Published on: 29 August 2017
Last Updated on: 30 October 2024
Having to replace your house’s windows can seem like an overwhelming and daunting suggestion. However, the advantages you gain can have a major effect. Other than boosting your home’s excellence, window replacement offers numerous different advantages, such as decreased vitality cost for energy, more solace, and peacefulness in your home, lighting becomes more natural especially at day, better security and simpler cleaning.
After some time, your windows should be supplanted, much the same as your rooftop shingles or your household appliances. In any case, deciding when to supplant your home’s windows is not generally simple.
Do you experience difficulty opening or shutting your windows? Is it hard to get properly cleaned? Do you see dampness on the interior of your windows? Are you able to feel a wave of breeze when you’re close to the windows? On the off chance that your answer is yes to any of this inquiry, odds are that you require windows replacement in your home.
Things That Must Be Considered
1. Energy Efficiency
Some old houses still have their original single-pane view windows. These type of old windows regularly solidify open or close, and these may feel chilly or cold to be in contact with. With warming and cooling costs on the ascent, supplanting old and maturing, drafty windows with effective, tight-fitting ones can highly affect your energy bills.
Energy-efficient windows, those that are popular nowadays, offer standard insulating elements like argon gas and low-E coatings that are heat reflecting in between panes can spare property holders somewhere in the range of 10-25% every year on bills for cooling and warming appliances.
2. Secure Your Belongings
Ultraviolet beams entering through windows and yard entryways can prompt fading of carpet, furniture, artworks, and window treatments. These and different materials, particularly ones with natural fabrics, are more vulnerable to fading when exposed to daylight.
Overhauling your windows to more energy-efficient items can conceivably decrease fading and expand the life of your things. Most window replacements are accessible with glass that blocks up to 95% of the sun’s ultraviolet beams that can cause fading
3. Eliminate Storm Windows
The yearly custom of putting and taking out storm windows can be tedious and challenging, particularly for houses that have more than one level. The vitality-efficient replacement windows can replace storm windows and expel the need to install it ever again.
4. Keeping the Weather Outside
Inside the house, the condition of the climate should not appear. Some ineffective windows can start to drip and leak, enabling water to enter inside your house which can be the main source of mildew and molds in homes. Old windows or porch entryways regularly leak air, bringing about high vitality bills amid top cooling and warming months.
5. Aesthetics Value
Your house is your greatest speculation and a critical part of your life. Supplanting old windows can enormously enhance the look of your home and the value of your investment. Household owners get around 73% of their replacement window speculation back when they sell the house, as indicated by the National Association of Realtors’ 2016 Cost Versus Value study.
Picking the wrong windows can reduce the value of your home. “Like mantelpieces and inherent cupboards, original wood windows are vital architectural highlights,” stated by Atlanta Realtor Bill Golden. “Supplant them with a downscale item, and you downscale the house also.” Make sure to coordinate the look of the original windows utilizing wood instead of vinyl in replacing existing wood and match the light pattern from the original ones.
6. Safety
Is everybody in your family able to open and close the windows? In the event that the windows are difficult to open, get jammed in the up or down position, or would not open in and out of the place, it can represent a serious risk, particularly in case of a fire. This by itself is a justifiable reason to replace the windows in your home.
7. Maintenance Should Be Considered
As every single veteran renovator know, the strong solid wood items in the market today is not competent enough to match the components as those that were utilized 50 or 100 years prior. This is generally on the grounds that the timber is cultivated rapidly as opposed to normally developed gradually.
So, to abstain from watching your new windows decay, you will need to look for another option to strong wood. If you’re looking for a cheaper option, Vinyl windows are the best decision, or you can get aluminum skin-secured genuine wood windows or so-called cladding on the outside.
The cladding can be painted in your shade of decision, and the finished product can stand for twenty long years which is greatly three to four times longer than applying exterior paint too strong wood windows. However, You will have to pay around fifteen to twenty percent more for aluminum-clad than those with unclad.
8. You might not need a full replacement
There are two approaches to supplant windows. The contractual worker can pull off the inside and outside trim to install a whole new window unit. They will also insulate the holes and gaps before applying the new trim, a similar procedure utilized amid a full renovation venture.
Or, on the other hand, he can introduce a window insert, which is a tinier unit that fits inside the current opening, without the requirement for expelling the current trim. The latter spares 150 dollars to 300 dollars per window in labor costs, however, it does not take into account insulation of the air holes and gaps which are commonly found around window openings, so insert windows may yield far less in vitality savings.
