Don’t Wait Until It Breaks!
Even if you never get your hands dirty changing an air conditioning filter, inspecting a furnace or boiler, fixing a leaky faucet, draining your water heater or unclogging a sink drain, there are a few simple air conditioning, heating and plumbing tips every homeowner should know. Do it yourself or hire a professional – these tips can help you get started.
Air Conditioners
Schedule a professional inspection twice a year. In between professional tune-ups, you can clean the outside unit yourself with a garden hose, keep it clear of debris and shrubbery, straighten bent fins and change the filter every two to three months.
Furnaces and Boilers
According to the US Consumer Products Safety Commission, homeowners should schedule an annual professional inspection of chimneys, flues and furnace vents for leaks, built-up debris, and to ensure connections are secure. Inspectors should also check the furnace or boiler
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Are There Distinct Advantages To Using Infrared Space Heaters?
Infrared space heaters are becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to traditional heaters and it is claimed that there are some distinct advantages to using them. EdenPURE infrared heaters are admittedly quite versatile and cost-effective domestic heating but when deciding between one of these and a new but more traditional heating system, it is worth looking at the relative benefits of each.
Make Proper Use of Ceiling Fans
Infrared heaters are advertised as being ‘healthier’ than traditional heating systems, because they work by giving out ‘negative ion heat’ rather than by simply blowing dry heat into the room. The warmth from an infrared heater initially goes straight to the floor before ascending the walls and reaching the ceiling. This is said to be why they are so effective at warming up an entire room rather than just isolated spaces, such as the areas directly in front or
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Conduct Routine Maintenance on Your HVAC System
As with most other pieces of household equipment, it pays to carry out regular maintenance checks on all of the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) equipment in your home. The benefits of properly maintaining these units include lower utility costs, greater comfort for the occupants of the building, and lower service and maintenance costs; in most cases, the HVAC equipment’s effective service life will also be prolonged. Proper HVAC equipment maintenance is also essential to ensuring that the occupants of a building are protected from exposure to issues of poor IAQ (indoor air quality), as well as to ensuring their safety and comfort.
Prepare A Checklist
There are a number of points to bear in mind when it comes to maintaining an HVAC system, and it is useful to prepare a checklist prior to beginning any checks; special attention should be paid to any equipment that is vulnerable to excess corrosion
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Secure Your Home
Though most of us would rather not think about it, crime is an unfortunate a fact of life that affects millions of people every year, and the fact of the matter is that break-ins, burglaries, and home invasions are increasing in frequency due to a number of factors, not the least of which is the current state of the economy. There are, however, some very effective steps that homeowners can take to protect themselves against intruders, and making regular security checks of your property and house should be as much a part of your routine as checking your heating and air conditioning systems every year.
Install A Home Alarm System
A home alarm system is one of the best ways of discouraging criminals, and there are a number of very effective, basic DIY systems on the market that can be easily installed in just a few hours. In areas that have a higher than average crime rate, a professionally installed system tied directly to a security company
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Avoid Space Heater Accidents
Space heaters can be portable or fixed units, and are used for heating individual rooms to supplement or replace the heat generated by more traditional means, such as a furnace or boiler. Space heaters can be powered by wood, propane, electricity, or several other fuels, and there are a number of general safety rules that need to be kept in mind if they are to be used in a responsible and effective manner.
Toddlers and Seniors Are At Risk
The age groups at the greatest risk of injury caused by space heater accidents are toddlers under age five and seniors over the age of 70. Men between the ages of 30 and 69 are also at an increased risk of injury; this may be due to the fact that men in this age group have a greater tendency to tackle appliance repairs on their own. Most space heater accidents occur in the living room of a house or apartment, and one possible reason for this is that smoke detectors are often not installed in
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Get Educated to Prevent Potential Home Disaster
There are a number of things that you have in your home that could potentially explode. Whilst most of the time they don’t of course, it is always sensible to know what they are so that you can prevent this sort of disaster.
Gas Grills
Every year 6,000 gas grills explode. These explosions can cause severe injuries and even death. Before using a gas grill you should read the safety instructions carefully. Always get the grill inspected and maintained regularly and have any damaged parts replaced immediately. Check that propane tanks are not dented or damaged and are not stored near any heat sources.
Gas Leaks
Gas leaks causing an explosion are fortunately very rare but when they do happen the results can be deadly. The first indication of danger is the smell of the leaking gas. Any such smell should be reported immediately. Gas appliances should be serviced and inspected regularly
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How to Save on Electricity
The holidays are nearly upon us, and while spending time with family and friends is good for the soul, blowing your holiday shopping budget on astronomical electricity bills is most certainly not. Here are some easy ways you can increase energy efficiency and lower your electric bill this season.
Use LED Lights and Fiber Optic Decorations
We all love holiday decorations, but all those extra lights can really inflate your electric bill. Energy-efficient LED lights can cut your electricity usage by as much as 90%, which can help you save significantly.
Decorations lit with fiber optics use a single bulb and a lot less energy than traditional lighting, offering the ultimate in efficiency and savings.
Set Holiday Lights With a Timer
A timer lets you program your holiday lights to run on an automated schedule so you never have to worry about remembering to turn them on or off. Timers are easy to find this
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How to Properly Use Ceiling Fans
Many of us use ceiling fans to help cool our homes during the summer. Most ceiling fans use about the same amount of electricity as a common 100-watt light bulb, so they are a low-cost yet effective way to supplement an existing air conditioning system. However, you can also use ceiling fans in the winter to help increase the effectiveness of your home’s heating system.
Ceiling Fan Direction in Summer – Foward / Counter Clockwise
In the summer, cool air collects near the floor, while hot air rises to the ceiling. The blades of a ceiling fan push air down, which forces the cool air near the floor to move outward and stir the air at the edges of the room. This circulation and movement of air can help a room feel up to four degrees cooler. You get a more comfortable temperature inside your home because a fan will help balance the cooling in each room where one is in use. If you have central air conditioning in your home,
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The Dangers of Carbon Monoxide
Winter is coming, meaning more time indoors. When windows and doors are sealed against the cold, the chances of carbon monoxide contamination increase. This winter, learn and understand the dangers of carbon monoxide and ways to reduce the risk.
What Is CO?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that is toxic to humans and animals. Therefore the real danger of CO is that it can make you ill, or even kill you, before you even realize that it’s there. Even low levels of carbon monoxide exposure can cause flu-like symptoms including headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue and disorientation. The effects of CO poisoning can vary depending on a person’s age, general health, how much they have been exposed to, and for how long.
Where Does CO Come From?
There are many different sources of carbon monoxide in your home: kerosene and gas space heaters that aren’t properly vented, leaking chimneys and
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Ten Ways to Stay Warm This Winter
Install Programmable Thermostats
Investing in a good quality programmable thermostat is one of the best ways to keep warm this winter without breaking the bank. Not only can they help you save on utility bills, they are also very low maintenance. Once you establish your desired settings, the thermostats will do the rest.
Seal up Windows and Doors
Prevent heat loss by ensuring that gaps around windows and doors are sealed or by using thermal curtains to hold heat in and keep cold out.
Use a Space Heater
Instead of jacking up the whole-house heating system, along with your monthly energy bill, try supplementing your HVAC system with space heaters to warm smaller rooms in the house.
Insulate Electrical Outlets and Switches
Heat can be lost through gaps and cracks around electrical outlets and switch plates. Plug holes with basic expanding foam, insulation or foam plate seals.
