Home Garden
Archive for June, 2010
Great Information on How to Solve Air Flow Problems in Your Home
01 year ago
by admin
in Heating and Cooling
Solving air flow problems in your home
Basic things that the homeowner can check to help air flow:
First and foremost, check your furnace filter to see if it is dirty and if so, remove the dirty filter and install a new furnace filter. Plugged furnace filters restrict air flow by creating a pressure drop. Next, walk around your house to see if any cold air returns have anything such as couches, rugs or cabinets obstructing the vent. If anything is obstructing the vent, then remove these obstructions so that the cold air return, which is an air intake, can draw in enough air. Last, but not least, walk around your home to check to see if all supply registers (heat vents that blows out air) are open. All supply registers should be open. A popular homeowner misnomar, is that by shutting off certain vents throughout the house will cause other vents to blow harder. This simply is not true, because CFM (a measurement of air flow, cubic feet per minute) is determined by the pipes diameter and only so much CFM can ever blow out due to the size of the round, regardless if other registers are shut off or not. Shutting down too many supply registers usually causes more harm than good by creating pressurization problems with the overall duct system, that in an extreme case can actually cause your furnace to short cycle on a high limit and hence increases the cost on your utility bill while working key HVAC components and parts to reduce their life expectancy. Never buy and install heat vent filters either, because these filters really cause pressurization problems too. If there is too much dust blowing out of the vents, then the best thing that you may consider is to have the HVAC system cleaned out thoroughly with the power vacuum/air sweep method in air duct cleaning by an ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America) member company. An average price for a 1 furnace home would cost between $400. 00-$700. 00 to do the job correctly, depending on where you live in the country and depending on the service providers cost to operate.
Some solutions that an HVAC company or contractor may suggest:
Very often in older homes, air ducts are sized incorrectly due to building departments in the past not emphasizing the importance of properly sized air duct construction and the by the fact that the builder wanted to save a buck to construct his own ductwork rather than paying a heating and cooling professional to install the ductwork properly. In recent years, many building departments throughout the United States really have zeroed in on enforcing proper duct design, so in most newer homes indoor thermal comfort has improved drastically. Some of the things that your licensed HVAC company or contractor may suggest to you to drastically help your older homes air flow is as follows:
You see some of these bandaide jobs will cost just a few hundred dollars, while some solutions may cost a few thousand dollars, but in the end after the corrections are made, your utility bill will probably reduce a bunch and you’ll finally have true indoor comfort that you didn’t have before. Many HVAC companies and or contractors will give you more than one option to consider as well so that no matter what you decide on some sort of indoor air comfort solution will be achieved to atleast improve the comfort situation. The best thing that you can do as a homeowner is to select an ACCA member heating and air conditioning company or contractor to ensure that your comfort specialist has all of the latest and greatest training, tools and professional assistance to best serve you as a customer. In the long term you won’t regret it because you will save some money on the utility bill and you will be much more comfortable in your home as a result.
Article By: Mike Meincke
Managing Member
Lucky Duct, LLC
www. luckyduct. net
Mike Meincke is the Managing Member of Lucky Duct, LLC which operates a full service heating, ventilation, AC and air duct cleaning company in the Denver metro. Lucky Duct, LLC was founded in 2005 and has quickly attracted some of the most seasoned tenured HVAC technicians to work for Lucky Duct, LLC due to a positive working climate, good hourly pay and full fledge employee benefits that has allowed Lucky Duct, LLC to rapidly grow in the saturated Denver Metro HVAC market. Visit www. luckyduct. net to learn more about why Lucky Duct, LLC has raised the bar in customer service, up to date technician training and quality of service, products and workmanship!
How to Make Your Own Wood Pellets For Home Heating
01 year ago
by admin
in Heating and Cooling
If you want to know how to make your own wood pellets you are going to need to have the right skills and equipment. Making wood pellets for home heating is a little more of a sophisticated process than making traditional firewood. There are now small portable machines that you can purchase to make your own wood pellets but without the right skills the pellets you produce may not be of very high quality. Some may crumble back into sawdust before you ever get to use them.
The first step is to get your raw material, which can be wood or many other forms of biomass such as straw, corn stalks, grass and even cardboard. You will need to reduce the size of your raw material to a size small enough to fit into your pellet mill’s die holes. This can be done with a chipper or a hammer mill.
