Sharp Appliances

Electricity is extremely dangerous so you need to focus on safety at all times when dealing with it. There are special gloves just for the purpose.

Electrical gloves are used to protect the electrician from accidental contact with charged systems while working. In normal situations, electrical systems are deactivated before work is performed. It is normal to shut down the entire electrical supply to a work area and most often equipment is even tagged out to insure that no one turns it back on. There are occasions when the electrician must work close to a charged system. At these times, protective gloves can be a life saver.

The gloves are made from good quality Natural or Synthetic rubber or combinations of both. Suitable compounds are added and there must be a suitable thickness to comply with standard specifications for the various voltage levels that might be encountered. 100% Natural latex is another material used for electrician gloves.

The gloves are assigned classifications based on thickness and expected voltage levels. The classes run from 00 to 3. The smallest level, 00, requires only a .05mm thickness and is rated for only 500 volts. The highest classification of 3 measures 2.9mm in thickness and is rated for 26,500 volts. The gloves are long and fit up over the sleeves of the user’s clothing to insure maximum coverage.

It is important to maintain the gloves in perfect condition. A slight flaw in the glove could have fatal consequences. It is important to store them away from light and moisture. They need to be kept away from sharp or pointed objects also. The latex gloves are adversely affected by animal body fat and other substances that react with the latex and break it down. The gloves must be tested periodically and replaced if there are any doubts concerning their condition. The wise electrician uses his gloves only when the work situation requires their use and stores them safely in between uses.

Electricity is a wonder and has powered the lifestyle of the 21st century. It remains, however, a powerful and deadly force. Accident deaths from electrocution occur each year. The electrician works around this force on a daily basis and has no margin for error when dealing with charged systems. The electrician’s glove is a critical and lifesaving accessory. Electrician gloves are available from electrical supply firms, and are sometimes used for other purposes. One such purpose is protection against toxic substances. It is important to remember that this is not their intended purpose. Once the glove has been used for any other purpose than protection, it has become worthless to the electrician

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The Shark Navigator Lift Away vacuum cleaner by Euro-Pro is quite new and is making waves in the vacuum cleaner industry. It is relatively inexpensive, both an upright and a canister vacuum, allergy friendly, and also carries a lengthy 5 year warranty.

The Shark Navigator Lift Away, or Shark NV350 as it is sometimes called, is powered by a 10 amp motor and uses cyclonic suction. Cyclonic suction spins air at a high velocity stripping the dust and debris out and into the dust canister. It also ensures that much of the dirt is kept away from the filters and therefore suction is not compromised. This technology is often referred to as “no-loss of suction” technology.

A review of consumer comments from across the net indicates a high level of satisfaction with the NV350. Owners like the powerful suction, light weight and lengthy power cord. There are also a number of positive comments related to the washable lifetime filters and how they save time and money. On the downside some people feel that the dust canister is a little small and as such must be emptied frequently. Also, not all of the vacuum attachments can be stored on-board.

The NV350 has a motorized brushbar that can be turned on or off allowing the unit to work effectively both on carpet or bare floors. It also has a swivel nozzle that is very maneuverable. The Lift Away is certified by the British Allergy Foundation and it comes with HEPA filtration and uses a sealed system. HEPA filtration is a high level of filtration that removes 99.97% of all particles with a diameter of 0.3 microns or greater. This typically includes pet dander, dust and other allergens. The sealed system ensures that air sucked into the vacuum doesn’t leak out through cracks or bypass the filters. This is a feature not common on vacuums under $200.

Other features include an easy-to-empty dust canister, an 11.25 inch wide power nozzle, and a lengthy 30 foot power cord. Many vacuum cleaner owners complain when a machine has a power cord less than 30 feet. The unit also weighs a very light 12.8 lbs so consumers have no problem pushing the vacuum or carrying it up or down stairs. A number of attachments are included with the Lift Away including a dusting brush, crevice tool, bare floor nozzle and a pet hair turbo brush (good for cleaning stairs and upholstery). There is also an accessory tool holder and a stretch hose.

