Category Archives: Uncategorized

Create Atmosphere with Linens

Linens

Event planning is exciting. You’re pulling all the pieces together to celebrate with loved ones. But let’s face it. Event planning is also hard work. At Action Rentals, we’re here to help. Our experienced event personnel have years of success in helping event planners and hosts choose just the right items for their events.

One of the key decisions for any event is the choice of linens. Like much of the event planning process, linen selection is very subjective, and it’s focused on aesthetic appeal. At Action Rental, we carry a broad selection of colors and styles. Whether you want a solid or a pattern, traditional white or a color to complement your other decorations, we can help.

If your event has a color scheme you would like to match or complement, please bring some examples of pieces featuring your chosen color for your linen selection appointment. If you are earlier in the selection process, or if there isn’t a set theme, please bring along items with colors, textures, patterns, etc. that appeal to you. These could be magazine pages, postcards, photographs… anything that really speaks to your sense of color.

With a little insight into your preferences, our team can show you options that coordinate or complement your selections. The important part is that the decision is always yours. We can provide as much or as little input as desired.

So as you prepare for your next event, please keep in mind that the professionals at Action Rental are ready to make your event unforgettable! Stop by our showroom at 1861 Eastman Road, visit our website or call us at 423-246-5181.

Brrrr… It Is Cold Outside

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Brrr… it is cold outside! While a chill in the air can be nice,  Action Rentals reminds everyone that too much cold can damage your home if precautions aren’t in place. Cold weather can cause the pipes in your walls, attic, under the floor, or in unheated parts of your home to freeze. As water freezes, it expands and this added pressure can cause pipes to burst or crack, leading to expensive repairs. Fortunately, there are preventative measures you can take to greatly reduce your risk of frozen pipes, thus keeping your plumbing lines thawed and in good working condition.

  1. To help protect the pipes in your exterior walls, you can simply open the cabinet doors at the sinks that are served by the exterior wall pipes. This will allow the heated interior air to warm and help protect the pipes. You can also place a portable heater a safe distance from the wall and any other combustible material to aid in this process. Always follow manufacturer guidelines for heater placement.
  1. Running water can also help keep your pipes from freezing. It’s easier for standing water to freeze, so by keeping a small trickle of water running you’re your faucet, you help prevent your pipes from freezing. When you run your water, run both the hot and cold water. This warmer water also keeps your pipes warmer and helps to keep them thawed. Also try and run the water from the far end of the house. This helps to protect the main water lines.
  1. For longer lasting solutions, consider using expanding insulating foam to fill any voids in the interior walls. Carefully follow the instructions provided when you purchase this foam. Make sure you calculate the approximate volume of space between the studs to keep from using too little or too much foam. If overused, expanding foam can bow or crack drywall.
  1. Utilize insulating material, such as the molded foam pipe wraps, to place around any exposed pipes in your attic, basement, crawl space or other unheated areas.

As always, before you start any home improvement or preventive maintenance project, carefully review all safety information provided with your purchases. Take careful steps to properly shut down any equipment that may be damaged due to shutting off water supplies. If you need any equipment for this or other home maintenance jobs remember to contact Action Rentals Renting– the smart way to get things done!

Come see the experts at Action Rental & Sales in Kingsport, Tennessee. Stop by our showroom at 1861 Eastman Road, visit our website or call us at 423-246-5181.

How to Use a Trencher

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First, turn the fuel switch on and give it a little bit of choke. Next, turn on the key switch and lower the throttle a bit. Once that is done, shift the transmission into neutral and ensure that the hydraulic pump is off. When trenching, the wheels will need to be locked in place. To move the unit, disengage the wheels. Once the unit is running, give it some gas, activate the hydraulic pump and pop the transmission into forward.

Once you are located where you want to start digging, make sure to engage the wheels so they work together. Turn the throttle up, start the chain and auger spinning and then lower the bar into the earth. Next, lower it to the depth you want. Remember, getting it to the depth you want can take a few moments, so be patient. Once you are at the depth you want, the auger will be pushing dirt off to the side. You can control the speed by using the transmission controls.

Now you are ready to move! Once your bar is all the way down, shift your machine into reverse and start moving backward. Make sure that you are NOT in front of your machine while it is operating as it throws dirt and rocks in a forward direction.

As always, make sure you call 811 before you dig!

For trenchers and all your other light construction needs, come see the experts at Action Rental & Sales in Kingsport, Tennessee. Stop by our showroom at 1861 Eastman Road, visit our website or call us at 423-246-5181.

How to Winterize your House

Although it might not feel cold outside, now is the perfect time to start preparing their home for winter, a.k.a. winterizing. As the temperature drops, it won’t be as easy to get out and do the projects needed to help keep your home in great shape through the colder months.

