When you finally decide to install gutter guards for your home, there are many factors that you must consider before you finalize a type. Right from thinking about your roofing structure, weather fluctuations, and trees around your home, you must analyze everything and get help from a professional to inspect before installing. Since this is new territory for you, there are many elements relating to gutter guards and their functions that you are not aware of. That is why searching for “gutter guards Cincinnati” will give you a brief idea of what they are and what exactly is their function.

Once you know the basics of gutter guards, it is time for you to finally shop for them. And when you are out there looking for the right gutter guard for your home, there are certain questions that you need to ask so that you get clarity of what you are going to get into. Here are the top four questions with their answers about gutter guards.

1 What is the lifespan of a good quality gutter guard?

The regular lifespan of a good quality gutter guard is around 20 years if you keep it well-maintained. The lifespan also depends on the quality of the material of the guard, for instance, if it is made of aluminum, it is surely going to last for a long time. Also, many gutter guard companies and services offer a warranty of 20 to 30 years, or many companies also offer a lifetime transferrable warranty which is something to consider.

2 Is it okay to not install gutter guards if there are no trees around my home?

The answer is a big NO. No matter where you live, what the weather conditions are, or if there are 100 trees or zero trees in your area, installing a gutter guard is a must. The main function of the gutter guards is that it prevents the gutters from clogging, be it leaves or debris. Thus, if you talk to an expert about this, you will be strongly advised to install gutter guards.

3 Is it okay to install gutter guards all by myself?

When it comes to installing gutter guards, know that this is not a do-it-yourself task that you can finish off by seeing a tutorial or two on YouTube. Such kind of installation requires deep understanding and experience about the subject matter and only a licensed and certified expert is allowed to do the job.

4 Do the gutter guards require any kind of maintenance?

Well, it would be wrong to say that the gutter guards will not require any maintenance, but it will surely save up the major repair costs for the damages. When you install good quality guards, it is generally very less to no maintenance requirement. From time to time, you will need to get them inspected from the expert and depending on the weather conditions, may require cleaning the debris from the top of the guards.

Therefore, when you are ready to buy the gutter guards for your gutters, do not forget these questions as they will help you make the right decision.

Refinishing hardwood floors make old and worn surfaces gain back their actual look. Even in some cases, it is the only way to restore the damaged floor to its glory. However, sanding and refinishing floors are expensive, messy, and time-consuming.

If your hardwood flooring has a decent shape, you can get away with a faster and more affordable option like screening and relocating. With this method, you bluff the floor and apply a fresh coat of polyurethane, a glossy finish protecting the floor.

When Does Your Hardwood Floor Needs Refinishing?

People opt for refinishing their hardwood floors when they find any damage to their flooring. These include:

Cupping

Often you might find the floorboards bending down from their edges in a concave shape, which hardwood floors refinishers term as cupping. Besides creating an unattractive look on your floor, it shows signs of water damage. Apart from accidental spills and drips, humidity is the major culprit for the cupping of floorboards. In case of mild cupping, sanding will fix the issue. However, if the floorboards start sticking up or separating, those individual boards require replacement.

Major Scratches and Dents

Since pets and kids play on the floor, it often experiences minor dings and scratches. It requires powerful sanding when the damage is widespread and penetrates the poly coat affecting the wood. When the wood experiences scratch, they become vulnerable to water damage.

Fading and Discoloration

Many people enjoy sunny rooms. However, too much of the sun’s rays discolor hardwood floors over time. If you note fading or change of color near the patio doors and windows, it is time to refinish the floor and restore the hue.

Splinters

You often fear walking barefoot on hardwood floors for the risk of painful splinters. It indicates that the sealant has worn away, and the wood underneath has experienced damage. Hardwood floor refinishers recommend sanding under the damage to restore smoothness and safety. Furthermore, you require applying a fresh coat of sealant to protect the new surface for years.

