The sun is shining and the temps are gorgeous outside! You might even be tempted to open the windows and let a breeze in. Here are three reasons that just may be the best thing for you to do today!

A nice warm sunny day in the middle of winter is a wonderful escape from the cold and dreary days that are more typical this time of year. Opening your windows is appealing, but for more reasons than you may realize:

1.) Help vent your home - We are big fans of promoting great air quality in the home, and the more the air is exchanged inside the home, the better the air quality is. Obviously, this isn't very cost effect if the temperature outside is not in a comfortable temperature range. So, in the summer or on really cold days you are greatly increasing the strain on your HVAC unit by opening doors and windows. However, on a near perfect day like today, it's a great time to turn off the thermostat and throw open those windows!

2.) Exercise your windows - It's not just our lazy bones that need a good workout, our home's components need to be moved too. Raising the windows up and down a few times will help to check that the windows aren't swollen and stuck, the balances on the sides aren't broken, and it will also help children learn how to raise the window. This can be important information in the case of an emergency, such as a fire.

3.) Bask in the sun's rays (and let your pets bask too!) - Many people struggle with Seasonal Depression over the winter months, and taking advantage of a sunny day can be critical for good mental health. Just 20 minutes outside or in nature can greatly increase serotonin levels. Plus, your pets will love the extra fun of smelling everything that's outside. And everyone knows that a happy tail wagging is one of the best anti-depressants available!

Not many people enjoy chores, but they’re something you have to deal with on a regular basis to keep your home safe and clean. It’s good to do specific chores at different times of the year to avoid any unnecessary expenses. The following is a quick list of some autumn chores that you can do to prepare your home before winter hits.
 
1. Don’t let your pipes freeze
 
According to State Farm, something as little as an 1/8-inch crack in a pipe can cause serious flooding, structural damage, and mold. Before winter, you’ll want to do a few things to help ensure your pipes won’t freeze, including insulating pipes inside crawl spaces and attics, using heat tape or heat cables to wrap around pipes, sealing any leaks, and disconnecting garden hoses.
 
2. Perform air conditioning maintenance
 
Be sure to remove, clean, or replace any components of your air conditioning that collect dust and dirt after long periods. Evaporator coils, air filters, and fins are just a few of the things that should be cleaned semi-regularly to help avoid costly air conditioning repairs during the winter months.

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(Photo credit: Pixabay)
 
3. Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
 
When it comes to smoke detectors, there are two tests that you can perform to be sure that they are working. The first is a basic test where you can simply press the test button on your detector until it beeps indicating it is working. Another way that you can test your smoke detector is by lighting a candle or other burning material and holding it 12 to 18 inches from your detector in what is called a crisis test. It is recommended to do a crisis test with someone else in case something goes wrong.
 
To test a carbon monoxide detector, like a smoke detector’s basic test, hold down the testing button on the detector until two beeps are heard. Do this once more until you hear four beeps, and then you can be sure that your test was sent to a monitoring station. It is important to check each device in every room of your home for safety.
 
4. Perform fireplace maintenance
 
During the cold months, you’ll want to use your fireplace to keep warm, but it’s extremely important to clean your fireplace in order to stay safe. Remove any debris or buildup in your fireplace or chimney and have a professional clean your fireplace flue and lines to prevent a buildup of creosote. Never treat your fireplace as a furnace. Don’t use it for more than five hours. Fireplace coals can remain hot for up to three days after burning so wait at least that long before cleaning out the ashes.
 
5. Check the exterior of your home
 
Check your exterior paint, siding, and patio or porch in the fall. The summer heat can often wear down paint so touch up any areas that need it. Also repair any siding before it lets water seep into your home. You should also prep your deck by checking for any cracks or weeds and by pressure washing, deck staining, and sealing.
 
When it comes to your home, safety and comfort are two of the most important things to focus on. Chores may be time-consuming, but they are all crucial for keeping your home up and running properly. Take advantage of these simple fall maintenance tips, and when winter comes around, you’ll be prepared and ready to take it on.

The myth behind covering vents is that if you trap heat in the attic, you will increase the energy efficiency of the home during the winter months. Since heat rises, if you trap it from escaping the top of your house, your house stays warmer, right? While this seems somewhat logical, building science proves it wrong. The fact is that attics should be ventilated year round.

Side note: There are some attics with spray foam insulation that are not ventilated, and should not be ventilated. But that is entirely another topic, so for now we will focus on homes that have ventilated attics.

There are two primary reasons for attic ventilation: to allow for heat to get out of the space, and to allow moisture to escape. Ventilation is complicated and has to be calculated based on the square footage of attic space present. There are many homes in Oklahoma that are not properly ventilated.

