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It may be no surprise that severe summer rain storms can leave streets, houses and neighborhoods flooded. But what you may not be thinking of, is how flooding can affect plumbing systems. Of course, your first plan of action should be to get flood waters out, but then it’s time to check on your pipes.   Here are a few different ways flooding in your area could wreak havoc on your home’s plumbing system… Saturated Soil When heavy rain falls, the ground gets saturated and when it can no longer take on any more water, that’s when flooding begins. Since saturated soil tends to be much softer than it is when it’s dry, it can shift drastically which could lead to large openings or gaps. The result? The soil may no longer be able to support heavy underground pipes. This can lead to cracks, holes or even burst pipes that could leave you and your property in a world of trouble. Buildup of Dirt and Debris As mentioned above, shifting soil and erosion are common results of flooding. But that dirt and debris needs to go somewhere and in lots of cases, it could end up in or around exposed

Finally pulling the trigger on a new air conditioner? We don’t blame you – it can be difficult to survive the summer months without one. But before you head out to the local home improvement store or pull up a new window online, it’s vital to understand BTUs. What are they and why are they important? Find out below! What is a BTU? Air conditioners are rated on an energy-efficiency system based upon the size of the room they are intended to be used is. This unit of measurement is called BTUs, or British Thermal Units. Generally speaking, the larger the room, the higher the BTUs should be in order to cool the room efficiently. And oversized, or undersized air conditioner can actually make energy bills skyrocket. BTU Calculator Room Size (Feet) Area (Square Feet) Recommended BTUs 10 x 15 150 5,000 17 x 20 340 8,000 18 x 25 450 10,000 25 x 32 800 15,000 39 x 40 1,560 24,500 Additional A/C Buying Tips: Be sure to calculate the size of the room before you begin shopping. This will help you sort through models and options so you can look for what you need.  Make sure there are

You made it! That vacation you planned a while back felt like it would never get here, and now, it’s officially time to clock out, pack your bags and enjoy a few days of much-needed relaxation. Don’t forget to pack a bathing suit, some sunscreen and definitely don’t forget to take care of these five energy-efficient hacks before you head out the door.   Turn up the thermostat on the air conditioner. If you don’t want to turn it completely off, we recommend raising it as high as 85 degrees . (However, you may want to set it a bit lower than that if you’ll be leaving pets at home while you’re away).  Have a smart thermostat? You may want to turn it off completely so that it doesn’t trigger the system to kick on every day when your friend or neighbor stops by to bring in the mail. (As mentioned in tip #1, this may not be applicable if you have pets).  Close blinds, shades and drapes. Not only will this help prevent burglars from peering into your home while you’re away, it will help keep temperatures down during the daytime hours. Blocking out sunlight all day can help

I think we can all agree that it would be nice if we could keep the house comfortable AND save money during the hot summer months, right? The problem is, you’re stuck somewhere in between lowering the thermostat a few degrees because it’s getting warm and having to shell out another hundred dollars on your utility bill – we’ve all been there! Well, with the five air conditioning efficiency hacks below, we certainly hope it will become less of a struggle to keep cool while saving money.   Keep the area around your air conditioner clear. This includes dirt, debris, sticks, twigs, leaves, etc. Adequate airflow is one of the may keys to efficient operation. The outdoor unit isn’t the only thing you need to keep clean. Double check to make sure indoor vents aren’t being blocked and remember to vacuum them once a month. Raise the temperature on the thermostat a few degrees. Yes, you heard us correctly. Doing so will prevent your system from working so hard to mitigate drastic spikes in indoor temperature. Close blinds and curtains during the daytime hours. The sun’s rays are quite warm and they can quickly and easily heat up the house

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