Home Services

Welcoming a baby into the family is often one of the most memorable and precious moments in a person’s life. Preparing a nursery for a child can be a full-time job in itself. From purchasing a crib to gathering a wardrobe, the entire process can leave you tired and broke.

Every component of your HVAC system affects its performance and your comfort at home. That even applies to small parts such as furnace filters that many homeowners overlook. So, does furnace filter thickness matter?

Owning a home is a big responsibility, and it’s also a big investment. Many people know that they’ll sell their homes one day, but figuring out the perfect timing is easier said than done. So, how long should you live in a house before selling?

Apartment buildings have taken over much of the United States and currently house millions of people across the country. What many people don’t think about is that every single apartment has to get their plumbing and electricity from somewhere. So, how does the plumbing work in an apartment building, and where does it come from?

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.

Heat pumps offer an alternative to central heating or furnaces. They basically take the warm area from one area and move it over to another. They are more efficient than furnaces, which burn fuel to create that heat source.

When it is working properly, your furnace is capable of making your home comfortable in even the coldest of temperatures. The process requires several components coming together at once to produce warm air that blows throughout your home.

Condensate pumps remove water from your HVAC system, unless they aren’t working properly. This key component temporarily holds water and then pumps it out when it reaches a certain level. Excess moisture can accumulate within air ducts when the condensate pump fails.

Condos are a unique type of real estate. On one hand, it’s like an apartment that you can rent. On the other hand, you have to deal with condo associations, which almost can act like a landlord. They can cite you, they can make your life a nightmare…but can they actually go so far as to force a condo owner to sell?

When people think about water heater upgrades, they tend to want all the bells and whistles. A well-running water heater means lower bills, better safety standards as well as piping hot water. What could be better than a well-ventilated water heater, right? If you are a home improvement fan, you probably are wondering what you can do. Is it possible to put a power vent on any water heater you could have?

Buying a new home is a huge investment, and for most people, it’s the largest purchase they’ll ever make. When you put an offer on a new house, it’s wise advice to get a home inspection to protect yourself from unexpected problems and costs. But when you’re buying a new construction property, is it necessary to get a home inspection?

If you live outside of a city, there’s a good chance you get your water from a well. As your own personal water supply, you will not need to pay for this utility. However, there are maintenance costs associated with getting your water from a well.

It’s hard to go through life without smelling a dusty furnace. This common smell is nearly unavoidable because of how much dust comes into contact with a furnace. Air filters and ducts get filled with dust and debris, and that’s unavoidable.

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 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.

Very few industries have as much dedicated lingo as the world of real estate. If you’ve ever listened to real estate investors speak, then you’d agree. It almost sounds like its own language! One of the more confusing terms that you might run into is “active under contract,” and it’s a term used in the middle of the home sales process.

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.

As millions of people in the U.S. and worldwide have found, rats are a big problem. They eat human food, destroy their belongings, and act as all-around pests to people everywhere. Many people resort to rat poison in an attempt to get rid of their rat problem.

Many people understandably dread using their furnace too much during the winter. After all, sometimes it can result in some hefty energy bills, but that doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. That’s especially true if you follow our essential winter furnace tips and tricks.

Getting new furniture is fun and exciting, as is moving (depending on the circumstances). But, what if you have a sofa that’s 40-inches wide? The standard clearance for a door is 36 inches wide, so would the sofa even fit through that small of an opening? If you don’t have an alternative way to get the couch in or out, like through a sliding glass door, will this be a problem?

Finding an unusual coloration, namely green, on your copper pipes can be disturbing. You may have questions racing through your head, which is an entirely typical response to this. So let’s answer this question: what is the green stuff on your copper pipes?

It’s sad for many homeowners to watch their yards and gardens become less vibrant as summer ends. That said, you can reap the benefits of a beautiful fall season if you tidy up your yard before everything goes dormant. This is the best way to encourage healthy growth when spring returns after fall and winter.

Heat pumps are amazingly efficient for heating your home under most normal conditions. However, when conditions aren’t right, your heat pump depends on its emergency heating capability to keep the temperature in your house comfortable and stable. If you own a heat pump, there are some facts about emergency heating you should know.

