Are Your Gutters Clear of Debris?

Posted on : 31-03-2011 | By : Chris

Have you checked your gutters lately? Making sure that your gutters are clear of debris such as leaves and pine straw will not only make sure the gutters work properly but it will also protect your fascia and soffit of the house. When gutters fill with debris and the water backfills out of them it can cause deterioration to the fascia and soffit. The easy way to avoid this is to make sure the gutters are clean and not leaking.

Double Check The AC With Warmer Temps On The Way

Posted on : 16-03-2011 | By : Chris

With spring on the way and warmer temperatures, now is a good time to double check your home’s AC. One test that you as a home owner can do is to check the temperature at the return register and the supply vent. You should have a 15 degree or greater difference between the two. Anything less than 15 degrees means your system is having to run longer to do the same work. Increasing energy cost. A lot of times this issue can be solved with a licensed mechanical contractor adding freon to the system. Having the system inspected annually by a licensed mechanical contractor is a good idea as well.

How to protect against flooding from a clothes washer.

Posted on : 04-01-2011 | By : Chris

We have all heard the horror story of a family going on vacation and coming home to a flooded home due to a ruptured clothes washer hose.  As horrible as this is it can all be avoided for about a total of $50.  If you follow the two recommendations below you will greatly reduce the risk of flooding from the clothes washer or its connections.

1. Replace the black rubber connection hoses (if you have these they are recommended to be changed every 5 years) with steel reinforced hoses.

2. Install an auxiliary drip pan under the clothes washer to protect against any slow leaks from under the clothes washer.

What does the fan switch on my thermostat do?

Posted on : 15-11-2010 | By : Chris

In most cases we find this switch set to the “Auto” setting.  This turns the fan on automatically when the system is heating or cooling the home.  If you set it to the “On” setting the fan will run continuously when the system is heating, cooling, or doing nothing.  The fan running will mix together the air in the home through the return and redistribute it through the house vents.  The fan uses about the same amount of power as an average ceiling fan.  This is a great thing to do if you have one room that is warmer than others or a room that is always colder than others.  This could also help those who have a two story home and one system for both floors.

To find out more visit the below link.

http://www.inspectapedia.com/heat/Thermostats8.htm

Winter is on the way. Is your home ready?

Posted on : 25-10-2010 | By : Chris

November will be here next week and not far behind old man winter will follow.  Is your home ready?  Over the next few weeks we will share tips on how to get your home prepared for winter.   The first step is making sure you are not losing heat that can be avoided.  Windows are the first place you should start.  If you have single pane wood windows you need to make sure you have storm windows and that they are properly installed.  You also need to check your windows for drafts and seal them if they are found.  The below link at the DIY network will instruct you on how to check for drafts and seal the exterior of the window frame if you are losing heat to possible drafts.

http://www.diynetwork.com/plumbing/tips-on-maintaining-a-water-heater/index.html

Do you know how to keep snakes out of your crawlspace and yard?

Posted on : 13-10-2010 | By : Chris

There are a few simple steps that a homeowner can take to help keep snakes away from their home.  If you have a crawlspace first make sure that there are no snakes currently in the crawlspace and if so have them removed.  Then make sure that all of the crawlspace vents have their screens attached to make sure pest cannot enter through them.  Next you will take some moth balls and place them into a nylon stocking and place these stockings around the interior of the crawlspace.  They can also be placed throughout the yard and hung in trees to help keep them from entering your yard.  The smell will help keep the snakes away and maybe a few friends as well.  If you have questions, please give us a call.

How hot should your hot water be?

Posted on : 27-09-2010 | By : Chris

Your water heater should be set for a temperature of 120 to 125 degrees at the kitchen sink (recommended by dishwasher manufacturers).  Having the temperature set too high could be dangerous.   It takes the following time for the water temperatures to give you a second or third degree burn:

                                                160 degrees                           About 1/2 second.

                                                150  ”                                      About 1 1/2 seconds.

                                                140  ”                                      Less than 5 seconds.

                                                130  ”                                      About 30 seconds.

                                                120  ”                                      Over 5 minutes.

Where should we test for lead-based paint?

Posted on : 14-09-2010 | By : Chris

The most important areas to test for lead are those areas where children spend a lot of time, such as bedrooms, playrooms, kitchens, and play-yards. It is especially important to test these areas if there is bare soil or if paint is peeling or chipping.

You should also test places where you plan to repaint or remodel. Test several different spots. If you are testing paint, test each different paint color. If you are testing soil, test different bare soil areas.

Some good places to test for lead-based paint are…

window frames and sills

doors, door jambs and thresholds

trim and siding

kitchen cabinets

painted children’s furniture

baseboards

Some good places to test for lead-contaminated soil are…

around the foundation of the house

where children play

unpaved pathways

under windows or walls with peeling or chipping paint

where pets play or rest

areas near traffic

Why should I test my home for lead?

Posted on : 07-09-2010 | By : Chris

If you have children, lead in your home can cause serious long term health and behavior problems for them. Lead is a hazard to children under 6 years of age in particular. Lead in paint, dust and soil is a problem for children because it gets in their bodies when they put their fingers, toys or paint chips or dust into their mouths. Lead can also harm a pregnant woman and her developing fetus.

You should consider testing for lead if there are children in your home and…

  • your house was built before 1978, or
  • your house is near a freeway or busy roadway where leaded gasoline and its exhaust may have polluted the soil with lead.

If your house was built before 1978, it is especially important to test for lead if…

  • your house has peeling or chipping paint;
  • your house has bare soil in the yard where children play;
  • you plan to repaint, remodel or renovate the house;
  • a child living in the house has had a blood lead test result indicating lead exposure
  • your house was built before 1950 — such homes almost always have some lead-based paint.

Radon is the silent killer.

Posted on : 24-08-2010 | By : Chris

Did you know radon causes 21,000 fatal cases of lung cancer each year in the U.S. according to the EPA?

However, it is easily detectable using an approved test kit and it is easily corrected.  There is no reason to let radon have a negative effect on your family’s or your health.