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Home Improvement Blog - On the Level is a home remodeling & repair blog to keep you informed on the products and trends that we see in the field.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Robert Bosch Tool Corp. has announced a recall of about 9,700 hammer drills. The drill can continue to operate after the trigger has been released, posing a risk of injury to users. The recalled hammer drill is blue with “BOSCH” printed on the side. The model number 1191VSR can be located on the product nameplate mounted on the side of the motor. Only drills with a serial number that begins with “7” are included in the recall. The drills were sold at Menards and other hardware retailers from July 2007 through April 2008 for about $100. Consumers should stop using the recalled hammer drill immediately and contact Robert Bosch at (877) 472-0007 for a free repair.
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With energy costs skyrocketing, homeowners are looking for ways to save money. One of the easiest ways is to use a programmable thermostat. It's estimated that doing so can shave about 10 percent off your annual heating and cooling bill. But not only are programmable thermostats good for your wallet, their efficiency is also good for the environment. Each properly used programmable thermostat reduces the use of 1,847 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions a year. So, why not use a programmable thermostat? Energy Star makes it easy with this page of tips and a video podcast on using a programmable thermostat. And installation is easy. BobVila.com's Step by Step How To video, "Replacing a Mercury Thermostat with a Programmable One", shows you how.
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Handymen and women have always relied on precise measurements in order to complete a job in or around the home. A replacement for your standard issue tape measure can now be found in Bosch’s Laser Range Finder. This device is mostly appealing because of its compact size and its time-saving qualities. Bosch’s product finds distances instantly and can even compute simple equations such as the area of a room. It’s ability to find measurements from four different reference points on the device makes it more precise than other range finders. Personally, I think another notable feature is the fact that there is no chance that measuring tape will come flying back in your face when released.
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The high price of oil is driving some homeowners to drill for black gold on their own property. Greg Losh of Indiana drilled one well that now produces three barrels of crude a day. While it cost him $100,000, it's a moneymaker and the natural gas heats his home and several others. Losh has plans to drill four more wells on his property. I never thought of Indiana as a big oil producer, but it just goes to show you how far people will go to avoid paying close to $4 a gallon. Expect to see more innovative alternative energy production as the price of oil and gas continues to rise.
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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and QVC has announced a recall of about 82,000 Tomato Planters. The legs on the bottom of the planter can detach when the planter is moved or becomes unbalanced. To date, 155 consumers have reported injuries including lacerations, broken toes and bruises. The recall affects the Topsy-Turvy Deluxe Tomato Planter with Stand (Item Numbers M16702 and M17499), an upright planter. The planter consists of a 16-inch X 15-inch bag that holds up to 30 pounds of soil and is attached to the top of a 6-foot tall adjustable pole. Three legs are inserted into the pole to form a 36-inch wide base. It was sold through QVC and retail stores from March 2008 through April 2008 for about $30. Consumers who have already set up the planter should immediately take it down by having two adults carefully tip it over on its side. Customers can contact QVC about obtaining a refund at (800) 367-9444.
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Home is a place where a family should feel completely comfortable and secure. Unfortunately, the home is often a dangerous place. The Home Safety Council (HSC), a national organization created for the sole purpose of helping people make their home safer, estimates home-related injuries result in nearly 20,000 deaths and 21 million medical visits on average each year. The organization's Web site offers an extensive guide and teaching tool for the safety-conscious homeowner. There is information on building a safe nursery, childproofing your home, creating a safe environment for the elderly and more. The Virtual Home Safety Tour takes you room by room, exposing every possible hazardous situation in and around the home.
Even if you’re like me and you just can’t help being a “wild and crazy guy (or gal),” you probably still agree that you would like a sense of safety in your own home. All that is left for you to do is let the Home Safety Council help you achieve that feeling.
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Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons with permission under the Creative Commons license. |
What's your favorite house style? Arts and Crafts, Victorian, Federal, Greek Revival, Queen Anne or something else? If you're like me and dream of buying an old house with original details, you may want to act now in this buyer's market. This Old House looks at 17 great neighborhoods to find one of these beauties in "Best Places to Get a Bargain on an Old House." The photos alone are worth checking out. Just try not to drool on the keyboard.
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