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1. De-clutter gutters

Even if you don’t have trees close to your home, rain gutters are still able to collect debris and should be cleaned out before winter. By keeping gutters clean, you are helping prevent ice from building up which can cause gutters to come loose or damage to the roof. While you are cleaning the gutters, make sure to check for loose joints or any other structural problems.

2. Say No to drafts

An easy way to help winterize your home (and help with the power bill) is to find and stop drafts in your home. Start with your attic areas and access panels followed by the basement and then windows and doors. Once you find any areas that are letting air in or out, you can seal them with a good quality insulation, caulk, weather stripping or window film. One helpful hint, when caulking, make sure to remove the old caulk first.

3. Seal the drive

Snow, ice, salt and shovels can really take a toll on your driveway. If you have it sealcoated every three years, that will help to prevent costly repairs or replacement down the road. In addition to not only looking nicer and protecting the asphalt, the darker color will also help to melt snow more quickly in the winter.

4. Trim the trees

Winter weather can mean ice, snow, cold windy days and more. All of these contribute to breaking limbs off of trees and potentially causing home and property damage. First start looking for obvious problems, such as limbs hanging over wires, the driveway and most importantly the house.

5. Chimney check

Thinking about having the fireplace cleaned and serviced when you are still using your air conditioner is tough, but it is one of the most important winterizing projects possible. By keeping your fireplace cleaned and properly maintained you not only increase its heating efficiency, but you also ensure your family’s safety during the winter months.

For more winterizing tips, come see the experts at Action Rental & Sales in Kingsport, Tennessee. Stop by our showroom at 1861 Eastman Road, visit our website or call us at 423-246-5181.

Inflatable FAQ

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Want your next party to be extra special? Consider renting an inflatable! Inflatables are a great way to add fun and excitement to your party! Here are some questions we frequently get from renters!

Is there a difference between a bounce house, inflatable, moonwalk, bouncer, and fun jump? No, all of these terms describe the same thing.

How much space is needed for the inflatables? As a rule of thumb, we like for there to be at least 2 feet around the entire unit for safety reasons.

Is power needed? If so, how much is needed? Power is required as each unit requires a 110V (standard) outlet.   We prefer a dedicated outlet if possible. Also, each outlet needs to be within 100’ of each unit. Generators may be rented if either of these conditions cannot be met.

What types of surface can you set an inflatable upon? Inflatables can be set up on grass, gravel, dirt, cement or asphalt. However, we need to know what surface type is available when you reserve the unit. Large slides and certain other equipment need to be set up on grass.

Can inflatables be set up indoors? Absolutely, provided that the area is large enough (and tall enough) to accommodate each inflatable.

Do adults need to supervise the inflatables? YES! Each inflatable needs to be supervised by an adult to ensure each child’s safety.

Are the inflatables clean? Yes. All of our inflatables are cleaned prior to and after each event.

Do the inflatables get hot during the summer? Although our bounce houses are equipped with roofs, it can become quite warm inside the units during the warmer summer months.

How much time do we get the equipment with each rental? Every inflatable rental is for the day. If you want to have them for a longer time frame, that can be arranged for an additional fee.

How much time prior to the event are the inflatables set up? Generally, 30 minutes to a few hours prior to the party start time.

Are inflatables safe? Yes, inflatables are safe as long as they are professionally set up, monitored by adults and when common sense is used in relation to weather conditions.

For more information or to see the wide variety of inflatables and other party rentals we have available, visit our showroom at 1861 North Eastman road or visit us online.

 

Top Reasons to Rent Equipment for Construction

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Getting ready to work on a project? Here are some top reasons to rent equipment!

1. Someone else coordinates, and pays for, the warranty, maintenance, and upkeep.

2. You get exactly what you need, rather than “making do” with something else.

3. You save money by trimming equipment transportation expenses from job to job.

4. You can avoid personal property taxes, depreciation issues, and license and registration costs for equipment.

5. Supplement your basic equipment with specific rental machinery ONLY when you need it. This will save you money in the long run, extend the life of your fleet and allow you to compete for more jobs.

6. You don’t have to pay to store what you are renting!

7. No worries about your current model becoming obsolete or missing the latest safety features.

8. You eliminate the cost (and hassle) of trying to sell or dispose of old equipment.

9. Free up capital for other needs!

10. Rental stores have the right equipment and accessories at a more cost effective rate than buying.

For even more reasons to rent versus buy, come by and talk with our experts! Visit our showroom at 1861 North Eastman Road, Kingsport, Tennessee or visit us online or give us a call at 423-246-5181. Let us help you complete your project on time and save you money!

How To Create Atmosphere at Your Event

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When planning any event, creating the right atmosphere is critical! There are several factors to consider to ensure you have set the desired mood.

