Category: Home Appliances

Air conditioning maintenance tips

If you regularly maintain and upkeep your air conditioner, it can go a long way. However, before scheduling a maintenance visit there are certain things which you can do to improve the efficiency of your cooling unit. The following is a list of tasks which the experts at air con Toowoomba suggest for AC maintenance.

Air conditioning maintenance tips from the experts at Aircon Toowoomba

One of the most important maintenance tasks is to routinely replace or clean the filters of your air conditioner. If you have an air conditioner which comprises of pleated filters you might need to replace these every month. On the other hand if you are not sure about what kind of filter you are supposed to use you might want to talk to your dealer so they can recommend you with the specific system. There are a variety of filter types and sizes which are available in the market and you can either proceed to clean or replace them at every maintenance visit. It should be kept in mind that filters require a great deal of attention especially if you are using your air conditioner on a daily basis. Also if you live in an area which is prone to dust or you have pets in your home you may need to clean the filters repeatedly. Make sure that you have a detailed talk with HVAC maintenance service to get an idea of how you should be cleaning your filters.

Clean the coils of air conditioner

The evaporator and condenser coils can get dirty over a period of time. The debris which has built up can reduce the airflow and insulate the coil. As a result the coil is unable to absorb the heat of the home. Also the condenser coils on the outside can become dusty especially if there are trees growing nearby. In order to avoid these problems it is best that you call a air conditioning service to come and clean the coil when necessary.

Clear the debris from the unit

It is quite common for the leaves and grass to cause a build up around the outside of your cooling unit. All this can lead to a decrease in the capacity of cooling and also reduces the airflow. It is important to trim any other plants around the air conditioner so that there is no impediment to the airflow.

You may also need to straighten the coil fans time and again. This is especially true for the aluminum fans on the evaporator and the condenser coil because these can get bent easily and can block the air flowing through the coil. When you call an air conditioning service they would make sure that the check these pieces and straighten them if required.

Last but not the least make sure that you only use the air conditioning unit when you are around. This can also help reduce the electricity bills. If possible try investing in air conditioner which comes with a timer so that it can switch off automatically after you have set it for a certain period of time.

 

You can find more helpful information and tips when you visit vdkgroup.com.au.

 

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Best places you should consider during your security camera installation in Brisbane

With the advancement of technology, you do not have to employ several guards to watch over your home during the day and night. Security cameras have replaced hiring guards for residential areas. The market has stocks of security cameras that you can install in your outdoor and indoor spaces to enhance your security. All you need to do is hire professionals to install these security systems in your home whenever you need them.

 

Areas that security camera installation is allowed

When you are installing your security cameras, there are several things that you need to know, and the areas where you will be installing these security cameras are among them. You do not want to install the security cameras in the wrong areas since you will not watch your home like you should with the security cameras. Therefore, if you think of security camera installation in Brisbane, you need to install your security cameras in the following areas:

 

  • Front door

Most people ignore having security cameras installed in the front doors because they think intruders cannot use the front doors to sneak into their houses. They tend to concentrate more on the side entrances, forgetting that thieves can strike from anywhere. When you have a camera at the front of your main hall, you will manage to watch people who come and leave your home. This includes people like your kids, babysitters, relatives, workers, and even friends.

 

  • Back and side doors

Doors on the backs and sides of your home are always out of sight. This allows people to enter your home without anyone detecting whether they have been invited or not. Most thieves will also break into your home using the back door since no one will likely notice them. Therefore, this is why you should always have security cameras installed at the back and side doors of your home.

 

  • Driveway and garage

Most of the intruders and buglers usually target your garage so that they can steal your cars, bikes, or any other thing you have stored in the garage. Also, they have weak doors, which makes them easier targets. You need to make sure that you keep watch on whatever is in the garage, which is why you must have security cameras installed in your garage. Security camera installation in the driveway helps you notice intruders before they get to the garage.

 

  • Yard

You also must monitor everything happening in your yard. This ensures that you keep a tab of any person who tries to scope out your home from its exteriors. You can also use the security cameras in the yard to capture activities your kids and pets do.

