Author: Michael

Having a safe and reliable way to heat your home in the winter is paramount to the comfort of you and your family. Here are three ways to heat your home.

1. Oil

Using oil to heat your house is safe, economical and efficient; with every dollar you spend on heating oil, 85-95 cents of that goes directly towards heat and hot water for your house. Oil also heats buildings more quickly than other sources of fuel due to it burning hotter, leading to additional comfort and efficiency. If you do choose oil heating, one thing to keep in mind is to take care of your oil tank and oil tank abandonment Westchester County NY.

2. Fireplaces

Heating via a fireplace is a good option if you are spending a lot of time in just one or two rooms and have less need to heat the entire house. Fireplaces also provide exceptional ambiance with their warm glow, instantly becoming a place for people to gather. Fireplaces are naturally decorative and can add value to a home when it comes time to sell the home. The four types of fireplaces are electric, gas, ethanol, and wood.

3. Electric

An advantage of electric heating is that it comes with a lower initial cost than some other heat sources, since electric heaters are pretty common. Check to see if your current electricity plans are suitable to sustain your electric heaters without increasing your power cost. They are easier to maintain, but the trade off is that they heat rooms more slowly due to the need for the elements to heat up, and can be pricier in the long run. For this reason, electric heating is usually better for climates that do not get very cold or do not experience long cold snaps.

Whether you are purchasing a new home or looking for a different option to heat your current home, consider the pros and cons of these three heating sources.…

Read More

Are you scared to open your energy bill each month, unsure what you will find? Energy costs continue to go up year after year, and you need to find ways to keep those costs down as much as possible. The U.S. Department of Energy says that making a few changes in your home can save you as much as 31% annually on your utility bills.

Replace the Filter

If you don’t regularly check your air filter, you’re throwing your money away. Air filters are designed to clean the air that goes through the machine and is pumped into your home. All of the impurities that it gets out of the air stick to the filter. Over time, the dirt, debris, and pollen build-up, causing the machine to work harder to pull air through the filter. Most filters need to be changed every 1 to 3 months.

Inspect the Insulation

Lack of adequate attic insulation in a home is one of the leading causes of energy loss. Insulation helps keep the warm or cool air inside your home, so if you don’t have enough insulation, the air in your home is likely to be lost through your roof. Insulation can last for as long as 20 to 30 years but can start degrading as early as 15 years. If the insulation is level to or below the floor joists in the attic, you will want to replace it as soon as possible. Batt insulation in Pittsburgh services can help you know which kind is best for you.

Check the Water Heater

Your water heater is likely one of the biggest energy costs in your home. Most waters heaters are set to between 130 and 140 degrees, but professionals recommend turning it down to 120 degrees to see savings on your bill. Additionally, insulate the water heater pipes to help protect the appliance from working too hard in the cooler months.…

Read More

It can be hard for old air conditioners and windows to keep up with the scorching heat of summertime. Turning down the thermostat may make a small difference in the temperature, but it certainly makes a big difference to your wallet. For those who aren’t ready to invest in expensive home renovations, don’t fear. Some businesses are inventing creative gadgets that will give your air conditioning system the boost it needs to get through the hottest months of the year.

Motorized Shades and Blinds

Approximately 25% to 30% of heat gain comes through windows. This varies greatly depending on the type of windows you have, but even the most energy-efficient windows will heat up your home when the sun is shining. Keeping those windows covered with drapes and high-quality cellular shades Cambridge MA is the ideal solution. But for some homes with hard-to-reach windows, opening and closing window treatments multiple times a day is difficult. That problem has led to the creation of motorized shades and blinds. You can now purchase window treatments with built-in remote controls and timers. For a less expensive option, attachments are available which can automate your current window treatments.

Duct Booster Fans

These cool gadgets help rooms that don’t receive as much cool air as the rest of the home. Instead of reworking your entire duct system, simply add a booster fan to your vent. They look just like normal registers but have a built-in fan that propels cooled air into the room. You will need an outlet nearby since the fan requires electricity.

Mini-Split Systems

Mini-split systems are the ideal mix of a window unit and a built-in system. They work great in areas of the home that were added after the original HVAC system was installed, or converted from garage or attic spaces. This gadget is more expensive and labor-intensive to install, but it will also make the largest difference.…

Read More

Whether your family currently lives in tight quarters or is in the midst of a move, renting a space at a nearby self-storage facility may be a smart way to hold onto those possessions you aren’t ready to part with. Storage companies frequently offer spaces of different sizes and conditions, so you are sure to find an option that works well for your family. Consider four tips that may help you make the most of your storage space and keep your things in top condition.

