Category Archives: Reviews

Six common home electrical faults

Electrical problems can arise at any time; however, the most common time to discover them is when you move into a new home. They can be the result of DIY patch-ups, cheap components, or simply age. Here are some you might encounter, starting with the worst.

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Shocks

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A significant shock should have you immediately calling an electrician, but even a minor one should be taken seriously. Mild shocks can be no more than a ‘buzzing’ sensation, but they are not normal. You may have exposed cables, inadequate earthing or a faulty appliance.

Crumbling wires

Wiring has a finite lifespan, as the plastic shielding eventually disintegrates. Add a little steam from the kitchen and you can get a shock just from touching a wall, let alone a switch plate. Old wiring is also a fire hazard.

Dimmer switches

Many older dimmers do not work with modern fittings. Poor-quality dimmers can generate spikes, brown-outs or flickering. Dimmers with an infrared handset sometimes have a poorly-chosen or wandering frequency response band and switch on and off on their own. Deteriorating components can have the same effect.

Breakers

Too many appliances on a circuit should trip its breaker; however, tripping can also be provoked by current instabilities. Some domestic appliances, such as a washing machine, can switch too quickly for them, generating surges sufficient to trip an oversensitive device.

You may need more circuits, outlets rewired, or your breakers replaced; in any event, seek advice from properly-qualified electricians. Electrical contractors Cardiff include companies such as https://evergreenelectricalandbuildingservices.co.uk/.

Short-lived bulbs

Modern light fittings are more tolerant than old-style bulbs; however, if you notice that you are replacing them too often, it is likely that your circuit is unstable. Flickering is an indication of possible shorting, with poor connections or cables damaged by heat common causes.

When ‘green’ light bulbs were first promoted by the government, their poor light prompted many homeowners to increase the number of light fittings, thereby overtaxing switches and wiring.

Recessed lights

Recessed light fittings are more likely to overheat than exposed ones and are designed to cut out to avoid meltdown damage or a fire; however, this should never happen if everything has been installed safely. The cause needs to be checked out – never rely on them cutting out to keep you safe.

 

How Do You Become a Brand Strategist?

If you’re looking for a job where you can exercise your creativity, work with others and put your writing skills into practice, the role of brand strategist could be for you. But how do you get into this position?

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Gaining Entry

If you’re considering a career as a brand strategist, you’ll probably be thinking about what training or qualifications are needed. According to Medium, unlike other professions, there’s no specific training involved in becoming a brand strategist.

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Many people who enter this career come from a wide range of backgrounds with degrees in subjects as diverse as graphic design, English or art history. You don’t necessarily even need any formal training to degree level. If you possess the right skills and attitude, you can start at the bottom and learn your way up with the right agency.

While sending your CV to potential agencies can be useful, you’re more likely to land a role as a brand strategist by networking at specialist marketing events and getting to know the right people with the right connections.

Skills

When a branding agency, such as www.reallyhelpfulmarketing.co.uk/brand-development/, is looking to recruit a brand strategist, they’ll probably have a specific skill set in mind that you will need to possess.

Brand strategists need to have a creative streak, but they must also boast an analytical, inquisitive and logical mind. People who do well in this role are often highly opinionated, boasting a natural sense of curiosity that enables them to get an answer when one is needed most, as well as being able to solve problems. Paying attention to detail is also something that goes hand in hand with this job.

There is also a fair amount of writing involved in brand strategy work, whether that is writing copy, putting a proposal together or outlining a brief. While you don’t need an English degree to succeed in this role, knowledge of grammar, sentence construction and writing to suit a brand’s personality and tone of voice will be key.

Working in brand strategy involves coming up with ideas on your own, but also working closely as part of a team. This could include collaboration with marketing managers, graphic designers and other strategists. You’ll also need to work with clients to understand and interpret their needs. Good communication skills are, therefore, essential in this role.

 

Royal Mail tried to ban world cup flags on their vehicles

The Royal Mail said that its postal workers were not able to fly England flags on delivery vehicles during the World Cup in Russia.

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The UK’s national postal service provider also stated that the ban should of applied to lorries, trollies, vans and even bikes.

The Royal Mail said it came to this decision due to the potential hazard that the flags could cause to other road users. Critics, however, have labelled the company’s decision as unpatriotic and petty, with people on social media saying it was health and safety gone mad.

