Sometimes unmarried couples want to buy a house together. Homeownership is a great goal, but before you take the plunge with your significant other, you need to cover some important legal and financial ground. Here’s what you need to know. Open and transparent finances If you’re thinking of buying a home with your significant other,… Read more »
When consumers sign up for internet service, they’re faced with a barrage of choices and questions. While you’ve probably heard words such as modem and router, do you actually know what they do and the differences between them. Here’s a quick internet primer and a few tips on how to choose what’s best for your… Read more »
When searching for a reliable contractor, there’s nothing better than a personal referral from friends or neighbors. But if leads are few, many people are turning to online review sites. Sites like Angie’s List and Home Advisor provide an easy source of information on thousands of contractors in markets across the country. These sites use… Read more »
Men and women may come from different planets, as the classic book on gender suggests. But in at least one area of the home, there is almost always a meeting of the minds. Outdoor living spaces are a great place to come together as a family and create memories. Something for everyone. Unlike the stereotypical… Read more »
Outdoor cooking has become a multi-billion dollar business in the United States. Here are the hottest trends fresh off the grill. It started so simply. In the era of black and white TV, dear old dad hovered over the charcoal grill, torching burgers and hot dogs. Much later came larger cart-style grills burning either charcoal… Read more »
Nothing beats a warm evening at home when the winter wind is howling. You might not give your heater a second thought…until it stops working. Here’s a quick tutorial on how they operate so you can stay warm this winter. Types of heaters. The main difference among most heaters is the fuel source. Oil, gas,… Read more »
In today’s world, we take air conditioning for granted. We’ve come to expect cool indoor temperatures regardless of how high the outdoor temperature soars. Let’s take a look under the hood, so to speak, at the equipment that keeps us all comfortable. How it works. Air conditioning units are comprised of three parts: a compressor… Read more »
It seems like it always happens at the worst possible time. For example, the air conditioner breaks in the middle of July, or the furnace quits as a major snowstorm blows in. So what can you do to ensure your systems will be there when you need them most? Here are a few tried-and-true tips… Read more »
Keeping your home warm in winter and cool in summer depends on a whole system of comfort engineering. Chief among the components is insulation, the blanket of material in the walls and attic that resists the flow of heat transference from outside to inside and vice versa. Technology and the move toward greater environmental awareness… Read more »
Homeowners in tune with today’s demands to save energy and water will be rewarded for their conservation efforts with cold hard cash in the form of lower utility bills. Take a look what you can do to green up your home and fatten up your wallet. Energy Star. The U. S. Department of Energy has… Read more »
You never want to skimp on homeowners insurance, but there are ways to save money on those premiums without putting you or your home at risk. Here’s a handy guide to getting excellent coverage at a reasonable price. Your credit score. In most states insurance companies use customer credit scores as one factor in determining… Read more »
As a homeowner, you may be interested in learning more about solar power — the pros and cons. It could save you money and help conserve precious resources at the same time, but what about those up-front costs? Here’s a basic tutorial. A short solar power primer. While there are two primary types of solar… Read more »