Water Stains

Stained floorboards are signs of water damage. Although you can prevent water stains by wiping the spills and drips immediately, unaddressed plumbing leaks, air conditioner drips, and pet accidents stain the hardwood floor. Refinishing the stains is the best solution to reveal and protect the floor.

Gray Floorboards

Often mistaken for a charming patina adding character to older homes, gray floorboards indicate water damage. Refinishing makes those gray floorboards brand new. However, never overlook the black floorboards, as it requires replacement.

You can refinish your hardwood floor in two ways, by hiring a professional refinisher or by doing it yourself (DIY). The DIY approach is a good solution if you are ready for the task and have time to learn about refinishing techniques. However, finding a professional is the best if you are short on time and looking for a hassle-free and perfect way to refinish the floor.

There is a lot of excitement in the world of indoor gardening. Being able to grow fresh fruits and vegetables all year round no matter what is happening outside means saving on the grocery bill and improving health. An indoor hydroponic garden can be grown without soil and without a large footprint. In your garden you can grow over 40 varieties of leafy greens, delicious herbs and edible flowers!

What Is an Indoor Hydroponic Garden?

The simplest way to describe hydroponics gardening is that is a method of growing without using soil. This is not a new concept; rice and some herbs have been grown for over a century using this style of gardening. Hydroponics comes from two Greek words: hydro meaning water and ponos that means essentially the water does the work. Plants need water, sunlight carbon monoxide and nutrients to grow, an indoor hydroponic garden meets all these needs.

Steps for Working an Indoor Hydroponic Garden

There are four, easy basic steps for enjoying your indoor hydroponic garden. Using an indoor gardening system makes gardening simple enough for anyone to be able to experience fresh food all year round.

1) Choose your crop. This may be the most difficult step. With over 40 varieties of fresh food to choose from, deciding what you want to grow can be a challenge! The good thing is, because you can grow all year long without the worries of what Mother Nature is up to, you can have multiple crops throughout the year and grow everything you want. This can include leafy vegetables such as lettuce or kale, or herbs such as dill, chives or even thyme. Crops can also include edible flowers such as chamomile or lavender.

2) Wait for the seed pods to arrive. Seed pods can be delivered right to your door. Seed pods can be purchased after each harvest or in a subscription form. When the current garden is ready to harvest the next set of seeds are already on their way – no more waiting. The seed pods have the seeds and nutrients ready to go. Or, you can purchase seed from your local retailer if you prefer.

3) Grow. Technology has caught up with gardening to create smart gardening. This technology allows an indoor garden to be fully automated; no more over or under watering your crop. Smart gardens will ensure that your garden has the right nutrients, the right water and the right light to grow amazing crisp and fresh garden food.

4) Harvest: Using the proper gardening techniques, bring the food from indoor hydroponic garden to your plate. While you’re harvesting your new seed pods will be delivered (if you are on a subscription service) and you can start this process again, ensuring that you have fresh food at all times.

Consider Your Lighting

Lighting is another major factor in your indoor hydroponic garden. Like growing vegetables outside, light matters. Grow lights will allow the plants to grow similar to them being in sunlight. There are a few varieties. Cool white or full spectrum lights are great for those who are new to indoor gardening. They are also better for smaller plants such as herbs and leafy greens.

LED lights are also a great light source for an indoor garden. There needs to be some research done prior to using a LEDs as they have different light spectrums.

More experienced growers may look at high powered lights such as the metal halide or high pressured sodium bulbs. This can be used for larger plants, but these lights may need additional equipment due to the heat output. These large bulky style lights are used by more experienced hydroponic gardeners.

Indoor hydroponic gardening is so easy that even someone with a brown thumb can say they have a green thumb! Whether you are trying to impress someone with fresh vegetables and herbs, or you just want to enjoy fresh food at each meal, an indoor hydroponic garden has what you need.

