Traditional water softeners, which are often large, bulky units, work by exchanging calcium and magnesium ions with sodium or potassium. These methods lead to increased salt concentrations, which are then carried into drinking water and into the environment. Homeowners of non-salt-using systems repeat a significant health benefit through the elimination of the sodium ingested from a traditional treatment system.

Can you imagine a water treatment system that doesn’t require salt, doesn’t take up much room, and in some cases doesn’t even require electricity? Let me introduce you to an alternative approach that is gaining acceptance, especially in areas where salt-using softening systems are being restricted or outlawed due to the negative effects of system discharge on the environment.

Magnetic Water Treatment

Although this idea may sound new, magnetic treatment of water has been used in other countries for decades. As a matter of fact, thousands of households in the U.S. are using this approach today. The magnets offered by GMX, pictured to the right, were originally developed by the U.S. government for NASA’s space program.

These high-tech, lightweight, compact magnets pack thousands of gauss of magnetic pull into a small space. They work by altering magnesium and calcium ions so that they won’t bond together, which allows the water to “behave” as if it is soft, without the necessity of a salt-based softener. While this basic technology has been used for many years in industrial applications, these compact new magnets make it practical to offer the advantages of magnetic fluid conditioning for private residences. Benefits of magnetic water treatment include:

• Elimination of scale buildup in pipes, an energy-draining problem. As pipe buildup increases, water flow decreases and appliances, such as a hot water heater, have to work harder. As homeowners, we have to work harder too, because the white residue from the scale adds to our daily cleaning and reduces the life of appliances and plumbing fixtures.

• When additional units are installed for swimming pool equipment, elimination or extreme reduction of scale buildup in the pool.

• Lower cost than a traditional water treatment system.

• A 90-day, money-back guarantee and lifetime warranty offered with GMX systems.

As an added benefit, GMX magnets don’t wear out or require outside power. In fact, over a normal human life span, they lose only an insignificant amount of their original strength.

Secondary filtration is part of many water treatment systems and may be needed along with the GMX units. Although GMX has had success in situations where sulfur and iron levels are not all that high, extremely high iron or sulfur content will need to be addressed with special whole-house filters. Bacteria and high chlorine levels will also need to be handled through proper filtration.

For more information about GMX units and the name of a supplier in your area, visit www.gmxinternational.com.

In my next post, we’ll explore another saltless water treatment method.

You can find yourself dealing with neck and shoulder pain from sitting in front of a poorly positioned computer screen. The screen should be at eye level; you should not be looking down at it or up at it.

If you’re working on a laptop, achieving the proper height can be a challenge. However, the AltoTM Cordless laptop stand by Logitech can solve the problem. This product provides:

• A full-size, wireless keyboard that can be placed at the correct height (lower than the desktop) on a pull-out keyboard tray (another ergonomic must for back and neck comfort). I don’t know about you, but I can work much faster using a mouse and a full-size board.

• Media and volume controls on the keyboard that offer instant access to your digital music.

• Three high-speed USB ports on the laptop stand for connectivity to your favorite peripherals, cordless mice, printers, external drives, and more.

I discovered this little jewel a few months ago at Costco and I love it!

Take time to really think about how you work, what your needs are, and what best home office features will contribute to your success. You’ll be rewarded on a daily basis when your well-thought-out home office ideas become your working partner, offering comfort, storage, and increased productivity.

You can get more functional home office ideas and tips, plus hundreds more, by reading my book, “The Difference is in The Details.”

Is there such a thing as too much office storage?

I don’t think so, especially when it comes to your home office. Including the closet in the planning process for work space will increase the organization and function of the room.

Do you want the closet to hold filing cabinets? Be aware that the normal 24-inch-deep, reach-in closet is not deep enough to accommodate most filing cabinets. The reach-in closet pictured to the right includes 23-inch deep filing cabinets built-in by the closet company. The closet itself measures 30 inches deep on the inside allowing access to the shelving on the left and right of the file drawers.

The vertical slots shown above the filing cabinets provide storage for large envelopes, and the adjustable shelving offers flexibility for storage of other office supplies. The outlet just above the filing cabinets can be used for charging cell phones or other electronics. It’s important to consider these types of storage needs before meeting with the closet company.

