Blog by Susan Smith

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Some February Home Maintenance Suggestions

February 5th, 2009

If you live in a cold climate, you have had some unusually cold weather lately, and snow and ice may have caused some damage. Check for ice dams (ice on your roof, often in the area over the soffits under the roof shingles). They can damage the shingles/underlayment and cause internal water damage. If you have ice dams, check insulation and ventilation of your attic spaces, which should be ab ...

Calculating Topsoil Needs

June 15th, 2008
HOW DO I CALCULATE TOPSOIL NEEDS?

Question

How do I estimate how many yards of topsoil I need for a lawn? How do I estimate how many yards of mulch I need for garden beds?


Answer

Measure the length and width of the area that you need to cover and multiply those togeth ...

CHECK REFRIGERATOR COILS

May 27th, 2007

Throwing out the moldy leftovers is not the only cleaning your refrigerator needs. Because it's the biggest user of electricity in your home, you want it to work as efficiently as possible. And it can't be efficient with dirty ...

HOW DO I FLASH CLADDING ON A CHIMNEY?

April 15th, 2007

Question

I need to replace the siding (parged stucco) on the chimney. I want to make sure that the cap is also 'done right' so it ties into the siding (whatever product I choose - either vinyl or vertical wood). Where should I start and what should I look for from a contractor/siding company to ensure the ...

DO SETBACK THERMOSTATS SAVE MONEY

March 7th, 2007

Question

I am curious regarding home heating costs.

Let me use the situation, of three identical homes heating with the same central systems.

1st home. The thermostat is left on all the time at 70 F
2nd home. The thermostat is left on all the time at 72 F
3rd home. During ...

Problem - Heaving Driveway

March 4th, 2007

HEAVING DRIVEWAY

Question

Last October I replaced my asphalt driveway with concrete. After experiencing some very cold weather for several weeks, the driveway has raised up such that the edge of the driveway is at least two inches higher than the garage floor. I assume water has gotten under the driveway an ...

THE DANGERS OF COMBUSTIBLE INSULATION

November 16th, 2006

A well-intentioned, do-it-yourself project can easily create a lethal situation.


...
WHAT ? Check your home for combustible insulation.

TURN OFF AIR CONDITIONING POWER

October 26th, 2006
...

While we hate to admit it, summer is gone. It's time to shut off your air conditioner for the winter. There's more to it than just flicking the little switch on the thermostat from "cool" to "heat".

Holes In Your House and Why You Need Them

October 26th, 2006




Every home, no matter when or how it was constructed, has holes. Without them, air would not come in, light would not come in, and you would not come in. In a normal home, there are about a dozen types of holes that should be there. However, if they are not properly maintained, they can cost you extra money for heating, cooling, and home repairs. Here's a list of the holes you need, and so ...

TEST YOUR CIRCUIT BREAKERS

October 24th, 2006

Testing your circuit breakers is a pain. The test is easy enough, but then you have to reset all your clocks, timers, and VCRs. We are quickly approaching the time of year when you have to change your clocks anyway. Kill two birds wi ...

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