Category Archives: Home Improvement

Gas Log Fireplaces: Things You Should Know Before Buying One

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The increasing popularity of gas logs led manufacturers to come up with several appliances that use this technology. One of these is the gas log fireplace, which you can mount to the wall of your home. But did you know that the residue from burning gas logs is not always ventilated outside? Before having a gas log fireplace installed, learn the difference between vent-free and vented units and their advantages or disadvantages.

Vented gas logs can replace wood logs in a traditional chimney. There are those that use natural or propane gas, and they burn with the damper open. Keep in mind though that this is not a solution for a chimney problem. If you’ve got a dirty or damaged chimney, using a gas log could still cause a chimney fire. Before burning gas logs on a traditional fireplace, make sure that your chimney gets professionally checked for any cracks and that any creosote buildup gets cleaned.

As for ventilation, direct venting is your best option. This system uses a two-layer pipe placed through the wall behind the fireplace unit, or above it. One pipe gets air from the outside to make the gas combustible, the other takes waste to the outside and effectively reduces the risk of carbon monoxide buildup inside the house.

Vent-free gas logs, on the other hand, come with their own Oxygen Depletion Sensor, which turns the gas off before the carbon monoxide levels in the room get dangerously high. They are designed to create a very hot flame that decreases the level of soot and carbon monoxide produced by other types of gas logs. Since vent-free gas logs create lots of heat, it’s very important to keep combustible materials far from the fireplace. While in use, make sure the fireplace doors are left open and leave a window slightly open to let fresh air into the room.

Whether or not you get a vented or vent-free gas log fireplace, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions before burning any fuel. Observe basic fireplace safety at all times to prevent any fireplace accidents.

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Fireplace Safety Guidelines

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It’s important to observe fireplace safety throughout the year, but even more so now that a lot of us use candles, space heaters, and have many flammable objects in our living rooms. Avoid accidents and enjoy many more holidays with your family by following some of these fireplace safety guidelines.

Make sure your fireplace undergoes a YEARLY maintenance. This includes an inspection by a chimney specialist, which can help detect any cracks in the bricks and mortar of your fireplace and chimney. Any problems must be repaired before you use your fireplace. Also ask a chimney sweet professional to inspect your chimney and look for obstructions like birds nests and to look for creosote buildup. Creosote is caused when there isn’t enough air to burn the wood efficiently, and buildup can pose as a serious fire hazard.

Before you start a fire, keep all combustible and flammable materials like paper, logs, kindling, and carpet at least 3 feet away from the fireplace. Make sure the grate and iron is arranged so the logs can’t roll off by accident.

Use just enough gas or wood to keep your fire at the desired temperature. While roaring fires may be romantic, these can start chimney fires because they increase the amount of creosote deposit and soot in the flue.

Never use gasoline or flammable liquid to rekindle a fire. Remember that flammable vapor can explode and flammable liquid can travel the length of a room.

Always keep the damper open while the fire is burning to prevent the accumulation of explosive and poisonous gas. This also promotes efficient burning of fuel.

Before throwing out the ashes, make sure that they have thoroughly cooled down. Keep the ash in a metal container with a lid to prevent a fire and store it in a sturdy place. Ash makes excellent fertilizer for gardens so it’s a good idea to keep them around for the spring. Make sure that the fire is out completely before everybody goes to bed upstairs.

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Tips for Saving Energy Over the Holidays

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What with the decorations placed all over the interiors and exteriors of your home, your electricity bill’s sure to skyrocket during the holiday season. It doesn’t always have to be that way, though. Here are a couple of tips that you can follow to save energy and money this December.

Use LED Christmas lights, since these use 90% less electricity than regular Christmas lights and cost only $10 per strand. Fiber-optic decorations and Christmas trees are also great for energy efficiency since they only use one light bulb to light up the entire decoration.

Place a limit on the number of hours your lights are turned on. Wait til it’s completely dark before you switch on your Christmas lights, then turn them off before going to bed. Six hours or less of Christmas light-time is a reasonable amount to to aim for. If you have trouble forgetting to turn the lights off, set an alarm clock to remind you to do so.

Give out presents that don’t require batteries. Research shows that 40% of batteries are purchased over the holiday season. If you do plan on giving gifts that need batteries, consider purchasing rechargable batteries and a charger; the newest models are more energy-efficient than if you keep buying disposable ones.

Cook all your dishes at once. Make the most out of your oven and the energy it uses by baking all your Christmas pastries at the same time. It takes the same amount of energy to heat up a full oven as an empty one so you might as well take advantage of the energy you’re using up. Save the oven for cooking big dishes though, and use the microwave or toaster oven for minor holiday cooking jobs.

Finally, if you’re going somewhere for the holidays, make sure you unplug all your electronics like the TV, DVD player, computer, or radio. These use up electricity even when they aren’t switched on.

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Making Your Home Typhoon-Proof

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Two typhoons, Mina and Lando, hit Luzon today and it looks as though the winds are still going to get stronger as the night progresses. It’s a little rare for a typhoon to arrive at this time of the year. In case you haven’t prepared your home for the strong rains and wind, here are a few tips for making your home typhoon-proof.

Check your roof for rust. If you find any, scrape it off with a steel brush then finish off with sandpaper to make the surface smooth. Also inspect your roof for loose nails. If there are any, hammer them down and seal them with plastic roof cement. Finally, apply an anti-rust primer before painting your roof with a roof-guard paint.

 

The most important thing to do is to fix the leaks on your roof. Leaking roofs can cause ugly stains on your walls and can even flood your basement and damage the foundation. To prevent this from happening, clean out your gutters at least once a year. Patch up a leak as soon as you spot one.

Clean your gutter and make sure that they are free from dead leaves or debris as these could clog up your drain. After cleaning, use a hose to flush out the gutter and watch out for any leaks. Look for rusty patches and cover up the small holes with a coat of roof guard paint. If the rust ate away large holes, replace the entire area with a new one. Seal off your gutter with an aluminum sealing strip.

Guidelines for Safe Decorating

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Before you string up those Christmas lights on your home, there are a few things you need to consider when it comes to safety. Here are some safety tips you can keep in mind while decorating your home for the holidays.

Check all your decorating gear before going up the roof. Make sure that your ladder is in good shape and that all moving parts (like the rope and pulley) are in working condition. If your ladder’s about to fall apart, don’t bother fixing it because it’ll take more effort than it’s worth.

Before climbing up, carry all the tools you in a tool pouch. Use only the tools appropriate for the job. For instance, aluminum ladders are conductors for electricity. If you’re stringing up Christmas lights, it’s better to use fiberglass or a wooden ladder instead because they’re non-conductive as long as they remain dry.

When attaching cords to the eaves of your house, use a staple gun instead of a hammer. It’s easier to use a gun because you’ll only need one hand, plus it’s less likely to cause you to lose your balance while you’re high off the ground.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when setting up lights, especially outdoors on wintry days. Lights, even low-wattage ones, can be an electrical hazard so make sure you plug them in a weather-proof outlet.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help for bigger decorating jobs. Consider making a trade-off with your neighbors and giving each other a hand for annual decorating chores.

Happy decorating! And stay safe.

How to Get Your Home Ready for the Winter

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Don’t let the cold weather catch you and your family off-guard. It’s essential for you to prepare for the winter before the first snow fall of the year happens so you can avoid potential problems your house might be hiding. Here are several tips to make sure that your home is ready for the changing seasons.

First, make sure your heating systems are professionally checked and serviced at the start of each heating season. You’ll also want to inspect the filters every month to see if it’s dirty or needs replacement. Also look into your heat registers for accumulated dust, debris, or lint. If you don’t know where these are located, ask a technician to help you out.

If you have a fireplace and intend to use it, make sure that it’s checked by a certified chimney sweep. This is to make sure that there are no cracks in your chimney or creosote build-ups, which is the primary cause of chimney fires. The chimney sweep also makes sure your damper is working properly.

To reduce your winter heating bills, increase the insulation in attics to your country’s recommended minimum. An attic insulation calculator will help you determine the thermostat you need.

Inspect your water pipes because they have a tendency to freeze while you’re away, then thaw and flood your house. Water damage is incredibly costly so to prevent your pipes from freezing over, make sure they receive adequate insulation. You can do that by putting on foam sleeves, fiberglass, or wrapping them with insulating tape. You can also install freeze-proof faucets, which can be found at your local hardware store.

Check your roof and gutter for snow, leaves, and needles. Inspecting your roof is very important to avoid expensive emergency repairs. Watch out for loose shingles or damaged mortar around your chimney. To avoid having to go up the roof yourself, you can use a pair of powerful binoculars. Make sure your downspouts flow freely; if they aren’t, flush out the downspout with a high-pressure hose. Finally, look for sags in your gutters as this will make water overflow and spill next to the foundation. You can repair this by bending the brackets upwards or installing additional support where needed.