Tag Archive for protection

Kate Miller | December 31, 2012
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Protecting Your Home from Break-Ins and Burglary: Part 2

cctv on an old roof by warradmu at FreeDigitalPhotos.netLast week we began to highlight some of the areas around the outside of the home that are often left vulnerable to burglar entry. The list of mistakes that some homeowners make was so long that we felt we had to make it a two part series. These mistakes are very simple to fix, and will help discourage thieves from identifying your home as an easy target.

More Signs that Your Home is Poorly Secured

  • Exposed Security System Wires: If you are lucky enough to have a security system in your home, you are already better protected than most, but if your security system is not well maintained, you may be asking for a break in. Exposed wires in your security system can be easily cut and though you feel that your home is secure, in reality it is no safer than a home without a security system. Read more
Category: Helpful Tips, Home Improvements, Home Services, Safety | Tags: , , , , , , ,
Kate Miller | December 28, 2012
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Protecting Your Home from Break-Ins and Burglary: Part 1

Robber Hiding Under a White Wall by Chanpipat at Freedigitalphotos.net

It has been estimated that a burglary occurs every 14.6 seconds here in the United States. We lull ourselves into a false sense of security thinking that a burglary could never happen in our home, but the threat is much more real than you may assume. Home security systems are growing in popularity and if your home is not protected, you could be placing your home and your family at a greater risk of experiencing a break in. Take a moment to assess your home for areas of weakness, and consider your options as far as increasing your protection from the thieving hands of burglars.

Burglars don’t choose a home at random. They take their time and scope out a few homes in an area. If yours is showing obvious signs of weakness, you need to take this opportunity to minimize your risk. Here are some of the common areas of weakness that welcome burglars into your home over another house on the block: Read more

Category: Helpful Tips, Home Improvements, Home Services, Safety | Tags: , , , , , , ,
Kate Miller | October 22, 2012
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To Cover of Not to Cover Your Air Conditioner

Don’t be fooled by the little blast of warm weather, winter is still just around the corner! Dropping temperatures and snow blowing will be here before you know it! Are you ready? Have you protected your air conditioner with a proper fitting cover? If not be prepared for the potential damage ice and snow can cause your unit. Today’s manufacturers’ do not require a cover for your unit, but they do recommend one, especially when you live in an area that frequently experiences large snowfalls.

Warped Air Conditioner Blades

The fan blades on modern air conditioners are larger than older models. These larger blades hold more ice and snow causing your blades to warp creating a louder unit that will use higher amount of electricity. These blades will put excess wear and tear on the motor shortening its life span. You can prevent this all from happening by simply covering your unit with a proper fitting cover. 

Getting a Proper Fit

You can’t install just any cover on your air conditioner. The cover you purchase should be specifically made for your air conditioner make and model. This will prevent moisture from getting trapped inside the unit which can cause rust and decay. It will also allow for adequate amount of air flow during the long months the air conditioner is under wraps. Read more

Category: Air Conditioning, Contractors, Cooling, Helpful Tips, Maintenance | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Kate Miller | May 18, 2012
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Flood Protection and Maintenance

Spring and early summer are not only the time to begin considering the maintenance and condition of the air conditioner, but they are also the seasons for sump pump repair, maintenance, and installation. We may have only had a few minor storms so far this season, but every year without fail, there is a major storm that floods hundreds if not thousands of basements across the Chicagoland area. For many of these homeowners, a simple maintenance check could have prepared them for the upcoming storms and prevented expensive and sometimes irreplaceable damage.  

Sump Pump Check Up

                Sump pumps, much like the furnace, air conditioner, and hot water heater, need to be maintained regularly to prevent problems especially if you have a basement that is prone to flood waters. An operational checkup and cleaning can be quickly and affordably performed by a plumber, or you could always check the operation of the system on your own. Simply pour water into the sump pit until it reaches the float switch. If the system turns on and drains out the water, everything is working properly. If nothing happens, there is a problem that will need repairs. A plumber will be able to investigate the issue and either repair or replace the system. Read more

Category: Home Repairs, Home Services, Plumbing | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Kate Miller | March 7, 2012
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Protect Your Home from a Turbulent Spring

The intense weather that has hit the middle of our country reminds us all of the power that nature has during the spring months. One moment you are enjoying a gentle breeze and the sunshine on your face and then the next moment the sky is black as night and pouring down buckets of water. These fast intense storms can make it very hard for your home to stay dry inside. Without adequate protection, you could see your valuables destroyed and any system that may be in the basement, like the furnace, hot water tank, washer and dryer, could be damaged as well. There are two rather affordable ways to boost protection this spring:

  • Clean and Repairing Gutters: The gutters on your roof are the first line of defense against flooding. If they are packed with leaves or if they have insufficient downspouts, you could be saturating the ground around your home with every rainfall. Have your gutters cleaned and inspected for problems or weaknesses. A few nails and a few hours spent getting the gutters empties could be all that is needed to protect your home. Read more
Category: Home Repairs, Home Services, Money Saving, Plumbing, Safety | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Kate Miller | January 2, 2012
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How Your Water Tank Prevents Erosion

The hot water tank seems to be a rather simple device. Water enters the tank, is heated by the burners, and then transferred throughout the home, but if you really think about it, how is it that the water tank is able to come in contact with so much water and remain rust and erosion resistant? For some homeowners, stopping the tank from eroding isn’t such an easy task. Although there problem usually lies in a lack of proper hot water tank maintenance. There is one very valuable part of the tank that is checked during a maintenance cleaning, and if this part is no longer doing its job, the tank will quickly become vulnerable to erosion. Don’t wait until the bottom of your tank rots out to find out you have a problem.

The Anode and Its Function

The part of your hot water tank that we are talking about is the anode. This vital component of your system sacrifices itself to corrosion and spares the integrity of the tank. However, over time, this part will lose this ability. The aluminum or magnesium that is being corroded will eventually be gone, and the tank itself will begin to break down. This can be prevented though by having the anode checked and replaced why necessary. Some home needs to have the anode replaced as frequently as every 4 years, but other can last up to 6 or 7 years before replacement is needed. Either way, you will not know when you anode needs replacement if you do not have the tank maintained yearly. Read more

Category: Heating, Home Services, Hot Water Tank, Plumbing | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Kate Miller | December 28, 2011
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Don’t Turn Off the Furnace!

As you head out the door this holiday season to visit family and friends for an extended period of time, there is one crucial mistake that you must not make. Do not turn off the furnace. Many homeowners are looking for any way to save money, and you may assume that since no one will be home to need the comfort of the furnace, it won’t matter if it is shut down for a few days. However, you would be wrong! Leaving the furnace off during winter puts your home at serious risk for water damage, but it can be prevented!

How Your Pipes Will Freeze

When the furnace is turned off completely, the home has no protection against the elements. All you need is one extra chilly night to surround your home and suddenly you will have frozen pipes around the house. Within hours the temperature will begin to warm as the sun rises and those pipes will begin to thaw. The ice will have expanded the pipe and could have caused cracks that compromised the integrity of the pipe. As it thaws, water will begin to force its way through and the pressure may cause the pipe to burst! Read more

Category: Boiler, Furnace, Heating, Home Services, Insulation, Money Saving, Plumbing, Safety | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Kate Miller | December 26, 2011
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A Burn Free Winter: Water Heater Safety

Having small children in the home highlights the many hazards that stand in the way of their safety. We lock up cabinets that house dangerous chemicals and cover sockets, but have you taken the necessary steps to prevent your children from experiencing a scalding burn? As our children age, they begin to take showers on their own and turn on and off the water when washing their hands. One wrong turn and your child could set the water so hot that it literally burns their skin. What may be hot water to your skin can spell disaster for your child, but luckily there is a simple way to childproof the water in your home as well!

Set Back that Tank!

The problem lies in the settings on your hot water tank’s thermostat. Many homeowners have never even touched this device and probably have no idea that there are different temperatures that you could set your tank at. When the tank is set at or above 150 degrees, it takes about 2 seconds to experience a scalding burn. No one needs the tank set the high, and odds are if you are tank is set at this point, you are also overpaying on your monthly energy bills. Set the tank back to 120 degrees and you will be surprised at the lack of difference it makes in your morning showers. Read more

Category: Furnace, Heating, Hot Water Tank, Safety | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Raymond S- HVAC Specialist | September 12, 2011
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Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips

So much has been written about carbon monoxide it makes my head spin. Most everything you see on the internet is meant to scare you, but here are a few facts that I haven’t seen on the net.

4 Carbon Monoxide Safety Tips

1. Carbon monoxide detectors can have a life span of only a few years, and most are dead after ten. If you don’t have paper work on your CO detector contact the manufacturer to see what the life of your CO detector is. Just because it lights up and goes beep when you push the test button does not mean it is detecting CO. I have seen it a number of times where the customers CO detector does not go off and my meter shows elevated levels of CO. Read more

Category: Furnace, Helpful Tips, Hot Water Tank, Safety | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Kate Miller | August 29, 2011
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An Arrow in the A/C

I have thirty five years experience repairing furnaces and air conditioners, and I had thought I had seen it all. However, this was the first time I saw an air conditioning condenser unit with a hunting arrow sticking out of it. Over the years I have seen air conditioners hit by cars, lawn motors and the occasional go carts/mini bikes, but I have never seen an air conditioner with a hunting arrow in it.

A Frantic Phone Call

From what I could gather from our frantic phone call, the customer said he left for work at 7am and returned home at 5 pm. His house was 89 degrees when he got home.  From that point everything got a little fuzzy. He said something about an arrow in his air conditioner and that his neighbor killed it. Deer season was coming up, but I really didn’t know what he was talking about. He was defiantly distraught, and his neighbors target practice was the cause. Read more

Category: Air Conditioning, Consumer Protection, Safety | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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