Category - Home Decor

Your house may require good water purification solution and if you are already thinking about it, then you are on the right track. Fortunately, there are various types of water purifying solutions that you can choose, but many may not be as good as the others. You should have a good idea about what you are looking for and things that you need to avoid. The tap water usually already goes through multiple filtration processes, but in some areas, the water isn’t pure enough. It is possible that there are still plenty of contaminants in the tap water and you need to perform a number of things to properly clean your water. The problem could start with the water treatment facility in your municipal area.

Many water treatment plants sanitize their water using chlorine, which is quite effective in killing small organisms that reside in the water. However, constant ingestion of chlorine through drinking water isn’t really a safe thing to do. Chlorine is known to increase the risks of cancer and you need to safeguard your health by using activated carbon filter to remove any unwanted chemical. However, you should know that the effectiveness of purifier can be quite different. Depending on the system, the percentage of chlorine removal is between 75 to 99 percent. You need to refer the performance data sheet to make sure that your water purifying system is working properly. If not, your family may not be fully protected against continuous consumptions of chlorine.

Another factor that could be poorly addressed by the plant is the possible bacterial contamination. The water may come out of the treatment plant with acceptable level of microorganisms, but there could be problems along the distribution line. Tough microorganisms, such as cysts, are quite small and difficult to eradicate. It means that eradicating them can be quite difficult. It is a good idea to have a micron-sized filter in your house, so cysts can be removed effectively from your water supply. Substances like MTBE, TCE, benzene, atrazine, alachor, lindane, VOCs, THMs and lead may also be very difficult to remove. So, in a nutshell, you need to make sure that to combine various water filters in your house. A good solution is to use both micron filtration and activated carbon filter.

Regardless of what filter you choose, it is important that it fulfils standards, based on information that you get from the performance data sheet. If you want to choose a reverse osmosis system, you may need to reconsider the decision, because it may remove various useful minerals and the price can be quite expensive. Also, mineral-less water actually has less than desirable taste and trace amount of minerals could give water its familiar taste. However, reverse osmosis is a good system to choose if water in your area is particularly high in mineral content. You need to de-mineralize hard water, so it is safe for daily consumption. With a good solution, you should obtain the kind of water that you want.

Many fridges die unexpectedly and this could happen more often during the summer, when the temperature and humidity increase. You need to use common sense to make sure that your fridge can last much longer. First of all, you shouldn’t leave the fridge door open, hoping that it will cool down the room a bit. Refrigerator isn’t an air conditioner and you shouldn’t use it to cool yourself. People often sit in front of the fridge, when the temperature is unbearably hot. Another way to ensure that your fridge will last longer is by putting just enough item inside the defrost system.

Containers of juice and water should be tightly sealed. Open liquid will increase the level of humidity inside the fridge and more moisture will be deposited onto the cooling coil. If it happens, the compressor will run longer. The normal run time for refrigerator is about 16 hours a day, but if there’s extra moisture inside the fridge, it may increase to 20 hours per day. You should also make sure to turn off the icemaker, if you don’t need it. You should make ice cubes only when you need them, because keeping the ice cubes frozen for days will cause the fridge to run longer and harder.

You should also check the fridge door to ensure that it has been sealed properly. Gaskets that are full of cracks and holes will allow some warm air to enter. The seal should be cleaned regularly with warm water mixed with light detergent. A good way to test the sealing ability of the door is to close it while letting half of the one dollar bill inside the fridge. If you feel resistance when pulling out the bill, then the seal is working properly. You should test the full perimeter of the door and the resistance should be felt uniformly. If the seal doesn’t seem to work and you have cleaned it, it is possible that the sealing is already warped out of alignment.

If this is your situation, you should call the service company. It is also a good idea to avoid overloading other compartments of the fridge. A standard fridge shouldn’t accommodate more than 50 pounds of food. If your fridge is overloaded, food won’t be cooled down properly. Many fridges have big door shelves that can be overloaded easily. You should move heavy items, like large soda containers or glass bottles into an inner container. When the door is overloaded, it will become heavier and the gasket will be stretched, allowing a small opening to allow warm air to enter.

It is also a good idea to avoid blocking the air circulation. There should be enough room between the refrigerator and the wall. Trays, brooms and bags may block the airflow and the compressor could overheat and it will burn out more easily. When the compressor is overworked, the internal temperature will become quite erratic.

