Lewis Maclean's online Newsletter for February 2018
FEBRUARY 2018
Getting Ready for Spring SET YOURSELF UP FOR A GREAT SEASON
It’s that time of year again. The temperatures are steadily climbing and people are starting to think about yardwork and spring cleaning. As people get outdoors to clean their yard and to do some general home maintenance, they often notice something that’s not quite right. Their outside taps are leaking or broken. Going into spring, this is one of the most common service calls we receive. Sometimes the leak is caused by a pipe that froze during the winter but didn’t fully rupture. The homeowner may have forgotten to put a hose away or to fully shut off the outside taps. Sometimes people forget. That’s where we come in. If you are experiencing any leaky taps, give us a call and we’ll take care of it. It’s better to catch leaky taps earlier rather than later, when you need to water your lawn , fl owers, or other landscaping. As you assess your outside taps, it’s also important to check crawlspaces and any other openings under your home and around the foundation. Look for signs of moisture from potential leaks, as well as from the winter rains. Specifically, look for water stains, rot, mold, and mildew. If you spot anything out of the ordinary, or any water damage, that’s another thing we can handle. Our technicians can identify the source of the water damage, get it under control — and work to protect your home from further damage.
rains roll in. The ground becomes saturated, and if not properly drained, the water can rise and damage your home.
We often work with homeowners to determine the best solution to drain the water — whether that water is isolated to the yard, or if it seeps under the house. If you notice water pooling in your yard or near your foundation, again, give us a call and we’ll give you our recommendations for the best next step, which may include the installation of a drainage pump. And don’t forget about your roof gutters and downspouts! It’s easy to forget about these areas of the home. But you want to make sure these are cleared out before it gets really wet outside. When leaves and other debris aren’t cleared out, it can lead to serious water damage through your roof and attic, which can be very costly to repair. As you get ready for spring, don’t forget we’re here to handle all your plumbing, heating, and air conditioning needs. We’re standing by the phone, ready to take your call!
Next month, we’ll be talking a bit more about air conditioning and what you can do to get ready for your coolest (and most efficient) summer yet.
Another issue to watch out for is standing water. This can become more of a problem as the spring
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EDUCATION IN THE KITCHEN
If you have a boiler, you have one of the most complex heating systems a home can have. Every part of the boiler needs to be in perfect working order to keep your house warm. A boiler relies on water, and when you have water, you have the possibility of corrosion. Forgetting about your boiler can lead to damage far costlier to fix than any other type of heating system. There are two steps every homeowner can take to ensure their boiler doesn’t let them down in the dead of winter or during a cold snap. 1. Annual inspection. After a quiet summer or mild autumn, your boiler needs serious TLC before you ask it to perform during the winter months. Our patented annual Lewis MacLean inspections will diagnose any costly problems looming on the heating horizon and ensure your boiler is operating at peak efficiency so you aren’t wasting money in monthly utility bills. 2. Regular maintenance. A boiler requires ongoing maintenance. That means it needs to be fl ushed on a regular basis to reduce the chance of costly corrosion. A boiler also contains more moving parts than other heating systems, requiring more diligent maintenance. If you’re worried about your boiler this winter or you don’t remember the last time it was inspected, bring in one of our 24-hour residential heating technicians to inspect your boiler. It’s the smartest thing you can do for your heating system. Inspection and regular maintenance will also extend the life of your boiler by sidestepping expensive repairs that damage your overall heating system. If you have one of our Maintenance Plans, we’ll take care of all the details of your regular inspection for you. Or, if you don’t have a Plan yet, call us today for more info on the great, money-saving perks that come with one. 2 STEPS TO GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR HOME’S BOILER
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, you’re probably wracking your brain for the
perfect recipe to bake for your loved one. There’s nothing wrong with store-bought chocolate, but there’s no topping the personal touch of some homemade baked goods. If you have kids,
baking alongside them can be just as rewarding as enjoying the fruits of your labor. As an added bonus, baking is a hands-on opportunity where your child can learn all sorts of important concepts. Here is a short list of some of the educational lessons hiding in your kitchen. Math Baking is a numbers game. Just take a look at any recipe, and you’ll recognize the importance of math in building a beautiful cake. Having children measure out ingredients helps them learn about fractions and ratios. You can also test your kids by doubling or halving a recipe for multiplication and division practice. With older kids, practice unit conversions by asking, for example, how many pints are in half a gallon. Following Directions Not unlike computer science, baking requires a strict order of operations. The wet and dry ingredients often need to be mixed separately and then folded together. It only takes one deviation from the instructions for a pastry to go from delicious to disgusting. Spending time in the kitchen, then, is a great way for kids to learn the importance of reading directions carefully and comprehending what they’ve just read. Cultural Understanding Cuisine is a fundamental part of every culture. Introducing your child to dishes from around the world will expand their horizons. Want your child to be a less picky eater? Involving them in the cooking process is the surest way to get them excited about trying new fl avors and ingredients. Nutrition Now, you might not think that baking cookies will encourage greater nutritional awareness, but hear us out. Sugar is often buried within packaged foods. When you bake something at home, a child gets to see, firsthand, just how much sugar goes into certain sweets. Meanwhile, cooking savory dishes also allows them to learn what constitutes a balanced, healthy diet.
