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As the temperature drops, we rely heavily on our furnace to keep the home warm and comfortable. Preparing your furnace for winter will help prevent breakdowns, which is the last thing you want on a cold winter’s night.

Fagnan Furnace Service is a full-service HVAC company that offers service and furnace installation in Calgary. They share some tips for preparing your furnace for the cold season ahead:

Invest in preventative maintenance

Have your furnace inspected and serviced before every heating season. Regular furnace maintenance is essential for preventing costly repairs, replacements, ensuring safety and energy efficiency.

HVAC companies in Calgary will perform a full inspection of your furnace. They’ll look over the vital components of your furnace to ensure things are running correctly and safely. The HVAC technician might make recommendations for minor repairs and will tune the furnace for optimal performance.

Change the filter

Changing the furnace filter is a quick and simple DIY job. Fall is a great time to swap out the filter for a new one in preparation for the heating season. You should change your filter every three to six months, according to the manufacturer’s specifications. If you have pets, you might want to change them more often. A clogged filter will diminish both efficiency and air quality. Changing the filter is something Calgary HVAC companies will do when you schedule your annual furnace tune-up.

If you have a high-efficiency furnace, check the air intake

If you have a newer high-efficiency furnace, make sure the air intake and exhaust are clear. These are the white and black pipes sticking out the side of your house near the utility room. If the intake pipe is blocked, it can seriously impact your heating system’s energy efficiency. If either of these pipes is blocked, it can cause carbon monoxide to build up. Carbon monoxide is extremely dangerous and can be fatal, so always make sure those vents are clear.

Program your thermostat

Take advantage of your programmable thermostat and enhance both home comfort and energy efficiency. Or, take it to the next level and investing in a smart thermostat for your home.  You can set the thermostat to a cooler temperature when you’re away during the day or at night when everyone is sleeping. Then when you wake up or come home from work or school, the home will be the perfect temperature without wasting energy when you didn’t need it. If you don’t have a programmable or smart thermostat, consider having one installed this fall.

Schedule your furnace maintenance today! Contact Fagnan’s Furnace Service.

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

Ventilation is an essential part of your heating and cooling system. It has one of the most important jobs: circulating air. Without it, stale and stagnant air gets trapped in your home. Since we keep our windows closed for months at a time in the winter, proper ventilation at home is vital.

Fagnan Furnace Services offers air conditioner and furnace replacement and installation in Calgary. They share more about the importance of ventilation:

Ventilation helps your HVAC system do its job

When air is unable to circulate in and out of the home, your furnace and air conditioner might struggle to keep the temperature you’ve set on the thermostat. Venting out the stale air and allowing fresh air to come in can help with temperature regulation. It makes it easier for the HVAC units to work, thus improving efficiency and reducing unnecessary wear and tear on the system. Fagnan Furnace Service offers ventilation services in Calgary.

Ventilation creates healthier air

Ventilation is required to maintain good air quality. Without it, the air would become stale and uncomfortable to breathe. Without fresh air ventilating through your home, allergens and contaminants would become trapped. The house would feel uncomfortably stuffy. For those with asthma or allergies, they might suffer increased symptoms without proper ventilation.

Circulating fresh air into your home will also help prevent things like mould or mildew build-up. Mould can be a health hazard and requires expensive remediation.

Ventilation allows for humidity control

Venting will also help move extra moisture out of the home. In the summer, things like cooking, showering, or laundry can add humidity to your indoor air, making it feel uncomfortable. Proper ventilation will help move that out in the cooling season. It will also help your home retain humidity in the winter when your furnace is running and drying out the indoor air.

How do I know my home has an adequate venting system?

HVAC companies in Calgary like Fagnan Furnace Service can provide an inspection of your system. They can make recommendations to improve the ventilation in your home. This might include installing a mechanical ventilation system for the entire house. Other options are improving spot ventilation, like installing exhaust fans in the kitchen, bathrooms, and attic. Read more about how to get the ventilation you need in your house.