Additionally, the general size of the insert window will be two to four inches smaller than a regular window, stated by Dennis Gehman, a contractor of Harleysville Penn., and it will resemble a retrofit instead of a window that really belongs.
Takeaway
Sometimes, regardless of how we need the help of a company that does window washing in Houston or any state, there would really be times when we need to repair them or even replace them because of their poor condition. Having to replace your windows can be a hard decision which should be really taken seriously and weighed out. These can make drastic changes however most of these give you high advantages. Most importantly, changing your windows can lead to a peaceful, safe and happier living.
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Throughout the year our gardens are constantly changing from season to season, which creates a fresh and exciting feel every month. From beautiful blooms in the spring to crisp, frosty layers during the winter, our gardens always provide a captivating aesthetic to enjoy. When it comes to the winter months, many people neglect their gardens and wait until the warmer days arrive again, but this shouldn’t be the case. There are lots of ways to keep your garden looking its best throughout the winter, including adding a deer fence to protect your garden and property from animals and wildlife, and here’s other tips…
Invest in a Greenhouse
Greenhouses are a must for anyone keen to continue gardening during the winter months and maintain a beautiful garden aesthetic. From the moment you introduce a greenhouse, you open up your gardening options, giving you the chance to work on all kinds of wonderful projects. You’ll also find that a greenhouse helps to bring character to the garden, adding to the overall look of your outdoor space. A greenhouse also enables you to work on projects that may need a little encouragement in a warm environment, before adding them back to your garden to help brighten the area and enhance the aesthetic.
Take a look at Two West’s wide selection of greenhouses here to find the right fit for your garden.
Embrace Winter Colour
Keep your garden looking bright and colorful by adding a selection of winter-blooming plants to your pots and beds. From winter-blooming daphne to pansies and cyclamen, you can bring an assortment of gorgeous winter colors to really bring life to your garden. Whether you opt to plant these bloomed plants during the winter for instant color, or you decide to plant your seeds earlier in the year for winter blooms, you can create a stunning aesthetic and add a trendy feel to your garden.
Find the perfect winter blooms here available at Dobies to bring a seasonal touch to your garden.
Install Outdoor Lighting
Having a display of outdoor lighting can really help to illuminate your exterior, not only adding to the overall aesthetic but also enhancing your home's security. There are lots of different ways to introduce lighting, from subtle lights positioned neatly along the outskirts of your lawn or along the path, to brighter lights that stand tall and brighten the whole space. Do a little research into different types of outdoor lighting to see which would work best with your home's style and layout and invest in the best style for you. It’ll be much easier to enjoy your garden on those darker evenings once you have your outdoor lighting fitted.
Visit Lights.co.uk here to find inspiration for outdoor lighting to introduce to your home and garden.
Frequently Sweep Up Leaves
Many people see sweeping up the leaves in the garden to be a pointless task, as sooner or later they’ll be back to sweep up again. This may be the case, but by sweeping up the leaves you are able to keep your garden looking its best, even during the winter. Leaves and generic debris can create a very messy, untidy look for the garden so it’s always beneficial to keep on top of sweeping them off to the side or removing them from flower beds and your lawn area. You’ll be amazed how much of a difference this small but practical task will make!
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Maintenance of home devices is one way to keep them for a long period of time and make them energy-efficient devices to decrease electrical bills. There are various ways to maintain the air condition unit and this, we are going to discuss today.
Things you should do to maintain properly the AC condition unit:
The evaporator
The foil insulation in front of air duct junction should be removed first. If it is worn, replace it immediately. Then, the access plate should be cleaned as well. It is located behind the insulation and anchored with a few screws. Remove the screws and plates
Professional contractors who offer AC repair will recommend you to use a utility brush when cleaning the underside of the evaporator. Now, if the back area is unreachable, you just slide the evaporator a little bit.
Clean the tray now from the growth of fungus by pouring a tablespoon of chlorine bleach inside the tray. You can determine if there's a clog on your tray, there's water in it. Use the heavy wire in removing the clog.
Now, attach again the plate and tape the insulation back to the original place.
Switch on the AC unit and check for any air leakage. If there's any, tape them with duct tape.
Maintain the Condenser
According to the professional technicians of HVAC companies, the condenser is always collecting dirt, dust and other debris from the outside environment. The fan inside the unit helps to circulate the air over the coil.
Any dirt, dust, debris like grass or vines should be removed from the condenser. This debris can affect the airflow.
Use a coil cleaner when cleaning the condenser. There is an instruction on the manual on how are you going to clean it. Flush some water on coil cleaner and let it dry.
Clean the fins using a brush. Remove the outer grill so you can reach the fins. Some of the professional contractors said that using the water hose to clean the fins may cause the dirt to clump then turning into mud. A fin comb can be used to get into the spaces of fins to clean it.
Inspecting the concrete pad is essential too. Make sure that the concrete pad is settled properly.
Use condenser cover for your unit to prevent ice damage or leaf blockage during winter months. A heavy plastic sheet with the sturdy cord can also secure your unit.
The maintenance of thermostat unit
Remove the grill and the control panel. Then, you must remove the thermostat carefully.
Test the thermostat using the VOM set into RX1 scale. You should attach the probes to the terminals then switch on the temperature controls to the coolest setting. Licensed HVAC technicians said that if the result is zero, it is functional then. But if the result is above zero, replace it right away.
Filter
The air conditioning filter must be changed once a month according to professional air condition technicians. But if the weather is extreme, change the filter twice a month.
Now, you don't need to worry about your AC unit, these steps and tips shared by Wincrest will totally help you to do-it-yourself the AC cleaning and maintenance.
Read More:
Basic Idea On Power Tools For Home Improvement
Additional Ways To Keep Your Home Warm
Installing A Kitchen Tile Splashback – The Basics
Using Feng Shui In Your Bathroom Design
Being a gardener, I know Spinach is one of the most popular and versatile leafy greens you can grow in your garden. It's rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber and can be used in salads, soups, smoothies, and more. But how do you harvest spinach the right way so that you can enjoy it fresh and crisp and make it last longer?
In this article, I will show you how to harvest spinach, so it keeps growing. I will also explain how to harvest spinach seeds, how to store and freeze spinach, and the health benefits of spinach. Additionally, I will also share some tips and tricks on how to grow spinach successfully and how to use it in delicious recipes.
Whether you're a beginner or an expert gardener, this guide will help you make the most of your spinach harvest. So, keep on reading till the end to learn more, and thank me later!
Driven by Benefits: Why are People Growing Spinach?
Spinach is not only tasty but also healthy. It's low in calories and high in fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals. It can help improve various aspects of health, such as:
Eye Health
Spinach is rich in lutein and zeaxanthin. These are carotenoids that protect the eyes from age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, and glaucoma. Spinach also contains vitamin A, which is essential for vision and eye health.
Blood Pressure
Spinach is high in potassium, magnesium, and nitrates, which are compounds that help lower blood pressure and relax the blood vessels. Spinach also contains folate. This helps prevent homocysteine, an amino acid that can damage the blood vessels and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Bone Health
Spinach is a good source of calcium, magnesium, and vitamin K, which are important for bone health and density. Spinach also contains vitamin C, which helps the body absorb calcium and produce collagen, a protein that strengthens the bones and connective tissues.
Immune System
Spinach is loaded with vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant that boosts the immune system and fights off infections and inflammation. Spinach also contains vitamin E, which enhances the immune response and protects the cells from oxidative stress.
Digestion
Spinach is high in fiber, which helps regulate digestion and prevent constipation, diarrhea, and bloating. Fiber also feeds the beneficial bacteria in the gut. This improves the digestion and absorption of nutrients. It also supports the immune system.
Skin And Hair
Spinach is rich in vitamins A, C, E, and iron, which are essential for healthy skin and hair. Vitamin A helps maintain the moisture and elasticity of the skin and prevents acne and wrinkles. Vitamin C helps produce collagen, which keeps the skin firm and smooth.
On the other hand, vitamin E helps protect the skin from sun damage and aging. Iron helps deliver oxygen to the skin and hair cells and prevents anemia, which can cause hair loss and pale skin.
How To Harvest Spinach So It Keeps Growing
One of the best things about spinach is that it's a cut-and-come-again crop. This means you can harvest it multiple times throughout the season if you do it correctly. Here are the steps to follow to harvest spinach so it keeps growing:
Choose the right time to harvest
The best time to harvest spinach is when the leaves are young and tender. This is usually about 40 to 50 days after planting. You can also harvest baby spinach leaves earlier, about 25 to 30 days after planting.
You should harvest spinach before it starts to bolt. This is when it produces flowers and seeds and becomes bitter and tough. Spinach usually bolts when the days get longer and warmer. So, you should harvest it more frequently in the spring and summer.
Use a sharp knife or scissors to cut the leaves
You can either cut the whole plant at the base, leaving about an inch of stem, or cut individual leaves from the outer part of the plant, leaving the inner leaves to grow.
You should cut the leaves about an inch above the soil, to avoid damaging the crown and the roots. Moreover, you should also avoid cutting too many leaves from one plant, as this will weaken the plant and reduce the yield. A good rule of thumb is to leave at least half of the leaves on each plant.
Wash and dry the leaves
You should wash the spinach leaves as soon as possible after harvesting, to remove any dirt, bugs, or pesticides. You can use a colander or a salad spinner to rinse the leaves under cold water. After this, pat them dry with a paper towel or a cloth. Additionally, you should remove any damaged or yellow leaves, and trim any tough stems.
Enjoy or store the leaves
You can eat the spinach leaves fresh, or store them in the refrigerator or freezer for later use. We'll explain how to store and freeze spinach in the next sections.
How to Harvest Spinach Seeds?
If you want to save some spinach seeds for the next season or share them with your friends and family, you must let some spinach plants bolt and produce flowers and seeds. Here are the steps to follow to harvest spinach seeds:
Select the best plants to save seeds from
It would be best if you chose healthy, vigorous, and productive plants with the desired characteristics. Some of these are the flavor, size, color, and disease resistance.
Apart from these, you should also avoid saving seeds from hybrid varieties, as they will not produce true-to-type plants. You should look for open-pollinated or heirloom varieties, which will produce plants that are similar to the parent plants.
Isolate the plants to prevent cross-pollination
Spinach is a wind-pollinated crop, which means that it can cross-pollinate with other spinach plants or related plants, such as beets, chard, or quinoa, within a distance of up to a mile. This can result in seeds that have different traits than the parent plants. To prevent cross-pollination, you should isolate the plants you want to save seeds from, by either planting them far away from other spinach plants or related plants, or covering them with a mesh bag or a cage.
Let the plants flower and set seeds
You should let the plants bolt and produce flowers, which are small and yellow, and then wait for the seeds to form and mature. The seeds are round and black, and they are enclosed in a spiny husk. The seeds are ready to harvest when they are dry and hard, and the husks are brown and brittle, usually about four to six weeks after flowering.
Harvest and clean the seeds
You should cut the seed stalks and place them in a paper bag or a bucket, and then shake or rub them to release the seeds from the husks.
Furthermore, you should then winnow the seeds, which separates the seeds from the chaff or the husks and other debris. You can do this by blowing or fanning the seeds or using a screen or a sieve. You should end up with clean and shiny seeds.
Store the seeds
It would be best if you stored the spinach seeds in a cool, dry, and dark place, such as a jar, a tin, or a plastic bag. You should also label the seeds with the variety name and the date of harvest. Besides, you can store the spinach seeds for up to five years, but they will germinate better if you use them within two to three years.
How to Store and Freeze Spinach?
Spinach is best eaten fresh, as it loses its flavor and texture quickly. However, if you have a large harvest, or you want to preserve spinach for later use, you can store or freeze it. Here are the best ways to store and freeze spinach:
Store spinach in the refrigerator
You can store fresh spinach in the refrigerator for up to a week if you keep it in a perforated plastic bag or a container with a lid. However, you should avoid washing the spinach before storing it, as this will make it wilt faster. You should wash the spinach just before using it.
Freeze spinach raw
You can freeze raw spinach without blanching it, which is a process of briefly cooking and cooling the vegetables to stop the enzyme activity that causes them to spoil. However, freezing raw spinach will result in a mushy and watery texture and a loss of flavor and nutrients. To freeze raw spinach, you should wash and dry the leaves, and then pack them in freezer bags or containers, leaving some space for expansion. You can freeze raw spinach for up to six months, and use it in smoothies, soups, or casseroles.
Freeze spinach blanched
You can freeze blanched spinach, which will retain its color, texture, flavor, and nutrients better than raw spinach. To freeze blanched spinach, you should wash and trim the leaves, and then blanch them in boiling water for one to two minutes, depending on the size of the leaves.
You should then drain and cool the leaves, and squeeze out the excess water. You can then pack the leaves in freezer bags or containers, leaving some space for expansion. Furthermore, you can freeze blanched spinach for up to a year, and use it in salads, sandwiches, or quiches.
Things to Keep in Mind: How to Grow Spinach Successfully?
