Braeburn systems is a company based in Montgomery Illinois. Their product line includes thermostats, humidistats, and zone dampers. They have a full line of thermostats that include programmable, non-programmable, and smart Wi-Fi, including wireless and touch screen.
Braeburn programmable thermostats allow you to schedule when your heat and air are running. A feature that will save you money by turning your air off while you’re out of the house or sleeping.
Braeburn Thermostat Instructions
Set Up
1. Date/time
Locate the dates last time button on the keypad. Using the up and down arrows, change the hour, then the minutes, then the day of the week. Save each selection by tapping the day/time button afterwards.
2. Set the Fan
Scroll through the fan settings by pushing the “Fan” button repeatedly till you find the setting you want.
“Auto” runs the fan only when the unit is running. The ” On” setting keeps the fan on continuously. The ” Circ” setting runs the fan for 24 minutes and off for 24 minutes continually. “Prog” is the setting that you program the thermostat to run the fan on.
Confused about which one to pick? See this resource.
3. Set the differential
This is the setting that allows you to choose how much the temperature in the room changes before the air conditioner or heater comes back on.
To set it, hold the return button for 4 seconds. Pick what you want your differential to be by scrolling up or down. Some models have two and three different stage differentials that can be set using the same procedure as well.
Programming your thermostat
1. Enter the programming mode by pressing the” Prog” button.
2. Choose “Heat” or “Cool”. Some models have a switch that you simply move into position, others require you to make your choice by pushing the “system” on the touch screen.
3. Day/time
On this step you can either choose to program one day at a time or a full week. Simply press the day/time button to choose one or the other.
4. Hours/ minutes
This is the hours and minutes of the day that you want the heat and air to run. Hit the up and down arrows to scroll up or down to find your desired times.
5. Unoccupied
The “Unocc” mode is the program your thermostat for when the house will be unoccupied. To find this mode, simply press the “Prog” button.
6. Unoccupied mode is programmed the same way as the other settings. Use the up and down arrows till you find your desired days and times.
7. When you’re finished, press return to complete.
Congratulations you have finished programming your Braeburn thermostat!
Is it bad to sleep with a fan blowing on you? That can be a contentious question, depending on who you ask. There are quite a few proponents for the good , and the bad issues of sleeping with the fan on you. But you might find that the answer is not that clear cut.
Some people say it is unhealthy, other people don’t have a problem with it.
And the truth is, both are right. There are times when sleeping at the fan on you is exactly what you need to cool off and get some sleep,
But there is also times when having air blowing directly on you can cause you to have some issues in other areas.
So let’s do our best to break it down and see how if we can come to some agreement on the subject.
Benefits of sleeping with a fan
1. Cools you down 2. White noise 3. Circulate the air 4. Reduce hot and cold spots in your home. 5. Reduces odors
1. Cool you down.
When it is hot, especially hot and sticky like it gets in the south at night where I live, putting a fan on you is the difference between going to sleep or not. There’s not too many things more miserable than trying to get to sleep in a hot room with no airflow.
Taking a shower helps but that’s not always an option especially when you’re not in your own house, not to mention those nights when you can wash the sweat off and be sweaty again in 20 minutes.
2. Sleeping with a fan for noise
The sound of a fan humming can be a good thing to help drown out other loud sounds that can keep you from getting to sleep good. Whether it’s the person in the room with you snoring, or the TV on and the other room, for the traffic outside, Erratic sounds while you are sleeping can jar you awake and make it harder to get back to sleep after you’ve been startled.
A fan can make an excellent white noise machine when you don’t have any other source of white noise around.
Of course there is a million videos of rain sounds, ocean sounds, or whatever sounds you need to help you sleep available on YouTube if you have your phone.
3. Circulates the air
If you’re having a hard time getting to sleep, laying in a dry stale room with no air flowing doesn’t help. Opening the window is a good choice to get some air flowing in the room when you have a window to open. But opening a window is not always an option because of security risk or the exasperation of noise outside that we already mentioned. Running a fan while you’re asleep is a good way to create some airflow in a less than fresh environment.
Even when you have central heat and air that distributes air conditioning into every single room, you can have hotspots where the vented incoming air does not get to as well.
One option is to keep the “on” setting on your AC thermostat left in the ” on ” position so that the AC fan continues to run after the AC has powered down.
But this will still leave some spots where the air does not get to as well and cost more money to operate.
And keeping the fan running continuously evaporates the condensation and blows it back into the house in the form of humidity. Which only makes the air feel hotter and stickier.
Using a fan as a supplement to your air conditioning can help move the cool air from your AC vents through your room and onto yourself better.
b. Air conditioning is also expensive to keep running at cool setting all night. Most experts agree that you should turn your thermostat up as hot as you can actually take the heat, to avoid an outlandish Energy bill during the summer months.
5. Reduces odors
The bedroom can be a, let’s say “unfresh” room to sleep in. Body odors, especially collective body odors when you sleep in the same room with someone else can build up and make a room unfresh and hard to get to sleep in.
Many people sleep in the same room with their baby to be able to conveniently change and nurse them through the night.
Though necessary, the smell of a dirty diaper can be enough to wake you up. Having a fan in the bedroom can keep the air flowing and reduce smells.
Though you probably don’t want to keep the fan right on the baby. Babies tend to have a much more sensitive respiratory system that can be a lot more susceptible to airborne bacteria.
Side effects of sleeping with a fan on you
1. Noisy 2. Body aches 3 Can cause congestion 4. Sore throat 5. Dry eyes 6. Dehydration 7. Ear pain 8. Allergies and asthma
There are a lot of good points to not sleeping with a fan on you. Do they outweigh the positive, you’ll have to decide.
1. Noisy
Some people need absolute quiet to sleep. And though fan noise can be considered a source of white noise to help you sleep by some, for others, a fan is just too loud.
If you’re a person that thinks you would enjoy the benefits of sleeping with a fan but they are too loud, you should know that there are many fans available that are very very quiet these days.
2. Can sleeping under a fan cause body aches?
As strange as it may seem, sleeping with a fan with the air directed right on you can cause you to tense up and wake up with body aches. The flow of concentrated cool air on you can cause your muscles to constrict and leave you feeling stiff when you wake up.
Another issue is that it can become too cool while you’re asleep, and you will naturally turn away which may leave you in an uncomfortable position that will also leave you sore in the morning.
There’s also that period of time where the seasons are transitioning and one night you may need a fan on you where is the next night, it’s too much. There’s no benefit to keeping a fan on you when the temperature does not warrant it.
3. Does sleeping under a fan cause congestion?
Generally sleeping under a fan helps keep the air moving enough that you get a good night’s sleep.
But if you’re feeling sinusy or you can tell that you’ve got a cold coming on, sleeping directly in front of a fan will more than likely exasperate the problem.
And believe me, having a summer cold with a congested head and chest is even more miserable when you are burning up but sitting in front of the fan is only making you feel worse.
The fan may not be the reason you are congested but may not exactly make you feel better either.
Although the feeling of a light breeze coming off a cool mist humidifier fan can be refreshing and help you open up and breathe easier when you’re feeling congested.
