Archive for the ‘Home Repairs’ category

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Prevent Problematic Plumbing

December 5th, 2011

You would think that most homeowners know what they can and cannot put down the drains in their home, but you would be surprised by the crazy things we have found clogging pipes. Even if you have a garbage disposal attached to your sink, there are still certain items that should never be forced down a drain, and doing so could cause a costly plumbing repair. The holiday season usually means big business for plumbers across the United States. With all of the turkey, grease, and potato skins, it is no wonder so many homeowners find themselves with a backed up sink during this season, but it can all be prevented with a few proactive steps.

Watch What Goes Down the Disposal!

  • Bones: Turkey bone, chicken wings, ribs, and any other animal bone that may be left over after a delicious meal need to make its way into the garbage can and not your garbage disposal.
  • Pasta and Rice: Putting pasta or rice down your garbage disposal has got to be the easiest way to impact your sink. We have pulled out full sections of piping that are literally packed with noodles that had expanded and backed up the sink. The homeowners assumed the garbage disposal could chop them up into small enough pieces but even small pieces of pasta swell with exposed to water. » Read more: Prevent Problematic Plumbing

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Posted in Home Repairs, Home Services, Plumbing

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Wood Floors and Moisture Don’t Mix!

November 23rd, 2011

Many homeowners that are looking to add value and beauty to their home add wood floors to one or several rooms. This is a wise investment for many and could end up increasing the selling price of the home down the line. However, if you don’t keep these floors in good shape, it could have an opposite effect. Repairing wood floors is much more costly that simply protecting them from damage in the first place. Moisture and lack of moisture are a couple of your wood floors biggest enemies and unless you can maintain proper moisture levels in the home, you may find yourself spending more than you wanted just to maintain or repair this large investment.

Moisture Levels and the Changing Seasons:

  • Summer’s Moisture: The summer months in most areas of the states are plagued by extremely high humidity. This is the kind of moisture that can creep in between your floor boards and cause warping, discoloration, and rot. A fully functional central air conditioning system can remove this humidity from the home if used on a regular basis during the summer. You could also consider a whole house ventilation system coupled with a dehumidifier if you do not want to invest in central air conditioning. Either way you will be able to bring the humidity level down to a tolerable and safe level. » Read more: Wood Floors and Moisture Don’t Mix!

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Air Quality, Heating, Home Improvements, Home Repairs, Home Services

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An Impressive First Impression

November 9th, 2011

When it comes time to sell your home, they say that the kitchen, the bathrooms, and the home’s exterior are what sell the place. The kitchen and the bathroom are important for obvious reasons, but the appeal of the exterior may not be so obvious because it doesn’t have much of a function. However, your home’s exterior and landscape provides the first impression for your home. It is the first thing that family and visitors will see, and from a buyer’s perspective, this aspect of the home needs to be impressive. Beef up your home’s exterior with a few small improvements, and it could make a huge difference when you decide to put your home on the market.

Curb Appeal Improvements

  • Window Replacement: Rotting or warped wood framed windows have to go! You will be hard pressed to sell the home with them in that condition anyways, so opt for an affordable and energy efficient alternative. Choose new vinyl windows that complement your home’s design.
  • Entryway Remodel: The front door creates a first impression on its own, so if should be a beautiful focal point not a distraction. Consider having elegant double doors installed or simply upgrade the door to a higher quality energy efficient entrance that looks clean and pulled together. » Read more: An Impressive First Impression

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Posted in Contractors, Home Improvements, Home Repairs, Home Services, Remodeling

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Do It Yourself or Call a Pro

October 17th, 2011

“Do it yourselfers” have the best intentions at heart. They want to be hands on when it comes to taking care of their home and they want to save a few bucks along the way. For some projects, a homeowner truly can save some money by manning the work on their own, but for others, attempting them without professional experience could be disastrous. Knowing when the home repair is out of your league may be hard for some, but not assessing this possibility could cost you more than a little extra cash when you have to call in a professional.

Electrocutions and Floods

My father was one of those “do it yourselfers” that didn’t know the limits of his abilities. Many times, he would attempt a project with little more knowledge than that which he gained from a book. Sometimes he got lucky, but once he started messing with the electricity and the plumbing, things got ugly. It wasn’t until he electrocuted himself a few times and flooded the upstairs bathroom that he called a professional. I’m sure many of you are reading this thinking that you or someone else in your home fits this description of a determined “do it yourselfer,” but I am here to encourage you to take a step back and assess your limitations. » Read more: Do It Yourself or Call a Pro

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Posted in Consumer Protection, Home Improvements, Home Repairs, Home Services, Safty

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Spots on the Ceiling, Moisture in the Attic

September 5th, 2011

The last time you painted your ceiling did you notice spots around the outside walls? Those spots are usually an indication that the insulation in the attic is starting to loose its R value, and condensation may be the source of your problem.

