Here you will find Videos, Articles, and Tips for simple home repair projects you can do yourself!
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Go Green & Get Tax Reductions
Tips for Winterizing Your Home
By making certain home improvements you can receive up to 10% back in tax credits.
Before cold weather arrives, use these tips for winterizing your home.
Gutter Maintenance
Co2 Dector & Smoke Alarm Saftey
3 simple ways to prevent gutter jams, back up, and damage.
Important information you should know about placement and maintenance of carbon dioxide and smoke alarms.
Articles & Tips
HEATING TIPS FOR A ENERGY-EFFICIENT HOME
CREATING A BACK YARD DINING ROOM
Each year homeowners spend millions
of dollars heating and cooling inefficient homes. Here are a few energy saving
tips to make your home more efficient.
Turning back your thermostat by just 10 to 15 percent
for eight hours a day can trim your annual heating bills by up to 10
percent.
A programmable thermostat (figure A) can do this
automatically, helping to minimize unnecessary heating and cooling when
not at home.
Stop drafts by caulking and weather stripping doors and
windows, and close vents and doors to unused rooms.
Have your home's heating and cooling systems serviced
prior to peak seasons -- and change filters (figure B) monthly to
allow for better air flow.
If you rely on propane to heat your home, fill your
tank before cold weather hits, and talk with your propane dealer about
spreading out costs to keep your winter bills more manageable.
Note: Know what propane smells like. There are propane leak
detectors and pamphlets with scratch-and-sniff spots.
Reduce the cost of hot water by setting your water
heater to 130 degrees instead of the standard 140 degrees.
Note: Propane water heaters can cost one-third less to operate
than electric water heaters. They recover hot water twice as fast as electric
water heaters. You can increase your water heater's efficiency by draining it
every six months to remove lime deposits and sediment.
You can further reduce hot water use by installing a
flow-restricting showerhead and by filling your washing machine and
clothes dryer with full loads.
To get the most out of your gas stove, select one with
an electric ignition so the pilot light isn't always on. An electronic
ignition uses 40 percent less energy than a standard pilot light.
Make sure the burners on your stove are burning with
blue cone-shaped flame. A yellow flames means air inlets or burners need
repair.
Finally, check the seal on your oven door regularly for
gaps or tears that let heat escape.
Remember, an energy-efficient home
is not only more affordable; it's also more comfortable.
A plain backyard can easily become "entertainment
central" for family and friends.
A sheltered, level spot near the house is a good choice
for the focal point of the new gathering spot.
Simple steppingstones (figure A)placed as far
apart as a normal stride make a welcoming pathway.
A flea market table can be perfect for outdoor meals
and it doesn’t need to cost a fortune. Give it a quick cleaning, a coat of
primer and exterior paint.
A buffet for serving dishes, drinks, and extra utensils
(figure B) can be made out of rustic logs with a 12-inch board on
top. A contrasting color of paint adds pizzazz. Screw in the legs and
you’re done.
There’s plenty of room underneath for ice chests and
coolers (figure C).
A handy cleaning kit for spills and tidying up will
save many trips back to the house.
Add lightweight indoor/outdoor dining chairs and
exterior rope lights to brighten the space at night (figure D)and
you’ll be ready for a season of great outdoor parties.
Extras
Pace off pathway to find spots for steppingstones. They
should be far enough apart for normal stride. Mark positions with sand or
water-based paint. Dig and level a hole for each stone 1/2-inch larger in
diameter and as deep as the thickness of the stone. Spread a thin layer of
sand on the bottom, about 1/3 inch. Lay stone, tromping on it to make it
stable.
COMPLETE PAINTING KIT
SAFETY IN THE KITCHEN PART OF EVERYDAY LIVING
The key to any paint job is having the right tools.
These basic painting tools (tray, roller, cover, handle, and brush) are all you need for touch-up painting jobs.
If you are like most
homeowners you'll wind up doing some painting, finishing, or
refinishing over the next few years. Even if you decide to hire a
professional painter for the big jobs, consider investing in a basic
tool kit for painting projects. You always can expand it later as need
arises and your are more comfortable with your painting skills.
A basic painting tool kit will include these items:
Paint brushes or paint
pads for applying paint and other finishes to smaller surfaces (better
brushes will cost more, but will last a lot longer and spread paint
more easily and evenly)
Paint roller (frame and cover) and tray for
applying paint and other finishes to larger surfaces (a better quality
roller cover will last for years and apply paint more easily and evenly)
Cartridge gun for applying caulking and other sealers
Scrapers and sandpaper for removing paint and other finishes from wood, metal, or plastic
A-frame ladder or sturdy stepstool for reaching higher locations
Kitchen safety is as elementary as
brushing your teeth. However, if either is neglected it can turn into a major
problem.
The National Kitchen & Bath
Association has 40 Guidelines for kitchen planning, which stress safety in the
planning and design of the kitchen space.
In remodeling or designing a
kitchen, there are certain aspects of design that must be followed: