Lifestyle

Here’s How to Change Your Car Battery Safely

Published

4 years ago

March 6, 2020

While it is true that sometimes you will need to take your car to a garage for certain maintenance tasks, often you will find that you can do it yourself which can be a great way to make big savings – you also get a great deal of satisfaction completing the work yourself too. Changing the car battery might seem like a major job but it is actually one of the more straightforward maintenance tasks to complete – read on to find out how.

Locating the Battery

First, you need to find the battery which you can do by looking in the owner’s manual but is usually under the hood in a corner of the engine bay. Sometimes there will be a case covering the battery which can be easy to remove with a spanner from somewhere like RS Components.

Disconnecting the Terminals

Next, you will want to disconnect the terminals which is a simple task. Similar to the common household batteries that you use, there is a positive and negative terminal connecting to the car. You can normally release the battery with a quick-release clamp and you should disconnect the negative (-) terminal end first while making sure that the wrench (if required) never touches both terminals at the same time. Do the same with the positive (+) terminal.

Removing the Battery

To remove the battery once disconnected from the terminal, you will need to use a socket wrench to undo the strap or metal plate holding the battery in place and then lift the battery out (keep in mind that they can be heavy).

Installing the New Battery

Carefully position the new battery in place and tighten then strap or metal plate to secure it. Connect the positive terminal first this time (while making sure that the wrench does not come into contact with metal) and repeat for the negative terminal. It is then simply a case of making sure that everything is tight (but not too tight), double-checking that you have left no tools in the engine bay, closing the hood and testing your new battery by starting the car. Sometimes, replacing the battery will reset the car stereo so make sure that you know the code before starting.

Follow these steps to safely replace your car’s current battery. This is a task that sounds more intimidating and complex than it actually is and completing the work yourself will save you a tidy sum while giving you immense satisfaction knowing that you have done the work yourself.

Lifestyle

Healthy Home Upgrades That Won’t Break the Bank

Published

4 days ago

November 24, 2023

Michelle Langton

Health and happiness go hand in hand, when you invest in your wellbeing, you open the door to endless benefits, from reduced stress to better resiliency, and even increased productivity. While committing to regular exercise and ensuring you get checkups is important, there are also ways you can improve your health by making changes at home. Today, we’re going to look at some of the home upgrades you can consider if you want to enhance your lifestyle, improve your health, and even potentially improve your home’s value.

Invest in New Kitchen Technology

Your kitchen is a crucial tool in your quest for better health. It’s where you’ll prepare healthier, nutritious meals to match your diet requirements, and even pursue positive hobbies. Some kitchen upgrades, like motion sensor faucets can significantly improve the value of your home too. Others are great for simply improving your health in a variety of ways. An intelligent oven hood can help to remove unwanted contaminants from your kitchen while you cook. Smart kitchen gadgets, such as air fryers, can cook your favorite foods without infusing them with additional fat, helping you to lose weight, and save time on cooking.

Consider a Home Lift

Sometimes, the best way to invest in better health is to think about the future. If you want to stay in your home for as long as possible, purchasing a home lift is a great way to ensure you can still navigate the various floors of your house easily, even when your mobility begins to dwindle.

Home lifts can also be extremely useful when you’re still young, making it easy to move things around your home (like heavy boxes), without risk. These days, the cost of a home lift in the UK can be much lower than you’d think, and there are many styles and designs to choose from. Plus, installing one of these lifts will help to give you an edge in the real estate market when you decide to sell your home.

Improve Your Air Quality

Few things are more important to your quality of life than good air quality. Unfortunately, most of us don’t realize just how many contaminants and dangerous fumes we’re exposed to every day. Simple changes, like choosing non-toxic and sustainable cleaning products can make a huge difference, but you’re more likely to see major results with a significant upgrade. Installing an air filtration system in your home, or a dehumidifier will help to banish various allergens and unwanted substances from the air, so you and your family can breathe a little easier. You can even consider installing your own HEPA filtered heating and cooling system.

Healthy Lives Start at Home

While there are plenty of ways to invest in your health and wellbeing from exercising more frequently, to meditating, seeking out counselling, or even changing your diet, it pays to start close to home. If you’re thinking of upgrading your property anyway, or you want to live a more luxurious lifestyle, consider the strategies above to boost your home’s value and your health.