You can also allow natural air exchange to occur by simply opening up your windows. You don’t want to do this at the peak of a heating or cooling system, as your furnace and AC will run non-stop. But, in the spring and fall, or on summer evenings, cracking open the windows will allow fresh air to circulate through the home.

Contact Fagnan’s Furnace Service for more information!

 

 

 

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

The air inside your home contains tiny particles you can’t see. Dust, pet dander, pollen, and other allergens are constantly floating around. When the HVAC system kicks on, it pulls that air into the system and brings the particles through the ducts. They build up over time, and then duct cleaning is required.

To clean the ducts, a high-powered vacuum and compression system is used. The vacuum, mounted on a truck, will force all the dust and debris through the ducts and into the vacuum truck. It is the only method that cleans ducts effectively.

Fagnan Furnace Services is a full-service Calgary HVAC company. They share more about why this HVAC maintenance task is so important:

Reduces strain on your HVAC system

When the ducts have significant build-up, it can restrict airflow throughout the HVAC system. Moving air through the debris or any clogs will put additional strain on the furnace or air conditioner.  The harder your HVAC system must work, the faster it wears out. Dusty or clogged blower wheels or AC coils can result in costly repairs.

Keeping the furnace, air conditioner, and ducts clean will prevent repairs and extend the system’s lifespan. Part of that maintenance is replacing the filter according to the manufacturer’s specifications. Learn how to change a furnace filter.

Improves indoor air quality

The air that passes through those dirty ducts is the same air you’re breathing. Without duct cleaning, allergens like dust and dander can circulate through your home. For people who have allergies or asthma, or other respiratory illnesses, this can become an issue. Improve the air quality in your home by investing in Calgary duct cleaning every two to three years.

It saves energy and money

Duct cleaning is an investment with a good return. If dust and debris are restricting airflow, it means your HVAC system is working harder to move the air. The harder it works, the more energy it consumes trying to maintain your home’s temperature. Duct cleaning is one of the ways you can improve energy efficiency in your HVAC system. Combined with regular maintenance, duct cleaning in Calgary will help your furnace and air conditioner operate at peak efficiency.

Trust Fagnan’s Furnace Service

Fagnan’s Furnace Service has decades of experience servicing and installing HVAC equipment. They offer a range of services, including furnace installation and repair, air conditioner installation and repair, and duct cleaning. If you need repairs, unit replacement, or duct cleaning, contact Fagnan’s Furnace Services.

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

If you’ve decided to purchase an air conditioner there are many things to consider. A new air conditioner is a significant investment. You want to make sure you’re getting a suitable unit for your home and needs.

Fagnan Furnace Services offers the repairs and installation of air conditioners in Calgary. They share some helpful tips for buying a new AC.

Find an HVAC company you can trust

The first step in any home improvement is finding a skilled and reputable contractor you can trust. You want to make sure they have experience in the industry, licensing and insurance, WCB coverage, and good customer references. You also want to check the products they offer and details on any manufacturer or labour warranties.

Recognition or certification from a third-party organization, like RenovationFind, is important too. It will also ensure they’ve met and kept up to a high level of standards. You’ll find all of this with Fagnan Furnace Services.

Choose the right AC size

Calgary air conditioners come in a range of sizes. If your air conditioner is the wrong size for the square footage of your home, you might have some issues down the road. A unit too small won’t properly cool the house and will be straining to operate. The extra strain could cause premature breakdowns. If the AC unit is too large for the home, it will continuously switch on and off. Coming on and off more than necessary wastes energy and could increase your power bill.

Measuring your home and retrofitting your new air conditioner to your current HVAC system is something Fagnan Furnace Service will take care of for you. They’ll perform a load calculation. The calculation will determine the size of AC your home will need to stay comfortable and run efficiently. They might also recommend upgrades to other aspects of your home to help keep that cool air in and the heat out!

