New federal rules regulating widely used hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants, such as R-410A, take effect on January 1, 2025.

Black Friday often conjures up images of long lines and unruly crowds, but the annual sales event has changed substantially in recent years. Today, shoppers can skip the brick-and-mortar stores and shop in the serenity of their own homes, and many retailers offer great deals in the days leading up to Black Friday. These changes have made for a more enjoyable shopping experience, but the sheer volume of sales and advertisements both online and in physical stores can make it challenging to find the exceptionally good deals.

Home warranties are a popular investment for buyers and sellers in real estate transactions, but they also have a lot of utility for time-strapped or budget-conscious homeowners.

Ice is a delicious modern convenience, but it’s not without its hiccups, especially in at-home refrigerators. ConsumerReports rates LG refrigerators among the most reliable on the market and applauds the manufacturer for listening to feedback and consistently making improvements. 

The average American household runs its dishwasher at least twice per day. Busy households with kids, multi-generational members, and avid cooks will acutely feel the loss of a malfunctioning appliance, so getting it up and running again quickly is paramount. 
 

Drywall damage can put a major damper on your home decorating plans, especially if you’re repainting, but it can lead to even worse inconvenience if you don’t identify the cause and act quickly. While home warranties don’t directly cover drywall repairs, the right coverage can prevent extensive damage by addressing the root cause. 

Swimming pool leaks are virtually unavoidable, and most pool owners will encounter them at one point, even with the best maintenance practices. Knowing the signs to look for and the best resources to fix pool leaks can reduce your stress and the likelihood of getting blindsided by a massive repair. 

There are real financial incentives to making your home more energy efficient. Some home updates do require more money up front, even if they offer a substantial return on investment over time. But there are plenty of ways to increase your energy efficiency at a minimal expense too. You’ll have the greatest success by taking a multipronged approach and combining several strategies to save energy, so we’ve curated a list of actionable and accessible energy efficient home tips.

No one cares for uninvited guests. Unfortunately, almost all of us will at some point contend with creatures that want to take up residence in our homes. Houses make for safe, effective shelters for all kinds of insects, rodents, reptiles, and other critters, so homeowners need to stay vigilant and take measures to prevent common indoor pests from gaining entry. This article captures the essentials of preventative indoor pest control.

This article will speak a little more to this winning combination of routine maintenance and home warranty coverage to give you the information you need to keep your money where it belongs—in your bank account.

Your home’s sewer line is the conduit that connects your plumbing system with the greater municipal sewer system. If a blockage or break occurs somewhere along the line, you could have quite a problem on your hands. Without an open channel to the sewer system, your home’s wastewater could back up in your drains and plumbing fixtures or leach into your lawn.

High summer temps across the country are making us put our air conditioners in overdrive this year.  If you suspect that you have an A/C unit leaking water, we’ll help you sort it out. Here are five of the most common causes of air conditioner leakages.

We’re moving headlong into the dog days of summer, and few things bring such immediate relief as a dip in the pool. If you’re lucky enough to have a pool in your own backyard, you know that a host of  day-to-day maintenance tasks are essential to keep the water safe and inviting. This guide will focus on one such task in particular: shocking your pool to keep algae, bacteria, and other contaminants at bay.

It’s easy to not appreciate the convenience of a microwave until yours stop working. Simple tasks, from making popcorn to reheating leftovers, become just a little more difficult.

If you regularly use your dishwasher for kitchen cleanup, you’re likely already saving water, energy, and money. Washing dishes by hand isn’t just an often tedious chore. It’s wasteful and inefficient too. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, employing a modern Energy Star-certified dishwasher will use less than 50% as much energy as handwashing and save approximately 8,000 gallons of water in a single year. Those energy and water savings are good for the environment and your wallet alike.

Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance; they pose serious health risks by transmitting diseases such as West Nile Virus, Zika, and dengue fever. The World Health Organization estimates that over 50% of the global population  is at risk of mosquito-borne diseases. By implementing effective backyard mosquito control measures, you can ensure your family enjoys a healthier and more pleasant outdoor space.

It’s impossible to overstate the importance of the smoke detector in modern homes. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA),nearly 60% of fire-related deaths in American residences were in homes with smoke alarms that were missing or not working. Smoke detectors are an integral element of home safety. When these units are properly installed throughout your home, they provide early warning of house fires that could prove hazardous to both your family and your property.

Fortunately, there are ways to avoid buyer’s remorse when it comes to homeownership. It boils down to knowing what you want, house hunting methodically, and doing your research to avoid surprises after you have closed on a home. This article will further unpack these tips to keep buyer’s remorse strictly in the realm of the hypothetical.

When those appliances or systems in your home quit working, there are two choices to make: Buy new or repair.  you have two alternatives. You could either substitute it or repair it. Before you make that decision, there are several factors to consider, with one being the age of the item and if it is still under warranty. If the appliance or system is old, appliance repair prices may make it unfeasible to repair, making replacement the better option.

Revamping a run-down home isn’t just a matter of slapping on a new coat of paint. Sometimes there are expensive repairs involved, and you might find yourself quickly exceeding your budget, even if the upfront property cost was low.

That’s not to say you should always avoid a fixer-upper. Sometimes buying a home that needs repairs is a great financial decision. But you have to know what you’re getting into. This guide will help you with just that. Read on to learn how to get a fixer-upper home of your dreams. 

Keeping cool isn’t cheap. Air conditioners with enough power to cool down a single-family home run thousands of dollars—and that’s not including delivery and installation costs, taxes, permits, and other possible fees. All told, the average replacement cost for air conditioner systems in the United States is around $6,000. If you have a large home or live in an area with a high cost of living, five figures isn’t out of the question.

As a leading home warranty provider, we strive to keep our customers informed about crucial developments that could affect their home systems. The AC manufacturer industry is currently undergoing a complete overhaul of specific refrigerant types due to environmental concerns. The American Innovation and Manufacturing Act (AIM) has given the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authority to regulate the type of freon used in the manufacturing process of HVAC units across the country. 

Modern homes have mechanisms to gauge the extent to which resources delivered by utility companies are consumed. Your home might have an electricity meter, gas meter, and residential water meter.

Some homeowners may think nothing of the meters that register their resource usage, but these tools are worth keeping an eye on. For one thing, your home water meter can help you keep tabs on your water usage, so you can curtail how much water you use or determine if you might have a hidden leak somewhere. Regular monitoring can also help you check your meter’s accuracy, so you can notify your utility company in case you’re paying for more water than you’re actually using.

Modern homes have mechanisms to gauge the extent to which resources delivered by utility companies are consumed. Your home might have an electricity meter, gas meter, and residential water meter.

Some homeowners may think nothing of the meters that register their resource usage, but these tools are worth keeping an eye on. For one thing, your home water meter can help you keep tabs on your water usage, so you can curtail how much water you use or determine if you might have a hidden leak somewhere. Regular monitoring can also help you check your meter’s accuracy, so you can notify your utility company in case you’re paying for more water than you’re actually using.

Once those hot summer days arrive, it can be tempting to crank the air conditioning to feel some relief. It’s not wise to overdo it, though. Turning up the air conditioning doesn’t make your home cool down any faster, and overtaxing your system can make a breakdown much more likely—then you’ll really feel the heat.

If you’re in the middle of a kitchen remodel or house hunting, cooking appliances should be at the forefront of your mind. Even if you don’t consider yourself to be the world’s greatest chef, your oven and stovetop are tremendously important. They help set the tone of your kitchen’s aesthetic and affect even the simplest of everyday food prep. This makes the choice between a gas cooktop and gas oven and their electric counterparts a challenging one—the expense and installation likely means you’ll be living with your decision for many years to come.

