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2017 Top Five Air Conditioners

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sparky
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Top Five 2017 Air Conditioners

Here are some top air conditioners to help you stay cool this season. Find out what air conditioner works best for your home?

Frigidaire FFRE1033Q1 air conditioner

The Frigidaire FFRE1033Q1 air conditioner (AC) is designed to handle rooms that are large and works at high rates without consuming too much electricity. It has a remote control for sensing temperature, a 24-hour timer that is programmable. It has ionizer for cleaning the air, which is good for people suffering from allergies. It comes with a limited warranty of one year and can extend up to five years for sealed systems. The cons of this AC include hard to install, and it might affect the security of your home by creating spaces on your windows for burglars to break in your home. Also, it makes noise that can disturb users if installed in places like the bedroom.

Koldfront WAC12001W AC

Koldfront WAC12001W AC delivers cool and hot air. It can handle rooms that are large up to 550 square feet without overloading the electricity grid because it has energy-saving modes and low Energy Efficiency Ratio. It keeps energy usage that is low and does not affect bills. Its operation can be customized using the remote control, or touch screen controls making you enjoy fresh and cool air that’s being constantly filtered. The disadvantage of this Air conditioner is that it’s pricey.

Haier ESAQ406P Serenity Series AC

Haier ESAQ406P Serenity Series AC is so silent that you will not realize that it’s on. On any of the four variable speeds, it produces no more than 43 dB. It saves energy providing an Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) of 11.2 because of the sleep function and energy save mode. It has an air filter and the indicator lights for alerting the user when to change the filter. It has dehumidification, which makes it remove from the air, about 1.8 pints of water every hour. The disadvantage is that it’s a bit expensive.

Friedrich Chill CP06G10B air conditioner

Friedrich Chill CP06G10B air conditioner can handle rooms that are about 250 square feet. Has EER of 12.2, the programmable timer and the money saver setting, which helps in managing energy use and reduces the cost. It comes with an installation kit to help the user when installing the item. Also, the AC has a slide-out chassis that allows the user to remove the machine when it needs maintenance and anti-intrusion protection for securing the chassis in place. The item has four operating modes to choose from including three cooling speeds and three fan speeds for adjusting the intensity of air. The disadvantage of this AC is the loud noise it makes when in operation.

LG LW6016R AC

LG LW6016R AC cools areas of over 250 square feet with a minimum usage of energy that saves you money. The installation kit is included, making it easy and quick to install. It has four operating modes and six fan and cooling speeds. It filters air and at the same time cools it. It has indicator lights for keeping the tabs on its status at any given time. The AC has 24-hour on and off timer that cools on your schedule. This item auto restarts and saves the setting whenever the power goes out. The drawback of this AC is the limited 2-way air deflection.

Five Home Remodeling Projects that will make your Home More Luxurious

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sparky
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0
Home Remodel Design Ideas

When spending time and money on home remodeling projects why not think beyond just adding value to you home or making it more up-to-date? Have your home remodeling contractors take you remodel project to the next level by focusing on improvements that will add luxury and comfort to your life. Not only will you home increase in value, but your quality of life will improve at the same time.

Here are five home remodeling projects that will make you home more luxurious:

A Spa-like Bathroom

Transforming a hum-drum bathroom into a soothing, spa-like retreat will help you family feel like they’re at the high-end resort every day. For the most impact, replace a smaller, more cramped shower with a luxury walk-in shower. Adding a bench, steam settings, and multiple shower heads will definitely amp up the spa feel. If you or your spouse love to take baths, then you may want to also add a deep soaking tub.

If you have room in your remodeling budget, adding bigger window or a skylight will give your bathroom more natural light, making it a much more appealing place to shower and spend time. A sleek under-mounted sink that fits into a granite or quartz top cabinet will pull the whole luxurious look together. Don’t overlook special touches and details like recessed lighting, bronze fixtures, and a heating rack for your towels.

A More Beautiful and Functional Kitchen

The kitchen isn’t just where meals are prepared. It’s also where your family and friends gather. when you transform a dated kitchen into something stunning and super functional, the feel of your whole home will improve. Old, outdated counters and back splashes are often the first things to go during a kitchen remodel. Cabinets can be replaced or repainted, depending on their condition and how much you like their overall style.

