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Four Easy-To-Grow Houseplants for Improving Indoor Air Quality

April 24, 2020

In the late ’80s, concerns about air pollution in sealed space habitats prompted NASA to investigate the role of ordinary houseplants in removing toxins from the air. A study published in 1989 listing specific plants and their ability to remove toxins from the air popularized the practice of adding houseplants to private homes to improve the indoor air quality. Some of the highest-rated plants for improving indoor air quality include: Peace Lily The peace lily scored high on several measures. It removes trichloroethylene (TCE), a carcinogenic chemical found in cleaning solvents, adhesives, and paint removers. This

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How To Access An HVAC Unit When Buying A Home

April 10, 2020

An HVAC system works hard to keep your family warm in the winter and cool in the summer, making it a vital part of your family’s comfort. That’s why you need to pay special attention to the existing HVAC system when buying a new home. Follow these tips for assessing the condition and efficiency of the HVAC system before putting in an offer or making a final decision about a home. Visually Inspect the HVAC System You can gain a lot of information from a visual inspection. Here’s what you should look for:

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Space Heater Safety Tips

March 3, 2020

When the days get colder, it’s common for many homes and offices to bring out space heaters to provide more direct heat. These space heaters can use electric heating elements or fuel, along with fans, to provide an immediate flow of heat in a smaller area, and some can be surprisingly high-tech. Space heaters aren’t especially efficient, but they are popular for their fast results and ease of use. However, if you’re going to be using a space heater, it’s important to know the right safety procedures. These heaters can be a common cause of fires and

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Beware of 3rd Party Energy Suppliers

February 18, 2020

You may have recently seen offers or even representatives talking about switching to another energy company in order to save money. Many people are — understandably — not sure what this means or what these third-party energy companies have to offer. But the idea of saving money on energy bills is always an attractive one, so it’s normal to be interested, too. However, switching energy companies does come with certain caveats, and the immediate benefits don’t always match the long-term costs. Some are even outright scams! It’s not a decision that anyone should make rashly: Here’s what

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High Tech Innovations in the Heating and Cooling Industry

February 3, 2020

Technology is continually changing and evolving the products that we use and the way we live our lives. It is even changing products that have not changed much in decades, such as heating and cooling equipment. The changes that are being made in the heating and cooling industry, thanks to high tech innovations are helping to increase the energy efficiency of the products we use, lengthen their lifespans, and provide greater heating and cooling options for our homes. Here are three of the various high tech innovations that have changed the heating and cooling industry recently. Programmable

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What Is a Programmable Thermostat and Why Do I Need One?

January 20, 2020

A programmable thermostat is designed to allow you to set the temperature settings on your HVAC system to automatically adjust at specific times during the day (and night) to match your family’s needs and schedule. That means providing a comfortable temperature for your family without needing to adjust the thermostat every time someone feels a chill or feels overheated. But feeling comfortable isn’t the only benefit of installing and/or using a programmable thermostat. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, setting the temperature back 7 to 10 degrees from your normal setting for 8 hours a day in the winter

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How to Stay Warm This Winter

December 3, 2019

Keeping your family warm and cozy in the winter doesn’t mean you need to crank up the thermostat. There are a number of things you can do to keep your home and family warm besides depending on your furnace to do all the work. Doing what you can to improve your home’s efficiency goes a long way towards cutting your energy costs while keeping your home warm. Why bother? Isn’t the furnace the primary source of winter heat? Your furnace is the primary source of winter heat, but it requires a lot of energy to keep

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The Importance of Having Your Air Filters Changed

November 19, 2019

Your HVAC system uses a filter in the air ducts, usually near the units themselves, to help clean the air out. While these filters aren’t generally as refined as a HEPA filter, they still pick up many different particles, including dust, pollen, dust mites, and much more. However, HVAC filters are usually disposable: That means that they get filled up with particles, slowly clogging over time, and need to be replaced so that the system can keep cleaning the air. What happens when you don’t replace your filters? Here are some of the side effects, and why

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Why Does Flushing A Toilet Affect The Shower?

October 21, 2019

It happens to everyone. You’re minding your own business, just taking a shower, when all of a sudden, you hear the toilet flushing. Frantically you try to get out of the way of the water before it turns scorching hot. But why does it even happen? What is the connection between a flush and the temperature of your shower? A Walk-through of Your Water System To understand what is going on when there is a sudden spray of hot water coming from the showerhead, you need to know a little something about the way water travels

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Combating Humidity Around Your Home

September 4, 2019

While leaks and broken pipes are an obvious, urgent problem, there’s another, more insidious moisture issue that can affect homes: Lingering humidity. Humidity is particularly dangerous because it can cause several other, far worse problems. Moist building materials can eventually warp and decay, causing problems with rot. Long-term humidity can also encourage the growth of extremely damaging molds that may even be dangerous to human health. In other words, controlling humidity in your home is important! Let’s go over a few of the best ways to make sure your home doesn’t suffer from too much moisture.

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