The days are getting noticeably shorter, and maybe there's a nip in the air - fall is definitely on its way. Now is the perfect time to get your home in shape before winter rolls in, while the weather is still pleasant enough for spending time outdoors.
Seal it up: Caulk and seal around exterior door and window frames. Look for gaps where pipes or wiring enter the home and caulk those as well. Not only does heat escape from these openings, but water can enter and may eventually cause structural damage and mold problems.
Look up: Check the roof for missing or damaged shingles. Winter weather can cause serious damage to a vulnerable roof, leading to a greater chance of further damage inside the home. Although you should always have a qualified professional inspect and repair the roof, you can do a preliminary survey from the ground using binoculars.
Clear it out: Clear gutters and eaves troughs of leaves, sticks, and other debris. Consider installing leaf guards if your gutters can accommodate them - they are real time savers and can prevent damage from clogged gutters. Check the joints between sections of gutter, as well as between the gutter and downspouts, and make any necessary adjustments or repairs.
No hose: In climates with freezing weather, drain garden hoses and store them indoors to protect them from the elements. Shut off outdoor faucets and make sure exterior pipes are drained of water. Faucets and pipes can easily freeze and burst, causing leaks and potentially serious water damage.
Warm up time: Have the furnace inspected to ensure it's safe and in good working order. Most utility companies will provide no-cost inspections, but there can often be a long waiting list come fall and winter. Replace disposable furnace air filters or clean the permanent type according to the manufacturer's instructions. Using a clean filter will help the furnace run more efficiently, saving you money and energy.
Light that fire: If you enjoy the crackle of a wood-burning fireplace on a chilly fall evening, have the firebox and chimney professionally cleaned before using it this season. Creosote, a byproduct of wood burning, can build up to dangerous levels and cause a serious chimney fire if not removed.
Happy Fall to you from everyone at Pillar To Post.
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Have you ever become so absorbed in an activity that time seemed to just fly by? You were able to focus - without looking for distractions - and found you were super productive. Wouldn’t it be great if you could have that same experience with the tasks you’ve been putting off - like tidying up your house or tackling your taxes?
The tendency to put off repetitive routine chores is common, so you are not alone. In fact, many people feel physically uncomfortable when faced with these types of tasks, because they find them downright boring. If you can’t seem to find the motivation to do what you have to do, you might just be avoiding boredom.
There are several ways to combat boredom and make mundane tasks more exciting - or at least more bearable.
The secret is to make the job more stimulating by keeping your mind engaged:
Spice things up. A meal without spices would be bland. What ingredients can you add to your tasks to liven them up? How about adding a few drops of essential oil to your laundry detergent to brighten up wash day, getting some stylish file folders to make filing fun, or listening to music (or an audio book) to help make cleaning the house more pleasurable?
Add some fun. Adding an element of play can make even the most boring tasks more exciting. Get creative and make a game out of chores you’ve been avoiding. Set a timer and challenge yourself to beat the clock. You can also plan something enjoyable to do right after you complete the task, as a reward.
Invite a friend. Sorting hundreds of old photos on your own can be tedious. Inviting a friend to sit with you at the dining room table as you sort the photos can turn a boring task into a social event. Partner up and suddenly you can sort for hours without even realizing it. Your friend doesn’t even have to help you; the person can be there for company and conversation.
Find a stimulating environment. Working at home or sitting at a desk is not for everyone. For a more interesting environment, take your laptop to a neighbourhood coffee shop. Being in the company of others may be all the stimulation you need to focus and get that report done.
Next time you find you are procrastinating on a job that needs to get done, become aware of how you are feeling. Notice your thoughts. If you are dreading it because you hate to be bored, try some of these boredom busters. Not only will you be amazed at what you can accomplish, you might even enjoy yourself.
What have you been putting off and which boredom busters work best for you?
Hellen Buttigieg professional organizer & life coach www.weorganizeu.com
A barbecue master is looking for the best prime performance at all times, no matter whether they fire up the old-faithful every year or splurge on a new top-of-the-line grill. Here are some go-to cleaning tips to get the most out of your barbecue all summer long.
Give it a good wipe down. Clean the exterior with soapy water to remove any build up that can occur from sitting outside. Try to do this every couple of weeks to help remove any dust and residue.
