Tips to select an Electrical contractor

Electricians and electrical contractors, conversant with all electrical codes and in possession of all requisite ………………………….. have become a rare breed, that, works concerned with electricity like electrical wiring snags, electric gadgets malfunction, and new electrical wiring etcetera have become arduous tasks, demanding huge investments of time and energy.

I, for one, had always been an ardent advocate of do-it-yourself approach, for, whom, other than we, can be more responsible for the works concerning us? But, when it comes to electricity, I am rather a die hard conservative and I strongly recommend such works to be done by a genuine professional, for the very simple reason that, electrical works are potentially hazardous and may even cost your life, if not done properly.

And, let me tell you, hiring a genuine electrical contractor is not an easy task, either. More often than not, the contractor you hire may not have the requisite license or accreditation and sometimes, may not be even competent enough. The flaws that such an unqualified workman commits may not show immediately, but, will surely cost your dear on a later date. By then, he would have gone and you would be left with no other option than to curse your fate.

But, worry not, I, as someone who had been on the receiving end a couple of times, have devised a simple checklist to hire a genuine electrical contractor. In addition, I will also tell you on how to proceed through the work to successful completion.

Check the Credentials

1. Check whether the contractor is qualified and competent enough to handle the task. Look out for his license and accreditation.

2. States have specific rules and laws. Check whether the competence and qualifications of the contractor is in conformity with all the laws/rules/guidelines of the state in which the project is proposed to be undertaken.

3. Check whether the contractor has the wherewithal to undertake the project.

4. See whether he is financially sound and firmly established.

5. Find, whether he is a member of an association / organization of people of his like, which would back / guarantee / certify his repute.

Call for quotations

Zero in on a few contractors judging on the parameters outlined and call for quotations from all of them. To get fairly accurate quotations, it is important that the work is defined accurately. Compare the offers against the twin criterion of quality and price and decide on the contractor to undertake your project.

Finalize Contract

However trustworthy a contractor may be, it is always better to have a written contract to ensure smooth and hassle free completion of a project. Incorporate the following details into the contact.

ü Name, address, Phone number etc of the contractor.

ü Work description – Clear and unambiguous.

ü Terms and conditions.

ü Payment details – Details of payment to be made with clauses to cover contingencies, if any. Prepare a clear time chart for Upfront, installments, Final payments. Clearly specify the stages of the project, on completion of which such payments shall be made.

ü Penal and protective clauses.

Issue work order:

On finalization of the contract, issue work order clearly specifying

ü Nature, scope and description of the work with all requisite details. The work should be clearly quantified.

ü Quantum and time scale for payments.

ü Insist on the contractor to send work order progress at regular intervals.

Inspect before making payment:

On completion of the work, inspect, and satisfy yourself that the work is complete in all respects as stipulated in the contract and then make payment.

The checklists and the guidelines that I have outlined are from my own experience from the perspective of end-user and are not comprehensive in nature. Hence, I would suggest that you enlist the services of a professional service provider to check whether all laws are adhered to, all qualifications and accreditations are in place, all clauses in the work orders are clearly specified and all loopholes in the contract are firmly sealed. A contractor well-chosen and a contract well-made will surely give you peace of mind.

Plumbing - Problems and Solutions

Plumbing system is to a building, what circulatory system is to the human body. Any fault in the system is sure to throw your life helter-skelter and make your life awful. While putting in place a good well-conceived and well-done plumbing system is important, maintenance and preventive measures taken to keep the system in good shape is even more important.

This article is intended to keep you informed of the possible problems you may face with your plumbing system and the preventive measures to be taken to keep such problems at bay.

Clogged Drains:

Case I:

Your sinks / tubs connected to particular branch line drains slowly than normal.

Reasons:

ü Dumping food/ solid materials into your kitchen / Bathroom drains.

ü Pouring greasy / Sticky materials into your kitchen sink.

ü Pouring chemicals /paints into the drains.

ü Improper / Inadequate venting.

Solution:

ü Use a plunger to de-clog your drain. This will work for clogs of smaller size. If it still persists, call an expert. Home made solutions do not work for bigger clogs.

ü Clogs can be removed using various techniques. While a cable can be used to remove solid clogs and break through roots, High pressure water jetting is more effective for clogs due to sticky / greasy materials.

ü Before using water jetting as option, It is important to determine the quality of the plumbing materials used, for, the high pressure used in the process will rip your pipes apart if they are of a inferior quality.

ü Check the vents provided for any visible blocks. Find out whether the venting is adequate for the fixture(s) it serves. An expert could help you out in this area. If the venting is absent or inadequate, provide / upgrade to surmount the problem.

