Tuesday, September 30, 2014

4 More Easy Ways to Save Money at Home!

Posted by Sound Marketing for House Smart Home Improvements

Choose One Neutral Trim Paint for the Entire House 

-Rather than buying a gallon of a particular color for each room and using only a fraction of each can.
You have to forgo the trendy color combinations in the paint manufacturer brochures, but you can save around $50 on paint for three rooms. Crisp white trim is always in style, and you'll never have to rummage around for the right can for touch-ups.




Install a Ceiling Fan



In the winter, run it at low speed in a clockwise direction to recirculate the warm air that rises to the ceiling. This will allow you to lower the thermostat a couple of degrees.

The fan might cost you around $200 dollars, but you will end up saving around $100 per year off your heating bills.Reverse the fan direction in the summer and the airflow creates a windchill effect, making you feel cooler.




 Install a Shower Timer for Kids


The battery-operated device limits showers to 5, 8, or 11 minutes.
You can install it yourself for around $120, then save over $200 per year. Speeding your kids' morning routines may also ease the struggle to ensure they eat breakfast, brush their teeth, and make it to the bus on time.








Use Your Laptop

It runs on batteries, which use 80 percent less electricity than a desktop computer. Be vigilant about unplugging the battery charger once your computer is juiced so it doesn't sap unnecessary energy.
You will save around $30 per year off your electric bill.








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House Smart Home Improvements are experienced professionals with an  A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau. When it’s time to replace your windows, doors or  furnaces and heat pumps, or to install  insulation, and other energy-efficient home upgrades,  Give us a call. 604-585-2020. Right now, save 100 per window for a limited time if you live in the lower mainland, BC Canada    


 House Smart Home Improvements
Phone: 604 945 1904 / Fax: 604 581 1985
Email: info@housesmarthomeimprovements.com


Showroom: #4 120 Glacier St, Coquitlam BC V3K 5Z6 
604-945-1904 (office hours)  - 604-585-2020 (24-Hour)


Saturday, September 27, 2014

Smart Ways to Save Around the Home this Fall

posted by Sound Marketing for House Smart Home Improvements

 

Get Fall Deals

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Fall Home Maintenance - Four Tips

posted by Sound Marketing for House Smart Home Improvements
with excerpts from http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement 

Fireplace Tune-Up

Proper inspection of a fireplace is vital to ensuring its safe operation -- even if it is rarely used. An experienced chimney sweep will check wood for flammable buildup (known as creosote) and chimney blockages such as bird nests. A chimney or fireplace professional should also check for these red flags: improperly functioning dampers, damaged brickwork and masonry, and missing or damaged flue caps (the screen covering the top of the chimney).












Touch Up Paint

No time for a full-blown exterior painting project? Hit the trouble spots, such as the cut ends of all boards, especially fascia boards, where paint peels first. If you have a little more time, apply a coat of fresh paint to all trim pieces.









Clean Your Carpets

If your wall-to-wall carpeting
harbors dirt and musty odors, here is a homemade environment-friendly solution you can make to clean them: 
Non-toxic Carpet Cleaning Solution Recipe (my second favorite carpet cleaning recipe)
1/2 part Vinegar 1/2 part Water 5-6 drops essential oils, or more as desired (optional)
Add to your carpet cleaner machine and shampoo. It will smell like vinegar pretty strongly while you shampoo them. But after it dries you will be left with a nice clean smelling house.
Throw open the windows to let it dry before the weather gets too cold. Also consider renting a steam cleaner to get out ground-in stains and odors for as little as $25 per day.






Manage Drainage 


If you live in an area that gets more rain than snow during the winter, dig a French drain to prevent a downspout-fed lake from forming in your yard. A hole that's 4 feet deep and 4 feet wide should do the trick. Dig it under your downspout, line it with heavy plastic sheeting (or whatever your local building code requires), and fill it with gravel.
You can add plants on top of the French drain, but cover the gravel with landscape fabric before adding dirt. Another option is a trench-type French drain, which will move water away from your house rather than directing it deep into the ground. 






 Click To LIKE Us on Facebook for Green Tips, Home Improvement Tips and Heads Up for Government Grants!
http://www.facebook.com/housesmarthomeimprovements

 

House Smart Home Improvements are experienced professionals with an  A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau. When it’s time to replace your windows, doors or  furnaces and heat pumps, or to install  insulation, and other energy-efficient home upgrades,  Give us a call. 604-585-2020. Right now, save 100 per window for a limited time if you live in the lower mainland, BC Canada    


 House Smart Home Improvements
Phone: 604 945 1904 / Fax: 604 581 1985
Email: info@housesmarthomeimprovements.com


Showroom: #4 120 Glacier St, Coquitlam BC V3K 5Z6 
604-945-1904 (office hours)  - 604-585-2020 (24-Hour)

Monday, September 15, 2014

Styles of Home Windows from House Smart Home Improvements

posted by Sound Marketing for House Smart Home Improvements

Casement


  • Have a crank out hardware mechanism to open and close the windows
  • One key feature to look for is a multi-point lock that will lock your window in multiple locations, ensuring a tight seal.

 

 

 

 

 

 Awning


  • Similar to casement, these windows have crank out hardware, but are hinged at the top
  • Often used in places where it’s difficult to push or pull open a window, for example, above a kitchen sink

 

 

 

 

 Bay


  • Come with a seat or walk-in option (you walk into the bay area)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bay/ Bow

  • Bow windows are similar to bay, but have softer angles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bow

  • These windows have sliders that are either vertically or horizontally placed
  • Two formats; single and double hung
  • Single hung:has a fixed sash on one side and an operating sash on the other
  • Double hung: two operating sashes
  • Often these windows lift out or tilt out for easy cleaning
 
 
 
 
 
Picture/Fixed Windows
  • Don’t open or operate
  • They come in many different formats
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At House Smart Home Improvements, We Use Energy Star Windows! Energy Star Windows come in all styles, are of the highest quality, offering you the greatest comfort with less energy used.

ENERGY STAR® windows offer these benefits:


  • Double glazing with a sealed insulating glass unit, not only reducing energy costs, but also increasing comfort.
  • Low-emissivity (Low-E) coatings, which are like insulation and sunscreen on windows. This thin layer of transparent protection, applied in the gap between window glass panes, improves your family’s comfort by reducing the quantity of heat passing through the windows.
  • Inert gas, such as argon or krypton, sealed between windowpanes results in reduced heat transfer and minimized condensation, increasing the windows’ insulation U-value and energy efficiency.
  • Low conductivity spacer bars that prevent heat loss and minimize drafts.
  • Lower overall heat loss ratings (U-values), meaning greater comfort with less energy used. 
  • Heat transfer between the inside and outside of a home is slowed.
  • Heat reflection that keeps the sun out during summertime and keeps rooms from feeling drafty
    during the winter. 
  • Reduced fading of fabrics and wall coverings.
 Click To LIKE Us on Facebook for Green Tips, Home Improvement Tips and Heads Up for Government Grants!
http://www.facebook.com/housesmarthomeimprovements

 

House Smart Home Improvements are experienced professionals with an  A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau. When it’s time to replace your windows, doors or  furnaces and heat pumps, or to install  insulation, and other energy-efficient home upgrades,  Give us a call. 604-585-2020. Right now, save 100 per window for a limited time if you live in the lower mainland, BC Canada    


 House Smart Home Improvements
Phone: 604 945 1904 / Fax: 604 581 1985
Email: info@housesmarthomeimprovements.com


Showroom: #4 120 Glacier St, Coquitlam BC V3K 5Z6 
604-945-1904 (office hours)  - 604-585-2020 (24-Hour)