Expert Advice on Home Improvement

Drowning in utility bills? JELD-WEN Windows and Doors can provide some relief! Enter the JELD-WEN Utility Bill Bailout for a chance to win an entire window and door makeover for your home. The winning home will also be featured on an upcoming episode of Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford®. Watch this video.

The Heat Seeker Infrared Thermometer from General Tools is perfect way to conduct a do-it-yourself inspection of your heating/cooling system for leaks in the ductwork, or a general home energy audit. To use, simply train the laser pointer on the object and read the remote temperature reading on the LCD screen. The Heat Seeker is available at The Home Depot. Watch this video.

Bitsy asks, “What can I do to relieve allergies and keep the dust and pollen out of my house?“

A good quality air filter on your HVAC heating/cooling system is the first line of defense against dust, dirt, and airborne allergens in your home. Watch this video to find out more. Watch this video.

Geothermal heat pumps use water from wells, making them much more efficient for both heating and cooling than standard air source heat pumps. Watch this video to find out how they can reduce the energy costs in your home. Watch this video.

Expanding foam insulation sprayed in wall cavities and attics has a higher insulation value and seals tighter than other forms of insulation. Watch this video to see how foam insulation can save energy in your home. Watch this video.

While tighter homes save energy, they also can trap moisture and airborne contaminants like VOCs inside your home. To combat indoor air pollution, install bath and kitchen vent fans that are vented to the outside, and regularly change air filters on your heating and cooling system. Watch this video.

A programmable thermostat saves energy by automatically raising and lowering the temperature of your home while you’re away. This can reduce your energy costs by up to $180 a year. Watch this video.

It’s important to install a high quality air filter on the HVAC system in your home, since inexpensive fiberglass air filters only capture 10% to 15% of airborne particles. Look for filters that contain carbon, are electrostatically charged, or have a HEPA rating which can remove up to 99% of airborne pollutants. Watch this video.

While ceiling fans are a great way to stay cool in the summer and circulate warm air in the winter, they have a tendency to wobble when the blades are out of balance or improperly installed. Hunter’s innovative new Perfect Balance self-adjusting blade balancing system can put an end to annoying blade wobble once and for all with a shifting disk inside the motor housing automatically balances the fan each time it rotates. Watch this video.

When installing or replacing the heating and cooling system in your home, it’s important to be sure it is sized properly. Load calculations should take into account the amount of insulation in the walls and floor, the number and type of windows, as well as which direction they are facing. Watch this video.