Home Services

Furnaces are one of the most important parts of any home you go into. Without them, you won’t have heat during the winter and there’s also a good chance your hot water could also be linked to it. (If you have a steam furnace, anyway.) Running them is vital, and so is replacing the filter…or is it? Do you always need to use a filter when running a furnace?

Installing a refrigerated AC system always comes with some challenges. One of the greatest is finding the optimum place to set the condensing unit. Many small residential lots limit the places that a condensing unit may reside. Many times, these locations may be far from the HVAC unit and the condensing coil. The question of how far you can run an AC line set is critical to a proper installation.

Leaks have the potential to cause major problems and both water damage and mold can negatively impact your home for many years – especially if you don’t locate a leak as soon as possible. Fortunately, early intervention and professional leak detection services can help mitigate possible damage to your home or property caused by water.

It is tempting for any builder-owner to take on DIY projects and save money. Some large projects, such as septic tank installation, are often best left to professionals. So, can a homeowner install a septic system?

Water heaters are fixtures that homeowners can’t live without. The days of bulky, cumbersome water heaters being the norm are long over, and now hybrid and tankless heaters have taken their place.

A utility sink can make for a very useful addition to a washroom, basement, or garage. It offers an additional drainage capability, cleaning space so as to not ruin higher-end sinks, and a world of other possibilities.

Hidden cameras are ultimately among the biggest privacy violations that you can experience. Spy cameras have become so small that you can find them in everything from smoke detectors to light bulbs. That said, the average person still struggles with how to tell if a light bulb is secretly a camera.

A fabulous exterior can hide some interior issues, and this is one of the main reasons why home inspectors are in business these days. A home inspection is used to verify that a house is in good working order and not needing significant repairs.

When pests wreak havoc on your home, they can be irritating, expensive, and even harmful. If you suspect that you may have bed bugs, the first step is identifying what bed bug eggs look like. Bed bug eggs resemble the eggs of other bugs, so accurate identification is extremely important. 

The time has come to replace the submersible pump in your residential water well. There are a variety of options to consider. Of the options, there is one that confuses homeowners more than any other?  Which is the better option?  A 2-wire or 3-wire submersible pump.

A safe is designed to keep your most valuable items safe and secure. Many of them weigh over 500 pounds, whereas, gun safes can weigh 2000 pounds or more. In fact, the whole idea behind why most safes are considerably heavy is so that it’s virtually impossible for unauthorized persons to move it out of a house or business.

When you’re reading about gas meter issues, chances are that you’ve heard mention of a gas meter lock. However, you might not have actually seen a lock on your meter. If you’re like many people who are new to HVAC work, you’re probably wondering what the meter lock is, and how you should remove it. The scoop on this part of your meter reading might surprise you.

Making connections can be easy when it comes to social media, but it is getting more and more complicated in the real world of building. There are so many connections needed when you are building or repairing something around the house and some of them have to do with copper tubing, which can be a pain to work with sometimes.

While going through the process of building your home, you’ll eventually have to consider how the ducts will be designed. You cannot overlook the ductwork because doing so will affect the type of comfort you’re able to experience at home. However, when it comes to determining an HVAC duct sizing rule of thumb, you need to avoid generalizations.

Painting your apartment can instantly freshen the space. But you have to be careful not to break your rental lease. In some cases, a landlord will let you paint. In other cases, they won’t. So, can you paint apartment walls or not?

Did you know that taking showers and baths can be beneficial to your health? Enhanced blood flow, joint pain relief, and adequate sleep are just a few of the benefits. (Not to mention that they’re soothing!) It’s no surprise that many people enjoy a long, hot shower when they’re finishing up the day.

Water heaters are not exactly the first thing that people think of when they want to upgrade their home. I mean, they are a major part of your water system but that doesn’t mean that people go out of their way to outfit them with new doodads. That’s why most people don’t really discuss water heater blankets, but maybe, they should. They could be well worth the money people pay for them.

You’ve paid your rent on time every month, and you assumed that your landlord was paying the mortgage in turn. That is, until you received a notice from the bank that the house was being foreclosed! What are your rights in this situation, and can you sue your landlord for not paying the mortgage?

Having a second level in your home is a bonus for most people who want more room and privacy. But what about heating and cooling your upstairs? Heating seems to be no problem since heat rises. The problem is, during the summer, how do you increase airflow to the second floor?

Air conditioners will no doubt play an important role in your home. When you live in hotter climates especially, going without air conditioning means a very sweaty experience. But choosing the right unit is key as well.

