In the life of every home, repairs happen. Here are the top 10 most common repairs that, sooner or later, your house will require.
Contrary to popular belief, there aren't any health benefits to cleaning air ducts, but having a pro remove gunk can boost the efficiency of your HVAC. Five to seven times a day, the air in your home circulates through the air ducts of your HVAC heating and cooling system, carrying with it the dust and debris of everyday living. Your furnace filter catches much of the stuff, but neglect, remodeling projects, or shoddy duct installation can lead to a buildup of gunk inside your ductwork that threatens the efficiency of your system. Are Dirty Ducts Hazardous to Your Health? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asserts no studies have proven that duct cleaning prevents health problems. Also, there isn’t proof that dirty ductwork increases dust levels inside homes. But some people are more sensitive to airborne dust and pet dander than others. If your nose is getting itchy just thinking about what might lurk in your ducts, the $300 to $600 it costs to clean a 2,000-square-foot home is a worthwhile investment. But before you reach for the phone, take a good look to see if your ducts are dirty. Get the Picture Wouldn’t it be handy if you could take an incredible journey through your ductwork to see if cleaning is needed? Using a pocket digital camera equipped with a flash, you can come close. Simply remove a floor register, reach as far as you can into the duct (don’t drop your camera!), and take a couple of shots. If there’s gunk within a few feet of the register, take heart. It’s easy to snake a vacuum cleaner hose into the duct and remove the stuff. However, if you see a long trail of junk and a thick coat of dust beyond what your vacuum can reach, your house may be a candidate for professional cleaning. Look for These Symptoms
- Clogs of dust, cobwebs, and debris, or noticeable particles blowing out of supply registers
- Visible mold on the inside surfaces of ducts
- Rodent droppings and dead insects inside ducts
In addition, recent construction inevitably creates dust you don’t want in circulation. “We recommend cleaning after a big remodel job,” says Scott Milas of Mendel Heating and Plumbing, St. Charles, Ill. Milas adds that a new home purchase is also a good occasion — after all, who wants to breathe someone else’s pet dander? “People get it done after they buy a house,” he says. “It’s like getting the carpets cleaned.” Good Reasons for Duct Cleaning
- Cleaning removes accumulated dust so it won’t shed into the household.
- Removing debris and cobwebs eases airflow and increases the efficiency of the system, in extreme cases as much as 40%.
- If you have fiberglass ducting, fiberglass gathers more dust than sheet metal.
Reasons to Skip Duct Cleaning
- Cost.
- Health benefits are not proven.
- Dust and debris caught on the interior of ducts isn’t circulating and therefore may not be a problem.
- Changing furnace filters regularly often does the job, especially when combined with annual furnace cleaning.
By David Toht Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprented from Houselogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
First of all, let’s make it perfectly clear that the solution to plastic bag pollution is to eliminate or reduce the use of this type of packaging whenever possible. But sometimes plastic is unavoidable. It seems like plastic packaging is everywhere. The good news is the process of recycling has made it possible to create something new from most of the waste we generate. Plastic bags are no exception, and not just those single use grocery and retail bags, but also bread and produce bags, sandwich bags, the overwrap on paper products such as toilet paper and paper towels and even plastic cereal box liners. There are a few items, such as “biodegradable” or “compostable” bags, frozen food bags, and crinkly or foil type bags for chips and other goodies, that are not included in this waste stream. Generally, if the plastic film stretches when you pull it with your fingers, it's okay to recycle it at certain designated locations. When cleaned, dried and brought back to participating stores, these items can be combined with recycled wood products and made into plastic lumber used to make decks or reprocessed into pellets or resin used to make new bags, pallets, containers, crates and even pipes. Recycle Responsibly Plastic bags and thin film plastics are troublesome for most recycling facilities. These items are considered ‘contamination’ of single stream recycling, not only jamming up sorting machines but also resulting in higher hauling rates for municipalities when there is a large percentage of them in the single stream collection. The bags and film can be difficult wastes to recycle because they need to be clean, dry and sent to a recycling facility specifically designed for them. In fact, many foreign countries, U.S. cities and the State of Hawaii have even placed a ban on plastic bags at retail outlets. Plastic pollution is a huge problem for the environment so avoid the use of unnecessary plastic when possible. If you do end up with a collection of plastic bags and plastic film items, do not throw these items in with your plastic or single stream recycling. Make sure they are clean and dry, then stuff them in a plastic bag from the grocery or retail store and place into bins located in participating stores. Remember: Reduce the amount of plastic you consume by choosing items that use the least amount of packaging and by using reusable tote bags. Reuse or repurpose the bags as much as possible and when all else fails, recycle those bags properly! For more information on how and where to recycle this waste, check out: http://www.plasticfilmrecycling.org/s01/s01dropoff.htmlSource: The Department of Environmental Services, Concord, NH - February newsletter, Greenworks.
