Mechanical H-C

Here’s a product that’s relatively new, but also vital for a safe and comfortable home: a stainless steel chimney liner. Flue or chimney liners protect masonry chimneys from the corrosive effects of flue gases. Flue gases are acidic and eat away the mortar joints of unlined chimneys. While driving through your neighborhood, you may notice a few of these poking up out of the chimney tops. You can usually identify these as neighbors who have recently installed a new higher efficiency furnace. Here’s why these are so … [Read more...] about Chimney liners: saving your money and health

Cleaning windows, mirrors and other glass around your home isn’t a difficult task, but getting it done without streaks can be a challenge. These tips will help you get your glass surfaces sparkling clean. 1. Clean top to bottom. If you really want your window or mirror to be streak-free, clean from top to bottom. Begin at the top and work your way down to make sure that no drips will happen on the glass surfaces that are already perfectly cleaned. 2. Use a squeegee. It’s amazing what a difference this one simple tool makes … [Read more...] about Tips for window cleaning will let in spring sunshine

When the weather is hot and steamy, the last thing you want is for your air conditioning to go on the blink. Here are a few tips that you can follow to ensure the least amount of trouble from your air conditioning unit. • Inspect and clean the exterior fins of the unit. Make sure they are debris-free. Air-conditioning units draw in air through these fins to assisting in removing the heat extracted from the house. The dirtier they are, the harder the unit has to work. This can mean higher bills and a shorter lifespan. A plain water … [Read more...] about Know the basics before starting your air conditioning this year

Copper plumbing lines are great and have been used for dozens of years to supply our homes with the water we desperately need. One of the biggest drawbacks to copper, however, is the time it takes to install it, the ever-rising cost of copper itself and also the difficulty factor in making repairs. In case you haven’t heard, there’s a different product available called PEX tubing. PEX tubing has been in use since the 1960s in Europe and since the ’80s here in the United States. It continues to grow in popularity in new and … [Read more...] about Flexible tubing provides good alternative to copper plumbing

Air movement in our homes can help us to feel much more comfortable in both the summer and the winter. It can keep your house from feeling stuffy and also help you stay warmer or cooler depending on the season. The best way I know of to ensure good air circulation no matter what the season is to use your ceiling fan. Ceiling fans are great because they have a reversible feature. A flip of the switch and it spins the opposite way for a different season. The only problem I see is knowing which way the fan should spin for the … [Read more...] about Know which way to turn for best seasonal air movement

Most people now are aware that indoor air pollution is an issue of growing concern. As an answer to these problems, many of us are seeking out whole-house duct cleaning. My opinion on duct cleaning? If you’re considering having your ductwork cleaned to reduce the dust and potential allergens in your home, forget about it! That’s the job of your furnace system’s air cleaner or filter. Once dirt enters into your duct system, the only way it can get out of there is to get it past your filter system. As long as you have your … [Read more...] about Duct cleaning … does it really do any good?

One of the best things to happen in the plumbing field in recent times has been the development of biological drain cleaners as an alternative to dangerous and ecologically harmful chemicals. These biological products work via bacteria that consume organic waste. There are various products for drain cleaning on the market. One of the best, in my opinion, is called Consume, made by the Spartan Chemical Co. Inc. While the exact formula is a secret, Consume is a composite of bacteria, enzymes and additives, all coming from natural … [Read more...] about Biocleaners offer friendly help for a stopped-up drain

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that the air in your home can be two to five times more polluted than the outdoor air. When the wind blows, your house is subject to its effects. It creates a positive pressure on the side of your home that it’s hitting directly, and at the same time, it’s literally sucking air out of the opposite side. All homes leak air, at least a certain amount. We need them to leak some air, coming in and going out, so that the air inside doesn’t get depleted of oxygen. We need fresh air. … [Read more...] about Attics can let worst parts of outdoors into your house