Signs Your Furnace Is in Need of Repair

Is your furnace starting to act up? Are you noticing an increase in your energy bills or perhaps experiencing strange noises or odors coming from the unit? Here are some warning signs that something may be wrong with your furnace and it needs repair.

Strange Noises

High pitched buzzing or howling noises normally come from the blower fan or motors inside your furnace. If you hear these sounds after the unit has been running, it is a sign that there may be a problem with either the fan blades hitting part of the furnace or perhaps the motor itself is failing. Both problems are easily fixed by a professional, but early detection can prevent more costly repairs in the future.

Poor Heating

You may notice that you seem to be using much more energy than normal to keep the house warm. If this happens, it may be time to have a furnace repair. You might also notice that the air coming from your vents seems significantly colder than in years past, even though you are running the thermostat at a higher temperature. An experienced HVAC technician can check for problems with your furnace and determine if a repair is needed.

Strange Odor

Do you smell something funny from the vents in your home? Some smells are normal for certain models of furnaces because they have a sealed combustion chamber where all of the fumes from the burned gas get contained until they get out of the unit. However, if you notice an increase in an unusual odor coming from your furnace, it may be time to have a technician check your furnace carefully for any possible problems that may exist.

Dirty Air Filters

It is very important to keep the filters on your furnace clean and changed out regularly to prevent problems with the unit. When dirty filters are used in your furnace, they can restrict airflow and even cause overheating of the system, which may shorten its life span significantly. Having your filter changed regularly is also important because it will save you money on your energy bills by allowing your furnace to run efficiently. So, it doesn't have to work as hard and use up more energy than necessary to heat your home.

Normal wear and tear can cause problems in your heating system, which will require repair from time to time. If you experience any of these warning signs, contact a reputable HVAC company for an appointment. You may be able to have the problem diagnosed and repaired quickly before larger problems arise that could cost you more money in the future.

How to Choose the Perfect Security System for Your Home

Your home’s security system is an essential line of defense protecting you, your loved ones and your valuables from the world’s many dangers. A system with such a vital function deserves all the attention and funding you can spare. Check out these tips to help you choose the perfect security system for your home.

Evaluate Your Home

The first thing you want to do when choosing your security system is evaluate your home and its contents. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Who do I need to protect?

• What do I need to protect?

• What threats do they need protection from?

• How can those threats get into my home?

• How can I stop them?

Your security system will vary based on your home’s number of occupants, the valuables inside, the house’s size and structure, and the community surrounding it. Once you get to the final question, you can determine what features your system will need.

Determine the Security Measures You Need

Your perfect security system will have all the equipment and features needed to address your home’s internal and external threats. With that in mind, you should know the standard security devices and their functions.

Here are the main tools that specialize in protecting against threats outside the home:

• Video doorbell

• Security cameras

• Floodlights

• Motion sensors

• Door/window sensors

• Glass break sensors

Here are the main tools that protect against threats inside the home:

• Carbon monoxide detector

• Flood sensor

• Freeze sensor

• Smoke/fire alarm

Some tools and features protect against both external and internal threats:

• Nanny cam

• Panic pendant

• Two-way voice alarm

• Professional monitoring

• Smart home technology

Estimate Costs

You can calculate a rough cost estimate once you decide which features to add. Your security system’s expenses will come from several different avenues:

• Equipment 

• Installation

• Activation

• Monitoring

• Contract requirements

Equipment costs will widely vary by provider and package. Some require you to sign long-term contracts and others are open-ended. Your provider should be honest with you about any contractual obligations.

Some providers also charge activation fees, especially for packages specializing in handling specific threats. The monitoring method you choose will also substantially impact total costs. You can either pay the provider to monitor your home’s security devices (professional monitoring) or keep track of them yourself (DIY monitoring).

If you choose professional monitoring, your provider will give you three options, ranking from least to most expensive:

• Landline: The provider uses the home’s landline to connect to the monitoring center

• Broadband: The provider uses your internet to connect to the monitoring center

• Cellular: A chip built into your cellphone sends alerts to the monitoring center

All monitoring options operate in a timely fashion, but intruders can easily tamper with landlines, and broadband connections can be unstable. If your home phone loses connection or your internet crashes, so does the monitoring service. Cellular is the best choice of the three and thus the most costly.

