Tips from Toby Keeping Cool
Last week was the first time many of us fired up our AC's this season and that resulted in thousands of emergency calls all over the city. Almost 80% of those calls could have been avoided (along with the expense) by doing a few simple tasks to keep your air conditioning system running smooth all season long. From checking that filter to cleaning off the outside coils and much more, we show you the quick, easy things you can do to keep your AC running cool and efficiently all Summer long.
Tips from Toby – Here Come the Bugs!
After a mild winter and the recent rain the insects are in full force and ready to annoy, sting and get in our homes. Keep them out along with keeping the chemicals out of your home. Watch Toby’s tip to find out how to keep those annoying pests out of your home. From ants to spiders and much more we show you how to keep those pests out and setting up nest in your home. We also help you knock down the population in your lawn so you and the kids can get out and keep from getting bit. Remember - many insects including ticks and mosquitoes carry disease, so be sure to avoid getting bit as much as possible. The good news - in just a couple of hours this weekend you can build a moat around your home that will keep the bugs from entering your home alive!
Tips from Toby Winter Outdoor Quick Tips
After some really cold temps we've finally received a break with warmer weather which means it's a good time to venture outside and do some inspection work before our next cold snap. 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 cold snap 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! Finally, don't forget to check for places where pests like mice can sneak in around the garage or in those big piles of leaves close to the house.
Tips from Toby January Quick Tips
Tired of being cooped up in the cold? Going a little stir crazy? We've put together a list of Toby's favorite Home, Lawn and Garden Quick tips that are easy and will have you feeling like you made some big accomplishments (for those that have already broken their New Year's Resolutions). Watch the video tip of the week now to find out some easy things you can do around your home to keep things running great!
Tips from Toby – Warmth, Heaters & Electric System
Have you been using those handy space heaters to warm that Winter chill? Is the space heater safe? At this time of year we see tons of electric fires because circuits are being shorted out and space heaters can ignite blankets or cause a short quickly. Watch this week's tip and find out what to look for in "safe" space heaters and find out how to make sure your electric system is handling the extra load.
Tips from Toby – Winter Indoor Humidity
It's that time of year where our furnaces dry out the air, our noses, throats, furniture and much more. This can leave a lot of damage to cabinets, wood floors and of course be an irritant. Check out our tip on adding a whole house humidifier to your home or ways to add humidity to your home safely. Keep from shocking your family, static cling in your hair and enjoy more comfort in your home now!
Tips from Toby 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 Holiday Safety Checklist
Getting out those holiday ornaments and lights? Cooking for guests? It seems like just about every morning on the news another sad house fire tops the headlines. This is the time of the year where we are so distracted that it's easy to forget the simple things to stay safe. This is your reminder to mentally run through a checklist to make sure you aren't risking fire and have some safety items ready just in case. We know everyone thinks this won't happy to them - so don't ignore warning signs like overloaded holiday lights, piles of dried up leaves around the house or overloading circuits with space heaters. We want everyone to have a happy and safe holiday season, so watch the tip now and do a walk around of your home to make sure you aren't tempting fate!
Tips from Toby 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 – The Heat is On
The overnight temperatures are dropping and many of us are firing up those furnaces. That means it won't be long before Winter starts blowing in.
How is your car battery? Have you topped off that windshield wiper fluid? How about adding a blanket and shovel to the trunk?
Before it gets too cold we have all the quick and easy tips you need to get prepped for Winter before you don't feel like freezing through those outdoor chores.