Spinach is a cool-season crop that grows best in the spring and fall, when the temperatures are between 40°F and 75°F. It can tolerate light frost but not heat or drought. Spinach also prefers moist, fertile, and well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Here are some tips and tricks on how to grow spinach successfully:
Choose the right variety
There are many types of spinach, but the most common varieties are savoy, semi-savoy, and flat-leafed. Savoy spinach has dark green, crinkly leaves that are great for salads and wraps. Semi-savoy spinach has slightly curled leaves that are more resistant to diseases and bolting. Flat-leafed spinach has smooth, broad leaves that are easy to clean and process. You can also choose spinach varieties based on their maturity time, bolt resistance, flavor, and color. Bloomsdale, Tyee, Space, Melody, and Red Kitten are popular spinach varieties.
Sow the seeds
You can sow spinach seeds directly in the garden, or start them indoors and transplant them later. The best time to sow spinach seeds is in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked, or in late summer or early fall, for a winter harvest. You can also sow spinach seeds every two to three weeks, for a continuous harvest.
Besides this, you should sow the seeds about half an inch deep, and one to two inches apart, in rows that are 12 to 18 inches apart. You should water the seeds well, and keep the soil moist until they germinate, which usually takes seven to 14 days.
Thin the seedlings
When the spinach seedlings have two to four true leaves, you should thin them to avoid overcrowding and competition. You should leave about four to six inches of space between each plant, and eat or transplant the thinned seedlings. You should also weed the area around the spinach plants regularly, to prevent pests and diseases.
Harvest the leaves
Depending on the variety, you can start harvesting spinach leaves when they are big enough to eat, usually about 25 to 50 days after sowing. You can either harvest the whole plant or pick individual leaves from the outer part of the plant, leaving the inner leaves to grow.
Additionally, you should harvest spinach in the morning, when the leaves are crisp and fresh, and before the sun gets too hot. You should also harvest spinach before it starts to bolt, which is when it produces flowers and seeds, and becomes bitter and tough.
How to Use Spinach in Different Cuisines and Recipes?
Spinach is a versatile vegetable that can be used in many different cuisines and recipes. Whether you want to make a salad, a soup, a pasta, a pie, or a smoothie, spinach can add flavor, color, and nutrition to your dish. Here are some examples of how to use spinach in different cuisines and recipes:
Mediterranean cuisine
Spinach is a staple ingredient in many Mediterranean dishes, such as spanakopita, a Greek pie made with spinach and feta cheese wrapped in phyllo dough, or spinach and chickpea stew, a Moroccan dish flavored with cumin, paprika, and lemon juice. You can also make a simple spinach salad with tomatoes, olives, and feta cheese, dressed with olive oil and vinegar.
Asian cuisine
Spinach is widely used in Asian cuisine, especially in Chinese, Japanese, and Indian dishes. You can make a Chinese spinach and tofu stir-fry with garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and sesame oil, or a Japanese spinach and sesame salad with rice vinegar, sugar, and soy sauce. You can also make an Indian spinach and potato curry with onion, garlic, ginger, turmeric, and garam masala, or a spinach and paneer cheese dish with cream, tomato, and fenugreek.
Italian cuisine
Spinach is a common ingredient in Italian cuisine, especially in pasta, pizza, and lasagna. You can make a spinach and ricotta ravioli with butter and sage sauce, or a spinach and mushroom pizza with mozzarella and parmesan cheese. You can also make a spinach and cheese lasagna with béchamel sauce, or a spinach and artichoke dip with cream cheese and sour cream.
American cuisine
Spinach is also popular in American cuisine, especially salads, sandwiches, and casseroles. You can make a spinach and strawberry salad with almonds and poppy seed dressing or a spinach and bacon sandwich with mayonnaise and mustard. You can also make a spinach and cheese casserole with eggs, milk, and breadcrumbs, or a spinach and artichoke quiche with pie crust and cheddar cheese.
Wrapping It Up!
Spinach is a wonderful vegetable that you can harvest, store, and use in various ways. It's easy to grow, harvest, and store spinach, as long as you follow some simple steps and tips. It's also healthy, delicious, and versatile, as you can use it in many different cuisines and recipes. Spinach is a green treasure that you don't want to miss.
If you want to know about how to harvest spinach, I hope that this blog has been of help to you. If there are any other queries related to the same, please feel free to let me know. All that you need to do is scroll down till you reach the bottom of the page. Then, leave your comments and suggestions in the box below. And I will be ether to answer them all for you.
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