You can elect to pay your provider to install the system or do it yourself. Most providers will offer you preprogrammed systems with adhesive equipment, meaning you don’t have to drill any holes or make other structural changes if you DIY.

Use the Right Network

Choosing the right network is paramount to your security system’s success. You can select from two network types:

• Wired network: Choose this network if you live in an area with a sparse or unstable internet connection. Landline monitoring systems fall into this category.

• Wireless network: Choose this network if you have a stable internet or cellular connection. These systems don’t require professional installation, and you can control the different devices via an app on your cellphone.

Wireless certainly sounds better based on those descriptions, but it all depends on where you live and what equipment you need, so keep your options open.

You Can Find the Perfect Security System

The perfect security system doesn’t exist by default, but you can find a package that fits your conditions. Evaluate your situation, determine the features you need, calculate how much you need to pay and get in touch with your local providers. With all that knowledge at your disposal, you and the security professionals can create a plan tailored directly to your home.

5 Things You Need to Build an Old-Style Home

Many aspiring homeowners get caught up trying to decide between older homes with character or newer homes that are far more functional and reliable. You don't have to do this, however, if you are building your own home. There are things you need to build an old-style home, however, that lets you do both at the same time.

Change Up the Lighting

If you drive through a modern neighborhood and look at the exterior lighting, you'll usually see the same sterile pieces time and again. An old-style home is more likely to have lanterns or even chandeliers. Find custom pieces to get the truly distinct charm and individuality on display.

A Compatible Property

Depending on the location of the lot you own, you might be able to build whatever kind of home you want. Then again, there might be homeowner's association rules or even zoning regulations about the style of house you build. If you want the exterior to be an old-style home, then make sure you're actually allowed to do that by any applicable authorities.

Older Materials

When building an old-style home, you need to do that both inside and out. For interior decor, that can mean using reclaimed wood for flooring, shelves, mantel, trim, and much more. You can find a place like the Old World Lumber Company or have supplies shipped directly to your home for the build. 

Mix and Match the Furniture

Don't walk into a department store and order a unified room ensemble ready to go. An old-style home is going to have a variety of furniture pieces that look eclectic yet charming and lived-in yet loved. Hit boutique and vintage stores, check out consignment shops and even look online for one-of-a-kind wonders.

Crown Molding

One thing common to many older homes that you rarely find in newer construction is crown molding. This visual embellishment was once standard to formal dining rooms, but you can put it in any room that you want for a classic aesthetic.

New Homes Can Have Old-Style Charm

Even if the home you build is technically new, it can be done in an older style. Pulling this off is no small feat, but if you do, you can enjoy the best of both worlds. Enjoy the reliability of new construction that features old-school charm at the same time.

How Your Garage Door Provides Your Home Safety

We partnered with a Home improvement company for this post. The opinions in the post are honest. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on our personal views. We are excited because we know you will love it.

A great improvement that people can make to their homes is adding a garage door. They provide an easy entryway into your home and an increased level of security. With the number of benefits that garage doors have, it’s surprising that more people don’t have them. Learn how your garage door provides your home safety so that you can know how to have a safe and secure environment where you live.

Creates a Barrier

The most obvious way a garage door provides security is by being a strong structural barrier. This alone shows potential intruders that they would have quite an obstacle to overcome if they tried to break in. In addition to intruders, the weather is something else worth considering. When you have a sturdy garage door, you’re protecting a large portion of your home from inclement weather.

Steel Doors as a Deterrent

There are multiple kinds of materials to choose from when you install a garage door, but steel is the way to go for many reasons. Steel is a rugged material that lasts forever, holds up well against the elements, and is hard to penetrate. For these reasons alone, it makes for the perfect deterrent against anything or anyone attempting to get into your home.

Programmable and Automated

One of the coolest features of owning a garage door is that they are programmable. To keep your garage door safe and secure, set it to open and shut on a timer. That way, you’ll have ample time to get out in the morning and know that in just a few minutes, the door will close securely on its own. They are also adaptable to home security systems, so if there was a breach or break-in, the security system would be alerted and call the authorities.

There are many reasons you may want to invest in a garage door, but one of the most important is to improve the safety and security of your home. When you learn how your garage door provides your home safety, you’ll know in greater detail what it has to offer and can consider adding one to your home.