Alejandro Ruiz - The Brothers Bloom

3 Reasons Why Your Heating System Isn’t Performing Up to Spec

If you’ve ever felt like your heating system isn’t keeping up with the demands of the season, you aren’t alone. Many Americans report underperforming HVAC systems each year. If you live in your home long enough, it is almost a guarantee that this will happen. While it might be a common issue, however, it doesn’t make it less frustrating. It’s important to remember that your heating system comprises complex equipment, and there are several potential causes for your issues.

The best way to mitigate many heating system issues is through routine maintenance and care. Regular maintenance performed by a professional technician will ensure that your system runs at peak efficiency all winter long. Inside your system are complex pieces of equipment that work together to provide warm air throughout your home. If any parts of your equipment are compromised, it could mean uncomfortable temperatures inside of your home.

During normal use, general wear and tear can take a toll on the function of your heat pump or furnace. As a result, you could experience system inefficiencies and underperforming equipment. If you believe that your system is struggling to keep up during the cold weather, it could mean that you require repairs or even replacement. Let’s take a look at why your heating system isn’t performing up to spec.

1. Inefficient Equipment

One of the major reasons why your heat pump or furnace might not be performing well is system inefficiencies. Depending on where you live, harsh winter conditions could place heavy demands on your equipment. Over time, your system will experience small leaks, cracks, and a build-up of dirt, dust, and other substances. Most of these issues won’t lead to system failure. However, if they are left unresolved, they could cause your equipment to work harder. As your system has to work to overcome the issues slowing it down, you might notice that your home is struggling to maintain a consistent temperature. Regular maintenance can help resolve any issues that may cause efficiency issues.

2. Aging System

As a general rule, your furnace should last around 20 years. Routine maintenance and care can extend the lifespan of your system by several years, however. Even with regular service, your system will experience issues as it continues to age. As the system gets older, it will begin to succumb to wear and tear and will require repairs and more frequent service. Older systems are less efficient and struggle to keep up with the demands of outdoor temperatures. A professional HVAC system technician can help to diagnose your older system and provide solutions for repair or replacement.

3. Ductwork Issues

Occasionally, an underperforming heat pump or furnace isn’t the result of faulty equipment. In some instances, your ductwork could be the cause of inconsistent heating. Similar to heating systems, ductwork also has a lifespan of 15-20 years. As the duct materials age, they can become cracked or damaged and allow air to leak out. If your heat is leaking through the ductwork, it isn’t making its way into your home.

Additionally, many homeowners don’t realize that older ductwork can accumulate pounds of dust, dirt, and allergens. As your ventilation system becomes clogged, it will be difficult for warm air to circulate throughout your home. A trained technician will be able to inspect your ductwork and provide cleaning services to help improve your heating.

Other problems with things like your thermostat, air filters, or blower could also be the cause of an underperforming system. If you feel like your heating system is struggling to combat the outdoor temperatures, you should get a trained technician to do a complete check of your equipment. In many cases, your system might only require a tune-up or cleaning to get it back in working order.

The Common Health Implications of Poor Air Quality

It’s easy to ignore indoor air quality, but you might be surprised to learn what a significant impact it can have on both your health and your quality of life. While some of the effects can be minor, significant air pollution can result in health conditions that can even cause death. Maintaining clean air in your home is necessary for any homeowner who cares about the health and wellness of their household. If you’re concerned about the quality of the air you’re breathing, keep reading to learn more about the common health implications of poor air quality.

What are the health implications of poor air quality?

Making sure the air in your home is healthy to breathe should be one of your highest priorities as a homeowner. The negative impact of poor air quality on your health ranges from irritating to potentially fatal. Common pollutants and irritants can be found in unclean air, which can cause symptoms like headaches, nausea, inflammation, and dizziness. They can also trigger anyone with allergies or asthma.

Prolonged exposure to polluted or contaminated air can put you at risk for several medical conditions and diseases, including cardiovascular disease and lung cancer. Contaminated air can also cause you to be more susceptible to infections of any kind. Studies have shown that both short-term and long-term exposure to air pollution can even lead to premature death.

Pets can also experience negative side effects from polluted air. Recent studies have confirmed respiratory illness linked to poor air quality in dogs and demonstrated that it can negatively impact their brains. Cats have similar issues, and some cats even suffer asthma linked to pollution.

How can you improve the air quality in your home?

