Author: Cameron

Why Should You Get a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee?

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee is a vehicle that demands your attention. The top-selling Jeep Grand Cherokee has an upscale, comfortable, look and feel. It offers comfortable seating for up to five adults. The powertrains are fast and its an extremely versatile car, suitable for everyday use, family use, off-road driving, and anything in between.

It is not very big on fuel economy, and the cost is slightly higher than you would expect. However, the Jeep’s performance and style make it a worthy purchase. The Jeep features 20-inch wheels. The cabin is made of high-quality material for all the trim levels. There are plenty of engine options with an eight-speed automatic.

The Jeep’s rear-wheel drive is standard, and most of the trims will have four-wheel drive. Its base trim includes a powerful engine and comfort features such as two USB charging ports, leather wrapping on the steering wheel, Android Auto compatibility, and more. Safety features include automatic emergency braking. But these are just a few of the features offered by the new Jeep Grand Cherokee. If you’re in the market for a great, versatile vehicle, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is the one for you!

2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Design

The classic Jeep body is here even if it is tempered by some softer design choices. This is a modern-looking Jeep, through and through, sporting soft lines and a boxy design that wouldn’t gel under other circumstances. In this case, though, the design is oddly appealing. We really like the modernized look, as it suggests the modern touches inside and under the hood.

Luxury at All Trims

Even the lowest trims, like the Laredo, Limited and Trailhawk are loaded with features that can be described only as luxurious. The engine is a 295 horsepower V6 at all of these levels and performs well in a multitude of scenarios. Whether you’re wanting the vehicle as a family car, an SUV or for off-roading, it won’t disappoint. The ride is smooth and quiet, the seats are incredibly comfortable and the speakers sound great.

Some of the higher trim options start to offer some serious luxury, though. For instance, the Overland trim level includes heated seat in the first and second rows as well as a better speaker system. At the SRT trim the engine is upgraded to a 475 horsepower V8 beast that can handle all kinds of terrain. Even more impressive is the Trackhawk’s 707 horsepower V8 that takes off like a jet. From the powerful, intimidating look to the excellent performance, and luxury appointments, the vehicle is set to be a hit. You can get more luxury appointments by spending extra to get the mid-level to high trims.

Rugged and Luxurious at Once

It’s not often you find a vehicle that strikes the balance between being a rugged off-roading beast and a good family SUV. The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee is such a vehicle, striking that fine balance. The high-quality make and powerful engine make it great for all kinds of rugged adventuring. Meanwhile, the comfortable and luxurious interior make you forget just how mean of a vehicle you’re in!

Pricing

The different trims are available at different prices. The starting price for the Laredo is about $31, 695, the Limited starts at about $38,945, the Trailhawk starts at about $44,045, and the Overland’s starting price is $45,745. The Summit, SRT, and Trackhawk are the most expensive trims. The Trackhawk is the most costly at about $86,650. The SRT is the second most expensive at about $68,145. The starting price of the Summit trim is $51,445.

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee may be costly, but it gives you value for your money. From the powerful, intimidating look to the excellent performance, and luxury appointments, the vehicle is set to be a hit. You can get more luxury appointments by spending extra to get the mid-level to high trims.That means you’ve got choices from affordable luxury up to full-on luxury vehicle!

November 8, 2018
Is Your Card This Good? Best Credit Cards with No Annual Fees

It can be hard to build your credit. Credit cards come in so many varieties. How can you figure out which one is the best for you? To help you decide we’ve rounded up a selection of some of the best credit cards with no annual fees. These are some of the best credit cards you’ll find for building credit!

Best Credit Cards with No Annual Fees

Discover it Cashback Match Card

This no-fee cashback card is an interesting one. You get one percent cashback on all purchases, which is standard for cashback. However, each quarter a new category of five percent cashback is in effect. For example, some quarters will have restaurants as a five percent category while others will have gas stations in that slot.

While the quarterly bonus rewards are nice, the best part is the introductory period. For the first 14 months the card has zero interest! After that it reverts to between 13.49 percent and 24.49 percent APR.

Citi Simplicity Card

This straightforward no-fee credit card is great if you just want a simple card for daily use. It offers an 18-month period of zero interest and has no annual fees. To get accepted for the card it’s recommended that you have credit between 690 and 850. Overall, this card is a fantastic deal. On the downside, there are no rewards associated and the rates are somewhat high after the introductory period.

