Setting Up a Warm, Cozy Lounge Spot for Your Pet for the Cold Season

Just like us, humans, cats and dogs are also vulnerable to extreme cold, especially during winter season. And it is fair and just that you should give them a nice, warm spot to take refuge as the cool breeze lingers on.

Forget about taking your pets outside. And don’t even think about leaving them out in the cold. To tell you the truth, that’s not “COOL”! (Pun intended)

Better yet, go and set up a sweet spot that’s warm enough to accommodate your furry little friends this frosty season. Here are some easy tips and steps:

Prepare your pet’s indoor sanctuary

First thing to do is to prepare the necessary stuff to use in setting up a temporary shelter for your pet. This includes a pet basket furnished with a pet throw or an old quilt, toys, feeding dishes and drinking bowl. If you happen to have an outside shelter for your pet, you might also want to spruce it up in case your 4-legged companions prefer to stay outdoors for a while after a nice, short cold walk. Install proper insulation if needed. In addition, be mindful that it is still best to let your pets slack off in your humble abode for a few weeks or so – or at least until the ice melts – to keep them warm.

Spot near by the fireplace, in the garage or in the basement

Make sure to set up the “pet lounge” in an area where warmth is adequate to keep them cozy and snug. Moreover, the garage can also be a perfect spot for your dog/cat to spend the entire winter, provided that their lounge should have a safe distance away from any vehicular or tool hazards.

As for using the basement, it is suggested that before pimping your underground space, you must ensure that there’s a pet flap installed onto the door to prevent incidents of pets getting trapped downstairs.

Get them pet sweaters and jackets

Because their own fur, and even when cloaked with their favorite pet cover, is still not enough to block off the intense cold. Besides, it seems that most pet owners nowadays are fond of dressing up their k-9s and feline friends. So, might as well put something functional on them to maintain and regulate their body temperature. Additionally, it is better for your pets to wear booties to protect their paws from snow and salt when taking a walk.

Keep the drapes open during daytime

Get the most out of the daytime by keeping the drapes and window curtains open, especially when there’s enough sunlight to fight off frigid winter gust. For most house pets, it is quite automatic for them to follow the sun’s path by the window, so it is also advised to set up your pet’s lounge anywhere near glassed hole.

Finally, make sure to always keep an eye on your cuddly pets, as they tend to become uneasy, especially if it’s their first time to stay indoors for a stretched amount of time. Check their temperature regularly and yes, an occasional belly rub helps a lot in giving your pets comfort.

Time to Tune-Up Your Snowmobile!

Cold season is here! No wonder quite a number of people have been too busy caving into their own backyard parking and garages getting their winter beast all warmed up and ready for the ice build up… Err, snowmobile, that is.

But hold your tauntauns for a sec! Just before taking of the snowmobile cover and kickstarting the good ol’ winter warrior, you must see to it that everything is all prepped and checked. Remember, your snow vehicle just woke up from a long hibernation so relatively, your “sled” still in the state of “atrophy”. Doing otherwise will only cause you some unexpected engine troubles that eventually lead to an avalanche of expenses.

Is your snowmobile ready to hit the cold?

To save yourself the hassles and embarrassments while giving you a solid snow-riding experience, here are some tips on tuning up your snowmobile for the season!

Rely on your user’s manual

Before checking up on any part of your snowmobile, it is highly advisable to rely on your user’s manual for tune up instructions and steps. This will apply greatly to those rookie riders. This is to avoid unnecessary alterations and tweaking that may cause serious damage to your snowmobile overtime. It is also fine to call a serviceman to facilitate the tune-up in case you’re not yet familiar with the parts of the sled.

All lubed up

Ensure the oil level of the snowmobile if it’s still sitting on the right level. In addition, you may also want to inspect the viscosity and the color of the oil if it is still applicable for use. If the oil filter needs to be replaced, then please do so. Same goes with the oil pump, as these components maintains the integrity of the oil and distributes it to the engine’s most part for lubrication, respectively.

Tank and carb clean

And since you’ve stockpile your sled for nearly a year, it is also a-must to check and replace the gas inside the tank. Gas tends to accumulate varnish and other chemical residue that can and will block of your carburetor’s jets. Speaking of which, this also goes with maintaining your snowmobile’s carburetor. A clean tank and carburetor not only will give you a smooth ride, it will also promote the fuel efficiency of your ride.

Keep it cool

Just because it’s snowing, it doesn’t mean your snowmobile’s engine will be invulnerable to overheating. That’s why it is still advisable to add coolant to engine’s radiator. If it requires water as well, then don’t think twice about pouring some on it.

Chain, chain, chain!

Aside from checking the chain case’s oil level, you must ensure its calibration if it has the right tension, wear as well as the condition of the components that go with it. This also goes well with the track and belts.

Full charge

Battery, that is. As said earlier, your ride has been out for a long season of hibernation. This equates to idled battery, which can be discharged even when not in use. Especially when connected to the vehicle even when not in use. It is best to check the charge level of the battery.

Spark of connection

Spark plugs are essential for delivering electric current to produce electric current to ignite the fuel, which is responsible for producing power to your snowmobile. That’s why practically all mechanics always recommend to change spark plugs every once in a while. As for usage in snowmobiles, it is advisable to change every season of usage.

Brakes and lightings

Last but not the least, and probably the most important thing to inspect are the functions and condition of the brakes and lightings. Like other vehicles, these integral parts and elements should be well-maintained to ensure safety and to further prevent vehicle-related accidents.

Once you’ve checked all of these, you’re now ready to mount and hit the snow!

Snowmobile Trailerable Storage Cover by Formosa Covers

Moreover, visit Formosa Covers’ official website to check out our line of vehicle covers including for snowmobiles!

Patio Umbrella Maintenance This Cold Season

Patio umbrellas are there to keep us refreshed and protected from the sun’s UV rays and scourching heat as you chill by the backyard. On the other hand, rain, snow and cold season is a different story altogether. And since it’s starting to feel a bit chilly, looks like you won’t be needing much of a shade anytime soon.

Protect your patio furniture investments with Formosa Covers

And since your umbrella will be on a season-long hibernation inside its umbrella cover, you may want to clean up as well before closing it and zipping it off until spring comes. So, to help you prep up your umbrella before sending it off to a long vacay, here are some maintenance pointers:

Wipe ‘N Wash

Outdoor umbrellas are obviously vulnerable to practically all kinds of dirt. And this includes dust particles, eroded earth, leaves, tree sap, fruit nectars, bird droppings and insect leavings. This accumulation of nasty stuff may and can leave unwanted damage to your umbrella if left overtime. To avoid this, the first thing you need to do is to wipe off the frame of the umbrella – including the ribs and finial – using a smooth cloth. Never use towel or any rough, abrasive cloth for cleaning, as it may leave noticeable scratches. Regardless if the frame is made of aluminum or wood, make sure to place it on a rubber matting when laying it down on your garage driveway to prevent any unwanted scratches when dusting.

Easy on the soap and chemicals

On a normal basis, cleaning patio umbrellas can be done using water, alone, although in some cases, the need to use soaps, cleansers and other chemical-based cleaning agents is required to effectively wash off hardened dirt patches and stains coming from sap and droppings. These cleansers may do damage to your umbrella such as discoloration, detergent staining and tarnishing. For detachable covers, if you wish to use machine washers (industrial grade laundry-mats), you may do so, provided that you’ll use mild soap. In relation, when using these cleaning agents, make sure to thoroughly rinse the umbrella’s frame, then wipe it dry using a soft cloth. As for the fabric covers, it is advisable to leave it for a while to drying it out completely.

Everyday is not always a sunny day

As said earlier, patio umbrellas are not built to withstand rain and other harsh conditions. Come bad weather or snow/cold season, it is recommended to store the umbrella in upright position for the time being. Also, when safekeeping, make sure that the umbrella is in “DEADLOCK” to prevent it from opening accidentally.

Finally, once your patio umbrella is all prepped up, encase it in a resilient umbrella cover to shield it off from insects, pests and dirt accumulation.

And what better way to do it than to protect your investment using Formosa Covers Patio Umbrella Covers, right? Visit the official site to check out wide range of furniture, car and pet seat covers.

