Home Renovation | Repair Archives | Page 3 of 8

23 Aug 2018

Easy and Cheap Ways to Improve Your Home Security

With so many burglaries these days, it is a smart idea to take some precautions in order to keep your home safe. Security systems have come a long way and modern ones can be very advanced and provide your home with pretty strong security. However, they can be very expensive as well.

Even though you shouldn’t save money on things like security, there are some easier and cheaper ways to improve it.

Front door

Despite the fact that most people understand the importance of locks, we still hear stories of people leaving their homes unlocked and coming back to find that a break-in had occurred and that they had been robbed. Always be careful and make sure that you didn’t forget to lock your doors, either coming in or going out. Studies show that almost a third of break-ins happen using the front door, therefore, try avoiding basic front door locks as well. There are many kinds of locks that will really improve your safety and they can be quite affordable as well.

Windows

Even if you went out just to throw out the trash or to visit your nearest neighbor, always close all your windows. A window is one of the simplest points of entry and it is used by many domestic burglars. Apart from having your windows closed, you can improve the security by installing window locks. They will provide you with extra protection and peace of mind when you are out of your house. The type of lock that you need depends upon the style and design of the window; however, there are security companies and professionals that can provide you with a great service.

Camera

Security cameras are among the best and most effective when it comes to home security. However, they can be a bit pricey piece of equipment to own. If you want to keep an eye on what’s happening at home when you are away, but you do not want to invest in high-tech and really serious home camera systems, a Wi-Fi connected camera is worth considering. These cameras that are easy to install and use can vary in quality and endurance, but you will find that most are both cheap and effective. The placement of the camera is very important, as you want your camera to cover a big area of space and to be out of reach. To avoid additional costs, look for a cheap scaffolding rental and install the Wi-Fi camera yourself. Most cameras have the ability to detect motion and store video content, so make sure you provide it with a lot of memory space.

Alarm

The most common type of home protection is a house alarm. Security alarms have motion or sound sensors that are connected to a control unit via either hard-wire or radio-frequency signal that interacts with a response device. Most common types of sensors indicate the opening of a door or window, and they are very convenient because they can even detect smoke. Wireless ones are a less costly option, however, they require a frequent change of batteries to maintain their effectiveness.

If you want an alarm with a little more bite, the picture links to a pepper spray burglar alarm.

Lights

Use motion activated lights as a sudden spotlight can often be enough to convince a burglar to give up on his break-in attempt. If there are some areas around your house that get really dark at night, invest in motion activated lights to scare off potential robbers. You can also use lights to make it appear like you’re at home, having your TV turned on while you are away will most likely convince burglars to continue searching for a new target.

Make it appear you’re not away

If you are leaving town for a longer period of time, it’s a good idea to notify the postal service to stop your mail delivery temporarily or to ask a friend or a neighbor to clear up your mailbox frequently. Piled up mail is a clear signal that you are away, and it will make your home a potential target. You can even have your lawn cut while you are away or ask a friend to repark your car in different positions every few days. Also, be careful on social networks, as thieves often invade households of people that have been posting vacation content on social media. The biggest fear of burglars is confronting a homeowner, so make sure your home is not an easy target for them.

Don’t leave valuables in plain sight

This is just a repeat of what should be obvious, but do not leave your valuables like cell phone, wallet, money, jewelry, watch, laptop, iPad, briefcase, backpack, etc. in clear sight right by the entrance or by the window. This way, you are tempting the burglars, and the valuables left in clear sight will serve as an open invitation for theft.

13 Aug 2018

5 Maintenance Tips for Common Household Appliances

Did your household appliance just whirl, sputter, and boom give up on you? No matter how hard you stare it down, you know that it is not coming back to life. It’s farewell time for this device and a welcome party for another to replace it. But, hang on, what about the bucks?

New appliances can shoot a hole in your budget with their pricey tags. Most of all, the ninja attack on your budget strikes as a bolt from the blue, unknown and unforeseen. Most homeowners invest between $173 and $379 on their kitchen appliances. On top of that, the share of kitchen gadgets chips in 10% of the total cost of a kitchen remodeling project.

