Basic Knowledge About Waterproof Membrane Sheet

Basic knowledge About Waterproof Membrane Sheet

Is this a first time ever that you are hearing about waterproof membrane sheet? These membranes are rather considered as an important part of the constructional field currently. These membranes are thin layers of some water tight elements, which are primarily laid over surface. This layer is primarily continuous and will not allow water to pass through anyway. These are perfect to be placed on flat terrace, where it can be laid right on top of structural slab or even below the finish tiles.

The main aim of this sheet is to ensure that water does not get the chance to seep into structural slab. The membranes and tiles are to be laid over the filler material, which is then sloped properly to ensure that water gets to flow into drains and sumps. Any water remaining as puddles over tiles can seep into slab with time. So, it is mandatory to avoid puddles in anyway possible.

Composition and more to know:

The current membranes are primarily constructed using thin waterproofing material layers. Most of the sheets are 2 to around 4mm thick. On the other hand, there are some essential forms of membrane types, which are practically divided into 2 variations. Those options are liquid applied and sheet-based ones.

• Most of the time, it is mandatory that the waterproofing material sheets needs to be flexible, strong and elastic at the same time.
• It has to be tear resistant so that it can stretch for covering cracks and also for moving with building.
• In case the membrane is exposed to sun, then it must be UV stable.
• On the other hand, the waterproof membrane sheet needs to be flexible enough to take over any shape on which it is laid out on.
• It should also have the capability to turn up and be even over walls along with some of the other constructional features.

For the PVC waterproofing thin layers:

In some instances, you have to select the PVC based waterproof membrane sheet. This is simply the best modernized roofing material, which is made out of high quality and flexible polyvinylchloride. Mainly depending on application area, there needs to be unreinforced and reinforced membranes on the sheet.

• The reinforced membranes will have reinforcing base designed by polyester mesh or even the glass fiber. It is primarily used for waterproofing of the current roofs. These materials are known to have increased durability, which becomes a significant factor to check out for.
• On the other hand, you have the unreinforced membranes too, which are designed to be flexible in nature. These items are known to have test resistance and can also be used for the waterproofing of the present underground tunnels, structures and even for swimming pools.

The positive side to consider:

There are some positive waterproof membrane sheet options available, and those are placed at the exterior part of a structure. It can easily be applied above, below or even at the grade to surfaces which might otherwise get wet due to weather conditions like rain or snow. It can even be used for protecting the surrounding soil at the same time.

Positive waterproofing has always been proven to be a critical step for the current construction platform. It is mainly because it helps in preventing moisture and also protects some of the structural components. Some of those options are steel and concrete. So, if you are trying to protect surface from corrosive chemicals and freeze thaw cycles, then you might want to head for the best waterproof membrane sheet in town. You can log online to get hands on some.

Guest Contributors, Amelie Lawrence

The 5 Appliances In Your Home That Use The Most Energy, and Their Alternatives

The 5 Appliances In Your Home That Use The Most Energy, And Their Alternatives

It is of utmost importance that every home be energy-efficient for many reasons.

• First, an energy-efficient home will save you money since you’re able to maximize the energy used while wasting very little to none.

• Second, energy-efficiency will make any home more comfortable to live in, especially under extreme weather conditions.

• Third, an energy-efficient home has a higher resale value compared to one that isn’t. After all, no one wants to live in a house where they’d end up with skyrocketing utility bills.

• Fourth and most important of all, an energy-efficient home helps the environment.

There are many different ways that you can do this. For instance, you can start by gardening in more energy-efficient ways, like collecting rainwater in a water butt. You can then use the rainwater to water your plants and lawn, instead of relying on tap water.

Dealing with your outdoor space is pretty easy and straightforward but, what about the inside of your home?

It can be challenging and sometimes expensive to make your home energy-efficient from the inside. However, it has to be done! You could start with the structure of your house, like locating areas of poor insulation. However, this can be a tough job, and usually involves having one of the different types of building survey carried out, making it a slightly bigger and more expensive job.

Instead you might want to start with a slightly easier route, and one good way to do this is by checking your appliances. Finding out which ones use the most energy and doing something about it will get you one step closer to an energy-efficient home.