That said, this card is worth it for the introductory period alone. No annual fees and no interest for 18 months is a hard deal to beat!

Citi Double Cash Card

This Citi card has no annual fees and is one of the best cashback cards you can get. It’s recommended you have between 690 and 850 for your credit score to get approved for the card. This card charges zero interest for the first 18 months, which makes it very attractive for new cardholders.

The card gives you one percent cashback on all purchases. While it doesn’t have rotating cashback categories, you do get the awesome 18 months of no interest. Additionally, there is no limit on the amount of rewards you can receive. After the introductory period, the card reverts to between 14.99 percent to 24.99 percent APR.

November 8, 2018
Top Reasons You Should Travel to Europe Now

European vacations are on most people’s list of things to do when they have some spare time and leisure money. Who can blame them? There are ample monuments, historical places and vistas just begging to be visited in the beautiful continent. Here are the top reasons you should travel to Europe now if you’ve been holding off!

Why You Should Travel to Europe

Less Tourists

Lately there have been way fewer tourists to Europe in general. The reasons why are varied and largely hinge on local European politics. For the most part it has a lot to do with the economic impact of Brexit and disagreements over refugees. While that might sound like an unstable political climate to visit, don’t let it scare you. For the most part, European tourist destinations are completely safe. The governments of the EU remain completely stable and there’s nothing to worry about traveling there.

Lower Travel Costs

For similar reasons as above, travel costs have dropped pretty significantly in the past few years. The impact of Brexit has dropped the value of the British pound pretty significantly. Similarly, the lower number of tourists visiting means there are lower prices at resorts and such. That’s simple economics: less demand means lower prices.

Top Destinations

There are a few places you should make sure to visit on your European vacation. When you’re plotting your course, make sure you consult a map of Europe. For instance, you could start in Iceland, which is pretty far to the west of Europe. Then, after visiting the stunning vistas of Iceland you could travel east to England and visit London and the Globe Theater!

From there you could travel south to France and make a stop in Paris. A trip to Germany, enjoying the gorgeous landscape and delicious cuisine, could follow. Then a stop in Rome to the south would be in order! After visiting the ancient city you could head further east into Russia and enjoy the historical sites in St. Petersburg before returning home.

That’s just one example of a few top destination organized from West to East. You get the idea! There’s never been a better time to plan your own European vacation. Travel to Europe has never been a more appealing prospect!

November 7, 2018
How to Save Money on a New Car

Buying a new car comes with a huge cost. You shell out tens of thousands of dollars, or take on the burden of an auto loan. Being able to afford a new car requires years of saving money, researching your options, and digging deep to find the right deal.

Yet there’s something you should know: car manufacturers are cutting prices. A new car doesn’t cost as much as you might think. Thanks to increased competition among automakers, prices are dropping. Every car manufacturer wants your business, but they know you’re too smart to go after the first low price you see. You want the lowest possible price and the best car in the market.

The average car on the road is about ten years old. Cars are becoming less expensive across the board to compensate as manufacturers struggle to get new cars on the road. Dealerships are even scrambling to get old cars off of their lots to make room for new models. Are you taking advantage of this advantageous climate? Here’s the insight about the auto industry you need to stay ahead of the curve and take advantage of these incredible deals.

How to Save Money on a New Car

Different Choices Equal Lower Prices

Every car company is trying to stay ahead of the pack by creating more new options every year. This could work to your advantage. With so many different options, you could choose anything you want. Want an SUV or crossover? There’s one available from every car manufacturer, from affordable to luxury. Looking for a sedan or convertible? Each automaker has their own take on these types of cars. Special features, add-ons like warranties and maintenance packages, even upgrades on car interiors can all be compared too.

Car manufacturers are at war over their prices. Facing stiffer competition across the market, car companies know they need to capture your attention. No one manufacturer wants to miss out on luring new customers, new car buyers–and when one automaker is lowering its prices, the rest of the pack follows. This trend could potentially save you thousands of dollars.

You Can Afford a Luxury Car

Luxury car brands are competing with each other as well, trying to offer the best features at the lowest prices. They know you have a lot of options to choose from, so they want to stay ahead of the game. Affordable automakers’ cars are catching up to luxury brands. With fancy, tech-savvy features like backup cameras, lane assist, and infotainment systems now the norm, luxury brands are starting to scramble. They know you could score a similar car from another company for less, and they don’t want to lose your business.

