Home Ventilation: Why More Fresh Air Intake Is Better at Home
Home Ventilation: Why More Fresh Air Intake Is Better at Home
Natural home ventilation are sometimes forgotten when building homes because they rely too much on artificial ventilation systems more particularly when they have air conditioners installed. Don’t trap the air inside your home let it circulate, release warm air at home, then take cool air outside. Because if you do, here are some of the effects of maximizing ventilation at home:
Minimize Indoor Air Pollution
As we breathe, carbon dioxide comes out carbon dioxide comes in. If we only have a few ventilation systems inside our homes there will be no way carbon dioxide will go out of the house, and we will only have few oxygen to inhale, therefore we find it hard breathing inside our homes.
Aside from carbon dioxide, carbon dioxide will also be a problem. Carbon monoxide is like a silent assassin, you will never know if you have inhaled it but you will experience drastic effects when you did. Common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are frequent headaches, nausea, vertigo, and you feel weak.
Another problem of homes without ventilation is are dust, tobacco smoke, pesticides, household chemicals that may be toxic when inhaled, some can even cause cancer, tuberculosis, and other deadly disease that could have been prevented if your home is properly ventilated.
Controlled Humidity
A very humid house can help grow mold and mildew fast. A mold outbreak can cause thousands of dollars to treat compared to remodeling a home that is made to increase the ventilation of the home.
Insects that enjoy very humid places will be pestering your home. Dust mites and cockroaches likes humid places. Dust mites are irritating if you have one at home. Family members allergic to dust mites will have severe problems. Cockroaches are major carriers of disease, it’s very dangerous if you have children in the house.
Homes will lower humidity than what is required can affect the home. Your house will decrease its quality like cracks in walls and wood floors. One major problem of homes with low humidity is static electricity.
Family members will have drier skin and experience nose and throat irritation often.
Reduced Island Heat Effect
This occurrence happens when one area is warmer than the other areas in a certain location. More ventilation means the air indoors are almost equal to the air outside. And when we reduce heat, we minimize the need to use artificial ventilation system and inhale a fresher air.…
The Cost of Remodeling a Kitchen
If you are interested in having a contractor come in and gut your kitchen and start over, expect to spend somewhere in the neighborhood of $20,000 for starters. The costs are going to depend on the size of the kitchen and the materials that are used but be prepared to budget thousands of dollars for the project. In addition to being expensive, it can be a very time consuming process that ideally should be completed before you move into the house or when you are gone on an extended vacation.
A recent survey of remodeling costs done by Remodeling Magazine estimates that a typical 10×20 kitchen low range remodel job will cost about $20,000, midrange jumps to $50,000 and a top of line upscale remodel will run over $100,000. The costs vary by regions of the country with prices on either coasts at the upper end of the spectrum. The good news is that study after study shows that much of the money you spend remodeling the kitchen (if not all) can be recovered when you go to sell the house. Updating the kitchen is one of the most important things any homeowner can do to improve the value of their property.
There are a number of factors that go into the budgeting for a kitchen remodel. Will you keep your current appliances or must all of them be replaced? Can the cabinets be salvaged by painting them or resurfacing them or do you want to rip the old ones out and start over. There are also design issues, do you want to add more space by putting an addition onto the home or by knocking out a wall. These options and many more are all possibilities that should be discussed with your contractor.
The contractor can also tell you if there are other construction concerns. If you have an older house the odds are that the home has settled over the years and the kitchen floor may no longer be level which could throw off the installation of new cabinets. Floor joists may have to be reinforced or the contractor might be required to use concrete floor leveler to even out the sub-floor which is going to add to the cost of the remodeling job. The condition of the walls after removing the cabinets can also be an issue. If the plaster is crumbling or the drywall has cracks or extensive holes, it may have to be replaced.
Plumbing is another critical component to the kitchen which can become a concern when remodeling. If you decide to move the location of the sink, build an island sink or a wet bar then water pipes will have to be run to the location along with a drain pipe. Installation of the dishwasher is another factor to consider because it needs to be hooked into the water line. Electric is another important consideration. A special 220 line needs to be run to the location of your stove and oven plus you will want to add a new circuit for other major appliances like the dishwasher and microwave.…
Tips For Planning a Home Renovation Project
If they offer a good bid, one which is affordable in the budget that one has for the renovations, then hiring them is the smart choice. If their bid is too high, one can always choose to do the project themselves.
If one is like thousands of home owners, who want to get renovations started on their homes, have the funding to do it, but do not know where to start, here are some tips for beginning a project. First, how well do you like the layout of your living room space? If your home is like many, there is probably a wall between the living room and dining room, which divides the space, but also makes the house look smaller than it is.
