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Home Owner Tips

How To Reduce Humidity In Your Home

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In the winter, we look for ways to add humidity to our home, but as we head towards the summer months, humidity becomes a problem. This article discusses the benefits of reducing home humidity; signs that your humidity is too high; and steps you can take to reduce humidity in your home.

Benefits of Reducing Home Humidity

There are four main reasons for reducing the humidity of your home: 1) improved comfort; 2) reduced formation of mold and related pests; 3) reduced environment for dust mites; and 4) cost savings. Excessive humidity in your home is not only uncomfortable, but it can also cause moisture-related damage to your house, such as mold formation and pest infestations. Running your air conditioner will lower your home’s humidity (in addition to lowering the temperature), but reducing the humidity in your home is a more economical way to feel more comfortable during the coming summer. And proactively reducing the humidity in your home is also more cost-effective than repairing the damage that’s caused by high humidity levels (helpful accessory: humidity monitors).

Signs of Excess Humidity

Indications that the high humidity levels in your home include: mold formations in your bathrooms, closets, walls or ceilings; moisture on basement walls and floors; condensation, frost, or ice on the inside surface of windows; damp spots on ceilings or inner surfaces of exterior walls; and ice or frost on the underside of the roof sheathing in your attic space. If you don’t already have one, you should consider getting a hygrometer, which will allow you to measure the humidity levels at various places around your home. You should target to keep the relative humidity levels in your home below 60% in the summer. And if you’re concerned about dust mites, then you should target to keep humidity levels less than 50%.

Steps You Can Take

Reducing humidity levels during the summer in your home can be thought of in three ways: 1) keeping water out; 2) creating less moisture in your home; and 3) removing the moisture from inside your home.

Examples of these include:

  • Checking your attic for indications of water leakage through your roof.
  • Ensuring that your attic crawl spaces have adequate ventilation.
  • Using exhaust fans in your bathrooms and kitchens to remove moisture before it spreads throughout your house; however do not run any longer than needed since blowing air out of your home will cause additional humid air to be drawn inside your home (see types, costs, and reviews of exhaust fans).
  • Ensuring that your roof gutters and downspouts channel water away from your foundations.
  • Avoiding overwatering shrubs and plantings near your home, and making sure that your lawn sprinklers aren’t aimed at your house.
  • If your home has high humidity in just one area such as a basement or unscented storage area, then you may want to consider getting a dehumidifier for that area (see types, costs, and reviews of dehumidifiers).
  • And if you live in a region of the country that is humid all year round, you might want to consider adding the types of houseplants in your home that actually absorbed humidity from the air such as: Peace Lily; Reed Palm; English Ivy; Boston Fern; or Tillandsia.

 

Originally posted at http://www.petermuehlbronner.home-wizard.com/social/article/art_reduce_humid

Wood Siding Care and Maintenance Tips

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Tip

Make sure that sprinklers do not spray water onto your wood siding, especially sprinkler heads which point upwards and can spray water under the edges of your wood siding.

 

Routine Care

Inspect and maintain wood siding

Unprotected wood siding risks being destroyed by insects, mold, and mildew.

And rotten wood can allow water damage to occur inside your home.

Timing: May (yearly)

How To

The following maintenance tasks should be conducted for your wood siding:

Prune trees, shrubs, and bushes so that branches do not rub against the wood siding.

Check all surfaces for weathering and paint failure. Re-paint or add a stain or water-repellant as necessary.

Re-nail loose siding (use rust-resistant screws); replace rotted areas; repair splits as necessary.

Check for termites, carpenter ants, and wasp’s nest.

Pressure wash and clean siding as necessary, or re-paint.

Take special care to ensure that ground, debris, leaf piles, etc are not touching your wood siding. This can lead to insect infestation.

Benefits

Maintaining Value

Appearance

Avoiding Unscheduled Repairs

Health & Safety

The benefits of this task are relatively high, in that proper maintenance of your wood siding helps prevent costly damage from pest infestation, water damage, more expensive repairs, etc.

Costs

The cost of this task can be significant from an investment of time, depending on the size and condition of your home.

 

Originally posted at http://www.petermuehlbronner.home-wizard.com/tip/tip_wsd_3

Air Conditioning Maintenance Guide and Checklist for Spring

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Overview

Central Air Conditioning

Central Air Conditioning is a cooling system that circulates cool air to all or most of your home through ductwork which can be inside your walls, floors or ceilings. The registers where the cool air comes out can be mounted on your walls, floors or ceilings.

Central Air Conditioning has relatively expensive components (outside condenser unit, and inside blower and motor unit) and uses a significant amount of energy to operate. Your air conditioning unit actually performs three functions: cooling, dehumidifying, and filtering out particulates from the air. Your central air conditioning ductwork may be integrated as part of your home HVAC (heating ventilation and air conditioning) system.

Central Air Conditioning is different than a ‘Room Air Conditioner,’ which typically mounts in a window or on the floor, and does not have distribution ductwork.

If you have Central Air Conditioning, you may also have related home features such as: a Whole-House Humidifier; a Heat Pump (traditional); a Geothermal Heat Pump; Electronic Air Cleaner; Fresh Air Heat Exchanger; or Forced Air Heat which uses the same ductwork as your Central Air Conditioning. If you have any of these, you should put a checkmark for them as home features in your Home Wizard app, in addition to Central Air Conditioning.

Proper maintenance will help reduce unscheduled repairs to your home air conditioning system.

 

Routine Care

Replace or wash air filters

There are two reasons for replacing your air filter:

As a filter gets dirty over time, it begins to clog with dust, pollen, etc. A dirty filter means the fan motor of the air conditioner has to work harder to move air through it, which means it has to consume more energy, and is therefore more expensive to operate.

The filter helps to clean the circulating air, which makes room cleaning easier and less frequent, helps improve home health air quality, and helps to provide relief to allergy sufferers.

Timing: Monthly during season: April, May, June, July, August (yearly)

Check water drain

If the condensate lines or drain of your air conditioner become blocked or develops leaks, the result could be water spilling out around your unit, which can cause safety hazards and/or water damage.

Timing: April (yearly)

Cover outside condenser unit

The purpose of covering the unit when it is not in use is to keep leaves, dirt, freezing water, etc. away from the condenser.

Keeping the unit clean helps to maintain its energy efficiency and extend its service life.

Timing: October (yearly)

Close air distribution registers (if not used for heating)

Closing these registers keeps warm air from being lost by back-flowing through these vents in the winter.It also keeps dust, pests, etc. from accumulating in the ducts when they are not in use.

Timing: October (yearly)

Clean outside condenser unit

The purpose of this maintenance task is to help maintain the energy efficiency of the condenser unit.

A dirty unit is less efficient at doing its job, which means that your air conditioning unit has to work harder, which causes it to consume more energy, and shortens its service life.

Timing: April (yearly)

Uncover outside condenser unit

The purpose of covering the unit when it is not in use is to keep leaves, dirt, freezing water, etc. away from the condenser.

Keeping the unit clean helps to maintain its energy efficiency and extend its service life.

Timing: April (yearly)

Open air distribution regisiters

Closing these registers keeps warm air from being lost by back-flowing through these vents in the winter.

It also keeps dust, pests, etc. from accumulating in the ducts when they are not in use.

Timing: April (yearly)

Air duct cleaning

Leaving moisture, dust, pollen, etc. in your ductwork can create a breeding ground for molds and spores which affects your home.

Cleaning the ductwork removes these contaminants and also increases the air flow efficiency of your ductwork which can save energy.

Timing: April (yearly)

How To

Covering the outside condenser unit involves placing a plastic or cloth cover over the unit.

This cover can be purchased pre-made, or you can “do-it-yourself” by taping together plastic trash bags, or a plastic drop cloth, etc.

Benefits

Health & Safety

Allergy Control

Senior Safety

Child Safety

The benefits of this task are the modest amount of increased energy efficiency that you can see. But if you have people in your home with respiratory issues, then the benefits to this task can be significant.

Costs

The cost of this task is moderately high, as you will need to hire a professional firm to do this task.

 

Spring Checklist: How Your AC System Works

Don’t wait for a hot summer day to find out that your air conditioning is not working, when you may have to wait days for a service person. Here is a quick pre-season checklist, so that you can be sure that your AC is good to go. This video and article also explains in simple terms how your AC system works, and what can typically go wrong:

  • How Your AC System Works
  • What Can Typically Go Wrong
  • A Pre-Season Checklist

HOW YOUR AC SYSTEM WORKS

The fundamental purpose of your AC system is to move heat from inside your house to the outside. To do this, your AC system has five essential parts:

  1. a heat exchanger outside of your house (the box on the outside of your house with the big fan in it, which is called the “condenser”);
  2. a heat exchanger inside of your house (the box inside your house with a blower which circulates the air from the inside of your house, which is called the “evaporator”);
  3. refrigerant piping (containing a special high-pressure fluid which absorbs and releases heat).
  4. ductwork which delivers cool air to your rooms, and draws warm air back.
  5. and, a thermostat which tells your system when to turn on and off.