Now the material will need to be dried to about 10-20% moisture content. For the best quality pellets your material should be about 15% moisture content.
Once the material is dried you may have to mix in a binding agent such as vegetable oil. This will depend on what type of material you are using. Some materials like softwoods typically have enough binding agents in them naturally.
Now the material can go into the mill where a roller will roll across the material and press it through a die. The die is a hole with a tapered top like a funnel. Pressing the material through the die not only compresses the material but also creates heat which melts the lignins in the material which will act as a glue which will bind the pellet together after it cools.
Now that the pellets are formed they will still be hot so they will now need to be cooled. The most simple way is to spread them out and let them cool at room temperature.
Learning how to make your own pellets is a simple process and there are now small scale pellet machines that will make them for you. All of these machines will make pellets but if you want pellets that are of a high enough quality to be useful you will need to have the right knowledge. There are also different types of pellet mills so before you purchase one, knowing how the process works will help you in selecting a mill that will best suit your needs.
Get a step by step guide that will teach you how to make your own wood pellets.
Gas Fireplace Installation-DIY
01 year ago
by admin
in Heating and Cooling
There may be areas in your home that could use some extra heat but may be particularly difficult to get to for cleaning if a wood burning fireplace were to be installed. If you are considering heating a room with something more than a plug in heater, it might be time to think about a gas fireplace installation system.
Access to the area for a gas line is essential. This is usually not a big problem. Consult your local gas company or heating and air conditioning contractor for specifics. If you are considering doing this project yourself, make sure to do your homework. This is not a job for novices. While it can be done, some education is necessary if you don’t want to have to pay more money for a professional to fix your weekend project. Painting for instance, is a great project for do it yourselfers, Running and securing gas lines is quite another. A mistake in this project can have dire consequences.
Corners are great places for fireplaces as tastes in furniture arrangements will change over time and a corner fixture will not limit the placement of furniture like a fireplace that takes up an entire wall. Rugs and end tables can be changed out and as new innovations in electronics continue, wall units for media will change or be completely eliminated.
A gas fireplace installation can and warmth and elegance to a room and will also increase usability. When colder temperatures come, a warm fireplace lights up the room and calls for its family to gather around for a cup of cocoa or a warm brandy.
Faye writes about gas fireplace installation at www. thefireplacereview. com
The Basic Fireplace Mantel Facts
01 year ago
by admin
in Heating and Cooling
Think of a nice home when it plays a part in the winter time as well as you will find that a warm cozy living room with a fireplace is almost always included when it plays a part in the picture. A stone fireplace with the perfect mantel completes this lovely home picture almost every time. Once you think of what you need for the mantel, different people have different ideas.
Many hang paintings above the fire place, when it comes to many cases a painting of a field on a warm summer day is hanging above the mantel with family photos when it plays a part in old-world frames on the mantel completes the warm cozy feeling of the room. For others, having new age decor is more the style that they want.
Having a fireplace and mantel, the holidays can be an markedly joy time. This will make possible you to decorate according to the season, when it plays a part in fun innovative decorations as well as ideas. Of course, Christmas is the greatest enjoyment holiday to decorate your mantel. You can use lights and hang Christmas stockings, but for the mantel, you can lay out boughs of holly and seasonal flowers can add a joy festive seek to your room.
There are many different odds and ends that you can do with a fireplace mantel. It all depends on the individual tastes of the homeowner. Fireplace mantels are to be found made of different materials as well as various methods. Many different cultures have contributed to fireplace mantels. Greek, Roman as well as even Italian are a few of the various methods to opt from.
For those who want a rustic look, stone and concrete fireplaces are also available. The superior expensive of all fireplace mantels is marble. This material adds a uniquely blunt appearance to any room. There are so many choices at this point for a fireplace mantel that actually making the choice will be difficult, as well as time consuming.
One thing that may be a huge factor in deciding which fireplace is right for you will be the rates. Fireplace mantel are to be found extremely expensive. Stone and wood fireplace mantels embark on at here and there seven hundred dollars for just a bare, basic mantel. When you add when it comes to the details that you are looking for, it can result when it plays a part in a bill of several thousand dollars. There is an following to this enormous expense. There are fireplace mantel kits on the open market that make possible the do-it-yourselfer to acquire the fireplace mantel of their dreams. The kits advance at about two hundred as well as fifty dollars.
You can always use a fireplace mantel to define whom we are just among the decorations that are acquire on it. No matter what you do with yours, it is guaranteed to set up the look as well as feel that you want. It is recommended that the do-it-yourselfer be experienced and not a novice. It is also effective to remember that not all fireplace mantels can be attached with screws and bolts. There are specific glues on the market that are made just for fireplaces. These are participating at any support store.
Winter is closing in, and a Fire Place is just what you need to add character and warmth to your home. Discover how to plan, buy and position your Fire Place by following Daniel Roshard Best Fireplace Mantels articles and tips.
Spring Cleaning Your Fireplace – Fireplace Tools
01 year ago
by admin
in Heating and Cooling
Black soot and resin can easily build up on your tools and can make them unsightly and grungy-looking. Here are a few simple steps to help bring back their original luster and shine.
1. Take your fireplace grate and tools outside and give them a good hosing down. This will quickly remove all of the loose soot and dirt from the surface.
2. For the fireplace grate, fill a bucket with hot water and a small amount of abrasive cleaner. Scrub with a steel wool pad to remove the caked on resin and soot. You may need to use a stiff-bristled brush to get the really bad parts.
3. For the fireplace tools, use hot water and a small amount of ammonia cleaner. Avoid using abrasives, as these may scratch the finish on your tools. You may use a scrub brush to get the stubborn dirt particles, but use caution so as not to damage the surface.
4. Once you have removed all the dirt and soot, you may decide to add an extra sparkle to your freshly cleaned fireplace tools. You can do this by polishing with a brass polisher. Follow all label instructions and warnings when applying this to your tools.
5. Enjoy your clean fireplace for the rest of the season, without worrying about flying dust or ash or about a dangerous creosote fire breaking out in the fireplace.
6. Spruce up your firebox and give it a little flare! Remove your fireplace screen, andirons and fireplace grate and replace them with a beautiful fireplace candelabra. That way you can still enjoy the romantic light from the candles without the heat of a full fire.
This article was written by Donielle Schipper on behalf of http://www. TheMasterFirePlace. com. Visit this site to find Fireplace Screens at great prices. Fireplace inserts, fireplace tools and fireplace accessories are also available.
Discounted Pellet Stoves – What You Need To Know
01 year ago
by admin
in Heating and Cooling
Gas prices skyrocketed in recent years, and it seems like it will continue to climb. Just this winter alone, it is expected to increase by 27%, and if you gas, you expect a 41% increase to. For this reason, many homeowners are looking for alternative ways to their home without depending on expensive gas and oil heat.
The best option would be excluded pellet. These are actually a very sophisticated and versatile way to heatHome. These are very similar to the traditional fireplace inserts or wood stoves in the type of work and offers a beautiful flame.
If you have discounted pellet stoves that freestanding or fireplace inserts, they will produce a small fire, but you can find some with various flame patterns, which look like a real fire. “It look a real fireplace, you can ceramic logs like the ones you add in a gas fireplace, have to help them spread theFlames. -Floor heat
Because the freestanding and the insert pellet stoves have moving parts and motors, they will more than likely that some maintenance work in the future. As you for discounted pellet stoves, choose a model that allows you to easily access the parts in case they need any repairs and make it easy, to maintain it. -Floor heat
When it comes to the the freestanding models and the fireplace insert pellet stoves, you have a number of options. You can also supplied with a floor ora top fed stove. If you choose a top feeder, there will be a hopper that delivers the pellets, the flame. If you have taken a top-choice fed discounted pellet stove, you should use a low-ash, high-quality pellets. This will not impede any moving parts with “clinkers”. If you decide on a bottom fed model, you do not need high-quality pellets because the ask is pushed out of the way into an ash pan. Also, look for a stove, a large ash pan, easily replaced or removed is. READ MORE http://www. floorheat. pannipa. com/2009/09/discounted-pellet-stoves-what-you-need-to-know/
Should You Install a Swimming Pool Heat Pump?