4. Sleeping with fan on sore throat
Having a sore throat is related to dry mouth. If you already sleep with your mouth open, having a fan directly on you is going to dry out your throat which may leave it feeling sore.
Also, if you are already feeling like you might have a cold coming on, sleeping under a fan may give you the chills and make you feel worse rather than better.
A cool mist humidifier maybe a better option for giving you a slight breeze and adding moisture to the air to help loosen up mucus and moisten your throat so you can swallow easier.
5. can sleeping with a fan on cause dry eyes?
Dry eyes, itchy eyes, and watery eyes can all get aggravated when you have a fan blowing on you. Dry and itchy eyes are usually symptoms that are related to allergies. And having a fan blow around airborne allergens, especially directly on you, could be the reason that you get dry eyes with the fan on. This is an issue that I am close to. My own mother carries around a box of tissues because her eyes are so sensitive to allergens that she never knows when just having a fan on is going to make her eyes water so bad she can’t take it.
All the reasons why you put a fan on yourself in the first place.
Sleeping with the fan will not dehydrate you but it is not the solution for dehydration either.
If you have a fan on you because you were excessively hot, that should be an indication to you that you need to drink more water.
Staying hydrated will help you cool down more than sleeping with a fan. But a cool drink and a fan are certainly bosom buddies in the summer.
7. Sleeping with a fan on bad for your ears?
There is an old wives tale or at least a rumor that sleeping under a fan will give you tinnitus.
But the truth is tinnitus is related to being exposed to loud noises or infections and there is really no evidence that having air blowing on you can give you tinnitus.
Though there are certain sleeping positions like your neck being kinked that can exasperate ear problems.
8. Asthma and allergies
Sleeping with a fan on can exasperate allergies and asthma because it keeps airborne triggers moving around through the air while you are sleeping.
Allergens like dust mites go hand in hand with heat and humidity.
When the weather is hot and sticky you can count on having a large population of dust mites in your room.
Unfortunately that is the time when you need to fill the comfort of a fan on you the most.
This is where running a dehumidifier will not only help reduce the allergen population, will reduce the humidity that is amplifying the heat and take the pressure off of your air conditioner all in one shot.
An air purifier in your bedroom is also an excellent device to keep as a companion to your fan so that you can enjoy the benefits of having the fan on without circulating allergens and asthma triggers it can cause you to have a reaction while you are sleeping.
Are you a proponent of sleeping with a fan on or do they have too many issues for you to be comfortable with.
It is certainly a subject that can be debatable but it is really up to you and there is no harm in trying it. And it can keep you from running to the thermostat.
Indoor plants that clean the air and remove toxins
Devil’s Ivory
Peace Lily
Boston Fern
Aloe Vera
Flamingo Flower
Lady Palm
English Ivy
Snake Plant
Dracaena
Weeping Fig
Dwarf Date Palm
Spider Plant
Rubber Plant
Areca Palm
Chinese Evergreen
Bamboo Palm
Philodendron
Chrysanthemum
Pineapple Plant
Kimberly Queen Fern
Gerbera Daisy
Spider Plant
Money Plant
Orchid
1.Epipremnum aureum – Devil’s Ivory/Golden Pathos
It’s called devil’s ivy because it’s near impossible to kill and it retains its green color even in the dark.
Golden pathos as it’s also called is a highly oxygenating house plant that according to NASA’s study is natural air purifier responsible for removing such toxic substances as:
Pollutants removed
Benzene
Formaldehyde
Xylene
Trichloroethylene
2.Spathiphllum –Peace Lily
Peace lily basically means “spoon leaves” in Greek. But it is also become a recognized symbol for the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is popular during the Easter season and funerals.
Peace lily is also a top 10 NASA researched house plant that is responsible for air purification.
Pollutants removed
Benzene
Carbon Monoxide
Formaldehyde
Xylene
Trichloroethylene
Nephrolepis exaltata v. Bostoniesis – Boston fern
How did the Boston fern get its name? Apparently a Floridian nurseryman named John sear loved the look of the common sword fern so much that he sent his friend located in Boston so many that it took on the name Boston fern. Ok then…
Boston fern is a Hardy house plant that makes the list of air purifying plants responsible for removing dangerous gases from the air.
Pollutants removed
Formaldehyde
Xylene
A. Carbadensis –Aloe vera
Aloe Vera is also called the burn plant because of its medicinal properties that lend it to being good for treating Burns. It is easily the most popular of all “first aid plants” and there’s not too many of us that don’t at least have a bottle of Aloe Vera sunscreen somewhere.
Flamingo Lily or flower is also known as painters palette. It’s striking beauty is its calling card. It’s red pointed leaves almost look like they have been painted with nail polish.
But beauty isn’t everything and flamingo flowers have another allure. They are one of nature’s top air purifiers.
Pollutants removed
Toluene
Formaldehyde
Xylene
Ammonia
Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm
Lady Palm is also called bamboo palm because of its likeness to bamboo.
Lady Palm makes an excellent and elegant house plant that grows best and like to heavy shade. And because of the denseness of it, it also makes a great privacy barrier.
As part of NASA’s indoor air plant plant study, Lady Palm has also been outed for its excellent natural air purification.
Pollutants removed
Formaldehyde
Xylene
Ammonia
Hedera helix – English Ivy
The English ivy is called exactly that if you are in North America, but if you are in it’s native environment, it would be called The Irish ivy or the Atlantic ivy. Ivy is actually a word that means eternity, which can describe the evergreen nature of the English ivy well. It’s popularly known as a climber that can get up to 100 ft tall.
It also lands on NASA’s list of air purifying plants at number one. The top dog.
Pollutants removed
Formaldehyde
Benzene
Sansevieria –Mother-in-law’s tongue / snake plant
This plant has the most descriptive names that it goes by, and each one describe it very well.
Not only does the plant look like snakes that are being charmed and coming out of a basket, the leaves resemble swords that could fit right in St George’s hand.
Snake plant is one of those house plants that takes care of itself and needs very little attention.
It is also known to release oxygen at night making it a excellent house plant to keep in your bedroom.
Pollutants removed
Formaldehyde
Benzene
Xylene
Trichloroethylene
Dracaena Deremensis – Dracaena /Janet Craig
Dracaena is Greek for female dragon, which conjures images of a mythical origin. But the other name that goes by is Janet Craig. Which doesn’t exactly fit into the theme of a mystical fiery dragon.
But Miss Janet turns out to be a excellent house plant to help filter out airborne contaminants in your home.
Pollutants removed
Formaldehyde
Xylene
Trichloroethylene
Ficus Benjamina – weeping fig
The Weeping fig gets its name from its sensitive temperament. The ficus weeping fig is a delicate house plant that does not like to be moved. And when it does get moved, it’s leaves can start falling off like tears.
It is also said that Buddha became enlightened under a fig tree. Who knows? But what we do know is that it is a excellent oxygenating house plant that can help purify your air.
Contaminants removed
Formaldehyde
Benzene
Trichloroethylene
Phoenix roebelenii – pygmy date palm/Dwarf
Also called the dwarf date palm, the pygmy date is a much shorter palm tree hence the name pygmy which implies smaller. One interesting feature that dwarf date palms have is what looks to be a pineapple at the base of the palms when it is pruned.
