January 1st, 2009 — Book Review, Handy Man
Ever sat up half the night worried about what the heck was making that noise? Need quick help in figuring out what is wrong with your home? This book from Ortho isn’t the newest one on the market, but that doesn’t make it any less important. In fact, if you have only one home improvement book in your library, this may be the one to buy.
The first section covers home safety and features some life saving tips on fires, and emergencies that can crop up in the home. The section on diagnosing odors is vital for anyone to read. Next up, the book moves into fixing common interior problems. Everything from the ceiling down to the floor is covered, and covered well. The authors excel at giving advice that is easy to understand and implement. This is an area where a lot of DIY books fall down and we were very pleased that they did such a good job with this.
Windows and Doors are next, followed by common exterior problems. Virtually anything that could go wrong with either topic is covered. We really enjoyed the section on plumbing problems since this is an area that costs home owners a fortune. For example, you’ll learn the difference between what causes a leaking sink and a running sink – as well as how to fix either one. Since plumbers are so expensive, this section is absolutely vital.
Solving electrical problems was a fascinating chapter and covered once again, life saving tips. While we don’t recommend that anyone without experience fix their home’s electrical system, this chapter will help you figure out what is wrong and help you locate someone that can get it fixed for you.
Last but not least, the section on mechanical problems was incredible. From fixing your stove, to handling strange refrigerator noises and balancing your washing machine, you’ll get plenty of tips on how to do it all. Heating and cooling systems are also covered in this chapter, as well as some great tips on home humidifiers. At the end, you’ll find a very helpful glossary of all the terms discussed in the book.
Overall, we are huge fans of this book. It is truly essential reading, even if you don’t have anything wrong with your home – yet. Chances are, over time, something is going to go wrong. With this book, you’ll have everything you need to know to fix it yourself and save money. We can’t say enough nice things about this book and highly recommend it to anyone interested in home repair and especially to new homeowners that are just getting started.
The project tips and diagnostic advice make the book more than worth the cover price. This is the perfect housewarming gift, and chances are, you’ll end up buying it for more than just one person. It’s really that good and one of the best home improvement books we have ever seen. Highly recommended!
Originally posted 2008-09-05 05:38:51. Republished by Old Post Promoter
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December 29th, 2008 — Energy, Handy Man, appliances
Given the world concern over energy efficiency, there are little steps that you can take to ensure that you are doing your part to minimize your energy use. The biggest source of energy drains in the home are your appliances, so it will improve things a lot to make sure your appliances are energy efficient.
The first step is to determine how energy efficient your appliances are. Examine the major electrical devices in every room and write down a list of the big devices. This include the refrigerator, washer, dryer, television, your iron or any device that creates a lot of heat or an AC unit. Once you have identified every appliance in your home, examine them to determine their age. Older appliances, especially those older than 4 or 5 years, were not created with energy efficiency in mind. Note those appliances as such and consider the cost to replace them if they are continuously on, such as for a refrigerator, or if they are only used intermittently like a heater, consider other alternatives to their use.
You should also take the time to identify those items which are continuously drawing power. The refrigerator can be the single most wasteful energy sink in the kitchen. In the living room and office, the television and computer can still be drawing a significant amount of power if they are in standby, especially newer flat panel televisions. If there is a light on, then the device is still drawing power. Make note of these devices as well on your list.
Once you identified the more obvious energy hogs, take the time to identify the less obvious by reading the labeling on the device. Energy Star devices, and most other devices produced in the past decade, come labeled with their power ratings, typically in watts. Watts is a measure of the electrical energy used by the device, so the lower the rating, the better. Record the wattage of all of the devices which you can easily identify.
At this point, you have gathered all of the information which can be gathered right away. There is more you can do to measure the energy usage of your products, however. That is to use a energy meter device which sits between the appliance and the wall socket. This device will measure in exact terms the wattage and energy use of an appliance. Use this device on all appliances for which you do not know the exact wattage for. Most devices are better measured over a week or so of normal use, since the meters will average the results over the time period of use. Take these numbers down as well.
Now that you have identified the major energy usages around the home, what can you do to lower the electric bill? While there are countless ideas out there, there are a couple simple things you can do. Continuous duty items, such as the refrigerator, can be adjusted to use less power by setting the thermostats to a little warmer that the absolute maximum (making sure the fridge is still below 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the freeze below 32 degrees). Devices which are intermittent in use, such as a television or computer, should be plugged into a power strip or surge protector. Not only will these devices protect your electronics, but when your electronics are not in use, you can switch the surge protector to ensure that they are not drawing electricity. When it comes time and the money is available, take you list and replace your appliances with ones with lower energy. It doesn’t need to be difficult to make your home more energy efficient.
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December 6th, 2008 — Cheap Alternative, Dishwasher, Handy Man, Kitchen, Refresh, Refrigerator, Repair
If you’re stuck with some aging appliances and replacing them isn’t in your budget, there are a few tricks that you can use to give them a facelift and make them more energy efficient, on the cheap. For this article, we’re going to focus on refreshing your refrigerator and dishwasher, but these tips will work for just about any large appliance you have in your home.
Let’s start with the refrigerator. Chances are it could use a top to bottom scrubbing and a defrost if it’s an older model. Completely remove all the food and scrub the entire surface inside and out with a good cleaner that’s safe to use around food. Get into every nook and cranny until it’s sparkling. If you’ve got a common refrigerator, you may be able to find replacement shelves that will make it easier to store your food. Before you shut those doors though, there are two more steps you’re going to need to take.
Grab an old toothbrush and dunk it in your cleaner. Locate the rubber gasket on the inside of the door and get scrubbing. It’s most likely pretty gunky unless you’ve been cleaning it on a regular basis. If your refrigerator is old, you should replace the gasket. This will make your appliance more efficient. These gaskets can be found at any hardware store. Measure the old one or take a section in to help make it easier to find the replacement. Replace both gaskets and shut the door.
Scrub the outside of the doors until they are sparkling clean. Now, you’ve got an option. You can leave it as is, or you can try a technique that will make it look like you’ve spent a couple thousand dollars on a new appliance. Get some stainless steel contact paper – yes, contact paper, and carefully apply it to your door. You’re going to want to make sure that there are no broken or crooked edges. Completely coat the appliance with the contact paper, smoothing out any bubbles as you go. When you’re done, your refrigerator will look fantastic. It’s important to find contact paper that’s meant for this type of use. You can usually find it in most home improvement stores or online.
Now, let’s move onto to the dishwasher. Repeat the same processes above, making sure that it is completely cleaned out. You can also add the same contact paper to this appliance so that you have a uniform look for your appliances. You may need to replace the gasket on the dishwasher if it is old and worn out. These wear out pretty quickly since the area inside is so hot and humid. Again, you’ll be saving money on energy costs by taking the time to install a new gasket.
Make sure that you follow the proper care instructions for your newly contact-papered appliances. Most come with special instructions, but you can use a damp cloth with dish soap to clean it. Make sure that the cloth is not too wet.
Your kitchen should now look brand new and you’ve only spent a few hours and a couple dollars!
Photo Credits: 1, 2
Read more tips and advice on home cleaning at Merry Maids.
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December 1st, 2008 — Dishwasher, Fix, Handy Man, Kitchen, Refrigerator, Repair, Replace
When it comes to major household appliances, they are a large investment that is needed to function. Major brands of refrigerators can cost thousands, and unless you never eat in or have anything that is refrigerated, then you need a refrigerator. When a household appliance does break down, then you are left with the decision to repair or replace.
The good news is, if the appliance is less than a decade old, parts may be very easy to find. Once a new part is found, then it is up to the owner of the old machine to repair the appliance, which however will likely be an easy fix. The internet is a storehouse for businesses that supply original equipment manufacturer pieces (OEMs).
