How To Spot A Trouble Tree That May Fall
Most homeowners love having healthy, full-grown trees adorning their property. Not only do they look attractive and provide much-needed shade in the New Jersey summers, but they often increase the value of your property as well. But the beauty of the trees can turn sour in a hurry when a damaged tree threatens to fall in your yard. Learn why trouble trees are so dangerous, how to tell if you may have a tree that needs attention, and what can be done about the problem.
Why Trouble Trees Are Dangerous
Trees may be integral to our planet’s survival by converting carbon dioxide into oxygen and beautifying our world, but residential trees can wreak serious havoc if they fall unexpectedly. In a worst case scenario, your family or pets could be seriously injured by a tree falling over. Even if there are no personal injuries, any falling tree has a high-percentage chance of causing damage to your home, personal property, or simply tearing up your yard. Power lines are another danger that is often looked past. Live power lines that have been damaged by tree limbs carry fire risk, and emergency services should be called immediately in such a case.
Potential Warning Signs
It’s wise to frequently inspect all of the mature trees on your property to look for advance warning signs that they might become hazardous. Check for any deep cuts that are visible in the bark, and also inspect the top of the tree from a distance in order to spot any dead wood or leaves.
Your tree doesn’t have to be growing completely straight to be healthy, but if it is leaning too much, it may be suffering from damaged roots. Inspect the soil around the roots to see if it looks cracked, and also check for exposed roots at the base.
We often think of trees with multiple trunks as interesting abnormalities, but the unsound weight distribution of these oddities can cause them to become unstable. Check where the trunks meet each other for deep cuts and signs of damage that could cause the tree to split during a storm or in the presence of strong winds.
Can It be Saved?
Depending upon the circumstances faced by your trouble tree, you may be able to save it with proper maintenance before it falls. Leaning trees can be pruned to achieve optimal weight distribution. In more severe cases, they can also be secured to the ground with cables and stakes. Trees with multiple trunks can sometimes be stabilized as well, but this is usually best left to professionals.
What To Do When It Must Come Down
If other solutions aren’t working, or the situation is dangerous enough that the tree needs to be taken care of immediately, you will likely need to hire an arborist to safely remedy the situation. It may not be the least expensive option, but it’s certainly preferable to the worst case scenario of a tree falling unexpectedly.
10 Simple Ways To Lower Your Energy Bill
Everyone needs a break on their energy bills, but people often think that saving money on energy requires costly upgrades or inconvenient life changes. The struggle between convenience and savings is a difficult balance to maintain, but there are numerous steps you can take to reduce your energy footprint without sacrificing your happiness. Best of all, these solutions require little to no upfront financial investment.
Save the heat-generating appliances for the coolest part of the day
The dishwasher and the dryer are some of the biggest offenders when it comes to heating up your house. During the summer, run the cycles overnight so the air conditioner doesn’t have to work overtime.
Utilize efficient loading
Waiting until the dishwasher or washing machine are completely full before running them is something we could probably all be better about. A little extra time spent arranging your dishes optimally can add up to big savings over time.
Make dinner in the slow-cooker
No one wants to stand next to a hot oven in the summer. Instead, invest a little time in the morning to put your dinner in a slow cooker, and it will be ready when you get home. Modern slow cookers are very energy efficient, especially compared to electric ranges.
Adjust the thermostat when you don’t need it
If you don’t already have a programmable thermostat, you can likely upgrade to one for less than you think. Use it to adjust the settings on your heat and air conditioning while you’re at work. Even a few degrees can make a significant difference on your energy cost.
Keep the dial on your washing machine turned to cold
Numerous studies are showing that it’s not really necessary to wash clothes in hot water. Washing only in cold water will instantly turn your washing machine into an energy-saving dynamo.
Cool off with fans
If you have ceiling fans, they are excellent for improving air flow in your home and allowing the heating and air conditioning units to do their jobs better. Otherwise, inexpensive desk or stand fans can make you feel cooler, even if the thermostat is turned up a few degrees.
Change your air filters frequently
If air filters are working properly, they’re naturally going to become saturated with debris quickly, resulting in inefficient heating and cooling. Most experts recommend monthly replacement, but even checking them seasonally can have an impact.
Check the insulation
Air is a powerful force, and it will find any way possible to get into your home. Something as simple as applying fresh weather-stripping to windows and doors can protect your home from the heat and cold.
The light bulbs of the future are here, so use them!
Replacing your old-fashioned bulbs with compact fluorescents requires a minimal upfront investment, but it can save you much more over the life of the bulbs.
Clean your air ducts and vents
Your HVAC unit may be using extra energy to try and push air through blocked ducts and vents. A quick cleaning session can markedly improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling.
Recent Comments