Dwarf date palms have been found to remove toxins from the air including:
Formaldehyde
Xylene
Chlorophytum comosum –Spider plant
Spider plant is usually assumed to get its name from the spidery look of the plant. But the actual truth is entirely different.
Spider plant gets its name because it was once believed to be an antidote for spider bites. And not because anyone has ever been cured by a spider plant, but because it is easily mistaken for another plant, St Bernard’s Lily, that does have a history of being used as a treatment for spider bites…
Spider plants are one of the easiest plants to take care of which makes it a great house plant for beginners.
It also makes NASA’s list of natural household air purifiers with the capacity to filter:
Formaldehyde
Xylene
Ficus elastica – rubber plant
Rubber plan is another plant that you may assume that gets its name from the rubbery look of its leaves. Nope.
Rubber actually refers to the sap of the rubber plant that has a history of being used for making rubber.
One of the more striking plants, it can reach the ceiling within a few years with regular pruning.
As a indoor air purifying plant, it is able to help remove airborne contaminants like:
Benzene
Formaldehyde
Xylene
Trichloroethylene
Dypsis lutescens- butterfly Palm/ Areca palm
The Areca palm there’s also called a butterfly Palm which gives a hint to how it is named. Its name is a reference to how it’s leaves bend upwards and flare around creating a butterfly look.
As part of NASA’s 50 household plants researched for their air purification qualities, Areca/ butterfly Palm is a large house plant that came in at the top of the list.
Contaminants removed
Carbon Monoxide
Benzene
Formaldehyde
Xylene
Trichloroethylene
Aglaonema modestum – Chinese evergreen
Chinese evergreen is considered to be a good luck plant in its native China. It is also called painted drop tongue or Silver Queen. Both which refer to its Silvery painted leaves with a green border.
Chinese evergreen makes an excellent apartment house plant because of it’s need of low-level light and it’s capacity as a natural air purifier.
Contaminants that the Chinese evergreen removes are:
Formaldehyde
Xylene
Chamaedorea seifrizii – Bamboo palm
Bamboo palm resembles bamboo at the stems with rings around the trunk thus giving it it’s simple descriptive name. It’s leaves or distinctively deep green which give it a tropic foliage appearance.
Though not hard to take care of, they can easily outgrow you and get up to 12 ft tall.
As a natural air purifier, bamboo palm can filter the following airborne contaminants:
Benzene
Formaldehyde
Trichloroethylene
Philodendron Philodendron
Philodendron goes by the name “Philodendron”. Who needs a nickname?
Philodendron is a beautiful plant with large imposing leaves. It also could be considered a “mothering” plant because it produces cataphylls that are leaves that are modified to protect new forming leaves.
It is one of NASA’s top 50 plants for removing formaldehyde in the home.
Chrysanthemums Mums
Chrysanthemums are known for their exquisite beauty and in some cultures symbolize long life and rebirth, but in some parts of Europe they symbolize death. And are only used and given out is a symbol of grief or bereavement.
With more heritage than your average floral, they have also become known as one of the best natural air purifiers for your home.
Keeping chrysanthemums around can help reduce airborne pollutants like:
Ammonia
Benzene
Formaldehyde
Xylene
Ananas Comosus Pineapple plant
Pineapple, neither a pine or an apple. It’s actually a group of berries that have amalgamated. Pineapple plant can take up to 2 years to create one single pineapple.
The pineapple plant absorb CO2 and releases oxygen at night. This capacity to increase air quality at night has made it a “miracle cure” for snoring.
And if you’re lucky enough to live in a high altitude, you may eventually enjoy a slice of pineapple after you’ve had a good night’s sleep.
Nephrolepis obliterata –Kimberly Queen fern
Kimberly Queen fern also goes by the name Australian sword fern and as you may have guessed it originates in Australia. Kimberly Queen is merely the trade name for the species.
Kimberly Queen fern grows best in high humidity so it’s capacity to reduce airborne pollutants that can be greater in areas with high humidity, make it not only a beautiful fanning plant but a excellent natural indoor air purifier.
Contaminants removed
Benzene
Formaldehyde
Gerbera jamesonii – gerbera daisy
The Cabrera Daisy gets its name after a naturalist in the 1970s named Traugott Gerber. Who named after the German botanist, it was actually hey Scott’s man named Robert Jameson that was responsible for discovering the flower.
Gerbera daisies are not only bright and colorful they are great for filtering your air and release their oxygen at night.
Air pollutants removed
Benzene
Trichloroethylene
Crassula ovata- Money Plant
The origins of how money plant gets its name range from the leaves look like silver dollars to the belief that the plant brings you luck which in turn brings you wealth.
Also called the jade plant, money plant absorbs CO2 and releases oxygen at night. It is also a NASA researched air purifier that can reduce chemicals like:
Benzene
Formaldehyde
Xylene
Toluene
Orchidaceae –Orchid
How did the orchid get its name? A little shocking.
The story goes that Orhis in Greek mythology was the son of a nymph and a satyr. On the occasion of a festival of Dionysus, he became belligerently drunk and attempted to rape a priestess. For this, the God’s turned him into a flower.
Orchids absorb carbon monoxide at night and release oxygen as well as filters xylene from the air.
Making them an excellent plant for your bedroom.
Does that mean that Orchis was repentant and decided to become a giver instead of a taker?
Himalayan salt lamps have gathered in popularity over the last few years.
And the truth is they are a pretty sharp-looking novelty item that can add to the ambience of a shaded room nicely. But having a pinkish, orange and red lamp it’s not really enough to cause the kind of stir they have. It’s unlikely so many people would be purchasing and hunting these things down if it were just for the look of them.
So why are Himalayan salt lamps so popular?
It’s the health benefits that are associated with using a salt lamp.
There are a number of claims being made about how Himalayan salt lamp can improve your health.
The claims include reducing allergies, lowering asthma triggers, and filtering germs and bacteria out of the air.
The two main health functions that Himalayan salt lamps supposedly perform are:
“Himalayan salt lamps do not create any measurable amount of negative ions but they are conclusively hygroscopic because salt is known to pull moisture out of the air. Are they a Hoax? 50/50.”
Now I am a skeptic. and certain things like salt lamps just lend themselves to skepticism.
But if you were to show me a study that proves Himalayan salt lamps could actually improve air quality, we can leave it at that.
But unfortunately there is not a single study that can be produced.
But like everything else to do with Himalayan salt lamps, I’ll try to make an educated guess.
One of the biggest claims about Himalayan salt lamps is that they create negative ions.
My first question here is: “Have you ever seen the dust left behind by a negative ion generator?”
Negative ion generators are famous we’re leaving a blanket of dust on the walls and surfaces around around the machine.
It’s so popular they have a phrase that describes it. “Great Wall syndrome” is the effect of negatively charged ions combining with positively charged ions, and either falling to the surface or clinging to the walls.
This is not a effect you get with a Himalayan salt lamp.
Secondly, it’s not just negative ions that affect the mood or atmosphere in an area, it’s the sheer volume of them that makes the difference.
The fresh outdoor feeling you get from a thunderstorm rolling through is caused by an explosion of negative ions created by lightning ,and rain washing contaminants out of the air.
There is also a distinctive smell left behind by a thunderstorm. The smell is ozone.
Negative ionizers also create ozone and it is one of the reasons they come under fire as an air cleaning method.
“But Himalayan salt lamps, if they create negative ions at all, do not manufacture enough ions to leave behind any dust, much less create enough that would be considered the volume to change the atmosphere in a room, and they leave no noticeable smell of ozone behind whatsoever.”
Verdict: Every action has a counter reaction and Himalayan salt lamps don’t have any of the side effects of a negative ionizer simply because they do not ionize air. ( Butt least they don’t generate high levels of ozone as a by-product. That’s healthy!)
They Are Hygroscopic
On this point, I’m not quite as skeptical.
It is known that humidity droplets can actually be microscopic containers that carry air pollutants like bacteria and viruses and help them travel further through a room.
Humidity is also a natural food source for mold spores and dust mites which are known household allergens.
And we all know how miserable humidity can be in certain climates and times of the year.
Consider this:
Himalayan salt lamps are known to attract moisture.
And most concerns about pink Himalayan salt lamps are about the device leaking or melting.
In truth Himalayan salt lamps neither leak or melt.
The water the gatherers on and around a salt lamp is humidity pulled out of the air by the salt.
Seeing is believing.
Unlike the ionic air purifier claims that people make about Himalayan salt lamps which offer no proof either by leaving behind dust or the residual smell of ozone that negative ions create,
A Himalayan salt lamp leaving behind a puddle of water is a very noticeable side effect that can be construed as the salt pulling moisture from the air.
And it is also a fact that sodium chloride(salt) can be used as a dehumidifier and is often stored in the basement to help reduce the natural humidity typically found in the basement.
So on this point, I would have to concede,
“It is possible that a pink Himalayan salt lamp can help purify the air by absorbing potentially harmful humidity droplets from the air.”
Though it is possible, keeping a Himalayan salt lamp will not reduce the humidity in your home nearly as well as turning the air conditioner on or running a dehumidifier.
And as a ionizer, forget it.
Are Himalayan salt lamps safe for cats?
The allure that salt lamps have for cats to lick them, potentially makes them a health hazard for felines and dogs if the lamp is placed where they can get to them.
The potential problem with keeping salt lamps around your animals is that salt can be very addicting for an animal to lick. And they will probably lick the salt till they’re sick or even worst case scenario, to the point of death.
That fact alone is enough to go with the fake version of Himalayan salt lamp in my house.
Why is my salt lamp leaking water?
Another issue that I rarely see people bringing up when it comes to Himalayan salt lamps is the maintenance involved to keep them.
I for one did not realize that you had to keep wiping them off or they would create a puddle underneath them.
It is actually suggested that you place a plastic bag over the salt lamp when it’s not in use so that it will not continue to pull moisture from the air and become sad.
(Yes, the moisture that gathers on the outside of the salt lamp is called crying. And they can get very sad if not attended to. Don’t be so insensitive.)
And the fact that they are so heavy and brittle is not something I anticipated.
Though they are very pretty and obviously add a nice ambience to the room.
I’m still glad I never bought a Himalayan salt lamp as a Christmas gift for someone without knowing how much attention they would need to give it.
On a positive note, if you happen to own a cow, Himalayan salt lamps make an excellent salt lick, chuck full of iron and minerals. You may be sitting on a delicious glass of milk and didn’t even know it.
True story. I was sitting with my wife recently, eating dinner at a restaurant and got into a conversation about the thermostat and what was the ideal temperature to put it on and she said 72 degrees, and she said it like I was the only one in the world that did not know that. Duh.
Who came up with 72 degrees? Why am I just now hearing this?
As it turns out that 72 degrees is a very popular belief about thermostats. It is widely believed that 72 degrees on the thermostat is setting that it is the most comfortable.
But when it comes to the heating and air system in your home, comfort, unfortunately, is not the only thing you have to consider.
Controlling the climate in your home is also the most expensive thing on your energy bill you have to think about.
Is it better to keep your thermostat at a constant temperature?
A thermostat is a contentious object in my house.
Another true story. This past cold season, I got home one day to a sweltering house only to find my teenage daughter running around in shorts and flip flops in the middle of winter. She has cranked the thermostat up because she got cold.
Really?
At that point, I told the kids if they are not allowed to touch the thermostat!
So keeping the thermostat at a constant temperature in my house is necessary to avoid fluctuations in temperature based on any one of my teenage kids whims.
But even though socially it might make sense, cost-wise, leaving the thermostat set at the same temperature all the time just means wasted energy and a higher energy bill.
Turning the thermostat up or down ( depending on the season) when you go to bed will help save money and you don’t need the temperature to remain as cool or warm when you are asleep.
Another example is during the day when everyone is at work or school, adjusting the thermostat either down in Winter or up in summer a few degrees will help you save money on your electric bill as well.
Another reason I don’t let no one touch the thermostat is that they go way overboard. They get a little cold and they turn it up five degrees, or they get a little hot and they turn it way down.
But the heat and AC will not work any faster because you turn it way up or down.
It will only cause the machine to keep running longer do you realize you made it too hot or cold.
A big waste of energy.
Why all 72 may be a popular temperature to keep the house it is also not really the best.
What is a reasonable temperature for the house in winter?
68 is the recommended temperature to set the thermostat on in winter. It is basically the temperature that takes the average of comfortability and cost.
For many people, 68 may be too cold. Regardless, there is no hard rule about it. And no significant change in the energy bill if you raise or lower it.
The ideal is that you keep it as low as you can and still feel comfortable so that you can keep your energy bill down.
What temperature to set the thermostat on in winter when away?
If you’re away for a normal 8-hour workday, setting the temperature on the thermostat to 62 is a great way to reduce your energy consumption and lower your energy bill.
If you’re going away on vacation you should not set your thermostat below 55 degrees.
Why? Frozen pipes. Anything lower puts you at risk of coming home from your vacation to cracked and leaking pipes.
What temperature is too cold for the house?
Once the cold weather hits, you can no longer worry just about your own comfort and the cost of your energy bill, you have to store considering what is too cold for your plumbing. Water freezing inside of your pipes is a problem that no one wants to have to deal with.
According to the Energy company, 55 degrees is the lowest you want to set your thermostat in winter to avoid cracked pipes and damage to the air handler.
is 72 a good temperature for air conditioning?
72 degrees is a comfortable temperature but one that will cause your energy bill to be higher.
78 degrees is the temperature that is recommended for your thermostat in the summer.
78 degrees is optimal to maintain comfort and a lower energy bill. But it is unlikely to be the temperature of choice. But the point is to raise your thermostat to a point that it is comfortable enough and doesn’t kill your electricity bill.
The best temperature for sleeping in summer.
Turning your thermostat up at night and using a fan or open window can save you a significant amount over the summer on your energy bill. By setting your thermostat to 78 or even 80° at night, you should see a markable difference.
Though obviously these rules are just guidelines and not everyone is going to have the same Climate or experience.
But if you’re interested in saving money on your electricity bill and remaining comfortable then hopefully you can get some use from these suggestions.