A complete ban on flags was not implemented across the whole company, with flags being allowed to be flown in offices. The company was keen to stress that this was not a new policy and was in place during previous World Cups tournaments.

Potential Hazard

According to The Independent newspaper, the company released a statement saying that flags should not be flown as the Royal Mail does not want to cause harm to either the general public or their employees. It added that no other flag or insignia could be put alongside the brand of the Royal Mail. It added that flags placed onto vehicles could obscure the driver’s view and could pose a hazard to other road users if they were lost.

There are lots of different items and accessories that need to be added to vehicles on the road and within the warehouse especially when it comes to safety so as long as items like Buggy Whips that can be sourced from sites like wisuk.co.uk/buggy-whip can still be used alongside the flags then it shouldn’t be a hazard.

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Staff Reaction

Staff have branded the action by Royal Mail as “bonkers”. One postman in south-west London argued other vehicles were able to drive around with flags on without causing accidents and he didn’t see why Royal Mail vehicles were any different, adding that he thought the action would anger many Royal Mail drivers. The ban will affect the whole 125,000 delivery employees who work for Royal Mail.

Labour MP John Spellar entered the debate, calling the action “absolutely astonishing” and saying that the bosses of Royal Mail should join with their staff in supporting England during the tournament.

Of course. this action won’t affect other couriers in and around England, they will still be able to fly the flag for England.

Driving with an England flag is perfectly legal provided it does not obscure the driver or another driver’s road vision. In addition, it should be securely fixed to the vehicle.

What is a Davit Crane?

Have you ever wondered what a davit crane is? You might have heard them mentioned but have no real idea what one is! Well, a davit is a piece of machinery usually made from steel that is designed to lower things carefully over a drop off.

This type of crane has an angled beam which can pivot over a vertical axis. Booms can be attached as either adjustable or fixed and the davit can be a temporary solution or a permanent fixture depending on what it is being used for. They come in varying sizes, from small manually controlled devices to larger power winches.

One of the biggest advantages of using a davit crane instead of a jib for instance, is that installing a davit crane is far less labour intensive and saves the user significant costs in terms of installation.

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A davit crane can be used with independent bases which means they can be moved where they needed around a work site, for example. One portable davit crane can be used for many different workstations and a variety of rooftop applications. A davit crane is more cost effective for rooftop applications than renting a crane, for example. This is important if the deadline for a project has not been determined.

You will often see this type of crane being used in rooftop applications such as grain elevators, HVAC maintenance and on construction sites. They are also used heavily in the marine industry and you’ll see them put to use on boats and ships.

Davit cranes are available in a range of sizes and capacity, fitted with either hand or power winches as per a user’s preference and job type. The cranes are generally available in finishes like stainless steel, electrostatic powder coated or galvanised steel. For more information on having your own Davit Crane, visit https://www.gmh.co.uk/transition-piece-davit-cranes/

Stationary davit are able to lift up to 2,200 lbs and come with either a fixed or adjustable boom. They are able to offer stability for lifting large loads for longer distances. They are ideal for applications like bulk handling and wastewater handling. They are suited to permanent installation onto strong and solid foundations.

Portable varieties are able to lift up to 1 ton and make any operation much easier in a cost-effective way, offering simple set-up and break-down for easy transport between different sites.

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Another option is a portable floor crane which can also lift up to half a ton. These are perfect for multiple sites across a construction area or manufacturing plant floor. They are ideal for those occasions where you need a helping hand to lift or lower loads with ease. These portable cranes can be compacted into an easy to store unit that can be readily transported to where it is most needed.

 

Which Type of Flooring Will Best Suit Your Investment Property?

If you’re investing in property, you will need to carefully consider what type of flooring you want to install in which rooms.

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Naturally, different types of flooring best suit different rooms, depending on their use, the amount of ‘traffic’ they are likely to get from users and other factors, including your budget, how durable you need the flooring to be and what type of property it is.

Here we look at a few factors which may influence your choices, and see which flooring is best in different circumstances.

What Kind of Property Is It?

It seems obvious, but if you’re fitting out a home for sale it will require better-quality flooring than a lower-end rental property. You won’t want to kit out a house with cheap vinyl if you’re planning on putting it on the market for half a million pounds, as expectations will be high.