The vacuum has a detachable canister which is a feature that owners feel is both useful and practical. The canister and handle detach from the body of the vacuum and can be carried around allowing the user to clean stairs, around furniture, overhead, and other hard to reach areas. Dimensions for the Lift Away in inches are (H x W x L) 45.0 x 11.4 x 12.4.

The NV350 is getting extremely good consumer ratings and like its brother the NV22L it is becoming a top seller on retail sites like Amazon. Its popularity is due to the wide range of features, the strong suction and the reasonable price. It can usually be found for less than $200 and it carries a respectably long 5 year warranty. Like many other Euro-Pro Shark products, the Navigator Lift Away vacuum comes only in lavender.

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During the early part of the year, a journey around the garden leaves us looking at the remains of last years outdoor cooking activities. Often, our grills are left outside in the elements, uncovered, and in many cases have seen far better days.

It is this time of year that we start to think about cooking our favourite barbecue food outside during the warmer months with our friends and family, but before we are ready to start throwing charcoal and fire-lighters onto the barbecue, it is time to turn our attention to cleaning our cooking hardware in order to get things off to a hygienic start.

BBQ cleaning methods

Wire brushing

A stiff wire brush is a huge help in cleaning your grill. Simply give your rack a thorough scrubbing before and after each use. If you have used oil to coat your rack, getting the grill clean should be easy with a brush alone. Brass-bristle brushes are especially good for cleaning porcelain-coated grills since they won’t damage the porcelain.

Grill Stones

Grill stones are specially designed to help get grease and stuck-on food off of your grill. They look similar to a large pumice stone with a handle to help make scrubbing easier and is also an excellent heat convector like volcanic rock, ceramic tiles etc. The main difference with a grill stone is that it has no holes, and because of this feature, it greatly reduces the chance of flare-ups and poor cooking. Grill stones are capable of withstanding incredible heat, up to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. Grill stones are ideal for use on most shapes and sizes of grill as the stones design allows it to work with almost any grill format.

Burning off

This is one of the most common methods of cleaning BBQ grills/grates. All you have to do is leave your barbecue on after cooking once all your food has been removed. Once you have done this for around quarter of an hour, allow the grill to cool down for around 5 minutes and then use an old trowel, or flat piece of metal and gently scrape both sides of the grill to remove the sticky hard residue. Please be aware that ceramic grills can get damaged very easily if too much force is applied with sharp objects, so be careful with your choice of tools.

If you have an old metal kitchen utensil, such as an egg-flipper, these are ideal tools to make the job safer and easier.

However, you should be careful that this method is not prohibited by the grill manufacturer in order that you don’t accidentally void your warranty.

Please ensure your own safety if you use this method by wearing a suitable pair of cooking mitts, or specialised heat resistant gloves.

Soaking

If all else fails, letting your grill racks soak in warm water will help loosen stubborn dirt and food remnants. This can be good for getting the edges of your racks, which are often difficult to scrub properly, really clean.

Oiling the grill

A good way to reduce the pain of cleaning a barbecue is to prevent the worst of the residue from sticking to the grill in the first place. To do this, coat your rack with a layer of oil before you start to cook. This will help you to keep your food from burning and sticking to the grill and will also make cleaning the grill afterwards much easier. Remember to only spray oil onto a cold grill. Spraying onto a fire or hot grill will cause the oil to flare up and could cause serious injury.

Steam cleaning

If you use your barbecue on several occasions throughout the year why not invest in a steam cleaner? This will speed up the time taken to clean your barbecue after use and can be very effective indeed; therefore if you are fed up with scrubbing to remove the BBQ residue, an investment in a steam cleaner can be very useful and time saving.

