Archive for ‘Home and Garden’

Help With Installing a Digital Programmable Thermostat

By , 6 December, 2010, No Comment

Before you buy a programmable thermostat you must make sure you know exactly what type of HVAC systems you have. Cheap programmable thermostats tend to have limited compatibility. Some of the best thermostats such as a  Honeywell digital thermostat, for people with 2 stage heating and 2 cooling or a heat pump with auxiliary heat are the Honeywell RTH7500D and the Honeywell RTH8500D 7 day programmable thermostats.

Once you have selected and bought a suitable programmable thermostat you will need to install it. Installation of a programmable thermostat is not a difficult procedure but it is imperative that you read the instruction manual first to make sure you know what you are doing.

Next, turn off the air-con, heater, fan etc. at the circuit breaker. You must make sure that all the HVAC systems are off otherwise you will give yourself a shock and possibly blow the transformer.

Then remove the front cover of the old thermostat and note down the anticipator setting. Then unscrew the old thermostat and gently remove to reveal the wires behind. They should be colored. There should be a red, yellow, white and green wire and they should be attached to terminals on the old thermostat labeled according to color. The red is sometimes labeled ‘RH’, ‘RL’ or ‘R’. If the wires are not colored then use the terminals on the old thermostat to adduce their color and use masking tape to identify the color of each wire.

Once you are satisfied you have got it right un-attach the wires and wrap them around pencils. Then you can remove the sub-base of the old thermostat and drill holes for the new sub-base. After that thread the wires through the new sub-base and attach them to the correct terminals on the new digital programmable thermostat. Use the color designations to help.

Then screw the new programmable thermostat to the wall and check the heat anticipator setting is the same as with the previous thermostat.

Finally put the cover on the Honeywell digital thermostat, switch the HVAC back on at the circuit breaker and press reset on your new programmable thermostat. You should now be ready to enter your programs for the week and start saving money.

Designer Propane Gas Fire Pits

By , 4 December, 2010, No Comment

Nothing makes a designer statement like a propane fire pit. Fire pits in general are beautiful pieces of art, but most require constant upkeep and maintenance. For example, fire pits which use wood can make a big mess after they burn through their fuel. The wood leaves behind a black mess which must be cleaned out. You will never have to deal with such nuisances when you select a propane fire pit. The reason for this is that these units do not employ wood logs, but instead use gas.  When you use propane, you can control your heat with precision.

To manufacture a gas fire pit, you must first start with a frame. The frame is made up of metal pieces which get welded securely. Then, the frame is given a coat of paint. Some units are designed to leave the metal in plain sight, while others are design to keep it hidden. The closed framed models are usually larger and are coated in cool looking materials. Rocks and ceramics are completely fire proof and can be glued to the exterior to create a certain style. The fuel tank is kept at a nearby location using a connection line.

New users of a gas fire pit may be wondering how these systems work. The gas is sent through the connection tube where it emerges from the steel burner. The gas is lit quickly and then adjusted as needed until the nearby occupants are comfortable. They have an operating range of several feet. The fire pits with the longest range are the ones with the highest BTU rating. Once your tank runs out, it is easy to refill it with more gas. If you have a home natural gas line and are serious about making a permanent fire pit, you can connect it to the house.

In Search of a Gazebo Canopy

By , 3 December, 2010, No Comment

Most homeowners purchase a gazebo and then find themselves in search of a gazebo canopy when theirs has worn out. It is fairly easy to find replacement parts for a canopy gazebo because they have canvas tops that come in standard sizes. Most companies that sell gazebos will also sell the canopy covers and replacements parts for their gazebos. If you find yourself unable to find an exact match, you can purchase a universal cover that will fit fairly well.

They will come in different colors, but most are white to match the frame of the original one. You are able to locate and even change the original color that you had so that you can have a gazebo that looks new and different. Many homeowners choose to have a green top because they feel that it matches the outdoors more so than does the white ones. If you are wanting your gazebo to be the focal point in your yard or garden then having a white one will do just fine for that purpose. There are companies that will sell many different colors other than these two.

Many crafters use the pop up gazebos for selling their products at craft shows and other events where protection from the outdoors is needed. Gazebos are great structures for keeping you safe from the rays of the sun and the direct heat from the sun. They will also provide protection from other elements, such as rain and sleet.

The wind is a factor that will have to be dealt with because it does cause havoc with gazebos that are not permanent and tied down in some ways. You can purchase many different items and accessories with your gazebo, initially, to prevent any damage from the wind, and items to keep out insects and unwanted pests.

Franke Granite Sinks – Elegant Bathroom And Kitchen Fixtures For Your Home

By , 1 December, 2010, No Comment

Franke granite sinks have long been in the market providing well-designed pieces for consumers with discriminating tastes. The sinks are bonded with high quality finishing ensuring that surfaces stay smooth for a very long time without worrying about color fading or changing. Here are some tips for choosing the right sink design to guarantee you get to have a sink model that best answers your specific requirements.