Fortunately, there are a number of indoor air quality solutions for your home. First, you should make sure your HVAC system is in good working order. Many homeowners neglect regular maintenance on their heating and air conditioning systems, but it’s important if you want clean air at home. Have it serviced at least once annually and change the filter every 90 days. If you notice that the air in your home isn’t being filtered properly, call a technician and have them take a look at your system as soon as you can.

You may also need to manage the effects of poor air quality. If you notice that your skin is suffering as a result of poor air quality, you may want to consider investing in some quality plant based skincare. Redness and dry skin will need some moisture to look and feel healthy again. Harsh chemicals and artificial fragrances can put even more stress on sensitive skin. Skincare brands that use natural products with natural ingredients are a better alternative, especially if you choose products that contain essential vitamins and nutrients.

It’s hard to overstate the importance of the quality of the air we breathe. Maintaining clean air at home as best as you can is essential for any homeowner. If you live in an area where air quality is an issue, you may want to invest in personal care products that can help mitigate the effects of pollution on your body. Natural skincare products are one great way to take better care of yourself, but you should also invest in over-the-counter medications that can address issues like headaches and nausea that may recur. Finding the source of the air pollution should be your first priority. While you may not be able to do anything about the air quality outdoors, you can often take steps to maintain a clean and healthy environment in your home.

Benefits of Performing Routine HVAC Maintenance

Your HVAC system is one of the most critical components of your home. Your heating and cooling system impact the health and comfort of everyone living in the house. From hot summer days to cold winter nights, your system is the workhorse of your home that meets the temperature demands of every season. Many homeowners fail to invest in regular maintenance, even considering the HVAC system’s important role in the house. Just like your car, however, your HVAC unit requires routine service to stay operable and efficient.

Your car requires an oil change and a tune-up after a certain amount of mile to continue working. Over the course of a normal year, your HVAC system can rack up a good number of service hours. Similar to your car, you’ll want to have a technician perform preventative maintenance to clean your equipment and address any issues. Let take a look at some benefits of routine maintenance performed on your HVAC.

Improved Efficiency

As seasons change, so do the demands placed on your HVAC system. Your energy bills will also fluctuate with changing heating and cooling requirements. However, if you notice that your utility bills are higher than usual, it could mean that your HVAC system isn’t performing at peak efficiency. Over time, your equipment could experience dirt and dust buildup, small leaks, and loose connections. While these issues won’t prevent your system from functioning, it could require that it work harder to circulate air throughout your home. When your system expends more energy to heat and cool your house, your energy bills will increase.

Annual maintenance performed by an HVAC technician can help restore your system’s energy efficiency. Seasonal check-ups will include a thorough cleaning and inspection of the entire system. An HVAC professional will also perform a tune-up on your equipment to address any issues that might be slowing your system down.

Fewer Problems

An HVAC system usually malfunctions when it has been pushed to the limits during the heating or cooling season. When the system breaks down, homeowners can be left with some costly repairs. Regular maintenance, however, can help to identify and correct potential problems before they become larger issues. Cooling and heating equipment are pretty durable and will operate even when there small issues. If left unresolved, however, these problems to serious complications and malfunctions. When you have HVAC maintenance done, the technician will ensure that small problems don’t become larger ones.

Safer Equipment

Regular system checks can help prevent the need for costly repairs. Additionally, you will also be able to identify potentially hazardous issues that could cause safety problems. As an example, carbon monoxide leaks often go undetected as it is odorless. There are serious health consequences that come with unresolved carbon monoxide leaks, however. Regular maintenance can catch many safety issues that might pose a threat to your family and home.

Extended Furnace Life

The average HVAC system should last around 20 years. Regular maintenance can help extend the life of your unit by up to 30 percent, however. Routine tune-ups can address minor problems that could take a toll on your unit’s health and service life. Additionally, routine maintenance will improve the system’s efficiency and keep it in working order. Regular service will help prevent major malfunctions and premature system failure.

Season changes require that your house maintain certain temperatures. Similar to having your car serviced before a long trip, you’ll want to get your HVAC equipment prior to the rigors of summer or winter. Regular HVAC maintenance will ensure that your system is safe and runs at maximum efficiency throughout the year.

How To Rent Out Your House and Buy Another

Many people sell their house to buy a new house. However, if you can afford to buy a new house without selling your current house, you can make significant long-term income by renting out your old house. The thought of this may be overwhelming if you’ve never rented out a house before. However, once you learn how to business works, it can make a high, mostly passive income. Here is a quick guide for how to rent out your house when you buy a new one.

