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About Middlesex County, CT

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Why not start the New Year knowing its easy to keep your resolutions!

12-18-11
Linda Edelwich
Linda Edelwich: Real Estate Agent in Glastonbury, CT
  • view my blog
  • Office: (860) 818-3610 x146
  • Mobile: (860) 818-3610


26 Chatham Hill in East Hampton is the house to keep you fit and trim! Oh, and live in small town USA in style.

Here are a few words from my sellers as the ask and answer: Why an Endless Pool?

From the swim training perspective, we purchased a premium Endless Pool, so you can be sure it will meet your needs. Two feet wider, one foot longer, and twelve inches deeper than the standard Endless Pool, the surface area will be more than sufficient for your training needs as well as for playing games of Marco Polo with the whole family if you have young children. Water area dimensions are 15’ long by 9’ wide. Water depth varies from about 24” if standing on the water current return ducting (great for smaller children to stand on if wearing a life jacket or for sitting on with friends), to 39” on two small ledges, one at either end of the pool, to 51” deep in the large center area. We chose the optional 6HP propulsion unit, what this means to you is more flexibility in swim speed currents…from barely a trickle to approximately 55 second 100-yard equivalent times (a digital display shows the current speed, a water-proof remote control adjusts the current). Bottom line, you are not likely to exceed the capability of this pool unless your last names happens to be Phelps. In addition to training, my children love to play in the current and body surf up and down the pool. Winter pool birthday parties have also been a great hit.

So what about pool maintenance? In a word, easy. Because the pool is covered when not in use and in an enclosed room, the only dirt that will get into the pool is what you bring in with you…so, if you wipe your feet before getting in you will wind up vacuuming the pool out about once every two months. Water chemistry is a snap. Because no rain water gets into the pool, the chemistry stays rock steady. For best results, we’ve found that pouring about four ounces of standard chlorine bleach into the pool each day maintains optimal chlorine levels and results in no chlorine smell when exiting the pool, unlike what you’ll experience at near super-chlorinated public pools. We buy chlorine in bulk at Target, easy day. After using the pool, we’ll pour anywhere from eight to twelve ounces into the pool and mix it in with the current. Going away for a week? No problem, use the vacation as an opportunity to super-chlorinate the pool to help “burn up” any particulate in the pool with 36-40 ounces of bleach. Semi-annual maintenance consists of changing the pool filter, which is located in the basement pool utility room. Changing the filter will take less than an hour and about thirty minutes once you get proficient at it. Endless Pools has a toll free help line, which will transfer with the pool, should you need any assistance of have questions. The utility room contains the filter pump and water heater unit as well. These are set and forget items. The filter pump runs on a timer and the heater has a thermostat; if the water is below the set temperature, the heater kicks on, as soon as the water is at your desired temperature, it shuts off.


endless pool

What about humidity, safety, and splashing concerns?

Let’s start with humidity. We were skeptical of Endless Pools claims, but the safety cover controls 99 if not 100% of humidity when closed…so no heavy air in the room. We actually installed a drain pipe for a dehumidifier to be placed in the room…we never needed it. While the room can become humid while swimming, it generally won’t. Open the windows in the summer or use the installed exhaust fan if need be, most of the time you won’t need it. Because the house gets so dry in the winter, we’ve found the pool actually helps to keep the house less dry in the winter. Instead of using the exhaust fan, which we seal in the winter, we just leave the interior sliding door open after a swim. On that note, the pellet stove in the room will not only heat that room, it will nearly heat the whole house, using thermostat mode, until the exterior temperature falls below 50 degrees or so. We leave the room door open as well as pulling down the tops of the kitchenette windows to facilitate air flow. Our next project would have been to install a window pellet stove in the bonus room to enable us to heat the whole home with inexpensive pellets in even the coldest of weather. Of course, the installed dual-zone oil-fired furnace will keep the house as toasty warm as you like it. Regarding the pellet stove, we use anywhere from half a bag to one-and-a-quarter bags a day depending on the outside air temp. If going away in the winter, close the pool cover, place the additional insulation pads we purchased on top of the cover, leave the pool doors and windows open, and turn the first floor zone oil heat on. The pool filter system will continue to run and the heater will run as it needs to to keep the water at your desired temperature.

premium endless pools

SWIM TRAINING IN AN ENDLESS POOL is like swimming in open water – no turns, no shared lanes, no stopping - no matter the weather! By eliminating turns you get a better understanding of your true open water endurance.

