The Fun Times Guide > Home Building/Remodeling > home maintenance

How To Choose The Best Air Filter

Choosing the best air filter for your HVAC system should be a quick and easy decision. photo by Randy@TheFunTimesGuide.com

Have you ever found yourself scratching your head at all of the different types of furnace filters to choose from at the home improvement store? If so, you have lots of company wondering and staring at the shelves along with you. In an ideal world you'd like to see an apple-to-apples comparison when you shop for HVAC filters, but in my experience it is somewhat similar to buying mattresses. You're not certain if you're getting the biggest bang for your buck unless you look closely at the … [Read more...]

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What Is A Home Energy Audit?

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What is a home energy audit? A home energy audit, also known as a home energy assessment, is a series of specific tests and inspections performed by a certified professional to determine where your house could be more energy efficient. We recently had a free home energy review, not the same thing as a home energy audit, performed on our home by a representative of Home Energy Solutions. He came to our home and performed a complimentary 15-point inspection. It wasn't a full scale home … [Read more...]

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How To Increase Home Energy Savings

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Everyone wants to know different ways in which to save money. Homeowners have a particular advantage over renters as far as what you can do to improve home energy savings because you have a vested interest in your property. That doesn't mean that renters can't do some of these things, but they will have to live with the fact that whatever improvements are made (assuming the landlord approves your improvements prior to implementation) will stay with the condo, house or apartment. There are … [Read more...]

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I’m Fed Up With My Kenmore Elite He3t Problems

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I officially dislike my 6½ year-old Kenmore Elite HE3T front-load washer. Yep...it's broken again. I fear that this will not be an easy fix. It will be costly and we may decide to replace it rather than repair it. We've spent our fair share on repair bills with this washer and do not wish to throw good money after bad. The problem now appears to be either a bearing problem or the spider assembly needs to be replaced. Those parts run upwards of around $220-$300 each. Back to the diagnosis. … [Read more...]

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How To Maintain Septic Systems

Septic tank maintenance is not a pretty subject to discuss...but it is necessary knowledge if you have one for your home.All household waste (except what you put in your trash can) is disposed of through the septic system, unless you happen to be on a sewer system. Knowing how to maintain your septic system is vital to your household health system.What do you know about how your septic tank system works? In my experience, I've never done much to maintain my system except to follow a couple of … [Read more...]

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Replacing the Door Latch Is An Easy Washing Machine Repair

You don't really have a true appreciation for your washing machine and dryer until they break down. Our front-loading Kenmore washing machine broke down recently at the very beginning of wash day. Isn't that how it always works out?!The last thing I wanted to do was fool with washing machine repair, but this kind of problem can't be delayed when there are mounds of dirty laundry to be cleaned.We have one of those high-efficiency Kenmore Elite models that eeks water and electricity. It was a huge … [Read more...]

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How To Seal Granite And Remove Stains From Granite

To seal granite or not to seal granite. That is the question that many will ask prior to making their granite countertop purchase. If you installed your granite surface awhile ago, you may still be asking that question. When I spoke to Jeremy and Edward at M&F Business Corporation, a granite slabs importer that sells wholesale to fabricators here in Georgia, their answer was that granite must be sealed. Granite is, in fact, sealed at the factory and after the fabrication … [Read more...]

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Work Closely With Your Exterior House Painting Contractor For Best Results

There are several things to remember after you have hired a contractor for exterior house painting. I had my house painted recently and I wanted to be sure that it was completed entirely to my satisfaction and as stated on the estimate, just like any other customer would want. I've got a few common sense tips and maybe a thing or two that you may not have thought of when workiing with your painting contractor.If you're thinking of hiring an exterior house painting contractor, the first thing you … [Read more...]

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How To Use Acrylic Latex Caulk

We've been doing a lot of remodeling work in our kitchen recently. Removing wallpaper and installing beadboard paneling were the first two steps to updating the kitchen. Now we are painting and caulking. I have decided that wood putty is best suited for filling nail holes and acrylic latex caulk is great at filling in large gaps in trim-work and everywhere that the beadboard paneling doesn't quite meet up with door and window frames. Acrylic latex caulk is super easy to work with. Why? Because … [Read more...]

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How To Choose A House Paint Color

We are in the process of choosing a house paint color for our home. It's been quite a process to muddle through but it's been worth all of the time and effort that went into finally picking the colors that will coat and protect our home for the next few years. We've done this once before but I don't recall it being such an ordeal.Why has it been such an ordeal for us this time? Because we are older and wiser, therefore, we are considering many factors that we may not have thought about last … [Read more...]

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