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Winter has settled on us in a big way and homeowners are looking for ways to cut down on Boston heating costs. Home insulation, weather-stripping, window replacement, programmable thermostats and a move to a high-efficiency furnace are the first actions that come to mind when trying to lower home heating

In the past, the efficiency of a home’s heating system wasn’t considered much. The most popular Boston home heating systems were (and still are) powered by natural gas or electricity. Steam or hot-water heat systems, fuel-oil systems and natural gas forced air are commonly found in Boston-area homes. Within the

Plungers don’t come with an owner’s manual, so using them should be intuitive, right? Maybe, but even the most useful tool can be misused to the point of complete ineffectiveness. Plungers are designed to push an obstruction forward through the pipe using air trapped in the plunger. They’re not, contrary

Mature trees take up as much space underground as they do above ground, and over time, trees can do substantial damage to your sewer connection. In their search for water, tree roots can crush your home’s sewer connection, causing sewage leaks and backups in and around your Boston home. While

Last week we covered the first part of winterizing your Boston pipes. We’ll finish up the job today. Sometimes, gravity alone won’t completely drain the plumbing. In this case, you’ll want to use compressed air to “blow” the remaining water out of the pipes. For appliances that are connected to

If you plan to vacate your home during the winter for any length of time, you should consider winterizing the plumbing system. If you plan to turn the heat off, this is a must-do! Winterizing the plumbing in your Boston home will protect the plumbing from significant damage that can

Setback thermostats, also known as programmable thermostats, are worth their weight in gold. According to the Department of Energy, homeowners spend an average of $2,200 annually on energy bills, including heating and cooling. Aside from the mortgage and taxes, heating and cooling costs are likely to be the largest expenses

November 19th is World Toilet Day, and your chance to squat for those less fortunate. Help out and do your part at: http://worldtoiletday.com/squat/ Categories: DIY Blog, DIY Plumbing, Tips and Tricks, Toilets, Uncategorized

Making a few changes to the way you use and care for the major systems in your Boston home can save a bundle on utility bills. While some of these tips apply only to the summer cooling season or winter heating season, you can save money year-round by assessing your

Steam heat systems are notorious for being hard to control, making rooms either too hot or too cold. Unfortunately, steam heat systems may distribute heat unevenly, making it impossible to adjust the system overall. Are there simple steps you can take to adjust the heat output in each room of