Category: Eclectic Homes

Troubleshooting Lighting Fixtures

Troubleshooting a light fixture can prove to be a challenging task. Several components of a light fixture may fail, causing it to error. When troubleshooting a light fixture, begin with the simplest possible alternative and work your way through, saving the hardest part to diagnose for last. Through the process of elimination, you may be able to fix the fixture yourself and save the money required to hire an electrician.

Safety First

Before trying to troubleshoot a light fixture, make certain to switch off the power providing the fixture. Merely turning off the wall switch providing the fixture does not guarantee a live circuit isn’t present in the fixture’s electric box. Analyzing the wires in the electric box with a noncontact voltage meter helps you to verify the electrical current is indeed off. Probes attached to the meter are used close to wires from the electrical box to test for electric current. If you are unsure the electricity is off, switch off the main breaker supplying the whole house at the circuit breaker box.

Light Bulbs

Ensure you are using the right type and size of lights in the fixture. This is especially significant with fluorescent and LED (light-emitting diode) fittings. Replace the light bulbs in the fixture. Occasionally a light bulb will do the job initially and fail after it has been on for some time. This is due to the filament curling and losing contact after it has had a opportunity to heat up. When the filament cools, it can re-establish contact and once again function correctly.

Wiring

Common problems with a fixture electric wiring are found from the electric box. You will need to eliminate any mounting screws securing the fixture to the electric box to expose the wires. A loose or disconnected cable could cause the fixture to error. It is also possible that a problem exists in the switch or its wiring. Switches can wear out over a protracted period. The wires in the electric box providing the switch may also become loose or disconnected. When you cannot determine a wiring problem visually, it may be necessary to flip on the electricity supply to the fixture at the circuit breaker box and apply the voltage meter to verify electricity is reaching the fixture or its switch.

Light Fixtures

Traditional light fixtures aren’t susceptible to error. But there are certain problems that can develop in a fluorescent fixture which may cause it to error. Fluorescent light fixture failure generally relates to the lights or the ballast. A visual review of this fixture can help determine if it’s bad. Ballasts use oil to help keep the unit cool; once they begin to escape, ballast failure is sure to follow. Another area to inspect on the fluorescent fittings is the lamp holder. As the fixture ages, the vinyl lamp holder can become brittle. This leads to splitting, causing the bulbs to get rid of contact. Although conventional fixtures are simple devices, a couple problems can develop with older versions. Light bulb socket failure and a poor wire within the fixture are the two most common culprits.

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What kind of Wood is required to Build a Planter Box?

The wood used to construct a planter must have certain characteristics that make it long-lasting, such as insect and decay resistance, and it has to appear appealing in your landscape. Many wood planters may also be sealed or treated to prevent fading or greying of the wood, so nearly any sort of wood may be utilized to construct a planter. But there are a handful of common woods that supply the all of the characteristics essential to make a permanent, attractive planter.

Teak

Teak is a commonly used wood for outdoor furniture and planters. This honey-colored wood is highly resistant to rot and decay, which makes it ideal for your moist environment required to develop plants. Teak produces natural oils that protect it from the elements, but it will turn into a weathered grey color if it isn’t sealed about once each year. Some gardeners prefer this aged look and it does not impact the integrity of the wood.

Cedar

Cedar is a planter material indigenous to North America that shares several attributes with teak. It is a lightweight, durable wood that resists splitting. Western Red Cedar is ideal as a planter wood, since it’s thermal coefficient, meaning that even on hot days, it’s cool, which is good for plant origins. Cedar can be naturally fungal and bacterial resistant and includes natural oils that preserve the wood even in humid climates. Cedar planters require little upkeep. A coat of sealant or stain will preserve the shade, but when left bare, cedar planters typically weather to an attractive silvery grey patina.

Redwood

Redwood is a fast species of wood, which makes it a readily available planter material. This wood is durable and resists weathering and rot, but requires redesigning to avoid splitting. Like cedar and teak, redwood left unsealed will also turn a grey color. In case your redwood planter has weathered, the rich red colour may be restored using a coloured redwood sealer. Clean the wood with soap and water and rinse thoroughly before applying sealers into redwood planters.

