Home Kitchen

What the heck is Kitec?

Kitec is a plastic plumbing system that was installed in Canadian and American homes from the early 1990s until it was initially withdrawn from the market in 2005, with some installations completed in 2007. In addition to hot and cold water pipes in homes, it was also used for floor pipes. , and other radiant hot water heating systems.

The premature failure has given rise to a cross-border class action lawsuit.

Widely promoted as an alternative to copper pipes, Kitec was withdrawn from the market because the fittings corrode very quickly. Failure is accelerated by high pressure and high temperature, and can also be affected by the chemistry of the water supply, including the pH of the water and the level of chlorine.

Many homes equipped with Kitec plumbing have already suffered extensive water damage due to the rupture of these pipe systems, and failure rates are expected to increase over time. The only complete solution is to replace the Kitec piping with copper or another plastic piping system, and in most cases this will require access behind walls and through floors.

Kitec plumbing can most often be identified by its orange (hot water) and blue (cold water) colored pipes, but it was also made in red, blue, gray and black. The tube can be printed with any of 10 different brands, including Kitec and PlumbBetter. Visible accessories are stamped with Kitec or KTC.

A Kitec system can be identified by locating the pipe in the hot water tank or in a utility room where the pipe enters or exits the walls. The pipe can also be seen under kitchen or bathroom sinks. You may also find a label on the electrical panel or elsewhere indicating that the plumbing system does not provide a proper ground for electrical systems.

Anticipated costs to rehabilitate single-family homes range from $4,000 to $8,000 depending on the approach taken and the work required. Prices include replacement of plumbing and drywall, but not kitchen or bathroom tile, or any fixtures, such as shower covers, that would have to be removed to access the plumbing.

A class action lawsuit concluded in 2011 awarded a $125 million settlement fund, of which $25 million went to attorneys in Canada and the US, and $100 million was reserved for plaintiffs who have up to January 2020 to file the lawsuit. Final payments will not be settled until the claims period expires in 2020, and with an estimated 87,600 claims and the cost of administration, as well as new claims arising from recent publicity, homeowners will be lucky to see between $500 and $1000.

Many insurers are already denying applications for homeowners insurance where Kitec plumbing in the home has been identified.

http://www.kitecsettlement.com/

More good reads at All Around The HOUSE

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The 15 best goal phrases

Examine your own personal goals and find ways to achieve your desires with these valuable goal setting quotes…

  1. “The most important thing about having goals is having one.”
    –Geoffrey F. Abert
  2. “It takes a bit of courage and a bit of self-control. And a bit of gritty determination, if you want to reach the goal. It takes a lot of effort and a firm, steady chin. No matter what the battle, if you really want to win. No there is an easy path to glory, there is no path to fame.Life, however we look at it, is not just a parlor game, but its prizes require fighting, stamina and grit, a resilient disposition.and not I know when to quit.”
    — Anonymous
  3. “No set goal satisfies. Success only begets a new goal. The devoured golden apple has seeds. It is endless.”
    –Bette Davis
  4. “A goal is a dream that has an end.”
    –Duke Ellington
  5. “The first timid and fearful failures discourage, but the brave heart continues to strive night and day. He values ​​his failures as lessons that teach the only way to reach the goal he wants to achieve.
    — Edgar A. Guest
  6. “Know what you want to do, keep your mind steady, and do what must be done every day, and every sunset will see you that much closer to your goal.”
    –Elbert Hubbard
  7. “Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.”
    –Thomas Jefferson
  8. “It behooves us to pray not for tasks equal to our powers, but for powers equal to our tasks, to carry on with a great desire that beats eternally at the gate of our hearts as we journey towards our far goal.”
    –Helen Keller
  9. “A well-established goal is halfway there.”
    — Abraham Lincoln
  10. “You have to keep in mind that the tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy of life lies in not having a goal to reach.
    –Benjamin E. Mays
  11. “Each of us has a fire in our hearts for something. Our goal in life is to find it and keep it burning.”
    –Mary Lou Retton
  12. “Reach high, because the stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, because each dream precedes the goal.”
    –Ralph Vaull Starr
  13. “We must consciously walk only part of the way to our goal, and then leap into the dark to our success.”
    –Henry David Thoreau
  14. “Goals are your personal statements of what you are really willing to do to achieve what you really want to achieve.”
    — Denis Waitley
  15. “What you get by achieving your goals is just as important as what you become by achieving your goals.”
    –Zig Ziglar
Digital Marketing

Working with a YouTube influencer

No platform offers a better return on investment (ROI) than YouTube when it comes to social media influencer marketing. The stars of these online videos are starting to outshine the mainstream celebrities. With their billion viewers, these YouTube stars are on their way to success and to prove that they are more influential, the majority of the audiences are teenagers.