One luxury feature to consider adding is a walk-in pantry. Just imagine how great it will feel to walk in and grab your dinner ingredients instead of reaching into dark, overcrowded cabinets. Another luxury kitchen idea that’s gaining popularity is hidden appliances, including refrigerators with gorgeous cabinet fronts and pull-out microwave drawers. Instead of being eyesores, your appliance will become a beautiful part of your overall design scheme.

Replacing shorter cabinets with those that stretch all the way to the ceiling will make your kitchen look larger and more impressive, while also giving a serious boost to your kitchen storage capacity.

Quartz Counter tops

Quartz counter tops are overtaking granite in popularity thanks to their beauty and practicality. Replacing outdated, older counters in your kitchen or bathroom with quartz will automatically make your home look more luxurious. And you can keep that look of luxury for many years to come, because quartz is incredibly durable, easy to maintain and clean, and almost impossible to stain thanks to its non-porous nature. Quartz counter tops have an upscale look and come in a variety of colors to best complement your over all decor.

Heated Flooring

Adding radiant heating to specific rooms is often surprisingly affordable and will definitely amp up the the feeling of luxury at home. Instead of dreading stepping onto cold bathroom or kitchen tile on winter mornings, your heated flooring will make you feel pampered and cosy. If you are using new hardwood or tile flooring in your living room or bedrooms as part of your overall remodeling efforts, your may want to add heating at the same time. While more common in bathrooms and kittens, heated floors can add comfort (and even lower your heating bills) throughout your home.

Outdoor Kitchen

While a chef’s kitchen inside your home is nice, an even more luxurious surprise is to add a gourmet outdoor kitchen. A high-end outdoor kitchen will definitely take these summer barbecues up a notch, and give your whole family an excuse to hang out and spend time together outside. A sink or wetbar will make it easier to prepare meals and cocktails outside while entertaining, and will also make clean-up a breeze.

Other features of consider adding are stainless cook tops, a full size refrigerator, a pizza oven, and pergola or retractable shade for sun protection. Don’t forget to add weatherproof wireless speakers so you can listen to your favorite tunes while whipping up gourmet treats for friends and family.

When deciding which projects to incorporate into your home, it’s best to start with the guidance of an experience builder. explain that in addition to boosting your home value, you’re interested in remodeling projects the will transform your home into a luxurious oasis.

Six Steps to a Clean and Organized Closet

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sparky
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0
Six Organization Ideas Closets

Have you been looking at your cluttered clothes closets and promising yourself you will clean them out and get them reorganized? It looks like an overwhelming task, but if you break it down into steps, it won’t take as long as you think. So put on some comfy sweats and some fun music, and get it done!

 

  1. Pull Everything Out

Your first step is to empty your closet. You want to start with a clean state. As you remove items, sort them into three piles; Keep, Donate, Throw Away. Resolve to donate anything you haven’t worn in over a year. Go through keepsakes and other things you are hanging on to for sentimental reason. Do they still speak to you? If you don’t feel a strong attachment anymore, let them go!

 

  1. Clean out the dust Bunnies

Take advantage of your empty closet to give it a thorough cleaning. Get on a stepladder and wipe down the shelves with a damp sponge or rag. Dust off he hanger bars and hooks, and any rack and storage containers. Knock down cobwebs. Finish by vacuuming or sweeping and mopping.

 

  1. Get Rid of Plastic Dry Cleaning Bags

Do you bring clothing home from the dry cleaners and hang them in your closet to keep them clean? Get them out of there – they can’t breathe! The plastic traps moisture and chemicals in the plastic can leach into clothes causing them to yellow or become discolored. If you have clothing for occasional wear, like a formal dress, a tuxedo, or a winter coat that only comes out a few times a year, store them in canvas or other fabric hanging bags. They still protect the clothes from dust and wear and tear, but let air circulate to keep clothes fresh.

 

  1. Replace those Wire Hangers

If you are using dry cleaner bags, you are probably keeping your clothes on those nasty wire hangers as well. Toss them! They are flimsy and can leave your clothes misshapen. Get strong plastic hangers for blouses, shirts, and dresses. Don’t drape pants or shirts over hangers; use clip hangers instead. For suits, coats, and other heavy items, close sturdy wood hangers.

