| How to Reduce Your Gas Bill Posted: 12 Aug 2018 01:00 AM PDT If you use natural gas in your home, the bill can be quite expensive. Don't worry, though! There are several strategies you can use to reduce your gas bill, like cutting back on your energy usage and making your home more energy efficient. EditReducing Energy Use - Lower the thermostat. If your thermostat is set to a high temperature, your gas bill is bound to be expensive. Try lowering your thermostat a few degrees to reduce your bill by 5-10%.[1]
- For instance, turn the temperature from to .
- Turn off the heat when you're not home. Don't keep the heat on in your home when it's not necessary. Turn off the heat when you're at work or gone on the weekends. The energy saved will reduce the cost of your gas bill.[2]
- Save energy with radiator valves. Some areas in your home need to be warmer than others. For example, it may be important to you to keep the main floor warm, while the basement can be a bit cooler. You can control the heat by installing radiator valves on every radiator in your home.[3]
- These self-regulating valves allow you to control the temperature of each room by adjusting the amount of hot water goes to the radiator.
- Reduce the use of personal heaters. Personal, or space, heaters use up a lot of energy. Plus, they are an inefficient way of warming up large areas. Avoid using them and instead look for more efficient ways to keep warm—like improving your home's insulation.[4]
- If you want to warm a small space only, a personal heater may be more effective than heating the whole home with a furnace. Choose a radiant heater, which are more energy-efficient than other models.[5]
EditMaking Changes Around Your Home - Keep all vents and interior doors open if you have forced air. It is commonly thought that closing vents and doors to unused rooms will reduce energy use, but doing this actually drives up the cost of your gas bill. Keep all the vents and interior doors in your home open to promote airflow.[6]
- However, if you adjust a radiator valve to lower the temperature of a specific room, you can close the door to that room to prevent cooler air from leaking into warmer rooms.
- Close your windows and exterior doors. If you leave your windows or exterior doors open during cold months, the warm air will simply escape. Be sure to keep all your window and exterior doors closed. If there's a gap beneath a door, roll up a towel and place it against the bottom of the door to block out the cold air.[7]
- Keep your blinds open during the day and closed at night. During the day, keep your blinds, shades, or curtains open to let the sunlight in. This will help your house warm up. When the sun goes down, close all your blinds, shades, or curtains to keep the warm air in.[8]
- Use insulated panels to cover your windows. Insulated panels can keep cold air from seeping through your glass windows. These panels are typically made of foam board and can be found at home improvement stores. Measure your windows before heading to the store so you can purchase panels of the correct size. Press the panels against the windows, then use strips of magnetic tape to secure the panels to the window frame.[9]
- Cover your windows with plastic film insulation as an alternative. During the cold months, putting plastic film insulation over your windows can help prevent warmth from escaping your home. This film can be found at home improvement stores and is easy to install. Generally, the film comes in pre-cut sheets, so you may need to use multiple sheets and/or trim some of the sheets down to fit over your windows. Simply press the adhesive side of the film against the window glass.[10]
- Set your ceiling fans to run clockwise. Running ceiling fans clockwise will keep the air circulating throughout the room. This keeps the room warmer than running the fans counterclockwise. In the summer, you can switch the fans to counterclockwise keep the room cool.[11]
- Use cool water to wash clothes and hang them up to dry. When washing your clothes, use a cool water temperature to conserve energy. Whenever possible, dry your clothes on a line outside or hang them up to dry indoors.[12]
- Be sure to check the care tag on your clothing items to make sure washing them in cool water won't damage the fabric.
