Home Improvement: One Repair At a Time

(BPT) – Tis the season … for home improvement. Longer days, warmer weather and more flexible schedules (hello, summer break!) have a way of

inspiring home improvement projects. It’s as if appliances in and around the house emerge from the shadows of winter, calling out for attention. Suddenly, the dishwasher rack has rusted, the washing machine agitator has ceased to work, the A/C unit is making a strange clicking noise and the lawnmower blade is broken. Now is the perfect time to repair these assets around the home, and doing it yourself has never been easier or more affordable.

Consider the many benefits of DIY appliance repair, aside from the personal satisfaction it offers. The cost to repair an appliance is typically a fraction of the cost of replacing it altogether. The money saved could be applied toward larger home improvement projects, such as new flooring or an upgraded bathroom.

New appliances may be different sizes and feature dissimilar finishes than their predecessors. This could make it difficult for homeowners to replace an older appliance with a new one that fits in the same space and matches the look of other nearby appliances. Repairing appliances, rather than replacing them, enables homeowners to keep the original appliances they selected and are accustomed to using, knowing they complement their home design and decorating style. DIY repair also means avoiding the hassle of scheduling a service call, having to take a vacation day from work to wait for a repair person at home and experiencing the frustration of a technician failing to show or bringing the wrong replacement part.

The proliferation of how-to articles and DIY videos online has made it possible for homeowners to tackle appliance repair projects on their own, saving both time and money. The key to their success is finding the correct replacement parts. Most home improvement stores sell aftermarket parts for appliances, but these parts can undermine the best repair work and even damage appliances. For example, they may be lower quality than the parts they are replacing, may not fit or function as well as the original and may not carry the same warranty protection.

Sites like RepairClinic.com sell only original replacement parts, so homeowners can be confident the products they purchase are approved for use and guaranteed to work in their appliances. With over 7 million appliance parts and maintenance products for over 200 appliances, including lawn equipment, outdoor power equipment and heating and cooling equipment brands, Repair Clinic has helped more than 20 million people save over $2.5 billion in repair costs. Repair Clinic also offers same-day shipping, thousands of expertly produced video tutorials, a 365-day return policy and live customer service support.

This season, commit to repairing the appliances in and around the house that are calling out for help. You’ll save time and money, and enjoy the satisfaction of doing it yourself!

Make the Most Of Your Landscaping Projects This Year With These Tips

(BPT) – Home improvement projects aren’t constrained to a single season, but during these warmer months, your focus is no longer simply on your home’s indoors. Now there’s outdoor yard work to do as well, and if you’re looking to recreate your outdoor space, your outside projects may include some landscaping. If you have landscaping as part of your to-do list this season, the right strategy can ensure that you get the most benefit from your landscaping goals with the least amount of headache.

To that end, here are five tips to simplify your landscaping projects this year.

Plan For the Entire Year.

Landscaping projects can be hard work, and because of that, you deserve to enjoy them for as long as possible. That’s why it’s important to plan your landscaping layout with the entire year in mind. Research your plant and flower options based on bloom periods and plant a variety so your yard is always being introduced to new pops of color. You should also add evergreen shrubs and other such plant life to your overall plan to give you a spot of color in the winter and preserve your landscaping look.

Be Mindful of Other Tools Outside Your Home.

When developing your landscaping strategy, you need to be aware not only of your home but the other vital components outside as well. Many homeowners are not mindful of their home’s HVAC units and may place landscaping solutions too close to the unit, which makes it difficult for techs to service the unit and exposes your system to the harmful effects of debris. Instead, plan to keep all landscaping at least two feet away from your HVAC system. This allows units like the Champion Momentum Variable Capacity Residential System to operate at peak efficiency and allows service techs to utilize its built-in advanced monitoring system to provide accurate readouts for faster annual service, maximized service life and improved comfort in your home.

Touch Every Corner Of Your Yard.

Your home is naturally the focal point of your yard, but it doesn’t have to be the only one. Creating a berm – a mound-type space that you can fill with rocks, wood chips or a flower garden – can add a pop of color and visual appeal to an otherwise plain area. These visual attractions can be placed anywhere, but adding one to an otherwise deserted corner of your yard is a great way to tie the entire space together and make the most of an unused area.

Add Plants That Fit Your Lifestyle.

When planning your landscaping project, it’s important to remember this isn’t just a one-time solution. Your landscaping will need continual work, and as such, your landscaping plan should be based partly on the time you have to dedicate to the project. For example, if you’re a person who appreciates beautifully colorful flowers but doesn’t want to replant them every year, you should start your project by planting perennials instead of annuals. Your time commitment in year one will be roughly the same, but you’ll ease your time requirements in the years ahead.

Monitor Your Budget.

Like many things, a lavish landscaping project can get away from you very quickly in the financial department. Veteran landscapers know that it becomes very easy to get swept up in the project and before you know it, you’ve added a slightly larger tree or another bush or two. Then you suddenly have unexpected costs heading your way. Instead of ending your exciting project on a bad note with a higher bill, plan out your budget ahead of time. Try to get as specific as possible with where you plan to spend every dollar. The more you can hold to each line item in your budget, the better you’ll be able to avoid unnecessary expenses throughout the process.

