Keep Your Garbage Disposal In Top Shape
It’s pretty easy to treat your garbage disposal like a trash can. The truth is that the humble garbage disposal is more sensitive than many people believe and can easily break or malfunction if not treated properly. Here is some advice for keeping your garbage disposal in top shape.
1. The Garbage Disposal is Actually Not a Trash Can.
Most of us toss anything and everything into the garbage disposal without thinking too much about it. The disposal is designed to grind up small pieces of soft food so they don’t clog your plumbing. The following items should never be put into your kitchen disposal:
- Eggshells
- Bones
- Meat fats
- Unpopped popcorn kernels or fruit pits
- Anything expandable like rice
- Asparagus, celery and other fibrous vegetables
- Any non-food products
2. Invest In A Repair Tool.
You can find a garbage disposal
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Limit Your Exposure to Asthma Triggers
If you have asthma, you know how hard it can be to avoid triggers like pollen, pet dander, and dust. Even coming indoors is sometimes not enough to alleviate your symptoms, as indoor air is often just as polluted as the air outside. However, it is possible to limit your exposure to asthma triggers inside the home just by using your air conditioner.
The filter on your home’s air conditioning system is capable of removing significant amounts of mold, dander, pollen, and other contaminants from the air. Air conditioners can also help reduce the humidity inside your house in warm weather; too much moisture in the air makes it easy for mold and mildew to flourish in your home. If you or someone in your family has asthma or another respiratory condition triggered by mold spores, this can be a big problem.
Reduce the Risk of Contaminants Into the House
Air is pulled into the air conditioning system and is then
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What Is Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio?
A central air conditioning units’ energy efficiency is regulated by the US Department of Energy and every unit is assigned a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) rating that measures how efficient a system is; the higher the SEER rating, the more substantial the energy savings.
SEER is calculated as the total cooling output, measured in British thermal units or Btu, delivered by the unit during its regular yearly usage period, divided by its total energy input, measured in watt-hours, over the same time period.
As these ratings can be a little hard to understand, we have put together the following guide to help you through the basics, so you can make a more informed decision when it comes time to purchase your new air conditioner.
Myth #1:
SEER-Rated Devices Are Too Expensive
While it is true that more efficient appliances cost more, they typically pay for themselves with
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6 Typical Air Conditioner Problems With Possible Solutions
Central Air Conditioning is one of those things that you miss the most only have you don’t have it. This is especially true on the first few hot and humid spring and summer days when you first try to turn on your system and nothing happens! A typical central air conditioner will only last between 12 to 15 years, so if your AC unit is about this old you may want to start budgeting for a new one. However, before you call a professional HVAC technician here are six typical Air Conditioner problems with possible solutions:
Problem #1: Air Conditioner Won’t Turn On.
Possible Solutions:
- Make sure the thermostat is set to “Cool” not “Heat” or “Off”.
- Be sure the thermostat is set below the current room temperature.
- Check the circuit breaker that controls the air conditioning unit and the one that controls the furnace. Reset any popped fuses or replace
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Horizon How-To:
Duct Wise
how to
Up to 40% of your cooling costs could be spent cooling air lost through gaps in your duct-work. If you own an older air conditioning system with older duct-work, examine your ducts for cracks, splits or bad connections and use foil tape to seal any openings. While this may seem like an easy fix, it is often temporary and it is always recommended to have a professional inspect your duct-work. A professional sealing will last longer and be more efficient.
