Whether you are interested in reducing your energy usage or just concerned with keeping more of your hard earned money in your pocket, it pays to do the research to keep your utility bills down. I pride myself on knowing all of the tips and tricks of reducing energy usage and cutting costs on other utilities. So, I was confident that I could manage the bills when I moved out of my miniature apartment and into a house with my fiancé. This turned out to be quite a daunting task once I realized that our home was completely reliant on electricity for heating, cooling and cooking. So, I took note of the changes I could see needed to be made and dug deeper to combat the electricity bills. Here are just a few things you can do to crop your electricity usage and cut your bills.
CFL bulbs
Ok, so almost everyone thinks of changing to the energy efficient bulbs first. The fact is that changing your light bulbs really is the quickest adjustment that you can make without investing a lot of time and money. For those who may not be familiar with these bulbs, compact fluorescent light bulbs use less energy and last much longer than standard bulbs. When these bulbs first came out, there were only certain places you could expend them in. However, there are now CFL bulbs made for applications like outdoor spotlights, recessed lighting and lamp shades that wrap around the old standard bulbs.
Power Strips
Another common money saving tip is to use power strips around your home. Many people do not realize just how much electricity is being drawn by appliances or electronics that are plugged in, but not turned on. You will quickly see savings on your electric bill by getting yourself, and your household, into the habit of flipping off the switch on a power strip when they are done in a room. It would probably be best to focus on the entertainment system in applicable rooms, but it would be wise to have your computer, alarm clock, lamps and other common electronics on a power strip as well. At first, it may seem like an anguish to use this method, but it will quickly become habit.
Timers
If you contain a home and are always forgetting to turn off your exterior lights, timers can be a great way to control your lighting schedule and reduce electricity. In addition, you can also spend a timer on your entertainment system if you have a regular work schedule and only use your television during certain periods of the day. Many of these plug-in timers have an on and off override that enables you to turn the electronics on or off without changing the actual schedule of the timer. So, if you work Monday through Friday and are home all day Saturday and Sunday, you’ll be able to use the on and off override over the weekend without changing the schedule for the next week.
Thermostat
The most conservative way to control electricity extinguish with your thermostat is by adjusting the temperature to a range of about 68-70 degrees in the winter and about 72-74 degrees in the summer. There are ways to save further with your thermostat though. First, adjust the temperature settings even further if you and your household will be gone all day. Never turn the heat or air all the way off, as you will end up wasting even more electricity when you come home and the system tries to catch up with your temperature demands. Instead, just adjust it another few degrees and then change it back when you arrive home. There are programmable thermostats that will make this process much easier for you since you can actually program your whole schedule into the thermostat. Next, mediate adjusting your thermostat even further and use space heaters and/or fans if everyone seems to stay in one area of the house at the same time. Finally and this just applies to colder weather, definitely user your wood burning fireplace or pellet stove if you have one. Both can be an worthy heat source, especially if you use a fan to circulate the warm air into the rest of your home.
Shower Heads
You can save electricity on your water usage by installing water reducing shower heads. Less water usage will mean that your water pump will work less which in turn will help reduce your electric bill. There are a couple different types of shower heads, so make obvious you research this and see the pros as well as the cons to each type.
Water Heater
The easiest thing you can do to save electricity on your water heater is to adjust the thermostat on the unit. Also, consider purchasing a water heater blanket if you have an older water heater in your home. This will keep the radiant heat from being wasted and released, thus making it easier for your water heater to keep warm.
Energy Efficient Appliances
If you are in the market for a new appliance, then it would be cost effective for you to purchase the most energy efficient appliance. Remember to compare water usage rates for appliances that use water, such as washers and dishwashers, as well as the electricity usage. Any research you do on this will serve you in the long bustle.
Meter Monitoring
Although your electric meter is just outside of your home, it is often overlooked as a way to conserve energy and money. Remember that saying “out of sight, out of mind? ” Well, by purchasing a meter monitoring unit, you will be able to babysit your meter and see what changes made an immediate difference on electricity usage. A meter monitoring unit will basically read out your meter reading, but you will have it space up somewhere you will see it plainly.
