The Attic Hatch: The Hole in the Middle of Your Insulation
A perfectly insulated attic floor with an uninsulated hatch in the middle of it is still a poorly insulated attic.
The EM HEAT Button: What It Does and When to Use It
The EM HEAT button tells your heat pump’s outdoor unit to shut off completely and hand all the work to the backup heater, usually electric resistance…
Seal the Attic Before You Insulate It, and Why the Order Matters
Seal every gap that connects the living space below to the attic above before you add or replace insulation up there.
Dual-Fuel Systems: A Heat Pump and a Furnace in One House
A dual-fuel heat pump system pairs an electric heat pump with a fuel-burning furnace, wired to a single thermostat that decides which one runs.
Water on the Wall Below the Head
Water running down the wall beneath a mini-split head almost always means the condensate drain system has failed somewhere between the indoor coil and…
What Installing a Gas Fireplace Involves
A gas fireplace installation is rarely just “hook up the fireplace.” It’s a small construction project that touches gas supply, venting, framing, and…
Does a Gas Fireplace Work in a Power Cut?
A gas fireplace with a standing pilot keeps burning when the power goes out, because the pilot flame itself powers the valve.
The Glass Front: Why It Is Hot and How to Clean It
Gas fireplace glass gets hot enough to burn skin on contact within seconds, and it holds that heat long after the flames shut off.
What the Flame Color of a Gas Fireplace Tells You
A yellow flame in a gas fireplace is often exactly what the manufacturer intended, not a warning sign.
How Efficient a Gas Fireplace Really Is
Gas fireplace efficiency almost never means what the sales tag implies. A unit rated at 80 or 90 percent efficient is describing how completely it burns…