A well-maintained water heater can easily withstand such forces for many years. Neglected water heaters, however, may quickly fall into patterns of wear that lead to premature failure. Fortunately, responsible water heater upkeep doesn’t require that much of a homeowner. This article takes a closer look at three common sources of water heater damage, as well as what you can do to prevent them.

Excessive Pressure

Most people would agree that higher water pressures are a good thing—especially in the shower. Unfortunately, excessive pressure levels can wreak havoc on a water heater. Such pressure greatly increases the amount of stress being placed on internal seams, making leaks and even catastrophic tank failures much more likely.

High pressure levels can also damage the internal valves used to regulate the flow of water into and out of your heater. Anode rods may also suffer undue stress and degradation if pressure levels rise too high. Simply put, excessive pressure greatly reduces the lifespan of a water heater, no matter how well it may seem to be working.

The majority of water tanks in use today can withstand maximum pressures up to 150 psi. That’s the pressure at which your tank’s pressure relief valve will automatically open up to prevent itself from blowing sky high. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that all pressures below 150 psi are fair game, however, because they’re not.

To promote optimal longevity—and to prevent damage to your water heater, pipes, and plumbing fixtures—you should limit your pressure to 80 psi at the most. If your heater doesn’t have an in-built pressure monitor, you can purchase an inexpensive gauge at most home improvement stores and attach it to the outlet valve at the bottom of your tank.

Scale Buildup

Most people are familiar with the term hard water, even if they don’t entirely know what it means. Strictly speaking, hard water refers to water that contains more than 120 mg/L of dissolved minerals—mostly calcium and magnesium. The higher the mineral content of water, the more likely you are to suffer from scale.

Scale is a soft white sediment that often builds up around plumbing fixtures. It may also give your dishes a streaky, dull, or otherwise unclean appearance once dry. High mineral content can also reduce the effectiveness of your washing machine, making it harder for laundry detergent to develop the lather necessary to clean your clothes.

While annoying, such issues don’t pose any real threat to your home or appliances—with the major exception of your water heater. The high pressure, high temperature environment inside of a water heater causes scale to precipitate at a much greater rate. Even if your water is relatively soft, over time scale will build up at the bottom of your tank.

This layer of solid minerals creates problems in several ways. First of all, the scale acts as an unintended insulator. Instead of the heat from your tank’s heating coils passing up into the water, the scale absorbs and retains it. This reduces efficiency by increasing the length of time it takes your water heater to reach the desired temperature.

Scale can also have a more destructive effect on your water heater. The heat absorbed by the sediment can overheat and weaken the bottom of your tank, making it more susceptible to damage and failure. For those with electric water heaters, scale may also cause the heating element to grow too hot and burn out, necessitating expensive repairs.

To prevent scale from driving up energy costs and damaging your heater, you must have your tank flushed periodically. During this process, an experienced plumber cools the tank, attaches a hose to the drain valve, and allows the water to flow out into a nearby drain, carrying much of the sediment with it. Often several flushes are needed to remove all of the scale.

Degraded Anode Rod

Without adequate protection, corrosion would soon compromise the structural integrity of a water heater. Eventually corrosion will chew right through a tank’s steel walls, leading to leaks, ruptures, and other highly serious problems. To protect against corrosion, all water heaters contain a component known as the anode rod.

Anode rods consist of a long steel core coated with so-called sacrificial metals, usually some combination of magnesium, aluminum, and/or zinc. As their name would suggest, these metals attract corrosive forces much more readily than the steel of your tank walls. In other words, corrosion will degrade the anode rod, while sparing the water heater itself.

Eventually, however, an anode rod will have suffered all of the corrosion it can bear. Once oxidizing agents have broken down all of the sacrificial metals, only the steel core will remain. Unless a new anode rod is installed, corrosion will once again renew its attack on your tank walls.

There’s no easy way to predict the lifespan of an anode rod, as the chemistry of your particular water supply will greatly effect how rapidly it breaks down. Generally speaking, soft water attacks anode rods much more aggressively than hard water. If you’re unsure how long your current anode rod has been in place, try checking your water heater’s warranty.

Heaters with warranties of six years tend to contain anode rods that will last approximately five years before needing to be replaced. Tanks with ten-year warranties, by contrast, generally have larger anode rods. Some such tanks may even contain multiple anode rods, which will buy you a few more years before needing to have them replaced.

If you have noticed that the water in your home has taken on a brownish hue, then your tank is likely experiencing detrimental corrosion. A fully consumed anode rod likely lies at the heart of the problem. Have a professional inspect—and, if necessary, replace—your anode rod as soon as possible.

The post 3 Frequent Sources of Water Heater Damage appeared first on Verblio.

Take a good, hard look at the kitchen & how you use it:

• Are you a gourmet cook, an enthusiastic baker, or do you rely on your extensive collection of take-out menus? Each of these types of cooks will have different needs and wants for their kitchen.
• Is there enough storage? There are a confusing array of storage solutions available. A kitchen expert can help you make the right choices for your kitchen.
• Does the layout work for you? Do you need more counter space?
• Is the sink big enough for the kind of washing-up you do?
• Is the lighting adequate?
• Are there enough electrical outlets?
• Are there things you’d like to change, and if so, what?

These are questions a kitchen designer and renovation expert can help you with. You may think four outlets are enough; they know better and will make sure you don’t regret your decision every time you need to plug in your Instant Pot. The company will also ensure your electrical panel can handle the load of a modern kitchen with all of its electrical appliances.

Your kitchen designer will help you prioritize the 8 main components of your kitchen:

1. walls
2. flooring
3. lighting
4. appliances
5. sink, faucet, and disposal
6. countertops
7. cabinetry
8. hardware

In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at two of those components: cabinetry and hardware.

Reface Rather Than Replace

If your existing cabinets are in good condition and the layout is generally acceptable, don’t just rip them out. Consider refacing them instead. Refacing is a viable option that gives you the look of new cabinetry at substantial savings over complete replacement.

The simplest method of refacing cabinets involves paint. A fresh coat of paint can change the entire look of your kitchen. Of course, your cabinets need to be in good shape for a simple coat of paint to make them look like new. Choosing paint with a scrubbable finish makes future cleaning easier.

If you hate the style of your cabinet doors and drawer fronts, you may want to opt for modern replacements. If you go this route, the face frames and sides of your cabinet boxes will show. Your renovation company will make sure the new blends with the old.

The third refacing method involves installing laminate veneer. This is the most difficult option and one people often choose to leave to an expert. Applying veneer to the braces and stiles (the horizontal and vertical cabinet supports) while they’re in place is tricky. It can cause even experienced DIYers to regret not hiring that professional kitchen renovation company in the end.

Replace as Needed

You may want to replace cabinets that are in bad shape or cheaply made. Otherwise, you’re just wasting your money putting lipstick on the proverbial pig. Other potential replacements include awkwardly placed or inconvenient cabinets. Fixing these issues at the time of the refacing allows you to maintain a seamless look in your ‘new’ kitchen. This is where the right kitchen designer can really help. They have the expertise to recognize potential problems and recommend solutions that fit your needs and your budget.

Mix & Match

In certain circumstances, it may not be possible to maintain that fluid look. An example might be an older kitchen with metal cabinets. If they’re in good shape and you love their vintage style, work around them. You can still have your dream island—even though it’s probably not available in vintage metal. Your designer can help you choose a style that complements what you already have or help you design a kitchen island that’s uniquely yours.

Add the ‘Kitchen Jewelry’

We’re talking about the hardware on your refaced cabinetry. It’s the first thing most people notice about cabinetry and it showcases your design aesthetic. Picking hardware that fits your personality and the style of your kitchen adds the exclamation point to your budget-friendly kitchen renovation.

Replacing the hardware is a relatively simple job that makes a substantial impact. Ask your designer to help you choose the hardware. They’ll also make sure you know what you’re doing and have everything you need for the job. There are a fair number of steps, so don’t try to rush it. Plan to spend several evenings on it for a well-done job you’ll be proud to claim as your own.

