Check Your Engine

Since 1994, cars and trucks have been required to have an on-board diagnostics system to ensure proper emission-control system operation. If your vehicle shows any signs of having an emission problem, your “Check Engine” or “Service Engine Soon” light will glow. It is intended to inform the driver that a problem has been detected and vehicle service is needed.

It can be tempting to ignore this light. After all, your vehicle continues to drive in what seems like a normal fashion, and there seems to be no immediate need to take it in for service. A steady warning light indicates that something is amiss and the vehicle should be brought in for service as soon as is convenient. It is not an emergency situation, but should be addressed within a few days. However, a blinking warning light should be heeded immediately. A vehicle with this light flashing should be taken in for service at the earliest opportunity.

Possible causes of warning light activation include an overheating catalytic converter, an oxygen sensor malfunction, a fouled spark plug, a loose gas cap, or up to a hundred other causes. The glitches that activate this light are usually those which a driver would not detect. They can often lead to other problems if not addressed promptly, including fuel inefficiency, a shortened engine life, or expensive repairs.

Your best bet is to take a reasoned response. It is not a cause for panic, but should not be ignored either.

Social Media and the Elderly
Social media is often criticized for its tendency to isolate people behind their computer screens, limiting their face-to-face, real world interactions. But for one group, Americans 65 and older, it can have a different effect.

A recent Michigan State University study showed that Internet use by those of retirement age actually reduces the chances of depression by more than 30 percent. This comes from an increased ability to communicate and stay connected with friends and family who may not live nearby. Those living alone showed the greatest reduction in depression rates.

But the researchers stressed that, as in all things, moderation is the key. The best way to stay connected with your social network is a combination of social media use and actually being with your loved ones. In this way, social media enhances your connections rather than replacing them.

Sleeping as You Get Older

As we get older, our sleep needs can change. It is understood that children and adolescents need more sleep than adults, but surprisingly, older adults may also need to get more sleep. It is recommended that seniors get at least seven hours of sleep, but some need up to nine hours per night.

Unfortunately, many seniors struggle to get the sleep they need. Sleep disturbances can increase with age. Older adults often find it difficult to fall asleep, and they sleep less deeply. They also tend to wake up more during the night. Older adults also often find that they get sleepier earlier in the evening and if they do not shift their bedtime earlier, they can lose needed sleep time.

Why do seniors have these common sleep problems? As you age, your body produces less melatonin, the sleep hormone. You can also become more sensitive to environmental disturbances— temperature, sounds, and light. Finally, seniors have more medical problems, which can lead to unsettled sleep patterns. Poor sleep can lead to depression, decreased attention spans, memory problems, increased risk of falls, and greater use of over the-counter sleep aids. This can all lead to a lower quality of life.

Many seniors depend on daytime naps to counteract the problems associated with diminished night sleeping. There are some treatments that can help. Your doctor can recommend ways to safely get the sleep you need. You should also make good nutrition and daily exercise a part of your life. These contribute to your general well-being, which promotes good sleep habits as well.

Eat That Chocolate

Good news for chocolate lovers!  Recent studies have shown that there are more benefits to eating chocolate than we knew. A recent small trial found that eating chocolate helped those with peripheral artery disease, which impairs blood circulation, walk longer on a treadmill. People who eat chocolate cut their risk for heart failure by as much as a third. It can also lower blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke by 39 percent.

But not so fast! Before you grab a chocolate bar, you should know that these results come largely from studies involving dark chocolate, not milk chocolate. There are components in dark chocolate that come from cacao, which is packed with healthy chemicals like flavonoid, polyphenols, and theobromine. The more cacao content, the healthier the chocolate. So stick with chocolate that is at least 70 percent cacao for the best benefit. Eating dark chocolate consistently is the best strategy. You should try to include about seven to eight ounces of dark chocolate in your diet each week for the  maximum benefit. Any more than that and you will be adding more calories without much increase in health benefits.

The Carpet Fiber of the Future?

Imagine a carpet that resists staining, fading and wear better than any other you’ve ever experienced. Now picture that carpet being soft and luxurious underfoot. If that wasn’t enough, this synthetic carpet fiber is made from a renewable, natural source. Almost sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it?

