Window Replacement Project
May 24, 2012 by Home Services Link · Leave a Comment
If you have old sash windows in your home you may need to have them renovated to keep them looking their best. It is advised that you should have your windows repaired or renovated, depending on what is needed, every five to seven years. When it comes to renovating your old windows you basically have two choices to make, you can either do the repairs yourself and save the money or you can opt to hire experts to come into your home and do the renovations for you. Either way you will be able to save money on the project if you take into account several key factors when you are deciding on which option will suit your needs the best.
If you are someone who likes to work with your hands and have a lot of patience when it comes to dealing with the unexpected aspects of DIY projects, then you may want to take on the task yourself. If it is just routine maintenance like painting that is required for your sash windows then doing the project yourself could save you a lot of money. Paint is not that expensive and if you do not have a lot of windows in your home prepping them for a new coating of paint will not take up a lot of time. You will find a lot of information over the internet that will help you better understand how you should and should not paint sash windows so getting the job done should be easy enough to handle on your own. You may also be about to perform other routine maintenance projects on your sash windows yourself like draught proofing them with the right draught proofing kit.
Now if the project calls for a little more than just painting or draught proofing, then you may want to take into consideration what experts could do for you. There has always been an old saying that sometimes when you try to do things yourself to save some money you may end up paying more to have the repairs fixed because not only will you have to hire someone to repair what was in need of repairs in the first place, but you also have to pay for other issues that you may have caused by trying to do the repairs yourself. This is never truer than when someone with little knowledge about how to repair their historic sash windows themselves. There are a lot of parts that make a sash window and not all of them are easily repaired. Letting the experts handle these renovation projects may not be as expensive as you may believe.
If you are looking for an expert in the field of sash window renovations and you are not sure where to begin, you can always start out by searching online to see what you can find. There are many great companies in the UK that can do all of your sash window renovation projects for you from maintenance projects all the way up to full restoration projects all at very affordable prices. If you are a business owner and you have a lot of windows that are in need of repair or you are a homeowner that only has one or two windows in need of repairs, there is no job too large or small that it can’t be handled by professionals.
By Nirra Poret.
Learning thermostat adjusts to your habits
April 23, 2012 by Home Services Link · Leave a Comment
Provided by Nest Thermostat
The new Nest learning thermostat is taking home automation to the next level. By sensing your movements, it learns your habits and automatically adjusts the temperature thereby maximizing its efficiency.
With Apple and Android interface, the nest can also be controlled remotely with a smartphone or tablet.
According to the EPA, a properly programmed thermostat can save up to 20 percent of a home’s annual heating and cooling costs.
The suggested retail price is $249. Installation and programming costs will run about $119 according to Chris Gallagher, owner of EcoEnvironments, a local Nest Certified Professional.
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Home Air Conditioning Repair Tips
April 19, 2012 by Home Services Link · 1 Comment
Well before sweltering temperatures arrive, it is the time to make sure your cooling system or air conditioner is working properly. Here a few simple home air conditioning repair tips to ensure that your home remains cool over the summer season.
Just like other major components of your home, your cooling system and/or air conditioner should be well maintained. 
At the very least, yearly cleaning and maintenance is needed to ensure all systems are working properly. Many individuals take the, if it is not broken don’t fix it approach when it comes to their air conditioning units cooling the home, but this often leads to days of suffering from heat due to the air conditioner or home cooling system failing and technicians booked solid for days or weeks. Instead of risking the potential of an air conditioning issue, read on to discover what you can do to stay cool.
Cooling System Check Up
Twice a year or at the very least, yearly cleaning and maintenance is key to keeping your cooling components functional and free from problems. If you do not have a regular air conditioning repair company, it is recommended that you find one that you are comfortable with. Many companies have service maintenance contracts with special offers such as free cleaning, discounts on parts and repairs and more. The mistake many individuals make is waiting until there is a problem and unfortunately a problem always seems to occur during the hottest days of the season and you will have to wait or pay big bucks. Customers who have maintenance agreements are often given top priority when it comes to repairs or troubleshooting problems.
Energy Efficient Cooling
Replacing outdated energy wasting air conditioning systems with energy efficient components is one way to save money. Your air conditioning repair company can offer you advice, options, and pricing on installation and equipment. Many companies offer in-house or third party financing options so the expense is not such a burden.
