Every home has a few bottlenecks where things could run more smoothly. Some become an annoying or time-wasting hassle; others can cause maintenance and repair problems. We’re talking omissions, not mistakes. Here are seven problem solvers that are not included in most homes but are worth adding later.
Jackshaft garage-door openers Standard openers hang down from the garage ceiling and drag the door up. But if you need the room for storage or clearance, a jackshaft opener solves the problem. It mounts on the wall next to the door and turns the main shaft directly without cables or chains. The compact units need only about 8 inches beside the door, plug into a standard outlet, and work with all modern safety equipment. I installed a Liftmaster 3900 (details at liftmaster.com) for sectional doors because the new pickup was too tall for a standard opener.
Electrostatic air cleaners Installed at the end of the forced-air return duct, these appliances include a standard, removable, dust-trapping pre-filter, and behind it is a stack of electrically charged metal fins. With alternate charges, one positive, the next negative, impurities blowing past the prefilter cling to the fins. They’re spaced widely enough not to reduce airflow, and the frames holding them are removable so you can clean the filters periodically in the dishwasher. Some units can remove 95 percent of airborne pollen, 80 percent of smoke particles and other microscopic pollutants.
↑ Trash compactors In the space of a single lower cabinet, compactors pull open like trash bins, but a ram inside compresses a full bin to one-sixth its normal size. They save space, time and energy with fewer trips to haul out garbage and fewer drives to the recycling center — and save money on pickup fees based on volume. Compactor rams can apply enough force to crush cans (3,000 pounds of pressure), but plug into a standard outlet and use about half as much electricity per month as a microwave oven.
Read more at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/home/sc-home-diy-problem-solvers-20120615,0,4727774.story
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Green Real Estate Appraiser 