Category: Guide

Air conditioning is a monthly expense and even more so if you don’t have a home with an air conditioning system already installed. Many folks enjoy working around air conditioning and cooling the house without it. Basically the idea of cooling your house without air conditioning is accomplished by minimizing heat sources and removing built up heat. Heat can be stifling and drain energy, leaving family members listless and grouchy. Excessive heat can cause heat exhaustion and affect blood pressure. Not only does a cooler house promote family health and happiness, but cooling without air conditioning is a great way to save money.

Here are a few helpful tips to accomplish this:

1) Insulate your attic. This will cut down on the transfer of heat through the walls and roof. This will give you the greatest change in comfort for the least expense. Even if you don’t think the attic affects the rest of the house, it does by collecting heat from inside and out and holding it in the house.

2) Another attic tip is to install a foil radiant barrier in the attic under the roof rafters.

3) Install heat reflecting film on all the windows that face the sun. This will reduce glare, and furniture damage caused by the sun, as well as helping keep out the heat. Mid afternoon sun can heat a house up several degrees that can take hours to dissipate.

4) Pull drapes and shades. Add overheads, latticework, awnings, and shelters to prevent sunlight from streaming through the windows, this reduces the heat gain within the house.

5) Plant trees, large bushes, and vines which will provide shade and cooling evaporation in the future. This will also help direct cooling breezes if you plant correctly.

6) Be sure to keep an eye on the temperature, inside and out, open windows and doors to let in cooler air when the temperature is lower outside, make sure to close them when it gets warmer outside as well as the drapes or blinds.

7) Use portable and ceiling fans to circulate air throughout the home. Moving air feels cooler than still air.

8) Reduce indoor humidity, avoid mid day laundry chores, showering and cooking. All of these cause moist warm air which can make the house feel warmer than it is. If you have to do any of these things make sure to have a fan running in that area, or even a dehumidifier.

9) Keep all heat generating appliances and lights turned off unless you absolutely need them. This includes the stove and oven, high wattage bulbs, and electrical appliance, the television and stereo.

Everyone wants their home to be comfortable, warm enough when it is cold outside and refreshingly cool when it is hot outside. Your climate is important in deciding how to handle the temperature of your home.

Keeping your home cool is definitely important if you live in a place with high humidity or extremely hot summers, if you live in a more moderate climate keeping cool without air conditioning can be accomplished much more easily. If you have tried all the tips above and the house is still too hot, then it is time to start shopping for air conditioning products.

There’s nothing like cool air conditioned air during peak summers to keep your insides cool and calm where the merciless heat outside can drain the very life out of you through dehydration but thankfully there are blaux portable ac reviews online to look forward to and get an AC at the earliest.

My first sewing machine was from a door to door salesman. Actually, I don’t remember how we connected, but this was what the experience felt like. I didn’t know much about sewing machines, and he was there with one. It was heavy and awkward. I did use it for quite a long time, but not very enthusiastically.

When I was ready to look for a new machine, there was a quilt shop going out of business. The brand I bought is a well-known, reputable company. It had a lot of features I was looking for, and the price, even on sale, reflected that. One feature it did not have, was being able to embroider designs in a frame. Fortunately, I was happy with the machine (no way could I take it back to a shop going out of business.). I didn’t have any problems or need any repairs. For the selection of the right sewing machine, a registration should be done at http://sewingmachinebuffs.com/best-sewing-machine-for-quilting/ site. The purchasing through the person will be effective without any additional repairing cost. The life of the product will be long in comparison to the others. 

After I was retired, and had saved some money, I decided to investigate embroidery machines. I did not want to spend another small fortune. I found what I wanted online by a reputable company for a reasonable cost. Yes, I had to read and understand the manual, but I learned how the machine worked, and wasn’t afraid of it.

There are several things to consider when you’re thinking about buying a machine. Brand, cost, features, repairs by a reputable/brand dealer or repair person, what you want to accomplish with the machine, and where you’ll use it.

Brand:

Talk to sewing friends who have different brands and kinds of sewing machines. Ask about different features, things they like about their machine, and things they don’t. How long have they had the machine, and how often have they had to have it repaired? Just because a TV personality uses a certain brand or kind of a machine, does not mean it’s the ultimate machine to have.

