Archive for July 2018

If your house has a pool or extensive landscaping, you probably have an exterior drain to help manage any accidental water overflow. This drain sends excess water to your street’s drain, so it doesn’t locally flood your property. Unfortunately, that connection fail with backups in your yard or any potential clogs caused by your yard’s…

One of the best things you can do to boost your appliances’ energy efficiency is to keep them clean. Fans and motors have to work hard to cool refrigerant and heating systems if the parts are covered with dust and pet hair. Not only does that mean the machine uses up more energy to run…

Pipes are essential to your water and plumbing system but can be surprisingly fragile. Anything from overtightening a water line to dumping too much grease down your kitchen drain can cause you plumbing frustrations, even if it seems like the pipes should be able to handle it. Whether you’re a homeowner or a tenant, here…

Your refrigerator is one of the biggest energy sinks in your home. It runs 24/7, and cold air rushes out every time the door is opened. This is especially true for older models, which don’t have the advantage of recent energy-efficiency measures. Even newer models are susceptible to poor energy utilization since bits and pieces…