Neil Lauzon : Latest Blog Posts

5 Tips to Get Your Car Winter Ready (Great for Wacky Calgary Winter Weather)

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:57:00 GMT

Maintenance and detailing considerations to think about when you bring your car out after the snow melts:

1. TIRES:
Tires are crucial for safety. The rubber keeps us on the road. We all know it, so let's take care of our tires!

Check pressure - Over or under-inflated tires will lead to poor mileage, uneven tire wear or a tire blow-out. Tire pressure changes about 1 pound per square inch for every 10 degrees change in temperature. Check your tire pressure when your tires are cold. Driving even a kilometer will warm your tires and change your pressure reading.
Check tread - The 'penny test' is a quick way to see if your tires are worn. Insert a Canadian penny into your tire’s tread groove with the Queen’s head upside down and facing you. If you can see the tips of her crown, it’s time to replace your tires.
Rotate your tires - Front and rear tires wear differently, especially on front wheel drive vehicles. Tires will last longer if you rotate them regularly. Most car manufacturers recommend rotating your tires every 5,000 km. Check your vehicle's manual and see what the manufacturer says about tire rotation.
There are a lot of great resources on the web about tire maintenance. If you're concerned about your tires, Goodyear has a great, easy to read page on tire maintenance. Check it out!

2. WHEEL BALANCE AND ALIGNMENT:

Wheel balance - If you notice that your steering wheel shudders while driving, it probably means that your tires need balancing.
Wheel alignment - If your steering seems to pull to the left or right, your wheels are likely out of alignment. Misaligned wheels increase tire wear and decrease handling. Tire balancing and wheel alignments are not expensive services and go a long way to making you confident about your car's handling.

3. WASHER FLUID AND WIPER BLADES:

Wiper blades - Windshield wipers take a beating and dirty, dried-out, old wiper blades are noisy and can leave marks or damage your windscreen. Make sure your blades are making full contact with the windshield and have not dried out or cracked.
Wiper arms - If you have new wiper blades but they're still making a lot of noise, perhaps your wiper arm has become twisted down so the wiper blade is touching the windshield at an upwards angle instead of perfect 90°. You might want to try gently twisting the wiper arm blades back with a pair of pliers so the wiper blades are perpendicular to the glass.
Washer fluid - Butterflies and mosquitos will soon be out in force so be sure to refill your washer fluid resevior with summer washer fluid. Windshield wipers rarely get rid of all the fly debris, so wash your windscreen and headlamps when fuelling your car.

4. AIR CONDITIONING and AIR FILTERS:
Does your car smell stale when you turn the heating or air conditioner on? It could well be a sign that mould is building up in your condenser. Have your air conditioning system serviced.

Air intake and pollen filters fill up with airborne debris during spring and summer driving. Clean them (or replace them) to ensure your ventilation system is running perfectly this year.

5. WASH:
This is where Auto Obsessed has a lot of expertise: washing and detailing your car.

Dust will settle on your car during the winter, even if you have a car cover over it for storage. On the first warm Saturday of the year, give your car a quick wash with one of these products to bring up a shiny clean exterior finish.

P21S Body Work Shampoo - wash with conditioning action to preserve finish
Victoria Wax Super Soap - gently removes contaminates and lifeless oxidized wax to increase brilliance and shine
Chemical Guys Clear Citra - wash for high gloss without stripping wax and sealants
Swissvax Car Bath - effective, paintwork friendly shampoo prolongs the life of Swissvax wax finish

HOW TO UPDATE YOUR BATHROOM FOR UNDER $50

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:31:00 GMT

You don't need to rip out walls and tiles or install new plumbing to give your bathroom a fresh new look. Here are five simple ideas for under $50.

New Towels  It's not necessary to buy a whole new set of towels. Buy a new colour of hand towels  or washcloths that compliment your existing colour palatte. Roll them up and place them standing up in a basket for a colourful and interesting accent. Try incorporating several colours already in your bathrrom, or go with all one colour.

Frame Your Mirror  If you have a basic mirror adhered to the wall behind the sink, jazz it up by framing it. Cut your choice of molding to fit around the mirror as a frame, then paint it in the color of your choice. Use neutral colors or a brushed gold or silver. Attach the molding to the mirror with liquid glue. Voila! You have a "new" mirror.

Paint  Paint your bathroom in a fresh, new color. Your tiles don’t have to dictate the color you select, but they should complement each other. You would be amazed at the fun you can have with your existing tiles. If you have lime green tiles from the 1950s, paint the walls in a pale yellow. If you have a dark bathroom with black or white tiles, brighten it up by painting the walls sage green.

New Shower Curtain  A new shower curtain for under $20 with unique shower hooks can make a big difference. If your bathroom is small, using a clear shower curtain or one in the same color as the tub will give the illusion of a bigger bathroom.

New Accessories  Buy an inexpensive bowl and fill it with sample-size toiletries for your guests.  --Try out a few colored soaps to spruce up the sink. --Buy candles in your selected color palette and place in a grouping on a shelf.  --Buy a new soap dispenser and matching wastebasket.  --Add a small glass vase with fresh flowers. It's always a nice touch.

Tips for Selling Homes With Pets

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:44:00 GMT

Owning a pet, which six out of 10 U.S. households do, can be a problem for both sellers and practitioners seeking buyers.

Sellers with pets should do their best to eradicate pet odor. "Odor is the biggest obstacle," says Trudy Severa, an associate with Long and Foster's North Hills office in Virginia. "Anyone who is sensitive or with allergies is going to be put off."

Pet hair is another turnoff for fussy people or those with allergies. A professional cleaning as well as frequent vacuuming can help.

It is also a good idea to remove the evidence of pet residents, including getting rid of dog doors, linoleum in unlikely places, even pet crates. During showings it is smart to relocate pets because some potential buyers may find them objectionable, no matter how cute they are or where they are contained.

Give the Gift of Green This Year

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:40:00 GMT

Save your family and friends money on their utility bills by giving a energy-saving gift this holiday season.

Faucet aerators and low-flow shower heads: Help your loved ones reduce how much water they use and the amount of energy required to heat it. You can find these for under $10 and $25.
Pressure cookers: Pressure cookers can use up to 70 percent less energy than a conventional pot and you can cook your food faster, according to Energy Smart.
Ecobuttons: You can attach these to your computer so you can instantly put your computer on energy-saving mode with one press of a button. The ecobutton also displays how much energy and money was saved.
Energy tester: Give your family the hand-held Kill A Watt energy meter, which will reveal what are the biggest energy wasters.