Settle for a bottom-mount assembly. The bottom-mount type, as what the name suggests, is one that is put in from underneath the counter. This assembly is a bit challenging to install as a precision cut or mould on the counter has to be done. This way, no extra counter space protrudes that could make cleaning difficult later on. If you will get this fixture, then make sure you have it installed by a plumber that has a vast installation experience with this type of sink assembly.

Decide whether to have a top-mount sink or not. This type has extended edges on all sides intended to perch on top of the counter where it will be installed on. This is much easier to assemble as precision cut or mould on the counter is not really a necessity. So if you are doing a DIY installation, then this might be a better choice for you.

Get a double sink setup. The double sink setup works best for a kitchen, workshop, or garage that requires utility sinks. Performing cleaning and washing tasks will be much easier without needing extra pails or basins since there are two sinks already provided.

Lastly, consider vessel granite sinks for your bathroom. Vessels sinks are those that are perched right above the countertop. These are the latest in the elegant sink fixtures from this manufacturer and they are indeed very pleasing to the eye. Opt for a full stainless steel vessel sink to complete your modern bathroom interior. The Franke granite vessel sink, on the other hand, will be an ideal setup for a classically designed bathroom.

How to Build Your Own Linen Cabinets

By , 23 November, 2010, No Comment

Having fresh towels and sheets after every bath is like a gift. A shower is the perfect end to a day full of stress from work. You can just lie on the tub and feel your stress drift away. Bathroom linen cabinets are a great way of making sure that you always have fresh towels on hand. If you are a little short of money or if you need just a small storage for your linens, we will teach you how to do it. Linen cabinets can be easily made especially if you have the right materials and someone to help you. Who says you have to pay that stiff price that most furniture shops are charging.

Building a linen cabinet can be a good way of exercise and this project can be the perfect after work or weekend idea. Just like with any other projects, safety first always.

The first thing you will have to do is to prepare the materials for your cabinet. You need to cut the pieces for your cabinet. Cut two pieces of plywood for the sides, which measure 1 ½ by 3 feet. For the top and bottom, it should measure 1 ½ by 2 feet. You also need to cut two 2 by 3foorpieces for the back and the door of the cabinet.  Most people want to have shelves for the cabinet. Each shelf should be 1 foot, 4 inches by 1 foot, 11 inches. Sand all the edges, apply wood stain and allow them to dry.

Place the top and bottom pieces on their edge with the sides down 3 feet apart. Lay the two side pieces in between to form the rectangular frame. Attach the frame together by driving the screw through them. After you are done with the frame, you can stand the cabinet up and install the shelves. Drive screws through the sides of the cabinet into the shelf.

Attach the hinges for the doors. Screw half of both hinges and ensure that the hinge portion faces the front side of the door. Screw the other half of the hinges to the cabinet. Screw a handle or a doorknob to the door and there you have it. You very own linen cabinet.

Rookie Football Cards Are Really Exciting To Have

By , 23 November, 2010, No Comment

Rookie football cards such as the Peyton Manning rookie card are known as the first appearances of different football players who are fresh comers in the football league. These types of collectible cards are really famous to football fans because these allow them to have a good set of information about the new players that they are excited to see in the fun game of football. These are really of great value especially for avid football card collectors. Each year a set of special football card editions are produced by major companies. These cards are basically intended to feature the best football players of the season.

If you love following the exciting game of football, you will surely love looking at rookie football cards for sale. Collecting sports cards is a really rewarding type of hobby especially if you get the chance to add a rookie football card to your collection. Having a special edition football card makes this hobby really special for ardent followers of sports card collection. This would be so since rookie football cards are considered as the most sought after and most highly valued types of football cards. This would be so since, as I have stated awhile ago, rookie football cards are regarded as the premiers of new players in the league. Other card collectors also refer to rookie football cards as the official card of a certain football play from a large manufacturer or company.

Because of the great value of rookie football cards, some collectors have considered the act of collecting these as a separate kind of hobby. A lot of people are really crazy about these things and we cannot blame them because rookie football cards are truly one of a kind for the eyes of a card collector. People collect rookie football cards for different purposes. Some do this for the purpose of getting important information about their idols. Others do collect rookie cards for the sole purpose of their novelty while some do so to earn money by through trades and card selling. Regardless of the purpose behind getting rookie football cards, the fun and excitement that they offer will never change.

The Audio Tower – An Essential Home Theater Component

By , 22 November, 2010, No Comment

When you plan on adding a home entertainment theater to your living space there are several things that you need to consider before doing so. There is a lot more to worry about than which brand of TV, DVD or speakers to buy; the type of furniture and the space that you have available as well as budget are also important factors to consider. Some people worry more about buying the latest brands and gadgets and never concern themselves about a suitable place to store/display such expensive equipment, opting to keep them on the floor and often piled upon one another. Not only is this dangerous; it is also damaging to the equipment.

Audio towers solve this problem. It’s rather debatable as to whether or not the audio tower is the most critical item in a home entertainment system, though I’m inclined to proclaim that it is. You see, the individual items have to be stored or displayed in an area where they will be almost free of dirt and other dust particles and they need space to breathe. Home entertainment equipment heats up while they are running and as such they need adequate ventilation or they will overheat. This is why stacking them on top of one another is a no-no. They must have an individual shelf per piece of equipment, ideally on an audio tower.

So audio towers have the ability to make your home entertainment work in perfect condition for longer as well as making them last longer. The towers also make the complete home entertainment system look neater and more professional rather than just thrown together. There are several styles of towers on the market and one of the most space-saving of these is the corner tower. So if wall space in lacking in your home then you can relax – corner towers make this a possibility. Just make sure that you buy your tower from a reputable store and that it is made of good quality materials. An audio cabinet is something that should see you through a number of years if looked after properly.

Good Garage Floor Paint Is A Bargain

By , 22 November, 2010, No Comment

If you are planning to do a project, I found out some time ago that you need to select the best materials you can get or you will simply have to redo it in a few short years.  This is particularly right if you are going to use a garage floor paint on your concrete floor.  I have a brother-in-law who constantly tries to economize when he does a project, and it just ends up costing him more in the long run.

An instance of this is when he chose to paint the floor of his garage after he nearly slipped and hit his head one day.  He examined all the home improvement magazines but he was not actually searching for the products that worked great and offered the highest life expectancy.  Rather, he was just in search of the lowest bid.  After a while he found a low-priced latex paint and went on to apply it to his floor.  In just a few months it had turned out to be absolutely useless and was already peeling up.

Do not opt for the cheap paint if you are planning to paint your floor with a non-skid paint but rather use a product that has been shown to last long.  For a decade or more, epoxy based floor paints have been acknowledged to be successful with usual wear and tear making it certainly the perfect option for a garage floor paint.  If you want an actually long-term outcome one thing that is vital for you to keep in mind is to correctly prepare the floor before you paint on the epoxy.  The covering will not stick if there are any oil stains or other contaminants, so you will have to eliminate these before painting.  This can be completed with a top quality degreaser and some elbow grease.

Examine the many great epoxy based products on the market if you desire an anti-slip floor product that is going to last long and offer you excellent safety.  You will not be disappointed in the end.

Fat Burning Foods and Your Body

By , 22 November, 2010, No Comment

With weight loss there is always talk of the latest and greatest in what you can eat.  Before jumping on the bandwagon with these fat burning foods, you must ask yourself whether the food addition is healthy, and how exactly it helps your body.  If you do this every time it will become easier to spot a product or product review with an agenda.  If someone is promising you insane results or if it sounds too good to be true, trust your instincts and dig deeper to find out exactly HOW this product will make you lose 20 pounds, or how it can melt an inch off your waistline, etc.

Got Milk?  One fat burning food that is backed by science is milk.  Here, it does not matter what kind of milk you are drinking.  If you are on a low carb diet, you can drink whole milk, and if you are the kind to count calories and milk every last calorie out of your day, you can drink fat free.  Milk is a great calcium source and studies show that people who had a good amount of calcium in their day lost nearly twice as much weight as those who did not.  Milk is also full of complex carbohydrates (versus the easily digested simple carbs) which lets your blood experience a gradual sugar/insulin response.  You want your sugar to remain flat because spikes and valleys spell hunger, cravings, and worse!

Drinking your milk daily is just one of the weight loss tips you can incorporate into your daily habits.  Whenever you hear about a revolutionary new product, be sure to ask yourself why and how to ensure a healthy outcome.  Not only is milk healthy, but it is also backed by research and makes sense to include in your diet program, what more can you ask for!

Metal Cabinet Plans To Use

By , 22 November, 2010, No Comment

There are a lot of different metal cabinet plans that can be used to construct cabinets for different rooms of the home. Adding on cabinets will help with organization and will give the home owner additional space to put things that may be in the way. Adding cabinets also helps to add to the looks of a particular room of the home where they are added. There are a lot of different options available if you are someone who wants to be able to build and install the cabinets yourself.

One thing that you will want to think about when you are looking at the plans that are available is the room that you are going to be putting the cabinets in. There are different styles available depending on the room that they are going to be used in. The ones that can be put in a garage will vary from the ones that are going to be put in a bedroom, kitchen, or any other room where you might need to add some cabinets. Another thing to think about is the tools that are needed to construct the cabinets that you are interested in building. There might be specialized tools needed that you will have to buy prior to starting the project.

If you look over the metal cabinet plans that you are going to use, then you will be able to get everything in place before starting. Make sure that you take the time to look through the supplies list to find out what all is going to be needed, and look at the tools list to make sure you have everything needed for the job. If you do these things then you will be able to build your own cabinets for any room that you might need them in, and have the pride of knowing that you were the one who put them together.

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