Home Services

It is alarming when you discover that your HVAC system sends some unknown white dust into your home through the vents. With no clear understanding of the material and whether it is hazardous or just annoying can lead to panic in some cases. If your HVAC system is new, the dust problem can be even more upsetting.

Ideally, you should start packing at least 4-6 weeks before a move. Moves sometimes come up unexpectedly, but it’s a great idea to start packing as soon as possible. The biggest reason to pack early is that you have many other responsibilities to consider when moving.

For those of us that live in colder climates, the furnace is arguably the most important feature of a home. When the temperatures drop into the single digits and below, staying comfortable and warm is of the utmost importance.

You don’t have to spend a fortune to keep groundhogs out of your garden, especially if you have castor oil at home. Castor oil is one of the best natural repellents to stop groundhogs from eating your plants. Simply mix 1 part castor oil with 3 parts water in a spray bottle and stir it gently.

You should flush your water heater at least once per year. However, many people flush their water heaters every 6 months. That’s especially a good idea if your home has hard water. Your water heater will quickly become full of sediment if your water supply has a high mineral content. 

Air conditioners are incredibly complex machines, which is why most people will immediately throw their hands up in the air and give up when they suddenly stop working. However, it’s not a smart thing to do. In many cases, your AC unit probably has a fairly fixable cause. If it’s a blown fuse, you can fix it in minutes. But, how can you tell if it’s actually a blown fuse?

Getting rid of baby spiders isn’t much different than getting rid of mature spiders. However, you must focus on making it harder for spiders to reproduce, so you don’t have to worry about babies hatching. All it takes is a few simple steps, such as:

When you are feeling chilly and turn to your heating system, you expect warmth and comfort. The last thing anyone wants to experience when the heat kicks on is a terrible smell. Unfortunately, it is not that uncommon for a sewer smell to invade your home with your heating system.

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.

With all of the components within a furnace, it only makes sense that some of them will wear down and simply stop working eventually. Being able to recognize the signs of failure and implement a fix can save thousands in the long run and even keep your furnace working for far longer.

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.

When I first got an apartment of my own, I didn’t know what to expect as far as responsibilities go. Even something as simple as fixing a pipe scared me, simply because I didn’t know if I was even supposed to fix my stuff. The division of responsibilities between landlord and tenant can be perplexing. Let’s talk about clogged drain responsibilities!

The tenant-landlord relationship has many working parts. That also means in many cases, issues of clarity, responsibility, and terms are involved. One of those areas of concern becoming more prevalent today is the issue of power, namely electric versus solar power. For homes and landlords who use solar energy, that inevitably results in billing questions. One of the most common questions is does a tenant have to pay the solar bill if the home uses solar panels?

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.

The Internet has become an essential tool in modern society. Wifi is available in even the most remote locations. Our phones are usually able to access the internet when wifi cannot. Landlords are now including the internet in rental agreements more than ever. It may confuse you then, if you find your landlord decides to turn off your internet one day.

Air ducts should be cleaned every 3 to 5 years for the best results. This helps reduce dust, dirt, and debris that could otherwise contribute to mold. It typically takes 3-5 years for dust, dirt, debris, moisture, and even pet hair to excessively accumulate within your ductwork.

Make reading this list of moving money-savers your first step on your relocation to-do list.

Air ducts carry warm and cool air throughout your home when you run your furnace and air conditioner. Over time, air ducts get caked with dust, debris, dirt, and pet hair. This can significantly reduce the airflow throughout your home and strain your furnace. 

When people start talking about plumbing, it’s easy to feel like you’re hearing a bunch of gibberish. Flange? Macerating toilet? Yeah, it’s a lot to take in at first, especially when you’re just dipping your toes into the water. (Sorry, had to add a pun!) Wet vent plumbing is one of the lesser-known terms that’s just starting to catch on in parts of the country, but what exactly is it?

We have all heard about people who have paid rent just one day too late and gotten evicted. Other times, we’ve heard about people who have also tried to pay in part. Once in a blue moon, you might hear about a landlord who says no to a rent check. Is that actually legally possible? Moreover, why would they do that?

You know that buying a home is likely the biggest purchase you’ll make in your lifetime. But the cost extends far beyond the purchase price of your new house. Before you jump into home ownership, understand the hidden costs to make sure you’re not biting off more than you can chew.

In my years as a young adult, I have seen some situations where renters proved to be serious pigs. As someone who is kind of a neat freak, it makes sense to me that a landlord should require a professional cleaning once a year. I’ve even seen this in rental agreements. But, is asking you to get professional cleaning legal?

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.

Having animals in the attic is not only frightening to deal with, but it is an invasion of your home’s privacy. Sure, it may only be a furry critter, but animals stuck in your attic create noise disturbances as well as a sanitary risk. Most homeowners’ first instinct when they hear an animal in the attic is to reach for the phone and call a service to get it removed.

Riddex Plus is an ultrasonic pest control device that repels rodents, cockroaches, and termites using digital pulses through your wall’s wires. I’m honestly not sure how I didn’t know about this sooner.

Central air is one of the most essential components of a clean and comfortable home. While it’s still viewed as a commodity, installing a central air conditioning system in new homes is pretty standard. However, if you have an older home and want to install one, this can prove to be difficult on your own.

Being a landlord is not an easy thing, especially when it comes to all the tools and junk that is required to keep a home running. Even if you’re a fan of apps like Clutter, the truth is that it’s often more convenient to store tools and stuff on-site. But, is this actually legal to do on a rental property?