Fridge-Freezer

This is probably the most commonly used appliance in any home. Without one, your food will spoil quickly, creating more waste. However, it’s also true that they are the most expensive (including operational costs) electrical appliances since they run 24/7. In fact, fridge-freezers usually account for at least 5% of a household’s annual energy bill.

Unfortunately, there is currently no alternative option to using a fridge-freezer. You can give up on using one if you really want to. However, that would mean frequent visits to the supermarket to buy exactly what you need.

Many people wouldn’t want to go that route so instead, see to it that what you’re using has an energy rating of at least A+ (A+++ is the highest).

Old fridge-freezers are power hungry which makes them not so ideal if you want an energy-efficient home. Other than that, you can also do the following:

• Replace the rubber seal on the door as it’s prone to wear over time and can let warm air inside.

• Place your fridge-freezer away from sources of heat such as the range, oven, or dishwasher.

• Think carefully about what you need before opening the fridge-freezer. Frequent opening allows cool air to escape and warm air get in.

• Don’t put too much stuff in your fridge as this means it will need to work extra hard to keep everything cool.

• Familiarize yourself with what needs to be kept in the fridge and what doesn't.

Lighting

It is a no-brainer that LED lights cost much less compared to their traditional halogen or incandescent counterparts. The initial costs may be more for LED lights, however, being able to save up to 90% on your energy bills is not a bad trade.

In addition to using LED lights, installing solar lights in your outdoor space will save you even more money and make your home more energy-efficient. Do this, and you’ll reap the benefits of having solar lights in your garden in no time. What’s more, they’re cable free so you can put them wherever you want!

Energy-efficiency aside, solar lights are also good for the environment. Not having to rely on grid power to illuminate your outdoor areas means that you’re also reducing your home’s carbon footprint.

Heater

One of the biggest household expenses, especially during the colder months of the year, is the running cost of central heating. There are many different factors involved in calculating how much of your money goes into heating your home. However, regardless of what kind of heating system you use, it still adds up. Prices can range from £708 for oil, to nearly £2,000 for electric!

Unless you live in an area that uses renewable energy sources to keep warm, like biomass boilers, solar thermal panels, geothermal heating, you’ll have to make do with what’s available.

The good news is that heat pumps are considered extremely energy-efficient against other heating systems. It’s a device that works using a very small amount of electricity, and there are even reversible heat pumps that can keep your house cool during summer.

If switching to a heat pump is not possible, instead try having carpet or large rugs throughout the house instead of hard flooring. Carpets help to insulate each room, keeping them warmer and conserving energy during the colder months.

Additionally, go for pure wool carpet that’s chemical free. Amongst the many benefits of pure wool carpets is that they won’t ‘off-gas’, unlike standard carpets that are riddled with chemicals. This makes them ideal especially for people who suffer from asthma or other chemical sensitivity issues.

Tumble Dryer

Another electrical appliance that you need to be careful when using is the tumble dryer. Admittedly, using one is the easiest way to get your clothes dry. However, it does consume a lot of energy, especially if what you have is an outdated model.

So if what you’re using is an ancient tumble dryer that was passed down to you, don’t think twice about replacing it. An inefficient C-rated model will cost a lot more per load compared to one that’s A-rated.

Alternatively, use a clothesline whenever possible instead of a tumble dryer. It may not always be possible due to the weather, so planning ahead is essential. If a warm sunny day is forecast, take advantage of not having to use your tumble dryer to dry your clothes. The sun is free and efficient!

Dishwasher

A dishwasher is another appliance that’s found in most households. The convenience of not having to worry about the dishes after meals is what makes a dishwasher seem like a necessity. However, it uses a lot of water and electricity to operate that can cause your utility bills to go up.

The only alternative to using the dishwasher is hand-washing the dishes instead. Make sure to fill up a bowl instead of keeping the tap running, else you will waste a lot of water.

In cases where you have to use the dishwasher, make sure that you aim for a full load each time to save energy from multiple uses. However, be cautious not to overfill it, or you risk the dishes not being cleaned properly.

You can also switch to a dishwasher that has a high energy efficiency rating (at least an A). But if you’re not willing to do the switch, you can use the energy-saving feature that comes standard in all dishwashers. It might be a longer cycle but at least less energy is used in the process.