Consider the SEER rating

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It helps measure an AC unit’s efficiency. You’ll want a unit with a SEER rating between 14 and 22 – the higher, the better. It would be best if you also looked for the ENERGY STAR label. This certification sets apart the most efficient units on the market. Investing in a high-efficiency AC will cost more upfront, but you’ll see energy and money savings in the future.

Budget for annual maintenance

Like anything mechanical, your air conditioner will require annual maintenance to maintain efficiency and performance. Having HVAC companies in Calgary inspect the unit and give it a cleaning and tune-up each spring is essential. It will prevent breakdowns and ensure energy efficiency.

Ready to purchase your air conditioner? Contact Fagnan Furnace Service to get started.

 

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

Renovations or home additions are both great ways to add value, appeal, and space to your home. Home additions especially have many steps and costs involved and a lot of important planning. That’s where finding a company that can help with both designing and building that new addition will make the process run smoothly.

Peak Improvements in Edmonton is a professional renovation and home improvement company. They share more about design-build and what makes it so beneficial:

What is design-build? 

Most home projects are broken down by the type of people you need to help complete the work. That typically starts with the homeowners and a designer working together, then a general contractor helping with budgets and the actual work. In design-build, that separation is removed as everyone works together. The contractor acts as a single point of contact between the homeowner and designer to collaborate as a team. Peak Improvements works this way by handling both the design aspect and then implementing that idea.

Save time and stress 

Home additions can be stressful as all the planning, costs, and construction are involved. With a design-build team, that stress can be reduced. You have one point of contact that will act as a project manager from the start and help plan, coordinate, and implement your dream addition. They’ll handle all communication and all aspects of design and construction including permits. It also helps save time by streamlining the process by working under a single timeline.

Ensure the right design flow 

There’s always the risk of communication error when working between a designer and a contractor. With a home addition, that design aspect is a key element of a beautiful and value-boosting project. Your home addition should feel like a seamless structure from the outside and have that same flow inside. With a design-build team, all teams and communications are under one manager, so designs, ideas, and goals are all clear from the start.

Quality upgrade

With one contractor and one team, quality insurance is at the forefront of the project. Everything from design, materials, workmanship, and managing trades are all handled with quality and skill. Homeowners don’t have to hire a variety of different trade workers and having to screen each one for their skills or work experience. Companies like Peak Improvements have years of experience and contacts to guarantee they work with the best of the best. Think of the quality you get from a general contractor, then apply that to a design-build company as an upgraded version.

Major Renovations & Home Additions in Edmonton 

Peak Improvements prides itself on offering services for any home improvement needs or goals. If you want to expand your home for the future, update the kitchen, or just create a dream home, they can help. With years of experience and a skilled team, you can place your home and trust in their hands.

Contact Peak Improvements today!

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

With a flat or low-sloped roof, you can expect to see more water than expected on a sloped roof. The materials used for flat roofs protect the building from standing water, but maintenance is still needed. Regular inspections to ensure that the roofing material hasn’t been compromised can save a big repair bill. Checking for water getting past the roof’s outer layer can avoid serious damage.

GPD Flat Roofing in Winnipeg is a trusted professional when it comes to repairing residential or commercial flat roofs. They share more about preventative roof maintenance and inspections:

Check roof penetrations

Avoiding a leak in your roof should be a top priority. Roof penetrations from things like chimneys, HVAC systems, and plumbing vents are all spots where water can get in. It’s not uncommon for the water to make its way between the seams of the roofing material, which leads to big issues. When inspecting your roof, make sure that you are checking the membrane around anything extending to make sure there’s no compromise.

Inspect for winter damage

With how severe winters can be in the Winnipeg area, it’s a good idea to inspect your roof each spring. Falling branches from the wind or blizzard damage can cause leaks to form, leading to costly repairs. Checking the roofing materials to make sure no lasting damage from a build-up of snow or ice will save you money in the long run. It’s better to inspect your roof for any damage before it turns into a problem.