1. Buy your new house.

It will be significantly easier to prepare your house for rent if you aren’t living there. So your first step will be to buy your new house and move into it. When packing and getting ready to move, think carefully about what you take and what you leave behind. For example, houses rent faster when they come with appliances. You may consider leaving your appliances behind and buying new ones. Take time to consider the light fixtures, curtains, and window air conditioners if the house doesn’t have an air conditioner. It would help if you also kept in mind that tenants could destroy anything you leave in the house, so you don’t want to leave anything you have a personal attachment to.

2. Utilize moving services.

495movers.com provides services for the day of the move. You will have a lot on your mind, so getting professional help will aid in the transition. Since you aren’t selling the old house, you may be tempted to drag out the move by leaving the stuff you don’t need right away, or you aren’t sure about it in the old house. Doing this will only prolong your ability to rent out the house. If you need to, rent a storage facility during the relocation process. The moving company can move things to your new house and the storage facility, so you don’t have to worry about it. Professional movers can move your entire home in a day. On the morning of the move, you will need to direct the movers on what goes where in the new home and the storage facility.

3. Prepare your old house.

Once all of your stuff is out of the house, you need to prepare it for rent. If it is an older home and does not have central air conditioning, you’ll want to consider the investment because it will make your house highly more attractive to potential renters, and you can charge more. A ductless AC or a ductless mini-split can provide a central system without the need for ductwork. A ductless mini-split system can incorporate your air conditioner and your heat pump for a fraction of the long-term costs of a traditional HVAC system.

In addition to the air conditioning, you want to look for other small changes you can make to make the house more appealing to potential renters. This may include fencing in the yard or fixing the driveway. You also need to clean the entire house thoroughly. It should be spotless when potential tenants tour it. This may mean getting the carpets professionally cleaned or replaced.

4. Get a contract and follow it.

A lease is a contract between the tenant and the property owner that specifies their legal agreement. The lease will include information like the rent amount, due date, and how it needs to be paid. It will also include rules regarding pets, lawn maintenance, changes to the structure, and grounds for terminating the lease. You must spell everything out in the lease. Do not trust anything to a verbal or handshake agreement.

5 Reasons Why Your Kitchen Is the Heart of Your Home

Home is where the heart is, right? Sure, that’s true, but it’s also so much more than that—especially these days. Home is also where we’ve been working, playing, attending classes, and everything else for the last year and a half. You’d be forgiven if you were a little bit tired of the look of your home at this point—many homeowners feel that way.

Still, there’s a way to keep your home a haven and to make it feel that way for all your family members. How do you ask? The answer is simple: Kitchen design and regular maintenance on appliances. It’s as simple as that. The quickest way into anyone’s heart is through their stomach, which is why the kitchen is often the focal point of a home. Here are five reasons why the kitchen should be the heart and focal point of your home, and how you can boost your comfort levels in just a few easy steps.

1. Your kitchen is where you eat together.

No matter what the world throws at you, you can always sit together around a table and enjoy one another’s company. Gathering around a table to enjoy a meal is a simple way to take the average family and bring them closer together. Whatever the challenges of daily life, in the long run, you’ll remember the time spent around the table and so will the rest of your family.

2. Your kitchen is where you start your days.

That first cup of coffee is one of the fixtures of your schedule you probably don’t want to compromise on, and for good reason. The focal point of a kitchen is often the backsplash by the countertop or the kitchen table, both of which are where you may be enjoying that first cup of java juice. Word to the wise—by making sure that your backsplash or the cabinets where you keep your coffeemaker are prettier than average (maybe by adding some tile with a pop of color or some natural stone), you’ll make the beginning of your day more delightful as well.

3. Your kitchen is where you gather yourself after a long day.

Similar to that first cup of coffee, putting your feet up after a long day and enjoying the cool air from your air conditioner (or the heat from your heating system) is what any homeowner deserves. The kitchen is where that happens as well. Of course, none of that reading can happen if your air conditioner is on the fritz, which is where the regular maintenance of appliances comes in.

AC repairs or replacement will go a long way towards ridding your kitchen, pantry, and surrounding areas of unusual odors and even mold! If you really want to enjoy the heart of your home, have an HVAC professional with years of experience come by and inspect your AC unit on a regular basis.

