River Valley Real Estate & Home June 2020

River Valley Real Estate

&HOME June 2020

Discover your style in Stoneshire

River Valley Real Estate

&HOME

FEATURES

CONTENTS

FORT SMITH BOARD OF REALTORS.............................................................................................3 FORT SMITH HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATON.....................................................................11 ADDING MORE EXTERIOR LITE TO YOUR PROPERTY...................................................14 CRAWFORD COUNTY BOARD OF REALTORS ......................................................................15 DESIGN A GARDEN FOR ALL SENSES.........................................................................................21 HOME HELP TIP: 5 WAYS TO TURN YOUR DECK FROM DRAB TO FAB ...............24 HOW TO CONSERVE ENERGY THROUGH OUT SUMMER ............................................25 ENJOY SAFE BACKYARD BARBECUES THIS SUMMER ....................................................34 ROUTINE POOL TESTING ..................................................................................................................35

June 2020

Discover your style in Stoneshire

Cover design by Christy Morrison

Multi Media Sales Executive

Bethanie Starr

River Valley Real Estate

Design Coordinator

Christy Morrison

E&HOME HOME&HOM M O E &H

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The opinions and observations expressed in River Valley Real Estate & Home are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Times Record.

Volume 13, Number 2 River Valley Real Estate & Home, a magazine of the TImes Record published 12 times a year.

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INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

AOG ....................................................................................33 Linsey E. & Co..........................................................12-13

Arvest Bank .....................................................................20 McGraw Realtors...........................................................29 Chuck Fawcett Realty...........................................22-24 Medlock & West Realty...............................................26 Citizens Bank..................................................................36 Quantum Property Services ..............................18-19 Cobblestone ....................................................................27 Ronald Ragon Realty ...................................................30

© Copyright 2020 Times Record

First Financial Bank .....................................................28 Stoneshire .......................................................................10

Advertising information is available from Sharee Shelton at (479) 785-7700 ext 1322 or sshelton@swtimes.com

Jimmy Bell Real Estate Company.........................4-9 Weichert Realtors - The Griffin Company...16-17 Keller Williams Platinum Realty .....................31-33 Western Arkansas Title ..............................................14

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ENJOY S A F ER D A Y K C A B

S E U C E B R A B

THIS

R E M SUM

• Backyard barbecues are synonymous with warm weather. And why wouldn't they be? Grilling over an open flame when the weather is warm embodies the relaxing spirit of spring and summer, prompting many people to leave their oven ranges behind in favor of charcoal and gas grills.

• As relaxing as backyard barbecues can be, they can quickly take a turn for the worse if cooks don't emphasize safety when grilling out. According to the National Fire Protection Association, an average of 9,600 home fires are started by grills each year. In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission notes that, between 2012 and 2016, an average of 16,600 patients went to the emergency room each year because of injuries involving grills.

• Such statistics only highlight the need to balance the fun of grilling with safety when hosting a backyard barbecue or cooking for the family. The following are some steps people can take to ensure their backyard barbecues are safe.

used indoors. Even if rain unexpectedly arrives during a backyard barbecue, keep the grill outside. If unexpected rain is accompanied by lightning and thunder, extinguish the fire in the grill and go indoors.

• Place the grill in a safe location. Grills should be placed well away from the home. Avoid locating grills near deck railings or beneath eaves and overhanging branches. Cut overgrown branches before lighting a grill fire if they are in close proximity to the grill.

• Keep your grill clean. The buildup of grease and fat, both on the grill grate and in trays below the grill, increases the risk of fire. Clean the grill routinely.

• Properly light the grill.

Lighting gas and charcoal grills requires caution. Before lighting a gas grill, make sure the lid is open. If you must use starter fluid to light a charcoal grill, the NFPA advises using only charcoal starter fluid. Never add any fluids to the fire after it has been lit.

• Recognize that gas grills pose a threat as well. It's easy to assume gas grills don't pose as great a threat as charcoal grills, which produce soaring flames once the charcoal is lit. But the NFPA notes that gas grills are involved in 7,900 home fires per year.

No grill is completely safe, and cooks must emphasize safety whether they're using gas grills, charcoal grills or smokers.

• Do not leave a grill unattended. Cooks should never leave a lit grill unattended. If you must leave the grill, only do so if another adult can stand in your stead. Lit grills pose a threat to children and pets, and unattended grills can be blown over by gusts of wind or tipped by wild animals, such as squirrels. Standing by a lit grill at all times can protect against such accidents and injuries.

• Only use grills outdoors.

Grills should never be

• Grilling is a favorite summertime activity.

For more information about grilling safety, visit

w w w. n f p a . o r g .

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ROUTINE TESTING HELPS POOL OWNERS STAY ON TOP OF SANITATION AND PH LEVELS TO KEEP POOL WATER OPTIMAL.

Maintain sparkling clear pool water Swimming weather is something to enjoy. But for pool owners, few things are more of a headache than wanting to jump into the pool only to find that the water is cloudy, green and uninviting.

Clean pools are safe, and that safety requires periodic maintenance.

Homeowners may need to periodically revisit pool water chemistry and cleaning techniques in order to maintain clean, healthy and safe pools.

Disinfectant levels Maintaining a satisfactory level of disinfectant will help prevent the multiplication of bacteria and algae in the pool. Many pools are kept clean through the use of chlorine products. The ratio of chlorine to water needed to maintain the clarity of the water depends on the size of the pool, the sanitizer used, weather, sunlight and evaporation, and the pH. In many instances, the available free chlorine in a pool when tested should be between 3 and 4 ppm to offer adequate sanitation. Frequent testing will help pool owners gauge how well the pool water is holding chlorine and how to compensate if extra is needed.

Brushing/vacuuming Nearly every pool owner has had to deal with algae at some point in his or her life. One of the best ways to minimize algae spores in the pool besides high-sanitation levels is through routine brushing and vacuuming. Pool walls, floors and steps are the most common places to find algae in a pool. If left untreated, algae can burrow their roots inside the cracks on these surfaces, making them very difficult to remove. That’s why weekly (or more frequent) brushing and vacuuming can help keep surfaces clean and algae-free. Vacuuming also helps remove debris that has fallen into the water and sunk, which can decompose and contribute to water cloudiness.

Maintain pH Maintaining the proper chemical balance of pool water will help keep it clean and protect system components from damage. The pH level of pool water measures its acidity or alkalinity. The pH level should be between 7.4 and 7.6 for best results. Water that is too acidic can cause eye and skin irritation and damage liners or equipment with corrosion. High pH may cause cloudy water and make chlorine less active. Again, frequent testing helps pool owners understand their water chemistry better and make adjustments.

Filtration For cleanliness, water circulation and filtration is essential. This helps spread the chemicals to all areas of the pool and also helps to remove debris. Filters come in different types, including sand, diatomaceous earth, or DE, and cartridge. Each has its pros and cons. How long to run the filter depends on water temperature, gallons of water in the pool and the estimated water turnover rate of the filter. Pool owners can start with longer filter run times and gradually cut down until they find the right rate based on water appearance.

Pools can be great places to spend warm, sunny days. With care, pools can remain clean and clear throughout warm weather seasons.

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