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Is your granite sealer safe to be around your children and pets? Granite, being a natural stone, possesses excellent chemical stabilities and mechanical strength. However, if the stone surface is not protected by sealer, it is prone to absorb oil, grease and water, thus compromising its luster and health of human beings since microbes will grow in there too. Sealers manufactured from hydrocarbon polymers repel water, but not oil or grease. To ensure the oil has a repellent nature, fluorinated sealers are required. Fluorinated sealers ingredients can be broadly classified as perfluorinated and non-perfluorinated.

Types of Sealers Available

For protecting the granite surface from stains and leave its color and surface unchanged, impregnating sealer is applied.

If the granite stone surface is flamed or brushed, topical sealer can be applied to enhance the natural colors. Topical sealers, available as matte or gloss finish; deepens the stone’s color while adding a second layer of protection. However, they are likely to wear off faster than impregnating sealers and require more frequent applications.

Children and Pet-friendly Sealers

Granite sealers are either made from perfluorinated surfactants or hydrocarbon polymers in combination with perfluorinated surfactants. These products prevail in the market because the ingredients used are water soluble and are safe around children and pets.  

Even though there is a large variety of granite sealer, most of them are not VOC compliant and could be easily flammable and yellow over time. With the tightening of environment conservation rules, every industry is seeking eco-friendly solutions for their products and the stone sealing market is no exception to this rule. An eco-friendly granite sealer should protect against the damage occurred by oil and water.

Types of Sealers

Granite sealer is categorized into 2 types: penetrating and topical. The first one penetrates deeply into the stone, while the latter coats the top of the counter’s surface. Read the ingredients on the label that point towards being biodegradable and VOC compliant. Check if the product contains petroleum based ingredients that are harsh on the environment or contains eco-friendly ingredients like Efflon.

Penetrating Sealer

It protects the structure of natural stone and maintains its shine. This type of sealer impregnates the granite and keeps away oil and water. While shopping for penetrating sealer seek for an oil repellent impregnator, as it will prohibit oil from seeping into the stone. 

Apply two coats of this sealer with a gap of at least two hours for proper binding. When the coats dry, add more sealer to the granite and rub with a soft, dry rag.

Topical Sealer

It forms a film onto the granite surface and protects it against water and oil spills. It is manufacture from acrylic, natural wax and other plastic compounds. Topical sealers are further segregated into 2 types: strippable and permanent.

Strippable topical sealers can be easily removed from the granite surface. On the other hand, permanent is comprised of water-based or solvent-based polymers and remains permanent once applied. However, these are discouraged from use on the granite surface.

Wood sealers are very commonly used nowadays and it is a very common type of interior water sealer. The main function of the wood sealer is to protect the wood from moisture and water, present in the external environment. The wood sealers are very easily available in the market and they also increase the life span of any wooden furniture or other wooden products. The interior water sealers are very easy to apply and are not very expensive. Thus you can save your precious furniture and other household products by using these water sealers.

Function

Wood sealers are very effective in preserving the wood and thus you can have a better interior and do not need to invest a lot for its maintenance by using these interior water sealers. The water sealers are mostly water based and they form a protective covering over the wooden surface when you apply it. The wood sealers can be applied on any wooden surface which includes wall, floors, cabinet, decks or any other furniture and wooden surface. They can be used when the wooden surfaces are exposed to rain and other direct sources of water and still give a 100% protection.

Advantages

The interior water sealers have several advantages. The water based wood sealers dry up very fast after application and they also last for several years. For drying it you do not need to give any special treatment as it dries well in room temperature and in the presence of moisture. The wood sealers are free of any V.O.C and are thus environmentally friendly. The latest and newly developed wood sealers also do not give any grain raise effect which was seen with older wood sealers. Wood is always expensive and moisture can damage wood very badly and as a result you might have to replace the rotten wood. Using the wood sealers you can save a lot of money as they increase the durability and life span of the wood. The wood sealers also protect the wood from any kind of insect invasion and thus preserve the wood.

Protection from Dry Air

The wood may become brittle and show several linear cracks. This mainly happens when the wood is exposed to very dry air from the exterior. The water sealers not only protect the wood from moisture, but they also protect the wood from getting dry and become brittle. When the wood sealer is applied on any wooden surface the dry air cannot come in contact with the wood surface and thus it is protected.

Application and Purchase

There are a few types of wood sealers available in the market. While purchasing it, make sure you are buying the right one and the one that will work according to your need. For applying the water sealer it is best to use a spray or a roller. Using a brush is not very much advisable as then very small parts of the wooden surface might remain un-covered. Before applying it, make sure the surface is absolutely dry. 

When it is time to refinish wood floors or furniture made of wood the wood sealer must be removed. There are strippers that work well and make it a quick job. But, they may not be so friendly to the user or the environment. Thankfully, there are some products out now that will do the job and are nontoxic and even biodegradable.