Solar Lighting
Consider using solar powered lights for in your landscaping or lining your driveway. There are some solar lighting kits that come with stakes for the ground as well as mounting units to install on your porch or deck. The installation of these lights is very simple and can cut costs drastically if you have a habit of keeping these lights on all of the time.
Swimming Pool Solutions
If you own a pool, there are a few changes you can make to cut costs. Purchase a timer for your filtration system electric box and program the timeframe you would like the system to run. If you keep up with your chemical balance and clean your pool regularly, you can considerably reduce the amount of time that your filtration system must rush. Also, consider purchasing a solar mask to heat and/or withhold the heat of your pool. There are also solar heating systems for pools that are very reasonably priced. Remember that a cramped investment upfront can sometimes save a much larger amount of money down the road.
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Filed under Whole House Water Filter Cartridges by on Nov 2nd, 2010. 
We have all received those advertisements in the mail for air conditioning check-ups. Preventive maintenance is a good thing. It can increase the efficiency and life of your HVAC system. What these fliers do not tell you is that these companies are honest looking for a way to rep through your door. The tech will be there looking for a way to run up the bill. Basic maintenance of your air conditioning system can be done by the homeowner. This guide will expose you how.
Filter
The filter is the first thing that should be looked at. Dirty filters create an air flow restriction. This makes the fan work harder and in extreme cases can cause the evaporator coil to freeze up. Filters that are missing, not the proper size, damaged or of poor quality allow dust to accumulate on the coil. This will create the same situation as a dirty filter.
Disposable filters will usually be found either at the air handler or in a return grill. Measure the filter area to verify that the proper one has been installed. Write this measurement on the front of the air handler for future reference. When it comes to air conditioning filters you truly get what you pay for. The cheep filters that you can see through allow massive amounts of dust to pass through. These need to be replaced often. The white filters with W shaped material are best and last longer.
Electronic air conditioning filters require the cartridges to be removed. Follow the manufacturers instructions. A basic overview is as follows. 1) Disconnect the power supply 2) Consume the cover. Take note of the top and bottom for reinstallation. 3) Remove the pre-filter and the cleaning cartridges. Remove note of the position of everything that you bewitch. For the filter to work the pins will need to line up and air flow will need to be correct. 4) Use a hose to wash the filters and cartridges. The water should flow from the unit side back to the dirty side. Do not push the dirt into the filter. 5) Allow everything to dry. 6) Reinstall in the opposite order as removal.
Air Handler
This unit is sometimes called the furnace. The air handler will be found in the garage, in a closet, in the basement or in the attic. It is the unit that all of the duct goes to. Inside the air handler you will find a fan, a heating source and some electrical parts. Most models also have the evaporator coil in the same compartment, the exception would be gas heating systems which use a plenum on top of the furnace.
Clean the drain line first. A helper will make this easier. Find the plastic drain line that leaves the coil area. Access this line from either a T fitting or from inside the coil location. Have your helper stand outside where the drain line exits the house. His job is to stand there and watch the water. As you pour water into the drain sludge will come out of the drain outside. Continue to flush the drain until the water exiting the drain runs clear. A common place for a back-up is the elbow outside where the drain line ends. Often all that is needed to fix a clogged drain is removing this fitting. For stubborn blockages hook a wet/dry vac to the drain line. After the line has been sucked shipshape pour water into the drain to check for sludge. Some drains are equipped with an emergency float switch. This is designed to turn off the unit if the drain is clogged. If after working on a drain the air conditioner will not turn on check this. It will be near the unit and have wires coming out of the top. The cap will pull straight out.
