Fall Thermostat Check

Fall Thermostat Check

Old thermostats are fine as a simple on/off switch for your furnace but still a culprit for wasted energy and bigger heating bills. The good news is that replacing an older unit usually doesn't require professional help. You can purchase a replacement at your local hardware store and follow the enclosed instructions.

The Romans were the first society to invent the indoor heating system by running hot water underneath their marble floors. But the ability to control the temperature would have to wait until 1883 when Warren S. Johnson invented the first electric thermostat.

There were earlier attempts to create thermostats but none as precise as Johnson's, which was accurate to a single degree. And while your thermostat probably isn't that old, if you live in a home built before 1980, yours could still be costing you money.

Most modern thermostat troubles can be fixed simply by replacing the batteries. Turn off the heating system power and remove the cover according to your user manual. While you're in there, gently dust and remove corrosion from any visible parts.

You can also check to be sure the unit is level on the wall and located about five feet off the ground for the most accurate read. Consider relocating any thermostat placed where the temperature isn't consistent with rest of the house (this may require the help of a licensed HVAC contractor).

 

Kim Duclos

Wardley Real Estate

(702) 521-3939 

Stay Warm this Holiday Season 

25 Clever Ideas to Make Your Life Easier - CallKim.net

25 clever ideas to make life easier

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Via: amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com

Why didn’t I think of that?! We guarantee you’ll be uttering those words more than once at these ingenious little tips, tricks and ideas that solve everyday problems … some you never knew you had! (Above: hull strawberries easily using a straw)..

Via: apartmenttherapy.com

Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes.

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Via: unplggd.com

Remove crayon masterpieces from your TV or computer screen with WD40 (also works on walls).

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Via: athomewithrealfood.blogspot.com

Stop cut apples browning in your child’s lunch box by securing with a rubber band.

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Via: marthastewart.com

Overhaul your linen cupboard – store bedlinen sets inside one of their own pillowcases and there will be no more hunting through piles for a match.

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Via: realsimple.com

Pump up the volume by pl acing your iPhone / iPod in a bowl – the concave shape amplifies the music.

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Via: savvyhousekeeping.com

Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags.

Via: iheartnaptime.net

Add this item to your beach bag. Baby powder gets sand off your skin easily – who knew?!

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Via: realsimple.com

Attach a Velcro strip to the wall to store soft toys.

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Via: flickr.com

Look up! Use wire to make a space to store gift wrap rolls against the ceiling, rather than cluttering up the floor..

Via: instructables.com

Gotcha! Find tiny lost items like earrings by putting a stocking over the vacuum hose.

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Via: realsimple.com

Make an instant cupcake carrier by cutting crosses into a box lid..

Via: stephmodo.com

For those who can’t stand the scrunching and bunching: how to perfectly fold a fitted sheet.

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Via: sprwmn.blogspot.com

Forever losing your bathroom essentials? Use magnetic strips to store bobby pins (and tweezers and clippers) behind a vanity door

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Via: realsimple.com

A tip for holiday packing. Store shoes inside shower caps to stop dirty soles rubbing on your clothes. And you can find them in just about every hotel!

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Via: familyfun.go.com

A muffin pan becomes a craft caddy. Magnets hold the plastic cups down to make them tip-resistant.

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Via: unplggd.com

Bread tags make the perfect-sized cord labels.

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Via: kiboomu.com

Bake cupcakes directly in ice-cream cones – so much more fun and easier for kids to eat. Definitely doing this!

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Via: squawkfox.com

Microwave your own popcorn in a plain brown paper bag. Much healthier and cheaper than the packet stuff.

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Via: photobucket.com

Brilliant space-saver: install a tension rod to hang your spray bottles. Genius!

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Via: 9gag.com

Win friends at breakfast with this heart-shaped egg tutorial. Aww shucks!

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Via: wilton.com

Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie-dough over the top and voila – you have cookie bowls for fruit or ice-cream. Click here for recipe.

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Via: realsimple.com

Freeze Aloe Vera in ice-cube trays for soothing sunburn relief..

Via: lifehacker.com.au

Gutter garden: Create a window-box veggie patch using guttering..

Via: re-nest.com

Use egg cartons to separate and store your Christmas decorations.

 

 Have a wonderful New Year!

And remember............Call Kim for all of your real estate needs!

www.CallKim.net

(702) 521-3939

Greening Your Home callkim.blogspot.com

Greening Your Home

Many people are trying to find green homes or plan to convert the homes they’re buying to a greener one. What can you do to make your home greener?

Even if you are not making big changes, such as replacing old leaky windows or installing ceiling fans, there are still small things that can be done around the house to minimize energy consumption and reduce your carbon footprint.

Power Down- Put electronics such as computers and televisions on a power strip and turn it off when you’re not using those items. Consider “smart” power strips that can detect when an item is turned off but still drawing idle current; the strip will automatically shut off the current to selected outlets on the strip.

Seal Drafts- Seal holes, cracks and openings in your home to stop heat loss through the walls and ceiling.

Use Energy Star®- Energy Star® products help you save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Energy Star® label is on more than 40 different kinds of products for the home; including lighting, home electronics, heating and cooling equipment and appliances.

Fill it Up- Run washers and dryers at full capacity. They are most efficient when they are fully loaded.

Use Your Dishwater- You’ll use up to 35 percent less water by doing a full load of dishes vs. washing them by hand – and use less energy for water heating, too.

Reduce your Waste – Think green before tossing something into the trash. Approximately 70% of all household and yard waste can be composted or recycled. Find out if your community has a green waste or recycling program.

Cabinets – Cabinetry is the greatest source of formaldehyde emissions in the home. If you are considering a home renovation, opt in for formaldehyde-free adhesives and solvent-free stains or coatings.

Change a light bulb – Replace the bulbs in your kitchen with LED or CFL light bulbs to save energy and money. Natural lighting combined with task-specific indoor lighting and low voltage, high efficiency dimmers; greatly reduce the amount of energy needed to light the home.

Kim Duclos CRS  (702) 521-3939  (888) 949-2890
find a house with your mouse @ http://www.callkim.net/