Studies show that up to 65 percent of your home’s energy is used to heat and cool your living space – yet almost half of conditioned air escapes through the cracks in your foundation. Caulking can help you save more energy. However, if you’re going to caulk on your own, be aware of these five common caulking mistakes.
Common Caulking Mistakes to Avoid This Winter
January 27th, 2015Steps to Take When Testing the Humidity in Your Fresno Home
January 22nd, 2015Dry skin and frequent colds are just a few signs there’s a humidity problem in your home. If you’ve also developed a sore throat, then it’s time to test your home for low humidity. In contrast, high humidity can damage your home’s foundation, so it’s important to keep humidity balanced in your home. You can follow these easy steps when testing the humidity in your home.
How to Repair Torn Duct Insulation in Your Home
January 20th, 2015Your ductwork system carries conditioned air throughout your home to maintain your desired comfort level. Any areas where insulation is torn can affect the efficiency of your furnace system, making your furnace work harder. This equates to higher energy costs and lower efficiency. And during the warmer season, moisture condensation buildup can actually damage the duct system itself.
Easy Ways to Clean Your A/C Vents for Winter Use
January 15th, 2015
Breathing clean indoor air is paramount to staying healthy, especially during the winter months when stagnant outdoor air and valley fog sets in around the Fresno area. One of the easiest things you can do to keep your IAQ (indoor air quality) as high as possible is to clean your A/C vents or radiators.
5 Surprising Sources of Indoor Air Pollution
January 13th, 2015
Indoor air pollution can be a serious problem for homeowners, especially for those with young children. Knowing some of the most common sources of indoor air pollution, as well as regularly changing your air filter, can help improve indoor air quality. Some other things to look out for include:
What’s the Best Type of Insulation for My Attic?
January 8th, 2015
A properly insulated attic not only improves energy performance, but it also helps your home maintain a comfortable temperature all year-round. Energy Star states that central California homes should add R25 to R38 insulation in attics that are already insulated and R30 to R60 insulation in uninsulated attics. The best type of insulation for your attic depends on the type of insulation already in it, its age and your home’s sun exposure.
Can Putting in a Furnace Filter the Wrong Way Cause Damage?
January 6th, 2015
Furnace filter screens are designed to be placed a certain way, and not heeding this proper direction can cause issues. By taking a few moments to ensure your filter is placed the right way, these headaches can simply be avoided. Smart Ways to Prevent and Remove Rust from Your Home’s Water Heater
January 1st, 2015
Have you started noticing any discoloration in your home’s water? Is your water heater leaking? Reddish-colored water and leaks are common signs your water heating system is starting to rust.
The typical water heater is lined with glass-lined steel. As such, if water finds an imperfection in the glass, it’s only a matter of time for the steel tank to begin rusting from the inside out — unless you stay on top of maintenance.
Top Advantages of Installing a Solar PV System in Your Home
December 30th, 2014The sight of another solar PV system installed on a neighborhood rooftop is becoming more and more common. Nationwide, residential installations of solar photovoltaic systems in the first quarter of 2014 showed an increase of 38 percent over the same period in 2013. More than half of these new installations were right here in California.
It’s Time to Complete These Home Winterization Projects
December 25th, 2014
Don’t delay any of your home winterization projects. Preparation is always preferable to reacting after the fact, particularly if the first cold snap catches you unprepared. As winter sets in, operating costs will rapidly increase, while indoor comfort levels will decline, especially in homes that haven’t been optimized for low temperatures.