Category: Home Maintenance

Here’s What You Should Know about Removing a Chimney

September 8, 2020

A fireplace in your home can be a nice decorative item to have, and they can be a high selling point in certain locations. But if a fireplace sits unused for a prolonged period of time, they can become a safety issue. Potential buyers can see them as more of a hassle to maintain, and a bulky fireplace can disrupt the look of a room. So if you’re a homeowner or renovator, how can you cut out that old smokestack to update your property? Have a Professional Look at It Chances are that if you don’t use your fireplace very often, you may not know the condition it’s in. If that’s the case, don’t immediately turn on your fireplace to see if it works. Dirt and other debris can build up over years of inactivity, and suddenly lighting a flame can start a dangerous fire. Call in a professional to examine your chimney both inside and outside. They can give you the necessary information on the condition of your fireplace and accompanying components, as well as advise the best course of action to have it removed. These inspectors may also be licensed to get everything shut off and closed to

What’s that Smell? What Different Odors in Your Water Mean

August 31, 2020

Have you noticed a strange smell emanating from your faucet lately? When it comes to strange or unpleasant water scents, the devil is in the details. Here’s a list of some of the most common water odors and what they say about the condition of your home’s plumbing or water supply. Your Water Smells Like FishFirst of all, no worries—it’s not actual fish! Depending on where you live, you could be getting your water supply from the bodies of water around you. During the summer months these ponds or lakes can produce algae blooms, and particles from them may make their way into your water. Naturally occurring metals in the ground and other decaying materials can also cause a fish-like scent. Chloramine used to treat water can produce a smell as well. Solution: One way to deal with fishy water is to try and flush out your water heater. If that doesn’t work, your next course of action will depend on if you have a private or public well. If you have a private well, try to shock chlorinate it to kill any algae or install an automatic chlorinator. If you use a public water system, it’s best to contact

Have an Old Tree in Your Yard? Look Out for These Hidden Issues

August 10, 2020

Older trees are highly desirable for adding greenery, shade and a certain “stateliness” to any yard. But just with any landscaping in your outdoor space, tall, old trees bring their own set of challenges. Here are a few things to keep an eye out for when it comes to your yard’s oldest trees. High Wind Risks No matter an area’s climate, high winds are a given from time to time. Wind gusts can reach 60 miles per hour or more, tossing around debris and branches. If a tree’s trunk or limbs reach too close to your home, they can cause severe damage, sending branches or even the entire tree through your roof or windows. They can also knock out power lines, causing long outages that extend to neighboring homes. Branches should be kept trimmed 10 to 30 feet from your home—we recommend the higher end of this scale for added safety. Far-Reaching Roots Older trees often have far-reaching roots, which can cause extensive damage to your home’s structure and major systems. Some roots can harm your home’s foundation by reducing moisture in the soil, causing it to contract–this can cause your home to start shifting, often inward. Roots can also

Safe and Sound: Protecting Yourself from a Home Emergency

August 4, 2020

An emergency can strike anytime, anywhere, even in the place we’re supposed to feel safest–home. While it’s not easy to think about, some emergencies are unavoidable, and the best thing you can do for you and your family is be prepared. Do a Home Safety CheckA preventative home safety check can help decrease your chances of a major accident. Examine each nook and cranny to ensure that you do a comprehensive check. Go room by room and inspect all appliances, fixtures and furniture for potential safety issues. In Your Kitchen In Your Bedrooms and Living Rooms In Your Bathrooms In Hallways and Stairways In Your Basement Accounting for Small ChildrenWhether you have kids yourself, or have family and friends that do, your checklist will need to be adapted. Unless you can watch them at all times, your house will need to go through a “baby overhaul.” Watch out for more things like chipped paint, high surfaces and easily accessible doors. Along with your normal check, go over a baby safety guide to keep everyone in your home out of harm’s way. Install Warning Devices and Preventative Items A checklist is a good starting point to improve your home’s safety, but

The Benefits of a Smart Home

April 28, 2020

Years ago, people dreamed of houses with electronic gadgets and robots to make life simpler and more luxurious. Today, those far-away dreams are a common reality. For a long time, smart homes were not an option for most people due to high cost. However, smart homes are becoming more and more affordable and homeowners are realizing the benefits that they have to offer. If you have been thinking about upgrading your home, the following information could help you decide. Benefits of a Smart HomeDefined, a smart home is one that connects the different appliances and components in your home through electronic devices on a wireless network. From your thermostat to your fridge, the system you use tracks usage data and energy consumption. Having all the items in your house at your fingertips increases ease of use and accessibility. You can monitor everything, and notice if something has an issue before it gets out of hand. Many homeowners agree that this simplicity and security are big draws to upgrade their homes. Choosing the Right SystemThere are many different companies that offer home upgrades, and it is important to choose the right one. The big names like Amazon, Google and even Apple

Upgrading to a Finished Basement? Here’s How to Get the Basics in Place

April 21, 2020

A finished basement could be just the upgrade you need to create more living space and add value your home. Whether it’s a man cave or a lounge area, that cold and dark lower level of your home can be transformed into functional space. If you have been thinking about revamping your current basement, here are some things to keep in mind while remodeling. 1. Clear OutThe first thing that you will want to do is clean out whatever you may have stored in your basement. Even if you know the layout like the back of your hand and want to start planning right away, hidden foundational items could force you to change that. Having a clear field of view will expose anything like molds or cracks in the foundation that need to be immediately taken care of. If you do happen to run across an issue that looks serious, having a professional examine it will give you the best course of action to repair it. Clearing out your clutter will even allow you to sort through and get rid of unnecessary junk you have. 2. Sketch a DesignOnce you have your basement cleaned and cleared out, it’s time to

The Importance of Maintaining Window Wells

April 14, 2020

If you have a finished basement that you’d like to brighten up, window wells could be your answer. These are a nice addition to your home to give your below level rooms a more appealing feel. But they can also be a flooding hazard. Improperly fitted wells can let in water when it rains or even allow dirt to cave in the opening. Here are some things you can do to protect your basement. Deciding to InstallFirst things first, you will need to assess whether or not having a window well is a good idea for your location. If you live in a low sea level area, chances are, your home doesn’t have a lower level to begin with. But if you’re not, you should still check with a professional contractor before you go ahead with installation. Depending on your city’s guidelines, you may also need to obtain a building permit. Window wells that aren’t code-compliant could make your home more susceptible to flooding and lead to costly repairs. Proper Installation After the surrounding dirt has been cleared for window well installation, a retaining wall will be put in to hold it back. When the dirt is being put back,

Spring into Clean! Tips to Tidy Up Your Home

April 7, 2020

With the winter season coming to an end, now is a great time to declutter and refresh your home. An organized house can improve your mood and cleaning up is a great way to get rid of stress. These tips will help you get the most out of your sprucing up, and make your home a place of tidiness and relaxation. Get Rid of That Junk!Before you start pulling out the cleaning supplies, begin by going through that closet or storage room and organizing. We all accumulate vast amounts of stuff, and it is important to know when to let some of it go. Start by sorting things to keep, things to sell and things to throw away into piles. This will let you differentiate between your valuables and random pieces you picked up over the years. Plus, selling things that you don’t want is a great way to get some cash. If needed, you can always ask a removal service to dispose of bigger items such as an old fridge or couch. When you go to put things back in their place, try using plastic storage containers. Not only do they keep your items organized, but they’ll also protect

Spend Your Gift Card on These Home Improvement Tools

January 17, 2020

If you still have a gift card from the holidays burning a hole in your wallet, we’re here to give you some ideas to spend it on. Here are some of the best home improvement tools you wouldn’t think to buy for yourself, but won’t know how you lived without. Bosch Laser Distance MeasurerMiles ahead of your traditional tape measure, we love this pocket-sized tool for its accuracy and 165-foot range. It’s especially useful for contractors who bid by the square foot, or anyone who needs to quickly and accurately determine (to 1/16th inch) the size of a room. You can also sync it with a variety of Bosch measuring apps via Bluetooth, which makes this a must-have for us. WORX Universal Gutter Cleaning KitThinking ahead to warmer weather, why not spring for a tool that makes the most odious household chore, gutter cleaning, just a little easier? This gutter cleaning kit is designed to keep you on the ground, with a tube system that extends up to 11 feet. It fits most standard gas or electric leaf blowers so you can blast that gutter-clogging debris into next week. It works best on dry leaves but depending on the power

How to Tell If You Have Hard Water

September 17, 2019

Hard water. Soft water. If you’re not sure what the difference is, or what that difference means for your home, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll explain everything you need to know about hard water and how to tell if it’s an issue in your home. Is Hard Water Safe?We’re getting this out of the way first thing. Yes, hard water is completely safe to drink, cook with, wash clothes in, and anything else you’d use water for in your home. Hard water is simply tap water that has a higher than ideal content of minerals, namely calcium and magnesium. While hard water isn’t dangerous in any way, it can be a hassle to deal with. As we’ll see, if your home has hard water, you’ll see the effects every time you cook, clean or bathe. Sure Signs of Hard WaterIt can be hard to tell whether your water is hard—since you can’t determine the mineral content of your water by sight, you have to rely on the signs hard water leaves behind. Here are some of the ways to tell: What to Do About Hard WaterThe simple answer is investing in a water-softening system. Water softeners treat your