Everyday Life

3 of Signs It’s Time to Upgrade the HVAC System in Your Home

April 24, 2017 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Most households don’t notice their HVAC systems. As long as their home stays cool in the summer and warm in the winter then they don’t think about it. However, when it stops performing effectively or starts getting more disruptive, homeowners are forced to evaluate their HVAC units to determine what can be fixed and what needs to be replaced. Here are three signs that your HVAC system needs to be replaced or at least needs to be inspected.

There Is More Dust Floating Around

Image via Flickr by pulverizer_13

Dust is more than a cleaning annoyance. It can worsen your allergies and make your children sick. If they have asthma, they could struggle to breathe — even in their own homes. Furthermore, pollen from the outside can spread to areas like the bedroom and den that you want to feel comfortable in. Replacing your HVAC unit and cleaning your ducts can make it easy to breathe in your home again.

If you have noticed more dust in your home lately, check your air ducts to see if they’re particularly dusty. While air filters catch a significant amount of dirt and dust, older models are less effective at trapping these irritants. Your older home could also have decades of dust build up in your air ducts if they have never been cleaned.

Your Energy Bills Are Increasing

There are two signs that your HVAC system isn’t performing like it should: your energy bills are increasing and your system seems to run constantly. In this instance, you might have a leak in your air ducts that is pushing the air out of your home instead of inside your rooms. If your energy bills have been on the rise lately, pay attention to your HVAC system and see if it’s not turning off as often as it used to. The two could be correlated.

Before you decide to invest in a new system, call your local HVAC company for a checkup. There might be something wrong with your unit that’s causing it to run longer or push out room-temperature air. This could be an easier — and more affordable — fix than a complete replacement. During your tune-up, the HVAC professional will also check other sources around your home for leaks, like a drafty room or loose windows. This too could provide an affordable alternative to an HVAC replacement.

Your System Is Loud and Disruptive

Has your HVAC system grown louder in the past few years? Is there roaring and clanking that is keeping you and your kids up at night? If so, then your unit may be on its last legs. Older motors have to work harder and lose pipes or doors could lead to clanking noises.

This is another reason to have your HVAC unit inspected by a professional. He or she might be able to tighten up a few loose elements or find a way to muffle the sound of your system without requiring a complete replacement.

A poorly performing HVAC system can make the summer miserable, whether you’re sweating through the day or sneezing all night. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, then it might be time to invest in a modern unit.

3 Hidden Hazards That Can Be Lurking in Your Home

January 24, 2017 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Home is supposed to be the safest place to be. It’s familiar, comfortable, and everything is in its place. But things aren’t always as they seem due to small dangers that turn into big ones if not caught early. Sometimes it’s a problem from another era that was never remediated properly and is now rearing its ugly head. These issues require fixing as soon as you find them to stop them from becoming worse. Don’t let yourself get caught off-guard; take action by looking for these three hidden hazards that are found in your home.

Image via Flickr by jronaldlee

Mold

Mold shows up in the cleanest of homes, silently spreading itself into wallboards and fabrics. It starts when there’s a damp or persistently wet condition somewhere in the house. For example: leaky pipes are a major cause of mold. You might think a leak is something you’d catch and stop before it gets worse, but pipes are found throughout and under the house. A leak might be so slow that you don’t see it because it doesn’t make a puddle. But it does create the perfect conditions for mold to take hold and spread its spores throughout the home.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide happens when fuel is burned, such as burning natural gas for a water heater. When it comes to the home, anything that heats water or air emits CO2. Under normal circumstances, and when everything is operational, CO2 gets exhausted through a vent pipe connected to a chimney. That chimney vents the CO2 into the air and prevents it from getting trapped in the home. Potentially deadly issues arise in the event there’s a failure in the venting system or mechanics of the units.
When there’s a failure in that pipe or the flame in the heater fails to ignite properly, the gas can seep out into the house for people to breathe. Sometimes it’s just enough to make someone sick; other times it can kill outright.