When you having finished cooking your food, soak an old newspaper in water and place it on top of your warmed grill with the lid firmly shut. After about three quarters of an hour, open the lid and wipe off the residue. Don’t let the newspaper sit on the grill rack for too long, as it will dry out and create even more work for you.

Preventative measures to keep your BBQ clean

Using a cover on your barbecue

The number one way to help keep your barbecue clean is to simply purchase, or make, a cover to place on your unit while it is not in use. In order to give your barbecue some protection from the elements it’s a good idea to cover it with a plastic sheet, or preferably a manufacturers cover that is specifically designed to do the job properly as they generally have a tighter fit and are more effective.

During the winter months you may also remove the grill and store it in a dry place away from the damp and the elements. This will decrease the speed at which the rust forms, and you will benefit the most by doing this in conjunction with the oiling method mentioned above.

This helps to inhibit rust during the months when your barbecue is not in regular use.

The foil “tray”

Now that you have the basics of cleaning the grill covered, you should now turn your attention to cleaning the internals of the barbecue.

After several uses, there is a fair amount of gunk left at the bottom that hasn’t benefited particularly from being left outside in the elements. Over time, this build-up can become unhygienic as well as an additional chore for you to deal with.

Charcoal grills suffer the most from this, and the best way to deal with it without spending a great deal of money is to first clean the inside of the barbecue properly by removing the hard and dry residue first using an old dustpan a brush (something all of us should have in the garage somewhere), and then removing the stuck-on dirt from the edges of the grill using general household cleaners. There are plenty of specific BBQ cleaners available, though these can cost two or three times as much as regular household cleaners. Feel free to give them a try, though from experience, regular cleaners perform the task adequately.

Simply spray on a decent amount of the fluid and allow it to soak in properly for around 10 minutes, then gently scrape off the worst of the build-up with a plastic scraper. Once you have got this far you are ready to lay in the kitchen foil.

Use a decent quality kitchen foil, the thicker the better, and triple layer it and turn in the edges so it looks like a tray. Place this into the bottom of your grill, and then add about a quarter-inch deep layer of sand into it. This will help to absorb the fat and excess juices that drain from the grill during cooking, and make your life MUCH easier in the long run.

After several uses, simply remove the whole tray and discard it. Give the inside of the grill a quick brush and wipe, and insert another of your home-made foil trays to keep your BBQ clean for the next few uses.

If you don’t mind spending a little extra money, you can use a catering foil tray and dispose of it after every few uses… just use common sense and get rid of it when it appears well past its best.

Another tip you can try, is to pour leftover coffee on the grill. Clean off with a dry cloth. For a really good clean, spray the grill with your regular oven cleaner and leave it in a plastic garbage bag overnight. Hose it down the next day, and you should have a gleaming grill that is ready to use.

You can also add vinegar or dish washing lotion to the water for additional cleaning power.

Another well-used grill cleaning method is to simply rub the grill in the sand. This will remove most of the grease, etc. Once you have done this, hose down the grill. Depending on how caked the grill is, you may have to repeat this process 2 or 3 or times, but it is worth the effort.

Gas taps often become hard to use during the colder months, causing plastic knobs to crack and in the worst cases, break. Remove the plastic knobs and spray the area with a light oil to loosen them. You can also try using a small amount of machine oil to each tap and then cover them with a light grease to prevent the oil from escaping.

If one or more of your burners doesn’t produce a strong blue flame then it may be because a gas jet has become clogged.

If you lift the burner out of the barbecue you will see small brass nozzles called venturis. These are like a small raised nut with a tiny hole through them. They can be simply removed with a small spanner. If you can’t clear the blockage, buy new nozzles ones from a specialist supplier.

Insects tend to nest inside venturis when they are not in use, and the openings can become blocked. Use a venturi brush to clean the openings of the venturis. If you won’t be using your grill for a long time, consider using some venturi covers to prevent anything from getting inside.

