Turn your thermostat up. During warm weather, set your thermostat as high as possible, given health and comfort considerations and drink plenty of fluids. Turn thermostats to 78 degrees when at home; 85 degrees when away. Use fans to circulate cool air.  

Close your drapes or shades.  Windows are one of the largest sources of heat gain in your home. Although not as effective as exterior shading, keeping your drapes and shades closed during the day helps keep unwanted heat out of your home.  

Ventilate when it’s cool outside.   Most areas of California have cool, dry nights even after the hottest days. Cut your cooling costs by opening windows when it’s cooler outside than inside. In the morning, close up the house to trap   the coolness inside.   

Use ceiling fans wisely.  Ceiling fans create enough air movement in a room to make it feel cooler by four degrees or more. They use only about as much energy as a 100-watt light bulb. Since you will feel cooler, make sure that you turn up your thermostat to 80 degrees or higher to save on your energy costs.   

Eliminate wasted energy. Turn off lights in unoccupied rooms. Unplug or recycle that spare refrigerator in the garage if you dont truly need it this seemingly convenient way to keep extra drinks cold adds 10-25% to your electric bill. Remove the refrigerator door for safety reasons and to prevent mold.   

Use appliances efficiently. Do only full loads when using your dishwasher and clothes washer. Run your appliances during off peak hours or after the sun goes down. Be sure to   clean your clothes dryer’s lint trap after each use. Use the moisture-sensing   automatic drying setting on your dryer if you have one. When replacing these appliances, buy Energy Star products. They save up to 30 percent over standard   models.   

Plug leaking energy in electronics.  Many new TVs, VCRs, chargers, computer peripherals and other electronics use electricity even when they are switched off. Although these standby  losses are only a few watts each, they add up to over 50 watts in a typical home that is consumed all the time.

If possible, unplug electronic devices and chargers that have a block-shaped   transformer on the plug when they are not in use. For computer scanners, printers and other devices that are plugged into a power strip, simply switch off the power strip after shutting down you computer.
 

Make sure gutters are clean and stable. This ensures proper drainage and lessens the chance they will become flying debris in high wind.

• While you’re there, examine facia or soffit boards. If they are rotting or soft, they may allow rain into your attic or atop interior walls.
• Make sure downspouts are sloping away from the house and carrying water at least five feet away from foundation walls.
• Lawn sprinkler heads should not spray the walls of the house. This moisture can lead to unwanted growths, wall failure and other destructive moisture problems.
• Examine your roof carefully, looking for worn, curled or missing shingles.
• If you can’t inspect your roof easily, your attic is the next best place to check for problems. Look for moisture or surface discoloration — and do this every time you go into the attic. The earlier you find a roofing problem, the better.
• Examine window and door flashing, seals or weatherstripping. If sealants around those openings are no longer pliable and continuous, reseal and caulk them.

Any further questions or concerns, dont hesitate to give us a call 925-754-5232

• Setting your air conditioner 5° higher will save up to 20% on cooling costs.¹
• Use fans to make indoor temperatures feel cooler, most ceiling fans use less energy than a light bulb.
• Have your air conditioning unit serviced to cut 15% of cooling costs. ²
• Don’t try to cool the great outdoors — Seal cracks, gaps, leaks and add insulation to save up to 20% on home cooling costs.²
• Keep windows and doors shut and shades closed during the day, to keep your house cool and reduce air conditioning needs.

To protect your investment in your home, it’s important to perform regular maintenance. The following tips not only help you to prevent costly repairs in the future, but can also make your home more efficient, saving you money on your monthly utility bills.

1. Inspect the exterior of your home annually:
   • Check the foundation for cracking.
   • Check the weather stripping and caulking around doors and windows, and check for cracks and holes in the siding.
   • Check the paint for peeling, cracking, fading or blistering.
   • Trim shrubs and trees so they clear the foundation, exterior walls, and roof.
   • Drain and shut off your outside faucets before winter.
   • Clean gutters and downspouts in the fall and spring.
   • Clean leaves and mulch from under porches and decks, and pull mulch away from foundation walls.
2. Check annually for water or moisture in the crawl space, as well as for water leaks in the basement or in the attic.
3. Drain a gallon or two from your hot water heater at least twice a year to extend its life expectancy.
4. Have your chimney cleaned each year before using the fireplace.
5. Check the filters on your heating/cooling unit once a month and change or clean on the recommended schedule. Have the unit serviced annually.
6. Check faucets for drips and the rest of the plumbing for leaks once a month.
7. Check your dryer vent and stove hood monthly and clean them as needed.
8. Inspect and repair tile grout in bathrooms and kitchen annually.
9. Change the batteries in your smoke alarm twice a year.
10. Make sure that you know where the main cut-off valves or switches are for the plumbing, electrical and gas systems.

* For fruit flies, fill a bowl with 2 C water, 2 T white vinegar, 2 T sugar, and a few drops of liquid dish soap. Leave out, and soon fruit flies will be gone. It’s non-toxic and odor-free too!

* To keep crawling insects away: place bay leaves in the kitchen drawers and flour or sugar containers.

* Vitamin B supplements taken throughout the season will repel mosquitos. (Check with your doctor first before taking any supplement)

* Sprinkle cayenne pepper in areas where you’ve seen bugs enter your home. Deadly to insects, non-toxic to pets and children.

What causes the moisture in between my double pane glass?

Spring is almost here, but with warmer weather comes rain.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, floods are the second-most common and widespread of all natural disasters, affecting homeowners in all 50 states.

If the rain hits this spring, will your home be ready?

March 12-16 marks National Flood Awareness Week.

• Build an emergency kit that includes a first aid kit, bottled drinking water, a flashlight, batteries, waterproof clothing and boots, and other necessities.
• Avoid building in a floodplain unless you elevate and reinforce your home.
• Elevate the furnace, water heater and electric panel in your home if you live in an area that has a high flood risk.
• Consider installing “check valves” to prevent flood water from backing up into the drains of your home.
• Protect your posessions, including putting stored items in a basement in waterproof containers, as well as keeping important documents in a safe deposit box.
• Purchase a portable or standby generator in the case of weather-related power outages.
• If you’re located in a high-risk area, consider purchasing flood insurance.

A leaky faucet is more than just a nuisance; it can be a real financial drain and a waste of precious water resources. While it might not seem like much water is being wasted, each drip adds up over time. In fact, according to the United States Geological Survey, a single leaky faucet dripping once per minute can waste 34 gallons of water each year. If your kitchen faucet is dripping, you will need to find the source of this water wastage as soon as possible.

Simply disconnect the hook from its slot and reconnect at the next slot on the float arm, and if this doesn’t work check to see if the float has become disconnected. The top of the float should be slightly above the water’s level. If it’s not adjust the arm on the float until the float rests where the water level is about 1/2″ below the top of the overflow pipe.

If the toilet is still flowing freely, try using a dye tablet (available at hardware of plumbing supply stores). Simply flush and as the water in the tank begins to fill, drop in the tablet. If your tank is leaking you’ll begin to see the water in the bowl turn the color of the tablet.

Sometimes the flapper valve is the culprit and doesn’t seal the tank properly. This should be easy to fix. Turn off the shut-off valve below the tank and flush the toilet to “empty” it. Remove the flapper and replace it with a new one. If the flapper valve seat is cracked, you’ll have to replace the whole unit, which you can find at a hardware store. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.

If the flapper valve and seat seem to be in good working order and your toilet is still running, the ball-cock assembly may need replacing. First empty the tank and then replace using a ball-cock assembly kit. Be sure to follow the kit’s instructions carefully.