Cost:

Go online to compare brands, features, and cost. Do you have a trade-in? If you go to a store, whether it’s an independent dealer or a chain, ask if they will give you something for your “old” machine. You might consider keeping it anyway as a back-up. Tell the clerk you’re shopping, and not in a rush to buy, even if there’s a ” limited time offer”. This is an investment. Ask if there are classes included with the purchase. Price will determine what features are available on the machine. YOU need to determine what features you’ll use and will benefit you.

Optional equipment:

Unless you’re an avid seamstress/sewer, you don’t need some of the available tools you can get to go with your machine. Try it out with what comes with it. You can purchase options later.

Features:

Think what you want the machine to do for you. An automatic threader is wonderful, as is a thread cutter. They’re not necessary, but great features. How hard/simple is the machine to thread and wind the bobbin? Can you lower the feed-dogs? If you’re interested in embroidery as well as sewing, can the machine do both, and what size is the frame? How heavy is the machine? Do you need special bobbins? Ask to review the manual and see if it’s relatively easy to understand.

Repairs:

Is there someone you trust to work on your machine, and who will explain problems and solutions to you? What and how do they charge?

Use:

Some people use their machines on a daily basis. Others use them maybe once a month. However often you use one, you should be comfortable and confident when you do. Take time to read instructions, the manual, and warranties. You’ll enjoy your machine much more if you do.

Central air conditioning is the name of the game way down deep in Dixie where Christmas Day means shorts and a T-shirt with picture of the Grinch on it. Other locales still use the old-fashioned window air conditioner, however, and even some smaller homes in the South utilized a window air conditioner. What, have you ever tried sipping a Mint Julep and discussing the Kentucky Derby favorites without air conditioning? If so, you’ve ever never spent a summer or even a spring in the South.

Troubleshooting a window air conditioner begins by checking the power to the unit. Make sure that your window air conditioner is plugged in. If the AC’s plug is making sweet, slow love to the outlet, head to the main service panel and check for a blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker. Window air conditioners are notorious for blowing fuses and tripping circuit breakers so be prepared with a brand new fuse or the ability to flip the circuit breaker back into position.

Window air conditioners are so notorious for blowing fuses or tripping circuit breakers that you have a whole list of things to check when your window air conditioner continually blows fuses or trips the breakers. Among the things to check out to see if it’s faulty are the capacitor, compressor and fan motor. If those three things check out okay, but your window air conditioning unit is still blowing fuses like a dowdy old lady in a Marx Brothers film, then it’s probably a case of dirty coils or bent fins. Clean the coils and use a fin comb to work the fins of the AC back into position.

If your window AC is throwing out air, but it’s not very cool, check to make sure that the thermostat has not been set high by some joker who doesn’t appreciate the alchemical beauty of the invention. The thermostat may also be faulty as could the capacitor, overload protector or selector switch. You may want to go ahead and splurge for a fancy digital multitester as this piece of electrical equipment may pay for itself just from the use you get testing out your window air conditioning unit when it starts acting up.

If the air conditioner engages in short cycling, check to make sure your thermostat hasn’t gone south for the summer. If the thermostat checks out okay, look to the capacitor as your problem. Discharging the capacitor is your best bet, but if that doesn’t solve your problem, chances are there is an air flow obstruction in the condenser. Clean the coils, straighten the fins and use a mini-vac to make sure the obstruction is removed.

When it comes to the best brands, one can always try out blaux portable ac as it has taken the entire nation by storm ever since it was launched and can give even newer models a run for their money and that’s saying something given the competition that we see where renowned brands fight to attain the top spot.

Here are some of the main reasons why you should have your boiler serviced:

Save money on repairs

One of the main reasons why you should have your boiler serviced annually is for you to save money on boiler repairs. Through oiler service, you will be able to know whether or not your boiler is still working properly. As such, when there are small issues that might become worse in the future, you the service provider can easily identify them and fix right away. This will help you save money on unexpected breakdowns and any future maintenance.

Reduce energy bills

Another reason why it is crucial to have your boiler serviced is to reduce your energy bills. Through boiler service, the technician would be able to know if your device is still working correctly and properly and not wasting energy unnecessarily. Commonly, when a device isn’t functioning well, there is a tendency that it might me overusing energy than its normal usage. Hence, having a boiler that is efficiently working will reduce your home’s carbon footprint and energy bills. According to study, you could save up to 35O euros every year with the help of a professional boiler service provider in maintaining the quality and safety of your device.