Making landscaping improvements to your yard can be a fun and rewarding project provided you follow a strategy that makes the best use of your time and money. Apply the tips above and you’ll be rewarded with a beautifully landscaped yard that you can enjoy every day of the year. To learn more about the Champion Momentum Variable Capacity Residential System, visit championhomecomfort.com.

Wildfire Protection Starts In These 5 Places

(BPT) – It’s National Wildfire Awareness Week. So, if you live in a wildfire-prone area, make sure you’re taking the right steps to stave off potential damage long before flames rage toward your doorstep.

And one of the best ways to do that is to take a look at the home itself.

“It’s a combination of the house materials, the house design and then everything around it within 100 feet that makes the difference between a safer home and one that has a greater risk of damage from wildfire,” says Michele Steinberg, manager of the Wildfire Operations Division for the National Fire Protection Association.

“All of our recommendations are really for well before the fire ever starts.”

Steinberg recommends paying special attention to these five spots around your house:

The Roof

Ensure yours is rated Class A, which means the covering and underlayment provide the most effective resistance to fire. It’s a big-ticket item for homeowners, but the most critical design item when it comes time to replace an aging roof.

The Gutters

Keep them free of debris such as leaves and pine needles, which can be ignited by swirling embers. “A wildfire doesn’t even need to be close to your house to cause a problem,” Steinberg says. “A blizzard of embers can pile up on roofs, porches and in gutters.”

The Foundation

It’s best that decks, porches and fences be made of non-flammable materials. Keeping their surface areas clear also is critical. Screening porches and decks with fine, metal mesh can help prevent embers from sweeping in to ignite leaves and other debris.

The Windows and Vents

Double-paned or tempered glass better withstands approaching heat. “I’ve seen cases where the outside window breaks but the inside pane stays intact, so you have that extra level of protection,” Steinberg said. And, if possible, build in under-eave and side-roof vents to make it more difficult for the wind to blow in embers.

The Landscaping

Keep organic flammable materials such as trees, shrubbery and even mulch from contact with your house. They can lead fire right to the siding. Store firewood at least 30 feet from the house because of the intense heat and large flames it creates when ignited.

Find out more about how the Wildfire Response Program can provide you with extra wildfire protection when you need it.

Simple Summer Home Maintenance Tips for Comfort and Energy Savings

(BPT) – Things will soon be heating up all over the country. In fact, the average U.S. household will spend 3 percent more on electricity bills this summer than in 2017, due to rising retail electricity prices and higher usage, according to the U.S. Energy Administration’s estimation.

Jennifer Franz, an energy efficiency expert at Lennox, says the good news is that homeowners can spend just a few hours before the season starts to make some quick fixes and easy improvements that will help them save energy and make them more comfortable all summer long, including:

Mind the Maintenance:

Schedule an annual routine check-up for your heating and cooling equipment to keep the system running as efficiently as possible, and check the air filter each month to see if it needs to be replaced.

Keep It Cool:

Add extra insulation to the attic, which will help prevent your home’s heating and cooling system from having to work harder to regulate the indoor temperature during the hottest months of the year.

Control Cracks:

Seal cracks around windows and doors with caulk or weather stripping to prevent conditioned air from escaping.

Set It and Forget It:

Install a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature at certain times of the day, automatically regulating the temperature when you’re away. In addition, always set your thermostat to the highest temperature you can stand to save the most money. Homeowners can save as much as 10 percent a year on cooling bills by setting their thermostat 7 to 10 degrees higher than its normal setting for eight hours a day, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Make a Clean Sweep:

Decrease dust and dirt in the home by cleaning with non-toxic, natural household cleaners, such as baking soda, cornstarch or white vinegar, and using a vacuum cleaner with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, which will trap small particles like dust that others re-circulate back into the air.

Seal the Deal:

Examine the home’s pipes and connections, as well as all vents, and add caulking or sealant, if needed, to ensure they are air-tight.

Clear the Air:

Breathe easier this summer by installing a whole-home air purification system, such as the new Lennox PureAir S, which is integrated with your home’s heating and cooling system. These systems are much more effective at eliminating airborne contaminants than portable room air cleaners and don’t produce ozone, which is a known lung irritant.

Franz says homeowners should pay special attention to their heating and cooling system, which accounts for more than half of a home’s energy costs. “The easiest thing homeowners can do to save energy and stay comfortable during the summer – and all year long – is to change the air filter on their system regularly; however, if your air conditioner is more than 10 years old, it’s time to consider replacing it with a more efficient system that will save significant energy and help lower utility bills.”

By taking on a few quick and easy home maintenance projects, homeowners can help reduce the amount of wasted energy, save money and stay comfortable as temperatures rise. To learn more about home energy efficiency and how to save money on utility bills, visit https://www.lennox.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Lennox.