Choosing the right company to help you design and renovate your outdated kitchen allows you to experience the joys of a new kitchen at a price you can actually afford. Hiring an experienced, reliable kitchen renovation company is a relatively small investment that pays off big with a kitchen that will fit your needs now and add resale value to your home in the future.

The post Renovating Your Kitchen On A Budget appeared first on Verblio.

The kids are out of school for the summer and are probably at home using more water and flushing toilets more than during the school year, plants need more watering than usual, it’s likely you and your family will be drinking more water, and the list of why more water gets used goes on and on. Let’s take a look at some things that the average homeowner can take care of on their own to ensure Summer plumbing success.

Summer Vacation – Should You Shut the Water Off?

Many families will be going on vacation during the Summer, likely with their house being left unattended. Having a pipe burst or leak isn’t exactly common, but it would be much less catastrophic with the water having been shut off should it actually happen. The location of the main shut-off valve varies depending on the style of home. Contact a plumber for help locating the valve and getting your home vacation ready.

Toilets and Drains Have a Higher Risk of Clogging

Your toilets are much more likely to be used during the Summer months, especially those with kids at home from school. Clogs are much more likely to happen, and there’s no school janitor that can come fix the issue. Make sure you have a plunger now, before you actually need one.

The extra humidity brought on by Summer means that water may linger around or just inside of drains longer than usual. This seemingly insignificant water may bring about extra sediment or ensure that hair doesn’t fully wash down the drain. This is a recipe for clogs. Chemical drain unclogging can corrode your pipes over time and is typically not safe for the environment. A professional drain cleaning will help prevent any Summertime clogs.

Don’t Neglect the Water Heater

The hot water heater certainly won’t be used as much as it normally would during colder months. The lack of constant use makes this a great time to inspect the unit and ensure everything is running properly. Hiring a plumber to come out and flush your water heater and give it a tune up during the Summer months is a wonderful way to save energy by having the heater run more efficiently. Additionally, if something does need to be fixed or repaired, you want to do it during Summer rather than their busy Winter months.

When taking trips away from home for multiple days, you can also save money and reduce wear-and-tear on your water heater by turning it down before leaving. You won’t be home to use up the hot water anyways so there’s likely no need for it to run constantly while you’re away.

You Will Have Increased Laundry During Summer

With everyone in the house sweating more than usual, the kids constantly outside getting dirty with friends or during Summer sports, it may seem like a never-ending supply of dirty laundry is just waiting for you to clean it up. This time of year will often bring extra stress on your washing machine. You should set aside some time to give the machine a break and inspect the hot and cold water hoses for any leaks or dripping water. The average life span of rubber washing machine hoses is around three years. If yours are more than three years old or if you see any leaks or dripping, you should replace your washing machine hoses before it’s too late.

Be Kind to Your Garbage Disposal

Another area that is sure to see extra activity during Summer is going to be the garbage disposal. Whether it’s from kids having their friends over, Summertime barbecues, or pool parties, your disposal will be working a little bit harder than usual. You want to be mindful about what you put down that thing. Fatty stuff, like bacon grease or hamburger meat, and stringy foods, such as a corn husk, can cling to the side and cause clogs over time. Make sure the kids know what they can and can’t put down the disposal as well.

Don’t Be Scared to Contact a Professional

There are plenty of things the average Joe can do to diagnose, treat, or prevent most minor plumbing issues. With that being said, there are also plenty of things the average Joe shouldn’t even attempt to do. Many homeowners will attempt to fix major plumbing issues and end up making things worse. There’s a reason professional plumbers require so much on-the-job training. If you have any plumbing-related issues that need fixing or if you simply don’t feel comfortable following any of the Summertime tips above, you should contact a professional plumber.

The post Preventative Plumbing Maintenance and Tips for the Summer Months appeared first on Verblio.

History of Built-Ins

Built-in furniture certainly isn’t a new idea, though current home renovation magazines and blogs may lead you to believe it. Before being built-in was a trend, U.S. homeowners in the late 19th and early 20th centuries preferred it for simplicity. Fewer standalone pieces of furniture meant less to move in an era when Americans were starting to become more mobile. Plus, it looked great and saved space in smaller homes with larger families. You’ll see that reflected in the built-in shelving, window seating and armoires of turn-of-the-century Craftsman-style homes.

Renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright did much to continue the practice of incorporating built-ins in home design. For the first part of the 1900s, Wright was extremely influential in his practice of building in beds, shelves, benches and even lamps to his creations.

As families got smaller and houses got bigger in the last part of the 20th century, built-ins lost favor. Those lucky enough to live in vintage Craftsman houses enjoyed the look and style, but new homes and additions didn’t utilize built-ins. That changed with the movement toward simplicity that ushered in the 21st century. For the past few years, families have been eagerly turning toward built-in cabinets and furnishings to simplify their lives and increase their available space.

Built-in Projects to Consider for Your Next Home Remodel or Update

You don’t have to construct a new house to enjoy the benefits of built-ins. Your carpentry contractor can work with you to plan and create built-ins as part of a remodel project or even just as a one-off project to increase floor spaces and enhance appearance of your home in a small area.

Here are five projects you may wish to explore with your carpenter or home remodeling contractor.

1. Window Seating

Window seats are welcoming—and many of us may harbor the romantic ideal of curling up on one with a warm drink, a cuddly blanket and a good book. The great thing about window seats is that they can make a wall with a larger window a lot more usable, and they work well in just about any room of the house.

Today’s window seats feature a wall of built-in cabinetry for storage and display. Keep cushions, toys or table linens inside or in drawers beneath the seat; books and decorative items can live on shelves surrounding the window. Or, create an area for your beloved pets under the seat, so Fluffy or Fido can have cozy space too. You’ll be able to store their supplies in a drawer or cubbie nearby.

In a bedroom, clothing can be easily stored in built-in drawers and armoire areas around the seat. Window seats in entry areas make a perfect spot for setting down your things or greeting the day. (Be sure to include plenty of hooks for bags and keys and room for shoes so everything can easily be put away.) You can even plan a small, triangular shaped window seat in the small area of a bathroom—just note that you may need a custom-made seat cushion!

More Inspiration: Check out This Old House for examples of both spacious and cozy window seats.

2. Space Under the Stairs

If Harry Potter isn’t living in the cramped area under your stairs, you can turn that space into a better-utilized storage area (but first, you may want to consider making a themed room for your kids.)

Bookshelves—with or without doors—are a great way to maximize the space, but it’s also a good spot for a small bench or a desk where you can tackle those tasks you just had to finish after work. Or, build a homework nook with a workspace, shelving, a drawer or two for supplies and hooks for backpacks.

Have pets? Under-the-stairs space is ideal for building in a bed area and storage for food, leashes, toys and other necessities. Another option, depending on the location of your stairs, is to build in a cupboard with compartments for brooms, mops, buckets and other cleaning supplies that you’ll want to have on hand.

More Inspiration: Houzz has some “clever ideas” for how to use that otherwise-wasted space under the stairs.

3. Full-Wall Entertainment Centers

With the myriad of cables, boxes, speakers and other components associated with today’s high-tech entertainment systems, you need a plan for how to keep it all together. An entire wall devoted to storing the needed hardware and screens and making it easy for the family to enjoy a movie, sporting event or even just music is a great addition to today’s media-centered households.

At the center of most built-in entertainment walls is a large screen, which requires some consideration. Will you be upgrading to a larger screen at any point in the future? Some people choose to install doors over the screen area so it isn’t as prominent, or so they can center a console in the available space without it looking odd when not in use.

Be sure to plan space for storage of media if you like to keep DVDs or CDs. As more people store these digitally, the need for such physical storage may lessen, so consider what the space could be used for if your collection goes away.

And even if you have drawers and cupboards for hiding less sightly consoles and cords, remember to leave some open space. Otherwise, you risk having a whole wall of doors look dark and imposing. Keep a neutral color and use colorful accents to liven up the wall.

