Small Appliances Cook with small appliances. Cook with your toaster oven, electric skillet and slow cooker for specialized jobs, rather than the range. Small appliances use less energy. Use the microwave. Microwave ovens shorten cooking times, which saves energy. Clean or replace air filters. Replace filters on exhaust hoods,...
energy saving tips
Radon
The EPA and organizations nationwide dedicate January as National Radon Action Month to encourage the public to test their homes for radon and get radon problems fixed. Did you know? Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer for non smokers. Nearly 1 in 15 homes in the U.S....
Dryer Connection
As a Certified Master Inspector I get lots of questions from my clients. Here’s an example of a question I got just recently about dryers. Q. Bob, you did an inspection for me in Racine a month or so ago. I have question I hope you can help me...
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Here’s a great energy saving tip: Simply by replacing one 60-Watt incandescent light bulb with one 13-Watt Compact Fluorescent light bulb (CFL) in your home, will not only would help you prevent a significant amount of toxins from pouring into our environment, but you will save money in the...
Thermostats
Turn down the heat at night or while you are away? A common misconception associated with thermostats is that a furnace works harder than normal to warm the space back to a comfortable temperature after the thermostat has been turned down, resulting in little or no savings. This misconception...
Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans have been around since before electricity! Why this lasting popularity? Certainly charm is one big factor. A fan fixture can bring distinction to a room. And for some people, the steady, quiet whirl of paddles evokes the romance of bygone days, of sultry summer afternoons. More importantly...
Energy-saving Landscape
Planting trees can help save on your energy bills. Carefully positioned trees can save up to 25% of a typical household’s energy for heating and cooling. Just three trees, properly placed around the house, can save an average household between $100 and $250 in heating and cooling energy costs...
Windows
Thinking about replacing the windows in your home? Here are some helpful tips that you need to know when you begin looking for the best windows for your home. Air infiltration. This refers to the movement of air at a different temperature through the different interfacing surfaces of the...
Facts on Wood Burning Fireplaces
Three types of heat. Heat, by laws of physics, is transferred by three methods–convection, radiation and conduction. Convection is the transfer of heat from one area to another by moving air. Radiation is the movement of infrared electromagnetic rays through air with virtually no warming of the air but...
The Importance of a Home Inspection
Is your dream home a sweet dream or a potential nightmare? So, you found your dream home. Do you know what you are really buying? Many cases of disappointment and financial ruin could have been avoided with a simple, but comprehensive pre-offer home inspection. A licensed home inspector can...