Lead Paint

Lead was used as an additive in paint up until the 1970s. It made certain pigments brighter and resists moisture damage. If your home is older than 1978 and has had no major renovations, you might have lead paint. Lead paint is usually not an issue if it’s been painted over or covered with wallpaper. However, if there are surfaces that rub together, such as a door and door frame, lead gets released into the air with the rubbing. And as lead paint ages, it chips and cracks, making it a focus for curious hands and mouths. Children get lead poisoning by handling and eating the paint chips, which can result in developmental issues.

Getting a thorough inspection of your home gives you the information you need to combat these and other dangers. A home inspector can tell you what’s in good shape, what needs fixing, and what is an immediate danger to your and your family. It puts your mind at rest knowing that you can take action and prevent your home from being a source of danger.

4 Brands That Want to Invest in Your Children

November 30, 2016 by Painter Mommy 1 Comment

Buying certain brands can help children in the United States and other countries lead healthier, more fulfilling lives. If you want your purchases to make the world a better place, consider buying from these four brands.

JCPenney

Image via Flickr by JeepersMedia

JCPenney does more than operate department stores across the United States. It also runs several charity programs dedicated to improving the lives of children. JCPenney Cares stands out as one of the company’s most successful endeavors. The 501(c)3 charity donates money to programs that give children healthy, safe places where they can stay engaged outside of the classroom.

Some of the partners JCPenney Cares supports include Boys & Girls Clubs of America, No Kid Hungry, and the YMCA.

You can help support JCPenney’s efforts while saving money. Start by getting coupons from Goodsearch and this Facebook page dedicated to JCPenney Goodsearch coupons.

TOMS

When you buy a pair of TOMS shoes, the company donates a new pair of shoes to needy children living all over the world. This program has become very popular, so you may already know about it. TOMS, however, does more than send shoes to developing countries. It also has charity programs that provide clean water, training for birth attendants, and a range of services to improve eyesight in children and adults.

In the United States, TOMS tackles the problem of bullying. When you purchase anything from TOMS High Road Backpack Collection, TOMS gives money that supports crisis counselors and school staff, so they know how to prevent bullying.

Warby Parker

Warby Parker takes the buy-a-pair, give-a-pair concept to a new level. Instead of simply giving glasses to children, the company trains men and women in developing countries, so they can provide eye exams to people in their communities. Warby Parker then provides these trained professionals with enough money to purchase the number of glasses they need.

Men and women who receive training can then provide low-cost eye care and glasses to their communities. It helps the professionals earn a living while giving people in developing countries an affordable way to get the glasses they need.

From Warby Parker’s perspective, this arrangement makes it possible for children to receive affordable glasses and lets adults earn reliable incomes. Instead of creating a culture of dependency, Warby Parker’s charity efforts give people a sustainable way to earn incomes and help the people around them.

Reebok

Childhood obesity has become a serious health problem in the United States. Reebok’s BOKS program attempts to lower obesity levels by providing before-school physical activity programs. BOKS currently works with over 1,000 schools.

Before-school exercise does more than just help children shed pounds. It also prepares their minds for a full day of learning. The program has received praise from several notable people, including First Lady Michelle Obama.

You can help Rebook fund this program by using Goodsearch coupons and visiting the Coupons for Good Rebook page.

Where you shop and what you buy can have an effect on the lives of needy children all over the world. By making knowledgeable choices, your next shopping spree could make a child’s life better.

4 Rooms Where You Can Use a Rolling Cart

November 29, 2016 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

When thinking about home furnishings, people often overlook the humble cart. This is a shame, as the cart is one of the most useful multipurpose items in the house. You can easily custom build your own carts to do a variety of functions. Below, we break down the uses of carts in several of your rooms, with tips on what kind of construction you will want to use.

Living Room

A small multipurpose cart in the living room can make the space more useful and productive. You can pull it in front of you and put your laptop computer on it, creating a mobile office. You can use it as a small spare table, so you can place food or drinks on it. You can even play card games on the surface. A good living room cart is probably not that big; consider calibrating its height to match the furniture in the living room, so you can know that you can work easily with it on your sofa or recliner.

