Ozone

Ozone generators are not air cleaners. Have you been approached by sales people or seen a marketing ad stating that their air cleaning machine makes “activated oxygen” or refreshes the air “like a thunderstorm”. These terms give an impression that breathing ozone is good. In reality, the opposite is...

Geothermal Heat Pumps

Are geothermal heat pump worth the cost? Short answer: YES. Recently a client of mine asked me about the basics of Geothermal Heat Pumps (also known as ground source heat pumps). While the initial expense associated with the installation is about twice (or more) than a typical air to...

UV Technology

Clean the air in your home with UV? A healthy home buzz that has been going around is installing ultraviolet (UV) lights in air returns in your home to kill germs, viruses, mold, and bacteria before circulating back into your home. The UV lights in air returns can be...

Inspecting a Home for Water Damage

Small nuisance or major home damage? From broken pipes to leaking appliances, water damage can wreak havoc, destroying a home, personal property, and irreplaceable family heirlooms. In many cases significant water damage can be avoided with routine maintenance and assistance from qualified contractors. Early detection could mean the difference...

Removing Stains from an Oak Floor

It is possible to remove stains from an oak floor. Refinishing oak floors is just like refinishing oak furniture. You can repair any type of imperfection without complete sanding (or stripping) and refinishing. However, floors are often sanded and refinished because this is the easiest route to a perfect...

Re-Roofing

Should you replace your roof? Sunny, warm weather provides the ideal opportunity to replace your roof. If you haven’t re-roofed before, you’re likely to have a number of questions: What type of preparation is required? What materials are most appropriate? Should re-roof yourself or hire a contractor? Use the...

Roofing

Don’t wait for a leaky roof, have your roof inspected once a year. Roofing problems make themselves known in the form of leaks and drips. Repair leaky roofs before ceilings and walls are damaged. Better yet, check your roof at least once a year before the storm season (and...

Chimneys

Don’t take your chimney for granted. Chimneys are designed to safely funnel smoke and hot gasses away from the interior of your house. Inspect your chimney at the beginning of each heating season. Shine a flashlight up inside and look for obstructions such as leaves or birds’ nests and...

Furnace Energy Saving Tip

Today, new furnaces are generally between 80-96% efficient. If a furnace is 96% efficient, it simply means that 96% of the energy that goes into the furnace is converted into heat. Older furnaces in 15+-year-old homes, can be as low as 60% efficient. Thus, upgrading to a 96% efficient...