In the world of carpet, things change all the time. New combinations of styles, colors, textures and  patterns are introduced every year. As tastes change, so do carpets. One thing that rarely changes is the selection of fibers used to make carpet yarns. In fact, since the 1960’s, there have basically been only 3 synthetic carpet fibers available; nylon, polyester and olefin (polypropylene).

Things changed in 2009 when a new kind of fiber became available to consumers. Polytrimethylene terephthalate or PTT is generically known as triexta. The fiber is marketed under the trade name Sorona by DuPont and SmartStrand Carpet by Mohawk Industries. Triexta promised a superior combination of cleanability, colorfastness and durability than any one of the other synthetic carpet fibers could.  Interestingly, the process of making the fiber now known as triexta was invented in 1941 and was considered to be another form of polyester (polyethylene terephthalate or PET). Polyester carpets have been around since the 1960’s. Remember shag?

The problem with polyester PET is its lack of resilience, allowing it to crush down and distort in traffic areas. The fiber producer and carpet manufacturers realized the difficulty of convincing the public that PTT overcame the limitations of polyester and made a petition to the Federal Trade Commission to create a new designation for PTT polyester.  After 3 years of careful review and due process, the FTC agreed that the characteristics of triexta were unique enough to grant PTT a new designation as a subclass of polyester. The generic name triexta was applied to this previously underappreciated polymer.

So what is so great about triexta? According to carpet manufacturers and the fiber producer, triexta is virtually stain proof. It is also extremely colorfast, resisting color loss from sunlight, UV light and even chlorine bleach.But the same things can be said of polyester. It is the improved resilience of triexta that makes it superior to polyester.

How does triexta compare to nylon? In the category of resilience, nylon is the still the winner. But in the category of colorfastness and stain-resistance, triexta is the clear champion. Olefin is also colorfast and stain resistant, but it lacks resilience, tending to crush in high traffic areas.

One additional feature of triexta is the softness of the fiber. Carpets made with triexta feel softer and more luxurious than any other synthetic fiber. This is surprising in a carpet that is expected to last 20 or more years in normal use. Softness and durability rarely go hand-in-hand.

What about cleanability? We have observed that carpets made with triexta clean as well as polyester and generally easier than nylon. However, some oily soils form a bond with the fiber and can be more challenging to remove. Typical soiling and food and beverage spills are removed fairly easily. Products that would stain nylon are no problem for triexta; they clean out readily.

So is triexta a miracle fiber? Only time will tell. The jury is still out since these carpets have only been widely available for about 6 years now. It definitely shows promise.

No matter what kind of carpet you have, Hansen Steam Way has the training, equipment and expertise to keep it beautiful for a long time.

MicroSeal Of The Smokies

Your home’s carpeting, rugs, furniture and textiles are important investments that say a lot about you and your lifestyle. You want to protect them. And you want them looking as perfect as the day you brought them into your home.

Hansen Steam Way is a full-service textile cleaning and sealing company exclusively licensed in our area to apply MicroSeal – a non-toxic and non-allergenic fabric protection formula for permanent stain and sun fading protection.

Your home’s expensive textiles, fabrics and fibers will all benefit from this unique product. Initially developed by researchers in the United Kingdom to imitate the natural protection scientists found in sheep’s wool, it is, quite simply, the perfect protectant. Hansen Steam Way protects your investments with a non toxic, non allergenic fabric protection formula for permanent stain and sun fade protection.

Still have questions? Give us a call at 865.453.5624 or visit us online at hansensteamway.com to schedule a job or consultation. We’ll get back to you just as soon as we can.

Thank you for considering Hansen Steam Way to protect all of those things important in your home.

Protecting Your Family’s Eye Health

August is Family Eye Care Month.  Many eye diseases and disorders can be addressed if they are caught early.  The number one mistake people make when it comes to their eye health is only seeing a doctor once a problem   develops.

But did you know that your optometrist may be able to detect other problems as well? It is possible to detect some problems like diabetes, high blood pressure or even tumors. Take some time this month to schedule an appointment with your health care provider or eye doctor. It is the perfect time to schedule routine eye exams for you and your family.