01 year ago
by admin
in Heating and Cooling
If you have a pool, have you ever considered using a swimming pool heat pump to heat it? The efficiency of one of these units depends on the actual temperature outside. Since most pools are located outside, it is a logical choice to heat them in this manner. Many people still are not familiar with the operation of these machines. They do not actually generate heat; they just move it from one place to another.
A swimming pool heat pump will heat the pool to the desired temperature at an efficient cost. Just set the machine to the temperature you want and that is it. Thus, even if the weather is not that great, you can be assured that your pool is the right temperature for a enjoyable swim. These pumps work best when the weather is not too cold. They use the outside air as a free energy source.
A swimming pool heat pump will work in the same principle as an air conditioner or refrigerator but in reverse. The main mechanics of one of these units consists of a condenser, a ventilator, a heat exchanger and a compressor that incorporates a refrigerant.
The swimming pool heat pump will kick into action when the temperature of the water falls a degree or two below its desired setting. When the water reaches the temperature you have set on the machine, then it will automatically shut off until it is needed again. To find one of these units, check with a local heating and air conditioning supplier, they will likely carry heat pumps of varying sizes as well. Alternatively, you can search the internet for a company that may sell them online. However, purchasing them from a reputable dealer that is local to you is much more advised because you should have the supplier install the unit and provide you with the proper operating instructions.
In conclusion, heating your pool with a swimming pool heat pump is an energy efficient method of keeping your pool comfortable during the entire swim season.
We provide information for the consumer on heat pump prices along with information on various models such as Trane heat pumps, Lennox heat pumps and Carrier heat pumps.
By D. Karlson
What Are The Benefits Of Fireplace Inserts
01 year ago
by admin
in Heating and Cooling
There is nothing more romantic than an open fireplace with crackling wood, and the cosy feeling they envisage.
However traditional open fireplaces, have one major weakness, they loose to much heat. The way to combat this is to purchase a fireplace insert. Fireplace Inserts have the major advantage of being able to increase a rooms energy efficiency. Inserts are basically a fireproof steel box that has either a cast iron or steel surround. This is normally finished off by a glass panel that opens creating closed combustion system. The glass doors add an attractive look to the fireplace as you can see the flames through the insert.
Fireplace Inserts can be either be fitted plush into the opening of the fireplace, or may extend out into the hearth. The major benefit of the extending fireplace insert is that it can add to the efficiency of the fireplace as heat extends out from the top, bottom and sides of the fireplace. Some Fireplace Inserts will also have additional blowers fitted to the sides or top of the fireplace to provide additional heat. This may be controlled manually or by the use of a thermostat.
Maintaining fireplace inserts is recommended to be done by a professional as the inserts can often weigh in excess of 300 pounds Depending on the fireplace inserts installed will depend on the cleaning method. If a full relining collar is installed, then the insert can remain intact, as the chimney sweep will be able to take advantage of the stainless steel pipe that connects to top of the chimney via the insert.
Fireplace Inserts come in a variety of forms. From traditional wood stoves, to electric or gas inserts, that light with the touch of a button. The advantages of these are clear. You no longer have to chop your own wood, or even if you buy the wood, you still have to use paper and kindling to get it started. Cleaning the fireplace can also be problematic and messy as the left over embers constantly need cleaning out.
Many manufacturers now take advantage of fireplace inserts. Whether it is a coal, gas or wood based stove, Fireplace inserts add both an attractive and energy efficient touch to a fireplace.
Neil Maycock writes articles for <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker. _trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www. getflametech. com”>Fireplace NJ</a><!– BODY,DIV,TABLE,THEAD,TBODY,TFOOT,TR,TH,TD,P { font-family:”Arial”; font-size:x-small } –>
Modern kitchen remodel with tons of storage
01 year ago
by admin
in Heating and Cooling
Modern kitchen remodel with tons of storage
Oh sure, you’re getting a sizeable crowd in your kitchen during the holidays, but Teddy Wells packs a plethora of people every week in hers when she starts her annual fall cooking class “The Artful Gourmet.” Kitchen designer Rob Doezie of RW Doezie…
Read more on Orange County Register
Dorm Room Air Conditioner
251 year ago
by admin
in Heating and Cooling
A home made air conditoner for a dorm room