Functional Air Conditioners – A Must for Jacksonville

Jacksonville experiences typically humid subtropical weather conditions. Here, one will have to suffer the hot and humid summer season. The winter season will be drier. Consequently, human life will become dreadful without the support of air conditioners. Hence, it is of high significance that one should go for functional air conditioners. Besides, proper maintenance is also a must. You must hire the specialized services of a technically perfect air conditioner replacement Jacksonville FL company for perfect AC installation. Such an expert company will provide flawless maintenance service throughout the year.

Four Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Air Conditioner

If you observe the function of your air conditioner keenly now and then, you will be able to comprehend its functional nature. Naturally, the system may malfunction at any time. However, you will not notice that the system’s functionality is significantly lower if you do not watch the system closely. You will know about the malfunction only when the system stops working. However, some external signs will inform you about the faulty nature of the system. If you watch your AC unit closely, you can notice these signs, and you can replace the unit. That said, when you take the needed precautions, you can avoid costly repairs and extend the lifespan of your air conditioner. Some most relevant signs will inform you about the defective nature of the system. You can repair the system or go for a new system after considering the practical points such as the expense, time, etc. You must contact an experienced air conditioner replacement Jacksonville FL company for both repairing and replacement.

• Old AC Unit: As days pass by, wear and tear is par for the course of old air conditioners, as is the case with all devices, irrespective of whether mechanical, electronic, or electrical. When the AC unit becomes aged, it will not be capable of producing the same result as before. The system will fail to generate and keep the desired temperature. There can be various reasons for this situation, such as a faulty thermostat, broken ducts, clogged filters, low fluid levels, etc. Consequently, your air conditioner unit will not work as perfectly as before. The space where it is installed will not get enough coolness. Such a situation will make the room not fit to live in.

• Increase in the Humidity Level: When the air conditioner becomes broken down, you will feel the difference when you step into the interior spaces of your building. Here, the capacity of the system to get rid of the unwanted and intolerable heat and humidity from the interiors will become ineffective. Thus, the air supply within the related space will contain surplus moisture content. When you notice such a situation, then it’s time that you should replace the air conditioner. Servicing the unit or changing some inside parts will not work. Besides, such servicing will be costly. You will have to spend almost the same amount.

• AC Becomes Noisy: You can hear a typically awful noise coming out from the unit. In the usual case, the working noise of air conditioners is low and bearable. The slow humming will not be a bother to you. However, when the unit becomes faulty, this sound’s intensity will increase and become horrendous and intolerable. When such a situation comes to pass, you can guess something is wrong with the unit. It’s high time you mend the fault or replace the unit with a new one.

• Soaring Power Bill: When you notice some irregularity regarding your power bill, you must suspect a faulty air conditioner. This condition means that your air conditioner consumes a lot of energy for proper functioning. The functionality of the unit may have become deficient. That said, you will have to provide regular and perfect maintenance to the system to keep the functionality intact. However, with the increase in the power bill, if you experience a constant breakdown, you must suspect that the system has crashed. Then you need to replace the system.

That said, the installation process of air conditioner units must be precise. You will not have to do unnecessary repair work when this process is perfect. Hence, it’s highly significant that you must hire the expert services of a technically ideal air conditioner replacement Jacksonville FL company.

Spring is here, the sun is shining, the grass is green, and the trees and flowers are blooming. Spring makes people feel alive after the long winter. But with spring comes spring cleaning, dust, mold, and the beginning of forest fire season, bringing smoke to the neighborhood. Spring is the perfect time for air ducts cleaning. Here are five reasons you should keep your air ducts clean.

Better air quality

Clean air ducts mean cleaner lungs for you and your loved ones. Air ducts circulate the air through the home and over time, pollutants such as dust, smoke, animal dander, chemicals and even carbon monoxide can build up in these air ducts, which will be recirculated through the home. Air ducts cleaning will eliminate these pollutants from the system and fresh clean air will cycle through, improving the air to help your family breathe a little easier.

Air ducts cleaning can get rid of foul odors

The filtration system in your HVAC system prevents pollutants from circulating; however, it will not eliminate the odors. If there is a buildup of mold, bacteria, cleaning chemicals, droppings from animals or worse in the system, it can leave foul odors behind. Air fresheners will not always work, as whatever is causing the smell needs to be removed thoroughly to eliminate the issue. No matter how many windows are open, a foul smell will likely remain until the air ducts are thoroughly cleaned and the root cause is eliminated.

Air ducts cleaning saves money

Cleaning your air ducts can save money. By cleaning your HVAC system, you will allow the system to run at full capacity without additional energy being used. A clean unit will save on higher utility costs. Cleaning the unit on a regular basis will also increase the life span of the unit, as it will need less unexpected costly repairs or replacement. This also will give you peace of mind that the system will not break down at the most inopportune time.

Air ducts cleaning can save you time

With clean filters and clean air ducts, there is less smoke and dust potentially circulating through the home. Less dust in the home means less time spent cleaning and more time relaxing with the family. Dusting knickknacks and shelves can take a lot of time and energy on a daily or weekly basis. Less dust and build up also decreases the chance of a fire starting from within the ducts, as materials built up inside can cause a serious fire risk. Spend less time dusting or worrying about the air quality in your home by having your ducts cleaned.

Identifying potential issues

Having air ducts cleaning done by a professional can identify other issues with your HVAC system. Technicians can see if the air filters need to be replaced, while identifying bent metal, rust, gaps, lose connections and mold. Having an expert see what is happening within your whole HVAC system is the best way to provide healthy air for your family for a long time. Being proactive will prevent you from spending more money later on when your system suffers a major breakdown. Keeping everything running smoothly is much more cost-effective and a healthier option for the family.

Hiring a professional for air ducts cleaning provides clean air and a sense of security for you and your family. Maintaining this system will keep your HVAC running smoothly for a long time.

If you have ever encountered a sewage issue, then you know you will want it fixed as fast as possible. Sewage damage is one of the worst that can happen to a space and can make a property uninhabitable until the situation is dealt with. There are a few options available for sewage cleanup after one of these events happen, all of which have their pros and cons.

Today, we walk through a few of the most common sewage cleanup solutions available, what they are, and which one will help you get your space back to normal as quickly and painlessly as possible.

A quick note on safety during a sewage incident

While professional services are the best route, it’s important to note some important safety considerations during a sewage incident in your home or business. Before anything else, make sure that the occupants are safe, especially children and pets who may wander into the affected area.

Next, you should shut off the main water line and main electricity breaker if they are accessible. If you see standing water anywhere, do not touch or enter. Instead, call a professional sewage cleanup company to help.

If you have shut off the water and electricity and it’s safe to do so, document what you can so you have something to show the insurance company. Gathering information and evidence early can make for an easier claims process in the future.

Option 1: The DIY Route

There are many things you can do as a DIY solution. Painting interior walls, building shelves, and unclogging toilets. Even some minor repairs on your plumbing system are possible with a bit of know-how and the right tools. The DIY route for sewage cleanup, however, is easily one of the worst options.

Not only is the work fundamentally difficult, it can be almost impossible without the right equipment, some of which is not easy to procure. On top of all of this, sewage poses an extreme health risk, making it uniquely dangerous in the world of DIY home and commercial space repair. This is on top of the safety considerations we outlined earlier.

The DIY route is possible, of course, but you will need to know what you’re doing at every step, and ensure that you have the proper protective equipment, all of which needs to be fitted and implemented properly. You will also need help as even a small amount of sewage cleanup will require multiple people.

Option 2: Plumbers and tradespeople

If you choose to get help, you will likely call in an emergency plumber to help get everything under control. Emergency tradespeople are perfectly capable of finding the problem and working towards a solution. More importantly, they can also help you get everything cleaned up afterwards, helping you back towards normalcy.

The main drawback of only using a plumber is that they will get things to manageable but not fully restored. Since they aren’t renovators, they can help you fix the plumbing but they aren’t going to remediate the space, remove damaged materials, etc.