Make Use Of Alternatives

The worrying thing is that these 5 appliances are staples in most homes, meaning we could all be wasting lots of energy, natural resources, and money!

Switching to energy-efficient models and methods has never been more important, both for our pockets and the environment. Make sure you’re doing you bit to keep your costs down, and save the plant.

Guest Contributor, Kevin Hilton

Home Plumbing System: Maintenance Considerations

Home Plumbing System: Maintenance Considerations

Plumbing can be seen as the cardio-vascular system of your household. As long as it is properly maintained, everything should run smoothly, but a single problem, no matter how small, can lead to a cascade of disasters that will sabotage your home. When compared to all the bad scenarios (and there are plenty), maintenance sessions take only little time and they have an enormous impact on the state of your home. When it comes to your home plumbing system, here are some important maintenance considerations for your peace of mind.

Bathroom and Toilet

When it comes to home-plumbing systems, there are two zones in the household that are particularly sensitive to malfunctions – the kitchen and the bathroom and/or toilet. Faucet and shower leaks can appear to be minor issues at first – a few drops here and there – but they usually grow to present truly debilitating problems that lead to costly replacements. Be on the lookout for these seemingly innocuous first symptoms and act immediately.

There is a high chance a lot of your bathroom problems are caused by limescale, so either make your own DIY limescale removal solution or purchase a more potent one if the problem is drastic. Debris cleaning is something you can largely tackle yourself, but if clogs are persistent even though you’ve cleaned up what’s visible, it is high-time to call a professional to the rescue!

Toilets are especially tricky since most people tend to avoid a “hands on” approach to fixing problems because they are repulsed by them. Still, toilets tend to go runny after a few years of use (if you are lucky) which means maintenance is inevitable at a certain point in time. Running water in the toilet actually wastes incredible amounts of clean water over the span of a single month, which means your bills will not only skyrocket, but your ecological footprint is also becoming quite destructive. If the toilet begins to run, fixing it should be your number one priority.

Kitchen

Kitchen areas can be especially tricky for checkups as they are mostly over-cluttered zones where several aspects of a household’s infrastructure meet. In order to secure a thorough investigation of the kitchen, you need to find an experienced professional, like this plumber from Canberra, who can easily detect the hotspots and perform any required repairs. Just make sure you communicate everything you know about your plumbing system to your designated plumber so they can know how to engage.

For example, there are usually parts of the wall where piping diverges at a ninety-degree angle – this is an important thing to point out, especially if you know where these areas might be located. You should also do your own checkups from time-to-time. It doesn’t take too much skill to notice kitchen sink leaks or garbage disposal jams. If the problem is beyond something you can repair, you and the plumber will save precious time if you know exactly where the issue lies.

Homemade drain cleaners can stave off a lot of malfunctions and clogs, but they are not all-powerful. The elusive and dreaded “phantom leaks” can usually be noticed through inconsistent water pressure and the appearance of water in uncommon areas. This is a red flag that should prompt you to call the plumber immediately.

When it comes to home plumbing maintenance, you can easily compare what you need to do with visits to the doctor – in order to stay healthy, you need to pay your designated clinic a visit at regular intervals and stay consistent. The same goes for plumbing, only you have to find your “home doctor” in the form of a plumber who will maintain your system and do checkups at least twice a year. One of these sessions might actually reveal a problem that could have cost you quite a dime and a whole lot of nerves.

Guest Contributor, Lillian Connors

Green Up Your Property In 2018

Green Up Your Property in 2018

There is no doubt that humanity is paying for the centuries of reckless use of Earth’s resources and troublesome treatment of the environment. Now is the time to get our act together and start thinking more responsibly, starting from our homes. Greening up your property is a win-win deal because you will make your home healthier and cut your energy bills, and all that while contributing to the preservation of our planet. If you want to join the good fight, here are some tips on how to make your dwelling more eco-friendly and energy-efficient.

