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A finger pointing to an area of a home's floor plan.

5 Steps to Create an Effective Fire Escape Plan for Your Home

in Community, Fire & Life Safety, Fire Protection/by Gavin Hall

When I was ten, I woke up to the shrill beep of our smoke alarm. At first, I thought it was a dream—but the smell of smoke quickly made me realize it wasn’t. My mom rushed in, guiding me and my brother outside while my dad tried to put out a small kitchen fire from a forgotten pot. Thankfully, it didn’t spread, but the panic of that night—and the fact that my parents had a fire escape plan—has stayed with me ever since. It taught me how essential fire safety preparation truly is. Read more

black mold on wall and underneath window

4 Common Types of Mold and How to Prevent Mold Growth

in HVAC, Plumbing/by Lisa Zollinger

Zombie media is a staple of modern pop culture. From iconic films like “Night of the Living Dead” to shows like “The Walking Dead,” audiences are captivated by stories of society overturned by reanimated corpses. But “The Last of Us,” a hugely popular video game and TV series, offers a fresh twist. Its apocalypse is caused by an evolved fungus, Ophiocordyceps unilateralis, a real-life parasite that compels ants and spiders to act in strange ways. Read more

6 Tips to Help Prevent a Home or Building Fire

in Electrical, Fire Protection/by Lisa Zollinger

It’s close to dinner time and you’re in a cheerful mood. You’re cooking the main course using a frying pan that has vegetables coated in oil. As light music plays through the air, the oven’s timer goes off. You turn around to attend to the dessert. It’s only been a few minutes since you’ve turned your back away from the pan. Suddenly, the main course on the stove erupts into flames. What began as a light-hearted, spirited dinner has turned into a dreadful fire. Read more

4 Common Causes of Mold in Buildings or Homes

in Community, HVAC, Plumbing/by Bill Ivey

Have you ever smelled a musty odor inside a commercial building or home? Usually that means mold is present. Mold is a fungus and is always present indoors and outdoors in small amounts. According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), mold can be toxic to both humans and animals, depending on the type and amount of mold present. Read more

a person's fingers touching control panel of tankless water heater

Tankless (On Demand) Water Heaters: 4 Pros and 4 Cons

in Plumbing/by Bill Ivey

In 2018 alone, just over 8.7 million residential water heaters were shipped into the United States, which amounts to roughly one water heater for every 37 people. This high demand is not surprising, as everybody needs heated water for numerous tasks, such as taking showers and washing dishes. Read more

man suffering from allergies and wiping nose

5 Ways to Reduce Allergens in the Home

in Community, HVAC/by Matt Lee

Allergies and asthma can wreak havoc on a family. Whether you’re in the doctor’s office for a flare-up or just miserable in your home, you may feel that there’s nothing you can do. However, there’s hope out there. There are several steps you can take to reduce the flare-ups and issues you deal with daily due to pollen, pet dander, mold or dust particles. Read more

6 Ways to Make a Building (or Home) More Energy Efficient

in Construction, HVAC/by Lisa Zollinger

Many buildings constructed prior to 1973 were not energy efficient and relied on non-renewable energy sources, such as petroleum, natural gas and coal. However, a group of 12 oil-rich countries created the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which enacted a limit on the quantity of petroleum that other non-producing countries could purchase. Read more

7 Water Conservation Tips You Can Try at Home

in Plumbing/by Lisa Zollinger

The water we use on a daily basis is just as essential as the air we breathe. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a typical American household uses more than 300 gallons of water per day. On average, 70 percent of water usage occurs indoors and the other 30 percent is used outdoors. Read more

upclose view of fan blades of an air conditioning unit

5 Tips to Help Your Air Conditioning System Run More Efficiently

in HVAC/by Bill Ivey

Spring may seem like the perfect time to think about the maintenance of your air-conditioning system and how to improve its energy efficiency and dependability. However, many homeowners often wait until summer to have their AC system serviced or maintained, especially if it seems like there’s nothing wrong with it. Read more

fire explosion experts investigate building fire

3 Steps Fire & Explosion Experts Use to Investigate a Building Fire

in Fire & Life Safety/by Lisa Zollinger

Being trapped in a building fire is one of the most dangerous situations you can find yourself in. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), between 2011 and 2015, an average of seven Americans died each day due to house fires. The leading cause of civilian home fire deaths during this period was smoking materials while cooking equipment was the second leading cause of home fire deaths. Read more

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