Have you ever turned on your air conditioner and it’s just not blowing cold like you think it should?
Or maybe it starts off cold but turns warm only after a few minutes?
Did you know that most problems to do with the air conditioning are actually very easy to troubleshoot.
Of course there are things that can go wrong that can be out of the range of fixing or replacing yourself.
But when the AC is not blowing cold air, it’s usually only one of a few things.
Air conditioner not cold? Here’s a few simple reasons that could be.
1. Clogged filter(s)
The first thing to check and by far the most common problem is the filter or filters being too dirty to allow for good airflow.
This is a problem that affects the cooling and the heating both in central heat and air systems.
Many a HVAC tech has been called to a residence to diagnose a air conditioning not getting cold problem only to find that the filters are clogged.
The first and easiest thing you can do to get your air conditioning cooling again is to make sure that the filters are clean and the grill outside of the filters is dusted off and clean to.
2. Thermostat settings
The thermostat on a home air conditioner has to settings that run the fan. One setting is the On sitting and the other is the auto mode setting. The auto setting turn the fan on as the AC is cooling. The On setting runs the fan continuously even when the AC is not on. Another reason that the AC may not be blowing cold air is that the cooling is off and the fan is set to On.
Not only will the air not be cool that is coming through the vents, it will probably be a little warm since most AC HVAC units are installed in the Attic.
Easy fix number 2. Make sure the thermostat is set to cool and Auto.
3. Covered in debris.
The third thing to check is that the outdoor unit of your AC is clean and clear of debris. If you outside of the machine is covered in debris or weeds, the warm air that is supposed to expel from the unit outside will not be able to escape and will stay inside. Sending warm air through your vents and eventually overheating.
4. Humidity
Humidity and air conditioners do not get along. when the humidity is High inside of the house you can feel like the air conditioner is not running at all. Unfortunately the fix for this not something you can easily do with a little extra cleaning. If the humidity is so hard that it is overpowering the air conditioner, a dehumidifier is a machine that can pull the moisture out of the air and allow your air conditioning to function normally again. Some central heat and air units come with a setting called “dry mode”. Dry mode is essentially a dehumidifier built into your air conditioner.
5. Frozen up
Finally a problem that can be solved on your own to a certain extent is if the AC is freezing over.
The way the air conditioning cools down your home is it takes the warm air come inside of your home and lose it across refrigerated cooling coils. Then sends the air back into your home.
This is a problem that relates to the other steps in this short guide.
First you’re going to have to take a look at the unit outside to see if it’s frozen. Sometimes it will be frozen enough that you can see it from the outside. Usually you’re going to have to take off the access panel and see if the copper coils are iced over.
If they are, you’re going to have to let it thaw out. You can run the fan without the AC and it will help thaw the unit little faster.
Why is your AC freezing over?
The Air conditioner relies on the are being able to flow freely across the cooling coils. If there is something obstructing we are in keeping it from moving across the coils easily, it can freeze over.
Easy fix. Change the filters, clean the grill outside of the filters, and clean any debris off of the outside of the outdoor part of a unit.
Another thing that relates to an air conditioner freezing up is humidity. Too much humidity in the air can make the air flowing across the cooling coils to moist and produce ice as its going through.
1. The filter is clogged. When do you filter which is located on the face of the window AC gets clogged, the air conditioner will have a very hard time cooling off the room.
On most window AC the filter is very easy to pull out from the side or open the grill and pull it out that way. A lot of very tiny dust particles can get lodged in the filter that are not easily seen with the naked eye. So be sure to take a stiff brush and brush it out very well before putting it back in.
If you wash the filter with water, be sure to let it dry good before putting it back in and running the AC because of the risk of mold taking root.
Window air conditioner blows cold then warm
If the window air conditioner gets too dirty the airflow begins to be an issue.
When the unit cannot get proper airflow it will start to shut down and go into a mode where it is running but not cooling.
Also the back of the air conditioner must be completely clear and not up against anything it will cause the hot-air that is supposed to expel out of the rear to not do so.
Taking apart a window air conditioner and cleaning it thoroughly, preferably by blowing it out rather than wiping, will do wonders to help restore your machine and get it blow cold air again.
And be sure to make sure that there is nothing obstructing the rear of the window AC that would keep the heat exiting like it should.
Window air conditioner keeps turning off.
A window AC usually has a reset button located where are the plug is. If the unit doesn’t come on at all, nine out of 10 times the reset button needs to be pressed before it will come on.
Window air conditioner panel not working
What if your window AC keeps going off and it is not tripping the breaker or the reset, there is a chance that your air conditioner panel is going out.
The thermostat panel on a window air conditioner is a fairly inexpensive part most dad’s will be able to fix on their own.
Luckily, there is a wide range of YouTube videos to take you through each step if needed.
Painting is one of the easiest and fastest ways to renovate the your house. Inside or out. A new coat of paint will do wonders for any number of projects.
But painting is not something that is usually meant for the impatient. There are quite a few steps to doing a good job painting, prepping, sanding, taping, and each one takes a level of patience to get right.
And taking your time to cut in corners and around trim and flooring, all require a resolve to get it right at the outset. So when you can find a shortcut or something to help the process along, it is truly welcomed.
Adding a coat a primer before painting will speed up the painting process immensely. A good primer will cut the amount of paint layers it takes two cover down as much as 4 -5 times.
2. Prep with light sanding.
Nothing slows down a paint job faster than the paint peeling off. Many surfaces like cabinetry and tables, though they may not even look like it any more, have a clear coating to make them shine. If the surface that is being painted is smooth or has a smooth coating, then taking a minute to scuff it up with some like sandpaper will save you hours of redoing it.
3. Quick-drying paint
Choosing the right paint for the project will speed up the time it takes for paint to dry considerably. There are paints available that adhere to almost anything and dry much faster than buying the cheapest can on the shelf. The quality of paint that you choose will not only help speed up the process it will help ensure that you do not have to repeat the process sooner than you would like.
4. Lighter layers
One of the fastest ways to get paint to dry faster is to use less. Painting on a light layer will dry much faster than trying to get it to cover all at once. Multiple light layers will look a lot more even also and help to avoid globs and drips.
5. Fans and Ventilation
Getting the fans going and the windows open while you’re painting is one of the easiest ways to get the paint to dry faster. It may seem like no brainier but there’s a lot to think about when you’re painting.
6. Room Temperature
There’s a reason why people paint the outside of their house in the summer. If the temperature is too cool, it will take a much longer time for the paint to dry. When the temperature is below around 50 degrees, using a space heater will not only help warm the room up, it will also help dry the paint faster to.
7. Hair dryer
Using a hair dryer to help along the time it takes paint to dry is a great way to expedite the project as long as you do it right.
Make sure that you keep the hair dryer moving back and forth across a small section. Leaving it in one place can cause the paint to bubble.
A heat gun will also do the trick. but remember a heat gun is much hotter than a hair dryer and will burn or crackle the paint way faster than a hair dryer.
8. Avoid Humidity
If you’re painting on a rainy day, you can expect the moisture in the air to slow down the drying process on the paint considerably. If you can’t wait for a dryer day then there are some things you can do to help remove the humidity from the room. A lot of modern air conditioners have a dry mode on them. Dry mode on an air conditioner is essentially a dehumidifier that will help dry out the air in a room and help you or paint dry much faster. If you don’t have dry mode on your air conditioner, running the AC on low can also have a dehumidifier effect. And if you happen to have a dehumidifier nearby then all the better!
How to make spray paint dry faster
The Dry Time on spray paint is usually pretty fast depending on the paint and how much you put on. Getting your spray paint to dry faster is pretty easy as long as you follow a few general rules:
1. Light coats
Light coats are essential when you’re using spray paint. They are not only required to give your paint job and even look, spraying multiple light coats of spray paint is much faster than heavy globbing. And it will reduce the need to sand off the heavy drips afterwards.
2. Fans, space heaters, ventilation
The air has to be moving for the paint to dry faster. So using a fan or a space heater can help move the project along.
But you have to remember that spray paint is a fine mist, so make sure to use it in an area where it doesn’t mist anything that you do not want painted around you. For example, your dad’s Chevrolet.
3. Dehumidify
Humidity and paint are not two things that work well together.
Your spray paint job will go a lot faster if you pick a dry warm day to do it on. If that’s not a possibility, then there are different appliances they can help with dehumidifying.
Running an air conditioner on low can have a dehumidifier effect and some air conditioners even have a dry mode on them that acts like a dehumidifier. What is A dehumidifier? A Dehumidifier is an appliance that specifically removes moisture from the air. If you find that your painting room is generally too moist, A dehumidifier would probably be a great buy.
Final Thoughts
Painting is one of those jobs that can have a quick wonderful effect on any number of objects including your house or furniture.
But even though painting is relatively quick compared to doing many other renovation projects, it still takes time and a level patience to do a skilled job.
The time it takes for paint to dry can also drive you crazy when you’re in the middle of a project.
How to get paint to dry faster. Knowing a few tips to help your paint cure faster can help eliminate a lot of the frustration it comes along with a painting project.
Dust is a fact of life and one that finding a effectual way of dealing with it is not always the easiest thing to do. Humidity is something you may not associate with the amount of dust in your house. But it can play a huge part.
Does a humidifier help with dust?
Yes. By using a humidifier to add moisture to the air you can significantly reduce dust. When the air is damp, airborne dust particles will absorb the humidity and get too heavy to float.
Humidity will also will also give the dust and adhesion effect that will keep it from stirring up into the ambient air.
What does Humidity have to do with dust? Is it a help or is it a hindrance?
The answer is both. Low humidity has its issues and high humidity has its issues when it comes to controlling dust.
Low humidity and dry air can make your surfaces, as well as your air, extra dusty where as high humidity can help feed dust mites and facilitate the growth of mold. Both of which are common household allergens.
Dust has the ability to create havoc anywhere. It can have an negative effect on your:
1.Respiratory System – Dust is made up of multiple components that are considered allergens 2. Skin – dust can clog skin pores which makes acne spread easier as well as dry out your skin and your lips. 3. Household electronics like laptops – laptops and computers tend to get very hot when dust settles on the components located inside. Not only does it make you where electronics get hot, we can make things like switches and volume knobs staticky. 4. Plants- if your plants are covered in dust, you can affect photosynthesis and cause your plants to be malnourished for lack of sunlight. 5. Etc.
Honestly just about anything you can think of can be affected by being inundated with dust.
And the anatomy of dust can be just downright gross.
Some of the many components of dust include insect waste and decomposing insects. As well as shed skin and pet dander. Along with bacteria and pollen and every other microscopic particle, is there any wonder that dust could induce allergies and mess with your respiratory system?
Do humidifiers help purify air?
Yes. Humidifiers can add moisture to the air that will purify the air by causing the dust floating in the air to clump together and become too heavy to stay airborne.
Adding humidity to a dry room can actually have a washing effect on the air.
But though humidifiers can temporarily freshen your air by dampening the dust and preventing it from floating, they will do nothing to completely remove the dust.
To get rid of the dust you are going to need an air purifier.
The majority of air purifiers pull air through a series of filters including a HEPA and a carbon filter.
HEPA filters are able to capture particles as small as .03 microns which would include particulates like pollen and pet dander. Other pollutants like off-gassing and odors are adsorbed by a carbon filter.
Does an air purifier help with humidity?
Unfortunately no. Air purifiers do not do anything to add or subtract moisture from the air.
Seems a little unfair that a humidifier can have a cleaning effect on the air but an air purifier you can do nothing to humidify a room. But there are air purifier/ humidifier hybrids like Air Washers that can be purchased that can potentially kill two birds with one stone.
But there are issues with having too much humidity that make that type of device useless in the hot humid months.
Can you use an air purifier and humidifier together?
Yes. The use of an air purifier can only compliment the use of a humidifier and leave the air that much more pure and easy to breathe.
But there is one caveat. If the air is too humid, condensate can cover the filters and make them less effective.
Carbon filters do not mix with humidity and are basically useless when the humidity is too high.
Though humidifiers are usually only pulled out in the winter months when the air is dry, an air purifier is needed every day of the year.
Low humidity is not the only tissue that creates problems with dust. Or more specifically, dust mites.
Dust mites sounds scary because they sound like they might actually bite you. But the truth is dust mites do not bite and what makes them dangerous is that they are so minuscule that they are easily breathed in where they can cause nasty allergy symptoms.
How they relate to humidity is that they actually get their nourishment from humidity. So when the humidity is high, dust mite populations skyrocket.
2. Dehumidifier
Controlling humidity during the hot muggy months is not about using a humidifier to add moisture back into the room, it is about reducing the amount of humidity in your home by the use of a dehumidifier.
High humidity has the ability to hold higher levels of indoor air pollutants than low humidity.
And because the problems like dust mites and mold spores that thrive and high humidity, the indoor air quality can be much worse when the humidity is higher indoors.
A dehumidifier can help reduce the level of humidity in your home and help put a stop to the exponential growth of mold and dust mites that happens in moisture.
Summary
Humidity can help reduce dust by simply making the dust wet and unable to float. It also causes the dust to have an adhesive quality that keeps it from moving around.
a humidifier is a device that you can use in your home that will help you control dust by adding moisture to your air the same way that moisture is added when humidity levels go up outside.
But even though humidifier will help keep the dust population out of the air, it will not purify the air or keep it safe from the allergens that travel in dust.
To completely remove dust allergens, you will need an air purifier. Most air purifiers simply pull dust through a filter where it is captured. They can do nothing to add or take away moisture from the air.
So even though a humidifier might help with dust control, a air purifier won’t help with adding humidity to the air.
But that’s assuming that your air is too dry.
What happens when you have the opposite problem? High humidity?
Dust is also a problem in high humidity because dust mites flourish in high humidity and dust mites are one of the most persistent household allergens that creepy and make your air quality unbreathable.
Just remember that the collected water in the dehumidifier has the aforementioned allergens residing in the pool with it. So don’t drink it. And don’t let your pets drink it. But it’s probably safe to water the grass or flowers with it.
Are you wondering how to lower the humidity in your house? You are not alone, as a lot of people feel a sense of discomfort and unhappiness when they deal with super high humidity levels. And that’s why it makes a lot of sense to find new, creative ways to lower home humidity as quickly as possible. With that in mind, here you have a few tips that will help in this situation.
A dehumidifier is one of the simplest tools you can use to keep the humidity levels as low as possible. It’s highly recommended to invest in a good dehumidifier since it allows you to ensure proper airflow circulation, all while eliminating any humidity from the air. Ideally you want to keep the unit away from furniture or any walls, unless it has air vent on the top.
You want to do this because they will carry water away from your home. It’s a good idea because if you don’t do this, you will end up with high humidity levels in your home. Plus, it’s a good idea to restrict watering plants to bare necessities, just to be safe. The more restrictions you have in this situation, the better it will be as you do want to avoid complications.
3. Keep fresh-cut firewood outside
Why is this important? The most important aspect to consider is that freshly cut firewood has large amounts of water in it when you store it indoors. You want to leave the firewood outside so all that water will evaporate. If you don’t do that, then you will increase the humidity levels inside. Even if it doesn’t feel like a lot, in a situation like this, every little thing counts, so you might as well want to take that into consideration just to be safe.
4. Bring all your plants outside
Don’t keep plants indoors. They end up increasing the humidity levels and that’s the type of thing that you want to avoid. Ideally you want to keep them outside and you will be just fine. You could also keep them in a single room, however that room will have lots of humidity, so you really need to figure out what works for you here.
5. Keep the AC drip pans and drain lines clean
If you keep them clean and unobstructed, it will be a lot easier to avoid any humidity issues. The AC will remove all the humidity from your room. However, if the AC is not working properly, then you will have issues with this approach. You need patience to do this right, but it will be worth it.
6. Vent your clothes dryers outside
The reason you want to do that is that you end up generating a lot of humidity if you do this inside. There’s no real benefit coming with performing this activity inside anyway, so you have to figure out what works for you and how you can adapt to the entire process.
7.Add double-glazing to your windows
When you do that, you will have less humidity and that on its own can be a very important aspect to consider. Double-glazing really brings in front great results, and the best part is that you can avoid severe condensation without spending a whole lot of money. It’s the best of both worlds and you should totally check it out.
8.Aerate your attic and basement
Normally these are two of the places in your home where you will have a lot of moisture. If you start bringing in fresh air in there, you will start removing more and more moisture naturally. It’s one of the best approaches you can have and it does work really well if you do it right. We recommend you to test it out and perform this task often to avoid moisture and dampness in your home.
9. Use a fan in your kitchen
If you cook often, you will generate humidity in your kitchen. It makes a lot of sense to use a fan or anything that will bring in fresh air and push the humidity away too. This is an important aspect to think about, and it will offer you a very good experience every time. In a situation like this, you need to start easily, and this approach does make a lot of sense.
10. Open the fireplace damper
The fireplace damper allows you to push moisture away from your room. It’s a good way to lower the humidity naturally, and we believe that you should always consider it as one of the first things you can do when you deal with lots of humidity inside your home.
11. Open up the windows
This is simple, but it helps you push humidity away, all while bringing in dry air from outside. You have to figure out what approach works for you, and it all comes down to delivering the best results and having the right approach here.
12. Cover your food while cooking
Another interesting thing to do when you are cooking is to try and cover the food. This will keep the humidity under control. Alternatively, you could use a slow cooker, which brings pretty much the same experience and great results you would expect. It’s always a good idea to find alternative solutions, and it can be very well worth the effort all the time without any worries.
13. Take cold, short showers
Hot showers will generate steam and that will obviously increase the humidity levels in your home. Not only that, but if those hot showers are long, then you are further increasing the humidity levels. You need to pay a lot of attention to this, because the more you take hot showers, the more humidity you are generating within the entire home.
14.Replace the carpet if it’s a model that retains moisture
Some types of carpets like the fluffy or very thick ones tend to retain a lot of moisture. They will also end up capturing dust mites and bacteria. It makes a lot of sense to replace your carpets with simpler ones. Make sure that you go with carpets that are not going to retain any moisture. And if you do that properly, it will be more than ok.
15.Add wrap or tubular insulation
Insulating tubing works great for the cold water pipes. It will help decrease sweating, and the best part is that you will have less humidity in your home. Even if it seems like a simple thing to do, it will make quite the difference.
16. Repair the door and window frames
When you have issues with the window and door frames, the first thing you want to do is to repair them. These frames can bring in moisture into your home, and that’s the last thing you want to have. Even some simple repairs can make quite the difference, and all you need is to give these a try, it will be well worth it in the end.
The best method you can use for insulating crawl spaces is through using a plastic vapor barrier. This is not that hard to do actually, and it will bring in front some pretty impressive results. The idea is to know how to perform proper insulation, and if you do it right, it will be a very good experience.
18. Waterproof the concrete basement walls
Waterproofing these walls will be a major way to deal with excess humidity. Most of the time concrete walls will bring in humidity to your home. That’s why waterproofing them is so important, and you should treat this as a priority to avoid any possible problems.
19. Treat the foundation with Hydroclay
Hydroclay is known for waterproofing tunnels. It’s a water-absorbing clay, and it will seal the basement where you have water infiltrations. Waterproofing your foundation with this will make quite the difference, and it will help you keep your home safe. Plus, you get to deal with humidity the right way, and that on its own can deliver quite the difference.
20. Vinyl wallcovering
Using vinyl wallcovering can be a very good idea. The trick here is that this type of wallcovering will help trap the moisture and basically keep it out. If you ignore this, it will lead to mold growth. So that’s certainly something to keep in mind.
Conclusion
It’s very important to find great, creative ways to keep the humidity levels as low as possible within the entire home. If you have low humidity levels within your home, you will breathe better, your skin will feel better, and you will have a great sense of well being. It’s important to take all of this into consideration, and the results can be very good every time. If you still have high humidity levels within your home, it’s a very good idea to hire a professional and solve this issue!
When I was younger I played the lead guitar in a band that practiced in a friends basement. The basement was covered completely in cement and had its own weird musty smell. It was cold and damp and blaringly loud.
Creepy vibe included.
And since the band practiced in the next little town over, I had plenty of opportunities to sleep in that basement.
Yes. Sleeping in the basement can negatively affect your health because of two reasons. 1. Basements tend to be a breeding ground for mold and have larger concentrations of mold spores in the air. 2. People tend to breathe deeper when they sleep.
In short, sleeping in the basement is an invitation to breathe in large quantities of mold spores and allergens.
And if you’re someone like me that has sleep apnea , mold spores only aggravate the situation further.
Sleeping in the basement is not bad for your health as long as you have a nice dry basement.
But that is typically not the case.
Basements tend to be damp and dark which creates the ideal atmosphere for mold to grow.
Mold is a fact of life and it is everywhere. You are literally kicking up mold and breathing it, in any situation where your walking outside.
But being in a situation, like sleeping in the basement where you were forced to breathe concentrated amounts of mold spores,
you may find that you are struggling to breathe.
And since people tend to breathe in deeper when they are sleeping, sleeping in a damp basement is not a good ideal.
Sleeping in the Basement Tips
If you’re planning on sleeping in the basement more than a just one off or once in awhile, you may want to look into some different ways you can make your basement more inhabitable.
