How to Handle Common HVAC Issues

Your HVAC system can be your best friend, keeping you warm through the winter and cool through the summer, or it can be your worst enemy. Issues can arise with your HVAC unit that can leave you frustrated, stressed, and, even worse, cold on a freezing day. Thankfully, there are simple ways for homeowners to troubleshoot the most common HVAC issues, and be able to enjoy the comfort of their house once again.

Odd Noises

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One of the most common HVAC issues has no problem making its presence known throughout your household. Strange noises coming from your HVAC unit may require you to contact a technician to evaluate the cause. HVAC systems usually run smoothly, not making any overly noticeable noise. If you notice the unit hissing, rattling, or making a loud humming, it could mean a larger issue.

A booming noise from the furnace could be due to delayed ignition or dirty burners, while a squealing sound signifies issues with the blower motor or blower belt. The truth is regular maintenance of your heating and air conditioning unit will help to prevent troubles with blockage and debris that are often at the root of these noises.

Problems with Airflow

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Have you ever found that while your HVAC has the heat turned on, one room is warm and another is much colder? Well, that is the result of airflow inconsistencies within an HVAC system. These airflow issues can be brought on by small leaks within the ductwork. As part of the routine maintenance, an HVAC technician will evaluate the condition of these ducts, as well as your system, to evaluate any issues that may be causing one room to not be feeling what it reads on the thermostat.

Dirty and clogged air filters require regular cleaning and replacement to prevent any crud and contaminants from obstructing ventilation and ductwork. If your HVAC unit has an outdoor component, be sure to clear debris around the unit that may be creating dirty coils and blockage.

Indoor Air Quality

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With dust and other materials blocking vents, those contaminants can really mess your indoor air quality, leaving you and your loved ones inhaling what’s taking up that dirty air filter. Frequent respiratory illnesses and allergic reactions have been linked to problems with HVAC air filters. These clogged air filters minimize the quality of the indoor air. Dirty condenser coils also restrict airflow.

Cross-ventilation is one of the simplest ways to improve indoor air quality, by bringing in fresh air from outside. You may have just cooked something in your chef-quality kitchen, and need to clear out the odors lingering in the room. This is a common issue that can also be addressed with easy cleaning to remove lingering stenches and bacteria from after cooking. This includes scrubbing countertops, appliances, and even forks and knives. Keeping the windows open will also help to waft out the scent of cleaning chemicals such as bleach.

HVAC System Capacity

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If you have any HVAC questions before purchasing and having the unit installed, make sure you address all of them with a professional. Sometimes, homeowners buy too large of an HVAC unit that operates less efficiently and send electric and heating bills skyrocketing. However, too small of a system can put too much strain, and lead to quick burnout. The proper HVAC size ensures effective heating and air conditioning, enhancing your indoor comfort.

It is important to have a technician evaluate your unit on a regular basis, to look into every possible HVAC issue that may arise. Anything from faulty thermostats to refrigerant leaks can be addressed in the proper hands. However, keeping filters clean and replacing them is an easy way to avoid any long-term issues on your end.

Related:
Portable Air Conditioners – All You Need to Know!
Looking for a Burnaby HVAC Company? What You Need To Know

How to Know When You Need a New Boiler

A boiler is the most widely used appliance in the home. There’s no gainsaying that boiler technology has evolved in recent years. Nowadays, we have boilers with safety features, smart control options, and greater efficiency levels. You see, boilers can’t keep working their best forever.

Time will always come when your steam boiler will no longer work as efficiently as it used to in the past. Although regular maintenance can help keep your boiler in top condition, boiler faults don’t give prior warnings before they break down. On that note, continue reading to discover some telltale signs that you need a new steam boiler.

1. Frequent Breakdowns

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If your water takes a long time to heat up, then you likely need a brand new boiler. This can be a stressful experience since you’ll have to shop around for quotes and make sure you’re getting the best person to do the job—on top of that, your water is freezing which adds to the stress!

Start with a simple online search of “need new boiler” followed by your location and you’ll be on your way to getting your new replacement. Make sure to read other customer reviews when making your decision. If your boiler keeps breaking down all the time and constantly undergoes repairs, no amount of repair work can get your boiler working at its optimum again. So, it’s probably time to get a brand new one. Besides, you can save the money you spend on hiring a technician for repairs, spare parts, and call-outs towards a new, reliable boiler for your home.

