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You know you set it before you left for work and now that you’re home, you’ve noticed the house still isn’t at a comfortable temperature. You recently had a check-up on your HVAC system and all looked great – so what could possibly be the problem? You may be thinking, “the thermostat MUST be broken,” and that’s not a bad place to start. After all, issues with a thermostat could cause the entire system to be thrown out of whack.   So, how can you tell if your thermostat is in fact, malfunctioning – or not working at all? Follow the steps below: Play around with the temperature setting once more. Try setting it 5 degrees lower (during the summer, higher during the winter) than it’s currently set to and give it a few hours to operate. If, after 2-3 hours, the temperature in the house hasn’t changed, go on to Step 2.  Make sure it’s set to the correct setting. Somebody may have messed around and flipped the switch from “Cool” to “Heat” or vice versa. Still no luck? Move on to Step 3.  Turn the power off to your heating or cooling system at the source. This means

Yes, you read that title correctly – you can in fact, lose weight while you sleep. How? All you need to do is make a few simple adjustments to your daily lifestyle and you’ll be well on your way. Of course, you can further enhance the results with diet and exercise, but there are a few things you can do to lose weight while you sleep.   Block Out Light: you probably already turn out the lights before you fall asleep, but blocking out natural light can help you burn calories, too. How? Your body produces melatonin when you’re in complete darkness and melatonin can aid in the production of calorie-burning brown fat. Eliminate Alcohol: you may have noticed you don’t sleep as well after a night out on the town. Why does this happen? Alcohol messes with your body’s ability to enter REM sleep where it burns the most calories. Try to stop drinking alcohol at least three hours before you fall asleep. Intermittent Fasting: you may have heard of the new intermittent fasting craze that surrounds the notion of consuming all of your calories within an 8-hour window. It allows your body to burn more fat for longer

Ever step a toe outside only to say yourself, “nope” and come back into the air conditioning? Sometimes it’s simply too hot to go outside during the summer and sometimes, it’s just not safe. But that doesn’t mean you need to sit around and do nothing all day – there are plenty of indoor activities for you and the family to make the most of that heatwave.   Clean: you’ve been running around like a chicken without a head lately and haven’t had much time to clean the house. This is the perfect opportunity to vacuum those floors, clean the kitchen and bathroom sinks and get rid of the black spots in the tub. Reorganize: whether it’s your kids’ toys, your closet or the kitchen utensils and countertops, a heatwave gives you the opportunity to get things organized without feeling guilty that you’re stuck indoors. Just think about how good you’ll feel when you can actually find that shirt you’ve wanted to wear or that cookie sheet you haven’t seen since the holidays. Arts & Crafts: feel like you haven’t spent much time with your kids lately? Why not sit down as a family and put your artistic ability on

Ever walk outside multiple days in a row only to feel like the heat is literally smacking you in the face? Thank goodness for air conditioning, right? Sure, most of us couldn’t even fathom living without an air conditioner in the dead of summer, but most homeowners take advantage of this luxury. Sure, the thought of letting your air conditioner run 24/7 may sound like a great idea, but it could leave you sweating bullets.   Here’s why you should avoid running your air conditioning system 24/7: It’s a Waste of Energy: this may sound like common sense, but there’s no reason to leave the air conditioner running all day while nobody is home. Worried it’s going to be hot in the house when you return home? It’s worth investing in a programmable thermostat so you can have the air turn on a little while before you get home. It Puts Extra Strain On The System: there aren’t many things in your life that can run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week without taking a break. Your air conditioner is no exception. You can prolong the life of the system and avoid costly repairs during the height of

If you’ve ever cooked a warm meal in the kitchen on a hot summer day you probably know that your food isn’t the only thing that winds up scorching. That’s right, the kitchen can quickly go from frosty to fiery and you definitely don’t need that when it’s upwards of 100°F outside. So, how can you keep the kitchen cool while your food heats up? Find out below!   DIY Air Conditioner: you may be tempted to lower the thermostat to keep it cool in the kitchen while you cook, but that’s only going to cost you. Instead, you can make a DIY air conditioner by freezing a bottle of water and taping it to the back of a portable fan.   Use The Microwave: instead of firing up the stove or oven, choose foods that you can microwave. Sure, there are plenty of “unhealthy” microwaveable foods, but you can certainly prepare things like quinoa or steamed veggies, too!  Smaller Is Better: large hunks of meat or vegetables will take longer to cook, so cut them up into smaller pieces before sticking them in the oven. This way it’ll be done quicker and you can turn that large appliance off

You may think that you can put your outdoor air conditioner anywhere and it will work fine. However, if you want to get the longest life and best performance out of it, you should take serious consideration when deciding where to place the unit. After all, you rely on this piece of equipment all summer long and you hate for something bad to happen, right?   Find Someplace Cool Air conditioners cool your home by pulling air in from outside and cooling it. If the air outside is hot, it causes your system to work harder. As a general rule of thumb, it’s best to keep your air conditioner on the north side of your house where it is generally cooler and receives less sunlight. Shade Trees Help Placing the air conditioner beneath a shade tree can help keep it cooler. Even if you have no shade trees, you can plant bushes, shrubs or small trees around your unit. Just remember to keep at least three feet of space around the unit clear to allow for adequate airflow. Convenience Matters Sure, it’s important to place your air conditioner for optimum performance, but there are a few additional factors to consider…