Check Your Insulation

Insulation is one of the most important elements of an energy-efficient home. While your property probably is insulated, that doesn’t mean the job was done well. In fact, it is highly likely that a large portion of heat or cool is going out through air gaps around your doors and windows or improperly installed insulation materials on the walls or the attic. If you are going to change or upgrade the insulation opt for eco-friendly materials like icynene, cellulose or sheep’s wool.

Opt For Energy Star Rated Equipment

Kitchen appliances, washer, and dryer suck up a lot of energy and significantly increase your electricity bills. Energy Star rated equipment consumes considerably less energy. The same goes for windows. By opting for double or triple glazed windows, you can save the heat and cold from leaving your house and wasting energy.

Reconsider Your Electricity

Start by getting an energy audit to see where your electricity goes. We all know electrical malfunctions can be dangerous and quite annoying, but they can also drain the energy faster than it is normal. In Australian household, it has become perfectly normal to perform an energy audit when purchasing a new property or remodeling the old one. That’s why you can always find a professional Sydney electrician available 24/7 for audits and repairs.

Change The Lighting

Speaking of electricians, while you are having one in your house, it would be a shame not to ask them to change your old incandescent lights for new CFLs or LED bulbs. Compared to the incandescent bulb, LED lights can last up to 21 times longer and use the seventh part of the electricity, and save you $129 per kilowatt.

Be Responsible With Water Consumption

Water is just as important resource as electricity is. To make sure you are using it thoughtfully, first, check with your plumber for leaks, and then consult about the installing low-flow shower heads and faucets, and consider a low-flush toilet.

Use Sustainable Materials

When was the last time you thought about the materials used in your home construction? If your answer is ‘never,’ don’t worry, you are not the only one. However, it is a thought worth considering, especially because these materials can be toxic or harmful for the planet. Some of the sustainable materials you can use for flooring and furniture are reclaimed wood, glass tile, bamboo, cork, wool, and Marmoleum.

Detox Your Home

Regardless whether it is because of the hazardous materials, volatile organic compounds in the wall paint, dust mites, tobacco smoke, mold, mildew, or other factors, the indoor air can be polluted with a variety of toxins. First, inspect your home for potential threats and remove them. After, you can make sure the air is clear by introducing houseplants – the natural air purifiers and, if there is a need, by using a HEPA air purifier.

Harness The Natural Energy

Why waste electricity when we already have renewable energy handed to us almost on a plate? By installing a rainwater collector, you can have free irrigation water, or if you invest in a UV filter, even drinking water. Also, you can use solar panels or wind power to generate electricity or heat.

Greening up provides immediate benefits for you and your family. Looking at the bigger picture, it also contributes to a happier and healthier future for the entire planet. That’s why you shouldn’t wait a day to start making the change. Use these tips as your guide to a better and greener tomorrow. 

Guest Contributor, 

Will Sandford is a Sydney based wood architect, blogger and contributor on interior design and ecology blogs. Besides that, he is also interested in home improvement combined with green technology. In his spare time, Will enjoys surfing and rock climbing. He is also a regular contributor to SmoothDecorator. Connect with him on Twitter.

How to Improve Your Household in 2018

How to Improve Your Household in 2018

Every home evolves over time. After the building is finished, most people consider it the end of their worries when it comes to taking care of it – except the small maintenance obligations here and there. However, if you’ve lived in one household for longer than a decade, you know this is not true. It’s not only a matter of maintenance, it’s about practicality and moving along with the times. If you think your house is ripe for a “facelift” project of some kind, here are some handy ways to improve your home in 2018.

Make the kitchen cleaner and brighter

The kitchen is the heart of every home and it reflects your attitudes towards your own household. It is usually the one chamber in the house that sees most activity and it is therefore hardly ever completely clean. However, you can make sure at least some basics are covered.

Stoves, counters that surround the kitchen sink as well as the walls above them are usually covered in stains and the more you postpone the cleaning, the bigger feat it will be to clean it up. Making your kitchen brighter, by using LED lights might appear counterproductive in that regard, but it actually helps.

For example, if you cover your counters and the walls above them (the stretch between the counters and hanging cupboards) in porcelain tiles, you will reap multiple benefits. For one, porcelain is not only robust, it is easy to clean. Two, if you choose to go with white, you’ll have a much more airy, open kitchen which you can show off proudly to guests after a noticeably shorter cleaning session.

