A water heater helps to heat the water in your house, so you can shower with warm water or use hot water to clean your dishes. Although a water heater is a major appliance, these units do not have a long lifespan, with many only lasting about ten years. Replacing a water heater is a simple job, but moving your new water heater is the hardest part of the entire water heater installation process.

Imagine a situation where you just installed a water heater, but you found a mobile home that is much more in your price range. You don’t want to lose the value you put into this water heater, but you also can’t use it in your mobile home. When it comes to a mobile home water heater vs. regular heater, the two have significant differences.

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?

Bed bug sprays and pesticides make up a multi-million dollar industry. One name that’s been gaining a reputation among exterminators and homeowners is Harris Bed Bug Killer. This spray is considered to be one of the most potent home sprays in the industry. But, does it actually live up to its reputation?

If you take a look at most of our plumbing guides, you’ll notice that one of the first instructions we add involves shutting off the water. It’s simple, right? Well, sometimes you might want to think twice. You might want to know if your water heater needs to be shut off too. This is doubly true if you own a tankless system. After all, it’s important to do it all the right way, right?

Although swallow bugs are not as prevalent, particularly in urban and suburban areas, they are commonly mistaken for bed bugs. Both pests are small and similar in appearance, and many assume that they are dealing with a bed bug infestation when they may have just found a swallow bug. For this reason, it’s important to understand the differences between them.

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.

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.

A magnificent fire pit flame requires two things: enough gas and the proper rigid piping to deliver it. The size of the hard pipe is sometimes overlooked, and the resulting flame might be underwhelming. So, what size of a gas line do you need for the fire pit?

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.

Air conditioners are incredibly complex machines, which is why most people will immediately throw their hands up in the air and give up when they suddenly stop working. However, it’s not a smart thing to do. In many cases, your AC unit probably has a fairly fixable cause. If it’s a blown fuse, you can fix it in minutes. But, how can you tell if it’s actually a blown fuse?

Every tenant should understand what their landlord is responsible for. Landlords are supposed to act quickly when it comes to their responsibilities as per the rental agreement that you signed. This applies to everything from plumbing problems to air conditioner failure. Many renters have asked themselves the question: should my landlord pay for pest control?

If you recently noticed a strange pool of water near your HVAC unit, then you probably have been thinking about checking out the condensate pump. Condensate pumps are a vital part of most air conditioning units. This is doubly true if you live in a humid environment prone to lots of moisture. It’s normal to wonder if your pump’s actually working. So, how can you tell if it is?

Roach infestations are disgusting. They’re also challenging to fight and dangerous to encounter. So, what happens when your neighbor’s roach problem makes its way into your house? Can you do something about it, or do you have to live that way forever? Here’s some good news.

When you hear that a heater is “gas-powered”, it may come as a surprise when you find out that such a heater will not run without electricity. This article will explain why gas-powered heaters don’t run without electricity, and also some tips for what to do when the power goes out will be discussed.

Back when I used to have to get up early for school, I’d pour hot water on my car’s glass to get the ice off. It didn’t take too long for a crack to develop. I still occasionally use hot water on frozen items as a way to speed-defrost, even if it’s not a good idea. I’ve even done it with heat pumps. But, should anyone really try this on something as delicate as a heat pump?

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?

Arguably, they are one of the most popular alternatives to air conditioners for home cooling options. That is partly because of the comparable cost and effort of purchasing and installing air conditioning systems. What happens, and what do you do though, if your swamp cooler starts making noises? Swamp cooler making humming noises or sounds? Read on.

The furnace pressure switch, aka air switch, is a safety measure device found near the draft inducer motor. Its job is to ensure that the furnace only works when the venting air pressure is appropriate.

Taking a vacation is always an exciting endeavor, but it also can take a lot of planning. This is particularly true if you are a homeowner and are planning to leave your home vacant for an extended period of time.

If you’re new to the world of plumbing, one of the first things you will probably learn about is P-traps. While they are common in toilets, they are also ubiquitous in showers, sinks, and more. The thing is, P-traps sometimes need to be replaced, especially if you’re looking to do an overhaul on your plumbing. So, what’s the deal here?