Option 3: Professional sewage cleanup restorers

While option 2 deals with the immediate issue, they don’t necessarily help you get back to normal. For that, you will need a restoration company that understands sewage cleanup. Restoration companies can help at every step, from the initial problem through to having the space fully restored. They are a crew of multiple disciplines who all work together to get your space back to its former glory, including major renovations that are not possible when only using plumbers.

Whether you have a sewage issue in your home or commercial property, you will want it dealt with fast. There are essentially three options available to you when you’re in need of sewage cleanup: DIY, tradespeople or professional and experienced restorers. DIY is not recommended since the work is quite dangerous, but it is possible. Tradespeople are perfect for getting the problem under control but, individually, aren’t likely to be qualified to renovate and restore the whole space. Restoration experts can help at every step, from the initial incident to fully renovating a space. While more expensive than the other two solutions, they are the best way to ensure things get back to normal as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Significance of AC Duct Cleaning

Air conditioner ducts are the channels that supply cool and warm air within the space where you install the system. Ducts are highly significant as far as the proper functioning of the unit, as it is through these channels that the needed coolness or warmness gets spread across the room. However, various external particles, such as tiny debris, dust, mold, bacteria, insects, etc., are likely to get into these areas. Such a blockage within the AC ducts restricts the airflow, and the air within the space will become contaminated. Remember, duct cleaning is vital as far as the effective functioning of air conditioners is concerned. Hence, you must hire the expertise of an expert AC repair company for duct cleaning in Jacksonville FL.

Why Should We Hire Professional Air Duct Cleaning Services?

It’s always beneficial to go for the specialized services of an experienced and reliable company for duct cleaning in Jacksonville FL. You can find such AC repair agencies by doing a Google search. However, you must compare the services and pricing of some of the top companies and choose the best option. You must shortlist and then compare. You must also check the reviews of the customers to assess the professional nature of the company. The main benefits are as follows.

No Disappointments: When you hire the services of an established company for duct cleaning in Jacksonville FL, you are sure to get benefits. You will get a 100% guarantee for all the repair works they undertake. This assurance gives a clear picture as regards their work perfection. The pricing will be flat-rate. Hence, it will be beneficial for you. Besides, the professional way of operation will make the task perfect.

Qualified and Trained Employees: The employees will be factory-trained and certified. They will have a perfect understanding as regards their behavior towards clients. The employees will clean the area perfectly before they leave the job spot. You will not see even tiny debris lying here or there.

Appropriate Tools: The right kinds of tools are vital for cleaning the AC ducts. If you hand over the task to a greenhorn company, they won’t have the right model tools. Besides, their employees will not have proper training. A professional AC repair company will have experienced and trained employees, as well as suitable tools. This arrangement makes the task effective and swift.

Swift Actions: The process of duct cleaning in Jacksonville FL becomes an easy task when you hire the services of a professional air conditioner service agency. The service desk of such a company will take the needed actions precisely and swiftly upon getting your call. Some of the top AC repair companies offer round-the-clock service, which will be highly beneficial for you.

Can Solve Imminent Problems: Working with a specialized AC repair company will ensure future benefits. As the employees will be qualified, trained, and experienced, they will be able to find out any possible problems that may come to pass in the near future. This awareness will enable you to take the needed actions to avoid all imminent problems as regards the specific air conditioner unit.

Avoid Heavy Power Bills: Another benefit of employing a professional company for duct cleaning is that it will save on energy bills. When there are blocks within the duct due to the accumulation of dirt, debris, dust, etc., obviously, there will be a specific stumbling block as far as the process of proper functioning is concerned. Because of this, there will be a need for extra energy for the operation. Hence, there will be a surge as regards the power bills. When you engage a professional company for the duct cleaning task, they will do the task perfectly. Hence, you can avoid the soaring electricity bills.

In brief, the trained professionals of such companies will try their maximum to make duct cleaning in Jacksonville FL perfect. Hence, the duct will become almost new, and you will not have any unhealthy air inside the interior spaces. This arrangement will make your house environment healthier.

Understanding the Differences Between AC Cleaning and HVAC Cleaning

In a typical business or home, there is either an HVAC or AC system, and sometimes both have been installed. While the terms are often used interchangeably, AC and HVAC systems perform different functions. Because of this, they require different maintenance procedures, making it important to know the difference between the systems before calling a technician for HVAC cleaning.

AC Systems

AC, or air conditioning systems, can come in two different forms: window or portable units and central AC. Both fulfill the same purpose, but on a different scale. Window and portable units are smaller air conditioners that are placed in an open window or on the floor to cool a single room. Central AC units connect to the ventilation system of a building to spread cool air through every room.

In order to cool an area, air conditioners suck in air from the space and pass it over a refrigerant cooled condenser coil. The heat and humidity in the air are attracted to the coil and absorbed by the refrigerant, effectively lowering the temperature of the air. Once this is accomplished, the cooled air is blown into the desired location. The heated refrigerant then flows into an evaporator coil, turning it to gas and allowing the heat energy to be expelled into the outdoors. Free from the heat, the refrigerant is condensed and cycled back into the AC unit, allowing the process to be repeated. The changing state of the refrigerant allows it to absorb and release heat when needed.

HVAC Systems

An HVAC system fulfills all the heating, venting and air conditioning needs of a building. The ducts and blower are large portions of the HVAC system and they work with various other units to provide both heating and air conditioning. HVAC systems typically include an air conditioner and a heater but can also work in conjunction with other systems. For large buildings, separate AC units may be installed to ensure the entire structure receives the proper amount of air flow.

Depending on the climate, an HVAC system may have its own heat source, circulate heat from another source or balance the temperature between areas by transferring heat. In cooler climates, where heat is not available outdoors to be transferred into a building, it is necessary for an electric or natural gas furnace to work with an HVAC system and supply the heat to be transferred. The many working parts of an HVAC system, as well as its extensive ventilation networks make HVAC cleaning a much more complex process than that of an AC system.

AC Cleaning Processes

While it’s best to call a technician to clean your AC system, especially for larger units, there are steps a homeowner or business can take to reduce the amount of wear and tear on a machine. On most AC units, there is an access panel that makes it easy to reach the working parts of the unit. To avoid injury, all cleaning procedures should be carried out after the unit has been turned off.

With a soft brush or cloth, the coils of the unit can be dusted off and wiped down to improve efficiency. The proper cleaning solutions can often be found at a hardware store to ensure a thorough clean. It’s also important to clean out the drain pan, as if left full of liquid it provides an excellent place for algae to grow.

To keep dirt and debris from getting stuck in an AC unit, it’s important to keep the area around it clean as well. This can include frequent raking or sweeping as well as a quick wipe down of the outside of the unit. It’s also important to keep the unit level, so the refrigerant can move freely and evenly throughout the system. By doing this, as well as more thorough cleans by a trained technician, an AC unit can maintain top efficiency and have a longer running life.

HVAC Cleaning Processes

HVAC cleaning requires a lengthier process than that of an AC unit, which is best carried out by a trained technician. Regular maintenance, such as changing the filters and keeping the surrounding area free of debris and dust help keep the system clean but cannot replace the work done by experienced workers.

When carrying out HVAC cleaning, technicians will perform an in-depth cleaning of the HVAC unit, separating the individual systems and cleaning away all debris and dust. During this stage, the technicians will also complete a maintenance check of all the functional portions of the system to ensure they will continue to serve the building reliably.

Trained technicians will also complete a thorough clean of the ventilation shafts in a building. This is typically done with electric brushes or whips to dislodge any dust from the shafts. Negative air pressure is created in the system to ensure the dislodged debris will not fall through any vents but will be sucked completely out of the system.

AC and HVAC systems are the regulators of temperature in many buildings. Though they seem to perform similar functions, they are quite different in the variety of tasks they can accomplish. Along with their different abilities, HVAC cleaning is more intensive than AC cleaning. When looking to install one or the other, it’s important to consider the desired service of the system to ensure the correct unit is installed.