Home Services

Depending on the water heater you have, it may use an igniter to ignite the gas. When you hold down the pilot switch on a gas heater and click the igniter button repeatedly, a small spark should ignite the pilot. However, if the pilot flame will not light after you click the igniter, you need to verify that a spark is happening inside the pilot.

Relationships between landlords and tenants can often be complicated. Over time it is not uncommon for issues to arise and for disagreements to commence. When you and your landlord have a disagreement it is always a good idea to collect evidence. You should also keep track of all official correspondences. 

Which bugs do you consider as the most unwanted house guests? Most homeowners would probably vote for bed bugs or termites, but there is one candidate you shouldn’t overlook. Fleas should also be high on your list of unwanted house guests considering the different hazards they pose.

A utility sink can make for a very useful addition to a washroom, basement, or garage. It offers an additional drainage capability, cleaning space so as to not ruin higher-end sinks, and a world of other possibilities.

If you ask many cultures of the world, bleach is the wonder cleaner. It’s super popular in Eastern Europe, and it also happens to be a Midwestern mainstay. It’s not just for cleaning tile, either. Many people use bleach to kill vermin, too. Fleas are one of the many pests alleged to be killable by bleach. Does it work?

No one wants to deal with leaky pipes; it wastes water, makes a mess, and just looks bad. But, when you have connections that use fittings and threaded pipes, you can inevitably end up with leaks. Primarily, leaks occur because no one used the proper sealant (or no sealant) during installation or the sealant’s worn out.

There are around 1,200 known scorpion species on the planet, and they exist on every continent except Antarctica. There are 70 identified species of scorpion in the United States. If you live somewhere with scorpions, you’ll want to know how to safely and effectively deal with these venomous arachnids.

Waking up in the middle of the night due to strange noises can be a frightening experience. In all likelihood though, ghosts are not the producers of those odd noises. Instead, what you may be dealing with are raccoons that have taken up residence in your attic.

Regardless of what type of bathroom aesthetic you are trying to achieve, you want your bathroom to look clean. The last thing you want is to have insects all over your bathroom. What do you do, then, when you notice that insects like weevils have moved into your bathroom.

When you’re a landlord, you make an effort to try to find tenants that will be respectful towards your property and pay on time. However, things don’t work out, even when you do your best to vet potential renters. Renters and landlords both have rights that need to be protected. That’s why Illinois has strict guidelines on how to evict a tenant in Illinois legally.

Proper oil burner maintenance is essential. Just like taking care of your car, there are a few things you should do regularly to keep your oil burner running smoothly. Part of this maintenance involves monitoring the condition of your fuel nozzles. Your nozzle burner is the tip of the spear – it leads the fight against the cold. If it isn’t working correctly, it will cost you time, money, and heat. 

Your home should be where you feel most at peace and safe. Locking your doors and living in a secure neighborhood can help put you at ease, but if you lack basic home security features, you might feel vulnerable. If you want to boost your home’s security but don’t have the money for a state-of-the-art surveillance system, you may wonder if there are inexpensive ways to make your home feel safer.

When it comes to your home, there are few things that are as important as having a good HVAC system. It’s what will keep your home warm and also regulate your home’s temperature. In recent years, heat recovery ventilation systems have become very popular. As one of the newest “hot features” of homes, it’s worth taking a look at what they can and cannot do for your home.

Your furnace is a complicated piece of equipment. There are a variety of components within that run in tandem with one another to ensure that your home can remain comfortable and warm even when temperatures are below zero.

For many homeowners, distinguishing between an occasional brown recluse spider sighting and an infestation is difficult. However, you can tell the problem has gotten out of hand if you watch out for a few key signs, such as:

Every tenant should understand what their landlord is responsible for. Landlords are supposed to act quickly when it comes to their responsibilities as per the rental agreement that you signed. This applies to everything from plumbing problems to air conditioner failure. Many renters have asked themselves the question: should my landlord pay for pest control?

Do mice hibernate in the winter? This is a completely valid question if you’ve ever experienced any sort of rodent activity in or around your home, or you’re concerned that mice may move into your living areas in search of warmth during the winter months. Humans aren’t the only ones that want to stay warm in cold weather, as most mammals share the same instinct of hunkering down and staying cozy indoors.

Central air conditioning is a modern commodity and it’s hard to get comfortable when it isn’t working properly. HVAC system problems can be overwhelming and even expensive, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing. So, why is your central air conditioning line freezing up?

In the winter months, your heating system is one of your home’s main energy users. Since your home’s heating system has such a huge impact on you and your family’s comfort, it’s important that you consider all of your options. While you may already be familiar with forced air or hydronic heating systems, hydro-air heating is a less common choice. However, they are slowly gaining popularity largely because of their flexibility and reliability.

Standing water can be a scary sight if you find it near your septic tank, especially it hasn’t rained recently. Septic tanks are necessary for many homeowners, but they can pose a health risk if something goes wrong and it overflows. So, why is there water around your septic tank?

With the new trend of DIY campers, many truck owners are starting to convert their truck beds into a bed. While blankets and a mat usually suffice for a few days, you may want to look into something longer term, like a mattress. But, what size of mattress should you get?

You’ve spent a lot of money on your home’s HVAC system and smart thermostat. That makes it even more frustrating when for some reason, the furnace keeps turning on and off. One minute hot air is blasting from the vents, and the next it feels like you’re in a cryochamber. What is the explanation for this annoying situation, and what can you do to fix it?

Your furnace probably keeps turning on and off because of a dirty air filter or flame sensor. You may also have an electrical issue or a faulty thermostat. Check the air filter and clean or replace it as needed. Check and replace any blown fuses in the electrical panel. And if these don’t work, you may need to replace your thermostat.

The rental market is beyond difficult right now. There are very few properties available, and rental prices are skyrocketing. As a renter, you need to act quickly when you find a rental that you can afford. One thing that throws a wrench in the process is a previous landlord who doesn’t respond to a reference request.

In the summertime, when it can get quite hot both indoors and outdoors, having an air conditioning system is critical. But not all homes and businesses can accommodate massive HVAC systems, and those that can’t tend to rely on the classic window AC units.

You only get to live alone for the first time once, and it’s important to make the most of it. But moving into your own place can also feel a bit daunting. There is all the stuff you need to buy, and a home aesthetic to think about.

Having hot water in a home is essential, and this is why most homeowners go out of their way to ensure they have reliable water heating systems. One way you can ensure you always have hot water at home is by installing complementary point-of-use water heaters.

Many homeowners hide keys to their houses somewhere in their yard. Whether kept under a garden gnome or a potted plant, the key isn’t as well-hidden as you think. This is such a common practice that many burglars know to check such spots for keys.

One of the best ways to lower your heating costs this winter is to use your wood fireplace on cold days. A fireplace is not just great for setting the mood, but it can also effectively heat your home.

Whether you’re buying or selling a home in Chicago (or the suburbs), you never want to move forward without getting a home inspection. These inspections let you know exactly what you’re getting into before you finalize the purchase – allowing you to ask the seller to make repairs and/or back of the deal, if necessary.

Insurance policies can be very confusing, especially if you’re a new renter. While the policies usually have everything in the fine print, they can be difficult to understand. What’s covered? What’s not? How about windows; will your renter’s insurance cover a broken window?

With all of our devices, power lines are essential in our electricity-driven world. This is apparent every time there’s a power outage, and we can’t use our microwave, cell phones, and TVs. But you may not have considered what it’s like to live near, or even under, power lines.

Your furnace is a complicated piece of machinery. There are so many components involved to ensure that your home stays nice and toasty without so much as a second thought. But those various components can mean that things will go wrong from time to time.

Resetting a Carrier Infinity Thermostat to its factory settings is easy, and can be done through the Service menu.

A water heater expansion tank is a safety feature that protects your water heater and pipes from extreme pressure. It works by accepting overflow water from the water tank anytime the pressure gets too high. An expansion tank is only mandatory in homes with closed-system water heaters, featuring pressure limiting valves or backflow preventers. Luckily, the cost to install a water heater expansion tank is not overly expensive.

Finding the perfect apartment can feel like a full-time job. You have a list of necessities you require in a living space and you likely are trying to stay within a reasonable budget. When you find the perfect place within your budget you are probably eager to submit the application and move in right away. But when a landlord asks you for sensitive information, including your driver’s license number it is normal to feel apprehensive.

Is your toilet leaking and constantly running after flushing? If so, that can explain why your water bill is so high lately, and it demands immediate attention. Toilets that constantly run can waste up to 200 gallons in a single day, which costs a fortune. 

When you install a furnace in your home, you expect it to run for long periods of time. This is especially true when you’re still working on making your home warm. This includes the furnace blower as well. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen.

Connecting to the main sewage line from your house is a convenient and modern way to handle wastewater. Not only is it convenient, but it requires very little maintenance to keep a secure connection from your house to the city’s wastewater treatment plant. To secure a strong connection, a common plumbing component called a sewer tap is used.

Hiring professional movers is an expensive prospect, but it doesn’t have to be. A little preparation and research can make all the difference in how much you spend while moving. Here are some simple tips to save money when you hire movers:

Your home’s HVAC system is one of the most important systems when it comes to your safety, your comfort, as well as your home’s value. That’s why minor issues with your heating system still deserve a lot of attention, even if it’s something that is as simple as a furnace that’s blowing warm air rather than hot air. Speaking of, what does that even mean?

No one wants to discover pests in the home, let alone an infestation. What began as one or two flying bugs can quickly turn into a giant colony of unwanted guests. Flea infestations can be particularly terrible, as flea bites can be painful and long lasting. But what should you do what you bomb your house for fleas but you notice the fleas are still there?

Leaks have the potential to cause major problems and both water damage and mold can negatively impact your home for many years – especially if you don’t locate a leak as soon as possible. Fortunately, early intervention and professional leak detection services can help mitigate possible damage to your home or property caused by water.

Who wants to live in a filthy house with dirty floors? Most people don’t. But who’s responsibility is it to clean the carpets? Better yet, can landlords charge for carpet cleaning in a home that belongs to them? The answer may surprise you.

Whether you’re moving into your first home or you own an apartment complex, you’ll need a working water heater. Until it comes time to install one, you may not even realize how often you use it.

Termites are bad news for any homeowner, and they can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage and repairs to your home. Hiring an exterminator to get rid of termites can be quite expensive, but it can provide homeowners with peace of mind. So, do termites come back?

Your furnace blower motor is an essential part of your HVAC. It is the reason your furnace or AC is able to blow the air throughout your home. Many reasons can cause the blower motor to fail, such as old age or a high amperage draw. If you have an issue, how much would it cost to replace your HVAC blower motor?

A bookshelf is a great home accessory that provides functional storage without taking up much space. If you have a book collection, no matter how big or small, you might already have it displayed on one of these shelves. While there are many benefits to having bookshelves, they can also become breeding grounds for various insects.

If you recently noticed a strange pool of water near your HVAC unit, then you probably have been thinking about checking out the condensate pump. Condensate pumps are a vital part of most air conditioning units. This is doubly true if you live in a humid environment prone to lots of moisture. It’s normal to wonder if your pump’s actually working. So, how can you tell if it is?

Termite fumigation uses chemicals that penetrate walls to kill unreachable termites, so will termite fumigation kill rats in the walls too? The fumigation process is an effective option, but it can be disruptive to your everyday life as it is lethal for mammals. It requires you to make preparations inside your home and stay out of it for a certain amount of time.

Honeywell makes some of the most dependable and popular options for thermostats on the market. Ranging from basic models to smart thermostats, Honeywell has a plethora of offerings that their customers have been using for years.

Taking a shower can sometimes feel like a nice reward after a long day at work or doing chores around the house. Naturally, people let their guard down in the shower, which can explain why you may have panicked after finding worms near the drain. So, why are there worms in my shower?

If you get manicures and pedicures often, you’re probably familiar with the smell of nail polish remover. It’s certainly a unique smell, and when it emanates throughout a home it’s impossible to miss. So, what causes a house to smell like nail polish remover?

If you get your water from a well, you probably already know that when your power goes out, your water does not work either. As if it isn’t bad enough to have no electricity, now you have no water either. You should consider getting a generator for the well pump then.

There will always be questions concerning the responsibility of various repairs and obligations regarding the tenant-landlord relationship. In many situations, where those obligations and responsibilities lie is clearly defined by tenant-landlord law.

Nothing is scarier than the sound of your security alarm going off at home. Your first instinct is to panic, call the police, and even investigate. It’s a relief when you realize it was a false alarm, but even that can be confusing. So you may ask, "why does my home security alarm keep going off?"

Bubble wrap is one of those things that people tend to think of as a fun popping time, but not much else. Well, until they actually need it anyway. When people need it for wrapping up goods prior to a move or cushioning stuff during a major project, it quickly turns into a race to find a place that carries this stuff. Wondering where you can get enough bubble wrap for your next project? We did the research…

Buying a new home is a big deal and an even bigger investment. If you are in the process of, or if you have recently purchased a new home, you are well aware. You were probably quite surprised at all that was involved too. Who would have guessed there were so many moving parts (pun intended) involved in buying a new home?

Having a stray fly come into your house is one thing, but a full-on insect infestation is another. Insects have all kinds of cunning methods of finding their way into your home. Then they repopulate like wildfire. Fruit flies are notorious for sprouting up out of nowhere and completely taking over your kitchen. But what if you have a sudden infestation of small black flying insects in your home, but they aren’t behaving like fruit flies?

Installing your own septic system may be a necessity depending on where you live. If there are no centralized sewer systems in your area, you must install a septic system on your property.

Your hot water heater is perhaps one of the most important things inside your home. Keeping warm water flowing, is essential, for living. If your hot water heater’s pressure relief valve keeps opening, we have some tips that will help you fix it.