Guest Post - Playing Peak Hours to Your Advantage: How to Save Mountains on AC and Heating

Today I am welcoming Stefanie Miles with a Guest Post on Air Conditioning and Heating.  Thank you Stefanie!

Playing Peak Hours to Your Advantage: How to Save Mountains on AC and Heating

 
Your AC and heat are two of the biggest expenses on your electric bill. While you can unplug some appliances and try to do without, it's hard to turn down — or turn off — your HVAC system.

There are a few ways you can save money while still running your HVAC system — just by playing the peak hours of energy use to your advantage.

What Are Peak Hours?

Peak hours are the hours that your electric company gets the most demand. It's typically the time of day when businesses and homes are simultaneously running AC, heat, computers, electronics, and appliances. This puts a big strain on the electric supply. To help continue providing uninterrupted service during these hours, many electric companies charge you extra. Depending upon where you live, the company you use, and whether it's your home or your business that's being billed, you may pay a higher rate per kilowatt, or you may get a "demand charge," which can be anything from a few pennies to $20 per extra kilowatt.

How Can You Use Peak Hours to Your Advantage?

While peak hour energy use translates to a higher rate, off-peak energy usage costs less — in fact, some electric companies even offer rebates and monetary incentives for you to use the bulk of your electricity during off-peak times rather than during peak hours.

For other appliances this may mean waiting to run them during off-peak times. For your HVAC unit, it means using it smartly and in different ways during peak hours.

Find Out Your Peak Hours

The first step in using electricity intelligently is to call your electric company and find out the following:

·         When are the peak and off-peak hours in your area?

·         What is the rate difference between the two?

·         Do they offer rebates or other incentives if you lower your peak usage below a certain point?

·         Will you be charged extra if your load goes above a certain point during peak hours?

Once you have this information, you'll have a better sense of how you can lower your energy bills.

Lower Your HVAC Use

The most obvious way to save on energy costs is to eliminate as much energy use as possible during peak hours. Running the washing machine and dryer or dishwasher during off-peak hours, for example, is one way to lower your energy bill.

Of course it isn't always possible to run your AC and heating systems only during off-peak hours. Therefore, you need to change the way you use them during those hours. A few ways of doing this include:

·         Making incremental changes in the temperature set by your thermostat. Most people feel comfortable at temperatures below 70 degrees in winter and above 75 in summer; raise or lower the temperature 1 degree at a time during peak hours until you've managed to lower your energy usage during this time.

·         Installing a power manager. Some electric companies offer power managers that can be placed on your AC or HVAC unit. Power managers automatically detect peak or off-peak hours and will shut your system off for 1/2 hour every hour to lower your energy use during these times. Many companies that offer this system also offer credits to home and business owners that use them, which can lower your monthly bills even more.

·         Acting like a power manager. Even if your electric company doesn't offer power managers, you can operate your system as if they do. Shut off your AC or heat for 1/2 an hour at a time during peak hours to lower your drain on the system. 1/2 an hour isn't usually enough to cause temperatures to change too dramatically, which can make the unit work harder to compensate once it's turned back on.

Make It Work for You

Getting acquainted with peak and off-peak hours can make a big difference in your energy bill. Call your electric company today to find out what you could be saving and start pocketing the difference.

Stefanie Miles is a writer for Precision Air & Heating, a leading ac repair company in Phoenix, Arizona. She enjoys home improvement and typically does a project or two a week at her home.

Power Tools-- Guest Post

Today I am welcoming Daniel Foord with a Guest Post.  Thank you Daniel.

 

What defines a power tool as being ‘Industry Standard’?

 

For anyone that has needed to complete a domestic task like clean the car, clear leaves from the patio, or drill some holes for cables, there are a wide range of suitable machines available that can adequately deal with these types of jobs. These will include power tools, measuring tools, cutting tools, and air tools that can be acquired from a general purpose hardware merchandise shop.

 

There are also a host of tasks, which may be encountered through the process of domestic maintenance, where the types of machines available are simply not powerful enough to cope with the requirements of the job. There are some obvious safety reasons for not distributing the type of equipment that is necessary for this work to the general public. In some cases specialist training is needed before an individual is approved for use. Some pieces of industry standard equipment will only be available through an authorised vendor to a person with the appropriate trade credentials.

 

The defining factors for an industrial power tool are the level of expertise required to use the equipment and the output power of the device. There are ISO standards which regulate the classification of all machinery and these are used to decide whether a product is of a domestic, or industrial standard.

 

Finding industrial power tools

 

The majority of power tools, even industrial standard power tools, are available to members of the public without the need for specific training or qualifications. These can be sourced through merchants that deal specifically with a particular trade. A local directory service or business contact can help to locate these types of outlets. It is also possible to obtain industry standard power tools through reputable internet sites. When dealing with companies via the web it is essential to vet the site properly and check that they have the correct certification to handle the types of goods on offer. The site should have the correct mark badges and dealership approval illustrated on its pages. It is advisable to check the validity of any claims made about the approval to use or sell this equipment by making direct contact via email or phone. Through this form of contact it should be possible to obtain copies of any of the relevant certification for the machinery.

