Vacation Winterization

If you're leaving for a short trip set your thermostat at a minimum of 50 degrees to allow heat to penetrate your outside walls and keep your pipes from freezing while you're gone. If you're leaving for a longer, turn off the power and gas, and drain your water heater. Shut your main water off, and open up all your faucets. Finally, pour some non-toxic rv antifreeze washer fluid down every drain including toilets, showers, sinks, tub and laundry.

Heating and Air Conditioning

When running your air conditioner, make sure all windows & doors are closed. Warm outside air is more humid than inside air. The air conditioner must dehumidify the air before it can change the temperature and cool you down. Make sure the outside unit of your air conditioning system has nothing stacked next to it or bushes close to it. It needs enough air coming in from all sides to work properly. Finally, replace your furnace filters regularly. Poor airflow can cause your air conditioner to malfunction.

Dishwasher Efficiency

Does your dishwasher leave residue on your glasses? Your dishwasher might not be getting hot water soon enough. To fix this problem we recommend installing a hot water recirculation line in your kitchen. Your dishwasher will receive hot water within seconds of start up, improving its ability to clean your dishes.

Leaky Toilets

Check your toilets for leaks by adding some food coloring to the water in the tank. If your toilet runs the food coloring will show up in the bowl. This can cause your water bill to skyrocket or your septic tank and drainfield to become overused.

Water Filtration

Do you like the taste of fresh, pure water but hate the environmental hazard and cost of bottled water? Your own water filtration system will save you exponentially on what youâ??ll pay for store bought water. There are excellent water purification systems which remove 99% of all contaminants potentially found in your water. These systems will last you for years, provide purer water than what you can buy, and all the while reducing your carbon footprint.

Safe CFL Disposal

Studies find that 1 broken CFL bulb releases enough mercury to raise the level of toxic mercury in the air over 100 times safe levels. Only use CFL bulbs in fixtures unlikely to be knocked over such as sconces and recessed lighting. If a bulb does break, leave the bulb where it is, exit the room and ventilate it to the outdoors for 30 minutes. To clean up, place large pieces in a sealed jar. Use duct tape to pick up smaller pieces and dust, and place in the jar as well. If broken on carpeting where children or pregnant women live, it is worth cutting out a dinner plate size patch of carpet where the bulb broke to prevent any mercury from becoming airborne later.