Let the sunshine in

Sydney is known for its “sunny disposition”, so why not utilize it? After all, letting the sunshine in has multiple benefits. First of all, it will make the colors and contours of your interior design pop with unimaginable vivacity. More light makes every house look more stylish and joyful.

Furthermore, the natural light makes the residents happy too – as it encourages the secretion of happiness hormones. Therefore, opting to replace your regular patio doors with high-quality glass bi-fold doors from Sydney is win-win in every conceivable way.

The same goes for bigger windows – and if you can accommodate for wall-high glass windows that stretch from floor to ceiling (in other words, without attracting the unwanted neighborhood attention), you’ll benefit from it greatly.

Go green with light

While we are still on the topic of brightness, replacing your entire light grid with LED light bulbs might be the best possible choice to improve your home. The advantages of LED light bulbs are numerous and undeniable. They spend 90% less electricity than your regular incandescent light bulbs and they use almost a 100% of their energy to produce light. This means that no energy is wasted on heating up, which is a godsend during slow and smoldering summer days in Sydney.

Furthermore, they are a far less toxic solution than CFL light bulbs – which are admittedly not dangerous for as long as they don’t blow out. Still, why would you risk it? After all, the LED light bulb can last for up to a whopping 20 years, which is an insane margin of difference when you consider that you have to replace regular incandescents every few months. Therefore, you will save money on purchasing new light bulbs in the long run and save a ton on the monthly electric bill – which can truly be a financial killer within the Sydney city limits.

Spruce up your outdoors

Just a few minor changes to your immediate outdoors can make a world of difference when it comes to improving your home. For one, adding a motion-detecting light above your front and patio door is a welcoming life hack when you are returning home late, plus it is a good scare-off for potential intruders. If you add a cheap security camera right next to the motion sensor light, you’ll definitely be burglar-proof.

Additionally, purchasing a foldable awning and placing it right above the front and the back porch will protect your windows from direct South Pacific sunlight while still letting the daylight in, plus it will give you a nice little spot for the outdoor layabout mode.

Letting your home fall into disrepair is something that can easily happen if you are too preoccupied with other matters, but you should always be ready to lend it your full attention. In many ways, the house is like a child – it thrives when you show it devotion and care. You should always envision the house you’ve moved into as the basis for creating something more personal – if the household is fashioned to your own taste over time, both you and it will benefit immensely.

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

Prime Advantages of Hiring the Services Of 24 X 7 Plumbing Contractors

Prime Advantages of Hiring the Services Of 24 X 7 Plumbing Contractors

The plumbing system of a house may often face sudden errors in the pipelines, valves or the faucets; leading to a huge discomfort for the residents. Hence, they need to hire the emergency services of 24 x 7 plumbing contractors, for solving these problems immediately. Many plumbers are available only during the office hours or the daytime, leaving the house owners at a distressful situation at odd hours. So they need to contact the emergency plumbing service providers, who will act as their saviour at any time they are called.

Facilities Obtained by Calling Up The 24 X 7 Plumbing Contractors

• Availability at all times – As the term suggests, the 24 x 7 plumbing contractors are available for service at all times of the day and night. Their services are also available on the holidays and weekends, for which the house owners can avail their services on any day, whenever needed. Hence, the house owners are able to hire these plumbing services in their own convenient times.
• Faster repair of plumbing damages – Any type of problems detected in the plumbing system can be repaired very fast, only because of the prompt services offered by the professional 24 x 7 plumbing contractors. The repairs of the small plumbing errors can save further damages on the plumbing system, which could create massive havoc in the household if left unattended for a longer time.
• Saves money by small repairs – When the plumbing faults are repaired at the initial stage, the pipelines and other plumbing parts are saved from major damages that may demand huge financial expenses. Hence, the timely services of the 24 x 7 plumbing contractors can save these unwanted expenses of the house owners.
• Regain the comfortable lifestyle – The plumbing problems, like the blockage in drainage pipes or the leakages in the plumbing systems, are highly irritating for the residents. The timely repairs of these problems by the emergency plumbers can save them from these plumbing related hassles and help them get back to their normal life and give them comfort. 
• Updated plumbing repairs – The qualified plumbers are well aware of using the modern plumbing tools and the latest technology in this field. The reputed 24 x 7 plumbing contractors use only the best quality plumbing tools of the latest designs, for handling all types of plumbing issues with ease. Moreover, the high efficiency of these plumbing tools prevents any further damage to the plumbing parts.
• Assurance of security – All the plumbers who are employed by the emergency plumbing agencies hold valid licenses, which are issued by the local civic authorities after checking their relevant credentials and other eligibility criteria. Hence, the house owners can be sure about the competence and reliability of these 24 x 7 plumbing contractors, whose backgrounds are also checked by their employer agencies for the safety of the clients and their properties.
• Cost effective services – The prices quoted by the emergency plumbers are perfectly affordable by all the common houseowners, in spite of so many facilities obtained from their services. However, their charges may be little bit more than the ordinary plumbers who work only during the fixed hours.

