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When to Replace Your HVAC Filter

9/7/2023

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​Your HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system is the unsung hero of your home, keeping you comfortable year-round. But for it to work efficiently and maintain indoor air quality, you need to pay attention to a seemingly simple component: the HVAC filter. In this blog post, we'll explore how dirty your HVAC filter should be before you replace it to ensure optimal performance and air quality.
1. The Role of the HVAC Filter
Before diving into the dirtiness factor, let's understand the filter's role. The HVAC filter acts as a barrier, capturing airborne particles like dust, pollen, pet dander, and allergens. This not only keeps the air clean but also protects your HVAC system from debris that can damage it.
2. Visual Inspection
The most straightforward way to gauge when to replace your HVAC filter is through a visual inspection. Most filters are made of a paper or fiberglass material that starts off white or off-white. As dust and particles accumulate, the filter gradually darkens. You should replace the filter when it's visibly dirty.
3. The Dirty Truth
There's no one-size-fits-all answer to how dirty your HVAC filter should be before replacement because it depends on various factors:
  • Filter Type: Different filter types have different lifespans. Basic fiberglass filters typically need replacing every 1 to 3 months, while high-efficiency filters can last up to 6 months or more.
  • Allergies and Pets: If you have allergies or pets, you may need to replace the filter more frequently. Allergens and pet hair can clog filters faster.
  • Usage: The more you use your HVAC system, the quicker the filter will accumulate dirt and need replacement. In regions with extreme weather, you may need to change it more often.
  • Local Conditions: Environmental factors like dust, pollen levels, and air quality can impact how quickly the filter gets dirty. High pollen seasons may require more frequent changes.
4. Energy Efficiency
A dirty filter restricts airflow, forcing your HVAC system to work harder to circulate air. This reduced airflow not only leads to decreased energy efficiency but also puts additional strain on the system, potentially shortening its lifespan.
5. Indoor Air Quality
A clogged filter can negatively affect indoor air quality, especially for those with allergies or respiratory issues. Regular filter changes help maintain cleaner, healthier air in your home.
6. Preventive Maintenance
Rather than waiting for the filter to become excessively dirty, consider replacing it on a regular schedule. Set reminders to ensure that filter replacement becomes a routine part of home maintenance.
Conclusion
The state of your HVAC filter should guide your decision on when to replace it. A clean filter contributes to energy efficiency, better indoor air quality, and prolongs the life of your HVAC system. Regular visual inspections and consideration of factors like filter type, usage, and local conditions will help you determine the right replacement schedule. Remember, it's better to err on the side of caution and replace your filter a bit early than to wait until it's too dirty, as neglecting filter maintenance can lead to costly HVAC issues and compromised air quality.
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Grilling Season

8/11/2023

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Grilling food outside – for many that is one of the highlights of the summer. It offers some good flavor and a nice experience. You should however make sure that you are staying safe when using a grill.

Grills give off a lot of heat and they can ignite nearby things if you don’t have them at a good distance from anything that is flammable. Even vinyl siding on your home could melt from the heat given off of a grill, so you should keep that in mind.

Never use a grill in an enclosed area. While some might have been told that many times, they might not realize that it could cost them their lives if they do it. Carbon monoxide will kill quickly if you are in an enclosed area with a grill, and early on, the effect of CO poisoning will make it hard to focus and keep your balance, so make sure there is good ventilation where you are using the grill.

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Prepare your home for summer

7/3/2023

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​Summer is a great time to be outdoors and enjoying the heat, but the summer warmth can have an affect on your home and your energy bill if you don’t prepare for it! Here are some suggestions that could help you save money and protect your home through the summertime.

Modern smart home technology offers one of the most effective solutions for saving energy by installing a smart thermostat. These devices automate temperature control throughout your home, switching off conditioning in spaces that arent being used and helping you to avoiding running your temperature control system more than you need to.

Rather than cooling your home once it becomes hot, you could install awnings or shades to prevent heat from getting into your home in the first place. Similarly, making sure there is good insulation between your home’s used and unused spaces can prevent your conditioning system from over-working. This includes sealing windows and doors effectively.

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The Danger With Lead

6/13/2023

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Is there lead in your home? If it was built earlier than the 1970s, it is a possibility, since lead wasn’t outlawed in construction before that time. Lead was considered to be very useful for plumbing applications. It was also great when added to paint, since it made the paint more resilient, vibrant, water resistant and faster drying. It was not until later that it was discovered the many side effects that lead could have.

Lead is especially dangerous for children when it starts peeling. Curious children might put the flakes into their mouths, and since their brains and nervous system are still developing, the damage can be quite extensive. You will recognize lead paint when it starts peeling. It has a snakeskin-like pattern that is very distinctive. To check if you have lead pipes, you can try scratching them with a knife or some other hard item. Lead pipes scratch much easier than other metals.

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Can You DIY a Dishwasher Installation?

5/23/2023

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Installing a dishwasher in your kitchen is a great way to eliminate a task that most find tedious, but a poorly installed dishwasher could do a lot of damage to your home. This is why many choose to hire an experienced professional to do the work. If you decide that it is a project you could handle on your own, there are a few essential things to keep in mind to ensure that your dishwasher doesn’t end up becoming more trouble than it is worth.

The major concern is that of leaking water causing damage. Often there needs to be water supply and takeaway lines running behind cabinets in your kitchen, and a leak there could go unnoticed for a long time, causing serious damage.

There is also a possibility that you will cause issues with the drainage of your sink if the drainage from the dishwasher is connected improperly. This could be annoying, but it could also lead to water backing up in areas where it can do damage.

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Security Cameras

4/14/2023

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​Every neighborhood is different, and how safe you feel where you live can be different depending on what part of town you live in. There are different things that you as a homeowner can do to feel safer, but it is important that this isn’t just a false sense of security but instead something that really works. Security cameras can definitely give you a sense of security, but it is important to remember that they will only be effective if the criminal knows they are there. If you can get some signs to let a potential burglar know they are being watched, that will discourage some from doing the deed. At the same time, you should avoid placing cameras in locations where they can be easily stolen.

With modern cameras, you should just need a method of supplying power to the camera for it to function. Since most cameras are wireless, you can mount them just about anywhere, and often they will come with the capability to provide you a live feed anywhere you have an internet connection.

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Maintaining Wood Floors

3/6/2023

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If you have hardwood floors in your home, you are probably happy about the classic look that they bring to your home. One of the worst nightmares for someone that cares about their floors is seeing something sharp make a deep scratch or gouge in the wood. This can happen so quickly and easily. Maybe someone wears their shoes indoors scratches it with a rock that is stuck in their thread, or maybe someone pushes a heavy piece of furniture across the floor. No matter what the cause, it might seem like a difficult thing to fix, but there is a way in which you might be able to restore the floor yourself.

First, you need to either use sandpaper or steel wool to smooth out the area around the scratch. After that, you need to clean it well, and then you can use wood filler to get the scratch filled in. Sand a bit more to make the surface even after the filler has set completely, and then you can finish it with polyurethane to make your floors look like new again.

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What’s a P-Trap??

2/8/2023

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​Have you ever heard of a p-trap? While the name may conjure up all sorts of different definitions, we can clear up any confusion by explaining how it works. Essentially, it’s a specifically designed bend between the horizontal and vertical piping under a sink drain or at the base of a toilet that looks like the shape of the letter P. Now that you’ve read that, you’re probably remembering that you’ve seen something like this a million times in your life.

But what does this thing do? Well, inside the deepest part of the bend lies a little bit of standing water. This water, along with the bend, helps to prevent sewer gas from traveling up into your home through the drain. It also gathers a small amount of debris from the water as it travels through the bend, helping to prevent clogs. These two effects are why it’s called a trap.

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What to do About Water Damage

1/4/2023

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Living on an island, it can help a person to have a love for the water, but also a wholesome fear of its’ power. Water is essential for our life, but it can also cause considerable damage, especially when it finds its way into your home where it shouldn’t be.

If you’ve noticed a discolored spot on your ceiling or a wall, you likely immediately recognize that this is caused by some kind of water leak. However, you may be surprised to learn that by the time you see this kind of symptom, water may have already traveled a long way inside your home to get to that spot. The actual source of the water damage can be at the other end of your home. While it’s true that water damage could be caused by a temporary problem, it’s a good idea to have a professional help you determine what the real cause of the damage is.

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Home Maintenance…Your Bathroom Extraction Fan

12/16/2022

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Perhaps you’ve started thinking about doing some home maintenance. It is good to take care of small jobs around your property as this is often the key to preventing the need for major repairs down the line.

One of the smaller tasks you can do is to regularly check and clean your bathroom extraction fan. While it doesn’t seem to be such an essential part of the home, many problems can arise if it is not working correctly. A bathroom fan is designed to extract moisture from the room which is very important when we consider that the bathroom is one of the most humid and moist rooms of the house.

For a bathroom extraction fan to function properly it needs to be attached to ductwork which reaches all the way to the home’s exterior. One problem that some properties have is that, instead of going outside of the home, the ductwork vents into the attic space. While you may not see a huge problem with this in your bathroom, it can create big problems for the attic by damaging materials and causing mold to grow.

If you notice that the bathroom fan is not working correctly it may be because it is clogged with dirt and dust. To prevent this, give it a good cleaning once a month. A fan that is not working as it can lead to moisture issues in the bathroom such as corroding metal fixtures, peeling or bubbling paint and excessive moisture on the bathroom’s ceiling and tile. So, it is clear to see how regular maintenance of even the smaller items in the home can lead to big savings later on.
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