I managed to get through decades without owning or knowing much about dehumidifiers. I first became interested when  we had damp in the house. Certain rooms seemed to breed mould and mildew which was both unsightly and worried me. The sheer ugliness of the mildew made me wonder if this would be having a bad effect on the health of my family. I made Google my friend and found out some quite scary reasons why getting a dehumidifier should be my next step.

Allergies

Allergies can be triggered by humidity. I started looking closely at my children for signs of allergies such as stuffy nose, irritated eyes, sneezing, wheezing and skin complaints. I have always had a terrible fear of my children getting asthma knowing it can be fatal. I think this comes of knowing a little boy who suffered long before I became a parent myself. I remember he lived in a farm cottage and how his mum would put tea towels around windows as there was so much moisture. As it was clear my new home had big moisture levels I decided to find out far more about dehumidifiers.

It’s blatantly obvious really but I had to check and found out that dehumidifiers do reduce humidity levels.  That means health should improve and  also that you will get rid of unpleasant odours associated with a too moist environment.  Amazingly, as humidity levels change your food can go stale less quickly, the threat to your technology of rust and general family health improves super fast. As a non-domestic goddess, the fact that dust levels are reduced too is a huge plus.

Our experience with our dehumidifier

My husband had worried out dehumidifier would be a noisy beast. The reality is that it just quietly gets on with its work once you switch it on. It really does suck up moisture and the tank filled in the  most satisfying way proving that the machine was doing its job whilst we could get on with everyday life. Mould levels reduced to almost nothing and were easy to tackle when cleaning making me feel I was keeping on top of things.

Signs You Need a Dehumidifier

Look around your home for the clues to too much humidity. You might notice water stains on walls or ceilings. Look out for rooms that have poor ventilation such as those without a window. Do you get loads of condensation on your windows? Is there a musty smell in your home? Perhaps like me you will spot the black staining of mould and mildew.

Look into the different sizes and models available to find the dehumidifier tht is perfect for your particular needs and budget.

The conservatory (which a lot of people would call a porch, even though they’re technically difference things) is one of the most heat-sensitive rooms in any house, mostly thanks to the flooring material it uses. What does flooring have to do with it? Well, with some help from Amtico, we’ve created this list of the best flooring for your conservatory that should hopefully explain things:

Engineered wood – not natural, but better

There’s nothing quite like wood, and a lot of homeowners would love to use natural materials as their flooring. Unfortunately, it’s really hard to keep it from breaking or warping. Engineered wood is basically the same thing with some artificial touch-ups: it’s replaced natural wood in so many ways that most people don’t realize there’s two different types at all!

This kind of wood can let you keep a natural element to your flooring without needing to suffer the pain of fixing it every few years. Water and mud damage can still be a problem, but a rug doormat can keep areas near doors dry if you put it in the right place.

Vinyl tiles

Since its technically another layer of flooring, rather than a completely new project, tiled vinyl flooring can be a great choice for homeowners who want new flooring without the hassle of tearing up the old one. It’s easy to clean, easy to remove and surprisingly good at regulating your conservatory’s heat: the tiles will be warmer than marble tiles in winter, but cooler than exposed wood in summer.

Most types of vinyl are scratch and stain resistant, but sunlight might make the colours fade slightly: if you chose them for their aesthetic looks, be sure to use blinds or curtains whenever you can, or you’ll end up with a weirdly-discoloured floor that can look really messy.

Carpet

Carpet can be a fiddly type of flooring. If your family isn’t good at keeping dirt out of the house, then it’s probably a bad idea to put a nice cream carpet so close to an exterior door in summer: that being said, if you’re dirt-savvy and know how to properly clean your shoes, it can be a great way to add some extra comfort to a room.

In winter, it’ll definitely keep your feet warm, but be careful during summer – aside from getting discoloured in bright light, it might also heat up the conservatory in bright light, which can turn it from “warm” to “unpleasantly hot” in only a few minutes of sunlight.

Stone and marble tiles

You don’t see these often, but stone is well-known for making very smooth flooring. Unfortunately, it’s also easily warmed up and cooled by the weather, which can make it a huge problem in the middle of summer and winter.

That’s not to say it doesn’t have its place: a stone or marble floor is extremely scratch resistant and can be covered with thick rugs to keep it nice and warm underfoot. If you really wanted to stretch your conservatory to it’s absolute limits, you could even install a little indoor fireplace or litter candles around the room for the winter – even if they’re knocked onto the floor, the fire has nothing to burn.

…

This year, for a change, the UK has been enjoying a stupendous summer, and hopefully, there’s more on the way. If you’ve been enjoying the sunshine in your garden and are now starting to wonder whether there are ways how you can make the outside more appealing, then this article is for you! With a little tweak here and some rearranging there, you’ll soon have a garden everyone in the family can enjoy. The ideas you’re about to read about are pretty simple, and you don’t need to be a DIY whizz kid either. Even the smallest of gardens can be made to look more appealing.

Add Some Colour

Is your garden in desperate need of some colour? Are the flower borders looking wilted and sad? There are some great planters you can buy to fill with fresh and colourful blooms. Alternatively, drag those long-forgotten plant pots out of the garden shed and give them a lick of paint.

Add a Water Feature

We’re not talking baroque water fountains; a simple birdbath will do. However, if you want to push the boat out and add something a little grander, feel free to do so. Water-garden.co.uk has some great water accessories for your garden, and as well as looking good, water features will bring in hordes of wildlife and your kids will love looking out for them and feeding them in the winter.

Add a Chalkboard

Remember when you were a kid drawing hopscotch squares on the pavement? Rather than encouraging your children to draw on the patio and walls, why not provide them with their very own blackboard mounted on your garden fence? Chalk does wash away very easily so don’t be too mad if when your back is turned, they turn your back garden into their very own art gallery.

A Veg Garden

Encouraging your kids to grow their own fruit and vegetables has some surprising benefits. It’s a learning experience and a good exercise in responsibility. It could be a few small pots in which to grow tomatoes or a small plot where they can grow much more. Some of the easiest of plants to grow for children include strawberries, carrots, radishes, beans, peas and cherry tomatoes. There are even child-sized gardening tools worth considering.

Garden Swing

Having a swing in the garden is great in a number of ways. It can be fun and soothing swinging back and forth but is also good for developing balance. If you’ve got the space for a swing, add one. You can buy swing sets, or alternatively, hang a couple of ropes from a tree branch.

These few ideas should provide you with some inspiration. Encouraging all members of the family to spend more time outside is beneficial. Not just for health but for your general wellbeing. Admittedly, the weather in the UK is not always the best, but let’s hope that this year’s glorious summer will be repeated. Even if it isn’t, there’s no excuse for not getting out in the garden more. It’s only rain after all!

Your home is one of the places you feel most comfortable. After a long day at work, you head home, lie on your couch or bed and relax. It’s your safe place. As this is the case, you need to take the necessary security measures in order to ensure that your home is protected at all costs. No matter how safe the neighbourhood, you never know who could be passing by. You must protect yourself against attempted theft, in addition to natural disasters or any other unfortunate event. Consider even protecting your home against animals and pests with a free termite inspection so that your home and garden are not ruined. In order to effectively do all of this, there are a few steps you can follow. Keep in mind that these security measures should be adopted both indoors and out. More information on this specific topic can be found below.

Security cameras

This step is a classic security measure, and it involves setting up the best home security cameras. You want a camera that works well in a low light situation – one that has excellent facial recognition, and a high-resolution screen and video capacity. These cameras should be set up both indoor and out. While you are shopping for cameras, it is also worth noting that an alarm system, inside your house, will put your mind more at ease. A camera can only go so far, as although it will catch the burglar, it will not alarm your neighbours and anyone around the home that someone is inside. After you have purchased a security camera and system, you can move on to the next step.

Window blinds

Cover your windows by purchasing blinds. Some homes have more windows than others, and especially at night with the lights on, your house will look like a fishbowl. Anyone walking by can see everything inside, and for anyone who wishes to commit theft; the lack of blinds could be an invitation to steal that expensive TV near the window. Try to make sure your windows have facilities to keep them covered, specifically at night and when everyone in the home has gone to bed.

Secure doors and locks

In addition to security cameras and blinds, what is the use of any security measures if you don’t have secure locks? Never leave your home unlocked, and especially when it is unattended. Double-check the door behind you is locked every single time you leave the house, and make sure that the locks in place are secure (meaning it isn’t easy to lockpick). In addition to the door, it would be beneficial to install window locks. Although window blinds, as mentioned previously, are beneficial at night, anyone could still push them aside and hop in your home if they desired. Ensure all your locks are secure before you leave your home and go to bed.

Speak to neighbours

Through getting to know your neighbours, you are building a rapport with them so that they can also help you when needed. Imagine a situation where you aren’t home, and your security systems are not working. However, if your neighbours are home and they hear or see someone attempting to break into your home, they can take the necessary steps to call the authorities and alert you in the process. While it’s important to get to know your neighbours, for this reason, you should get to know them regardless as you could form a new friendship in the process.

Working outdoor lights

A home that has lights outside, especially at night, will give the impression that someone is home. If it appears that the home is not left unattended, the chances that someone would attempt to break in would drastically decrease. Setting up lights should not be a tedious task, and you can use lights as both a security measure and for your home design. While you are buying lights, consider what type would look good outside of your home, and how they would also compliment the landscape and garden around you.

Put up a fence

Putting up a backyard fence can both help keep intruders out and make your garden look spectacular. A fence in the backyard (and front yard if you so desire) will further help keep animals out at night. Animals that get in your backyard could ruin your garden, eat your vegetables and trample over your flowers. Furthermore, in the same way, your lights will compliment your home’s exterior, so can a fence. This task should not be a chore! You can make it fun by purchasing a chic fence that matches your home and personal taste. Add some pop of colour, some fancy materials, or create a DIY job where you purchase a white fence you decide to paint yourself.

Equipped with insurance

Equipping your home with the appropriate homeowners insurance is both a preventive measure and will assist you in the even a theft occurs. The type of home you have will affect the type of insurance you need. Consider the value of your possessions and your home in order to choose the best possible policy. Examples include dwelling coverage, personal property coverage, and liability insurance, among others. Speaking to financial advisers can further help you decide what type of insurance works best with your financial situation. Insurance could also help cover not only theft but if a natural disaster were to occur. Consider the location of your home when choosing the best insurance as well. Are earthquakes common? Is theft common? This can further help you choose the best option.

It’s always important to be prepared and secure your home should anything unfortunate happen. Theft and even natural disasters sometimes occur, and you must have the appropriate insurance, security systems, fences, locks, lights, blinds and so on that protect your home as best as possible. Of course, in the event of a disaster, your only saving grace will be your insurance, which is why you must choose the appropriate level of insurance based on your home and even location. Once you are fully equipped and have taken all of the necessary security measures, you can rest easier when you go to bed, and every single time you leave your home.