Central Air Installation
Adding a new air conditioning system to replace window air conditioners will save money and energy over time. There are several types of air conditioning systems available; some use electricity while others rely on a combination of natural gas and electricity. A good local air conditioning repair company with a solid reputation will give you the best advice for your needs and the needs of your home based on its size. A local company within the community, understands the climate and conditions, and will know exactly what will work best for your home.
The same preventative measures that you take for appliances, furnaces, and other major components in your home should be taken for your air conditioning system. You do not want to wait until you have a problem, so nip it in the bud and have your air conditioning system evaluated before summer hits. Let HomeServicesLink help.
Building Trust and The Power of Testimonials
April 17, 2012 by Home Services Link · Leave a Comment
With all of the information out there especially on the internet these days from all sorts of sources, what do you believe? Who do you believe? What are your trusted sources? The home improvement and repair industry is heavily dependent on references. Many people ask friends or family who to use for different task or projects. Others use services like Angie’s List to find recommendations. What are the criteria your friends or family use for deciding who the best contractor for your need is? This can be tricky because your expectations may be different than your friend. What they consider good performance may not be acceptable to you. The work they had done may have been less complex than your need and beyond the capability of the contractor (and the contractor wants the work and may not share that little detail).
Testimonials are a great source of information. A base assumption is that you trust the source. Some sites generate their own testimonials so you will have to figure out if the testimonials are real or paid for. So how do you use the information in a testimonial? Many times a testimonial is just a reflection of the character of the contractor. Here are a couple examples from our long list:
The electrical work has been completed. Very thorough and accommodating. Your recommendations are great as always. –Vicki of Sharonville
The remodeling contractor was AWESOME; he came out and discussed my plans, provided a quote, he was thorough in his follow-up. I felt he was fair and honest on the quote. I will be contacting him for two other projects for quotes. I’ve also recommended him to friends. I appreciate HomeServicesLink for following up with me and I plan to use your services in the future. –Karen of Cincinnati
Both of these are glowing and speak to the professionalism of the contractor which is what you get the majority of the time. This is an important element in the selection process and a good start but more is needed and is usually not found in testimonials. The contractor may have been awesome for this clients need but he may lack the skill or expertise for your specific project. Here you will need to get references for similar work so you can discuss with those homeowners their experience and was it what you will be expecting. Short of going to see the work you will have to determine if the project is similar to what you are planning. Possibly review a photo portfolio of previous work related specifically to what you are looking for like bathroom remodels or kitchens.
In the end it all comes down to whom do you trust to provide you quality work and service at a fair price. You have Twitter, Facebook, Yelp, and Kudzu to name a few as sources for information. Just make sure it is a reliable source as far as the specific provider of the information is concerned. The larger the database on a contractor the better for determining their longer term performance. A single reference point or testimonial is not a true indicator over time. We see all different types of projects and ask the questions to do our best in matching the best contractors to the work. Since we do the quality control checks and follow-up with customers we have multiple data points on just about every contractor in our preferred network, and if they don’t consistently deliver to our standards they are dropped from the program. Along with that we maintain current insurance certificates on all of the contractors in our network. HomeServicesLink is here to help you find the right contractors for your needs. You can contact us at info@homeserviceslink.com or 513-271-1888. We would also be interested in hearing what source you use most often to find your contractors and home service providers.
Green Remodeling and Home Repairs
April 6, 2012 by Home Services Link · Leave a Comment
Many homeowners hear the words “Green Remodeling” and instantly think high costs are involved. One does not have to spend 20-30-40k on solar panels. One just has to take control of one thing: the budget!
Set the budget and stick to it. Whether you do it yourself or select a contractor to do it…the budget is the budget. Positive things happen when one follows the budget. Here are the byproducts of setting a budget: proper planning, creativity, resourcefulness, and efficiency.
And remember Rome was not built in a day, neither is your home going to be as Green/Sustainable as possible in one month.