What to Bring on a Hike

Hiking lets you enjoy the great outdoors while you get in some quality exercise time. This is one activity that you will want to take time to prepare for correctly. What you take will depend on where you are going and how long  you plan to be away, but any backpack should include the following:

– Candle and matches
– Cell phone
– Clothing (always bring something warm, extra socks and rain gear)
– Compass and map
– First aid kit
– Food (bring extra)
– Flashlight
– Hat
– Insect repellent
– Nylon filament
– Pocket knife
– Pocket mirror (to use as a signaling device)
– Prescription glasses and medications
– Radio with batteries
– Space blanket or a piece of plastic (to use for warmth or shelter)
– Sunglasses
– Sunscreen
– Trash bag (makes an adequate poncho)
– Water
– Waterproof matches or matches in a waterproof tin
– Water purification tablets
– Whistle (to scare off animals or to use as a signaling device)

Always allow for bad weather and for the possibility that you may be forced to spend a night outdoors unexpectedly. It’s a good idea to assemble a separate “survival pack” for each hiker to have at all times. In a small waterproof container, place a pocket knife, compass, whistle, space blanket, nylon filament, water purification tablets, matches and candle. With these items, the chances of being able to survive in the wild are greatly improved.

The Benefits of Volunteer Work

It is easy to recognize the benefits of volunteer work to those who take advantage of the services provided. But don’t underestimate the benefits to you personally when you undertake this kind of work. Volunteering can provide you with a way to meet new people,expand your skills, and boost your self-esteem. You will gain career experience along the way as well.

Make sure any volunteer work you do is noted on your resume. If you are unsure of what direction your career is taking, exploring different opportunities through volunteering is a great way to test the waters. You also are networking as you work. You are meeting people in a field you are interested in, who could become important contacts by either offering you a job or highly recommending you for one.

Where should you volunteer? A good place to start is anywhere that you would be interested working. Follow your interests or career path. Approach an organization or company, and ask if they accept volunteers. Be honest about your ability to commit to a certain amount of time and what types of jobs you would be interested in. You may be  surprised at all of the opportunities out there.

CARPET CLEANING… How Often is Enough?

One of the most common questions we are asked is, “How often should I get my carpets cleaned?” It’s a reasonable question. After all, carpet cleaning can be a bit of a disruption in your daily routine. Then there is the expense of professional cleaning.

It makes sense not to get your carpets cleaned any more often than necessary.  But some people think you should wait as long as possible. They believe that once cleaned, carpets get dirty faster.  As with most consumer myths, there is some truth to this.

Many years ago, carpet cleaners did not have access to the quality cleaning agents, equipment and training we have today. As a result, many well meaning carpet cleaners used soaps and shampoos that left sticky detergent residues, which attracted soil like a magnet. Unfortunately, there are still some “professional” carpet cleanersthat use inferior cleaning agents, equipment and methods, so you still have to be careful.

The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) recommends that carpets be cleaned at a minimum, every 12-18 months. This agrees with the recommendations of the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI).

Most carpets carry one or more manufacturer warranties. These warranties vary in what they will and will not cover. Some cover spots and spills. Others protect you from premature wear or unwanted changes to texture or  color. One thing all carpet warranties have in common is that they require routine vacuuming, prompt attention to  spots and spills as well as periodic cleaning by a qualified professional. Depending on the manufacturer and the  product, this could be every 12, 18 or 24 months. Again, this is in line with guidelines from both IICRC and CRI. But remember that these are minimum guidelines. Cleaning is about more than appearance. You need your carpets cleaned for health.

So what about YOUR home?

Determining the frequency of carpet cleaning in your home should be based on your family lifestyle. This includes the outdoor environment as well as the number of adults, small children and pets in your home. There are other factors such as whether there are smokers, allergy or asthma sufferers living in your home.

Every family is different. Some families don’t wear street shoes in the house, while in other homes, people are in  such a hurry, they don’t even wipe their feet. Some families only eat and drink in the kitchen, while in other homes food and beverages are enjoyed throughout the house. Then there are the pet accidents, food spills and other soils  common in busy, active households with kids.

In general, annual cleaning works well for most households. But if you have children, pets or any of the other  factors mentioned above, you may want to have your carpets cleaned more often; every 6-9 months. The best way for you to determine how often you should get your carpets cleaned is by observation. Notice how long it takes before routine vacuuming and spot removal efforts are not enough to keep your carpet looking, smelling and feeling clean. Remember, modern carpets are designed to hide soil. So by the time your carpets are visibly soiled, it is already past due for professional cleaning.

If you have questions about carpet cleaning or any other services offered by Hansen Steam Way, just call us. We’re happy to help.