Air Conditioning Tips, Tricks, and Hacks You Should Know

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With ever-rising global temperatures, air conditioners have become indispensable for many people.

However, for all the comfort it brings, air conditioner use does account for 46 percent of the energy consumption of an average American home.

We also tend to work our AC systems to the point of shortening their lifespans, especially if we’re in the habit of keeping them on while we’re away.

Considering the cost of buying and installing an air conditioning system, we’d all want the one we have to last for as long as it should. At the same time, we would like our AC unit to be as efficient as possible.

Apart from regular AC maintenance, there are other tips, tricks, and hacks that will help us do just that. Here are some of them.

Smart Curtain Use

When your air conditioning is running full blast in the summer, you can help it do its job by using curtains, blinds, and drapes smartly.

The above window attachments can help keep direct sunlight out during the day. With your curtains, drapes, or blinds down, you can help keep the temperature inside cool and ease your AC’s workload at the same time.

Do Some Tree-planting

Curtains, drapes, and blinds are good at blocking the sunlight coming through the windows, but they can’t do much about the sunlight hitting the roof and walls directly and making your home feel like an oven.

If your home gets plenty of sunlight, you might want to consider planting trees in strategic spots around the house. 

Trees, specifically those with broad leaves, can provide your home with plenty of shade to keep temperatures down, which should help your air conditioning unit out in terms of performance and efficiency.

Keep The Air Filter Clean

Your air conditioning unit’s air filter doesn’t just prevent dust particles, pet dander, and allergens from circulating in your home.

Aside from maintaining good indoor air quality, air filters also protect the internal components of the AC unit itself.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long for air filters to accumulate dust and debris to the point of clogging.

Once the air filter is blocked, it will lead to poor airflow, which will force your AC unit to work harder and longer just to keep you comfortable.

If you use your AC unit sparingly, cleaning or replacing the air filter every two months would be ideal. For more frequent AC use, a once-a-month replacement should do.

Neglecting regular air filter maintenance can significantly decrease the AC life expectancy. A well-maintained system not only ensures a comfortable environment but also prolongs the lifespan of your air conditioning unit.

Wear The Right Clothing Indoors

Some people turn the thermostat way down to keep themselves as cool as possible.

The problem with doing this is that setting lower temperatures means the AC compressor will have to work longer, which leads to higher energy consumption.

You won’t have to do that if you wear appropriate clothing indoors.

Shorts, tank tops, and clothes made of breathable materials like cotton, linen, or jersey help you keep cool.

Wear any of the above indoors, and you can stay comfortable even when the thermostat is at 26 or 27 degrees instead of 18. That much difference translates to considerable energy savings.

Use Fans

When your AC unit is running, you can help it out by turning on fans, which can help cool air circulate throughout your house.

While any type of fan is acceptable, Energy.gov favors ceiling fans when the AC is on, as it allows you to set the thermostat higher without compromising your comfort.

During the summer, set your ceiling fans to turn counterclockwise at a higher speed. Doing so will create a wind-chill breeze effect that will keep everyone at home feel cooler.

Cook Outside

The lower the temperature in your home, the better it would be for your AC unit.

Since cooking on your oven or stove will make your home hotter and your AC work so much harder to keep everyone comfortable, consider breaking out the grill and preparing your meals outside.

All of the above tips can help ease the burden on your air conditioning system. Do them on top of having your air conditioning system serviced professionally on a regular basis, and you will have an efficiently-working cooling system that will last a long time.

Guest Post - Innovative Bathroom Remodeling Tips

Everyone is in the race to acquire a home for himself and his family. Most people save up, some get loans, and others find means to raise enough money to own a home. However, owning a home does not only include buying the house but maintaining it. Every section in the house needs maintenance, especially delicate parts like the bathroom. At times, the best way to maintain a good bathroom is to remodel it. Remodeling a bathroom requires techniques and steps to follow. Here are some tips for you to remodel your bathroom.

Choose a Design or Plan for Your Bathroom

The first thing you have to do when remodeling your bathroom is to know what you are changing it into. You cannot just bring down the whole bathroom without planning how to remodel it to your taste. You have to create your design or choose an existing one that suits your taste.

Even if you have plans on calling a remodeling company to remodel your bathroom, you will still have to discuss the design you want. You can choose the way you want your bathroom to look and what amenities it should have. You can check out designs from friends or even check online for designs that suit you.

The bathroom design mainly entails the bathroom layout—the position of bathroom essentials, the structure of the bathroom, etc. The design is like the bedding floor of remodeling your bathroom; all other remodeling steps take place on the design.

Customize Your Bathroom to Your Taste

Customizing is vastly different from choosing a design. Customizing your bathroom gives it a signature look and differentiates it from other bathrooms with the same design. Customizing the bathroom is like spiking the bathroom and giving it a pro appearance.

To customize your bathroom, you will have to choose the color for the bathroom walls. You can also decide not to paint the wall but coat them ceramic tiles. These tiles have designs that give the bathroom an excellent look. Whatever method you use, make sure you give it the best because that is what your bathroom deserves. Customizing your bathroom also includes adding appliances to the room. You have to consider your bathroom's space before adding the devices so you won't choke up the whole place. You can also make use of top-notch floor designs for your bathroom.

You can choose the vintage style and give your bathroom the ancient feeling using the hardwood bathroom flooring. You can also make use of linoleum bathroom flooring, depending on what you want. Other flooring types for your bathroom include ceramic tile, vinyl, porcelain tile, engineered hardwood, and laminate bathroom flooring. There are also other types of flooring with their benefits and limitations. So you have to choose the one that suits you best. Customizing depends on your taste of fashion; fill it to the brim.

