Bathroom Extractor Fans

Basics in Installing Bathroom Ventilation Fans

Venting the bathroom fans into the crawl space is not advisable.Take note that brown mold can grow on the attic side of the roof sheathing if the bathroom vent is spilled into the soffit.Spotting molds is not easy to do especially if your have a large dwelling.Using approved or louvered fitting, the bathroom ventilation fan duct outlet should be protected at the exterior of the dwelling.The ducts should be insulated, and a better installation would have shortened that very long duct as much as possible, departing to a soffit closer to the bathroom.Make sure that the bathroom ventilation fan carrier the air inside the bathroom all the way outside the dwelling.Since doing such will only put more moisture into an area where it is already going to be a problem, encouraging growth of mold.In routing and protecting the duct for the bathroom ventilation fan consider the following:Long bathroom ventilation fan duct runs decrease the ability of the fan to move air.Good bathroom ventilation fan duct design uses solid metal ducting, not flexible vent material. With the use of solid ductwork has a smoother interior surface that improves airflow, though it is indeed more trouble and a bit more costly to install.So it is important to observe the proper installation of bathroom ventilation fans is needed to prevent mold form growing in your house.In minimizing the condensation that will otherwise occur as warm moist bathroom vented air passes through cool ductwork in the house attic or roof cavity.If you should have an older about:So it is important to observe the proper installation of bathroom ventilation fans is needed to prevent mold form growing in your house.

Author: Alan Wordsworth

Self-closing Hinges � You�ll Love What They Do For You

You have probably seen or used them at some point. Self-closing hinges are a great way to make sure a door stays shut when not in use. Instead of being like a regular door hinge that has to be pushed shut, self-closing hinges automatically do the job for you, closing the door once you let go. Think of when you are preparing a meal. You are grabbing all the ingredients in your hands, and without a hand to spare lean against the cabinet doors to make sure they are shut. With self-closing hinges, you can avoid that and just let the doors close themselves.

While they may work differently, installing self-closing hinges is not too much different than putting in regular hinges. For the most part they look a lot like regular hinges. They have two pieces of hinge that are connected with a metal pin like normal hinges. But on top of that they have a spring mounting. That means after the door is opened, the spring kicks in and does its part, pulling the door shut again.While self-closing hinges are relatively easy to install and let do their job, they do need a little maintenance. They will last for years if they are periodically checked on and given oil, as needed.If you have a home with animals that you like to keep out of things, or small children who don't need to be crawling into cabinets, self-closing hinges are a good idea. It only takes one time of you forgetting to close a traditional cabinet for the dog or baby to crawl their way inside and pull out your food items.The key to replacing your current hinges with self-closing hinges is to try and find a self-closing hinge set that has the same holes as the hinges you already have. The more similar they are, the less work you have to do, as you may be able to just take off the old hinges, install the new hinges and enjoy the ingenuity. Just make sure someone helps you hold the door up while you make the change so you don�t cause undue stress on one side of the door while you are doing the installation.In addition to self-closing hinges on cabinets, you can also have them put on a regular door. If you would like to keep certain doors shut in your house, this is a good way to make sure they go back to the closed position once someone goes through. You won�t have too much of a problem finding self-closing hinges that match most regular doors as they are often made in all the same metals that you would find in your normal door hinges.

While self-closing hinges are relatively easy to install and let do their job, they do need a little maintenance. They will last for years if they are periodically checked on and given oil, as needed.

Author: Jesse Akre

Air Conditioning repair in McKinney Tx

Air conditioning repair and inefficiency can be expensive, there are 5 aspects of your central air system that you can review in order to make sure that your system is functioning as efficiently as possible as this summer approaches.