Consider either taking out the wall completely, if the support beams and walls of the house will allow such action, or cutting an archway in the wall, if the support beams still are necessary in the house’s design. Should the wall still be needed and an archway be the option that you choose, fill the remaining wall with shelves that can display favorite family pictures, collectable items like classic cars or figurines, or the children’s artwork from school. Either way, you have opened up the space between the rooms and given a fresh look to the house.
Second, do you live in an area of the country that sees very little cold weather, like the desert southwest or southeast? Do you have a feature in your home, like a fireplace, that you use perhaps twice to three times a year and is completely not functional in your home? If so, consider having it removed and replace it with an entertainment center.
How nice would it be to have all the stereo equipment, the big television, the gaming systems for the children, and the family computer in one place where they can all be closely monitored by you and you would not need to worry about what the kids are watching on the internet or what they are listening to in their IPODs. Shelving can be utilized here as well for DVD and CD storage, which can be customized to however many you own at that time, or think you will own. There is also a shelving option for knickknacks that you like to collect, like Precious Moments or classic cars.
Because this shelving is being built for your equipment, you can customize it to fit exactly, or you can give your television space some room to grow. It is all up to you and depending upon your end goal, it can be tailored to your exact needs.…
Four Things To Consider When Planning On Replacing Your Bathroom Floor
If you’re thinking of replacing your bathroom floor there are some things to consider while you’re shopping around.
Price
Along with the many different designs and styles of flooring available, there are also a wide variety of prices. The prices range from dollars to thousands of dollars per square foot depending on the material you choose to use. At the lower end of the price scale is linoleum, some tiles and woods. At the higher end of the price line there is granite, marble and some higher end tiles. When choosing your floor it is important to stay within your price range, and to choose something that you can live with for a while, since replacing bathroom floors is not something that a lot people do on a regular basis.
Strength
Many people do not take this into too much consideration when choosing a bathroom floor, but it is important to keep in mind that some of the things used in the bathroom can be heavy and when dropped may cause damage to floor. If you choose a floor that is thin and drop something onto it, the floor may be scratched or broken. When choosing a floor be sure to choose something that can stand up to the test of time and is durable.
Installation
The installation is perhaps the most important step in the whole process. You want to make sure that the floor you chose is properly installed and will not begin to lift of warp. After all a lot of time and money went into finding the perfect floor for your bathroom, you want to be able to enjoy it before problems start to arise from it not being properly installed. To prolong the life of your floor it should be installed by a professional who is experienced in installing the type of floor you are using. Most bathroom layouts are not perfectly square which can cause problems when trying to install the flooring yourself. The majority of floors require special cuts to fit correctly. That is why it is probably wise to choose a professional instead of trying to install the flooring yourself.
Maintenance
Because you are going to have your bathroom floor for years to come, it is important that you are aware of any special care that your floor requires. If, for instance, you chose tile, it is recommended that you reseal the grout every few years to prevent it from staining and cracking. Most types of floors have special instructions that you need to follow once it has been installed to prolong the beauty and longevity. If you follow the instructions for maintaining your floor, there is no reason for it to lose any of its shine or design.A bathroom floor is a choice that requires a lot of thought, you will have to look at it every day so choose something that you will enjoy and will not get tiresome after a few months.…
Three Top Tips for Garden Design With Poppies
Three Top Tips for Garden Design With Poppies
Poppies are one of the world’s most loved plants, and with so many different specimens to fill your flowerbeds with, it is not surprising that they have become an essential component for the garden. Whilst you may simply like to scatter seeds and allow them to germinate and flower at their own rate, using poppies in a more constructive garden design method is easy. And if you are looking to really create vibrant flair in your garden, there are a few top tips to follow.
1. Sow Poppies in Seed Trays
Whilst it is very easy to sow poppies straight into the garden border, if you want to manage your planting design a little more carefully it is a good idea to germinate specimens in seed trays. Whilst this will take a little more time and nurturing it will allow you to grow a specific number of healthy and strong plants. You can then plant poppies out in the exact places that you want them, grouping and interchanging specimens as you see fit. It is also a great way of garden designing if you are using several colors, allowing you to carefully select complimentary hues to plant next to each other.
2. Stay Specific to Your Needs
It can often be tempting to get carried away and buy and sow many more seed varieties than you need. Before buying your seeds carefully look through all the poppy types that are on offer and work out exactly what you need. Have a clear vision of how you want your garden border to look, thinking carefully about the heights, colors, and impact that you want to create. Only buy poppies that will fulfill your requirements so that you don’t end up with a clash of plants which don’t meet your initial brief. You can of course buy other poppy seeds as well; just don’t let your eagerness incorporate them into your clear design. Simply use these seeds somewhere else in the garden.