Watch the evaporator coil. To do this you will need to remove the access panels. Location the screws aside in a safe region so they will not be lost. Look at the side of the coil that the air comes across first. This is where the dust will gather. Extremely dirty coils will need a professional AC tech to “pull and clean” them. Homeowners can perform maintenance cleaning. This can be done with an aerosol coil cleaner. Simply spray the cleaner on and then rinse it off. The more advanced “in place coil clean” is done with liquid coil cleaner and either a coil rake or a stiff bristle brush. I recommend the brush as the rakes come in different sizes and if you use the wrong one the coil will be damaged. To clean the coils 1) Mix the liquid coil cleaner in a spray bottle with water. 2) Spray the coil. The solution will start to foam. 3) Carefully use the brush to clean the fins. To do this start at the top and slowly slide the brush with the fins down to the bottom. 4) Rinse with clean water. When doing this keep plenty of rags handy to dapper up any mess immediately.
Visibly inspect the wires and electrical parts for pain or signs of overheating. Burnt or brittle wires and components need to be replaced and the cause will need to be solved. Depending on your ability and the availability of the parts an air conditioning tech might need to be called. Often the cause can be found by using an amp probe as described below.
Check the fan for oil ports. These have little rubber stoppers on the fan casing. When servicing pull the plug and use a light oil. A little will go a long diagram.
On the front panel of the furnace will be sticker that gives the electrical data. It will reveal voltage and amp draws of the fan (FLA) and heating elements. When checking the system all voltage and amp draws should be less than the stated maximum. If a component is above the stated maximum then a service tech should be called for replacement. Check the voltage at the terminal block. Turn the fan on at the thermostat. Check the amp way at the fan. Check the amp draw at the terminal block. It should be the same as at the fan. Turn the AC on at the thermostat. The amp draw should remain the same as when the thermostat is set to the fan only. If there is a large increase usually the heat relay is stuck on. Turn the electric heat on. The amp draw at the terminal block should equal the fan plus the heat strip rating.
Check the deference in the temperature across the coil to determine if the air conditioner is working properly. Place a thermometer at the return. Record the temperature. Check the temperature as halt to the coil as possible. The difference should be about 20*F.
Frozen coils are a common problem in older models. This is usually caused by a leak. Other causes could be dirty coils and filters, fan not working properly or an air restriction. If the filter and coil are clean then the homeowner should check the duct work. If the duct is not crushed and everything is clean then a service tech will need to be called for a leak check. The tech will hook gauges up outside to check the freon level. If it is low then they will use a hand held devise to check for freon leaks. Most often the leak will be found at the evaporator coil. Older units might not have replacement coils and a new air handler will need to be bought. Heat pumps should have both inside and outside units replaced at the same time if the SEER rating does not match.
Servicing a gas furnace should be left to qualified technicians. The regulator and igniter’s are easy to miss diagnose and potentially dangerous.
Condensing Units
The condensing unit will be found outside. This is the heart of an air conditioning system. It pushes liquid freon to the inside unit and sucks vapor freon back to the compressor. From the compressor the liquid freon is cooled in the condenser coil before starting over. Freon can not be purchased by a homeowner so if a system needs a boost a tech will need to be called. Checking freon levels require a set of gauges and the correct pressures will depend on the ambient air.
Homeowner maintenance is limited on the outside unit. Remove any grass or debris that is around the coil. Clean the condensing coil with an aerosol coil cleaner. Checking fan and compressor amp draws can be done following the same directions as the air handler. The fan should have an oil port reach the top. Access to the motor depends on the ticket. Check the low voltage wires for cracked or missing insulation. A cheap fix here would be wrapping them with electrical tape.
Capacitors, contactors and fans are the most common replacement items. Often the capacitor will swell on top or leak oil. Many times I have been called to a house for a second opinion only to find a capacitor that has swollen. Dishonest ( or incompetent ) service techs try to sell units when all that is needed is a capacitor.
Package Units
These are the systems where the air handler and condenser are both in one unit. These are current on Mobile homes and commercial buildings. Another type would be window size air conditioners. These are easy to work on because everything is in one spot. It is not cost effective to service the window size units. The only thing that should be done with these is a simple coil clean. The larger units are maintained the same as split systems except everything is in one set.
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Filed under Whole House Water Filter Cartridges by on Oct 14th, 2010.
