November is here with many parts of the country are already feeling the chill. This weekend, a nor’easter dropped up to 20 inches of snow in cities along the eastern seaboard – a reminder that winter is coming.
No matter where you live, though, the seasonal change in temperature throughout Cincinnati serves as an excellent reminder to reset the blades on your home’s ceiling fans.
Ceiling fans don’t warm or cool air, specifically. Instead, they circulate air which can have the effect of making a room feel warmer in the winter months, and cooler in the summer months.
When it’s cold outside, ceiling fans push warm air down from the ceiling, balancing the heat within a room. This can make a room feel 4-6 degrees warmer. Then, during warmer months, ceiling fans push a room’s cold air back into circulation, which creates a windchill effect, of sorts.
This, too, can change a room’s temperate 4-6 degrees.
The secret to a ceiling fan is in the rotation direction of its blades.
When fan blades rotate clockwise, the fan makes a room feel warmed
When fan blades rotate counter-clockwise, the fan make a room feel cooler.
If your home is without ceiling fans, consider installing one (or more). Ceiling fans are economical and “green”, using the equivalent energy of a 100-watt light bulb, while lowering your home’s energy costs.
Plus, they’re relatively simple to install.
Tutorial videos are available online for the do-it-yourselfers, or just call a qualified electrician for assistance.
When we move into a home, we make changes. Appliances get replaced, rooms get painted, and floors get refinished or recarpeted. It part of how we make a home “ours”.
One item we tend to skip, though, is the changing of the doorbell. In most Cincinnati homes, the existing doorbell is “good enough”.
Well, if you’ve ever had a mind to change your home’s hard-wired doorbell system, the good news is that changing your doorbell is a simple, do-it-yourself project. Whether you want chimes, songs, or the traditional ding-dong, all you need is a screwdriver, some tape, and the new doorbell system.
This 2-minute video from Lowe’s maps it out :
Cut the power to your doorbell from your circuit breaker
Unscrew the doorbell face plate
Replace the face plate with your new doorbell
Locate your in-home receiver and remove the chime system
Replace the chime system with your new system
The video also includes helpful tips such as how to use tape to prevent “losing” wires in your walls, and how to label your wires for faster re-wiring.
Changing a doorbell is a quick, 1-hour project. Use the video’s guidance to make you don’t miss a step.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, water heating can account for 25% of a home’s energy use. This is a substantial percentage, representing thousands of dollars per year in energy costs.
The good news is there are multiple ways to increase your home’s energy-efficiency with respect to heated water.
The Department of Energy provides a list.
Reduce hot water usage : Fix leaks, install low-flow fixtures, and use high-efficiency clothes washers and dishwashers.
Lower the hot water temperature : 120ºF is ideal. Each 10ºF drop in temperature saves up to 5% and slows corrosion.
Some of the above items are costly to implement, and others are inexpensive. Most can be handled without hiring a plumber, especially those items at the top of the list.
As a Cincinnati homeowner, take control. Apply these energy-saving, water-heating strategies and you’ll not only save money each month, but you’ll lengthen the useful life of your home’s appliances and plumbing.
Did you remember to handle the most basic safety precaution for your new home?
When people buy homes — in Cincinnati or wherever — , there’s a tendency to think “Big Picture” on home improvements. Flooring, painting and furniture are common “just-moved-in” purchases, as are cable television and utilities packages.
The most important move-in purchase, though, may also be the least expensive — deadbolts for your doors.
Every home has at least one — and sometimes up to dozen — keyed points of entry. And until you change those locks, there’s no telling just how many people may have access to your home.
For example, your home’s prior owners may have shared house keys with any/all of the following people :
Real estate agents
Neighbors and friends
Parents, brothers and sisters
Home cleaning service
Dog walkers and pet sitters
Those keys will still gain entry into your home until you change the locks. This is why your first act homeowner should be to replace all your home’s keyed entries with new locks and/or deadbolts.
Locks and deadbolts come in a variety of designs and finises, with varying price points. A basic single-cylinder, keyed deadbolt costs less than $15, and a powerful digital-entry, keyless system sells for $200-plus. There are a bevy of models at prices in between, too.
Regardless of which lock system you choose, don’t procrastinate on installation. Ideally, your locks should be changed on the same day of purchase, as close to closing’s completion as possible.
Hardware stores carry most deadbolt varieties and many can be installed with just a screwdriver. For complicated installations, talk to a locksmith.
It’s October and the fall season has officially started. For homeowners throughout Ohio and nationwide, the change of season is a well-timed, “preventative maintenance” reminder.
As temperatures cool, there are a handful of do-it-yourself projects you should undertake in order to keep your home in tip-top shape through the winter. This 4-minute piece from NBC’s The Today Show highlights just a few of them.
Calling it a “Fall Fix-Up Checklist”, The Today Show’s interview is fast-paced and wide-ranging. Some of the topics covered include :
Pick up all fallen leaves to limit damage to grass and “critter” invasions
Unclog gutters to protect windows and foundations
Turn off outside water sources and remove water from pipes and hoses
The home-tip video also shares how to find air leaks in your home, and how to fix them. Reducing air leaks can lower your home’s heating and cooling bills by thousands of dollars annually.
Although the highlighted projects are DIYs, you may feel more comfortable hiring a professional. Know your “handyman limits”, and remain safe at all times.
With the change of season, it’s a good time to make sure your home’s gutter system is clean and well-functioning.
Home gutters serve a specific purpose. By capturing and funneling rainwater away from a home “footprint” water damage to walls, windows and roofing can be minimized. A well-functioning gutter system can keep a home’s basement from flooding, and a foundation safe from long-term structural damage.
Damaged or dirty gutters can lead to major home damage that may not be covered by insurance.
For homeowners in Indian Hill , keeping clean gutters is essential. Luckily, with the right tools, gutter maintenance can be a do-it-yourself job.
First, gather the necessary tools. You’ll need a ladder for climbing; a bucket for holding debris; a hose for flushing your gutters; and a small, scooping tool such as a trowel.
Next, carefully climb to your gutter. Using your hands, scoop large debris and place it in the bucket. Use the trowel to get to hard-to-reach places and for removing sticks and leaves. For safety, do not stretch to reach the next section of gutter.
After clearing the first gutter portion, step down from the ladder, move it to the next section of gutter, and repeat. Do this until all gutter sections are free from debris.
Next, find a garden hose with a spray attachment. Carry the hose up the ladder with you to the highest point of your gutter system — usually opposite the downspout. With the water supply on, spray water into the gutter to flush the remaining debris.
If the water fails to drain, there’s likely a clog in the downspout. Using a screwdriver, separate the downspout, find the clog, and remove it. Or, if you find standing water, adjust the slope of your gutter by removing the gutter hangers, fixing the slope, and re-attaching the hangers.
A gutter system should slope roughly one-quarter inch for every 10 feet of gutter.
Gutter maintenance is a twice a year task that you can do yourself. However, if you’re uncomfortable on a ladder, or prefer to hire professionals, that’s okay, too. As with everything in home maintenance, it’s safety first.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a common class of airborne toxins known as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) is ruining indoor air quality, and causing some U.S. homeowners to become dizzy, asthmatic, and ill.
VOCs are gases emitted by certain, common household products, including paint and paint strippers, cleaning supplies, and copiers and printers — even when the aforementioned products aren’t in use. You can find VOCs “everywhere” because organic chemical compounds have become essential in everyday life.
VOCs are what give cars that “new car smell”. They’re also the cause of “Sick Building Syndrome“.
As a homeowner in Indian Hill , VOCs in your home can make you sick. Therefore, the EPA advises homeowners to take the following steps to reduce VOC levels in their respective homes and improve and home air quality.
