Nice Home Live

Replacement windows are not something that enters your mind until it is too late. It is oftentimes overlooked until someone commented that your windows need painting or it no longer enhances the façade of your house.

You need to replace your windows if rainwater is infiltrating your house, drafts are blowing, does not shield the elements or filter out the noise. Unless you owned your house for a number of years, most people treat replacement windows as odd home improvement idea. But the truth is it is much simpler. You need not replace the framed part of your window as this is nearly impossible. What you will be doing is just replace the majority of the window like the glass and other moving parts. Read the rest of this entry »

This is a tale of how I learned – again – how important it is to do preventive maintenance on a house. I certainly want to keep everything in good working order, but sometimes I slip up.

Photo: Massachusetts Dept of Environmental Protection

Just as the heating season started in earnest I noticed an odor that seemed to be coming from the basement. I ignored it for a day or two, thinking it would pass, as many smells do. By the third day I couldn’t ignore it any more. I went down to the basement and noticed a little oil around the fittings on the hose from the oil tanks to the furnace. The drip pan was full. I emptied the drip pan, wiped up the oil, and spread kitty little to absorb any oil that night have spilled onto the floor. Read the rest of this entry »

Nowadays, air conditioner has become a necessity for a lot of people. Imagine working in a room during the sweltering summer months and you will get the picture. Air conditioners have made working easy as it is easier to work in a cool condition than to suffer lethargy because of the heat.

Photo: Polygon Homes

Air conditioners played an important part in many aspects. For one, working in businesses and office buildings without it will mean disaster as the people will not be able to work efficiently. It is very important to keep some machines, like computers, to keep them from bogging down. If the computers will not last long without it, picture the havoc it can create for people who are dependent on it for living. Studies have shown that there is a connection between depression and the heat of the summer. This condition is called Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. Also, few people can sleep when the temperature is greater than 90 degrees. Sleep can be very difficult, miserable, and sweaty when it is hot. It is for these reasons that when an air conditioning bogged down, people tend to panic. Air conditioning repair can be done by a repairperson, but it helps if you have some knowledge on how to do simple repairs and maintenance yourself. Read the rest of this entry »

There are a few simple things that you can do to improve the look of your home and in the meantime have a positive impact on your power bills.  Things like having roller blinds on your windows so you can block the amount of sunlight coming in through your windows will keep your home cooler and if you have a nice area outdoors with outdoor pavers and a veranda you will spend more time outside in summer rather than sitting indoors using your air conditioner.

Photo: brendan.wood

Curtains or roller blinds
By having curtains or roller blinds on your windows you can make a big difference to the temperature inside your home.  On a hot day shut your curtains or blinds earlier in the day so you keep the interior of your home cooler for longer without having to rely on your air conditioner.  Your curtains will also help keep your home warm in winter by trapping the heat and your heater will not have to be turned up so high, yet your home will still be warm enough. Read the rest of this entry »