Brands want to sell products, connecting with a YouTube Influencer’s loyal following is an effective and increasingly common marketing strategy as most brands have tried and tested it.

One of the biggest challenges a brand or company faces is how to get visibility for its customers. Pay for an ad? Influencers can have an impact compared to what an ad might do because fans who engage with a specific promoter or influencer are willing to engage with that influencer.

When brands are looking for the most effective way to reach their target audience, they have options. A targeted ad, embed an influencer in the ad and target the demographics of the influencer or maybe include the influencer in an ad or brand integration and have the influencer drive traffic to the brand without advertising it’s all about visibility and leverage.

Here are some facts about working with a YouTube Influencer:

Start with influencers

To find influencers, there are many platforms to start with. You will find listings, cost estimates for working with influencers and a tool to contact potential candidates. This is how these platforms work and are created.

How does the Alliance start?

We cannot deny the fact that most brands approach the influencer. There are many platforms that will connect brands with influencers and vice versa. A lot of people are more successful at getting branded deals than other people, it’s just a lot of things to do with the ability to be seen on the internet.

For example, a brand is looking for a Beauty Vlogger, and that’s their niche, but it didn’t show up in the Google search result, it’s not searchable. In that case, you’re going to have a hard time getting sponsorships. You have to be on some kind of list, you have to appear in the search result.

What does a brand influencer need to do their job well?

Aside from the large amount of money that an influencer receives, creative control is also part of some aspects that an influencer needs. Brands needed to trust that the influencer would be able to offer what it takes to be with their audience. Brands can offer guidelines, but should let the influencer develop the idea for the video. Influencers spend countless hours shaping their own personal brand and learning what their audience likes. When the brand gives the influencer all the information and then lets the influencer take it from there, the result is that a good influencer will be able to come up with an innovative way to promote the product. Then the magic begins.

Is the influencer the right one for the product being marketed?

Learn what the influencer’s channel is all about and who their audience is by doing some good research. Watch the influencer’s videos and read the comments. If they had a really active channel and the influencer is making a lot of videos that are relevant to your product, then they are probably the right person you are looking for.

The special ingredient for a great YouTube Influencer campaign.

Like the previous topic, it’s all about finding the right fit. For example, a very popular YouTube influencer in the field of beauty tutorials has 5 million subscribers and has people watching that influencer’s every move, if they promoted a new contour palette, people would definitely buy that product. . The more established the influencer is, the more they can deviate from what they would normally promote.

Relationship

Causes of Halitosis in Children and Adolescents

Having a child or adolescent with chronic halitosis can be a confusing and worrying ordeal. After all, we want the best for our children, and bad breath can’t just lead to ridicule and embarrassment… it can also be a sign of an underlying health problem. If you have noticed that your child’s or adolescent’s breath is frequently sour or has a strong unpleasant odor, it is time to take action for the sake of their health and self-esteem.

The most important thing you can do to treat the problem is to identify the underlying cause of your bad breath. The most common culprits include the following:

Your child lacks a dental regimen: Kids eat more sugary foods and tend to have a half-hearted commitment to dental care…they’re much more interested in other (ie fun) activities. If your child is still quite young, he may need to remind you of her dental regimen and even enforce or encourage it. Supervise flossing and brushing… have fun with cool products or games. For older children and teens, communicate openly about it, but most importantly, don’t embarrass them. Rather, explain that bad breath can have health and social repercussions and that there are easy ways to avoid discomfort and embarrassment. The short and long term benefits are worth the short time commitment.

Your child needs to see the dentist: Your child should visit the dentist every 6 months to make sure the mouth is free of deeply embedded debris, cavities, gingivitis, and infections, all of which can lead to putrid odors.

Your child is dehydrated: Superactive kids may forget to drink fluids after strenuous activity. The resulting dehydration can lead to a dry mouth that creates a very hospitable environment for anaerobic bacteria that cause bad breath. If your child participates in sports or is particularly active, make sure they have easy access to water. Water is obviously the best option, but non-dairy and sugar-free drinks are acceptable if your child is a particularly picky eater.

Your child is taking a prescription medication: Some popular children’s prescription drugs, such as Ritalin and Adderall, have been linked to chronic dry mouth, which often leads to bad breath. The best way to deal with this situation is to provide your child with plenty of low-sugar drinks and dry mouth products that stimulate sage intake. Dry mouth remedies come in sprays, lozenges/lozenges, and gum…let your child try each type and see which one he likes best. Children are surprisingly open to these products. In fact, I have found that some children are quite fond of “showing off” their dry mouth spray.

Your child has an undiagnosed medical condition: In some cases, bad breath can be a sign of an underlying condition, such as a bacterial sinus infection or, in some rare cases, diabetes. It’s important to report unusual bad breath symptoms to your pediatrician or your child’s doctor, as it may be an indicator of a more serious problem.

Your adolescent has physiological causes: Although rare in young children, adolescents may have a physiological cause for bad breath, such as larger than normal taste buds or wisdom tooth infections. In most cases of adolescent bad breath, it is advisable to consult a doctor or a bad breath specialist. A clinic specializing in the treatment of halitosis will be able to identify these types of problems and create a comprehensive treatment plan for your son or daughter.

Health Fitness

Understanding the No Carb Diet

IN no carb diet it is different from a low carb diet. It is more intense because you are allowed zero carb intake. There must be an alternative source of energy in your diet. Fat will be the main source and protein is another backup source. Most of your intake on a no-carb diet will be cheese, fish, egg, and meat.

The natural consequence of this is a ketogenic state as consumed fat is converted to ketones. The oxidation of fat is not the regular scenario of your metabolic processes that normally depend on carbohydrates. For this reason, a strict no-carb diet should ideally be discussed by a doctor, especially if you have any medical conditions that might make trying it dangerous.

To qualify for the no-carbohydrate diet category, your total daily intake must not exceed 50 grams of carbohydrates. However, even when you eat more than that, there is a chance that you will continue to lose weight.

Preparing for a no-carb diet

It is difficult to start such a strict diet regimen without prior preparation. Give yourself time to prepare for it. Make a list of foods that are allowed. Don’t assume that because this is a hard diet that it won’t be delicious. There are many tasty items that can be eaten even with that protocol.

Creativity is the key to enjoying your restricted diet. Be ready and willing to try different new recipes and eating plans.

First, assess how many carbohydrate calories you can eat each day. This will depend on your weight loss goals and your current body weight. You’ll quickly realize that eating fewer carbs changes and optimizes your body composition and ratio, leaving you in better metabolic health and higher levels of health biomarkers.

The good news is that when you ensure that your glucose and glycogen levels are sufficient to replenish cellular stores, you won’t feel tired or weak, even on a strictly carbohydrate-restricted diet. Few dieters complain of fatigue, low energy, or a feeling of mental dullness.

There is a caveat with very low carb diets. You can’t get enough calories if you’re an active person. Anyone who runs, jogs, skis, or is physically active for long periods of time can manage an adequate calorie intake without including carbohydrates in the diet.

Under such circumstances, depriving your body of carbohydrates can lead to tiredness, sore muscles, bone loss, and reduced performance. That is not a desirable situation and your diet plan needs modification.

Legal Law

Obtain the Appropriate Compensation – Seek the Services of a Car Accident Lawyer

Your car accident lawyer should be easy to talk to, have experience filing car accident injury claims, and also present you with the facts, even if it means you don’t have a viable case. Many attorneys take car accident cases on a contingency basis. At no cost, he will review your case and present you with an opinion on a possible outcome. Just before you meet with your lawyer, you should have the required documents, such as the incident report, on hand. These documents will be critical in determining negligence and knowing exactly who or what caused the accident.