Many times, these websites will post a photo inventory, of hundreds of thousands of replacement parts for all major name brand appliances of all varieties. These sites will typically post instructions on how to repair the appliances with the parts, so it becomes a matter of being able to take apart an appliance and be able to put it back together again.
Very frequently, the repair is something really simple, such as a blown fuse or broken motor belt. These appliances are usually designed such that when they should fail, it is a relatively cheap part that is easy to replace, as opposed to a very expensive part.
To begin repairs, one must know what part needs to be replaced. Thankfully, the same sites that provide replacement parts also provide instructions and guides to diagnose the problem and learn how to fix it. These guides are usually setup in a question based format, for example it could read “If the light will not come on, check the door. If the door is broken, then you will need…” Not every problem is listed, so if you are having difficulties in figuring out what may be wrong, then you can email one of the many experts that the site will have. These individuals will be able to help you quickly figure out what you need.
If you know what part needs replacement, another good source is a junk yard that receives discarded appliances. Going to the junk yard, you can look for a discarded appliance that is the same model as yours. Should this little scavenger hunt succeed, then you can pull the part you need from the discarded appliance. Even more beneficial is that you can also pull out other parts to have on hand in case you should ever need them. Easy to replace parts, such as motor belts, fuses, wheels, knobs, and so forth are especially good to grab to have on hand.
So when you find that an appliance of yours has failed and you are faced with either fixing it or repairing it, then know that the cheaper route, that is more environmentally friendly, is to repair your appliance. Through websites specializing in replacement parts to junk yards where you can benefit from other’s discarded bits, you will be able to find what you need to avoid a $1000 to $2000 replacement.
Photo Credit: 1
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November 17th, 2008 — Aesthetics, Create, Design, Handy Man, Kitchen, Workflow
If you’re thinking about remodeling your kitchen, this is the perfect time to address any problems that you may have with the current design. Not all kitchens are made to be useful and it’s all too common to get stuck with a design that forces you to walk all over the place just to cook dinner. You may also find that there are some elements of your kitchen that just make life a little more difficult than it should be. Instead of replicating these issues with your new kitchen, it’s time to figure out what you can do to make your life easier and your kitchen even better.
Let’s start out with the most basic design principle that is present in all well designed kitchens. Most have what is called The Triangle. This means that should be able to draw a triangle from the stove to the sink to the refrigerator. This makes your workflow a lot easier and cuts down on the amount of time spent walking back and forth. Most kitchens utilize this design principle to some degree, even if it’s a galley or a large space.
It’s best to plan out your new kitchen on paper first so that you can get an idea of where you want to place everything. Try out variations of The Triangle on paper to see what you can come up with. It should be pretty easy to place these three items and then build out the rest of your kitchen from there. Even if you’re working with a center island, this principle is still quite effective.
Now, let’s fill in the rest of your kitchen. If you plan on having a dishwasher, you’re going to want to put it right next to the sink. It sounds like a given, but you would be surprised by how many kitchens have a dishwasher that is too far away. Next, you’ll want to decide where you want to put your cupboards for your dishes. Most people prefer to place them above the dishwasher to make it easier to put everything away.
Let’s move onto the cupboards that you’re going to use for your pots and pans. Again, it’s best to place these close to the stove to make it easier to find what you need. If you’re going to have your stove in a center island, make sure that the island will have plenty of cupboard space. It’s also a good idea to include some drawers for utensils.
The pantry or food cupboards should be located in between the refrigerator and the stove. This makes it easier to grab what you need quickly, on your way back and forth. No matter how big your kitchen may be, when you’re using The Triangle, you’ll be able to cook more effectively.
On a related note, it’s also a good idea to consider how much counter space you’re going to need. You really cannot have too much space, so try to add as much as possible near your sink, near the stove and near the refrigerator to make food prep a lot easier.
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