Lifestyle questions and answers

Ask a question on any topic and get answers from real people on Yahoo! Canada Answers

  • anyone remember the blue bag that was used to wash and brighten whites whats the name and where can I get one?

    Cleaning & Laundry - 6 hours ago

    Additional Details

  • Protecting wooden box?

    Decorating & Remodeling - 12 hours ago

    Additional Details

    I made a little box out of wood about a foot by 6 inches with hinges so it could open, of memories of my dog who recently passed away. I made a hole in the ground of my woods so only the top is visible unless opened. Will it get ruined by rain, or insects, or any other thing? If so, how could i protect it?
  • Is this a wise decision or a waste of money?

    Do It Yourself (DIY) - 12 hours ago

    Additional Details

    My husband is going to retire from the Navy in just over 5 years. We've decided that we want to remodel any house that we buy ourselves. I know this is a lot of work, but we really enjoy wood work, and fixing things. There is a program offered at a local JC that offers a course in construction. It's a two semester certificate program. I've spoken to my husband, and he said that we should take the course together. The course teaches heating/air conditioning, walls, windows, floors, roofing, plumbing, dry walling, electrical, wiring, finishing etc. Pretty much from building a house from the ground up. When we find our house, we will have help from my brother, because he's been in construction for years. Does anyone think that this is a wise decision or a waste of money? Please no rude answers, thank you.
  • Cool Things to do to my room?

    Decorating & Remodeling - 12 hours ago

    Additional Details

    ok i want to do do some cool creative things to my room now it already has a bunch of stuff but i just moved half of it to my dads so i just need a few things and i am on like a hundred dollar limit so i could really use some cool ideas thanks!!!
  • Will a plexiglass aquarium 36" by 12" by 12", less than an inch thick hold water?

    Do It Yourself (DIY) - 14 hours ago

    Additional Details

    If not anyone know where I could find one, or a glass one of the same dimensions? Hopefully in Houston/ Clear Lake area? Thanks.... I'm lazy and not level two, but HaHa V had the best answer so vote other level 2+ ppl... except note that this is actually 22.44 gallons
  • How do you get motivated to clean house?

    Cleaning & Laundry - 14 hours ago

    Additional Details

    I am completely worthless when it comes to cleaning. can i get some advice?
  • Reuse scrap window tint?

    Do It Yourself (DIY) - 14 hours ago

    Additional Details

    I have alot of left over window tint film for my car but they are all different sizes. I tinted all of my windows except for one side window. Will it be useful to use the pieces or not? I have enough to do the window anyway..
  • New furnace won't stay running.?

    Maintenance & Repairs - 15 hours ago

    Additional Details

    Had a new Payne 80% efficiency furnace installed 5 days ago Worked fine for 3 hours. House dropped 7 degrees below set temp. Finally at 10:30 kicked on blew cold for 30 seconds, shut off, came on 1.5 minutes later and blew warm for about 4 minutes, then blew cold for about 5 then shut off. Did not run long enough to bring temp up to where it should be. Service came out next day, reset furnace, checked thermostat, put cheaper thin filter in, opened up all our vents ran for 3 cycles ok and then back to the same problem. Now it comes on willy nilly but only for the 30 sec, 4 minute, 5 minute thing so house never warms up. He is supposed to be back today but needless to say this is getting old and cold real fast.
  • Need a way to clear out spiders?

    Other - Home & Garden - 15 hours ago

    Additional Details

    I have this bench press that I'm gonna start using again that's been sitting in my backyard for some time. The only thing is that it houses a good population of Black Widows, Is there any way I can clean the whole apparatus/area to ensure that I wont have one of those bastards crawling on me while I work out??
  • What is the name of the tape (UK) that I can put on my window?

    Do It Yourself (DIY) - 16 hours ago

    Additional Details

    to give it an effect of being made of small glass tiles (like Victorian shops) and where can I purchase it. I've tried B&Q to no effect. I only want it for Xmas and would like it in white Many thanks for your help but I don't think that I am explaining well enough. I've tried all the sites but I keep comong up with what you have advised. The tape I want it very like the tape that you can put round doors as a draught excluder. You used to be able to give your window a 'leaded lights' effect.