Citrus Stripper

This kind of stripper is comes in a gel or spray formula. It has no caustic ingredients, so it is safe to use indoors. It also doesn’t emit chemical fumes. In fact, because it is citrus-based it smells good. It can be used to strip sealer and paint.

Soy Stripper

Soy stripper comes in a gel form. It can remove varnish, paint, urethane and water sealers. It can remove several layer of paint with one application. It has no odor, making it safe for indoor use. Although it doesn’t contain caustic chemicals, if it gets on your skin it could cause some irritation. Some wood finishers say it works faster than a citrus stripper.

Either option is more expensive than a traditional chemical stripper. But, if you looking for an eco-friendly product then these kinds of strippers are worth the extra expense.

LED turn signals are becoming a popular trend among drivers, not only because they are more durable and last longer, but because they save a lot of electrical power. Turn signals are safety devices that warn other drivers of the next direction for the car. When a turn signal is lit on one side of the car, it immediately signals the other drivers that you plan to move to another lane or to turn to another direction. LED turn signals can be installed both at the front and rear of the vehicle. To determine the difference between front and rear turn signals, read on.

Purpose of Installing LED Turn Signals

Front and rear turn signals have the same purpose, and that is to inform driver and pedestrians quickly of your plan to shift direction. The only difference between the front and the rear turn signals is the direction they are flashing. Front turn signals inform drivers and pedestrians at the front of the car of any change in direction. The rear turn signals do the same, but for the drivers at the back of the car. It is important to turn on the directional signals in order to avoid crashes and accidents. Although having a faulty turn signal is not the major cause of car accidents, it does contribute to the frequency of accidents. Therefore, it is the driver’s responsibility to check if both the rear and front turn signals are working perfectly or not.

Color

There has been a constant debate on which color is more effective for front and rear turn signals. The two colors that have been used for decades are red and amber, but white is sometimes used for the front turn signals. Color is an important aspect of automotive lighting because it warns other motorists of the driver’s plan of action. Since white is usually used for lighting the road, then it is not a good thing to have other light fixtures have the same color. Therefore, turn signals are required by law to be either amber or red.

In recent studies, amber was found to be the most effective color for turn signal lights. Although some people still dispute the findings, it is worth taking note that that amber has been widely used as a turn signal color, especially for rear turn signals. Therefore, when choosing a color for the turn signal, make sure to follow the correct color codes. Amber, red and white can be used for the front lights. Only amber and red should be used for the rear turn signals.

The Bottom Line

There is not really a huge difference between the two turn signal lights except their location. However, it is important to take note that these two should work together as a unit. Therefore, they should both be working at the same time to enhance driving security and avoid accidents. Replace damaged LED turn signals as much as possible and make sure to check on them regularly.

Storing and shipping natural gas by trapping it in ice–using technology being developed by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy–could cut shipping costs for the fuel, making it easier for countries to buy natural gas from many different sources, and eventually leading to more stable supplies worldwide.

The DOE researchers say the approach could also be safer than current methods of shipping natural gas, such as cooling it to produce liquefied natural gas (LNG), since there is no danger that iced natural gas will explode if the shipping container is damaged.

The technology traps natural gas in the form of methane hydrate, in which methane, the main component of natural gas, is confined within cage-like ice crystals. Conventional technologies for making methane hydrate take hours or days: they involve mixing water and the hydrocarbon in large pressurized vessels. The new approach forces water and methane through a specially designed nozzle that creates the methane hydrate “almost instantaneously,” says Charles Taylor, the lead researcher on the project at the DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory in Pittsburgh. As the mixture exits the nozzle, it quickly forms hydrate, which looks like snow.

The challenge, Taylor says, was designing the nozzle to create precisely the right conditions for forming the methane hydrate immediately after the mixture of water and methane exits the nozzle. If the hydrate forms too soon, it clogs the nozzle. Although the approach has only been demonstrated at a small scale, it could prove cheaper than existing transportation methods, he says.

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The difficulty and costs of transporting natural gas–it is either sent through pipelines or converted to LNG– means many natural gas resources, particularly remote ones, are too expensive to access. Taylor says the new technology could help rescue some of these “stranded” resources–increasing worldwide supplies and allowing more countries to become producers.

The results of a methane hydrate demonstration project in Japan by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding, a large maker of ships for transporting oil and natural gas, suggested that the total cost of transporting methane hydrate–including the infrastructure required to make it and release the gas at its destination–could be “much lower than that of LNG,” according to the company. That demonstration used conventional methods for making methane hydrates, Taylor says. His new technology would make the approach even cheaper, he says, although the researchers haven’t yet determined by how much.

