Insulation in a home is measured by R-Value (the capacity of insulated material to resist heat flow).  Some people believe the higher the R-Value, the better the insulation.  This is not necessarily true.  Insulation is meant to stop the movement of heat.  Heat moves...

Most people know that you can save money on your heating bills this winter by lowering the temperature on your thermostat. By lowering the temperature 1 degree you can save 1-3%. To save even more money, drop the temperature by 5-10 degree while you sleep, you can...

Duct tape can be a great staple to patch a number of things.  There are certain items in your home that should not have duct tape as they pose a danger to both your family and your home.Plumbing VentsWater and duct tape don't mix, plain and simple. Water will leak...

As a home inspector, I know there are many things that can be detrimental to homes.  The number one enemy is water.  The second are homeowners.  Sure, we love stores like Home Depot and Lowes but if you don't know the proper way to fix something or improve it, you may...

Why Buy and Energy Efficient Air Conditioner?In an average air conditioned home, air conditioning consumes more than 2000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, causing about 3,500 pounds of carbon dioxide and 31 pounds of sulfur dioxide to be emitted at the power...

In this day and age of high tech gadgets, we sometimes forget about a low tech gadget we may take for granted, thermostats.  As an inspector, I see all sorts of thermostats from analog non-programmable types, digital programmable and now automatic.Tips and TricksThe...

Know when to repair or replace your furnace, air conditioner and water heaterAs a home inspector, I see a lot of furnaces, air conditioners and water heaters that are past their useful life.  This is not something a home buyer wants to hear and usually not something a...

CENTRAL HUMIDIFIERSHumidifiers are devices that humidify air so that building occupants are comfortable. Central humidifiers are hard-wired into a house’s plumbing and forced-air heating systems.What is humidity?Humidity refers to the amount of moisture in the air....

Home improvements that increase energy efficiency are appealing on many levels, from saving you money on heating and cooling costs to the confidence you get from knowing you're doing something good for the environment. They're even better when you can get some money...

There are two types of exposed exterior doors, those that leak and those that are going to leak.Sure, there are exceptions if your exterior doors are under an overhang or face north, but most doors exposed to weather are unsafe.  There are a few things you can look...