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way to make your bathroom even safer is to install a high-rise toilet, which is great for older folks or anyone with mobility issues. Put down non-slip strips and mats. If you need extra traction, simply lay down a few non- slip strips or a mat. They are great around doors and floors prone to moisture (entryways, around showers, bathtubs, sinks). They’re even great on stairs. Plus, non-slip strips come in varieties for use on hard fl oors and carpet, so you can easily install them anywhere in your home.
These days, more seniors are aging in place, living at home for longer periods of time. As we age, we lose some of the mobility we once had. It’s a fact of life — a fact that can make it a little more difficult to get around the house safely. Here are a few tips to keep yourself or a loved one safe. Secure area rugs. Unsecured area rugs increase the risk of tripping or falling. There are a number of products on the market that can secure rugs to the fl oor. You can use specialized adhesives, such as double-sided tape or hook-and-loop fasteners, which allow for easy cleaning. You can also find traction pads that don’t secure rugs but prevent slippage. Install grab bars and handrails. These are ideally suited for inside showers, around bathtubs, and near toilets. They’re also great around beds, stairs, multi-level rooms, or anywhere you may need additional balance or support. Another MAKING YOUR HOME SAFER AS YOU AGE
Place night lights in every room. Many of us place night lights in hallways, but a night light in every room can be just as beneficial. They help prevent trip and fall accidents, and they can help guide you if you need to get up in the middle of the night. They also make great guides when you have guests over!
Sweet and Zesty DETOX SALAD
(Recipe inspired by GimmeSomeOven.com.)
Hoping to shave off those extra holiday pounds or keep up with your New Year’s resolution? Look no further than this easy winter detox salad!
INGREDIENTS
For the Salad: •
For the Dressing: • 1 large carrot, roughly chopped 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger 1 tablespoon white miso 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil Salt and pepper, to taste until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper or add extra honey for a sweeter taste. 3. Drizzle dressing over salad and serve immediately. • • • • • • • 1 tablespoon honey
3 cups chopped kale leaves 2 cups chopped broccoli fl orets 2 cups chopped red cabbage 1 cup matchstick carrots 1 cup chopped cilantro 1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds 1/3 cup sliced green onions
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ARROW BE MINE CANDLES CANDY CHOCOLATE CUPID FLOWERS
FRIENDSHIP HEART HONEY
RIBBONS ROMANCE ROSES SWEETHEART
1 diced avocado
DIRECTIONS
LACE LOVE PINK RED
1. To make the salad, add all ingredients to a large bowl; toss to combine. 2. To make the dressing, add all ingredients to a blender or food processor. Pulse
SWEETIE SWEETS VALENTINE
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23008 Fraser Highway Langley, BC V2Z 2V1 604-532-9625 www.lewismaclean.com
8087380
Inside 1 2
THIS ISSUE
Set Yourself Up for a Great Spring
Cook Your Way to Better Grades
Get the Most Out of Your Boiler
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Seniors and Home Safety
Whip Up This Winter Salad in a Flash!
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Romantic Destinations Around the World
THE BEST
Valentine’s Getaways
TO FANTASIZE ABOUT
Positano, Italy More than perhaps anywhere in the world, this place looks like it was lifted straight from a sappy romance novelist’s imagination. You and your partner can kick back on a balcony overlooking the entirety of this seaside town, taking in the century-old multicolored Italian architecture perched precariously on the verdant mountainside. Too small to accommodate swarms of tourists, it’s the perfect place to while away the hours ambling from shop to shop, sampling the delicious local cuisine, and maybe taking a dip along the 300-meter beach. The Maldives From a water villa smack dab in the midst of the glassy, ultra- blue Indian Ocean, you and your main squeeze can enjoy utter seclusion. Sip champagne in the shade of a palm overlooking an otherworldly sunset or to get a little more adventurous, strap on a mask, and check out the abundant aquatic wildlife. Many hotels in the area even include access to an array of boats, perfect for your own private excursion along the mild waves. Of course, you could also just stare, dumbfounded, into the horizon, wondering how such a place could actually exist on Earth.
Valentine’s Day is for fancy dinners, heart- shaped boxes packed with subpar chocolates, and fantasizing about the magical places you and your beau would have escaped to — if only you had the PTO. So, grab a glass of bottom-shelf cab sauv, cuddle up
next to your special someone, and try to make them feel bad for taking you to Olive Garden instead of whisking you away to one of these picturesque fantasy lands. Udaipur, India These days, meandering through the cobblestone streets of Paris with your loved one is très passé. All the real high-rolling romantics are migrating southeast to the famous Oberoi Udaivilas hotel in western India. Set in a traditional Mewari palace, visitors will feel like royalty as they stroll around the labyrinthine gardens that surround the elaborate cream-colored structure. Travelers can relax beside one of the many glassy pools sprinkled throughout the estate, all of which are enthusiastically tended by an unparalleled service staff.
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