General Article

Air ducts are under the hood of most heating and air systems these days. Keeping that area clean is helpful to avoid dust, pollen, or other particles getting into your HVAC system. It also means keeping the evaporator coil on the inside of your home’s ventilation hood clean so it can work more efficiently.

A dirty A/C coil can make your system work harder and less efficiently, causing it to wear out faster. Here are some tips for keeping your air ducts clean.

Tip #1: Clean Your Dryer Vents

This one seems like a no-brainer since dryers push so much air through their vents. They should be inspected every year. Get your dryer vent hose cleaned if it has not been done in two years. You should also clean the lint tray at the bottom of the unit frequently, since that gets filled up with lint which should go into the air. That can trap heat inside and overheat your machine, causing it to wear out more quickly and possibly starting a fire.

Tip #2: Vacuum Out the Vent Hose on Your Furnace

Blowing your furnace’s vent hose off with compressed air is recommended. It’s also a good idea to remove the hose and clean it once or twice each year. Make sure you get all the leaves and other debris out of there.

You can also use a regular vacuum cleaner to get the inside of the vent hose clean, especially if it is metal. Be sure you get all the lint from around the sliding panels. If lint builds up in there, it will affect its ability to slide open and closed smoothly, wearing out the parts prematurely.

Tip #3: Inspect and Vacuum the Ducts in Your Home

You probably don’t want to put yourself on a ladder to clean out your ducts, but get someone else to do it with a vacuum cleaner hose if you can. If not, use a regular household vacuum cleaner and brush attachment to get the dust bunnies out. A small, handheld vacuum cleaner with a crevice tool can also work well in this situation, but it’s best to find a brush attachment that you can use for this job.

If you do not have a brush attachment on your regular vacuum cleaner, there are special tools made just for cleaning air ducts. You can get these at your local hardware or big-box home improvement store. These are very sturdy and come with a brush on one end and a flat scraping tool on the other end. The brush will loosen debris while the scraper pulls it out of the ducts to be sucked into your vacuum cleaner.

Then just wipe down the inside of the ducts with a cloth to make sure they are completely clean.

Tip #4: Use Duct Cleaning Services

Once every two to five years, or more frequently if you have pets or smokers in your home, it may be necessary to hire a professional company to clean …

Is a Rectangle Dining Table Your Best Choice?

Once you have decided to buy table for your dining room, the shape you choose is of importance and will be greatly influenced by a variety of reasons. For starters, the shape of your dining room should come into play followed by the number of people you intend to sit at any given time. In this regard, rectangle dining table is ranked as the most popular one. This is ideally for the simple reason that most dining rooms are rectangle in shape.

The second reason that makes rectangle dining table the most preferred shape is the capability to seat a great number of people at any given time and what is more, in the event you get additional guests, it also comes in handy. The measurements for an ideal rectangle dining table for six people are 36 to 42 inches across though if your room is a bit narrow, it is advisable to opt for tables that fall below 36 inches. However, in such a case, you would have to set a sideboard for setting the food and as such, guests would have to serve their food before sitting down. All factors withstanding however, it is important to state that rectangle table is the most ideal choice for your dining room. Rectangle tables are one of the most common shape of tables, so it’s easy to find all kind of different models of rectangle tables made out of various materials. Most common material used is solid wood or wood in combination with glass top.

Another major choice you could opt for is a square dining table. However, unlike the rectangle table, it does not sit a large number of people and for this reason, is only suitable if you have a smaller sitting. The most ideal thing about this is the fact that it allows a more intimate sitting. Alternatively, if none of these shapes tickle your fancy, you could opt for a marble dining table. These come in varying types and as such, you can make your selection wisely. By weighing these facts and for these reasons, you can choose to buy between marble, square or rectangle dining table.…

You could be dealing with a bulge or a potbelly for many reasons. Pregnancy, food allergies, and health issues could cause your belly to bulge and stick out a little bit. You may have started your slimming routine already but still desire to do something more. These are examples of some clothing items you can wear to hide your situation until it improves:

Sweatpants and Bulk Items

One item you can use to cover up your potbelly is a sweatpants outfit. It will be great for keeping you warm in the wintertime, and it’ll also keep your cute little potbelly hidden.