Trust a professional

Regular roof inspections by a professional flat roofing contractor should be part of your preventative maintenance schedule, especially for large commercial buildings. GPD Flat Roofing’s quick and expert service can help your property avoid extensive damage caused by a leak or moisture issues. Regular inspections can help your roof last longer and keep your home or building protected. Their specialty in flat roofs means you can trust the experience and know your roof is receiving proper maintenance.

Flat Roofers in Winnipeg

GPD Flat Roofing’s installation and maintenance services can provide your home with a long-lasting, durable flat roof. Serving the Winnipeg area, they provide homes and commercial buildings with water-tight, professionally installed flat roofs that last.

Call GPD Flat Roofing for an inspection or quote on a new roof.

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

Landscaping your yard improves curb appeal, functionality, and resale value. While it might seem like a daunting task at first, it is well worth the effort. Garden Secrets in Vancouver shares some reasons to landscape your yard.

Improve curb appeal

There are many benefits that come with landscaping. For instance, landscaping contributes to a large part of your home’s curb appeal. Your landscaping could be something as simple as green grass and a flower bed to make your home’s curb appeal seem bright and healthy. It could also be something as large as installing a patio, giving you and guests a space to spend time together and make your home appear more welcoming. Improving your home’s curb appeal will also make your home more appealing to potential buyers in the future. Boosted curb appeal could mean a higher resale value. 

More family-time outdoors

Landscaping your yard will allow you to create more living spaces outside. With people spending more time at home these days, that extra outdoor space is essential.  This could mean installing a fire pit gives your family a place to spend time together. You could incorporate a stone path or patio to situate the fire pit on. Another idea is to build a deck space or paved patio, with furniture to accommodate everyone. Decks come in many forms, including materials and designs. There are many different ways to create a space your family will want to gather in.

Connect with nature

Planting flowers, trees, shrubs, and any other plant you want can make your yard feel like an oasis. If you want to create a more unique outdoor space to connect with nature, there are endless ways to do so. This could mean installing a water feature like a fountain or pond in your backyard. Running water adds a calming feeling to your outdoor space, and gives you a place to relax away right in the backyard. Another idea is to install something as simple as a bench outside, perhaps connected by a stone path, or a small seating area to take in the fresh air and greenery around you. 

Spending time in nature is known to improve mood, reduce stress, and even boost your immune system. Creating that functional living space with your landscaping has both mental and physical health benefits.

Landscapers in Vancouver

The landscapers at Garden Secrets are pros at what they do. They believe in connecting with the outdoors and transforming your outdoor space to truly be your own. Whether it be a small or large project, you can count on them to get the job done right. 

Contact Garden Secrets today!

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

Discover the Benefits of an Outdoor Living Space and Creating an Indoor Outdoor Lounge Space

Take advantage of the benefits of your home by creating a relaxing indoor outdoor space. An outdoor living space can connect the benefits of the outdoors and indoors with your comfort and peace of the natural surroundings. Here are our favorite tips on how to create such a space.

Functionality

Your outdoor living space benefits from being an extension of an existing room in your home. For example, your kitchen, living space, or entertainment rooms all have a specific purpose. Connecting to one of these will give the room a meaning and use. Create free-flowing movement from one room to the next.

Transition

Sliding or folding doors or glass walls are a great way to create this opening to combine inside and out into one area of the home. Create an opening via a bar for a kitchen extension with folding windows or stackable doors too. Have consistent flooring between the rooms to give it one look. Keeping the design the same as well from inside to outside will tie the room together.

Weather

Create an outdoor living space that can be enjoyed no matter the weather. Depending on where you need, you might need to consider rain, shade, or snow. Use durable fabrics for furniture and try to use lots of wood, plastic, or metal furniture to be non-permeable. Umbrellas, shades, and awnings can create a relaxing place out of the sun, and there are motorized shades that can be open and closed as needed. As the seasons change, additions such as a fireplace or fire pit, gas patio heaters, and more allow the space to be used into the colder months.

Create an outdoor living area that can be used all year and with great comfort. Extend your kitchen or living area into outside and open up the possibilities for enjoyment in your home. Start planning your upgrades today and see how your home can improve.

Contact Handyman Connection

Our craftspeople are here to help you create your home’s new outdoor living space. Contact us at Handyman Connection to see how our craftsmen can make your project a reality today. Call to schedule a free, no-obligation estimate.

The post Creating an Indoor Outdoor Lounge Space appeared first on Handyman Connection.

Blog written by Quality Red Tag Floors in Edmonton

Free estimates

We offer free onsite estimates to help you understand the full cost of the job. We will come out and measure your project and give suggestions and ideas to make your flooring dreams come true!

Our estimates are broken down line by line so there are NO HIDDEN COSTS! When we quote, we like to provide a detailed quote to help you make an informed decision and more easily compare quotes.

We encourage shoppers to get out and get a few quotes. Dig in the product specs, services offered, and potential additional labour costs. If you don’t know the specs of a product then it is hard to know if you are getting a fair price or not. If a quote is given as a lump sum rather than broken it is difficult to understand how to compare quotes from other companies.

Quality and Durability Of Product

Durability is usually one of the main selling features when a customer is looking for flooring. There are many different ways to determine the quality and durability of the product. We aim to educate our customers and help them feel that they understand the product they are purchasing.

Comparing Laminate

The main things to look for when shopping for laminate is thickness, density, AC rating, and water resistance.

Often many stores don’t recommend laminate as a good option for many areas in the house, such as the kitchen, bathroom, and basement. The reality is not all laminate is created equal. There are some products made with lower density and higher density. The density affects how well the product holds together (denser core = stronger joints) and how soundproof it is. No one likes a hollow sounding floor. Higher density laminate also is more Some products have a wax infusion into the locking system and others don’t (a huge factor in water resistance) AC rating is the criteria by which laminate is rated for scratch resistance.

Comparing Vinyl

Vinyl has many different categories, with different install methods, thicknesses, and wear layers. It is important to really dig into the different products available and to understand what the advantages of each are. But for the purposes of this blog the key points would be:

Wear layer (measurement is in mils) How thick the wear layer is (the thin layer that protects the print) determines the longevity and wearability. Some wear layers can be as thin as 6mil, others 20+mil. When shopping it is important to know when comparing products what the wear layer is

Thickness (measurement is is mm) We recommend nothing thinner than 4mm thick for a click product, but Ideally 6.5mm thick provides more stability in the locking system and floating floor install. Thickness is definitely a good thing to keep an eye on when comparing the thickness

Locking system (should be a form of drop lock 2g or 5g for best ease of install)

Core material: perhaps the most important piece of the puzzle is core material. One should know what the core material is made of. This will help in comparing products and the overall durability of a product.

Comparing Hardwood

Key comparisons:

The species: Species should be compared to only other of exact species as each wood has different costs and benefits/ looks ect

The thickness: hardwood should be ¾” thick

The finish (does it have an aluminum oxide protective UV cured finish?)

The width

The Grade: This is the biggest comparison factor/ What grade of wood is it? Does it have a wide variety of acceptable colors and planks? Knots etc.

Comparing Engineered Hardwood

Veneer thickness: The thickness must be compared as this is the only layer between the hardwood layer and plywood/other core material

Core composition: what is the veneer built onto? Is it plywood or MDF? Plywood is much better quality-wise and will last longer, as well as much more water-resistant.

Thickness overall: what is the thickness of the product

The thickness of plywood: What is the thickness of the plywood, how many layers does it have

Method of plywood manufacturing: is it a cold press or hot press plywood? Cold press is more stable but is more costly

Origin of product: Is your product made from north American species, is it a known wood that has issues with humidity and dryness?

Detailed Estimates

When comparing quotes from different companies it is important to understand that not all companies will quote you the same way. Unfortunately, some companies may quote you just base rates and not actually include what might be required for a successful install. An example of this is when a project needs floor leveling or preparation, it can run up the cost of an estimate and make you look more expensive than someone who quotes their first quote without including any floor prep.

If someone doesn’t carefully understand what services are included, they can be sometimes hit with unexpected add ons or expenses. It is the flooring estimator’s job to include all the costs that are necessary and some of the costs that are not. This allows the customer to make an informed decision on what services they would like to take advantage of.

Be sure to always get an itemized quote with a clear indication of what the service does and does not include. It goes without saying, that Is better to have the company automatically quote in such a way, than having to ask for more details. Honesty is the best policy and even if it makes our quote look more expensive at first we would rather be upfront with all our costs.

In Stock Accessories

Does the flooring store offer you a quote on the product carry matching accessories in stock? If you have to order them in, what is the lead time and cost?

Sometimes people find an “amazing deal” on flooring from a big box store. Only to find out that after they have purchased a discontinued product with no nosing available in stock. The special order for nosing and transition pieces sometimes can cost just as much as the flooring. Always be sure to check if the necessary nosing is available in stock, and if not what the cost and timeline for ordering in would be.

Professional Advice

Some companies are more focused on the sale than they are on the customer and their needs. We do our utmost to not only help our customers buy flooring but to educate them as well. With completely free professional advice, we are always open to answering questions to help you buy the right flooring for the job. We offer low-pressure sales advice and don’t want you to feel pushed to buy from us, just because we are answering your questions.

Contact Quality Red Tag Floors!

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com

Refinishing a basement is a major source of value for your home and a worthwhile investment. While certainly true, there is more than just one way to finish a basement. Depending on your needs and budget, you have many options when it comes to basement development.

Ascend Builders in Edmonton is a professional home renovations company. They share more about what ways you can finish your basement and enjoy value from each:

Fully finished for your family to enjoy

Developing your unfinished basement will give your home nearly double the square footage of functional living space. Plus, a finished basement will add value back to your home. Finished basements can include everything from a second living room, entertainment centre, spare bedrooms, a home office, or even a home fitness area.

There are many ways to finish a basement, and it mostly comes down to your own goals and home needs. Depending on the state of the unfinished basement, everything from new flooring, drywall, paint, fixtures, and potential appliances will need to be added. With the right budget and professional help, it’s well worthwhile and offers great ROI. You’ll find it to be an investment in your lifestyle at home and can help attract potential buyers in the future.

Partially finished with plans for the future

Partial or half-finished basements are the perfect middle-ground for functional space and budget with future plans in mind. The great thing about this is that you can pick and choose what elements to add to the space. Things like leaving the ceiling exposed or drywalling only parts of the room can help cut costs and labour. Or, if it is an extra bedroom and bathroom you need, you can just do those and worry about the rest down the road.

With a partially finished basement, it’s important to choose a specific purpose or use for the entire space. Even if you’re just doing a little at a time, you want the end result to all flow well. By sticking to an overall plan, you can fully finish in the future and still get use out of those partially renovated spaces in the meantime.

Converted to a secondary suite

If you don’t need the extra living space, consider building a legal secondary suite in your basement. Having a functional, attractive suite can help you bring in rental revenue each month. Use this extra income to pay your mortgage, living expenses, or to put back into the home with other improvements. Ascend Builders can give you advice when it comes to building a suite and will take care of obtaining the necessary permits for the job.

Basement Renovations in Edmonton

Ascend Builders have a 100% guaranteed track rate, ensuring that their customers absolutely love their homes. Every renovation or project is focused on satisfying your needs, wants, and home goals to fall in love with your space. Any help, tips, design suggestions or renovation work needed, their professionals are the ones to call.

Contact Ascend Builders today!

This post first appeared on https://blog.renovationfind.com