There are 6 categories that the USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council) uses in its rating system…just think SWEMI
1. Sustainable Site
2. Water Efficiency
3. Energy and Atmosphere
4. Materials and Resources
5. Indoor Environmental Quality
6. Innovation and Design
When new buildings go up or new homes are built and the owners want them to be officially LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certified, then guess what, the owner must meet certain requirements in each of the above categories. But as a homeowner you may tackle each category at your own pace…so it takes you 1-3 years to go through all the categories…you are being fiscally responsible with the environment…and keeping more dollars in your pocket…nothing wrong with that! With all this new info, let’s get to the nuts and bolts (that would be recycled nuts and bolts!!!!)
Tip #1 Planning phase: Decide which of the following categories you want to address first:
1. Sustainable Site: How your home is situated on your property, how to manage stormwater (just like it sounds…rains from storms), the landscaping being used, the grading on your property.
2. Water Efficiency: how much water you are conserving (low flow fixtures, tankless water heaters), recycling water (aka Graywater), collecting water.
3. Energy and Atmosphere: conserving energy (heating system, cooling system, appliances, lighting, electronics), solar and wind power.
4. Material and Resources: Recycling paper, cardboard, glass, plastics and metals. The fun stuff…what is the end product going to look like (bamboo and cork flooring, recycled paper countertops, Forest Stewardship Council certified wood, natural insulation, fire clay tiles, recycled glass tiles, ceramic tile, low to zero VOCs {Volatile Organic Compounds} paint, natural fiber carpets)…where you buy your materials (think local) makes a difference in saving energy, plus it gives a nice boost to local economy! Also re-using materials from demolition (i.e. if we were to demo wall, we could re-use 2×4 studs to frame maybe another portion of the remodel project).
5. Indoor Environmental Quality: If you choose certain materials from #4 you automatically improve the air quality indoors. By using 0 VOC paint, and installing HEPA filters in your HVAC return system, and changing out furnace filters 1x per month you can save up to 10% of your heating costs plus remove allergens from home and improve air quality. Think of techniques to create natural ventilation (will address when we cover these item more in depth).
6. Innovation and Design: this category if more geared to getting a project LEED Certified. The purpose of this post is to give homeowners valuable tips as they contemplate going green.
Information courtesy of HomeRepairsandRemodeling.com.
HomeServicesLink, your Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky contractor connection, has LEED certified contractors and partners with Building Value to provide homeowners with access to reclaimed/recycled building materials.
Household Items That You Can Compost!
March 20, 2012 by Home Services Link · Leave a Comment
Home composting isn’t just for farmers anymore! The practice is becoming increasingly popular among urban environmentalists who are eager to cut their landfill contributions: from apartment dwellers growing gardens on top of NYC roofing, to folks who participate in their local municipal compost program, to homeowners looking to turn their backyards into a teeny tiny sustainable city farms. Composting is a key component of the eco-friendly puzzle, because it takes waste that’s destined for landfills and turns it into usable, nutrient-rich soil, which is perfect for gardening. Most people focus on kitchen scraps, but that’s just the very tip of the composting iceberg. Did you know you could also include the following?
1. Dryer lint
2. “Dust bunnies”
3. The insides of a vacuum bag (just empty the bag into the compost bin)
4. The contents of your dustpan (just use discretion)
5. Coffee grounds
6. Coffee filters
7. Tea bags/loose leaf tea
8. Soy/rice/almond/etc milk
9. Nut shells (but not walnut, which may be toxic to plants)
10. Pumpkin/sunflower/sesame seeds (chop them to ensure they won’t grow)
11. Avocado pits (chop them up so they won’t sprout)
12. Pickles
13. Stale tortilla chips/potato chips
14. Stale crackers
15. Crumbs (bread or other baked goods)
16. Old breakfast cereal
17. Bran (wheat or oat, etc)
18. Seaweed/nori/kelp
19. Tofu/tempeh
20. Frozen fruits and vegetables
21. Expired jam or jelly
22. Egg shells
23. Old, moldy “soy dairy” and other dairy substitutes
24. Stale Halloween candy and old nutrition/protein bars
25. Popcorn kernels (post-popping, the ones that didn’t make it)
26. Old herbs and spices
27. Cooked rice
28. Cooked Pasta
29. Oatmeal
30. Peanut shells
31. Booze (beer and wine)
32. Wine corks
33. Egg cartons (not Styrofoam)
34. Toothpicks
35. Q-tips (not the plastic ones)
36. Bamboo Skewers
37. Matches
38. Sawdust
39. Pencil shavings
40. Fireplace ash (fully extinguished and cooled)
41. Burlap sacks
42. Cotton or wool clothes, cut into strips
43. Paper towels
44. Paper napkins
45. Paper table cloths
46. Paper plates (non wax- or plastic-coated)
47. Crepe paper streamers
48. Holiday wreaths
49. Balloons (latex only)
50. Raffia fibers (wrapping or decoration)
51. Excelsior (wood wool)
52. Old potpourri
53. Dried flowers
54. Fresh flowers
55. Dead houseplants (or their dropped leaves)
56. Human hair (from a home haircut or saved from the barber shop)
57. Toenail clippings
58. Trimmings from an electric razor
59. Pet hair
60. Domestic bird and bunny droppings
61. Feathers
62. Fish food
63. Aquatic plants (from aquariums)
64. Dog food
65. Rawhide dog chews
66. Ratty old rope
67. The dead flies on the windowsill
68. Pizza boxes and cereal boxes (shredded first)
69. Toilet paper and paper towel rolls (shredded first)
70. Paper muffin/cupcake cups
71. Cellophane bags (real cellophane, not regular clear plastic)
72. Kleenex (including used)
73. Condoms (latex only)
74. Old loofas (real, not synthetic)
75. Cotton balls
76. Tampon applicators (cardboard, not plastic) and tampons (including used)
77. Newspaper
78. Junk mail
79. Old business cards (not the glossy ones)
80. Old masking tape
81. White glue/plain paste.
Happy composting, everyone. Please tell us what YOU compost!
Article courtesy of Sayward Rebhal for Networx.
Wash Away Those Garden Pests With Soap Sprays
February 28, 2012 by Home Services Link · 1 Comment
For centuries, savvy gardeners used soap sprays to combat bugs.
Andrew Jackson Downing, a gardening celebrity of the 19th century (who would have designed New York’s Central Park if his life had not been cut short in a steamboat accident), wrote in 1845 that a “wash of soft soap is very good for many purposes … penetrates all the crevices where insects may be lodged, destroying them.”
Then, DDT and other harder-hitting, longer-lasting pesticides developed during World War II left soaps on the sidelines.
Yet here we are in the more environmentally conscious 21st century, and soap sprays are back in vogue – for the same reasons they fell out of favor. Soaps biodegrade quickly and are relatively nontoxic to most creatures (including us).
Pests on plants don’t always warrant calling out the sprayer, but when spraying is needed, soap may do the trick.
You could just douse your rose bushes with leftover, soapy wash water, an aphid remedy once popular among British gardeners. Or you could use soap more deliberately, dissolving some tincture of green soap or Ivory soap shavings into water to make up your own mix.
Add 1 to several tablespoons of soap per gallon of water, or enough to make suds. Test a little of the solution to make sure it won’t damage the plant as well as the bugs. Don’t expect consistent results, though, because washing soaps vary in composition. (Note that soaps and detergents are not equivalent; soap is one kind of detergent, but all detergents are not soaps.)
These days, you can buy soaps specially formulated for garden use. Garden soaps, like washing soaps, are made by combining naturally occurring fats with an alkali such as sodium or potassium. Advantages of modern garden soaps come from choosing specific fats and alkalis.
Soaps act by disrupting cell membranes, and depending on the formulation, those membranes might be those of insects, weeds or disease-causing organisms. Insects most affected by soaps are soft-bodied, slow-moving ones such as aphids, mealybugs, scale and mites.
Now is when these insects start to build up on houseplants.
Caterpillars and beetles are not generally bothered by soap sprays.
Different soap formulations are used against weeds. Soaps toxic to weeds are more or less toxic to all plants, so have to be directed right at the weeds. That’s easy enough with weeds poking up between brick pavers, but you’re better off with a hoe for weeding a bed of flowers or vegetables.
Disadvantages of soap sprays on paving are that they can leave a white residue and be slippery until they wash away.
Whether used against insects, weeds or diseases, soaps are contact poisons, effective only as long as target organisms are wet.
