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Healthy Ways to Use Air Conditioning at Home

April 25, 2016adminDIY Projects, Energy Efficiency, Home MaintenanceDIY projects, home improvement, home maintenance, hvac1 Comment

Modern homes are more often than not equipped with air-conditioners. As manufacturers of these devices keep coming up with cutting-edge tech solutions, today an average air-conditioner can replace several other devices. For instance, if you get an air conditioner inverter, you do not need a special heater or radiators, but the AC is a two-in-one device. However, no matter what air conditioning device you have and use, it is essential to follow some health-related guidelines to keep your home and your air conditioner in a proper condition.

Indoor air quality and air conditioners

The largest number of air-conditioners uses the indoor air for recirculation. By doing so, they increase energy efficiency and reduce electricity consumption. However, this procedure can make the air inside the conditioned room stale, which harms your respiratory system.

Moreover, if your windows and window frames leak the air inside your home, the efficiency of the AC device will be reduced. Because of that, if you want to keep the air inside the AC-equipped room fresh, let some air from the outside into the room a few times a day. Also, do the necessary weatherstripping works, to increase the productivity of the air-conditioner and reduce your electricity bills.

Prevent dust and debris

With more and more people suffering from all kinds of allergies, today people have to pay special attention to germs, pollen and dust in their homes. What these three allergens have in common in an average home are dirty air ducts. If you have not cleaned them for a while, there is a high probability that several layers of gunk have piled up on those vessels of your home ventilation. This can be especially serious and dangerous if you have kids. Therefore, it is important to clean the air ducts on a regular basis, especially if your house or building has been redecorated recently. It is highly likely that some of that debris and dust ended up in the air ducts and got right into your home. To avoid any hygiene and health problems, deal with that area as soon as possible.

Remove the filter dirt

Although specifications of different manufacturers can differ, the rule of thumb is to have the air filters cleaned at least once per cooling/heating season. The crucial thing when it comes to residential air conditioning devices is to maintain them in accordance with their manufacturer’s manuals.

Also, most manufacturers contact their customers during the warranty period to remind them that they should have the AC filters cleaned or replaced. However, this cleaning has to be performed regularly even after the warranty period expires. It is not a complex procedure and every home owner can learn how to do it. In addition, if you live in an extremely humid or hot area and you keep the air conditioner on all day long, the filter should be replaced every 45 days.

AC interior inspection

Replacing or cleaning the filter is only one aspect of air conditioner maintenance. Home owners should also pay attention to the inside of their air conditioner(s). As this device works and cools a particular area, there are also some by-products of this process, the most important being condensation. The more condensation there is, the more mildew and mold is formed on the fan and other parts of the air-conditioner. If the inside area of the AC-unit is left unmaintained before winter, the pileups of mold and mildew grow significantly, providing a fertile ground for all sorts of germs. Therefore, clean the inside of the air conditioner at the end of the summer season or any other period in which you use this device and ensure a high level of hygiene.

If you use your air conditioner in accordance with the described health standards, you will ensure that every member of your household stays safe from any AC-induced diseases. Finally, a regularly maintained AC-device will last longer and waste less electricity. Therefore, take good care of your air conditioner to remain healthy and save some money along the way.

Inexpensive Ways to Improve Your Curb Appeal

April 22, 2016adminDIY Projects, Home Improvement Tips, Tips to sell your homeDIY projects, home improvement, home trendsLeave a comment

A home with curb appeal speaks welcome to guests and passersby alike. There are many ways a homeowner can increase curb appeal on a budget.

Dress up the Porch

From potted flowers to a cute loveseat, adding decorative elements to your front entry increases your home’s curb appeal. Place outdoor pillows on a porch rocker and hang a basket of cascading flowers for instant interest.

Thrift stores can help you add decorative touches inexpensively. A wooden chair from a resale shop is easily brightened with paint for a pop of color. Set an old-fashioned enamel kettle planted with vibrant nasturtium on top of that chair and you have created an attractive setting for the front entrance.