Cypress

The Cypress tree creates cypressine, which is a natural oil that serves as a preservative, which makes cypress planters durable and resistant to harsh weather conditions, insects and fungus. The shade of the wood varies, with hues of light to dark honey, and when planters are left outdoors, the wood takes on a light pewter shade over time. Cypress is lightweight, such as cedar, and it resists warping, splitting and splintering. Cypress heels match nearly any exterior fashion, and they require very little maintenance to keep on looking their finest. To keep the honey colour of the wood, seal it at least once each year using a product labeled for use on exterior cypress furniture.

Pine

Pressure-treated pine can be commonly utilized to construct pavers, but it has some drawbacks that natural woods don’t. Pressure-treated lumber is treated with chemical additives to make it rot, insect and weather resistant, but these are not ideal for vandalism which contain edible crops such as vegetables or herbs. Pressure-treated hardwood also tends to shrink over time and it doesn’t take paint or stain well unless the wood has dried out. Natural, untreated pine may also be used to construct pavers, but it has to be sealed to make it resistant to weathering, rot and fungus. Pine can also be soft, making it vulnerable to nicks, gouges and other damage.

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What Are Real Estate Notes?

Property notes are growing in popularity since a kind of investment product to the open housing market. A real estate note is made when two parties reach an agreement on a transaction which gives the capital to purchase a home or other sort of land to one party. Whoever is the holder of the real estate note is that the party that receives repayment regardless of who financed it initially.

Significance

When a party provides loan funding for a party that wishes to use the money to purchase a house, loan documents that guarantee the lending party will be repaid is called a real estate note. Property notes may be purchased and sold on the open market if wishes to profit on the loan repayment.

Types

Loan agreements from many different real estate financing tools can be marketed as real estate notes. These include deeds of trust notes, land sale contracts or contracts for deeds. These documents Each cover the conditions of repayment for loan funding of property purchases. Investors should bear in mind that notes are available for residential, commercial and industrial properties; there are particular risks or benefits to holding real estate notes for each style of tenant.

Function

Markets the investment product via brokerage firms or through funding financing firms. When the real estate note transaction has occurred, the selling party relinquishes the rights to collect on the loan agreement. A seller might have the ability to negotiate the sale of just a couple of repayment intervals instead of the whole duration of repayment.

Factors

As is always the case when making a substantial investment or sale, a person must get a number of quotes for their real estate note prior to entering into a transaction. Upfront fees charged for real estate note transactions or even a refusal to run a borrower credit check prior to issuing a quote is generally a red flag which could indicate an unethical investor who may be looking to take advantage of a vendor. Get a written purchase agreement for the transaction and ensure that you agree with the investor about the processing period on their payment prior to agreeing to a sale.

Misconceptions

A party that’s wanting to sell a real estate note will most likely do this at a large discount, sometimes as high as 20 to 30 percent. Property notes which are not offered on mortgages do not include the property as collateral to the loan. Those holding a real estate note are taxed on their earnings, but at lower capital gains tax rates for passive income rather than other taxes on income.

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What's a Realty Sale?

In addition to standard real-estate transactions, home buyers and sellers may think about purchasing or selling a home via short sale. Although the short-sale process presents many different difficulties, it may be a beneficial selling solution for some homeowners. Investors and potential homebuyers may also benefit in prices, which can be significantly lower than market value. By hiring a real estate agent, familiarize yourself with the sale process.

Identification

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR),”A short sale is a sales transaction in which the seller’s mortgage creditor agrees to accept a payoff of less than the balance due on the loan” Unlike a foreclosure, in which the creditor sells the home due to loan obligations, the homeowner executes a short sale. Short sales are commonly selected by homeowners who face financial hardship and have negative equity on their home.

Procedure

The short sale process can be problematic for buyers and sellers. Sellers need to present their case to their mortgage lender for the short sale to be approved. They need to prepare a hardship letter, which is supposed to detail their financial situation and reasons for wanting a short sale, in addition to some other documents, such as pay stubs, tax returns, and mortgage and home purchase documents. According to the NAR, hiring a real estate attorney who is experienced with short sales may increase the possibility of receiving an application approved.

Time Frame

Short-sale program review may take quite a while, even if vendors are well-prepared. According to”REALTOR Magazine,” it might take around 2 weeks for short-sale application acceptance if you’ve got one mortgage, or as many as three weeks if you have two mortgages in the same company. If you have a few mortgages from various lenders, be prepared to wait as long as four weeks to discover if your program is approved. Be sure you have submitted all necessary files to your creditor and all paperwork is complete so as to lessen the inspection process.

Benefits

Short sales offer you many different advantages for sellers and possible buyers. A short sale is often marketed as a desirable alternative. Though short sales do have their drawbacks, they are less financially harmful compared to a foreclosure. In a short sale, your home stays in your possession and you have more say in the selling process than you want at a foreclosure. Buyers benefit from lower-than-market prices and may have more hours to inspect the property and achieve funding.

Disadvantages

Short sales aren’t without their disadvantages. Although a short sale may be more preferable to a foreclosure, it is surely not as rewarding as a normal sale. One of the primary drawbacks of a short sale is the period of time it can take for the whole approach. Furthermore, sellers may need to pay taxes on the quantity of the mortgage that has been left unpaid at tax time. For example, in the event that you short sell your home for $15,000 less than what you owe your creditor, and the creditor agrees to cancel the debt, you may be required to pay federal taxes on this amount. Although the Mortgage Debt Relief Act of 2007 allows for complete debt forgiveness for most homeowners, you should consult with your creditor or real-estate attorney to determine whether you will need to pay taxes in your canceled debt.

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What Exactly Are Short-Term Apartment Leases?

Short-term apartment leases offer flexible living arrangements for those who need to have options in future home preparation and relocation, such as students, business executives and passing residents who reside in more than one city throughout the year. Assuming occupancy of another’s leased apartment offers anybody from the weekend tourist or the between-jobs actor to secure lodging temporarily.

Vacation Rentals

San Francisco residents Joe Gebbia and Brian Chesky rented their apartment into attendees of a local design convention which had practically eliminated the city’s resort options in October, 2007. The 1,000 the pair made inspired a company thought, Airbnb, which grew to 12,000 registered users and over 3,000 properties by April 2009. Hosts can lease their flat for days or weeks at one time. The website gathers a fee of 10 percent from flat guests at reserving and 3% from flat hosts upon payment. At August 2010, Airbnb had flat rentals available in 156 countries worldwide. Other similar sites have developed following the Airbnb launching.

Corporate Rentals

Business apartment rentals, frequently situated in routine market-rate flat buildings with long term residents, generally operate under separate lease agreements with a corporate home broker. A corporate rental offers rental prices around 20% less than the average upscale extended stay hotel, with a few prearranged services in the rental service including routine cleaning service and a rental rate including furnishings, kitchen ware, utilities, cable, Internet and phone. This type of short-term rental offers the benefits of community using the flexibility of a longterm resort, typically bigger space and availability of amenities including a fitness area.

Short-Term Lease

Many property owners and management companies of multiunit apartment communities offer short-term leasing options shorter compared to normal 12-month lease. Often, longer lease periods push the leasing cost, and in some instances, owners bill an additional monthly assessment when leases last less than 12 weeks in length. Short-term leases offer flexibilitynonetheless, short-term tenants run the possibility of leasing rate increases at renewal period.

Sub-Lease

Sub-leasing offers a temporary apartment leasing alternative which involves assuming the lease responsibilities of another individual for the length of the lease or for a predetermined period of time. The Apartment Guide recommends that tenants who want to sub-lease an apartment personally contact the property manager or owner to confirm permission for the sub-lease and, if you can, put it in writing. Just as in a long-term lease arrangement, conducting a pre-move walk to document damage eradicates the chance of confusion in move-out over the house’s condition.

Legislation

Back in August 2010, New York’s Governor David Paterson signed a law to take effect in May 2011, which prohibits temporary flat rentals for extended periods of 30 days or less. Although Paterson states he implemented the ban to curtail illegal resorts which don’t abide by fire rules or best practices, travelers complained that cutting out alternative rentals may create lodging costs out of reach for the ordinary tourist’s budget.

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Guest Groups: 20 Gorgeous Perennials to Plant Now

For the majority of us at the USA, spring is here. Now is the time to get yourself outside and find some plants at the ground to acclimate to moderate temperatures and take advantage of richer spring rains. Whether you are adding to a bed or garden you presently have or are beginning from scratch, I’ve assembled an assortment of must-plant perennials that thrive in a selection of zones across the country. Let’s get planting! — Sarah in The Estate of Matters

Related: What to do in your garden now

Westover Landscape Design, Inc..

This beautifully layered border backyard comes with a whole lot of elements that I use quite frequently in my landscapes in North Carolina. I love the blue junipers at the trunk and the beautiful hydrangeas at the center layer with assorted perennials in between.

Plant Delights Nursery

Lantana Star Landing – $11

The hardy Lantana with orange-red and yellowish blossoms steadily blooms the whole season. You will have a massive mound of it until you know it, plus it is deer resistant. Pictured is a cultivar called ‘Star Landing’ (Lantana camara L.)

Plant Delights Nursery

Geranium Rozanne – $13

I watched that this hardy geranium (geranium ‘Rozanne’) within my mother’s perennial garden a few years ago and have marveled at how it just keeps spreading and blooming. She finally gave me some cuttings that promptly took off and are thriving. It’s low growing and good for interrogate at the front of the planting bed.

Plant Delights Nursery

Agave Kissho Kan – $15

I understand I’m supposed to be speaking about perennials, but I could not leave succulents out. My mother implanted the Lucky Crown Century Plant (agave ‘Kissho Kan’, zone 9 to 10) in a container, but I like them at the ground for a drought-tolerant, low-maintenance plant. I also recently watched them gathered around a citrus tree.

The Vermont Wildflower Farm

Purple Coneflower Seeds – $2.95

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea, zones 3 to 8) is a absolute must. There are several cool varieties to choose from, and they are all pretty easy to grow.

Patron Gardens

Heavy Metal Switch Grass – $10.49

A modern landscape is not complete without ornamental grasses. They provide so much movement and feel. This is a switch grass called ‘Heavy Metal’ (Panicum virgatum, zones 2 to 10).

Plant Delights Nursery

Gone With the Wind Blackberry Lily – $13

A more recent perennial to present to your garden is the ‘Blackberry lily’ (Belamcanda chinensis ‘Gone with the Wind’, zones 5 to 10). The foliage is a beautiful blue/green, and it appears similar to a iris but using more blooms and longer bloom time.

Wayside Gardens

Raspberry Sundae Peony Plant – $36.95

Can a perennial garden really be complete without some timeless peonies (Paeonia, zones 3 to 8)? They’re lovely cut flowers and are fairly substantial plants. I love to consider these as alternatives to roses.

Plant guide: Peonies

White Flower Farm

Frikart’s Aster

‘Frikart’s Aster’ (A. x frikartii ‘Monch’, zones 5 to 10) will maintain pumping electric-purple daisy-like blooms all season if you remove the previous blooms. Asters have been a backyard continuous for like.

Plant guide: Asters

Stark Bro’s

Golden Japanese Forest Grass – $12.99

I truly can’t get over Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’, zones 5 to 9). My favourite is the variegated selection. I planted mine beneath a walnut, and the contrast was genius and it’s so much movement.

Wayside Gardens

Actual Joy Sedum Stonecrop Plant – $13.95

Any person who knows anything about perennials will say to plant a sedum (Sedum ‘Pure Joy’, zones 3 to 9).

Plant guide: Sedum

Monrovia

Variegated Solomon’s Seal

Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum falcatum ‘Variegatum’, zones 4 to 2) is a delicate but sturdy plant, low growing with miniature bell-shaped blooms. My experience is that it’s had a effect in the South.

Plant Delights Nursery

Elaine Lily of the Nile – $15

I truly could not resist adding agapanthus (Agapanthus ‘Elaine’, zones 8 to 10) to this collection. Agapanthus provides me a small amount of a seaside feel and it matches beautifully with a boxwood or compact holly shrub.

Vincent Gardens

Mexican Bush Sage – $6.97

When what’s fizzled out in late summer, this salvia (Salvia leucantha, zones 7 to 10) is functioning it. It soaks up the sun and has delicate light green foliage.

Big Dipper Farm

Jerusalem Sage – $6.99

I’ve personally grown Jerusalem sage (Phlomis fruticosa,zones 4 to 9) at a few different gardens, and I’ve had success each time. It takes off fairly fast.

Spring Hill Nursery

Small Globe Thistle – $15.99

Globe thistle (Echinops ritro, zones 3 to 9) is one of my favorite perennials. I made sure to have it included in my wedding bouquet, as it adds interest to any flower arrangement.

Plant guide: Globe thistle

Plant Delights Nursery

Hosta Hans – $32

One of the best shade perennials by far is that the hosta. This beautiful tri-color variety is called ‘Hans’ (zones 3 to 7). As you may think hostas are somewhat ho-hum, I guarantee you this ain’t your mama’s hosta. I want to purchase some before they sell out.

Garden Harvest Supply

Goldilocks Rudbeckia Plant – $6

The rudbeckia (zones 3 to 11), or as most call it, Black Eyed Susan, is a classic. This is the ‘Goldilocks’ variety, which has a double petal effect. I’ve watched this perennial get through some intense summers at the South. It provides a beautiful stroke of yellow in the backyard.

Plant guide: Black-eyed Susan

Prairie Nursery

Blue False Indigo – $5.49

With lovely foliage, plentiful blooms and a beautiful purple hue, it is hard not to love Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis, zones 3 to 9). Try it in yellow also.

Gorge Top Gardens

Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ – $2.99

I’ve implanted Crocosmia (Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’, zones 6 to 9) in several spots and it’s absolutely thrived. Plant in full sun or part shade, but be careful because it is going to spread quickly. 1 4-inch pot is a great start. It has an erect growth habit with grassy foliage reminiscent of an iris.

Next: 10 Perennials to Extend Your Garden’s Summer Colour

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Guest Groups: A Gilded New Year

Each January bursts with the luster of new beginnings and hope the new year will probably likely be more wondrous than any before. If I could translate the dazzle of the new year to house decoration, it’d be magnificently bright, hopelessly glamorous and conducive to continued merriment with loved ones. I have compiled 20 of my beloved gilded pieces for the house, hoping to bring a lasting luster for you and yours in 2013. Cheers! — Erika from Radiant Republic

West Elm

Gold Flatware 5-Piece Place Setting – $29

I have always wanted a set of golden flatware. This gilded set is eye-catching and tasteful.

Zhush LLC

Waylande Gregory Gold and White Lava Salt & Pepper Shakers – $135

I adore these brilliant, art deco salt and pepper shakers — plus they are hand-painted to boot.

iomoi

Pencil Set, Gold – $12

I would love these gold pens for writing grocery lists and displaying in my desktop pencil cup.

Shopbop

Gift Boutique Fortune Cookie Box – $22

Wishing for good fortune in 2013? This darling fortune cookie box stores miniature keepsakes and stays pretty as a screen. I love to keep my great fortune where I could see it, so mine would sit on my desk.

Jonathan Adler

Mr. & Mrs. Muse Brass Place Card Holders – $98

Hosting a dinner party shortly? These brass card holders are too perfect for location settings — I actually “mustache” one to dinner.

Design Darling

Rectangular Lacquer Tray, Metallic Gold – $20

This metallic gold lacquer tray is a stunning entry table inclusion. I would style it with my favorite candle and put it to use for keeping my keys.

Eno Gold Bricks – $115

At the market for a smart doorstop or paperweight? This golden powder-coated, tongue-in-cheek brick by Arik Levy is a brilliant (no pun meant) conversation piece.

Society Social

Gold Stripe Cocktail Napkins – $18

Everyone can use a little glow at the dinner table, and these golden striped napkins do the trick.

Society Social

The Devlin Bar Cart – $515

My New Year’s resolution is to construct a party-worthy pub cart. The Devlin (in golden, no less) from Society Social would be absolutely the most stunning addition to my home.

Anthropologie

Shimmer Peek Trinket Dish, Gold – $25

The peek of gold within these trinket dishes is a stunning contrast to the understated outdoor. I would use them on my nightstand to store rings, but they’d also be cute on a dining table to get a pinch of pepper and salt.

Anthropologie

Woven Gold Bath Mat – $68

This woven gold mat could be cute only within an entryway. I might place it in my guest clean room to get a little glow.

Anthropologie

Imperial Cheese Knives – $198

This cheese knife set is ideal for wine pairing parties. Add a small chalkboard label with every cheese, and the dining table is done.

VivaTerra

Gilded Cash Cow Bank – $98

Saving for a rainy day? This tiny bank brings a new meaning to the word “cash cow.”

Frye Art Museum Store

Gold Cards – $18.75

How about a few gold playing cards for a night in with friends? If you’re not one to play with cards, you can frame a set of four. I would hang them in the hallway.

LEIF

Glitter Salad Serving Set, Gold – $38

All these salad tongs make me want to eat vegetables. Sparkly and candy, they are a fantastic addition to some gathering — and a perfect hostess gift.

CB2

2-Piece Dahlia Candleholder Set – $19.95

This two-piece candleholder set reflects beautiful light. I would group three on stacked books on the coffee table.

Brass Gallery

Lion Head Brass Door Knocker – $66

This lion’s head door knocker is regal and sophisticated with a dash of whimsy. It would really pop against my red door.

Furbish

Beige/Metallic Gold Zebra Stenciled Hide Rug – $700

This metallic and beige hide rug could be darling in a nursery. My spouse and I have (at least) a few years to go until we’ve got one of those, but I would still love to have this in our bedroom.

Furbish

Golden Animal Magnets – $12

These gilded animal magnets are too adorable. They would be cute in a house office or on a magnetic strip in the entryway for reminders and notes.

Next: Color Guide: How to Use Gold

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The way to Troubleshoot a Touch Lamp

A touch lamp operates apparently by magic; simply touch any piece of steel on the lamp, and the lamp comes on. It turns any incandescent light bulb into a multi purpose wax by regulating the amount of power supplied to the bulb. With each touch, the brightness of this light bulb increases until the final touch turns the lamp off. When touching the metal no more functions on the lamp, troubleshoot a few of the problems that might get the touch lamp to neglect.

Inspect your signature lamp’s lamp cord for damage. Your pets may have chewed through the cord, or other cord damage could have occurred which could cause the lamp to fail. You’ll need to replace the cord if it’s damaged.

Unplug the touch lamp from the outlet. Plug another lamp or a radio into the outlet to guarantee the socket forces another appliance. In case the new lamp or appliance fails to function, the socket might have failed or the circuit breaker tripped.

Plug the touch lamp into a working outlet. If the lamp fails to light, then unplug the lamp and get rid of the light bulb.

Check the wax to get a damaged filament. If the light bulb filament is broken, replace the light bulb. Use an ultraviolet light bulb to check the lamp’s operation after plugging it back in. A compact fluorescent lighting (CFL) or LED (light-emitting diode) wax only functions in touch lights if it’s tagged as dimmable.

Unplug the touch lamp and get rid of the light bulb if it still does not work. Look within the socket for a small brass tab. Use your fingers, needle-nose a tiny flat-head screwdriver to lift the tab marginally. Whether this tab doesn’t come in contact with the bottom of the light bulb, the lamp will not work. Replace a light bulb, plug the touch lamp into the outlet and assess its function. If the lamp fails to come on, then you’ll need to check the socket wiring.

Remove the light bulb and unplug the lamp. Unscrew the finial and lift the lamp shade off the canopy.

Find the metal heels in the bottom of the harp on each side of the socket. Slide the sleeves up the harp as you squeeze the sides of the harp together. This discharges the harp from the harp saddle under the socket.

Catch the outside sleeve on the socket with your hand. Pull the sleeve from the socket base. You might need to wiggle the sleeve as you pull, so that it discharges from the foundation.

Check the lamp wires to guarantee they connect to the two terminal screws on the socket. Loosen the terminal wires, wrap the lamp wires around the terminals and tighten the screws if the wires were loose or disconnected.

Reassemble the signature lamp and put in the lighting bulb. Plug the lamp into a socket and check its operation.

Replace the touch controller within the lamp base if the touch lamp still fails to light. Unplug the lamp and remove the bottom from the lamp base to expose the touch controller. Wrap a little bit of red electrical tape around the lamp wire connected to the touch control’s red or gray wire. Wrap a small piece of black electrical tape around the lamp’s wire connected to the dark touch controller wire.

Eliminate the three wire straps holding the lamp wires along with the wires from the touch controller. The extra wire connector connects the white touch controller wire to the two impartial lamp wires.

Unscrew the locknut holding the yellowish touch controller wire to the threaded nipple within the lamp base. Dispose of the original touch controller.

Connect the yellow wire from the new touch controller to the nipple. Use the locknut you eliminated previously to secure it to the lamp.

Reconnect the two neutral lamp wires to the brand new the touch controller white wire using the wire connector you eliminated from the original neutral wires. Use one of the original wire connectors to connect the black touch controller wire to the lamp wire wrapped in black electric tape. Use the remaining wire connector to connect the red or gray touch control wire to the lamp wire wrapped in red electrical tape.

Replace the lamp base. Plug the touch lamp into an outlet. Check the lamp’s operation. The new control must permit the touch lamp to function properly.

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The way to Adjust a Dethatcher

Dethatching your lawn can help the grass grow fuller and greener. Thatch is a layer of decomposing grass clippings, stems and roots that covers the soil of your lawn. After the thatch layer becomes too thick, it retains the grass from getting the proper sunlight or nourishment it requires. Dethatching power rakes, either electrical or gas, make the job simpler. They generally have different height amounts to grab just the right quantity of thatch from the lawn. You must adjust the height before you begin.

Place the power rake dethatcher on a flat, solid surface, like a driveway or sidewalk.

Kneel down and look at the tine position. Ideally, the tines must be just above the floor or barely brushing it once on the driveway or sidewalk.

Adjust the height of the tines, moving the adjustment knob or lever a small amount every time as you observe the height of your tines under the machine. Each machine has another way to adjust the tine height. Some possess a lever or knob on top of the machine with several height options, but others have knobs on the wheels that increase or lower the bottom of the machine. Some have adjustable plates; with them, use a screwdriver to loosen the screws holding the tine plates in place on each side of the machine, then move the plates up or down slightly. Tighten the screws once the tines are barely above the ground.

Turn or crank the device and push it in a straight line across your lawn. Turn off the machine. Rake the line with a flexible garden rake to remove the thatch you loosened and be certain that the machine is eliminating the correct quantity of thatch. Turn it off or unplug it and move it back to your sidewalk or driveway to readjust the height if needed. Move the tines up slightly if it removed too much thatch or cut into the grass, or move down them slightly if the tines did not stretch enough thatch.

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How to Replace the Cold Control on a Refrigerator

The chilly control, or temperature control, maintains the temperature inside your refrigerator’s new food compartment. A detector connects to the control and attaches to or wraps around the air consumption. As the air moves over the sensor, it sends a signal to the control. If the air is too warm, the control begins the compressor and keeps the compressor running till the new food compartment returns into your set temperature. If the compressor runs continuously or does not operate at all, your temperature control might be defective and needs replacing.

Disconnect the power to your refrigerator. Clean off any things from the top shelf.

Look inside the refrigerator and inspect the cold control, also referred to as the temperature control, home. The toughest portion of this repair is obtaining the control.

Pull the control dial from the temperature control. If your refrigerator has a temperature control to your freezer next to the refrigerator temperature control, pull on the dial from the freezer control too.

Remove the screws from the temperature control casing. The number of screws holding the casing in the refrigerator is dependent upon the make and model. If the housing does not release from the cover of the refrigerator as soon as you eliminate any visible screws, then you might want to unsnap a face plate from the front of the casing.

Insert a putty knife into the seam across the top of the face plate. Carefully pry the top of the face plate from the refrigerator to release it from the clips.

Pull the face plate off the casing to reveal any screws supporting it. Remove the screws and the casing should release from the cover of the refrigerator.

Have an image of the wires connected to the temperature control. Use needle-nose pliers to grab the straps at the ends of the wires and pull them from the terminals to the control. This should free your control from the casing, though you might want to remove two screws from the front of the temperature control to release it from a bracket inside the home.

Look for the detector wire linked to the original temperature control. This wire senses the temperature inside the refrigerator. It might be coiled inside the casing or travel across the face of the refrigerator compartment to the back wall. If your detector cable coils across the casing, note its location before uncoiling it. If the wire travels into the back of the compartment, then remove the screws from the sensor wire cover the wall of the refrigerator and the air consumption to expose and release the detector from the wall.

Straighten the detector wire on the original temperature control. A rubber tubing protects the wire. Carefully slide the tubing from the detector. Slide the tubing on the new sensor wire.

Install the new temperature control into the home. Consult with your picture to link the wires into the new control.

Coil the detector wire around the casing or put it below the cover across the wall and around the air consumption. Replace the detector and air consumption cover if required.

Reconnect the casing to the peak of the refrigerator. Replace the face plate if applicable. Install the temperature control dials into the front of the housing.

Replace the things on the top shelf of your refrigerator. Reconnect the power to the refrigerator.

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