Category: Home Maintenance

Spring is almost here, which means summer isn’t far behind. Summer is prime-time for a few time-honored traditions like going to the beach, hosting barbecues, embarking on road trips, and taking time for home repairs and upgrades. Renovating might be the least enticing of summer traditions, but it’s the one that will pay off the most in the long run.

If you and your spouse are planning to undertake some home improvements this coming summer, it’s important to develop a plan and prioritize the different aspects of your home improvements. If this is your first time dealing with home repairs and upgrades, you could be in for quite a surprise. Indeed, the process can be daunting, but it’s necessary and rewarding when complete. Continue reading to find out which five home upgrades are worth the investment.

1. Electrical Wiring

Often, homeowners are unaware of the real condition of their homes. If you live in an older home, you should have an electrician inspect your wiring to make sure it’s up to date. You’d be surprised how many old houses have outdated wiring that would no longer meet code regulations.

Corbin is one of the most trusted providers of electrical services in Marlboro, NJ. They have years of experience doing all types of electrical work and providing excellent customer service. If you live in the Raritan Valley region of New Jersey, Corbin is an electrical contractor you can trust to meet your electrical needs.

2. Foundation

The foundation is one of the most critical parts of your home. If you begin to notice mold and cracks in your basement wall, it could be a sign that your foundation has been compromised.

Foundation problems can pop up from the middle of nowhere and change the entire structure of your home. Premier Wall Anchor and Waterproofing is one of the leading providers of basement and foundation repair in Stow, OH. Don’t let a wet basement cut into your quality time with your family when you can let the basement guys handle everything from foundation repair to basement waterproofing.

3. In-Ground Swimming Pool

Few things are as much fun as running out of your back door and jumping into a refreshing swimming pool on a hot summer day. You may feel like the summer is a long way away, but if you start working on your backyard paradise now, it could be ready by the time the mercury starts climbing.

It will take two or three months to complete your backyard swimming hole, but while the contractors are working, it’s the perfect time for planning a road trip with your spouse. The house isn’t a very fun place to be when it’s a construction site, so a long road trip is a perfect excuse to get away until the pool and other renovations are complete.

4. Roofing

The only thing that might be more concerning than a wet basement is a leaky roof. Your roof is second in importance only to your home’s foundation. If you shop around, you can find a roofing contractor with a reputation for doing great work and offering their customers a fair price. You can also use your home equity to help cover the price of your roof replacement.

5. Kitchen

If there’s one room in the house that the whole family cherishes, it’s the kitchen. It’s also one of the parts of the home to which prospective homebuyers the most attention, which makes it a potentially lucrative renovation choice if you should choose to sell your home in the future.

If you’re considering selling your home and you really want to wow home buyers, you should give your kitchen a makeover. These days, many people prefer open kitchens with an island with cabinets in the center and space for dining. Upgrading your kitchen to fit the current trends and demand is something that could not only make your family happier but could also make your home more alluring when you’re ready to place it on the market.

Your heat pump or furnace heats your home and keeps your family cozy and warm during the long winter months. So, if there’s only cold air coming out of the vents, and your home is suddenly freezing, you may have a problem. The problem could be with your thermostat or even your ductwork that carries the hot air to the vents to heat your home.

Either way, you need your heat pump and furnace to blow out warm air, not cold air, which leaves you and your family freezing and prone to getting sick. In this article, you’ll find a few tips for figuring out what could be wrong with your heat pump or furnace to help you out.

Your heat pump or furnace isn’t turning on.

Your heat pump or furnace should blow warm air through your vents, but if the heat pump or furnace won’t even turn on, that’s not going to happen. With your heat pump or your furnace, it could be a few different things. Your thermostat could be broken, or it may even be that your circuit breakers have tripped. Try checking these things first; then, if that doesn’t do the trick, it’s probably best to call in an HVAC technician to take a look at the unit for you.

Your system is short-cycling.

If you wake up one morning, sit at the table with your coffee, then start glancing through an article on grooming and lifestyle tips for taking years off your looks, only to notice that your heat pump or furnace is starting and stopping, then starting and stopping again in short amounts of time, then your system could be short-cycling. From dirty air filters to your thermostat needing to be reset, there are many reasons that this could be happening. If you can’t figure out the problem by changing the air filter and reprogramming the thermostat, it’s time to call in the technicians before the problem gets more serious.

Your furnace or heat pump is running constantly.

If your electric bills have suddenly shot through the roof, it could be because your furnace or heat pump is constantly running. A few reasons this could be happening include the weather being unusually cold, a problem with your thermostat, or even a broken compressor. Your thermostat could be set to the incorrect setting, or your limit switch be on the fritz as well. It’s best to call in an HVAC professional to inspect the unit and find the problem. Once the technician fixes the problem, your electric bills should start to go down.

