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From the most complex system to the simplest device, its function is affected by design.  So when it comes to Air Conditioning and HVAC systems that cool and heat your house, the design of the system affects the comfort level of your home, as well as the efficiency and how much you have to pay in order to maintain this comfort level.

Your ductwork system extending from your air conditioner, furnace or heat pump is a critical part of your HVAC system.  Also, its design has a major impact on the performance and efficiency of your cooling and heating equipment. In this article we will be discussing ductwork design so that you can better understand how your air conditioning system is affected by the ductwork, how it works with your HVAC system to maintain a comfortable environment within your home, and how it can help to improve the cooling efficiency of your air conditioner while lowering your monthly costs at the same time.

Ductwork Basics

Ductwork’s basic function is to offer a network for distributing cooled or heated air coming from your air conditioner, heat pump, or furnace.  Ductwork refers to the system of large tubes or pipes that extend from the main HVAC equipment into areas throughout your house. This ductwork is essential to ensuring that cooled or heated air gets into all of your indoor areas.  Without any ductwork, the cooled air wouldn’t have any way of traveling throughout your house.

At its most basic level, HVAC equipment creates a big air circulation system which continuously refreshes your cooled or heated air supply that maintains the indoor temperature of your home.  Cooled or heated air is produced by your HVAC unit and then powerful fans blow it inside of the supply ductwork.  This air travels along the ductwork and then exist out of the vents that are attached at various termination points.  The air enters into areas and room of your house, where it cools or heats your indoor areas as necessary. Any expended air that loses its cooling or heating energy is returned back into your HVAC system via the return ducts.  This expended air then travels down the return ducts and then back into the HVAC unit, and is then filtered and cooled or heated once again.  This cycle is then repeated, and the freshly conditioned air is returned back out via the supply ducts.

Why Duct Design Is So Important         

With a forced-air circulation system, all conditioned air affecting an indoor environment will travel via the ductwork.  That means that if the ductwork has any problems, it will affect how efficiently the air will travel and the amount that will reach the interior of your home to cool or heat it.  The condition of your ductwork as well as its design has a significant effect on how air is distributed.

If your ductwork is poorly designed, it can decrease air distribution efficiency by up to 75 percent.  Also, improperly sealed ductwork, damaged ductwork, or ductwork that is poorly designed and installed can account for a high percent of conditioned air being lost as is travels through your ducts.  When a large amount of air is lost, the following can result:

The HVAC equipment will end up struggling as it attempts to keep your house at your desired temperature.  That will increase the amount of wear and tear on the system’s parts and components and increase the likelihood of a breakdown or malfunction occurring. The lifespan of your HVAC equipment will be reduced, and you will need to have repairs performed that could have otherwise been prevented.

You will end up losing a high percentage of cooled or heated air that you already paid for.  The loss of air will result in a big loss of money and energy.  You will need to pay for more cooled or heated air in order to make up for all of the air that has been lost due to inefficient duct design or leaks.  This will increase the cost of your monthly energy bills.

Damaged or poorly designed ducts can also increase the likelihood of dangerous exhaust gases, contaminants, or particulates being pulled into the system’s air distribution network and then through to your indoor equipment.

Troubled ducts may suck fibers, mold, pollen, dust and other types of particulates into your system and then out into the air of your home, which will reduce indoor air quality.  This can threaten the respiratory health and trigger allergy or asthma attacks.

The filters on the forced-air system will get dirty faster if there are excessive amounts of these particulates, which will result in your filter needing to be changed more frequently.  Airflow is reduced in your HVAC system when you have clogged filters, and that is a major cause of system equipment malfunctions and damage.

Backdrafting may also allow dangerous gases like carbon monoxide to get pulled inside of your ductwork and then discharged inside of your house.  This is potentially lethal and extremely dangerous.

Effective Duct Design

You should have your ductwork inspected as part of your regular maintenance and take any necessary corrective measure. The condition of older ductwork should be evaluated.  Make sure that it is still working correctly. Determine its condition and age.  Be sure that it is providing a sufficient amount of airflow into your home’s rooms.  Make sure that your duct system gets tested for insulation, leaks, and efficiency, and whether or not the duct design needs to be altered.

As you can see, your ductwork can have a significant impact on the efficiency of your air conditioning and heating system.  IT is very important that the ductwork is in good condition and has an efficient design.  Otherwise, your bluon company system could run very inefficiently, which can result in lost air and money, damage your equipment, and potentially harm your health in the process.  Ductwork is easy to overlook since it is a part of the system that remains largely invisible.  However, it is essential for your ductwork to have a good design and be in great shape in order for your air conditioner to cool down your house efficiently.

After installing a fence around your home or backyard, you might imagine that the hard work is over. However, if you’re a homeowner who cares about boosting your home’s curb value and appearance, your work is far from over. On the contrary: If you want to keep your fence looking great, there’s a lot of maintenance work you’ll want to keep on top of each month to make sure you don’t end up with a rotting or prematurely aged wood fence. Since wood is a sensitive, porous material, it can easily end up dirty or damaged after years of exposure to the elements. If you don’t take care to give your fence a regular wash down from a fence power washing londonberry nh service, your fence could end up losing years off its life. However, even if your fence looks the worse for wear, there are ways you can make it look brand new using only a few simple tools and a few hours of work. Whatever state your wood fence is in, it’s probably not unsalvageable. If you want your fence to get back to looking its best, here are some tips to use.

Use a Power Washer

Washing your fence is one thing. Applying extreme power to peel away decades and layers or encrusted dirt and bacteria is another. When you use a power washer, you’re effectively blasting all the grime off your wood fence, revealing a nearly spotless, brand-new looking structure. However, power washers use considerable force to get the job done, and are not for the faint of heart. If you’re not trained to operate a power washer, this is a job best left to the professionals. You can usually hire a service to come and wash your fence before you start your other repairs or begin to treat it for more specific damage. Power washing can be a huge asset whether you’re just giving your fence a thorough clean or thinking about repainting or staining your fence. You’ll be able to peel away all that dirt to create a perfect, clean canvas that will make a new coat of paint shine even more brightly and last years longer.

Do Basic Repairs

Cleaning your fence isn’t the only way to give it a brand new look. If your fence has truly seen better days, it will probably have a bit of minor damage in the form of chipped pieces and worn-down parts, as well as rusty or broken locks. Before you do anything to your fence, you’ll want to take the time to straighten up all those odds and ends to make your fence look its best. You can purchase a new lock from the hardware store, or try treating it with rust remover if it’s still mostly function. Replacing even smaller chipped areas with new wood can give your fence a stronger, straighter appearance, and getting rid of weak areas that have begun to moss over or rot will help your fence stay strong for far longer. Take note of any vines or weeds that have begun to grow around your fence. You’ll want to clean those up before you start treating the wood with stain or a fresh coat of paint.

Tighten and Straighten

Next up, you’ll want to perk your fence up so that it’s actually doing its job. Over the years, storms and other weather conditions can cause your fence to lean and buckle under pressure. This is especially true of wood, which swells and warps in extreme heat. The more your fence has been subjected to dramatic weather changes and an influx of moisture, the more likely it will be that your fence will start to tilt or collapse in certain areas. Luckily, this is something that can be quite easily fixed. Tighten up any loose parts with a screwdriver or drill, and use a basic wrench to straighten any backboards or doors. Once you have a perfectly upstanding fence, you’re ready to move onto beautification.

Treat with Stain

Wood stain can work wonders for an aging fence. Not only does it protect your porous, aging wood from absorbing a ton of dirt and water, it gives you fence a brand new look. You can use an oil-based stain and wood preservative as a basic first layer, moving on to a transparent stain or finish to cover the entire area once you’re done with all your repairs. After you’ve coated your fence, you’ll be amazed at how brand new it looks.

Your air conditioner gets a lot of use in the summer months before getting shut off completely for months. Because of this, it’s not the best idea to fire up your A/C in June without having done any maintenance or prep work beforehand. Since your A/C is dormant for so long, not doing a few basic cleanings or filter changes could end up forcing your machine to work harder just to generate a good amount of cool air after months of idleness. One of the biggest air conditioning mistakes a homeowner can make is to assume that just because an air conditioner has had a long “rest” period during the winter, it’s totally ready to function at top capacity during the first months of summer. If you’re having trouble with your unit and want to find the best ac cleveland help around to help you get your unit in working condition, take these easy, quick maintenance tips into account first.

1. Change Out the Filters

Your air conditioner works to create and distribute clean, cool air into your home. To do this, it employs a filter in between the front-facing screen and the interior of the machine. While many homeowners take this filter for granted, leaving it in for far too long past its expiration date and forgetting to do frequent cleanings, you can end up expanding your A/C’s lifespan simply by remembering to switch out your filter as well as clean it routinely. This won’t just help your air conditioner thrive through the summer months. It will help keep the quality of your air pure and breathable, especially during the hot days when the A/C stays running all night. Your filter is there to trap dust and other unwanted elements that are flying through the air at any given moment. Failing to take the time to clean out or replace your filter won’t just leave you with a poorly-functioning machine: It will leave you with a mouthful of dirty air.

2. Clean Everything

Just like any machine, your air conditioner unit needs to be kept clean in order to function at its best. That doesn’t mean just swiping over the outside with a duster or running a microfiber cloth around the outside of the unit. To make sure everything’s actually clean, you’ll want to remove the “face” of the machine and get into the area surrounding the filter to catch dirt and dust particles. You’ll also want to clean the vents that the air comes out of by spraying a cleaning solution or using disposable wipes. This will help you maintain your quality of air and will increase airflow so that your machine doesn’t end up getting backed up or malfunctioning because of dust. Remember, the cleaner your machine stays, the less hard it has to work to cool your home. This translates to drastically lower energy bills through the summer. Cleaning your machine even a few times a year by doing a thorough dusting and wiping around and inside the unit can help you save money on cooling over time. You’ll also be able to breathe the freshest possible air rather than having to deal with nasty airborne particles circling through your home.

3. Check the Inside

Every so often, you’ll want to get a deep look inside your machine to make sure everything’s working the way it should. Even if you don’t know exactly what the inner workings of an A/C unit should look like, you’ll be able to tell if something’s drastically off, such as standing water filling up at the base or one of the coils needing to be straightened out. If you’re hearing any kind of banging or clanking sounds, looking inside your machine can probably point you to the culprit, usually in the form of a loose screw or bolt. Looking inside your machine and straightening things out will give you a good sense of what things should look like when everything is in working order. That way, when something is off, you might be able to diagnose the problem just by taking a look inside. If something looks off, you might be able to fix it yourself by moving a few parts around. This method will also clue you into some bigger problems and let you know when it’s time to call in a professional.

4. Clear Debris from the Outside

If your A/C unit is attached to a first-floor room, you might want to take some time to clear away any branches or leaves that collect over time. These obstructions can end up affecting your air quality, as well as getting in the way of your machine being able to work at its best.

An outdoor fountain can transform a bare back yard into a restful getaway. There are numerous varieties of this outdoor water feature and finding one that is suitable for your space may perhaps require a little time. This can be time well spent taking into account exactly how significant a water feature really adds to the landscape of your garden or outside space.

One aspect to consider is size. You can opt for a very plain and simple small water feature that helps you create a relaxing area or perhaps you can choose a grand structure intended to amaze neighbours. Naturally, your fountain should represent your own tastes as well as your style.

The backyard fountain should also be suitable for your space. You could be seriously excited about a larger water feature for your outdoor space but your garden might not be able to adequately accommodate a huge structure. Basically, a small yard really should have a smaller sized backyard fountain.

There are actually ways to get around this, though, at least when considering style and design. If you are really interested in more substantial outdoor water features then you might want to look at a fountain that features a massive appearance without taking up a lot of space. There are a few things to look for in these smaller, but impressive backyard fountains.

Try to find items that provide the most visual impression in the smallest amount of space. I opted for corner style backyard fountain for my tiny outdoor area. This particular model is perfect for smaller spaces but it also boasts a very pronounced presence. This water element consists of different tiers that provide several levels for the water.

The tiered fountains are fantastic simply because they supply height, but don’t really require a lot of space. It’s not necessary to choose a really tall backyard water fountain to fill a small area. This is not the only solution to making a eye-catching statement in a little space.

You might want to give some thought to a backyard fountain which offers motion. What this type of outdoor water element lacks in size is going to make up for in attraction. Adding action to the peaceful sounds of the water is the perfect way to create an awesome impact. You will find many unique styles that supply captivating mechanized gadgets.

There is a major consideration to make this sort of backyard water fountain. Several devices have to have one or more electrical outlet. This can create a tremendous challenge for some outdoor areas.

To obtain innovative ideas visit online stores or local garden shops, The internet home and garden stores feature a more substantial selection of fountains than nearby merchants can keep in stock and can be a wonderful way to gather installation tips and design possibilities. Installing a backyard fountain can be no easy feat and may require the help of a local tradesmen or landscape gardener who has experience with these types of features, of is a splendid element for any backyard to provide a peaceful oasis for you to unwind from a hectic work day.

Moving into a new home is always an exciting but nerve-wracking experience. It marks the start of a new phase of your life but there is so much to do from packing up your old house, moving it all into the new place, and unpacking once again.

But before you get caught up in all of the preparation and logistics of moving into a new home, there are a few things you should take care of, first and foremost. Cleaning should be at the top of that list.

This is particularly important if you’re moving into a home that was preoccupied before your arrival, but even brand new homes could use a good cleaning in advance of your official move-in. One of the first places to start that process is the carpets. It’s especially crucial to start there for a number of reasons.

Dirty carpet is one of the worst ways to start out in your new home because it can be unhealthy and unsightly. However, cleaning the carpets before you move in is also a logistical concern.

Health Hazard

Moving into a home that is new to you but not new to others presents some potential issues with respect to the accurate cleanliness of the carpets you’re about to walk, rest, and live upon. One look around and you can almost immediately ascertain whether or not the previous tenants cleaned the place before they vacated the premises.

If they didn’t do a good job (or do the job at all), then you’re going to need to clean more than just the carpets before you allow yourself or your family to spend an hour much less an entire night in your new home.

But if they did, that’s great. The only question remains is how good a job did they do? It’s quite possible that the previous tenants vacuumed the carpets and that was about it. We all know vacuuming is a great way to keep carpets clean but they can only handle part of the job, eliminating surface dirt, grime, and various irritants.

It’s the contaminants that get under the fibers, deep down inside the carpet, that can cause some of the worst allergic and respiratory reactions. In order to get to those problematic allergens, deeper cleaning is likely going to be required for a truly fresh carpet.

Spots And Stains

Old and new homes alike can show signs of previous occupants (or in the case of the latter, less than delicate or thorough workers), and sometimes the carpets can retain some of the remnants of past footprints, spills, accidents, and various colorful mishaps that can nestle into the carpet for good.

But none of these things have to stick around when you call in a professional to give those carpets a thorough and complete deep clean. That way you can eliminate all of those stubborn stains without having to live with them in your new home.

Plan Ahead

While your health and the appearance of your carpet are absolutely critical for deciding whether or not to clean the carpets before moving into a new home, there is also the matter of simple common sense. Depending on how much carpeting has been installed throughout the home and in which rooms, you simply want to clean them before moving in because if you don’t, you won’t get them fully clean.

Think of this as a golden opportunity you won’t have ever again, because you won’t. This is an empty home without furniture, bookshelves, artwork, and the other various trappings that fill a home. But the trouble is that you can’t get at all of the corners of the carpet with those obstacles in the way.

A new home is a clean slate, one that you can do with whatever you wish. If you clean the carpets before you move in, you won’t need to worry about navigating around all of the stuff you plan on moving into that new clean slate of yours.

It’s just basic common sense that you clean the entire home from top to bottom before you move into it and taking care of your carpets is one of the first things you should address because it’s going to be a much easier job to do now instead of later on.

Now that you know all the benefits of cleaning your carpet before you move in, go look up carpet cleaning in Parker, CO to have the job done right after you sign on that dotted line.

Every man who skillful in the house has, without a doubt, the bent attention on two aspects: to have a beautiful garden full of flowers or with funneled vegetables and fruit trees, but one of the details that actually matters is the construction the fence that surrounds the house. In this case, every homeowner has his attention focused on aspects such as the material from which the fence is composed, its strength, its height, and the design notes that it has compared to the other elements of decoration. The option that combines decoration elements with strength, safety and height is the wrought iron fencing.

Patterns of metal fencing

First of all, if we opt for these metal fences, we can select from a variety of patterns, but we can also choose the materials from which this fence is to be made, a remarkable thing. Surely security is an important aspect, and that will make you choose forged iron for fences.

The most sought-after models, according to the specialty forums and people’s opinions are the following: wild ivy, willow, lobster, peacock, super royal, French baroque and boat.

We can also opt for series models that also have other subcategories. It’s all about our preferences. As far as the choice of the company to be ordered from these fences, we should turn our attention to professionalism, efficiency and price. By going to the web site of these companies, you could also familiarize yourself with the models and make a thought in your mind and what would fit your home. Consultancy is provided both by telephone and via email to a company that manufactures wrought iron fences and as soon as you have requested such a fence, the promptness and offerings of companies should make a difference in your choices.

Usually, professional firms let the customer have the opportunity to express their opinion about the financial resources they have, and if he does not have a fixed idea of ​​the model to choose, the experts can give him the suggestions, so he can decide on one. It’s good to know that wrought iron fences are not easy to make, and the dimensions are one of the most important aspects besides their design so as not to be inconsistent. See all about it here.

Do not forget that if you want to finish, your mission ends with the exterior of your home, and the fence is by far an element that makes a difference in its design! The exterior elements of the house occupy an important place in the aesthetics of the dwelling, the most visible being the fence and the gates. That’s why, once you’ve determined how the house looks like, what design you’re going to use for decoration and other details, you have to point your attention to the exterior of the house and its enclosure.

Types of fences

Of the most commonly used types of fences, we will stop on three of them: wooden fences, metal fences and concrete fences.

Wooden fences

Wood is, from ancient times, one of the materials that has made a close friendship with man. Surely, you’ve seen your grandparents, or at least their neighbors, wooden fences in different colors, from white, green, blue to black, or left in the natural shade of wood. So if you want a rustic house that will make you move from daily agitation to childhood tranquility spent in grandparents’ house that most of you have lived, and the least privileged at least you coveted The wooden fence is the ideal choice.

The quality of the wood from which the fences are made is superior. It is generally chosen for coniferous fences (fir, spruce), but it is not a rule. For a special look, the fences are finished with a waxy lacquer. Besides the rustic look, these fences are also resistant, as they are often mounted on concrete foundations. In terms of price, they fall into the category of cheap fences.

Concrete fences

If you are adept at modernity and the wooden fence does not fit your preferences, you have other alternatives. One of them, often used, is the concrete fence. Its main feature is resistance in time, due to the mechanical properties of concrete. At the same time, besides durability and strength, the aesthetic look is another trump of the fence

It may also include additional services like cleaning of houses, offices and warehouse. Moving to a new location involves making several decisions in a short time. Some of these decisions involve choosing the right relocation date and moving company.

