Home Services

Nobody should have to live with a rodent infestation. But who’s responsibility is it to get rid of mice? And if it’s up to your landlord, can you withhold rent until the problem is fixed? Here’s what you need to know.

Politics has become a hot-button item in the United States. Our country has never been so divided over political beliefs, and it’s gotten to the point that many people prefer to advertise which side their own. As homeowners, that’s generally okay. When you rent, things get different. Landlords don’t always like signs on their property. Can they remove them, though?

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?

Silverfish are not cute by any means, and they are quite unnerving to look at. The way they scuttle around the house seemingly out of nowhere is enough to scare anyone. That’s why you may be among the many people who wonder how to get rid of silverfish in the house.

Problems with water heaters can be stressful because they are an essential part of modern living. Water heaters are dense and durable, but they are still prone to failure which can prove expensive. So, can a water heater freeze?

A fabulous exterior can hide some interior issues, and this is one of the main reasons why home inspectors are in business these days. A home inspection is used to verify that a house is in good working order and not needing significant repairs.

Whether renovating a current shower or building a new one entirely, it is important to ensure that the water wiping is up to proper standards. That means using the right materials for piping water into your bathroom.

Your central heating system, when working properly, keeps your home nice and warm even during the most frigid of temperatures. When something goes wrong and that heater stops working, it can cause major inconveniences for you and your family.

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.

No matter what you use your basement for, an unpleasant septic smell makes you want to stay as far away as possible. Whether your basement is for storage, a workshop, or a bonus room, it becomes virtually useless if it smells like sewage.

AC units are more complicated than they seem, yet many problems are repairable, such as:

Between landlords and tenants, who needs to complete maintenance and cleaning tasks is a bit of a gray area. In general, tenants are responsible for cleaning up after themselves and keeping up with minor maintenance tasks. But is dryer vent cleaning something they need to take care of, or is that the landlord’s responsibility?

You need a permit to install a mini-split or replace one. The installation process of a mini-split is complex and requires working with wires, piping materials, and chemicals. Replacing a mini-split can be a dangerous job, but a professional can handle it safely.

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems have a hot surface igniter (HSI) that can occasionally stop functioning. One of the more common issues you may run into with this is having the HSI glow, but no flame appears. So what do you do when this happens?

Imagine a situation where you just installed a water heater, but you found a mobile home that is much more in your price range. You don’t want to lose the value you put into this water heater, but you also can’t use it in your mobile home. When it comes to a mobile home water heater vs. regular heater, the two have significant differences.

Insect infestations can happen in numerous locations in a home, and one space where insects mass is the crawl space. Crawl spaces are often cramped and hard to reach, which means addressing an insect infestation in this location can be a difficult task.

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:

Adding some warmth to your home through the winter can keep your space cozy and comfortable. Many people opt for a furnace blower to help push the hot air through the house effectively. While this is a great solution to heat a home, sometimes the furnace blower can become quite loud. Fixing a furnace blower yourself is possible for the technical and savvy DIY homeowner.

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.

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?

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?

Water heaters can be vented in a variety of ways, but some systems require specific ventilation configurations. In this article, direct vent water heaters will be compared with standard atmospheric vent water heaters, as this way the reader will be able to select the best water heater for their home.

Installing HVAC is essential, especially if you live in an area where it gets extremely hot or cold. You need to be able to regulate the indoor temperature to live comfortably. However, it’s no secret that installing HVAC can be very expensive. But why is that?

Imagine drifting off to sleep at night and hearing scurrying and scratching sounds. It’s undoubtedly unsettling, to say the least, when you know you have critters living within your walls. Understandably, you want to know how to get rid of rats in the walls and ceilings once and for all.

The sound of a burglar alarm or smoke detector going off is enough to scare anyone. Sometimes, it’s normal to hear an alarm for a few seconds when someone first gets home, but anything longer than that can trigger some suspicions. So, what should you do if your neighbor’s alarm is going off?

Most people are familiar with heat pumps when it comes to using them as air conditioners. A unique feature about a heat pump is that it can be used during the winter to heat your home and not just during the summer to cool it. But how can a split system like a heat pump perform both of these functions?

Rodent control can be expensive, and it can also take a lot of time. But there may be a quick and natural remedy to your house mouse infestation. And best of all, you likely have the ingredients in your kitchen cupboard already.

Your water heater and furnace are essential components of your home. Having hot water and the ability to heat your home on even the chilliest of days are crucial to the comfort of any home. Keeping both running strong takes regular maintenance and care.

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.

Like it or not, your heat pump is going to run into common issues from time to time. They can be easy to fix depending on the issue or they can be a precursor to larger issues. Being able to identify those issues is of the utmost importance.

Brown recluse spiders naturally love to hide in cramped, dark spaces, such as shoes. Slipping your foot into a shoe with a brown recluse spider hidden in it can result in harmful bites. That’s because brown recluse spiders react to physical pressure and often respond by biting. 

You may have a drain worm problem if you find small black worms in your bathroom, kitchen sink, or toilet. “Drain fly worms” or “drain fly larvae” are other names for these little black or brown worms. But what exactly are they?

In many parts of the country, getting well water is a mandatory part of your daily lifestyle. Wells remain a major source of water for many households in America. However, if you have a well, you’re going to have to pump out the water that is in there if you want to drink something. To do this well, you will need to know how to prime a well pump. The question is, how?

Back when I used to have to get up early for school, I’d pour hot water on my car’s glass to get the ice off. It didn’t take too long for a crack to develop. I still occasionally use hot water on frozen items as a way to speed-defrost, even if it’s not a good idea. I’ve even done it with heat pumps. But, should anyone really try this on something as delicate as a heat pump?

Once you sign a lease, you expect to be in your home for the entire term of the lease. But then, one day, you receive a notice from your landlord that the lease is being terminated early. Can your landlord terminate your lease early?

Nobody wants to navigate a sea of spider webs when they go through their garage. However, that’s the reality for many people with unmanageable spider problems. So, why are there so many spiders in my garage?

Your plumbing pipes travel through your home, including behind your walls, above your ceiling, and under your floors. You’re literally surrounded by water and drain pipes at all times, no matter where you are in your house. As a result, you might notice the sound of water running nonstop but can’t pinpoint where it’s coming from.

Since 1996, Febreze has been a classic odor-killer that has been used on a wide variety of items including carpets, theater costumes, car seats, jackets, and gym shoes. It is a versatile spray that is found in cabinets all over America. One of the more surprising rumors we’ve heard about Febreze is that it kills spiders. Is this fact or fiction?

Fumigating your house is a big step, and it can be stressful before and after the process. After all, fumigants are dangerous chemicals, so many people worry about the lingering effects. That’s why we put together a post-fumigation checklist for homeowners.

If you’re looking for your mobile home to count as real property, you may be required to have a permanent foundation. Having a permanent foundation will broaden your financing options and make selling your home a whole lot easier.

When you discover that you have termites, you naturally are eager to get rid of them. There are several ways to get rid of termites, including drilling, but you want to ensure that you choose the best way. How do you decide when drilling is necessary for termite treatment?

When people think about mobile homes, they don’t ever really assume they’ll see them traveling or that they’ll be mobile. To a point, it’s easy to see why. It usually costs a lot of money to move a mobile home to another lot—especially since mobile home lots will ask you to pay for their right to move there.

Arguably, they are one of the most popular alternatives to air conditioners for home cooling options. That is partly because of the comparable cost and effort of purchasing and installing air conditioning systems. What happens, and what do you do though, if your swamp cooler starts making noises? Swamp cooler making humming noises or sounds? Read on.

Periodically, your furnace will turn on to reach a desired temperature before shutting off. This is called cycling, and the frequency in which it occurs depends on a few factors.

If there was a household pest infestation you must take care of immediately, mice would top that list.  These cunning, intelligent creatures can carry a host of viruses harmful to humans and are difficult to catch.  What’s more, mice multiply quickly, so it’s tempting to reach for easy household items like vinegar to repel mice. 

When pests wreak havoc on your home, they can be irritating, expensive, and even harmful. If you suspect that you may have bed bugs, the first step is identifying what bed bug eggs look like. Bed bug eggs resemble the eggs of other bugs, so accurate identification is extremely important. 

During certain times of the year, relying on your furnace is a must if you want to remain comfortable. If your old furnace breaks down, replacing it is a priority. While looking for a replacement, you may eventually stumble upon 2-stage furnaces.

Getting all of your ducks in a row as a homeowner involves lots of inspections, particularly if you are seeking a conventional loan. Conventional loans sometimes have different stipulations than government-issued loans, leaving renovators and homeowners confused about what inspections are required.

Nobody wants to live in a home with pests. So, we spend thousands of dollars trying to get rid of them with pest control services. But how do we prepare for services? And do we need to move the furniture for pest control or not? Here are your answers.

The sight of ants in your yard or home can understandably be discomforting. Not only are ant hills ugly, but they can indicate that you have an upcoming ant problem on your hands. Many homeowners have asked themselves the question: why are there so many ant hills in my yard?

While buying a pump is an easy solution to increasing your water pressure, those pumps can be incredibly expensive. For those on a budget, buying a pump may not be an available option. Because of this, we’ve produced a guide on how you can increase water pressure without a pump.

Plumbers grease is used in lubricating and protecting plumbing fixtures. Also referred to as faucet grease, since this is its most common application, it helps to lubricate O-rings and swivel points.

Watching dirty washing machine water back up into your bathtub can be a confounding experience for some. It can be difficult to pinpoint the source of the problem if you are not experienced with drainage systems. As a result, it is common for people to think that the problem is more serious than it really is.

In places like New York City and San Francisco, people who own condos often make a killing by renting it out. This is true for both short-term and long-term rentals. However, if you are in a condo, things always have to pass muster with the HOA. Can your condo board retain the right to reject a renter?

No matter who you are or where you live, nobody likes pests. Whether it’s bed bugs, termites, mice, or another pest, they’re a nuisance, and they keep you from living your best life. A hatred of pests applies to both homeowners and renters alike. If you live in a rental property infested with pests, it’s important to know whether it’s your responsibility or your landlord’s to get rid of the pests.

In most parts of life, being an overachiever is a great thing. This is true with academics, but when it comes to keeping your home toasty, overachieving isn’t that hot. A furnace that keeps running after your goal temperature is reached can be downright uncomfortable for both your body and your wallet. Rather than open up a window, it might be time to address the issue before your bills shoot through the roof.

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.

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.

Hissing sounds coming from your boiler may sound bizarre, but there is nothing to worry about. Some people refer to it as a “whirring” sound, but a hissing sound doesn’t indicate a problem. Hissing or whirring sounds typically appear when a boiler first turns on.

Unfortunately, it is often more challenging to get a bee out of your house than it is for them to get in. Bees can infiltrate your home by crawling into spaces that are less than half their entire size. Having a bee in your house can be a major cause for concern, especially if you have small children pets, or inhabitants that are allergic to bees.