What Is the Cheapest Way to Cool My House?

The battle to keep the home cool and saving money on electric bills seems never-ending. There are ways to drastically reduce your energy use and keep the home cool by installing a whole house fan system.

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Whole House Fans

Whole house fans can be placed in a central location of the home, such as an attic and used to pull in fresh, cooler air from the outdoors. This provides a cooling for the entire house, especially when used during the cooler parts of the evening and morning. They are nearly silent to operate and offer effective relief from the high temperatures of summer.

Significant Reduction of Energy Use

Pacific Power & Gas estimates that the average household saves at least 90 percent on their energy use with whole house fans, rather than traditional compressor operated AC units. This translates to a significant reduction in energy costs every month. You save without without compromising on the quality of home cooling.

Less Use and Wear-and Tear of AC Units

When the system is operated during the cooler hours of the day and evening, it will produce a lasting cool for the hotter portions. There may be times you want to run the AC, but it is limited and for a short duration. Whole house fans can cool the main areas by as much as 30 degrees and up to 50 degrees in the attic. You will notice an immediate difference in the air temperature when the fan is started.

Better Ventilation Using Naturally Cooler Air

Use of a whole house fan will bring new air inside the home anywhere from 12 to 15 times per hour. The constant flow of air that is naturally cooler than the internal temperature of the home provides the cooling effect.

Low Cost of Purchase and Installation

There are very little parts to purchase and install with this type of cooling system. The cost of adding a whole house fan versus a larger, or secondary AC system are dramatically smaller. The cost savings on your electric bill will pay for the unit quickly.

Contact an expert in home renovations like Teknic Inc for an estimate on the installation of quiet cool systems right now!

Home Maintenance Projects that Can Save You Money

When everything seems to be going fine with your home, it's easy to forget to do semi-annual check-ups to make sure there are no structural, interior or exterior problems occurring that could result in a high repair bill. In almost any home repair situation, the high repair cost could have been avoided if someone had noticed the problem when it first started and took steps to resolve it.

Roof Inspection

At least every six months, you should visually check the condition of your roof. If you notice a problem with the roofing material or chimney, it would be better to address the issue while the repair would still be considered minor. While you're checking the roof, you should examine the gutters to make sure water is flowing through them freely. Unclogging gutters can prevent the potential costly expenses associated with water damage such as mold, foundation damage and damage to other areas of your home.

Heating and Cooling System

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While it may be impossible to guarantee that you won’t find yourself without heat on a cold day or air conditioning on a hot day, you can be certain that those events are less likely to occur if you have regular inspections done by qualified technicians at ac repair Williamsburg va. You can do your part to keep the system running properly by changing the filters on a regular basis and keeping the area around the outdoor unit free of debris.

Walk Around Your Home With Alert Eyes

Some potential problems with your home can be seen if you simply walk around it looking up, down, over and under for problems that could become a budget-breaking repair if left alone. In addition to the roof inspection previously mentioned, you should also check to see if there are any limbs rubbing across your roof. If so, they should be trimmed back so that they don't damage the roof. Tall trees that could potentially fall across your home should be cut down by professionals. Look for cracks in the foundation and for the source of water that could be contributing to those cracks. Early repair is the most budget-friendly way to go with foundation issues.

Make a note on your daily planner to do a home inspection at least every six months. Fixing small problems is generally less expensive than having major repairs done.

Choosing the Right Stone For Your Bar Top

Building a bar, whether it is for the home or office, is a wonderful addition for entertaining guests or just as a super cool hangout with friends. A bar can create the right atmosphere for relaxing, socializing, and adds to the overall appeal of any environment. There are several steps necessary to designing the right bar from deciding on a wine fridge, installing a carbonation system for a kegerator, or to just having a mirrored, well-lit display for those high-end liquors. But one decision that will add the most value to a bar is a stone countertop.

Bar tops come in an amazing variety of stones and finishes to just a simple granite top to highly sought-after semi-precious slabs. Choosing the right top usually comes down to two factors: budget and aesthetics. One place to look at a variety of countertops is on the internet. One website that offers an amazing selection of bar tops is StoneMart.com.

A Variety of Stones

When it comes to choosing the right stone top for your bar, things to consider before making a purchase are pattern, color, tone and stone type. Each stone type has its own characteristics that set it apart from its brothers. Granite is a natural durable stone that no two slabs look alike. Onyx is has a stunning beauty that because of its translucency can be easily be backlit to make the bar the focal point of any room.

Another bar top that offers dependability and low maintenance is quartz. Marble offers a classic look that adds value to a home but must be properly sealed to avoid stains. Slate is very resilient and works well in high-end traffic environments. Slate is typically used in roofing because of its low water absorption rate and comes in other shades besides grey.

But for a truly spectacular countertop, one that everyone will be in awe, and a little envious, is a bar top made of semi-precious stone. These tops can be a little pricy but they do make up for their cost in overall aesthetic appeal. From the creamy colors of mother of pearl to exotic earthiness of red petrified wood, semi-precious slabs should be on the top of the list for any serious bar enthusiasts.