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HEALTHY, WEALTHY & WISE OCTOBER 2015 Published exclusively for clients of ABC Cleaning “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” – Helen Keller In This Issue Hidden Leaks Cause Big Problems Making Playgrounds Safer Top 5 Financial Planning Tips Recipe: Grandma’s Chicken Noodle Soup Good Clean Funnies and Quick Tips October is Positive Attitude Month! Hidden Leaks Cause Big Problems It may seem like a minor thing. You have a small leak around a window. It’s only a problem when it rains. There’s a tiny drip coming from one of the valves under a bathroom sink. You see a small water stain on the drywall ceiling in your guest bathroom. There’s some missing grout in the shower. These small problems can lead to big headaches. Over time, a seemingly insignificant leak can cause expensive damage and provide a breeding ground for mold. In addition, certain pests such as ants, roaches and termites are attracted to these reliable water sources and may choose to set up housekeeping by building nests and raising their young inside your walls, above your ceilings and under your floors. ABC CLEANING 555.123.4567 www.abccleaning.com Carpet, Rugs & Upholstery Hard Surface Cleaning Commercial Services Water Removal & Restoration Fabric & Carpet Protection Exterior Cleaning Services Windows, Roof & Pressure Washing As the weather gets cooler, there is also a potential for more condensation around windows, inside walls and in crawl spaces and basements. A little bit of condensation is all that is needed to create a veritable petri dish of microbial activity on just about any surface. pipes. A single small drip from one of these pipes can go undetected for years. And when you finally see a visible sign, it may be nowhere near the actual leak. Water follows the path of least resistance, making leak location a tricky proposition. In addition to plumbing, there are doors, windows and roof vents that penetrate your home’s protective envelope. Any of these penetrations can develop a leak. If your home has a chimney, add that to the list of potential leak sites. Water can also enter your home through the foundation. As a house settles, small cracks can develop in the concrete slab, block foundation and brick mortar. Think about the appliances like your icemaker, water heater, washing machine, dishwasher, garbage disposal, and the water dispenser on your refrigerator. All of those connections, drains and pumps represent potential leaks. Then there are the gutters and downspouts. They are designed to take large amounts of water from the roof and divert it away from the house and The problem is that these leaks can be hard to spot. And even if you see evidence foundation. Clogged downspouts can of them, finding the actual source can be cause water to overrun the gutters nearly impossible. The average home has allowing water to enter the home at the over 300 feet of plumbing pipes, including eaves. supply lines, drains, sewer lines and vent Continued on next page }