An L-shaped work area, such as the rendering to the right provided by Closet Master (www.ClosetMaster.com), is the most efficient home office design. This configuration provides easy access to various work stations.

I’ve found that locating the computer in an angled corner of the L-shaped area functions very well. This design provides accessible work space on either side of the computer, as shown in the photo to the right. Files, a pencil drawer, the printer, supplies, and reference materials can all be within easy reach.

The small cubbies above the work area in the photo provide access to the stapler, tape, and hole punch.

Think about your storage and work-surface requirements before meeting with the cabinet designer. Will you need cabinets for product storage, a mailing counter, a drafting table, or a table to spread out plans? What staples do you need within reach? Where will the wastebasket be located? What quantity and size (legal/letter) file space do you need? Which files do you need within reach of your work space? Do you have binders that you refer to frequently? Will an upper cabinet just above your work area be deep enough to accommodate these binders, and will the shelving adjust for their height?

If you’re building a custom home, talk with your architect about the proper location for the office as well as the number and location of windows and options for lighting your work areas.

Appropriate lighting is a strong contributing factor to your daily comfort. Office lamps and/or under-cabinet lighting provide the most precise light for your work space. Overhead lighting should be located directly over your work area to avoid working in your own shadow. Even the color of the walls plays a part in your comfort. Lighter colors brighten a room; darker colors absorb light.

Speaking of comfort, will the home office be located on the opposite side of your home from the air conditioning/heating equipment? If so, less conditioned air may reach the room. Printers, PCs, and lighting all give off heat. Talk with your architect and builder about ensuring the proper amount of airflow to your office.

In addition to the electrical and cable needs associated with your computer, don’t forget to consider floor outlets and outlets in the closet. Do you have an infrequently used piece of equipment that could be placed in the closet and kept off of the desktop or out of the main working area? Would one or more outlets just above the desktop come in handy?

If you work from home, did you ever stop to think that you probably spend more time in your office than in any other room of the house? This can be a rather eye-opening realization and a good reason to give considerable thought to planning this work space in your new home. It’s no secret that a functional and comfortable office designed for your specific needs will allow you to work more efficiently and more productively. Here are a home office ideas ideas to get you started.

Location, Location, Location:

Not sure what room should become the office? Whether building a custom or production home, consider orientation to the sun when making this decision. For example, in a southern climate, an office with a southwest exposure will have sun glaring through the windows, perhaps into your eyes or onto the computer screen. Plus, you’ll be spending your day in the hottest room of the house. To protect yourself from the glare and heat, you’ll need to keep the blinds closed during part of the day. Blocking natural light means you’ll need to rely more on artificial light, which will increase your electric bill. You might also find the lack of natural light rather disturbing.

In my next post, I’ll continue my look at your new home office.

You can get more functional home office ideas and tips, plus hundreds more, by reading my book, “The Difference is in The Details.”

Preventing critters from infiltrating your attic (or any other part of your home) may not be an issue that comes to mind when building or remodeling, but if you’ve ever dealt with this problem, you know it’s worth considering. If you haven’t, take my word for it, it’s no fun.

Nuisance wildlife like raccoons, mice, rats, and squirrels can carry disease, chew through well….. you name it, and damage duct work; not to mention the contamination and odor caused by their excrement. Lovely thought isn’t it?

To give you an example of wildlife damage, the county took their good old time addressing raccoons living in the attic of a local fire station – a very costly mistake. The damage and filth was so bad that a contractor had to be called in to remove the ceiling, replace all the duct work, install a new ceiling, and add new insulation after Animal Control removed 15 raccoons!

Installation of exclusion barriers during the construction process is the most important form of prevention. Animals can gain access through soffit; spaces under the porch, crawlspace, and deck; attic vents; gable vents; or any unsealed openings in the building envelope. Many exclusion barriers consist of installing steel mesh to block the opening.

One of the most common access areas is through the metal soffit in the corner where the gable meets the roof, as shown in the picture to the right. It is very easy for a raccoon to use his body to push the soffit up and simple climb in.

