Tuesday, August 9, 2011

The Fundamentals of Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans are a basic necessity for the summer season. However, there are certain things that must be remembered while purchasing a ceiling fan.

ceiling fans cheap

To begin with, it is very essential to choose the right size of fan, according to the room dimensions. Blade span of a ceiling fan ranges from 29" to 54". The room where the ceiling fan is to mounted must be measured. Here are certain recommended fan sizes according to room dimensions:

CEILING FANS

Room Dimensions

Up to 75 sq. ft - Recommended fan size = 29-36 inches

76-144 sq. ft - Recommended fan size = 36-42 inches

144-225 sq. ft - Recommended fan size = 44 inches

225-400 sq. ft - Recommended fan size = 50-54 inches

Mounting Systems

It is recommended that the ceiling fan be mounted in the center of the room. Also, it must be about seven feet from the ground and about 18" from the walls. If it is possible, install the fan at the height of 8 to 9 feet from the ground.

Standard Mount: This is a three to five inch down rod (a metal pipe that reaches to the top of the fan from the ceiling). The diameter of the down rod is generally between 1.5" to ¾".

Extended Mount: This is used to hang the fan at an 8 to 9 foot height from the floor if desired. These down rods are available in about 6 to 120 inches. Ask the manufacture to determine the right size of down rods according to your need.

Flush Mount: This anchors the fan right to the ceiling. Generally, a standard fan can also be used as a flush mount; but still, "hugger" or "low profile" ceiling fans are available for the purpose.

Sloped Mount: This is used for angled or domed ceilings.

Wet or Damp Rating

When installing a ceiling fan in a bathroom or other humid places, it is recommended to go for a fan that is UL "damp" rated. When installing fans in a patio or front porch, look for a "wet" rating, as they are exposed to water.

All the components of the fan together affect the working of the fan and thus define the performance of the fan.

Other Components

Motor: There are two types of motors; one that is sealed and lubricated, and another with oil ball bearings. There is hardly any need of maintenance to the motors with sealed bearings, while motors with an oil bath require frequent oiling.

Motor Housing: This is the decorative part of the fan, which surrounds the fan motor. Fans with heavier materials are likely to cause less vibration. This also provides more stability to fans with longer down rods.

Other features that ensure longevity comprise of heavy-duty windings, accurate engineering bearings and shock-absorbency. These features are generally found in the expensive ceiling fans.

Blades: The angle of the blades of a fan is called pitch. It is determined in degrees. Blades with higher pitches move more air that is provided in cubic feet per minute. However, it is solely not responsible for the air movement. Other factors like motor design as well as speed, blade design, and various others affect the amount of air movement.

To provide variety in design, manufacturers offer a wide range of blade styles in different models. However changing the blade style can negatively affect the fan's performance.

The Fundamentals of Ceiling Fans

CEILING FANS

Monday, August 8, 2011

How to Change the Pressure Switch on Your Gas Furnace

Your gas furnace is not working and you think that the pressure switch is bad. Here are some things to check and the steps to replace it. Replacing is not very difficult at all, in fact it is one of the easiest thing that you can replace yourself.

Your gas furnace purge blower runs and never shuts off but your furnace is not producing any heat. Or your igniter will glow, light the burners and then the furnace will shut right back down and try to recycle all over again. Either one of these conditions are common if the switch is going bad or has failed.

CEILING FANS AT LOWES

You can check the switch by placing a jumper wire across the wires going to the switch once the purge blower has started. If the burner lights and stays lit the pressure switch is probably your problem. Could be a weak blower, but I would try the pressure switch first; it is much less expensive to replace.

Once you isolate that this switch is faulty, then you can change it. This is very simple. For most furnaces the wiring is low voltage, so the risk of shock is minimal. You should still turn off the power to be safe. Remove the screws that secure the switch and then just switch the two wires over to the new switch and secure the screws again.
That's all there is too it a very simple operation.

Turn the power back on to the furnace. Re-fire the furnace and check the operation of the unit. It takes a while for the unit to cycle through the lighting process but you should have a furnace that now heats your house just fine.

