Watering lawns and gardens accounts for up to 50 percent of domestic water consumption during the summer.

During peak summer months, watering restrictions have become all too common, and it’s important to follow the limitations. It's not only the right thing to do; your lawn will survive by taking a tip from Mother Nature and going dormant.

10 tips to save your landscape in hot, dry conditions:

1. Water in the morning: The sun is low, winds are calm and temperatures are cool. Watering during the day is less efficient because of possible water loss due to evaporation. Watering in the evening can leave plants wet overnight, which could lead to fungus or plant disease.
2. Water wisely: A steady stream of water from a garden hose will only wet the surface and run off.  To determine how long you should run your sprinkler set a glass in the middle of the area being sprinkled and keep track of how long it takes for an inch of water to collect in the glass. For bigger areas like the lawn, place a container at different locations in the sprinkler’s coverage area and average the results. You can also test your soil by pushing a screwdriver into your lawn. If it’s difficult to push into the ground, the soil is very dry. You can also determine if your grass needs watering by simply stepping on it. If the grass springs back easily, it has plenty of moisture.
3. Protect your plants: Mulch is probably the surest way to ensure the health of all your plants during the heat of summer because it traps moisture and helps keep soil cool. If you applied mulch a few months ago, fluff it.
4. Don’t fertilize when it's hot: Lawn fertilizer can burn your lawn if it sits too long without thorough soakings.
5. Maintain water equipment: Check your irrigation system to make sure everything is working properly. Repair or replace broken or damaged nozzles or heads which can wreak havoc on your landscape and water bill.  Make sure sprinkler heads are adjusted properly to avoid watering sidewalks and driveways.
6. Plan ahead while away: Vacation time can be deadly for your plants if you don’t have a reliable neighbor to help keep your container plants healthy. One solution is to pull back the mulch in a shady garden spot. Place potted plants on bare ground in a tight grouping and then tuck the mulch around the base of each pot. Soak the plants and the surrounding soil, and they should be fine for up to a week.
7. Change your landscaping: Avoid the issue of keeping your lawn green in a drought by landscaping your yard with native grasses and plants that require less water. While establishing any new landscape requires more water in the first year or so, a water-wise landscape will require about 20 percent to 50 percent less water from start to maturity.
8. Adjust your mower: Raise your mower level so you don’t cut more than one-third of the grass. Taller grass shades the soil surface, reduces evaporation and helps prevent the sprouting of weeds. And keep your lawn mower sharp. A sharp mower makes a clean cut and keeps the grass healthier.
9. Pest control: Remove any stagnant water to avoid mosquito problems. Look specifically at flowerpots, gutters and birdbaths.
10. Animal control: To protect your garden, place wire mesh in the dirt before you start planting. The roots can go through the mesh, but the animal will not be able to destroy the plants by uprooting them. Moles can wreak particular havoc. They make tunnels in pursuit of grubs, worms and other insects, creating those infamous molehills and lumpy lawns. Moles are attracted to wet soil because it’s easier to dig, so less water means less moles. Once the animal has been removed, the challenge is then putting your yard back together. The key is to get the grass roots back down to the soil. The mole hills can be raked out and re-seeded. 

Highly rated home inspectors tell Angie's List that about one-third of the decks they check are unsafe, and deck building experts attribute at least 30 deaths to deck collapses in the past several years.

Most of those tragedies occurred when upper floor decks were crowded with friends, families or revelers whose collective weight overloaded the support system, or the supports had structural issues. If yours sags or bounces, it needs some attention from a professional.

Having a comfortable relationship with your doctor is critical. An at-ease patient is more likely to divulge personal medical information, which is essential in getting proper care. Also, building a long-term relationship with your physician will help her or him better understand your medical history and wellness requirements.

Angie’s List offers some tips to strengthen your relationship with your doctor:

1. Interview your doctor: Your physician is working for you. Ask questions to learn more about your doctor, like how he or she would treat a preexisting condition, handles emergencies during off hours, and her or his education and residency background. Is the doctor standing by the door with one hand on the handle while you are asking these questions, or is he or she willing to sit down with you and answer your inquiries?
2. Schedule a regular checkup: The easiest way to build a relationship with someone is to see him or her regularly. Scheduling a yearly exam – or more, depending on your medical condition – is important to maintaining a familiar relationship with your doctor and in monitoring your evolving health.
3. Ask questions about your health: Your doc might throw some big words around when discussing your health, so don’t settle for being in the dark if you don’t understand the lingo. It’s your body. Make sure you have all the facts and don’t be afraid to seek a second – or even third, or fourth – opinion. Also, if you have questions coming into the exam, write them down so you don’t forget what you want to ask.
4. Know your vitals: Keep track of things like your blood sugar and cholesterol levels, blood pressure, weight and other vital statistics. Knowing this information, where you are and where you need to be, is vital itself.
5. Research your doctor: The days of picking a name out of a phone book are gone. There is a variety of resources available for consumers to make informed decisions before choosing a new physician.

Concrete and asphalt are the most popular types of material for paving driveways. Each has their benefits and drawbacks though so keep the following in mind when deciding which to choose:

• Appearance: Concrete driveways can be enhanced with pattern-stamping and coloring.
• Price: Asphalt driveways are typically cheaper to install than concrete; however, the price has increased recently due to the rise in petroleum prices.
• Maintenance: Asphalt paved driveways need significant more care over time to protect them.
• Durability: Concrete driveways can last for 30 years or longer without major maintenance. Concrete is susceptible to salt damage so be careful if you live in an area with snowfall.
• Installation: Concrete driveways require a solid foundation to be laid on. Otherwise, it will crack over time, especially in colder weather climates. The slope of the driveway should also be considered because, over time, concrete can shear off of the foundation and lead to unwanted cracks.
• Scheduling: Try for a day when the weather is cloudy and overcast. Concrete placement in weather extremes is very hard on the material. Concrete works best when the air temperature is in the mid 50sF.
• Drawbacks: A common complaint with concrete driveways is that they stain easily; stains are tough to remove. And think twice about asphalt if you have light-colored flooring in your home – asphalt is easily tracked in and can leave dark spots on your carpet.

10 hiring tips for your driveway project:

1. Do your homework on the various options for driveway materials.
2. Lead times can be up to several weeks, so plan appropriately when talking with contractors.
3. Check out the driveway contractor’s previous jobs. See if they show any signs of problems.
4. In order to obtain an accurate estimate, have a sketch of the home and the desired driveway footprint. Walk the site with the paving contractor and have him/her mark where the paved driveway is to lay.
5. Talk to your contractor about an accessible area for materials. Ask about clean-up.
6. Talk to the contractor about installing proper slopes and drainage. Otherwise, you may end up with water pooling on the finished driveway, or draining into your garage or home.
7. If there are any municipal pipes that need to be raised to the finished height of the driveway, find out if the paving contractors’ quotes include performing this task.
8. Driveway specifications may be subjected to certain community rules. To avoid wasting time and money, check if building a concrete driveway will result in any violation.
9. As the crew begins work, there will be some dust, dirt and noise from the equipment. Keep all windows and doors closed during construction.
10. Don’t leave your car in the garage that day!

Homeowners who ditch preventative maintenance often end up shelling out big bucks for extensive replacement or repairs that could have been avoided.

Without regular maintenance, most major appliances lose about 5 percent of their original efficiency for each year of operation. Yet in a nationwide Angie’s List poll, nearly half of the members admitted that they don’t have their air conditioner serviced as often as they should, and 20 percent don’t replace filters on time.
That’s cash right out the door.

The biggest energy hogs in your house are air conditioners, refrigerators and water heaters. Run those devices at top efficiency and you’ll save money.

Air conditioner

• Dialing for dollars: Each degree you go below 78 degrees increases your energy consumption by about 8 percent. If your monthly electric bill is about $100, you’ll save $8 a month with EACH degree you can stand above 78. 

• Programmable thermostats cost between $100 and $150, but they’ll help you more easily adjust your room temperature to be higher when you’re asleep or not home and lower when you need it. 

• Inspect your filters every other month: Replace dirty air filters to save even more by keeping your AC running at top efficiency. 

• Made in the shade: Air in a shaded space is cooler than the surrounding air meaning the AC will have an easier time cooling the air before pumping it into the home.

Refrigerators

• Clean the condenser coils once a year. 

• Regularly defrost manual-defrost refrigerators and freezers. 

• Check door seals to ensure they’re air-tight. 