Five - another major area that you might want to evaluate would be the conditions around your outside air conditioning compressor. The outside air conditioning compressor which is hooked by the refrigerant lines to the cooling unit inside the home is an area where the heat is being removed from the inside air is technically dispersed into the outside air. The hotter the area is around the outside compressor, the less efficiently it may operate. It's often a good idea, if possible, to attempt to shade the outside air conditioning compressor either with shrubbery or with some type of awning or overhang attached to the home. This can increase the efficiency of your system helping it to not have to work so hard plus it can be an aesthetic improvement for the exterior of your home.Most of these areas can be initially evaluated by the average homeowner, but when it comes to making a final decision as to whether or not any investment in any of these areas would be a worthwhile undertaking is best to consult a qualified air conditioning repair and maintenance specialist. Qualified professionals at McKinney Air Conditioning Repair will be happy to assist you in any way that they can to help you have an efficient system and enjoy staying cool during hot Texas summer.One - in the summer, most people's air conditioning system is taken for granted until it doesn't work right and they start getting hot in dollars. So, it is always a good idea to check your cooling system before the summer starts. Even in the hot summers like those in the McKinney TX, there many ways that you are able to ensure that your air conditioning system is functioning properly and efficiently. Having a qualified air conditioning professional, perform a standard preventive maintenance check is the best first defense to prevent and an unexpected system failure during the heat of the summer.Four - the next major area that you need to take a look at is the condensation tray or what most people call the drip tray. When air conditioning system is functioning in the summer the combination of the cold air in the unit coming in contact with the hot air in the attic space often produces condensation which falls from the unit into the drip tray. If the drip tray is not functioning properly, there is an entire myriad of problems that can be caused. Everything from an overflow producing mold in insulation, wood flooring, and sheet rock all the way to a possible constant water dripped on a critical component which over time could result in rust and component failure.Three - often in today's new construction, the attic spaces where cooling units are installed are very tight and cramped. Also the systems installed are installed with a shortened plenum area either because of space restrictions or because the original equipment installer was attempting to save costs. When you look at your air conditioning unit, you need to identify the area where the fan or blower is located. Just past the blower, you should have an area where you can see the area into which the cooling or refrigerant lines are connected. This means that area contains the cooling coils for your air conditioning system. The basic operation of the air conditioner is that the blower moves and air over the cooling coils which reduces the temperature of the air to create the cooling effect. Common sense, right? But, what if in the same area, you also have the plenum portion of the system. The plenum is the part of your system where the single central duct is split into multiple ducts going to the different rooms of the house, often, the cooling coils extend partially or totally into the plenum. What this means is that some of the air passes into the ductwork before it even gets cooled. Ever go into a room in the air coming out of the duct just doesn't feel as cool as the air coming into some of the other rooms? This could be your problem.

Most of these areas can be initially evaluated by the average homeowner, but when it comes to making a final decision as to whether or not any investment in any of these areas would be a worthwhile undertaking is best to consult a qualified air conditioning repair and maintenance specialist. Qualified professionals at McKinney Air Conditioning Repair will be happy to assist you in any way that they can to help you have an efficient system and enjoy staying cool during hot Texas summer.

Author: Kerry Wilson

Beat The Heat And Survive The Summer

The �Dog Days� of summer are almost upon us and record temperatures are sweeping the country. Unfortunately we have the highest number of elderly and medically fragile people in history, and an aging infrastructure that is feeling the strain of heavy electrical use as our senior citizens struggle to stay cool.

"When I retire it may have paid for itself or it might not have paid for itself," he said. "Either way it was the right decision at this time."The most immediate first aid for either of these is to get the victim into a cool spot, and reduce their body temperature with ice-cold wet towels around the neck, wrist, and ankles. You can also put them in a bathtub of cool water. Don�t use cold water in the tub as that will shock the system. Regardless of your first aid measures, you should seek immediate medical assistance.8. Replace the refrigerator door gasket if you can slip an envelope between the door and the frame.Year-round Tips10. Use a timer or motion sensor for outdoor lights so they are on only when needed.So McNeal had an energy audit on the about 4,000-square-foot veterinary hospital at 10505 S. Santa Fe Ave."I would do it all over again for sure," he said.A native of Moore, McNeal developed an interest in becoming a veterinarian early.Remember, hot weather is nothing to ignore, even if you�re not among the elderly or medically fragile. Heat can affect everyone. Play it safe, stay cool, avoid exertion, and stay healthy. Also, when considering heat safety, don�t forget your pets.He attended Moore public schools and graduated from Westmoore High School in 1990. His wife, Tera, was his high school sweetheart."I realized I could serve as an example to other people," he said. "Solar power is a logical extension of being a good steward of the environment and sets an example for my employees and the community."9. Hang your laundry to dry. As a bonus, your clothes will smell better than ever.1. Choose compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) when replacing light bulbs.

