Archive for the ‘House Cleaner’ Category
Avoid Premature Heat Exchanger Failure With Your Furnace
Just as you may have noticed that your automobile runs more smoothly after a fresh new oil change, the same principle works for your furnace, when it comes to a new or clean furnace filter. The main component for both hot water and forced air heating units is called a heat exchanger. The purpose of this nifty component is to take the heat that is produced by burning fuel in your furnace, and to transfer it into the water or air so that it can be distributed through the entire house. The heat exchanger is traditionally concealed from view in hot water heating systems, and is only occasionally visible in forced air systems.
If you look at a modern forced-air gasoline-powered furnace, here is everything that you will find. First, you will find a solid-state furnace control, which has a fan assembly and is visible in the power rear of the furnace. Next, you will find a draft inducer, which provides fan-forced exhaust. Third, you will find both an igniter, and a flame sensor, because your furnace is actually running on firepower. Next, you will find the gas valve and manifold, along with gas burners. On the outside of all of this you will have the heat exchanger, followed by furnace filters or other air filters. Keep in mind, several aspects of this concept will vary based on the model of furnace that you use, though some things will remain the same, including the igniter, the furnace filter and the heat exchanger.
Learn more about keeping your air filters clean by visiting http://www.home-air-care.com/furnace.htm.
The thing that makes heat exchangers malfunction or inoperative in general is the development of a hole, crack or warping that allows hot water to escape, or combustion exhaust to escape into the home’s interior air. Heat exchangers do eventually crack or warp over time simply because of the constant heating and cooling that the system experiences throughout the year. However, most heat exchangers can last a significant amount of time, often past their predicted life span depending on whether or not conditions are ideal. Regular cleaning and maintenance of the furnace do play a large part in determining the life expectancy of a heat exchanger, as well as the environment that exists around the furnace unit. Get more information on how to winterize your home with clean furnace filters at http://www.appraisalmatters.com/WinterizeYourHome.
Another heavy contributor to whether or not heat exchangers live out their lifespan properly is reduced airflow, which comes as a result of dirty furnace filters, dirty fan blades, obstructed air vents and dirty duct work. All of these factors contribute to wear on the fan motors, which can significantly reduce the efficiency of the furnace, prematurely burning out the heat exchanger as well. Both fuel-fired and forced-air furnace types are prone to overheating in response to airflow obstructions. Most modern furnaces are built in a way that allows them to shut down if temperatures become unreasonably high based on a dirty or overused furnace filter. However, if the internal temperature elevation caused by dirt and debris is only moderate, the furnace may not switch off but the heat may still be enough to cause metal fatigue to the head exchanger, which can cause serious issues down along the line. Get more informative tips on how to keep your furnace filters clean by checking out http://www.creativehomemaking.com/cleaning/furnace-air-filters.shtml.
The best way to protect yourself from premature burn out of the heat exchanger in your furnace is to have an annual inspection and a monthly cleaning of your furnace filters. The exam, which should be conducted by a licensed mechanic, should be relatively inexpensive while affording you a great deal of peace of mind. Another useful innovation is the carbon monoxide or CO detector, which is an easy and inexpensive way to protect yourself against exhaust leaks from your furnace.
Make Your House Cleaner with Cleaner Air
It is very important to have clean air in your home. Not a lot of people know this, but air can get stale if it stays in the same area for a long time. This can cause people to feel nauseous or even get sick. Because of extremely well insulated and sealed homes this has become more of a problem in recent years than it used to be. It is important to get clean fresh air into your home every once in a while.
In order to to keep yourself healthy and happy, it is necessary to let your house aerate. Otherwise, dirty air and volatile organic compounds will make you sick and tired, and it can even cause asthma attacks and allergic reactions. Materials like paint, chemical cleaners, and cigarettes release volatile organic compounds into your home, so it is best to avoid these or ventilate your house regularly so that your house will be full of fresh air.
The first thing you need to do to aerate your home is to look at the air circulation system with your heating and cooling systems. Replace the filters as frequently as directed and check whether your system is energy efficient and modern. It should provide you with good circulation of the air. Air purifying machines are great for cleaning the air too, as well as removing odors from pets and cooking. They can be rather expensive for the entire house so some people using them only for their bedrooms or other rooms they spend the most time in.