Reconnect the gas supply and check the connections by coating them with a 1:1 mix of dishwasher liquid and water. Any failings in the gas supply will be easily detected at this point and you will know that you will need to do something about repairing it. You can start off by tightening the connections or replacing the seals, and if this doesn’t work, then you should replace the faulty unit as per the manufacturers instructions or return it to your local service centre.

Barbecues with wooden trolleys can be kept in fine fettle by re-oiling them once a year. All you have to do is give the trolley a gently sanding with some high grit paper and then use a suitable furniture oil or a specially formulated barbecue trolley oil. This will not only soak through oil stains on the top of your trolley but help prevent new stains from forming.

Volcanic rocks need care too, if you use them. Ensure that you clean or renew them every year as they always become clogged with fat and oil. Remember to discard the old sand from the drip tray, clean the tray and give it a spray of cooking oil before lining it with aluminium foil. Place new washed sand on top of the foil to help keep it clean.

If your volcanic rocks are showing signs of cracking, you can replace them you may consider replacing them with porcelain briquettes. These disc-shaped “rocks” are less porous than volcanic rocks and they are considerably easier to keep clean.

If you live near the sea or in an area where the salt-air density is high, please note that will need to take extra time and precautions to ensure that your grill is not unduly subjected to the elements which will invariably lead to failing components and rust.

Wash the outer surface periodically with fresh water and dry it off straight away for the best results.

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Bad credit borrowers are seen as a high risk to potential lenders, and it seems its harder than ever to borrow the money that you need without sparkling credit. Do not worry, there is a loan product that is custom made for those high risk bad credit borrowers like yourself , the guaranteed high risk personal loan, commonly known as a payday advance loan or simply payday loan.

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A guaranteed high risk personal loan can be had in amounts up to $3000 by borrowers just like you , honest, hardworking people who have made a few mistakes or had a few financial troubles in the past. You may need to borrow fast cash from a guaranteed high risk personal loan for many reasons including unexpected expenses like expensive car repairs, or replacing a broken appliance. If you are one of the thousands of uninsured individuals living in this country, maybe you have unplanned medical or dental expenses that cannot wait until payday. Whatever reason or purpose you may have , you more than likely qualify for a guaranteed high risk personal loan, and you can borrow up to $3000 today.

Very Simple Application Process

The way a guaranteed high risk personal loan works is very simple. You present your lender with a post dated check in the amount that you wish to borrow, plus fees and interest. The lender holds your post dated check for a period of time that you both agree upon , usually your next payday, which may be up to a month away. The lender will then deposit the check into your checking account for reimbursement. It is that simple.

Everyone Qualifies, Get Your Money Today

Nearly one-hundred percent of all borrowers qualify for the guaranteed high risk personal loan. The only requirements to receive your fast cash is that you have a steady income from a job or other means and an active checking account that has been open for at least thirty days and is not overdrawn. Even those whose income is derived from Social Security Disability, Social Security Retirement, Supplemental Social Security, and child support payments qualify to receive the guaranteed high risk personal loan. The borrowers just need to provide the lender with proof of income in a statement from the agency who issues their benefits.

Other documentation that you might be required to present to receive the guaranteed high risk personal loan is a valid driver license card or other picture identification card, social security card, bank statements, and current paystubs from your employer. You may be asked for several personal references who can contact you if the lender cannot reach you at your home or work number.

The most convenient way to receive your guaranteed high risk personal loan is to apply with an online lender. Most of the paperwork and documentation required can be submitted via fax or scanned email, and you can have your money deposited into your checking account within minutes of approval, all from the comfort of your home.

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We all know that cruise ships are great getaway on the high seas. But did you know that cruise ships in all shapes and sizes are available for sale? Depending on your budget, you could buy a cruise ship for a steal at $2 million, or the price can rise into the millions. The price depends on the size of the ship, passenger amenities and its condition. The metal used in building the ship is important too, because rust would prove to be a negative selling point.