 

  1. Hang up Everything You Can

Take advantage of how every much room you have to hang as many of your clothes as you can. Have a huge walk-in? Hang everything and reserve drawers for lingerie, socks, hosiery, pajamas and tee shirts. Not enough space? Take out the items that suffer less from folding, like jeans and sweaters, and store them in drawers or totes. If you only have a small space, look for the hangers that can hold multiple shirts or pants to maximize your space.

 

  1. Treat Yourself!

You did a great job! Admire your beautiful, clean organized closet. You probably noticed that you need to replace or update some items. After you drop off your donations at the local thrift store., take yourself shopping for something new and nice. Even if it’s just a scarf or tee-shirt, you deserve a reward for you hard work!

8 Great Ways to Dress up your Kitchen Cabinets

By
sparky
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0
8 Great Ways To Dress up Your Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen remodel are all the rage these days, but not everyone has tens of thousands of dollars to spend.  A full kitchen remodel can easily reach into the five figures, and disrupt your home and your cooking for months on end. If you want to give you kitchen a brand new look without the cost or the hassle of a full remodel, you might want to start with your cabinets.

For good or bad, the cabinets are the focal point of the kitchen. If your cabinets are in great shape, that first impression with be a positive one. If the cabinets have seen better days, you can use these 8 tips to dress them up and give them a new lease of life.

Brighten your day with up-lighting. Adding up-lighting to your old kitchen cabinets will instantly give them a dramatic new look. For less than $100, our kitchen cabinets will look like a million bucks, and you will have more light to cook by.

Add a fresh coat of paint. If you love your cabinets but hate the way they look, just throw on a new coat of paint.  Create beauty and drama with bright primary colors, or lend an air of understated elegance with rustic stains and dark shades of paint.

Open things up. Instead of replacing those ugly cabinet doors, just remove them and go with open shelving instead. Open shelving solutions are elegant, practical and stylish, and the cost will be minimal.

Add task lighting. Under-counter lighting is the perfect way to dress up your cabinets and make the kitchen more cook-friendly. Whether you choose electric tasks lighting or cordless, you will enjoy more light, and your kitchen will look modern.

Reface your cabinets with glass door inserts. Glass door inserts cost a fraction of what traditional door do, and they lend an air of charm and elegance to any kitchen.

Add antique hardware. Antiques hardware will give you boring kitchen cabinets new cache, so scour the local antique shops, thrift stores and the internet for a fast and inexpensive facelift.

Incorporate adjustable shelving to build more storage space. You do not have to pay for an expensive remodel to get more storage space. A few adjustable shelves can do the trick – and for much less money.

Remodeling the kitchen can cost many thousands of dollars, but giving your cabinets a whole new look costs only a fraction of that amount. When you are done, you can sit back, admire the results and start enjoying you brand new kitchen.

Best Ways to Save Money on Travel Insurance

By
sparky
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0
Travel Insurance Tips

If you are going on vacation in the near future to a foreign country, having adequate travel insurance is vital.  Despite the minimal chances of something going wrong when abroad, it is better to be safe than sorry. Medical expenses in a foreign country can easily reach thousands of dollars, so it is essential to have adequate insurance cover to protect you from the risk of a large financial loss.

There are a plethora of different policies available for people who need travel insurance, and choosing the right one at the lowest possible cost is a worthwhile goal.  Follow these tips to save money on your travel insurance policy.

  1. Look for Higher Deductibles

Insurance companies tend to offer lower premiums in return for you bearing the risk associated with higher deductible.  Using this tip effectively involves being honest with yourself. If you are the kind of person who engages in safe activities when on vacation and you’ve never had an accident at home, it could be worth your while opting for a policy with a higher deductible to save money on your premium.

  1. Don’t Limit Your Self to one Policy Option

Many vacationers make the mistake of assuming that annual coverage is the right policy to choose for a single trip. But if you plan to travel abroad just once in a 12 month period, then a single-trip policy would be a much cheaper option for you.  On the contrary, an annual travel insurance policy will save you money versus a single-trip policy if you go abroad multiple times each year.