If you’re like me, this whole “living green” business is really expensive. I know it’s worth it in the demolish, preserving the Earth for future generations, but I’m not made of money, and have very dinky to spare. Here are some ideas to lessen your guilt factor about not being able to afford a solar powered house and an electric car:
1. Take the bus. Seriously, it’s cheaper than gas, insurance, and car payments. Minneapolis has one of the better public transportation systems. You can purchase a reloadable bus pass online for as little as $10 that is also good for the light rail system (gargantuan for trips to the airport or the Mall of America) as well as multiple fares. Take advantage of the public transportation methods your taxes are paying for. Another budget-friendly option for suburbanites working in the city is www.erideshare.com. It’s basically a Park-and-Ride system for carpoolers, which can reduce down on gas emissions immensely.
2. Use cloth grocery bags. Or at least use paper ones and recycle them as your trash bags at home. You’ll be surprised how grand plastic you don’t need. When shopping and buying just a few items, re-use shopping bags or go without. Some figures note that most plastic shopping bags take between 400 and 1000 years to biodegrade, and are the cause of some 100,000 marine animal deaths per year. (www.natural-environment.com)
3. Exercise Tupperware instead of Ziploc bags. Make your motto re-use before recycle.
4. Use cloth napkins, not paper ones. Relatively inexpensive, a set of cloth napkins will last you and your family years. Getting rid of one-time-use paper napkins is an easy way to shorten your eco footprint.
5. Don’t buy “cleaning wipes.” This disinfecting throw-away wipes are easily replaced with a sponge and a sink full of anti-bacterial cleaning solution. Personally, I find these wipes just dull lazy.
6. Utilize energy efficient light bulbs. They last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs and are about 4 times more efficient, and if you get them on sale are the same price as the old ones.
7. Recycle- everything. Places are now taking batteries, obsolete appliances, tvs, clothes, rubber, pretty much anything you’d throw on the curb. Impartial a speedy google and bus ride to make sure odd items and appliances are re-used and recycled properly. A fantastic website has sprung into popularity called www.freecycle.com, a place where you list everything you don’t need anymore for others to pick up and re-use. It’s free, and has everything from old plastic bottles to household furniture. It’s like Craigslist, but free.
8. Ban water bottles. Not only is bottled water manufactured with lower regulations than tap water, but the effect on the environment is catastrophic. Nearly 90 percent of water bottles are never recycled, ending up in landfills for hundreds of years before biodegrading. (www.treehugger.com) Tap water is often safer to drink and it’s free. For those of you who just can’t handle the taste, water filtration systems like BRITA are fairly inexpensive to buy.
9. Use newspaper to clean glass around the home. This is a trick I learned from a window-cleaner. Windex and newspaper leaves windows streak-free and bright, lessening your paper towel usage.
10. Use less water. Take shorter showers, turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth, and wash dishes by hand instead of using a dishwasher.
While these things may seem like not a big deal, doing them every day can make a positive impact on our environment. If everybody in the world make a conscious effort to change small habits in their lives, just imagine what a greener world it would be.
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Filed under Whole House Water Filter Cartridges by on Sep 21st, 2010.
- Don’t start with fish that are too advanced for you.
- Make sure you have the time and effort to care for your fish tank.
- Have fun and be creative!
If you are new at tropical fish there’s no need to worry; all you simply have to do is follow these few steps:
Step 1
Retract the type of fish tank you would like. Do you want a single species tank? Maybe you would like a community tank. Read on to see the differences between these types of tanks.
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Single species tank: Single specie aquariums, as you may have guessed, are aquariums that house only one specie of fish. Single specie tanks are usually made up of fish that are not compatible with other types of fish. You can make a single species tank out of any fish specie you would like.
Community tanks: Community tanks are the most common tropical tanks. With a mixture of fish that are compatible with each other, a community tank would construct the perfect touch for any home. Community tanks are not only shapely to look at but are also easiest to care for out of the group of freshwater tanks.
