Homeowner Resources

Yes, fall is here, but temps are still warm. You still have time to plant a fall garden full of fast-growing vegetables. If you plant now, your garden will have time to produce before the first frost. Keep the soil in your garden warm by using plastic sheeting to trap heat in the soil. For the full article and a list of optimal planting zones, visit Urban Farmer at ufseeds.com. Here are some ideas from the UrbanFarmerSeeds.com, that would be a great start to your fall garden: Blueberries Fall is the perfect time to plant blueberries. Fall planting will allow for good root growth and early growth this coming spring. Broccoli In warmer climates, use a quick growing Broccoli variety. Plant now to harvest later this fall and early winter. Garlic Plant garlic in the … [Read more...] about There’s Still Time to Plant a Fall Garden

Fall is a busy time of year for most of us. Cooler temps prompt us to get our homes "buttoned up" for winter. We've gathered some tasks together for Your Fall Maintenance Checklist to get you moving in the right direction. Inspect Your Gutters and Roof Once most of the trees in your yard have shed their leaves, inspect your gutters and downspouts. Remove sticks, leaves, and debris. Flush your gutters with water, and check joints and brackets. If possible, replace old, worn gutters with gutters that provide leaf guards. Inspect your roof. Look for missing and loose shingles. Your roof is your home's first line of defense from all sorts of elements. It's imperative that your roof stays in tip-top shape, especially during winter months. Note: if your home is 2-stories or more, … [Read more...] about Your Fall Maintenance Checklist

You may be surprised to learn that, according to the National Fire Protection Association, clothes dryers cause nearly 14,000 home fires every year in the U.S. Fires can start when lint builds up in the dryer or the exhaust duct and block the airflow. Once the airflow is constricted, heat buildup can result in a fire. About 27 percent of these fires are caused by an accumulation of lint, which means that not cleaning out your dryer vent can set you up for a dangerous situation that’s far more serious than the drop in performance caused by constricting a dryer’s ductwork. 9 Ways to Prevent a Dryer Fire 1.  Clean the dryer lint screen/filter before drying a load of clothes. If your clothes are still damp after the drying cycle is complete, or the drying cycle is taking too … [Read more...] about 9 Ways to Prevent a Dryer Fire

Don't let the name "portable" fool you. True, they are not a fixed system; however, they cannot be picked up and moved from room to room like a suitcase.  When moving your portable A/C unit, you will also be moving its exhaust system. Nonetheless, a portable air conditioner does provide the flexibility that a heavy window unit does not. So, Do Portable Air Conditioners Really Work? Here's what we found out. How Does a Portable A/C Unit Work? A portable air conditioner works like any air conditioner. The refrigerant flows through coiled tubes and absorbs heat from inside the room. The heat is released outdoors through an exhaust hose, similar to a clothes dryer. A portable air conditioning unit will usually come with a kit, including a hose, which will allow you to set up your … [Read more...] about Do Portable Air Conditioners Really Work?

No one wants to think about fire season, but in certain areas, wildfires are a yearly occurrence. Being prepared for fire season can help reduce the chances of losing your home to a fire, and may also help you feel less anxious heading into the season. Here are some common recommendations to help you get your house ready for the fire season. Create "Defensible Space" Keep it lean, green, and mean. Your defensible space is the space that becomes the buffer between your house and the trees, grass, and shrubs that surround it. Use this space to slow, or better yet, stop the spread of a wildfire. Radiant heat can be as dangerous as direct flames, so the wider your defensible space, the better. Here are just a few recommendations: Keep your defensible space clear of leaves, twigs, and … [Read more...] about Get Your House Ready for Fire Season