• Check the temperature. Recommended settings are 37° to 40°F for fresh food and 5°F for the freezer. Stand-alone freezers should be kept at 0°F. 

• Refrigerators should last about 15 years. If yours is more than six-years-old and repair will cost more than half its original cost, get a newer, more energy efficient model.

Water heater

• Lower your water heater base temperature to 120 degrees: You won’t notice the temperature drop, but you’ll notice the savings. 

• Drain a quart of water from your water heater tank every three months to remove sediment that slows down heat transfer and lowers the efficiency of your heater. Your owner’s manual should offer instruction. 

• Properly insulate your water heater tank and pipes to increase efficiency. Don’t cover the tank thermostat. 

• Use low-flow faucets and shower heads throughout your home to decrease the amount of water and energy used.

Other large appliances

• Turn off electronics when they are not in use. 

• Run dishwashers and washing machines only when you have a full load, but don’t overload them. 

• Replace washer fill hoses every five years. 

• Wash clothes with warm or cold water to save on heating costs. Dialing down from hot can cut your washer’s energy load by more than 50 percent. 

• Inspect and clean the exhaust duct on the clothes dryer at least once a year. 

• Clean the lint filter before each use. 

• Skip the drying cycle on your dishwasher.

Lighting
Artificial lighting consumes almost 15 percent of an average home’s electricity use.

• Turn off the lights in any room you’re not using. 

• Install timers to reduce the amount of time your lights are on. 

• Consider high-efficiency bulbs, but pay attention to proper disposal of those that contain mercury. 

Driving

• Regular engine tune-ups: Have your mechanic do regular checks to avoid fuel economy problems. Follow your car manufacturer’s maintenance schedule. Annual, biannual and mileage-based preventative maintenance is intended to give technicians the chance to uncover any problems in the early stages. 

• Monitor tire inflation and mileage: Keeping your tires properly inflated and aligned can increase fuel consumption up to 3 percent. In addition, fuel efficiency is often the first warning sign of a problem. Monitoring your mileage can catch a problem before it gets too big (and expensive). 

• Replace air filters: Air filters protect your engine and can improve gas mileage up to 10 percent. 

• Know your oil: Check your owner’s manual to see if your car has a specific oil type and make sure your mechanic uses that type. Using different motor oil can lower your gasoline mileage by 1 percent to 2 percent.

• Combine errands into one trip: Several short trips, each one taken from a cold start, can use twice as much fuel as one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.

Other simple ways to save money this summer:

• Move during the week: Summer is peak season for movers. Schedule your move for mid-week instead of the weekend. 

• Check your home and garage for any signs of insect damage: July is the height of insect season and a good time to look for signs of termites or other pests that could harm your home. 

• Landscaping can reduce cooling costs: Plant trees and shrubs on the east and west sides of the house to shield the rays of the sun. Trees alone can add 3 percent to 7 percent to the value of your home.

 

• Be flexible and willing to coordinate. If your service company has more than one customer in your neighborhood, see if you can coordinate with them. This can cut down on your contractor’s fuel costs, and keep him/her from passing them on to you.

*1,909 Angie’s List members took our poll. Responses are representative of Angie’s List members, but not the general public.

For homeowners with water damage, cleaning up the mud and water-soaked belongings can seem like the biggest task at hand. But drying out that area is equally important because if left damp too long, dangerous mold can grow.

If the mold growth is small, you can clean and kill it with these steps. 

1. Damp wipe: Mold can generally be removed from hard surfaces by scrubbing with water and detergent. It is important to dry the surface quickly.
2. Wear protective gear: Protect your hands with gloves and your eyes with goggles.
3. Discard: Remove damaged materials and seal in plastic bags.
4. Follow up: Revisit the site. It should show no signs of water damage or mold growth.

Wide-spread mold growth may require professional assistance. Angie advises following these tips when choosing a professional for remediation projects:

• Testing for mold: To ensure you’ve taken care of any mold issue or to determine if you have unseen mold, hire a professional remediator. If you’re hiring out the cleanup, test the area both before and after clean up. 

• Understand the process: Know what the company plans for the remediation. Ask what is going to happen, when it will happen and how it may affect you. Ask about containment. How will they prevent the movement of mold spores from one area of the home to another? How long will it take? 

• Check references & get estimates: Check Angie’s List for reviews on local mold remediation professionals. 

• Certification: Mold remediators should follow U.S. Environmental Protection Agency mold remediation guidelines. You can also check the National Association of Mold Professionals (NAMP). 

• Check your insurance: Not all mold damage is covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy. Check your policy because coverage and limitations vary.

Tips to avoid future basement flooding:

• Check your gutters: Make sure you gutters are cleaned out regularly (as well as after storms) and are flowing freely, rather than allowing water to pool around your foundation. 

• Seal it up: Seal cracks and holes in the concrete block walls. 

• Waterproof: Paint the basement walls with specialized waterproofing paint. 

• Check those pipes: Check for water leaks where pipes enter the basement.

• Install a sump pump: This will help ensure unwanted water stays out of your basement.

Eighty two percent of Angie's List members visit their dentist at least twice a year, but for many, going in for even the most routine checkup is a difficult process. Nearly half of the respondents admitted to being fearful of going to the dentist, with apprehension stemming from general pain of needles and drills  to the tooth polisher.
Here's our advice on how to overcome that anxiety and choose a dentist that’s right for you.

• Talk to your dentist. If you’re nervous, share your concerns and work through them together. Fear of the unknown is often the biggest obstacle for a patient to overcome.

• Prioritize the work to be done. If it’s been awhile since your last trip, you might need some extra work done. Let your dentist know if it’s too much for you emotionally, physically or financially to go through all of the work at once. Your dentist should prioritize your most urgent needs.

• Look around and ask questions. Is your dentist a member of the American Dental Association (www.ada.org)? Is your dentist up-to-speed on the latest dental advances? Is the office clean? Are the instruments sanitized? Does your doctor express an interest in your long-term dental health, or are they more interested in selling elective services? You might be afraid of getting a shot, but don’t be afraid to ask questions.

• Pick a dentist who will accommodate your needs. How accessible is your dentist? Will they call you back personally if you contact the office with a concern? Does the office send out reminder notices when it’s time for your checkup? Do they explain fees and payment plans before providing treatment?

• You wanna be sedated? There are a variety of options available for those too afraid to visit their dentist without a little medical assistance, including oral sedation, intravenous sedation, or the old standby, nitrous oxide – aka, “laughing gas.” Check with your primary care physician first to see, if needed, which option would be best for you.

An overwhelming number of our poll respondents claimed loyalty to their dentist, with nearly four of every five saying they would not see any other dentist but their own. Just one in five were willing to change their dentist, even if it were more convenient to do so.
Some members shared their best – and worst – experiences in the dentist’s chair.
The Worst:

• One member moved to a new area and chose her dentist because his office was close to her home. When the dentist came in for the exam, he did not introduce himself to his new patient, nor did he share with her the findings from her exam. Without consulting with the patient on her previous medical history, the dentist made recommendations for major work that the patient later learned through a second opinion, she did not need. The patient also found the office and exam rooms unkempt.

• Another member went to her dentist for a checkup and was assured she needed “drastic” amounts of work, starting with redoing a 15-year-old root canal. The patient was assured the procedure would take two visits, but it took five. At one point, the dentist left an assistant to fit a crown and it was done improperly. Instead of fixing the mistake, the dentist sent the patient home with a temporary filling in place of the crown. The member then went to a different dentist, who reviewed the x-rays and said the work the initial dentist recommended wasn’t necessary.

• One member felt he was given a hard sales approach the moment he walked into the office for a general cleaning. During his initial visit, instead of getting the cleaning, an office employee was assigned to sell him on elective services, such as tooth whitening.

The Best:

• A patient visited her dentist and before any work was done, the dentist made sure she was completely numb, then talked her through each step as he did the work. She has since referred many friends and family to that dentist.

• A member had a severe toothache and contacted her dentist, who saw her immediately without an appointment. The dentist has taken special care to not let her see needles or other “scary” dental instruments during procedures and distracts her with pleasant conversation.

• One member’s dentistry staff offers their patients hand and foot massages and provides headphones and a flat panel television on the ceiling to watch during exams.

*2,636 Angie’s List members took our poll. Responses are representative of Angie’s List members, but not the general public.

Nearly a quarter of Angie’s List members responding to a nationwide poll say they’ve already given the man of the house a dedicated space as his special retreat, a.k.a., a “man cave.” Almost 20 percent  would like to add one.

Creating a man cave is one of the hottest trends going. Popular themes are sports team, home theaters, workshops, offices, fitness areas and game rooms.

Angie’s List asked top-rated designers for tips on creating a special space:

• Start with a theme. Is football your dad's favorite past time, or maybe he wants a room dedicated to the old juke box, antique cars, tools, reading, cigars and wine. Whatever his personality, the design details will flow freely once you decide on a theme.
• Get some ideas and map them out: Find out how Dad envisions using his man cave. Next, be sure to plan out the space you’ll need to fit his wishes. You can use chalk to draw out the space on a concrete floor or use painter’s tape to plan out space on a carpeted area. It could be a costly mistake down the road if the space isn't properly planned.
• Ask the experts: A good designer or consultant can help you plan and implement your ideas. Designers can envision space and offer outside-the-box input that get homeowners thinking about different options, which many times work better than their initial concept.
• Share your ideas: When you contact a designer, have a few ideas for how you envision the room, including furniture, window coverings, special themes, flooring, etc. That will make it easier for the designer to present you with a more detailed plan before the room is done.
• Adding electronics? Get it right: Does Dad want a high-definition television or plasma? There’s a variety of electronics options, so make sure you know what features he wants most. Your home theater sales rep should be well-versed enough to explain the differences and help guide you in purchasing exactly what Dad wants.
• Small budget? No problem: Good design does not have to be expensive. A good designer will help you to stay within your budget, knowing where to spend a little extra to get the most punch and where you can cut a corner to save a little. Many designers offer discounts on some new items purchased. Also, consider shopping at an antique shop, scouring garage sales, thrift stores or searching an online auction for used items to fit your theme.

Related: Unique gift ideas for Dad
*1,290 Angie’s List members responded to this poll. Responses are representative of Angie’s List members but not the general public.

Angie’s List, the nation’s leading consumer ratings service, surveyed nearly 1,400 companies across the country to determine what the folks on the other side of the invoice think about customer satisfaction.

10 ways to be a better customer:

1. Keep it real: Don’t expect to add extras to a job and not pay more or change expectations midway through the project and not be flexible with the budget.
2. Ask questions: Don’t make assumptions. If you’re unfamiliar with the service being provided, learn more by asking.
3. Communicate and return phone calls: Be honest and upfront about what you want and expect. Service companies also want to know where they stand on a project and why customers decide to give work to someone else.
4. Act professionally: If you want your service provider to do a good job, show him or her respect. If you have to cancel an appointment, give enough time (at least 1 hour) so you’re not wasting the company’s time.
5. Keep an open mind: You’re not going to get a castle for the price of a shack. Never base your hiring decision only on the cheapest option or you will likely get what you paid for. Also compare apples to apples - while one option may be cheaper, how does the quality of materials compare?
6. Don’t be irrational: If something negative happens during the job or service, don’t become irate or obscene. Be civil. If you’re dealing with a good service company, they will want to fix the problem.
7. Pay on time: You hired the company for a service; if they’ve delivered – pay them. Always pay with a credit card so you have recourse in case something goes wrong.
8. Follow the Golden Rule: Treat the company with respect, even in the way you explain your complaint. For example, if it appears a repair has not worked, rather than accusing the company of doing the job "wrong," let them know you’re still having the same problem and are in need of their help. If a bill turns out to be higher than expected, ask for a detailed breakdown of the bill before you accuse them of "price-gouging."
9. Reward good behavior: If you are a satisfied customer, let the company know. Write a letter thanking that employee who went out of their way and include it in the report you file on Angie’s List.
10. Offer constructive criticism: Is there a way the company can improve a service or product? Even great companies can use improvement. If a company asks for your input in a survey or questionnaire, give it to them. Take the time to share your opinion, the good and the bad.

Just as consumers don’t like it when they call for help and don’t get a return call, companies don’t like it when they invest a lot of time to provide an estimate and never hear that their bid hasn’t been accepted. More than half of the companies surveyed expect to hear from a customer after giving an estimate whether they want to move forward or not.

Not surprisingly, the survey also found that two-thirds of the companies prefer to be called for service first thing in the morning but found afternoon calls to be reasonable. Evening and weekend calls, for the most part, just aren’t appreciated.

*1,409 service companies responded to the survey. Responses are representative of service providers rated on Angie’s List, but not the general public.