Choose the Right Home Warranty For Your Needs

Buy a home recently? Congratulations! You've made an important step toward building a secure future for your family. The purchase of a home not only gives you the right to paint a wall the color you like, but you become eligible for various tax breaks and equity. That's why it's important, once the papers are signed and you have the keys in hand, to look into a solid home warranty plan to protect your home.

What is a Home Warranty?

When you buy electronics or a new car, you often receive or sign up for a warranty that guarantees some degree of assistance should something go wrong. Maybe a part is replaced, or the entire object depending on what you own.

A home warranty works along the same lines, only more items are covered. With such a plan, you get service protection that covers repairs on various household items, like your refrigerator and dishwasher, home air conditioning and heating, and plumbing. You might think at first home insurance is sufficient, but bear in mind that policies will cover property in the event of fire, flood, and other disasters, but won't take care of repair fees.

How a Home Warranty Works

Let's say your HVAC goes on the fritz. You call a technician to come out and fix it. If you don't have a warranty plan set, you'll have to cover the cost of parts and service. With a plan, however, you file a request with the company from which you bought your warranty and they handle the rest.

When you are ready to purchase a home warranty to protect your household appliances, do some Internet research. You'll find several handy websites with reviews of the best plans suited for your needs, whether you live in a two-story house or a high-rise condo. These plans are designed to bring you peace of mind as a homeowner and make living much easier.

Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer specializing in articles on Newport News HVAC repair, Virginia Beach home remodeling, Virginia Beach auto repair, and Virginia Beach plumbing.

HouseMaster Urges Homeowners to Consider Energy-Efficient Renovations to Cash in on Proposed "Home Star" Program

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BOUND BROOK, NJ -- 04/13/10 -- HouseMaster, a home inspection organization, urges homeowners to be proactive in making energy-efficient home renovations in order to receive the rebates outlined in President Obama's new "Home Star Retrofit Rebate" program, recently introduced in Congress. If passed, the proposed $6 billion program could reduce energy costs for middle-class families by hundreds of dollars a year.

HouseMaster provides some easy check-ups every homeowner can do to optimize the energy efficiency of their home in its reissued home inspection guide:

1. Windows and Doors Holes in windows and doors allow conditioned air to leak from your home and allow outdoor air to infiltrate -- which can tax your heating and cooling systems and raise your energy bills. Caulk around windows and doors where there are gaps. Also caulk areas where plumbing lines or electrical wiring extend to the exterior of the home.

2. Floor and Wall Insulation Insulation acts as a barrier to heat movement and helps keep any home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter -- all while using less energy. Making sure insulation is used at potential gaps such as around an attic stairway or over the attic access door is important as well.

3. Shedding a Little Light on a Simple Solution By replacing traditional incandescent light bulbs with compact flourescents, you can use up to 75 percent less energy on lighting alone! A wide assortment of CFLs is now available for almost any type fixture found in a home.

4. Appliances and HVAC Systems Your major household appliances are a good place to focus on for ways to make your home more eco-friendly. Start by changing the filters of your HVAC systems regularly and consider upgrading older appliances to take advantage of newer, more efficient designs.

5. Buy a Programmable Thermostat This energy-saving step can have a positive and noticeable impact right away. Programmable thermostats are fairly easy to install and once they are set up a homeowner can adjust them as the weather changes. For every degree that a thermostat is set back, you may realize a savings between one and three percent on your heating or cooling bills.

For more information, visit  http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/fact-sheet-homestar-energy-efficiency-retrofit-program.

Indoor Air Quality is Important

No matter where you live - be it the sweltering South or in cooler climates - or the style of residence (a condo, home, or large apartment), nothing is more important than ensuring your family can breathe easily at home. Some may think because you can't see problems like smoke or dust that your indoor air quality must be okay. In truth, the biggest dangers at home may be occurring without you realizing it. Every breath you take at home could lead to serious health problems down the road if you don't take measures to keep your indoor air fresh and clean.

Optimizing Indoor Air Quality

What does it mean to keep a high IAQ at home? Of course, clean air is the key, but achieving this involves doing things that eliminate the growth of bacteria, moisture, mold, and other pollutants that trigger illness and allergies if left unchecked. Much of what contaminates your home is brought from the outside - pollen, dirt, and even smoke - so you want to be sure your windows and doors are properly sealed to keep nature outside.

As for the indoors, a licensed HVAC mechanic should be on call to test your air conditioning, filtration, and duct systems for any anomalies that cause them to not work at optimal levels. When an air conditioning unit becomes too old to function well, for example, it is likely not to generate the clean air you need for your home. Likewise, as you ignore filters they continue to collect dust and other particles until they eventually recycle the bad stuff into your house, and your lungs.

Solutions for Good Breathing

Regular checkups with your local HVAC contractor can put your mind at ease. You may also wish to invest in an inexpensive testing device and a carbon monoxide detector to warn you if your breathing room has reached a dangerous level. Don't take chances with the IAQ of your home. Rest easy in your sleep and when you relax.

Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer specializing in articles on Newport News HVAC services and Hampton HVAC services.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathryn_Lively

Discount for Newport News HVAC Service

Maximum Air is proud to serve your HVAC installation and repair needs. We ensure that all of the Newport News heating and cooling systems we work on remain running smoothly regardless of weather conditions. Whether you need air duct replacement in your Yorktown or Hampton office, or wish to get rid of your window units and upgrade to a central AC system, Maximum Air is the one to call for maximum service.

If you are a first-time customer with Maximum Air, we're offering a special 15% discount to website referrals. Simply contact us via the website and fill out our form (or give us a call and let us know you've been to the website) and we'll offer you a free, discounted estimate on your next installation or repair. Don't wait for the summer heat or another harsh winter to wear you down. Stay comfortable any time of year with Maximum Air.