Garbage Disposal Care

Garbage disposals are a very convenient piece of plumbing equipment to own. They dispose of food quickly and easily, making cleaning up after a meal a breeze. But they do need some maintenance and care to continue to work properly for years to come. We found some great care tips from eLocal Plumbers about how to keep your garbage disposal running.

Garbage disposals are an extremely useful household tool. However, it is also an appliance we often take for granted. Sometimes we don’t realize the damage we’re causing it when we throw “everything and the kitchen sink” into it. Follow these guidelines to prolong the life of your garbage disposal.

• Never, ever put your hand in the garbage disposal to remove a clog. Always use tongs.

• Use plenty of cold water while running it to preserve the blades and allow for smooth disposal. Do not use hot water, for this can cause grease to liquefy and accumulate, causing clogs.

• Never overload your disposal. Cut larger items into smaller pieces and put them into the garbage disposal one at a time.

Keep your garbage disposal clean. Here are some useful methods:

o Pour a little dish soap and let the disposal run for a minute with cold water

o Run it regularly! Infrequent use can cause rust and corrosion

o Grind citrus peels, such as lemons, to help eliminate foul smells

o Grind certain hard foods like egg shells or small fruit pits to clean disposal’s walls

Never put the following items down your garbage disposal:

o Animal bones

o Glass, plastic, metal, or paper

o Anything combustible

o Animal fat, grease, or cooking oil. These solidify in cold pipes and cause clogs.

o Fibrous foods like corn husks or celery stalks. These can tangle and jam the motor.

o Potato peels. The starch turns into a thick paste and makes the blades stick.

o Expandable foods such as pasta and rice. They can expand in pipes and cause clogs.

o Coffee grounds. They accumulate in drains and pipes.

o Harsh chemicals, such as bleach or drain cleaners.

How to Maintain Your Room Humidifiers

In the heart of the driest months of winter, a lack of humidity can make your home incredibly uncomfortable. For those who cannot install a full home humidifier, a single room unit may be what you need to stay comfortable, without dry and cracking skin. But, like all appliances, a room humidifier needs to be properly cared for or you risk having significantly worse problems such as mildew and mold in your home.

Using a Room Humidifier

Remember that a humidifier is essentially a closed container filled with water. If you leave that container with water alone, without it running for days at a time, there is a very good chance that mildew or mold will start to grow. Most humidifier manufacturers recommend throwing out the water after 2 days if you haven’t used up the tank. To avoid this happening, make sure the unit you buy is the right size for your room. A 10 or 20 gallon humidifier will take days to empty for a 200 square foot room, and the risk of mold growth will increase dramatically.

Your humidifier should have a filter as well. This filter often doesn’t need to be changed very often – usually just once every 2-3 months depending on how many months you use it. However, if the humidifier frequently has a mildew problem, the filter should be checked and possible changed during cleaning. If mildew gets into the filter, you won’t be able to remove it and the result could simply put more pollutants into the air.

If something starts to grow in your humidifier’s tank, avoid using chemicals that leave residues behind. Bleach can evaporate just as easily as water and enter the air for you to breathe. Luckily, there are plenty of natural cleaners like vinegar or lemon juice that will remove mildew from the inside of a humidifier and not cause any future indoor air quality problems.

Be Mindful of Your System

A well maintained room humidifier will be the one thing that keeps you and your family comfortable through the worst the winter dryness has to offer. However, make sure you follow a regular maintenance schedule for your humidifier, draining it at least once a week and checking it daily for any signs of growth. It does you no good to make your home comfortable if that comfort translates to illness.

How To Calculate Duct Size

The ducts are the hidden part that makes your central air conditioning and heating system work. They allow the hot or cold air to circulate all over your house, keeping it a comfortable temperature. If you are thinking about having a central system installed, you should know a little about how duct size is calculated before you make your final decision. Here is a great article from Omega Heating and Air on how to calculate duct size:

Duct sizing is a complex process using one of three methodologies. The goal of duct sizing is to provide the perfect space through which heated and cooled air can travel around your Chamblee home. Ducts should provide ample air flow to keep you comfortable without overworking your HVAC system or costing you an arm and a leg on your energy bill.

