Category: home

Easy appliance projects to do while isolating

Posted on by info@techreach.io

Suddenly, we all find ourselves with a lot of time to spend at home and running out of ideas on how to spend that time.

What can you do that’s easy, and can even help out around your home? Well, you can take on some easy appliance projects to do while isolating.

Practicing social distancing can take a toll on our moods, one of the best remedies for this is finding something useful to keep ourselves busy.

So, from us at Maydone thanks for doing your part and here are some easy projects to keep you occupied and maybe give your appliances a boost! 

Give your fridge a makeover clean 

Stocking up is super important for having your home ready for isolation, cleaning your fridge should be at the top of this list, beacuse it will make storing your food way easier.

Arrange food by types, and expiration dates, that way you won’t waste anything. Organizing also helps your fridge work with more energy efficiency. 

Get rid of frost in your freezer 

Scrapping the ice from the freezer is going to: give you more space for food, improve freezing, energy spending, prevent freeze bites on your food and help it stay good for longer, so basically all the things you want your freezer to do, especially when you are in isolation mode.

All you need to do is empty the freezer, scrape the ice or let it melt and organize your food again.

Clean your small appliances 

Use hot water, soap or maybe a mix of vinegar and lemon, whatever suits you and get to work.

Because there are plenty of everyday things we forget to regularly, try to clean what you wouldn’t usually. A gentle simple cloth clean up should suffice. You can also run your dishwasher through an empty cycle with vinegar. 

Pay attention to your washer and dryer

A simple empty cycle will clean your washing machine drum, or maybe you can fix the position to avoid a “dancing washer”, you could also clean the filters or water pumps.

For your dryer, you can clean the drum by spraying some vinegar water mix on the inside and wiping down with a microfiber cloth, that way you get rid of softener or drying sheet residue, and don’t forget to clean the lint filter or trap.

Change air filters  

If you have them available or can get them safely delivered this one might be a good isolation project to embark on. It’s really simple to do and can provide better air quality in the coming weeks you’ll have to spend at home.

We are still here for you!

If you find your appliances need a professional hand give us a call.

Maydone is still working and helping out, keeping things in your home running so that isolation is easier to handle! 

How to pick the perfect air conditioner for your home

Posted on by info@techreach.io

It may be chilly now but don’t let the next heatwave catch you by surprise.

Here are some tips on how to pick the perfect air conditioner for your home.

If you are finally getting that AC unit you dreamed of or just want to renovate, this is the article for you!

When it comes to AC units it is basically down to size, needs, and budget!

So here are your options for staying cool all year long:

Window Air Conditioner Units 

The cheapest of the bunch

Good for a smaller space to cool, like just in your bedroom or living room, which will work just fine for these systems.

They range from $150 to $300 and it usually fits a variety of windows sizes.

If this sounds like your home you can check out some of the best ones here. 

Wall Air Conditioners

Essentially the same as a Window AC, but installed through a wall.

A with pricier and it, of course, and requires the wall installation.

A bit pricier than the former units, they go for $400 to $700.

The most important benefit is they let you keep your window intact, good is you value the light coming from the windows.

Still a cheap option for cooling a room, here are some of the top ones you can get. 

Portable Air Conditioners

Also, just enough power to cool one room at a time, but you can move them from room to room as you wish. 

These sell for around $250 to $500.

They are autonomous so you change their location around your home, it is the biggest benefit.

One thing, a lot of these units require a hot air vent to function so think about that, there are ventless options as well.

Check your top options here. 

Ductless Air Conditioners 

The ductless mini-split units are a great choice for cooling rooms with no windows or homes that cant have ducts installed. 

The units can range from $700 to $2,500,

They can be placed in one or several rooms to cool larger spaces, they are individually controlled so you can choose where to turn them on.

These units come with an inside and outside system and also require installation.

Discover the right one for your home here. 

Central Air Conditioners 

The most complete of the options, it can cool an entire home at once, cold air runs through ducts in the walls and ceiling. 

Central Air Conditioners go for $1,000 to $3,500.

Many homes have them already installed, if not you can easily add or replace them for a newer one.

Professional installation is required due to the complexity of the system.

For help write Maydone or call us at +1 (888) 513-0052 / +1 (647)-558-5825

Stay cool out there with the professionals!

How to change your home air filter?

Posted on by info@techreach.io

Most of us want to make the most out of our heating system’s, especially during the cold winter months, there are a few tried and tested ways you can do this, like changing your air filter.

A clean filter could greatly improve the efficiency of your heating system while keeping your the air in your home pure and clean 

Here’s how you can do it:

1. Turn off your heating

To prevent your unit from turning on while you are changing the filter or any type of loose debris or filter fitting from ending up in the wrong duct or place.

For maximum safety, you could completely disconnect the system from power. 

2. Find your filter

To locate your filter there are two options:

The first and most sensible would be to check on the manual that came with the system, the manual will also tell you what kind and size filter you will need. 

If you can’t find the manual, you’ll see that most air filters are located in either the blower compartment (remove the furnace cover, typically by lifting up), or built into the metal ductwork before the blower fan.

3. Get the right filter

Filters can sometimes be hosed or rinsed off, while other heaters have one-use fiberglass filters, most can easily be found in hardware and improvement stores, where you can take the old filter and ask for the same one.  Also, you can always check your brand’s model online to be completely sure of what type of filter you will need. 