3. Choose Color Carefully
Color is very important when it comes to planting poppy seeds and it is vital that you choose the correct hues to not only compliment each other but compliment the rest of your garden. If your garden is a complete collage of color then it doesn’t matter so much if you include lots of different shades. If you have a tropical garden border then stay away from whites and pinks and choose oranges, purples, and reds. If you’re looking to create an elegant and chic style then using one white poppy paired with another color such as pink or purple is ideal. Meanwhile, if you’re creating a feminine garden, choose a number of poppies with the same colors, allowing for an explosion of pink.
By putting a little time and effort into your poppy designs you can easily create stunning displays. And with Papaver somniferum poppies on lasting a year, you can change your garden’s palette every single year to suit your mood, allowing your outside oasis to be a constantly changing environment.…
Small Garden Design Ideas
Small Garden Design Ideas
Small garden design ideas are not easy to find. A small garden design is different from other garden designs. Space plays an important role in small garden design ideas. The garden should not seem very populated but at the same time it should provide a complete whole to the home.
It should not be a separate entity but act as a complete unit with the house. Garden design ideas for small area generally aim to dress up the house more than formally plant trees. It can also be a peaceful area where you can rest during the evenings.
Since space is a constraint, you can make the use of curves to make the area look bigger. Curves made in a series of networks make the small space garden look bigger. All you need to do is connect those curves. Parallel curves can also be used and they help to give the impression that the space of the garden is larger than it actually is.
You can use Blue Salvia to connect three planting regions. Once you have made the garden you can shade it form the main street. For this purpose you can use a variety of plants including the Yaupon Holly. This provides a bit of privacy to your small garden.
But only trees and the size of the garden are not enough. Textures can also play a big part in expanding the size of a small garden. Though you can choose your own texture, you may also use brick for the patio area, natural stone for the walking area and a crushed rock that contrasts with the surroundings for the rest of the area.
But what if weeds strike? To combat this, you have to make use of a professional weed barrier. This ensures that weeds do not come near to your happy protected place.
These are some of the garden design ideas. The ideas above can be used to create the ideal environment for a small garden but that does not mean why you should not use your own ideas. You can also seek professional help for better small garden design ideas to help you out with the setting of your garden.…
How to Stop an Invisible Dog Fence From Continuously Beeping
How to Stop an Invisible Dog Fence From Continuously Beeping
I was in the middle of the lake fishing last Sunday and I get a frantic call from a lady with an Invisible dog fence brand system. She tells me her system is beeping and she can’t get it to stop. She further explains that she can’t get anyone on the phone at the dealer except someone that says they can schedule a service call and they’ll come and fix it. As she talks further she discloses that she has already unplugged it and it is still beeping and its driving her crazy. She has no use for the system as her dog had passed away over 2 years ago. The lady tells me she has called a couple different Invisible dog fence Dealers she found online and no one was willing to help her get the beep stopped.
As a formally educated businessman I find this attitude of the Invisible dog fence dealers to be all too common and absolutely reprehensible. They seem blind to providing service to their customers unless they can make another dollar on it. Now considering the Invisible dog fence Brand systems are the most expensive on the market you would expect for this added price that they would bend over backwards to help their clients. Unfortunately that is not very often the case and quite often it seems just the opposite. The more it cost the less “Value added” service you receive. If it didn’t give the industry such a black eye I would care less.
Well back to the subject at hand. The unit was beeping after being unplugged. Well in order to beep it needs power. If its unplugged there must be an additional power source for example a battery backup. I ask her to describe what wires she saw connected to the unit that was beeping. She explained there were two twisted together, those being the loop wires, there was a black wire that was attached to the transformer she had already unplugged, there was a green ground wire, and there was also a black and red wire together that went to another larger square box on the wall beside the transmitter.
This was the battery backup that she needed to disconnect. Most invisible dog fence dealers love to sell battery backups as it makes additional income for them although it is not very practical in most applications. I instructed her that she needed to unplug the black and red wire combination by simply grasping them close up to the unit and pulling. The small plastic plug disengaged and the beeping stopped.
She thanked me profusely and offered to pay me for my assistance when I refused her gesture she offered to send me the unit as payment for my help. I told her how she could at least recover some of her money from the system by selling it on eBay as there are always buyers on there wanting them. My personal experience with eBay is that there are several invisible dog fence dealers who buy product on there to resell to their customers that are looking for used products. At least these invisible dog fence dealers are trying to provide added services to their clients.…