Why The Need to Cover Your Air Conditioning System

There has been a long clash of expertise between seasoned air conditioning maintenance specialists, as to whether or not you should cover our air conditioning system’s outside unit, especially during the cold season. Some say YES because it protects the condenser from elements and dirt particles, while others say NO because it will accumulate moisture from the inside.

So to answer this once and for all, here are some key points to consider and the proper way to cover your air conditioning unit:

Air conditioner covers act as shield against elements and harsh weather

Air conditioner covers are made from the finest heavy-duty water repellent fabric materials like denier polyester to ensure the mint condition of your home cooling system by preventing it from being weather-beaten. So much for accumulated ice that will eventually melt and may “flood” and damage your unit’s inner components, snow water may also cause rust, wire deterioration, freezing of mechanism or worse, short circuit.

In addition, aircon covers deter other dirt elements and substances that may damage its metal casing, and even the inside mechanism once these damaging agents enter through the grills, such as tree branches, leaves, dust, eroded earth, even animal droppings. Quite nasty, right?

Cover it. But don’t leave it entirely there!

It is very important to take note of this. For one thing, your air conditioning unit releases heat accumulated by the compressor and condenser. This becomes an instant VIP access to rodents, insects and other animals lurking around the area to find warmth. What’s more, leaving the cover entirely could cause moisture to be trapped, and cause condensation which may also damage the internal components of the air conditioner.

To avoid such occurrence, just make it a point to take off the cover every once in a while, especially during daytime, and it’s not that snowy. During the summer, you may want to keep your covers for a while, as it won’t be any much of a need during this season. As a stand-in, you may instead put plywood on top of the unit during the day, and dress it by night time.  This will also allow the condenser and the compressor to “breathe”.

YES or NO?

The final verdict? Yes, it is still recommended to use a trusty cover to retain your air conditioning system’s cosmetics and overall working form, provided that owners have to take into consideration the status of the weather and the general condition of your location according to seasons. Moreover, they also need to know the right time and circumstance to strip off the unit from its cover.

Most aircon experts would probably dispute this, as they’ll say it is not really necessary to put a cover to your unit because the components are made from impervious materials. For us, we beg to disagree, because our bottomline is: It is in our best interest to protect and prolong the longevity of your air conditioning system. And these heavy-duty outdoor covers by Formosa guarantees total protection for your home and leisure investments to ensure convenience and carefree living.

Intimate Patio Dinner Ideas for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and what better way to spend it with your significant other or family than to serve traditional home-cooked meal (don’t forget the turkey!) and have an intimate dinner with them… And as far as that rhetoric question can be answered, yes there’s a better way to spend Thanksgiving with your family, and that is to take off those patio furniture covers and set up an intimate patio dinner!

               Screengrab from Charlie M Schultz’ A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

And because having a typical night of turkey and cranberry inside the house or in your favorite restaurant is becoming more of a routine rather than a celebration, here are some lovely-clever ideas to spruce and spice up your Thanksgiving dinner by the patio!

Dim Lights

When it comes to setting up a cozy, ecclectic and welcoming mood, nothing does it better than having a warm lighting. Tungsten lighting is always the perfect choice to harness this pleasant vibe. To do this, you can either set up the entire area with candles and lanterns or simply settle with those LED string lights available in the market. And to intensify the elating vibe your lighting, throw in some light trinkets and chimes to accommodate the breeze with beautiful noises.

Fire Up The Pit

Since the time of Thanksgiving usually falls on during those relatively cold days, might as well take off the fire pit covers for this particular night and spend the after-dinner by enjoying the comforting warmth given by glowing fire. Pair this with a nice bottle of wine, champagne or single malt while sharing stories with your loved ones. Heck, might as well go for the impromptu Thanksgiving S’mores party.