More Inspiration: Scan through Better Homes and Gardens’ slideshow of different entertainment-related built-ins.

4. Children’s Rooms

The problem with children is that they grow, and a space that was perfect for your princess-loving preschooler likely isn’t appropriate for your college-bound teen. But you don’t have to completely throw out the idea of built-ins for kids’ rooms, as a little creativity and pre-planning can ensure a space that will evolve as your child does.

Consider building in bunk beds. While your child is very young, he or she can sleep at the bottom while you use the top platform for storage (or an older sibling!). Kids can make their beds on top when they’re old enough to do so, with space below for toys and reading—then switch back as they approach young adulthood. A built-in desk space can also undergo many incarnations with the same basic structure to house books, supplies, a computer and other study needs.

Don’t forget to put in shelving that can store precious treasures, trophies and awards or framed photos of the things most meaningful to your child. Room for momentos and reminders of friends, family and fun never go out of style.

More Inspiration: Child decor experts Circu.Net have plenty of ideas for built-ins that will appeal to boys or girls of any age.

5. Recessed Drawers or Shelving in Knee Walls

One especially popular remodeling project to gain more space in an existing home is attic renovation. Convert an attic to a large playroom, bonus room or living space, and use the knee walls (smaller walls on the end of the space) for built-ins. You can easily recess drawers into this otherwise wasted area that’s below the roof rafters.

Knee walls are also great places to install shelving. Use this to build drawers or cubbies that can store supplies for a craft or work area, or to house toys that would otherwise contribute to clutter. You have a lot of options for customization because of all the unused room behind the walls. Plus, small doors that allow access to wiring or HVAC infrastructure can easily be camouflaged amidst the wall of shelving or cupboard space.

More Inspiration: Turn to SFGate for a variety of knee-wall storage options.

Choosing a Carpenter or Contractor to Build Your Built-Ins

Once you’ve seen some of the possibilities for added storage and simplicity in your own home, you may be eager to find a professional who can help you turn your dream into a reality. Be sure to review portfolios—online or offline—for contractors whose work you’re considering and make sure they have other, similar projects under their belts.

You can also begin to collect ideas to share with the professional you choose to work with. A Pinterest board makes an awesome place to pin photos you find as you browse home remodeling websites. The right contractor will be excited to see what appeals to you and to have a starting point for continued brainstorming on your custom cabinets and built-ins.

The post 5 Places Where Built-In Cabinets Can Add Convenience & Use Space Well appeared first on Verblio.

So if you’re putting a house on the rental market, you have two competing interests: curb appeal and durability. You need improvements that look great at the beginning of a tenant’s stay and aren’t completely destroyed by the time they leave. Or, if destruction is inevitable, you need something that’s cheap and easy to replace. That starts with the flooring.

What is the best type of flooring material for a rental house?

There is no absolute answer, though there is one option that comes close. You have to pick the flooring materials that fit your property’s neighborhood and target market.

For example, townhouses valued in the high hundreds of thousands of dollars may need those hardwood floors. The maintenance costs will be high, but your tenants will accept that. But if you have a property with a monthly rental fee of $900, wood isn’t in the budget.

What do other properties in your neighborhood have?

To find out what flooring options are typical in your housing market, check out the competition. There are always other rental properties looking for tenants, so go to an open house. Depending on your region, you will probably find carpet, laminate, or tile. They’re all good options because they’re easy to clean or replace.

In fact, many houses will have a combination of the three types. The bedrooms and hallways will have carpet. The living room and kitchen will have laminate or vinyl. The laundry room and bathrooms will vinyl or tile. You can see the competing interests in each choice. Bedrooms look warmer with carpet, and they don’t face a high degree of muddy traffic or food stains like the main rooms. The living room and kitchen can’t have absorptive materials like carpet, but there’s also a lot of square footage; professionally installed tile gets expensive quickly. Bathrooms and laundry rooms are both small and have a lot of moisture, so tile becomes much more reasonable.

Are you installing the floors yourself or hiring contractors?