There are also other options that you have to aerate your home. You can just open up all of your windows and let the air in. This should be on a day where there isn’t a lot of traffic or pollen outside of your house, or any other factors to trigger an air quality warning. Also, if the weather isn’t too cold, you can turn off your heater. This will allow the air to circulate naturally because of the exchange of hot and cold air. Leave it like this for an hour or two, and then after that turn the heater back on. Try not to cook anything or use anything that emits heat during this time to make the most of aerating your home.
While you are aerating your house, you can also clean out all of the dust that has been accumulating. Turn off the heat, the fire in the fireplace, and close off any flues. Open the windows in the room and turn on the fan so you can clean it out. After you’re done, turn everything off and proceed to the next room. Remember to shut the windows as well.
After you’ve aired out your home, it should feel nice and fresh. You’ll find yourself feeling healthier because of the clean air and you’ll be glad that you cleaned out your home and aerated it. It will feel as though you have taken the fresh air of the outside world into your home, and you can enjoy it all you want.
Homemade Floor Cleaner: 7 Simple Solutions From Stuff You Already Have
There is no need to purchase a floor cleaner at the store. Whatever you’re cleaning needs, you can find products around the house to make a homemade cleaner that will effectively clean different parts of your home.
Many people like the idea of mixing their own homemade floor cleaner. In addition to saving money, many people like the idea of using natural products to clean, rather than toxic chemicals that can harm your health and damage the eco system. There are many different ways to mix every day products to make different cleaners.
General Purpose Floor Cleaners
If you want to make a basic floor cleaner that can be used in your bare floor cleaning machine, mix 1/3 cup of Borax with one gallon of warm water. Add one teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent and a tablespoon of ammonia. This solution makes a fine floor cleaning product that will not only remove tough stains, but will disinfect your kitchen and bathroom floors.
To clean your wood floors, go to the pantry and mix ? cup of white vinegar and ? cup of vegetable oil. This natural solution will make your wood floors shine like new. The vinegar acts to remove stains and the oil helps to maintain the luster of the wood.
If you have Pergo floors, you can mix 1/3 cup of white vinegar, 1/3 cup rubbing alcohol, 1/3 cup water and three drop of dishwashing liquid to make a fantastic floor cleaner. This solution can also be used in your bare floor cleaner, or with a mop.
To clean a linoleum floor, mix one tablespoon of liquid soap, a quarter cup of baking soda to two gallons of hot water. Add ? cup of white vinegar to the mix and you have an excellent linoleum floor cleaner. This solution also works very well on tile floors.
Scented Floor Cleaners
To make a nicely scented, homemade floor cleaner, mix 1/3 cup of white vinegar to two gallons of hot water and add drops of orange essential oil or lemon essential oil to the mix. Essential oils can be found in craft shops where candle supplies are found. Even if you do not have the oils, the vinegar and water makes a great cleaner and costs a fraction of what a store bought floor cleaner costs.
Disinfectant Floor Cleaners
To disinfect a floor, use ? cup of borax to two gallons of hot water. Borax can be found in your supermarket next to the laundry detergents and is a powder. A large box of Borax can go a long way in developing many different cleaning products. The Borax solution does not have to be rinsed after applied. It will disinfect any floor, even the bathroom.
Chrome Cleaner
Toothpaste, for example, makes a great chrome cleaner, as does crumpled up aluminum foil. White vinegar is, by itself, one of the best glass cleaners available.
Dusting
You can also use re-used dryer sheets in place of magnetic cloths, such as “Swiffer” cloths. Dryer sheets are also great for dusting, particularly television screens.
A Warning About Bleach and Ammonia
If you are mixing your own floor cleaners, never mix ammonia and bleach, as the fumes are toxic.
Once you have made a homemade floor cleaner, you will probably want to try to make other cleaning products. You may even enjoy using some every day products in ways to clean your home.
wilhelm at bestfloorcleaning.com