you plan to market new projects in the coming months?
A Better Driver: Increasing Your Car Knowledge & Improving Your Motoring Experience
Car owners fall into two loose categories — drivers and car enthusiasts — which count towards their driving experiences. Drivers don’t care that much about the inner workings of their car if they see that it’s up and running. As an enthusiast, however, they boast of having knowledge about your car’s parts.
In the latter category, it’s easier to tell when your engine is in need of attention and basic maintenance. Contrary to popular opinion, increasing your car knowledge and skills is not an uphill task. Here’s how you can do it:
Study your owner’s manual
Each car comes with a detailed user manual that explains the best practices in keeping it in great shape. Reputable mechanics in Salt Lake City and other parts of Utah, however, noted that many drivers tend to overlook the information found in it. Granted, the manual is not the most interesting read, but it can help keep your car in excellent shape.
Start reading general information, such as when to change the oil, switch the tires, and when to schedule a major service. As you become familiar with the general terms, start digging into the more complex knowledge. With time, you will find that you’re stocking up on valuable information.
Join a car forum
Thanks to the Internet, you can access and find the best minds who can teach you more about cars. There are many blogs, forums, social media accounts, and websites dedicated to helping drivers make the best of their cars. Just pick one that suits your needs and you’re on your way to better motoring. Typically, such platforms bring together people owning the same car models, living in the same city, and having many other similarities. With a little digging, you’ll find one you can trust for years.
Your attitude towards your car determines how much pleasure you will derive from it. With a little effort, you can improve your car knowledge, which is the first step to improving your driving experience.
