"Your home is your castle." "There's no place like home." "Home is where the heart is." "Make a house into a home." We have all heard these and countless other adages about the bond between an individual and their dwelling. It doesn't matter if we are describing a mobile home or a mansion, a quaint cottage or sprawling estate. For most people, their home is among their largest investments. Even in a tough economy with rampant foreclosures, a house is also one of the best ways to build wealth over time. Equity comes from paying down debt, as well as increasing the value of the property. And just as a high tide raises all boats (that are in the water), an improving market elevates the vast majority of housing values. Of course, a poorly maintained, leaking boat will struggle to stay above the tides and the same can be said of a poorly maintained house.

This blog will delve into some off the many systems that comprise a house (roofing, ventilation, HVAC, insulation, windows, entry systems, flooring, kitchen and bath). We will discuss what it takes to keep these systems functioning properly, how to maintain them, and what to look for when replacing or upgrading them.

Home improvement is a scary business. Cutting corners to save a few bucks may end up costing you dearly in aggravation, legal entanglements, premature system failure and subsequent replacement. Unpaid subcontractors can place a lien on your home, even if you paid the entire amount of the contract. Does the contractor carry insurance? The Yellow Pages ad may say so, but those claims are never verified. A worker getting injured on the job potentially places the home-owner at risk of liability. "Lifetime" warranties are only as strong as the company that backs them up. With nearly 70% of contractors going under within 7 years, who do you go after if/when something goes wrong? Buried deep in the fine print, it is all-too common to find clauses nullifying warranty protection if installation is not in accordance with manufacturer specifications. How does an unsuspecting homeowner know if the installation is done properly and in accordance with those specifications?

This blog will help to expose the issues that can turn a home improvement project into a nightmare. Knowing how to protect yourself should provide some much needed peace of mind.






Friday, February 20, 2015

5 things you should do (and one thing you should NEVER do) if your pipes freeze


Posted 10:11 am, February 19, 2015, by at  http://fox6now.com/2015/02/19/5-things-you-should-do-and-one-thing-you-should-never-do-if-your-pipes-freeze/

RICHMOND, Va. — It is advice your mother gives you each time temperatures dip below the freezing mark: “Make sure to drip your faucets.”
Mom is right.
Leaving a faucet open during freezing cold weather can help prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting — which can lead to expensive home damage. But do you know how many faucets to keep running at one time? And do you know which faucets are most effective when it comes to preventing frozen pipes?
“One sink is good. Usually the farthest sink from where the water comes into the house,” Henrico (Va.) Fire spokesman Captain Daniel Rosenbaum advised. “If water comes in through the front of the house, look at the sink in the back of the house. That way, the water is flowing through all of the pipes on the underside of the house.”
Here are some prevention measures that may help protect your pipes:
FOAMFOAM
Insulate pipes exposed to the elements or cold drafts.
By keeping your water warmer, you reduce the amount of energy needed to heat water in the cold, winter months.
DOMEDOME
Place an insulating dome or other covering on outdoor faucets and spigots to reduce the likelihood of water pipes freezing, expanding and causing a costly leak.
DRIP
Allow a slow drip from your faucets to reduce the buildup of pressure in the pipes. Even if the pipes freeze, the release pressure in the water system will reduce the likelihood of a rupture.If your pipes do freeze, here are five things you should do and one thing you should NOT do:
If your pipes do freeze, here are five things you should do and one thing you should not do:
  • Keep the faucet open. As the frozen area starts to melt, water will flow and running water will help melt ice in the pipe.
  • Apply heat to frozen area using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer or towels soaked in hot water.
  • Use a portable space heater, kept away from flammable materials, to warm under the house. Never leave heater unattended.
  • Apply heat until full water pressure is restored.
  • If you cannot find the frozen area, if the area is not accessible, or if you cannot thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber.
  • DO NOT use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame device.
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