Living in your dream home can quickly turn into a nightmarish ordeal and it’s all because of annoying pests. To be more specific, pests like ants, bed bugs, and termites can be truly troublesome to deal with. If you let them stay in your home, they could end up inflicting long-term damage to your property’s value.

We live in a technological world with seemingly endless amounts of cloud storage. In turn, it has become almost impossible to lose important documents and treasured photos. But some documents and personal items exist in real life, not in the cloud, and they must be kept safe. This is where a fireproof safe comes into play. Every home should have a fireproof safe to keep valuable possessions safe. But what items should you keep in a fireproof safe?

During the 1970s, asbestos was banned due to the serious health risks of inhaling the fibers. Older homes and buildings may still have asbestos, and the material needs to be removed. If you find out that your rental unit has asbestos, you may be wondering if you can sue your landlord for asbestos exposure.

Running toilets are toilets that continuously cycle through water, and they’re a pest. A typical running toilet can waste as much as 200 gallons of water per day. When you hear that running noise echoing from your bathroom, you might be wondering if it can cause a flood. You might be surprised at the answer.

Selling or buying a new home can be exciting! It’s the start of a new chapter in your family’s life. However, it can be stressful, especially when it’s unclear which party is responsible for what. For example, when it comes to paying for a roof replacement, who is responsible to pay for it?

If there is one consistency about plumbing, it is that there is no such thing as a good leak. Should you notice water leaking from anywhere in your plumbing system, it is a real problem that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.

It’s no secret that moving is a stressful experience. Moving can be a long and expensive process, and figuring out how to manage your time can be frustrating. Many people understandably struggle with what to get rid of when moving.

Using your car for a small move can be downright messy, dangerous; take several trips. Additionally, it may not be cost-effective. In this guide, we’ll break down Lowe’s truck rental’s pricing and actual rates.

People often say that tall fences make good neighbors, but when you’re a renter, things get dicey. Renters are often restricted from changing the exterior of their apartments and condos. Fences are considered a major change, though they also have a lot of benefits for the right person. Is putting up a fence okay when you’re renting?

The internet is a wealth of knowledge. It is not uncommon to find yourself going down a blackhole of internet searching. There is no secret that online privacy is often a thing of the past. Spyware and web browsers often hold on to information without you even knowing. 

Some people don’t realize the amount of havoc bed bugs can wreak on a home. In all fairness, many people go their whole lives without encountering bed bugs, so how would they know? However, there’s always a chance that you’ll learn just how much bed bugs can inconvenience you, even if it’s not your fault.

Reversing valves are some of the more important small parts of an HVAC system, especially if you run a heat pump during the winter. During the winter, reversing valves have a tendency of getting locked into place. This makes it very difficult for the valve to adequately do its job. If your valve gets stuck, don’t get frustrated. Get good at loosening it up instead.

For many homes, it’s impossible to have a conventional sewage system. The most common reason for this is the fact that sewage services don’t reach their property. There may be situations where a septic tank cannot be installed on the property do to logistical or geographical issues. Thankfully, there are plenty of alternatives to choose from if you’re facing this septic conundrum.

Thermostats that seem to change the settings randomly can be suffering from several different ailments. A properly operating programmable thermostat may change settings if the thermostat is not programmed correctly.

Talking about plumbing and drains, in particular, involves a host of letter designations. Figuring out what these letter designations mean and how to use them in drain and water plumbing can get confusing? Exactly what are J-Traps and P-Traps?

A common problem many homeowners deal with during the onset of winter is the prevalence of dry air. Similar to excessively humid air, dry air can cause significant discomfort and trigger certain health conditions. To combat the onset of dry air, homeowners have enlisted the help of whole house humidifiers.

Good airflow in a home is something you don’t think about until it's lacking. Stagnant air can create all sorts of issues in your dwelling. It causes humidity fluctuations, increases pollutant levels, and significantly increases your risk of mold and mildew problems. If your home does not ventilate well, you’ll want to find proven ways to quickly improve indoor airflow.

As the days get shorter and the nights long and cold, a reliable furnace becomes an essential fixture in the home. When the temperatures dip below freezing, your furnace is even a lifesaver. It helps keep you and your home warm, and with the assistance of your thermostat, you stay in a temperature-controlled environment throughout the winter months. So it might cause shock and alarm when you notice your furnace, instead of keeping your home warm, is blowing out cold air at night.

The furnace pressure switch, aka air switch, is a safety measure device found near the draft inducer motor. Its job is to ensure that the furnace only works when the venting air pressure is appropriate.

At the apartment complex that I lived in, there is one little rule that no one wants to ignore: the parking rule. It’s common knowledge (and heavily advertised) that you do not park in a certain lot without prior permission. Having an expired tag is a bad move, too. When I first moved in, I wondered whether this is legal.

Moths are among the most unique and fascinating insects, but it’s not fun when you find them in your home. They fly around erratically and often look like colorless butterflies to the uninitiated, and that can frighten any homeowner. There are over 160,000 species of moths, but 10 of them are specifically none to live around households.

We all seem to take clean water for granted. You turn on the tap and freshwater flows. If you live in a rural area and depend on a water well, you may have experienced a temporary lack of water when your well goes dry from overuse. You may wonder how long does it take for a water well to refill?

The HVAC system in your home is one of the most crucial components of the entire structure. No matter where you live, you will have need of heating, cooling, or both more than likely. When your HVAC system is working optimally, you don’t even notice other than the fact that you live in comfort.

Your bed is the place in your home that should bring you the most peace, tranquility, and comfort. After all, most people spend nearly one-third of every day in bed. So ensuring it is free of any discomfort is essential to maintaining this harmonious status quo. This balance is immediately interrupted, however, the moment you notice a centipede crawling on your sheets. 

You are currently dealing with one of the worst problems an air conditioning unit can have: a bad compressor. It’s been diagnosed, your repairman confirmed it, and you are upset. You should be. It’s a pricey repair, no matter what type of AC unit you own! Right now, you have to figure out the answer to a pressing finance question. Should you replace your compressor, or just buy a new unit altogether?

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?

During your regular monthly maintenance on your HVAC system, you notice something strange. Water seems to be dripping from your furnace exhaust pipe. You immediately wonder what is happening, why it is happening, and what you should do if you notice your furnace exhaust pipe dripping water.

Many online retailers let you provide specific instructions for deliveries. For example, you can request they put the package in a specific location so that it’s out of the sunlight. Include a note and ask them to drop the package off in a discreet location at your house. 

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. 

If you have rented or leased a residence long enough, then you have likely encountered the question of tenant versus landlord responsibility. When does the landlord have the obligation to fix and repair items? These questions can include items, such as doors and windows to appliances and household fixtures. Another common area in question is the bathroom, and does the landlord have to replace the bathtub?

Plumbing connections inside the home can be secured in a variety of ways. If the connections inside your home are relatively new, you may find that various kinds of PEX fittings have been used. That’s due to PEX emerging as a popular alternative in recent years.

If you notice winged bugs in your home, you might assume you are experiencing a flying termite infestation. This is worrisome as flying termites can inflict severe damage on your house’s structural integrity. However, you’ll commonly find 3 winged bugs that look like flying termites.

If your toilet is leaking, it can quickly create a disaster in a bathroom. Not only can a leaky toilet create a problematic situation in your bathroom, leading to mold and mildew, but it can be costly to waste water, which can cause sky-high utility bills. Luckily, most toilet leaks are easy to identify and simple to repair, requiring just a few standard tools that most DIY homeowners have.

Don’t ignore your instincts if you suspect your gas furnace has a cracked heat exchanger. Not repairing a damaged heat exchanger in a timely manner can cause serious health issues for your family. Among the toxic gases released into the air is carbon monoxide. It’s important to check to see if it’s cracked and then stop all use. But, how do you tell if it’s broken?

House hunting very well could be one of the most exciting yet stressful times of your life. You’re making a huge decision, spending a lot of money, and in many cases, you’re taking a lot on faith. This sliver of uncertainty is why it’s so important to look for red flags when buying a home.

Unforeseen costs are never fun surprises. When you rent an apartment, one of the benefits is often knowing that when something goes wrong you aren’t responsible for fixing it. Septic tanks are often forgotten since they reside underground, but they are there. 

Spiders get into people’s houses during the winter looking for shelter, water, and food. It’s the same reason that other bugs, like flies, mosquitoes, and wasps often come inside during the fall and winter. Spiders often follow their prey, such as flies, into houses when the temperature drops.