Spruce up the Landscape

Shrubs, bushes and perennial flowers, when arranged in a pleasing layout around the foundation, add greatly to the house’s appeal. If you are handy with a shovel, garden centers offer great selections and helpful sales people who can guide you in picking the right varieties for your space. It helps to lay out your plants where you want them, still in their pots, and step back to the curb to survey the effect. Remember to plan for the full grown size of the plants when you place them in their new location.

Update Your Lighting

Replace tarnished, weathered or unattractive lighting fixtures on the house. Choose a style and finish that complements the features of your home. Don’t forget lighting in the yard. Landscape lighting comes in many styles and prices and makes an easy project that boosts curb appeal. Besides lighting pathways and entryways, consider adding individual spotlights that will highlight attractive features such as a specimen tree or the front doorway. When arranged well, lighting draws people toward your home.

Replace Old Windows

Few things will improve the appearance of a home as dramatically as updating old windows. Window specialists, like those at Fas Windows and Doors, can provide you with high quality, energy-efficient windows to replace your old ones. These will not only improve your home’s facade, they can lower your energy bills by preventing heat and air conditioning loss. Options range from a focal point window like a bay, to a set of sidelights beside the entry door, to a whole house update. Consider which styles and features will best enhance the curb appeal of your home. New windows beautify the home inside and out, while improving comfort and energy savings.

With some imagination and planning, there are inexpensive ways to increase curb appeal. Spend a few minutes at your curb envisioning different options that will work for your home and budget.

Hacks for Stylish yet Functional Home Office

April 20, 2016adminDIY Projects, Home Decor, Home Improvement TipsDIY projects, home decor, home improvement, home trends, interior designLeave a comment

Even though up until recently, working from home wasn’t that common, this notion is getting more and more popular by the hour. There are many benefits that this kind of employment brings, like being your own boss and managing your own time and resources in the way you deem most fit. On the other hand, not all is milk and honey even here. Work at home can be too distracting for you to give it your best, which is why you cannot work so effectively from the living room, kitchen or bedroom. What you need is a functional and stylish home office to match both your needs and your home’s décor.

An actual office

In a recent conversation with Office Furniture retailers from Sydney, it came to our attention, that optimal performance requires optimal work environment. This environment can however be obtained in two simple steps. First one is removing all the distraction from the office (all noisy and unnecessary equipment) and the second one is furnishing your office in the right manner. Your office chair needs to be of adequate quality in order not to hurt your posture and cause a pain in your back. Back pain is not only extremely inconvenient, but is also the most distracting thing imaginable. What you want from your performance is nothing but the best, which means that your tools to the trade must follow in suit.

Do not underestimate the power of visual!

One of the major tips is that you should never underestimate the power of visual stimuli. Sure, your workstation is always more important than a curtain or a carpet, but this doesn’t mean that you should just strip your room naked and add only work related items to it. First of all, this will significantly diminish your productivity, so what you should go for is a cozy and warm décor which will help you feel pleasant for your environment. Décor elements are not that distracting and they do affect your moral in a positive way. Because of this, apart from your usual work material, what you should also have in your office is a nice sofa or armchair, for you to relax on or even take an occasional nap. While you are at it, why not get a sofa which matches the rest of your office.

A good lighting solution is a must, since countless hours staring at the monitor with a bad illumination can have a devastating effect on your vision. However, taking a designer lighting will both remedy this and improve the visual impression that your home leaves.

A clean office is an imperative!

It is a known fact that the human mind responds negatively to a messy environment. Because of this, clutter in your room and especially on your desk should be absolutely unacceptable. For this reason, you need to clean your room at least few times a week and break clusters as soon as you notice them. Furthermore, seeing how you will have a multitude of office appliances turned on there will be a lot of cables under your desk (at least a computer, monitor, speakers, printer, phone charger). Unfortunately, even this counts as a mess. So, in order to remedy the situation, what you should do is find a way to organize them properly. Luckily, there are some simple, yet elegant DIY solutions to this persistent problem.