Most cruise ships have staterooms, public rooms, cabins, scullery (pantries), dining halls, entertainment areas and swimming pools. Space for retail outlets such as bookstores, gift, souvenir shops and hair salons, may or may not be present depending on the cruise ship. A spa, health and fitness club, and sports bar are also built into most of the cruise liners. Sanitary facilities should be examined closely in all cabins and public areas to know what basic amenities are available.

The scullery usually is equipped with all necessary appliances including ovens (conventional, convection and microwave), stoves, toasters, refrigerators, coolers, pots and pans and all the ingredients to provide the guests with the best meals during their journey.

Passenger observation decks are on most cruise ships to allow passengers to enjoy the beauty of the sea while the ship is on the move. Most of the cruise ships also come equipped with a casino housing gaming tables like blackjack, roulette, poker, dice and slot machines. There is usually a satellite connection for televisions provided in all the mega liners to entertain guests.

Some of the most important amenities on a cruise ship are located in the pump room, chiller room and office rooms. Other important cruise ship information would include the security available for guests and their valuables, provisions to store perishables, makes and models of engines; space allocated for engines, generators and the rudder rooms. New cruise ships come with electrical fittings, heavy machinery such as the engines, other machinery such as those used for steering the ship, deck machinery, air compressors, fire, bilge and other necessary pumps in the pump rooms — all the equipment required for securing and mooring the ship.

Last but not least, the cruise ship must be equipped with lifesaving equipment, as well as first aid kits to handle any emergencies. Fire extinguishers with hoses and spanners, lifebuoys, life floats, rescue boats, distress signals such as flares, common bandages, medicine chest etc., form the major part of the emergency paraphernalia.

Before buying a cruise ship, the buyer needs to do some homework to make sure that the condition of the ship is acceptable, as well as all technical matters pertaining to the ship’s ability to function properly.

There are excellent websites on the Internet that provide details about various cruise ships on sale. Browsing through these will give you a good idea of the price range and amenities to look for in a cruise before signing on an agreement.

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The furnace is hot and every once in a while the burner will come on for a short time and then go off again. But the blower that should be running to circulate the hot air from the furnace to the house is not working. How can you fix that? It really isn’t very hard.

It does not matter what the fuel of your hot air furnace is. If the blower is not circulating the air through the heater then you are not getting warm. The function of the blower is to move the heat from the heater to the space that need to be heated.

A few simple tests can tell you what your problem is. Do you have power going to the motor that runs the blower? If you have power going to the motor and it is very hot than maybe the blower wheel has come lose and it is stuck on something that is keeping it from turning. Try to turn the wheel to see if it is stuck. If the wheel is not hitting anything and just turns hard then the bearings of the motor are bad and the motor needs to be replaced. In some rare cases the motor has little tubes to the bearings and some oil can be worked into the bearings to free them up. This is a long a tedious process, but I have done it successfully a few times.

If the wheel is hitting something, then try to see if it can be fixed. Sometimes the set screw will just come lose from the shaft and repositioning the wheel and tightening the screw will fix the problem.

Sometimes power will be going to the motor and nothing at all is happening. Replacing the motor is then the only option. The worst case that happens and is one of the most common problems is for the hub of the blower wheel to brake off. This lets the inside of the wheel fall down on the motor shaft. The metal from the wheel will saw off the shaft of the motor rather quickly as it is spinning trying to run the blower. The result of this is a ruined wheel and motor.

This gives a brief overview of some of the many things that may happen to your blower in your hot air furnace. I have encountered many other things over the years, but these are the most common problems. It will give you a few things to look for if you are having problems. Be very careful because many times the edges of the metal pieces are very sharp. You can be cut very easily when checking or handling these parts. I know and have the scars to prove it! Do not be in a hurry and be safe.

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In the present fast-paced lifestyle, we hardly have any time to devote to prepare extensive healthy meals to nourish ourselves and our families and therefore, we end up consuming highly processed food, which are laden with oil and sugar, and containing such chemical additives that are strictly not intended for human consumption.