Kitchen

During your everyday life, a kitchen cart can help you tote dishes to the dining room and move around heavy grocery sacks. But kitchen carts really shine when it is time to have your friends and family over for a gathering. Load your cart up with snacks and you have a mobile buffet, leaving your tables free for party games or present piles. If the party is of the adult variety, you may want to break out a variety of the kitchen cart called the bar cart — a wheeled conveyance for your finest liquors that lets you bring the party from room to room with you.

Laundry

Image via Flickr by Wicker Paradise

If you have a large family, or just don’t do the wash very often, laundry is a big chore. A laundry basket on wheels can help you schlep around your clothing and sheets, saving some wear and tear on your back. If you happen to have a laundry room in your home, this is a useful way to combine your laundry piles in one place and transport it to your appliances; if you build it to match the sitting height of your furniture, it can even help make the tedious process of folding less strenuous. If you go to a laundromat, you can still use a cart to help transport the wash from your house to the car.

Garage

Any mechanic worth their salt knows the value of a sturdy tool cart. In your garage, this item lets you keep all the most important tools for whatever project you are working on in one place, saving you the trouble of crisscrossing the garage when you need a new item while also helping prevent the loss of your valuable equipment. The cart can also help when you need to move heavy parts to and from the machines you are working on, and serve as a central place for shop rags and cleaning fluids.

Carts are an amazingly versatile item, serving many purposes in many rooms. Building your own carts lets you make sure they will serve your purposes perfectly. If you spend a little time on them now, you will find yourself astonished by the dividends they can pay later.

3 Furniture Stores that Give to Charity

November 28, 2016 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Buying furniture is your opportunity to put your home together the way you want. But did you know that when you shop at certain stores, part of your purchase goes toward charity? Major retailers don’t put every cent of profit into their coffers and call it day. Instead, they put some of what they earn towards charitable initiatives of their own. When you make a purchase, you enable retailers to help more people in your community and even around the world. Learn how you can give back when you spend your hard-earned dollars on furniture that you need.

Pottery Barn

Image via Flickr by Jeepers Media

The Pottery Barn is known for having a distinctive style that combines neutral tones with flair. It’s also part of a corporation that gives to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, supports the AIDS Walk in San Francisco, and gives grants to organizations across the country that help homeless families and children as well as women escaping from domestic violence. Pottery Barn’s parent corporation also encourages associates to volunteer for their favorite cause and gives them paid time for doing so.

In addition, Pottery Barn gives donations, grants, and sponsorships to shelters of its choice. While it doesn’t accept unsolicited requests from local community organizations, it does seek to help community members gain stability in their lives through the shelters it chooses to support.

JCPenney

The venerable retailer sells attractive furniture at an affordable price and in many different styles. Over the years, JCPenney has built up an internal charitable division that works with organizations like the YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, No Kid Hungry, and more.

It’s an ethos that began with the founder of JCPenney and has continued for over 100 years. The retailer hires military families and veterans and donates products to help combat hunger, assist with education, and keep people healthy. JCPenney also encourages associates to volunteer with their favorite charity and help that charity earn a grant from the retailer.

Pier 1 Imports

Pier 1 Imports is known for its exotic styles and unusual furniture pieces that make a home or a room feel as if it came from another part of the world. The retailer also engages in philanthropic efforts with both national and international reach.

Over about two decades, Pier 1 Imports has contributed over $42 million to UNICEF in order to help the foundation reach women and children in need. Pier 1 Imports also works with the United Way of Tarrant County, where its corporate headquarters are located. In addition, the company helps a local elementary school by providing clothing to students identified as having a significant need. Associates shop for children and deliver packages directly to the child in need. It’s a unique way of giving back to the community.

Major retailers put their efforts into charitable giving as a way of becoming a part of the community. Those in need benefit from the purchases that you make in these stores. It’s a small but effective way of giving back from the customer and the corporation.