Solutions to Spotty Home Wi-Fi Signal

Light blue wi-fi icon.Out of all the household maintenance issues, fixing shoddy Wi-Fi connection might be the most tiresome of the bunch. Additionally, with the majority of today’s daily functions and communication dependent on the internet, maintaining a strong wireless signal is important as ever. Many households suffer from inconsistent, spotty service - or just poor signal overall - and we feel your pain. Because of this, we’ve put together a guide of solutions for those times when your home’s Wi-Fi just won’t comply. Where’s Your Router Located? The location of your home’s router plays a vital role in determining the internet quality. Because a router’s reach is limited, the best technique to ensure everyone has access is to hook it up in the home’s central location. For the greatest distribution of service, place it in an open space so that the signal isn’t blocked by any hindrances in the home’s architecture or design. Ultimately, the location that provides peak service will vary for each house, but after testing enough variations out the best spot should be easily identified.

Invest in a Wi-Fi Extender/Booster/Accelerator Sometimes, the challenges posed by a home’s interior can extremely limit the potentials for its Wi-Fi signal. By investing in a Wi-Fi booster, your wireless signal will see a dramatic spike in signal and overall improve the user-experience for each internet-supported device. Prices for Wi-Fi enhancers float around fifty to one hundred dollars, which, compared to the massive benefits, should make the investment worth it to anyone who spends at least an hour on the internet each day.

It Might be Time for a New Router Every year, technology outdoes itself with massive improvements over last year’s hardware. This is no different for routers. If it’s been a few years since you’ve replaced your router or it’s taken a noticeable nosedive in the signal it provides, it may be time for a new one. Learn about advancements in routers by speaking with your cable provider or a trusted source who works in the technology industry.

Brief Solution: Use an Ethernet Cable If, at the moment, you’re unable to resolve the issues with your internet connection, it might do you best to (momentarily) hold off from using Wi-Fi. Instead, hook up an Ethernet cable from your desktop or laptop for the most direct inflow of internet service. Sure, you’ll be restricted in movement due to being attached to a wire, but if your Wi-Fi signal is that bad and you have to wait a couple days before significant changes can be done, an Ethernet cable is a simple, easy compromise to wait out the storm. If you don’t have one, don’t fret - they can be found either online or at your local convenience store for ten dollars, on average.

 

Fast and Efficient: Why Wallside Installation is #1

Wallside Windows' motivational mantra. If there’s one thing we know at Wallside, it’s windows. Along with hand-crafting dozens of styles and custom-fit replacement windows, designing breakthrough advances in insulation technology at our factory, and giving back to the community, a leading proficiency of Wallside’s services is providing the best window installation service in Michigan. Here we breakdown the installation process and explain why there’s none other than Wallside who does it best.

We Know the Area The process of dislodging old battered windows and replacing them with new ones is a massive undertaking for your average window installer - but we’re not average. After working with the layout of Michigan and Ohio home designs for over 70 years, we know how to swiftly, carefully, and efficiently navigate your house so that the least possible amount of accidents occur.

Quick, Thorough Clean-Up With the job taking us no longer than a day’s time on average, we have the installation process down to a science. First things first, we’ll lay out a large expanse of tarp over all areas where debris, garbage, and dangerous or messy materials are on the scene. Dust particles are not to be worried about, either, as we bring vacuums with us to ensure pesky scraps of litter are wiped clean. Lastly, we’ll take care of your current stop molding and substitute it out with pine or oak varieties.

Meticulous Testing/Measuring It’s one thing to install windows. With Wallside, we aim for more than just doing the job - we want to enhance your home’s value and insulation performance. So, after your new replacement windows are installed, we give a roundup examination for each freshly installed window, looking to ensure it is properly fitted, the open-and-close functionality is up to par, there are no gaps, and that sufficient caulk has been implemented for optimal energy efficiency. Lastly, we’re open to any questions you may have concerning what needs to be done for proper window upkeep and the options you have for future window installations by Wallside.

Genuine Courtesy Some contractors give you only a vague frame of time for when they’ll arrive at your home, which can be frustrating. It’s part of Wallside’s credo to give you a ring you the moment we leave for the job so that you have a fair notice of our arrival.

 

Decorative Accent Ideas for New Homeowners

Velvet blue window drapesUpon purchasing a new home, homeowners are posed with a blank canvas of opportunities for decoration. Starting fresh like this is usually a step into foreign territory for first-time homeowners; so, for this reason, we assembled some of the most widely popular, affordable decorative accents to get your inspiration flowing and help you get your house to look the way you want.

Kitchen Backsplash There’s no better way to spice up a kitchen than to vivify its walls with backsplash. Experiment with various tile materials and design patterns to make the room pop the way you’ve always wanted it to. Depending on your expertise, you may want to consider hiring a professional contractor to ensure the smoothest job possible; however, if you’re willing to take on the project yourself, you can save yourself a hefty sum of cash.

Fountain Waterfall Fountain waterfalls are an excellent way to add a serene, zen-like touch to an interior space or backyard patio. The calming sound of the waterfall’s stream offers a tranquil atmosphere to wherever it is placed and can balance out high-stress zones such as a work office or bustling kitchen.

Curtains and Draperies Curtains and draperies are renowned for their multi-function versatility and beautifying perks. For any homeowner, energy insulation is a paramount concern. On top of purchasing energy-efficient replacement windows, curtains and draperies are excellent modalities to conserve heat, manage airflow, and control the inflow of natural light. As far as design goes, there’s literally hundreds of styles, fabrics, sizes, and combinations to choose from to ultimately vivify your home’s flair.

Wall Clocks Sure, the convenience of today’s smartphone somewhat voids the necessity of a wall clock; but still, even back in the day when they were the sole gadget for telling the time, clocks were also cherished for their grandiose design and classic sophistication. Due to the sheer practicality and function of them, wall clocks are timeless additions to any room.

Paintings Most interior designers will argue that each room has a certain feel or emotive atmosphere to it. For example, living rooms are said to radiate a warm, inviting glow whereas spaces such as the kitchen annunciate an exciting, homey appeal. Alas, the trick with implementing a painting to a room is to match the color scheme and visual aesthetic. Family Picture Frames Our friends and family are the people we rely on most to brighten up our day. They’re the people that make us the happiest, so why not surround ourselves with pictures of them? Break out the scrapbook to curate the most cheerful photos of you and your dearest friends to adorn your walls. Measure these, then recruit a frame with a design that you think captures the picture’s sentiment. Adorning your home with your close ones brings in a comforting, warm quality to your home environment.

 

Dangers of Not Replacing Old Windows

Old window on dirty building. When it comes to the well-being of your home, there are few factors more important than the quality and maintenance of its windows. For those working with windows that are past their prime, we’ve compiled a list of some of the risks your home may be up against and what you can do to mitigate them.

Avoidable Illnesses As any homeowner knows, the energy bill is directly influenced by the quality of insulation that its windows provide. When windows suffer from gaps, mangled frames, or recurrent air leakages, it leads to precious heat or air conditioning loss – which results in heaps of additional problems. Higher energy expenses aside, drafts can be a serious threat to homes with elderly family members, small children, and anyone with a weakened immune system as they are known to lead to illnesses such as colds, pneumonia, and various other ailments. Avoid these by maintain up-to date replacement windows with top quality insulation.

Mold Buildup When your windows are damaged to the point that they fail to insulate your home, immediate action must be taken; a telling example of this is repeated fog accumulation. A little fog every now and then is normal, but it signals a serious problem if it sprouts up over and over again over a short frame of time. The clashing temperatures of outdoor air mixed with a home’s leads to the creation of condensation. This condensation, also known as “fog,” creates a hospitable environment for mold and mildew formation. This is dangerous because mold spores floating in the air can infect your home food - like bread or fruit - and possibly even contaminate your respiratory system. Additionally, enough condensation can weaken the architecture of a home’s interior by dampening the wood and seeping into the walls.

Safeguard your home from mold by purchasing energy-efficient replacement windows, using dehumidifiers, and run the fan in spaces with a noticeably high amount of condensation.

Diminished Home Value or Curb Appeal Chipped paint, large cracks, creaky frames, and ugly bulbous use of caulk are automatic turn-offs for any prospective homeowner. There comes a point when a window’s visual aesthetic is so beat from year of repair that the best move is to replace it overall. Yes it requires an investment, but if you’re interested in selling your home in the near future, the windows are going to be under extreme scrutiny from eager homeowners, so you might as well make sure they’re up to snuff.

Weather Damages When a storm hits, it’s your windows that defend against vicious winds, pounding rain, and flying debris. For this reason, you’ll want to make sure the slide on your windows functions to full performance. If a storm strikes and you can’t close a window because it’s stuck, it could spell disaster for your home’s interior.

Home Security Aged windows with faulty sashes are a burglar’s paradise. Rest easy by employing a principal defense technique against home break-ins: installing strong, secure windows that can firmly shut. By following the best window security practice, you can rest easy knowing that you’ve taken proactive action toward defending your home against criminal activity such as burglary or theft.

 

Brighten Up Your Home with an Indoor Garden

Small garden plants inside a home. Not everyone in the modern world has the time or space for a garden. Maybe you don’t have enough room on your property, maybe you can’t build or plant an outdoor garden because of homeowners’ rules, or maybe you just don’t have the time! For anyone in these situations, there is a cheap and easy alternative that will still give you the chance to enjoy fresh vegetables and beautiful plants: an indoor garden!

Indoor gardens, as true to their name, are simply a smaller garden that you can grow inside your home! Many plants still thrive indoors given the right care, and the process isn’t nearly as difficult as you might expect. Here’s a few tips to help get your indoor garden started!

Pick the Right Plants The first step should be deciding on what you want to grow. Are you growing vegetables and herbs to include with dinner, or are you just looking to liven up your house with some flowers? Plenty of popular plants can be safely grown indoors, from edibles like avocados and carrots to beautiful flowers like hibiscus and peace lilies, and they can be easily grown with a minimum of effort.

Find the Right Area Once you’ve decided on what you want to grow, next comes figuring out where to grow it! Depending on the type of plant (or plants) you’ll be growing, you’ll want to check out what circumstances they grow best in. If a plant needs a lot of direct light (which means six or more hours of bright sunshine per day) then you’ll want to keep it in a garden window, preferably facing south to gather the maximum amount of sunlight per day. If you’re growing something like a fern that loves moisture and mists, consider growing it in your bathroom to catch run-off moisture in the atmosphere from baths and showers. Knowing where to best grow your chosen plants is a crucial to healthy plants!

Accommodate for the Plants’ Needs Much like bringing a new pet home, plants will require some minor re-organizing of your home to accommodate for their need for sunlight, warm air, and so on. Try to avoid keeping them near drafts, such as heat ducts or right next to an air conditioner. If possible, provide things like pipes or lattice to help plants with creeping vines such as ivy or tomatoes. This step should be a lot easier once you’ve completed the first two, but is still an important thing to consider.

Hopefully this has given you the inspiration you need to work on your own indoor garden! Whatever plants you choose to grow, follow our tips and hopefully they’ll beautify your home, garnish your plates, or both, for years to come!