Kevin, Author at Remodel Upgrade

How To Remodel A Bathroom

The value you get from knowing how to remodel a bathroom correctly is tremendous. Done right your home’s value will go up while getting long lasting enjoyment. Save money by doing the work yourself, while giving yourself something to be proud of. Keep reading to get a full understanding on the process of remodeling a bathroom in the right order. Every remodel has certain challenges you will need to consider. The scope of the work can vary in several different ways. The size of the budget will dictate much about the project. One example is to encourage homeowners to put some “sweat equity” into the project. This article will highlight the key stages to a complete bathroom remodel. Several stages in a bathroom remodel doesn’t require you to be an expert to do it yourself. There are other steps you will want to remove from the project schedule altogether, saving time and money. If you plan on doing any of the work yourself, take into consideration what level of skill you have working with tools. When working with power tools it’s important to not do anything that makes you uncomfortable. That being said, the only way for you to build experience is to try. We all start at the same level of expertise. If there is a stage in this project that is required, but you don’t feel comfortable tackling it yourself, look into hiring a professional. Just keep in mind this will deduct from the overall budget, and should be allocated accordingly. Read this entire article before getting started. It is designed to answer questions you may not know you have yet, but should consider. I will be discussing what goes into each stage in a bathroom remodel. After that there is a list of frequently asked questions to look at. Get your free copy of The Bathroom Remodel Cheat Packet to keep your project on track! Stages Of A Bathroom Remodel The thought of a bathroom remodel can feel like an overwhelming endeavor. That’s why it’s best to break it up into sections. The order these sections are in is how they should be tackled. But your project might not require some of them, and others might have a bit of overlap. Planning The Project (1-2 Days) This is the most important stage because it helps determine how to tackle the other stages of the project. Starting with a proper “game-plan” is the best way to make sure you stay on budget and the schedule is met, all while accomplishing everything you want to. Determine what size your budget is for the project. Also decide how you will allocate those funds, making them accessible when they are needed. Be specific with where these funds are going. This means you will be doing research on how much things cost in each stage. You may need to be creative with some of your purchases. You will want to set a schedule to work with. To do this, first have an idea of the amount of work to be done. Be as thorough as possible, and know this stage may need to be altered as the remodel progresses because of unknown circumstances. Demolition (1-2 Days) For some people this is their favorite part of the project. It’s a chance to take out some of that penned up aggression you may be harboring, lol. You may need to do what’s called a “soft demo” based on the scope of the work being done. Limit the amount of demolition work to the specific areas being remodeled. Think about what you want to focus on, and target that. For example, if you are changing your vanity then the whole thing can be removed. But if you want to reface it to save some money, keep it installed and remove only the specific parts that are necessary. Some bathrooms need the electrical and/or some plumbing moved. This will require you to take off some drywall. This type of demo work is a good way for you to save on your budget by doing it yourself. Wear only clothes that you don’t mind getting ruined. And use the proper personal protective equipment for the job. Safety goggles and gloves are a good start. Walls (2-4 Days) There might be a chance you will be working with the walls in the bathroom. This can mean a variety of things, anywhere from opening them up for access like mentioned above, to physically changing the layout of the room. For the latter option you will need a great deal of knowledge in building code, and power tool use. Do not attempt this if you don’t have the necessary experience. If walls are being moved, be sure to determine ahead of time if they are load bearing. If you don’t know how to do this consult a contractor and a residential building inspector. Redoing the layout in a bathroom by moving walls and/or plumbing are the two most expensive aspects of a bathroom remodel. Move the Plumbing (2-5 Days) There can be several reasons why you would want to move the plumbing. It might be because you want to change the placement of the sink, toilet, or bathtub/shower. There is a specialized level of skill required to work with plumbing. There is a chance you will need to get an inspector to check the work, depending on your local code requirements and the level of work you will be doing. If you don’t know much about these requirements then I recommend talking to a professional plumber. This type of work should not be attempted by a novice without proper supervision. It may also add to your budget and schedule if you will be including a professional in your project. Rework the Electrical (2-5 Days) Electrical work is included in two phases of a bathroom remodel. In this phase you will be moving wiring for lighting or electrical outlets. The walls need to be opened for the wiring to be

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How To Install A Garbage Disposal

Kevin

If you don’t know how to install a garbage disposal, it would feel practically impossible. The truth is you don’t need any special tools to install one. In fact, this article will show you that anybody who knows a few DIY basics can install it in about an hour. Read this article to get a hassle-free guide on how to install a garbage disposal. There are many garbage disposals to choose from. If you haven’t decided on one for your home yet, then I am going to recommend the Insinkerator Badger 1 model. It is ⅓ horsepower, which is plenty of power for your home’s kitchen. Click the link below to take a look at it. Installing a garbage disposal is easier than you might think. This article is going to show you how to install one if you have electrical power under your sink. There are two forms this power can come in. The first is for there to be a power outlet that is available under the cabinet. The second is for it to have a hardline connection directly to the garbage disposal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw_QrOkY7P8 Equipment The tools for this job are common to most households. If you are someone who wants to do more projects around your home it’s a good idea to purchase these for yourself. If you won’t be doing much work like this in the future you may be able to borrow them from a friend or family member. Insinkerator is a brand of garbage disposals that has high ratings. They come in multiple models that are great for different circumstances. Below is the one I installed, and if you would like to check it out you can click on the link. The equipment for this project is found in the part it is used in. I recommend taking a look at the tools and equipment ahead of time and gathering the ones you need. There is a chance you may not need the item depending on your circumstance. For instance, the hacksaw might not be needed if you are replacing an existing garbage disposal with a new one of the exact same model. Garbage Disposal Click here How To Install a Garbage Disposal in a Double Sink The steps outlined here include how to install a garbage disposal with and without a dishwasher. If you have a dishwasher connected to your existing garbage disposal, you will follow the steps outlined below for that. If there is no dishwasher connected, skip those steps. Turn Off The Power The first step for any job that you are working on anything that has electricity running to it is to turn off the power at the breaker box. You can get a complete overview of this process by visiting the article on How To Reset A Circuit Breaker. This can be easy if you have a well labeled panel. But if it isn’t labeled very well it might be a guessing game. Test if the power is off before you make any assumptions. The easiest way to do this is to flip on the switch for the garbage disposal. It is safe to begin if it doesn’t come on. Remember to flip it off though, because you don’t want the new garbage disposal to turn on when you turn the power back on. This is also the right time to remove any products that are in the way. Find a place to put as many of them as possible. You want to have as much working space as you can. For the installation. Disconnect The Old Garbage Disposal There will be two screws attached to the discharge pipe. Back those out all the way and set them aside. If there is a dishwasher attached to the disposal this is a good time to remove the hose that attaches it. To do this turn the screw on the pipe clamp counterclockwise until the clamp is loose. Then pull the connection off the garbage disposal. There are also three screws facing upward just beneath the sink. Loosen each of these about half way. If you use a screwdriver for two of them, the third should be able to loosen by hand. You want to back them out enough to lift the bottom of the bracket up towards the sink. Once these screws are loose and the drain pipe is disconnected from the garbage disposal, hold the bracket steady with one hand and twist the garbage disposal to the left with the other. This should pop it loose. Multi-Screwdriver Click here After it is movable, take a flat screwdriver to pop off the metal ring that is holding the pieces of this bracket together. To do this first slide all the parts upwards towards the sink. This will allow the ring to be visible. While holding them up with one hand, use a flat screwdriver in your other hand to slide the ring downward. It should pop off pretty easily. Once you have this ring out all the pieces of the bracket should be able to be removed. There is one piece that will need to be slid upwards into the sink. After the sink is cleared you will want to wipe any leftover plumbers putty away from the hole. Remove The Electrical Cord Wire Strippers Click here Is the garbage disposal plugged into a wall outlet, or is it hardlined in? If it’s plugged in you can simply pull the plug out and the garbage disposal will be free to move. You will need to attach a power cord to the new garbage disposal, and may need to reuse the old cord. Both methods are the same from this point on. If it is hard lined in, you will need to remove the wires before you can lift the disposal away. To do this simply turn the disposal upside down, or lay it on it’s side with the bottom facing you (whichever one is easier for you). There

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What Is The Best Air Purifier For Home?

Kevin

There are a few things that are important to consider when looking for the best air purifier. You want to find the right one for your home’s situation. Maybe you need one that will efficiently remove pet hair. Or perhaps you want one that offers a washable filter. No matter what your situation is, This article will show you what the right air purifier is for you. Air purifiers are designed with several different features that can make them desirable for different circumstances. Below is a list of the top categories for you to pick from. Contents Air Purifier Buyer’s Guide Best Air Purifier For Home Overall Best Smart Air Purifier Best Air Purifier For Allergies Best Air Purifier For Pets Best Air Purifier For Mold Best Air Purifier For Smoke Best Air Purifier With Washable Filter Air Purifier Buyer’s Guide A good air purifier has so many benefits. It will produce a clean air environment in your home or workplace. It can reduce the amount of airborne pathogens that can cause illness. These are a couple of benefits that come with having a filter for your air. There are other features found on the air purifier unit that you may like (or dislike). Below is an incomplete list of air purifier features that are worthy of consideration. Types Of Filtration Believe it or not there are more than one filtration styles the air purifier may boast. Mechanical filtration is the physical removal of airborne particulates like dust. A good one to consider is a HEPA air filter because it is capable of removal of particlulates down to 0.3 microns in diameter. Carbon filtration is a chemical filtration model that is designed to remove fowl odors and other smells from the air. This is designed to neutralize any odors from the air by absorbing them in the carbon filter. These filters will need to be replaced as they get used. Ultra violet (UV) sterilization uses a special type of light bulb to kill airborne viruses and bacteria. As air moves past the UV light, the pathogens get “zapped” and end up dying. UV light is an effective filtration, but has the byproduct of ozone (O3). This can become unhealthy to us, so for this reason it is wise to run the UV sterilizer for limited amounts of time. These are not all types of filters, but the three most common types. Not all models have each of these filtration types. There are some with one filtration style, and some have multiple. Choose a model that best suits your needs. Noise Levels Noise level is a function of how loud the fan is when the purifier is turned on. It is rated on a decibels (dB) which is a unit of sound level. The typical air purifier can fall into a noise level range of approximately 20 to 70 dB. The low end of that range is near the low end of human hearing. That would be something similar to leaves rustling in the wind. At the high end of this range would be something like a vacuum cleaner. The reason why this category would effect your decision is if the air purifier is in a quiet room or somewhere you want to have comfortable conversations, you would want one closer to the low end of this. One factor that adds to an air purifier’s noise level is the fan speed. Fan Speed Fan speed lets you set the air purifier’s fan to different different speed levels. There may be different situations that you would want to use a higher or lower speed level. If you are away from the home for a little while, you may want the purifier to be on a higher speed. But if you are home, and the purifier is in your bedroom while you are sleeping it’s better to have it on a low, more quiet speed. Choose an air purifier that offers the right variety of speeds for you to choose from. A good number to look for is three or more speed options. Room Size It is ideal to have an air purifier that turns over the volume of the room it’s in one time an hour. It is fine if it moves more than one time the volume in that amount of time, but you may need to compromise in some ways. For instance, in order to have a higher volume move through the air purifier, you will need to turn the fan speed up. This in turn produces a higher noise level that may be more irritating. Look for an air purifier that moves the volume of air in the location you want to use it in once an hour. You may not need to have it move that fast while you are sleeping. Best Air Purifier For Home Overall LEVOIT Air Purifier LEVOIT Air Purifier Dimensions: 8.7″ x 8.7″ x 14.2″h Filtration Type: 3-in-1 filter Noise Level: 24 dB Fan Speed: Multiple speed options Room Size: 1095 Sq Ft Replacement Filter: Yes Washable Pre-Filter: No Warranty: 2 years Price: $99.99 Buy Now! Replacement Filter The LEVOIT Air Purifier is a compact unit with some powerful features. It boasts multiple filters that efficiently filter out even some of the smallest airborne particles. You practically won’t notice it when used it an any room of your house, day or night. This model has even more key features that make it a great choice in air purifiers for you to get for your home. Key Features Multiple Filter Choices Choose between multiple filter options, giving you the perfect filter for your needs. If you have pets that shed, use the Core 300 (yellow) air filter to purify the air and help you breath better. During wildfire smoke season, the Core 300s (green) filter will help bring the air quality in your home to a healthy level. There is another filter available for everyday circumstances as well. Whisper Quiet Option Run the air filter in whisper

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How To Install A Light Fixture

Kevin

Learning how to install a light fixture is easy for you to learn. Save money by not having to hire an expensive handyman anymore. When you are done with this project, you will be enjoying your work every day. Lets get started with installing a new light fixture quickly and easily. Safety Safety Glasses Click here It’s important to have a good pair of safety goggles whenever you are doing work above yourself. There is a risk something might fall in your eyes. A small piece of debris may come down when you take down the old light fixture, or doing some of the work that you don’t want in your eyes. Therefore it’s important to put on some safety goggles that fit comfortably. The only other piece of recommended safety equipment is a pair of work gloves. These may not be easy to use for parts of this project because you need some dexterity that the gloves can take away. Switch The Breaker Off Voltage Tester Click here This step is by far the most important. Turning off the power at the breaker will allow you to work safely, without any worry of electric shock. Find out more information about the topic How To Reset A circuit Breaker. This article will explain to you all you need to know when switching a breaker at the breaker box. Learn what to look for at the box when the breaker is tripped. Switch the tripped breaker back on safely and efficiently. It’s easier to tell which breaker your light is on if you have someone who can stand in the room and tell you when the power is off. Now you can use the voltage detector to be certain the power is shut off. It’s better to be redundant than sorry, especially when working with electricity. You also need to realize you won’t have the luxury of using the light in the room. For this reason, you may want to install the light fixture in the daytime. This will hopefully allow enough daylight through the window for you to work comfortably. If there isn’t enough natural light in the room, you can fix this problem by plugging in a lamp in a room with power using an extension cord. Pro Tip: If looking for the right breaker, you can plug in something like a radio into an outlet that is on that circuit. Turn the radio on and turn the volume up high enough to hear it from the breaker box. When you switch the correct one off, the radio will switch off, letting you know in real time. Remove Old Light Fixture Wire Stripper Click here Multi-Screwdriver Click here Now you can remove the old lamp from the ceiling. The main tool for this is a screwdriver, but a wire stripper with a built in wire cutter is also helpful. Each ceiling lamp is different, but it’s not hard to figure out how to remove it. The main thing to start with is the lamp shade. Some of the common ways to remove them is a thumb screw, or they may twist off. Once the shade is off you want to take the bulbs out and put them in a place they won’t get broken. Use the screwdriver to remove the machine screws holding it to the ceiling. To disconnect the fixture from the ceiling, you can twist off the wire nuts and disconnect it that way. Another option is to use the wire cutter on your wire stripper to snip the wires just above the wire nuts. Disclaimer: Only cut the wires in the ceiling if there is enough length to strip the ends, and be able to work on them. If you believe the lengths might be too small to easily work on, try to twist the wires to disconnect them instead. Make sure you have wire that’s long enough before they get cut. Attach The New Light Fixture Electrical Tape Click here When attaching the wires, make sure you are connecting the white wire from the fixture to the white wire in the ceiling. Some ceilings may have a piece of different color wire that is not white. The white wire is neutral, and the black (or other color) wire is hot. Connect the copper grounding wire in the fixture to the copper wire coming out of the ceiling using a wire nut. If there is no grounding wire in your ceiling, but your light fixture has a mounting bracket with a green screw in it, you can connect the wire to this screw. If that is not present you can fold the grounding wire up and stick it aside. Hold the two black wires together and twist in a clockwise direction. Then take a wire nut that comes with your new light fixture and twist it onto these wires in the same direction. Do this step with the white wire as well. Switch The Breacker On Go ahead and turn your breaker back on at this point. You want to do this before installing the light cover. This gives you less items to remove if one of the previous steps wasn’t done correctly. If your light fixture is not LED, now is when you would put the light bulbs in. If you turn on the light switch and it doesn’t come on, that means one or both of your wires are not installed correctly. Turn the breaker off and take the fixture back off. If you turn on the light switch and it comes on you can put the lamp shade on according to the directions that came with your light fixture. Conclusion And now you have successfully installed a new light fixture. You can enjoy your work while deciding what room is next to get a new light. As you can see this job wasn’t that hard. As long as you follow all the steps completely, you can rest assured the light will be installed

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How To Install A Door | Prehung And Slab Door Installation Instructions

Kevin

You want to install a new interior door, but don’t know where to begin. You want to know how hard this project will be, or if you should tackle it at all. The good news is this is a job for anyone who has the right tools and a will to learn. Keep reading for a complete set of instructions on installing a door in your home. Measuring For The Door Size Tape Measure Click here There are a few things to look for when determining what the right replacement door is for you. We will cover how to properly measure what size door you need to purchase. But first let’s talk a bit about a door’s handing. Prehung vs Slab Door There are two options of what type of door you want to choose. You can either install a prehung door, or a slab. A prehung door is a door that is connected to a frame, also known as the jamb. The benefit of this is the jamb and hinges were attached at the factory, and you know the door will open and close well when installed. A slab is the door with no hinges or anything else attached. You would choose this option if your jamb is in good condition and you want to save it. A slab door is more affordable than a prehung. It takes more work to install, and requires other tools. Prehung Door Installation Cost If you go the route of hiring a professional door installer, you can expect to pay between $200-$600 USD. This rate should include the labor and door cost. The rate may change based on the amount of work your installation requires. Slab door installation requires more work than prehung door installation. Prices may vary based on your location. Two Methods Of Installing A Prehung Interior Door Let’s talk about the two ways of installing an interior door. They vary on the types of fasteners you will use. You can install your door with either finishing nails, or screws. This article will talk about both of these methods, and the accompanying video shows you exactly how to complete either method. Safety and Required Materials Safety Glasses Click here Wood Shims Click here Why Would I Use Nails Vs Screws To Install A Door? These are two methods that will successfully install the door. There are reasons to pick one over the other because they both have their pros and cons. The reasons why you might choose one over the other are very different. Choosing Nails To Install A Door Claw Hammer Click here Finish Nail Click here Nail Set Click here Wood Filler Click here Pro Tip: Mix sawdust from the dust collecter in your power sander with some wood glue to quickly make some wood filler. This is a great method if you don’t have any on hand, and are in need of a solution. Using nails to install a door is typically because it has a wood jamb that will not be painted. You want to salvage the wood look, and don’t want to have an obvious screw head that looks ugly. A finish nail is the right choice in this circumstance because it is easy to hide the head. To do this you will first hammer the nail down to where it’s close to the jamb, but not flush with it. Be careful while hammering because you don’t want to miss the head of the nail, and damage the wood. Take careful, and accurate strokes while hammering. Once you have the nail about one to two head widths above the jamb, you can use the nail set to set the head below the surface of the wood. Hold the end of the nail set firmly in the cup on the head of the nail. With your other hand you can pull back on the other end, extending the spring out. While being careful not to remove the end of the set from the head of the nail, quickly let go of the other end, allowing it to tap the head of the nail down. You may need to do this several times until the head of the nail is below the surface of the jamb. It’s okay if you miss and puncture a hole in the jamb. These holes can be filled with wood filler in the next step after all the nails are set in place. You want to choose finishing nails that are at least 2 inches long. This can vary, but you want them to be around that length to be sure they reach through the gap between the door jambs and the wall studs. The head of the finishing nails can be sunken into the jamb and covered with wood filler. You can use nails for any style door, where the screws are for a more specific application. Nails are easy to hammer in, but might be a little more tricky when you are trying to make the door plumb and level. That means when you are installing the door you need to adjust the jamb both vertically and horizontally until it’s level. Choosing Screws To Install A Door Drill Driver Set Click here Drill Bit Set Click here Wood Screw Click here NOTE: Screw should be the “flat head” style screws. They do not need to be Phillips, as there are other options available. Square drive screws are easiest to screw in, and are less likely to slip out of the bit. Make sure you have the correct style and size drill bit for the screw you are using. Using screws, in my opinion, is the better option. It is much easier to tighten them the right amount, while also adjusting the shims as needed. Set the clutch on the drill to the right setting so it will stop tightening the screw once it’s reached the perfect depth. One difference with using screws is yo will want to drill a pilot

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Fireplace Maintenance You Can Do Yourself

Kevin

There is some very important fireplace maintenance you can do yourself. You don’t need to hire a specialist each year when he or she will be doing things that you can do instead. In fact you don’t need many specialty tools for this project. Keep reading to get a better understanding of what goes into fireplace maintenance that keeps it operating efficiently. Fireplace maintenance is one of the home maintenance tasks found on My FREE Home Maintenance Checklist. You can get your copy today to make sure you don’t leave out any important tasks that should be done on your home. The checklist is set up to help you keep up-to-date in your maintenance routines, so your house runs as efficiently as possible. Save money in the long run, and enjoy your home more with this FREE Home Maintenance Checklist. Fireplace Maintenance Cost The cost to maintain your fireplace can vary depending on a few factors. The first is the type of fireplace you own. The fireplace type with the highest level of maintenance is a wood fireplace. If you want to do the maintenance on it yourself, you will be spending money up front for a chimney sweep and some fireplace tools. The chimney sweep is around $60, and an ash bucket set is about $50. Total cost for you to do it yourself is a one time fee of a little over $100. If you have any other repairs to make on the fireplace you will need to purchase some fireplace mortar repair caulk. This is usually around $10 for a tube. If you are interested in hiring someone to do the work it can be anywhere between $150 and $1000. This cost will depend on the level of work needed to be done, and the rate the worker charges you. My Home Maintenance Checklist is a free resource to help you keep up to date on your home’s maintenance. It is designed to remind you of what needs to be done at a specific time. You will know what maintenance tasks need to be done: Monthly Annually Seasonally For your household appliances And More Get your free copy of My Home Maintenance Checklist today by clicking the link below! Get The Free Checklist! Wood Fireplace Maintenance You Can Do Yourself A wood fireplace is a beautiful addition to your home. As the warm smell of a crackling fire fills the room, you are taken to another place. But it’s important to maintain a wood fireplace, to keep it in the best condition for many years. The main goal for maintaining this type of fireplace is to prevent the buildup of high levels of “creosote.” This article will use the words creosote and soot interchangeably. When wood burns, there are particulates of un-burned wood that are emitted in the smoke. This builds up on the walls of the chimney, and should be kept to a minimum. There are some tools that are commonly used to perform wood burning fireplace maintenance. Some of these tools are common household tools, and others are specifide tools for fireplaces. Don’t let that scare you away from this project. They are not super expensive and they don’t take a lot of training to master. Lets take a look at the tools used in wood burning fireplace maintenance. Wood Fireplace Maintenance Tools Ash Bucket Kit Click here A good Ash Bucket Kit has a few important components. Ash buckets should be made of metal. This will allow it to hold hot embers without burning or melting the bucket. This kit includes a bucket with lid, shovel, broom/brush, and gloves. This kit will be used throughout the wood burning season. It is important to remove old ash from previous fires before it builds up too much. Chimney Sweep Kit Click here A good Chimney Sweep Kit is an important tool for anyone with a wood burning fireplace to have. This kit includes extensions for up to 30 feet, making it possible for you to clean the entire chimney. This kit is designed to use with a power drill like a Dewalt Cordless Drill that I recommend. It makes it easier to use, and does a thorough job of cleaning your chimney well. Wood Burning Fireplace Maintenance Process The steps that go into maintaining a wood burning fireplace are pretty straight forward. Part of this process will be repeated over the course of the fireplace season. The rest of it only needs to be done once a year, before you use the fireplace. That would most likely be in the fall season, to get it ready for the winter. Clean The Fire Box The fire box is the portion of a fireplace that the wood is burned in. It is where the ash accumulates after the wood has finished burning. This ash will need to be cleaned ideally after each use, but may be delayed two to three uses. Too much ash will be a hindrance to the magnitude of fires, and may pose a health risk with more ash in the air than ideal. It’s best to wait several hours after the fire has been extinguished. This will make the handling of the ash safer because it isn’t as hot anymore. Use your Ash Bucket Kit to sweep and scoop up the old ash. If you have a yard or a compost pile this is a good material to put in it. But if not this can be placed in a bag and thrown in the garbage can. Inspect The Fire Box The fire box will regularly see a fluctuation of very high temperatures, that eventually cool off to much lower temperatures. This can cause the mortar or bricks to crack. Any cracking can cause a space for creosote to accumulate. Over time this may combust and create a much larger problem. There is a simple repair that can be done when a crack is discovered. You only need a couple of tools and

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Free Home Maintenance Checklist For Every Homeowner

Kevin

A free home maintenance checklist will bring your home to its best condition possible. The work should be broken into groups, making it easy to know when specific tasks should be done. This article includes a checklist that will guide you through everything that needs to be done. Get your free home maintenance checklist below to bring your home to where it needs to be. What Is “Regular” Maintenance On A Home? Home maintenance is an important part of keeping your home in good condition. Anyone who lives in a house has regular maintenance tasks that need to be done throughout the year. Each house is different, and the routine can be altered accordingly. Regular home maintenance regards the tasks that need to be done on a regular basis. The most common category of this are things that should be done on a monthly basis. These can be items like checking for dead batteries, or replacing filters. Regular home maintenance is meant to keep certain aspects of your home operating in peak working condition. We are going to cover the complete list of maintenance activities in this article. If you are looking for a printable PDF version of this list, you can download My Home Maintenance Checklist by clicking the link below. My Free Home Maintenance Checklist My Home Maintenance Checklist is a free PDF I made to help you see when each maintenance task should be done. It includes all the main tasks that keep your home in ideal condition so there will be no guessing what needs to be done. This FREE Checklist Will… Save money with a more efficient home Keep your family safe with up-to-date features No more guessing what to do next Get The Free Checklist! When you download My FREE Home Maintenance Checklist you will have a clear understanding on what tasks need to be done, and at what time of year. It includes tasks that are for any season, as well as ones that should be done on a seasonal or monthly basis. This takes any guesswork out of what you need to do next, helping you stay up-to-date on things that need to be done. Keep your family safe, and save time in the long run by getting this list today. Seasonal Home Maintenance Checklist The seasons are a time of change. This includes changes your home goes through. Stay one step ahead by doing the things listed below. Spring Home Maintenance Spring is a time of change in the seasons that brings warmer and sunnier weather. The cold, dark winter can tend to cause some damage on the exterior of the house. Spring is a time we can take advantage of the nice weather as it becomes available. Yard Maintenance The yard is generally neglected throughout the winter. Spring is when we can make it tidy by cleaning any debris or leaves that may have blown in. You can also give the lawn its initial mow and edging to get it ready for the summer season. I recommend doing this by setting the lawn mower blades to the lowest setting you can. This will give you more time before the next mow as the grass begins to grow in the warmer weather. This is also a good time to fertilize your lawn. The lawn is going to begin growing at a faster pace, which means it will want to be fed to look its healthiest. Inspect Roof and Gutters Start your roof inspection in the attic (if applicable). Take a look at the underside of the roof for any water damage, or leaking. This should be noticeable by an off-colored water stain on the plywood. Any water damage you spot here can be linked to a problem with the shingles directly outside of this damage. Look for damaged shingles by walking around your house and looking at the shingles from below. You are looking for curling of the tips, or their sliding out of alignment. If you can’t see the shingles from the ground very well you may need to go on the roof to look closer. Some terms we should define are gutter and downspout. The gutter is a “U” shaped channel along the edge of the roof of your house that collects rainwater. It moves the water to a downspout which is a vertical pipe that is usually at one or both ends of the gutter. If you live in a wet location your gutters and downspouts will get plenty of use in the winter. Do a walk around your property and look for any damage to the gutter and downspouts from below. If you don’t see any, get on a ladder that lets you look in the gutters for excess debris that needs to be cleaned out. The gutter is an area that tends to get clogged by leaves and other debris that finds its way to your roof. It’s important to remove these leaves before they can get clogged in the downspout. This can cause damage to the gutter, which may require being replaced sooner than it should have been. Nowadays there are several options to keep the gutter clear of leaves. These options are best installed after the gutter has been cleaned. Below are a few of my top choices you can look at to keep your gutters clear of leaves and debris for years to come. Summer Home Maintenance The majority of the focus for summertime is going to be outside. The weather is nice, so let’s take advantage of this. It can include a combination of yard work and maintenance on the home’s exterior. Any damage to the siding and the trim of the house should be addressed. That is because this type of work will be finished with a fresh coat of paint. We need nice weather to make sure the paint dries well. This can also be the time to put a fresh coat of paint on the house if needed.

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Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector Buyer’s Guide

Kevin

Searching for the best smoke and carbon monoxide detector can be a confusing task. There are many different features to sift through and choose from. This article will show you the options to choose from. Pick only the best smoke detector the first time. You will be able to find it after going through this article. Once you are ready, you can find the right one at The Best Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector article. That is where the top picks in each category are for you to choose from. Read further to get a better understanding of what the top features are. Features The most important function of a fire alarm is to warn you of danger when smoke is present. Nowadays there are other features that come with them. You may want one with a built in carbon monoxide alarm. This alerts you when there is a danger of carbon monoxide poisoning, without requiring a separate device. The interconnected feature will alert you of a fire in a separate room of your home, even when you are not in that room. There are wireless models that will connect to each other, making it possible to have this feature without requiring a hardwired line in your home. This is especially nice for larger homes. I like the options that have built in app control. This means your alarm can connect to an app on your smartphone, sending you an alert when it is triggered. It also allows you to turn off the alarm from your phone. Battery Life A battery powered smoke detector may offer a time range for their battery life. Some of the options listed above have built-in lithium batteries that don’t get changed for the entirety of its use. Ones with 9 volt batteries should be changed every 6 months. There are some models that make it easy to change the batteries. They have a built-in hatch in the front, allowing easy access to the battery without taking the entire unit down. Safety When looking for the safest smoke detector, you want to find one that offers both a photoelectric, and ionization sensor. This will alert you for either fire type more quickly. Some smoke detectors offer a monitoring service which will alert the fire department when there is a fire. This drastically speeds up the response time, giving a better chance to save your home. Popular Brands There are several reliable brands of smoke detectors worth mentioning. The ones I am about to talk about have all been listed in this article already. Two that have been around for a very long time are Kidde and First Alert. Both of these have different options with numerous built-in features. Other brands worth mentioning are Google Nest Protect, and X Sense. These have some really cool features that make them worth looking at if you want a more modern smoke detector. Interconnectivity Some smoke detectors are capable of being interconnected. This means they can be linked together, allowing them to communicate with one another. These smoke detectors can be programmed in different zones of the home. This makes it easy for you to find the fire if you are not in the same area as the smoke. There are two main ways to use this feature. One option is to use an interconnected smoke detector. You can do this if you live in a home that is prewired for them. Depending on what state you live in any home built after around 1992 will have the wiring for this option built in. This is the “hard wired” option when looking at purchasing smoke detectors. Not every home has this feature, but that’s okay because there is another option to get your smoke detectors to talk to one another. The other way is for you to purchase several of the same smoke detectors with wireless interconnectivity built in. This means they will be talking to each other wirelessly, alerting you of a fire in one area of the home when you are in another, and not near the smoke. I will be discussing the best options for smoke detectors with these features down below. Keep reading to learn more about the interconnectivity feature as well as other features for smoke detectors. Smoke and CO Detector Buyer’s Guide Once you have looked over this Buyer’s guide, I put together The Best Smoke and CO Detectors for you to choose from. These are a short list of the best models that for any home’s situation. Take a look at that article to make your decision. But now lets talk about the different types of smoke detectors, and their sensor styles. These are helpful to know because different sensors have different functions. Any of the sensor types are going to detect smoke. there are different types of smoke to be aware of. If you can find a model with dual sensors, you are much better off. Types of Smoke Detectors Smoke detectors are available with two sensor types. These are each efficient at alerting you of a particular type of smoke more quickly. This does not mean that one sensor type will not work on the other type of smoke. There are different types of smoke that each sensor is quicker at finding. Photoelectric Smoke Detectors The photoelectric sensor is efficient at alerting you to smoke with larger particles. This is present in smoldering fires that do not have much of a visible flame. These fires are capable of burning for days before becoming a bigger issue. Think of a campfire at the end of the night when all that’s left are smoldering coals. This sensor works by a led light that shoots across a chamber. There is a sensor that is perpendicular to the beam, and won’t trigger the alarm unless the light hits it. This happens when the light reflects off a smoke particle and bounces towards the sensor. The sensor may be susceptible to dust accumulating on

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Best Smoke Detector | Best Carbon Monoxide Detector

Kevin

Shopping for the best smoke detector and carbon monoxide (CO) detector can be a daunting task. It’s important to narrow down your choices, and pick yours from the best options available. This article will show you the top choices for smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in each category type. It is here to help you choose from a short list of the best smoke and co detectors on the market. I also put together a Smoke and CO Detector Buyer’s Guide if you are looking for more information about what you are looking for. That article is a deep dive into all the categories you want to learn about in the world of smoke and co detectors. There are some topics you probably didn’t even know was a thing. To learn more about what rooms should have smoke detectors, visit my article on Proper Placement Of Smoke Detectors. Contents Best Smoke Detector and CO Detector Smoke and CO Detector Buyer’s Guide Best Smart Smoke/CO Detector Best Interconnected Smoke And CO Detector Best Smoke Alarm For The Money Best Carbon Monoxide Alarm Best Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Detector X-Sense Smoke Carbon Monoxide Detector X-Sense Smoke Carbon Monoxide Detector Brand: X-Sense Color: White Power Source: Battery Alarm Type: Audible Sensor Type: Photoelectric, Electrochemical Wireless Interconnection: No Price: $39.99 Buy Now! The X-Sense Smoke And Carbon Monoxide Detector gives you the peace of mind you are looking for in a smoke and Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarm. This model combines both smoke and CO sensors, set in a 360 degree configuration. This eliminates any “blind spots” when detecting for either element. Key Features Long Battery Life Equipped with a sealed lithium battery that provides power for 10 years. Don’t worry about changing any batteries any time soon. Dual Sensor Types Utilizes both photoelectric and electrochemical sensors, helping detect large and small smoke particles quickly. It alerts you to both smoke and CO presence. Intuitive LCD Display LCD displays real-time carbon monoxide concentration levels when they are detected. It also displays the battery level, and working status. Easy to Install Installing this item is easy to do yourself, even with minimal experience with tools. It does not require any specialized tools to install it. Protect your loved ones with The X-Sense Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector. This combination model has two sensor types to give you a maximum level of accuracy. When any carbon monoxide is detected, an easy-to-read LCD display will show you the level that was detected. Smoke And Carbon Monoxide Detector Buyer’s Guide Power Supply Determine whether you will be purchasing a battery powered model, or one that is hard wired. Hard wired options require your home to have the wiring infrastructure previously installed. These models should have a battery backup that will maintain functionality in the event of a power outage. Battery powered models may last up to 10 years. Maintenance of these models includes checking the battery status periodically. Alarm Volume/Options Some models have alarms that include a visual component as well as an audible one. The visible feature is ideal for people who are hearing impaired. Interconnected models will be able to indicate the location in your home the problem is coming from. These models will only connect to compatible units. Lifespan Over time the sensors lose their reliability. For that reason they should be replaced at the appropriate time. The lifespan for smoke alarms is up to 10 years, and carbon monoxide alarms is 5 years. If your model is powered by a battery, you will want to test the battery every 1-2 months to make sure it is working properly. Certification When choosing a smoke or carbon monoxide detector, you want to look for one that has been certified by Underwriter’s Laboratory. This assures you that the model you chose has been put through rigorous testing by an authorized organization. Interconnection Some models are stand alone alarms, and others can connect to one another. A stand alone alarm will be the only one sounding. interconnected ones will all alert you if one goes off. This can be a benefit for a larger home, or for people with hearing disability. Best Smart Smoke Alarm Google Nest Protect Google Nest Protect Brand: Google Color: White Power Source: Battery Alarm Type: Voice Sensor Type: Photoelectric Price: $145 Buy Now! The people at Google though of everything when they came up with the Google Nest Protect. This is a “smart” smoke and carbon monoxide detector for a smart home. This is a perfect option if you are someone who is looking to start upgrading to a smart home, or if you already have existing Nest smart home technology. Key Features Chirp-Free Battery Update Each night when the lights turn out, a light on the detector will communicate if the battery is fully charged or getting low. Motion Detecting Nightlight When motion is detected below the smoke detector, it will light up the dark hallway or bedroom floor. Voice Alerts Early smoke and CO detection will alert you with a friendly voice that danger is present. Nest App Compatibility Easily turn off the alarm with the an app on your smartphone if low levels of smoke are present. Get alerts that something is wrong on your phone when you are not home. The Google Nest Protect offers all the features a smoke detector needs, and much more. Take your home to another level with this smoke and carbon monoxide detector. Best Interconnected Smoke And Carbon Monoxide Alarm FIRST ALERT SMCO500V FIRST ALERT SMCO500V Brand: First Alert Color: White Power Source: Battery Alarm Type: Voice Sensor Type: Photoelectric Wireless Interconnectivity: Yes Price: $41.39 Buy Now! Install peace of mind in your home with the First Alert SMCO500V. This smoke and carbon monoxide combination alarm interconnects with other compatible First Alert alarms. That means you will be alerted as quickly as possible when smoke or carbon monoxide is detected anywhere in your home. Key Features Interconnectivity Compatible alarms will connect to one another wirelessly. When one alarm goes

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Best Bathroom Exhaust Fan

Kevin

Getting the best bathroom exhaust fan is one of the most important purchases for a bathroom. A good one will be able to remove foul odors and humidity out of the room without your noticing. Now bathroom fans come with a variety of features to choose from. Keep reading to get your hands on the best bathroom exhaust fan for your home. The products in this article may require an additional ducting kit and vent box to properly install it. Make sure you purchase a duct kit that is the same diameter as what the fan requires. If you have a duct in place already, you can verify the size by holding a tape measure up to the ducting. If you will install a new duct you will want to purchase the kit with the fan, making sure they are the same size. When you find the best bathroom fan, visit the article on How To Install A Bathroom Fan. Here you will get complete instructions on how to install the one you choose. You also may want to visit the article before picking your fan to find the best spot in your bathroom for the fan. Best Bathroom Exhaust Fan Broan NuTone ChromaComfort Broan NuTone ChromaComfort Light Color: 24 Color LED Light Airflow: 110 CFM Duct Size: 4 inches Dimensions: 13.25″D x 13.25″W x 5.75″H Noise Level: 1.5 Sones App Available: Yes Price: $183 Buy Now! When you are picking the best bathroom exhaust fan, you want one that gives you an experience you look forward to. The Broan NuTone Chroma Comfort Bathroom Fan will elevate your bathroom time to an amazing experience. This fan has multiple features including, multiple light options, a bluetooth speaker, and quiet levels of noise when operating. Consider this option if you want to take your bathroom to the next level. Key Features App Controlled: Control multiple features with your smartphone through an available app. This lets you customize which features you want to use, or turn off when not needed. It also comes with a wireless wall-mounted remote that runs off of 2 AAA batteries. Multiple Color Options: Create the best mood for your bathroom experience. You can choose from 24 dimmable color options, giving you any option you may desire. Bluetooth Speakers: Play your favorite music or podcast from your Apple or Android smartphone. The speaker easily syncs up with your bluetooth device, allowing you to play whatever you want to listen to. Quiet Operation: At 1.5 sones, this bathroom fan is considered quiet to most people. This sound level is considered comparable to a quiet refrigerator while running. Easy Installation: The EZ Duct design allows you to quickly and easily install this fan in your bathroom. Don’t get fed up with the difficulty you can run into while installing other bathroom fan styles. The features listed above makes the Broan NuTone Chroma Comfort the best pick for bathroom fan options. It combines all the best features in a bathroom fan you could ever want. Bathroom Fan Buyer’s Guide Airflow Performance Look for a fan with sufficient airflow (measured in cubic feet per minute, or CFM) to effectively ventilate your bathroom. The Home Ventilating Institute (HVI) recommends a minimum of 50 CFM for each fixture (toilet, shower, bathtub, etc.) in the bathroom. Quiet Operation Choose a fan with a low sone rating for quiet operation. A lower sone rating indicates quieter sound levels while in operation. The low end for bathroom fans is <0.3 sones, which is comparable to a low whisper. On the high end, 6.0 sones is similar to the sound level you might hear in a sports arena. Energy Efficiency Choose an Energy Star certified model when looking for an energy efficient option. These fans are designed to help save power and reduce your energy consumption. This will save you money on electricity in the long run while also be beneficial for the environment. LED Light Some bathroom fans offer a built in LED light. When shopping for one with this option, consider the brightness and color temperature of the light. Look for a fan with LED lights that provide sufficient illumination for the bathroom and have a color temperature that suits your preferences. Ease of Installation Some fans are designed with easy installation in mind. This is helpful if you are not an experienced bathroom fan installer, and want to do it yourself. If you are planning on hiring a handyman to install your fan, they will appreciate one that has built in features like the “EZDuct” feature found in the ChromaComfort listed above. Brand Reputation Well known brands in the bathroom fan market got their recognition from being reliable over a long period of time. You can quickly learn which fans are good picks by checking the ratings and reading the reviews. Humidity Sensor A humidity sensor on a bathroom fan can be a helpful feature to have. The fan will turn on when the humidity reaches a certain level in the room. If your fan doesn’t have a humidity sensor, a good alternative is to use a timer switch that will turn it off after an allotted amount of time. Timer A timer switch is a light switch with a built in timer. If you change the switch, you can add this feature to your bathroom fan. This type of switch will work with virtually any bathroom fan, as long as you choose a one that is rated with the same electrical load as the fan. Venting There are three main options for venting a bathroom fan. Some fans require a 3 inch duct, some use a 4 inch duct. There are also bathroom fans that don’t use any duct, but rather recirculate the air after running it through a carbon filter. The best option is to go with a bathroom fan that hooks up to a duct. But if this is not an option for your situation, you have the recirculating fan as an option as well. Price The prices

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