2. Increased energy costs.

Whether for a home kitchen or commercial kitchen, you have to make sure your new kitchen is equipped properly to meet your cooking needs. This includes having an efficient boiler in place. Increased energy costs certainly indicate that there’s something wrong. What’s more, old equipment affects energy efficiency over time. No doubt, a boiler that has seen better days can significantly impact your energy costs. Regular on and off invariably means increased energy consumption. The bottom line is that a drop in efficiency will cost you more money on energy bills than expected.

3. Reduced performance.

Boilers that have been operational for years experience a reduction in energy efficiency. You can check the ERP energy rating to determine your boiler’s efficiency. Boilers or furnaces are rated by AFUE – Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency. A boiler with a high AFUE rating means greater energy efficiency. More so, a high-efficiency boiler has an AFUE rating of 90 and 97 percent.

Boilers rated “A” are considered the most efficient, while those with a “G” rating are less efficient. Overused boilers usually have a “G” rating, so you need to get an A-rated boiler.

4. The boiler becomes very noisy.

One telltale sign that your boiler is due for replacement is that it starts making all sorts of noise when in operation. You may have probably noticed a gurgling, kittling, or banging sound whenever you switch on the central heating or open the hot water tap.

If you have a noisy boiler or radiator, it’s a telling sign that your boiler is faulty. Homeowners who ignore these sounds may end up regretting them at the end of the day. Chances are, the fault may get worse and result in a complete breakdown of the boiler. Besides, you wouldn’t want your boiler to break down in the winter season.

5. Radiators take a lot of time to heat up.

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Like a ductless HVAC system, when you switch on your boiler, it starts to produce heat to increase the temperature in the home. Sometimes, radiators may take longer hours to heat up, depending on the type of boiler. While this shouldn’t cause any concern if you have a new boiler, it could, however, mean that your boiler is wearing out. This is especially true if you have an old boiler.

The good news is that a good boiler service can fix a radiator that’s slow in heating up. However, if it takes a long time to heat your water after the servicing, you might need a boiler replacement.

Related:

Home Heating Space and Energy Efficient Option With Radiators
The Main Reasons To Install New Professional Appliances

5 Ideas For Tiered Cosmetic Stand

Create-Pretty-Tiered-Trays-with-glass-plates-and-glueCreate pretty tiered trays using wine glasses, cups and plates for displaying trinkets in your home. A rewritten post from 2013. I was looking on Pinterest and found cute stacked cosmetic trays, I had craft moment making an Up-cycled Makeup Stand , as a craft project and a need to organize my makeup.
Completed-Makeup-Tier-TrayAs I visit Pinterest, (a habit I have) and I’m sure others do too, I found some pretty makeup organizing ideas and remember finding a book at the library that was full of ideas using dishes you already have at home to make serving trays and the like with just hot glue. Or if you want it to be permanent you could use UV6800.  I wish I could find that book again, that was about 10 years ago.

You can actually make temporary tiered trays, then put them in the sink with hot water and remove the hot glue, put them away for another day and creative moment when you need something fun or pretty.

A lot of my inspiration came from photos on Pinterest

Three Tier Tray made of Glass
Melissa Smith on Pinterest

3 glass plates, 2 tall shot glasses from PierOne and blue marbles (Christmas Tree Store) to make a pretty makeup display.  Just use a hot glue gun to secure them all together and you have a stylish way to display and organize the makeup you use every day.

Thrifty-Makeovers-Repurposed
Artsy Chick Rules

Artsy Chick Rules // A pretty 3 tier tray made for jewelry. Using old plastic plates, glasses and chalk paint and E-6000 adhesive.(Use outdoors as there are heavy fumes). I sealed the entire tray with a Pearl Coat Spray Paint.

How to Make a DIY Candlestick Jewelry Stand
Crafivity Designs

Crafivity Designs // So simply but elegant. This one as you an see if for jewelry.
A fun idea that comes from Craftivity Designs for a simple and inexpensive jewelry tray inspired by none other than…Kate Spade with all the cute plates they create.

 Confession-of-Serial-Do-it-Yourselfer-Jewelry-Tower-Before-and-After
Confessions of A Do It Yourselfer

 Confession of Serial Do-it-Yourselfer  // Making the jewelry tower with thrift store cups, saucers and plates including some candlesticks for the pedestals.  Oh-My-Heartsie-Makeup-Tray
I went to the thrift store and found 3 plates and 2 wine glasses, but when I got home and started working with the space I had to use on my desk, I decided on just using 2 plates with the one wine glass.  To have more surface area on the bottom plate, I set the wine glass to the back.
This way I have access on the bottom for larger items.

