Fire pits add comfort and ambience to a crisp cold evening in the backyard, where you can catch up with your family and friends. People living in places that have winter almost all year round can utilize fire pits to the maximum, making it a worth the initial investment.
Here are some things you need to consider before you plan to build a gas fire pit:
Safety is the primary factor when it comes to building your own gas fire pit. Make sure the site where you are planning to build a pit is at a considerable distance from flammable surfaces. Gas flames don’t generate flying embers or sparks. The heat from the pit can melt vinyl siding if it is placed too close to the pit. Local restrictions also play an important role when it comes to burning open flames on private property.
Gas fire pits on propane or natural gas. There are kits available that can convert one gas source to the other. Propane fire pits offer portability if your fuel comes from a small propane tank. You need a permanent fire pit structure if you are planning to attach a gas fire pit to the natural gas line of your home. Natural gas is cheaper than propane gas and is economical in the long run.
Gas fire pits can be easily constructed using a drop-in fire pit kit. These kits are usually bowl-shaped and are ready to install into the fire pit. All you need is to create the enclosure, which can be created from stacked bricks, cinderblocks, or concrete pavers.
You can use gas fire pits that use powder-coated steel frames. You can screw cement board to these frames and finish it with tile, brick, or mortar and stone. Once you have installed the frame, consider which type of burner you will be using for your pit followed by fill material, like lava rock or fire glass.
Although burner pans are optional with gas fire pits, they help support the burner and the material used for covering the burner. A heat-tolerant material like lava rock or fire glass should be preferred to cover the burner. You can also use fire glass and select different colors and sizes to create a truly custom fire pit experience. Furthermore, fire glass produces more heat than lava rocks.
Avoid using river rocks or regular stones inside your gas fire pit as they will be exposed to the intense heat of the flames. River rocks can explode if they come in contact with intense fire as the water in the rocks might convert into steam.
Diabetes is an illness in which the sugar levels in the blood are either too high or too low. This condition can be managed with a strict meal plan that ensures the body’s insulin levels do not exceed the normal amount. However, the urge to snack can be random and unplanned. For such an occasion, here are some safe snacking options for those with diabetes who need healthy choices to satiate their food cravings.
Guacamole
All you need to make this yummy dip is fresh avocados, onions, tomatoes, some cilantro, lime, and salt to taste. One of the best ways to prep this is to use a mortar and pestle and grind these ingredients gently together. Avocados are known for their polyunsaturated fatty acids, which help keep insulin levels balanced. It also has vitamins and antioxidants, good for the body and skin. Guacamole makes for a great dip or even a spread on a slice of multigrain bread.
Apple and peanut butter
This is a nutritious and tasty snack that does not spike insulin levels in the body. It can simply be made at home! Just cut some slices of an apple and use homemade peanut butter (crunchy or smooth) as a dip. Both the ingredients have only natural sugars, which can be digested easily by the body.
Edamame
This is one of the easiest snack recipes. All you need are a handful or two of edamame. Boil, steam or stir fry them in just a bit of olive oil; a tablespoon or two would do. You can add some garlic or season it with salt and pepper. These can be munched on as a side snack while you’re working. The bioactive compounds in edamame are known to lower cholesterol levels in the body.
Greek yogurt
A healthy probiotic food, Greek yogurt can either be had as is or can also be added with some of your favorite fruits. You may make a parfait using some oats, berries, and Greek yogurt and keep it in the fridge for easy consumption whenever you have any sweet cravings. The yogurt is great for your gut health. It has protein that can make you feel full till your next meal.
Planning to buy a car? Are you confused whether to visit a dealer or to buy directly from a private party? Generally, buying a car from a dealer takes a lot of pressure off, as the dealer handles all the paperwork and the whole transaction feels safe. Whereas, buying directly from a private seller means you and the seller must take care of the entire transaction.
Here are the few advantages of buying cars directly from the owner (private party):
Less expensive
Buying a used car from a private owner is often less expensive than buying it through a dealer. Private owners sell their cars at very low prices than commercial sellers. As there are no middlemen the buy and sell spread is effectively zero.You can save heaps of money buying from a private seller.
Easier negotiation
Usually, the private individuals will be in the motivation of getting rid of the vehicles. Therefore, their prime motive will not be maximization of profit. Moreover, they are not professional negotiators compared to dealers. They expect you to buy somewhere between the price they fixed and they let you make your offer a price as per your satisfaction. When buying from a private party negotiation is comparatively easy, rather it takes time for the buyer and seller to settle on an acceptable price.
Maintenance
Another benefit is that the buyers maintain complete records of the vehicle. The seller who maintains the vehicle records are likely to believe that they would have maintained the vehicle properly when they owned it. This is a great advantage, as it is a sign that a used vehicle has been well cared for.
Hassle-free buying
There is a lot of comfort when you are buying from a private seller. Dealers may be impatient as they are just doing their job for monetary benefits – which becomes a stress for us. Instead of dealing with impatient salespeople (dealers) it is better to deal with a like-minded private seller. The transaction procedures are also more relaxed, with lesser pressure in case of private owners than with a dealer sales representatives.
Clear knowledge about the vehicle
By dealing directly with the current owner, you will be able to gather a lot more information about the car and how it has been driven and cared for.
Quicker transaction
Generally, the private sellers are in a hurry to sell their vehicle. The eagerness makes easier to negotiate and get the transaction completed easier and quicker.
A muscle car is broadly known for its beasty engine and a massive amount of horsepower that makes it stand apart from the others. The concept of a muscle car finds its origins to the 1960s in America when the car manufacturers came out with huge, high-performance engines. The muscle cars made in the 60s had rampant engines that gave these monsters demonic speed. The cars, however, have evolved over time, and the modern time has brought in many changes to the layout, feel, and power of the car. But no matter how new or old, here are four things all the best muscle cars have in common.
A V8 Engine
A muscle car is not a called so if it does not have a high-capacity V8 engine that gives the car the power it deserves. The Mustang, Camaro, and Challenger, all came out with the new V8 engines in their resurgent models. These cars not only came out with the V8 engine but also had exquisite top speeds, horsepower that was greater than 400, and at least 5000 cc of displacement.
Blazing through the quarter mile
Another essential factor when it comes to muscle cars is their performance in drag races or their time of completing a quarter mile. The car might sound like the best on paper, but if it does not prove its mettle on the road, it does not qualify as a great muscle car. The new Mustang has the capability to complete a quarter mile in under 14 seconds, which is a big jump compared to the muscle cars of the 60s.
Rear-wheel drive
A true muscle car will always have rear-wheel drive. Newer sports cars are swiftly adopting the all-wheel drive, but a muscle car runs best when it is functioning on a rear-wheel drive. The rear tires are also a lot wider and heavier than the front tires. All-wheel-drive systems might be better when it comes to performance, but the rear-wheel-drive systems bring in the style with the smoke flaring out of the tires and the wheelie popping up at the throttle. A front-wheel-drive system also makes it supremely difficult for you to make the drifts on the tight turns, an activity that goes hand-in-hand with rear-wheel drive.
Everyman vehicle
The muscle car was introduced as an everyman vehicle, which added to the appeal of a muscle car. The car, firstly, needs to have enough space in the rear seats for the owner to be able to actually use it. It was introduced as a family car, which meant that the rear seats needed with at least enough space to seat a child comfortably. Along with that, it had to come at a price that every man could afford. A Porsche or the Ferrari could have all the features but would not qualify as a muscle car as it is, quite obviously, not affordable for everyone.