This is both good and bad. Sprayed perennial weeds often have enough energy stored in their roots to resprout, so need repeated treatment. Hand weeding might prove easier. Similarly, repeated treatments are needed to kill insects that hatch from eggs on treated plants to get each flush of hatchlings. Soaps have no effect on insect eggs.
On the plus side, beneficial ladybugs and lacewings hanging around houseplants and garden plants usually have enough time to up and fly away before being doused with a soap spray. Once the spray dries, all harm has passed and they can return.
For maximum effectiveness, spray either weeds or garden plants with soap when the weather is overcast or cool, and drying is slowed.
The best water for mixing up a soap solution is soft water, just as for bathing; rainwater is ideal. And once the soap is dissolved, no more shaking is needed – further shaking might cause too much foaming.
Avoid spraying a stressed or blooming plant.
Finally, thoroughly douse whatever plant you spray so that, to reiterate Mr. Downing’s advice of 167 years ago, the soap “penetrates all the crevices.”
Article from The Cincinnati Enquirer, 02/25/2012 by Lee Reich of the Associated Press.
Keep Cool and Warm with Recovery Ventilation System
February 27, 2012 by Home Services Link · Leave a Comment
So how do you reduce your energy consumption and reuse the heat and cooled air in your home without it being stale and unhealthy. James Dulley provides Cincinnati homeowners with an idea, a recovery ventilation system. Learn more and contact Home Services Link if you want an system installed.
Question: The indoor air gets stale and too dry or too humid during winter and summer when we heat or air-condition. Is there any efficient way to get fresh air indoors without opening windows and wasting energy? – Mike J.
Answer: The air inside an energy efficient house can get stale both summer and winter. Not only is it unpleasant and
The design of ERV unit uses a rotating heat exchanger to transfer both heat and moisture between two air flows. / Provided/Aprilaire
uncomfortable (too dry or too humid), but it can be unhealthy. Many of today’s products and household cleaners emit dangerous chemicals, especially when they are new. Actually, just opening several windows for cross-ventilation for a short period of time on a breezy day during winter is not very inefficient. Much of the air inside your house can get exchanged fairly quickly without a huge heat loss from the house structure. The heat content of air is relatively low.
This method is not as effective during summer in humid climates. The humidity from the incoming fresh air permeates the walls and items in your house. To remove it, the air conditioner must run longer. If the air conditioner does not have a variable-speed blower with humidity control, your house gets chilled.
For continuous fresh air inside your house in the most efficient manner, install a complete heat recovery ventilation system (HRV). During winter, heat from the stale outgoing warm air is transferred to the incoming cold fresh air. During summer, the stale outgoing cold air precools the incoming hot outdoor fresh air. Up to 75 percent of the energy can be saved.
A HRV is a simple system with a heat exchanger inside a cabinet and two blowers, one incoming and one outgoing. It has its own duct system drawing the stale indoor air usually from bathrooms and the kitchen. The incoming fresh air ducts often lead to the living room or hallway. The two air flows pass each other in the heat exchanger, but stay separate.
In many climates, indoor humidity levels are also a concern. For example, during summer, bringing in precooled humid air may not greatly improve comfort and may exacerbate allergies. Excessively dry air during winter can be uncomfortable for the skin and can cause other problems.
An energy recovery ventilation system (ERV) is a variation of a standard HRV. The design of the heat exchanger and its materials are different from a HRV. In addition to transferring heat, the heat exchanger in an ERV also transfers moisture. During the summer, the incoming fresh air is partially predehumidified by the outgoing cool dry stale air. During winter, the indoor humidity is recaptured.
There are various types of automatic controls which determine how long and how fast the blowers operate. An indoor air humidity sensor is common. You can also manually override the sensors and run it when you choose.
Article featured in The Cincinnati Enquirer, 02/24/2012 by James Dulley.
Money Down the Drain, Limit Water Usage
February 8, 2012 by Home Services Link · Leave a Comment
Looking for ways to reduce your water usage and waste, while saving yourself some green? We’ve found some helpful hints and tips for that money wise and eco-friendly homeowner.
Undoubtedly, the toilet is the biggest water hog in the bathroom. Those made prior to 1993 use up to 8 gallons per flush, which is approximately 5 times the current toilet use.
If you’re unsure of the age of your toilet, check under the lid. According to Patty Kim of National Geographic’s Green Guide, the toilet’s manufacture date is usually stamped under the lid.
