What Things Can I do to Save on Air Conditioning Costs? Electricity bills are, often, one of the major concerns in any household budget. Much money is also spent on repairs of gadgets, on home maintenance and renovations. You must have often wondered if there was any way to bring down your expenses. You can relax now because these simple tips will help bring down your air conditioning costs and get a huge saving on your overall electrical expenses. Reduce heat production Less heat inside the house means less pressure on your air conditioning and, hence, a reduction in your electric … [Read more...]
How to Repair Drywall
Most drywall repairs are simple, consisting of patching holes, filling dents, and embedding popped nails. They require only basic tools and some spackling compound. Also be prepared to touch up or paint the repaired area. Minor repairs Such minor flaws as dents and small nail holes can be repaired by filling the area with joint compound after sanding it clean. Choose a putty knife appropriately sized to the blemish, and if more than one layer of compound is required, make sure you allow each layer to dry completely between applications. Popped nails can be fixed by tapping … [Read more...]
Wallpaper Removal Tips
With strippable wallpaper, start at a seam and gently pull off both the vinyl coating and the backing. With paper that can be peeled, the top layer will peel off easily but will leave a thin residue of paper and adhesive. Remove this backing and adhesive with a wet sponge or an enzyme-based wallpaper remover. If the paper resists stripping or peeling, proceed as shown in the following steps. 1. Score the old wallpaper. If your wallpaper has a vinyl or foil covering, abrade the surface so moisture or remover can penetrate and help break down the adhesive. Score the surface with coarse … [Read more...]
9 Quick Home Maintenance Tips
Home maintenance isn't restricted to repairs. In fact, certain tasks--when performed regularly--may actually prevent things from breaking in the first place. But when things do go wrong (and it's inevitable that they do), we have some backup plans that you can try before you grab the phone to call for pro. Appliances and plumbing are the most frequent offenders, but they also often can be the simplest to care for. From the gutters to the living room carpet, there's a reliable method for keeping every part of your home clean, safe, and well maintained. MUST-DO MAINTENANCE: The quickest fix is … [Read more...]