Replace Old or Worn Out Appliances

There is no doubt some appliances will become irrelevant in the process of remodeling your bathroom. Some appliances might be bad, while others might be too old and might be a dent in your design. Other devices might not fit the type of design you planned for. These appliances can come in the way of your design and can be a significant obstruction. You might have to change them, get a new one, or even discard them. If your design does not accommodate other designs, you should also get rid of them.

Several appliances can need replacement in the bathroom. Appliances like showers, water filters, washers, and even water heaters can require replacement. You can consider your water heater replacement and other necessary equipment when remodeling your bathroom.

Finishing Assessment

A finishing assessment entails checking out your work after everything gets accomplished. You might have to look into more details of the bathroom to be able to detect the flaws. It helps make sure that the bathroom is perfect to your taste. When conducting a finishing assessment, you might have to look into space in your bathroom to make sure it is well-spaced. You also have to consider the bathroom and the ventilation organization and ensure they suit your taste. You might have to look into every structure in the bathroom to ensure perfection.

There are several innovative ideas for remodeling a bathroom, but none is the best if it does not meet your taste. Go for the best creative ideas and follow the needed procedures for the best result. Having a well-remodeled bathroom is an excellent way to start the maintenance of your home.

Author Bio: Lena Linetti is an architect based in San Francisco.

4 Reasons Why Your Heating and Cooling Won't Turn On

As a homeowner, very few issues are as frustrating as a broken heating and cooling system. Luckily, most HVAC issues can easily be taken care of as long as you catch them early on.

Tripped Circuit Breaker

Whenever an appliance is no longer working in your home, the first thing that you should do is double-check the circuit breaker. The breaker box is usually found on the side of a home, but yours could be located in a closet, garage, or patio. At the breaker box, there should be a single switch that runs to your HVAC system. If that switch is red, then the circuit breaker has been tripped and you will need to reset it.

Severely Clogged Air Filters

Many homeowners don’t realize that severely clogged air filters can actually result in a system malfunction. That is just one of the many reasons why you should regularly check and replace your home’s air filters. While every home is slightly different, most residential air filters need to be changed at least once every month or two. As an added bonus, regularly replacing your air filters will also improve your HVAC system’s efficiency, and that is going to lower your heating and cooling expenses.

Broken Thermostat

Even though most modern thermostats are very durable and will run smoothly for quite a few years, those devices aren’t going to last forever. At some point, your thermostat is going to break, and that is when you will need to call an air conditioning repair company. An experienced technician should be able to replace your thermostat in a matter of minutes. To further improve your home’s energy efficiency, you might want to speak with your HVAC technician about replacing your old thermostat with a “smart” thermostat.

Refrigerant Leak

In the vast majority of residential HVAC systems, the refrigerant is kept in a closed line. If that line ever leaks or appears to be damaged, then you must immediately contact an HVAC company for repairs. The refrigerant that is put in HVAC systems is highly toxic, and that is one repair that you never want to carry out on your own. Your technician should be able to patch the leak or completely replace the faulty part in a matter of hours.

While some of these issues will be annoying to deal with, they can typically be avoided with a little bit of maintenance. At least once or twice a year, you might want to consider hiring an HVAC technician who offers preventative maintenance services.

3 Easy Stress-free Ways to Build Your Dream Home

Owning a home is a significant milestone in life. However, before getting there, potential homeowners have to struggle with a critical question. Do you buy or build?

The latest population survey revealed that homeownership rates have risen to 65.3%. Building your dream home allows having a say in every step of the process. Unfortunately, it also comes with its fair share of challenges. Continue reading to know how you can stop the construction from causing you sleepless nights.

1. Get Your Finances in Order

Financing is the biggest headache when planning to build your home. According to a survey by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the average cost of building a 2,776 square foot home is about $ 427,892. Unfortunately, not everyone has that kind of money just lying around. The good news is that this is just a minor setback. You can get financial assistance from lending institutions in the form of home loans.

Traditional mortgages are not an option when you are trying to build your own home. You will need to apply for construction loans. These attract higher interest due to the risks associated with construction. To secure this kind of loan, you must provide a detailed construction schedule along with quick estimates of the total costs. In addition to the plans, you also are ready with a 20%-25% down payment. On completion of the project, you take out another loan to repay the first one or refinance the loan into a permanent mortgage.

2. Choose a Contractor You Trust

Most of the stress associated with building a home is due to the fear of the unknown. You get some peace of mind when your contractor is trustworthy. Choose a company with experience and a proven track record. It is especially important because you will need to prove to your lender that you have a professional builder involved in the project.

Your contractor is required to draft a quotation. It is used by the lender to determine your qualifications for a loan. An inaccurate quote can make you miss out on the financing. To avoid hiring quacks, visit www.costcertified.com to find a certified contractor in your area.

3. Get involved

The best way to protect your investment is to get involved. You can do this without getting in the form of your contractor. The first way to do this is through site visitations. Make it a point to attend all construction meetings to get progress updates of your new home. You can be there during all milestones, such as framing and plumbing.

You are free to ask questions and bring up any issues while visiting the site. The second way to get involved is by staying in touch with the construction team. Request for progress reports at regular intervals to verify if the description matches what you saw at the construction site. Both site visits and reviewing progress reports will put your mind at ease for the duration of the project.

Final Thoughts

With proper financing and the right contractor, building your dream home can be a fun experience. Be prepared to get involved to make sure you get value for your money. Otherwise, building your home is a worthwhile investment.