When using VOC-emitting products such as paints and paint thinners, keep a well-ventilated home.
Avoid purchasing cleaning supplies or paint in bulk. Buy only what you need.
Never mix household cleansers. It may yield unintended results.
Throw out “dry cleaning bags” as soon as possible. Most dry cleaning makes use of harmful VOCs.
Do not burn tobacco products inside your home.
There are a half-dozen other recommendations, too. They’re listed on the EPA website.
You can’t remove VOCs from your home, but you can minimize their negative effects. And keep your household as healthy as possible.
Flooding is the top-ranked natural disaster in the United States, with a dozen potential causes ranging from heavy rains, tropical storms and hurricanes to new housing developments and rain after fire. Floods can occur in all 50 states and, when they do, they leave massive damage in their wake.
Flood damages exceed $2.7 billion annually.
As a homeowner, you carry homeowners insurance to protect against theft and loss. Typical homeowners insurance, however, excludes damages from flooding. Homeowners in Cincinnati , therefore, should make sure to have a separate flood insurance policy. And once that policy is in place, there are other steps you should follow, too.
First, make a log of your possessions, either on paper or by video. In your log, include everything that you own of value. Next, if you own jewelry, have it appraised and store the appraisal; if you own appliances, log the serial numbers and attach original receipts.
Then, buy a safe-deposit box at a bank, for example, and store your possession log.
All of this information matters because, in the event you need to make a claim, you’ll have an easier time dealing with the insurance adjuster. It’s hard to prove possession of items that have been washed away by flood waters, after all.
You’ll also want to share this list with your insurance agent in advance so your policy is made with the proper amount of coverage.
Floods can strike anywhere and, as many people learn the hard way, standard homeowners insurance does not include flood coverage. If you’re without flood coverage, talk to your insurance agent about adding a flood policy.
Because many policies don’t take effect until 30 days from purchase, this is one form of insurance you’ll want to buy in advance.
With the change of seasons, it’s a good reminder to rotate your bedrooms’ mattresses. Most brand manufacturers recommend a semi-annual “flip”, at least.
Mattress manufacturers recommend a mattress flip because, over time, mattresses can wear unevenly, the result of sleeping in the same position each night, or applying too much continuous pressure to one area of the mattress.
By the time your mattress shows signs of “sag” or imprints, it’s often too late.
Rotating a mattress is exactly what it sounds like; it’s pivoting your mattress on its axis — either horizontal, vertical, or both — and replacing it on your bed frame.
Rotating your mattress regularly will extend its useful life.
If you have a twin mattress, you may be able to flip it by yourself. If your mattress is a full-size or larger, though, follow these steps to minimize injury. Mattresses can be heavy.
Find a partner to help you
Slide the mattress out from the headboard by 3 feet
Rotate the mattress one-quarter spin so that’s its “across” the bed
Lift the mattress from the headboard toward the foot, standing it upright and turning it over completely
Make another one-turn to the mattress
Slide the mattress back to the headboard
With these steps, you will have flipped your mattress over both of its axes.
Mattresses are among the most used pieces of furniture in a Cincinnati home, and often the most ignored piece of furniture, too. To get a longer, useful life from your mattresses, perform a mattress rotation at least twice yearly.
With seasons changing, it’s a good time to look at weatherizing your home. Whether you live in a single-family home, a multi-family property, or a condominium, your home has windows and, through those windows, air escapes.
Even with your windows closed.
In this brief tutorial from Lowe’s, you’ll learn how to use caulk to seal the gaps between your windows and doors and their respective framing to keep your home’s inside air in, and the outside air out.
As shown by the video, there are no technical skills required to repair and replace your home’s caulking. It may require a little bit of elbow grease, however. And, depending on your windows’ locations, use of a ladder may be required.
If you’d like professional help weatherizing your home, please ask me for a referral in Cincinnati.