1. Use Airtight Containers

No matter where you invest in storage Petaluma, it’s a good idea to keep all of your possessions in tightly sealed containers. Plastic totes are often ideal. These containers may protect your things from moisture, bugs, and dust.

2. Label Boxes Thoroughly

Even if many of your storage containers are transparent, it is still wise to label at least two sides of each box. Consider writing additional notes under the main label to list key contents. This way, you can easily find things when you need them without having to check every container.

3. Keep Frequently Used Items Handy

Unless you are storing items temporarily and plan to pick them all up at once, make sure you think through the organization of your containers. Holiday decorations and sporting goods, for instance, should remain at the tops of piles so you can grab them when needed.

4. Take Care With Delicate Goods

Finally, take some time to carefully pack fragile possessions using packing peanuts, bubble wrap, or similar materials. Additionally, you may wish to consider investing in climate-controlled storage if you will be storing clothing, instruments, photographs, artwork, or other valuables.

Although it may be tempting to simply unload all your things into your storage space as quickly as possible, spending some extra time on this project is sure to serve you well in the long run. A bit of extra care and organization at the outset may protect your possessions and allow you to access them more conveniently.…

Read More

At some point in your life, you may need to lease a storage unit. You can store your belongings there for a reasonable fee and return to grab items as needed. So who might require storage units Sonoma CA? That list could go on and on, but this article won’t take it that far. Don’t worry, though; some examples of those who can benefit from these rooms to accommodate their assets are as follows.

• Homeowners
• Renters
• Large Corporations
• Small Businesses

If you happen to be such a person or in charge of an organization and need a storage unit, the only question that now remains is, “How should you pack it?” Going about the venture in the wrong way can feel like a nightmare when you have to retrieve items, as it could take you forever to find them. So, use these packing tips to keep your place neat and organized. With any luck, that’ll only make your life easier in the long run.

Create Box Labels

There’s a good chance that if your storing belongings in a storage unit, they will first be packed into boxes. That’s an excellent idea because the cartons can be stacked like the bricks in the game Tetris to save space. However, before getting ahead of yourself and putting cartons away, you might want to create easy-to-read labels and adhere them to the boxes. Then, after completing the tasks, retrieving particular items later will be a breeze.

Make A Path

Unless you want to unload stuff each time you return to your unit to pick up items in the back, it’s good to leave a path while packing the storage unit. That will allow you to walk from the front to the rear with no problems, looking at labels along the way. Then, you’ll be able to grab what you need quickly and get back to more pressing matters at hand.…

Read More

As long as your fridge/freezer is cooling, freezing, and producing ice, you probably don’t think about the appliance regularly. However, when something goes wrong and foods begin to defrost and spoil, there’s no time to waste, and you must do something. But, the question is, “What should you do?”

There’s always the option of doing not much of anything, but then what will you eat after everything ruins? Of course, you could also break out ice chests to keep meats, drinks, and more cold, but buying bag after bag of ice can get old in a hurry. Hence, when your appliance breaks down, there are better alternatives. For instance, you could run right out and buy a brand new fridge, providing that you have the money. After all, have you seen the prices of such devices today? There is nothing cheap about them.

A Suitable Solution

Yet, there’s another solution too, and perhaps it is the best of the bunch. You can find a company that tackles refrigerator repair Pittsburgh PA, and schedule an appointment. The technicians that work for these organizations have the education and training to get malfunctioning appliances working like new again. They also have the necessary experience and tools to diagnose issues, replace parts, add coolant, and complete other projects.

Much like everything else human-made, eventually, refrigerators can go kaput. On the contrary, that doesn’t mean they’re down for the count, though. A repair technician can breathe life into your old unit, leaving you thinking that you have a brand-new fridge on your hands. Additionally, repair services are typically much cheaper than spending your hard-earned cash on a fancy new refrigerator with all the bells and whistles. Thus, if your device is on the fritz, contact an appliance repair company for a consultation. They’ll be able to tell you which option, repairs or replacement, will serve you better.…

Read More