Hair Conditioner: How To Choose The Right One

A good hair conditioner will help offset some of the negative effects of using a hair shampoo. Sebum is a natural oil produced in the hair follicle to give the hair protection. As it has a natural antiseptic it helps guard the scalp against protection.

During the day however dirt and grime can stick to the sebum so the hair needs regular thorough cleaning. Ordinary soap fails to do the job. A mild quality hair shampoo contains ingredients to clean the hair which involves taking away some of the sebum.

A hair conditioner restores the balance by replacing some of the oils, as well as moisturizing the hair and giving it a shine.

Various types of hair conditioner perform different jobs. Here is a checklist to enable you to choose the right hair conditioner for your hair and for the purpose you have in mind:

General Use

For general regular use to keep the oil balance in your hair: Use a basic, oil based conditioner which contains an ingredient like lanolin which is easy to spread through the hair.

Deep Conditioning Oils

Purchase a deep conditioning shampoo in a tube which can be made hot by placing in hot water and then massaged into the hair and scalp. Hair should be patted dry and once the oils have been evenly spread over the scalp a shower cap can be worn and the oils left in for whatever time the manufacturer recommends.

Alternatively use henna wax hair conditioner which performs basically the same function as a deep conditioning oil.

Leave-In Conditioners

If you suffer with damaged hair or difficult to manage fly away hair, a leave-in conditioner can add shine to the hair while helping the hair retain moisture. They can also offset the effects of static.

Conditioning Sprays

These are useful to protect the hair while using a blow dryer to avoid heat damage. They can also help when styling by reducing static on fine hair.

Restructurants For Damaged Chemically Treated Hair

While only providing temporary relief, this kind of hair conditioner can provide the hair cuticle with proteins which are absorbed by the hair.

If you perm your hair look out for an after-perm hair conditioner which can restore the pH (potential hydrogen) level of the hair which can be reduced through perming. This kind of hair conditioner can help the hair keep its bounce.

Protect your hair from the sun

If you are likely to be in direct sunlight for long periods, consider getting a hair conditioner with a built in UV (ultraviolet) screen which will protect the hair from being damaged by harmful rays from the sun.

In conclusion: A quality hair conditioner can give your hair bounce and shine while maintaining proper oil, pH, and moisture levels.

Be aware though that a hair conditioner can only do so much! Your main strategy for maintaining healthy hair comes from the inside.

Paying attention to a healthy diet and sufficient exercise will maintain a healthy supply of blood to the scalp so the hair follicles get the proteins and nutrients they need to produce healthy new hair.

You may wish to check out the hair care products from Nisim International, a hair specialist company in Toronto, Canada. For over 20 years they have researched hair and hair related problems in their laboratories. See the resource box below for details of their hair care line.

Mike Jones is a writer, researcher and webmaster with over 10 years experience. His recommendations for hair care:

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Fortified Amino Scalp Therapy (F.A.S.T.) For Healthy Fast Growing Hair:

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For the lowest prices on ionic, ceramic, & tourmaline hair dryers:

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Automotive Air Conditioners

It's August, the car is jammed with kids and luggage, and you're finally on your way to the cottage. Suddenly you realize that your car's air conditioning system is on the fritz, and your family vacation really starts to heat up.

Automotive air conditioning systems were first introduced in 1940 to address customer demands for relief from unbearable heat. These systems use refrigerant to cool the air and remove the heat from the car's passenger compartment. Air conditioning also cleans the air that enters the car, and removes excess moisture as it dehumidifies the air.

There are three basic components to any automotive air conditioner system:

1. Compressor--Considered the heart of the air conditioning system, the compressor transfers and compresses refrigerant gas to let the heat out of the car.

2. Condenser--removes heat from the refrigerant and cools down the high-pressure gasses.

3. Evaporator--Acts as the heater core of the air conditioning system. The evaporator removes the heat from inside the car. The refrigerant then condenses the air and transforms it into water.

Cars manufactured in 1995 or later have been equipped with R-134A air conditioning system. These ozone-friendly units do not contain CFCs, are nontoxic and nonflammable.

Prior to 1995, automotive air conditioners came with R-12 refrigerant, most commonly Freon. During that time, a car owner experiencing air conditioner problems needed only to visit a local retailer to purchase a recharge kit. With a can of Freon and basic knowledge, the average driver could easily repair his or her own air conditioning system. When studies confirmed that R-12 systems were contributing to the damaged ozone layer, many countries including the United States banned their manufacture.