Step 2
Now it’s time to pick your aquarium. The type of aquarium you get mainly depends on the fish you’ll be purchasing. The general rule for determining tank size is “one gallon of water per one inch of fish.” Say you get a fish that’s five inches in length; you would need to house it in a minimum of a 5-gallon tank.
Step 3
This is the fun part! It’s time to determine your décor. All you need to know while picking out your décor is:
1- Give the fish plants to hide in.
2- Make sure the fish have a place in the tank to call their own.
3- Don’t fill the tank too full of décor and plants or your fish won’t have enough room to swim, leading to stress and illness.
4- Have fun and be creative.
Step 4
Resolve where to station your tank. You can keep it virtually anywhere in your house so long as it’s not directly in front of a window, which will lead to algae growth in your tank.
Step 5
You need to choose the kind of plants that would be best for you. Plants approach in both plastic (made for fish safety) and real aquatic plants. If you are fixated on your plants looking real then you could still go with fake plants, there’s a wide variety of plastic plants out now.
Real plants can be hard to take care of (depending on the type that you gain.) Some aquatic plants take special medication and fertilizers to keep them alive. There are ups and downs to keeping real plants.
Ups: Real plants are beautiful and provided plenty of oxygen in the water for your fish.
Downs: Exact plants take special nutrients to sustain them alive, thus costing more money and more time.
Plastic plants require nothing in terms of care, and they still give your tank that perfect touch. Plastics, as do the real, require some sort of gravel to anchor them down. Do not fuss over what type of gravel you would need for a real or plastic plant to hold them down, it doesn’t matter.
Step 6
You need a compose of filtration. There are a couple different filtration systems to choose from, the waterfall filter and the underground filter.
Waterfall filtration: waterfall filters are electronic filtration systems that hook onto the back of the tank. It purifies the water in your tank by sucking the water into a tube, running it through a specially made filter, and then pushing it back out through a sponge, thus creating a little waterfall that leads back to the tank. It requires that you change the main filter once every 2 months. You do not need any air pumps if you have this filtration system.
Underground filtration: Underground filters are a little less time consuming. Undergrounds are a piece of wavy plastic that you place at the base of your tank before adding gravel. It has a couple small pipes (depending on the size of your aquarium) that stick about 1” above the gravel. You must have an air pump and install it along with the filter. Underground filtration sucks all the kill into the pipes at the bottom of the tank and traps it underneath the gravel. This is not an electronic device.
Step 7
Now it’s time to set up your tank:
1: Station the tank in its designated area. Remember to keep it out of direct sunlight.
2: Invent sure you tank is placed securely on its stand.
3: Add your heater, filtration systems, and air pump(s).
4: Dump your gravel into the tanks bottom.
5: Start anchoring your plants in position. Produce sure you have them where you want the layout to be.
6: Begin placing other décor in place: driftwood, rocks, etc.
7: If you have any above-ground air pumps such as: bubble rocks, bubble wands, or any other décor used for air supply, now is the time to add it.
8: Place a bowl, face up, in the bottom of your tank, before adding water. Use a water pitcher or water hose to add the water to your tank. Pore the water into the bowl and allow it to wander over into the tank, doing this will prevent your gravel, plants, and/or décor from dispersing and spreading from its designated area.
9: Remove the bowl from the tank after the tank is about ¾ of the way paunchy. You can continue filling the tank after the bowl has been removed.
10: Your tank should be ready for all electronic devices to be plugged in.
11: If you’re using a hood for you tank hold off on putting it on until your fish are applied.
12: Leave your fish in their pet store bags, do NOT open the bags! With the fish still in their bags dwelling them into the tank and allow them to float for about 15 minutes. This changes the water in the bag to be the same temp. as in the tank.
13: You can release the fish after the 15 minutes are over. Don’t be alarmed if they sink to the bottom at first (they’re only getting used to their new surroundings) they will return back to normal in a few minutes.
14: You shouldn’t feed your new fish for 24 hours after you bring them home.
Good luck with your new freshwater aquarium!
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Filed under Whole House Water Filter Cartridges by on Sep 15th, 2010.