4. Your kitchen is where you cook for those you love.

Taking something out of the pantry and crafting a home-cooked meal for your family members is an act of love. Setting a pie on one of the shelves to cool as your partner or kids tell you stories about their day is something truly special that can’t be replaced. The kitchen is where those memories get made as well.

5. Your kitchen is where you find peace of mind.

Whatever amount of time you spend in the kitchen, however, many noises are bustling around you, whichever challenge you’re facing on a particular day—there is a sense of control that comes from spending time in the kitchen. This is one reason why it’s common for homeowners to spend a lot of money on making their kitchen stand out and feel comfortable. Afterward, when they’re standing by the kitchen island and cooking, it’s easier to take a deep breath and feel better about everything that’s going on.

3 Key Renovations for Homeowners

There are many reasons to consider a home improvement or renovation project. Aside from the fun of adding some modern beauty and convenience into the household, homeowners can use renovation projects to increase the home’s safety measures and overall value. In fact, a well-planned renovation should be undertaken as a wise investment.

If you’re a homeowner thinking about tackling some home renovations, consider weighing project options that have multiple benefits. While adding some luxury, your renovation project could also increase the household’s property value and lower your monthly energy bills. Here, we will look at just three key renovations for homeowners that can go a long way in increasing comfort, curb appeal, and the value of your home.

1. Energy Efficiency and Style

Over the past decade, more attention has been directed towards a home’s carbon footprint, making modern homeowners more aware of their household’s energy consumption. Aside from being environmentally responsible, taking a greener approach to daily living comes with some practical benefits. For example, not only will responsible consumption result in lower energy bills, but tax credits are available to homeowners who opt for energy-efficient appliances and equipment. With that in mind, some of the most important renovations for homeowners to consider make responsible energy consumption a priority. Households furnished with energy-efficient fixtures and hardware are especially attractive to many prospective homebuyers. In an effort to increase a home’s value, if you ever decide to put your home on the market, potential buyers view energy efficiency as a major selling point.

If you decide to make energy efficiency your goal, there’s a cost-effective way to revamp your home’s individual rooms one at a time. The best way to tackle this approach is to research some of the modern energy-efficient housewares and fixtures on the market. Ideally, the kitchens and bathrooms are excellent starting points. New appliance models are not only geared towards a greener lifestyle but are modern, minimalist, and stylish in design. An upgrade of your kitchen’s refrigerator, dishwasher, and faucet taps for newer models approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will lower your utility bills. As a savvy homeowner, you can use those energy savings to finance any new construction needed for larger home remodeling goals.

2. Indoor Air Quality and Energy Loss

New construction doesn’t need to be focused on cosmetic style or visual appeal. A successful remodel project can boost home value and safety through infrastructural upgrades. Consider your air conditioner and heating system. An air system is not only responsible for keeping your family comfortable, but also for providing healthy indoor air quality. For example, swapping out dirty air filters for clean ones will remove allergens and debris from your household’s oxygen supply. Additionally, clean filters and ductwork boost energy efficiency thanks to cleaner airflow.

Consider upgrading your traditional HVAC system for an energy-efficient ductless system. A ductless mini-split provides many benefits, especially when it comes to year-round comfort and utility savings. For those unfamiliar, a ductless unit is able to replace both the traditional HVAC system’s air conditioner and heater with only a single machine. An outdoor compressor funnels outside air into an indoor unit, known as the system’s air handler. There, the air is either cooled or heated according to your thermostat settings. If you opt for a zone system, the ductless unit can uniquely provide comfort to different areas of your home in real-time. Aside from convenience, a ductless mini-split system can save a lot of money on your energy bills.

3. Affordable Additions and Interior Design

Some home renovation projects can give you convenience now and increase your home value later. While budget may be an issue, there are pragmatic ways of selecting existing areas of your living space that benefit from home improvement and more functionality. The less construction, the better. If you’re a small business owner and have dreamed of creating a home office, keep in mind this is a worthwhile investment. Potential buyers often find rooms designated to work-from-home convenience attractive, and you can always apply your energy-efficient interior design to your remote workflow.

5 Ways Horticultural Therapy Benefits Mental Health

Have you heard of horticultural therapy? As a relatively unknown treatment option, it’s likely not a type of therapy you understand very well. Nevertheless, this particular therapy has many benefits that can help patients with anxiety disorders, PTSD, panic disorders, and other mental health conditions.

By using plants and the act of gardening, a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist can help participants reduce the impact of conditions from phobias to social anxiety disorder and everything in between. You might even find some physical health benefits as an additional bonus outcome.