Similarly, if you’re opening a hotel, your choice of flooring will largely depend on its expected clientele and expected star rating.

Which Rooms Is It For?

As with your own home, you largely choose the flooring material dependent on which room it is in. For example, you should never put a carpet in a kitchen, which needs a floor which is both hard-wearing and able to stand spills.

The kitchen will have many different areas where spillages can happen from the taps, the fridge and even the boiler. When spending money on your property it is best to avoid mishaps with your boiler andany pipework  so a Cheltenham Plumber at sites like https://actdirect.co.uk/services/emergency-plumber-cheltenham/ can help with this.

If you’re putting flooring in an office space or a hotel foyer, it needs to be durable to withstand all that heavy footfall – basic but strong carpet is best here, as it is comforting underfoot but still hard-wearing enough to last a long time before wear starts to show.

According to GoHaus, cleaning, safety and noise are other factors to consider.

Rental properties are probably best served by wooden or laminate flooring, as these will last longer and are less likely to be ruined by spills and stains.

Wood flooring is a good bet for all types of investment property, as it not only looks fabulous but will withstand all manner of abuse.

If you have a flat on the upper floor of a house, it is probably best to consider carpet instead of solid wood flooring, as it reduces noise and therefore ensures fewer complaints from neighbours.

Carpet is also a good insulator, so it may help reduce your energy bills.

Volcanoes. Deadly mountain.

There has been a lot of coverage recently about two active volcanoes. One is in Hawaii and the other is in Malaysia. These represent the most destructive force that nature has as its disposal. It is not just the flaming lava but the huge amount of dust and ash that is thrown into the air. When Mt St Helens grumbled before it eruption the enterprising locals used the extra ahs to make souvenir ashtrays for smokers out of it.

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The Earth is unstable. The continents float on a sea of magma and volcanoes are the ruptures and vents where the plates of the continent meet. As they float the magma is forced up through the vents in the form of lava. It is this dangerous material that sweeps all before it setting organic substances alight or simply devouring the landscape. This is one way that new lands are formed and an excellent example of this is the island of Lanzarote. It is thought following geological study that the island increased in size threefold following the eruption of lava that whist also being extremely destructive, the ensuing lava flow rolled over the western side of the island creating the Timanfaya national park where they boast a grill that is powered by a blob of lava that cooks meat and seafood. The heat is so intense that the grill is twenty foot above the intrusion otherwise it will burn.  If you want to have a bbq at home with a great heat to cook your meats you might need your own briquetting machines from sites such as https://iwmachines.co.uk/en/products/briquetting-machines/. These are also great to have if you are a business as they can create a renewable source of energy.

The most celebrated volcano is that of the cone like mountain. Deadly lava spews forth from its open maw severely poisonous gases and ash escape out into the atmosphere. The famous examples of a destructive eruption are Mount Vesuvius, and its why we think of a cone shape more than others. There are perfectly preserved evidence in the form of fleeing agonised victims. The ash killed the fleeing inhabitants more than the lava as it choked the life out of people as the ran. We also have Roman histories that are accurately and well written to draw upon.

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The other types of Volcano that appear are the Shield volcano. This is a broader, flatter sloping volcano type. These are the ones that are most common in Hawaii and Iceland. They put out much less runny lava and don’t explode in quiet such a dramatic way as the conical ones. This is good as when owned in Reykjavik the locals had time to spray and cool it with icy water saving the capital.

 If it could be harnessed then Mordor would be fine for power.

For centuries human beings have been searching for a clean and safe source of energy that could power their homes and provide heat and light for it. It’s such a shame then that they didn’t take a leaf out of the evil one Sauron’s book and utilise the power and strength of an active Volcano. This is the mighty Mount Doom in the land of Mordor, where the shadow lie, apparently, and it is partly the reason that Sauron is so powerful. Rather than think that maybe he could use his power to supply a cheap source of energy to the people of Mordor he decides, rather selfishly, to make a large golden ring.  Into this ring he pours all his power, rage and hate for everyone in Middle-Earth so that he can try and enslave them. Still, it’s better than bottling it up I suppose. This is the total opposite to a certain Bristol Boiler Installation company as they will happily look at  installing or maintaining your system without the need for any magical rings, Eagles or armies. Is it possible to tap a volcano? Continue reading  If it could be harnessed then Mordor would be fine for power.