Under Your Umbrella

This time, instead devouring the whole roasted turkey and mashed potatos by yourselves, go for a more unique approach by going for a picnic-style Thanksgiving dinner. Lay a picnic blanket on the grass, carve some of freshly-roasted turkey, pour some cranberry sauce plus some veggies and roll it in a nice, warm pita or Panini bread and partner it with Mac & Cheese (that is if you’re a fan of Chandler Bing from Friends). Of course, don’t forget the wine for your toast. And adding detail to your captivating night by setting up an umbrella lounge by the backyard isn’t such a bad idea for an intimate dinner with your partner.

TENT-giving Dinner

               Setup a tent by the patio to celebrate Thanksgiving with your loved ones

No, don’t misinterpret the sub headliner. It’s a bad pun, please forgive us. Anyway, we just figured, since we’re talking about intimate dinners, why not go further by making it more “exclusive” by pitching your patio tent or screen house and set the table there. Make it even more romantic by matching it with the usual Miles Davis and John Coltrane music on the background. Better yet, hire a player if time and money permits. After all, you want it to be special, right?

On an end note, it doesn’t matter how you celebrate Thanksgiving with your loved-ones. Be it a simple, extravagant or extremely unique celebration, what is important is the essence of being thankful for the year’s worth of blessings, because that’s what it’s all about.

Is Your Firepit Ready for the Cold Season?

Cold season is fast approaching. And as early as today, some of us are already feeling the chilly weather. Perhaps, this is the perfect time to do some maintenance checkup and break-in your outdoor fireplace/fire pit for the coming days ahead.

So before getting all too excited about spending the nightfall in your patio, burning wood while downing a six-pack, here are some things you might want to consider doing to make sure your fire pit and/or outdoor fireplace is ready to be of service for the cold season.

‘tis the time of the year to ready your patio fire pit for the coming cold days

1. Clean off burnt residue from the fire pit – It is a given that fire pits (virtually all fire places) are prone to being dirty and/or blackened due to burnt materials and residue. That’s why it is important to clean it first before setting up your fuel and tinder. Make sure to scrape off creosote –a burnt wood byproduct that can produce burst of flame when re-ignited by fire – and other byproduct build-up that may cause potential fire risks. If you happen to use the pit for outdoor cooking as well, then it is advisable to include the cooking peripherals as well in your pit-cleaning checklist.

2. Check the fire pit for damages – A poorly-maintained fire place or a fire pit imposes potential dangers that could result to serious damages and accidents. Ergo, it is a-must to inspect the entire pit for damages such as cracked mortar and loose or gapped brick/stone for repair. Cement, lime putty or grout can be used to fix these imperfections.

This also goes with portable fire pits; metal-made pits are prone to rusting and corrosion, so it should be checked for deterioration. To repair this, you may use steel brush to remove the flakey stain patch. If some of the parts have been significantly disintegrated, you can patch this with a thin metal sheet and weld it to cover the rusting part.

3. Move your patio furniture – Just to be sure, move some of your patio furniture that may deemed prone to burnt damages in case a sudden spark of tinder lands on it. Instead, use wood chairs and tables to further avoid such accidents. To make it even safer for your precious outdoor furnishings, it is better to shield them from ashes and fumes using a trusty patio furniture cover.

4. Stockpile some fuel – And by fuel, we’re not just talking about gas or kerosene. It is basically the materials that you’ll be using to create and maintain fire. And that includes wood, coal, newspapers, briquette and of course, lighter and/or matches to start one. For those who are using wood, it is important that you should “season” the wood (dried out for 6 days). Go for hardwood like maple, hickory, oak and cherry instead of softwood, as the latter doesn’t last long.

5. Set up a safe spot for children and pets – Because your kids and beloved furry pets want to enjoy the outdoor warmth as well. That being said, you may set up a safe area –ideally a significant feet away from the fireplace – for them to stay. Place a nice, comfy outdoor mattress and a pet throw will do the job in keeping them warm and cozy.

6. Lastly, don’t forget the s’mores essentials – You’re sitting in front of the fireplace, right? So, what are you waiting for? Prepare the s’mores table and start the fire… because an outdoor fireplace wouldn’t be complete without enjoying a stick of roasted marshmallows and a piece of chocolate sandwiched between a pair of biscuits. Heck, might as well get the hotdogs too!

