Winter power outages can leave us disconnected and in the dark. Why it matters: During emergencies we want to keep phones charged and stay connected to loved ones. Some options to think about: 💡 Rechargeable light bulbs — $30 for 4. ⚡ Refrigerator surge protection — $35. 🔋 Battery backup your WiFi — $130. (Costco price is crazy! […]
⚡ $195 power outage protection Read More »
Electronic waste (e-waste) is anything with a power cord or power source: laptops, TVs, cell phones, and even electric toothbrushes. 🖼️ The big picture: As much as 40% of the heavy metals in U.S. landfills come from the electronics we throw away instead of recycling. Let’s continue with Part 3 of our Let’s get organized for the
📺 E-waste: A problem with a solution Read More »
Your comfortable home is a magnet for things seeking comfort — bugs, rodents, etc. — and your friendly contractors have invited them in. 🖼️ The big picture: Any hole or gap in the outer shell of your home is a possible entrance for various critters. Many contractors are not thinking about this when they work on
👨🔧 👩🔧 Plumbers, electricians, rats & roaches 🐀 🪳 Read More »
Damage to our homes from carpenter ants can be costly. 🥊 Reality check: The best strategy is to keep the ants out. Michael Bosco has seen this problem for years and has some helpful tips: ❗Carpenter ants are considered a wood destroying insect and need to be addressed quickly to prevent damage. If you only
🐜 Time to stop carpenter ants Read More »
Pool pumps run year round and can waste a lot of electricity. 🖼️ The big picture: Pool owners who learn to program their pump correctly can save a lot of money on electricity. I wrote about the savings here. Here’s how: —> You want all the water to go through the filter once a day (maybe
🏊♀️ Learn to program your pool pump Read More »
When you have solar on your home, electricity flows 3 ways.* 🔆 —> 🏠 From your solar panels to power your home 🔆 —> 🏭 From your solar panels back to the utility grid 🏭 —> 🏠 From the utility grid to power your home Why it matters: Solar buy back is the way your utility credits you — or doesn’t
🔆 + 💲 What is solar buyback? Read More »
Here’s a smart alternative for sponges, dish rags and paper towels. 🧮 By the numbers: The U.S. uses half of all the world’s paper towels. 🧠 A reusable dishcloth has a lot to offer: For your Smart Homeowner list: ✅ Give these a try and see if you learn what I did. (Hint: My wife was right about
🤑 Saving with Swedish dishcloths Read More »
Most roofers are cutting corners—sometimes on purpose, sometimes not. 🥊 Reality check: “People do what you inspect, not what you expect.” — Louis V. Gerstner Jr., Former IBM CEO A proper roof install is almost impossible for a homeowner to inspect. 👺 Behind the mask: Here’s the truth. Some states — like Texas — do not
🏚️ Why your roofer did it wrong Read More »
Wallpaper is an easy way to transform a room. 🔭 Zoom out: When you live in your home for an extended time, small updates can make it feel new again. Jan helps her clients revive spaces and has some advice for us: Wallpaper is back in style! Tons of designs are available, from geometrics for a modern
🕺 Wallpaper is back Read More »
Homes built before 1978 may have toxic lead-based paint. Why it matters: Lead-based paint is a health hazard and must be handled properly. 🧠 In the know: Let’s hear from paint pro Andrey —> When dealing with lead-based paint, there are a couple of things you can do. Hire a company with lead paint certification to
⚠️ Paint projects in older homes Read More »