The preventative measure entails sealing off this vulnerable corner with steel mesh and sealant and covering with flashing. It is also important for the soffit to be tightly installed in the first place making it more difficult for animals to break in.

The photos were provided by AAAnimal Control (www.AAAnimalControl.com). This site offers several very informative photos and is worth a look. In addition to removal services, sites such as this one provide a ton of information on prevention. For a nationwide list of nuisance animal removal services Click Here.

Some builders, particularly those who have experienced a wildlife problem inside their own home, have incorporated preventative measures as part of their standard building practices. Ask your builder how he/she handles this issue.

Earlier this week, I wrote about the advantages of installing a tankless water heater during construction.

There are a couple advantages I saved for today: tax credits and energy savings. Compared to other water heating systems, what type of savings can you expect?  You can find out by reading Energy Star’s breakdown on residential water heaters.

Next,  grab some purchasing tips on Energy Star’s whole home gas tankless water heater page.  While you’re there, don’t miss the links on special deal finders and the tax credit.

You can find even more tax credit info on a wide range of products when visiting the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute’s website.

Have you heard the buzz about tankless water heaters? These compact units have been used in Europe and Canada for decades, but they’ve only recently begun to make an impact on the American market.

Rather than maintaining 40, 50, or more gallons of hot water in a dedicated tank, tankless units heat water on demand, as it’s used. The “as it’s used” part is key. In other words, none of us are using hot water 24 hours a day, but with a traditional water heater, we’re paying to heat water 24 hours a day.

Tankless water heaters cost more to purchase and install than their traditional, tank-type counterparts, but in the long run, they save both money and energy. Another savings: tankless units can last 5 to 10 years longer than traditional tanks, plus you may be eligible for federal, state and/or local tax incentives or rebates when installing them.

The size and number of tankless units required varies from one household to another and is based mainly upon the volume of water needed. Rinnai® Corporation, a tankless unit manufacturer, offers a feature on its website ( www.rinnai.us) to help you determine if the additional cost is worth it for your situation. To calculate your payoff period, you’ll be asked for information such as the tankless model you’re considering and the number of people in your family. (Larger families typically use more hot water and thus may realize payback in a shorter period of time.)

The photo to the right shows two Rinnai units installed. Note that in this picture only the top portion of each unit is functional. The bottom portion covers plumbing and is an aesthetic addition only.

Because tankless units can be so compact (approximately 24” X 18” X 9” without the plumbing cover), choosing a tankless system can increase usable space within a home. Units designed specifically for exterior use can be installed on the outside of the home as shown here, saving even more interior space along with the cost of venting. Installing multiple units to reduce the distance between the hot-water source and the faucet in another option. (A shorter traveling distance equals less water wasted and less time waiting for hot water to reach its destination.)

Two additional benefits of using tankless hot water heaters include:

• The hot water never runs out! With a tankless heater, you can take as long a shower as you want, because the unit will produce a continuous supply of hot water as long as the hot water faucet is on. Note, however, that “continuous” hot water should not be confused with “instant” hot water. If your tankless heater is at one end of your house and your bathroom at the opposite end, it will still take time for the hot water to arrive at the tap.
• No chance of flooding: If a tank-type water heater springs a leak, you may be faced with a flood and possible water damage. Because there is no tank full of water, a tankless unit cannot drain all over your floor.

Tankless units can be powered by gas or electricity. Typical gas-fired systems supply between 5 and 9 gallons per minute, making them a viable choice for whole-house use. Electric models use a heating element to bring water up to temperature and can usually supply only about 3 gallons per minute. They also can be more expensive to install and operate and are usually not the best choice for whole-house water heating.

Because of the electric fan and electronic sensor inside a gas tankless water heater, these units will not operate without electricity – hence the outlet located between the two units in the top photo. However, you can incorporate a backup battery to maintain programmed hot water settings and to keep the unit operating for a certain amount of time if the power is out. (Ask your supplier for recommendations.)

NOTE: Tankless water heaters require cleaning due to hard water-deposit build-up. With this in mind, be certain to also ask your supplier about maintenance requirements for the unit you are considering

Is there a subject you’d like me to cover?  Let me know by sending an email to tracy@tracystips.net.