Home improvement season is here and many people are considering sprucing up their homes or repairing damage caused by this past winter’s torrential rainstorms. While the record-setting levels of rainfall has eliminated the drought throughout most of the state, the excessive amount of water has resulted in crumbling roads/driveways, flood damage to homes, toppled…
Turning down the temperature on your air conditioner isn’t the only solution for keeping your house cool. Here are some easy ways, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the U.S. Department of Energy, to stay comfortable during the warm months, while also reducing your home energy bill. Draw your shades. Simply closing…
When we were kids, the only thing we had to worry about during summer vacation was what to do with all of that time off. As adults, we have other summer-related things to worry about—like how to keep our pets cool, how to protect our homes when we are away, how to prep the car…
Bark beetle tunnels beneath the bark of an American elm. (Photo by Deborah Bell/Smithsonian Institution) Dead and dying trees across California are a grim reminder of five years of devastating drought. The southern parts of the state were hit hardest by the drought and have the heaviest tree losses. Most of the affected trees were stressed…
Senior citizens are often a favorite target for scam artists such as unlicensed or unscrupulous contractors. That’s why knowledge is power. If seniors have the tools and information needed to spot a fake or notice red flags before something happens, the better they will be able to protect themselves. Since 1999, the Contractors State License Board has been sponsoring Senior…
With low inventory levels and a strong housing sellers’ market in California, you may be thinking it’s a good time to sell your home—or start making some improvements in preparation of selling. A few upgrades may be the difference between a disappointing home-selling experience and finding a buyer willing to pay your asking price or maybe a little…
California had a weather event last week. And whatever the forecasters called it—Atmospheric River, Pineapple Express, La Niña—it meant that a lot of water came crashing down on California, causing floods, mudslides, avalanches, and other water-related havoc on a state that has, in the past 5 years, experienced historically low levels of precipitation. And just…
In 2016, Governor Brown signed into law 898 pieces of legislation. Here’s a sampling of some of the new state laws: Barbering and booze: Under Assembly Bill (AB) 1322, Board of Barbering and Cosmetology-licensed beauty salons and barbershops can serve up to 12 ounces of beer or 6 ounces of wine to customers without having…
As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling, so making smart decisions about your home’s heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills and your comfort, according to Energy Star, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency voluntary program that helps…
California is in the middle of fire season. Already this year, thousands of acres have burned and hundreds of homes and structures have been damaged or destroyed, leaving some facing the huge task of rebuilding and trying to salvage what was lost. Fortunately, having to rebuild after a disaster is not something that’s done everyday.…