You never want to have a handicapped shower installed in your bathroom but sometimes it is an unfortunate necessity. There are many reasons why a handicapped shower may have to be installed. In the process of shopping around for components to make the shower handicapped accessible you’ll notice the expense is high. This cannot be a detriment to what you need to do. You can take an eco-friendly stance on the project by using recycled or repurposed components to create your handicapped shower. The information below will share with you some of these modifications.

Shower Stall Seating

When you are putting together a handicapped shower you cannot neglect the placement of a seat. It is a great addition that will allow someone that cannot stand for long periods of time a place to be able to sit comfortably. This is incredibly important because shower time may increase and so will the instability in the legs and arms. There are several eco-friendly options to utilize. A park bench is not a good idea because wood can and will rot. That is, unless the wood is composite material. This is a combination of wood and plastic which does not rot or warp. Park benches, decks and some lawn furniture can be reclaimed to use this material. Another option is a plastic tote and metal bars. Totes are very durable and attaching the bars with bolts will add stability.

Hand Rails

This is simply an option that you cannot avoid installing in a handicapped shower. The hand rail will often be used in conjunction with a shower seat. The size and shape of the shower hand rails is not as important as how they are connected to the wall of the shower. You can go out and purchase metal hand rails but they can be very slippery. A good alternative, that is also eco-friendly, is using old railing from a deck, patio, porch or stairwell. You only want to use metal, preferably wrought iron, which has seen action outside the home. This means that the metal has been treated with paint that prevents rust. Install the metal to the wall using large bolts and then treat the metal with rubberized paint. This will add grip to the hand rail as well as prevent rust from forming.

Shower Head System

Using the hand rails and sitting on a shower seat are all great additions to your shower but a handicapped shower requires a simple and easy method of showering. Unfortunately hand strength and stability are often a factor that prevents a safe showering experience. A wand shower head is often desired and is easy to find as every department and home store carries them. They are usually included in handicapped shower remodeling kits. This addition is as simple as bypassing the current system and is added to it. Install the wand addition close to the seat and it will do a lot to make the shower handicapped-friendly. This type of shower head also consumes less water, making it eco-friendly.

A shower head can be made from any strong material, such as plastic, metal or chrome. Over years of use, the shower head can become less effective, causing it to leak. There are many reasons why this may occur and if it does, the shower head will not function as well as you might be used to.

1 – Corrosion

Whatever material the shower head is made from, it will be susceptible to corrosion of varying kinds. For metal it will be oxidation and for plastic and chrome it will be with very likely caused by simple wear and tear. Hard water areas will cause lime build up on metallic style shower heads and their life span will not be as long as plastic shower heads. They will become leaky through the handle area and the area where they join at the universal fitting.

2 – Bad Fitting

Incorrectly fitted shower heads are prone to a short life. The nature of water has a corrosive effect on all materials, eventually. If a shower head is fitted badly it will leak where the fitting is not secured correctly. If the head screws into a pipe or hose and is not screwed in properly, water will escape out and run down the length of the hose instead of out of the head.

A shower head made of metal may over time becomed oxidized and look rusty. Removing the rust from the shower to restore it to its previous condition is not only good for the shower head but also for water. When water passes through rusty metal, it can attract minerals and coloring which can stain your bath or shower tray.

Eco-Friendly Cleaning

You do not need to use unsafe chemicals or abrasives to clean your shower head and restore it to a shine. One clean option is to use white vinegar and a mildly abrasive scrubbing pad. Don’t be too harsh when you scrub the metal. You will want it to shine nicely and be sure not to scratch it.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is an eco-friendly acidic form of cleaner. Many people use lemon juice to clean kitchen sinks and faucets. The same treatment can be offered to bathroom attachments and shower heads. Soak the shower head in pure lemon juice and allow it to soak away the rust stains. Seep the shower head in warm clean water to rinse the lemon juice off. Wipe the shower head with a clean damp cloth and dry it with a lint free rag.

Shower faucets can leak for a number of reasons. Leaks are not only annoying, but waste water can also end up doing a lot of damage. It’s best to know what causes the leaks so that you can swiftly fix the problem. 

Loose Shower Head or Handle

Sometimes all it takes is a loose head or handle for shower faucets to start leaking. Your first step should always be to tighten all handles and heads. If you have the time, unscrew them completely then re-attach them. 

Washers

Washers are the donut-shaped rubber pieces that sit on the pipe stem (the piece inserted into the handle to help it turn). Their function is to seal the water pipe and if they get torn, damaged or worn, your shower faucets will leak. To get to the washer, remove the handle and the nut that holds on the pipe stem. Then unscrew the pipe stem from the wall and on the end you’ll see the rubber washer. Replace this and re-assemble the faucet parts. 

Pipes

If you have replaced your washer but still have a leak, then your problem lies in the pipes. If pipes develop cracks or holes, water from that damage will find its way out through your shower faucets.