Preventive Measures:

ü Respect your toilet and kitchen sinks. Use them only for the purpose intended. Avoid unmindful dumping of solid wastes, Food materials, Greasy substances and paints / chemicals into the sinks.

ü Use filters over the drains in your toilet and kitchen to trap hair and solid objects.

ü Ensure that air vents are provided in adequate numbers and sizes for all fixtures.

Case II:

All the drainage lines of the building drain slowly and there is a backing of the drain water from the main drainage line.

Reasons:

ü A block in the main drainage line. or

ü A block in the inlet / outlet of the septic tank. or

ü A block in the distribution box. or

ü A block in the percolation pipes. or

ü The septic tank has frozen due to an abnormal low weather.

Solution:

ü Use a snake or water jetting to de-clog the main drain line. This is the work of an expert. He could, through his expertise, say whether the clog is due to solid waste or greasy substances or roots and use a suitable technique to de-clog the same.

ü Check the inlet and the outlet of the septic tank for any blockage due to solid wastes, scum and so on. Remove the block and check for easy flow.

ü Check the distribution box located between the septic tank and the percolators. Remove blocks, if any.

ü Check the area around the percolators. See whether it is moist, swampy and stinky. It means that the percolation is not proper. In other works the soil is not absorbing the drain water at the rate of discharge. It could be either because you usage of water has increased of late due to more guests or the soil has become saturated due to moisture from other sources such as rainfall (more than normal) etc. Immediately enlist an expert, the problem requires instant care.

ü If the septic tank has frozen due to bad weather seek the help of an expert immediately. If an expert and the equipment needed are hard to find, use the septic tank as a storage tank till such time the tank haws by itself. Judicious use of water will help you hold on for some time. To avoid freezing of the septic tank in the future, winterize before the next winter.

Preventive Measures:

ü Respect your Septic tank. It is designed for the disposal of organic wastes only. Avoid dumping inorganic and non bio-degradable wastes. They are sure to block the normal functioning of the septic tank and spoil it beyond redemption.

ü Use filters over the drains in your toilet and kitchen to trap hair and solid objects.

ü Winterize the septic tank to prevent it from freezing in winter. Do the following:

o Insulate the Septic tank, distribution tank, percolators and all out door lines by spreading a layer of hay, grass, dry leaves etc.

o During winter, resort to more-than-normal usage of water. Warmer the water, the better.

o Empty the tank, if you are planning for a long outing.

o Get expert help. Winterization is location, weather specific. A small investment here will save you from all hardships during the winter.

Leaks

Symptoms:

Leaks in your plumbing system are not just unsanitary but is a tremendous loss of a scarce resource. More often than not leaks are detected much later than they had started and after much damage had already been done.

Try this test out to determine whether there is a leak in your plumbing system. Before you go to bed in the night, close the Main valve at the primary inlet of your plumbing system. Note the water meter reading. In the dawn, before you start using water, note the reading. If the reading has changed then, there is a leak in the system.

To locate the leak, repeat the procedure by keeping the main valve open and all but one of your ancillary line valves closed. If the reading shows a change, then the leak is in that particular branch line. Inspect the faucets for visible leaks and path of the lines for subtle hints of invisible leaks behind the plastered walls. If you still can’t detect the leak. Contact us for expert care.

Reasons:

While visible are due to faulty faucets / fixtures, Invisible leaks can be due to cracks in your plumbing lines. The cracks happen due to (a) Ageing lines giving off or (b) Faulty winterization of you plumbing system.

Solution:

ü Replace the faulty fixtures / faucets.

ü If the leak is due to faulty line, replace the line. If your plumbing system is considerably old, you can think of replacing the lines in stages without waiting for the system to call for your attention and doing much damage to your cherished home.

Preventive Measures:

ü Make proper use and take proper care of your faucets and other movable water outlets. Install only good quality faucets that’ll stand the wear and tear. Don’t compromise on quality for price. Remember, a compromise on quality is a compromise on peace of mind.

ü Properly winterize your plumbing system.

Winterization.

What?

Acclimatizing your plumbing system to withstand the test of hard winter is winterization.

Why?

Plumbing systems are primarily intended to transport water to the locations of need from a centralized water storage facility. In the winter, as the temperature dips to appreciable lows, water freezes. The density of ice is more than that of water. Hence to accommodate water turned into ice, your plumbing system expands. When this expansion is beyond its elastic limit, it cracks wreaking havoc on your entire plumbing system.