Keep Warranty Valid

Most of the stores where you can buy boilers require yearly maintenance for the device so it can still be valid. Thus, it is crucial to have your boiler serviced yearly. Warranties are definitely a big help when something unfortunate to your device happens. Always keep in mind that boilers are quite costly. So, if you want to use your warranty for the device that you availed, make sure to abide to the requirement and have your boiler serviced. It is also important to check with your insurance provider about your boiler device insurance coverage.

Safety

As you may know, boilers could be dangerous especially if a gas leak occurs. Carbon monoxide which is also known as the silent killer is described as a scentless gas that can cause hangover symptoms such as dizziness, nausea and can lead to loss of consciousness. Relatively, when there are some issues in your boiler, it could lead to leak carbon monoxide. So, for your safety, it is very essential to have a carbon monoxide alarm installed so you can prevent any gas leak. Your boiler service provider will ensure that there are no issues that might cause such danger. It is also important to use the best boiler repair & installation services.

Additional services

Overall, a boiler service will ensure that your boiler is working effectively and efficiently. The service includes tests and checks on your device to make sure that it will not cause you any harm or danger. Some of the services they perform include inspection of the inside of the boiler, boiler control checks, gas and pressure flow tests, flue and combustion checks, checks on all electrical connections and inspection of water and gas pipework. 

My family and I just relocated from another state to the area. We were recommended a real estate agent and given another name to give us options. Both agents represented two different companies, Irongate Realtors and Big Hill GMAC. My husband and I were motivated, pre-approved buyers but were still looking to find a value so that we weren’t over-extended and our kids could have most of the comforts of our last home. We went on the advice of a trusted person and tried the first agent. She took us to about 16 houses in 2 days. On the second day, we made an offer on a house and it was accepted. Good for us I thought, until I asked about the 15 days of rent free living the previous home owner had. This indicator became quite obvious by the end of our buying experience. Here was the deal. I asked about the 15 days of free living they had and she became hugely defensive and said, “Well you should have thought of that and put it in the offer. Too late now.” I swear I could hear her cackle after I got off the phone with her. Initially, the agent was fine, but slowly became more aggressive, impatient, and condescending. Red flag! Make sure that your agent is looking out for your best interest – we don’t feel we were so lucky. Be leery of those representing both the buyer and the seller. Needless to say, we won’t be using this agent or recommending her to anyone and I have forgiven my trusted friend.

Tips:

• Go meet more than one real estate agent.

• Be patient; unless you have to move in ASAP – then consider renting.

• If the air is turned down so low your nose turns red or your fingernails blue, Ask why – it could be because they have pets and it keeps the smell down. (We learned the hard way)

• Ask about pet stains, carpet cleaning, and age of carpet. You may need to get new carpet if the pet stains are untreated. Remember to add this into the offer – or it won’t get done.

• Ask about the wood working or trim work in the house – was it by the home owner or the builder? Shotty workmanship can be a cover-up for something else.

• Schedule carpet cleaning, painting and all before your move your stuff in. This was something new to us, but we are glad we did it. It gave us a chance to clean up the HUGE mess left us by the previous home owner.

• Use Kilz paint in all the closets and other spaces where there are stains, mold, or other spots that don’t look normal.

• Have your ducts cleaned.

• Question your inspector about everything – the furnace, where the filters are, ask him to open it up and look inside.

• Remember to put everything in your offer that you want done. For example, if you give them 30 days to get out – ask for rent. If you want carpets cleaned, replacement screens or handles, your water tested, whatever – put it in the offer. There is always negotiation.

• If the house is on the market for a long time – ask why….and ask again and again to different people. The previous owners were at the house a couple of times and we got three different stories – another red flag.

• Ask why a lot.

• Ask about the minutest details – even if they seem trivial.

• Remember it is your money and somebody else is trying to get. Hang on to as much as you possibly can!

One of the best brands to try out this season is blaux portable ac as they have a limited period offer where you can purchase it at a price bargain of your choice apart from benefits like super cooling mechanism and adjustable temperatures where even the pet issues get sorted out.