Support Warren & Tim on Super Saturday - November 19th

Warren & Tim are supporting the St. Mary's Food Bank Super Saturday Turkey Drive on November 19th.

The HouseTalk Show will match the listener donated turkeys!

You can drop off either a turkey or cash donation.  When you drop off your donation, please make sure you register for the US Air tickets and let them know that The HouseTalk Show sent you.


Click here for additional details on this program.

Click here for drop off locations.

Enjoy Your Outdoor Space - Patio Heater Safety Tips

It's finally time to enjoy outdoor living spaces in Arizona, and a patio heater can help homeowners get the

most use out of patio areas throughout the winter.  Propane-fueled patio heaters can make your outdoor space cozy on even the chilliest night, and are great for entertaining.  When setting up your heater, you’ll want to position it on a level surface and ensure that it is fully and properly assembled before operating the unit.  Choose a location close enough to your seating area, but far enough away from anything that could potentially ignite.  A 3 foot clearance is generally recommended for larger units.  Plastic, fabric, wood and paper should be positioned at a safe distance from your heater.

Keep your patio heater clear of any obstructions at all times.  Even seemingly insignificant debris like spider webs or leaves can clog air ducts and reduce the ventilation and proper air flow, resulting in poor performance.  Don’t use your heater as a towel rack or attempt to dry clothing using the unit – you may end up with a fire on your hands!   Watch children around the heater and make sure rough activities that could result in the heater being jostled or tipped over are kept away from the patio area.

Check your heater’s hoses and fittings on a regular basis to prevent the occurrence of leaks.  Have your patio heater serviced on an annual basis and after any long periods of storage.  Following these common-sense safety tips will ensure that you enjoy your heated patio throughout the winter months.

St. Mary's Food Bank Super Saturday Turkey Drive on November 19th

Warren & Tim are supporting the St. Mary's Food Bank Super Saturday Turkey Drive on November 19th.

You can drop off either a turkey or cash donation.  When you drop off your donation, please make sure you register for the US Air tickets and let them know that The HouseTalk Show sent you.

The HouseTalk Show will match the listener donated turkeys!

Click here for drop off locations and additional details.

Pest Control Basics - Cockroaches

Regular pest control treatments in your home can prevent a population explosion of cockroaches.  While

cockroaches in the colder parts of the country go through a dormant period in the winter, here in the Valley of the Sun, we can find these creepy critters in our homes year-round.  Cockroaches can aggravate allergies, and where there is one roach there can quickly be many, many more.

Roaches can enter your home through cracks, crevices and pipes, or by hitching a ride in a box or grocery bag.  Once cockroaches are in your home, they just need warmth, food and water to survive and thrive, reproducing at an alarming rate.  Cockroaches are nocturnal creatures, so unless you are up all night, you won’t see how many roaches are actually scurrying around.  And of course, many will be in cabinets, closets, bathrooms and behind walls where you can’t easily spot them. 

Because cockroaches are great at hiding out and hiding their eggs in spots you just can’t get to, they are tough to get rid of.  Pest Control professionals are your best option for dealing with an invasion of cockroaches, and better yet, routinely scheduled pest control treatments will prevent the problem from starting in the first place.

Solar Water Heaters Shine

Most of us don't think too much about the cost of heating water in our home.  Electric water hears are inexpensive to purchase, and when a hot water heater goes out homeowners often choose the cheapest replacement.  However, an electric water heater accounts for 25% of the energy costs in the average household.  In a study conducted by the Florida Solar Energy Center, solar water heaters were found to save as much as 50% to 85% annually over the energy costs of electric water heaters.  The National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates recovering the investment on a solar water heater in 4 to 8 years through the resulting savings on energy costs.

Homeowners can also factor in various utility rebates and tax credits to increase their savings.  Once your solar water heater has paid for itself, you will have free hot water for the life of the heater and won’t have to worry about fuel or energy cost hikes in future years.  If you sell your house in the meantime, you have a good chance of recouping the cost of your solar water heater through the increased market value of your home.  Of course there are environmental benefits to operating a solar water heater.  You will not add to the pollution created by generating power or burning fuel to heat water for your home.  It’s estimated that over 20 years, the electricity needed to power an electric water heater will produce more than 50 tons of carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to the greenhouse effect, and your solar water heater will eliminate those emissions.

The next time you are contemplating life in a nice hot shower, give some thought to how you heat your water and the benefits of solar water heaters.

Keeping Spa Water Clean and Safe

Although the pool may get less use throughout the winter, in ground or above ground spas use can increase as the weather cools down.  Because of the warmer temperature of the spa, it’s important to follow some simple maintenance and cleaning guidelines to keep bacteria to a minimum and maintain the proper chemical balance.

You will need to use a spa sanitizer regularly to keep the water clean.  There are several different options available, including chlorine, bromine, baquaspa and minerals.  In addition, you’ll want to have a Spa Shock product on hand as well.  This product will work quickly to sanitize your spa and kill bacteria after heavy use.  To ensure that your sanitizing products work correctly, you’ll want to keep the pH of the spa water at 7.4 to 7.6.  Maintain your alkalinity at 100 ppm to 150 ppm.  The chemicals needed are readily available and inexpensive to keep on hand.  Depending on what type of spa you have, adding calcium may help protect your spa’s surface and prevent deterioration from soft water.

A pool supply professional can help you determine how often to use the basic chemicals based on what type of spa you have and how much it is used.  Regularly testing your water and looking for any trouble signs such as cloudy or discolored water, a ring around the spa tub or white deposit build-up will ensure that family and friends can enjoy a healthy and relaxing soak in your spa any time.

When to Consider Upgrading your HVAC

When having your fall HVAC maintenance check, you may be faced with big questions as to whether or not to replace your system.  Here are some guidelines from www.energystar.gov on when it’s time to consider replacing your system

If your heat pump or air conditioner is more than 10 years old, you could benefit from up to 20% savings in your energy costs if you choose an energy efficient new system.  If your furnace or boiler is more than 15 years old, replacing it with Energy Star rated models can result in 5-15% more energy efficiency.  If you find that your equipment needs frequent repairs and your energy bills are rising, your system may simply be losing efficiency.

If you notice things in your home such as certain rooms that are too warm or cold, excessive dust, humidity issues or noisy equipment, your HVAC system may be to blame.  If your equipment isn’t operating properly, you may experience some of these problems.  Other causes could be dirty, leaky or insufficient ductwork or inadequate insulation.

If no one is home for a good part of the day and you don’t have a programmable thermostat, consider having one installed.  It’s an easy way to save money while you are at work.  If you replace your old HVAC equipment with Energy Star rated products before the end of 2011, you could be eligible for a federal tax credit of up to $500, as well as substantial savings on your future energy bills.