I agree with Jakabedy - I used the bag for stuff I never used again. As a matter of fact, I just put the four love seat slipcovers I had in these bags out for Purple Heart. Mine were the vacuum-out-the-air kind. Mine did leak. Steph - I have asthma reactions to the very same things you mentioned! We get unscented products because of this. I cannot have ammonia or any heavy-duty cleaners. Gasoline or diesel exhausts and old-fashioned oil paints and stains also did me in. I stained a garden bench last Sunday, though, and it did me no harm. I think they finally got the worst chemicals out of stains. As for perfume, I get a tickle in my lungs that makes me cough uncontrollably. We had to stop going to the opera because of it. With opera tickets, you sit next to the same people each time because you all bought season tickets. One of the ladies near us must have had really offensive perfume, I just could not take it. It is no fun to spend the night strategically working to prevent myself from coughing. With your sensitivities, do you have an asthmatic reaction? Headaches?

If above ground, likely corrosion to main (in/under your meter outside?) which will cause partial outages and dimming. Likely a loose neutral if lights are actually flickering (bright, dim, bright or rapid on off); this can cause both low and high voltage surges. This may be caused by corrosion and should be checked very soon at least by PGE or whoever your local electric company is, to confirm the problem as the surges can cause anything from PC failure to appliance overheating/fire. Installations performed with high-dielectric silicone or other "goop" will not have this corrosion issue. If it is an underground system, I think you definately have to consider the hot. However, partial outages are usually due simply to corrosion. The fix? Call the electric company, ask them to investigate the partial outage or flickering and then call an electrician or general contractor if necessary. I would NOT suggest opening up your meter, brushing and caulking. This is not a old battery.

Three things, knowledge, tools, and time. Most important of these is the knowledge of how to safely work around electrical equipment. This includes, but is not limited to, understanding how to correctly de-energize and test circuits before beginning work. Also, proper techniques are imperative when stripping, splicing, and terminating conductors as well as installing electrical wiring and devices. There are a number of DIY'er books available that help illustrate these points. Also needed is at least a basic understanding of the circuits being worked with. This can be gained through books, experience and the friendly folks on the Electrical Wiring Forum. Finally, the knowledge of proper tool use and selection is a must. Some tools such as multi-meters take some time and practice to utilitze properly. The tools required can vary from nothing more than a tester, a screwdriver and a pair of wire strippers for replacing a receptacle all the way up to a truckload of tools and equipment to wire an entire home. At the very least an electrical tool kit should include the following for simple replacement of switches or receptacles: Tester: The most important tool and imperative in testing for properly de-energized circuits and useful for trouble-shooting problems. These can vary from simple testers that use a neon light or incandescent bulb up to solenoid testers (Wiggys) and multi-meters. Regardless of the tester used it is important to understand how to use it when verifying that circuits are de-energized. Non-contact voltage testers, while very useful, should not be used as the only means of testing a circuit for safety. Screwdrivers: An assortment of Phillips and flat-bladed screwdrivers should be adequate, however with Robertson (square recess) screws becoming more popular, a Robertson driver can be useful at times. Pliers and cutters: At least a pair of linesman's pliers (8" or 9"), needle-nosed pliers, and diagonal cutters (dikes). Also useful are pliers with built-in crimpers. Wire strippers: A good pair of strippers will cleanly remove the insulation from wires with a minimum of effort and without nicking or damaging the conductors. Although more expensive doesn't always equate to better quality, the cheap $2.95 strippers that can be found in some stores should be avoided. A good pair will usually run $10-$12 and up. Of course even if armed with knowledge and the best tools, it takes time to do any job properly. From the standpoints of safety and reliability, attention to detail is vitally important when performing electrical work. Always budget plenty of time to perform tasks and if an unexpected situation is encountered don't guess at the right solution . . . take the time to find out the correct answer. Be sure to check the main FAQ page for other topics related to safety, tool selection, and tool use. Thanks to Sangan, Mizzou_KX, Normel, DavidR and Tom_O for their help on this topic.

I'd go into work and sneeze/vomit on the boss. We get a set number of sick days per year that is very generous, but similar to you, we get 'warned' if we go above the company average. With migraines, asthma and a crappy immune system, I'm often on the list. Once in a while (if my boss is nagging me) I go in absolutely sick to my stomach and spread germs near my boss, just so that they 'get' that yes, SICK TIME IS IMPORTANT.