Selling or buying a new home can be exciting! It’s the start of a new chapter in your family’s life. However, it can be stressful, especially when it’s unclear which party is responsible for what. For example, when it comes to paying for a roof replacement, who is responsible to pay for it?

Unforeseen costs are never fun surprises. When you rent an apartment, one of the benefits is often knowing that when something goes wrong you aren’t responsible for fixing it. Septic tanks are often forgotten since they reside underground, but they are there. 

Are you getting ready to move? Or maybe you’ve finally made the decision to declutter the house. Now, you need boxes…lots of boxes. But you really don’t want to spend your hard-earned money, so where can you get boxes for free?

Mice are some of the most invasive and annoying pests that homeowners have to deal with. They invade houses all across the country and begin to eat food that’s left out and repopulate. If you’re not careful, you can quickly get overrun by a mouse infestation. But why are mice drawn to houses in particular?

Installing HVAC is essential, especially if you live in an area where it gets extremely hot or cold. You need to be able to regulate the indoor temperature to live comfortably. However, it’s no secret that installing HVAC can be very expensive. But why is that?

You may have a drain worm problem if you find small black worms in your bathroom, kitchen sink, or toilet. “Drain fly worms” or “drain fly larvae” are other names for these little black or brown worms. But what exactly are they?

If the flame sensor on your furnace is broken or faulty, you may be looking for a temporary solution. Those who live in especially cold areas of the country rely on their furnace to keep them warm during winter months. Since your flame sensor is a safety device, when it’s not working properly, your furnace will not operate.

Home inspections are serious business which makes it such an important event for people to attend. However, there are only a few parties who are expected to show. That being said, should the seller attend the home inspection?

Standing water can be a scary sight if you find it near your septic tank, especially it hasn’t rained recently. Septic tanks are necessary for many homeowners, but they can pose a health risk if something goes wrong and it overflows. So, why is there water around your septic tank?

If you are trying to connect a 1 ¼-inch tailpiece to a 1 ½- inch drain, you are most likely doing so because you need a longer tailpiece. The standard tailpieces that come with the drains sold at most hardware and big-box stores tend to be shorter than you may need. That being said, making the switch is not a difficult thing to do.

Your plumbing pipes travel through your home, including behind your walls, above your ceiling, and under your floors. You’re literally surrounded by water and drain pipes at all times, no matter where you are in your house. As a result, you might notice the sound of water running nonstop but can’t pinpoint where it’s coming from.

When you start your house search, it’s only natural to hope your dream home will become a reality. If you find your dream property, then you want to do everything in your power to get the deal done. You may hit a few speed bumps in this process, especially if the seller is unwilling to negotiate on price.

The only thing worse than coming across a bug in your apartment is finding a mouse. When mice get into your apartment they bring with them harmful diseases and can, and will, chew through boxes to consume your food. Of course, the ideal outcome is to keep them out of your apartment in the first place, but one has already gotten in, you may be wondering: “How do mice get in upstairs apartments?”

Frozen pipes are an expensive nightmare. Your pipes may unfreeze quickly, but the anxiety that they may burst is awful. So, how long does it take for pipes to unfreeze?

Bubble wrap is one of those things that people tend to think of as a fun popping time, but not much else. Well, until they actually need it anyway. When people need it for wrapping up goods prior to a move or cushioning stuff during a major project, it quickly turns into a race to find a place that carries this stuff. Wondering where you can get enough bubble wrap for your next project? We did the research…

When you install a furnace in your home, you expect it to run for long periods of time. This is especially true when you’re still working on making your home warm. This includes the furnace blower as well. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen.

The “rough-in” building stage is when the plumbing fixtures and pipes are all lines are put in place, but they are not yet connected. Plumbing rough-ins, such as sink drains, are just one of many things inspected throughout the building or renovation process.

In places like New York City and San Francisco, people who own condos often make a killing by renting it out. This is true for both short-term and long-term rentals. However, if you are in a condo, things always have to pass muster with the HOA. Can your condo board retain the right to reject a renter?

Plumbing has completely changed the way we live in our homes and has brought about an element of sanitation and convenience all in one. Plumbing systems can vary between commercial and residential applications, but usually, cast iron or PVC pipe are the materials of choice for contractors worldwide. While each pipe has its advantages, one pipe is superior to the other.

There are few appliances that are as central to your lifestyle and comfort as a water heater. Everything from your daily chores, to your hygiene, to your level of comfort, is affected by how well (or not well) your water heater supplies hot water to your home.