You have an older furnace or heat pump.

Your unit may be just past its prime. Though most furnaces and heat pumps are built to last for quite a few years, if they aren’t maintained properly, or their shelf life is reached, you’re going to start having problems. If you’re putting more money into your unit than it would cost to replace it, then it might be time to bite the bullet, pull out the money and order a new system. There are signs that you need to replace your unit; if you find that you have more than two of the signs, it’s time to call an HVAC professional in to see about a replacement unit. A reliable, reputable HVAC technician can truthfully tell you if you’re better off replacing instead of repairing your unit and help you find the best option for your home.

These are just a few problems you could have with your furnace or heat pump over the years. If you find that you’re spending more on repairs than the unit is worth, it might be time to spring for a replacement unit instead.

Heating systems have become part and parcel of our daily lives as homeowners. They provide us with comfort and other numerous benefits. That’s the reason why a faulty heater causes much distress. Not only is the repair process hectic, but the consequences could also be dire. This is especially true if the problem occurs at a critical time, like winter. If your heater regularly acts up, this article can help. We’ve listed seven possible causes of heater malfunctions, along with tips on how to troubleshoot.

1. Excessive Mold

When moisture builds up, it traps foreign particles like dust in your heating system. Once trapped, the humidity coming from the hot water triggers mold buildup. This may inhibit certain vital parts of your heating unit or block the ducts from releasing the right amount of heat.

It’s also worth noting that moisture accumulation is usually caused by poor insulation, insufficient ductwork, or something as simple as an unkempt space. Being tidy and clean goes a long way to solving this. For example, if you have a heating system in a nursery, you should keep the nursery closet as well as your baby’s clothes, diapers, and blankets far from the heater. It helps to also know how to organize and store baby clothes neatly in it.

2. A Faulty Thermostat

One major culprit when a heater begins to malfunction is the thermostat. Thermostats are the brain of air-conditioning units. They tell the fluctuations in temperature and respond accordingly. They also detect command and prevent the temperature from going beyond its maximum limit. A damaged or wrongly installed thermostat will stop your system from heating or cause it to heat improperly.

3. Dirty Air Filter

The air filters in a heating unit are akin to the lungs in humans. These usually get choked with debris and rust over time. When the blockage is large enough, it impedes the operation of your heating system. With a clogged filter, the heater either becomes noisy or blows cold air. Therefore, it’s important to regularly change your filters according to instructions from the manufacturer.

4. Insufficient Fuel Supply

Heating systems are commonly powered by natural gas, electricity, gasoline, diesel, or water. Whatever your energy source is, sometimes, the issue with your heater’s malfunction is something as simple as a fuel shortage or insufficient supply of energy. Checking if your energy supply is adequate is a good start. Also, try to check the energy transmission system is functioning properly.

5. Leaky Ductwork

If your heater is not working, it could be that the duct tapes were placed wrongly. This often results in leakages. Depending on where the leakage is, it will prevent the right amount of fuel from getting to your heating system. Invariably, it also inhibits the flow of adequate heat out of it.

6. Unlit Pilot Light

Your pilot light must always be lit. If it’s not, it could either mean that the light is faulty, the transmission is defective, or your energy source is not aptly flowing to it. In such cases, check your transmission sources. If you’re using anything other than electricity, make sure there is a consistent flow of energy. Once this is sorted, if the light doesn’t come on or only stays lit for a short time, you’ll likely need professional assistance.

7. Lack of Maintenance

Every electrical device must be treated with the right handling and care. This is necessary for efficiency and longevity. Carrying out regular, periodic maintenance is vital. This helps with the early detection of faults and subsequent repairs, saving you money in the long term.

To sum up, it’s vital to note that most heaters break down simply because there was either little or no maintenance whatsoever carried out. So, it’s important to always seek the services of a qualified HVAC specialist for your maintenance.

Home upgrades can be critical to overall comfort and quality of life. They can add to your home’s value and even make a sales listing all the more marketable. At the same time, it can be difficult to know how to prioritize home upgrades. If you’re considering home upgrades and aren’t sure where to start, read on for some home improvement pros and cons.

Heating and Cooling Repairs and Upgrades

Start with the basics. For example, when considering pros and cons of a hot water pump upgrade or installation, be sure to give your heating and cooling technicians a call. They’ll be able to help you navigate what you need for your home climate controls, including when it comes to hot water. While upgrading a water heater might not sound like a whole lot of fun, think of the long, hot showers you can soon depend on and you may change your mind. By working with heating and cooling HVAC technicians in all areas of upgrading your home climate and hot water heater, you’ll be living in a more comfortable space in no time.

The pros for staying on top of your heating and cooling needs are obvious. From hot water on demand to faucets, heaters, and air conditioning systems you can depend on, attending to plumbing and other needs is a must before thinking about less important homeowner updates and improvements.

The cons to focusing first on your tankless heater or worrying about energy efficiency are, of course, the money you may have to spend. But attending to these needs may not be as expensive as you think. The best way to find out is to call the professionals. You’ll thank yourself for it in the long run. Having the numbers will help you reach your final decision.

Renovations and Home Improvements

Before you worry about buying gifts for your girlfriend to celebrate an upcoming anniversary, consider ways you can make your home perfect for that anniversary dinner. From a kitchen remodel or overhaul to tiny tweaks like fresh coats of paint or a new baseboard, the upgrade options are only limited by your imagination and finances.

The pros of going through each room in your home to decide which upgrades to start with include making better use of your space, increasing your home’s overall value, and making your home more comfortable. The con to exploring upgrade options is that it’s often difficult to know where to start. If this is a challenge for you and your home climate needs are taken care of, think about the rooms you use most. Or, if your goal is to sell your home down the road, start with the kitchen and bathroom, as these often selling points for potential buyers.

Considering Long Term Payoffs

The pros of upgrading your home generally boil down to the long term payoffs. That is, in keeping your home up to date and in good repair, you’re adding to your home’s value. But there are other ways to look at your home’s value too. If you don’t plan to sell, think about ways you can add value to your home with upgrades that may not mean more financial value, but the quality of life. Having dependable hot water for showers and baths, for instance. A redone living room where you can have a romantic date night. Something as simple as turning a finished basement into a family game room or reconstructing the number of bedrooms and making bigger spaces by knocking down walls could be a great option for your lifestyle.

The cons of home upgrades come with the time and energy it takes to get the job done. On top of financial costs, the best thing you can do when deciding whether or not to upgrade your home is to take a hard look at the numbers and your overall budget. Some projects just aren’t worth it and are better saved for another time.

In the end, the good news is that it’s up to you to weigh the pros and cons of any home improvements, repairs, or renovations. Whether you’ve been in your home for a long time and have already weighed your best options, or if your home is new, a little research ahead of time, solid planning, and reaching out to professionals will help you to decide what’s right for you.

One of the most important responsibilities of any homeowner is to keep a good eye on the air system and water filtration system. Unfortunately, many people ignore potential problems until disaster strikes, whether a new house or an existing structure. To avoid expensive (and potentially dangerous) issues in your new place, especially with your house’s plumbing, here are a few important tips on when to safely check your water supply throughout the year.

How often should you check your plumbing?

While ideal housewarming gifts for men often include new tools or water treatment products for the new home, in most cases, only a professional should attempt to repair your water system. These issues lead to all sorts of expensive problems, such as flooding and water damage. These types of emergencies can be avoided through regular maintenance. Checking on your house’s pipes should remain a top priority throughout the year. You’ll notice if a leak or dripping faucet has sprung up.

Only a professional knows the safest method for leaks located under the house or pipe replacement or repair. There’s a feeling of security in knowing that the job was done correctly.

Common Household Problems

Homeowners should look for problems with pressurized water and visibly accessible drains. Typically, even in a new home, those areas are found within the kitchen and bathrooms, and the root of most water supply problems are spotted there. New homeowners should pay close attention to kitchen plumbing, particularly the faucets, dishwashers, and refrigerator. If there’s a second freezer in the garage to store emergency food, that should be checked, as well. The water shutoff valves beneath the sink are the first area for leaks or corrosion or a more serious exposed drain line. If moisture and corrosion are visible, call an experienced plumber for a combination of methods to assess the damage.

Since the kitchen is where you use appliances, cutting board, and do your food preparation, heavy grease buildup, a bad odor from the drain, fruit flies, or leaking drains, all may be tell-tale signs of more serious issues. If the kitchen faucet has been noticeably loose and losing pressure for a long time, it’s time for a replacement.

Having an ample supply of hot water is one of the essentials for your bathroom. Noticing cold spots in the water runoff or slow drains, or your entire family should easily notice leaks. Experts recommend replacing the valves behind the toilet every 5-7 years because of wear and tear. Bathroom leaks can be a time of stress, but they’re no joke, as a leaky toilet can waste more than 2,000 gallons of water annually, driving your water bill through the roof.

When You Need a Professional

Leaks in your water heater or hot-water tank can go a long way in causing flooding. The water heater’s age can be a major factor, as units over 6-7 years old may begin to work less efficiently. Water and gas leaks may also lead to major problems, such as the amount of water you’re getting or a frequent power outage. Your water supply’s hygiene and integrity are crucial on the highest level, as dirty water from the sewage lines can lead to microorganisms, toxic substances, or impurities in the water supply, leading to illness or dysentery.

Pay particular attention if a member of your family has noticed patches of dead grass or a bubbling small amount of water on the lawn of your own home, as those are an indication of a gas leak and must be fixed immediately. It’s important to remember, the best solution in avoiding major water damage is inspecting all of the shutoff valves and fixtures in the home regularly. Knowing when to call in a professional plumber is not the last resort but an important way to ensure your family’s comfort and safety.

Keeping your home secure is a constant thought for most homeowners. Whether you are dealing with increasing crime or violent weather systems in your local area, home security is an ongoing project that millions of homeowners must struggle to keep up with.

Home security fits within these two broad categories of human threat and maintenance requirements, and it’s often helpful to keep these in mind when approaching any home repairs or upgrades in order to maintain the highest standard quality of your home. This will provide increased peace of mind for you and your family for years to come — which is an invaluable thing for any homeowner.

Secure your home against the threat of break-ins.

If you live in Arizona, for example, home security in Tucson is a great place to start. The first component of a home security system is to protect against malicious intent. Homeowners in Arizona are using modern technology in keeping their property safe. These include motion sensors and lighting to ward off potenetial intruders and security cameras with specialized night-vision lenses. Another highly-regarded tactic is the use of the security system sign.

Security systems are often woefully underprepared for the breach of the home’s perimeter by burglars or other intruders. Response times by fire and police officials can often be too little too late, and there can often be alarming issues with the “chain of custody” when it comes to the installation of a home security system that is managed by a larger security firm.

Many homeowners are opting to conduct their own security installations instead and for good reason. DIY solutions are often far more reasonably priced and they typically work better in solving the problems that you are facing. Home security cameras can often be wired in an afternoon and don’t require access by third-party technicians that you cannot possibly hope to vet yourself before allowing access to sensitive areas of the home.

Indeed many homeowners even find that mock cameras and the planting of a simple ADT or Brinks sign in their home — without the actual protection services offered by either company or one of their competitors — is enough to deter all but the worst crime.

The truth is this sliver of criminal activity happens at random and will persist regardless of a community’s dedication to security measures. Preventing the mainstream criminal activity is the goal, and can be accomplished with your standard homeowner-led installations in most cases.

Protecting your home from the elements is a tough job as well.

Criminal activity is not the only game in town when it comes to threats to your property and livelihood. Natural disasters, particularly violent rain or snowstorms, and even hurricanes, tornadoes, or fires can wreak havoc on a home and its residents. Homeowners will need to combine a three-pronged method in order to defeat these threats to their peace of mind and comfort.

The first element of this strategy is financial planning. Homeowners all across the country know that trouble can present itself suddenly and without any prior warning. Most often, this happens during a storm or other weather event, but an air conditioning unit or window can simply fail without a major event taking place. Building repair work into your budget every month is the best way to prepare for an issue that threatens your home’s comfort. Most months, this savings pool will remain untouched, but when a disaster does strike your home you will be prepared for the emergency and will not have to dip into credit card availability or borrow from friends or family in order to put your life back on track.

Similarly, planning for storage is an important aspect of homeownership. In the event of a major threat to your community, keeping storage space available for your most precious belongings is the only way to ensure their continued protection while your home remains under threat.

If you live in Texas, searching online for “Houston storage prices” will yield you information on locations, pricing, and inclusions at dozens of local storage facilities. Each space offers a different combination of services; but for most, a climate-controlled facility that operates 24-hour access will offer the greatest mixture of security and access that brings moisture and humidity protection to bear with its climate-controlled offering. These types of facilities are perfect for storing important documents, pictures, memorabilia, and your more expensive garments like coats and scarves.

Utilizing self-storage is a great way to stave off the need to buy new clothing or search for ways to replace those antique prints of family members that were hanging on the walls. Family heirlooms are a devastating loss, but without an outlet that you trust for clothing like jeans, shoes, and stylish jackets, you will be stuck paying back credit card debt for all new purchases along with any repair costs that your family finds itself saddled with. Make sure you take secure storage seriously when planning for the worst.

Finally, your home requires regular maintenance in order to protect it from all but the worst that Mother Nature can throw your way. Keeping up with your home’s repair work and maintenance requirements is simple if you stay ahead of the curve. This means having your AC unit checked every year, climbing up on the roof to clear your gutters of the debris that builds up, as well as checking on your windows, foundation, and walls for cracks or other signs of damage. Maintaining a home and protecting it against the elements doesn’t have to be hard work, just something that must become a habit.

Securing your home against the threats in your local area starts with the obvious solutions in home security systems. But this is not where your strategy for protecting your family, belongings, and livelihood should end. You must evaluate all the possible traumas that could come to your home and the belongings that it protects in order to shield yourself against the wide variety of issues that could cause trouble in your locality.