Therefore, the services of the 24 x 7 plumbing contractors are widely appreciated by all the homeowners, as they can be benefitted by these emergency services even during nigh time. However, the regularly maintained plumbing system may require lesser numbers of urgent repairs and thus can save you from extra expense. Still, it is best to be in touch with reputed emergency plumbing agencies to save the situation in case of any sudden breakdown in the plumbing system.

About the author: Jessica Curry is a professional writer to share my blogs and ideas about Home improvement, Health, Business and Automotive that will be informative for readers who loves to gain knowledge. ideas. Follow her on social media at Twitter, Google+  and Facebook.

Tips on How to Build Your Dream House

Tips on How to Build Your Dream House

Building a dream home is the feat of a lifetime. After all, you are meant to start off with a mere cornerstone and end with the place where you will likely spend the rest of your life. This might sound like a daunting concept, and indeed the very process can be grueling and challenging on a deeply personal level, but the end result is definitely worth it. That being said, this hardship can be ameliorated at least a little bit with these tips on how to build your dream house.

Choose The Right Place

Melbourne is one of the most coveted urban areas in Australia and everybody would like, ideally, to build their ultimate home within the city limits of Melbourne or Sydney or Brisbane. However, you should keep your expectations realistic and choose the best lot for the most opportune price.

Even if it’s a bit far off from downtown, it will still be a short car ride away. Your priority is the quality of the ground and the quality of the neighborhood. It’s always smart to go for the calmer environment that leaves enough “breathing space” for cultivating lush greenery.

Prioritize Spending On Professionals

Expensive materials are all fine and dandy but the structural integrity of your household mostly depends on the quality of hands that build them. Thankfully, Melbourne boasts a lot of experience contractors in nearly every field of construction, so finding the responsible and reliable professionals should not be that hard.

Your greatest tool in this regard is the internet browser – it gives you convenient access to rich information as well as customer reviews and discussion forums you can sift through to find the exact building contractors you need.

Security Is Everything

When the lot turns into a construction site, security is everything. Most workers will be insured, but you should be adamant about them wearing all the necessary protection – like helmets, worker gloves and fire-resistant uniforms – as well as to utilize the benefits of crane hire from Melbourne. These cutting-edge cranes are mobile and modular in a way that makes the building process both safer and quicker.

In addition, you should definitely be in contact with the manager of each of the hired contracted building companies and insist that each piece of electrical equipment used is checked and maintained throughout the process. It protects both workers on your plot and the aforementioned structural integrity of your house.

Be There Every Day But Don’t Intervene Too Much

However, you should be fully aware of that fine line between meddling with business you do not fully comprehend and managing the construction of your dream home. For starters, it would be smart if either you or some other family member could afford to visit the construction site at least once a day for an hour or two. This will keep some of the slower workers on their toes and it will convince them how much you care about the construction.

However, you should avoid any sort of excessive meddling. You can offer your helping hand but don’t insist on it. Remember – you are not the professional constructor, and even if you are, the fact that you have contracted workers to do this job for you should be respected. If you trust your own judgment when you’re hiring professionals from around Melbourne, you should get what you bargained for.

Size Matters

Of course, as the layout of your home is drawn, you should make sure it accommodates the number of household residents it will hold, or potentially might hold, but don’t be overindulgent! Two extra rooms that basically have no function is square space wasted, and you should keep in mind the fact that you’ll have to pay considerably higher bills and mortgage payments.