Plumbing leaks account for 14 percent of total water usage in the average American home. Toilets are the main source of this leak. An inexpensive but effective test to check for a toilet leak is to use 5-10 drops of food coloring in the tank. Do not flush. Check the toilet 15 minutes for colored water leakage into the tank.
Another source for water waste is the shower. Older shower heads were not low flow rated. You can test your shower head efficiency with this simple test. Turn the shower and catch the water in a bucket for 2 minutes. If the bucket overflows, your shower head is a wasteful model.
Consider replacing it with a low flow shower head. It’ll save you money and reduce water waste. You can find shower heads for as little as $15. That’s a great return on your investment because you’ll save money and water with every shower. If you really want to be frugal and eco-friendly, turn the shower off while soaping up.
EarthEasy website reminds us that even with a new shower head, even a moderately short shower uses between 20 to 40 gallons of water. A bath can use 50 to 60 gallons of water.
When checking for leaks, be sure to inspect your pipes and faucets. Although these may require a professional to assist in the inspection or repair, the long term benefits will save you money.
Let us know if we can be of assistance with your plumbing repairs or any other home improvement or repair need in your home.
It’s Cold Out There – Furnace Options
February 2, 2012 by Home Services Link · Leave a Comment
Is your old furnace just not doing its job any longer or are you looking for something a little more efficient to reduce those monthly utility bills? There are several options you might consider depending on your budget.
The most common furnaces in this area are either gas or electric with a possible combination heat pump. Most people just want a simple and quick replacement when the time arrives. The amount spent may also be dependent on how long one plans to stay in the house. The most efficient models, as high as 98%, also the most costly can also generate the largest annual savings on your utility bills. A good HVAC contractor should be able to calculate the payback time for your different options.
So what are your choices? The basic option is a single stage furnace that is either on full blast of off. Kind of like cooking on a gas grill with only a high and off setting. You can upgrade by adding a variable speed blower and achieve as high as a 95% efficiency. The next step up is a two-stage version with a low and a high level gas valve usually with a variable speed blower as well. This would compare to cooking with only a high and low setting – works better for heating than for cooking. Nowadays this is the biggest selling variety balancing energy savings with installation costs where gas is available. The top end choice would be modulating furnaces. Basically these units check indoor and outdoor temperatures and produce heat to keep your house at a consistent temperature. The burner can operate anywhere from a simmer to high heat along with a blower that runs at variable speeds also. These units tend to run for much longer cycles at lower blower speeds and lower burner output but maintain a more consistent temperature. Even though they run longer, because they do not blast on to high heat, shut down and repeat they use much less energy.
I personally installed a high efficiency two-stage unit with the variable speed blower. I enhanced mine setting my blower to run all of the time recirculating the air in the house to again maintain more consistent temperature. I also installed zoning with thermostats in different areas for the single furnace and in duct dampers to shut off flow to areas not needing heating or cooling at the time based on the programming of the thermostats. The key is to make sure you use an HVAC contractor you can trust and knows how to calculate what is best for your situation.
Beyond these choices, if you are really into energy savings, you might also explore geothermal systems. During more mild times of the year your heating and cooling costs can be close to zero. You will need the electricity to operate the pumps and fans but these systems can also generate your hot water needs reducing your energy needs greatly. Most people think of geothermal as very expensive. With energy credits and rebates that have been available, the costs are very similar to the higher end high efficiency furnaces. The other component of geothermal to consider is where you will locate the needed piping. If you have a lake on the property the coils can be placed in the water. Most of us are not in that situation and would most likely need vertical holes bored each about 150 feet deep. The number of holes is based the number of tons of cooling capacity your home needs – one bore per ton. I would strongly recommend using an experienced highly recommended company for a geothermal installation.
HomeServicesLink can assist you with finding trustworthy, high quality HVAC contractors in the area if you are contemplating a change. The other thing to be sure and ask if you are replacing your furnace is the impact on your AC system. Many times a total system replacement will be necessary if switching from the older low efficiency units. Either way you will probably save substantially on your utility bills and help the environment. If you have other questions or just need some help finding a good contractor for any project contact us or call us at 513-271-1888.