By: Pat Curry Before you plug in and light up for the holidays, run your decorations through this quick safety check.
The NH Department of Environmental Services has put out their publication "GREENWorks Ideas for a Cleaner Environment" with energy saving ideas for the upcoming holiday season. This holiday season, why not give a gift that keeps on giving in the form of energy savings? Check out our list of energy-efficient gift picks for just about everyone on your shopping list! For the home decorator: One idea is to give flameless LED candles. Some of these candles come with a melted wax look on the outside and a flickering light on the inside, so you don’t have to worry about actual dripping wax or open flames. These candles also can come with timer-controlled settings. While you’re in the holiday spirit, use LED lights for decorating the house or tree. ENERGY STAR certified LED light strands use 50% less energy than conventional incandescent lights strands. Not only do LED holiday lights consume less electricity, they are also cooler, safer and longer-lasting. For the music lover: Some of the most popular new products are sound bars, wireless speakers and other gadgets with Bluetooth connectivity. Find one with the ENERGY STAR and your gift will not only be a hit, but will also be more than 60% energy efficient compared to other models. For the home improvement DIY-er: Cordless screwdrivers, drills, and saws – as well as cordless yard care tools such as lawn mowers, string trimmers, and shears – all use about 30% less energy with ENERGY STAR certified battery chargers. For the well-groomed person in your life: Personal care products like electric shavers, hair clippers, and beard trimmers that use ENERGY STAR-certified battery chargers can save up to 70% compared to those with conventional charging systems. For the movie lover: If your loved ones enjoy streaming movies or videos, did you know that tablets and laptops use the least amount of energy? Tablets that are ENERGY STAR certified use 10 times less power to stream than a game console. They use 7 times less power than streaming directly to your television and 6 times less than streaming to a desktop computer and monitor. If you are streaming to your large screen television you can still do so more efficiently. The newest ENERGY STAR certified TVs offer the latest technologies and popular features, including Smart TV functionality, Ultra High Definition and LED backlighting all at an energy savings of more than 25% over standard models. Energy Star is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) voluntary program that helps businesses and individuals save money, reduce energy use and carbon dioxide emissions through energy efficiency. When out doing your shopping, be sure to look for the ENERGY STAR label. Source: GREENWORKS enewsletter, NH Department of Environmental Services, Concord, NH
Read these 7 smart strategies from Houselogic.com. Read more... Visit Houselogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from Houselogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.
By Caralee Adams Turn a common mud room into a glorious and natural garden room.
By Oliver Marks
A master suite addition is limited only by your imagination and pocketbook. Here's a look at master suite must haves.
Options for a master suite addition are limitless: Your budget, not so much. Indulge yourself, express yourself, but control yourself, too. Here is your guide to the master suite features that matter most.
Master suite basics
A master suite addition typically is about 400 sq. ft. and includes a spacious bedroom, a walk-in closet, and a bathroom with a walk-in shower, designer toilet, separate soaking tub, and double-sink vanity. With midrange finishes, such as ceramic tile and solid-surface countertops in the bathroom, a master suite costs an average of $101,873 ($257/sq.ft.) and returns about 63% at resale, according to the 2013 Cost vs. Value Report from Remodeling magazine.
An upscale master suite addition is bigger — 650 sq.ft. — and includes a separate sitting area in the bedroom with custom built-ins, fireplace, French doors leading outside, and even a wet bar and refrigerator.
The bathroom is more luxurious, too, with multiple body sprays in the shower, a separate toilet area, a soaking tub for two, and twin sinks, each with its own vanity. Instead of solid surfacing and ceramic, the countertops and floors are stone. According to Cost vs. Value, an upscale project averages $220,086 and returns 52.1% at resale.