When people take a shower and then use sinks and toilet facilities at home, the water appears to vanish, never to be seen again. If you’re wondering where that used shower water goes and whether it will be discarded or recirculated, you’ll be relieved to know that the majority of the water is reused and recycled. The forms of treatment are straightforward but fascinating.

It’s hard to miss the smell of sulfur; the scent is quite distinct and unpleasant. The smell is even more unpleasant when it’s in your neighborhood and even your home. So, why does my neighborhood smell like sulfur?

There will always be questions concerning the responsibility of various repairs and obligations regarding the tenant-landlord relationship. In many situations, where those obligations and responsibilities lie is clearly defined by tenant-landlord law.

If you are like most people, you occasionally will want to turn your thermostat up or down a notch. When you do, you probably are going to expect your furnace to react to the switch fairly quickly. Sometimes, though, you might notice that your furnace isn’t as quick to react as it once was. Did you ever wonder what’s going on with that issue?

When people think about mobile homes, they don’t ever really assume they’ll see them traveling or that they’ll be mobile. To a point, it’s easy to see why. It usually costs a lot of money to move a mobile home to another lot—especially since mobile home lots will ask you to pay for their right to move there.

If you ask anyone who’s hip to the jive, going green is important. Everything from water conservation to creating new ways to be energy efficient is on the table. That’s why more people are starting to look at unusual ways to save money on the basics. That’s why people are starting to install hot water recirculating pumps. But, are they really worth it?

Being in an old apartment is great, but it also means that you have a risk at hand. It’s generally deemed wise to renovate a building every 15 to 20 years. Some landlords even swear by it. However, things get tricky when you have a lease and a tenant in the building. Can a landlord legally force renovations in a building?

Do you have a mice problem? If not addressed quickly, a mice infestation in the home can become a serious nuisance.  Fortunately, you don’t have to rush to a local retailer and buy mice traps that could be harmful to your young children or pets. Instead, there are a number of natural ways to rid your home of these pesky rodents. Aluminum foil is frequently featured online as an anti-rodent “life hack.”

Sewer lines are responsible for taking the used wastewater away from our homes and directing it to the local municipal treatment plant. Sewer lines are just like any other pipe and usually have liquid coursing through them. However, cold temperatures and harsh winters can make it difficult for liquid to move through the pipe without freezing.

If you feel that your landlord is overstepping his boundaries, it will be helpful to know what exactly a landlord cannot do. There are, in fact, a surprising number of things that a landlord cannot do. While some of these things seem like they should be common knowledge, others may be more surprising.

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.

You may notice that your home has some unwanted guests in the winter. Small, clear, white bugs in the house will likely cause you some concern. You may be surprised to find out that these bugs are called wood mites.

Whether you’re buying or selling your home, a home inspection is a valuable asset. An inspection report gives you a heads-up on potential issues with the property and allows you to plan for upcoming repairs or replacements. But before you make any final decisions based on the inspection, there are a few things your home inspector needs you to know.

When it is working properly, your furnace is capable of making your home comfortable in even the coldest of temperatures. The process requires several components coming together at once to produce warm air that blows throughout your home.

There is nothing more annoying than a leaky fill valve in a toilet. Leaking fill valves are also water waters that can run up your water bill significantly if ignored. When the time comes to replace a leaky fill valve in your toilet, which fill valve should you chose, the Korky or the Fluidmaster?

Not all households are connected to a main sewer system that handles and treats all their wastewater. In the absence of that convenient service, households turn to using their own septic systems instead. Aerobic septic systems are among the options available and they cover the needs of numerous homeowners.

Being evicted for calling the police may sound unlikely, but unfortunately, it’s something that happens somewhat frequently. You might wonder whether these evictions can only happen if the police are called without a legitimate reason. In reality, it depends on your local laws and whether a nuisance ordinance is in place.

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?

Politics has become a hot-button item in the United States. Our country has never been so divided over political beliefs, and it’s gotten to the point that many people prefer to advertise which side their own. As homeowners, that’s generally okay. When you rent, things get different. Landlords don’t always like signs on their property. Can they remove them, though?

If you have houseplants, it’s a common worry that your home may be infested with spider mites. These small creatures are often seen swarming around indoor plants, in the soil and across the leaves. Though, they can wreak havoc on both your houseplants and even plants in your garden. What begins as small yellow spots on leaves can transform to complete decimation of a plant if you have a large population of spider mites.