Choose your weapon wisely. When cleaning inside, traditional brushes with bristles work well for porcelain enamel-coated grates, whereas grillstone blocks or a warm cloth with soapy water are good for stainless steel grates. Not familiar with grillstone blocks? When you rub these back and forth, the shape of the block will conform to the grates to make access to narrow areas easy.
Turn it up before turning it off. Make your clean-up process easy by increasing the heat after cooking. Close the grill and set the control on high for 10 minutes. The extreme temperatures will burn off any remaining food items like cheese or chicken and the charred remnants will be easier to remove.
No one likes a party crasher. Gas pipes are notorious for housing spiders and getting clogged with spider webs which can affect the level of gas getting to your burners over time. Once you have made sure that the propane tank is turned off, use a pipe cleaner to remove anything that may be stuck.
With these stylish secrets for keeping cool, you can relax all summer without worrying about the energy bills.
Use nature’s air conditioner. Open the curtains and crack the windows in the a.m. hours to let in cool air, then close them when it starts to heat up.
Bring nature in. Give your rooms a quick pick-me-up by filling them with plants from your garden. The plants will filter indoor toxins so you feel fresher.
Enjoy your outdoor room. Expand your living area onto a covered porch or deck, which will shade you from the heat of the sun. Plump pillows and potted plants make you as comfy as indoors.
White is right. White reflects rather than absorbs sunlight, keeping rooms cool. Give tables, shelves or cupboards a coat of shiny white paint.
Dine outside. Enjoy family dinnertime on the patio at night when the temperature is cool and comfortable. Keep kitchen heat under control by using small appliances like a microwave or toaster oven instead of the stove oven when possible.
The hot weather has finally arrived, and while many of us enjoy basking in the sun, when we are inside our homes we prefer the cool comfort of air conditioning. That said, it is important to keep a close watch on how you use it, because keeping the air conditioning on full blast could lead to hefty energy bills.
Use ceiling fans to circulate cool air. Fan blades should operate in a counter-clockwise direction to move air downwards and maximize air circulation so your air conditioner does not have to work so hard and cost you more.
Don’t lose money cooling rooms not in use. Close vents and shut the doors in unused rooms. Also make sure to clear the vents you are using from dust and obstructions. Close curtains or blinds on windows that receive direct sunlight to keep heat out of the house.
Landscaping around your air conditioner unit can help block the sun so it works more efficiently, but make sure trees, plants and hedges are planted at least three feet from the unit to avoid restricting airflow.
The face of air conditioning is changing from efficiency to comfort.
A/C Efficiency The goal of air conditioning is to get as much cooling as possible for the least amount of energy input. SEER or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio is a measure of efficiency. The higher the number, the more efficient the system. Minimum SEER legislation has kicked in requiring all new A/C systems to be at least SEER 13, with many of the top models are now over SEER 17.
Avoid Installation Problems One way manufacturers are making their systems more efficient is by making the heat exchangers larger. The outdoor and indoor components are larger than before. You may have to replace your air handler or furnace. There may be workarounds that a novice may not know about. If you are in this situation, make sure you ask if there is an alternative such as any minor ducting modification. It is probably worth a second opinion if the installer has no suggestions.
Two Stage Compressors Modern two stage compressors solve the capacity dilemma. If the air conditioning system is sized to operate optimally on the hottest day of the season, it’s probably oversized the rest of the time. An oversized system will cool the house very quickly. This means short on cycles. This is inefficient and it does not dehumidify the house properly. The result is that many systems are not achieving their rated SEER and the houses are cold and clammy. There are systems that will operate at two capacities. It’s like having two air conditioning systems in one package. An undersized mode that will have very long on cycles and a larger capacity mode to keep you comfortable on the hottest days.
From great frothy milkshakes to sky-high sundaes, there are plenty of ways to enjoy this unofficial dessert of summer - and the way you take your ice cream can say some surprising things about you.Just find your favorite ice cream “style” to learn more about yourself.
If your style of ice cream is …A cup of ice cream: You’re a future-focused go-getter.
A milkshake: You’re a youthful dreamer.
A sundae: You’re an adventurous novelty-seeker.
A popsicle: You’re an in control multitasker.
A cone: You’re a risk taker.
An ice cream sandwich: You’re a laid-back people-person.
The kitchen is the center of the family’s financial, physical and emotional well-being. Here are some tips to increase your clan’s good fortune.
Use lots of warm accent colors, like yellows and reds, and images of flowers, fruits and vegetables. Their symbolic bounty will boost the family’s abundance.