How to Change the Pressure Switch on Your Gas Furnace

CEILING FANS AT LOWES

Ceiling Fans for Your Bedrooms

Whether or not your home has air conditioning, you may be interested in learning more about the advantages of having a ceiling fan in your bedroom. These fixtures are relatively inexpensive to purchase and easy to install, whether you do it yourself or pay a handyman to do it for you. If you want to jazz up your bedroom, here are some things to consider regarding ceiling fans.

ceiling fans with remote control

1. Ceiling fans add an attractive, decorative touch. They come in a variety of shapes to fit the size of your bedroom. You also can choose from a variety of blade designs and light fixtures to blend with the theme of the room or your entire home. Pull-chains are common, but many can be wired to flip on or off with a switch near the one for your overhead or wall light. Color schemes are varied. You can get a wood finish, or a painted veneer, some with designs. Your bedroom's ceiling fan should be a subtle accent, but not a distraction.

CEILING FANS

2. Ceiling fans help to cool the room. If you don't have a window air conditioner or whole-house cooling, you will love the gentle stir of indoor air that makes any room less stuffy. This effect can be enhanced when you open a window to mix outdoor with indoor air. Opening two windows can create a cross breeze that the fan can help to propel for a more expansive cooling effect. Fans that come with more than one speed can be adjusted to create a low, medium, or high circulating effect, depending on your preference for that bedroom. For example, a baby's room may not require as much ventilation as an adult's room.

3. Ceiling fans can help to muffle noise. Although most are not loud or intrusive, the soft background whirring made by the swish of the blades may cover the sounds coming from other areas of the home, such as television sets downstairs, kitchen blenders or dishwashers, or even a new pet's howling when locked in its crate for the night. People who work nights and sleep days may especially appreciate this feature, along with those who are light sleepers or napping children.

Some homeowners install two smaller ceiling fans for a larger room, like a basement-size recreation area, for example. This helps to keep air moving in all parts of the room. Cleaning the fans is easy. Turn them off and gently wipe the blades and light fixture with a clean cloth (using a stepladder) or a feather duster. If the light bulb burns out, make sure the fan and light are turned off, and carefully replace the bad bulb with a new one.

Ceiling Fans for Your Bedrooms

CEILING FANS

A Review of Popular Ceiling Fan Manufacturers

Nearly every residence has at least one ceiling fan. Ceiling fans are so common that many people have difficulty sleeping without one. Ceiling fans appear in bedrooms, living rooms, offices, warehouses, and porches. There are several reputable, well-established ceiling fan manufacturers that make great products to help people escape the heat.

ceiling fans cheap

Hunter Ceiling Fans have been making ceiling fans since 1886. They now make a variety of products ranging from air purifiers to vaporizers. Hunter has been one of the top ceiling fan manufacturers for almost 120 years and is still on the cutting edge.

CEILING FANS

Hampton Bay ceiling fans are high quality products that last many years. Hampton Bay makes great fans for both indoors and outdoors. They are known for being particularly easy to install.

Emerson has been making ceiling fans since 1895. They are known for making a wide variety of quality fans, ranging from traditional designs to contemporary models. Many Emerson ceiling-fan designs are unique to the company and are not found anywhere else.

The Casablanca Fan Company makes a number of different models. They are one of the top makers of tropical ceiling fans, with designs that are both unique and functional. Casablanca also makes a number of traditional ceiling fans that are perfect in any setting.

Craftmade manufactures a variety of home products including some of the finest ceiling fans available. Craftmade makes some of the most energy-efficient, durable, and reliable fans on the market. Craftmade is a relatively new company that has been around for almost 20 years, which makes their reputation as one of the top ceiling fan manufacturers that much more remarkable.

Lowe's Home Improvement Stores are the exclusive distributors of Harbor Breeze Ceiling Fans. Harbor Breeze is known for making high quality products at low prices and for having some of the most comprehensive warranties of any ceiling fan maker.

These ceiling fan manufacturers are known for their high quality products and reasonable prices. A fan made by one of these brands is perfect for any setting in the home or office.

A Review of Popular Ceiling Fan Manufacturers

CEILING FANS

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Replacing Aprilaire Filters

Aprilaire whole house air cleaners though very effective, can be very frustrating to say the least to replace. The most common are Aprilaire models 2200, Aprilaire 2400 and Aprilaire 2250. The
replacement cartridges for these include the aprilaire stock 201 and the Aprilaire stock 401
One of the big reasons these can be so frustrating to replace is because of the pleat spacers or large black comb looking dividers. The biggest mistake people make is to try to remove them by pulling up to high on one side in turn breaking off the other end. It can really test your patience when reinstalling them trying to get each comb finger between the pleats. You can avoid all this hassle by replacing them with a ridged style that allows you to discard the filter pleat spacers and the two black tracks that they snap into. The original replacements are MERV 10 but you can upgrade to a higher rating of 11 or 12 in the ridged style. The higher merv rating filters will remove more dust and dirt particles. These replacements can be purchased online at HVAC Maintenance and Supplies.There are some generic replacements sold for less money that can be very difficult to replace do to the quality of the filter.

If you choose to stay with the original style there are some tips that may make this task a little less stress full and maybe save you some time to do something you would much rather be doing.
First step is to be sure you order the correct replacement. This is best done by getting the model of the unit. Once you have the proper filter replacement remove the front cover of the assembly.
Slide the insert assembly out of the filter housing and lay it flat on the floor with the combs facing up. Use a pliers to grab each pleat spacer at the point that it connects to the frame and unsnap it from the track being careful not to lift it so high that you break the other end. If you have broken pleat spacers they can also be purchased online at Hvac Maintenance & supplies. Disconnect and remove all pleat spacers and the top and bottom tracks that hold them. Next unsnap and open the two book like ends of the tan frame that hold the filter. Remove and discard the old filter first taking note at how the top and bottom flaps are folded over the end tracks. If you use the new ridged style you simply place the new cartridge into the tan frame, close the book ends and reinsert the assembly back into the housing. If you decide to stay with the original style place it back into the frame as the old one was and try to evenly spread the pleats out so you can install the pleat spacers. One you put the black top and bottom tracks on take one pleat spacer and insert one comb between each pleat. When you get one complete comb installed slide it back and forth to spread the pleats out for the rest of the pleat spacers to be installed. Insert each additional spacer next to the first one you installed then slide over to where it snaps into the track. Once all the pleat spacers are in place close the frame ends and slide the assembly back into the housing.

CEILING FANS AT LOWES

Many people ask how often should these filters be replaced? They can last up to one year depending on the atmosphere of the air they are filtering. Some people will replace them every six months or more often in very dirty areas. If your home has two dogs three cats and four kids you may have to replace them more often. If you can actually seen heavy build up on the filter then you may want to increase the frequency of your changes.

This article was written by Terry Manlick of HVAC Maintenance & Supplies. Other HVAC Maintenance related articles as well as maintenance products such as vbelts, replacement filters and coil cleaners can be purchased online at http://www.mainsupplies.com

Replacing Aprilaire Filters

CEILING FANS AT LOWES

Home Improvement Stores Make Repairs Easier

If you own your home, anytime repairs are needed or you'd just like to make some home improvements, the responsibility and the expense is up to you. Renting on the other hand can be less of a commitment, since the landlord owns the property it is their responsibility for making any needed repairs.

Depending on the type of home improvements you want to do to your home, you may need to take out a second mortgage or a loan. It can be expensive even when only small repairs are needed.

CEILING FANS AT LOWES

There are a large variety of home improvement stores to choose from when looking for materials. Checking around and comparing prices can save quite a lot of money on home improvements. You must choose your products carefully though, sometimes the reason products are cheaper is because the quality is lower.

Three Of The Largest Home Improvements Stores

With over 40,000 products and a long history Lowe's home improvement stores carry almost anything you need. They have a very nice selection of kitchen cabinets, doors, indoor and outdoor lighting, high quality appliances and much more. And, they offer the convenience of special ordering if the perfect item is not in stock.

