Expansion for Heat Absorption
June 30, 2007
In the refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant must undergo a change in state in order for the heat to be absorbed from the environment.
The refrigerant has the property of changing its state from liquid to vapor at normal room temperatures.
Have you ever felt your skin becoming cool whenever you put alcohol on it? Or even when a bit of petrol spilled onto your hands? It’s because, the alcohol or petrol has evaporated when it comes in contact with your skin.
The result - heat is removed from your skin, and it feels cool!
In a closed-loop refrigeration circuit, the change of state from liquid to vapor is achieved mechanically by pressurizing the liquid at one end and forcing it through a small opening at another end.
Once the liquid comes out from the small opening, it expands into vapor. The effect is similar to the spray you get when you restrict the outlet of your garden hose. But water is not a refrigerant. It does not feel cold because it does not change to a vapor.
Bad example. But you get the idea? Pressurized restriction causes spray at the other end.
Measure Your Window for Verticals and Horizontal blinds, Wood blinds, Faux Wood Plantation Shutters
June 29, 2007
Here are five important things to remember.
1. Use a steel measuring tape
2. Measure to the nearest eighth of an inch - don’t round your measurments.
3. On your notes, clearly indicate which measurment is the width and which is the height. It is very common to transpose measures. Please note width first, then height.
4. Do NOT take any deductions for an inside mount. Our factory takes those allowances. You need to provide us with your exact window size opening
5. You need to provide the exact overall blind size needed for an outside mount. Our factory makes all outside mount blinds the exact width you specify.
Click here for your FREE estimate…
Choose Inside or Outside Mount:
Before taking any measurements, step back from your window and decide if you want to mount the window treatment inside the window recess or outside on the wall or moulding. For an inside mount, the window opening must have enough unobstructed depth to allow mounting.
Tip: For a flush inside mount (the blind completely recessed so that no part of the blind projects out of the opening) check that you have enough depth and make sure you request the valances be made the same width as blind since they are normally made an inch or two wider.
Building or Decorating Your Home Requires House Plans
June 29, 2007
There are some things to consider when creating plans for your home. There are two situations that call for plans or blue prints, either you are building a new home or decorating your present home. The types of plans required for either situation will vary depending on the extent of your project.
When building a new home, there are several things you will want to consider carefully. The most obvious is where you are going to build your house. The climate will affect where you build. You wouldn’t build an icehouse in the middle of the desert. You will want to determine what material you will want to use. Brick, wood, and cement are popular. In the southern states clay adobe houses are the norm. In the north and other areas brick, wood, and stone are options. The climate will influence this choice as well. In areas where there is cold weather brick and cement are used because they absorb and retain heat. In the south wood frame houses are built. The size of your lot will determine the size and type of house you want. You couldn’t build a mansion on say a quarter of an acre. On the other hand a one bedroom, single floor home would look strange on a lot that is two acres or bigger. Whether your home has a basement could be important and that would depend on where you live. If you are lucky to have a basement, it can house the laundry room and your gym equipment or be a playroom/guest room.
Decorating on a Shoestring Budget
June 28, 2007
Right now one of the most popular shows on television is, â??Trading Spaces.â?? If you havenâ??t gotten an opportunity to watch this show, the object of the game is to decorate one room in someone elseâ??s house with a budget of a $1,000. The decoratorâ??s truly struggle to accomplish this so you know it is hard when even they, trained professionals, are having problems creating the room of the homeownerâ??s dreams.
Do not despair just because your money is limited- you can still create a warm and inviting home frugally. When people come into our home and see our front room (the only room we have decorated since we are relatively new homeowners) they always comment on how beautiful our drapes, furniture, and whole look of this room is. Do you think I disclose that we put the furniture together ourselves and that the whole décor came compliments of Target? No way! Never divulge the sordid details, just simply bask in the glory and let them try to recreate your look. Here are a few tips for creating an inviting home on a budget.
Contractor Referral
June 27, 2007
“As a contractor with 16 years of experience and speaking on behalf of professional contractors. I want people to be aware of the warning signs that they may be dealing with the wrong contractor.”
Not every contractor is out to get you. The majority are honest, reputable business owners who strive to do quality work, using good materials at a reasonable cost. In fact, many of these contractors are members of associations such as the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) or the BBB (Better Business Bureau).
For the past three years, I have conducted investigations in contractor/homeowner relations. I have heard numerous stories of why homeowners feel taken by home improvement service providers. Even though we have our own formulas on choosing a contractor the nightmare stories continue to stockpile. On the other hand, I have heard from several contractors of how they feel undercut by the competition and taken advantage of by the homeowner. Yet still, the bickering goes on.
Heated Driveways: Who, What, Where, When, Why, & How
June 26, 2007
What are heated driveways? The obvious answer is, "a driveway that is heated," but what actually heats the driveway? The best driveway heating systems are radiant heating systems, similar to indoor floor heating systems. There are primarily two methods for heating, electric and hydronic. Electric systems use a line-voltage cable, while hydronic systems generate hot water then pump it through plastic PEX tubing. The heating elements are embedded in the surface and use resistant heating to heat the surrounding area. Most systems incorporate an automatic sensor that detects inclement weather to activate the system. Electric systems tend to be more efficient, require less maintenance, and heat surfaces quicker. Hydronic systems are usually slightly more expensive to purchase and install, but the operational can be lower depending on their local fuel rates. Both systems have their advantages, however, the electric systems are gaining a lot of interest due to their price, ease of installation and threatening future of the cost of fuel.
Why install a driveway heating system? Some of the obvious benefits are of course, not having to shovel your driveway again, avoiding injury due to slippery surfaces, and having the confidence that your driveway will be cleared when you need to use it. Other notable benefits include; adding value to your home, preserving the life of your driveway, and avoiding damage to bordering landscape with harmful salts and chemicals.
So You?ve Put an Offer on a Home. What?s Next?
June 25, 2007
You’ve finally found the home of your dreams, 3 bedrooms, attached garage, great neighborhood. You fix sights on the freshly painted walls, new carpeting, beautiful cabinet and a huge back yard. What are you forgetting? Everything else! Don’t forget about the plumbing, heating, A/C, electrical, insulation, ventilation, exterior and roof. These are the most overlooked items because most people know very little about these types of items, or what to look for. You decide to make an offer on the home.
What’s next?
Don’t forget about getting the home inspected. When you made the offer, your realtor should have gone over the inspection contingency in your contract. Simply stated, it’s a clause in the contract that your offer is contingent upon a home inspection, and you have a certain amount of time to get the home inspected. It allows you to have an unbiased professional look beneath the cosmetic items into the complex working components of a home. It also allows you to either renegotiate your offer based on the inspection, or at the very least know what lies ahead of you if you do decide to purchase the home. A seller’s disclosure statement is nice and most seller’s are honest, but don’t even realize that problems exist in their home.
Purchasing Framed Art For Your Home or Office - a Novel Way to Decorate
June 24, 2007
Framed art is an ideal compliment to any room of your home or office. Decorating an environment using framed artwork is quick, easy and is usually relatively inexpensive. People generally choose framed art because it matches their decor, or because they like the actual piece and conducting this selection can be great fun because the choice is simply huge.
Today, there are currently thousands of artists who have allowed their work to be transferred into framed prints. But this is not a new thing. The world has appreciated the work of artists for many years. While many of the modern day artists go unannounced to the world, many others already have stamped their mark on the world. Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, and many other classic artists will live on through their artwork forever and buying print versions of their work is both popular and common.
Appreciating the work of artists ? irrespective of whether they are known or unknown is an important part of the cultural aspect of life. In order to be a well-rounded person, it helps to build a healthy appreciation for art. A great way to show your admiration is through the purchase and display of framed art. Framed art prints are less expensive than actual paintings so this lets you enjoy the many options for decorating your environment.
Reduce Your Heating Bills This Winter - Overlooked Sources of Heat Loss in the Home
June 24, 2007
Imagine leaving a window open all winter long ? the heat loss, cold drafts, and wasted energy! Well if your home has a folding attic stair, a fireplace, and/or a clothes dryer, that may be just what is occurring in your home!
These often overlooked sources of heat loss and air leakage can cause your heat pour out and the cold outside air pour in ? costing you higher heating bills, causing cold drafts, and wasting energy.
Air leaks are the largest source of heating and cooling loss in the home. Air leaks occur through the small cracks around doors, windows, pipes, etc. We apply caulk and weatherstripping to these areas to minimize heat loss and cold drafts.
But what can you do about the three largest "holes" in your home ? the folding attic stair, the fireplace, and the clothes dryer? Here are some tips and techniques that can easily, quickly and inexpensively seal and insulate these holes.
Attic Stairs:
Do you have a folding attic stairway in your house? When attic stairs are installed, a large hole (approximately 10 square feet!) is created in your ceiling. The ceiling and insulation that were there have to be removed. And what is installed to cover this opening? A thin, unsealed, un-insulated sheet of plywood!
Feng Shui Your Home, Work and Life For Balance and Harmony
June 23, 2007
Feng Shui describes the communication that takes place every day between you and your environment, be it your home, garden or work. This discipline investigates the universal feelings and reactions of human beings to all environments, including our world. The teachings explore how connections (TAO), balance (Yin/Yang) and vitality (CHI) impact our lives. An environment affects all aspects of our being in the world..from health, safety, family, friendship, spirituality… to even how we love. Now, more than ever before, it is important to space clear the clutter out of our lives and minds..to allow POSITIVE LIFE FORCE to support, nurture and empower us, via a balanced and harmonic environment.
The location of clutter in an environment, reveals the content of a person’s inner struggle. The absence of disorder empowers us. As we are connected by energy to everything in our environment…you might want to review the following and check to see where you may be struggling in your life:
LOCATION OF CLUTTER
Entrance door… fear of relationships
Inside closets…unwilling to examine emotions
In Kitchen…resenting/overwhelmed by caretaking
Next to Bed…desire for change or escape
On Desk..frustration, fear of letting go or need to control
