Gibson Wood Renewal - July 2022

Gibson Wood Renewal - July 2022

In life, we can become used to a great- looking kitchen, but as trends and styles evolve, there are always ways to freshen your kitchen look and make it feel just as cozy as it did the first day you fell in love with it. To do that, these homeowners made the awesome choice of replacing their orange-esque oak with a fresh new look. Our Timeless All-White Kitchens Will Dazzle for Decades

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July 2022

A/C DOWN?

Here Are the 5 Best Ways to Stay Cool

I love a lot of things about the summer, from enjoying the outdoors to eating new seasonal fruits. However, I think it’s fair to say that paying higher energy bills for air conditioning isn’t anyone’s favorite part of summer. In the right (and unfortunate) outdoor heat conditions, a malfunctioning air conditioner could be a life-threatening emergency. It’s very important to get your air conditioner fixed as soon as possible in those scenarios. However, if you’re just looking for a few ways to cut down your energy bill and still keep your house cool, then check out these options! No. 1: Reduce incoming sunlight. According to the Department of Energy, over 76% of energy from sunlight that falls on standard double-pane windows will convert into heat and raise the temperature of our homes. This is also known as “solar heat gain.” To reduce solar heat gain, make sure your curtains and shutters are completely closed wherever possible. Light-colored curtains can reduce solar heat gain up to 33%, while insulated cellular shades (pleated, accordion- like shades) can reduce it by up to 80%. If you don’t want to block your view, you can purchase reflective window film, which acts like a semi-transparent sticker adhesive layer over your window. Studies show it will reduce your home’s temperature anywhere from 8–18 degrees Fahrenheit. No. 2: Use fans — when you’re in the room. Fans create a windchill effect that helps you cool down, but wind circulation won’t actually cool your room. A ceiling fan is the most effective at cooling you down from anywhere in the room, but feel free to turn it off when you leave. If you really miss your air conditioning, you can also put a bowl of water and ice in front of a regular standing fan to blow a colder breeze! One last fan tip: Exhaust fans, such as the fans in your bathroom and kitchen, can help push hot,

rising air from your home to the outdoors. Turn them on when the heat is a little over the top. No. 3: Keep cold washcloths near pulse points. Applying a cold, damp towel near your pulse points is scientifically proven to lower your body temperature. Your pulse points include your wrists, your underarms, the back of your neck, and your groin. Cool down the towel by wetting it with water, then squeeze out all of the excess liquid (so it’s simply damp). Afterward, leave it in the refrigerator — the longer you leave it in, the better! Don’t apply ice directly to your skin, as this can actually result in a burn! Wrap ice in a towel or blanket and use it for no more than 20 minutes every 2–4 hours. No. 4: Purchase cooling pillows, sheets, and blankets. It can be very difficult to sleep in the heat, but did you know that there are cooling pillows and bedsheets to help you find your most comfortable slumber? If you purchase a cooling blanket, make sure you fold it after use. It keeps it cooler for when you use it again! No. 5: Eat refreshing, cool foods. From watermelon to mint peach limeades, there are plenty of delicious foods and drinks for you to feast on while keeping cool! Don’t hesitate to eat a salad, either. It’s a great way of eating a full meal without heating up your kitchen. Most importantly, drink lots of water! Dehydration leads to many heat-related illnesses, and you can greatly reduce your risk by drinking as much fluid as possible. With these tips, hopefully you can stay cool this July. Thanks so much for reading!

BEFORE

To make their big kitchen feel brand-new and even larger, a clean all-white finish became the natural choice. Instead of buying new cabinets, they chose our rectangular-profile, shaker-style cabinet door replacements. This made their kitchen appear much more modern and drew attention to its spaciousness. The kitchen doesn’t just look new — it feels like it was completely remodeled. Give us a call, and we’ll make your kitchen look just as dazzling!

• 1 -Tom Gibson

AFTER

(304) 760-9500

www.NHance.com/charlestonwv

It’s 100 degrees F outside. The sun is pounding relentlessly on the sidewalk. Vegetation is wilting. Meanwhile, you’re huddled indoors, basking in the A/C … until it rattles to a stop. This stomach-dropping scenario happens to hundreds of people every summer. A/C units across America are overstressed right now, and when you run your unit at full blast, it’s more prone to malfunctioning. Fortunately, you don’t have to call in the pros for every little issue. Here are a few DIY ways to fix an A/C problem. 1. Replace your air filter. The experts recommend changing the filter in your A/C system every month. If you don’t do this, it can get clogged and cause your A/C to turn off! Replacing the filter could kick start a nonfunctioning A/C. 2. Double-check your thermostat. We know it sounds basic, but your A/C might have turned off because your spouse reset the temperature, the kids flipped the thermostat from “heat” to “cool,” or the device’s batteries died. Don’t rule these silly problems out without checking them! 3. Clean your condenser coils. Dust, dirt, and pet hair can clog your A/C’s condenser coils and limit the unit’s function. If you’re careful and handy, you can use compressed air or a shop vacuum to clean the copper tubing and aluminum fins composing the coils, which typically form the side walls of your outdoor A/C unit. 4. Test your circuit breaker. It’s possible that the entire circuit covering your A/C has been tripped, turning the A/C off with it. To test this, turn your thermostat off and head to your breaker box and look for any switch in the neutral position. If you find one, push it to off (right) then on (left). Wait 30 minutes, then turn your thermostat back on and set it to cool. These four steps may be the only ones you need to fix your A/C problem! If you try them with no success, then it’s time to call in the experts. Of course, you can also make that call from the get-go if you’re not comfortable DIYing your household systems. We promise they won’t judge you! It’s always better to be cautious than accidentally worsen the problem. How to Troubleshoot a Malfunctioning A/C TAKE THESE STEPS BEFORE CALLING THE PROS

Did you know the government has a website where you can track drought conditions in real time? It’s called Drought.gov, and when we visited, it showed 47.52% of the country was in drought. That means water shortages were affecting more than 100 million Americans — maybe including you and your family. Water scarcity is scary. We need water to live, bathe, and grow food! So, what can you do about it? One popular, eco-friendly way to get around cutoffs and shortages is by installing a rain harvesting system. Here’s how it works. Rainwater harvesting is pretty much what it sounds like. You create a system to “catch” the rainwater that runs off of your roof or another surface (think gutters and pipes), then store it in a barrel or tank to use later. This protects the local watershed because you capture the rainwater and use it before it gathers pollution during runoff, and it reduces your energy use by eliminating the burden of water transportation! Rainwater harvesting may be for you if … • You own your own home. • You want to be more self-sufficient and/or lower your water bill. • You’d like additional water for your garden or household. Rainwater harvesting may NOT be for you if … • You rent your property. In this case, you may have to run the idea of adding a rain barrel or other harvesting system past the property owner. • Rainwater harvesting is restricted in your state . Unfortunately, rainwater collection is highly regulated in some states. You’d need to have a permit or abide by certain restrictions. The best way to find out the restrictions in your state, if they apply, is to check the legislation on the official state website. If it’s feasible, get started! You can build a rainwater harvesting system yourself with supplies from a company like RainWater Harvest Systems (RainHarvest.com) or work with a business in your area like Innovative Water Solutions in Texas. The size, cost, and installation of rainwater systems can vary depending on your home and how much water you store. To learn more about rainwater harvesting, check out the book series “Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond” by Brad Lancaster. Rainwater Harvesting: Is It Right for You? HOW TO FIND OUT AND GET STARTED

