Archive for the Blog Category

As a homeowner, the word “inspection” quickly becomes one of the most terrifying words in the English Dictionary.  Inspection means that hidden issues have the potential of being found and unexpected costs could arise. Yet, as scary as inspections are due to the amount of money they can cost and the number of unknown costs they can uncover, they can also help to save a lot of money too! A well-timed inspection can help to find serious issues before they cause serious damage. One of the most common inspections for a home is an electrical safety inspection.  If you are wondering what exactly an electrical safety inspection is, you are in luck because today we have that answer for you! An electrical safety inspection is a detailed inspection of a home’s electrical system. Many times, electrical safety inspections are performed before a family purchases a home or right after a

Buying and installing a new furnace in your home can cost anywhere from $3,00-$5,000+.  And, although it is a necessary purchase to live a comfortable life, it is not necessarily a purchase you want to make. For that reason, understanding how to maintain your furnace so you can prolong its life is of the utmost importance.  So, without further ado, here is what you need to know about furnace maintenance. You need to change the furnace filter. As the months start getting colder, one of the first things you will want to do is change your furnace filter.  As a furnace is used, dirt and dust from the air gets caught in the furnace filter and builds up. As the dirt and dust build up the furnace struggles to operate.  For that reason, the best practice for changing a furnace filter is to do so once every 2-3 months while

With the cold weather months right around the corner, homeowners all over the country, and definitely in Maryland, run the risk of frozen pipes.  When the temperature drops below zero, even when the heat doesn’t go out, there is always a risk that mother nature might rear her ugly head and turn your comfortable life upside down by freezing your pipes.   To avoid frozen pipes in your home this winter, here are a few tips you can follow to help eliminate your risk. Leave the Water Dripping It might seem counterintuitive to let a faucet drip, but in the dead of winter, it might just be necessary.  Allowing your faucet(s) to drip slightly when the temperature is below zero helps to keep water flowing through the pipes. As the water is forced to move, the likelihood that it will freeze decreases. So, although your water bill might be slightly

Ready or not, here comes the colder weather.  As the months turn, the days get shorter, the nights get longer, and the chances of encountering a blustery winter storm get higher and higher.  Many people do not have a generator in their home, because they feel the power will never truly be out long enough to need one. Or, they don’t understand the consequences of being without when the weather gets bad.  If you don’t have a generator in your home, here are a few real-life reasons you need one. If the power goes out during the winter months, your pipes could freeze. As the temperature drops outside the temperature inside of your home drops as well. That’s why you have a reliable heating system in place. However, if your power goes out when the temperature outside is below zero, you’re going to notice the temperature inside dropping pretty quickly

There’s nothing more welcoming than driving up to a well-lit home in the middle of a dark night.  It’s as if everything and everyone is asleep, but the home is still waiting up for you. And, not only is a well-lit home more welcoming, it is also safe. If you are looking to create a welcoming, safe, well-lit home you are going to want to invest in landscape lighting to achieve your goals.  Here we will go over a few of our favorite landscape lighting options. Spotlighting Spotlighting is the most common and most simple form of landscape lighting you can install on your home.  All it takes is a few spotlights staked into the ground aimed at the prominent features of your home. Typically spotlighting is directed towards the front face of the house, the garage, or a flagpole if the home has one. Moonlighting Moonlighting is one of

If you are in the middle of a bathroom remodel, chances are you are going to need a plumber to help you with the installation of your new bathtub. However, before you call in the professionals you need to choose the bathtub you want. The bathtubs below are some of our favorites to use AND to install! Check them out! Classic Garden Bathtubs If you love a good, long, soak at the end of a long day then you can never go wrong with a classic garden bathtub. The garden-style bathtub can be purchased in a number of varieties, shapes, and sizes. Traditional garden bathtubs are rectangular in shape and are generally installed along a wall in a bathroom with a tile surround.  Modern style garden tubs, however, are ovular and stand alone, away from the wall. No matter which style of garden bathtub you choose, you won’t be disappointed!

If there is one thing new homeowners love it’s a living space with great lighting. And, although natural light is the top choice…it’s not always possible. And, a well-lit space is just as important at night as it is during the day, so natural lighting isn’t always the answer.  For that reason, we have a list of the best lighting options for your living space to help you bring brightness into your home. Ceiling Fans Ceiling fans are one of the most popular options for living space lighting. Furthermore, in rooms with multiple windows, they might be the best option.  Ceiling fans provide circulation of air and can even help to provide cooling in the summer or circulate heat in the winter. Many people steer clear of ceiling fans because they feel as though they will not fit in with their design. However, we are pleased to let you know

If you are trying to find a new heating and cooling solution for your home, chances are you have come across a geothermal option.  Although it’s popular and widely offered, many opt for more traditional forms of heating and cooling, simply because they don’t understand what geothermal means. So, before you go making a big decision that will cost you big bucks, here is a quick lesson on geothermal energy. Let’s begin by breaking down the words. GEO: A Greek word that means earth THERMAL: of relating to, or caused by heat ENERGY: usable power Therefore, GEOTHERMAL= EARTH HEAT and POWER Throughout the year, the ground beneath your home where the pipes are laid maintains a consistent temperature. When you choose to install a geothermal energy system in your home pipes are laid below the surface that harnesses that consistent temperature to heat and cool your home. In the winter,

If you love taking a hot, steamy shower after a long day you’re going to need a water heater. An essential appliance that most people overlook, water heaters are something that we would be lost without. But, if you are looking to upgrade or replace your water filter you are probably facing the decision of standard vs. tankless. So, which do you choose? Standard water heaters operate by using a large water tank and heating coils.  Water enters the tank through cold water valves and is heated using a series of coils at the middle and bottom of the tank set by an internal thermometer. Then, the hot water is released through the hot water outlet. Generally, standard water heaters cost anywhere from $300-$1000 depending on the size, model and features you desire. On average they last between 8-12 years.  Although standard water heaters are most common and extremely effective,