Eating healthy food will charge you with loads of energy and also make you feel great from within. Healthy foods boost our body’s immune system and help us in developing resistance to infections by combating disease producing pathogenic organisms that happen to enter our body. Healthy food aids in living longer and keeps your brain working more efficiently as a result of which you become more attentive and mentally sharp and alert. A healthy diet can address or prevent certain diet and nutrition related diseases such as diabetes, high cholesterol and heart ailments, cancer, high blood pressure and obesity.

By not eating a healthy diet, it can result in the manifestation of several symptoms which can clearly be identified by your outer appearance such as adult acne, dry skin, mouth or tongue ulcers, dark circles, or anemia. Other common symptoms which indicated that your body is suffering due to want of a healthy diet include bad breath, constipation, poor digestion, irritability, frequent headaches and a feeling of depression, poor memory, fatigue, sleep disorders, etc.

In other people, not eating a healthy diet can also cause menstrual problems, diarrhea, development of asthma or other forms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, gallstones, polyps, mental illness or simply result in osteoporosis.

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Over the past years, LCD televisions have been very famous. Why is that? You may ask. It is due to the almost perfect image delivery and the clarity that it brings the viewers. Normally, LCD TVs last longer than plasma. But of course it does not follow that LCD TVs will last forever. It does undergo wear and tear just like any other appliances. It may malfunction at times based on the twisting and uncoiling of the crystal inside. Time will also come that your TV will give up and have to retire. But be assured, that when that time comes, you got your money’s worth.

It is said that an average LCD TV has a duration of 60,000 – 80,000 hours. When you properly maintain your LCD TV, use it under proper conditions considering heat, humidity and other things, it can last as long as 80,000 hours. The quality of display will definitely deteriorate over time. When that happens, you will start to notice that the picture is getting dimmer as time passes by. The one thing that you must not fail to consider in an LCD TV is how long lasting the light source is. There must be a warranty for this one because it is the light source that controls the image quality and clarity. Given the fact that LCD TVs can last for quite a time before finally giving up, one should maximize the conditions when you are using your LCD television.

To preserve the perfect white balance of your flat screen TV, it is very vital to consider the quality of the light source. To last longer, the lighting must be of a high quality. So it is better to pay a higher price for a reputable brand rather than settle for cheaper ones that have no warranty on them. Take into consideration the contrast level of the television. If the contrast levels stay high for a longer period of time, your LCD TV would get old faster. Lower light levels would mean a longer lifespan for your television.

Some flat screen TVs manufactured by Sharp have a separate light source. This is particularly better than having a light source in the same unit because when the light source is out, then the whole television will no longer serve its purpose. So remember the warranty on the back light. Liquid Crystal Display TVs cannot be used for a lifetime as compared to other televisions due to the light beams. These beams are the very essence why an LCD TV is working. However, maintenance of the LCD TV is much easier when compared with the normal televisions.

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The three most common reasons for water leakage from heat pumps are dirty filters or heat exchanging coils, blocked drains, and a shortage of refrigerant. They are pretty simple to diagnose and repair.

Remember: Turn off the power source to your air conditioner before trying any of the following!

1. Dirty Filters and or Blocked Heat Exchanger

When the filters, or heat exchanging coil, are dirty or blocked, this causes a restriction in air flow. This in turn can then cause the temperature of the coil to drop. If the coil temperature drops below zero, moisture in the air that is condensating on the coil can freeze and form little ice flakes which are then blown out of your air conditioner, causing water leakage.

Check the filters, and if they look dirty, give them a good clean with the hosepipe or shower head. Remove all the dirt and give them a spray with a kitchen or bathroom antiseptic spray to kill any bacteria or mould on them.