Solution

Prepare for the winter ahead by properly acclimatizing your plumbing system. Do the following.

ü Insulate the drains outside your home.

ü Open the cabinets under sinks to facilitate circulation of warm air to avoid freezing.

ü In the temperature is harsh, allow water to flow through the lines in a trickle, when not in use, to avoid freezing.

ü If you are going out and if the plumbing system will not be in use for a long time close the main valve and drain all water form the system, to ensure that there is no water to be frozen.

Remember, winter is a testing time for your plumbing system. Take preventive measures or you may have to spend a fortune to restore the system back to normalcy. If you need more information, feel free to avail our expert care.

Plumbing is a science, but proper use and maintenance of it is an art. A good plumbing system will give you peace of mind. A bad one is sure to derail your day and make a hell out of it. The problems and the solutions suggested here are generic and not case specific or location specific. It is intended to equip you with the knowledge of the intricacies in plumbing so that you could understand and appreciate the workmanship better. Remember a few procedures are health hazardous and needs to be handled by an expert. Do not try them your self. IF you need experts, think of eServicePlace (ESP), where hand picked professionals are ever ready to address your problems in the shortest possible time and in the best possible manner. Think expert care, think ESP.

I have recently bought an apartment. The painting is old and dull. How can I improve the ambience of the rooms?

When it comes to improving the ambience, what better choice can there be other than painting? It is the cheapest, easiest and the most effective way to give your apartment a new look and a new life, exactly the way you like. And, here is how you go about doing it.

Colors create the ambience of a room. Use it effectively to create the mood of your choice. Before jumping into action, wait, think, ruminate, delve deep into your self and discover your mood. This is to say, find out your true self. I may sound philosophical, but is it not true that we, by nature, have a unique mood attached to our self? Some of us may be soft natured, some - out going and adventuresome, some – introverts and so on. Find who you are and choose the color that reflects you. After all, you are going to live there and it is important that you live in HARMONY with your dwelling place. Remember, a house becomes a home only when it gives you peace and happiness.

Now that you know ‘you’, How to select the color? The key lies in you. Think of the color you like the most. That color is the color for your painting. Use it as the theme of painting for your apartment.

How to decide on the choices of lighter or darker shades? Judge on the following parameters. 1. The direction of the room and 2. The usage. If the room is located such that it gets more sunlight, then you may go for a darker shade. If not, go for a light shade. If you have kids and if the usage will be intensive and care-free, go for a darker shade. If not lighter shade would do.

Now comes the next part – Gloss or Matte?

It depends on two factors – 1. Finish and 2. Intended usage.

If the finish of the walls, ceiling and wood work is perfect and flawless and if the room will be usage-intensive, the best choice is Gloss as it is easy to wash the dirt off. On the flip side, it won’t hide imperfections – that is why you should prefer them for only for perfect finishes.

Use Matte, if there are imperfections to be hidden. But when it comes to maintenance, Matte falls behind Gloss. So it is best suited for adult and minimal use rooms, like Bedroom.

Next is the coloring scheme. There are three coloring schemes in vogue – Flow-through, Contrast and Monochromatic.

Flow through – The same color is used for all the rooms, only the tone (Shade – Light ===è Dark) varies, giving a continuity and a smooth flow from one room to another. Ideal if your apartment is not big. Toning scheme with light shades makes the rooms look big.

Contrast: This involves use of opposite colors (Example – Blue (Cool) and Yellow (Warm)) to paint different parts of the same room or different rooms. This will make the room look energetic but will make the room look smaller.

Monochromatic: Use of a single color for the entire house. This scheme with a good color will make your home look modern.

With the colors poetically named these days, choosing a color is not easy. Also, the color depicted on the color cards can be different from the way they will look on walls. Hence, it is always better to buy small samples, paint them, observe for a few days in the day and in the night for their light absorption properties and then make a final call.

Painting is an art in itself. While it is easy to pick up the science of it and paint your house yourself, the art in it is sure to be compromised if not done by a professional. The reason is simple – Science can be imbibed, but art has to be professed. If you ever want to hire a professional to paint you cherished home, count on us. We have scores of professionals who can offer the best service, promptly. Think professional care, Think eServicePlace.

Lawn Care - restoration of your winter ravaged lawn

It is time to seriously think of Lawn care to restore you cherished lawn from the ‘winter kill’. Putrefaction, rampant growth of weeds, decrease in the grass cover are some of the problems most of you may be facing in the wake of winter.

Debris removal, weeding, watering and fertilization during the hard winter could have saved you from the damage, but worry not, the damage is not anything insurmountable.

A few corrective actions could restore your lawn back to the lost glory. Act now or it may be late.

Solution

• Remove all the debris and putrefied grass.
• Remove the weeds.
• Look for the thatch cover. Ideally, thatch cover of up to ½” should pose no problem. If the thatch cover exceeds ½” , then de-thatch, water, aerate and plant new seedlings in the areas where green cover has been lost.
• Aeration is particularly important if your lawn shows signs of oxygen starvation through yellow or pale green leaves.
• Watering has to be done profusely, to desalinate the soil, if you had used salt for de-icing.
• Watering should be done to moisten the soil to an appreciable depth to aid healthy rooting of the seedlings.
• Provide a proper drainage system. Improper and inadequate drainage will soak the soil to undesirable limits thereby choking the seedlings of the much needed oxygen.
• Fertilize, preferably in small doses, at regular intervals to supplement the nutrient needs of your lawn.

Remember, be it fertilization or watering or de-thatching or what not, you need to know the threshold and do it optimally. You may end up doing more harm by either over-doing or under-doing the solutions outlined. Also, the solutions suggested are generic in nature. For speedy restoration of your lawn a visit by an expert is recommended.

We, at eServicePlace, have taken efforts to save you of all the hardships involved in find an expert to restore and care for your lawn. Try ESP, you are sure to find the service provider of your choice and return contended.

The essentials of kitchen lighting

Kitchens are no longer unifunctional but have evolved in to multifunctional rooms. They are now the hub of all family activities. At homes where space is a constraint, kitchens double as dining, drawing and even reading rooms. It is here that the scheme of lighting gains prominence. A smartly lit kitchen is sure to meet all your needs. All that you need to do is a bit of thinking and decide what your kitchen would be meant for.

Decide on the usage of your kitchen. For example, you may use your kitchen as your dining room also or you may like to have your morning cup of tea in your kitchen, basking in the morning rays of the tender sun and reading your favorite newspaper or you may prefer grabbing a quick bite of your breakfast in your kitchen itself rather than taking all the stuff to your dining table and what not? Zero in on your tastes and preferences.

Having decided on the usage pattern and the usage level, determine the placement of the components of your kitchen like sink, counter, cabinets, stove, furniture etc to determine the placement and alignment of the fixtures. Now comes the ‘lighting schemes’ part of it. Lighting schemes can be broadly classified, on the basis of purpose, as Task lighting, Accent lighting, Mood lighting and decorative lighting.

Task lighting: Task specific lighting scheme. For example your work spaces will have to be brightly lit as against moving spaces or not-so-intense work spaces.

Accent lighting: Used to highlight a particular part worthy of proud exhibition, like your collection of expensive or antique cutlery.

Mood lighting: Used to set the ambience of the room to reflect your mood. Lighting can be changed from soft to bold as per your mood.

Decorative lighting: As the name suggests, it is used for decorative purposes.

These four types of lighting should be suitably intermingled with absolutely no compromise to the following essentials.

ü Places of intense and potentially hazardous work should be brightly lit.

ü Positioning of the lighting fixtures should be such that shadows do not fall on the work space.

ü Lighting fixtures that are prone to getting heated up quickly and profusely should be adequately ventilated and should be at a safe distance from inflammable articles.

ü Fixtures should be out of reach of infants and children.

ü Every nook and corner should be lit.

ü Windows should be adequate and strategically placed to let in sunlight, the best type of lighting.

Remember, kitchen is the engine that drives your household. It is the place where the most important work in a home is being performed. Hence it is only apt that your kitchen gets utmost attention it deserves. Do not compromise on lighting, for , it could mean an expensive compromise on invaluable safety.

DONATE BLOOD? WHY ME?

When one of my friends was hospitalized all of a sudden for a surgery that had to be performed immediately, my life was thrown out-of-gear. More so, when a rare group of blood was needed. Luckily, the hospital managed to procure the blood needed from the nearest blood bank. Next time something of this sort happens, hopefully it doesn’t, I may not be this lucky. This is the case with you and everyone else too. But, when the solution lies in our hands (Literally and otherwise), why leave it to luck?

Remember, Donating blood will not hurt you in any way. On the other hand it gives you an opportunity to demonstrate the love and care you have for your society. It equips the state machinery with the much needed tool to save lives during natural calamities and man made disasters.

Most of us are eligible to donate blood and if everyone of the eligible lot donate blood just ONCE a year, believe me, there will no shortage at all. Averting natural disasters may not be in our hands but the ability to tackle and surmount is within our reach, if only we break our inhibitions and resolve to donate blood at least once a year.

