GInstitute Home Improvement and Remodelling

If this coming summer you are planning to buy a new window air conditioner, then there are a few things that you need to keep in mind. As you are putting money and expecting to buy an air conditioner that would deliver consistent performance for years, be calculative and make your purchase well planned. Here are a couple of steps that will help you in finding a durable and better window air conditioner.

Understand what size of window air conditioner you need

Many people have this misconception that a bigger size air conditioner will more efficiently keep the room cool. However, a large unit air conditioner consumes more electricity. The size of the air conditioner to be used depends on the size of the room. An air conditioner does the room cooling by removing the heat and humidity in the air. If in a small size room, a too large air conditioning unit is used then it will leave the room damp because it won’t be able to remove the humidity effectively.

A damp room has the danger of getting fungus. Hence, it is very important to install a window air conditioner of the right size. To determine which size air conditioner will be apt for your room, you need to calculate the square footage of the room. For example, a small room sized 150-250 square feet, a small window air conditioner of 6,000 BTU is recommended. For a room of 450-550 square feet, a larger-sized unit of 12000 BTU will be a better choice.

Make a research on the top brands on the market

The brand you are buying and the features of the air conditioner are important aspects to consider while making your purchase. You need to properly check the market and review each brand carefully. Through internet reviews or by personally asking the people around you, try to get feedbacks.

Personally visit dealer shops and know the features of the air conditioners from different brands like the warranty period, electricity consumption, maintenance, installation and uninstallation convenience, etc. To make a good purchase it is very much important that you know all the features of window air conditioners of different brands and its prices as well. Compare all the aspects carefully before selection.

Choosing the right flooring option is an important decision for any part of your home. Perhaps nowhere in the house is this more important than in the kitchen. This area is a high-traffic area that often produces more wear and tear on the flooring. It is also one of the areas in the home people spend most of their time.

As with any other room in the house, there are a number of viable flooring options for the kitchen. These two most common, vinyl and hardwood, provides various advantages and disadvantages and weighing these pros and cons will help you find the perfect match for your new kitchen floor.

Vinyl

This is the most traditional option for any kitchen flooring.

Benefits

The reason vinyl is such a standard choice for kitchen flooring is because it is relatively cheap. Vinyl offers a serviceable flooring option that is more affordable than other choices. It also provides versatility in style as it can mimic the look of other flooring materials such as hardwood or tile quite effectively. One of its biggest advantages in the kitchen is that it is easy to clean and repels water better than most other flooring options.

Disadvantages

A drawback to vinyl flooring in the kitchen is that although it is very affordable, it is not the most durable flooring option. Vinyl stands up well to water, but can be damaged by sharp objects and can dent from heavy furniture over time. Also, if vinyl flooring is frequently exposed to sunlight its color can fade. When compared to other types of kitchen flooring, vinyl has a relatively short lifespan.

Hardwood

A classic flooring option throughout the home, hardwood has recently been gaining popularity in the kitchen.

Benefits

The first advantage to wood flooring in the kitchen is that it will add resale value to your home. Hardwood boasts an attractive and stylish look which can be combined seamlessly with other rooms in the house with wood flooring. This can be taken a step further as hardwood floors can accent wooden cabinets wonderfully. In contrast to vinyl flooring, hardwood floors have one of the longest lifespans of all flooring materials.

Disadvantages

In contrast to vinyl flooring, hardwood does not stand up well to water. This can be a problem in the kitchen where water often spills and it is imperative that you clean up any standing water immediately. It is also worth noting that hardwood can be scratched easily and these types of damages are difficult to repair. Although wood is aesthetically pleasing, it does not provide the most comfort when walking around on it.

With the recent rash of winter storms all over most of the United States and Canada, the abnormally low winter temperatures and extreme weather might have played havoc on your roof. Because of this, you might want to check your roof again, even if you checked it before the onset of winter. Inspecting your roof regularly and making little fixes as needed can prevent some costly repairs down the road.

Interior Check:

The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) recommends you do a roof inspection at least twice a year, or after a severe winter storm or abnormally extreme weather. The best place to begin is inside your house. Simply grab a flashlight and make a trip to the attic. The four things to spot inside are:

• Places where the roof deck is sagging.
• Signs of water damage or leaking.
• Dark spots and trails.
• Outside light showing through the roof.

Exterior Check:

When you take a look at the exterior of the roof, pay attention to such things as damaged flashing, missing shingles, curling, blistering, buckling, rotting, and algae growth that appears as dark or greenish stains.

• Visually inspect your roof for cracked, torn, bald or missing shingles.
• Scan the roof for loose material or wear around chimneys, vents, pipes or other penetrations.
• Watch out for an excessive amount of shingle granules that look like large grains of sand in the gutters, a sign of advanced wear.
• Check for signs of rot and moisture. Mold, fungi and bacteria can grow quickly within 24 to 48 hours of a water-related problem.
• Examine the drainage, and make sure gutters and downspouts are securely attached. Also ensure all drains are open and allow water to exit, and all gutters and downspouts are free of debris.
• Check that all bath, kitchen, and dryer vents go entirely outside of your home.

Check the Roof Material Durability:

• Cedar – A cedar roof in need of repair or replacement will split and fall apart in dry climates. In moist climates, it will get mossy. The lifespan of a cedar roof is about 20 years.
• Tiles – Look for broken or cracked tiles, but don’t walk on the roof or the tiles will break. Tile roofs can last up to 100 years, but individual tiles can break. They can be replaced, but only by a specialist.
• Concrete – Should never need replacing.

If you have a roof with wooden shakes, you should also watch out for damage from termites, carpenter ants, and other wood-boring pests.