We are lucky to have lots of huge, beautiful maple trees in our neighborhood, but at times the “helicopters” are so thick that they look like snow.  On the ground, they sprout miniature trees in my flower beds and grass (in what appears to be minutes), and the same trees sprout like crazy in my gutters – a veritable gutter forest comes to life every summer.  We may have a hard time growing a lawn without bare patches and dandelions, but these unwanted tree sprouts we have absolutely no problem growing.

So I have to be vigilant in clearing the gutter forest, or my house looks like a Chia Pet on steroids and my downspouts get blocked.  Ever since my neighbor fell of his ladder (thankfully without incurring major injuries), I have been hesitant to send my husband up to clear out the forest, and he doesn’t exactly jump at the chance anyway.  So I started hiring a service to clean the gutters every spring and fall.  Last spring, I called someone from the yellow pages.  They came out to give me an estimate of $145, and then came back a week or two later to complete the job.  They did a perfectly fine job, but I felt that the price was high, and they came out at a time that was convenient for them, not me.

This year, I decided to post a service order on ServiceLive.com to clean my gutters.  On a Monday evening I chose five pros in my area, described my gutters, and offered $75.  The service order was accepted within an hour, and I came home from work on Tuesday evening to see the gutter forest was gone.  A modern-day miracle!  Now that gutter cleaning is off the to-do list, I just need to find someone to pull the sprouting maples trees out of my flower beds on a daily basis for the next three months…

The extreme cold of Midwest winters can prove incredibly damaging to homes. Sometimes a problem isn’t visible at first glance, but a thorough inspection can yield a bunch of necessary repairs.

Our featured Dad, George, noticed a problem with his second story balcony located over his front door, and decided to repair the weathered flooring and railings. At first, he received an estimate that was too high for the scope of work, but he did his homework and found a qualified, pre-screened service pro through ServiceLive, who repaired the balcony for a third (quarter, etc.) of his initial estimate.

The service pro required only two days to complete the entire project, including installing new flooring and railings and re-hanging the gutters around the balcony so that water would flow properly.

George was amazed when the project was completed. It exceeded his expectations in quality, time and cost and felt great getting the project checked off his to-do list. Everyday that he drives up to the house, it puts a smile on his face.

So Dad is off the hook for now, and he can rest and enjoy Father’s Day with the family…until It’s time to prime and paint the balcony!

Before and After Photos

Balcony Front View - Before and After (Click on photos to enlarge)

Balcony Flooring and Railing - Before and After (Click on photos to enlarge)

Dad will have his day of rest, but the balcony still needs primer and painting.

What Does This Mean For Me?

If you have one or more analog televisions that receive free over-the-air TV programming with an outdoor antenna or “rabbit ears” on the TV, you will need to make some changes if you want continue to watch TV. You have three options: 1) purchase and connect a “digital-to-analog converter box” to your analog TV; 2) purchase a digital television (a TV with a built-in digital tuner); or 3) subscribe to a paid service such as cable or satellite TV. Each U.S. household is eligible to receive two $40 coupons to be used toward the purchase of two digital-to-analog converter boxes.

Where Do I Go For More Information?

For more information on the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program or to apply for coupons, visit www.dtv2009.gov, or call 1-888-388-2009. For more information about the DTV transition, go to www.dtv.gov or contact the FCC by e-mailing dtvinfo@fcc.gov; calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY; faxing 1-866-418-0232; or writing to: Federal Communications Commission Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division 445 12th Street, SW Washington, DC 20554.

How do you hook up the Converter Box?

Instructions are very simple, but if you do not feel comfortable doing it yourself, you can always hire a Home Electronics professional. Visit ServiceLive to find a qualified and prescreened service provider, it’s that easy!

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/setup-converterbox.pdf

NOTE: Many stations will be changing channels at various times during the day on June 12, 2009. Be sure to scan for channel changes as convenient on that day and particularly on June 13 after all stations have changed to their final DTV channels.

When was the last time you had your AC unit checked? Maintaining your Air Conditioner can save you money on energy costs and keeps you and your family comfortable during those dog days of summer.

It’s also a good idea to check your home for air leaks around doors and windows, and get those sealed to save even more on energy costs.

Is your patio or deck structurally sound? If you look closely, you may find cracks, or even rot, in some places that can pose a risk to your family. Or you may want to seal your patio or deck to protect it from the hot sun and extend the life of your investment.

Maybe you’re looking to buy a new grill or patio set and need it assembled.

With ServiceLive, there are so many projects that you can take from “to-do” to done with the click of a mouse, and you’ll save time and money, too!

So relax, sit back and enjoy the summer, while the pros from ServiceLive take care of your to-do list.

Click here to create your ServiceLive account.

1. Fall through the ceiling

We’ve all been here right? You’re snooping around the attic, trying to wire your house for an awesome home network. You don’t really trust anyone, so a wireless network is out of the question. Also, it’s 1999. Or maybe you are up there trying to figure out what’s wrong with your air conditioning unit. Watch out! Don’t step off that joist! Oops.

2. Smash your thumb with a hammer

This one should bring back all sorts of memories. It’s almost like smashing your thumb with a hammer is part of growing up. And let’s face it. We never learn. The lesson is: don’t ever pick up a hammer. Let someone else do it. Please. You have no idea how happy that would make your poor little thumb.

3. Shocking yourself

Congratulations! You moved into a new house. It’s a fixer upper, and it needs some work. The first thing you notice is that you can’t plug in your modern appliances and/or computer because the wall outlets are not modern. There is no grounding. This quickly becomes item #1 on the to-do list. And because you are as stubborn as my grandpa, you decide that you can do electrical work without turning off the circuit breakers in your house. You also decide that a metal/steel screwdriver is the perfect tool for unscrewing those pesky screws on the outlet. Little do you know that you have just created the perfect scenario for a shocking experience (pun intended).

4. Flood your house

Did you know that the hoses behind your washing machine are fully charged with maximum water pressure? Oops. Next time make sure you turn off the faucets before you try to change the hoses or replace the washing machine. In fact, when it comes to plumbing, just call a plumbing specialist. A professional plumber will be much cheaper than the bilge pump rental. Trust me on this one.

5. Fall off the roof

Unlike most people who try to repair their own roof, this guy is actually prepared. He’s got a harness for goodness sake! Falling off the roof must be one of the biggest DIY fails ever. Most people who are victims of roof repair fail only post pictures of their massive injuries. You can’t pay me to get on a roof. I’ll leave it up to the professionals, even though I feel like they are showing off about it most times. (Okay. I get it. I can see you smiling at me from the roof. Way to go. I’m glad that you can be so impressed with your own sense of balance.)

The lesson learned here, hire a qualified professional for all your Home Improvement and Repair needs. To find a qualified professional visit ServiceLive.com.

Blog contributed by Kerry Dean at www.rangeonlinemedia.com

With a recent tragedy that took place through a classifieds posting web site, it’s a wonder how people would not demand access to information that could help protect them and their families.

It’s important that all companies that perform in-home services conduct background checks for their employees. This practice will build trust with consumers who are in need of services. To open your door for anyone, can increase the risk of wrong doing.

There are some companies that state on their website, that they perform background checks for their employees. ServiceLive conducts background checks on each and every ServiceLive-Approved provider you can hire through the site - the same check of criminal, civil and vehicle records required by contractors of Fortune 500 companies. In addition, provider firms submit company insurance levels and background information, plus skills, credentials and profiles for each individual provider.

Do your homework before hiring a company.

So what is it? Duct tape is a strong tape that is composed of three layers. The top layer (1) is a resilient plastic (Polyethylene). The bottom layer (3) is a rubber-based adhesive. The middle layer (2) is a fabric mesh. Duct tape is manufactured by pressing these three layers together.

Those three layers of magic have come in handy for our ServiceLive staff:

• Eric C - “to tape up a broken window.”
• Brian H - “to fix a handle on a shovel.”
• Kirsten W - “to patch the kids’ water slide.”
• Carlos F - “to fix a cracked whiffle ball bat.”
• Keith P - “to patch a cracked garden hose.”

Our ServiceLive professionals use it too – we forget it was designed for duct work! Duct tape may be one of the most versatile “tool” in America, but it should only be used for quick fixes as indicated above, or as a temporary fix until you can get a professional out to your home to make a more substantial repair.

But it’s not just for home improvement fixes! Duct tape can be used for other things besides quick repairs, like an effective cockroach trap (as seen in the photo on the left.)

If you’re creative, you can design your own duct tape purses (as seen in the photo on the right.)

Even NASA uses duct tape, so that should say it all.

It should be called the miracle tape!

G) Dryer Vents. One of the most important and rarely checked areas is your dryer vent – keep it as clean as a whistle. A backup of lint and yuck can lead to higher operating temperatures (more expensive) and possible dryer burnout (even more expensive). If you are unable to do it yourself, hire a PRO through ServiceLive.com who can effectively and efficiently clean your dryer vent. Many HVAC firms provide this service.

H) Interior Lighting. There are some great Energy Star-rated bulbs out there on the market. Invest in the bulbs and replace the energy wasters you have now. If you have ceiling “can” lights (sometimes called high hats), take the trim rings down and clean them out. Make sure the can is caulked to the drywall so there is not a huge gap letting attic air come into your home. Check the back side of the can (in the attic) and see if it is UL rated. Get the model number and talk to a local PRO in your area to see if the light can be sealed. NOTE: This will depend upon the type of can light and whether or not it has a UL rating.

I) Attic spaces. If you have an accessible attic, go check it out. If it has vents in the soffit, the fascia, the ridge or the gable, make sure they are all open and clear so they can do their job. Attics that have one or more of those are called gravity fed vented attics. The ventilation is gravity fed and its purpose is to lower the ambient temperature of the attic. Lowering the temperature in the spring, summer, and fall will lead to a more efficient heating and cooling system and will extend the lifespan of the shingle roof. If you really want to make an impact on your energy efficiency, contact an insulation company that performs closed cell and open cell foam jobs. This type of attic is referred to as a “sealed attic” and actually becomes conditioned space. Your electric and fuel bills will drop dramatically.

J) Water Heaters. If your water heater is gas fired, get the burners and flue cleaned. If it’s electric, make sure the elements and thermostats are set high enough to give you hot water, yet low enough to save you some money. Also, water heaters should be drained yearly and purged monthly. This gets sediment out of the tank and will prevent failure.

K) Dishwashers. Have your dishwasher checked out to make sure it’s operating properly. Make sure the element, gaskets and sealing are in satisfactory condition or you are wasting energy.

L) Irrigation/Sprinklers. If you have a landscape irrigation system, you won’t gain any energy efficiency from them, but you can save some money on your water bills. First and foremost, check for leaks. Then check connections and ensure nothing has frozen or has broken over the winter. Set the schedules to keep your landscape alive, yet not over watering.

M) Ductwork. Having your ductwork checked and cleaned or sealed if necessary is another great way to save some money on energy costs.

There are many, many more things that can and should be put on this list. This is just a checklist to get you started on your way to a more energy efficient 2009.

Blog contributed by Michael Covert at www.covertaire.com

Speaking of power bills, one of the buzz words from the political arena this year is “energy efficiency.” For those of us in the HVAC industry, this is a commonly used word and just “part of our jobs.” The public will now hear it and feel it like never before. You may even ask yourself: “How am I going to make my home more energy efficient in these times?” I’m glad you asked, as that is what this blog is all about!

Let’s tear into “Energy Efficient” and make it more tangible.

A) Thermostats. If you have a thermostat (seems funny asking that, but I guess it is possible), consider replacing it with one that is not only digital, but also programmable. You will want one that has 24-hour-a-day clock functions with four period settings of the day. This is called “setback” type. Honeywell and White Rogers make phenomenal ones. Once you have it installed by a ServiceLive Pro, utilize the functions. It’s recommended that you use all four periods of the day. Keep the HEAT setting as low as possible, and keep the COOL setting as high as possible, without creating a high humidity problem. (No higher than 78 or 80 if you are in a humid climate).

B) Air Filters. Gone over this one already (see previous blogs) but cannot impress upon it enough. REPLACE YOUR AIR FILTER MONTHLY!

C) Fireplaces. Once you have decided that burning a fire in the fireplace is over, kaput, done with for the year, remember to clean it, clean the flue and then close the damper on the flue. That will keep the air inside the home from going up the chimney. But don’t forget to open the damper in the fall or winter prior to starting the fireplace.

D) Windows and Doors. Inspect your windows and doors, especially the seals around the perimeter. Over time, they can shrink or contract a little and cause air infiltration from the outside. You may only need to do some caulking around the windows and door casings to get that seal back. Also check the thresholds of the exterior doors as they are known to bring in air and little critters as well.

E) Garage Doors. I know you are thinking, “why is he talking about garage doors and energy efficiency together?” Well, actually, a properly insulated garage door CAN cut down on your cooling costs. If you are thinking about replacing your garage door or upgrading, spend the little extra and get one that’s insulated. If your door is un-insulated and replacing it is not in your budget, at least hire a reputable garage door firm through ServiceLive, and get it insulated with aftermarket materials.

F) Heat Pump/AC. By all means, get your heat pump or air conditioner cleaned before it gets warm. The coils need to be cleaned, the drain systems need to be cleaned, and the blower needs to be cleaned - this is very, very important! If you have window AC units, they need to be maintained to operate as efficiently as possible. If your heat pump or AC units are 10 years old or older, it would really be a good time to consider upgrading to something more efficient. There are a lot of rebates from manufacturers out there, as well as a Federal Tax Credit from Uncle Sam for Energy Star improvements to your home in 2009. Not only are we as consumers in a position to save a ton of money off of the cost of the installation (as opposed to 1-2 years ago), we will see it in our utility bills as they dwindle down.

Blog contributed by Michael Covert at www.covertaire.com