Other components of your AC system include: the compressor (which is located in the outside unit) which circulates the refrigerant around; your air filter (which takes dust and particles out of the air which circulates through your house); and the condensate pump (which removes the water that drips from the inside unit).

A simple way to understand how your AC system works, is to think of the refrigerant in the pipes which go between your inside and outside units as a heat “conveyor belt.” Your inside heat exchanger puts heat onto the conveyor belt, and then your outside heat exchanger unit takes the heat off the conveyor belt. And this is how heat gets removed from your home. So even though you may think of your AC system as blowing “cold” air in your home, it is actually blowing air that has had its “heat removed”!

The other components of your AC system are there to make this process happen efficiently. For example, your compressor not only circulates the refrigerant around your system, but it also increases its pressure so that it can absorb and release heat more effectively. The blower circulates the air around your home. And your thermostat allows you to set your desired room temperature.

Some things that you may have noticed about your AC system is that if you are standing near your outside unit, that when it is running it will be blowing out hot air. This is the heat that is being removed from inside your house. If something obstructs the flow of air around this unit, then it can’t do its job of removing heat. So you will want to be sure that this unit is not cluttered with leaves or blocked by shrubs, etc.

And regarding your inside unit, you may have noticed a water condensation pump located next to the unit. The reason for this is that in the process of cooling the air, your air conditioner works as a dehumidifier. To understand this, imagine a cold glass of water on a hot day. In a little while, you will see water droplets forming on the outside of the glass. This is because when the warm air hits the cold glass, it causes water in the warm air to condense out. The same effect happens when the warm air in your home hits the cold refrigerant pipes in the inside unit of your air conditioner. And when the reservoir fills up with water, the condensate pump needs to kick on to pump it out of your home.

WHAT TYPICALLY GOES WRONG:

Now that we have discussed the different parts of your AC system and how they work, let’s now look at some things that typically go wrong with your AC system:

  1. Compressor: The motor in your compressor can go bad, or it can have valves which have problems. Or you can have leaks which develop around the compressor.
  2. Condenser: The fan for the condenser can develop problems, or the condenser coils can begin to leak.
  3. Refrigerant Lines: The refrigerant lines may begin to leak.
  4. Air filter: As your air filters get dirty, they reduce the energy efficiency of your AC system.
  5. Evaporator: The evaporator coils can start to leak.
  6. Condensate drain: The drain can become blocked, and if the system uses a pump, the pump can fail.
  7. Power to the system: From time to time, at peak loads, an AC system can sometimes trip its circuit breaker switch.

 

PRE-SEASON MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST

To prevent surprises when the temperatures start to soar, it is important to do a pre-season check of your AC system. Skipping this checklist could leave you sweltering on the first hot day of the year, when getting a service person to come out is more difficult and can be more expensive.

So here is a quick pre-season checklist for your AC system:

  1. Uncover the outside condenser unit.  (If you have covered it for the winter).
  2. Check the outside condenser unit.  Make sure that it is not obstructed by leaves, trash, etc. Also ensure that shrubs, etc are not blocking the condenser.
  3. Change your system’s air filters.
  4. Check air distribution registers in your rooms to be sure they are open (if you closed them for the winter). Also make sure that the registers are not blocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes.
  5. Inside unit:  Check the condensate drain pipes and drain pan. Sometimes the pan gets bumped out of place. Be sure that the pan is not cracked and the pipe is unobstructed. If you have a condensate pump, then pour some water in it to be sure the pump automatically kicks on.
  6. Switch on your AC to test it. You don’t have to run it for long, just check that it turns on and starts delivering cold air.

And if you are more ambitious and handy around the house, here are some other maintenance tasks which you should consider for your AC system:

CONDENSER:

Check condenser coils. Dirty condenser coil will cause the AC unit to be inefficient.  A dirty condenser coil will act as an insulator and prevent the rate of heat transfer.  Clean and straighten any bent fins of the unit.  And check condenser fan and oil the motor if necessary.

EVAPORATOR:

Clean the evaporator coils. If the coil is dirty it reduces its effectiveness for absorbing heat.  Clean the indoor blowers. In older models, the blower may have a fan belt which should be checked for tears and wearing. If the blower has blades then clean the blades, as dirt on the blades can cause resistance to air flow.