Depending on where you live, a functioning air conditioner can either be a convenient feature or an absolute necessity. Whatever the case, it’s important to know what to look for when buying one for your home.

If a tree falls in your apartment and only renters hear it, does it even make a sound? Well, if you’re like most renters, you will be one of the first to hear the unmistakable crash of a fallen tree. That loud bang is often accompanied by building breakage, damage to cars, and more.

A heat pump can be an efficient way of delivering hot or cool air into your home depending on the time of year and the temperature outside. When the temperatures soar in the summer, a heat pump that blows hot air is doing you no favors.

It’s summer, temperatures are sweltering, and you’re a/c has quit. The service technician declares you’re a/c unit a total loss and due for a replacement. You have done a bit of research and decide that the choice is between Heil and Carrier. Which one is the better choice?

As a homeowner, you want to ensure you can have a comfortable living environment. You also want to keep costs manageable since home ownership certainly doesn’t come cheap. One of the considerations when it comes to your future house is your utilities. And you might wonder if you should buy a home that uses heating oil. 

Whether renovating a current shower or building a new one entirely, it is important to ensure that the water wiping is up to proper standards. That means using the right materials for piping water into your bathroom.

If you’ve never been to Arizona before, you may be surprised to see air conditioning units on top of houses. This is a common practice in hotter climates, and you’ll also notice rooftop AC systems in New Mexico and Florida. But what’s the point in putting an air conditioning unit on the roof?

A heat pump is a multi-functioning system for homes. It can create a cool space in the summer months and a warm and cozy space when it’s cold outside. Whether in winter, spring, summer, or fall, you want your heat pump working correctly. 

If your toilet is leaking, it can quickly create a disaster in a bathroom. Not only can a leaky toilet create a problematic situation in your bathroom, leading to mold and mildew, but it can be costly to waste water, which can cause sky-high utility bills. Luckily, most toilet leaks are easy to identify and simple to repair, requiring just a few standard tools that most DIY homeowners have.

Whether you’re buying or selling a home in Chicago (or the suburbs), you never want to move forward without getting a home inspection. These inspections let you know exactly what you’re getting into before you finalize the purchase – allowing you to ask the seller to make repairs and/or back of the deal, if necessary.

With the new trend of DIY campers, many truck owners are starting to convert their truck beds into a bed. While blankets and a mat usually suffice for a few days, you may want to look into something longer term, like a mattress. But, what size of mattress should you get?

Oil and electric water heaters are two common types of water heater, and each has its pros and cons. If you’re installing a water heater in a home or office, you should know what these are, as then you’ll be able to make a wise purchase.

Practically every bathtub strainer was originally screwed into place. If you’ve used an antique tub, you’ll notice there weren’t any threads. This is because they plugged with a rubber stopper.

Is there anything worse than discovering cockroaches in the property you’ve just moved into? If this is the situation you’re currently experiencing, you may be wondering what your best course of action is. You’re probably also curious about whether your landlord was obligated to tell you about the roaches before you signed the lease.

We all seem to take clean water for granted. You turn on the tap and freshwater flows. If you live in a rural area and depend on a water well, you may have experienced a temporary lack of water when your well goes dry from overuse. You may wonder how long does it take for a water well to refill?

Dry air can be a real problem, especially inside your home during the coldest months of the year. Humidity already tends to be lower in the coldest weather, and as you raise heat in your home, you may actually continue to decrease the relative humidity. Before you start to get dry and itchy skin, or experience static cling every time you put on your clothes, you might want to address the humidity issue. But how do you fix the problem of dry air in a house?

Trying to obtain a permit can be tricky for homeowners, especially when you don’t know if you need one or not. While you often need permits for large construction projects, what about smaller jobs, like replacing certain components? It can be hard to determine if you need a permit to replace a furnace?

Heating makes up almost 30% of utility costs, so wanting to close vents that bring in cold air is normal. These vents are fresh air intakes for your furnace. Before you decide to block them, learn more about furnace fresh air intakes and how to fix common problems.

Nobody wants to suffer property damage when they hire movers, but it happens every day. Movers try their hardest to protect your belongings, but accidents happen. However, you must prepare yourself to do whatever you can to get reimbursement when movers damage your property, such as:

Arachnophobia is one of the most common fears, and for good reason! You’d be hard-pressed to find a person who is happy to see a spider crawling around their house. Wondering whether the ant spray you have on hand will be fatal to these pests? Read on to find out!