Always use plenty of water when working the disposal.  It’s best to run cold water for a few seconds before turning on the disposal and always use cold water with greasy substances as this helps chop them up and prevent a clog from occurring. Never put hard items such as bones, corn husks or onion…

Check to be sure your furnace and/or air conditioner are plugged in. Check that the breakers, and disconnects are turned on, and lastly, check to be sure the thermostat is set correctly. Also, make note of any strange noises or smells and inform your HVAC technician upon arrival.

Slow drains can be extremely annoying, especially when you need to wait for what seems like ages before you can drain the sink after washing dishes or even just washing your hands. One of the best reasons to treat a slow drain problem right way is that slow drains can easily become clogged ones, at…

Will the lowest priced heating and air conditioning system end up costing you money in the long run with high operating costs or by needing to be replaced sooner? Will the lowest priced system provide the comfort you expect? Before you make your final decision, you should consider operating costs and efficiency ratings. Comparing energy…

Many factors can cause poor air quality in your home. Some common contributors are listed below. Although you may not have all of these occurring in your home, by addressing the ones you do, you can increase your air quality and overall home comfort. Irregular maintenance. Lack of regular maintenance on your heating and cooling system…

There are some things you can troubleshoot before you call in the experts. First, check your electrical box. See if the breaker for your heating & cooling (HVAC) system has been tripped or a fuse blown. Next, check your thermostat. Make sure it is set on “Cool” with the fan switch set to “Auto” or…

Most faucets work with a rubber or composition washer that closes onto a metal washer seat.  Over time, the washer will harden and crack or simply gets worn down.  This causes the faucet to leak.  You can close the faucet tighter to stop the drip, but this will only be a temporary fix.  In fact,…

A plumbing system vent is used to “vent” the plumbing system in your home. A vent will look like pipes sticking out of your roof and are about 12” high. This vent allows sewer gases to be vented outside the home. Another function of the vent is that when a liquid goes down a pipe…

First, check your circuit breakers for a tripped switch. Note: Changing the thermostat quickly can cause a disruption. Allow 15 minutes for the compressor to automatically reset itself. Next, make sure the blower compartment door is closed. The unit will not come on if the door is open. Lastly, shrubbery around the outside unit can…

Plumbing systems are designed to prevent foul odors from entering your home by means of the trap attached to fixtures. Traps contain water to seal out foul odors; if the water seal evaporates, the odors enter the house. To solve this problem, pour a bucket of water in each trap, sink, shower and floor drain.…