Electrical
If you're a regular reader of this blog you'll know that we are big-time advocates of Twitter. It's been an incredible channel to share, meet and learn from our readers, friends and industry folks.
One such industry contact that we've taken notice too is Mike Hines of eXapath. Mike is the co-founder of Homepath Products which promotes eXapath, an in-wall media cable routing system.
Traditional home wiring consists of power for lighting and outlets and phone lines. With the proliferation of broadband home computing and home theater, homeowners must pay for expensive retrofitting and also make choices based on how far cables can reach after a wall is already up.
By installing an eXapath in-wall cabling system you can run all of your new media cables such as ethernet and HDMI in wall channels throughout the house.
Falling icicles can be dangerous to you and heavy ice dams can be a detriment to your home. We came across the HOT EDGE at the 2010 Builders' Show which looks like a great solution.
It lines your existing gutter and melts ice and snow away from the edge of your roofline which is the most troublesome area. It doesn't waste energy heating your entire roof as that part of the structure can handle the weight, unlike your gutters and roof edge.
Tankless water heaters have been the rage for sometime but if you still crave a more traditional water heater but want the energy savings then you may want to consider the Hybrid Water Heater from GE which we saw at the 2010 Builders Show.
It's the first water heater to be to be listed on the U.S. Department of Energy's website as Energy Star rated. GE claims it will reduce energy expenses up to 62%, saving as much as $320 annually on energy bills. This is achieved through a unique technology in addition to electric power explained below.
In the film Thomas Crown Affair, we loved how Pierce Brosnan hid stolen paintings behind an electronically controlled faux piece of art that would raise and lower which provided him access to his secret stash.
The Art Screen from Vutec works in a similar way and instead of hiding contraband it will conceal your big screen TV.
There are numerous pieces of "art" to choose from and they will even do a custom piece of your choosing but that could be costly. The frame styles are also customized by the homeowner and everything is controlled by IR remote.
MSRP is $1,099 and you can install the unit yourself.
Our old house has a gas floor heater and no air-conditioning (it's always 75 in sunny Southern California). The thermostat seemed almost as old as the house and we're not to sure it registered temperature correctly anymore so we just used it as an off/on switch which is inefficient and costly.
We decided that a programmable thermostat would be needed and would save us on our gas bill as well as not waste as much energy when we don't need it on.
That's when Trane stepped in to let us test out their XL800 Programmable Thermostat. It works with all types of heating and cooling units including gas and electric. There are four programmable settings that for different temps for day, night, wake and sleep. We only have a heater so setup and wiring was a cinch.
Here are the basics to installing a programmable thermostat.
We're full of fall maintenance tips these days and hope to get everything accomplished this weekend which will be hard to do as we're headed to Seattle to bring in the new season and enjoy a few days in the PNW.
But if you're home these are some simple tune-ups you can do for your home that will save you time and money now and are much easier to perform in the mild post-summer weather.
1. Tune up your heating system. For about $80 to $100, a technician will inspect your furnace or heat pump to be sure the system is clean and in good repair so that it can achieve its manufacturer-rated efficiency. The inspection also measures carbon-monoxide leakage. And you minimize the chance of being 200th in line for repairs on the coldest day of the year.
2. Buy a programmable thermostat. Or, if you already have one, double-check the settings. Energy Star says that, on average, for an initial investment of $50 to $100, you will save $180 annually on heating (and cooling) bills if in winter you keep the thermostat set to no higher than 70 degrees
3. Hit the roof. Or at least scan it closely with binoculars. Look for damaged, loose or missing shingles that may leak during winter's storms or from melting snow. If need be, hire a handyman to repair a few shingles ($95 to $125, according to www.costhelper.com) or a roofer for a larger section ($100 to $350 for a 10-by-10-square-foot area).
As we mentioned in a recent newsletter, Timothy will be contributing regularly to ShelterPop and today he shares the proper way to store medium-heavy gauge extension cables.
Storing cables the proper way prevents twisting and makes for easy use the next time you need them.
The Home Depot Foundation and Habitat for Humanity today announced the national expansion of Partners in Sustainable Building, a $30 million building program dedicated to greening more than 5,000 Habitat homes across the country.
Below are five simple, inexpensive energy saving tips courtesy of The Home Depot Foundation and Habitat for Humanity.
+ Save 10 percent or more on your energy costs by plugging tiny air leaks. Caulk and weather-strip all seams, cracks and openings to keep hot air outside.
+ Clean or replace air filters. Dirty air filters cause the AC unit to work harder than necessary, increasing your energy use and bills.
+ Install a programmable thermostat to save up to $180 a year in energy costs.
+ Choose ENERGY STAR appliances which use 10-50 percent less energy and water than standard models.
+ Install low-flow bathroom fixtures and save thousands of gallons of water a year.
The only reason not to replace your worn water heater with an electric one is upfront cost. Electric water heaters start paying for themselves as soon as you start using them as no energy is wasted keeping water hot.
One Project Closer has a great tutorial for replacing your old water heater with an electric version. With the correct tools it isn't that difficult of a job and you'll save a few hundred dollars by doing it yourself.
One of the more popular space saving ideas in a kitchen is installing an over-range microwave. It will open up countertop space and provide an exhaust fan for your range if you don't already have one. The drawbacks are depending on height they can be difficult to reach and lifting hot and heavy glass objects above shoulder height isn't ideal and some consider it an eyesore having a microwave as part of the cabinetry.
If you have decided to go that route you need to make sure you have the proper circuitry in your kitchen to handle the juice needed to run your microwave safely.