Maxidresses

Maxidresses are another great idea. Maxidresses are super-long dresses that go all the way down to your shoes. They sometimes leave a generous amount of room for belly growth. You might want to visit a department store and try on a few maxidresses to see how they work with your stomach. Those dresses aren’t just for large women. In fact, some petite dresses are also considered maxidresses. The price ranges vary according to the manufacturer and the site where you purchase your dress. It’s entirely possible that you may find an affordable and well-fitting dress for yourself.

Strategically-Designed Shirts

Another idea is to search for strategically-designed shirts. Those are shirts that bulk out in the stomach area and tighten in the chest area to accent only the body parts you want to protrude. It may take you a while to find the right type of shirt for what you’re trying to achieve.

Consider taking some minutes out of your day to shop for clothing that caters to your potbelly. You can go to a physical location or visit a popular online site to find what you need. Be patient and only purchase items that you will feel 100 percent confident wearing anywhere.…

Dining Room Furniture – Choosing the Right Table and Chairs

Your dining room is a very important part of your life and having the right furniture in it is a real bonus. It is where you go to eat your meals and spend time with your friends and family. The right dining room ideas will make this room a place you’ll enjoy bringing your guests into.

Redoing the dining room is one of the things that a lot of people would like to do. As the place where you and your family meet you may also wish to create a place of comfort and style. One of the first things you need to consider is your budget. This will let you know how far you can take your project. It also helps to decide where you can pinch pennies and what you have to do.

You may want a new table and chairs or maybe your floor needs to be redone. Maybe you would like to make the room bigger decide if it would be in your budget to remove one of the walls. Make sure you understand the building codes and take caution of supporting the ceiling if you plan on removing a load bearing wall. When you have created the size of dining room you like you can go shopping for your furniture.

Choosing something that looks great may be nice, but if it is too small or uncomfortable your family is going to hate it. Choosing a set that fits with your home design is a plus when it come to the look of the room. A rustic pine set would look good in an old world style home. If you have a more modern home you could go with something a little trendier.

The shape of your table is also a concern. Round tables may look good, but if you have a small room it may not be practical. The next step is deciding what type of finish you want on your new dining set. Choose a chair style. Is it going to have a cushion or a high back? Maybe you would like the head of the table to have a chair with arm rests.

You may even like a bench. The choices are endless so be creative and choose something you would like. Even if you have a small dining room there are options. A small table against a wall is great for couples who don’t need more than a couple chairs. Finding these sets is quite easy with a simple online search or by visiting your local furniture store.

As with any purchase looking for quality is important. You want something that is made of a solid construction to with stand the test of a high use space like your dining room.…

Tuscan Dining Room Decor

Tuscan d?�cor is inspired by relationships between people, nature, time and color. In the dining room, Tuscan d?�cor brings about the essence of family living in a warm, lively setting. The fusion of its inspirations work together to create harmony, balance and a sense of ancient comfort. Here are a few guidelines of how to bring Tuscan d?�cor into your dining room d?�cor.

If you are renovating your dining room and have the option of changing the structure of the room, be sure to add deep terra cotta colored stone floors and balance them out with a high ceiling and wooden beams within the ceiling and walls. Plastered walls in these warm colors turn out to be very beautiful in Tuscan d?�cor and can also add texture. If you are not renovating, you can still add the plaster or wooden beams. However, you will still have the opportunity to bring some of these natural elements into your furnishings and accessories.

Start by picking a color palette. Tuscan d?�cor uses many of the colors found in nature such as gold, fig greens, sky blue, copper and rich reds. The most popular wall colors in Tuscan d?�cor are burnt Terra Cotta and gold. Other colors are usually used to accent the accessories in the room.