- Wear socks and sweaters to keep warm. Wearing thin clothes will make you want to turn the heat up. Also, your whole body will feel colder if your feet are cold. Wear thick socks and bundle up in a sweater or use a blanket to stay warm.[13]
EditDoing Regular Maintenance - Get your gas appliances serviced every year. Each year, you should have an HVAC technician inspect and service any gas appliances you have, such as a stove or heater. Properly maintaining your appliances can prevent breakdowns in addition to lowering your gas bill.[14]
- Make sure your home is well insulated. A home that is poorly insulated will be harder to keep warm, so your gas bill is likely to be more expensive. Though it's best to have your home professionally insulated, you can add insulation yourself if you want. However, you'll need to drill holes into the sheathing and spray foam insulation into the walls. Then, you'll need to repair the drywall.[15]
- Replace your furnace and air filters regularly. Clogged furnace filters can make your heating system less efficient. Air filters that are blocked also reduce air flow and can increase your gas bill. Be sure to replace any air filters in your home every 1-3 months.[16]
- Get your air ducts sealed by a professional. Warm air may be escaping through holes or cracks around your air ducts. Call in an HVAC professional and ask them to seal the air ducts in your home. This will help keep the warm air inside and reduce your gas bill.[17]
- If you've had the same provider for your gas for a long time, there's a chance that you're paying too much. Consider switching providers for a lower rate.
- When you're taking a shower, keep the door open. The steam will help heat up the other rooms in your home.[18]
- Although lowering the thermostat in your home will save money on the gas bill, don't lower it so much that you and your family members will be uncomfortably cold.
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Buy Tires Posted: 11 Aug 2018 05:00 PM PDT If you've never done it before, picking out tires may seem just as complicated as buying an entirely new car. However, the process is actually incredibly simple and requires just a bit of knowledge about what tires your car takes, where you can purchase them from, and what tire features you should look for. EditChoosing a Tire Retailer - Go to a branded retailer for the best quality tires. Though expensive, car dealerships and brand-specific tire stores sell the best quality tires on the market. In addition, these retailers typically offer extensive service options and employ people who are well-versed in the type of vehicle you have or the brand of tires you're purchasing.[1]
- Before settling on a specific brand, search online for reviews explaining how well the tires hold up over time.
- Be wary of store representatives trying to sell you additional products that don't seem necessary, such as nitrogen for your tires, new air filters, or preventative oil changes.
- If you don't know whether an add-on is worth getting, look up what it does and if other stores offer it. If the add-on is far cheaper elsewhere or exclusive to this retailer, it's most likely an unnecessary upsell.
- Pick an independent retailer to save money. Along with branded tire retailers, you can find a ton of different stores that either specialize in tires or sell tires in addition to other products. These places often charge less per tire, but they may not have the same level of quality control as branded retailers. Make sure to look up online reviews of these businesses before buying anything from them. Some types of shops to look for include:[2]
- General tire chains like Discount Tire, Les Schwab, and Tire Kingdom.
- Discount box stores like Walmart, Sears, and Costco.
- Independent mechanics and locally-owned tire shops.
- Search for tire websites if you want to order online. Specialty websites like Tire Rack and Tires Direct can make your purchasing process easier and, in many cases, cheaper. However, buying tires online means that you won't receive them immediately and will have to go to a tire installation service to get them put on.[3]
- Most tire websites provide a list of installation shops you can ship your tires to. However, keep in mind that the cost of installation may not be included in your initial purchase.
- You can determine a tire website's legitimacy by looking for scam warning signs, such as bad spelling and poor web design, and by searching for the retailer on the Better Business Bureau's official website.
EditPicking Out Your Tires - Check your owner's manual to find your car's recommended tire type. Most car manufacturers include replacement part recommendations inside your vehicle's owner's manual. To find this information, look for a "Tire" section in your manual's "Technical Information" or "Maintenance" chapter.[4]
- If you don't have an owner's manual, search for a copy on your car manufacturer's official website.
- You can also find these recommendations on your car's information placard, typically located on your vehicle's door post, door edge, trunk lid, or glove compartment door.
- In most cases, your manual and placard will include recommended sizes and ratings for your front tires, rear tires, and spare tire.
- Examine your tires for more detailed information. If you like the tires you currently have, or if you want to avoid getting the same tires again, you can find information about them by checking their tire codes. These codes are on each tire's sidewall and consist of, in the following order:[5]
- A letter or number indicating the tire's primary function, typically "LT" for light trucks or "P" for passenger vehicles.
- A 3-digit number noting the tire's width, such as 215 to show it's wide.
- A 2-digit number listing the tire's aspect ratio, such as 65 to show the tire's height is equivalent to 65% of its width.
- A letter noting the tire's construction type, like "R" for radial.
- A 2-digit number indicating your wheel's diameter, such as 15 to represent .
