Expert Advice on Home Improvement

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.

It’s important to replace the air filter on your central heating/cooling system every one to three months to keep the system operating efficiently. Watch this video to find out how. Watch this video.

Shrubs that are too close to your house can deflect rain onto the siding and prevent moisture from drying out. This can result in rotten wood and provide a fertile environment for mold and mildew to grow. Watch this video.

Radiant flooring heating systems are an energy efficient way to gently warm a room by heating the floor. This system from Uponor uses hot water piped through a closed loop of flexible PEX plastic tubing. Watch this video.

Danny takes a look at the Uponor radiant flooring system installed during Today’s Addition. He talks with the installer, Wes Sisco to see how it was installed. Wes demonstrates how the system known as Quick Trak® works. ½” plywood with a heat emission plate on one side and a dovetail groove on the other is installed under pre-finished hardwood. 5/16” plastic PEX tubing fits in the groove and conducts to the heat emission plate distributing heat across the floor. Watch this video.

What is a pre-engineered masonry fireplace? Think of it as a fireplace that comes in pieces and is assembled on location like Lego blocks. These fireplaces install in a fraction of the time of traditional masonry fireplaces, while offering the same benefits traditional masonry fireplaces offer over metal fireplaces. Watch this video.

As more homeowners have recognized the need to properly seal their home to improve energy efficiency, the resulting effect has been a dramatic reduction of indoor air quality. Replacing the heating and cooling system of your home can be very costly, but there are ways to help improve the indoor air quality without going to such expense. Watch this video.

Homeowners are always looking for easy, economical ways to reduce their monthly heating and cooling costs. If your home heats up in the summertime the solution may be as simple as a little shade. Rooms with windows that get direct sunlight will heat up quickly in warm weather putting a strain on your cooling system but there are some things you can do to help ease that load. Watch this video.

With energy costs constantly on the rise there are tons of gimmicks out there that say they will save you money. People always want to know what’s for real and what’s not. Watch this video.

Homeowners ask me all the time how they can control their monthly utility bills. Many have resigned themselves to paying high bills because they think that’s just the price you have to pay to be comfortable and that’s certainly a factor. Watch this video.

Adding fiberglass insulation to your attic is a great idea to improve energy efficiency but the process can be very uncomfortable due to the small glass fibers in the insulation. In addition to a long sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves, dust mask and eye goggles rub your hands and arms with baby powder or corn starch before working with fiberglass insulation. Watch this video.

If your home is equipped with a central air conditioning system you may have noticed a drain line on the outside dripping water near the air conditioner. This line drains condensation from the inside air handler to the outside. If this line clogs (usually from algae) it can cause water damage inside the house. Watch this video.

To cut insulation squarely and accurately use a utility knife with snap off blade. Extend the blade all the way out and lock it. The resulting 3″-4″ blade will make it easier to cut through thick batts of insulation. Use the straight edge of a piece of wood, lay it across the insulation, then kneel on one end of the insulation to compress it and run the blade down the edge of the wood for a nice square cut. Remember, to keep the fibers from irritating your skin wear a long sleeved shirt, pants, gloves, dust mask and safety glasses. Watch this video.

Exposed drain lines in an attic are often a trip hazard and can easily become damaged. To reduce this risk and prevent an accident build a bridge to cover the drain lines. Watch this video.