New flooring isn’t expensive just because of the materials. It’s the labor that will eat into your budget, especially for anything but carpet. At the low end, you can expect the cost of installation to equal the cost of the flooring itself, and that includes any vapor barriers, underlayment, and mortar. The price gets higher as service quality goes up. If you have an octagonal dining room or you want the flooring to be seamless from room to room, expect to pay even more.

If you want to hire contractors but you want to minimize the expense without risking quality, use a combination of carpet and artificial wood planks. Professionals can quickly, and inexpensively, cut and tack carpet into place in the bedrooms. Carpet has to be replaced after each tenant, but it’s one of the cheapest acceptable materials.

Then you can devote most of your flooring budget to laminate wood planks in the main living areas and vinyl in the bathrooms and laundry room. If you don’t want two types of artificial wood, look for laminate planks that come with waterproofing options. It will cost extra, but you can decide if that’s right for your house’s expected rental income.

If you want to handle the flooring entirely by yourself, use wood laminate or vinyl planks. Carpeting is time-consuming to install yourself, and it can easily come undone unless you have years of experience. Laminate and wood planks, on the other hand, are floating floors that you can lock together with a rubber mallet. All you need is a saw or a utility blade, depending on the material type, to cut the right angles.

Some rooms need additional layers, especially in bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements.

If you want to make sure the floor resists water damage, you have two options:

• a waterproof underlayment that sits below the floor, or
• boards with an incorporated waterproof layer.

At this point, you’re choosing between convenience and savings. For your first property, go with the convenient, less frustrating option so you don’t turn to contractors halfway through.

So, what’s the best flooring material for rentals? Under most circumstances, it will be wood laminate planks. But that’s just the beginning.

What gets added to your to-do list when you change the flooring?

When you first pull up the flooring, you never know what you’ll find. If you have an older pier and beam property, there might be hardwood underneath the linoleum. Even on a slab foundation, you might find layers of tile and vinyl from previous owners. If you find something you like, that means your job is already halfway done and you just have to check for damage.

It’s much more likely, however, that these will just be extra layers you have to remove. Once the flooring is all gone and you’re down to the last irremovable layer of flooring, don’t start laying out the floor just yet. Check these three things first:

1. Is your foundation level and crack-free?

It’s hard to spot foundation problems before things start to break.

The usual signs are:

• cracks in the exterior perimeter,
• tilting door frames, and
• separation between your windows and the exterior walls.

But those signals mean expensive damage has already set in.

Instead of waiting, use a quick marble test after you have ripped up the flooring. Roll a marble gently across each room length- and width-wise. If the marble picks up speed as it rolls across the floor or starts rolling backward, the foundation is tilted. Foundation settling can cause that tilt, especially if the home is old. You have to decide if the tilt looks severe enough to warrant immediate repairs or a professional inspection.

2. Consider painting the walls and ceiling first.

Painting is a messy job. You have to remove all the furniture and protect the floor from splatter. But if you’re already in the middle of replacing the flooring, the job gets a lot easier. The furniture is already out, and the concrete doesn’t matter. Decide if you’re going to do your own painting or if you would rather hire professionals. If you want to handle your own renovations, painting now means you don’t have to worry about protecting or cleaning the new flooring. It also makes it easier to paint the walls a light neutral shade while keeping the future baseboards bright white.

If you want to hire professionals but you still want to save money, do a bit of both. Paint your own walls with a primer, especially if the current paint is dark or thickly textured. Then hire contractors just for the final topcoat.

3. What are you going to do about the door frames?

The bottoms of your interior door frames are never going to be perfectly flush with the floor. But they also aren’t going have enough of a gap for you to slide the edges of the flooring underneath them. Ideally, you want the flooring material to sit between the door frame, or the bottom of the wall, and the underlying surface. That prevents visible gaps once you install new baseboards.

But if there’s not enough space, you will need to cut into the bottom with a jamb saw. It will leave behind some jagged edges and messy corners, especially in your first few door jambs. Decide if you’re going to cover up the damage with decorative plinth blocks. These are blocks that cover where your door frame and baseboards meet at the floor. It adds a bit of extra expense, but embellishing your doors with extra trim, including plinth blocks and rosettes, also adds appeal according to national trends.

