5 tips to get your heater ready for winter

5 tips to get your heater ready for winter

As winter is approaching and temperatures are falling below minus, therefore it is important to keep your home warm. Sometimes the dropping temperatures are brutal in most parts of the world. Many countries also experience deep snow of several feet.

For this purpose, it is very crucial to have an excellent heating system in your house and should function properly. You need to have HVAC maintenance in place before the frigid winter knocks on your door.

So, prepare your heat system at the earliest by having proper maintenance in place.

HVAC filter replacement

The thumb rule says it is ideal to replace your HVAC once every year for its smooth functioning.  In autumn or fall, the HVAC filter collects an enormous amount of allergens, dust, dander, and dirt of all kinds. So, at the end of the season, congestion occurs and your filter cannot filter the air as before. You need to breathe clean air so it is very important to check the filter and if it’s an older one, then buy a new one. To buy a new one, then you can get that easily at your local hardware store.

Ready the Vents/Registers

Most heater maintenance companies would suggest you clean the air vents and registers thoroughly before you put them in use. It will clear out the extra air that might get in the way when you switch it on for use. You also need to see whether any other elements are preventing natural airflow from your vents and registers. When you are calling your HVAC maintenance operator, discuss these points about cleaning the air vents. This would ensure smooth airflow from the vents.

Getting rid of objects

If you want to cut down the chances of a fire from your HVAC, then it is important to get rid of any nearby objects from it.  So, before switching it on, you need to remove these items from the heater so it won’t catch fire. This may include objects like boxes, small furniture, or containers.

Put on covers for your condenser

If you own a conventional HVAC unit, then you need to put covers on your condenser. You are preventing the accumulation of snow to form ice and reducing the chances of getting it damaged? Besides this, you are avoiding the damages caused by the tree branches, dust, and debris. But it is not advisable to cover up your HVAC unit if it is a heat pump.

Arrange maintenance program for your heater

Ideally, it is the perfect option to fix a maintenance program for your heaters before every winter season with your HVAC company. The HVAC maintenance professionals are the best person to guide you in making small repairs if needed. This ensures that you will continue to enjoy yourself with your family while the outside temperatures are still going down.

5 Ways to Protect Your Eyes in the Winter

5 Ways to Protect Your Eyes in the Winter

Your eyes are undoubtedly one of the most important organs in your body. Hence, you need to take proper care of it throughout the year. But the icy cold chill winter winds may cause your eye to become dry and experience pain. 

5 tips to protect your eyes and keep them healthy

  • Consume an eye-healthy diet: Your diet does have a direct effect on eye health. To treat dry eye syndromes, you need to intake foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. It is found in tuna, sardines, salmon, etc.
  • Moisturize your eyes: Harsh, dry winds in winter are likely to cause blurry vision, itchiness, and burning eyes. Moreover, indoor heaters are likely to reduce the moisture content in the air. This in turn will lead to blurry vision and burning eyes. You might even feel gritty in your eyes. This symptom is often mistaken for some infection or allergy. According to medical experts, natural tears are just drying out. The remedy is to stay away from artificial heat sources. Also, do use a humidifier or artificial tears to alleviate dryness. You can get artificial tears at medicine stores without requiring a prescription. You may also choose trustworthy eye drops formulated specially to cure the blurry vision experienced from dry winter eyes. 
  • Take a break from gadgets: If you are addicted to using your smartphone, computer, or TV, then do take regular breaks. Otherwise, increased time spent on these gadgets is likely to irritate and dry your eyes. This will allow your eyes to take a much-needed break. Your eyes also get tired and drier. Take rest and blink eyes more to regain moisture. 
  • Stay hydrated: You need to drink fluids during summer as well as in winter months to stay hydrated. This will ensure you stay hydrated from within and prevent dry eyes. A sufficient amount of water in your body is sure to create a huge difference, especially when venturing outside braving chilly winds. 
  • Wear proper sunglasses: White snow is said to reflect around 80% of harmful UV rays of the sun. It also results in sunburn in the cornea region during winter. If you are into active sports like skiing or trekking, then it is important to safeguard your eyes from glare. This is possible by wearing quality polarized sunglasses that assures 100% UV protection. 

If still, you face problems in your eyes during winter, then it will be wise to consult a good optometrist.