An attic should have a change in air flow, or be able to "breathe". Ventilation should be 50% from the soffit or intake and 50% exhaust at the peak of the roof. This allows heat to escape in the summer months and reduce shingle wear. The Oklahoma sun is brutal on the top side of shingles, but if the attic isn’t properly ventilated then that heat is doubled from the inside, causing even more damage to a roof. I have seen many roofs worn out prematurely from improper attic ventilation.

During the winter months the heat isn’t as bad, but there can be moisture present in the attic space, and this moisture needs a means of escape. This is especially true if bathroom exhaust fans are not vented to the outside. Point of fact, they should be; but I frequently inspect homes where this is not the case. Trapped moisture can condense on the insulation, and once insulation is wet it no longer insulates. So adding those vent covers can actually make your home less energy efficient! Also, heavy moisture inside an attic can grow mold, which can compromise the indoor air quality of the home.

Another problem with covering vents in the winter months is that Oklahoma weather can be a little on the crazy side. It may be 70° on a January day and then the next day it is in the 30’s. If you are covering your vents, there could be excess heat building up on those warm days, and excess moisture on the cold ones.

Also, it is somewhat dangerous to climb on a roof to install the cover. Because people are not the most comfortable on top of their homes, those covers are often left on well into the spring and summer months where temperatures can get very warm. And like Christmas lights, some people just leave the vent covers on all year, which is really a bad idea!

If you are interested in saving money on energy bills look into better insulation for your attic space, tune up your furnace, and even consider bumping down that thermostat a degree or two. If you do look into adding insulation in your attic, make sure your soffit vents have baffles installed and are not covered up. Remember we want 50% intake as part of a well ventilated attic.

Finally, if you are going to have your roof redone, make sure you talk to your roofer about proper ventilation. It may be that your roof was not properly ventilated in the first place, and many times the ventilation is just copied when the new shingles are put on. Making sure the ventilation is appropriate will help to prolong the life of your new roof. Provided hail and tornadoes aren’t a problem!

There are many factors to ventilation; this just scratches the surface. Our goal for today was to prevent the covering of roof vents, we’ll tackle additional concerns another day. But for now take an easy breath and be mindful of attic ventilation!

Woohoo!! We have been named a Top Pro by Thumbtack for the second year in a row! What is a Top Pro, you ask? Well here is a snippet from Thumbtack's website:

Wow, what an honor! Thank you to all of our clients who have hired us, and another heartfelt thank you to those who go above and beyond by leaving us a review!! Your time, your words, and most importantly your trust, mean the world to us.

The snow is here, and kids everywhere are rejoicing from one more day off of school! While it might be fun, snow can cause some damage to your roof. Here are some dos and don'ts on this cold marshmallow day!

Sometimes snow will melt slightly then refreeze on top of shingles. This usually happens at the very edge of eaves. This creates an ice dam, which can casue water to back up underneath the shingles. So, here are a few tips to keep in mind during a major snow event:

• Don't use shovels on shingles - It might seem like shovelling the snow off is a good idea. It works on the driveway, right?!? But on top of your roof, the shovels can damage the shingles and make conditions worse.
• Don't even get on your roof - It's not just tools that can damage your shingles. Extreme cold can make them significantly more brittle and prone to damage. So, even just walking around can cause problems. Don't get up on your roof when it's below 30* F outside, and really any time there is precipitation you should avoid the roof.
• Do monitor any areas that have had a history of ice damming in the past. You can throw road salt in these areas, just like you would on a driveway. Be very cautious when using your ladder to reach these areas!
• Do take a peek around to look for any evidence of leaks, especially in the attic. If you don't find any, then the situation is probably under control and there is nothing more to worry. Of course, if you find problems, or want help in looking for them, call in a professional.

Finally, do get outside and enjoy the fluffy flakes!

​Putting up lights for the holidays? Here are a few basic safety tips to consider!

1. Block out water - wrap all connections with electrical tape, and use GFCI outlets with protective covers.

2. Know what your outlets power - outdoor lights can trip circuits cutting off electricity to prevent damage. This is great protection, but it can also turn off unexpected items such as deep freezers. If possible, keep appliances on separate ground faults from your lights.

3. Slow and steady - take your time on ladders and roofs! Surfaces can be slick, so always use precaution when moving around.

4. Follow the labels - read boxes for limits on how many sets/strands can be connected, whether the lights are approved for outdoor use or not, and any other safety advice listed. Then follow the directions!

Enjoy the lights!

It's the final day of our 12 Tools of Christmas! Don't forget to like our page on Facebook, then like each tool's post for a chance to win that tool. You only have until midnight, TONIGHT!!!

Now that you have a great starter set of absolutely essential tools, it's time to have something to put those tools in! Great organization is paramount for getting jobs done efficiently and with as little foul language as possible. Trust us, nothing starts the frustration rising faster than not being able to find the tool you want to use when you need it quickly. Here are three options we love and use on a daily basis!

And there you have it, the 12 Tools of Christmas. Tools that we find to be essential for all home owners to have on hand. We hope you find these tools useful too!

Ready to get your Christmas shopping done? Check out past days for additional ideas!
Day 1: The Leatherman
Day 2: Flashlights
Day 3: Hammers
Day 4: Box Knife
Day 5: Multi-Bit Screwdriver
Day 6: Cordless Drill
Day 7: Socket Set
Day 8: Crescent Wrench
Day 9: Channellock Pliers
Day 10: Needle Nose Pliers
Day 11: Work Gloves

Want to feel the Spirit of Christmas even more?? We are giving away each day’s gift idea to 1 lucky reader! The contest will be open through midnight, November 30, 2016. Like our page on Facebook and like the Facebook post for an entry for this gift, only one entry per gift, please. One winner will be drawn per day starting December 1, 2016. You can win for more than one day, so enter daily!
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*Links may be Affiliate links, but the opinions expressed are solely ours.

Today is Giving Tuesday, and today's tool is one that gives a helping hand to your other tools. Don't forget that we will be giving away these tools starting December 1st! Simply like our page and the 12 Tools posts on Facebook before Thursday for a chance to win that tool!

While maybe not a tool in the traditional sense, a good pair of work gloves is essential for just about any job. We wear our gloves for everything including gardening, on roofs, car maintenance, wood working, fence repair, and any time we don't want our hands to get torn up. 

Ready to get your Christmas shopping done? Check out past days for additional ideas!
Day 1: The Leatherman
Day 2: Flashlights
Day 3: Hammers
Day 4: Box Knife
Day 5: Multi-Bit Screwdriver
Day 6: Cordless Drill
Day 7: Socket Set
Day 8: Crescent Wrench
Day 9: Channellock Pliers
Day 10: Needle Nose Pliers

Want to feel the Spirit of Christmas even more?? We are giving away each day’s gift idea to 1 lucky reader! The contest will be open through November 30, 2016. Like our page on Facebook and like the Facebook post for an entry for this gift, only one entry per gift, please. One winner will be drawn per day starting December 1, 2016. You can win for more than one day, so enter daily!
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*Links may be Affiliate links, but the opinions expressed are solely ours.

Today is Day 10 of the 12 Tools of Christmas! We have witnessed this tool being used, on a boat, to remove a wasp stinger from the belly of a man. We don't typically recommend rusty tools for medicinal purposes, but it made for an interesting day at the lake!

Yesterday we talked about Channellock pliers, and if you have a heavy duty job, those are the pliers you need. However, sometimes you don't have a heavy duty job. Sometimes you might actually have a more delicate job to accomplish. When this is the case, the needle nose pliers are a better tool!

Ready to get your Christmas shopping done? Check out past days for additional ideas!
Day 1: The Leatherman
Day 2: Flashlights
Day 3: Hammers
Day 4: Box Knife
Day 5: Multi-Bit Screwdriver
Day 6: Cordless Drill
Day 7: Socket Set
Day 8: Crescent Wrench
Day 9: Channellock Pliers

Want to feel the Spirit of Christmas even more?? We are giving away each day’s gift idea to 1 lucky reader! The contest will be open through November 30, 2016. Like our page on Facebook and like the Facebook post for an entry for this gift, only one entry per gift, please. One winner will be drawn per day starting December 1, 2016. You can win for more than one day, so enter daily!
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*Links may be Affiliate links, but the opinions expressed are solely ours.

Now that the Thanksgiving eating has been accomplished, it's time for Day 9! This tool is definitely an essential for the 12 Tools of Christmas. My uncle, who drives a semi-truck professionally, commented that it is one of the tools he always makes sure is along for the ride. 

Ready to get your Christmas shopping done? Check out past days for additional ideas!
Day 1: The Leatherman
Day 2: Flashlights
Day 3: Hammers
Day 4: Box Knife
Day 5: Multi-Bit Screwdriver
Day 6: Cordless Drill
Day 7: Socket Set
Day 8: Crescent Wrench

Want to feel the Spirit of Christmas even more?? We are giving away each day’s gift idea to 1 lucky reader! The contest will be open through November 30, 2016. Like our page on Facebook and like the Facebook post for an entry for this gift, only one entry per gift, please. One winner will be drawn per day starting December 1, 2016. You can win for more than one day, so enter daily!
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*Links may be Affiliate links, but the opinions expressed are solely ours.