Remember, hot weather is nothing to ignore, even if you�re not among the elderly or medically fragile. Heat can affect everyone. Play it safe, stay cool, avoid exertion, and stay healthy. Also, when considering heat safety, don�t forget your pets.

Author: Paul Purcell

Not just a pet project: Audit leads Oklahoma City vet to energy

Rick McNeal, owner of Ranchwood Veterinary Hospital in south Oklahoma City, realized he had an expensive problem.

2. Always opt for ENERGY STAR� qualified bulbs and fixtures.8. Next in cooling the house come ventilation and insulation. If you have an attic, and the power is on, you should have a vent fan that keeps air flowing through the attic. Along with that, we suggest you have roof vent turbines, or a ridge vent (your home supply store can tell you all about these). In extremely hot weather, you might set a garden sprinkler on your roof and let it run for the hottest couple of hours of the day provided your area is not on water restriction. As for �insulation� one way to insulate parts of the house is to close off seldom-used rooms (especially those on the sunny side of the house), and close off their AC vents if any. This blocks heat and also reduces the area that your limited AC has to cool.7. Wash only full loads of laundry and dishes and use water- and energy saving settings - and cold water - whenever possible.While we�re here, we�d be remiss in our duties if we failed to give you the symptoms of sunstroke and heat exhaustion, both of which require medical attention:"The environment has been an obsession with me since I was a child," he said.5. Don�t drastically turn down the temperature on your thermostat. Your house won�t cool down any faster.4. Though �bare as you dare� is the way to go indoors in limited AC, most of us would prefer to have good air conditioning. If yours is out, or if power sources are uncertain, go someplace that has AC like the mall or other places that don�t mind people coming in and hanging around a while. Also, you can �AC pool� with friends just like you�d car pool. Go to a friend�s house who has a good AC system.1. Regularly clean or replace the air filter in your furnace.2. Turn down the thermostat at night and when the house is empty, or install a programmable thermostat.Other energy-efficiency efforts include replacing florescent lights in most of the veterinary clinic.6. Increase insulation in the attic, walls and crawl space, if applicable."I remember driving by here when I was a kid and telling my parents I wanted to be a veterinarian," he said.9. Unplug your second refrigerator and put all your food in one.5. For an older hot water heater, consider a water heater blanket. Check your manual prior to installation.NcNeal said he has long been concerned with environmental issues.3. During the day, let the sun heat your home by opening curtains and blinds. Be sure to close them again in the evening.The clinic has 12 employees, including three veterinarians in addition to McNeal. The facility includes a pet boarding area. What was the backyard for the house is divided into exercise areas for dogs at Ranchwood Veterinary Hospital's Pet Resort and pets coming for day-care services.Early improvements after McNeal purchased the building and veterinary hospital included tasks as simple as caulking and plugging holes, he said.10. Use power management settings on your computer. Turn off your computer and monitor at the end of your work session.2. Eat small, light, non-spicy meals. Eating heavy meals cranks your metabolism and can raise your body temperature. Also, digestion robs you of energy. Since the heat is already robbing you of some energy, you don�t need to add to this drain by taxing the digestive system. However, don�t skip meals since it�s food that replenishes the electrolytes you lose through sweating and increased water consumption.3. During the heat of the day, keep windows and outside doors closed.7. To protect your pipes and keep it warmer under the floor, make sure your crawl space vents are closed.We�re here to give you tips and tricks to help you beat the heat should you be susceptible to extreme temperatures, or should your power be out. Here�s a short list of suggestions:McNeal received an associate degree from Oklahoma City Community College in 1991 and a bachelor's degree in zoology from Oklahoma State University in 1993. He earned his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from OSU in 1998 and worked as a veterinarian in south Oklahoma City, Midwest City, Norman and Newcastle before buying Ranchwood Veterinary Hospital in 2005.

"I would do it all over again for sure," he said.