  1. Don’t Opt for needless Extras

Insurance providers often try to persuade you to purchase additional coverage that you might not need. For example, cover for electronic items is generally offered for an extra payment on top of the quoted premium. If you look at the small print, you’ll often find that the deductible on these policy extras are really high, making them not worth your money unless you are bringing incredibly expensive electronics on vacations.

  1. Ditch the Baggage Cover if you can

It’s obviously important to protect your valuable possessions when you travel abroad, and this protection tends to come in the form of baggage coverage on travel insurance policies. Baggage coverage might not be essential for you, though. Many home insurance policies include coverage that protects your personal possessions when you’re on vacation. If that’s the case for you, tell your insurance provider that you don’t need baggage cover and you can save some money on your premium.

  1. Consider Combined Policies

If you are traveling with your partner or your family, insurance providers will often give you a better deal if you purchase insurance in a combined policy that covers all travelers. Make sure to ask any potential insurance providers about the option to purchase joint or group policies.

  1. Avoid Premium Cover Plans

When shopping for travel insurance you’ll frequently see that insurers tend to offer basic plans and more expensive premium plans. The major difference between these plans tends to be a much higher coverage level on the more expensive insurance plans.

For example, your basic plan might cover medical expenses up to $2 million, while costlier plans cover up to $20 million. It is extremely unlikely you’ll ever have to pay that much to a hospital in the event of an accident or illness while abroad, so try to avoid the unnecessary extra coverage levels if you want to save money on your travel insurance.

Use some of the above tips the next time your need to shop for travel insurance. You’ll be sure to save money on your premium and get the best deal possible.

Know About the Different Types of Solar Panels

By
sparky
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0
Which Solar Panels are Better

Solar panels differ based on the purity of the silicon used in the cells.  The quality of silicon used to make the cells determines the conversion efficiency of the panels.   Efficiency, in turn, is measured by the amount of electricity the cells generate.

Panels with monocrystalline silicon solar cells contain the highest-grade silicon and are right now, the most efficient of all types of panels.  These are also the most expensive of all types of solar cells.  Solar panels with polycrystalline silicon cells are slightly less efficient than the monocrystalline type.  Usually, you need more polycrystalline silicon cells then monocrystalline cells to generate the same amount of electricity. So monocrystalline cells are also the most space-efficient of all solar cells.

Both monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels are designed to last at least 25 years.

Thin-film solar cells contain variates of silicon or any other photovoltaic material. These are right now, the cheapest type of solar cells.  But they are also the least efficient.  Thin-film solar cell technology is still in its nascent stages, and the durability of these cells has not yet been tested. So don’t fall for the price tag or feel compelled to adopt a technology just because it is the latest.

Choose the Best Solar Panel for your Home

Manufacturers indicate the peak conversion efficiency of solar panels on the package. Although monocrystalline solar have historically been more efficient than polycrystalline, the former is not necessarily better than the latter. Monocrystalline panels typically have 13-17 percent efficiency while the polycrystalline panels are usually 12-15 percent efficient.  So some high-end makes of polycrystalline panels can be more efficient than monocrystalline panels.

But you may not need a panel with the most peak efficiency to meet your energy need. Know about the factors you should consider before choosing a solar panel for your home.

You can invest in polycrystalline panels if you have ample roof space. Although these are less space-efficient than the pricier monocrystalline panels, you can generate the same amount of electricity by installing more polycrystalline panels. You can also increase the amount of electricity generated by a polycrystalline system by positioning the array such that sun hits it perpendicularly. If the maximum amount of sunlight hits the panels, you won’t have to install more polycrystalline panels.

If you want to buy the least expensive panel, or in other works, pay the least for a unit of electricity produces, consider thin-film panels.  If you have a large rood, installing thin-film solar panels could save you more money than buying monocrystalline or polycrystalline panels.

The pros and cons of bamboo flooring

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sparky
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0
Bamboo Flooring Pros and Cons

Learning about the Pros and Cons of Bamboo Flooring

When it comes to flooring materials, there are a lot of options to choose between. While materials such as hardwood and vinyl tend to be more traditional, materials such as bamboo has begun to grow in popularity especially over the last decade. Bamboo has proven to be a good alternative to hardwood in particular, especially as they tend to look somewhat similar in appearance. However bamboo like any other flooring material isn’t without its drawbacks. Before choosing bamboo as your flooring material, it’s important to understand the pros and cons.

The pros of using bamboo flooring

Bamboo has a stylish aesthetic – bamboo has the same kind of visual appeal as hardwood although it still boosts a unique look. Bamboo also happens to be available in numerous colors and styles, just like hardwood. Bamboo flooring is very strong material that contains no knots or rays, which means it can withstand more stress. It’s sectional anatomy also provides it with more structural integrity, and it’s high silica content makes it resistant to termites.

Bamboo is a natural material using natural materials in your interior design helps to provide a more welcoming and tranquil environment. Unnatural materials often give off a manufactured and sterile feel.

Eco-friendly Material

Bamboo is sustainable – unlike a lot of flooring options, bamboo comes from substantial source, making it in eco-friendly material. This is because bamboo is actually a grass that grows incredibly quickly. Unlike trees, which take decades to mature, bamboo grass can reach full charity within 5 to 7 years.

Bamboo is Easy to Maintain

Bamboo flooring is easy to maintain – bamboo flooring can easily be kept clean by regular sweeping. No special treatments are required.

Bamboo flooring can be refinished if you’re bamboo flooring has lost its luster over the years, or has experienced scratches or dents from use, you can easily sand down the surface and reapply another finish to make it look brand-new.

Bamboo is Affordable

Bamboo is affordable – bamboo is surprisingly affordable. One of the reasons for this is because it comes from a renewable source.

What Are the Cons of Strand Bamboo Flooring

Avoid Kitchen and Utility Areas

Strand bamboo floors cannot be used in bathrooms, terraces that aren’t covered or decks. You should avoid using bamboo in kitchens and utility areas as well. You cannot have strand bamboo floors in any place that is expected to get wet. This isn’t a con exactly but a shortcoming. Not many people would even think of using bamboo in bathrooms. It is obvious bamboo isn’t water resistant.

May Contain Volatile Compounds

Some strand bamboo floors may have volatile organic compounds which are hazardous. You should pick wisely.

Can be Easily Damaged

Bamboo floors aren’t always very resistive of sharp and heavy objects falling onto them. Unless there is a good level of coating and protection to the floor, the strand bamboo floor can get damaged if you drop an appliance or when some sharp object falls onto the floor with a certain degree of thrust.

Tiny Houses – New Cool Trend

By
sparky
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2
Tiny Housing

Tiny Houses a new trend in living. Why would someone live in a tiny home? I think most of us would agree that we are getting tired of over priced homes. We are a nation that is spending the majority of our income on housing  and our quality of life is suffering. Luxuries like vacations and spending time with family and friends is something that most of us have given up due to high costs housing. We have become a society that works to live with little time and money left over to enjoy life.

Why Tiny House living?

Tiny Houses range in costs from $10,000 to $80,000. Tiny homes are being an attractive option for many who are looking for affordable housing especially in areas where housing costs are sky rocking . Tiny house living can also help you save in heating and cooling costs. Rainwater catchment systems help to make the homes self-sustaining.

What do you think about the tiny house movement?

Easy – Inexpensive Kitchen Counter and Cabinet updates

By
sparky
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0
Easy Updated Kitchen Counters

Tired of that outdated counter top? Don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on a new kitchen renovation. Well there are cheap – easy solutions for updating your home. Check out this video for your easy solution and enhance your kitchen with a beautiful counter top.

 

You can also update your cabinets so get started.

Homemade Citronella Candles

By
sparky
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1
How to Make Citronella Candles

Homemade potted citronella candles offer an inexpensive and bug-deterring alternative to traditional landscape lights.

Easy way to Say good bye, to bugs!

 

To do: for each angle, you’ll need a cachepot (or plug a standard pot with modeling clay), wax and wick material (can find in craft stores), citronella oil (at hardware store) and a pencil.  Tie the wick to the pencil and lay the pencil across the pot.  Then heat the wax using a double boiler (or set a tin can inside a saucepan containing water), add a few drops of citronella oil and pour the mixture into the pot.  Allow the wax to set, snip the wick and enjoy!

 

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