Start with a good layout
When you dream about a master suite addition, drool over a deep soaking tub. But when you plan, think about privacy, convenience and view — the gifts to yourself that keep on giving.
- Privacy: Create a space that feels like an escape from life: OK, escape from the kids. For that, you’ll need privacy, so place closets — they’re sound barriers — between you and the hubbub of the house, or on walls shared with other bedrooms.
- View: Give your master suite addition the best view through the biggest windows. If neighbors are nearby, place windows at about 5 ft. above the floor so you can enjoy the view, but your neighbors can’t (if you know what we mean).
- Separation: Think also about whether you’d prefer your bedroom and bathroom separated by a door or small hallway. An open plan can make the master suite feel bigger and more luxurious — but it can also invite humidity and odors into the bedroom, so you’ll want an extra-powerful ventilation system if you go this route. It’s also a good idea to isolate the toilet in its own room or alcove so two people can use the space at the same time and still retain some privacy.
Master suite must-haves
- Large shower: An enclosure of 4x6 ft. is ideal for two. It should have a bench and a few body sprays at different heights to sooth aching muscles. Cost: $3,000 to $5,000.
- Big walk-in closet: Make it at least 7x10 ft. if it’s just for her, 10x10 ft. if it’s shared, which gives enough room for clothes plus a spot for a dressing chair. You’ll want built-in organizers with well-designed compartments for easy access to your wardrobe. Cost: $3,000 to $8,000.
- His and hers grooming stations: Each with sink, mirror, and counter space. Cost: $2,500 to $5,000.
- Radiant floor heating in the bathroom: Hot water circulating in tubes or electric heating mats under the tile or stone is an efficient way to heat the space, and you’ll never have to put your bare feet down on a cold surface again. Cost: $1,500 to $3,500.
Love-to-haves — won’t use much
- Deep soaking tub: The idea of a jetted soaking tub in a master suite bathroom is often better than the reality. It takes up lots of room, requires lots of water, costs lots of money; but it’s used rarely. Unless you have a tubbing history or need, reconsider the soaking tub. Cost: $3,000 to $5,000.
- Private patio or balcony: A secluded outdoor room off your master suite for watching sunrises, sipping champagne, sunbathing nude, and other things you’ll never do. For privacy screening, use evergreen shrubs, lattice, or fencing. Cost: $3,500 to $6,000.
- Sitting area with fireplace: The ultimate indulgence, your own cozy spot to read or meditate. Also good for watching TV while folding laundry. Cost: $3,000 to $6,000.
| October Newsletter "GREENworks" from the NH Department of Environmental Services, Concord, NH Are you tired of bugging your teenager to take shorter showers? Do you want to save on water and energy costs? Instead of showering less, you can “Shower Better” with WaterSense. Whether you’re singing or just washing up, the shower represents the quintessential “me time.” The shower is a place to wake up and get ready to tackle the day, as well as to wind down. How do we maintain this important “me time” and also reduce water usage? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set out to find a solution that allows you to enjoy your shower, save water, save energy, and save money. The solution: WaterSense labeled showerheads – brands that you know and models that you can trust to shower better. WaterSense labeled showerheads are independently certified to meet EPA’s performance criteria including spray force, water coverage, and water efficiency. You’ll enjoy the same level of coverage you’ve come to expect, while saving at least 4 gallons of water per shower. For an average family that’s equal to 2,900 gallons of water savings a year—the amount it takes to wash more than 70 loads of laundry. In addition to water savings, a WaterSense labeled showerhead can also save the amount of electricity it takes to power the average family’s home for 13 days and reduce annual water and energy costs by more than $70 per year! Sustainability you don’t have to sacrifice for. Consider your options with WaterSense. October is energy efficiency month. Celebrate by replacing your old showerhead with a WaterSense labeled showerhead and feel great knowing that each time you shower you will save the amount of electricity it takes to light a 60-watt light bulb for 8 hours. WaterSense makes shopping for a new showerhead easy – just look for the WaterSense label in your local home store or online store and start showering better. For more information about WaterSense and for a list of WaterSense certified products go to http://www.epa.gov/watersense/products/. |