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18-The Canadian Champion, Friday, April 27, 2001 On vour mark, get set... 'Cut Out' Careless To start your Air Conditioners Lawn-Mowing Habits Provided by, Appleby Systems. With over 32-years of experience we are providing tips on preparing your home for the warm humid months of summer. The following tips are recommended to ensure the longevity & efficiency of your air conditioner & furnace. As you may know, fumaces & air conditioners can have harmful side effects to humans & our environment if they are not handled with prop- er care and maintenance. • Maintenance should be completed annu- ally to both fumace and air conditioner. Most contractors offering service and/or mainte- nance will have a maintenance package for both completed at the same time which intern could save you money. • Before you start your air conditioner, the outside temperature should be above 10 C. If th outside air temperature is below 10 C you could cause severe and expensive damage to your equipment. in $1*50 • Remove cover and clear any debris around the outdoor unit. eg: leaves, grass clippings, etc... • clean fins of fan on out door unit with water on high pressure from hose. • Check breaker panel to ensure there is power to the unit . • Check drain in basement to ensure it is free & clear to prevent flooding. • Fumace filters should be clean to allow required airflow. • Heat setting on thermostat is switched to cool & fan is in the on position. With ail of the above checked and complet- ed you will be ready for a comfortable summer in your home. If a failure should occur, have a reputable company with refridgeration license come and diagnose the problem. In some cases, for example a leak of refrigerant, a repair may not be the answer. Look into replacement of the damaged unit and com- pare costs, as these repairs could be costly. Why put money into a falling unit when that money could be going towards a new unit with up to a 15- year warranty? Any questions, e-mail us at appleby@aztec-net.com or cali 905- 876-3267, we will be glad to help. Each spring, as flowers blossom Each spring, as flowers blossom and the grass begins to grow, mil- lions of people follow the annual path to lawn and garden care. Homeowners haul out their lawn mowers, tractors, edgers, tillers and chippers/shredders because this equipment provides the easiest route to beautifying their landscape. However, when handling the gar- dening equipment, some people use old, unsafe operating habits. This can lead to the possibility of accidents, particularly if children become involved. When operating any type of out- door power equipment, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (http://opei.mow.org), suggests homeowners practice these impor- tant do's and don'ts. • Do read the manufacturers' operator's manual before begin- ning. • Do keep small children out of the mowing area, and preferably indoors under adult supervision. • Do be alert and turn off the mower if children enter the area. • Do look behind and down for small children before operating in reverse. • Do use extra care when approaching corners, shrubs and trees. • Do handle fuel carefully and avoid spilling when filling the engine. • Do wear the proper clothing - long slacks and sturdy shoes. • Don't carry children. Riding mowers are designed for one oper- ator only. • Don't allow children to operate a riding mower. • Don't drive a riding mower like a race car - it is a mower, not a racer. Remember, carelessness is one of the leading causes of accidents. Homeowners of ail ages always should think of safety first while operating power tools. Cali Halton Power Equipment for parts & repairs for ail small engines. (905) 875-3286 or visit thier store ai 20 Main St. W. Milton. If the grass seems greener on the otner siae or the fence, ifs lime to take a lawn-care lesson from your neighbors. To transform the look of your lawn into that of a lush, green carpet, you'l have to fuel and fire up the lawn mower. A sim- ple nule of thumb to folow when mowing is lo never remove more than one-third of the leaf surface (the length of the grass above the soil) each time the lawn is mowed. www.applebysytlems.on.ca Questfons - omail us at appleby@aztec-net.com Don't pay 'til July/01 on Union Financing O.A.C.