Author: David Page

Practical Tips To Save On Your Electricity Bill

Electricity is a valuable resource to everyone in our community. Without it, we are simply left in the dark. That is why helping our customers use electricity safely and efficiently is so important.

During the first week with 10 solar panels in operation the veterinary clinic saved 76.7 kilowatt-hours of energy use, McNeal said. When the entire system is operational, it will include 22 solar panels.The audit resulted in a series of environmentally friendly and energy-efficiency initiatives at the veterinary hospital, including the installation of solar panels, radiant barriers, solar attic fans and new insulation."We went from 3,200 watts of lighting in the office area to 320 watts," he said.3. Turn off lights that aren�t in use, even energy efficient lights.What is now home of Ranchwood Veterinary Hospital was built for residential use in the 1960s, but has been used as an animal clinic and the clinic's Pet Resort for three decades. The need for improvements only increased since the veterinary office was constructed for residential use and not a veterinary clinic and because of its age."I knew I was hemorrhaging a large amount of money in energy costs," he said. "I was paying about $1,600 every month."Summer Tips10. Cook with a microwave or a barbeque instead of the stove or oven. It will heat up your food but not your kitchen.6. Fix leaky faucets as soon as possible. A hot water leak is an energy drain.5. Weatherstrip and caulk your doors, windows and penetrations into the attic or crawl space that allow warm air to escape.4. Replace the furnace filter and clean the outside coil on your air conditioner.Although he qualified for federal tax incentives, McNeal said installing the solar panels and other energy-efficiency initiatives was an environment decision - not a financial decision.Other services include grooming, bathing, behavioral medicine, dental care, emergency care, a pharmacy and surgery.McNeal said all the energy-efficiency and environmental improvements have been worth the expense and effort.Heat Exhaustion: Symptoms include heavy sweating, and skin may be pale, cool, or flushed. The victim will also exhibit a weak pulse, with fainting, dizziness, nausea, or vomiting.3. Some sources suggest you wear �light colored, loose fitting clothes.� However, that�s only if you�re going outside. If you go outside, go with that rule and also wear a loose fitting hat or carry an umbrella for shade. Forget the fashion rules, follow the heat rules. (By the way, royal blue and/or white are the best colors to wear for their heat reflective qualities. Ever wonder why most tarps and boat awnings are blue? This is why.) For indoors though, forget all those rules and go with the �bare as you dare� notion. The more exposed skin you have the more efficient your cooling-by-sweating process can work. Also, be sure to tie up long hair, and if you have a beard, consider shaving in order to remove all that facial insulation.5. Failing to find another source of AC, and considering that the power might be out, here are a couple more tips. First, stand-alone floor unit air conditioners aren�t that expensive and can run off regular household current without the need for the special 220 volt outlets. This means that they can be operated using the smaller gas-powered electric generators. Can�t afford a generator? You can probably afford a power inverter which can sometimes be found for under twenty dollars. They plug into your car�s cigarette lighter and, using an extension cord, can power an appliance like your stand-alone AC, or at least some fans. Speaking of your car, if nothing else, if your car has AC you can ride around during the hottest hours of the day, providing you can afford today�s gas prices. If absolutely nothing else, go to your nearest �dollar store� and see if they have any of those little battery-powered fans.2. Close the blinds before the sun gets a chance to heat up the house. Open windows at night to cool down the house.1. Drink plenty of cool water to keep yourself hydrated and reduce your body�s core temperature. (Warm water won�t do this, and cold water might be a shock to sensitive systems.) Drink regularly, every hour, even if you don�t feel thirsty. Avoid soft drinks and alcoholic drinks that are actually diuretic and rob your body of the water it desperately needs.1. Use a ceiling, box or oscillating fan. The moving air cools you, creating less reliance on air conditioning.McNeal also installed an Ecobee Smart Thermostat, allowing him to monitor and control the temperature from remote locations. He is considering seeking LEED - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.8. When replacing an old air conditioner, look for a more efficient one (SEER 14 or higher), preferably an ENERGY STAR� qualified model.8. Keep your fireplace damper closed when the fireplace is not in use.9. Install window film or storm windows if you have single-pane windows.7. Now that we�ve talked about keeping you cool in the heat, let�s backtrack a bit and talk about reducing the heat you might experience. Naturally, the first rule is �block the sun.� Do what you can to reduce the sunlight that hits your house or comes in through the windows. Keep the shades drawn, and you might even consider hanging a white sheet or blue tarp as an outside awning on the side(s) of the house that catch the most sun. These tarps are also effective if placed on the roof as they�ll reflect the sun�s rays.4. Maintain your furnace or heat pump regularly to keep things running smoothly and efficiently.The solar panels were installed earlier this month by Sun City Solar of Oklahoma City.The building was in need of energy modifications when he purchased the veterinary hospital five years ago, McNeal said.He became concerned about the environmental effect of the clinic after he purchased Ranchwood Veterinary Hospital in 2005.7. Weatherstrip and caulk your doors and windows if you can see light or feel air coming through them.4. Lower the temperature on your water heater to 120�F (unless your dishwasher requires a higher temperature).Winter Tips

10. Use power management settings on your computer. Turn off your computer and monitor at the end of your work session.

Author: Yoni Levy

How To Safely Remove Ice Dams From Your Home

This article was written to explain the causes of ice dams and how to remove them safely. For more information or pictures of the processes see ice dam removals.

Nuisance Wildlife TrappingHere are a few more steps you can take to substantially improve your home�s energy efficiency.General Cooling Tips:You may have noticed long icicles hanging from your gutters and not realize the significance of the damage that may be occurring behind them. Icicles are usually one of the first warning signs of possible ice dams on your roof. This article will explain what ice dams are, how they form and the best methods for removing them safely.Conserve energy and enjoy natural cool night breezes this summer. Turn off your air conditioner, and save hundreds of dollars by cooling your house with a whole house fan.* Insulation in walls, floors, and attic.Properly ventilating and insulating the attic is usually the best way to prevent ice dams. The usual recommendation for proper ventilation is 1 square foot of vent for every 150 feet of attic floor area but each climate region may have it's own recommendations so I would suggest contacting a licensed local insulation company near you. If you have small louvered vents at either end of the attic known as gable vents you can either replace them with larger vents, or install an electric vent fan over the inside of them. These special fans usually work on a thermostat and will pull outside air into the attic to keep the temperature inside consistent.Keep in mind that an energy efficient air conditioner alone will not have as great an impact on your energy bills as using an approach that involves the entire house. If you combine proper equipment maintenance and upgrades with appropriate insulation, weatherisation and thermostat settings, you can reduce your energy bills by up to 50%.We also provide Referrals for other services.The art of ice dam removal. By Henry's HouseworkConsider Purchasing an Annual Maintenance AgreementRegardless of the type of home comfort systems you have in your house, you can save money and increase comfort by properly maintaining and upgrading your equipment.How can I prevent ice dams in the future?Here are some of the heating & cooling factors your audit should take into consideration:* Efficiency of heating and cooling systems � Condition of filters, etc.Cleaning the gutters on your home can help prevent ice dams from occurring as quickly but they can still occur if the conditions are right. The gutters will be just as cold as it is outside and in some cases, full of frozen debris. So even if you don't have a soffit for the water to refreeze in, the melted water will most likely refreeze when flowing into the gutters.* Quality of insulation in doors* Quality of Windows � Single or double paneTo achieve the maximum in total home comfort and energy savings, we recommend that you step back and look at the big picture of energy consumption in your villa. The fact is, your total home comfort and efficiency is the product of many systems: heating, cooling, lighting & electrical, plumbing and possibly others working together. It is the interplay between these systems, combined with the size, age, physical features and location of your home, and even your lifestyle, that combine to produce the total energy efficiency of your home. Changing or upgrading one system, without considering the other factors will usually result in some improvement, but may not deliver the maximum possible benefit.Deck Cleaning and Restoration, Deck Cleaning and Sealing.* Use house fans. House fans help cool your home by circulating cool air throughout the house. They are most effective when the outside air temperature is cooler than the inside and when operated at night. An attic fan can blow away hot air that accumulates in the attic. This can go a long way to help the efficiency of your air conditioning system.* Don't reduce your thermostat setting to a colder temperature than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. This will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and unnecessary expense.

We also provide Referrals for other services.

Author: Henry Bockman