With good maintenance and proper care, your air conditioning unit should run efficiently for up to 15 years! Try these easy tips for getting the most out of your AC this summer.

Trouble spots to look for:

Liberty Floor Covering.

2437 Tripaldi Way, Hayward, CA 94545 - Phone: 510-786-0119

Energy Saving Tips

 While you can't exactly print dollar bills from your AC unit, you can do the equivalent by saving money on how efficiently your conditioning system operates. With the proper maintenance (follow the tips above) and these energy saving tactics you'll find yourself with money to spare this summer!

Extension Cord Safety

Always Use the Right Extension Cord for the Job

Power requirements vary for different tool applications. Using the wrong extension cord can damage a tool or create a fire hazard.

• Wire thickness determines the amount of power that will be delivered to the tool. Common sizes, or gauges, are 18, 16, 14, and 10. Oddly, the higher the gauge number, the thinner the wire is. So, of these, the 10 gauge is thickest and will deliver the most power.
  
• You can always use a thicker cord than the one called for in tool instructions, but not a lighter one. When in doubt, chose the heaviest three-prong cord available.
  
• Length of the cord can cause problems. Don't use a cord that is far longer than what you need, especially if you leave the excess cord coiled. Leaving coils in the cord allows heat to build up in the wires which can get hot enough to melt the insulation. Always uncoil a cord fully before using it.
  
• Never hook a three-prong cord to a two-prong cord. It can be done with some two-prong cords, but it's very dangerous.
  
• When working outdoors, choose a cord with an outdoor rating. They usually bear the designation "W-A." And don't let the cord lie in the sun for extended periods. The sun's ultraviolet rays can cause insulation to deteriorate.
  
• Occasionally, a good cord can get cut or damaged in the middle. Never try to salvage it by taping the wires together. Instead, make two smaller cords out of it by adding a socket to one and a plug to the other.
  
• Always unplug extension cords when they are not in use.

Three Important Reasons to Check Your Cords Today
by SixWise.com

Most people don’t give much thought to the extension cords running under their couches, connecting lamps to faraway sockets or allowing five plugs to fit into one electrical outlet—until something goes wrong. Please don’t make that mistake!

Every year, an estimated 4,000 injuries are treated in hospital emergency rooms, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and 13 percent of those injuries involve young children aged 5 years or less.

Three Major Extension Cord Risks

1. Tripping
How many extension cords are running across your floors, in heavily trafficked, common areas, right now? This accident waiting to happen is the reason why, according to the CPSC, about half of extension-cord-related injuries involve fractures, lacerations, contusions, or sprains from people tripping over extension cords. The elderly are most at risk, as a fall can easily break bones or result in the need for surgery.

The solution: Place extension cords with extreme care, in areas that are not normally walked over. Run cords along baseboards or walls or thread them behind tables or other furniture where they are out of the way. (DO NOT put them under rugs or heavy furniture, or behind radiators or heaters, as this is a fire hazard)

2. Fires
The CPSC estimates that extension cords cause about 3,300 residential fires each year, killing 50 people and injuring about 270 others. The most frequent causes of extension cord fires?

• Short circuits
• Using old, damaged cords
• Overloading cords, which leads to overheating
• Misuse

The solution: Delaware’s Assistant State Fire Marshal Richard Ward said homeowners can reduce their risk of extension cord fires by investing in heavier gauge extension cords and avoiding “bargain cords.”

"You get what you pay for," Ward said. "If you pay more money, you're going to get a better extension cord.” Other tips include:

• Replace cords that are cracked or frayed.
  
• Don’t overload cords or sockets.
  
• Don’t run cords under rugs or near heaters or radiators.
  
• Only use exterior extension cords for outside use. Firefighters in Phoenix, AZ said they see several fires each year caused solely by people using interior extension cords outside.
  
• Pay attention to cord quality and purpose—don’t use a light-duty extension cord for a job that really needs a heavy-duty variety, such as air conditioners or freezers. 
  
• Feel the temperature of the cords when they are in use. If they are hot to the touch, unplug them immediately. Replace the extension cord with one that has No. 16 or heavier gauge wire (the lower the number, the heavier the wire and the more electrical current the cord can safely carry).

3. Electrical Burns
Electrical burns to the mouth accounted for half the extension-cord-related injuries to young children, according to the CPSC. They reported one incident in which a 15-month-old girl put an extension cord in her mouth and suffered an electrical burn that required surgery.

The solution: Keep all extension cords out of the reach of children. Plugs, outlets and cords can be irresistible to young children who don’t realize their dangers.

Play it safe and avoid using them if you have small children, or ensure that your child cannot get access to the cord. Some of the worst places to put them are dangling over counters or tabletops where they can be pulled down. If you do use one, be sure it has a safety closure to cover any unused outlets.

Other Tips For Safe Extension Cord Use
Extension cords are handy tools and necessities in many homes, so follow these other tips to help you use extension cords in the safest manner:

top of page

Dishwashers 5 to 12
Disposals 5 to 12
Washers and dryers 8 to 12 
Water heaters 8 to 12
Refrigerators 15 to 20
Stoves 15 to 20

Heating and Air Conditioning Life Estimate in Years

Click here for your Fall Lawn and Garden Tips

Various HGTV Calculators

Stumps and Roots

Save Money on Energy Useage - This website, which is sponsored by the EPA and the DOE, shows how to save money on energy bills with their energy efficiency suggestions.

This Old House - Learn how to repair most anything inside and outside of your home.

HGTVPro for building and remodeling help including online "how to" videos 

Online tools: draw house plans, sheeting calculator, estimate concrete, rafter length calculator, cost sheet and more.

Bob Vila: Online and on the job site, home improvement pro Bob Vila helps homeowners build their dreams. Bob Vila's TV Schedule

The Lazy Homeowner offers tip and tricks to save you time in doing the chores that have to get done whether you like to do them or not.

Home and Garden TV