- An optional 2 or 3-digit number showing your tire's max load capacity, such as 80 to indicate that it can hold up to .
- A letter noting the tire's speed rating, such as B to show it can go while carrying it's maximum load.
- A series of letters, either "M+S" or "M/S," indicating whether or not the tires will work in snow and mud.
- Choose a type of tire that matches your driving needs. You'll need different types of tires depending on what model of car you have, where you live, and what forms of terrain you drive on. Though your tire retailer can help you find the perfect type of tire for your car, some of the most common styles include:[6]
- All-Season tires, which last a long time and work well on general streets and highways.
- Performance and Ultra-High Performance tires, which can withstand incredibly fast speeds and provide far better grip than standard tires.
- All-Terrain tires, which provide extra traction when driving off-road.
- Snow tires, which give extra grip and traction during the winter but may not work as well during summer months.
- Look for tires that have good treadwear grades. When purchasing your tires, look for a treadwear number located on each tire's sidewall. The higher this number is, the longer you can expect the given tire to last. Though tire grades vary by manufacturer, aim for a minimum of about 300.[7]
- In general, all-season tires have far better treadwear grades than specialty tires.
- Though the treadwear grading scale has no upper limit, few tires get a higher rating than 800.
- Examine the tires for signs of wear if you're buying used. Though you shouldn't expect used tires to be the same quality as new ones, do look them over to see if there are any glaring issues. In particular, search for undisclosed patches and make sure each side of the tire received an even amount of wear.
- If you purchased your tires online, check them as soon as they arrive to make sure they're in the condition described on the website.
EditMaking a Purchase - Look for tires that fit within your budget. Tires can be incredibly pricey, so you may need to shop around to find options that you can afford. On average, expect a new, standard all-season tire to cost between $80 and $150. Specialty variants typically range between $100 and $250 per tire.
- Depending on the store, used tires often cost less than $50 per unit, making them a great budget option.
- Buy tires in sets of 2 or 4 whenever possible. Though expensive, you should always try to buy tires in sets of 2 or 4 so that each of your car's axles has a matching pair. This ensures that your car drives properly and helps it avoid issues like:[8]
- Wheel misalignment
- Improper handling
- Excessive wear and tear
- Purchase tires that have a good warranty. Whenever possible, try to purchase tires that have a sizeable treadwear warranty. For new, standard all-season tires, you can expect a warranty between 40,000 and 80,000 miles. For used tires, you're more likely to get a month-based warranty instead since they're harder to accurately insure.[9]
- If your tire has a high treadwear grade but suspiciously low warranty, it may be a sign that the tire is not as good as it claims to be.
- Install your tires. To avoid any unwanted mishaps, make sure to get your tires installed professionally by your retailer or a tire installation shop. Some tire retailers offer this service for free if you purchased the tires directly from them.
- If you have to pay for the installation, expect it to cost between $10 and $25 per tire.
- For safety, replace your tires once the tread depth gets lower than . To check the tread depth, insert a penny into the tire tread with Lincoln's head facing down. If any part of the head gets obscured, your tread is too low.
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Ice Sculpt Posted: 11 Aug 2018 09:00 AM PDT Ice sculptures are beautiful works of art that make a show-stopping centerpiece for any occasion. They can be carved into almost any design, including animals, faces, or landscapes. If you've always wanted to try your hand at carving ice, you'll just need a block of ice, a template for your design, and a chainsaw and chisels! Of course, you should be sure to use caution when working with a chainsaw. EditCarving the Ice - Get a block of ice larger than the sculpture you want to create. A block is a good size for a beginner.[1] You can either make your own ice block or purchase a block from an ice company.
- A block of ice this size will be about .[2]
- If you decide to order your ice, you can look online to find an ice company near you. You can either transport the ice yourself in a large cooler or you can have it delivered.
- Store the ice in a large freezer until you need it or wait to pick it up until right before you're going to carve it.