Location, Location, Location – Your location will determine much of your atmosphere, make sure it is either somewhere you love or somewhere you can work with to get the mood you want!

Lighting – Good lighting is critical to event success! Whatever mood you want to set, lighting will help get you there.

Colors – What colors are your theme? How are you carrying that theme through the event? Linens? Flowers? China? Chairs? For a wedding – outfits? Color is so important when determining the atmosphere you want.

Music – How many of us can be whisked away by one song? Exactly! Music has not only sound connotations but emotional ones as well. Consider the overall atmosphere you want when choosing your music.

Decorations – What mood are you going for? Use appropriate colors and centerpieces to create the atmosphere you want.

For help planning your next party, stop by and see the experts at Action Rental and Sales! We look forward to showcasing the wide variety of party rental items we have. From chairs to china to lighting to tents to linens and more we have everything you need to have the best event in town! Stop by our showroom at 1861 Eastman Road, visit our website or call us at 423-246-5181.

Spring Lawn Care Tips!

With the approach of summer, many of us will be spending more time in our yards, so it is important to use spring as an opportunity to get our lawns ready to go!

If your yard is already well-maintained, all that you will need to do is give it a light raking once on a dry day. A common problem is uneven ground since low spots cause poor drainage and high spots are often cut too close by the lawn mower. Now is a great time to take a shovel, and cut off some of the higher spots and fill in the lower

Once your lawn is cleaned, you may need to reseed parts of your yard. This will help your yard look it’s absolute best! As your grass becomes established, you can encourage its growth and discourage weeds by applying a combination of fertilizers and herbicides.

Mowing your yard depends on the type of grass you have. Here are some common types with the heights they should reach:

Common bermudagrass: 1-2 inches (2.5-5 centimeters)

Fescue: 2-3.5 inches (5-9 centimeters)

Kentucky bluegrass: 2-3.5 inches (5-9 centimeters)

St. Augustine: 2-4 inches (5-10 centimeters)

Zoysia: 0.5-1.5 inches (1-4 centimeters)

With summer coming now is the time to get your yard ready, so stop by Action Rental for all the equipment you need to keep your yard beautiful and your wallet happy! We are more than happy to provide any knowledge or experience we have to make sure that your projects are done with a minimum of hassle and a maximum amount of safety! We look forward to helping you with your next home or business project. Check out our website or visit our showroom at 1861 N Eastman Road, or give us a call at 423-246-5181.

 

Springtime Plants and Gardening

Spring is here and so is planting season for many plants and vegetables! If you are like many and will be working to make your flowers look beautiful, your garden grow large or if you just want to keep your existing landscaping in order, we have the tools to suit your needs.

For those wanting to plant some flowers, we have everything from shovels to pruning shears available for rent! Your project doesn’t have to be large for us to help you keep it on-budget!

If you are considering a backyard garden, we have all the tools you might need to build a garden box, to tilling the earth, to sowing seeds! Come see our wide selection to find the tools that best fit your project.

If your main concern is maintaining your current landscaping, we have the tools for that as well. From edgers to tillers to mowers, we have quality equipment at reasonable prices to assist you in maintaining your yard.

If you are considering building a fence this year, we also have the augers and post-hole drillers you will need to turn that fence from a dream into a reality. (Don’t forget to call 811 before you dig!)

We are more than happy to provide any knowledge or experience we have to make sure that your projects are done with a minimum of hassle and a maximum amount of safety! We look forward to helping you with your next home or business project. Check out our website  or visit our showroom at 1861 N. Eastman Road, or give us a call at 423-246-5181.

 

Unique Ways to Wow Your Wedding Guests

Who wants to have a “cookie cutter” wedding? Here are some ideas on how to wow your guests (and stay on budget!). For more ideas, come see the experts at Action Rentals and Sales in Kingsport!

Create a Lounge – Give your guests a place to mingle between dance breaks by creating a lounge area at your reception. Fill the space with couches or chairs and plenty of pillows to sink into. This is a great way to keep everyone in the party, even when they are resting their feet!

Have an Ice Cream Buffet – Take guests back to their childhood with a fun and tasty ice cream buffet

Table Games – Planning on taking pictures after the wedding? Provide entertainment for your guests that will be fun! It can be anything from Wedding I Spy, to Mad Libs, to Board Games! Keep your guests entertained and excited about celebrating with you all!

Yard Games – Worried about guests arriving early and not having anything to do? Provide some yard games (cornhole, ring toss, Horseshoes, etc) to keep them entertained while waiting on the I Dos!

For more ideas like these and help planning your wedding, stop by and see the experts at Action Rental and Sales! We look forward to showcasing the wide variety of party rental items we have. From chairs to china to lighting to tents to linens and more we have everything you need to have the best event in town! Stop by our showroom at 1861 N. Eastman Road, visit our website or call us at 423-246-5181.