1. Decreasing Your Stress

Of course, the mental health benefits of horticultural therapy are the main event, so to speak. Time spent in nature generally has an array of emotional benefits but, when used as a purposeful therapeutic intervention, you’ll find that the time you spend in the garden or greenhouse is especially impactful.

You might even decide to build a greenhouse or flower bed of your own at home to bring those same positive feelings with you once treatment ends! The benefits of time spent outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine are plentiful and a greenhouse is no exception—whether it’s the vitamin D or the physical motion of gardening, you’re sure to see emotional benefits from time spent in the greenhouse for horticultural therapy.

2. Adding to Other Treatments

Like conventional psychotherapy for anxiety, major depression, or other mental health problems, one particular perk of horticultural therapy is that your treatment plan won’t have to be crafted around each component and potential interactions—there are very few instances where gardening would interfere with an antidepressant or other aspect of your treatment. Whether you’re utilizing psychotherapy to treat panic disorder or medication to relieve PTSD, you can add horticultural therapy to your medical without additional concern.

3. Caregiving Opportunities

In their daily life, many people who suffer from mental or emotional conditions (or, for that matter, physical ailments) feel like a burden on their loved ones who must care for them. Through horticultural therapy, that dynamic is turned on its head. In gardening, the therapy recipient is responsible for taking care of the plants in their greenhouse or flower bed.

While participants know, on some level, that this treatment is meant to help them, the recipient of horticultural therapy can also learn to care for another being. Even if that’s only a plant, it’s enough of a duty to make an impact. This responsibility can help those with suicidal ideation as well—because their plant needs their care, they have a reason to get out of bed each morning.

4. Social Connection

Whether you’re dealing with social anxiety, agoraphobia, or another condition, self-isolation is a significant symptom for many people seeking psychotherapy or alternative treatments. In horticultural therapy, you’ll often work with a group—at the very least, you’ll meet with your therapist and others on your way to and from your session. By offering social exposure, horticultural therapy can offer an especially effective treatment of anxiety or other conditions that manifest through social withdrawal and similar symptoms.

5. Physical Benefits

As a type of physical activity, it should come as no surprise that gardening—and, more specifically, horticultural therapy—comes with physical benefits as well as mental. In addition to offering a bit of exercise, horticultural therapy has been associated with lower heart rate, blood pressure, and overall stress. Regardless of your mental state, those benefits are sure to be enticing.

Used in conjunction with psychotherapy or as a primary form of treatment, horticultural therapy is being used by an increasing number of mental health professionals in treating anxiety and other conditions. From a chance for social connection and an opportunity to care for a living thing to mental and physical health effects, the benefits of horticultural therapy are plentiful. You can even begin to implement the concept in your own greenhouse at home!

Why You Should Purchase a Whole-Home Dehumidifier

Every home has different humidity levels. The moisture in the area varies by region, by home type, and even by the number of trees planted in the yard. Unfortunately, homes in some areas are prone to high humidity levels more than others.

If you live in an area where the air is moist and heavy, you may want to invest in a whole-house dehumidifier. Learn more about dehumidifiers and what they mean for your air quality.

What is a whole-house dehumidifier?

A whole-home dehumidifier pulls moisture from throughout your house, reducing the humidity levels so you can feel more comfortable. The dehumidifier works by filtering air and cooling it, creating condensation. The condensation drips down into a pan or through a series of pipes that push the water out of your house. The dehumidifier then releases the drier air back into your home.

Most people set up their dehumidifiers in their crawl spaces. The system will collect pints of moisture and then pump it out of the house through a hose. Many homeowners don’t even hear or see their dehumidifier throughout the day. You can also control the humidity in your home with a thermostat, just like your HVAC system.

You have the option of investing in portable dehumidifiers if you have a small space. However, a whole-house dehumidifier is made to remove moisture from the entire home, not just from one or two rooms.

A whole-house dehumidifier can reduce allergens.

While a dehumidifier works to remove excess humidity from your space, you may find that your whole-house dehumidifier has other benefits for you and your family. Allergens like dust mites and pollen travel through the thick air. They can float through your home and trigger allergies in vulnerable family members. If you currently do everything in your power to keep your home clean but are still sensitive to dust mites and allergies, then you might have a bigger issue than cleanliness. You may need to adjust your humidity.

