April 11, 2017 • Page 10 Spring Home Improvement Recognize and Avoid Buying a Lemon New or preowned vehicles are significant investments. New cars might be more expensive than preowned models, but according to Edmunds, the average cost of a preowned vehicle is around $16,000. Preowned vehicles seem and often are consumer-friendly options. However, preowned vehicles always carry some measure of risk. Unless a vehicle is covered by a warranty, consumers take that risk on themselves. One way for buyers to reduce any anxiety they may have about preowned vehicles is to learn as much as they can about automobiles and spotting potential lemons. Despite the availability of vehicle history reports, some lemons still make it onto used car lots. The following are a handful of ways buyers can protect themselves from buying lemons. • Research vehicles through reputable sources. Investigate the reliability ratings of certain vehicles on reputable sites such as Edmunds.com, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website (NHTSA.gov) and Kelly Blue Book (kbb.com). • Ask the right questions. Once you find a vehicle that interests you, ask pointed questions about its condition and features. Relatively new cars with high mileage may raise red flags, so ask how many owners such vehicles had and if maintenance records are available. Consumer Reports says a high-mileage car used on a long highway commute is better than if the car does many short trips or stop-and-go driving. Also ask if a vehicle you’re considering has been in an accident or if there are any recalls on the make and model. • Request a vehicle history report. Ask to see a copy of the vehicle’s history report. Such reports may include infor- CAR CARE How to Conserve Water When Temperatures Rise Spring and summer are synonymous with increased hours of sunlight, warm temperatures and, oftentimes, an increased reliance on water to feed recreational pursuits and lawn and garden needs. The Water Information Program states that 3.9 trillion gallons of water are consumed in the United States each month and the average person uses 176 gallons of water per day. Water conservation may be essential when the risk for weather-related drought mation about major accidents, mileage looms. Practicing year-round counts, number of owners, airbag deploy- conservation efforts can help ment, and many other clues that can ensure smart usage of local washed light on the condition of the vehicle. tersheds, lakes and reservoirs and help maintain these water The report also may included warranty information and whether the car or truck sources for years to come. It also helps the average person was branded a lemon. reduce his or her carbon foot• Conduct a visual inspection. Look print while saving people a little at the vehicle for certain telltale signs money along the way. of wear and tear that may indicate you Explore these water-saving should not buy the vehicle. Such indicatips to make smart use of water. tors may include prematurely worn ped• Collect shower water in a als or a sagging driver’s seat. Check for bucket while you are waiting for dents, chipped paint, mismatched body panels, body filler, or sloppy repair work. the water to heat up. Use that Inconsistent welds around the hood also water to irrigate plants around the house or even outdoors. may indicate the car has undergone sig• Check for leaks around the nificant repairs. house. Put a few drops of food When looking under the hood, Consumer Reports suggests paying attention coloring in the toilet tank and see if it spreads into the bowl to the level of grease and corrosion on within a half-hour. If it does, the engine, radiator and battery. Check that means a leak is present for wet spots that may be indicative of and gallons of water may be leaks. Melted wires or blackened areas being wasted. can be a sign of an engine overheating or • Keep a pitcher of drinking even a fire. water in the refrigerator. This • Rely on a trusted mechanic. Ask a way, when you come inside mechanic you trust to give the vehicle a from the heat you’ll have a thorough, professional inspection. He or cold drink at the ready and will she may be able to spot signs of a lemon not have to run the tap to fill more readily than amateurs. a glass. Purchasing a car can induce some • Install a lawn irrigation anxiety. Research and patience can calm system so that you can maxibuyers’ nerves and ensure they find the mize the amount of water that right vehicle at the right price. gets to the roots. Arrange the nMetro Creative Connections sprinkler heads so surrounding driveways and sidewalks are not getting ‘watered’ as well. • Apply the minimum How to Create an Effective Workflow in the Kitchen Bathroom and kitchen makeovers are some of the most coveted and profitable improvements that can be made to a home. Installing new cabinetry, countertops and appliances can transform the look of a kitchen, but homeowners also must consider the functionality of design when renovating. The National Kitchen and Bath Association suggests applying the kitchen ‘work triangle’, which is a concept used to create efficient kitchen layouts. The triangle comprises imaginary straight lines drawn from the cooking appliance, sink and refrigerator. These are where much of the work in the kitchen takes place. The general idea is that when the work triangle is positioned accordingly, with the three components in close proximity to one another, the kitchen is easier and more efficient to use. Homeowners will be able to move freely among these elements when they are placed at appropriate distances, reducing wasted steps. The NKBA suggests following these guidelines to create efficient kitchens. • No major traffic patterns should cross through the triangle. • The sum of the work triangle’s three sides should not exceed 26 feet. Each portion of the triangle should be between four and nine feet. • Avoid cutting through an island or a peninsula. • If the kitchen has only one sink, it should be placed between or across from the cooking surface, preparation area or refrigerator. The work triangle is a suggestion, not a law of design. As kitchens evolve and more shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com people use them simultaneously, designers may take certain liberties, even having multiple triangles at play. Homeowners should also design their kitch- ens so they function best for their own individual lifestyles. Kitchen layout can be just as important as the decor and appliances within the kitchen. nMetro Creative Connections amount of fertilizer required, as fertilizers can increase water consumption. • Aerate lawns and garden beds so the water reaches the roots rather than running off the surface of the dirt. • Employ rain barrels to collect rain water runoff. Rain barrels can help to repurpose rain water rather than simply allowing it to wash into storm drains. • Reduce reliance on sprinklers and hoses for summer recreation. Instead, rely on pools and other devices that use recirculating pumps. • Homeowners with pools can limit how often they backwash their pool filters. • Solar pool covers can warm up pool water naturally and also reduce the rate of water loss through evaporation. • Inedible plants can benefit from the nutrient-rich water siphoned out of a home aquarium when cleaning the tank. • The conservation guide Earth Easy says one way to cut down on water use is to turn off the shower after soaping up, then turn it back on to rinse. A four-minute shower can use between 20 and 40 gallons of water. • Add organic matter to the landscape to increase water absorption and retention. Top dress areas as needed throughout the season. Water conservation efforts can help homeowners maintain their lawns and gardens during heat waves and even save them a little money while benefitting the planet as well. nMetro Creative Connections Underground irrigation systems can be more effective and eco-friendly than hoses for homeowners who want to maintain lush lawns in spring and summer. Christensen’s Radiator & Repair Tune Ups • Brakes • Cooling Systems Trailer Hitches & Accessories General repair & diagnostics Dan & Dean Christensen 1918 Locust • Yankton 665-3549 Johnson Electric, LLP Rick Merkel Ben Merkel • Chris Merkel • Rural • Residential • Commercial • Electrical & Telephone Wiring • We trench Electrical & H2O Lines • Our Bucket Truck Reaches 80’ • We Set Poles • Install & Repair Over Head Wiring Fast Courteous Service 500 W. 12th, Yankton 665-5686 Andersen® Rated the highest quality windows and patio doors by professional builders. 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