Traditional water heaters typically last 10 to 15 years. If you’re a homeowner, you’ll probably need to replace at least one water heater, sooner or later. We all rely on quick and easy access to hot water in our homes, so it’s helpful to hire a contractor that will act fast when you need to… Read more »
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Why call a licensed electrician?
Dangers of DIY electrical work According to the National Fire Protection Association, “in 2011, an estimated 47,700 home structure fires reported to U.S. fire departments involved some type of electrical failure or malfunction as a factor contributing to ignition. These fires resulted in 418 civilian deaths, 1,570 civilian injuries, and $1.4 billion in direct property… Read more »
Water Heater Red Flags: Time to Replace?
Avoid a flood and cold-water showers by watching (and listening) for these easily observable warning signs that your water heater needs to be replaced. … Read more »
Biannual HVAC homeowner checklist
We changed our clocks last weekend, so this is the week for running through your HVAC maintenance checklist. Taking some time now to check your system can prolong the lifespan of your HVAC system and alert you to potential problems prior to a major malfunction. Use the checklist list below to conduct your walk-through now;… Read more »
Light Bulbs 101
It’s been a few years since most old-school incandescent light bulbs were taken off the market. Those bulbs have been largely replaced in stores with contact-fluorescent-lamp (CFL) and LED bulbs, offering a mind-boggling array of choices in your local home improvement store. What’s the difference? According to the US government Energy Star website, light bulb types… Read more »
How to Prevent Plumbing Pipes from Freezing
Although there are signs of spring popping up all around central Virginia right now, we’re not quite out of the woods for potential winter weather. That winter weather can lead to major headaches for homeowners in the form of frozen or even broken pipes or water lines. Often, these issues can often be avoided with… Read more »
Choosing the right HVAC filter for your home
The start of a new year is a great time to begin making decisions that will increase your family’s comfort and safety. Keeping up with the routine maintenance requirements of your HVAC system is a relatively easy way to make a big difference and also minimize the need for costly heat pump repairs. Since the efficiency… Read more »
Exciting home innovations unveiled at CES 2017!
This week is the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Many think of CES as a haven for computer types, but here at Fitch Services, we’re excited about some of the innovations rolling out for home systems! Unsurprisingly, there are several new or improved products for wi-fi smart thermostats and smart home systems, but we… Read more »
Programmable Thermostat Lowers Energy Costs
A programmable thermostat can reduce your heating and cooling costs 10% a year. Why Heat or Cool an Empty House? Stop wasting money to blast warm air in your house when nobody is home. Instead, program your thermostat to warm your house just before your arrival! If you’re ready for the savings and comfort of a… Read more »
Prepare your Home for a Power Outage
It’s mid-December and, in central Virginia, we’ve been spared any serious winter weather so far this season. However, with forecasts of a potential ice storm for the upcoming weekend, now is the time to ensure your household is prepared. As you may have experienced in previous years, ice storms can cause extended power outages in… Read more »