What about pool safety? I weigh about 175 pounds and have personally rolled out onto the middle of the security cover to test the claim that it will hold a grown man. The cover also has a security lock at the far end of the pool, so curious children will not be able to roll back the cover even if they were strong enough to operate the easy to use hand crank. Closing the cover is a one-person operation that is best accomplished when exiting the water using the pull cord attached to the cover.

What about splashing? An Endless Pool is not a “cannon ball” pool. No diving, ever. With three children and two adults in the pool, we will not spill a drop. To avoid spillage, don’t push across the pool in ways that create big bow waves that go up and over the edge (underwater push-offs are fine, no bow wave) and don’t slap-kick the water. Children of your friends that have not learned how to swim in the pool, will spill water, but we planned for that. There are three floor drains that we squeegee any spilled water into. The dry-wall used was bathroom style dry-wall and has been painted with a semi-gloss paint. You’ll notice that the tile nearest the pool extends up the wall and the window bases are composite, so no mold. Again, adults will not spill a drop. When children splash water out of the pool, the room’s built in design features make clean-up a snap.

Visit www.endlesspools.com for additional details on the pool.
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Oh what fun it is to play!

12-17-11
Jamie R. Bell, GRI Your Central CT Realtor
Jamie R. Bell, GRI Your Central CT Realtor: Real Estate Agent in Glastonbury, CT
  • view my blog
  • Office: (860) 633-3661 x170
  • Mobile: (860) 604-8459

Today was a nice December day in Connecticut, sunny, no snow (hope we have some for Christmas) and about 46 degrees. Making it a must to get outside with my dog, but I despite not having any appointments I still found some work to do. Oh what fun it is to play, with my new camera by taking pictures around town.

Now that I had the pictures I thought why not make a tour of my town for future clients or just to share with whomever. For my listings I have been using the Tour Factory program, which I highly recommend it is very user friendly and they offer webinars too! An awesome feature about Tour Factory is you can syndicate it and post to various sites like my YouTube channel, Google Base, Trulia and tons of other sites.

So, check out my latest video and feel free to share if you know anyone who might like to live in the nice town of East Hampton, CT.

Note~check back in the spring for more beautiful pictures!

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December’s Season of Celebrations & Sharing .........Sterling Realtors Toy Drive

12-17-11
George Souto
George Souto : Mortgage Company in Middletown, CT
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  • Office: (860) 573-1308
  • Mobile: (860) 573-1308

There are several Toy Drives going on right now, and I have already provide a gift to the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce Toy Drive that I blogged about earlier this month. This past week I also provided a couple of gifts to a Toy Drive that I have contributed to for the past several years at Sterling Realtors, and organized by one of their Realtors, Marilyn Phillips.

Marilyn has been involved in organizing this Toy Drive even long before she joined Sterling Realtors, and does a fantastic job in collecting and distributing toys to many of the needy kids in Middletown. Sterling Realtors is a very convienant place to drop off a toy at. They are located at 27 Pleasant Street, which is right at the end of South Main Street, in Middletown, Connecticut.

If you have not participated in a Toy Drive this year in you area, I would encourage you to do so. If everyone were to just make a small effort it maybe possible for every child to have a Merry Christmas. I know that Christmas is not about toys, but for a child it is an important part, and a small gift could make a big difference in their lives.

Christmas is just a week away, and the Toy Drives that are still going on will be coming to an end by the being of the week, so make sure that you contribute to one this weekend.

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Who To Call For Your Mortgage Needs In Connecticut:

George Souto NMLS# 65149 is a Loan Officer who can assist you with all your FHA, CHFA, and Conventional mortgage needs in Connecticut. George resides in Middlesex County which includes Middletown, Middlefield, Durham, Cromwell, Portland, Higganum, Haddam, East Haddam, Chester, Deep River, and Essex. George can be contacted at (860) 573-1308 gsouto@mccuemortgage.com, or visit my McCue Mortgage Homepage.

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Middnight on Main 2012

12-14-11
George Souto
George Souto : Mortgage Company in Middletown, CT
  • view my blog
  • Office: (860) 573-1308
  • Mobile: (860) 573-1308

Middnight on Main 2012

New Year's Eve

This year will mark the first year of an event that we hope will become a tradition for many years to come Middnight On Main. As the name indicates this event will be held on Main Street in Middletown, CT. It is an alcohol-free event, so it is appropriate for all members of the family. There are many performers and activities planned for the evening of fun to welcome in the new year.

Among the things to do up and down Main Street are:

  • Stories Tellers
  • Songs
  • Workshops
  • Dance
  • Crafts
  • Cookery
  • Film and entertainment
  • Rooftop fireworks

Events

Activities

Schedule

Events will begin at 3 pm and run through New Year at midnight. This is a great way to bring in 2012, with the whole family.

And all this is FREE


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Who To Call For Your Mortgage Needs In Connecticut:

George Souto NMLS# 65149 is a Loan Officer who can assist you with all your FHA, CHFA, and Conventional mortgage needs in Connecticut. George resides in Middlesex County which includes Middletown, Middlefield, Durham, Cromwell, Portland, Higganum, Haddam, East Haddam, Chester, Deep River, and Essex. George can be contacted at (860) 573-1308 gsouto@mccuemortgage.com, or visit my McCue Mortgage Homepage.

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Santa’s Not Going to be Happy

12-10-11
James Quarello - Connecticut Home Inspector
James Quarello - Connecticut Home Inspector: Inspector in Wallingford, CT
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  • Office: (203) 697-1147

Santa's not going to be happy with that chimney :)With Christmas just 15 short days away (What!) preparations for the jolly old elf’s visit are in hyper drive. The anticipation is ramping up to the fever pitched crescendo parents endure on Christmas Eve into Christmas day. If there is one thing all little tykes are worried about at this time of year it’s the chimney. This is Santa’s gateway into their home and it better be ready mom and dad!

Sloppy chimney repair

Well needless to say I was extremely concerned the other day when I received an email from a dad anxious with some recent repairs to his chimney. Seems after some really heavy rain during the night, water was leaking through his fireplace. So much water dad had to put buckets inside the fireplace. How will Santa get around that obstacle? Since he was close by and I had some time I shot right over to investigate.

Lots of caulk with a pig's tail to make it look nice

When I arrived dad was a bit irritated considering he had just paid a “professional” chimney company to repair his chimney. I think he wanted everything right for Santa. The issue was the counter flashing at the chimney. Apparently when he replaced the roof a few years previous, the “professional” roofing company never installed counter flashing. I bet that crew got coal in their stockings that year.

I got out my ladder ascending to the roof to take a look at the work. Well let me tell you Santa would not have these guys working in his toy factory. The quality of their work is very poor. The first thing I noticed was the mess. Mortar splashed all over the shingles. Soppy work practices usually means sloppy work. Looking at the counter flashing it was readily apparent it had been installed incorrectly. A diagonal groove had been cut into the brick, the flashing inserted and then caulked. Best way to describe it, quick and dirty. The installer was also very liberal with the caulk. Check out the cute little pig’s tail he made. Won’t Santa be impressed?

Diagram of chimney flashing

No I think not!

My next stop was the attic to check the roof and wall sheathing. What I found was not very festive. Warped, black and wet wood. Seems the repaired seam was still leaking…a lot. Fortunately dad had not paid the last installment for the work. I think he may have a little extra spending money for Christmas.

I was able to direct him to a reputable and competent chimney company. Boy I hope they can get the work done before Christmas Eve.

James Quarello
Connecticut Home Inspector
2010 - 2011 SNEC-ASHI President
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services we offer in Connecticut click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services. Learn more about our home energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®.

Serving the Connecticut Counties of Fairfield, Hartford, Middlesex, New Haven, Southern Litchfield and Western New London.

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