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What Temperature Should My Water Heater Be Set At?
By default, many water heater manufacturers set the temperature on the thermostat at 140 Fahrenheit. For most households, this is simply too high. One rule of thumb: if you can’t hold your hand under the tap with the water on it’s hottest setting, the water heater is turned up too high, and your wasting energy. […]
Read MoreShould I be Concerned About Lead In My Drinking Water?
While the EPA has worked to remove lead from drinking water over the years, it can still exist in trace amounts in drinking water. Here are the most common sources of lead in drinking water. If your home was built prior to the 1980s, it’s likely to have lead solder connecting the copper water pipes. […]
Read MoreA Better Alternative to Duct Tape for Sealing Ductwork
While its name may imply that duct tape is designed for taping gaps and joints in your home’s ductwork, there are better options than the old jack-of-all-trades grey tape. Research by the U.S. Department of Energy found that duct tape actually degrades in a relatively short period of time. Heat causes the adhesive on the […]
Read MoreAging In Place – Creating a More Accessible and Comfortable Kitchen
As we age we often discover that spaces in our home, such as the kitchen, can no longer not meet our needs as well as they once did. Thankfully, there are steps we can take to adapt these spaces to better meet our abilities as we age. The following are some ideas that can help […]
Read MoreThe ABC’s of Plumbing – Dual-Flush Toilets
In response to water conservation concerns in the 1990’s, low-flush (or high efficiency) toilets were introduced to significantly reduce the number of gallons used per flush (GPF). Low flush toilets use 1.3 gallons per flush, while a regular toilet 1.6 or more gallons per flush. The average US home will save US$90 per year, and […]
Read MoreThe ABC’s of Indoor Air Quality – VOCs
VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds, are gases emitted by solids or liquids inside the home. The sources of VOCs in the home are numerous and include: Household cleaning products Paints and varnishes Wood preservatives Wax that contain organic solvents Disinfectants Cosmetics Hobby products All of these products can release organic compounds while you are using […]
Read MoreThe ABC’s of Air Conditioning – Refrigerants
Your home’s air conditioner or heat pump uses one of two kinds of refrigerants: R-22 (also known as Freon) or HCFC-22. If your air conditioner was manufactured in 2010 or later, it uses HCFC-22. R-22, or Freon, is being phased out and replaced with more environmentally friendly refrigerants. The most common replacement for R-22 in […]
Read More5 Causes of a Low Hot Water Supply
If the supply of hot water heater in your home is not sufficient, even after turning up the thermostat, there are a number of possible causes. 1. The Dip Tube Is Damaged Cold water enters the water heater through the dip tube where it is forced to the bottom of the tank for quick heating. When the tube […]
Read MoreUsing Thermal Imaging to Find Cooling and Plumbing Problems
For years professionals have used advanced thermal imaging cameras to identify problems with pipes, ductwork, insulation and other systems in the home. Thermal imaging works by converting infrared light into an visible image on a video screen called a thermogram. Temperature differences are easily seen as a range of warm and cool colors. Aim a […]
Read MoreWill Closing Vents In Unoccupied Rooms Save Energy?
Many homes have rooms that go unoccupied for long periods of time. Guest rooms, bedrooms and basements make up a large percentage of the air volume in the average home. So it seems like a simple question: if the room is unused, why not close the air registers to save energy? The reality is that […]
Read MoreNeighbors Are Saying About ABC
