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If you’re still looking for gifts to show others that you care, choose a gift to keep them warm or improve the quality of the air they breathe and you won’t need to hand over a gift receipt.
As usual, the next three months will be filled with freezing temperatures, snow, ice, and chilly toes. If you have someone on your list that loves to stay warm but hates to pay high heating bills, there are several great gift options.

If you are one of those wise people who know that sometimes you need to spend a little money to save a lot, consider changing your holiday lights from incandescent to LED to save electricity and money while eliminating a potential fire hazard. LED stands for light-emitting diodes, meaning that there is no filament in the bulb to burn out as in incandescent bulbs. These bulbs will burn for thousands hours longer than an incandescent. They are far more durable; the bulbs themselves are solid and so are far less likely to break. The wires that connect the strand of lights are significantly thicker than incandescent wires and therefore more difficult to tangle, keeping at least one of the frustrations of the holidays at a minimum.

Cold weather has arrived, and with it comes your furnace’s busiest time of year. To avoid frigid nights, be aware of signs your furnace may be failing. If you ignore the signs, you could be in for a cold, expensive surprise this winter.

You spend weeks planning for houseguests and get-togethers during the holidays, but you should also plan for the additional burden that will be placed on your home’s plumbing to ensure that you won’t be adding an emergency plumber to your guest list.

Federal tax credits may be available for improvements to your home’s energy-efficient features, including heating and cooling equipment, water heaters, windows, and insulation-- as long as the improvements are completed by the end of 2011. If you have already made improvements, read on to find out if you may be eligible. If you are thinking about making improvements soon, review this listing of available tax credits that expire on December 31, 2011 to help you decide.

Winterizing your home is easy, inexpensive, and takes only a few hours of your time; in exchange, you’ll be helping the environment by using less energy and will have lower heating costs and a warmer home until spring. The first step is to make sure that your furnace is in top form. Then, focusing on keeping the cold air outside where it belongs will save you 20% to 30% on your heating bill

When it comes to your plumbing, disaster usually hits when you least expect it. Being prepared can help save you hundreds in damage and repairs. If you have an emergency plumbing problem and don’t have a regular plumber who services your home, you may have a difficult time finding one quick.

Conducting your own Home Energy Audit can easily be done. It’s a great way to assess where your home is losing energy, as well as prioritize potential areas to upgrade for increased energy efficiencies. And improved energy efficiency can contribute to lower bills, increased comfort, lower utility rates and environmental conservation.

One of the most common plumbing calls we get is for clogged drains. A clog, by definition, is when a large item or several smaller items get lodged into a pipe. The best solution to this problem is to prevent it from occurring in the first place.

People spend more than half of their lives indoors. In recent years, as a result of efforts to make our homes more energy efficient, the impact of indoor air-quality has become more prevalent. As we tighten up our homes to prevent heat exchange, we also prevent air exchange and pollutants from being released from the home.  Know what to look for if you are considering products to improve the air quality in your home...