Top 5 Home Improvement Tips

Home improvement can be both an exciting and a daunting task. Whether you want to sell, mortgage, lease, or simply upgrade it for your pleasure, improving your home requires a lot of work.

But, before you go crazy with all the improvement ideas, take time to breathe and slowly take things in. Clear your head and organize your thoughts so you’ll have your home improvement project running smoothly. Here’s a list of the top 5 home improvement tips to help you out:

Tip No. 1: Visualize

They say everything starts with a vision. This holds true even for home improvement. Take time to look around your home and have a vision of what you want to happen in each space. Also take a look at other homes for features that you want to mimic in your home.

Do not rush yourself when visualizing. Things don’t have to be so organized at this point. Entertain even the craziest ideas in your head and just make sure you take note of them.

Tip No. 2: Research

Once you’re done visualizing, start doing your research on your visions. It’s easy to check things online nowadays. You can also pay some sites an actual visit. Take and download photos of your pegs.

Doing your research would also help you weed out the plausible from the impossible. This is the time to be more realistic about what you want in your home. Check for the materials required for each project and where you can source them. Also think whether these tasks can be done yourself and if not, who you’re going to hire.

Tip No. 3: Plan

After doing your research, it’s time to organize and plan things out. This means piecing together all that you have researched, and making more concrete plans about it.

Think of how you want to go about the home improvement project. One efficient way to do this is to go over it one room at a time. List all the changes that you want to implement for each room, and how you’re gong to do them. You can base these on your research. This is also the time to think about your budget and timeline. How are you going to fund this project and how much time should it take?

Tip No. 4: Cost

One of the major concerns in home improvement is the budget. A lot of homeowners actually go beyond their intended cost.

To avoid having issues with home improvement costs, it is best to canvass before you buy. This holds true for all suppliers including the labor costs. It might take you longer, but it can help you get the most out of your money. Check online home improvement stores and pay warehouses a visit. Compare the best prices, and check the quality of the materials.

Tip No. 5: Organize and implement 

Once you’ve done the costing, all you have to do is organize and implement the project. Create a time-bound schedule of the things to do. Take it one space at a time. The more detailed your plan is, the better. It also helps to have a plan B in case your original ideas don’t work.

These tips could serve as your guide to organizing an otherwise chaotic home improvement project.

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Why Is My Air Conditioner Blowing Warm Air?

When summer is at its peak, it is time you rely on your air conditioner the most. Thus, it would be a great disappointment to find your unit blowing warm air, instead of providing you the much-needed relief from the heat. The problem is common in HVAC systems. In some cases, you may be able to fix it on your own.

Having said that, here are some tips on troubleshooting an air con unit that blows hot air, and how to fix them:

Thermostat
When you notice your AC blowing hot air, the first thing to check should be the thermostat. It might have been set to “heat” by accident, and this is easy to fix. Just switch the thermostat back to “cool”, then check if the unit starts to blow cool air.

You should also check that the batteries are functioning, and the temperature isn’t set too high.

Circuit Breaker
Once done checking the thermostat settings and batteries, make sure that the unit has power. Do this by inspecting the electrical panel. An AC unit needs a significant amount of power to function. When there is excessive power demand, your circuit breaker may automatically shut off power as a safety measure.

To fix the problem, find the electrical panel. Look for a blown fuse or tripped breaker. Flip the breaker off completely, then switch it on to power the AC unit. In case of a blown fuse, replace it. Contact an HVAC pro like Spartan Plumbing if the breaker still trips from time to time for no apparent reason.

Air Filter and Evaporator Coils
While air filters don’t directly affect air temperature, they can lead to evaporator coil problems when dirty. It may get clogged with debris and dust that can hamper proper cooling operation. Your evaporator coils may freeze. You may think that this may mean cooler air, but, in reality, this may cause hot air flow from the motor.

To prevent the problem, replace your air filters every 30 to 60 days, depending on the filter type, household, and climate. To be sure, inspect your air filters each month. Hold them up to the light. If the light barely passes through, it is time to replace the filters.

If the evaporator coil is frozen, switch the unit off, then change the filter. Don’t turn the unit back on until the unit has thawed. If the coils start to freeze again, switch the AC off right away, then call a technician to properly troubleshoot the problem, which may be a refrigerant leak, or a compressor issue.

Outdoor Unit Condenser Coils
Your next step is to check the outdoor unit. The outdoor evaporator coils need to have unimpeded airflow, just like the indoor coils. Thus, you should always maintain at least a 2-ft. clearance around your outdoor condenser unit.

If the outdoor unit is blocked, switch the AC off at the source. Remove the bigger items blocking the unit by hand, and rinse the smaller debris with a garden hose.

Before the start of every summer, schedule an AC cleaning and tune-up with a pro. Make sure to include complete outdoor and indoor coil cleaning.

Refrigerant or Coolant
Low refrigerant levels is among the main causes of air conditioning malfunction. Over or undercharged refrigerant may be due to a worn out service valve, poor assembly, or loose joints.

Unless you are a certified technician, never attempt to fix refrigerant problems on your own. A regular tune-up schedule at the start of every cooling season is the best way to prevent refrigerant leaks.

As soon as you notice your unit blowing hot air, freezing on the refrigerant line, or making gurgling/hissing noise, you should call an HVAC specialist right away.

Why Is My Air Conditioner Blowing Warm Air? syndicated from https://epichouseandhome.wordpress.com

Most Common Household Plumbing Problems and Remedies

A typical homeowner encounters a wide variety of plumbing problems from time to time. Some are easy to fix, and doing it DIY-style can save you a decent amount of money you would otherwise spend for a professional plumber.

Having said that, here are some common plumbing issues and how to fix them:

•   Slow-Draining Sink – This is quite a common plumbing issue. The pop-up that stops the sink often collects hair and other debris over time. You need to clean the debris to make the drain flow smoothly again. You can use a plumbing tool called the Zip-it for the job. Removing the pop-up to clean it is another option. Typically, there is a nut on the drain that holds the pop-up in place. Disassemble the nut to remove and clean the pop-up. Make sure to put it back after cleaning.

•   Low Water Pressure – People often complain about getting low water pressure when the taps don’t produce water at the usual rate. First, you need to check if the problem affects both your cold and hot water. If both are affected, then the problem is most likely the aerator. Over time, calcium builds up slowly in the faucet’s aerator. This results to reduced water pressure. Fixing a clogged aerator is simple. You only have to carefully remove the aerator and clear out any build-up and debris.

•   Slow-Draining Tub – A tub that drains slowly is not a difficult problem to fix. The cause is often hair that accumulates in the drain. You can use either a pair of needle-nosed pliers or a Zip-tool to reach in, and clear the tub of the clog. A good preventive maintenance procedure would be to regularly clear the tub of debris – even if your tub is draining normally. If debris is allowed to build up, the drain will eventually get clogged.

•   Running Toilet – Another common, but quite easy to fix plumbing problem is a running toilet. A lot of different things can trigger the problem that causes your water bill to run up. To fix the problem, you need to know what exactly is causing the toilet to run. After identifying which of the toilet’s running parts is the culprit, you can stop the running water by repairing or replacing the part, whichever is more appropriate.

•   Jammed Garbage Disposal Unit – The garbage disposal unit is one of the most frequently-used appliances in your home. Thus, it is prone to experiencing malfunctions from time to time. While your unit may have come with a nifty key for unjamming the equipment, chances are, you have already lost or misplaced it. The good thing is, you can unjam the garbage disposal using an Allen wrench. The bottom part of the unit has an opening where you can insert the key or a ¼” wrench. Just turn in both directions to rid the motor of the jam.

These plumbing problems are among the most common ones you will encounter in your household. Knowing how to fix them can save you time, effort, and money.

Most Common Household Plumbing Problems and Remedies published first on https://epichouseandhome.wordpress.com

How to Clean Your Air Ducts

When clogged with dust, dirt, or cobweb, air ducts fail to fulfill their key function. What’s worse is that they even prevent your HVAC from working optimally all while distributing allergens throughout your abode. Is it necessary to hire a professional to clean these ducts though? At times, it is. But there’s also the DIY route that you might want to try first.

It’s Fairly Straightforward

To begin, just grab a screwdriver, a brush, a vacuum, a broom, and some replacement filters. Once you’re ready, switch off your thermostat’s heating or cooling. Remember not to turn off the fans. You need them working to help dislodge dust and debris. Now, look for the nearest supply vent, lift the grille up, and wrap it in a paper towel. Put the grille back in place. Do the same for all the remaining supply vents.

Now, go back to the first vent you worked on. Remove the grille and brush the vent’s sides. There’s no need to thoroughly scrub the surface, but you need to do some light tapping to dislodge any buildup. Carefully brush away the dirt on the vent cover and if necessary, install a new dust filter. Set the grille aside and get the vacuum ready. Go as deep as you possibly (and safely) can with your vacuum.

Sweep away any dirt that ends up on the floor. When you’re done with that, put the grille back and then move on to the next one. Before long, you’ll be finished cleaning all the supply vents. Follow the same process in cleaning the return vents, although you don’t have to cover them with paper towels. Once all return vents are clean, set your thermostat to its previous mode.

One Noteworthy Limitation

Going the DIY route is clearly the cheapest way of cleaning your air ducts. And as long as you do it fairly regularly (ideally once a month), you should be able to keep those allergens at bay. Likewise, your HVAC system won’t have to exert so much effort in keeping the temperature even throughout your home.

Unfortunately, this approach does have a downside—you’ll always be limited by the length of your vacuum’s hose. Any debris or buildup that happens to be located further down into the passage won’t get removed. And even if you purchase those vent cleaner kits or attachments, you will still be limited in terms of reach and thoroughness

No matter how much you tap on the vents, you won’t get everything out. So, eventually, you’ll still need help from the professionals. Although spending money on air duct cleaning services doesn’t seem like something you’d want, it’s actually a cost-effective course of action. After all, it saves you from facing bigger concerns down the road.

For Complete Peace of Mind

Through regular DIY cleaning and yearly maintenance from the pros, you’ll be sure that everything’s working properly and in tiptop shape. You’ll manage to keep every corner of your abode comfortable, and airborne allergens won’t be among your worries. Indeed, the time, effort, and money required is a small price to pay for complete peace of mind.

How to Clean Your Air Ducts syndicated from https://epichouseandhome.wordpress.com

The Science Behind Your Remodel: Structural Specialists

For the most part, when you replace a countertop or move a dishwasher, the job isn’t that complicated and structural integrity usually isn’t an issue.

However, when your remodel calls for moving walls and floors, particularly when city permits are involved, it’s time to bring in a structural specialist. Though the word “engineering” can often evoke fear (it sounds complicated and expensive), it doesn’t have to be a stressful affair.

First steps

For complex interior remodels, you need an analysis of the existing structure.

“ideally I’ll be involved from the beginning to help understand the project from an architectural or structural point of view,” says building design specialist and 17-year neil kelly veteran shane patrick. “knowing what is possible or practical early on can help prevent design challenges and unexpected costs later.”

Neil kelly’s in-house structural staff makes the entire design process more fluid. With structural specialists focused on items that require building analysis and engineering, the rest of the design team can start evaluating options and working on other parts of the project at a much quicker rate.

Open plans open up challenges

We find that many homeowners want an open concept floor plan — and with older homes that means knocking out walls. Before we can knock down any walls, though, we visit your home to assess the situation.

“I’ll ensure that the walls they want to remove are load bearing,” says doug kensil, neil kelly building design specialist. “then, a design associate will draw up the ‘as built condition’ so I can do calculations on what it would take to replace that wall with a beam, a post on either end of it, and then footings.”

We work with the city so you don’t have to

If you’re doing a complicated remodel and there’s a structure change, you’ll need a permit. “one of the greatest assets that neil kelly has is that we work directly with the field issuance and remodel program (the fir program) at the city of portland. It saves a tremendous amount of time from having to submit through the normal channels down at the bureau of developmental services.”

Typically, your plans and calculations are submitted to an inspector with the fir program, and then they facilitate the permit at the bureau. “any needed changes can happen in half the amount of time,” says kensil.

Ensuring the proper load

Few people enjoy visiting their crawlspaces. Fortunately for our clients, the crawlspace is the first place we check to investigate if there’s concrete underneath your load path. We also crawl up in the attic to see where the load comes down from the roof.

Read more on https://www.Neilkelly.Com/blog/structural-specialists/