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Excess lint in your dryer and dryer venting builds up slowly and gradually – you don’t even realize it’s happening. Many homeowners think that by cleaning out the lint filter after each load that you are doing your job of maintaining your dryer. This is not the case! Cleaning out the lint filter is a very important part of dryer maintenance but to insure the safety of your family and home you need to clean out the drying venting as well.

The most common reason for clogged drains is neglect. In the kitchen, drain problems often come from failing to use the drain strainer to prevent food from falling into the pipes, or from grease that accumulates in the drainpipes. In the bathroom, using excessive toilet paper, flushing inappropriate paper items (like paper towels) or flushing tampons down the toilet, often results in a stoppage. In the bathroom sink and bathtubs, hair, hair gel, toothpaste, dental floss and other items can all cause drain problems.

Energy consumption for home air conditioning accounts for almost 5% of all the electricity produced in the U.S., at a cost to homeowners of over $15 billion, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). With the current state of the economy most of us are trying to cut costs in any way we can. You can cut your energy costs by increasing the efficiency of your system and decreasing your need for air conditioning.

If you are a homeowner, at some point you are probably going to have a plumbing problem. Being prepared before, during and after a plumbing service call can help you save time and money!

Water heating is the second highest energy cost in your house next to heating and cooling, not to mention a precious natural resource. Although the cost of water itself may not seem like much, if you have a leak you could be spending more money out of pocket than you realize and wasting gallons of water each day.

Next to heating and cooling, heating water is the highest energy user in your home. On average, households will spend $400-600 per year on heating water. New technology enables homes to have instant hot water and decrease water heating costs by up to 50% by installing a Tankless Gas Water Heater.

A do-it-yourself energy audit is something easy you can do yourself. You’ll be saving energy and money by performing a few easy checks. When you perform an energy audit make sure to keep a checklist of areas you have inspected and any problems you have found. This list will help you to prioritize any tasks or upgrades you may be considering.

Outdoors molds play a part in the natural environment by breaking down dead organic matter, such as fallen leaves or dead trees. Inside, however, mold growth should be avoided! Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores, which are invisible to the naked eye as they float through the indoor and outdoor air. Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet. Molds only grow when there is moisture present.

Heating a home is the largest energy expense in most homes, and it accounts for two-thirds of annual energy bills in cold climates. Experts are predicting the cost of heating your home, both with electricity and natural gas, to rise again just as it did this past winter.

Next to heating and cooling, water heating is typically the largest energy user in the home. As homes have become more and more energy efficient during the last 20 years, the percentage of energy used for water heating has steadily increased.