Conserving on your Heating Bill

Conserve Energy and Lower your Heating Bills

By Chris Tabone

Tips For Homeowners to Conserve on Heating Bills

  • Insulate walls, ceilings and floors as required. Savings in fuel costs in a well insulated home over an uninsulated home will pay for the cost of proper insulation in a few years.
  • Install storm windows and storm doors. These items of good quality and properly installed are a major factor in fuel savings as the reduce both heat transmission and air leakage.
  • Caulk all cracks around door and window frames and at the foundation.
  • If storm window and doors are not installed, use good weatherstripping to reduce air leakage.
  • Close outside doors promptly and securely.
  • Keep doors of an attached garage closed.
  • If the garage is heated, maintain the temperature at about 40F.
  • If the basement is to be heated, or there is no insulation in the floor above the basement, insulate the walls and seal cracks at the foundation, windows and doors. If possible install storm sash.
  • If the house is built over a crawl space, make sure the ventilating grills are closed and air tight during the heating season. Insulate the walls of the crawlspace if possible.
  • Closing the damper in the room with the thermostat can cause the rest of the house to overheat.
  • Lower the thermostat settings in unoccupied areas and close doors to those areas. A 10% setback overnight will save fuel.
  • For best performance a thermostat should be located on an inside wall where it will not be affected by sunlight. Do not locate on an outside wall, on a chimney wall, over a radiator or in direct drafts.
  • Keep the windows closed and locked when not opened for ventilation.
  • Close the fireplace damper when the fireplace is not in use. With the damper open, the warm air in the room will be drawn up the chimney. Install a set of glass doors on the fireplace which can be closed when the fireplace is not in use or when the fire is very small.
  • Have your heating equipment serviced and kept in top working condition. A dirty furnace wastes fuel.
  • Insulate heating pipes or ducts in an exposed or unheated space.
  • Make sure inspection doors and cleanout openings on your furnace are closed. Prevent air leakage into the combustion chamber.
  • If an automatic draft regulator is supplied on the flue pipe, make sure the damper swings freely.
  • Replace or repair hot water faucets if they drip. Always close securely after use.
  • Do not let carpeting block the bottom air opening of a baseboard heating unit.
  • Periodically examine the fins on the pipe inside the baseboard heating enclosures. If they have a lot of lint or other material on them that will restrict air flow vacuum or otherwise clean them.
  • A major source of air infiltration into homes is through wall outlets and switches. To stop the infiltration, install wall plate gaskets and safety plug covers.
    While building our home, I discovered that I could save many dollars by manufacturing my own gaskets rather than buying the "prefab" gaskets. I went to the local building supply center and purchased a roll of 1/8" sill plate gasket. I took a plug and a switch cover plate and traced them onto the gasket material then cut them out with a razor knife. I was able to make all of the plug and switch cover gaskets for the house (over 100) in about two hours and at a cost of under $4.00.
    I also shopped around for safety plug covers that completely cover the plug and its joint with the cover plate. This helps to reduce the amount of air infiltration throught the plugs by 95% or better.
    To help prove my claim, I had our local electric cooperative conduct an air infiltration test on my home and we had to put our hands within two inches of a plug or switch before we could feel any draft. When we removed the cover plate gasket and safety plug covers, we could feel the air draft with our hands at eight to ten inches away from the plugs and switches.
    Our Thanks for this tip to Robert B. Christmas of Texas.
  • Another heating or should I say heat saving tip is, in older homes, I have had I have found it very easy and economical to take the trim off from around the windows and stuff insulation in or purchase that expanding foam spray and seal around the windows. I have noticed a big difference in the comfort level and when it is -30c outside you sure notice the difference with the amount the furnace operates. The cost of doing this little job for me was only about $10 dollars for the whole house and I bet it saved me $50 in my heating cost over one winter.
    Our Thanks for this tip to Douglas Maycock Calgary Alberta Canada.

Not Yet Rated

0 Comments

LEAVE YOUR COMMENT
character(s) remaining

You must sign in to leave a comment

TODAY ON YAHOO!

Top stories

Belgian pleads guilty in U.S. jet parts sale to Iran
Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Belgian man pleaded guilty on Monday to charges of conspiring...

Sports

Anaheim Ducks' George Parros, right, lands a punch against the Calgary Flames' Brian McGrattan during a fight in the first period. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Francis Specker)


Giguere gets first win, Selanne scores shootout winner in Ducks' win over Flames
The Canadian Press - ANAHEIM, Calif. - Although Jean-Sebastien Giguere's career has changed...

Business

A paper factory seen in Pietarsaari, Finland. The country's unemployment rate rose to 8.2 percent in October from 7.3 percent in September, the national statistics agency has said.  Photo:Olivier Morin/AFP


Finnish unemployment rises to 8.2 pct in October
AFP - HELSINKI (AFP) - Finland's unemployment rate rose to 8.2 percent in October from 7.3...