Having a stray fly come into your house is one thing, but a full-on insect infestation is another. Insects have all kinds of cunning methods of finding their way into your home. Then they repopulate like wildfire. Fruit flies are notorious for sprouting up out of nowhere and completely taking over your kitchen. But what if you have a sudden infestation of small black flying insects in your home, but they aren’t behaving like fruit flies?

Your shower is one of the most important parts of your home. You wouldn’t be able to keep yourself clean without one. That’s why it’s important to prioritize the maintenance of your shower.

Water heaters have become essential at-home appliances. Modern water heaters are now equipped with a range of useful, high-tech functions, which means delivering hot water consistently has never been easier.

Don’t ignore your instincts if you suspect your gas furnace has a cracked heat exchanger. Not repairing a damaged heat exchanger in a timely manner can cause serious health issues for your family. Among the toxic gases released into the air is carbon monoxide. It’s important to check to see if it’s cracked and then stop all use. But, how do you tell if it’s broken?

The stigma, to us, seems as old as the creature. An “evil” bat is considered an ominous sight. A colony or “cauldron” flying over an old, haunted mansion at night is what we see when someone mentions bats.

Plastic pipes are more prone to cracking up; thus, copper-based tubes are the go-to pipes for plumbing applications owing to their ability to withstand corrosion.

If you live outside of a city, there’s a good chance you get your water from a well. As your own personal water supply, you will not need to pay for this utility. However, there are maintenance costs associated with getting your water from a well.

Moving to a different home can be an exciting experience. However, if you don’t pack your belongings in the proper sequence, moving can quickly get to be a stressful experience. People are busy planning their move and believe everything is under control until it isn’t, and they discover themselves suffocating in tags, plastic wrap, and cardboard boxes.

A major plumbing issue can come out of nowhere and completely derail your day. It’s often bad enough that the issue even exists. If you are renting your apartment and a plumbing issue happens, you may have an even larger headache. You might be confused about what you are supposed to do when you are not the owner. Some might even wonder who exactly is responsible for the plumbing repairs in your rental?

It is a bad sign when any appliance leaks water, especially if it’s your water heater. Water heaters are typically low-maintenance, but it’s important to address problems right away. So, why is my water heater leaking from the overflow pipe?

If dealing with termites was a baseball game, you’re now rounding home plate. Dealing with the aftermath of termite fumigation can seem overwhelming but can actually be quite simple. So what exactly do you need to do after termite fumigation?

No matter what you use your basement for, an unpleasant septic smell makes you want to stay as far away as possible. Whether your basement is for storage, a workshop, or a bonus room, it becomes virtually useless if it smells like sewage.

The plumbing system in your home is a complex one full of many different components. If you start to hear strange noises similar to a foghorn coming from your plumbing, there’s reason to be concerned. You should explore all of your options and try to get to the bottom of the issue immediately.

Water is one of those vital necessities that we all take for granted…until our access to it is cut off. With austerity measures in place throughout many parts of the country, it’s clear that water usage is starting to become a hot button issue. Landlords often pay for water, so are they allowed to tell you that you need to use less?

All homes will require repairs at some point. As the homeowner, it’s your job to address the new issue that has emerged. But what if it’s a bit more complicated than that?

Hot water is something that all homes and most businesses need access to these days, and this is the main reason why hot water heaters are indispensable fixtures to both home and business owners. Just think about how many appliances depend on hot water in a home: the dishwasher, the washing machine, the shower, the kitchen and the bathroom sinks.

For many homes, it’s impossible to have a conventional sewage system. The most common reason for this is the fact that sewage services don’t reach their property. There may be situations where a septic tank cannot be installed on the property do to logistical or geographical issues. Thankfully, there are plenty of alternatives to choose from if you’re facing this septic conundrum.

Homeowners need to be knowledgeable and careful if they want to keep their septic tanks in good condition. The things you know could help save your household’s septic tank from unnecessary damage. Among the things worth knowing is the distance separating your septic tank’s lids.

Many people who hire professional movers say the cost is worth it for the convenience alone. It’s worth hiring professional movers if you have certain circumstances that make moving hard, such as: