Looking for Home Maintenance Tips This Summer? Look no Further!

Posted on May 22, 2017 by Jeremy Leake

It’s important to maintain your home during all seasons so when we found this article we thought it was important to share with you. It was released by Southern Living and Allstate. We hope it helps you maintain your home this summer!

————
If you need Denham Springs condos vent cleaning services, then Dryer Vents Plus is your #1 choice! Call Jeremy Leake today at 225-612-7752 to schedule your 100% Free, No Obligation Quote!
————

From the article:

Home Maintenance Tips for Summer
Summer brings sunshine, green leaves, and trips to the beach. But the warm, dry season also offers the perfect chance to get some work done around the house. With just a few weekends’ worth of work, these tips can help get your home in tip-top shape and ready for the rest of the year.

Easy Home Fixes in the Summer
When it gets warm, it’s tempting to ditch any housework for the beach or the golf course. Hard as it may be, consider suppressing that urge for a few weekends, because some fairly easy work can improve the state of your home, give it an appearance makeover, and even save you some money.

Keep Your Cool With a Fan
There’s an easy trick to keeping cooler and saving money, and it’s as close as your ceiling fan. Switch the ceiling fan’s blades so the leading edge is higher as the fan turns, so you can feel the breeze from the fan as it rotates. This simple action will push cool air down, enabling you to set the air-conditioning lower and save money on energy.

Clean Your Dryer Vent
Without some maintenance, your dryer could cause a house fire. The U.S. Fire Administration reports nearly 16,000 dryer fires occur annually, which happen largely because dryers’ vents get clogged with lint and dust.

Thankfully, you can avoid any unnecessary dryer-caused danger with a few simple steps.
First, (if your dryer is on an outside wall with a short hose) you’ll need a vent-cleaning brush kit, which can clean your dryer vent tubing more thoroughly than a vacuum cleaner can. Begin by cleaning the dryer’s lint trap housing with a smaller brush to remove as much lint and dust as possible. Then disconnect the dryer duct from the dryer and the wall for a thorough cleaning. Also use a brush to clean the vent on the outside of the house to keep both ends clean and free of lint.

————
Still have questions about caring for your dryer? Checkout this article about troubleshooting your dryer for homeowners that could be of interest to you.
————

For more information visit: http://www.allstate.com

Learn Why You Should Do A Home Inventory Here

Posted on August 22, 2013 by Jeremy Leake

Thought about doing a home inventory but wasn’t sure if it was necessary? Home inventories should be done for a variety of reasons. We found this article that we hope will help you prepare if the worst should happen.

======================
If you need Denham Springs condos vent cleaning services, then Dryer Vents Plus is your #1 choice! Call Jeremy Leake today at 225-612-7752 to schedule your 100% Free, No Obligation Quote!
======================

From the article:

If your home is struck by a burglary, fire, flood, earthquake, or other disaster, one of the first questions you will be asked is, “What property was lost, destroyed, or stolen?” It’s almost impossible to pull up such information out of your brain on a good day — and it’s twice as hard in the aftermath of a traumatic event.

This is one of those tasks that is easy to say one will do “tomorrow.” But do it today. Being able to pull out an up-to-date home inventory will make it hugely easier to deal with police and your insurance company.

Fortunately, making a home inventory isn’t onerous, and might actually prompt you to prevent the loss itself. As you inventory your possessions, you’ll become more aware of their vulnerability, and can take steps to secure them.

Start by walking through your house with a pad of paper and a still or video camera. Jot down a list of any items worth more than $50 or so and take pictures of them. Go room by room, and don’t forget the garage, attic, and basement. Be sure to include jewelry, clothing and shoes, stamp or coin collections, CD and record collections, silver, tools, and electronic equipment.

——————–
Looking to renovate your home and increase the value of it? Checkout this article about boosting resale value for busy homeowners that could be of interest to you.
——————–

Read the entire article here: http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/preparing-home-inventory-case-your-property-gets-damaged-stolen.html

Find Out How to Save Money in the Laundry Room!

Posted on July 23, 2013 by Jeremy Leake

Everyone likes to save money, especially saving money in areas that they use frequently. We found this article that we hope will help you save money by focusing just in the laundry room.

======================
SPONSOR FOCUS: If you need Denham Springs condos vent cleaning services, then Dryer Vents Plus is your #1 choice! Call Jeremy Leake today at 225-612-7752 to schedule your 100% Free, No Obligation Quote!
======================

From the article:

1. Wash with cooler water
About 90 percent of the energy consumed by your washing machine is used just to heat the water, according to the Alliance to Save Energy. Switch to cold water for many of your loads, especially those with dark or bright colors and delicates like silk or wool. Cold-water washing won???t just save you money: It will also keep colors bright, reduce wrinkling and won???t set stains.

2. Run full loads
Your washer and dryer use the same amount of mechanical energy, regardless of how full they are, so the best way to save energy is to run full loads of laundry.

If you need to run a smaller load in the washing machine, be sure to use the appropriate water-level setting.

3. Throw in the towel
Toss a clean, dry towel or tennis ball into the dryer to get clothes to dry quicker, the Alliance suggests. The towel absorbs moisture, while the tennis ball helps circulate air between clothes.

4. Clean the lint filter
After each load, clean the lint screen in your dryer to improve air circulation, reduce drying time and prevent fires. The DOE recommends periodically using the long nozzle tip of your vacuum cleaner to remove the lint that builds up below the dryer???s lint screen slot.

Also, inspect your dryer vent from time to time to ensure it is not blocked; this precautionary measure will also save energy and prevent fires.

——————–
Looking for more money saving ideas? Checkout this article on more money saving ideas that could be of interest to you.
——————–

Looking to Save Money? Try These Ideas!

Posted on July 5, 2013 by Jeremy Leake

Everyone likes to save money. We found this article that we hope will help you narrow down some additional ideas on saving you valuable money.

From the article:

Choose energy-saving lighting. About 10 percent of the energy your home uses going to lighting costs. Replacing 15 traditional bulbs with energy-saving bulbs will save you $50 a year — and more than $600 in energy costs over the life of the bulbs. Compared to traditional incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent bulbs can yield as much as 75 percent energy savings and last six-times longer. Get even more energy savings, longer life span and less wasted heat by switching to ENERGY STAR LEDs.

Use an electronic power strip for your electronic equipment. Many electronic devices and equipment continue to consume unnecessary energy even when not in use. Often called energy vampires, these unplugged devices cost families about $100 a year. Use a power strip for electronic devices and turn it off when not in use to eliminate these energy vampires. And be sure to unplug your chargers — they draw energy even when they aren???t connected to a device.

Reduce energy for water heating. Water heating is a large energy expense in your home, accounting for about 14 percent of your utility bills. By taking low-cost steps, you can reduce your water heating bills. Make sure your water heater is set to no higher than 120 degrees. Install low-flow showerheads or temperature-sensitive shower valves. Newer water heaters have more insulation than older ones. If your water heater is more than five years old, you should wrap a water heater jacket around it to stop heat loss from the tank.

Hire a professional to maintain your heating and cooling system. Arrange for annual maintenance with a qualified technician. This includes checking the airflow over the coil, testing for the correct fluid (refrigerant) level, checking the combustion process and heat exchanger are operating safely, and ensuring proper air-flow to each room. In addition, you should clean the air filters in your heating and cooling system once a month, and replace them regularly.

——————–
Did you know that your dryer could catch on fire? Checkout this article and learn why it’s important to maintain your dryer that could be of interest to you.
——————–

Read the entire article here: http://energy.gov/articles/resolve-save-energy-year