Dear Savvy Senior,

What tips do you recommend for making a bathroom safer and more functional for seniors. My 79-year-old mother slipped and fell getting out of the shower last month, and Id like to modify her bathroom a bit with some safety features that can help protect her.

Searching Daughter

Dear Searching,

Because more accidents and injuries happen in the bathroom than any other room in the house, this is a very important room to modify for aging in place. Depending on your moms needs, here are some tips for each part of the bathroom that can make it safer and easier to use.

Flooring

To avoid slipping, a simple fix is to get non-skid bath rugs for the floors. Or if you want to put in a new floor get slip-resistant tiles, rubber or vinyl flooring, or install wall-to-wall carpeting.

Lighting

Good lighting is also very important, so install the highest wattage bulbs allowed for your moms bathroom fixtures, and get a plug-in nightlight that automatically turns on when the room gets dark.

Bathtub/shower

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Savvy Senior: How to make your bathroom safer

Published: Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at 2:53 p.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at 2:53 p.m.

Just a week ago, Sharon Lawson, 71, was overwhelmed. Her well had all but collapsed, sending muddy water through her pipes.

As she cares for her developmentally disabled sister, who is age 67 with the mental age of a kindergartner, Lawson had no financial means to pay the $5,000 expense to replace the 40-year-old well.

When news hit last week about her dilemma, more than a dozen people began calling her home an d offering to help pay for a new well. Even the city of Ocala reached out to Lawson, who lives about a mile from Wild Waters in Silver Springs.

On Tuesday, Lawson was all smiles, watching Jeff Sheppard Well Drilling install a new well on her property.

I cant believe how many people have offered their help, Lawson said. I want to publicly thank everyone who called and sent money.

Two men in particular, Don Dery of Ocklawaha and John Alvarez of Ocala, agreed to split the cost of the $4,000 well and $1,000 worth of new pipe to connect to the house and the electric lines needed to connect the pump.

I read the story and I just wanted to help her, Dery said. Those were terrible living conditions. It is nice to help people when I have the chance.

Alvarez, the son of former Ocala police Chief Kenneth Alvarez, said he didnt do it for the publicity, but believes in helping people when he can.

Im grateful that I was able to help, Alvarez said. And she really needed it.

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Donors assist woman with well problem

Fix It Plumbing Heating And Air
Here at Fix it Plumbing Heating and Air, we take pride in providing the best services and satisfying our customer needs. We specialize in Others, Air Conditioning, Central A/C Repair, Central...

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Hot Water Heater Install Correction Part 1
In this video I get a call about a leaking Hot Water Heater, and the gas company refusing to turn the gas on. Also there is a 1987 Comfort Maker furnace that...

By: First Choice Service LLC ( StL MO)

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Hot Water Heater Install Correction Part 1 - Video

A while back I wrote a column in which I explained the new light bulb legislation.

I lamented the complexity of the law. But I was able to find solace in the fact that the light bulbs of the future will be good even for those of us in the non-bureaucratic real world who, at the end of the day, just need light.

Since then, there is something new and it could impact consumers as much as its luminous predecessor.

In an effort to curb energy consumption, the U.S. Department of Energy concluded that water heaters are inefficient and must be redesigned to meet a higher standard.

The details of the legislation are still a little sketchy.

But what is certain is that it affects all phases of the industry. While it will certainly result in energy savings over the long haul, it could have some immediate disadvantages.

A rough outline of the mandate indicates that while all water heaters have insulation, most will require more.

The result will be heavier tanks larger in both diameter and height. Gas-fired models may be required to have a redesigned vent system and possibly an improved ignition design.

Tanks larger than 55 gallons may be subject to a more advanced set of standards as well as additional upgrades.

Questions remain about how manufacturers will make all of this come together and what ramifications will trickle down to the user.

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Energy-saving mandate could put us in hot water

The Florida Home Partnership is providing free water heater blankets to area residents as part of its continuing energy conservation efforts. Water heater blanket packages can be reserved, and then picked up at the partnerships main office at 201 14th Ave. SE, Suite H, Ruskin.

On average, water heating costs homeowners between $400 and $600 annually, said Earl Pfeiffer, the partnerships executive director. One way to cut this cost is to insulate the water heater, which can reduce standby heat losses by 25 to 45 percent.

Making these blankets available to the community is consistent with our mission of helping keep the cost of housing low, he continued. Energy efficiency is one major way to control home operating costs.

A short, six-minute video on how to install the blankets is available at http://www.flhome.org. While newer water heater models may not need the additional insulation, homeowners with models older than 10 years, that are warm to the touch or have an R value of less than 24, may.

The water heater blanket packages, including written installation instructions, are available while supplies last. Residents are limited to one blanket per home but residents with two tanks can request an additional package. Apartment and business owners may also make special requests to reserve packages.

Scheduled pick-up times are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Packages must be picked up within one week of the reservation, otherwise they may be redistributed without notice.

To reserve a package, call (813) 672-7889 or email sara@flhome.org.

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Does your water heater need insulation?

Water Heater Install Raleigh NC 2

By: Your Service Professional

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Water Heater Install Raleigh NC 2 - Video

Total Installation Cost Range: $850 - $2,000 Average Materials Cost: Average Labor Cost: Avg. Time to Complete: 6-8 Hours, 2 Installers

Usually Includes: Tankless Water Heater, Labor, Tools & Supplies

When you want to have instant hot water or want to use the water in their home more efficiently, the installation of a tankless water heater may be the right answer.

If you have a tankless water heater installed in your home you can also save space by removing your bulky tank water heater that is constantly losing heat. With a tankless model, the water stays hot all the time and your utility bills may be lowered as much as 24% to 34% less, according to the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute.

Most often,tankless water heater installation is done by a plumber or HVAC contractor and most of the cost is based on what tankless water heater you want installed, as well as the complexity of the installation. On average, a tankless water heater can be installed in under 8 hours by a plumber and their apprentice. This job may take longer and additional fees will most likely be involved if there is extensive prep work that is needed or if there is a need for additional plumbing or pipes.

In this guide, youll learn about the tankless water heater installation processes and any special skills or tools you may need. The cost to install a tankless water heater could be affected by many different factors and we will help you understand more about those items and how to get cost savings.

Tankless water heater installation estimates will usually include:

A plumbing contractor will most likely use the table of supplies and tools listed below to install a tankless water heater. This list is fairly extensive, but to be completely prepared you should probably have all of these on-hand if you want to try out a tankless water heater installation on your own. You or your helper should have quite a bit of knowledge in plumbing and wiring before you try to do the job yourself.

Your total tankless water heater cost can be effected by many factors. If any modifications are needed in either the wiring or plumbing, there will be additional costs. As an example, if you currently have a tank water heater in your utility closet where the pipes come in at the bottom of the wall, there may be a need to re-route piping so that the tankless can be installed where the water temperature is at its prime. Installing the tankless in the correct location helps with the flow and speed of the water.

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Compare Tankless Water Heater Installation Costs

News

Friday, January 16, 2015

By KATHY CLEVELAND

Staff Writer

A couple of weeks ago, someone living in the outskirts of Brookline got very lucky.

A passerby noticed smoke coming from the front porch and called for help, and fire damage was confined to a small area of the porch.

The problem was wood ashes a common cause of winter fires when they arent disposed of properly, Brookline Assistant Fire Chief Scott Knowles said.

January is a peak month for house fires, and local fire officials have some tips for avoiding the devastation of a winter fire.

These fires are usually caused by heating equipment, and on average, wood stoves, fireplaces and other forms of alternate heat are involved in more than 60,000 reported U.S. home structure fires a year, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

While these numbers are frightening, nearly all of these fires are preventable, J. William Degnan, state fire marshal, said in one of his recent newsletters.

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Fire officials warn of winter dangers

Tankless Water Heater Install | Fort Worth Plumber | Dfw Plumbing
http://www.slableakdetectionandrepair.com 817-606-8737 Fort Worth Slab Leak Detection and Repair company Morgan Leak Detection and plumbing.

By: Cliff Morgan

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Tankless Water Heater Install | Fort Worth Plumber | Dfw Plumbing - Video