Methods Used for Sizing

There are three methods used for most modern duct sizing. The first is the Velocity Method. The velocity method takes into account the speed at which air flows through the ducts based on their general size. A series of equations is used to determine this, including duct cross sectional area, air flow rate and air speed. A much more detailed breakdown is available on the EngineeringToolbox.com for those interested in the math behind the process.

In general though, the velocity method allows contractors to determine the appropriate size and layout of ducts based on their application (residential, commercial, industrial or high speed) and their position (main or branch ducts).

Contractors may also use the Constant Pressure Loss and Static Pressure Recovery methods to design ductwork for your HVAC system. The constant pressure loss method tends to result in more components but provides a more accurate reading of the actual pressure loss in the system based on the materials used and the layout of your ductwork.

Static pressure recovery focuses on ensuring the same pressure level is achieved at all vents and inlets for the system. It is probably the most complicated sizing method, however, so it is rarely used for residential installations.

Simplifying the Process

Were we to break down the process into its core components, this is what a contractor would do when sizing your duct work:

Determine CFM for Each Room – using the Manual J for load calculations, they would determine the CFM. This is based on the (Room Load/House Load) x Equipment CFM. The entire house must be measured and load calculations completed before this can be done.

Friction Loss Rate – Friction loss rate is the (Available Static Pressure x100 / Effective Length).

Duct Sizing – Finally, the contractor will use a chart or software to select ductwork based on the friction loss and CFM calculated in the first two steps.

The goal of all of this math is to ensure that the system installed is exactly as large as is necessary to distribute heated or cooled air to the entire house. Incorrect measurements result in improper delivery of that air and a system that doesn’t quite get the job done.

Preparing your House For Fall

Fall is coming up soon, and it is time to start thinking about getting your house ready. There are many maintenance tasks that need to be performed to make sure your house is prepared for the cold. We found a great guide from About.com on things you should take care of this fall.

The fall Equinox is a good time of year to start thinking about preparing your home for winter, because as temperatures begin to dip, your home will require maintenance to keep it in tip-top shape through the winter.

Autumn is invariably a prelude to falling winter temperatures, regardless of where you live. It might rain or snow or, as David Letterman says, "Fall is my favorite season in Los Angeles, watching the birds change color and fall from the trees." Did you know there is only one state in the United States where the temperatures have never dipped below zero? Give up? It's Hawaii.

Here are ten tips to help you prepare your home for winter:

1) Furnace Inspection

Call an HVAC professional to inspect your furnace and clean ducts.

Stock up on furnace filters and change them monthly.

Consider switching out your thermostat for a programmable thermostat.

If your home is heated by a hot-water radiator, bleed the valves by opening them slightly and when water appears, close them.

Remove all flammable material from the area surrounding your furnace.

2) Get the Fireplace Ready

Cap or screen the top of the chimney to keep out rodents and birds.

If the chimney hasn't been cleaned for a while, call a chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote.

Buy firewood or chop wood. Store it in a dry place away from the exterior of your home.

Inspect the fireplace damper for proper opening and closing.

Check the mortar between bricks and tuckpoint, if necessary.

3) Check the Exterior, Doors and Windows

Inspect exterior for crevice cracks and exposed entry points around pipes; seal them.

Use weatherstripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk windows.

Replace cracked glass in windows and, if you end up replacing the entire window, prime and paint exposed wood.

If your home has a basement, consider protecting its window wells by covering them with plastic shields.

Switch out summer screens with glass replacements from storage. If you have storm windows, install them.

4) Inspect Roof, Gutters & Downspouts

If your weather temperature will fall below 32 degrees in the winter, adding extra insulation to the attic will prevent warm air from creeping to your roof and causing ice dams.

Check flashing to ensure water cannot enter the home.

Replace worn roof shingles or tiles.