What can be deduced from all of this is that interior decoration, and calculated pragmatism must go hand in hand in order to give optimal results. Sure, at times, this may seem as simply too much work, but you need to think of it as an investment in your career and your professional advancement. In order to give it your best, you need all the help you can possibly get and making your home office into a perfect work environment is a first step on this journey of a thousand miles.

Guest Post By:

Chloe is an art historian, recreational ballet dancer and a contributor at smoothdecorator.com. She is passionate about photography, dance and music. Her biggest dream is to travel the whole world with her husband and take stunning photographs of beautiful places. She also enjoys learning and writing about home design, since she is crazy about aesthetics. You can find Chloe on FB, Twitter, and G+.

Which Home Improvement Projects Require a Permit?

April 6, 2016adminhome improvement, Home Improvement Tips, home remodelinghome improvement, home remodeling, home repairs, remodeling tipsLeave a comment

So you have decided to remodel your house and have so many ideas on your mind. However, there are so many things to consider, other than money and material. One of those issues is whether or not you will need a permit for your remodeling projects? It seems difficult for homeowners to wrap their heads around the fact that even some smaller home improvement project will require some sort of permit, but in most of the cases that is true. Of course, the requirements for a permit will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but there is some common ground for all the localities.

Projects that Definitely Require a Permit

Regardless of your locality, some projects are so demanding and are changing your home so much, that you will surely need to acquire a permit, should you decide to remodel.

Demolishing a load-bearing wall: Because a load-bearing wall supports the weight of trusses for the roof or the weight of the floor above, demolishing it would imply that you need to provide some alternate method of supporting that weight.
Plumbing and electrical work: Installing or replacing electrical wiring or plumbing always requires a permit, except when it comes to smaller alterations, such as light fixture installations or some repairs.

Window installations: If you are installing windows that are bigger than the ones you previously had, you will need to get a permit for cutting holes for them. This also applies to skylights and new doors. New windows (especially energy-efficient ones) make a great upgrade if you are expecting a larger income from your investment home.
Heating systems: Replacing the water heater and altering ventilation system, ducts and fireplaces almost always requires a permit. You will not need the municipality approval for motor lubrication, equipment cleaning and changing the filters.
Roofing: Pulling a permit for roofing is always necessary, especially when you are repairing an area greater than 500 square feet. If you ever decide to sell, you will need to give that permit to the buyer along with the other documents to make the eventual wholesaling the real estate much easier.
Building an addition: When your house seem too small for you and you decide to build an additional bathroom, extra storage space, a laundry room, etc. before you start with the works, you should always pull a permit.
Garage conversion: When the conversion requires some significant changes, such as wiring, plumbing, heating, cooling and replacing the door, you should check for the permit requirements.
Other structural changes: Other structural renovations for which you should obtain a permit are changes to the porches, balconies, decks and foundation flooring.

Projects that Might Require a Permit

Now, there are some other projects that might require a permit, depending on the location and on their specifics.

Fencing installation or repair: You might need a permit for this project if there are height restrictions in the city. In New York City, for instance, fences over 6 feet high are regulated by the rules of the Department of Buildings.
Demolishing a non-load bearing wall: Even though this project will not make any kind of structural changes, you should check for additional information with your contractor or at your local permitting office.
Cutting down a tree: Although it makes little sense for the city to forbids you from cutting down a tree in your own backyard, but if you property is located at environmentally fragile place (woodlands, wetlands, etc.), you should definitely check for the needed permits.
Other projects that might require a permit are moving a sink, laying in a new roof, putting hard wood flooring, etc.

Sure, with most of these projects, you can ignore the needed permits and hope you will not get caught, but be aware that, if you do get caught, you can end up struggling with fines and penalties.

How To Give Your Home A Makeover Without Breaking The Bank

April 4, 2016adminDIY Projects, Home Improvement Tips, Home MaintenanceDIY projects, home improvement, home maintenance, springLeave a comment

You love your home, but the look is beginning to get a little stale. Fortunately, there are things you can do inside and out that will make your home look better than it has in a long time. Here are five tips that will ensure your makeover attempt is a success.

Get Rid of the Clutter

Take a look around each of the rooms and identify things that serve no purpose or that you could live without. Even if you can only reduce the number of items found on shelves and tabletops by half, the impact on the space will be significant. Best of all, you won’t have to dust those things any longer.

Deep Clean Every Surface

Now is the time for some deep cleaning. Scrub every nook and cranny of the house thoroughly. Call in professionals to clean the carpeting and the upholstery. Don’t forget to take the window treatments to a cleaner. When the surfaces shine and the house smells fresh, you’ll be well on the way with your makeover.

Paint the Walls

You can opt for a solid paint color or consider adding a chair rail and going with a two-tone look. If you really want to do something different, consider rag painting with a lighter color to add some contrast. New colors for the walls will make secondary colors in the rest of the space stand out more and give everything a new look.

Rearrange the Furniture

Consider exchanging some of the furniture in each room so that chairs, tables, and other elements are now in a different part of the house. You will find that moving a chair from the living room to the den, or taking the recliner from the den and creating a reading corner in a bedroom adds some zip to the space. Employ the same approach with wall art and other decorative elements. You’ll be amazed how some of those pieces look and function better in a different area.

Replace the Doors and Windows

Nothing makes a home look tired like worn out doors and windows. Consider opting for aluminum or vinyl windows instead of going with wood again. For the doors, try a new color or possibly a different design that still blends in with the style of the house. You can even replace the interior doors and update the look inside. For energy-efficient options that can also make your home look great, consider Fas Windows and Doors.

Making over your home does not have to break the bank. With the right choices, you’ll even save money in the years to come. Start brainstorming today and it won’t take long to determine what you can do to make your home look better than ever.

Spring Cleaning Checklist – Infographic

April 1, 2016adminDIY Projects, Home Improvement TipsDIY projects, home organization, infographic, springLeave a comment

Spring cleaning can be a very rejuvenating process and once complete will leave your home feeling fresh and new. But why do we carry out this strange annual practice? And are there any specific things you need to do? Well to find out, scroll through our ultimate guide to spring cleaning!

The Ultimate Spring Cleaning Checklist by Terrys Fabrics.

Common Reasons behind Unreasonably High Electric Bills

March 30, 2016adminDIY Projects, Energy Efficiency, Green Living, Home Improvement TipsDIY projects, energy efficient, green livingLeave a comment

A good deal of instances when bills are sky-high are connected with the distribution of electricity and its use, and you may not even be aware it’s happening to you. To help you begin saving your money, we have compiled a set of possible problems and energy slurpers with tips for improvements. Stay tuned.

Silent energy suckers

An abundance of devices that remain plugged in all the time even when they’re not being used are one of the biggest hidden expenses that amass the electricity bill. A decade ago this was not the pressing issue, but modern apertures and gimmicks drain the electricity even when you turn it off. You could say that contemporary technology never sleeps. The standby mode of computers, DVRs and TVs is designed for faster resuming of the previous actions.

Consequently, these appliances and machines are slurping on electricity in our house as they’re on hold for next scheduled action or a new task. The array of these devices definitely includes the clock equipped items such as coffee machines of microwave ovens, and even old VCRs that maintain this feature.

What to do: Connect the appliances to an extension block with a switch and make sure to turn it off when you don’t need it. This off finally means off.

Feeding the power monsters

Larger machines such as washing machines, dishwashers and dryers have the incredible appetite for consumption of electricity and frequent use can make your bill go through the roof. The average household in developed countries utilises approximately 40 gallons of water and loads the machine 400 times a year. Ouch!

What to do: Dishwasher wise, avoid running the cycle when there’s not enough dishes to fill it completely. Also, choose the best suited mode and leave them to dry on its own, minus the heating programme. For dryers and washing machines, strive to do your laundry only once a week, exploit its capacity and dry on low.

Overusing the fans and light fixtures

I admit, I am the first one to turn up the lights wherever possible to brighten the atmosphere of the interior, and this augments the bill more than we expect. In fact, intelligently employed lights that tend to the target spots in the room such as working station, dining table and sofas are more efficient.

Similarly, ceiling fan instalments only influence the temperature in the place they’re in, and it’s not sound to leave it on when nobody’s inside. Thankfully, fans have a toggle button that activates the change of blade direction for custom seasonal use.

What to do: Exploit illumination solely in the specific, occupied areas and turn it out in vacant rooms. On top of that, consider replacing the standard bulbs with their more energy-savvy counterparts that last longer and save extra money. For ceiling fans, make sure to utilise the toggle control (clockwise for winter and counter clock wise for summer months).

Let go of the veterans

Are you still using a bunch of old devices that were bought decades ago by grandparents and then passed on to you? Well, the thing is these are the big players in the consumption game too. Basically, older machines have no energy efficient mode at all. Invest in upgrades of your old-century appliances which involves stoves, ovens, fridges, washing machines and wiring installations among others.

What to do: Don’t burden your outdated house apertures with demanding tasks they’re not up to. Energy star models of the vacuum cleaners, for example, are more energy-preserving than the past millennium models. Since wires are linked throughout the house, call a professional to assess whether you need a switchboard wiring upgrade that will accommodate the demanding newcomers.

Chargers everywhere

The chain of mobile chargers, audio players, tablets and laptops, electric toothbrushes and games consoles are all charging for our next use. The tech generation has transformed us into power hungry users looking for the nearest socket.

What to do: Disconnect all the adapters and chargers when not in function, and avoid all-time charging. It’ll cost you the bill and a new battery.

Shamefully high electricity bills are not the necessity of the modern age. Go ahead and test our advice to save yourself from the hidden energy expenses.

How to prepare your kitchen for spring

March 28, 2016adminDIY Projects, Home Improvement Tips, Home Organization Tips, Kitchen RemodelingDIY projects, home organization, kitchen remodeling, kitchens, springLeave a comment

Spring is coming! In order to prepare your home for its rejuvenating effects what you need is a proper spring remodeling and is there a better place to start doing so than your very own kitchen. However, there are so many things to do and in so little time, that you will have to organize yourself properly in order to make it. With this in mind, here are some things you need to do in order to prepare your kitchen for spring.

Spring cleaning

There is no better place to start with this spring makeover than to thoroughly clean your kitchen and all of its surfaces. Whatever you decide to do next, having a clean work environment is always a paramount. Take out and throw everything you no longer need and swipe clean all the counter surfaces, your fridge and of course the stove. However, seeing how your kitchen is a place where you prepare the food for your entire family, you don’t want to have it tainted by dangerous chemicals. Luckily, there are completely natural solutions made from vinegar, salt, baking soda and even bleach. At the very least a bit of soapy water never hurt anyone.

Painting it adequately

Every now and then your kitchen will need painting and seeing how in spring we have a bit longer and warmer days, it might be as good time as any to do so. In 2016, natural colors are in but you need to be very careful when painting your kitchen and dining room since it is known that different colors can affect our appetites differently. For example, colors black and brown are made to diminish your appetite (which makes them into powerful dietary tools) while yellow and orange are known to make you want to eat more. Always keep this in mind, even if you are going for wallpaper instead of paint.

Organization

Next thing you need to pay attention to in your kitchen is the issue of organization. Try and always look for different storage solutions and methods. For example, everyone knows that it is easier to store your pots without their lids on, but later on when you need to pair the pot with the lid this doesn’t seem as such a good idea after all. This is why you can greatly benefit from such a thing as lid racks on the inside of your cabinet doors and many other similar ideas. Even if your kitchen is absolutely tiny, you always have some unused walls to hang a wall rack on so there is no need for desperation.

Make it cooking friendly

Finally, once the spring begins, days will start getting warmer and warmer and there is something you will have to do about it. Install an AC unit inside of it, or if you already have one, check if you need air con repairs. Finally, seeing how there are many fumes that will circulate the room (caused by your cooking) now might be a good time for you to purchase an aspirator. Here you have two choices, either one with recirculation as a method or one with the exhaust pipe. Simply do some homework on both of these methods and go with one that you find more fitting.

Although all of these remodeling efforts are minor in nature, they are more than necessary to prepare you for the upcoming season. By starting in due time, you should be more than prepared to enjoy the spring in your very own kitchen. This notion alone is something that is indeed hard (if not impossible) to top.

Batman vs Superman-Epic Bedroom Decor Ideas

March 24, 2016adminBedrooms, DIY Projects, Entertaining, For Funbedroom remodeling, decorating, DIY projects, home decor, infographicLeave a comment

With the upcoming release of Batman vs Superman, we found this cool infographic on an epic battle of the bedroom decor ideas. Who will win? Batman or Superman?

We think you’ll be the winner by adding some of these awesome superhero design ideas to your bedroom!

Batman vs Superman – battle of the bedrooms by Terrys Fabrics.

Go Green in 2016 – Sustainable Design Basics & Innovations

March 22, 2016adminUncategorized, Energy Efficiency, Green Living, Home Improvement Tipsenergy efficient, green living, home improvement, home trendsLeave a comment

In the past, we dwelled so much on efficiency that we forgot about finiteness of many things. In other words, we were occupied with how fast we can and we completely forgot to ask for how long we can keep up with this pace. Luckily, seems like things are about to change, since the world is growing more and more aware that our only exit lies in sustainability. A revolution as significant needs to start in our very homes. This being said, here are some latest trends and innovations in sustainable design, which are bound to make a big splash in 2016.

Always look for the local materials

Regardless if we are talking about the construction of your home, your furniture or simply your home decoration, local materials are almost always eco-friendly. The reason for this is quite simple. With local products, you can completely eliminate transportation which is a huge issue when it comes to pollution. Furthermore, by investing in local goods, you will strengthen your regional economy which may also encourage others to do the same. So, always go for local furniture stores when equipping your home and local materials if you are building it on your own.

Zero energy home

In order for your home to become genuinely ‘’zero energy’’, it needs to have two major features. First one is that it saves as much energy as possible – which means that good insulation and quality residential windows are a most definite must. Good windows can cut down your heat loss down to 40%, which is not a figure to be trifled with. The second feature of a “zero energy” home is that it creates its own energy. Which is why, it is a good idea to install either a compact wind turbine or several solar panels at the roof or in the backyard. Bottom line is that the amount of energy that you produce is approximate to the amount you spend; hence the name “zero energy”.

Energy saving appliances

This next issue we need to deal with is in direct continuation of the last part. Namely you can make a whole world of difference by finding some energy saving appliances for your home. You can always look for a fridge, stove or even TV that spends less power. Of course, before any of that, you might want to replace all your iridescent light bulbs with some stylish yet eco-friendly designer LED lighting. The difference that these two make for our planet is so big that iridescent bulbs are on their way to be banned in the entire of EU. Sure, each of these items separately may not save that much, but try to combine them and their joint saving is more than significant. In other words, not only is this step great for our planet, but for your budget as well. A clear win-win scenario if there ever was one.

Power is not the only resource

Now, when earlier we spoke about making a sustainable home, we usually talked about either power or fossil fuels (in raw materials section), however saving water can be equally as important. There are several ways in which you can make a difference here and the choice is all yours. You can start by gathering rainwater and conserving it for later use in either bathroom or for watering your garden. Furthermore, you can replace all your bathroom appliances with low flow ones. Low-flow faucet, shower and even toilet all spend no more than 1/3 of the water their regular counterparts do. Finally, even just raising your awareness a bit can make a huge difference in your monthly and annual water spending.

As you can see, most of these innovations do not require too much of an effort, but they do require a no small initial investment. Although this scares a lot of people away, just keep in mind that while saving the planet these features also save your own money, by making you pay less for your power, water and heating bills. This being said, in time, each and every one of these investments is bound to pay off in due time. If you are planning for the long run, than these renovations are absolutely mandatory.
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