Raid is one of the biggest names in the pesticide game, and that’s no joke. It’s a world-famous company that made a name for itself by killing off bugs of all kinds. Bed bugs, though, are different than other types of pest. They’re crazy hard to kill and you may find some sprays being less effective. How does Raid spray work on bed bugs?

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.

Ticks are easily the scariest arachnids besides spiders, and they can be quite harmful to humans and animals alike. The sight of a tick on your body is enough to make you think twice about going outside during spring and summer. Most homeowners would do anything to keep ticks off their property. So, does mowing the lawn kill ticks?

Utility bills are a fact of life for most adults. They vary in price and frequency but it can sometimes feel like bills roll in nonstop. It may come as a shock then, when your landlord does not send you any utility bills. 

Most motors are designed to run only one way, clockwise or counterclockwise. They are not made to run both ways unless it is a multidirectional motor. Any kind of motor that runs the opposite way than what is intended will not produce the effects they are supposed to. In other words, your AC will not blow cold air.

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.

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.

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.

Many tenants prefer to rent a property that comes with a washer and dryer. It’s always more convenient to do laundry in the comfort of your own home than to go to a laundromat. But what happens if your landlord takes away the washer and dryer; are they allowed to remove these appliances?

Your furnace is a complicated piece of equipment. There are various components working in unison at all times and when one of them goes bad, it is imperative to identify the problem in short order. The last thing that you want is for your furnace to continue failing, leading to bigger and more expensive repairs.

One of the telltale signs that you have rodents in the home is the small dark pellets these pests leave behind. Rodents leave droppings that are a bit larger than grains of cooked rice. The longer rodents live in your home, the more droppings they leave behind.

Leaking fittings and pipes not only lead to the wastage of an essential natural resource, but they can also result in elevated utility bills and presents a hazard in the home.

The time has come to replace the submersible pump in your residential water well. There are a variety of options to consider. Of the options, there is one that confuses homeowners more than any other?  Which is the better option?  A 2-wire or 3-wire submersible pump.

In the past decade or so, freon prices have gone up drastically. But anyone who has central air in their home knows that freon is a necessity, especially for those in temperate climates that can get into the upper 90s or 100s in the summer. With Freon being a necessity, you must know exactly how much this will cost you per pound.

Many people love to do projects on their own before they contact a professional. Like projects dealing with electricity, if there is doubt, do not do it yourself. Call a professional if you have to change the furnace gas valve if you are unsure of something.

It’s hard to feel comfortable at home when you constantly hear flies buzzing around. This problem won’t fix itself, and it can even get worse if you don’t discover the cause and find a solution. You’re not alone if you’re confused about why your house is infested with flies.

Mice can be troublemakers and can prove to be a real headache if they are in your home. In dealing with them, you can find they are destructive, and no one likes them in their house. They constantly chew furniture, books, clothing, and electrical wiring, along with other household items. 

A burglar alarm is essential to basic home security. Statistics show that 60% of burglars avoid homes with a burglar alarm, indicating they are effective. Today, burglar alarms are quite affordable, especially if you buy a basic system without smart features. 

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?

A sump pump that runs continuously is the most common reason for sump pumps overheating and breaking down. If you discover that your sump pump is always running, address the issue promptly. This will prevent further damage to the sump pump and your basement.

The rights between landlords and tenants with regards to rental properties has been constantly evolving over time. The changing attitudes towards tenant and landlord responsibility make determining who pays for what particularly challenging.

If you live in a warm climate with brief or non-existent winters, then there’s a strong possibility you have lizards in your yard. Whether they are speedy desert lizards or translucent geckos, all lizard species are best admired outdoors rather than inside the home. If you’ve seen one or more lizards scurrying across a countertop or find yourself wiping up their droppings, then it’s time to find ways to keep these reptiles outside where they belong.

It’s unsafe to fumigate your house if you don’t first shut off the natural gas. This is for your safety, as well as the safety of the professionals who fumigate your house. Call your natural gas supplier and request that they turn off the gas for the day. 

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?

Heating your home with water and a boiler is not all that common in the United States.  However, this type of heating, called hydronic heating, is quite common in other areas.  In some cases, hydronic heating can be an efficient means of heating your home.  If you have a 2000 square foot home, what size boiler do you need?

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.

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?

Not all households are connected to a main sewer system that handles and treats all their wastewater. In the absence of that convenient service, households turn to using their own septic systems instead. Aerobic septic systems are among the options available and they cover the needs of numerous homeowners.

The smell of raw sewage is nasty. Plus, the fumes can be toxic for you and your family to breathe. But who’s responsible for fixing it, and what happens if you ignore the problem? Here’s what you need to know.

Dry air can be a real problem, especially inside your home during the coldest months of the year. Humidity already tends to be lower in the coldest weather, and as you raise heat in your home, you may actually continue to decrease the relative humidity. Before you start to get dry and itchy skin, or experience static cling every time you put on your clothes, you might want to address the humidity issue. But how do you fix the problem of dry air in a house?

A water heater is a lifeline when it comes to being comfortable in your home. If it involves water, then you need a reliable way to heat things when necessary. This is why it is so essential to make sure you take care of your water heater properly. 

When you first tell people that you’re moving to Hawaii, most people will congratulate you on your new island lifestyle. Some aspects of the move are pretty obvious. You are going to have to pack up and ship your belongings to the island. However, some items aren’t as clear cut. What should you do about your car? Is it worth shipping it over, or should you buy a new one?

When your York furnace’s red light starts blinking, it’s time for a proper POA. The problem may be as easy to fix as a blown fuse or something more complex that requires professional help.