Additionally, mold and mildew thrive in excess moisture. If you notice musty odors coming from various corners of your home, your humidity levels could be the culprit. Not only can mold growth ruin your furniture and eat your walls, but it can also worsen asthma symptoms in those who have trouble breathing. Investing in dry air means choosing healthy air as a homeowner.

Even if you don’t have a mold problem now, humidity in the air can cause it to grow in only a few days. This is why most people in areas of high humidity need a dehumidifier.

Your HVAC system can’t handle the work alone.

Most people think their air conditioner will take care of the humidity levels on its own. While HVAC systems can remove some moisture, it’s hard to set dedicated relative humidity levels within your unit. Plus, if you live in a humid climate, your air conditioner might not be able to pull out pints of water from the air each day. You can wear your air conditioner down and eventually cause it to break prematurely.

The only way to take control of your indoor humidity and moisture levels is with a whole house dehumidifier, which can create dry air that keeps you comfortable. The initial cost of a dehumidifier is worth it when it extends the life of your HVAC system and makes your whole house feel comfortable.

A portable dehumidifier or HVAC system can remove some water from the air, but it can’t eliminate the pints of moisture you have throughout your whole house. A dehumidifier is the preferred method to control your relative humidity and ensure your home has dry air.

How Architects Design Religious Buildings

Architects are some of the most creative professionals in modern industry. They quite literally design the landscapes of our cities and towns. This can come with a set of challenges and a need for creative problem-solving. Whether they are designing a new look for homeowners or building a skyscraper in NYC, architects have to research and commit to the specific needs of the building they are designing. Each new project is going to bring about the need for creativity and present a fun challenge.

One area that is constantly benefiting from new buildings and designs is different religious organizations. As different religions grow and expand, you need a place to house those new congregations. This is a prime example of how architects can work with specific organizations to design something wonderful. Designing a house of God is no easy task. There is a lot of symbolism and tradition that goes into a new church, synagogue, or mosque. A good architect will respect that in every aspect of the function and design. But with the right professional, you can bring new life to a new building with the perfect design and décor for your religious organization.

Get inspiration from other religious buildings.

Many architects gain inspiration from other buildings or work they’ve done before. Great firms like Boulder architecture in Colorado make a point of collaborating and transcending different styles. They pull from different designs and elements of each custom home to find a modern look for your church or religious building. Studying past designs and traditional architecture will help your team create a great look that fits your specific desires.

Communicate with the religious leaders.

Whenever you require architectural services, you want to communicate closely with the designer responsible for your project. They may have specific questions for the religious leaders within your organization as they begin the design. If the architect isn’t familiar with the religion, they may ask about certain rooms or spaces they may not realize. Religious buildings will often require a large sanctuary space, offices, fellowship areas, and more. By communicating these needs with the architect, religious leaders can make sure everything is in place how it is supposed to be for that denomination.

Create a welcome, inviting space.

A religious space is meant to be welcoming and a great way to encourage meaningful relationships. Architects have to keep this in mind as they are designing a religious building. From creating open hallways and community spaces to offering affordable ways to make your kitchen look chic and elegant, they will have plenty of ideas to create durable, affordable options so that your interior design will be welcoming and inviting.

Make room for the specific needs of a religious building.

Architects have to consider the big picture of a building, but also the little details. When designing a religious building, they will be conscious of each religion’s specific needs for their house of worship. For example, a Catholic church will need separate spaces for confession and an area to store Communion supplies. You’ll need to think about curtains and drawers and the texture of different interior design elements. You’ll need a space to dispose of the body of Christ after the communion set has been blessed during service. These are the little details that make an architect great.

Keep with tradition when needed.

Some religious buildings are based on a tremendous amount of tradition. They require steeples or need to be a certain shape. It can help to go with an architect who has a background in these areas and understands the importance of honoring each specific religion they design for.

How to Know When to Invest in Furnace Repair

As a homeowner, you want all of your appliances to work as efficiently as possible to save on your monthly bills. The HVAC system works hard throughout the year to keep your home cool and warm with the seasons. When your heating unit isn’t performing at its best, it becomes less efficient and more expensive to run. There are plenty of DIY maintenance tasks you can do for your heater that will save you money on hiring technicians. There are some signs of a malfunctioning furnace that are worth investing in professional repairs.

Why is routine maintenance important?

