Homeowners are constantly looking for ways to save money when it comes to their monthly and annual utility expenses. Now more than ever, there are a wide array of opportunities available to residents of Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C., to give their properties energy-efficient overhauls that will pay off both in the long and short term.

With average interest rates on fixed-rate mortgages at or near all-time lows, homeowners are finding that by refinancing their home loans, they can save significantly on their monthly payments. With those savings, they can invest in projects that improve their home's energy efficiency, which will contribute to a monthly decrease in household expenses.

There is also a tax credit available through the federal government that will give homeowners up to $500 back if they have improved their property's energy efficiency over the past year. Congress recently passed legislation that would allow homeowners who undergo such projects in 2013 to enjoy similar tax deductions on next year's forms. This means that if you already filed your taxes for 2012 but started a project to improve your home's efficiency at the end of last year that bled into 2013, you can still get your money back next January.

The energy efficiency tax credit applies to some types of water heaters, furnaces, insulation, windows, roofs, heat pumps, boilers and central air conditioning units. If you choose appliances that feature the Energy Star label, these too may go towards qualifying your household for a tax break.

Natural gas is infused with the sulfuric odor of rotten eggs in order to alert homeowners of a leak in their residences. You can smell smoke, and can see it as well. Carbon monoxide, though, is not nearly as accommodating as these other substances. You will not see carbon monoxide leaking into your home, as it is entirely invisible to the human eye. You won’t smell it either, as it has no scent, and you can forget about tasting it, as it is tasteless as well. As you can tell, the detection of carbon monoxide is not something that you can rely on your own body and senses for.

The only way in which to truly protect yourself from the dangers of carbon monoxide exposure is to use a carbon monoxide detector in your home. We are happy to install and service yours for you to guarantee that it is operating properly. You should also be aware of the warning signs of CO exposure, though. They resemble flu symptoms, with headaches, nausea, and body pains being common. Longer exposure may result in dizziness and trouble breathing. Eventually, CO exposure can result in death. Don’t take any risks with carbon monoxide in your home. Work with a member of our staff today.

With the holiday season approaching, some people get really excited to celebrate the time of year. For some people, this includes decorations and lighting appropriate for the specific holidays they celebrate, for religious reasons or otherwise. Once the lighting has been set up and is functioning properly, it can be a beautiful display. Setting the lighting up will be fun, but in some cases can pose challenges and require creative solutions.

The Fun of Setting up Lights for the Holidays

Holiday lighting can be a personal project, a time for the whole family to come together as a team, or even a community effort for the whole neighborhood. Think of it as a creative craft project, but rather than something you work on at a kitchen table or work bench, it's the size of the entire house. Some decorations are bought, others are built, and they all have to go up to form a visually appealing end result based on the imagination of whoever is in charge. Beyond the cosmetic appearance, there is a practical nature to the project of getting everything plugged in while keeping the wires discreet and without overpower any circuit line of electric power in your home.

The Draw of Lighting on Circuit Breakers