Tag: HVAC

Home Maintenance Myths You Shouldn’t Bet On

September 26, 2018

Sometimes, those home maintenance “shortcuts” you learned from your parents are anything but. Some myths about home maintenance were born out of good intentions, and some of them may have even been true at one time or another, but following them today can waste money or even cause damage to your home. Here’s a rundown of the worst offenders that can end up costing you in the long run. 1. Turn off your AC when you leave the house to save energy. This one seems to make sense—why pay to cool an empty house, right? Well, turning off your AC isn’t the way to save money. The problem here is that when you come back home and turn your system back on, your AC unit will have to work overtime to cool your house back down, negating any energy savings you’ve accrued. To really save energy, just adjust your thermostat 5 or 10 degrees when you leave the house. 2. More insulation is always better. Lots of attic insulation is the key to regulating your home’s temperature in summer and winter, isn’t it? Not quite. While you want enough insulation to prevent heat escaping into the attic, going overboard can

Everything You Need to Know About Attic and Roof Ventilation

August 24, 2018

We all understand the importance of a healthy roof for keeping a home in great condition. But what’s one often overlooked area that plays a huge role in a roof’s performance and efficiency? Ventilation. Here, we’ll go over how to determine whether you need better roof and attic ventilation. Why is Good Ventilation So Important? When we refer to roof ventilation, we’re not talking about anything complicated or mysterious. We still mean airflow, or circulation. Roof ventilation requires consistent airflow to function properly. This is typically achieved mechanically, through a power source, or naturally, using the stack effect or the wind effect. The stack effect occurs when hot air rises and creates pressure in the attic. In order to avoid growing too hot, the hot air, known as exhaust, needs a means for escaping through the roof. Exhaust cannot escape an attic without cool, lower-pressure air entering the attic, air known as intake. Exhaust and intake work together to keep airflow steady and create a well-ventilated attic. If this circulatory system isn’t adequate, your roof could experience a number of problems. Attic Ventilation: Telltale Signs You Need More Ice dams Ice buildup on a roof is known as ice damming.

How Long Your Appliance Will Last

August 10, 2018

Whether you’re getting ready to move into your new home with its own set of aging appliances, or you’re just taking stock of the ones you already own, it’s helpful to know just how much life they have left in them. New homeowners typically forget to budget for the average of $9,000 in hidden expenses they’ll run into in the first months and years of home ownership, and appliances are a substantial part of that expense. Here’s a breakdown of how long your home appliances should last, and how you can lengthen their lifespans to save money in the long run. For All Appliances Before we get started, the numbers you’ll see below are averages. You can get a rough estimate of how long your appliances have left before they give up the ghost based solely on their age, but what’s more important is how much use they get. A washing machine that handles clothes for a family of 5 will see a lot more action than a bachelor’s, for example, which will shorten its lifespan accordingly. Oven Range: 13-15 Years Whether you have a gas, electric or induction range, they tend to have similar lifespans. The best way to

8 Ways to Allergy-Proof Your Home This Spring

May 2, 2018

Some of us are in the throes of it and some of us are just starting to experience the first twinges. For many, spring means allergy season and dealing with irritating symptoms for weeks on end. Today, we’ll let you in on our best tips for creating an allergy-proof home during pollen season and well beyond. 1. Find out what you’re allergic to. Don’t take a stab in the dark when it comes to allergies! For red, itchy eyes, sneezing, shortness of breath and other symptoms, you’ll need to consult with your physician about testing and treatment options. Not only can finding out exactly what you’re allergic to help you save significantly on medication and health care costs, it’ll let you know precisely where to start when it comes to making a more allergy-proof space for your family. 2. Allergy-proof your mattress. Dust and dust mites are a leading allergen for many individuals all year long. Dust and its mites are more likely to gather and multiply in and around your mattress, bedding and bed itself than almost anywhere else in your home. That’s because a dust mite’s favorite food happens to be skin flakes. As humans, we’re constantly shedding