Stuff That Can Damage Your Smartphone

At times, we tend to take little things for granted (meaning your iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and other smartphones), that it usually results to inadvertent negligence. This is the common cause of acquired scratches, dings and damages to your beloved devices. Yes, you might say, “Not even once in my entire life have I dropped my phone.” followed by “It is basically the extension of my life”.

Little did you know that there are still a lot of threats your device is facing on a day-to-day basis, most of which are barely noticeable, while some are the result of occasional carelessness. These are the stuff that can carry out unwanted damages to your smartphones.

Here are some of them:

 

Photo courtesy: octopocks via instagram

1. Water – Every mobile, smartphone and practically all electronic devices’ number 1 enemy. Be it precipitation, condensation or just pure clumsiness in the form of accidental spillage, it seems that there’s no way your phone is safe from this gadget misfortune. And the damage can be nasty. It can cause your phone to die instantaneously or to say the least, lose some of its functions. Luckily for some, there’s still hope.

What to do? – First and foremost, the right thing to do is to place it somewhere dry and where water is not present. Also, make sure to sleeve a resilient cellphone cover and avoid using or placing it under extreme conditions for a period of time (especially during snow season). Now, we can’t do anything about nature, so the perfect remedy is through nature as well. In the event you accidentally dropped your phone, say in a pool, you have to turn it off, wipe off excess water, detach SIM card and the battery as well (if necessary) then bury it in a tub of uncooked rice in an upright position for 24 hours.

2. Third-Party Cable – What could go wrong? To answer that question, this cheap lightning cable alternative to iPhone’s exclusive charging and data transfer accessory tends to burn iPhone’s (particularly iPhone 5) component namely the U2 IC, which is responsible for the controlling of the charging of the battery. And the original lightning cable has a specified series of leads that regulates the voltage and the current. These leads are not present on those ripped-off cables, thus releasing excessive amount of voltage, causing the said component to burn.

What to do? – Well, the logical thing to do is to throw away those cheap cables and go for the genuine ones. Made For iPhone accessories such as the authentic lightning cable may be expensive. But as they say,” a good thing is never cheap. But a cheap thing is never good”.

3. Anything in your bag that goes along with your phone – This refers to keys, spare coins, trinkets, keychains, mostly caboodles. Most, if not all of these are the potential culprits for scratching and denting your phone everytime you put it casually in your bag.

What to do? – Aside from encasing your phone with a reliable cover, patching a screen protector onto the device’s screen is a great way to shield your phone’s precious gorilla glass. And in addition to this, the best way to prevent such damages from happening to your phone is to dedicate a specific spot/pocket in your bag for your mobile.

4. Pocket Stuff – Little did you know that pockets can do significant damage to your phone, in the form of those unnoticed debris that’s accumulating in your pants such as lint, sand, hair and other dirt particles. As famous author, Robert Fulghum would put it, “Cosmic Compost”. Still, it does a lot of damages to your phone. Not to mention, those  copper rivets attached on the pocket’s edges can screech your phone’s sleek housing.

What to do? – Same goes with one of those solutions in number 3. Insert protective plugs into the 3.5mm audio plug and USB port. And for some self-serving reason you feel the sense of mobile urgency that you have to bring your phone while calmly walking by the beach, then it is highly suggested to put your phone in a resealable plastic bag to protect it from sand and… you’ve guessed it, WATER! As for the lint, still remember where did you put that iPhone pin thing? If not, use toothpick or a paperclip to take off lint build-up inside the port.

5. Cases and Covers That Don’t Fit – Rule of thumb: “If it doesn’t fit, don’t force it.” Smartphone covers today are now built and made for a specific make and model of mobile device. Hence, it is not advisable to use an incompatible case or cover. Otherwise, it won’t do any good in terms of protecting your phone efficiently.

What to do? – If the label says iPhone covers, then it is solely dedicated for iPhones and iPhones only. That’s the way it has to be. Also, cases have certain materials, so if you want something that’s tough enough to be at par with your active lifestyle, go with the armor-type cases. If you’re the typical posh, easy-go-lucky type of person, get those leather-made covers.

 

Formosa iPhone 5 Wallet Clutch Wristlet Purse Dark Grey