With thousands of local and interstate moving companies located everywhere, there are several choices to make but you must ask the right questions before hiring any of them to avoid falling into the hands of rogue movers.

These questions will also help you assess if the mover is dependable as many of them try to look legitimate. You must also try to investigate the company’s history and website to be sure that their website represents their resources and abilities and that they have past satisfied customers and successful reviews. The quality and thoroughness of their response will help decide which moving company to go for.

Here are 5 key questions to ask your moving company before you hire them.

1. Are you registered, licensed and insured?

Be sure to ask if the moving company is properly registered, licensed and insured to avoid being scammed by rogue movers. A license number is issued by the United States Department of Transportation only to Professional interstate moving companies. Local movers are regulated by the state and they hold a state license.

Before hiring the company, make sure your belongings are insured in case of damage during the relocation. The company should have liability coverage options for you, be it Full Value Protection or Released Value Protection.

For Full Value Protection, the moving company is liable to replace every lost or damaged items in your entire shipment whereas, for Released Value Protection, the mover accepts liability of 60 cents per pound which may not be enough to cover the real cost of the damaged item.

Before you purchase additional insurance, check your home insurance policy to see if they have insurance coverage for moving.

Every legitimate, professional, licensed moving company should be ready to show their insurance policy whenever the need arises. Always look for a mover with valid Utility and Transportation Commission (UTC) permit. You can check it on WUTC website or call WUTC on 1-800-562-6150.

2. Do you have Reference/Recommendations?

Any reputable moving company should be able to provide reference and feedback from satisfied clients.

Before hiring a moving company to handle your items, ask for their references and they should be able to provide you with all related information. You can still do your own findings by double-checking the company’s online review and ratings. Click here to check customer reviews for more than 500 moving companies nationwide. Asking friends, colleagues and neighbors is also a good alternative.

Most times, relocation company’s review and ratings include: their US DOT number, Better Business Bureau rating, any official complaints filed with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) or if the company has any link with the American Moving & Storage Association.

3. Can you provide binding Quotation/Estimate?

Obtaining a written estimate that is binding; from a moving company is an important part of working with Professional movers. This binding quotation/estimate means that, you are protected by Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) which will ensure that, you don’t pay more than 25% above the estimate.

Don’t accept verbal estimate from movers as such estimate is not binding and you could be charged higher than estimated. Most movers offer non-binding estimate which means the estimated price could be changed depending on actual cost.

A binding, written estimate should include all charges and both you and the mover must sign it to be an agreement and you must be provided with a copy. Method of payment should also be included in the estimate.

Most companies provide per pound rate and a distance rate. Make sure you don’t hire a company that offers a quote based on cubic feet. Every company’s estimate should be based on weight especially if you are moving a long distance.

For short distances, some movers will charge on hourly rate, but the hourly rate and the rate per pound will not change whereas the estimate can change depending on the type of estimate the company provides.

4. Do you sublet to subcontractors or use day labourers?

Some big moving companies usually sublet to smaller companies. If you encounter this, ask for the subcontractor’s name which should not be withheld. Be sure to examine the subcontractor’s driver before accepting to use them.

Avoid using companies that hire day labourers as they (day labourers) are not employed permanently but they are just paid for the daily job done with no expectation of future work. With this, your items may not be in safe hands.

5. Will you provide required services like unloading, unpacking, appliance reconnection at the final destination?

Before meeting with the representative of the moving company, check the services page on their website to see if they offer services like packing, wrapping, loading, unloading, and unpacking at extra or no extra charge. A moving company’s job is not complete until you’re well satisfied.

If you’re preparing for relocation, these are most important questions you should ask the moving company but you can also ask them questions on your personal need.

Be reminded that meeting the movers in person will give you a feel of what to expect as most of them will put you at ease and make you feel relax as you move into your new home.