Tips from Toby – Outdoor Winter Quick Checkup
This weather has been awfully dry and that can lead to some expansion and contraction of our home and soil. About 60% of foundation issues are caused by clogged gutters, broken downspouts, or improper drainage. Now is a good time to make sure those downspouts aren't clogged and draining away from your home. Those ornamental grasses near your home need to be pruned back. They are a fire hazard and should be trimmed now to allow them to grow back next Spring. Do you have ice melter handy? It won't be long before the next Polar Vortex comes upon us. Make sure you pick up some ice melter that is safe for your concrete, pets and carpet next time you're out shopping. Keep a bag handy in your trunk too!eo is about FS Toby Fall 30 TV
Tips from Toby – Winter Lawn Boost & Dormant Seeding
Tired of feeling cooped up? Want a last shot at having a great lawn this Spring? Even if you did nothing this past Fall - there is still time to set your lawn off to a great start. Watch this video tip to find out how a shot of fertilizer or dormant seeding are great options. Remember if you wait to seed till next Spring... it most likely won't be strong enough to survive the Summer heat and then you are doing it all over again. End the seeding cycle syndrome now!
Toby Holiday Preparation Safety Checkup
It's that time of year with ice, travel, holiday decorations and hurrying from place to place. This is a great time (while we're stuck with a little cold weather) to catch up on those easy tips that can save you a lot of hassles during the holiday season. From loading up your car with safety items to adding timers to those holiday lights, we've got a great list of tips to keep your season running smooth.
Tips from Toby Warm, Easy Vent Adjust for Comfort
Do you have those rooms that seem drafty in some areas and hot in others? Do you shut of vents in some rooms to try in make it more comfortable in others? Find out how to use some simple tips to make your whole house more comfortable and why closing off those vents in some rooms is actually a bad idea. This is one of our favorite easy tips that will make your whole home more comfortable, will save you money on your energy bills and you'll even sleep better at night! Take a look at this tip now and you'll be feeling a lot more comfortable and saving money in no time!
Tips from Toby – The Bed Bug Tip
Good Night, Sleep Tight, Don't let the Bed Bugs Bite! An old phrase uttered by just about every parent to their kids at bedtime. Unfortunately, bed bugs are becoming a significant problem in homes throughout the country and Kansas City area. You don't have to have a dirty home to get bed bugs. They can be brought in with your luggage after a trip, on kids backpacks, moving trucks or just on someone's clothing. They are about the size of an apple seed. These little vampires feed off of human blood and are experts at hiding. Bed Bugs multiply at a rate that would make a bunny blush and quite frankly, they are disgusting! Learn what they look like, how to professionally treat the problem and how to avoid letting a couple of bed bugs become a huge, expensive problem in your home. Treatment can cost $100's of dollars per room and a female bed bug that is pregnant can lay 100's of eggs per day so they spread like wildfire and so do the costs! Check out all you need to know about Bed Bugs in this week's tip and you'll sleep tight avoiding a big problem!
Tips from Toby Fireplace, Chimney & Dryer Vent Tip
The leading cause of home fires in the United States is caused by excessive lint buildup in our dryer vents and by creosote buildup in our chimneys. As the nights get a bit chillier it won't be long before we are firing up those fireplaces and lots of static will be firing up around our dryers. Don't be one of those victims you see on the news and suffer damage to your home or much worse! This is an inexpensive maintenance tip that should be a priority this Fall on your home upkeep list!
Tips from Toby Winter Home Prep
The colder nights are here and that means it time to get your plants, furnace and home Winter ready. From garage door maintenance to unscrewing that hose so you don't have a broken pipe and flood on your hands! Check out this week's tip from Toby to check off these ease Winter Prep items off the list and keep everything running great!
Tips from Toby – The Fall Leaf & Their Benefits Tip
The beautiful Fall leaves are coming down and unfortunately covering up all that nice green grass. It only takes a couple of days of sun blockage by those leaves to begin to yellow or kill out the grass underneath. Don't reach for that back breaking rake and leave your hands with blisters! There are incredible nutrients in those leaves that can actually be advantageous to your lawn. But the rake is not the answer, it can tear up newly seeded lawns and fill bags and leave you aching. Mulching, chopping and blowing are the better answer and you won't be filling up the landfills. Check out Toby's tip to find out how you can use those leaves to your advantage and avoid the rake!
Tips from Toby Fall Furnace Checks & Prep
The cooler nights mean it won't be long before we begin firing up those furnaces. What till you hear how easy it is for something as simple as a dirty furnace or misaligned vent to spread CO Poisoning throughout your home. Check out the easy steps you can take to avoid problems and even death. CO is a silent killer, but it is very easy to avoid problems if you are prepared. We look into humidifiers and their benefit to your home, woodwork, furniture, skin and overall comfort - plus you'll be amazed at how much they can save you on energy bills. Get that annual tune up scheduled now and don't wait till you "have" to turn on your furnace to experience problems.
Tips from Toby Fall Procrastinator Final Chance
If you've been busy watching too much football or busy with the kids and have Procrastinated till now to get that lawn back in shape - Time is Up! This is the final weekend to get down any grass seed or Fall Lawn Starter Fertilizer and follow an easy lawn program that will have your entire lawn beefed back up, strong for next Spring and looking great. But time is really up. Wait any longer and you will just be wasting time and money because you can't get things growing fast enough in time for a possible freeze. Find out what you should do, mower settings, how to seed properly and what fertilizer schedule to follow. You are talking about a little less than a couple of hours time and it's not too difficult. So quit your procrastinating and get going. You'll have a lawn you can be proud of all year round.