Place something green in the room, like a plant. Stoves and sinks represent fire and water, and in the same room can encourage conflict. But green, a healing feng shui color can temper frayed nerves.
Put out a bowl of nine oranges. Nine is a feng shui number and oranges represent good luck.
Keep knives in a drawer. Displayed knives create “poison darts” of negative energy.
A well-maintained air conditioning system will last longer and cool better than a neglected system.
Clean or replace the filter in the air handler regularly, not just for clean air, but also because the filter protects your heating and air conditioning equipment. Dust can clog the evaporator coil, reducing the heat transfer, efficiency, and life of the system.
Trim vegetation away from the condenser for free air flow. Do not enclose the condenser with trellis or anything else that might block air flow.
Have the system serviced regularly. Servicing is inexpensive and will increase the life and efficiency of the system. A technician typically cleans the condenser coils and checks the refrigerant pressures, adjusting the refrigerant charge if needed.
Like any system in your home, a central air conditioner will work at its peak efficiency and performance when it is properly fitted for capacity and regularly maintained.
GFCI and AFCI are specialized electrical safety devices with very different purposes. Let’s take a look at how each is used in the home as well as how they work.
A GFCI, or ground fault circuit interrupter, is an inexpensive device that is designed to protect people from electrical shock in the home. GFCI receptacles should be installed in any area with potential riskfor electrical shot with a direct path to the ground, especially areas with plumbing. These are commonly installed in bathrooms, along kitchen counters, in garages, unfinished basements, outdoor outlets and near swimming pools and spas. A GFCI monitors the electrical current leaving from and returning to the receptacle, which should be the same. If there is a mismatch in the currents, the GFCI will shut off the receptacle immediately, protecting people from serious electrical shock.
GFCIs have various configurations, including the standard GFCI receptacle with “test” and “reset” buttons. Homeowners should test these monthly to ensure proper operation. If the GFCI fails to trip or can’t be reset, it should be replaced. There are also remote GFCIs, which protect standard receptacles in the circuit. These should always have a visible label indicating GFCI protection, because there is no way to tell just by looking that it is or isn’t protected. Another option is a GFCI breaker, which is installed at the electrical panel and protects the entire circuit. These can be identified by the presence of test and reset buttons.
An arc fault circuit interrupter, or AFCI, is designed to prevent electrical fires in the home. This is a relatively new type of circuit breaker that detects arcing in an electrical circuit, shutting down the affected circuit before it causes a fire. Arcing can be caused if an electrical cable is punctured or cut by something as simple as hammering a nail into a wall. Other potential causes of arcing include frayed extension cords, loose electrical connections, and old and/or cracked insulation on electrical wires and cables.
An AFCI breaker fits into the electrical panel in place of a standard circuit breaker. AFCI breakers are much larger than standard breakers and have a test button. They may not be available for older electrical panels, so retrofitting with AFCI breakers is not always possible. In addition, old wiring may have been subjected to years of poorly-executed modifications, which AFCIs may or may not compensate for. It is always best to check with a qualified electrician who can assess your panel and electrical components before making the decision to install AFCI breakers.
To learn more, contact your local Pillar To Post Home Inspector, click here.
With warm weather approaching, it’s important to ensure your home will be ready for the busy summer season. Watch our new Summer Home Maintenance Tips” video for the best ways to get your home ready.
Here’s a quick look at some of our top tips:
Air Conditioner:
Inspect the unit to make sure it’s in good working condition.
The A/C must be levelled and free from obstruction.
Do not fully cover your A/C unit during the winter or it will cause the fins to rust inside. Instead, consider covering it with a piece of plywood and secure it with a rock.
Deck:
Maintain your deck by ensuring it’s stained or painted on a regular basis.
Check the overall structure every Spring and Fall.
Ensure there are proper footings to prevent sinking.
Proper guardrails should be at least 36” to 42” tall.
Garage:
Ensure entrance has a working fire-rated door with auto closure.
Check safety lasers on automatic door openers are aligned and operational.
Use a wood block to test door closure for pressure.
Rodents/Pest Prevention:
Check for common rodent entry points, including open gaps in the exterior.
Another common entry point is where the A/C lines enter the house.
There are no inspections available with this FBO within +/- 4 days of your preferred inspection date. Please pick another inspection date, or contact us.
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