- Place a rubber mat under your block of ice. If the ice moves while you're carving it, you could be seriously injured. A rubber mat will keep your ice from slipping.[3]
- Draw your design on the ice. If your block of ice is completely dry, you can draw your design directly onto the ice with a permanent marker. However, you may want to trace your design onto posterboard or wallpaper first, then use an adhesive to apply the template to the ice.[4]
- Wallpaper is designed to get wet without tearing, making it an ideal surface for stenciling your sculpture. Just wet the back of the wallpaper to activate the paste and apply the wallpaper to your ice.[5]
- Wear gloves, an apron, and safety goggles to protect yourself while sculpting. It's important to wear appropriate safety gear when you're carving ice. The extreme cold, sharp tools, and flying ice can all create serious safety hazards. [6]
- You may want to layer on 2 pairs of gloves: a thermal pair to keep your hands warm and a rubber pair to give you traction when you're handling your ice tools.
- Safety goggles will protect your eyes from flying shards of ice.
- An apron will help keep your clothes dry as you work, which can protect you from a dangerous drop in body temperature.
- Etch your design into the ice with a chisel. Trace along the outline of your template with a wooden chisel or another sharp tool. Creating lines directly in the ice will make it easier to carve your design with the larger tools.[7]
- Hold the sharp end of the chisel against the ice, then tap it gently with a mallet or other blunt object.
- Use a small chainsaw to cut away the ice outside of the silhouette. Hold the front handle of the chainsaw securely with your left hand and the rear handle with your right hand. Squeeze the throttle, then lower the blade to the ice. Make all cuts at a 90 degree angle to the ice, and always cut away from your body.[8]
- Use a lightweight chainsaw designed for carving rather than a large wood-cutting chainsaw.
- You'll need to make multiple cuts to create a curve, so be patient and work slowly.
- Cut with the bottom of the blade to avoid kickback.
- Step back every few minutes to check your shaping. As you get focused on cutting the ice, it can be easy to lose the bigger picture of your sculpture. Take a break every 3-4 cuts or so to make sure your sculpture is still balanced.[9]
- Use chisels, hand saws, and hairdryers to refine your design. Once you've finished making the major cuts with your chainsaw, use smaller tools to create more intricate and precise cuts. Experiment with different tools to see what you prefer.[10]
- Hand saws are good for blocking out areas the chainsaw couldn't reach, such as interior angles or smaller curves.
- Chisels can help you get into smaller areas to create more intricate designs. If you have a set of chisels in different sizes, start with the largest chisel and work your way to the smallest.
- Use a hairdryer to melt small portions of your sculpture to smooth out any tool marks or flaws.
- Enjoy your ice sculpture for 4-6 hours. Your ice sculpture will start to melt almost immediately at room temperature, but it should maintain a recognizable shape for up to 6 hours.
EditMaking an Ice Block - Start with distilled water to ensure it's free of impurities. You can either choose filtered water or boil plain tap water twice.[11]
- The amount of water you will need will depend on the size of the freezer you have and the size of the sculpture you want to create.
- Pour the water into a large freezable container and place it in the freezer. A typical refrigerator freezer will only allow you to freeze enough ice for a small sculpture. If you have a deep freezer or a commercial walk-in freezer, you will be able to create a larger ice sculpture.
- Circulate the water with a small water pump as it freezes to get the clearest ice. Cloudy ice is caused when bubbles get trapped as the water freezes. By constantly circulating the water, you force bubbles to stay at the top of the water, so the ice stays clear.[12]
- You can find small water pumps online at home supply stores. Either submerge the pump in the container of water or purchase one that clips onto the side. Remove the pump before the water freezes completely.
- It should take about 3 days for the block of ice to be completely solid.[13]
- Cut the top off of the ice with an electric saw. Since the bubbles rise to the top of the ice, you will have a cloudy layer that you will need to remove.[14]
- Carefully use the saw to slice through the ice just beneath the layer of bubbles. If you like, you can use a chisel to make marks in the ice to help you keep your cuts level.
- Wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from flying pieces of ice.
- Add dye to your water before you freeze it to create a colored ice sculpture.
- Always use caution when using a chainsaw. Be sure to cut away from your body and work slowly to avoid accidents.
EditThings You'll Need - Large block of ice
- Gloves
- Safety goggles
- Apron
- Rubber mat
- Chisels
- Mallet
- Chainsaw
- Template
EditSources and Citations
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