The home warranty industry is bigger than ever. The variety of services and policies across numerous competing companies grows every year. Where does the average homeowner begin?

Use this guide as your home warranty cheat sheet. We’ll help you sort out what modern home warranty companies offer and how they stack up against one another. We think you’ll agree that Liberty Home Guard is The financial implications of homeownership extend far beyond the accrual of equity. New homebuyers and established homeowners are typically eligible for a host of tax benefits that can translate to substantial annual savings.

A qualified tax professional can assess your personal financial situation in meticulous detail, but this guide will give you a good idea of what homeowner tax benefits you should inquire about. a cut above.

Termites are among the most unwanted home invaders. Any insect or rodent infestation can make for a headache, but termites can cause significant and lasting damage to your home. Depending on the extent and location of the infestation, termites can create problems that cost tens of thousands of dollars to adequately resolve.

The home warranty industry is bigger than ever. The variety of services and policies across numerous competing companies grows every year. Where does the average homeowner begin?

Use this guide as your home warranty cheat sheet. We’ll help you sort out what modern home warranty companies offer and how they stack up against one another. We think you’ll agree that Liberty Home Guard is a cut above.

With the summer upon us, homeowners across America are switching on the air conditioning for a little relief from the hot and humid weather. It's a good time to assess how you might handle the repair of your HVAC system if a problem arose out of the blue.

Air conditioning systems and HVAC systems more broadly are as expensive as they are essential. The component appliances are not cheap to replace, and even simple repair costs can be steep. Fortunately, reputable air conditioning manufacturers support their products with multi-year warranty coverage, and homeowners have options for extended coverage to mitigate surprise repair expenses.

Outdoor grills take a beating. They face constant exposure to the elements, and propane grills can get as hot as 600°F when in use. Proper grill care is essential to stave off corrosion and equipment malfunction.

Gas grill maintenance is, fortunately, pretty straightforward. This article will review how to maintain a grill so you can enjoy family cookouts all summer long.

If only household maintenance was limited to sweeping and dusting. Unfortunately, responsible homeownership entails cleaning and maintaining a host of appliances and systems—even those that we scarcely think about from day to day.

Take your home exhaust fans. Most of us mindlessly switch on our bathroom exhaust fan before starting a shower, and we turn on our kitchen fans while cooking before turning our attention back to the food on the stove. If you rarely think about cleaning those fans, you are certainly not alone.

Selling a house with a pool can be an excellent opportunity to maximize the value of your property and attract potential buyers who appreciate the added luxury and lifestyle benefits. This comprehensive guide will share invaluable insights and strategies to help you effectively market and sell your house with a pool. From highlighting the pool's features to emphasizing its advantages, we will equip you with the knowledge and tips you need to outrank competitors and capture the attention of motivated buyers.

Inflation may be slowing down, but not quickly enough for the Federal Reserve. At the beginning of May, the Fed again chose to keep rates where they are, a signal that mortgage rates in the 7% range will continue to be the norm. 

Meanwhile, homeowners across the United States are locked into low-rate mortgages, disincentivized to sell. Housing stock throughout much of the country remains low as a result. But interest in real estate hasn’t abated, and professional investors, first-time buyers, and everyone in between are faced with the question of how to buy a house with high interest rates as the standard for the foreseeable future.

A leaking faucet is one of the most common problems that homeowners encounter, but it being commonplace doesn’t make it any less annoying. The constant drip drip drip of a leaking bathtub faucet, showerhead, or sink tap can disturb your home’s serenity. Left neglected, a dripping faucet can also result in higher water bills and discoloration or mold growth in your sink or plumbing fixtures.

Now is a great time to assess the efficiency of your windows in maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature. Drafty windows, thin glass, and insufficient window treatments make it easier for the stifling summer heat to find its way into your home, making your AC work that much harder and increasing your energy bill.