Labor Day is nearing; the unofficial end of summer across Ohio. If you’re among the many Americans planning an end-of-season barbecue, you’ll want to make sure your grill is clean.
A clean grill makes better tasting food.
There are several ways to clean a grill but, for owners of gas grills, the first step always is to disconnect the gas source.
Next, open your grill and remove its metal pieces. This includes grates, trays and flame guards. Take these pieces to your kitchen. If the oven has a self-cleaning mechanism, place the items in your oven and let it “self-clean”. As the temperature reaches 900 degrees or more, residue will literally fall off your grill parts.
Be sure to wipe clean your oven once the cycle completes.
If your oven is not self-cleaning, wash the grill parts in your sink using hot water and detergent. You’ll want to soak the parts in soapy water if they’re especially dirty. Once clean, allow the parts to air dry.
Then, return to your grill and using a wire brush, scrape the residue from the sides, top and bottom of the appliance. Again, using a soapy hot water mixture, wash and wipe down the inside of the grill. Rinse it clean once the residue is removed.
Re-assemble your grill.
Lastly, reconnect the gas source (if applicable) and allow the grill to burn for 5 minutes. This will burn off any lingering residue from the cleaning process, including soap and detergent.
And that’s it!
Plan on cleaning your grill at least twice annually with heavy use.
When furniture arrives in your home, it’s factory-issued, perfect and clean. From that day forward, however, accidents can happen, causing damage to your pieces. Sometimes the damage is permanent.
Know how to react when the inevitable spill or scratch occurs and you can “save” your furniture and extend its useful life.
From Martha Stewart, these “first-aid for furniture” tips should come in handy.
Wood
Moisture “rings” : Pour table salt on the white rings/haze and cover with a terry cloth. Apply hair dryer on low setting until rings are gone.
Alcohol spills : Blot spills immediately, do not rub. Apply small amounts of ammonia to damage.
Wax spills : Allow to cool and harden, then freeze the wax with an ice cube in a sandwich bag. Use a butter knife to gently scrape off wax.
Fabric
Red wine stains : Cover wine with table salt and let sit until salt has wicked up the wine. Vacuum salt and repeat, as necessary. Blot remaining stains with damp cloth and dish soap.
General spills : Repeatedly blot with a damp white cloth. Use white cloths to prevent dye transfer.
Oil spills : Cover spill with baking soda and vacuum once absorbed. Blot remaining stains with rubbing alcohol
Leather
General stains : Blot with all-purpose household cleaner. To prevent fading in the upholstery, avoid products with bleach or bleach alternatives.
Scratches : Apply saddle soap to a damp cloth and rub the scratch to help it “blend in”. It won’t go away.
The tips on leather furniture also makes mention that you should never bother with touch-up kits or colored markers. It’s nearly impossible to match leather colors and your repair work will only make the scratch more noticeable.
When furniture arrives in your home, it’s factory-issued, perfect and clean. From that day forward, however, accidents can happen, causing damage to your pieces. Sometimes the damage is permanent.
Know how to react when the inevitable spill or scratch occurs and you can “save” your furniture and extend its useful life.
From Martha Stewart, these “first-aid for furniture” tips should come in handy.
Wood
Moisture “rings” : Pour table salt on the white rings/haze and cover with a terry cloth. Apply hair dryer on low setting until rings are gone.
Alcohol spills : Blot spills immediately, do not rub. Apply small amounts of ammonia to damage.
Wax spills : Allow to cool and harden, then freeze the wax with an ice cube in a sandwich bag. Use a butter knife to gently scrape off wax.
Fabric
Red wine stains : Cover wine with table salt and let sit until salt has wicked up the wine. Vacuum salt and repeat, as necessary. Blot remaining stains with damp cloth and dish soap.
General spills : Repeatedly blot with a damp white cloth. Use white cloths to prevent dye transfer.