In addition, going with the functional size of the household equates to green thinking – as you will be going out of your way to reduce your energy/carbon footprint. Of course, going for ENERGY STAR mode as you look at water and electricity saving technologies and appliances also pays off in the long run.

Finally, as you get into the process of building your first home, you have to be prepared for numerous goofs. Such endeavor goes through a lot of trial and error, and despairing over every single setback can make matters exponentially worse in the long run. Just stay flexible throughout the process and approach ever problem, predictable or not, with a sense of resolve. The vision of your dream house you are trying to reach should be enough of a motivator.

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith

How to Cut Down on Energy Waste

How to Cut Down on Energy Waste

There are a few reasons a household should worry about energy consumption. First of all, reducing your energy consumption is a good way to save money because bills can add up, and by just changing your behavior slightly, you can have greater control over how much you’re spending.

However, there’s more to it than just being careful with money. Cutting down on energy consumption is also an eco-friendly thing to do and that’s something modern homeowners need to think about. Our actions in this regard matter more than you think and small personal changes could actually have an effect on global environmental issues.

LED Lights

Lights are probably the biggest source of energy waste in an average household. There are a few ways to cut down on energy consumption when it comes to lights and most of them don’t require any significant investment. Start by changing the light bulbs to LED ones. This might be a bit pricey, but you can do it in phases. This is definitely a smart investment because LED light bulbs can last for years.

It’s also a good idea to install a timer that will turn off the lights when you’re not using them. That means much more than you might think since we often forget to turn off the light.

Appliances

Ordinary household appliances can waste quite a lot of energy, especially if they are old and not maintained properly. First of all, purchase the appliances that are designed to save electricity. They usually cost a bit more, but they are definitely worth it in the long run.

It’s also important to maintain your appliances on a regular basis, instead of waiting for them to break down. Having a local electrician on speed dial can help with this. Scheduling a visit with an electrician from Castle Hill in advance can prevent problems that might lead to energy waste.

Heating and AC

It’s a thin line when it comes to managing heating and AC in terms of energy waste. The goal should be to cut down on the wasteful spending, but it isn’t an area in which you should sacrifice your comfort. There are ways to have both, but you need to have your family’s needs in mind when making the decision.

Adjust the temperature based on the weather outside, instead of keeping the thermostat on a designated number. A similar effect can be accomplished by making sure that your AC system is in good condition. This can be achieved by changing the filters on a regular basis. This should be done every six months and it usually doesn’t require professional assistance.

Energy Providers

In the end, there’s a great saving tip that most homeowners tend to forget about. Changing the electricity provider can give you access to a variety of discounts or simply to a lower price that comes with negotiating a better deal.

Another option is to install solar panels that will cover a portion of your energy needs. This will also lower the bills since you’ll be using much less electricity directly from the grid. There are also ways to store solar energy that make the transition process easier than it ever was.

Cutting down energy consumption can usually be done just by changing your behavior slightly. It’s also important to rely on professionals to help you maintain your devices and let you make the most of them.

Guest Contributor, Amelia Atkins 

Plumbing Features To Check Before Buying Your New Home

Plumbing Features to Check Before Buying your New Home

Congratulations, you've found your dream home and you're ready to make an offer. However, before you start gearing up for that move to Chicago , it might be worth slowing down for a moment and thinking about what you're really investing in. Home buyer inspections are common these days, but a standard inspection might not involve getting a real, effective plumber to come in and check all your systems.

Unfortunately, this means that a homeowner moves into their new property without a good understanding of what's happening with their pipes. After a few months, you could end up dealing with a number of expensive problems you never foresaw. Working with a plumber service to inspect your home before you make the move is one of the best ways to make sure that you don't set yourself up for any shocks. Here are just some of the things you should check before signing on the dotted line.

1. Examine the Toilets

Let's face it when you're moving to a new home in Chicago, you want to be checking out the local attractions, the fantastic view from your window, and the size of your bedrooms. That means you're probably not going to be spending a lot of time checking whether each of your toilets works. However, the last thing you want is to move into your new house and discover that you instantly need the support of a plumber.