When you’re renovating a rental property, you have to handle a lot of competing interests. The nicest additions can bring in tenants faster, but they need a lot of upkeep and have a high price tag. The cheapest improvements will need frequent replacements. Durable fixtures may be expensive or unappealing. None of these factors are necessarily dealbreakers, but you have to make the right trade-offs for your property and your profit margins.

The post Renovate Your Rental, Change The Floors appeared first on Verblio.

Not quite convinced that you shouldn’t just do it yourself? Consider these key reasons why it’s well worth hiring a professional appliance repair technician to take care of your repairs.

Reason #1: Professional Repairs Decrease Expense

All too often, DIY repairs result in appliances that are broken again within a short span of time. Because you lack the expertise necessary to understand exactly what’s wrong with the appliance, you may end up failing to complete the right repairs—and that means that you’ll end up calling in a professional to take care of the repairs after all. Ultimately, that means you’ll pay more to complete the repairs on your appliance than you would have if you had hired a professional the first time!

Reason #2: Professional Repairs Come with Warranties

Did your appliance stop working again within days of being repaired? Was the part faulty? If you do the repair yourself, you’ll have to do it all over again—which means both more time spent repairing your appliance and more money spent on the new parts. In some cases, you may end up spending more money for further parts! When you opt for a professional repair, on the other hand, there’s a warranty on the repairs that will ensure that if something breaks again, it will be taken care of quickly.

Reason #3: Your Time is Worth Something

Doing repairs yourself might save you a little money up front, but is it really worth it? Keep in mind that your time is worth something, too. Instead of spending time working on your appliance, you could be enjoying your family, catching up with tasks around the house, or taking care of work tasks—all of which are well worth the expense of an appliance repair professional.

Reason #4: Licensed Specialists Have the Right Tools for the Job

Often, repairing appliances takes specialized tools that were designed just for the task. Unfortunately, most people don’t keep those sitting around in their garage! When you work with an appliance repair specialist, you’ll quickly discover the benefits of using the right tools for each appliance. Modern appliances, in particular, may depend on a range of digital tools in order to complete repairs. Appliance repair specialists may be able to easily diagnose potential problems with your appliances, rather than leaving you struggling to figure out exactly what the problem is.

Reason #5: You’ll Protect Your Appliance Warranty

Are you working with a relatively new appliance that is still under warranty? Attempting repairs yourself can damage your warranty and leave you unable to replace or repair your appliance under it if something goes wrong. Licensed appliance repairs, on the other hand, will protect your warranty, saving you money on potential repairs in the future.

Reason #6: Hiring a Professional Is a Long-Term Solution

When you attempt DIY repairs, you may quickly find yourself dealing with a similar problem again. Working with a licensed professional, on the other hand, will ensure that your appliances are completely repaired and that you don’t spend another chunk of your day examining an appliance in need of repair. You’ll get better long-term functionality out of your valuable appliances and increase their longevity at the same time.

Working with an appliance repair specialist is the best way to save money and keep your appliances running smoothly. If you have an appliance in need of repair, contact us today to learn how we can help!

The post 10 Reasons You Need An Experienced Technician To Repair Your Appliances appeared first on Verblio.

Naturally, you want to get the most out of your purchase. Some models of furnace can last up to 30 years, but that’s getting more and more unusual. Many of the factors that lead to greater efficiency, like heat exchangers with thinner walls, mean that units just aren’t as long-lasting anymore. The tradeoff? Energy efficiency as high as 98 percent, unlike efficiency numbers that dipped below 60% in the not-so-distant past. So you’re looking at getting an average of 15 to 20 years out of the typical electric or gas furnace that you buy today.

To keep your unit functioning on the higher end of that range, there are several things you can do to make your furnace happy—or, in other words, operating with less stress and strain. Here are eight ways to make the furnace you buy today last as long as possible.

