Don’t assume your new home is perfect when your builder hands you the keys. In 1995, I bought a house and the builder went broke shortly after closing. I had built numerous houses in the past, but I did not inspect this house when it was being built, which was stupid. When the builder went [...]

Purchasing a home with a fireplace or stove or adding one on to your existing home can provide tremendous benefit in heat efficiency as well as contribute to your home’s resale value. In fact, one of the top investments you can do to your home remodeling job is to add a fireplace. Almost 80% of [...]

Thinking about replacing the windows in your home? Here are some helpful tips that you need to know when you begin looking for the best windows for your home. Air infiltration. This refers to the movement of air at a different temperature through the different interfacing surfaces of the sash and frame. Look for windows [...]

Furnace efficiency. 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 or furnaces that are in homes that are 15 years old or more, can be as low as 60% efficient. [...]

Shopping for a dishwasher? Think about one with a stainless-steel tub. Many dishwasher manufacturers now make–or are introducing–models that have durable stainless-steel tubs. These can’t compete in price with models utilizing plastic tubs, but they are quieter, easier to maintain and more efficient during drying cycles because the metal reflects heat better. Dishwashers with stainless-steel [...]