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(304) 760-9500

NOT JUST A LANGUAGE TOOL

The History Behind the Real Rosetta Stone

Rosetta Stone is one of the world’s most popular and well-known language- learning softwares, but many users have wondered about where its name came from. The original Rosetta Stone was once the most enigmatic Egyptian artifact that confounded scholars for a number of years. When they finally cracked the code, one of the lost secrets of ancient Egypt was revealed. The Rosetta Stone is a slab of granite that has inscriptions of a decree issued in 196 B.C. by Egypt’s ruler at the time, Ptolemy V, and a group of Egyptian clergy members. The decree was written in hieroglyphics, ancient Greek, and Demotic, which was a script used by the common people. Experts estimate the stone’s creation was over 2,000 years ago.

town of Rosetta. The British Army would go on to defeat France in Egypt during the French Revolutionary Wars in 1801. Under the terms of the Treaty of Alexandria, the British claimed the Rosetta Stone, along with other Egyptian artifacts found by the French. The British relocated the stone to the British Museum in London, where it was stored in a temporary structure until they could strengthen the floors of the museum to support its incredible weight. Various scientists studied the artifact with no success, and it was ultimately deciphered by French linguist Jean- Francois Champollion. Champollion discovered that hieroglyphics were a combination of phonetic and ideographic signs. Earlier scientists had falsely inferred that hieroglyphics were simply symbolic picture writing and nothing more. For his discovery, Champollion was named the founding father of Egyptology. If you’re interested in viewing the Rosetta Stone, it is still on display at the British Museum in London where it’s been displayed for 220 years, with the exception of a temporary relocation during World War I. While the Rosetta Stone has called London home for hundreds of years, there have been recent requests to return it to its homeland in Egypt.

The slab was discovered in July 1799 by a group of French army engineers who were operating under Napoleon Bonaparte’s orders near the Egyptian

TAKE A BREAK

MOUTHWATERING SOUTHERN BBQ

Inspired by JustAPinch.com

INGREDIENTS

• 3 lbs boneless pork loin roast, trimmed

• 18 oz barbecue sauce • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce • 1 tbsp hot pepper sauce • 10 hamburger buns, split • Deli coleslaw (optional)

• 1 cup water • 1/2 tsp salt • 1 tbsp pepper • 1/4 cup brown sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. In a 4-quart slow cooker, add the roast and 1 cup of water. 2. Cover and cook the roast on high for 7 hours or until tender. 3. Once tender, shred the meat. 4. Return the shredded meat to the slow cooker. Stir in salt, pepper, brown sugar, barbecue sauce, Worcestershire, and hot pepper sauce. 5. Cover and cook on the lowest setting for an hour. 6. When finished, serve barbecue on buns with coleslaw (optional).

SOLUTION

(304) 760-9500

www.NHance.com/charlestonwv

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Cabinet Refinishing and Hardwood Floor Refinishing

PO Box 282, Winfield, WV 25213 | (304) 760-9500 | www.NHance.com/charlestonwv

INSIDE

5 Best Ways to Stay Cool Without A/C 1.

2.

Get More Water — For Free! DIY Tips for a Broken A/C

3.

What Exactly Is the Rosetta Stone? Take a Break Mouthwatering Southern BBQ

Outdoor Cooking Inspiration You Need 4.

LEVEL UP YOUR OUTDOOR COOKING SPACE

WITH THESE HANDY FEATURES!

Outdoor kitchens were trendy in 2021 — and they’re still a must-have! If you plan to either build an outdoor cooking space or level up the one you have this summer, consider these game-changing features. 1. The Flat Top Grill: With a flat top, you can cook anything outside. Imagine outdoor breakfasts with pancakes and eggs! You can also cook burgers with lots of toppings without worrying about food falling into the flames. 2. The Warming Drawer: Warming drawers make even the biggest barbecues easy to use. You can pre-grill your corn and stash it inside, keep sides toasty while you pour drinks and socialize, or warm up the buns for your dogs and burgers.

3. The Outdoor Ice Machine: Install one of these, and you’ll never have to

sprint inside for ice again. It’s a particularly handy feature if you have an outdoor bar and love to mix cocktails for your guests.

Good luck and happy cooking!

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www.NHance.com/charlestonwv

(304) 760-9500