Common Problems
The most common complaint about automotive air conditioners, particularly R-134 systems, is the odor that permeates from the A/C vents. Mechanics and car manufacturers have concluded that accumulated bacteria and fungus in the evaporator core likely cause the odor. Because the air conditioning system is loaded with moisture, it attracts microbes. The solution offered by automakers is to make the blower motor effective in drying out the evaporator after the A/C system is turned off. General Motors introduced this breakthrough, called Electronic Evaporator Dryer.

This solution might offer relief to some car owners, but not to all. Installing this system can cost hundred of dollars. As a result, many car owners have resorted to finding alternative methods of fighting the odor. Using antibacterial chemicals such as Lysol can be an effective short-term solution. Keeping a can of Lysol handy can go along way for your odorous air problem. Just spay the Lysol inside the car, and in the air intake once a week, for temporary relief from the problem. Another way to help eliminate the odor is to shut off the A/C unit at least one mile before reaching your destination. This will allow enough time for the evaporator to dry out, essentially doing away with the moisture and microbes that cause odor. This can be the easiest and least expensive method in combating the issue.

Caring For Your A/C System

* To keep working efficiently, your automotive air conditioner must be recharged from time to time, depending on how often it is are used. Consult your mechanic or your owner's manual for information about system recharges.

* Call your mechanic if you see water leaking from the A/C system's condenser, as this can affect the refrigerant. Have the system repaired before refilling it.

* Replacing the filter once every three months will also help to maintain the performance of your automotive air conditioning system. This is where dust builds up when the A/C system is running.

* Setting the gauge at one specific temperature will also help it perform well. If you constantly switch from one temperature to another, your system will have trouble adjusting accordingly.

Automotive air conditioners can be a driver's best friend, whether you're traveling across town or from coast to coast. Keep your A/C unit well maintained, and keep your cool on the road.

Charles Jackson contributes to several web magazines, on recreation and hobbies and travel and recreation subjects

How to compare and find the best air conditioner.

Save your conservatory from the Green House effect this summer. Prevent yourself from wilting like a flower by installing an Air conditioner; we help you decide which one.

Choosing an Air conditioner is still a task which requires a little knowledge and a bit of background, at Text4price we have decided to help you out so you can chill out at your leisure.

Air conditioners can provide very effective and efficient cooling for rooms of all sizes in the home. They also clean the air and control moisture levels which can help with allergies. Portable air conditioners can be the most convenient, moving them from room to room as necessary. However compared to a pedestal fan or air cooler they are much more bulky.

Central air conditioning systems are designed to cool the entire home and usually require professional installation but it is becoming easier to find self installation kits available online or instore and these are much less intrusive.

In most cases and Air conditioner will require access to an open door or window. This is so that the hot air removed from the room can be disposed of  outside. With a portable unit this is a temporary set up, with a hose placed out of the window or door the drawback with this is that you have an unsightly tube trailing across your room.

All Air conditioners are rated in BTUs (British thermal units) per hour. The higher the BTU rating, the more powerful the unit.

It is important to remember that different air conditioners use different amounts of electricity to get rid of the same amount of heat.

Always look at the energy efficiency rating - EER. The higher the EER, the higher the efficiency and the less it will cost to run and the better it will  therefore also be for the environment.

The drawback is that the higher ratings come at a higher price. If it is not displayed on the product packaging or in its description you can always calculate a unit's EER by dividing the number of BTUs per hour by the number of watts of electricity used by the unit.  
 
It is most important to choose the right size of air conditioner  
 
The size you need depends on the size of your room. If you choose a unit that is too small it will not cool the room adequately, however buy too larger a unit and its going to cost you more to operate and may cool the room too quickly, leaving excess moisture in the air.

In addition to the size of the room, you will also need to consider the number and size of the windows and the type of glass they are fitted with as well as  the direction the room faces and the amount of shade available, West facing walls get hotter than south facing walls.

Consider how well insulated the room is and how many people use the room and what other electronic equipment you have in there like TV's etc. Add roughly 600  BTUs for every additional person in the room and typically 1000 BTUs for each appliance.

Then measure the size of the room - width, length and height - before you start shopping. A good salesperson will be able to calculate the correct unit capacity and should therefore be asking you for these measurements and the answers to the above questions.

Finally You should buy the unit that has the correct capacity for the size of your room, with the highest EER that you can afford. But don't forget you can always haggle if you know what the best price is and that's where we can help.

Text find then the product name to 84070 and we'll see if we can track you down  a better deal from an online merchant.

Or visit Text4Price.com to compare prices from online suppliers and track down a cool deal.If you use this article drop us an email at seo@epicado.com and we will link to you.

Window and Portable Air Conditioners

Window Air Conditioners - How To Reduce The Noise Level

Perhaps the most widely used air conditioners are the window air conditioners. They are quite popular for heating and cooling in both domestic and commercial premises. The basic advantage of a window air conditioner is that unlike the central air conditioners and the split air conditioners, it fits well in the window giving a good look and it does not occupy any space of the room at all.

Moreover, window air conditioners do not need to be shifted every now and then from one place to the other. However, like any other air conditioning equipment, it produces noise, the intensity of which differs with the type and size of the window air conditioners. Constant noise can indeed be very disturbing and distressing to the home and surrounding residents.

It is, therefore, advisable for the consumer to compare window air conditioners by checking the sound power level labels on the unit or in the literature specifications. The noise levels are often given in decibel ratings and the higher the decibel level, the louder the unit will be. The sound pressure increases by a factor of ten for every 10-decibel increase. For example, 60 Decibels is 10 times louder than 50 Decibels and 100 times louder than 40 Decibels.

The compressor and the fan are combined in a single unit and mounted in the window air conditioners and this is the source of all the noise in the air conditioner. The other causes of noise could be worn bearings, cabinet rattles, dirty or rusty fan blades, worn rubber mountings and compressor wear. Regular maintenance can reduce the noise to some extent but with the passing of time, there is bound to be an increase in the level of the noise.

You should check whether your window air conditioner is vibrating or producing a rattling noise and if so, then it is not a normal situation. The reason for this can be improper installation or loose side panels. If, however, you hear a scraping noise, you should either take the help of an authorized service provider or you can also try to find out the cause and repair it yourself.

The following steps can help you in tracking the fault and repairing it:

You should tighten the screws holding the front panel onto the unit. You should check carefully the window all round the unit. You should then turn the window air conditioner on and press your hand against the sash. If you find that as you press your hand against the sash, the sound changes in pitch, then you should put some wooden shims in the gap between the window air conditioners frame and the sash. If, however, the pitch of the noise changes when you press your hand on the glass, you should use some insulating cellophane tape between the glass and the frame. You might have to use putty if that does not reduce the noise.

If you feel that the sound is originating from within the unit, you should take the unit out of the window and check to see if the fan blades are bent. If so, just bend them back so that they match the others.

Portable Air Conditioners Ensure Economy And Convenience

With the onset of the damp weather, it becomes difficult to survive without constant central air conditioning but that can prove to be quite expensive. The answer to this problem is a portable air conditioner as it has many advantages. It is easy to shift from one place in the home to another and that makes a portable air conditioner the ideal cooling system solution for your home, office or industrial site.

The portable air conditioners are easy and quick to install, as they do not involve any lifting or tearing up of windowsills. Moreover it can be shifted very easily from one place in the home to the other. For taking care of the hot spots in the central air conditioning, the portable air conditioners are far more convenient than window air conditioners. It is also ideal for window shapes, which present problems for installation. There is nothing like portable air conditioners for use as a spot cooler in the home.

A portable air conditioner is an excellent choice for saving money as just one unit needs to be purchased and it can be shifted easily to where you need it as it is mounted on castors and some can weigh only about 36 pounds. Moreover, as only one room is cooled at a time instead of the whole house, the total energy consumption is very low as compared to other air conditioning systems.

Another advantage of portable air conditioners is the energy efficiency that they provide. The average efficiency is in the 8 to 10 range although some are as high as 15, which is 50 percent better than most older central air conditioners. The small size of the portable air conditioners is very advantageous and as such it can fit in a corner or against a wall. It functions like an effective dehumidifier if you do not vent the warm exhaust air out through a window and its size is also the same as that of a room dehumidifier.

In order to reduce humidity and allergies, even the small ones remove 35 pints of moisture per day from the room air. The portable air conditioners also use the heat-exchange principle as the other air conditioners to cool and dehumidify the air. The operating principle is also similar to a window air conditioner as the room air circulates over cold evaporator coils to cool and dehumidify it inside the unit. The room air is exhausted outdoor after flowing over the hot condenser. There is no chance of already-cooled indoor air escaping outside as two ducts are now used.

Nowadays, you have electronic controls in most models and you can set the desired room temperature, blower speed, start and stop timer, and operation mode (cool, dehumidify, heat). The portable air conditioners also have hand-held remote control with which you can conveniently change all the settings as per your need.

The other features of portable air conditioners include a built-in air cleaner with an optional charcoal filter and oscillating louvers to distribute the cool air throughout the room. You can also switch off the louvers to direct the flow of air towards yourself, if you so desire.

Air Conditioners

Air conditioning

How to Choose the Right Air Conditioner Filter

The air filter in an air conditioning system keeps the cooling coils and air inside the room clean and free from all pollutants, pet dander, ozone emissions and airborne particles.

There are many different kinds of air filters available today, such as HEPA, standard, pleated, electrostatic and electronic filters. Of these, standard, pleated and electrostatic filters are the most common types of filters that are used in air conditioners. Generally these filters are located in walls, ceilings, furnaces, or in the air conditioner itself.

Standard Air Filters, having the capacity of removing 10 percent of the airborne pollutants, are made of spun fiberglass with cardboard frames. They should be changed once a month.

Pleated Air Filters catch around 35% to 40% of the particles in the air. Owing to their greater surface area with filter material folded back and forth like a paper fan, manufacturers claim that they can last from two to four months. The cost of these filters ranges from $5 to $20 which is slightly more than that of standard filters.

Electrostatic filters use filter media, which use an electric charge to attract the dirt particles in the air. These filters may have electric charge built-in, or else the air moving through the layers of the system creates electric charge. They may cost from around $20 to over $100 each. These filters only need to be changed once a year.

Sometimes people with allergies may consider the usage of an electronic air cleaner in the air conditioner, which works on the same principle as that of electrostatic filter. However, it is far more effective than electrostatic filter and does not hinder the flow of air inside the air conditioning system. Whatever type of air conditioner filter you use, it is advisable to check the cleanliness of the coils of the filter by a contractor at least once in a month.

Perhaps the most important measure that will ensure the efficiency of an air conditioner is frequent replace of its filters. One should change the air conditioner's filter regularly, as clogged, dirty filters block normal air flow and reduce the system's efficiency significantly by impairing the coils' heat-absorbing capacity.

Air Filters Info provides detailed information on home, car, electronic, and HEPA air filters, as well as air conditioner filters and air filter manufacturers. Air Filters Info is the sister site of Air Purifiers Web.

HVAC Noise: Solving a Common Noise Problem

Noise pollution caused by rooftop and ground-level HVAC equipment including chillers, boilers, and air handlers has become one of the most annoying as well as dangerous environmental problems in cities worldwide. As urban noise increases and residential growth multiplies, residents and communities are demanding better noise reduction solutions for heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment. Outdoor community noise problems caused by commercial and industrial HVAC systems may require an acoustically engineered Sound Barrier Wall.

Sound barrier walls have been used extensively for years in the transportation and industrial fields. A sound barrier wall is an exterior structure, normally made of masonry or earth, designed to protect sensitive land uses, such as residential areas from noise pollution. These noise pollution abatement products are now being used to help eliminate unwanted noise from HVAC systems as well.

Traditional material for noise barrier walls for HVAC systems has been reflective products. Reflective products, like concrete or brick, simply redirect the unwanted sound waves in other directions, and can actually increase noise by unintentionally reflecting sound waves. There is a better solution. Absorptive sound enclosures and architectural screens actually absorb the unwanted sound waves, minimizing the risk of unintentional reflected noise. Absorptive sound walls reduce reflections and are able to maintain the effectiveness of the barrier. Therefore, the overall noise level is reduced. The advanced materials found in absorptive barrier walls present a much more effective noise barrier solution. There are different solutions for this problem such as the LSE System, an absorptive sound barrier created by Sound Fighter Systems, that actually absorbs the sound waves that hit it, thereby eliminating unwanted noise.

So, if you are facing problems with noisy HVAC equipment an absorptive sound barrier wall is obviously the most effective noise mitigation solution available for this very demanding application. Absorptive walls outperform and outlast all other noise reduction products. Plus, many systems such as the LSE System are an aesthetically pleasing HVAC sound wall with the added benefit of noise pollution reduction.

Murray Stacy is Vice President of Sound Fighter Systems, LLC, which has been researching, designing and manufacturing highly efficient absorptive noise barrier walls since 1973, making it the oldest established manufacturer of such products in America. Sound Fighter walls have been produced for unique noise mitigation applications around the world, and several of the company's walls are in their 30th year of effective service. http://www.soundfighter.com