Attic Insulation and Year Round Condensation

During the summer and winter the poorly insulated attics will accumulate condensation. In the summer this moisture can leak into the lower level ceilings of the home once it soaks through the insulation, and it could also become a source of mold growth. Once wet, insulation is useless and no longer carries an r-value. In the winter this moisture becomes frost in your attic that further diminishes the effectiveness of what little insulation you may have up there. This situation can be corrected by adding blown in insulation to your attic. This blown in insulation will help to minimize future spots from occurring on your ceiling, but more importantly it will help cut your heating and cooling bills. » Read more: Spots on the Ceiling, Moisture in the Attic

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Posted in Home Improvements, Home Repairs, Insulation, Maintenace

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Stop Clogging Your Drains!

August 22nd, 2011

If you find yourself de-clogging the drains in your home on a regular basis, you are not alone. Clogged drains are the most common plumbing problem, and unfortunately, the majority of the time the homeowners are to blame. Allowing the wrong things to flow down your drain can cause bigger problems down the road, and no amount of drain cleaner can prevent a sewage spill if you aren’t taking the necessary precautions. So, here are a few tips to help you keep your drains clear. By putting these tips into action and setting some new group rules about what can go down your drains, you could prevent costly plumbing repairs in your home.

  • Watch What You Flush: Your toilet may be a bigger drain than those in your sinks and tubs, but it should follow the same rules. Keep children from flushing toys and keep a garbage can close by to discourage your family member from flushing anything besides what should go down the toilet.
  • Hairy Mistakes: Hair is great at creating clogs in your drains. It collects at bends and can easily cause backups in your home. Discourage your family members from dumping shavings down the drain, and do what you can to clean out the drains after each shower. » Read more: Stop Clogging Your Drains!

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Posted in Home Repairs, Home Services, Information, Plumbing

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Outrageous Electric Bills!

August 15th, 2011

The heat wave is over but some people are still hot under the collar. Why? They just got the electric bills. More than one couple is sitting there drinking their morning coffee and blaming each other for the outrageous electric bill that just came in the mail. In most cases it wasn’t because they had their thermostat set too low it’s because they have problems with the efficiency of their air conditioner or their home isn’t insulated correctly.

How Much are You Wasting?

These two simple problems that no one seems to see until we get extremes in weather will causes high electric bills and homes that are uncomfortable in the late afternoon. This wake-up call shouldn’t be ignored. If your air conditioner is using that much electricity in extreme weather, how much is it wasting in moderate weather? » Read more: Outrageous Electric Bills!

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Go Green, Home Improvements, Home Repairs, Insulation, Money Saving

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Summer Time Home Repair Scams

June 15th, 2011

The majority of scams that you hear about concern shoddy repair jobs or “fly by night” contractors, but there is another scam that dresses itself up as an offer to do home repairs but ends in a robbery. Any area that is affected by weather damage is vulnerable to these types of scams especially. The bad weather often cause roofs to crumble, gutters to fall, and a plethora of other home damage that needs to be repaired quickly. The scammers take advantage of this fact and will go door to door until they get a taker. Then the real scam begins…

Getting Their Foot in the Door

This scam is often carried out by a couple of thieves. They will say anything they can in order to get their foot inside your door. They will offer affordable low pricing and even a free on the spot inspection. An unsuspecting homeowner may think that this is their lucky day, but in reality you are anything but lucky. The “servicemen” will either try to split up or they will return later to finish the job. » Read more: Summer Time Home Repair Scams

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Posted in Consumer Protection, Contractors, Home Repairs

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Duct Sealing and Your A/C

May 12th, 2011

Does it seem like your HVAC system just can’t keep up with the temperatures outside? Are you paying more than you think you should be on your energy bills? Do you have rooms that just don’t seem to get any conditioned air? Well, if you are finally tired of having these problems in your home, it may be time to explore some of the possible causes of these issues. For many homeowners, upgrading the furnace and air conditioner and adding extra insulation to the home are not the solution to these problems. Sometimes the problem lies in an old duct work system that is full of gaps and leaks. If you already endured a long chilly winter and are looking for a solution to this duct problem, consider having your duct work sealed by a professional. » Read more: Duct Sealing and Your A/C

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Home Repairs, Money Saving

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Air Conditioners that Dim the Lights

April 27th, 2011

What should you do if your lights dim when your AC kicks on? PANIC? No, it’s not that bad. Dimming lights, however, do mean there is a problem that must be fixed as soon as possible. If the only time the lights dim is when the air conditioner turns on, you may want to shut the unit down until you have the problem taken care of. Dimming lights usually indicates that there is a bad connection in the system or a component that is starting to burn out.

HVAC Pros

There is a long list of possible causes for this problem, and most of them, unfortunately, the home owner can’t check. The ones you can check include: checking fuses and replacing any that seem weathered, and clearing any debris from both the inside and outside of the air conditioner. If both of these areas are clear, call an HVAC company to have a look at your unit. » Read more: Air Conditioners that Dim the Lights

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Consumer Protection, Home Repairs, Safty

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