Home Services
Air Conditioner Blowing Warm Air: What It Usually Means
When your AC blows warm instead of cold air, it means something in the cooling process has broken down. The cause could be simple and free to fix, or...
- 5 min read
Tag archive
Informational
Home Services
Air Quality and HVAC: What Filters Actually Do
HVAC filters are marketed with claims about air quality, allergy relief, and virus protection. Some of those claims are accurate. Others are overblown....
- 5 min read
Home Services
Aluminum Wiring Home Safety Risks: What Homeowners Need to Know
If your home was built between the mid-1960s and the late 1970s, it may have aluminum branch circuit wiring. Aluminum wiring poses documented home...
- 4 min read
Home Services
Dishwasher Not Draining: Causes and When to Call a Plumber
A dishwasher that will not drain leaves standing water at the bottom of the tub after the cycle finishes. It is a common problem, and in many cases the...
- 3 min read
Home Services
Drought-Proofing Your Home in California: What Contractors Can Do
California has been in a persistent cycle of drought, with periodic relief followed by water restrictions and conservation mandates. Drought-proofing a...
- 3 min read
Home Services
Electrical Safety Checks Every Homeowner Should Know
Electrical problems cause approximately 51,000 house fires per year in the US. Most of these start in ways that home owners could have identified and...
- 5 min read
Home Services
General Contractor vs. Handyman: Which Do You Need?
The answer to this question changes the cost, timeline, and complexity of getting home repair work done. Here's how to tell which you need.
- 5 min read
Home Services
Heat Pump vs. Central Air: Which Is Better for California Homes?
California's climate makes heat pumps a genuinely competitive option against traditional central AC plus gas furnace systems - more so than most of the...
- 5 min read
Home Services
Home Generator Installation: What to Know Before You Buy
Power outages in California can last hours or days - from wildfire-related PSPS Public Safety Power Shutoffs events to winter storms and grid issues. A...
- 7 min read
Home Services
How Homeowners Can Protect Themselves With a Written Agreement
Handshake deals and verbal agreements feel fine when the relationship is going well. When something goes wrong, they leave you with no recourse. A...
- 5 min read
Home Services
How Long Do Home Pipes Last? Signs It's Time to Repipe
Most homeowners never think about their pipes until something goes wrong. But pipes have a finite lifespan, and when they start to fail, the problems...
- 4 min read
Home Services
How Often Should You Service Your HVAC System?
Most HVAC manufacturers and contractors recommend annual service. But is that actually necessary, or is it a sales pitch? Here's the honest answer,...
- 4 min read
Home Services
How Sacramento Homeowners Prepare for 100-Degree Summers
Sacramento homeowners must prepare for relentless 100-degree summer heat - temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit for weeks at a time,...
- 3 min read
Home Services
HVAC Maintenance Checklist for Homeowners (Seasonal)
Most HVAC problems are preventable. A simple seasonal checklist - with tasks split between what you do yourself and what a tech handles - keeps your...
- 5 min read
Home Services
HVAC Warranty: What It Covers and What Voids It
HVAC warranties look comprehensive in the sales material and feel much narrower when you try to use one. Understanding what your warranty actually...
- 4 min read
Home Services
Independent Contractor vs. Company: Pros and Cons for Homeowners
When hiring for home repairs, you have two basic options: an independent contractor often a one- or two-person operation or a company with employees,...
- 5 min read
Home Services
Roofing in California: Which Materials Hold Up to Heat and Wildfires
California's climate is hard on roofs. Extreme summer heat in inland valleys, UV exposure year-round, wildfire ember showers in high-risk zones, and...
- 3 min read
Home Services
Same-Day Handyman Services: What to Expect
Sometimes a repair can't wait two weeks. A door that won't lock, a toilet that won't stop running, a leak under the sink - these are legitimate reasons...
- 5 min read
Home Services
San Diego Home Maintenance: What the Marine Layer Does to Your House
San Diego's marine layer - the low coastal fog and overcast that rolls in from the Pacific most mornings - is one of the city's defining weather...
- 4 min read
Home Services
Signs Your Electrical Panel Needs to Be Upgraded
Most homeowners do not think about their electrical panel until something goes wrong. But an outdated or undersized panel can quietly create fire...
- 7 min read
Home Services
Smart Home Wiring: What a Licensed Electrician Actually Installs
Smart home devices are increasingly plug-and-play - you buy a smart bulb, screw it in, and connect it to your phone. But some smart home features...
- 3 min read
Home Services
Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Alarm: When to Replace
Most homeowners know to test smoke detectors and replace batteries. Fewer know that detectors have an expiration date - and that an expired detector...
- 5 min read
Home Services
Sump Pump Maintenance Guide for Homeowners
A sump pump sits quietly in the corner of your basement or crawl space until the moment you need it most - during a heavy rainstorm or rapid snowmelt....
- 4 min read
Home Services
Water Heater Maintenance: What Homeowners Should Do Each Year
Your water heater works every day and rarely gets any attention until it stops working. A little annual maintenance goes a long way toward extending...
- 5 min read
Home Services
Water Heater Making Noise? What Each Sound Means
A water heater that starts making sounds it did not make before is worth paying attention to. Some noises are harmless. Others indicate that the unit...
- 4 min read
Home Services
What California's Building Codes Actually Require for Home Renovations
California has some of the most comprehensive building codes in the country. For homeowners planning a renovation, this means more requirements to...
- 6 min read
Home Services
What Causes a Burning Smell from an Electrical Outlet?
A burning smell from an electrical outlet is not something to dismiss and wait on. It indicates a problem that can range from a minor issue to an...
- 4 min read
Home Services
What Causes Brown or Discolored Water from the Tap?
Turning on the faucet and seeing brown, yellow, or rust-colored water is alarming. In most cases it is not a health emergency, but it is a signal that...
- 5 min read
Home Services
What Happens If a Contractor Does Bad Work?
You paid a contractor, the work is done, and it's not right. The fixture is leaking again. The paint is peeling. The drywall patch is visible every...
- 5 min read
Home Services
What Is a GFCI Outlet and Where Are They Required?
If you have ever noticed an outlet in your bathroom or kitchen with two small buttons labeled \"TEST\" and \"RESET,\" you have already seen a GFCI outlet....
- 5 min read
Home Services
What Is Background Check Verification for Contractors?
Some platforms and services advertise \"background-checked contractors\" as a trust signal. What does that actually mean, what does it check for, and how...
- 5 min read
Home Services
What Questions to Ask a Contractor Before Hiring
Most homeowners don't ask enough questions before hiring. The ones who do protect themselves from bad surprises. Here are the questions that actually...
- 5 min read
Home Services
What Tools Every Homeowner Should Keep at Home
You do not need a fully stocked workshop to handle common home repairs. But having the right tools on hand means the difference between a quick fix and...
- 5 min read
Home Services
When Is It Legal to Do Your Own Electrical Work in California?
California has some of the strictest building and electrical codes in the country. Whether a homeowner can legally do their own electrical work depends...
- 3 min read
Home Services
Whole-House Water Softener: Is It Worth Installing?
If you live in an area with hard water, you have probably noticed the signs: white scale buildup on faucets and showerheads, spots on dishes and...
- 4 min read
Home Services
Wildfire Home Prep for California Homeowners: What Contractors Do
Wildfires have become a year-round concern for many California homeowners, not just a summer worry. The fires in Los Angeles County in early 2025...
- 5 min read