The good news is that working with a plumber to examine your potential home before you move means that you might be able to get any issues fixed before your family is running around, trying to get by without a working toilet.

2. Think about the Sewers

Often, when homeowners take their property onto the real estate market, they look for various ways to make that home more appealing. For instance, they might hire professionals to wash the outside of their structure, or invest in a new coat of paint for some of the inner rooms. The chances are, they won't dedicate a lot of time to checking that the sewers are running properly.

Sewer repairs can be extremely costly, so it's important to check out the details as early as possible, so you can avoid overspending if the cost of repairing a sewer issue takes you over your budget. It's worth looking for dirty water pumps that need replacing too. Your plumber will be able to help you figure out which parts of your plumbing need the most work.

3. Know How Your Water Heaters are Holding Up

Finally, if you're moving home in summer, you may not even think to check the water heaters. However, depending on the quality of your water, and the support of a long-term maintenance plan, a typical water heater will only last for around ten years or so. You'll need to make sure that it's in a good enough condition to keep you and your family comfortable in the winter months.

Checking for issues with your water heater in advance is a good way to make sure that you're not hit with a nasty surprise when the cold weather rolls around.

Guest Contributor, Micheal Brennan

5 Hidden Perks of Home Automation

5 Hidden Perks of Home Automation

The main reason why people turn to home automation is to make their lives easier and boost the comfort within their own home. After all, wouldn’t it be great to control your home’s security, lights and heating system through your smartphone and make all the necessary adjustments without ever having to leave the sofa? On the other hand, this is just one of the many advantages of home automation. The reason why it is the only one that most people talk about is that people are so passionate when it comes to their own comfort. On paper, however, home automation has five hidden perks that appear to be even more impressive.

Greater security

We mentioned that home automation directly leads to a boost in home security, however, not having to walk to the monitor in order to check the cameras is just the tip of the iceberg. Through your smartphone, you can not only check your locks but also lock and unlock your front door, which can be quite reliable. Think about it, how many times has it happened that you’ve forgotten to take your keyring with you? Now, think about the odds of doing the same without your phone.

Utility bill frugality

The next thing with home automation is the fact that it immensely reduces your monthly expense list. For instance, your Wi-Fi sprinkler system can drastically reduce the cost of your water bill, while the installation of a smart thermostat does the same with power. These savings aren’t just made by you no longer being lazy to turn off the light in the hallway. With a home automation system, you have the ability to make a frugal scheme that functions independently of your actions. In this way, you stand to make your money-saving efforts more reliable.

Simpler maintenance

One of the things that a lot of people overlook is the issue of home maintenance. With some automated household systems, like those offered by CBus installers, you can have your home enhanced with a reliable energy metering system. This may sound as yet another budget perk but it goes even further than that. You see, if you watch your home’s energy consumption closely, day after day, you will inevitably notice when something goes wrong. In that situation, you have the ability to make your household maintenance efforts more reactive and more efficient.

Greater control

Not having to stand up in order to set up your thermometer is not nearly the most important function of remote control. Imagine a scenario of walking into a cold home, in the middle of the winter, because you didn’t want to leave thermometer on in order to heat an empty home while you’re at work. With home automation fully implemented into your household, this will become a matter of the past. This kind of control can be displayed in virtually every aspect of your household management.

Reassurance

Finally, acquiring a peace of mind is something that it hard to quantify, yet it has to find its place on the list as one of the greatest perks of home automation. Think about going on a holiday without knowing that you’ve turned off the stove with 100 percent certainty. What do you do? Do you call it all off and cut your holiday short or worry for two weeks straight? With home automation on your side, this doesn’t have to be a problem anymore. For people who have kids, being able to check on the babysitter through your smartphone surveillance while you’re at work is a priceless idea.

As you can see, the benefits of home automation are numerous and each one of them would on its own be a reason enough to go for it. Luckily, you don’t actually have to choose, seeing as how you are bound to receive the entire package either way. Nonetheless, there are certain degrees in your home’s automation and you can still feel free to choose which of the processes you aim to enhance with smart technology and which of them you are about to leave as they are.

Guest Contributor, Diana Smith