Homeowner's Tips Blog
The Benefits of Heating System Preventative Maintenance
September 24, 2017
Your Boston area home heating system is very much like a runner. But one that runs marathons, not sprints. For example, what happens if a marathoner isn’t fully trained and prepared for the challenge of the race? For one thing, they’re not going to perform very well. And along the way, they’re going to be afflicted by various aches and pains that otherwise could have been avoided. Starting to sound... Read more »
How to Lower Your Heating Costs
September 8, 2017
Long, cold winters cost more to heat your home than a more mild-mannered winter season. That assumes, of course, you don’t resort to the ways of pioneers and wrap yourselves in buffalo hides, deer-skin leggings, and other prairie-living attire so you can keep your thermostat down to about 55 degrees or so – just warm enough to prevent your pipes from freezing. If that all seems a little extreme to... Read more »
“Do I Have a Hidden Water Leak?”
August 30, 2017
Hidden water leaks don’t stay hidden forever. Sooner or later, they’ll signal their presence, usually well after they’ve wreaked a little havoc inside your home. That’s right: the longer a hidden water leak goes undetected, the worse the potential ramifications. Conversely, the sooner you notice and report signs of a water leak, the better off you’ll be. Here are the most telltale signs of home hidden water leaks in the... Read more »
The Benefits of Water Heater Maintenance
August 11, 2017
There are many things you depend on in your life, often without even realizing it. Take your water heater, for example. Don’t you simply expect it to provide all the hot water you need when you need it? Probably, right? But here’s a little secret. Even if it’s fulfilling your wishes, for now, you can’t count on it in the long-term. That’s because your water heater, alas, is a mechanical... Read more »
Air Conditioning Self-Help Tips
July 29, 2017
Here in the Boston area, we ask a lot of our air conditioning systems. Long hours. No sleep. No pay. So, the least we can do is give them the same comfort and care they give us. Otherwise, sooner or later it’s going to be “bye-bye comfort and care.” Here are a few things you can do at home to help ensure uninterrupted service. Just because it’s warmer indoors than... Read more »
Should I Repair or Replace My AC System?
July 12, 2017
That’s a question that’s much easier to pose than answer, and yet it’s one we get asked all the time. And how do we advise people? The answer is a great big “It depends!” That’s not a dodge, merely our way of pointing out that no two sets of circumstances are ever the same. So, to help you figure out your best move at present, here are a handful of... Read more »
Your Best Home Water Filter Options
June 9, 2017
If you’re concerned about the quality of your home water supply, why take chances?? Especially if your suspicions prove to be correct. Here, for example, are three common water quality problems throughout the Boston area: Hard water – Identified by mineral deposits on dishes and glassware, whites that turn dull in the wash, and soap scum in your tub or shower stall. Hard water also can corrode your water pipes,... Read more »
4 Good Reasons to Choose Ductless Air
What’s not to like about spring, you say? Well, for many Boston area home owners, it means lugging those AC window units up from the basement or garage and installing them in time for the cooling season. Why haven’t more people switched to central air conditioning? Because they’ve heard their homes can’t support air ducts or that they’d be too costly to install. So that settles that – or does... Read more »