4. Remove the old filter

Remember according to your system you will either need to replace or wash it. Make note of the “airflow arrows” on the filter, so you can mimic the position when you install the clean filter. 

Extra tip: Filters come with MERV rating, which is a specific efficiency measure. Most would recommend a MERV rating between 7-12 for the best cost/allergen removal balance.

5. Insert clean filter

Following the direction arrows, you saw before, install the new filter with the same position as the old one. 

6. Turn on your heating

That’s it, you are done!

A clean filter will make the air in your home healthier, the heating more evenly distributed and protect your system from malfunctions. 

If you need help with your heating system, you can count on Maydone’s professional service 24/7. Let’s stay warm together!

Let’s stay warm together!

Which kitchen cooktop is right for you?

Posted on by info@techreach.io

Many times sit has been said that the kitchen is the heart of your home, so its make since that you do research when picking the right cooktop for your home, from making hot chocolate to cooking important dinners, this appliance will be with you for important milestones. 

We are going to focus on cooktops instead of ranges in this article but you can find out more about the latter one here. For many homeowners, cooktops are the right decision in terms of design and durability.

There’s plenty to consider when setting your kitchen up when it comes to the cooktop there are also a multitude of options available to you, so keep in mind the level of cooking you want to do, space, care and things that are important to you, here’s a few of the cooktop options available for your kitchen: 

Gas

The preferred choice for chefs and those passionate about cooking. There’s something about the flame of the gas cooker that draws some people in. It heat’s up rapidly (and it cools down fast too) so the cooking is more precise. They are also in the lead when it comes to energy efficiency. Two cons to keep in mind: they can be really hard to clean and you need to have a gas hookup (which can be expensive when you don’t already have one)

Coil electric 

A very affordable choice for the kitchen. The heat takes a little longer to achieve and the cooking is not as accurate. These appliances are very durable and can be used with any type of cookware. It could be a bit of a pain to clean. If your not a passionate cook and want something affordable but good this is the best choice for sure.

Smoothtop electric

Easy to maintain and very stylish, more technological than any of the choices before, so more expensive. Keep in mind that while aesthetically pleasing they are very delicate also. This one is good for those looking to decorate minimalistic and not spend too much time making food. There’s plenty of options for this type of cooktop as well. 

Induction

The most modern choice, super-fast heating options, very safe for families, and it doesn’t heat the room it is in. Its the latest in cooking technology plus the most energy-efficient, but they are very expensive and only work with some types of cookware.

There’s plenty of options and surely one that fits your family and your home. 

Don’t forget for us at Maydone we’ll handle any repair call we can manage, always looking to offer you the best service possible, we work with most of the cooktops mentioned before, so trust in us for installation and repair done the right way, by professionals! 

How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint at Home

Posted on by info@techreach.io

Are you aware of the carbon footprint that comes from using your appliances at home? Here are some tips on how you can decrease your energy consumption in your household.

When we’re talking about climate change, we all have one question lined up: How can we contribute to saving the planet from a climate catastrophe?

As we all know, there are many ways of reducing our carbon footprint. For example, we can try to avoid traveling by plane and take the train as often as possible. Furthermore, we can eat less meat and try to buy regional and seasonal groceries. But how can we decrease our carbon footprint in the household?

As we are living in the 21st, we all have appliances at home that consume energy. As helpful as they are, these appliances leave a carbon footprint as well. But we have some tips for you on how you can decrease their energy usage easily.

1. Make Your Heater More Efficient

Did you know that the oil and gas industry is the biggest emitter in Canada when it comes to carbon emissions? Of course, you can blame big companies for that and ask them to adapt to more sustainable fuel options. But it might be easier to start at your home first as also small changes in your own household can make a change  We already have put together some tips for you on how you can make your heater more efficient.

If you are noticing that your heating system uses a lot of energy, you can always contact one of our technicians. You’ll find the contact details here.

2. Turn Your Appliances Off to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

To reduce the carbon footprint of your appliances, you should make sure that all your appliances are completely turned off when they are not in use. This goes for TVs, stereos, and computers. It’s also important to unplug your appliances, such as mobile phones or laptops, once they are fully charged as they will otherwise waste energy.

Need help with the installation of a new washing machine? Our technicians are happy to help!

3. Switch to A Renewable Energy Provider

Around 17 % of Canada’s total primary energy supply comes from renewable energy sources. You can support green electricity and natural gas companies by switching the provider in your home. As this might be a bit pricier for your home than it was before, you could start by doing one thing at a time, for example by only purchasing green electricity at first.

4. Replace Old Appliances for a Lower Carbon Footprint

If you are a proud owner of a vintage washing machine, your time to say goodbye to your appliance might have come. Old appliances use a lot of energy and should, therefore, be replaced if you want to reduce your carbon footprint. A new washing machine can use 25 percent less energy up to 75 percent less water compared to your 20-year-old washing machine. Furthermore, by increasing appliance efficiency standards, you’ll not only save energy but also money on your utility bill.

5. Install Smart Home Technology

If your devices and appliances can connect to the internet, they are called smart technology. On the one hand, it can be convenient for you to have such things. On the other hand, they can help you with saving energy at home by monitoring the usage. Click here if you want to know more about it.