home improvements: Fireplace Maintenance and Safety Education - 06/18/21 08:01 AM
Is your fireplace safe?A fireplace is a comfortable place for the family to gather around during a cold winter. Statistics show that fireplaces and chimneys cause over 23,000 serious domestic fires every year in the United States, resulting in over $110 Million in property damages and tens of fatalities.  These statistics show the importance of the annual chimney inspection.
The Chimney Saftey Institute of America(CSIA)  http://www.csia.org  states that even homeowners who do not use their fireplace should invest in an annual chimney inspection. This is because the home's other heating appliances release toxic fumes through the chimney and when it is clogged … (2 comments)

home improvements: 15 Tools Every Homeowner Should Own - 11/02/20 12:49 PM
by Nick Gromicko, CMI® and Ben Gromicko from InterNACHI
The following items are essential tools, but this list is by no means exhaustive. Feel free to ask an InterNACHI inspector during your next inspection about other tools that you might find useful.
1.  Plunger
A clogged sink or toilet is one of the most inconvenient household problems that you will face. With a plunger on hand, however, you can usually remedy these plumbing issues relatively quickly. It is best to have two plungers — one for the sink and one for the toilet.
2.  Combination Wrench Set
One end of a combination wrench set is open and the other end is … (2 comments)

home improvements: 10 Easy Ways to Save Money & Energy in Your Home - 11/02/20 11:40 AM
Save Money and EnergyMost people don’t know how easy it is to make their homes run on less energy, and here at InterNACHI, we want to change that. 
Drastic reductions in heating, cooling, and electricity costs can be accomplished through very simple changes, most of which homeowners can do themselves. Of course, for homeowners who want to take advantage of the most up-to-date knowledge and systems in home energy efficiency, InterNACHI energy auditors can perform in-depth testing to find the best energy solutions for your particular home. 
Why make your home more energy efficient? Here are a few good reasons:
Federal, state, utility, … (1 comments)

home improvements: Electricity 101: Understanding the Service Panel - 11/12/19 12:27 PM
Many homeowners who are unfamiliar with construction and wiring are timid when it comes to electrical work. It makes perfect sense to have a healthy respect for electricity—it can be dangerous if you don’t understand it.
To give you confidence and a little knowledge to help you discuss electrical problems with an electrician, let’s explore how the service panel (or panel box) controls your home’s electrical system.
 
The Service Panel
After passing through the electric meter, the local electrical utility provides electricity to your house through the service panel (also called the distribution center). The panel, which is usually located in a garage, basement … (1 comments)

home improvements: Should You Fix Your House Up Or Sell Now? - 09/26/19 02:55 PM
With the fall season upon us, change is in the air. For many families, children are growing up and moving out of the house, maybe leaving for college or taking a jump into the working world. Parents are finding themselves as empty nesters for the first time. The question inevitably arises: is it finally time to downsize?
If you’re pondering that thought, you may also be wondering if you should fix-up your house before you sell it, or go straight to the market as-is, allowing a potential buyer to do the updates and remodeling. If you’re one of the many homeowners this camp, here … (0 comments)

home improvements: Five Effective Fixes for Faulty Windows - 09/10/19 02:26 PM
There’s a common misconception that if your home has older windows that are in less-than-perfect condition, you must replace them with new windows. But as long as the window is structurally sound, you can fix most problems and extend the window’s service life by many years.
Of course, there are instances when a window is so badly damaged that it’s beyond repair, such as when the entire frame is rotted, or if there’s extensive termite damage. Then, it’s time for a new set of windows. However, some of the most common window problems can be fixed with minimal time and money.
Listed below … (0 comments)

home improvements: 5 Most Concerning Window Problems - 06/26/19 02:03 PM
We all know what a pain a faulty window can be. They can be leaky, drafty or squeaky, they’ll close when we need them to stay open and open when we want to close them. If you are facing these issues with your windows, this list is just for you. Oh, and having your windows fixed before winter is a good way to keep your heating budget in check for this winter.
 
1- Drafty Windows 
Drafty windows are a problem which occurs due to age (wear and tear) and seasonal changes where dislodged or cracked parts allow the outside air to enter the … (0 comments)

home improvements: How To Fix A Sinking Sidewalk - 06/25/19 08:32 AM
A sinking sidewalk is bad news for you and your guests. Where the pavement is uneven, someone’s bound to trip eventually.
Pavement sinks because exterior concrete is always on the move. Soil settles. Moisture moves soil up and down. In cold climates, frost can heave and lift concrete slabs.
Tearing out, hauling away and replacing an entire sidewalk or driveway is expensive – and hard on the environment when all that concrete ends up in a landfill. But if your concrete is in pretty good shape, you can avoid this process. By “pretty good shape” I mean large sturdy pieces and a surface … (0 comments)

home improvements: How To Fix A Sinking Sidewalk - 06/25/19 08:32 AM
A sinking sidewalk is bad news for you and your guests. Where the pavement is uneven, someone’s bound to trip eventually.
Pavement sinks because exterior concrete is always on the move. Soil settles. Moisture moves soil up and down. In cold climates, frost can heave and lift concrete slabs.
Tearing out, hauling away and replacing an entire sidewalk or driveway is expensive – and hard on the environment when all that concrete ends up in a landfill. But if your concrete is in pretty good shape, you can avoid this process. By “pretty good shape” I mean large sturdy pieces and a surface … (2 comments)

home improvements: No "Ding-Dong" Sound at the Bell - 06/24/19 01:17 PM
How annoying…that front doorbell only works from time to time, and you never know whether someone is there. You don’t want to call an electrician for such a small job.
Hey, it’s often a quick fix — just replace the exterior button. Doorbell systems operate at a low voltage, so you really can’t get a shock. You also can’t damage the system by attempting a repair. Give it a try.
Check out the front button and loosen a few screws holding it to the door frame. If the button is recessed into the wood, carefully pry it from the hole in the wood … (1 comments)

home improvements: Reviving a "Dead" Garbage Disposal - 06/21/19 06:58 AM
Dead garbage disposal? Usually, it’s easy to bring this gadget back to life. Take a look at the illustration and follow these simple steps.
Does the disposal “hum” when the switch is on? If not, most likely the problem is a tripped overload in the disposal. Turn the wall switch off. Look under the disposal and locate the reset switch — a little button recessed within a hole toward the side of the housing. Push the button, and the disposal should at least hum when you hit the wall switch. It may also come up to speed.
If the disposal hums but the … (0 comments)

home improvements: Is Your Roof Worn Out? - 06/19/19 01:39 PM
Should you care about wear and tear to your roof? You betcha. A worn roof at the end of its life span is prone to leaks. You don’t want to deal with damage caused by roof leaks, and you don’t want to worry about mold in your home. Plan for that roof replacement.
In most cases, an asphalt shingle roof lasts about 20 years. The life span depends on the roof’s original quality and the amount of sun exposure. Sunlight breaks down the asphalt base of the shingles and eventually causes shrinkage, curling, granular loss and potential leaks.
Take a look at the … (0 comments)