3 Tips for Hiring Handyman Services

by Posted in Home Improvement

Maybe your windows are letting in a draft. Maybe your furnace is making strange noises in the middle of the night. Whatever your reasons for needing home repair technicians, you should always take your time and consider your choices before you actually commit to someone. Here are just a few tips for finding the ideal handyman!

1. Ask for Recommendations

This is one of the easiest ways to hire a repair service. If your mom had her door replaced last year, ask her about the company that she used. If your co-worker is struggling with sink problems, ask them about the companies that they’re considering. You can get a lot of names and phone numbers by simply reaching out and making your interest known, so don’t be shy. Most people will be more than happy to share their opinions with you.

2. Find a Specialist

Once you have a list of potentials, you’ll need to start narrowing them down. A good way to do this is by looking at their “skills” or “services” page. Can they offer the type of repairs that you need? Do they seem to have a lot of knowledge and experience in that particular area? You wouldn’t hire a foot doctor to handle your heart problem, so don’t hire a bricklayer for your refrigerator issue. Seek out an expert who knows what they’re doing.

3. Read Their Reviews

Customer reviews can provide an honest look at a company’s strengths and weaknesses. Just make sure that you read them with a healthy dose of skepticism. Don’t automatically assume that positive or negative feedback is legitimate; it might be the result of anything from paid sponsors to disgruntled ex-employees. Use your powers of deduction to figure out if the reviews can be trusted.

These are just a few tips for hiring handyman services Hinsdale IL. You’ll only want trusted, qualified professionals to enter your home, so make sure that you do your homework. You should have full confidence in your choice before you give them the keys to your kingdom!

All About Air Filters

by Posted in Home Appliance Tagged ,

The heating, air conditioning and ventilation equipment that helps regulate temperatures inside your home or business premises in Richmond represents a significant investment. You can extend the functional life of your HVAC equipment with routine upkeep and maintenance services. Simple tasks like duct cleaning and changing HVAC air filters in Richmond may be able to help you save on costly repairs further on.

Maintaining Your Air Conditioner

Clogged and dirty filters impede the flow from your air conditioning unit, thereby reducing its efficiency and raising the costs associated with operating it. Additionally, when the normal flow of air from an air conditioning unit is blocked, the air that escapes from the unit may deposit dirt and debris directly on your evaporator coil. Over time, this may cause your evaporator coil to start malfunctioning. That’s why HVAC experts recommend cleaning or changing your air conditioning unit’s filter every one or two months.

What Are Air Conditioning Filters Made Of?

Air conditioning filters are engineered to trap particulates like dirt, dust, mold, pollen and even bacteria. Filters are made either from pleated paper, pleated cloth or fiberglass that’s enclosed in a cardboard frame so that it can be easily slid into the slot provided for it. Some filters contain activated charcoal or some other absorbent catalyst that is capable of trapping volatile compounds or noxious odors in the air.

Air conditioning filters are designed with pores, and these pores correspond to a scale called the Minimum Efficiency Rating System (MERV). The higher its MERV rating, the better a filter is at capturing and removing dust and dirt. This gives consumers a way to compare the efficiency of filters that are made by different manufacturers.

Filters with high MERV values between 13 and 16 may be most appropriate for medical settings since they are capable of trapping and removing bacteria; filters with low MERV values between 1 and 4 will remove dust mites, pollen and carpet fibers but may not be able to remove mold spore and certain types of aerosols like hairspray. Most HVAC experts recommend using filters with MERV values between 8 and 13 in homes.

Benefits Of Building A Shed On Your Property

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When you own your own home, there is a lot of satisfaction in finding ways to raise your home’s value. While there are a lot of ways to accomplish this, one great and simple way is by adding a shed onto your property. There are tons of uses for sheds and some of those are listed below. When you decide to have a shed built, it is crucial to hire a reputable company to show you how to build a storage shed MA using quality materials and plans from companies such as chapinsheds.com.

Storing Tools

If you or a family member loves to fix things, you probably have a good amount of tools laying around. Most people keep their tools in the garage. However, too many tools can end up taking up most or all of the available room. If you don’t want to send your car to the street for parking, a shed to store your tools in is a great option to consider. With a tool shed, you can leave your garage for its intended purpose.

Curb Appeal

Most people wouldn’t think that a shed could add curb appeal. When you get a custom shed built, it can add curb appeal and value to your home. There are a variety of sizes, designs and styles of sheds to match any home. A shed may also be used as a nice backdrop for window boxes, trellises and more.

Storage

A shed doesn’t always have to store dirty tools and yard equipment. A shed can be a great place to store bins and other items that you don’t have room for in your home. As long as your shed is weather-proof, your items should be secure and safe inside your locked unit.

As you can see, there are many uses and benefits of getting a shed built on your property. When you have a quality contractor build a custom shed for you and your family, you will be excited to put it to use. It is an investment that has many practical benefits.

Why You Should Raise and Not Re-Do Your Sinking Concrete

by Posted in Home Building

A Developing Problem

Perhaps you’ve noticed lately when you drive down your driveway that there’s a dip in the concrete. Or, if you enjoy taking walks, and you see that a sidewalk just outside of your home is beginning to sink down and crack. Not only are these unpleasant to look at, but they could be a sign of a worse problem. You may feel the need to replace the entire concrete area. However, there’s actually another solution that is more affordable and works just as well.

It’s called concrete raising. As its name might suggest, it involves the process of raising the sinking concrete, so it looks the way it did before the problem started to occur. The reasons behind the sinking can vary. In some cases, it may be because the soil beneath the concrete is poor. This is especially true of soil that has a considerable amount of clay within it. This clay can expand and shrink with moisture, which in turn, makes the concrete above it start to sink. Even having something as innocent as a tree nearby can actually affect water levels beneath the concrete and also make it sink. Regardless of the reason, here are a few items of why you should consider concrete services Illinois like raising.

Why It Stands Apart

Concrete raising is, simply put, more affordable than installing new concrete. As you may know, concrete is expensive. This is because it’s durable and tends to last a very long time. For those who can’t stand the unsightly view of their sagging concrete but can’t afford to redo the area, raising is an excellent alternative.

It’s also faster. The professionals can apply the material required to raise the area, and it will dry in a matter of hours. You won’t be stuck parking your car on the side of the road or avoiding the area for a long period of time. So, remove that safety hazard today.