Clean out the gutters and use a hose to spray water down the downspouts to clear away debris.

Consider installing leaf guards on the gutters or extensions on the downspouts to direct water away from the home.

5) Service Weather-Specific Equipment

Drain gas from lawnmowers.

Service or tune-up snow blowers.

Replace worn rakes and snow shovels.

Clean, dry and store summer gardening equipment.

Sharpen ice choppers and buy bags of ice-melt / sand.

6) Check Foundations

Rake away all debris and edible vegetation from the foundation.

Seal up entry points to keep small animals from crawling under the house.

Tuckpoint or seal foundation cracks. Mice can slip through space as thin as a dime.

Inspect sill plates for dry rot or pest infestation.

Secure crawlspace entrances.

7) Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Some cities require a smoke detector in every room.

Buy extra smoke detector batteries and change them when daylight savings ends.

Install a carbon monoxide detector near your furnace and / or water heater.

Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they work.

Buy a fire extinguisher or replace an extinguisher older than 10 years.

8) Prevent Plumbing Freezes

Locate your water main in the event you need to shut it off in an emergency.

Drain all garden hoses.

Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.

Drain air conditioner pipes and, if your AC has a water shut-off valve, turn it off.

If you go on vacation, leave the heat on, set to at least 55 degrees.

9) Prepare Landscaping & Outdoor Surfaces

Trim trees if branches hang too close to the house or electrical wires.

Ask a gardener when your trees should be pruned to prevent winter injury.

Plant spring flower bulbs and lift bulbs that cannot winter over such as dahlias in areas where the ground freezes.

Seal driveways, brick patios and wood decks.

Don't automatically remove dead vegetation from gardens as some provide attractive scenery in an otherwise dreary, snow-drenched yard.

Move sensitive potted plants indoors or to a sheltered area.

10) Prepare an Emergency Kit

Buy indoor candles and matches / lighter for use during a power shortage.

Find the phone numbers for your utility companies and tape them near your phone or inside the phone book.

Buy a battery back-up to protect your computer and sensitive electronic equipment.

Store extra bottled water and non-perishable food supplies (including pet food, if you have a pet), blankets and a first-aid kit in a dry and easy-to-access location.

Prepare an evacuation plan in the event of an emergency.

Maintenance Checklist

As it starts to cool down this fall, you should really be thinking about winter maintenance. Labor Day symbolized the end of summer, and now the cold will start to come. We found a great checklist on the Energy Star's website on some things you should get looked at this fall:

Maintenance Checklist

Maintain your equipment to prevent future problems and unwanted costs. Keep your cooling and heating system at peak performance by having a contractor do annual pre-season check-ups. Contractors get busy once summer and winter come, so it's best to check the cooling system in the spring and the heating system in the fall. To remember, you might plan the check-ups around the time changes in the spring and fall.

A typical maintenance check-up should include the following.

Check thermostat settings to ensure the cooling and heating system keeps you comfortable when you are home and saves energy while you are away.

Tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage and current on motors. Faulty electrical connections can cause unsafe operation of your system and reduce the life of major components.

Lubricate all moving parts. Parts that lack lubrication cause friction in motors and increases the amount of electricity you use.

Check and inspect the condensate drain in your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump (when in cooling mode). A plugged drain can cause water damage in the house and affect indoor humidity levels.

Check controls of the system to ensure proper and safe operation. Check the starting cycle of the equipment to assure the system starts, operates, and shuts off properly.

Cooling Specific

Clean evaporator and condenser air conditioning coils. Dirty coils reduce the system's ability to cool your home and cause the system to run longer, increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.

Check your central air conditioner's refrigerant level and adjust if necessary. Too much or too little refrigerant will make your system less efficient increasing energy costs and reducing the life of the equipment.

Clean and adjust blower components to provide proper system airflow for greater comfort levels. Airflow problems can reduce your system's efficiency by up to 15 percent.