1. Clean it up
Because basements do tend to be damp and dark, there is usually mold growing somewhere either on the walls or the ceiling or the floor. Before you get started moving in or with any construction you’re going to have to clean the mold up first.
What is better for cleaning mold? Bleach or Vinegar?
A tip : Bleach is usually the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to cleaning mold off of the wall or surfaces. But in actuality, vinegar will do a much better job. The reason is it can get below the surface into pourous areas where as bleach will only get the surface.
When you’re cleaning mold with vinegar you’ll need to get you some non-porous gloves because vinegar is an irritant to skin.
Also a good spray bottle will be handy.
The ideal is to saturate the mold with vinegar and let it sit for at least an hour before scrubbing it off.
Dark and damp areas also attract a lot of bugs and rodents.
Mold spores are not the only thing in the basement that will cause allergies to flare. There is also most likely going to be a lot of mice and roach feces.
Roach droppings can be a significant trigger for an asthma attack and also cause multiple allergy symptoms like itchy eyes and wheezing. As well as ear infections just to name a few.
Mice droppings or even more scary because they have diseases like salmonella and hantavirus connected with them.
The Point is you do not want to be sleeping with insect and rodent droppings in the same room. It’s not only nasty it can also be a significant health hazard.
A disinfectant or bleach is going to be best for cleaning up mice and roach droppings.
But remember this isn’t the same process as cleaning mold and you shouldn’t mix bleach and vinegar or use them in the same room at the same time because they will create a toxic concoction when they are combined.
1. Use a vacuum to pick up the droppings. 2. Spray the area generously with bleach and lit sit for a hour or so to completely disinfect the area. 3. Then mop and rinse.
Dry it up
Cleaning up the mold is not going to be enough to keep it from coming back. You are still going to have the same recipe for mold that you had before you cleaned unless you do something to reduce the humidity in the basement.
Since basements are typically made from concrete there can be cracking in the walls which will allow for moisture and leaks.
The cracks need to be sealed and filled. Same goes for any pipes in the basement. Without fixing leaks, you will find yourself back in the same situation of mold growing on your surfaces.
Cracks in cement can be filled with Great Stuff. If your not familiar with this product, it is insulation in a can.
When Great Stuff it is sprayed, it expands a great deal. Enough that is will expand deep down into any crack you use it on.
After is has dried, you’ll want to cover the cracked area with a concrete sealant.
It is not uncommon for great stuff to expand so much that you have to cut it back or scrape it off.
The best practice when using Great stuff or any other canned insulation is to test it out on a small area first and see how much you’re going to need.
I promise you it will be well worth the little extra time it takes to do a test because of the amount of time it will take to cut all that stuff back if you spray too much.
A dehumidifier is the suggested appliance for reducing the moisture in the air of the basement. A dehumidifier is just what it sounds like, a machine that takes humidity out of thes air.
After all the mold is cleaned, the rat & roach droppings vacuumed and disinfected, and every leak patched, Keeping a dehumidifier running will help you keep the status quo.
Test for Radon
Radon is a colorless and a odorous radioactive gas that and build up in the basement as well as the rest of the house quite easily. It sounds quite nemesising as well as it should be because of the risk of cancer that radon carries. But testing for Radon can be easy and inexpensive. There are some services that supply testing kits that you need to send in to have a lab analysis done on or you can keep it simple and own radon detector that will have a Audible indicator if radon gas becomes too high in your room.
There are some do-it-yourself ways to prevent radon gas from becoming a problem in your basement as well as some diy things you can do to remediate if you discover you have a problem after testing for it.
1. Caulk and seal any cracks 2. Install plastic sheeting under flooring and wall insulation. An easy solution if you’ve yet to do any construction in the basement yet.
BUT. The EPA recommends that you hire professional to have proper ventilation installed. And depending on what point you are at in the remodeling of your basement to sleep in it, hiring a professional maybe the less expensive and also provide the xtra peace of mind that it has been taken care of properly.
How can I improve the air quality in my basement?
An air purifier is also a appliance that would be worth investing in to keep the air quality in the basement livable.
Basements tend to be closed off with very little air flow. Because of this fact, air pollutants can accumulate easier.
Vocs which are the air pollutants usually known for being things like paint fumes, cleaners, even crafting supplies, etc, can become very high in a closed-off room like a basement.
Are air purifiers good for basements?
The suggested technologies to look for in an air purifier are going to be HEPA and Carbon filters. HEPA filters are designed to capture pollutants of small is .3 microns which is basically the size of bacteria. Carbon filters are dense enough to capture odors and gases.
Will a air purifier help with basement smell? Will a dehumidifier help with basement smell?
Where there is mildew, going to be mold growing somewhere. A dehumidifier will dry up the air and eventually replace the you smell with a fresh air smell.
Because basements are closed in areas, mildew is not the only smell that can linger. An air purifier that uses HEPA and carbon filters will capture unpleasant odors by absorbing the bacteria or gas into the filters.
There are some combination dehumidifier and air purifier all in one machines available that are virtually made for the basement.
Should I use an ionizer in the basement?
No, negative ionizers are not suggested for closed in rooms like the basement because they create a low level of ozone and ozone can build up. The build-up of ozone is the number one reason that the EPA discourages the use of air cleaners that manufacture ozone in homes.
Summary
To sum it up. The basement tends to be an area where mold and mildew have their run. Taking big breaths is part of sleeping.
That means that when you are sleeping in the basement you are setting yourself up to take big breaths of mold spores as well as the allergens and germs left behind from Mouse and roach droppings.
Sleeping should be peaceful and not hazardous.
So unless you do some things to dry the basement out and get rid of mold and bug and mice droppings , you should hold out on sleeping in the basement.
2. Sleeping with a fan for noise
Side effects of sleeping with a fan on you
1.Epipremnum aureum – Devil’s Ivory/Golden Pathos
2.Spathiphllum –Peace Lily
Nephrolepis exaltata v. Bostoniesis –
A. Carbadensis –Aloe vera
Anthurium andraeanum –Flamingo Lily
Rhapis excelsa – Lady Palm
Hedera helix – English Ivy
Sansevieria –Mother-in-law’s tongue / snake plant
Dracaena Deremensis – Dracaena /Janet Craig
Ficus Benjamina – weeping fig
Phoenix roebelenii – pygmy date palm/Dwarf 
Chlorophytum comosum –Spider plant
Ficus elastica – rubber plant
Dypsis lutescens- butterfly Palm/ Areca palm
Aglaonema modestum – Chinese evergreen
Chamaedorea seifrizii – Bamboo palm
Philodendron Philodendron
Chrysanthemums Mums
Ananas Comosus Pineapple plant
Nephrolepis obliterata –Kimberly Queen fern
Gerbera jamesonii – gerbera daisy
Crassula ovata- Money Plant
Orchidaceae –Orchid
One of the biggest claims about Himalayan salt lamps is that they create negative ions.
What temperature to set the thermostat on in winter when away?
2. Thermostat settings
Why is your AC freezing over?
Window air conditioner keeps turning off.
4. Lighter layers
How to make spray paint dry faster
Final Thoughts
Summary