 

Buy or lease

 

As the type of equipment involved can be considerably expensive there are usually a variety of payment plans available for industrial power tools. Leasing is a popular option, particularly if the job will be completed in a short time frame. When purchasing this type of equipment outright it is worthwhile checking on resale value and any legal requirements for selling as it may be acceptable for member of the public to buy a particular tool, but there may be restrictions on any onward trade.

 

Author Bio - Daniel Foord has published a wide range of websites and is a regular contributor to blogs on a variety of topics including trade and industry. He researches on sites including Buck and Hickman in order to stay at the cutting edge of the latest industry news and developments.

Creating a Wooden Plank Wall--Guest Post

Today I am welcoming Peter Boucher with a Guest Post on Creating a Wooden Plank Wall.  I've always loved planked walls.  Thanks Peter for this information!

How to Create a Wooden Plank Wall

Wooden plank walls are a beautiful and unusual way to create an accent wall. Perfect for rooms with a natural theme, wood can be very versatile as it can be painted or varnished any way you want it to be.

Working It Out

There are lots of different ways to style a wood plank wall. Whether you go for thick or thin, horizontal or straight, painted one colour or three, it’s all doable. But figuring out exactly what you want is the easy bit. Take a look at Pinterest for endless hours of inspiration.

Prep and Paint

A wooden plank wall is a bit more work than your regular paint – or wallpaper job. However, the finished article is much more impressive.

First, you need to realise that this may be a job with a bit of to-ing and fro-ing. Start by measuring the wall so you know its dimensions. Then head out to the nearest hardware store and pick up some wood. The amount of wood that you’ll need will depend on its thickness and the size of your wall, so you might end up needing more wood than you first expected. You’ll also have to decide whether you want one plank as long as your wall or several planks to fit along one row.

Paint or varnish your wood to your desired finish, then cut if necessary.

Building the Wall

The method that you use to attach your planks to the wall will depend on the thickness of it. Whether you use wood adhesive, a nail gun or screws is up to you, the wood and the effect you want to achieve. If you want something reliable and permanent, it is advisable to use a drill, like this one from Elcocks, and screws or nails.

Start from the bottom, making sure that each plank you lay is straight. Add row upon row, and if you come to light switches or plug sockets, then you have two choices. Either start from the edge of the wall and work your way in, and cut the wood to shape when you get to the socket, or work your way out from the socket instead. The latter method is less hassle when it comes to cutting to shape, but it may not work for everything, like a sink, for example.

Once it’s finished, sit back and admire your beautiful wood plank wall.

 

Home Wiring--Guest Post

Today I am welcoming Peter Boucher with a Guest Post on Home Wiring.  Thank you Peter for this very helpful information!

Getting Started with Home Wiring

Home wiring is one of those jobs which most people will say is best left to the experts. It’s not that home wiring is particularly difficult, over complicated or time consuming. Rather, it’s the potential for danger which makes the majority of people cautious about doing their own wiring. Whereas with other jobs there is always a risk of injury, with wiring there is a heightened risk of something much worse happening if you get it wrong.

Nonetheless, many people happily carry out their own home wiring projects every year, with plenty of success and very few accidents. The key element seems to be respect. If you respect the capacity of electricity to do you real harm and go about your home wiring jobs accordingly, you are much more likely to stay safe.

The Tools You Will Need

As with any job, you will need a certain set of tools for carrying out your own home wiring. These include, but are not limited to:

-          Wire Pliers: These handy pliers come in two varieties, flat-jawed and needle nose. Wire pliers come with a built in wire cutter.

-          Screwdrivers: Your usual set should have a good range, but make sure it definitely includes at least a large head and small head in each of your slotted and flat head varieties.

-          A Circuit Tester: This will help you to find out where you need to turn off your power source.

-          A Power Quality Tester: This will help you to figure out what’s causing your tools or appliances to degrade or fail.

-          Electrical Tape: Check for the UL rating before you buy

-          Wire Nuts: Again, go for good quality nuts and always check the label for ratings/recommendations.

Staying Safe

When working with electricity it’s advisable that you take as many precautions as possible to keep yourself safe. Working with good quality tools is one of them, and wearing protective gear is another. Understanding insulationwill help you to make wise choices with regards to both tools and clothing. For example, only ever use wire pliers which have insulated handle grips, and make sure you are wearing shoes with insulating material – such as rubber – on the soles. This is because when electricity passes through you it will be looking for a way to ground. If it can’t ground, it will be much less dangerous.

Do Your Research & Go Slow

The best way to understand your home wiring is to pick up a manual, which can explain in detail the different types of wiring, circuitry and power in your home. It’s never advisable to jump in when working with electricity. Take your time, and remember that a professional is only a phone call away.