Heating Specific

Check all gas (or oil) connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and heat exchanger. Improperly operating gas (or oil) connections are a fire hazard and can contribute to health problems. A dirty burner or cracked heat exchanger causes improper burner operation. Either can cause the equipment to operate less safely and efficiently.

Actions To Do Yourself

Inspect, clean, or change air filters once a month in your central air conditioner, furnace, and/or heat pump. Your contractor can show you how to do this. A dirty filter can increase energy costs and damage your equipment, leading to early failure.

Winter Maintenace

As Labor Day approaches, it is time to start thinking about getting your house ready for winter. And as everyone knows, annual maintenance on your HVAC equipment is a big part of that. You don't want your boiler breaking down in the middle of winter! Here are some great maintenance tips from Air National Tampa:

Key Components for Annual Maintenance of Your HVAC System: A Guide From Aripeka

Annual service checkups are an important component of your Aripeka home HVAC system’s ongoing operation. Without these checkups, the system may not run properly when the hottest days of the summer are upon you. While there are some tasks you can perform yourself, most of the vital maintenance tasks need to be performed by a professional annually.

As you look for a contractor to perform your annual maintenance, make sure you find someone who will perform each of the most important tasks listed below for your system each year:

• Electrical Connections – These should be tightened, tested and replaced as necessary.

• Thermostat – A professional thermostat calibration ensures the system runs at the right temperature throughout the summer.

• Control Panel – The control panel is checked for error codes and recalibrated to ensure it continues running as intended for another year.

• Blower Parts – The fan and motor are checked and serviced as needed. Replacement parts are installed.

• Condenser Coils and Evaporator – Both are cleaned and checked for signs of wear. Any bent coils are repaired.

• Gas Connections – An inspection of your gas lines, if applicable, is made. Additionally, if you have electrical components, they will be checked for damage.

• Exchanger and Combustion Components – If you have a packaged system, these are checked for the entire system.

• Refrigerant Check – If you have a refrigerant filled air conditioning system, it will be checked to ensure levels are high enough for another summer.

• Air Filters – While you can do this yourself each month, a professional will check permanent and replaceable filters for wear and tear.

• Moving Parts – All moving parts are inspected, oiled, and checked for damage. If a part needs replacement it is done now to avoid future problems.

Good annual maintenance is necessary to keep your system running smoothly year round. While there are plenty of cleaning tasks you can perform each month, the most important tasks are those performed by your contractor.

If you are interested in learning more about how maintenance will be performed on your system, call your local contractor today.

Common Furnace Problems

As the fall starts to approach, it is time to start thinking about your heating. Though modern furnaces should require nothing more than your turning on the heat, sometimes they can break. Two questions come to mind: should you fix it yourself? Or should you call a professional? To make that decision, it is good to know about the common problems that furnaces have. Here is a great list from doityourself.com:

Modern furnaces are designed to be as maintenance free as possible but furnace problems still occur occasionally.

No Heat
(1) Check that the thermostat is working by turning it up a few degrees to see if the furnace kicks in.
(2) If it does you may need to either adjust the thermostat settings or clean out the air filters.
(3) Check that the pilot light has not blown out if the fuel is not igniting.
(4) If the furnace has electronic ignition the burners may need adjusting and this is best done by a professional.

Not Enough Heat
(5) Clean or change the air filters.
(6) If the burners still don’t provide enough heat they need adjusting by a professional

Furnace Turns on and off too Frequently
(7) Clean the air filters and check the thermostat settings.
(8) Make sure the blower motor is working efficiently and that the fan belt is not slipping.

Noisy Furnace
(9) Make sure the blower motor is running smoothly and that the fan belt is not slipping (that could cause a squealing sound).
(10) If the noise is a rumble caused by the way the fuel is being burned, the burners need adjusting by a professional.

Smell of Gas
(11) If you have a gas furnace and you can smell gas this is definitely time to turn off the furnace, evacuate the house, and call in a professional. Never try to find and cure a gas leak for yourself.

Read more: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/furnace-problems-11-common-solutions#b#ixzz1WhXZ0hYI