Picture this: you’re hanging out with your friends and family members in the yard celebrating the 4th of July. There’s plenty of food going around, the drinks are flowing and you’re having a blast. All of a sudden you smell smoke and notice your tiki torch fell onto the air conditioning unit. Then all hell breaks loose!   Safety should always be a top priority and your air conditioning unit is no exception. Here are some of the items you should keep away from the area especially during the summer months: Bushes Avoid planting a garden or shrubs around the unit as it can make it difficult for service technicians to tiptoe around when it comes time for maintenance. It’s also vital to keep all vegetation 2-3 feet away from the unit to allow for proper airflow at all times. Debris When tending to your lawn this summer, direct the mower away from the unit. Be careful not to allow grass clippings or weed to enter the vents as they can restrict airflow or cause damage to the aluminum fins. You’ll also want to be extra cautious when using a weed wacker near the unit as the spinning cables can

Family gatherings, cookouts and holiday fun are upon us and your kitchen needs to be in tip-top shape. There’s going to be lots of prep and lots of cooking going on in that kitchen throughout the summer months and it all starts with one thing – organization. See below to learn about a few popular types of pot racks that will help reduce clutter and keep your kitchen ready for whatever summer throws at it:   The Copper Cook – 12 Hook Pot Rack The 12 hook pot rack makes for an excellent form of organization for any cook’s kitchen. Copper is a classic look and goes well with most interior decor. With twelve hooks, it gives you enough space for lots of pots and pans so you can free up space in your cabinets and pantry. The Basic Black – Black Enamel Pot Rack You can never go wrong with black. It’s perfect for over an island or sink and really comes in handy when it’s time to fetch your favorite skillet. Go Green – 16 Hook Green Oval Pot Rack For the chef that has a kitchen full of gadgets, this pot rack holds up to sixteen of

Do you have any idea what’s really lurking in your basement? Basements are areas of the home commonly used for storage or as an expansion of living space, but chances are, you don’t occupy this area of the house as much as you do your kitchen and your bedroom. For that reason, basements are often neglected and the typical basement environment is a haven for dampness which can lead to mold, rot and therefore, major structural damage.   So, you’re wondering if you really need to put a dehumidifier in the basement. Well, what does a dehumidifier do and what are some of the benefits? Find out below: What Does a Dehumidifier Do? Contrary to popular belief, dehumidifiers do a lot more than help you deal with too much moisture in a given area. Of course, they do that quite well… …but, most models also contain HEPA filters to capture mold spores and other harmful airborne pollutants. In addition to that, some also include a carbon filter to get rid of dingy odors commonly found in high-moisture areas. How Do I Know if I Need a Dehumidifier? There is visible mold growing on the walls or on the ceiling The

Is there anything better than taking a long hot, relaxing bath at the end of a stressful day? You may even be having a rough day today – thinking about that bathtub you’re going to hop into as soon as you get home. Well, in honor of International Bath Day, we’re laying out 5 cheap and easy hacks that’ll make bathtime the highlight of your entire week.   Herbal Tea: sure, the warm water helps to stimulate blood circulation leaving you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, but you can take it a step further by adding herbal tea to the water. The calming scents of dried tea leaves will be quite the treat! Bath Caddy: whether you prefer to drink tea or wine in the tub, a few pieces of scrap wood can really make things easier. You can build your own bath caddy and lay it across the tub and have a place to rest your beverage, a candle and your favorite book or magazine. Waterproof Speaker: find classical music relaxing? Rather turn on your favorite dance music? Whatever the case may be, a waterproof speaker is a wonderful way to get you in the right frame of mind while

Chances are you’re sweating as you read this and you’re about to enter panic mode because your ductless hvac system isn’t working like it should be. Well, if you haven’t cleaned the filter in a while, it’s probably the reason your system is malfunctioning so let’s not waste any more time. How do you clean the filter? Find out below!   Step 1: Open or remove the front panel of the air conditioner and lock it into the open position. Step 2: Take out the plastic filter element and remove the smaller allergen filter to prep them for cleaning. Step 3: Use a soft cloth to gently wipe the filters clear of dust and dirt. Step 4: If the previous step doesn’t get rid of all debris, use warm water and a mild detergent to remove any remnants. Step 5: Allow filters to air dry and then place them back in the appropriate sections of the unit. Step 6: Replace the cover and lock it into place. You should hear it snap back into the locked position. Step 7: Write a reminder for yourself to check on the filters again in approximately 4 weeks. While you’ll likely be able to

You’ve gone down into the basement or pulled down that ladder and headed up into the attic only to realize your dehumidifier is no longer running. You emptied the collection bucket and remembered to clean the filter last week, so what could be the problem? There’s a good chance the coils inside the system got too cold and froze up.   Now you’re probably wondering what causes dehumidifier coils to freeze, right? Well, it could be due to a number of factors: Temperature of the Room: believe it or not, the temperature of the room the dehumidifier is in can play a major role when it comes to your system freezing up. Sure, they’ll run just fine when the temperature is 65°F or above, but if the room temp drops below 65, you may run into some problems.  Lack of Airflow: another reason your dehumidifier may freeze is if there’s a lack of airflow to or through the unit. Air needs to move through the machine at a rapid pace in order for it to run at optimal performance so if the fan isn’t turning well or the condenser is blocked, it could prevent this from taking place.  Dirty Coils: