29 March 2013

Getting a Sump Pump for Your Basement

What is a sump pump? 

It is a pump that removes water collected in a sump basin usually in the basement or crawl space of a home. Basements that are particularly wet or below the water table level need a sump pump. Its job is to remedy the wetness and help with basement flooding. It will remove the water from the home and far enough away from the building that it won’t cause any more problems. Usually the water is guided to a sewage drain or dry well.

Sump pumps and sump basins are usually installed into the main design of the home where there tends to be water accumulation. There are two types of sump pumps- pedestal and submersible. The pedestal is mounted on top of the sump while the submersible is inside of it.
Little Giant Sump Pump

There are two categories of submersible sump pumps- manually-operated and automatically operated. A manual pump will start pumping once it is connected to power. An automatic pump has a convenient switch that can detect water level and turn on only when needed. Dual-modes are also available making it easy to use the pump when needed but also capable of being left on for automatic use.

Things to consider when looking for a sump pump: 


  • Power cord length
  • Automatic vs. manual 
  • Horsepower 
  • Head pressure 
  • Phase and voltage 
  • Backup system and alarm 

Sump pump maintenance: 

Sump pumps should be examined at least once a year. Pumps that run more frequently with a higher water table should be check more often. It is important to maintain your pump because costly repairs could result if it were to fail. Secondary back up pumps can be helpful in this type of situation.

PexUnivers.com has great sump pump reviews. They carry a wide selection of sump pumps including many different models and outlet connections.

Purple Renaissance Lady Costume Review {CostumeDiscounters.com}

It may not be Halloween but that's no excuse for not wearing a costume. In some parts of the country people are dressing up to celebrate the Renaissance! Me? I'm just dressing up for fun with my 4 year old. He is my Knight in Shining Armor! I was sent this elegant purple Renaissance costume to review.

The clothing for royals during the Renaissance was often a strong dark color and made with velvet. Originally velvet was made from silk and it was very expensive and hard to clean. This costume replicates velvet very well. It's soft and smooth yet easy to clean.

09 March 2013

Why You Should Get a Hybrid Car



With the rise of gas prices and compounding emissions into our air it only makes sense to switch to a hybrid vehicle.

What is a hybrid car?

It is a vehicle with both a gasoline engine and an electric motor.



The Prius V is a small SUV and full series-parallel hybrid, meaning that it uses a separate electric motor and generator. It generates electricity while the vehicle is moving which is then stored in a generator. For low speeds it runs fully on the electric motor. With 7 airbags and a panoramic moon roof it is very luxurious yet safe, making it great for families with kids.

I personally like the low profile and interior space. That way it is less prone to roll overs and can accommodation my family. There are extra storage compartment and very roomy cargo space in the back. The design also looks like it has even weight distribution which helps with driving on snow and ice. The seats are made with Toyota's patented SofTex material which has 99% fewer VOC's than other synthetic leathers that are used in vehicles. It features a build in control unit with a back up camera and advanced parking guidance. How cool is that?