Home Works

Radon is an invisible and odorless radioactive gas that occurs naturally from decaying uranium underneath the earth’s surface. Though you cannot see, smell or taste radon, it is there and has been noted as the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Radon rises through the soil and seeps through cracks, holes and drain pipes in the foundation or basement of your home and office. It can be found all over the United States and according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1 out of every 15 homes in the … [Read more...] about Houses should be tested often for deadly gas

Well, it’s not quite beginning to look a lot like Christmas, but the cold weather will be coming in pretty fast, so here’s a few tips to get your home in order and prepared for the winter season. Check the gutters on your house. Make sure they are cleaned and will drain water properly. This will help prevent ice damming when we really get into the winter season.
 Remove hoses from all outdoor faucets and make sure they are drained. Turn off the water supply to outdoor faucets if the water lines are not located in a heated … [Read more...] about Preparing your home for the winter season

While duct tape may have many uses, ironically, sealing heating and cooling ducts is not one of them. As it turns out, the adhesives used on standard plastic duct tape dries out quickly and ceases to hold. Solution: The real stuff, which is called aluminum foil tape. This is a 2-mil aluminum foil duct tape with a paper release liner. It goes on easily and stays on the duct for the duration — even the lifetime of the ductwork in most cases. Sealing both the supply and return ducts are beneficial for a few reasons. Sealing … [Read more...] about Real duct tape, mastic can fix air flow problems

Here’s a realistic statistic for you if you’re looking for ways to save money on your utility costs: Your water heater is your third-largest energy user, and it accounts for about 14 percent of your total energy bill. Today, we’re going to look at a few ways to save a lot of money that otherwise would have gone down the drain. •Take showers instead of baths. It saves on water and also the cost of heating it.
 •Fix broken or dripping faucets. A single faucet dripping hot water can waste as much as 200 gallons a month.
 •Use … [Read more...] about Saving water benefits homeowners and environment

Every year, about 600 Americans die from carbon monoxide, or CO, poisoning. Thousands more are hospitalized, and misdiagnosis is common because its symptoms so closely resemble those of the common cold or flu. Symptoms can include fatigue, dizziness, nausea, chest pain, confusion, rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing and headache. Worse yet, some victims simply go to sleep and never wake up again. CO is colorless, odorless and tasteless, and since you can’t see it, smell it or even taste it, it is often called the “silent … [Read more...] about Are your loved ones worth protecting?

DTE Energy Co. recently announced a new program that pays you back to make your home more energy-friendly. If you are a DTE and/or Michcon customer, you are eligible for up to $1,500 in rebates directly from them just by making your home more energy-efficient. These rebates, along with the federal tax credits, could mean that you could add insulation to your walls or attic; replace your old inefficient windows and doors; seal and insulate your duct system and pipes; install programmable thermostats; and many more improvements … [Read more...] about Utlities have money for you; make sure you get yours

One of the best things to happen in the plumbing field in recent times has been the development of biological drain cleaners as an alternative to dangerous and ecologically harmful chemicals. These biological products work via bacteria that consume organic waste. There are various products for drain cleaning on the market. One of the best, in my opinion, is called Consume, made by the Spartan Chemical Co. Inc. While the exact formula is a secret, Consume is a composite of bacteria, enzymes and additives, all coming from natural … [Read more...] about All plugged up? Friendly help for a stopped-up drain

In our quest to become more “green,” let me pose a question: Did you ever wonder what would happen if your central air conditioner started spinning in the opposite direction? Well, I’ll tell you what, it’ll save you at least a couple hundred dollars a year, and even more for those with larger homes. Let me tell you what I mean… A hybrid heat pump system has the ability to reverse itself to produce heat in the winter and still provides the cooling we need during the hot summer temperatures. To the naked eye, a heat pump simply … [Read more...] about Heat pumps for central air and for heating your home