 Oh-My-Heartsie-Makeup-Tray-2 The project took me all of 5 minutes, once my hot glue gun was heated. If you would want your pieces to be permanent you could use an art glue like E6000 Craft Adhesive, 3.7 Fluid Ounces ( available in craft stores).
 Completed-Makeup-Tier-Tray I have seen so many great ideas but I wanted something simple and elegant at the same time. There are so many possibilities with glass plates, wine glasses, candlesticks, bottles, cups, dishes and plates. They can be white, clear, patterned, faux silver platters or any combination including wood of course or all the new tinware you can find.

I have seen the cutest serving trays made stacking plates and cups for parties that are disposable.  I would love to see polka dot dishes made into a tiered stand. The possibilities are endless!! It would be great for creating one for cupcakes or Petit fours or small desserts for parties. Any kind of dishes that you can stack and that would be stable could work!!

What dishes do you have you could use right now to create something fun.
All you need are a few dishes, odd wine glass and a hot glue gun and or the the E6000 230010 Craft Adhesive for a permanent cement

There are so many possibilities you can see in the Pinterest Board. Use melamine dishes, summer prints, or even at the holidays very inexpensive plastic-ware could be used.  Leave it to your imagination, what would you create? 

Follow Vanessa Vander Pol's board 3 Tier Trays on Pinterest.

Have you seen these kinds of serving/stands created?
What kind of ideas do you have?

I entered the Craft Challenge and added this project to the Craft Challenge over at Redoit Yourself Inspirations

Carrying a Happening Bohemian Look is No More a Dream!

“The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.”

  • Jack Kerouac

If you think you are a gypsy soul who loves to wander and explore the unexplored, then going for the best-ever boho fashion is what you should look upon. Be it the freestyling or the impeccable look you get; there are multiple reasons for you to fall in love with the bohemian dress-up.

It is a perfect way to display your artsy personality with a grounded soul and a unique dress sense. The bohemian style became the new hotshot of the town, especially after the 60’s and early 70’s when celebrities like Olsen Twins, Kate Moss, and Sienna Miller took it to another level. Choosing-a-bit-of-Bohemian-as-a-clothing-choice

When talking about bohemian style, people often restrict themselves to printed outfits and hippie footwear. But it’s something more than that!

If you desire to drape the same look while looking exceptionally bold and beautiful in a new avatar, here are some happening and cost-effective ideas to consider and revamp your look forever. These bohemian look ideas are tried and tested and work the best for everyone. So, wait no more and get your hands on everything mentioned here!

The color selection
As the bohemian style is all about playing with the right set of colors, make sure you are going for cold hues and warm colors. This is a perfect blend that never fails to impress people around you. Bohemian Color Palette

A bong to make you look happening – The Bohemian personality is all about being a free-soul. Then why not carry a stylish bong, making you look as happy and fun as you are. You can pick bongs from some of the best bong brands that focus on enriching your vaping experience while giving you the perfect dream look. From Empire glass works to Marley natural, there are many options to choose from. 

Confusing prints
Bohemian style is a freestyle dressing that does not have a particular pattern to be followed. It’s more about wearing unusual or confusing designs, making no sense yet making you look appealing. Pick the correct way as it helps to enhance the color and your boho dress.

Accessories
It won’t be wrong to refer to accessories as the bohemian dress’s biggest highlights, making it look more appealing and happening. When talking about accessories, you can go for natural bracelets made with feathers or stones, neck-pieces, wristwatches with a unique design, and ankle chains to complete your look.

When talking about boho-style dresses, the bottoms often prefer to go for loose bottoms like flared jeans. Here, some other options can be distressed denim shorts, harem pants, or boho print maxi skirts with unique patterns to lure everyone’s attention out there.

Final word

Bohemian style is a fashion sense that displays the hippie culture making an individual look happening and a free spirit made to touch impossibilities. If we talk about the bohemian dress sense insights, it is all about playing around the natural fabric, warm shades, retro patterns, and accessories made with genuine pieces. What makes it a desirable and widely popular choice is the easy availability of bohemian style dresses and accessories. All you need is to pick the right ones, and you are done to go for the kill!Comfortable chic boho clothes and accessories

Related:
The Perfect Guide For Trendy Sandals For Spring and Summer

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