It is often asked by homeowners, which one is better – gas or induction that is better for our cooktop. However, the answer often depends on your situation. Regular gas cooktop is often more difficult to clean and many people have said how they scratch the stainless steel and porcelain surface of the cooking surface, when they are trying to clean it. We should also consider the typical heat discoloration that can be visible quite easily after regular uses. It is also quite difficult to keep grates on to look new. In general, it is not advisable for you to wash the grates, because you may potentially wash out the rubber grommets. Also, it is quite likely that the grates will become rusty, when you let them inside the dishwasher. For many homeowners, induction cooktops may spark their interests. They are relatively easier to clean. Magnetic induction operates on the molecular level.

Magnet is used to create friction and you need to use ferrous metal pans and pots, so magnet can stick to them. Then, you will have a highly efficient heat source with about 90 percent efficiency. As comparison, gas cooktop is only about 60 percent efficient and it depends on the model. Also, it is a breeze to clean, because heat doesn’t pass through the ceramic glass. You often need to use only water and soap to clean any induction cooktop. If you want to boil water, induction cooktop is also quite fast. Depending on the technical specification of your induction cooktop, you may boil one quart of water only in 30 seconds. On the other hand, a gas cooktop may achieve the same results between 2 to 3 minutes. If you want to instantly simmer something while cooking, the induction cooktop will speed up the overall process quickly. However, there are some reasons why people don’t choose induction cooktop and switch to the gas version instead. The same thing may apply to you.

First of all, induction cooktop usually needs more power to operate and if you have a 30-inch induction cooktop, it means that you need a 30A breaker. In some houses, you will need to call an electrician to ensure that your kitchen can work using the induction cooktop. You should also know things that can be shared with the cooktop, so you are able to manage the power utilization. Without the right electrical arrangement, you can only cook one pan at a time and this will slow down your cooking process instead. So, choosing between gas and induction cooktop depends on your special situation and it’s up to you to fully decide it. Induction is a better choice if you want easy cleaning and higher performance. You will be able to use many pots simultaneously, but you need to make sure that your electricity system is able to cope with the demand. But, if there are occasional blackouts in your area, it may be better to choose gas cooktop. You will be able to cook even if the electricity has been cut off for hours due to extreme weather or other unusual situations.

Any sensible home owner should know that proper maintenance of garbage disposal could prevent disaster and save costs. Let’s just admit it, we don’t really treat our garbage disposal kindly. In fact, we may take it for granted. If the disposal unit is poorly operated or maintained, it will eventually break down. The drain can get clogged and blocked, potentially causing an endless list of problems. It often begins with a clogged drain, which may eventually cause the garbage disposal to malfunction. It is important for you to implement garbage disposal best practices, so the system will last longer.

First of all, you should make sure that the system is always relatively clean. A simple cleaning method is to pour a mixture of water and dish soap into it. This will ensure that much of the oily dirt can be removed from the system. We should be able to prevent corrosion and rust. It is also important to ensure that all parts inside the garbage disposal unit are moving smoothly. You should be aware the cold water will cause grease from your food to solidify and potentially clogging the system. You should be careful when handling eggshells, large fish bones and others. It may be a good idea to put them inside a separate plastic bag and put it into the plastic bag.

In many cases, the drain smells quite bad, so it is a good idea to grind any citrusy fruits peeling to freshen it up. In general, it is more convenient to collect large items in separate container and you can dispose it in the trash can. It is important to avoid putting anything that is not biodegradable. Hard objects may potentially damage both the motor and blades. You should be aware that the garbage disposal unit isn’t really a trash can. Metal, plastic, glass and paper shouldn’t be disposed into the unit. It is important to avoid grinding anything combustible, including cigarette butts.

You shouldn’t pour fat, oil or grease into the drain. Grease may accumulate slowly and the ability of your garbage disposal unit to grind waste will be severely restricted. Even so, it is important not to use hot water when grinding, because it could liquefy fatty objects into grease, which will clog the drain. Highly fibrous material, such as artichoke, onion skins, celery stalk and corn husks shouldn’t be ground with the unit. Fibers will easily tangle, blocking the drain and jamming the motor. You should make sure that the grinding process is fully completed, before turning off the motor or water.

When you are sure that the grinding process is completed, the garbage disposal unit should be turned off first. However, you should let the water to run for about 15 seconds, so the remaining particles can be flushed out. Potato peels can cause a unique problem, because the high starch content will turn them into a thick paste and then the blades will stick. Rice and pasta may also expand when exposed to water, potentially causing similar problem.