How to Safely Use Supplemental Heating in Your Home

Portable electric heaters are convenient, affordable supplemental heaters that warm stubborn cold areas in your home when you need to. Unfortunately, these heaters can be risky, so you need to pay close attention to how you use them. Here are five safety tips for running your supplemental electrical heater. Stay Away from Combustibles That spot next to the curtains or...

Plumbing repairs are challenging and can be expensive. Doing some of the work yourself can be a great way to save money but it can also create problems. Unless you’re a plumber, there’s a chance you could be making mistakes that you aren’t even aware of, mistakes you’ll discover when it’s too late and the damage is already done. If...

Winter humidity in Illinois brings unique indoor comfort challenges. While most homeowners focus on temperature control, maintaining proper indoor humidity levels is equally important for your health and home. What Should Inside Humidity Be in Winter? Indoor humidity should stay between 30 to 50 percent during winter months. This range prevents problems like dry skin and static electricity while avoiding...

Renovating and remodeling can be stressful and expensive but what’s more stressful is discovering that all your hard work has caused more problems. For your HVAC system, this means that something like adding a window can affect its performance. Here are four ways your HVAC system is affected by modifications to your home. Heat gain and loss As mentioned above,...

“Life hacks” are popular these days because most people are busy, overwhelmed and need shortcuts. Between work, taking care of kids, managing the house, getting enough sleep, exercise and healthy food, you need some relief. Fortunately, your HVAC system doesn’t need daily attention. It does, however, require maintenance and skipping or postponing these core items will cause more trouble than...

A cold shower can sometimes be a treat in the heat of summer. But other times of the year, not so much. If you live with other people, you may find yourself juggling bath times with chores that need hot water because it runs out too soon. If this is an ongoing problem, here are five reasons why and how...

A good plumber is like gold. A great plumber is…well, priceless. You can have issues that come up rarely and are dealt with quickly or you can be stuck with problem after problem that never gets solved in a timely manner. Here are the characteristics of a truly professional plumber. They communicate Good plumbers communicate with you. Whether they are...

Plumbing fixtures can serve you for many years without replacement. At some point, however, it becomes a bigger issue than just aesthetics. Like other components of your house, you need to maintain fixtures and this may mean replacement. Here are a few ways to tell if it is time to replace a plumbing fixture in your home. Buildup that is...

Saving water is just as important as saving energy. Whether you are concerned about your spending or just want to help the environment, reducing water consumption will go a long way to do both. Fortunately, you do not have to ration drinking water or use dry shampoo every week to save water. The right plumbing upgrades will reduce your water...

Doing your own repairs (and even some upgrades) around the house can be a rewarding process. Even if you struggle through it, the end result is all yours. Plumbing, however, is a different story. Instead of a rewarding experience, you could find yourself in some hot water (or living with none at all). Here are five reasons to avoid do-it-yourself...