Check the aluminum coil behind the filters. If it is covered in dry lint, try vacuuming the coil carefully with the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner. If it is particularly dirty, you will need to use a garden spray bottle and a strong grease removing kitchen cleaner. Spray it on the coil, allow to work for around 5 minutes then rinse the coil off with the spray bottle. This should remove the dirt and improve the air flow. Please be careful not to spray water near to the electrical panel on the air conditioner.

ALWAYS read the manufacturers’ manuals on how to clean your heat pump or air conditioner correctly!

2. Blocked Drains

On a wall mounted ductless air conditioner, a blocked drain can be pretty obvious and easy to diagnose. Water will usually drip down the wall from the back of the unit and may also leak through the air outlet at the front if the drain is blocked.

Stand on a small ladder and look down from the top of the air conditioner. Towards the bottom of the heat exchanger is a little plastic tray which is designed to catch the condensate produced by the cooling mode of the air conditioner. Check that this tray is not full of water or overflowing.

If your outdoor unit is directly behind the wall the indoor unit is mounted on, your drain pipe will likely follow the pipework through the wall and drip into the garden. If this is the case, find the end of the drain pipe outside, wipe the end clean with a cloth then blow as hard as you can into it. This should clear any blockages.

If you cannot clear the blockage yourself, or if it is buried inside the wall, you will need to phone a professional HVAC service company and book a service call.

3. Your Air Conditioner Has A Leak and Has Lost Refrigerant

If your air filters and heat exchanger are clean and you have lots of air flow, your air conditioner should deliver plenty of cool air. If it is struggling to cool the room for a few hours and then starts leaking water from the air vent it may be short on refrigerant.

Set your heat pump to the lowest setting possible and leave it to run for a little while. Then check the heat exchanging coil underneath the filters. If it is covered in ice, your air conditioner has a leak and requires a professional to service it. If your air conditioner is leaking refrigerant, the leak will need to be found and fixed before it can have additional refrigerant added to it.

If in doubt, or these tips don’t work, contact your local air conditioning company for a service.

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How to build a side return extension

Turn wasted outdoor space into a flexible living area

For many homeowners, the side-return area – the pathway that runs alongside the ground floor area of the house – is a redundant space. But by building on to it, you can make your home bigger and better.

We’re here to answer those all-important questions.

What structural Work is involved

1) A new wall is built on either the boundary of you and your neighbour’s land, or solely on your side of the boundary.

2) A roof is added (consider a fully glazed design or one with several skylights to flood the interior with light).

3) The side wall to the existing rear room is either completely or partially knocked through. A steel frame may need to be inserted in the wall to support this new opening.

4) A new floor is usually put in, level with the existing floor

Will I need an architect?

Not necessarily. Some conservatory companies and specialist builders offer a complete ‘design and build’ package service, which saves paying extra fees to architects or structural engineers for drawing up plans.

Do I need planning permission?

Council rules changed in October 2008, so you no longer need planning permission for a ground floor side-extension as long as the extension is only single storey, no more than 4m high and no wider than half the width of the original house.

You’ll still have to comply with Building Regulations and possibly with the Party Wall Act if you’re creating a new boundary wall between you and your neighbour, so speak to your local council’s planning office for details.

How much will it cost and how long will it take

A simple side extension will cost from £20,000. Extra internal work, such as adding a new kitchen, and the style of the extension – for example adding glazed external doors – will affect the final figure.

Plan for at least eight to ten weeks for the structural work, plus more for decorating the interior of the new space.

How do I use the space

Don’t need a bigger kitchen? Why not consider these other options?

Flexible living room

Keeping the new space flexible means it will appeal to a wider cross section of buyers when it’s time to sell, so add a sofa and create a haven for chilling out.

Children’s playroom

Free your main living space of the kids’ toys and gear by making the extension a place for the children to play, watch TV and do their homework.

Laundry room

With a side extension usually next to the kitchen, a laundry room is a great option as it means you can move the appliances out of the kitchen – creating more space in there.

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