The Causes of Basement Flooding

The Causes of Basement Flooding

If your home has a basement, you should understand that you can have challenges with basement flooding at any time. Therefore, you should be concerned about basement waterproofing and other means of preventing basement flooring from damaging your home.

To prevent basement flooding, it is vital to know what causes the basement to flood. Given this, here are some of the major causes of basement flooding.

  • A poorly installed drainage system

The drainage system makes sure that water doesn’t get into your home but rather moves away from it. As important as a drainage system is to your house, its poor installation can cause basement flooding. Therefore, if you are experiencing basement flooding, a poorly installed drainage system may be the culprit.

  • Faulty hot water tank, pipes, or sump pump

Pipes, sump pumps, and hot water tanks are all essential parts of every house when they are in good condition. However, when they are broken or damaged, they can send water to your basement; thus, causing flooding. So, every homeowner should hire professionals to check their sump pumps, hot tanks, and pipes regularly to prevent any sort of basement flooding.

  • Poor basement sealing

During home construction, it is crucial to seal the basement tiles and foundation. However, if it is done improperly, the basement may be flooded later. Besides, the basement sealing can deteriorate after a long period. If this is the case, your basement will be likely flooded after rainstorms as lots of water will get into it.

  • Gutter debris

Gutters are usually installed to direct water away from your house. Unfortunately, seed pods, twigs, leaves, and other kinds of debris can clog the gutters. When this happens, water will be going back to your home and the basement will be flooded.

  • Overland flooding

Overland flooding refers to a condition in which rapid snowmelt or heavy rain forces surface water to accumulate around your home. Depending on the proximity of the area of the accumulated water to your basement, the water may seep into your basement. In some cases of heavy rainfalls, water may enter your home via below-grade entrances as well as low-lying windows and doors. All these challenges can flood your basement.

  • Sewer backup

If your home is connected to a sanitary sewer lateral, sewer backup can cause basement flooding. The flooding usually occurs when the sewers are full or the sanitary laterals are blocked by a wide range of items.

  • Poorly installed or faulty downspouts

A downspout is another system for preventing water from getting into the foundation of your home. It should be installed at about 5 or 6 feet away from the basement of your property. However, if you install it too close to your house, it may cause basement flooding. Missing or broken downspouts can also lead to the same problem.

Having known what causes the basement to flood, you can deal with these issues by hiring a basement waterproofing contractor. This contractor will not only inspect your basement, but they will also provide the right solution to get rid of the basement flooding.

What questions should I ask a roofing contractor?

What questions should I ask a roofing contractor?

Roofs are the most important component in your home, and therefore, many homeowners get thrilled while installing a new roof. Asking a few vital questions to your roofer can solve your doubts and you can put your trust in the roofing company. Residential roofing and commercial roofing both are different as both the projects involve various factors like budget, support system, and so on. 

Though, it is exciting to perform through DIY, as it is becoming popular today. But DIY projects have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Many homeowners and business houses feel that DIY culture is easy and it would help them to save money.  The best option is to consult the professionals of the industry. DIY roofing is not only dangerous but there are few intricacies that only the professionals can carry out.

However, hiring a professional roofing contractor would ensure that the job is carried out effectively and without any hook-ups. 

So, how would you ensure which roofing companies are the best option and which aren’t? There are a few questions that every homeowner and business house should ask the roofing contractors.

What should I look for when hiring a commercial roofing contractor?

Warranty Coverage

Installing commercial roofing requires a great deal of investment. Hence, warranty plays a vital role after the installation. Warranties include the price of materials and workmanship costs and even can cover both.

You need to figure out the type of warranty the roofing contractor is providing and whether or not they are offering any warranty on the roofing materials. You need to ask them specific questions about the life-span of these warranties. If you are installing new shingles, then they should provide you a coverage that runs at least 25 years.

Track record and Experience

The commercial roofing contractors that fail to offer high-quality service roofing solutions d not survive in the industry. However, the companies that provide top-notch solutions and survive all the hardships have a proven track record in satisfying their customers. You need to have proper clarification about their track record and ask them about their past experiences. This will give you insight and an idea of whether they are fitting your scheme of things. 

What are the best materials for my commercial needs?

The professional commercial roofing contractors would guide you about the different materials that are best for different climatic changes. The roofing contractor can ensure you in picking out the perfect materials that can meet your specifications and budget. They would also guide you in comparing different roofing materials throughout the selection process.