 

Places security camera installation cannot be done

As you start your security camera installation in Brisbane, you should also note that there are areas where you cannot install these security cameras. These areas include the following:

 

  • Bedrooms and bathrooms

Many private things usually happen in the bathrooms and bedrooms. For this reason, you cannot install security cameras in these areas. This is because if your security cameras are hacked, the hackers will get the chance to view your private lives. Also, it is not ethical to monitor people when they are in the bathroom or bedroom.

 

  • Places that violate the privacy of neighbours

You need to mind the privacy of others as you install your security cameras in Brisbane.  Therefore, avoid installing security cameras in areas that will violate other people’s privacy, especially your neighbours.

For your own peace of mind, get the top company for security camera installation.

 

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Do you have to change the appliances? Here’s how to choose the new ones

The bonus provided for the purchase of large appliances, linked to building renovations, will also be available next year. In the financial maneuver drafted by the Government, the one-year extension of the benefit was introduced in extremis, therefore extended to the whole of 2018 (except snipers, during the vote in Parliament). But what are the required requirements and how to apply? And what is there to know and evaluate if you decide to change your washing machine or kitchen hob?

Here are the applicable tax deductions
The rules to be followed in 2018 should be the same as for this year. The personal income tax deduction for large household appliances, and also for furniture and furnishings, is equal to 50 percent of the expense. To get the bonus, the purchase must be made on the occasion of a building renovation or extraordinary interventions, both on individual residential real estate units and on common parts of buildings for residential use. “The deduction – specifies the Revenue Agency – is also due when the purchased goods are intended to furnish a different environment of the same building subject to building intervention”. On the other hand, the concession is not granted for simple works in the individual apartments, for example painting walls and ceilings, laying new floors, refurbishing interior plasters.

What are the subsidized appliances
The large household appliances category – the source is always the Revenue Agency – includes: refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, hobs, electric stoves, traditional and microwave ovens, hot plates, electric heaters, radiators, fans and away listing. The individual pieces, to be able to make the deduction, must have an energy class not lower than A +, for ovens we start from A.

Maximum limit of deductible expenditure: 10 thousand euros
The 50 per cent deduction must be calculated on a maximum amount of 10 thousand euros, referring, overall, to the disbursement for new furniture and large appliances. Among the scalable expenses you can include those for transport and assembly. The “discount” will be divided and spread over ten installments and ten years, with shares of the same amount. The limit of 10 thousand euros concerns the single real estate unit. The taxpayer who carries out renovations in two or more accommodations is entitled to two or more deductions.

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How to use our appliances better to spend less

Save money with the washing machine

The energy class of your washing machine (if it is a few years old), remember that water and electricity consumption have halved compared to washing machines that are between 5 and 10 years old compared to new models.

Keep in mind that you should:

  • Do the washing machine only with a full load
  • Avoid “half load” programs because they do not produce half the consumption (but almost the consumption of a normal wash cycle)
  • Do not use the prewash program (but you can do a simple soak)
  • Use medium-low washing temperatures (between 30-60 degrees )
  • Save money with the dryer

Remember that we all have a way to dry laundry at no cost: 

Class A dryers no longer use a resistance system to heat clothes and dry them, but use a heat pump that allows you to save a lot of electricity.

Electricity consumption per drying cycle is always quite high, so you can save money by reducing usage.

Saving money with the dishwasher

Since 2011, the old models of Class B or Class D dishwashers can no longer be marketed. Of course, you may still have a Class B dishwasher in your kitchen, so the first tip is to consider replacing it with a better energy class appliance.

Surely you know that there are scientific studies that have shown how the use of the dishwasher reduces the consumption of water compared to washing by hand (we are talking about a saving of 40% of water).

Here are some tips (which are always good to remember)

  • Clean the filter weekly (the clogged filter increases the dishwasher’s consumption)
  • Use short and low temperature washing programs (use longer programs only for heavily soiled dishes)
  • Use the dishwasher with a full load
  • If possible, deactivate the drying program (drying is the real responsible for the dishwasher’s energy consumption, just open the appliance when the dishes are still hot to obtain good drying results)
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