Never wait until the last minute to maintain your HVAC system. Running a clean, well-adjusted heating system is the best way to keep your home comfortable, save money on electricity, and prolong the life of your heater. You should clean your heating unit annually before cold autumn weather sets in. Failing to keep your heater clean could not only cause it to wear out sooner, but it could pump carbon monoxide into your home. You can do several heater cleaning tasks yourself, but it never hurts to have an HVAC professional do a thorough cleaning and inspection.

While you can save a pretty penny doing your own heater repairs, it’s important to understand the furnace repair requires expertise for many reasons. Mediagistic explains why it pays to work with technicians who have years of experience handling emergency repairs and breakdowns on heating systems. You can quickly fail at your repair attempt if you make the wrong assessment or purchase the wrong parts.

You could nullify your HVAC system’s warranty if repair work isn’t done by licensed service technicians, or make the problem worse. When dealing with a ventilation issue, you cause a carbon monoxide leak if you don’t know what you’re doing. Potential home buyers will want proof that your HVAC system has been maintained. Not having certification of work by professional HVAC contractors could make selling your house difficult.

DIY furnace repair options.

Homeowners often panic when their heating unit won’t turn on. It’s common for a tripped breaker or flipped switch to cause your unit not to turn on. Rather than immediately shopping for a new furnace, simply check the power source. It’s important to check the air filter annually and ensure it’s clean. A dirty air filter restricts airflow and causes the heater to work harder and overheat. Your unit may fail to run if it keeps overheating due to a dirty air filter. You can either clean dirty air filters or replace them if they are worse for wear.

Common signs that it’s best to call a professional.

There are several signs that it’s time to call in an HVAC contractor to assess your furnace and make the necessary repairs. When something in your heating system causes it to cut off before running a full heating cycle, this could be a sign that the fan motor is dying or the heat sensor needs cleaning. If you notice the burner flame color of your gas-powered furnace to be yellow in color, you need to hire an expert. This color indicates that you have a dirty burner and the gas isn’t burning off completely. When your furnace isn’t heating to its potential, it’s possible that carbon monoxide isn’t being vented properly.

Leaks from the roof or plumbing lines can cause your flue lines to rust and corrode. You need a properly functioning flue system to vent the high levels of carbon monoxide produced by a gas furnace. If you notice a huge spike in your monthly utility bills, this could be a sign that your heater isn’t performing well. Professional technicians can assess the performance of your unit and pinpoint what repairs will keep it in peak condition.

Before investing in a company, it’s a smart idea to get a full view of a company’s earnings, operating expenses, debt ratio, interest obligations, and other financial information that serves as an indicator of a company’s investment worth. The times’ interest earned ratio (TIE ratio), or the interest coverage ratio, is a calculation that serves as a measure of a company’s ability to meet its debt obligations. A higher ratio indicates a company’s ability to pay off its interest expense.

Mers In Biz explains how to calculate times interest earned ratio by looking at a company’s earnings before taxes and divide it by the interest expense. You can think of the TIE ratio as a solvency ratio. A high ratio maintained for a long-term basis indicates consistent earnings to cover all current interest expenses.

Keeping up with regular maintenance and repairs is the best way to help your heater perform at its best.

4 Tips for an Easy Move to a New State

The year 2020 brought with it many surprising developments or the United States economy and the lifestyles of many Americans. With the COVID-19 pandemic ushering in a new age of working from home, homeowners are considering packing up their belongings and moving to a state they’d never lived in before. Maybe you’ve always had a thing for the Pacific Northwest or the Florida Keys, but your big-city East Coast job kept you in the Tri-state area. Well, no longer.

Now, if you want to make Oregon your new home, you can. Sure, you’ll need to do some research into Oregon charter schools instead of public schools for your kids, but there’s nothing else keeping you from the greenery of the Oregon forests. So, what do you need to keep in mind to move to a new state? Let’s look at four great things to be mindful of as you gear up to find a new home.

1. Find reliable general contractors in your new region.

Buying a new home often entails a certain amount of renovations, and that’s true wherever you’re moving to. It’s a good idea to head to your new area and scope out the home before moving in. That’s a great way to clarify any renovations that need doing, like work on the exterior or laying new tile floors, and get them done by reliable general contractors before you move. To find a contractor you can trust to do a remodel while you keep tabs from afar, use the web, and read plenty of reviews. Also, if you know someone in the city or town you’re moving to, consider asking them to be a point person for your remodel team to speak to.