The furniture in that is used in Tuscan dining room d?�cor is primarily made from distressed wood that looks aged. These wooden, aged pieces are often combined with rust colored metals to complete the Tuscan feel. Shape of Tuscan tables may vary, but size is typically consistent and leans towards larger shapes so that you always have plenty of room for family and guests. Use ladder chairs to continue the old traditional look of Tuscan d?�cor.

Once you have selected your wall color and furniture, hang a beautiful tapestry on one of the walls. If you would prefer to not use a tapestry, try a nice nature painting instead.

You can bring texture and nature to the dining room table top as well. Spread a beautiful tablecloths over the table and add some linen napkins. If you prefer to show the wooden tabletop, use a runner on your table instead and set ceramic plates painted with a floral motif instead of china. A bowl of fruit, vase filled with sunflowers and a few candles are some additional, essential items when accessorizing a Tuscan tabletop. Finish your Tuscan dining room d?�cor by adding some plants in clay vases around the room.

Once you have finished working on your Tuscan dining room d?�cor, invite some friends and family over to enjoy some good food and red wine. You will have some memorable times in your Tuscan inspired dining room and will love the comfortable earthiness that this d?�cor style brings to your home.…

When you work in the same location every day, it’s easy to walk past certain features of the building, such as doors and walls, and not give them any attention. People rarely think about improving or maintaining these common surroundings.

One of these neglected features of a commercial building is the windows. Business owners might not give much thought to the maintenance of their windows. But there are benefits to maintaining your commercial windows by keeping them looking fresh and in good working order. Here are three reasons why you should invest more into the windows of your business.

1. It Looks More Professional

Clean, maintained windows look more professional. Windows are features of a commercial building that indirectly impact your business because they create a welcoming, productive appearance for your customers. If your windows are damaged or outdated, you should consider contacting a window replacement West Palm Beach company to install new ones.

2. It Increases Business

Better-looking windows increase your business by bringing in more traffic. Research shows that natural light brings a positive, inviting atmosphere to your business. This ultimately will bring more profit for your business.

3. It Protects Your Property

Damaged, unkept windows can cause other problems for your business, such as leaks. Leaks could spill onto floors and down walls on the propertym whichc could end up costing you thousands of dollars in repairs. Properly installed windows also keep unwanted intruders from gaining access to your location after hours. Be aware that preventative measures such as these should be put in place to protect your property.

Today, take a moment to walk through your business and address some of the other features that you might not normally think about, such as the windows, doors, floors and ceilings. These aspects of your business could be affecting your revenue or posing danger to your guests.…

Solid Oak Dining Tables Continue To Be Fit For A King

Oak dining tables have beauty and elegance and make a fine focal point to your dining room or it could be a kitchen diner. Solid oak furniture is both a practical and beautiful solution to all furniture needs. Oak wood is still used as it has for the past few centuries in furniture making, and over that period has found a place in Britain’s stately homes and castles and it has frequently been the choice of wood for those long banqueting tables giving enjoyment and hospitality to kings and queens, lords and ladies. But of course oak dining tables were also found in the everyday homes since the oak tree was such a widespread source of wood.

The calibre of oak wood ensures that it is an excellent resource which can be used for making tables and chairs, as well as other sorts of solid oak furniture which are used in homes and offices. But additionally oak furniture is durable and hard wearing and supplies a uniqueness and elegance that sets it apart from other varieties of wood employed for furniture making.

There exists a customer need for quality in dining tables but additionally there is undoubtedly a demand that they be at the very best value achievable. Oak dining room tables can meet this demand, for although they may well be more expensive than cheaply made furniture, but due to its durability it means the furniture provides value for money, since they will last a lot longer and sustain their beauty. Whilst furniture which is made with wooden veneer is very unlikely to last but a few years and is vulnerable to accidental damage.

There are many styles of dining tables, and your options are dependent on the space you have available, how many people in the household, and ultimately personal choice. The table selected should also match the d?�cor along with the other items of furniture in the room. If you are a small household and you do minimal entertaining then it is advisable to choose a small table to match, and there are some very nice circular tables that would satisfy this need.

