Archive for the Blog Category

Stinky, grimy, messy. Doing the dishes after dinner is no fun at all. But, with a sink and faucet that looks good and has great features, the job gets a little easier. If you are remodeling your kitchen or installing a new sink, it’s time spring for a faucet that will make your time spent in the kitchen even more enjoyable. And, on that topic, here are some of our favorite trends right now! One-Touch Turn On You’ve definitely seen the commercials where the mom with her hands full of paint trays, dirt filled cups and dishes turns on the sink with the light touch of her wrist. Most likely as the commercial ends you are thinking “I need one of those!” Well, we think you do too! One-touch sinks are incredibly efficient. If you can easily turn on your sink by using a body part that hasn’t touched raw

We all know that Spring means rain, and unfortunately, rain means flooded basements.  All too often throughout the months of March, April, and May you hear stories of homeowners having to refinish their entire basements or throw out beloved belongings because their basement flooded.  If you are a new homeowner or have recently moved to a new home these stories can be terrifying.  You might even be left wondering if you need a sump pump yourself.  If that sounds like you, here are some indications that making the investment in a sump pump will pay off in the long run. Here is the answer to the question: Does your Home Need a Sump Pump? Your Basement has a History of Flooding If you live in a low-lying area, it is very likely that your basement has a history of flooding. And, if it does that is the first sign you will

The summer months are coming, and if that means one thing, it means that things are going to get hot.  In the warmest months of the year, there is nothing worse than going to turn on the air conditioning and realizing that it doesn’t work.  Not only will you be frustrated about having to call a repair team, but you will also be uncomfortable with the amount of excess heat that builds up in your home. Before summer arrives to look for these signs that your cooling system might be in need of maintenance. Your Air Conditioning is Constantly Running Generally when it warms up outside you are able to set your thermostat to a temperature that you would like your air conditioning system to maintain inside of your home.  Once you do that and your air conditioning runs long enough to reach that temperature, the unit will shut off. 

One of the most confusing topics for homeowners is electricity. In old homes especially it is hard to know if your electrical system is up to date, and in a newer home, it can be difficult to determine what type of decisions you should make regarding the construction of your electrical system. If you are a homeowner who needs a little electricity 101, then this article is a good place to start. In it, we are going to walk through three different types of outlets and what they were made for. Are you ready to learn the answer to the question, “What type of outlet should you install in your home?”. GFCI Outlets GFCI Outlets are the most common outlets installed in a home and are the most recognizable to homeowners. GFCI stands for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. These outlets are designed to automatically turn off if there is a

The water heater is one of the most elusive appliances in the home. Everyone has one and everyone needs one, but nobody wants to talk about it. Many times, problems will arise with the water heater and go unnoticed and therefore, unresolved for months. This can result in wasted money, wasted time, and danger for your family. If you have a water heater in your home that you suspect might need maintenance, here are three signs to look for. Knocking Do you hear a weird noise coming from the water closet? Don’t worry, it’s most likely not a monster or a ghost, but a sign that your water heater is failing. When a water heater starts to go bad it will make a knocking noise while hot water is being used or shortly afterward. This sound is caused by heavy sediment settling in the water heater, a sign that the

Spring is upon us, the birds are chirping and the air feels fresh. It’s time to open up those windows and get to work on spring cleaning and readying your home for the warmer seasons.  Many people have a list of items they complete every year: closet cleaning, window cleaning, garage cleaning, and even flipping the mattress.  But, it seems that some of the items that are most overlooked are the ones needed to actually keep your home running efficiently, and one of them is cleaning your air conditioning unit. Your air conditioning unit is the large, shiny, metal box sitting behind or on the side of your house.  In the summer months, it is this unit that is responsible for maintaining the temperature of your home and keeping you comfortable.  That’s why you should do everything in your power to keep it running smoothly, and one of those things

Water heater issues? Not sure what to do when your water heart acts up? If you’re like most of the population you haven’t gotten a clue on what a water heater does, where it’s located, or how much it costs UNLESS that is until something goes wrong with it. Most water heaters are located in the basement or the garage of a home, sometimes it’s located on the back porch where the laundry is, nevertheless, every home is different but every water heater serves the same purposes. A water heater does just that, heats up the water that circulates throughout your home! A water heater takes cold water runs it through the heater and then pushes out the hot water through the pipes of your home. Hot water comes out of your pipes for washing dishes, taking showers, or doing laundry. Most common issues associated with water heaters are: no

Unless you live in a tent or shed, all homes are wired for electricity. Understanding your home’s electrical system is extremely important.  All newer homes and recently sold homes are up to date on electrical codes and are wired for safety. Most homeowners run into electrical problems when their breaker box trips. This usually happens when too many things are plugged into a certain area of the house and it overloads the circuit. Each area of your home is designated to a specific circuit and can hold only a certain amount of power. Be aware of what trips your circuit and be sure not to overload it, this will prevent tripping. Tripping the circuit can happen from overloading the circuit, a short in the circuit, or a grounding fault. If you cannot figure out the root of the cause you should call your local electrician to help you.  An overloaded circuit

Plumbing isn’t something that’s thought of until that something goes wrong in the home. Plumbing is one of those things that most Americans take for granted and don’t think twice about unless their water bill is extremely high or they have water bursting everywhere. It is important to contact your local plumbing company when you have any plumbing issues, as plumbing is a certified trait. Most common issues that fall under needing a professional plumber are dripping faucets, leaky pipes, running toilets, low pressure water, clogged drains, water heater issues, or the worst of all sump pump failure. Many of your plumbing issues need the attention of a licensed professional. Did you know that dripping faucet, leaky pipes and running toilets are the number one cause of water waste? And also the reason your water bill is so high. Another common misconception is that low pressure is from living in

If you already know what your HVAC system is, it is time to get to know the roles of your HVAC system. Heating Let’s start with heat, heating your house through forced air is the responsibility of your HVAC system, it provides warm air to your home when it’s cold outside. Nothing like a drop in the temperature outside to make your house feel chilly and remind you it’s time to turn on the heat. Yearly maintenance will prevent any surprises when the weather turns, the last thing you want as a homeowner is to be frigid indoors. Usually, when it’s cold outdoors and your house isn’t properly heated, your house can become colder inside the house rather than outside. Without a heating method, a cold home can become dangerous to your health and it’s important to call a HVAC specialist as soon as possible to assess your unit. Ventilation