It’s very important to maintain a healthy boiler, and it should preferably be done by seasoned professionals. However, if you want you can do small maintenance work on your own. Depending upon the type of boiler you own: hot water, forced air or steam, you can clean the areas that need regular maintenance or carry out the maintenance tests.
A well maintained boiler will function more efficiently and will ensure that your family is safe from the potential hazards and it could save you money too as it may save you from having to pay for boiler repairs as well as ove the top energy bills.
Maintenance of Boilers
* Check the chimney and vent connection pipe of your boiler because they can deteriorate over time. Determine that all areas that should be sealed are intact and there are no cracks or holes in any part.
* Inspect the heat exchanger to ensure its proper functioning. Most of the times, faulty heat exchangers leak water, so if there is a water leak, that’s likely a problem.
* Also readjust the boiler controls so they provide optimal levels of heat and efficiency. With an efficient system, your family will save more money on the heating costs.
Maintaining the boiler’s forced air system
* Closely examine the combustion chamber of your boiler for any cracks as they could leak gas. You should also perform carbon monoxide test, and call in professional if you find abnormally high carbon monoxide levels. As carbon monoxide can be lethal, you should place a detector in the boiler room.
* Clean and oil the system’s blower and also remove any dust, sediment or corrosion from its surface. Also readjust the air temperature and blower controls to the desired levels.
* Seal any cracks or holes in the connections between your main ducts and boiler to ensure safety and efficiency.
Maintaining the hot water system
* Test the high-limit control valve and pressure-relief valve on your boiler to ensure their proper functioning. You can do that easily by running your hand over the drain lines attached to the valve to see if they are hot, which indicates that the pressure relief value is open. Mostly, drain line is warm near the value. When you raise the test lever of the valve, you’ll hear sound of water going down the drain line of relief valve. This indicates that it is functioning properly.
* Now check the pressure tank. It should be filled with air. When it is not functioning in a proper way, it will be filled with water. Clean the heat exchanger and the surface of the boiler.
Maintaining the steam system
* Drain some water from the float chamber and boiler. This will remove all sediment from these areas. It also improves its heat exchange function. The water draining from the float chamber will prevent clogs from the sediments in the low water cutoff control.
* Clean and test both the low water cutoff and high limit safety controls. For testing low water cutoff, you should push test button when burner is running. The LED lights on the controls will turn on. When you will release the test button, the lights should turn off and the burner should start. Clean all these controls by inserting a narrow and long brush into the valve openings.
Mike Smith is a keen blogger who has written many articles helping people with their domestic applicances. If you would like to see more of his work you can do at The Green Forums.
Preserving Your Teak Furniture: Varnished VS Unvarnished Wood
Dining tables are amongst the most important furniture in any home. Not only do you enjoy your meals here, but it is where you also spend quality time with your family. There are of course various materials you can choose from when it comes to dining tables, but those made of teak are most the popular. Teak furniture is so popular because it is very durable; it looks great and does not need any special care to keep it protected from the outdoor elements.
Teak has its own natural oil which keeps the wood waterproof and keeps all wood-eating insects, including termites, away. However, over time your teak wood furniture will start to change its colour due to the natural weathering process. This is absolutely usual, and will not affect its strength, quality or durability. The change in color is just an aesthetic issue, and many people find the aged silver grey look of unvarnished teak wood furniture even more appealing.
Though most teak furniture brands will suggest you not to stain your teak furniture, but if you still want your furniture to look just like new, and like the golden brown color more than the grayish one, then there are two things you can do. First, you can varnish it with teak oil, or you can use a wood sealer. Most manufacturers advise against the use of teak oil for unvarnished furniture as for the inexperienced hand, this may result in uneven colours on furniture.
A common misconception is that teak oil is made from the oils found in teak. Teak oil is commonly made from tung oil or linseed oil and other ingredients. It is known as teak oil because it is used for teak wood, though it can be used for other types of wood as well. Teak furniture brands generally suggest using a teak sealer that seals in the natural oil of teak, and you do not need to use it continuously. It does offer some protection against mold and stains though it does not completely eliminate the risks. However, do note that some sealers come with colouring/staining elements, so it would be wise to look out for the colours that match your teak piece.
Apart from visual appearance, there is not much difference between varnished and unvarnished teak furniture. As such, keep your teak unvarnished if you want your teak to go through the natural weathering process. But if you wish to offer your teak a genuine protection from moisture, rot, dirt or pollution, then you’d rather try varnished teak furniture. Click here to learn various ways of taking care of teak wood furniture.
If you do not want to get involved in varnishing your teak furniture periodically, but still want to preserve the original colour for as long as possible, you should use a teak sealer. It will preserve the golden-yellow color, will not harm the wood, and you can stop applying it whenever you want. However do remember that some sealers are tinted with colour, and may affect the colour of your furniture. Sealers are not recommended for already-varnished products.
Teak has its own natural oil which keeps the wood waterproof and keeps all wood-eating insects, including termites, away. However, over time your teak wood furniture will start to change its colour due to the natural weathering process. This is absolutely usual, and will not affect its strength, quality or durability. The change in color is just an aesthetic issue, and many people find the aged silver grey look of unvarnished teak wood furniture even more appealing.
Though most teak furniture brands will suggest you not to stain your teak furniture, but if you still want your furniture to look just like new, and like the golden brown color more than the grayish one, then there are two things you can do. First, you can varnish it with teak oil, or you can use a wood sealer. Most manufacturers advise against the use of teak oil for unvarnished furniture as for the inexperienced hand, this may result in uneven colours on furniture.
A common misconception is that teak oil is made from the oils found in teak. Teak oil is commonly made from tung oil or linseed oil and other ingredients. It is known as teak oil because it is used for teak wood, though it can be used for other types of wood as well. Teak furniture brands generally suggest using a teak sealer that seals in the natural oil of teak, and you do not need to use it continuously. It does offer some protection against mold and stains though it does not completely eliminate the risks. However, do note that some sealers come with colouring/staining elements, so it would be wise to look out for the colours that match your teak piece.
Apart from visual appearance, there is not much difference between varnished and unvarnished teak furniture. As such, keep your teak unvarnished if you want your teak to go through the natural weathering process. But if you wish to offer your teak a genuine protection from moisture, rot, dirt or pollution, then you’d rather try varnished teak furniture. Click here to learn various ways of taking care of teak wood furniture.
If you do not want to get involved in varnishing your teak furniture periodically, but still want to preserve the original colour for as long as possible, you should use a teak sealer. It will preserve the golden-yellow color, will not harm the wood, and you can stop applying it whenever you want. However do remember that some sealers are tinted with colour, and may affect the colour of your furniture. Sealers are not recommended for already-varnished products.
Teak Wood- Best for Durable Wooden Bed, Wardrobes and Indoor Furniture
Teak wood is probably one of the more superior woods used in making indoor and outdoor furniture. It is used for constructional purposes, flooring and even ship building due to its durability. Teak wood furniture hardly changes shape and remains as it is for centuries. Thus, it is much in demand and is expensive too. Indoor furniture made by teak wood like wooden beds, wardrobes or dining tables and other furniture not only lasts long but provides an aesthetic look to your house. But before buying, it is important to know the different grades of teak wood to ensure the best quality for your money.
In general, teak wood is grouped into three qualities- Grade A, Grade B and Grade C. Although all the types of teak wood make great furniture, the grade A teak is most treasured of all. It is the wood located at the center of the log of a fully mature teak tree. This wood has a uniform texture with close grains and provides a glossy structure. The gloss is due to the presence of teak oil present in the bark. The shine generally takes a longer time to fade as compared to other woods. Because of its rich texture and color; it is very expensive and counts as the highest grade of teak. A wooden bed, wardrobe and other indoor furniture made from grade A teak is long lasting and strong, apart from being beautiful.
Grade B teak wood is taken from the bark outer to the center log which constitutes grade A teak. As compared to Grade A teak wood, the Grade B teak wood is slightly less shiny and has a lighter color. Moreover the grains are not as close as superior quality teak, and there is presence of some knots. Although the quality of Grade B teak wood is not as good as Grade A, it is still good for making indoor and outdoor furniture. Since the wood is not exposed to changing weather, unlike outdoor furniture, the wood takes a long time to lose its shine. And as it is less expensive, it is good for those who have a lower budget but still want to enjoy the richness of teak wood.
Another type of teak wood which is less expensive than grade B teak is the Grade C Teak wood. It is taken from the outermost part of the bark of the teak tree. It is much lighter in color than the other two superior grades and has presence of knots on its surface. Grade C teak wood is generally not as good for making indoor furniture like wooden beds, wardrobes and tables, as it has a tendency to split in short duration of time. Also it is prone to damage, making it down in the list. Although a lower cost attracts some people to make Grade C teak wood furniture for their home. Also, it is more eco-friendly as there is no wastage of wood in making anything.
The different grades decide the price and quality of the wood used in making furniture. You may enjoy the benefits of teak wood at lost cost by investing in grade C teak wood, though be prepared to spend extra, if you want additional benefits of superior grade A and B teak wood.
Cheryl Lim works at Scanteak - a renowned brand that sells beautifully designed and lasting teak furniture in Singapore and around the world. At Scanteak, we pride ourselves on 39 years of crafting Teak, a prized tropical hardwood, into furniture of timeless, classic designs. Our Scandinavian ideology maintains that furniture should complement our lifestyles, so that we’ll always have time for the things that truly matter – friends, family, and feeling at home.Grade B teak wood is taken from the bark outer to the center log which constitutes grade A teak. As compared to Grade A teak wood, the Grade B teak wood is slightly less shiny and has a lighter color. Moreover the grains are not as close as superior quality teak, and there is presence of some knots. Although the quality of Grade B teak wood is not as good as Grade A, it is still good for making indoor and outdoor furniture. Since the wood is not exposed to changing weather, unlike outdoor furniture, the wood takes a long time to lose its shine. And as it is less expensive, it is good for those who have a lower budget but still want to enjoy the richness of teak wood.
Another type of teak wood which is less expensive than grade B teak is the Grade C Teak wood. It is taken from the outermost part of the bark of the teak tree. It is much lighter in color than the other two superior grades and has presence of knots on its surface. Grade C teak wood is generally not as good for making indoor furniture like wooden beds, wardrobes and tables, as it has a tendency to split in short duration of time. Also it is prone to damage, making it down in the list. Although a lower cost attracts some people to make Grade C teak wood furniture for their home. Also, it is more eco-friendly as there is no wastage of wood in making anything.
The different grades decide the price and quality of the wood used in making furniture. You may enjoy the benefits of teak wood at lost cost by investing in grade C teak wood, though be prepared to spend extra, if you want additional benefits of superior grade A and B teak wood.