With their wide selection of building products, most large stores have everything you need to add an addition onto your home. From paints to bricks you can usually purchase all the products you require for any project. From adding a room to giving a room a whole new look a Home Improvement store can take care of all your needs.

If you live in certain areas of the U.S you may be close to a Menards home improvement store. Opened in 1960 and known as a place to "Save Big Money", Menards is a family business were customers are number one.

Well known for their high quality merchandise and lowest prices in town, Menards has a well stocked store to meet all your home repair or improvement needs. As a extra little feature to help you with any improvement project you might have, in store computers are provided to let you design your project.

Whether you just need new floor or wall coverings, new kitchen or bathroom cabinets, or your current appliances need replacing, Menards home improvement stores can offer you choices. Besides the huge inventory of building materials they carry, some of the stores now offer a grocery section too.

If you're just wanting to change or update the look of the outside of your home, Sears home repair offers installation of their premium vinyl siding. Since 1995, they've been supplying customers with replacement windows and doors, garage doors and among other services they can even reface your old cabinets to make them look new.

If you need appliances for your home, you can buy those from Sears home repair. They carry a large range of different styles and colors. They also offer the service of doing the work for you, by installing cooling and heating units and water heaters, for example.

Most of us now have computers in our home. They offer the option of browsing different online stores and finding the exact products we need. Home improvement catalogs can also be requested from both Sears and Lowes enabling you to order items for home delivery or prepare a list of what you want before going to the store itself.

Many home improvement stores now offer services to help you with any project. Employees are often trained in helping you decide which product best suits your needs and the personal touches make the home improvement process much less complicated than it used to be.

Home Improvement Stores Make Repairs Easier

CEILING FANS AT LOWES

Harbor Breeze Ceiling Fans Redefine Top of the Line

The Harbor Breeze Ceiling Fans are the store brand for Lowes store. These are manufactured by Litex and the only place they can be purchased is at Lowes and several online stores. Theese Fans are an affordable product with many of their simpler products ranging in price from only to 0. This ceiling fan comes in the basic styles and designs, mainly in brass and white finishes. The Cheshire and the Calera are just two of the models in this low price range. They also offer a more detailed model called the New Orleans. They also offer an Energy Star rated fan. The more expensive models will offer more artistic types as the Bellhaven, Bedford, Knightsbridge and the Soleil.

Harbor Breeze Ceiling Fans are considered to be high quality fans by the consumers. Their many helpful features include uplights, remote controls and having the Energy Star label. A major advantage of these fans is the fact that they are so affordable by not sacrificing quality. The Harbor Breeze Ceiling Fans have four speeds that can easily be changed by the remote control.

CEILING FANS AT LOWES

The higher end Ceiling Fans offer models such as the Lakeside II. It's main feature is its' simple beauty, with a white finish, tri-mount, six bleached oak/white blades that are reversible, and a five frost glass light kit. Another benefit of this fan is the price that is only 7. The Queensland has an old iron finish. Its' five blades have a walnut finish. There is also an integrated light kit with scavo glass, and a three-speed reversible motor with two position mounting options. This model of Harbor Breeze Ceiling Fans is only priced at 9. These two models are both sized at 52 inches.

Harbor Breeze offer fans both for indoor and outdoor use. They are also popular by the consumer by their energy efficiency and ease of operation. Another popular and unique model is the Harbor Breeze 74" Twin Breeze Ceiling Fan. It actually consists of two fans joined together by a single bowl of light. It has three blades on each fan and they have a cherry/dark oak finish. The overall finish of this model is aged bronze. This double fan becomes a conversation piece when guests come to visit and see its' unique style.

One consumer had many positive remarks about the Ceiling Fans. He had installed six of the company's fan in his home. The fans run steady, smooth and quiet. He installed them all himself, and this was after purchasing another brand of fan before returning those and purchasing the Harbor Breeze Ceiling Fans. He is also happy about the affordable prices of all of his new fans.

Most consumers are the happiest about the high quality of the fans while spending a lot less for them as compared to other brands on the market.

Harbor Breeze Ceiling Fans Redefine Top of the Line

CEILING FANS AT LOWES