Repair & Improve

All You Need For A Green And Efficient Diy Season

Must-haves from the 2008 National Hardware Show

by Tom Kraeutler, AOL Home Improvement Editor

Just as do-it-yourselfers are rallying to tackle their project lists, the 63rd annual National Hardware Show is launching a range of great products and gear for their endeavors. Green and efficient solutions form a major theme of this year’s event, as you’ll find in the following highlights.

Green enhancements indoors
Year-round, clogged sinks can cause time-consuming mini-emergencies, but installing the PermaFLOW self-cleaning, green drain system now will keep things running smoothly. Made of recyclable components, PermaFLOW provides the features of conventional P-traps used with sinks and lavatories but creates flow turbulence to break down and propel debris away. Even better, it’s two traps in one, with an upper chamber bypass for full flow in emergency situations. Transparent ABS construction with an easy-to-rotate external paddle design swipes potential buildup and makes for easy retrieval of dropped jewelry and toys. And in other green benefits, PermaFLOW functions smoothly with high-efficiency faucets, eliminates the need for hazardous chemical drain cleaners, prevents contaminant buildup, and reduces water waste and system pollution with its support of gray water recycling.

For resilient style and comfort underfoot that contributes to a healthy indoor environment, check out FiberFloor from Tarkett Residential. Available in over 100 distinctive colors and designs, FiberFloor has an improved foam density for added performance, durability, warmth and comfort, and absorbs sound for a quieter indoor environment. Its scientifically engineered five-layer construction resists water, scratches, indentations and stains, and because it’s FloorScore certified by Scientific Certification Systems, it’s proven to contribute to good indoor air quality and healthy living. Long-life warranties are available on all five stylish FiberFloor lines, including the LifeTime Collection, Fresh Start, and Easy Living Classic, Fashion and Fun Collections.

Making the most of daily efficiencies
If you’ve invested in high-efficiency laundry appliances, you know that these machines’ turbo rotation speeds of 1200 RPMs and above can lead to vibration in your home. KE Shake Away PLUS Pads can keep such machines in place, reducing impact and potential damage by converting the mechanical energy from the vibration to heat energy that’s dispersed throughout the pad rather than transferred to your floor. KE Shake Away PLUS Pads are practically indestructible, made of non-toxic materials and unaffected by moisture, detergents, oil, grease and cleaning solvents. Look for them at Lowe’s, Best Buy, independent retailers and major appliance parts distributors and dealers.

Moen brings accessible efficiency to the kitchen with its new Level faucet, creating a modern, sleek statement with clean, geometric lines and tubular-shaped handles. Its ergonomically designed pulldown wand offers several water flow patterns, including aerated spray and rinse, as well as Moen’s patented soft-touch pause button which instantly stops and starts water flow. The pullout hose is made of fiber to reduce noise in the kitchen, and includes a ball joint at the end for increased maneuverability. The Level faucet is available in Chrome or Moen’s new LifeShine Classic Stainless in a lightly brushed, cool-gray hue that coordinates perfectly with stainless steel kitchen appliances, sinks and hardware, and is guaranteed never to tarnish, corrode or flake. What’s more, it’s easy to incorporate into your kitchenscape, with a Hydrolock installation system that snaps supply lines and faucet together with a telltale “click” for quick, secure connection.

Ensure safety before digging into that project
According to the Common Ground Alliance, this summer will see more people electing to improve their homes rather than move, and a lot of the action will be devoted to outdoor projects. These usually involve digging, which is why you should plan to call 811 beforehand to confirm what utility lines may be sitting beneath your intended project zone. 811 is the national number designated by the Federal Communications Commission to help protect DIYers, gardeners, landscapers and contractors from unintentionally hitting underground utility lines while working on digging projects of any size. It may not seem like a big deal when you’re planting a few small trees and shrubs, but think about it: one wrong move and you could end up harming yourself and those around you, disrupt service to an entire neighborhood, and potentially be responsible for fines and repair costs. When you make one free, simple phone call to 811, your local call center operator will ask you for location and scope details and then notify affected utility companies; in turn, they’ll send out a professional locator to the proposed dig site within a few days of your call to mark the approximate location of lines, and you’ll be good to go. Check out www.call811.com for more information about your local one-call center.

Products for projects on the go
If you’ve got a lot of hauling to do but not much room to store a trailer between runs, hitch up to Lifetime Products’ Fold-Up Utility Trailer. Compacting from full size to a mere 29 inches wide in less than 60 seconds, this product’s clever folding design allows the trailer to fit beside your car in the garage or pass through a backyard gate. Its removable front and rear gates double as ramps for easy loading, and there’s also a fully attached light kit including brake lights, turn signals and tail lamps. Available in capacities ranging from 1,000 to 1,500 pounds, the Fold-Up Utility Trailer is strong enough to transport such items as riding lawnmowers and all-terrain vehicles, and its weather- and scratch-resistant finish stands up to harsh conditions. Look for it online at www.Lifetime.com or at Home Depot, Sam’s Club, Costco or Lowe’s.

On the other hand, to keep your gear from going where it shouldn’t, add a YETI portable security system to your arsenal. Using state-of-the-art security technology, this rugged, rechargeable wonder can be placed with a DIY project-in-progress, at a campsite, in a truck bed or on a boat dock, and once set with the remote key fob, it’ll detect intruders up to 25 feet away and send out the alert. The YETI’s Bluetooth functionality also gives it the ability to call you wherever you are: simply leave a Bluetooth-compatible phone near the unit, and when the alarm is tripped, you’ll get a call at home, on your mobile phone or wherever else you choose.

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