On the other hand you can find oak dining tables available which can seat twelve people, and if you choose you wish to go even larger, you will be able to order especially designed furniture. There is also the alternative to select tables that are fitted with the ability to expand in size, in order to meet the varying needs of your family. So perhaps at Christmas when you may be entertaining friends and family the table size can be expanded to cope with the increased numbers. So long as you have got a few chairs in reserve it will be possible to cope comfortably. Spare chairs can easily be kept out of the way in the loft. In fact it is often more economic when purchasing the table to order the full …

Create A New Look: Change Your Dining Room Curtains

You can get to see assortments of dining room curtains in different elements and styles. You need to picture out the end result for you to be sure that you have chosen the correct items for your home. You can acquire various looks by just altering the dining room curtains and you may even decide to regularly change things to create different looks.

Change is always a part of interior designing. Some homeowners prefer an organized and relaxing look. Initially, things go well, but as time passes, they tend to forget the importance of changing things for once in a while to make a different ambiance. You can transform the complete look of the room by just changing your dining room curtains.

Formal occasions have always been part of our lives. It is a great honor to host an event and it needs certain preparations to do so. You can add luxurious and rich fabrics in your area without spending much money. The curtains will create a wonderful feel to your space.

A feel of warmth can be imparted to your guests or relatives if you select dining room curtains in deep burgundy with golden details. Great red tones stimulate the appetite so it is ideal to use for your kitchen area curtains. To create a more formal ambiance, go with golden hues.

The luxurious appearance is terrific during special holidays, but it can fade along as holiday comes to an end. We don’t really need a formal atmosphere in our dining room everyday. It is recommended that you buy a second option for your room. Combine various colors and elements to make your space look completely different than before.

You may want to consider selecting neutral or light toned materials with dark burgundy lining in exchange with your deep burgundy and gold curtains. You can use dining room curtains in off white with a pattern of roses sewn on it. You don’t need to modify the color theme of the room to use different sets of curtains at the kitchen area.

A fine way of dressing your area for various occasions is by selecting one or two dining room curtain sets according to your taste. This is an ideal method since it takes just a bit of time and less expenditure.…

When choosing a home remodeler there are a few simple steps that can make all the difference when it comes to completing this process. Maybe you are ready to put in a new bathtub, or maybe you are ready to go all out and give your entire home a new makeover. If you don’t want to complete the work on your own, or you just don’t have the time or skills to do it, hiring a contractor is the best route to go.

Get Referrals/Recommendations

The first step to finding a good home remodeler is to create a list of 10-15 local contractors in your area who are experienced. You can then narrow down your list gradually to the top home remodelers. You can then use that final list to select the contractor of your choice. It is best to include more names than you will need to help you come to a decision.

You can create this list by doing several things:

• Ask your family and friends who are homeowners for recommendations if they have recently had renovations completed.
• Do research online for the type of service you are looking for in your area.
• Check out reviews online.
• Take advantage of social media to ask your followers or friends for recommendations in your area.

Keep in mind that contractors who are successful and well-known will make it simple for you to communicate with them and see samples of their work. Look out for contractors who do not have basic information listed or even a website for you to check out with reviews, etc.

Compare Portfolios

Make sure that you select a home remodeler who specializes in the type of work you need to complete. For example, if you are looking to have your kitchen remodeled, a contractor who specializes in bathroom renovations may not be ideal for you. A contractor that has a good eye can also be helpful for particular projects. For example, if you are looking to have tile put down in your entryway with a detailed paint room, you want to find a contractor who does that type of work also.

Ask the contractors on your list for a portfolio of their completed projects from within the last year. They may have a website they can direct you to or a physical portfolio for you to view in person. An excellent portfolio should consist of at least ten different projects including before and after photos.

Ask for Licensing/Certification

If you have made it to this step, you should have a list of at least six to eight different contractors. An easy way to narrow it down, even more, is to ask for licensing and certification from each contractor. The type of certifications the contractor has depends on the type of project. Since every state has different legal requirements, you can contact the licensing division for your area to ask for certain requirements.

Additionally, you want to make sure that the contractors you have on …