Winter Blues? Outdoor Heating is Your Ticket Out!

06 Mar , 2014 No Comments

GocheGanas - Dinner or drinks in firepit

It’s been a long, cold, snowy winter, and the frigid air does not look like it will be making an exit any time soon. This is the time of year cabin fever usually begins to set in, and we can all relate to the urge to escape the confines of the house and get back outside, even if it’s just to sit out on your backyard patio or deck. Luckily, you do not have to wait for the snow to completely melt or for the temperatures to reach above freezing, and the simple addition of an outdoor heating unit can make the icy tundra of your backyard instantly inhabitable again. There are a few things to know and consider about outdoor heating units before you make your purchase, however, and in the spirit of a very chilly start to the month of March, this week’s topic highlights two most popular modes of outdoor heating – fire pits and patio heaters – as well as tips for choosing the best kind of unit for the space you wish to heat.

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4 Steps to Better Garage Heating

27 Feb , 2014 1 Comment

Cold weather should not mean putting your life and workshop projects on hold, but if your garage-turned-workshop is not equipped with proper heating, cold air can definitely put a damper on the time you spend on projects. Garages are particularly difficult spaces to heat, and there are a lot of things to consider in purchasing a unit that is both suitable for and safe to use in your residential space. Since cold weather often lingers straight through March and sometimes into April, we thought it would be useful to our consumers to provide a guide to choosing the best heater for your garage.

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4 Common Myths of Air Purification

20 Feb , 2014 No Comments

You do all you can to keep the air in your home fresh and clean – you open windows, use sweet-smelling air fresheners, and dust regularly. But is this really enough? The truth is, the air you breathe in you very own home is dirtier (and more dangerous) than you think. Luckily, the solution comes with just a few clicks of the mouse when you visit TotalHomeSupply.com and check out our selection of Aprilaire whole-home air cleaners. (Our recommended models are the 1410 and 1210 units, pictured left).

But we know our customers are smart, and aren’t going to simply take our word for it, so let’s have a look at the facts. Here are the four most common myths and misconceptions about indoor air quality and air purification, debunked.

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Frozen Pipes, Prevention Instead of Repair

11 Feb , 2014 No Comments

DSCN3289It’s been a long, cold winter so far, and for most of the country there is a lot more of it to go. The temperatures for the month of February will still be low, and the continuous cold takes a toll on your home. Ice dams can form around your gutters causing your roof to leak, and frozen pipes can burst.

Since preventing frozen pipes is definitely a better option than coming home to water flowing through your home, it might be a good idea to talk about a few ways to prevent a home disaster. Some tips can be done by the homeowner, while others may require a professional’s hand.

Wien_Frozen_Pipes_(2311358162)Frozen pipes occur when cold air surrounds the pipe, and water within the pipe freezes and increases pressure somewhere between the frozen blockage and the closed faucet.  Holes in the outside wall of your house where cable or internet lines come through the walls can let in a lot of cold air. This can be a problem if these holes are too close to water pipes. Sealing the holes with caulk will not only protect your pipes, but will create a more energy efficient home.

Wrapping pipes with insulation is another easy fix. Most home improvement centers or plumbing supply stores sell pipe sleeves manufactured for this purpose. The thicker the insulation, the better; just be sure that no gaps exist where the pipe is exposed to the cold air.

One easy tip is to just open the cabinet doors under your kitchen sink, bathroom vanities, etc., anywhere a pipe is housed and no warm air can circulate. Allowing a faucet to drip, while not the optimum way to prevent frozen pipes, does help in some cases. I know of one case where a homeowner never had a frozen pipe until he had a plumber fix a leaky faucet. Letting a small drip may work in some instances, but it wastes water and does not take care of the underlying problem.

If your pipes are in an unheated crawl space or an outside wall, electric heating tapes and cables can be used to run along the pipes, providing enough warmth to prevent freezing. However, because of the need for this wiring to be up to code, and because a thermostat needs to be installed so the heated wires will turn on when needed, it’s best to call in a professional to do the installation. It’s a more expensive option, but definitely cheaper than the repairs needed when pipes burst inside your walls.

So how cold does it need to be before pipes freeze? Well, 20 degrees Fahrenheit seems to be the general rule, but the actual freezing point could be higher depending on weather conditions, as well as where your pipes are located. It’s always better to prevent than it is to repair. Take a look around your home and see what options fit your needs, and keep those pipes warm.

Photo Source: By Cha già José from Vienna, Austria (Frozen Pipes  Uploaded by darkweasel94) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Creating the Perfect Valentine’s Day at Home

06 Feb , 2014 No Comments

As evidenced by the latest shift in store displays – from candy canes and Santa hats to heart-shaped boxes of chocolate – Valentine’s Day is almost here. It’s a time for celebrating love, between partners or among family and friends, and so we all have a lot to celebrate on this day, regardless of what your Facebook relationship status reads come February 14th. This year, the 14th falls on a Friday, which means that chances are the restaurants, bars, and movie theaters will be packed to capacity with both Valentine’s Day observers and general weekend-goers alike. But don’t let this discourage you from enjoying the holiday – take it as an opportunity to cozy up and create the perfect Valentine’s Day date or dinner party at home!

Total Home Supply carries a plethora of appliances that are not only handy to have around the house on a day-to-day basis, but can also help enhance the quality of any at-home gathering. This week’s topic is all about tips and ideas for Valentine’s Day entertainment, with suggested hand-picked items that can all be found for purchase on our website.

To get the night going, let’s start with the wine – do you prefer red, white, or rosé? Whatever your choice happens to be, the Kalorik electric corkscrew and sealer set makes cracking open that fancy bottle you’ve been keeping in your wine cooler virtually effortless. The corkscrew works to smoothly and flawlessly extract the cork from the bottle each and every time, while the sealer effortlessly re-corks the bottle without breakage.

Now, on to dinner. Any home cooked meal is sure to impress your date or dinner guests, and Total Home Supply offers an astonishing variety of ovens, ranges, cooktops to help you whip up all of your famous dishes – from pan-seared salmon to stir-fry, roasted asparagus to garlic bread, pasta primavera to beef Wellington and creamy mashed potatoes. If you do find yourself cooking for a party, or if your kitchen simply lacks the space for a full-sized range, an electric roaster oven is the perfect solution for cooking poultry, meat, and side dishes, or for warming bread. We also understand that our consumers lead busy lives, in which case a slow cooker is ideal for preparing delicious soups, gravies, and sauces to be ready-to-serve by the time you arrive home. 

After your savory meal has been enjoyed by candlelight, it’s time for coffee and dessert. Whether your favorite after-dinner pick-me-up is a classic drip-coffee, or a cappuccino, latte, or espresso, why not sweeten the mood and make it a little special for Valentine’s Day? Black forest cake coffee is absolutely perfect to serve on this holiday, and it is very easy to make. After preparing your hot coffee or latte drink as usual, simply stir in one teaspoon of dark chocolate syrup (or two, because when was the last time you heard someone complain about too much chocolate?), add a splash of maraschino cherry juice, then top with whipped cream, a drizzle of chocolate syrup, and one cherry.

Accompany your after-dinner coffee with everyone’s favorite sweet treat – cupcakes! Whether full-size or miniature, cupcakes are a fun (and yummy) way to get creative with decorations. Red velvet cupcakes are a perfect Valentine’s Day dessert, topped with a sweet cream cheese frosting and sprinkles. Or, if you’re not really a frosting person, try baking brownies in cupcake tins and, using a paper heart cut-out as a stencil, sprinkle powdered sugar on top for a super cute design.

But perhaps an full-scale dinner event is not for you, and that is perfectly fine! You really can’t go wrong on any night with popcorn and a good movie.

And finally, because Valentine’s Day is as much about celebrating love between friends and family as it is between couples, why not consider throwing a Valentine’s Day brunch for you and a group of all your favorite people? Whip up some golden-brown, heart-shaped waffles, top with some sliced strawberries, maybe a little whipped cream or maple syrup, and enjoy!