Day: November 16, 2018

water dispenser

Purchasing the Best Water FilterPurchasing the Best Water Filter

Having easy access to clean water is vital for any household. It is best for cooking, drinking and carrying out other household activities. Contaminated water has been linked to several conditions. You are at high risk of contracting several illnesses from drinking water that is contaminated.

Access to clean drinking water has been categorized as a fundamental human right by the United Nations Organization, and several measures are being put in place to improve living standards in various parts of the world. There are different measures you can put in place to ensure the water in your house is clean and safe for drinking.

Boiling is one method that can help kill all the germs. Some chemicals are also being used to purify water. One has the option of buying a water filter, which is a device that helps filter out all the dirt and purify water making it clean for use. There are so many water filter brands out there you can buy.

The chances of drinking contaminated water in your home are very minimal if you purchase a water filter. The following are some of the things you should put into consideration when buying a water filter.

Filtration Rate

When purchasing a water filter, you must consider the daily filtration rate in your home. Do you filter more water on a regular basis or less? Different water filters have their filtration rates although they might all be functioning similarly. Understanding the filtration rate of water in your home before going out to make your purchase will help you pick the best water filter.

Brand

You can also look at the brand of the water filter you want to purchase. There are so many companies that manufacture this type of device. Some are known to function correctly while others do not filter water as required. Do your research and go for well-known brands in the market. Do seek recommendations from different people on the best brand in the market.

Functionality

You should look at how a specific water filter operatesclean water to understand if it is the best for such types of task. Which compounds do a particular filter separate? Is there a lot of wastewater created during the filtration procedure? Understanding all this will help you settle for the right water filter for home use.…

fireplace with burning logs

A Brief Guide to Chimney Maintenance and SafetyA Brief Guide to Chimney Maintenance and Safety

Having a fireplace at home is an eco-friendly and affordable solution to room heating. However, you need to know how to maintain and inspect the safety of the chimney because it is central to the furnace system. Moreover, the exhaust smoke leaves soot and creosotes sticking all over the inside part of the chimney. Without proper care, those buildups will lead to multiple problems.

Why You Should Care

a well maintained furnaceThe first reason is that, according to the US Fire Administration’s 2016 survey, furnace flame rollouts were the second highest cause of residential building fires. When there is too much exhaust buildup in the chimney, the furnace will lack oxygen. This condition will lead the flame to feed on the gas out of the fireplace and burn nearby flammable materials.

Second, sooty deposits can damage your chimney structure. If you let them stay there for a long time, you can expect a gradual collapse of the whole structure: the bricks may turn brittle, the firebox assemblies can deteriorate, and rust will engulf the damper.

Third, if the fireplace’s structure is damaged and no longer contains the flue gas suitably, it will leak to your vent system and poison anyone who breathes it. Carbon monoxide poisoning is not something that you can ignore because the symptoms are subtle and can be fatal.

Calling the Professional

chimney sweepA professional chimney sweep is always the person you can count on for this matter, especially if you cannot afford the risks of inspecting your fireplace by yourself. Also, pick this option when the sooty buildups are already severe, or the damages seem to be too much for you to handle. Do not experiment with your curiosity because it may worsen the situation.

If you live in Belgium, you can try Schoorsteenveger’s service. You can find detailed discussions on when you should call a professional sweep and when you should not.

Besides, not everyone is fit enough to scale the roof or put themselves into the chimney to inspect it. You should consider your safety, or you may end up with injuries.

Chimney Care You Can Do on Your Own

Before you start a fire, you need to make sure the firebox is clean from any leftover debris. You should not think that the unburnt charcoals or woods can help to light the fire better because they might be damp of sap. You may have picked up the wrong logs. If you continue to mix them with the quality firewoods, you can spoil the good ones.

Second, you should check if there are any animal excrements near the chimney. Bats, birds, and other animals may nest there. And for birds and bats, you should watch out for their droppings because they can harm your respiratory organs. Therefore, you should install a mesh or chimney cap to prevent wild animals from entering there.…