If you’re lucky, you may still resuscitate your appliance. Home Adviser points out that the average repair cost is $201 in the US. That’s the average though. The repair cost can spike to anywhere near $350, or it could cost $50 on the low end.

However, you wouldn’t have to meet these expenses if you took some appliance maintenance measures. Let’s walk you through some of the best maintenance tips for common household appliances. These will not only help you save money but also boost the efficiency of the gadget.

1. Clean the refrigerator’s coils and gasket

Let’s begin with your fridge, which is your lifeline in the summers. A vital trick to extend its life is to clean it. You need to focus on two areas namely the gasket and coils. Firstly, clean the gasket periodically. The gasket is the plastic seal that runs between the fridge and its doors.

This plastic seal is responsible for conserving the cool air inside the refrigerator. It also helps save energy. Wipe the gaskets thoroughly to maintain its elasticity. Once you remove all the residue, coat the sticking layer with Vaseline. Be sure to use only a thin film of the lubricant.

Secondly, dirty fridge coils can restrict the appliance’s airflow, encouraging it to overheat. Dirt or dust on the coils can also result in a breakdown of the device. Service experts claim that almost half of their repair calls occur due to dirty coils. Start by removing your fridge’s front grille. Next, clean the coils with the help of a handheld vacuum.

Other tips for maintaining the health of your refrigerator include:

Clean your fridge completely at least once or twice in a year
Don’t put hot dishes directly in your fridge

2. Clean the oven with the correct cleaner

Following in the footsteps of a refrigerator, ovens also don’t work well without a proper seal. In fact, a non-sticky gasket can result in the loss of close to 20% of the oven’s heat. In this regard, it is best to keep the seal clean.

However, you should inspect the seal from time to time to learn of its condition. If you notice that the gasket is not doing its job despite cleaning it properly, it’s time to replace it. It is budget-friendly to spend on a new seal than on a new oven.

What’s more is that cleaning the overall oven is essential. Most of us go wrong in selecting the cleaner, which can lead to damage. The ideal cleaner depends on the type of oven that you use. It’s best to inquire about this when you first purchase it.

Generally, vinegar or warm water is a good choice. Some pro cleaning tips for your range or oven include:

Use soft cloths for cleaning
Don’t use overly harsh chemicals for cleaning
Apply the cleaner on the cloth before using it on the oven’s surface
Don’t spray around the knobs as that can lead to a short

I have a pretty good way to clean you microwave also. I use vinegar, but steam from water also works.

3. Don’t over under load the washing machine

In most cases, we think that we can save some time by loading some extra laundry in the machine. However, overloading a dryer or washer can culminate in damage to its moving parts such as belts, motors, and more.

Some of these repairs can be so expensive that you would want to change the machine altogether. This does not mean that you choose to add only small loads to your laundry partner. Small loads can exert strain on the drive components of the appliance.

Small loads are also the recipe for energy and water wastage. Thus, the best call is to add a moderate load in your washer as well as dryer. Some other maintenance tips entail:

Don’t put heavy objects on the washing machine
Check all the pockets before putting clothes in the washer
Use washing machine detergents instead of hand-washing detergents

4. Clean the dishwasher’s filter

Often a food-filled filter is a culprit behind a failing dishwasher. You need to pull out the lower rack to fix this. Then, remove the filter cover in the dishwasher and use a vacuum to clean the screen.

It is helpful to read the manual for correctly spotting the filter. Secondly, a clean gasket can be a problem here as well. Clean it regularly with water and soap for maintaining a watertight seal.

Lastly, don’t excessively pre-wash the dishes. Washed dishes are wet and a little soapy. This can cause the appliance to overseed and overflow. It can also leak on your kitchen floor. Hence, avoid over-washing the dishes in advance.

More dishwasher care tips include:

Position dishes upside down only
Clean the fat residues before loading them in a dishwasher
Remove any stickers from your utensils to prevent the filter from clogging

5. Clean the lint trap in the dryer

We have already discussed that it is best not to overload the clothing dryer. Apart from this tip, clean the lint trap in the dryer. You need to do this after every load. Chances are that you already do it. But, if you don’t, it is high time that you start doing so to add years to the dryer’s life.

Besides, go to the back of your house and clean the air exits. This is crucial to ensure that the vent is not clogged with lint. Don’t add dry or almost-dry sheets to your dryer. This can increase the chemical residue on the sensors in a dryer, leading to excess strain. These moisture sensors stop the dryer from over-drying clothes.

However, if chemical residue collects on them, the dryer can get damaged in the long haul. It is wise to clean the moisture sensor occasionally. Some other maintenance tricks include:

Remove the lint trap yearly and wash it
Don’t slam the appliance’s door
Use a vacuum to clean any stray lint on the floor and wall behind the dryer

Take home message

Despite these tips, you can still find yourself in a repair situation that may lead you to Dial an Appliance Man Edmonton. However, it is a better alternative than getting a new piece that can derail your budget for the month. It is best to follow these appliance maintenance tips though. Just a little care can go a long way in extending the performance and life of your everyday household appliances.

23 Jul 2018

5 Electrical Problems to Keep an Eye out for When Buying an Old Home

If you are considering buying an old house, then you need to think about the electrical problems that you may be purchasing. Modern Americans as used to using reliable electricity. However, many homes constructed a long time ago had less reliable electricity. If you are considering buying an old home, inspect it for the common electrical issues found in older homes.

Insubstantial Power

If you turn on an electrical appliance and notice that the lights dim, then chances are that the home has insubstantial power. From 1990 to 2008, the average person in the world used 10 percent more electricity. This problem with your electrical service often requires installing a new system based on current codes.

Old Wiring

Pests can eat wiring. Old wiring may just wear out over time. These problems can often cause home fires. In fact, fire departments responded to an average of 45,000 electrical structural fires per year annually. These fires claim an average of 420 people’s lives each year. Knob and tube wiring installed in homes before 1930 can be a particular problem and can cause many safety concerns.

Dead Outlets

Older homes often do not have enough electrical outlets, and those that are present can be dead. Outdated circuit boxes are often the root of the problem. The boxes in older homes may not meet current code. Many cities require the main breakers outside the home. Some older homes have them inside closets. A licensed electrician must move the box. Otherwise the utility will not turn on the power

Do-it-yourself Projects

Previous owners may have tried to save money by making repairs to the electrical system on their own. This can cause nightmares that will make electricians wonder how the house is still standing. Do not complicate the matter by trying to make repairs on your own. Call a professional to come to figure out what needs to be fixed. This is the most cost-effective way to save the system. While these problems can be found throughout the house, they are often more common around the junction box. Often times, if the house was added onto during different periods, you may find that the electrical system was not upgraded to keep up with the additions.

Loose Connections

Loose connections are one of the most common electrical problems found in old homes. When loose connections are present, the electrical current cannot flow through the system correctly. Therefore, the wires may spark and catch insulation or other nearby flammables on fire. Additionally, loose connections can cause appliances to overheat. Electronics plugged into a plug with a loose connector can be damaged beyond repair.

If you are still interested in buying an old house, then think about getting an electrical inspection done before proceeding with the sale. At a minimum, this will allow you to know what problems you are inheriting with the purchase of the house. If you decide to proceed, then you need to consider hiring an electrician to do any electrical repairs needed to the home.

17 Jul 2018

DIY Plumbing: How to Take Care of Faucets and Fixtures

This guest post shows how to take care of your faucets and fixtures, mostly by cleaning, but it has a few other DIY tips that are helpful also.

You have faucets and fixtures in places like your kitchen and bathrooms. You might even have them in your laundry room too. As with most components of your home, these items will require some regular maintenance. This is especially true when it comes to keeping them clean. The following are some tips on how to keep your faucets and fixtures in good working order.

Lemon and Vinegar

When it comes to cleaning chrome faucets and fixtures, vinegar has always been a safe and powerful way to clean up lime deposits. Soaking the fixtures in vinegar for an hour can erode lime and restore the shine to your chrome components. If you want a better smell, however, lemon is a good natural cleaner too. Lemon is also great for eliminating water stains and soap scum build-up around your faucet and fixtures. If you are using brass fixtures, you will be more limited in your choices of cleaners. Often, distilled water is best in these cases.

Clean in the Hard to Reach Places Too

To keep sink and tub fixtures moving like they are brand-new, you must take extra special care to get into crevices and underneath tight mountings where rust and mineral deposits can accumulate. In these situations, using a toothbrush or dental floss to work in and out of hard to reach places can truly get the gunk out. Certain areas will be more difficult, but you can eliminate the problem with persistence.

Clearing Drains

While it may be relatively easy to work out problems with your fixture and faucet. Cleaning out a troublesome drain can sometimes be a more daunting task. If you are not sure the best way to proceed, then you may want to work with a company like Ez Flow Plumbing and draw from their years of expertise in clearing drainage systems. If a clog is creating a drainage nightmare, it may require tools you do not possess to get far enough into a drain to handle the situation.

Your faucets and fixtures are important components for your tubs and sinks that should last for a long time. If you take care of these components, they will function like new until you decide you want to change them out for something more modern. Additionally, keeping your faucet and fixtures in good working order will help to prevent unnecessary rust and damage to these parts as well.

17 Jul 2018

Old Home Renovations: 3 Signs it is Time to Update the Driveway

Today I have a guest post that outlines 3 Signs it is Time to Update the Driveway of your home. I admit I have a couple of these at my place.

If your home’s driveway could talk, it would probably plead for a complete overhaul long before you would likely think it needs more than minor renovations or resurfacing. As if automobiles weighing several tons each rolling up and down the asphalt every day wouldn’t exert a hefty enough toll, annual seasonal cycles of freezing winter temperatures and precipitation, a springtime thaw, sweltering summer heat and a full-circle arrival back around to snow and ice inevitably leave cracking patterns like varicose veins from one end of your driveway to the other. As a homeowner, you have two choices: mind your driveway’s wear and tear on a timely basis or wait until the elements and steady daily traffic convert neglected yearly maintenance into a horrendously costly replacement project. Heeding these three telltale warning signs should convince you to update your driveway before compounded damage leaves you no choice but to break the bank replacing it.

Cracking and Potholes

The ground beneath your driveway flexes and shifts constantly. Eventually, as cars pass over the pavement constantly and changing temperatures cause everything beneath it to contract and expand, cracks can eventually deteriorate into potholes. Ignore these troublesome craters long enough at your own peril. Your car’s tires and suspension will drive the point home inevitably if subjected to them long enough to cause mounting damage. Remedy shallow potholes with a basic resurfacing, but don’t wait too long before making a date with a construction material delivery service and investing an afternoon in making over your rough-hewn asphalt. Deeper holes may require a more expensive resurfacing down the line.

Pooling and Drainage Issues

Believe it or not, few variables will wear a driveway down more persistently than moisture. If water runs right down the middle of your driveway or pools in conspicuous places, drainage issues may have already jeopardized its lifespan. This is a bigger problem than just sidestepping puddles while walking up and down your driveway during spring showers. When moisture seeps into surface cracks, freezing and thawing cycles will gradually expand, contract and weaken the underlying ground. Timely resurfacing locks out water and optimizes drainage, giving your driveway even better odds for a long life before you need to consider replacement.

Weathering, Crumbling and Erosion

A sun-faded driveway is one thing. Once your surface starts looking especially beaten-up, the entire structure has probably weakened to the point where bigger problems may soon develop. A crumbling, eroded driveway is harder to drive or park atop without accelerating ongoing damage to a car’s tires, wheels and suspension. Even pedestrians need to tread lightly, since a craggy surface invites twisted ankles and ugly trip accidents. Erosion is a methodical process, but the sooner you buckle down and resurface, the better your chances of spending several times more to repave or replace the entire thing.

Knowing when to update your driveway is not rocket science, but don’t let that fact undersell its importance. Remember, your vehicles call this little landing strip home between commutes. Just as importantly, it leaves an immediate curb-appeal impression capable of instantly elevating or depleting your home’s value. All things considered, you will almost always be better off erring on the cautious side by addressing visible structural concerns sooner much rather than later. You never know what a difference 12 months can make until you step outside and wonder when your assault evolved into an array of lunar craters and stray chunks of pavement.

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