2. Find out if your new home comes with appliances.

While it’s common practice to rent a home with appliances, that’s not always the case for a new home. That being said, some sellers are willing to sell their used appliances or fixtures for a discount simply because it saves them the trouble and cost of moving a refrigerator or dishwasher. If you don’t want to move the appliances from your current home clear across the country, ask your realtor about this option.

3. It’s a good idea to think about the weather, too.

If this is your first home in the State of Oregon or any other state, you may not be prepared for the weather conditions you’ll be encountering. For example, when you think about the Sunshine State, you may not be thinking about hurricanes, but hurricane season is a real (and dangerous!) fixture of Floridian’s life. Read up on home renovation tips for Florida homeowners and ensure that any home renovation projects include provisions for extreme weather, like floods and hurricanes. You should also make sure that your homeowner’s insurance includes coverage for damage caused by hurricanes or floods.

Virtual schools still need to be good schools.

If you have kids who you’re moving to a new city, keep them in mind when you’re thinking about buying a new home. There’s a difference between charter schools, public schools, and public charter schools. Even if your kids have been attending virtual schools for a year now, they should still be included in any conversations about choosing frameworks for their education. After all, they’ll be the ones sitting in front of a Chromebook and doing the actual schoolwork.

Wherever you’re moving to, the best way to find a new house is to do your research and keep the conversation about this new era an open one. Remember, this is a grand adventure, so even if you experience some hiccups on the way, it’s all part of the journey.

How Important Is Your Home’s Air Quality?

The short answer is extremely. The long answer entails explanations about things like the overall breathability in your home, what kinds of pollutants could be inside, the health risks of unclean air, and even how easily you can sell your home when the time comes. We’re generally aware of the importance of the air quality outside, and most people try not to pollute it too much for fear of choking on smog when they leave the house. However, your indoor environment is just as important, if not more so if you’re a person who rarely leaves the house. This is a situation we all find ourselves in thanks to current COVID guidelines.

Here are just a few reasons why it’s important to maintain good indoor air quality and some things you can do if you find that yours is lacking.

Breathability

Who wants to have breathing troubles anywhere, let alone their own home? It’s possible that you could have poor indoor air without even knowing it. If you find that you commonly cough inside, your air may be tainted with contaminants like dust, pollen, or other allergens. Such things can make it difficult to breathe indoors. They can build up from various factors such as not cleaning out your air filter, tracking pollen inside, or even your HVAC system pulling in contaminants from the outside.

Professional HVAC installation and maintenance are crucial for the maximum breathability to your indoor environment. Poor ventilation helps contaminants build-up, and high temperatures and humidity contribute greatly as well. This means that you should be particularly careful during the summer months to ensure that your air conditioning unit is working properly, and you may even want to invest in a dehumidifier to combat mold and moisture-related contaminants.

Health Issues

Having poor indoor air quality doesn’t just make it harder to breathe; it creates plenty of health risks as well. The pollution of outside air can have long-term health consequences as drastic as the lungs’ rapid aging and an increased risk for lung cancer. There are also many health implications of poor indoor air, and hidden pollutants are all over.

One of the more surprising culprits of indoor pollution is the toaster, which emits a high volume of harmful particles every time it’s in use. Cleaning supplies, which are meant to help remove contaminants, can also negatively affect indoor air quality. Even painting the wall, a new color can have adverse effects. Naturally, things like tobacco smoke only exacerbate the situation even further.

Health effects of poor indoor air include frequent headaches, nausea, respiratory infections, higher susceptibility to viruses, dizziness, irritation of asthma, and more. If you’re looking for ways to purify your air beyond making sure your systems are in working order (be sure the regularly check your carbon monoxide alarm as well), you can be more judicious about your indoor activities and purchase some indoor plants to help clear the air of carbon dioxide and provide more oxygen.

House Selling

Naturally, having unfriendly odors in your home is one of the easiest ways to chase away buyers. Sellers need to be aware of. However, that air quality isn’t just about odors, and some prospective buyers may be able to tell when the air is polluted. Maintaining pure indoor air is one of the best ways to speed up the process of selling your home since it removes any complaints about air, and it’s likely to improve the interior design of your home on top of that.

For example, a home with greenery is often more attractive to buyers, and your real estate agent will thank you for embracing it. If you focus on giving your vents enough space and removing dust and other contaminants from the air, your house will naturally become tidier as well.

Your home’s air quality is crucial to your overall enjoyment of the home, and it continues to be important even after you decide to move out as well.