Oil spills : Cover spill with baking soda and vacuum once absorbed. Blot remaining stains with rubbing alcohol
Leather
General stains : Blot with all-purpose household cleaner. To prevent fading in the upholstery, avoid products with bleach or bleach alternatives.
Scratches : Apply saddle soap to a damp cloth and rub the scratch to help it “blend in”. It won’t go away.
The tips on leather furniture also makes mention that you should never bother with touch-up kits or colored markers. It’s nearly impossible to match leather colors and your repair work will only make the scratch more noticeable.
Home improvement projects are on the rise, according to the BuildFax Remodeling Index. For the 19th straight month, May’s index rose, suggesting that homeowners in Cincinnati are remodeling more frequently than in the past.
Do-it-yourself projects are on the rise, too.
If you’re among the many homeowners forgoing paid contractors, be sure to follow basic safety precautions because, as this 5-minute video from NBC’s The Today Show points out, a home remodeling “accident” could cost you more than the money saved on the project itself.
The interview gives several key tips:
Use “expandable” earplugs to prevent hearing loss from power tools.
Don’t wear sneakers or sandals. Wear construction boots.
Never stand on the top 2 steps of a ladder.
In addition, we’re reminded to wear safety glasses always. Eye issues are the number one injury as reported by home remodelers, and accidents can happen anytime.
Watch the full video at the NBC website. And, f you feel your next home remodeling project is beyond your personal expertise, seek a professional’s help. Call or email me for local recommendations.
In today’s Cincinnati homes, front-loading washing machines are a popular choices as compared to traditional, top-loading machines for 3 main reasons:
They wash more clothes per cycle, lowering household energy costs
They’re environmentally-friendly, using less water per cycle
They’re gentler on clothes, preserving colors and fabrics longer
They also require more care in the “cleaning” department.
Because of the way most front-loading washers are built, they tend to pool water in their drums, which can be a breeding ground bacteria and mildew.
Whether your front-loading washer smells “dirty” or not, you’ll want to follow proper procedures to keep it clean.
First, only use High Efficiency detergent. High Efficiency detergent is super-concentrated and creates fewer suds than traditional laundry detergent. Fewer suds means more soap is drained in the rinse cycle, leaving fewer chemicals and fragrances to sit in the drum.
High Efficiency detergent is also sold fragrance-free. This is the preferred variety for a long-term, stink-free washing machine.
Next, at least once weekly, take a dry cloth and wipe the inside rim of your front-loading washer. There, you will find a wide plastic tube in which water settles between loads of laundry. If you find stains or grime, remove it.
If your washer has a drain filter on its front-lower edge, remove the filter and allow the water to drain — preferably onto a towel or into a bucket.
Then, lastly, consider running an empty cycle with just bleach and water. This is optional, but can help remove lingering stench.
Once your front-loading washing machine is cleaned, going forward, after each load runs, try leaving your washer’s front door open. This will allow fresh air to circulate through the washer and help drum-settled water to evaporate.
With less water and humidity in the drum, bacteria growth is slowed.
November is here with many parts of the country are already feeling the chill. This weekend, a nor’easter dropped up to 20 inches of snow in cities along the eastern seaboard – a reminder that winter is coming.
How much energy is your home wasting on water?
Did you remember to handle the most basic safety precaution for your new home?
How healthy is the air in your home?
With the change of seasons, it’s a good reminder to rotate your bedrooms’ mattresses. Most brand manufacturers recommend a semi-annual “flip”, at least.
Labor Day is nearing; the unofficial end of summer across Ohio. If you’re among the many Americans planning an end-of-season barbecue, you’ll want to make sure your grill is clean.
When furniture arrives in your home, it’s factory-issued, perfect and clean. From that day forward, however, accidents can happen, causing damage to your pieces. Sometimes the damage is permanent.
In today’s Cincinnati homes, front-loading washing machines are a popular choices as compared to traditional, top-loading machines for 3 main reasons:
