If you’ve been wondering if you can learn a little bit about HVAC, then this article is something you should try reading over. It’s going to teach you the basics when it comes to this type of thing. This will allow you to get to know what needs to be known about this under your belt.

Inspect the temps in your home before you call a service to help you with any HVAC issues you’re having. Note which of your rooms are hot and which are cold. That knowledge can help the technician figure out what is going on.

Look for discounts wherever possible. HVAC systems can be rather costly, so you’ll want to seek out whatever discounts and deals that may be out there. When shopping around, ask about any current specials running, and look for discounts that are related to ENERGY STAR compliance. Both can save you a lot of cash.

Be sure to get every quote or estimate in written form. You have no recourse on a verbal agreement, so a written contract is a must. This will allow you to follow up if something goes wrong or you don’t get what you were promised, protecting you from shady contractors.

When the weather starts to cool down, make sure you turn off outdoor condenser units. This means that you should turn it off to prevent damage if the weather falls under 60 degrees Farenheit. You will save in repair bills and increase the efficiency of your system.

Be sure to check your evaporator coil drains frequently when your air conditioner is running. If this tube backs up, you can find water damage to your walls, ceilings and floors. If you end up with mold just use a solution of bleach and water to clean out the tube.

Consider all of your alternatives before installing a central air conditioner. You can only cool certain rooms, use whole-house fans, or even make use of a geothermal system. The more efficient the system you set up, the less you’ll spend on utility bills over time as you use it.

When you buy a new air conditioning unit, don’t let the salesperson talk you into too large of a unit. This will be a waste of money and won’t efficiently cool your home. The longer a system runs, the more efficient it will be when it’s running, so look for one which runs 15 to 30 minutes.

Find an air conditioner calculator online to determine what models are best for you. If you get something that’s too big, it won’t work as well for you in the end. You can also check the owner’s manual to find specific numbers provided for the manufacturer. These numbers indicate the particular unit to cool a particular area.

HVAC isn’t too difficult to teach yourself about once you have some great advice in mind about it. Generally this is something you should take some time with so you know that you’re going to get great results. Good luck with this and hopefully you come out on top with it all!…

It’s really no secret that not everyone has a green thumb. Some people couldn’t grow mold if their basement flooded. Gardening is really an acquired skill and not something you luck into. So if you want to grow a garden but just don’t have the confidence or skill-set, use the tips provided below to beef up on your organic gardening.

If you have a vegetable garden and plan on eating the vegetables, you should inspect them carefully every week. Look for bugs and worms or traces of disease and damages. Do not eat a vegetable that does not look healthy. Make sure you wash your vegetables carefully before you cook them.

Avoid rose mildew. This fungus affects many types of roses, especially in wet weather, when days are warm and nights are cold. Small gray or white spots will appear on the plant, forming a felt-like down. Shoot tips are killed and buds fail to open. Don’t plant roses close together – they need good air circulation to avoid mildew. Spray any affected plants with fungicidal soap.

If you do not want to expose your family to harmful pesticides in your garden, consider using organic pesticides. Organic pesticides do not have the harmful chemicals commonly found in ordinary pesticides. Fragrant herbs like rosemary, basil, and mint are often disliked by pests, and they are good choices to plant around your garden to ward off pests.

Start with a small manageable garden if you are new to gardening. If you are inexperienced, gardening can be stressful and frustrating. By starting with a smaller size, you keep your experiences positive and your plants under control. Gardens do require work and upkeep on a regular basis so keep that in mind.

When choosing plants for your garden, pick plants that are native to your geographic region. Plants native to your region will naturally do well in your garden because they are already adjusted to your climate. When you plant native plants, you will not be surprised by any unexpected results when your plants mature.

Water your potted herbs! Keep potted herbs well watered, but don’t over-water, which is a common mistake. Sage, thyme, rosemary and tarragon aren’t that bothered by a somewhat dry environment. On the other hand, mint, chives and parsley require constant moisture. Make sure that the container has adequate drainage holes, and place a layer of gravel in the base of the pot as a drainage layer. This ensures that the water doesn’t flow straight out.

A helpful solution for getting rid of a few slugs in your garden is to set out a container of beer. Just take a small plastic cup or container (plastic margarine bowl works great) and tuck it down into your garden beds near the area where the slugs are known to appear. Be sure the lip of the dish is level to the ground and then fill it with beer. The beer attracts the slugs into the dish where they will drown. You will have to dispose of the slugs and reset the beer “trap” every couple days, but your slugs will disappear.

Developing a skill-set in gardening does not mean you have to possess an aptitude for agriculture, in general. As long as you can follow some fairly basic directions, you should have no trouble, whatsoever, planting and growing a successful garden that is 100% organic. So here’s to your success!…