Archive for the ‘central heating’ tag
What household appliances were available in the 1930’s?
Were any of the following available: bathtubs, showers, indoor flushing toilets sewing machines, washing machines, refrigerators irons, dishwashers, hairdryers, toasters, kettle/jugs, vacuum cleaners, central heating, dishwashers, dryers, telephone, radio, tv, and lamps/lighting.
Vacuums
Low maintenance house ideas?
I want to build a garage with an apartment that has the least amount of maintenance possible.
So what type of roof is best?, what is better brick, wood, vinyl siding?, etc. Should I have central heating and a central vacuum system?
What types of interiors are the lowest maintenance? Wood floors, rugs, tile? What type of counter tops are the best? What furniture should I use?
And for a single person what square footage would be best for the least amount of cleaning but most space possible?
I’m sure I missed allot of things so feel free to throw in your own ideas about things I missed.
Thanks!
Vacuums
Replacing the air duct hose that leads from the air intake duct to the air handler.?
My current central heating and a/c system began as a oil fueled heating system. The bulk of the duct system was already in place and upgraded when the new system was installed. When the house was built, the air intake duct was built into the floor in the center area of the house. There is a grate over the air return hole and if you look down into the grate you can see the duct connector hose that leads down into the air handler (the duct connector looks like a huge dryer exhaust hose). My guess is the duct connector hose has been in place for 15+ years. As well as the gray dust that has built up on the walls of the duct connector hose, there’s no telling how much sanding dust went down the hose when the hardwood floors were refinished, or the amount of dry wall spackle dust when we gutted the bathroom which is located very close to the air return duct. Oh, and I almost forgot, everything my daughter has tossed down the hole (ranging from coins, Christmas decorations, beads and tooth picks). I tried vacuuming, but a household vacuum is not built for this job. Ok, with all that said I would like to know if I can:
1.) dismantle the hose and wash it (hose appears to be made of a flexible metal (almost looks like tin foil, but much more durable);
2.) replace the hose myself;
3.) this job needs to be left to a pro.
Upon further inspection (I have a full basement . . . so it’s easy access) the air intake hose that begins at floor level inside the house then travels down to the air handler in the basement is a flexible aluminum hose, it’s wrapped in yellow insulation and then a product that looks reinforced tin foil covers the insulation. Ah, I do believe I’ll be using the vacuum suggestion, because I would have to hire someone to do all that rewrapping. A friend suggested making a make-shift long handled duster, cleaning the walls of the hose, then removing the cover on the air handled in the basement and vacuuming it all out.
Vacuums
Can anyone recommend a good, inexpensive non electric carpet sweeper for pet hairs?
I have 2 dogs, one short haired and one long haired, who both seem to be in a constant state of moult. I have tried food supplements etc to try to decrease the problem , but I think having central heating doesn’t help. I have a very good vacuum cleaner, a Dirt Devil, which does the job, but is quite heavy, so I’m looking for a non-electric carpet sweeper to use in between vacuuming. It needs to be suitable for both carpet and tiles.