Diamond Certified Blog

Many people spend the majority of their workday sitting at a desk in front of a computer—an activity that often leads to spine and neck pain. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to minimize this type of discomfort.

Get a comfortable chair. If your work requires you to sit in a chair for most of the day, it’s a good idea to get one that minimizes back strain. Your desk chair should be adjustable and enable you to sit at a comfortable height in relation to your workstation. Adequate lumbar support is also important, whether built into the chair or in the form of a supplementary pad.

Maintain proper posture. Read more

To avoid falling for an email scam, make sure you can identify the warning signs. Read more

Watch this video for some helpful tips on getting the most out of a high-efficiency washing machine. Read more

Some car owners think body work can be completed in one day, but the reality is, it often takes several days (and sometimes weeks) to bring a vehicle back to its pre-accident condition. One of the most typical causes of body work delays is parts. If a mechanic has to wait for ordered parts to arrive, discovers the parts don’t fit properly or accidentally has the wrong parts shipped, it can tack another day or two onto the repair.

Another frequent instance of delay is with painting. The nature of paint makes it one of the most difficult and time-consuming areas of body work—even if it looks perfect upon application, it’s impossible to tell whether it’s successful until after it has dried, Read more

If the tap water in your home has a foul smell, discoloration or a metallic taste, it could be the result of corrosion in your water pipes. This is particularly likely if your home has galvanized pipes, which were installed in many homes built before the 1960s. Galvanized pipes are comprised of steel that’s coated with a layer of zinc to extend the life of the pipes and resist corrosion. However, this layer of zinc erodes over time, which allows “scale” to build up on the inside of the piping. Besides adversely affecting water quality, another common symptom of corroded piping is a reduction in water pressure, which occurs as the accumulation of scale gradually clogs the pipes. Read more

Take simple steps to make sure you’re getting the most out of your compost. Read more

Do you know how to spot an unprofessional manicure/pedicure salon? Watch this video for some helpful tips. Read more

If you’ve had a termite problem in the past, the last thing you want is another one. While treatments such as Orange Oil and fumigation may successfully eradicate a termite population in your home, they offer no guarantee against reinfestation down the road, which is why it’s important to take preventative measures. Consider the following tips:

Thoroughly paint and seal exposed wood
One of the most basic preventative measures you can take to protect your home against reinfestation is to make sure any exposed woodwork (both exterior and interior) is thoroughly painted and/or sealed. Things like exterior rafter tails and siding should be coated with paint and sealant to effectively protect the wood from termites. Read more

Watch this video to learn how simple presentation changes can improve your chances of selling your home. Read more

Sunglasses aren’t merely a fashion statement—in fact, a good pair of shades can mean the difference between healthy and unhealthy eyes. While most people know that sunglasses protect the eyes from harmful UV rays, many don’t realize the extent to which they prevent ocular injury and illness. Quality sunglasses will combat everything from cataracts and glaucoma to macular degeneration and photokeratisis (snow blindness). Here are some factors to consider when shopping for a new pair:

UV protection
The number one thing to look for in a pair of sunglasses is adequate UV protection. Many people don’t know that UV pertains to two types of light rays: UVA (the more prevalent and deeply penetrating) and UVB (the more intense and harmful to the skin). Read more