Bring any photos you’ve taken of property damage and injuries, and all bills and medical records. A picture really is worth a thousand words when it comes to a car accident, so bring any photographs you have taken of your physical injuries, the location of the accident, and property damage. Records showing your medical bills and care will be required to document your injuries and calculate your damages.

Gather the witness statements that you and the authorities took. Provide all insurance plans related to the car accident along with the details of the other party. Remember to bring bills for any expenses incurred as a direct result of the vehicle accident. Take with you details of any losses suffered to date and documents that can prove the loss of your business. In case you are self-employed, you have to review the needs with the lawyer.

An insurance company’s or court’s assessment of an injury claim will depend on a number of factors, including medical costs, loss of income due to the injury such as wages, loss of quality of life, the health of the victim before the accident and driver error. Using these factors, the insurance company or court will determine the price of a car accident claim. There is no specific amount for a particular injury, because the total will vary based on individual factors. The severity of a car accident injury is determined by things like whether the victim was wearing a seatbelt, the speed of the defendant’s car, the car the victim was in. Some examples of common auto accident injury claims are neck injuries, spinal cord damage, and brain damage.

Hiring the right car accident lawyer is crucial. It’s going to be the difference between getting fair compensation and getting a reduced amount. This is because car accidents involve insurance companies, and insurance companies do not want to pay accident claims. The insurance company will have attorneys with unlimited resources to fight for them. Protect yourself after a car accident, gather as much information as possible at the time the car accident occurs, photographs of the cars and the surrounding area can be important when building a legal case for injury compensation. This is especially true with the police report, the police officer has an obligation to document the truth and the court and the lawyers for the defendants cannot fight what this report says.

Lifestyle Fashion

Making healthy lifestyle choices at the candy store

As children, some of us may remember the trip to the candy store. While the old candy stores that sold Snaps, Bun Bars, Horlick’s Milkshakes and Teaberry Gum are long gone, we can buy the sweets we crave online.

As adults, most of us want to make healthy life choices, but we don’t want to give up on our childhood dreams of candyland. Many of us are homesick for sweets. It represents a happy time in our lives when things were easy and life was carefree. But as adults we are watching our waistlines and trying to prevent type II diabetes. The solution is to buy natural sweets and chocolates without sugar.

Trends in organic food

More people today are interested in organic options for healthy living. It would be foolish to eat green algae, wheatgrass, and organic greens all day, only to munch on sugar- and preservative-laden treats at night.

As part of a healthy lifestyle, select natural candies that do not contain sugar. You don’t have to be diabetic to enjoy the benefits of sugar-free foods.

Chocolate is not the enemy

Some people think that they should give up chocolate as part of a healthy lifestyle. But the opposite is true. Chocolate contains magnesium and antioxidants. The fat in chocolate is made from cocoa butter, which contains a heart-healthy form of monounsaturated fat called oleic acid.

Furthermore, chocolate contains healthy flavonoids that protect our cells from damage caused by free radicals.

Finally, as part of your healthy lifestyle, don’t replace your regular sweets with sugar-free candy and chocolate. It is also important to eliminate carbonated drinks from your diet. Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables throughout the day. Select organic and natural whole foods whenever possible.

And when it’s time for a sweet treat, savor each bite of sugar-free fudge and delicious chocolate just like you did as a kid.

Pets

California Car Wash Fundraisers and Environmental Law

Many nonprofit groups are upset that they are allowed to hold car wash fundraisers in some California cities. It’s not that government officials are against their groups raising money, it’s that they’re worried about where the dirty, soapy water ends up. It’s a problem and it might be a good thing if he understood some of the history behind the rules instead of getting mad about it.

HISTORY

Well, it all started many years ago when Congress passed the Federal Clean Water Act in 1972 during the Nixon Administration. This was in response to major pollution problems related to the pollution of the nation’s waterways by factories, open pit mining, and sewage treatment plants or the lack thereof. It was actually a big problem. It was an ecosystem disaster that caused disease and death to wildlife and some people. When it was discovered how serious the problem really was, the federal government authorized states to deal with problems within their state. States enacted state laws to help fix the problem. Meanwhile, the federal government tightened the standards forcing states to either toughen their standards or break them. With the threat of withholding federal funds for the states, the states continued to make more and more laws. Obviously the industry was not happy and even government agencies were unable to comply with the laws they made. Therefore, target dates were enacted to allow time for everyone to comply. Environmental consulting firms sprang up overnight along with a whole new industry of manufacturing environmental equipment and products, many of which were not even compliant themselves. Of course, all good things take time, and cleaning our water is obviously a good thing.

The State of California divided the state into nine different regions realizing that each region had different pollution problems based on the types of industry, demographics, and population of the areas. These regions were called ‘Regional Water Quality Control Districts’ (RWQCDs). All of these were controlled by the State Board which was defined by the Federal Clean Water Act as the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). Once the problem was broken down into smaller parts, things started to get better.

The SWRCB was formed in California and is commonly called ‘The State Board’. The State Board regulates the Control of Water Quality, which is any activity or factor that may affect the quality of state waters and includes the prevention and correction of water pollution and nuisances. This sounds very broad and the State Board has a lot of power. Fortunately, with the combined efforts of industry, government, and the public, they now understand the issues well enough to make smart decisions and fully understand that their organization needs to make money. Therefore, instead of preventing and banning the activities, everyone is working on solutions and procedures to allow responsible downloading creating a win-win situation.

Recently, the State Water Quality Control Boards asked counties to submit their approval and receive permits to discharge the same water they have been discharging for years. These permissions were called NPDES permissions. This means the National System for the Elimination of Polluting Discharges. Most counties assigned an existing department to work on this permit. Most likely it is the county Flood Control Department. Unfortunately, this part of the county deals with permits for land development, bridges, infrastructure, etc. Until now, they knew very little about the contamination. Some counties turned this responsibility over to the Department of Environmental Health Services, who in turn worked with the Department of Flood Control that controls storm drains. NPDES permits are state approved for local county urban runoff discharges. Every city in every county through municipal codes is supposed to pass ordinances and come up with a plan to control their local runoff/pollution. The county remains accountable to the state and the states to the federal government. The NPDES requirements are a consequence of the EPA, the Environmental Protection Agency, although they are enforced, permitted and regulated locally by cities, counties and states.

The actual law used to enforce these statutes can be found at 13.260 – 13.265 of the California Water Code. At one point he actually says:

“No person or persons may discharge water into any waterway without permission or a permit from a regional state water quality control board.”

This sounds pretty absolute, doesn’t it? It is against the law for you to take a glass of water from your sink, walk over to a storm drain, and pour the water down the drain. Obviously, this in itself would not harm the environment, but by granting absolute power, the Regional Water Quality Control Boards can analyze everything on a case-by-case basis. So get serious about your water after washing those cars.

RAINWATER DISCHARGE

City, county and state governments know that the car wash has always been a favorite fundraiser for sports teams, scouting troops, schools and other non-profit groups. Due to low capital investment costs, because laundering fundraisers can generate significant amounts of profit. For the last ten years, government agencies, especially in California, have been working with industry to find solutions to clean up our water. Today, the waterways of the United States are significantly cleaner than in the past, even though many regions are more densely populated. It has been working very well. Now we go one step further. No contamination from any source, even mobile dog groomers. In just the last few years, government agencies have decided that the adverse environmental impact is too great to allow car wash fundraising. Along with strong lobbying from fixed-site car wash owners, some cities and counties have banned these fundraisers unless certain procedures are followed to ensure wash water does not enter storm drains, ditches, or pathways. fluvial.

Their reasoning is as follows: Dirty water containing soaps and detergents, exhaust residue, gasoline, and motor oils wash out of cars and flow into nearby storm drains. Unlike the water we use in our homes and businesses that goes down the drain and is treated in sewage treatment plants, the water that goes to storm drains flows directly into rivers, bays, oceans, and lakes without any treatment. . Obviously, a car wash fundraiser alone will create little to no adverse environmental impact. But government agencies know that collectively, car wash fundraisers contribute to significant pollution.

They also realize that biodegradable soaps don’t lessen the impact. This is because biodegradable just means that the soap will degrade over time. So does plutonium, it just takes longer. Soaps and car wash products are still toxic to aquatic life, even if they are biodegradable. Think about this a bit. If you really want the city to let you do a car wash as a fundraiser, you’re going to have to figure out how to keep dirty, soapy water out of the storm drain.

Real Estate

Ways to sell land online

Selling a lot or parcel of land is very different from selling a house. The principles may be similar in some ways, but there are still notable differences that make the endeavor challenging. The advances in technology that are available these days make selling easier, especially when done online.

The power of social networks

You may have seen how so-called social entrepreneurs are generating sales through their social media accounts. Why not follow in their footsteps and sell your land online too? Simple posts on your Facebook timeline can make a world of difference. Expect comments and private messages below. The same goes for Twitter, Instagram, and other social media tools.

The good thing about them is that you can use them 24/7 not only on your computers but also on your smartphones. Its portability is an advantage that generally gives you greater ability to monitor how your land for sale is doing.

use apps

Harness the interest of potential buyers through various applications that are available for smartphones and other mobile operating systems. Many users will see what you are selling. These apps are specially designed to display the site, land area, and price. The images are necessary to give users an idea of ​​the land on offer.

Post to online selling sites and groups

The Internet never fails to offer many tools that can be used for various purposes. There are many online selling sites that accept user posts for other users to view. Typically, you will be required to become a member before you can post what you are selling. The same goes for groups, where there are specific sections for each type of thing members sell. just take a look

in specific sections where you can publish the land you are selling. Be aware of the rules and regulations that govern such sites. There are usually sticky posts that remind user-members of what to do and what not to do within groups.

Selling a parcel of land is different from selling other merchandise. You’re selling a tangible item, but the selling points lie in location, size, and price. You must capitalize on these strengths to make an attractive offer to buyers who will typically be developers and investors. But chances are it will also attract buyers looking for ideal locations to build their dream homes.

Shopping Product Reviews

Inner Peace and Joy Tip: Being Positive is Your Choice

Each of us has the power to be positive or negative.

I need each of you to close your eyes and imagine a Super Hero who has the power to choose to be positive or negative. This Superhero carries weapons in each of his hands. In his left hand he carries bolts of negative energy which he uses to strike down his victims. In his right hand he carries balls of positive energy that he uses to cheer everyone he meets.

The villain is a negative

When this Superhero chooses to be in negative mode, they become a Villain. The villain is negative and he tortures people by throwing beams of negative energy at everyone who gets in his way. The villain has the option to be positive or negative, but he chooses to be negative. The three types of negative energy beams that the Villain uses to bring down his victims are 1) Bad Attitude 2) Complainer and 3) Dream Killer

“Bad Attitude” Weapon #1

The Villain uses his “Bad Attitude” as a weapon to destroy the “Positive Attitude” of his victims. He knows that being positive is a crucial part of success and if he can bring his victims to his negative level, he will succeed in clouding their minds and preventing them from concentrating on their dreams.

Weapon “complaining” #2

The Villain also uses negative energy to hit you with “Complaints”. The Villain complains because he knows that misery loves company. He is well aware that as long as he can keep his victims in the company of him complaining, the victim will not focus on “the solution”. A person who continually focuses on his problems instead of focusing on the solution will not achieve his goals.

Weapon “Dream Killer” #3

The villain also has a weapon that he calls the “Dream Killer”. This weapon is paralyzing because when it is aimed at its victims it knocks them down and prevents them from flying towards their destination. The Villain knows that if he can dissuade people from believing in themselves, his chances of success will be minimized.

the hero is positive

When the Superhero is in positive mode, he operates as “The Hero”. The Hero throws his balls of Positive Energy at people with the purpose of uplifting everyone he comes in contact with. The Hero is perceived as someone who stands by people, encouraging and inspiring them to be the best possible person they can be.

The Superhero is “You”

Now I want you to open your eyes because the Super Hero is “You”. Each and every one of you have the power within yourselves to choose to be a Hero or a Villain by choosing to maintain a negative attitude or a positive attitude. You have the opportunity to decide if you want to destroy the lives of others with your negative attitude or you can choose to have a positive attitude and uplift the Spirit of everyone you come in contact with.