For those of you, prepared to make this precious contribution, we at eServicePlace are always ready to help you in any and every manner possible. This is a part of our Free and Emergency services that is aimed to facilitate people like you to make your precious contributions. All that you need to do is go to www.eserviceplace.com. We’ll be there to take care of the rest.

What happens to someone today may happen to us tomorrow. Don’t mistake me if I sound like a doomsday prophet. But this is the truth and hence has to be pronounced as such. Insure yourself against such contingencies by doing your bit today, for the very simple reason that goodness begets goodness, on time and in multiples. Donate Blood Today. Insure your ‘Tommorrow’.

Flooring Options

Carpets, Marble, Granite, Limestone, Tiles, Hardwood, Vinyl, Laminate……, Options for flooring are one too many to bamboozle anyone. To make the right choice of the flooring material, the following constraints need to be carefully considered.

ü Budget

ü Desired appearance

ü Intended utility

ü Maintenance

An attempt has been made to list the salient features, and the pros and cons of each type of flooring below.

Type of flooring: Hardwood.

Salient Features:

ü Strong and sturdy.

ü Renders a plushy look.

Pros

ü Can be installed over any preexisting sub floor.

ü Easy to maintain.

ü Refinishing needed only after a decade.

ü Lots of variety and choices to choose from.

Cons

ü Get scratched easily, hence not suited for rooms of busy usage.

ü Discoloration happens if exposed dry / humid weather foe a long time.

Best suited for

ü Rich and epicurean appearance.

Cost

ü High.

Type of flooring: Laminates

Salient Features:

ü Looks like wood but is cheaper than wood.

ü Higher the quality, higher is the proximity in resemblance to wood.

Pros

ü Easy to install and safe to use.

ü Durable.

ü Scratch resistant, unlike wood. Hence can be used for rooms of high usage.

ü Easy to maintain.

ü Refinishing needed only after a decade.

ü Lots of variety and choices to choose from.

Best suited for

ü Rich and epicurean appearance at a lesser cost.

Cost

ü Cheaper than wood.

Type of flooring: Tiles.

Salient Features:

ü Strong and sturdy.

ü Scratch, fire and water resistant.

Pros

ü Durable.

ü Easy to maintain.

ü When finished properly, do not have crevices or gaps to harbor germs. Hence ideal if you have pets.

ü Wide range.

Cons

ü Can be slippery. Care needed if you have small children or elderly people.

ü Discoloration happens if exposed dry / humid weather foe a long time.

ü Can become too cold in the winter to walk bare feet.

ü Cleaning light colored tiles with wide gaps may be difficult.

ü Professional installation is needed.

Best suited for

ü High traffic areas of predominantly adult usage.

Cost

ü Wide range available to suit your budget.

Type of flooring: Stones (Marble, Granite etc).

Salient Features:

ü Durable. Has a longer life.

ü Highly sophisticated, distinctive appearance.

Pros

ü Long lasting.

ü Renders a rich look.

Cons

ü Not scratch and stain resistant.

ü High maintenance needed.

ü Has to be installed by a professional.

Best suited for

ü Rendering a rich and an ornate look to the room. Traffic has to be lean and maintenance high.

Cost

ü High.

Type of flooring: Carpet.

Salient Features:

ü Gives a plush and decorative look at a cheaper price.

ü Carpets can easily be changed to alter the mood of the room.

Pros

ü Easy way to alter the atmosphere of the room.

ü Feels soft and good under bare feet.

ü Provides a layer of insulation.

ü Wide range.

Cons

ü Cleaning is hard and hardly complete.

ü If not properly cleaned, allergens can nestle in the hard-to-reach places and create health hazards.

Best suited for

ü Low traffic rooms. Maintenance has to be intensive and complete.

Cost

ü Low.

Type of flooring: Vinyl.

Salient Features:

ü Durable and affordable.

ü Wide range to suit your taste.

Pros

ü Easy to install.

ü Easy to maintain.

ü Low cost.

ü Wide range.

Cons

ü Limited Life. Low quality vinyl sheets/tiles may not withstand wear and tear and need to be replaced frequently.

ü May fade and lose the sheen.

Best suited for

ü Low budget short span requirements.

Cost

ü Low.

Flooring plays an important role in determining the ambiance of a room. Hence an inalienable consideration in selecting the floor type should be the purpose of the room. Do not compromise on the ambiance; else the purpose will not be served. For professional guidance contact us at eServicePlace. Try ESP, relish expert care