DUCTWORK:

Inspect your exposed HVAC ductwork in unfinished areas to see if there are any air leaks.  Ductwork cleaning. You may be able to clean inside of your registers (both supply and delivery registers) with a vacuum attachment, however, a more thorough cleaning of your entire system will require a professional.

SUMMARY

We hope that the article has helped you understand the parts of your central AC system, how they work, what typically may go wrong, and how to do a pre-season maintenance for your system.

 

Originally posted at http://www.petermuehlbronner.home-wizard.com/articleDet/art_AC_spring

Tips for Using Your Microwave Oven Safely

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Overview

Microwave Oven

A Microwave Oven is an electric kitchen appliance that sits on a counter or it can be built into a cabinet. This appliance uses microwave radiation to stimulate the food and liquids that are put inside of the unit, to generate the heat which raises the temperature to cook the food or warm up the liquids.

A Microwave Oven is different than an ‘Oven (electric).’ An electric Oven uses electricity to raise the temperature of a heating element which gets hot and then raises the temperature high enough inside of the oven so that it begins to cook the food that is placed inside of it. Also a Microwave Oven is typically only large enough to hold a single plate of food, where an electric Oven is much larger, and can hold several pots and pans at the same time.

If you suspect problems with your microwave, it is recommended that you contact a trained professional. Routine maintenance for a microwave oven should be limited to cleaning only.

 

Routine Care

Inspect and clean

This task reduces potential safety hazards and improves operating energy efficiency of your microwave.

Timing: January (yearly)

How To

The following maintenance tasks are recommended for inspecting and cleaning of your microwave oven:

Clean inside cavity with mild detergent and water. Rinse and wipe with paper towel. If spots seem dried on, then boil water in a glass cup for a few minutes and let the steam help loosen the soiled area. Do not use a scouring pad, steel wool, or other abrasives.

Clean around the door and door seal, and make sure door closes tightly.

If your unit has a turntable, then be sure to clean underneath it.

To remove odors, boil a solution of a cup of water and several tablespoons of lemon juice in the microwave for 5-7 minutes.

Clean grease and dust from around the air vents.

Check inside light bulb, clean or replace as necessary.

Benefits

Health & Safety

Maintaining Value

Appearance

Avoiding Unscheduled Repairs

The benefits of this task are moderately high. Doing this task can help improve the efficiency of your microwave oven and extend its useful life.

Costs

The cost of this task is relatively low. It is estimated that this task should only take about 60 minutes to complete, depending on the type of microwave oven that you have and your manufacturer’s recommended cleaning procedure.

 

Microwave Safety Tips

This video gives you 55 tips for operating your your microwave safely.

So let’s go through each of these tips now:

  1. Microwave ovens can cook unevenly and leave “cold spots” where harmful bacteria can survive. Therefore it is important to properly stir, rotate, allow adequate standing times, and check that the minimum internal food temperatures have been reached when cooking in your microwave.
  2. Most microwaves have hot spots, and if you eat the food directly from the oven, a few areas could be superheated and will burn you. Therefore you should always properly stir and rotate your food, and allow standing times when cooking with your microwave.
  3. Do not use bottles or jars with narrow necks in your microwave, as pressure can build up in them causing them to explode.
  4. Always turn off or cancel the program timer on your microwave before opening the door on your microwave. Sudden opening of the door can cause the unit’s safety fuse to blow.
  5. Frequently clean and inspect your microwave’s door seal to ensure that it is closing tightly and not allowing any radiation to leak out when it is operating.
  6. Do not use margarine or other plastic containers, foam or plastic trays, and certain plastic wraps in your microwave oven which are not made for microwave use, as when heated in your microwave they can give off chemical fumes which will get into your food (helpful accessory: microwavable containers).
  7. Do not store anything directly on top of your microwave. This area can get hot during operation, liquid items can spill and affect how well the door seals, items can slip down and prevent the door from closing properly, and items can slip down and block air vents which can prevent proper circulation of air and heat for your microwave.
  8. Some microwave recipes may call for shielding parts of the food, especially meats, with SMALL amounts of aluminum foil (see types, costs, and reviews of aluminum foils). This is usually acceptable as long as the area covered is less than 20% of the area of the food it is covering.
  9. If your microwave recipe calls for a small amount of aluminum foil to cover part of the food (to keep it from cooking too fast), NEVER allow aluminum foil or metal to touch the inside cavity walls, ceiling or floor of the unit.
  10. If you’re wondering if a glass container or dish is microwave safe, here’s an easy way to test it. Place a cup of water in the dish and turn on your microwave at 100% power for one minute. If the water gets hot and the dish you’re testing stays cool, then it’s safe to use in your microwave. But if the dish gets hot, then it contains lead or metals and should NOT be used.
  11. Make sure everyone in your home knows which containers are microwave safe, and which are not. Keep the microwave-safe cookware separate, so that no one accidentally uses cookware that is not microwave-safe.
  12. Never use recycled paper products in microwave ovens unless they are specifically approved for microwave use. Recycled paper towels, napkins, and waxed paper can contain metal flecks which may cause arcing or ignite. Paper products containing nylon or nylon filaments should be avoided, as they may also ignite.
  13. Do not heat water or other liquids for more than 2 minutes in your microwave (or the time recommended by your particular manufacturer), as the liquid can superheat and under certain conditions can explode out of the cup or container when brought out of the microwave.
  14. If you have a fire in your microwave oven, turn it off or unplug it immediately so that the fan stops and the fire is suffocated. Never open the oven door until you are absolutely certain that the fire is out. If in doubt, call the fire department.
  15. To prevent harmful radiation from leaking out, never operate your microwave when anything is stuck in the door that prevents it from closing properly, and never operate your microwave if the door is damaged or doesn’t close securely.
  16. After cooking, lift container lids and wraps carefully and pointed away from your face and hands, so that hot steam is released safely. And similarly, be careful when opening any enclosed food where steam can be produced, such as popcorn bags, cooking pouches or food wrapped in plastic.
  17. Always make sure that steam can escape from any covered dish in your microwave by making slits or holes in plastic wrap or loosen a lid. Otherwise, the steam can cause the food or container to explode, resulting in injury.
  18. Do not let plastic wrap touch foods during microwaving, as the heated contact can cause chemicals to migrate into your food.
  19. Do not cover or block any openings around your microwave, as they are important for allowing proper air and heat circulation.
  20. Even microwave-safe cookware can become very hot in a microwave. Always use pot holders or oven mitts to remove items, to prevent burning your hands or dropping hot cookware (see types, costs, and reviews of oven mitts).
  21. It’s best to use glass containers when microwaving fatty foods, as these foods get particularly hot in a microwave. However, make sure that the glass is microwave-safe.
  22. Some styrofoam trays (like those that meat comes from the grocery store on) have a thin strip of metal embedded in the bottom. When microwaved, the metal can burn the floor of the oven or ignite a paper towel.
  23. Never use thin plastic storage bags, brown paper or plastic grocery bags, or newspapers in your microwave oven (helpful accessory: oven bags).
  24. Not all plastic wrap is safe for your microwave. If you are going to use plastic wrap in your microwave, check the package to be sure that it is marked as microwave-safe.
  25. When using the microwave to defrost meat, poultry, egg casseroles, and fish, these foods must then be completely cooked right away. Your microwave may have partially cooked part of the food, and bacteria may start to grow if the food isn’t thoroughly cooked.
  26. Be careful when heating liquids or sauces in your microwave oven. Since the containers may only feel warm rather than hot, they are sometimes handled with less caution (helpful accessory: microwavable covers). This can easily result in the splashing or spilling of scalding liquids.
  27. If you use a meat thermometer while cooking, then make sure it is safe for use in microwave ovens.
  28. Use a food thermometer or the oven’s temperature probe to verify the food has reached a safe minimum internal temperature. Cooking times may vary because ovens vary in power and efficiency. Always allow standing time, which completes the cooking, before checking the internal temperature with a food thermometer.
  29. When partially cooking food in the microwave oven to finish cooking on the grill or in a conventional oven, it is important to transfer the microwaved food to the other heat source immediately, to prevent bacterial growth. Never partially cook food and store it for later use.
  30. Do not allow children to put their faces near the door of your microwave when it is operating. And just to be safe, it’s best to stand at least 3 feet away from the microwave when it’s operating, since if steam builds up, it can explode into their faces.
  31. Do not leave a microwave oven unattended when microwaving popcorn, since the heat build-up can cause fires. Heat the popcorn according to the written instructions, but begin with the minimum time specified, because some microwaves can scorch popcorn in as little as two minutes.
  32. Do not overcook potatoes, as they can dehydrate and catch fire.
  33. Most of those burned using microwave ovens are under 5 years of age. Keep your microwave out of the reach of children, and do not permit young children to operate the oven.
  34. Unplug your microwave oven when you are on vacation or going to be gone for extended periods. The electronic control panel has digital displays and electronic circuitry that is highly susceptible to damage caused by voltage spikes, power fluctuations, and lightning strikes.
  35. Only use cookware (glass, ceramic containers, and all plastics) that is specifically labeled for microwave oven use (helpful accessory: microwave-safe glasswares).
  36. Microwaved foods should be cooked to the following safe minimum internal temperatures: raw beef, pork, lamb and veal steaks, chops, and roasts to 145 °F; poultry to 165 °F; eggs and casseroles containing eggs to 160 °F; ground meats to 160 °F; and fish to 145 °F.
  37. Use a food thermometer to check that cooked foods have reached the proper safe minimum internal temperature. When using a food thermometer place a clean food thermometer in the thickest area of the meat or poultry (not near fat or bone). For whole poultry, check the temperature in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and in the thickest part of the breast.
  38. Carefully attend to your microwave when paper, plastic or other combustible materials are inside your microwave.
  39. Remove any wire twist-ties or metal handles from containers before placing them in your microwave.
  40. Remove food from packaging before defrosting. Do not use foam trays and plastic wraps because they are not heat-stable at high temperatures. Melting or warping may cause harmful chemicals to migrate into food.
  41. When cooking foods that have a skin or membrane (such as potatoes, egg yolks, chicken livers, hot dogs, sausage, and whole vegetables) be sure to first use a fork or knife to pierce or prick them in several places to allow steam to vent to help to keep the food from exploding.
  42. Avoid heating baby food in glass jars, even with the lid off. Make sure all infant food is thoroughly cooked. Stir food to distribute the heat evenly. Be careful to prevent scalding when warming formula. The container may feel cooler than the formula really is. Always test the formula before feeding the baby.
  43. Avoid using a microwave when you are pregnant, especially an older model with any risk of radiation leakage around the door seals.
  44. Before allowing older children to operate your microwave, make sure that they are instructed in its proper use, and that they are tall enough to reach the oven and handle foods safely.
  45. Never use metal containers or cover cookware completely with aluminum foil, as microwave energy bounces off metallic materials and can cause arcing and a fire inside the oven.
  46. Avoid food spatters by placing wax paper, paper towels or plastic wrap over the top of open cookware (helpful accessory: microwavable paper covers).
  47. Microwaving stuffed, whole poultry is not recommended. The stuffing might not reach the temperature needed to destroy harmful bacteria. Instead cook the stuffing separately to 165 °F.
  48. Do not attempt to fry foods in your microwave, as cooking fat in large quantities is dangerous in a microwave.
  49. Do not cook puddings in your microwave that contain alcohol, as they may catch fire.
  50. Do not operate your microwave if it has a damaged power cord or plug.
  51. Do not use your microwave for home canning or sterilizing jars, as these cannot be properly controlled in a microwave.
  52. Don’t try to dry or disinfect clothing or other articles in the microwave, as this can create a fire risk.
  53. If you have an older heart pacemaker, you should check with your doctor to see if it is a model that needs to be kept away from microwave ovens.
  54. Never operate your microwave when it is empty, as it can cause arcing and start a fire.
  55. Never try to repair your microwave yourself. It is a complex appliance that includes a magnetron, high voltage transformer, thermal protectors, and complicated circuits.

 

SUMMARY

We hope these 55 tips have given you some helpful ideas for the best ways to cook using your microwave oven.

 

Originally posted at http://www.petermuehlbronner.home-wizard.com/articleDet/art_microwave_safety

Deck Care and Cleaning

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Idea

Replacing your existing wood decking with low-maintenance composite board will save you in annual upkeep costs, and reduces the risk of splinters when walking on it.

 

Routine Care

Inspect decking for deterioration

The purpose for doing this task is that a deck that has been allowed to deteriorate can cause serious injuries by allow people to fall, trip, etc.

Timing: May (yearly)

Clean and seal deck surfaces

Cleaning and sealing your decking will help extend it’s useful life.

Timing: May (yearly)

How To

Depending on your type of wood, cleaning and sealing decks typically requires 3 steps:

Day 1: Sweep off all dirt and debris; allow surfaces to dry.

Day 2: Spray on an oxalic acid solution; allow to sit per the manufacture’s recommendation, then hose of with water.

Day 3: Apply a good sealant.

Benefits

Maintaining Value

Appearance

Avoiding Unscheduled Repairs

Child Safety

The benefits of this task are that it maintains the appearance and extends the useful life of your decking.

Costs

The cost of this task is relatively high from an investment of time standpoint.

 

Originally posted at http://www.petermuehlbronner.home-wizard.com/idea/DKG_10