House Renovation Tips

Split-system air conditioners have a compact outdoor unit, containing one or more compressors, which serve several indoor air handlers. Rigid conduit circulates refrigerant back and forth between the compressors and the air handlers, eliminating the need for ducts. Each indoor air handler is individually controlled by a built-in thermostat or by a remote, hand-held control.
Have [...]

Change or wash the air filter on your central air conditioner about once a month during the cooling season. This helps prolong the life of the equipment, raise its efficiency, and improve your indoor air quality. There are two standard kinds of filters: a disposable variety, made with woven fiberglass; and a washable one, made [...]

Leaking or poorly insulated ducts are a common and serious problem in forced air systems, affecting comfort, health, and economy.
Start by inspecting all of the ductwork in your system. If you find places where the duct was never installed or connected, or has broken free from the adjoining duct or register, call a competent contractor [...]

A local store was having its fur vault fumigated, as it did every year after all the furs had been moved into storage for the summer. Something went wrong during the process, and the vault was overloaded with fumes. No one knew what to do to clear out the room. There were no windows, and [...]

To reduce indoor pollution from insulation, plywood glues, gas stoves and oil-fired furnaces in a highly insulated house, it’s a good idea to ventilate the home during the day or install a heat exchanger. A heat exchanger will transfer the heat from the warm indoor air you are exhausting to the cold fresh air you [...]

Climate control that runs hot and cold
Like ceiling heating, with no moving parts to wear out, floor heating is virtually maintenance free. There are three types of this totally unobtrusive form of heating:
In-slab heating
For one room or the whole house, this type of heating has to be installed when in the process of building or [...]

1. For return on investment, the best home renovation is to upgrade an old bathroom. Kitchens come in second. If the only reason for renovating a house is to increase the possible sale price, the best way is to go with renovations that research shows return more than the cost to renovate. Adding extensions and [...]

Top 4 tips you need to know before even thinking of renovating your home.
1. Do it now
If you’re looking to remodel this year, now is a good time. You may even be able to get your contractor on the phone… on the first try!
The remodeling market has slowed down and contractors may not be as [...]