1. Have your furnace chosen & installed by a qualified professional who’s familiar with the furnace brand & model.

Pros will make sure the unit is in perfect working order and ensure potential problems like improper drainage or incorrect intake and exhaust venting don’t affect you. Installation issues could force your furnace to work harder right off the bat, which will definitely limit the unit’s lifespan.

Your installing company can also help you choose a furnace that is best suited for your home. If you select a furnace that’s too small for your home heating needs, for example, you’ll put a greater strain on the unit.

2. Schedule annual HVAC inspection & maintenance.

The HVAC professional who installed your furnace likely offers a package that includes yearly checks for function and performance. A typical maintenance package may include these Energy Star-recommended procedures:

• Checking your heat exchanger for cracks
• Testing for carbon monoxide leaks
• Examining the venting system and making sure there are no leaks or improper venting
• Looking at the drainage system
• Sealing any loose ductwork
• Tightening and testing electrical connections
• Cleaning and lubricating the blower and other moving parts
• Testing the fan motors
• Removing dust, dirt and soot from the interior and exterior of the furnace unit

Don’t wait until the cold season starts to schedule your maintenance. That’s because all over your city, homeowners are turning on their systems for the first time in fall and discovering problems that require your HVAC professional’s service and repair. Instead, plan to have your inspection done at back-to-school time before you’ll need to turn your heat on.

Set a reminder on your smartphone or, if you’re more traditional, write it on the calendar and call to schedule an appointment in late August or early September.

3. Change filters as recommended by the furnace’s manufacturer.

Continuing to use a dirty filter forces your furnace to work harder as it pulls air through the filter. Just like with regular professional maintenance, set a reminder on your smartphone or write on the calendar to replace filters every 3 to 4 months. Regular filter replacement is simple, helps keep your furnace less stressed, and improves air quality in your home.

Do you have pets or live in an area that’s particularly dusty or has poor air quality? Or does someone at home smoke? You’ll probably want to replace filters even more often than every 3 months. Ask your HVAC professional for a recommendation.

4. Install a programmable thermostat.

You won’t be requiring the furnace to work when you’re not at home or in need of the output. Plus, programmable thermostats make it easier to set the temperature a few degrees lower even on cold winter days than you might if you turned on the heat manually every morning. The savings on your energy bills can be between 10% and 30%, and your furnace won’t be working as hard.

5. Make your home as energy-efficient as possible.

Even those homes where the residents are conscientious about saving energy may have areas where improvements can be made. Block air leaks and places where you’re wasting energy so your furnace doesn’t have to work as hard; easier fixes include caulking around windows to seal leaks and installing weatherstripping around doors to keep air from escaping.

Be sure to investigate whether your local utility company has a program where they will come to home and perform a free inspection to check for energy inefficiency issues. Some more expensive ways to make your home more energy efficient, like installing new windows or attic insulation, may also be fully or partially financed by a utility company program.

6. Keep the area around the furnace free of clutter & debris.

Stacking boxes around or even on your furnace can increase the risk of damage to the exterior of your unit. Furnaces should have space around them for most efficient operation.

7. Make sure your A/C is well maintained.

Several styles of whole-home air conditioners sit atop the furnace, and keeping the coil cleaned and the unit functioning optimally will also help your furnace cleaner. Your HVAC professional can inspect and clean the A/C at the same time as your furnace.

8. Keep humidity low.

If you have high moisture levels in your home, the constant dampness can cause your heat exchanger or other metal furnace parts to rust. Once the heat exchanger is compromised, the furnace likely needs an expensive repair or replacement.

Fortunately, in most climates, once the furnace comes on, it helps dry the air. But if you’re concerned about the humidity in your home, you have a few options:

• Use an inexpensive moisture absorber product near your furnace.
• Purchase and use a small dehumidifier unit.
• Talk to your HVAC professional about installing a dehumidifier on your furnace that will help take moisture out of the air throughout your home.

Even the best-maintained furnace unit will eventually need replacement. While you’re taking steps to extend the life of your unit, set aside a little bit of money each year (perhaps from your tax return?) to save for replacement of your furnace in the future. When the time comes to install a new furnace, you’ll have the funds to select the most efficient and best option for your home.

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