Lennox International has been a leading U.S. provider of HVAC and climate control equipment for more than a century. Air conditioners for residential and commercial applications comprise a significant portion of the company’s contemporary product offerings.

Lennox air conditioners trend more expensive than other brands. Some more affordable models are in the $3,000 to $4,000 range, while others can exceed $10,000, especially when you factor in installation costs. Homeowners who pay such amounts understandably want some assurance that their equipment will operate reliably and efficiently for a substantial length of time. Fortunately, Lennox supports its appliances with product guarantees.

Keeping your home’s temperature under control is more than a luxury, and sometimes it is even

If you’re a real estate agent or homeowner preparing to sell your home, you know that open houses are critical. An open house is your chance to present your home in the best possible light and capture the interest of potential buyers. It can be a challenge to stay organized and keep track of scheduled showings, however. Fortunately, you can take advantage of a real estate open house app to keep things in order.

A home warranty for multi-family dwellings or a home warranty for apartment building complexes can save landlords a significant amount of time and money.

In an exceedingly competitive real estate environment, it's crucial to distinguish yourself from competitive offerings by offering more reliable and valuable services. Liberty Home Guard’s Investment Property Department is custom built for your needs.

Along with plumbing and electrical, the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system is one of a home’s most critical infrastructural components. The effects of a failing HVAC system can be more severe than just discomfort in the heat or cold. An improperly ventilated or climate-controlled house can stress building materials, promote mold and dust, and prematurely wear home appliances and systems.

Are you tired of constantly dealing with the hassle of managing property maintenance? As a property manager or investment property owner, you know that unexpected repair costs can eat away at your profits. That's where a home warranty comes in, offering you a hassle-free solution to protect your properties.

The longer days and warming weather of spring have traditionally signaled an uptick in real estate activity—but the modern housing market is anything but predictable. The broader market is still feeling the reverberations of the pandemic’s upheaval and the rise of remote work, not too mention the effects of other economic realities; from inflation and interest rate hikes to generational shifts as large cohorts of Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z age into the next phase of their lives.

For most people in a position to buy property, a home is among the most important and expensive lifetime purchases. Buyers are understandably cautious. The enormity of the financial investment and reality of being solely responsible for a host of essential home components leave little room for blunders and missteps. If you’re eager to sell your home, what can you do to calm the anxieties of skittish prospective buyers?

For years, homeowners and real estate professionals considered a 6% realtor’s commission as one of the standard expenses associated with selling a home. That’s no longer the case as of the March 2024 ruling. In legal proceedings that have broad implications for the real estate industry nationwide, the National Association of Realtors agreed to a settlement that includes more than $400 million in damages and significant changes to rules and guidelines on real estate agent commissions.

Buckle up, folks! Who needs cowboy boots and a ten-gallon hat when Oklahoma City, home of some fierce weather and even fiercer basketball, rolls out yet another jaw-dropping, Oklahoma-sky-at-sunset spectacle; Twelve of the finest and thoroughly savvy real estate agents you've ever seen. These are the homestead heroes mapping out your route through the swirling winds of homeownership, stamping a satisfying SOLD sign in the heart of Oklahoma's eclectic neighborhoods, faster than a tumbleweed in a tornado. 

Appliance woes leaving you and your family cold? Liberty Home Guard will help you shake the chill. This boiler circulator pump troubleshooting guide will walk you through how to identify and resolve the problem afflicting your plumbing or hydronic heating system.

Santa Clara Valley, with its sun-drenched landscape, blooming real estate opportunities and a tech-savvy atmosphere brought on by Silicon Valley, is a hotbed for property transactions. Nesting in its heart is the delightful city of San Jose, a vibrant medley of cultures where beautiful Spanish architecture shares horizons with modern developments. But when it comes to navigating this dynamic market, we could all use a little help.

It’s easy to lose your cool with a touchy boiler. Some boiler problems and solutions require a professional touch, which rarely comes cheap, but there are a few issues—fortunately—that the layperson can resolve.