Anyone can afford a luxury car thanks to this race amongst automakers. You simply need to know what a brand’s competitors are offering for a given model, and you can use that information to get a significantly reduced rate on the luxury car you’ve been eyeing for years.

Do Your Research

Don’t just walk onto a dealership lot looking a good sticker price. You’ll end up overspending by a lot and driving home with an outdated model you spent too much on. Car salespeople are really good at hyping up nothing at all and getting you to part with your hard-earned money. Before you get swept up by a sales pitch, do your research. You’ll want to know all of your options.

Get a feel for what different brands and features cost. If you like features like lane assist, back-up cams and infotainment systems you’re in luck. Those features have become standard on pretty much every car. From luxury cars to affordable options, high-tech features are now the norm.

Compare and Shop Online

You don’t even need to head into a physical dealership. You can shop for cars entirely online if you so choose. That way you not only avoid the salespeople but you also get to shop at a slower pace. Slower paced shopping means you get to compare prices at your leisure and decide on which features you really want.

Talk to Your Friends

If your friends have nice cars or recently bought new ones, talk to them! They’ll be able to tell you way their shopping experience was like and how much they spent. If you’re looking to upgrade to a new vehicle this is a good way to get a feel for what people like. Your friends can even tell you which features they use a lot and enjoy and which ones aren’t really worth the money.

Just remember that you should shop at your own pace! You’re in no rush to get a new vehicle. If you shop at your own place and avoid the typical car-buying process you’ll end up saving a lot of money.

Local Dealerships Don’t Want You to Know About These Deals

Visit your local car dealerships, and you won’t find these amazing deals. Why? They’ll lose money if they let you in on their secret and sell you a car at the manufacturer’s reduced rate. If you walk into a car dealership today, they will try to sell you a new car for the highest price possible. You could spend all day at a dealership trying to convince a salesperson to lower their price.

Why waste your precious time when there’s an easier way? Armed with the right research, you can skip settling for bank-breaking dealerships. There are other options for buying a car at significantly lower prices. If you follow the tips above and do your research, shop online for different prices and talk to friends you will be armed with everything you need to know–and they’ll show you sticker prices far less than those at the dealership.

Stop being jealous of all the new cars on the road–you can purchase one too for the best price on the market. You simply need to keep searching the top money-saving sites. In the age of technology, there are many online resources to help you buy the car of your dreams!

November 7, 2018
Having Trouble Finding Love? Tips on Being Successful at Online Dating

The wide world of online dating can seem daunting to a newcomer. How do you make yourself stand out? How can you be successful at online dating? Don’t panic just yet, we’re here to help. Here are some quick tips to help you be a bit more successful at online dating. This one’s a freebie: act natural!

How to Be Successful at Online Dating

Be Yourself

Seriously, this one is a big deal-breaker. You need to relax. Just take a deep breath and present yourself as you are. There’s no need to try to act like someone else. If you want to have a successful time meeting dates online you need to present yourself truthfully. That means that you need an up-to-date, accurate profile picture. You shouldn’t lie about what you do or how much money you make. It’s okay to omit these things if you think they’re boring or irrelevant, but don’t lie.

Take it Easy

There are literally countless people in your very city who will want to go on dates with you. Take it easy. Patience and confidence can go a long way in the world of online dating! Just remember that there’s no rush and you can meet people at your own pace. If you have a few bad dates in a row, there’s no reason to freak out. You’ll meet more people, you’ll go on more dates and you’ll meet someone awesome.

A lot of prospective dates are scared off by people acting desperate or without confidence. It’s highly disconcerting if your date is constantly bashing themselves, isn’t it? People who exude confidence, calm and surety are much more magnetic and likeable.

Listen to Your Date

Make a point of paying attention to your date. If you’re constantly on your phone, ignoring them or looking at other people it’s unlikely they’ll want to meet with you again. Enjoy where you are! Enjoy the company of the person you’re with and they’ll notice it.

If you follow these basic tips you’ll likely find your dating situation get a lot better. Just relax, take things easy and remember that it isn’t a race. You’ll meet someone cool! Just be yourself!

November 7, 2018
5 Google Home Devices You Need

The Google Home is getting better and better and that’s not going to change any time soon, especially considering Google’s artificial intelligence prowess. Google Home is a huge help to people who want a personal assistant for household tasks.

But perhaps the best thing about the Google Assistant has nothing to do with the Assistant itself, but more to do with the fact that it can be used to control such a huge range of smart home devices. Unfortunately, not all smart home devices are created equal. If you’re looking to control your home with the Google Assistant, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the right products. That’s why we’ve put together this guide — to help you find the best Google Assistant-compatible products out there.

Things like setting the lights, thermostat and music are as easy as using your voice with Google Home. To help you automate all the little things, here are the top 5 Google Home Devices you need for your home!

Must-Have Google Home Devices

Nest Thermostat

The Nest Learning Thermostat is a great smart home device that works with Google Assistant. If you’re the kind of person who likes saving money on your power bill and keeping your home’s comfort front and center, you’ll want the Nest system. You can control your home’s temperature with your voice through Google Assistant or through the Nest app.

The best part of this system, however, is the “Learning” part. The thermostat should learn your routine as you use it and develop a profile for you. This means that it will try to change the temperature intelligently before you even ask it to. When working properly, this means it keeps your power bill down and works invisibly. You shouldn’t even notice the system, as you’ll always be comfortable in your own home! How great is that?

Nest Cam

On the same note as the Nest Thermostat is the Nest Cam. Retailing at $300, the Nest Came is a pretty handy device. For one thing, it comes included with a Google Assistant, so you can control it with your voice out of the box. It’s also a great companion to an existing smart home system! It’s easily one of the best home security solutions for the money.

If you’re often away from home and want to be able to keep an eye on things, the Nest Cam has you covered. Whether you’re checking in on pets or kids, or just making sure no one is in there when they shouldn’t be, the Nest Cam is super handy. It can even be set to function by being motion-activated. Hopefully you won’t need it, but it’s great to have! You can even view the camera’s feed from your smartphone over the internet.

Phillips Hue

The best way to equip your house with smart lights is through the Philips Hue system. These smart lightbulbs are really rather intuitive, and they work well with Google Assistant. The bulbs come with a variety of uses, as they can connect to several different smart home systems. If you have Alexa, for instance, these work well with that system too!

To get started with Hue you need a Hue Bridge. Once you have that you can simply add more Hue bulbs to your Hue system. You can control the lights entirely with your voice, turning them on or off or even changing their colors. It’s a small touch, but it makes you feel like you’re living in the future when you can control your house with your voice!

Hue makes it easy to set up and control the lights in your entire house. You need only get a Hue Bridge connected to your Google Home system. Then, you just tell it which bulb is in which room. You can even control the lights from a smartphone app while you aren’t home!

Belkin WeMo

The WeMo system by Belkin is a way to turn nearly any device into a smart device. WeMo plugs are smart switches that can simply be toggled on or off. That means if you plug a lamp into one, you can name that switch “lamp” and command it with your voice. Calling out “Google, turn off the lamp,” is a pretty satisfying command.

The possibilities for WeMo are pretty wide and varied. It’s hard to overstate how handy this is for anything you want to become a smart device. Your speakers, your fans and the like can all be connected via this smart system. Talk about an easy way to get everything connected!

Chromecast

Ever wanted to pull up YouTube videos on your TV with your voice? Then you want a Chromecast. Simply tell Google what you want to see on the TV from the internet and Chromecast has you covered. It’s really quite satisfying to control your TV with your voice, and Chromecast isn’t even that pricey!

November 6, 2018
Are You Giving the Best Gifts? Our 2018 Holiday Gift Guide

It can be really difficult to find the right gifts for all your loved ones around the holidays. There are just so many great tech options out there for gifts! From smart watches to video games to entertainment, we’re running down some of the best gift options this season! Here’s our 2018 holiday gift guide!

2018 Holiday Gift Guide

Apple Watch Series 4

The series 4 Apple Watch is a fantastic piece of technology. A gorgeous OLED display shows off your fitness tracking, music or weather in beautiful colors. This wonderful little watch is weather-resistant and is even waterproof enough to go swimming with you. If you know an active, outdoorsy type who also wants a stylish watch, consider getting them an Apple Watch.

This watch sports a robust suite of fitness tracking, from sleep monitoring to heartbeat readings and more. It’s hard to describe how handy a smart watch is unless you’ve used one. If you know someone who would love to be more organized and have a fitness tracker that looks great, this is the gift for them!

Bose SoundSport Wireless

The Bose SoundSport Wireless headphones are great for the active person in your life. These impressive Bluetooth headphones have a lot to love in a little package. They retail for $150, making them a relatively mid-level point for Bluetooth headphones. The SoundSport Wireless headset is waterproof and sweat-resistant, making it ideal for jogging or working out.

Additionally, these headphones sport an inline mic, making them great for answering calls while listening to music. There’s even a control bulb inline where the mic is so you can adjust the volume and skip songs without having to dig your phone out! If you’re looking to spend a little bit on an active loved one, this is a great gift to consider!

Amazon Echo Spot

Everyone has heard of Alexa, Amazon’s handy personal AI assistant. The Amazon Echo line of smart-home speakers has made her a household (ha) name. Everyone knows the Echo line for the excellent voice-integrated control of smart home functions. The Echo Spot is looking to add a visual element to the proceedings. If you know someone who has been dying to have an Alexa device and loves visuals along with convenience, this is the gift for them.

The Echo Spot is the midway between the base-level Dot and the full-blown video-enabled Show. The Spot also falls between the two devices in price, retailing for only $130. That makes it a great gift for someone who loves their Echo Dot but wants something more in-depth for coordinating their smart home. Consider this device if you’ve got an undecided smart home adopter who you want to spend a little bit of money on.

GoPro Hero4 Session

We’ve all got that friend or family member who just loves going on crazy adventures. Whether they’re up hiking in the mountains, getting caught on a big wave or base-jumping from a crazy height, they’re out there. That’s the person you should get a GoPro Hero4 Session for! This mid-tier GoPro is in the sweet spot on both price and functionality. Coming in at $225, this POV camera won’t break the bank.

For that price, you get a ton of great features. This camera is rugged, waterproof and durable. You can rest assured that it will survive most any adventure. It also shoots fantastic, high-quality video, making it a must-have for adrenaline-seekers. It’s also pretty small and really light, making it ideal for fast-moving adventurers who can’t lug around massive cameras.

Nintendo Switch

If there’s a gamer in your life who has been dying to play Nintendo games, consider getting them a Nintendo Switch. The system is a little pricey, coming in at $300, which makes it a pretty high-end gift. However, the system sports a very unique angle on console gaming. When docked, it functions as a normal console-to-TV system, like the PS4 or Xbox One. When undocked, however, the system becomes something like a portable gaming tablet.

This is made more impressive by the stellar lineup of exclusive games on the system. Super Mario Odyssey, Breath of the Wild and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe are three massive notables on the system. Whether you’re shopping for a little one who loves Mario or a grown loved one who just wants to game, this is a great capstone gift.

November 6, 2018
iPad Pro 2018 Review Roundup: Is it Worth the Money?

The iPad Pro 2018 is here, and the reviews are rolling in. The question on everyone’s mind is whether the new iPad is actually worth the price tag. Well, we’ve got the roundup you’ve been looking for! From new features to returning peripherals, here’s what to expect from the iPad Pro 2018!

iPad Pro 2018 Review

Digital Trends

The Specs

First things first: the iPad Pro 2018 is an absolute beast from a technical standpoint. Much like the iPhone X set a new bar for smartphones in 2017, the iPad Pro is really the bar for tablets. The A12 Bionic chip that powers the tablet is a marvel, multitasking and running at blistering speeds. The massive, gorgeous AMOLED screen really has to be seen to be believed. If you haven’t seen the newest generation of Apple screens you won’t understand just how gorgeous this display is.

The 2018 iPad Pro also sports the front-facing, depth-sensing equipment to power Face ID. There’s no home button and no fingerprint scanner, so your only option for biometric scanning is Apple’s excellent Face ID. It works great in landscape or portrait mode, in high or low light and in whatever surroundings. If you’ve used the iPhone X, you know what to expect here. Really, this iteration of the iPad could have been named the iPad X.

The presence of that depth-sensing front-facing camera array also means that Memoji and Animoji both work on this iPad. Really, if you just think of this as a giant iPhone X, you won’t be far from the truth.

Design

And, much like the iPhone X, this iPad has hardly any bezels. The screen is huge compared to the body, leaving a scant amount of excess around the edges of the screen. In fact, the 12-inch model is noticeably smaller in profile than the 2017 version with the same screen size. This design is clean and attractive and really fits the iPad’s existing design ethos. While the sleek, rounded lines of the iPhone line might look odd at this scale at first, they really grow on you.

Aside from these minor touches, however, the iPad Pro hasn’t changed too much. The lack of a home button does make the device much cleaner in appearance. It’s easy to tell that this is a new era of Apple product design at a glance. Again, the comparisons to the iPhone X come easily. That goes for the lack of a headphone jack, too, sadly.

That’s right: there’s no proper headphone jack. The only port on this year’s iPad is a USB-C port. We were surprised to see that there was no Lightning port this time, but that’s a good thing. It makes finding conversion dongles much easier. It also means you’ll need to invest in Bluetooth or USB-C headphones for use with this device. Which is sort of a bummer.

Peripherals

The star of the show here, much like with the Microsoft Surface line, is the Pencil. The Apple Pencil was an excellent addition to the iPad ecosystem and remains a must-have. For whatever baffling reason, though, the Pencil from previous hardware generations doesn’t work on the 2018 iPad. What’s harder to believe, though, is that the new Pencil doesn’t even work on older iPads. This wouldn’t be as big a deal if the Pencil came with the iPad, but it doesn’t. In fact, it’s priced at a rather steep $129.

That said, this new Pencil is awesome. It has more drag on the screen, which makes it feel like a real pencil. It magnetically snaps on the side of the iPad, which is also how it charges. It reminds us a lot of the Surface line of tablets and how its pen snaps on. It works wonders for artists.

The folio keyboard is back, and, like the Pencil, costs a lot. It also doesn’t come with the iPad, and it starts at $179 for the 11-inch iPad. The 12-inch model costs a staggering $199. That means you’ll be spending a lot on an iPad, given that the 11-inch model starts at $799 and the 12-inch starts at $999.

Bottom Line

This year’s iPad line is absolutely astonishing from a tech perspective. The question remains, however, if this awesome tech is fully worth the high price tag. The iOS ecosystem is a bit stifling and doesn’t lend itself well to replacing full-scale laptops. The lack of a mouse makes editing text a bit of a pain, and that goes double considering the keyboard “trackpad” experience is so hit-and-miss.

Maybe Apple will deliver with more robust apps to help make the iPad a bit more attractive as a Mac alternative. As it stands, however, the iPad is only really a good investment for creatives who really want to draw on an Apple-branded tablet. Until then, it’s a bit too expensive for the casual user.

November 6, 2018
Is Your Basement Trapping Moisture? Here’s how to Dry a Damp Basement

Depending on where you live, basement humidity might be a serious issue for you. A damp basement can seriously affect the value of your home and can even result in structural damage. Fighting this humidity can be quite the uphill battle. If you’re at your wit’s end with a damp basement, here’s some tips for trying to dry it out!

How to Dry out a Damp Basement

Ventilate Well

Make sure the basement is well-ventilated! Still, stagnate air is ideal for moisture to accumulate. Dark, still and quiet areas are also prime real estate for mold growth. The last thing you want in your house is mold! On a dry day, open doors or basement windows and put fans in the basement. Get that air circulating! Move it the heck out of your basement! Pair this with things like a dehumidifier to make sure you’re really drying the place out.

Dehumidifier

A straightforward solution might just be to run a dehumidifier in your basement. A lot of folks overthink their damp basement problems and don’t think about this incredibly straightforward and cost-effective solution. For around $200, a dehumidifier alone might just solve your entire problem.

Just set up a medium-sized dehumidifier in the basement and let it run. These are a great idea for a number of reasons. For one thing, they can keep moisture buildup from resulting in dangerous puddles. For another, they can also reduce the growth of mold, which loves dark, moist areas. This means that running a dehumidifier can do wonders for your health!

Reseal and Plug Leaks

The concrete in your basement may need resealing if a dehumidifier alone can’t solve your problem. If this is the case, don’t panic. If you’re noticing a lot of condensation through the concrete walls or floor of your basement, you can address the problem by resealing the concrete. You can go to any hardware store and find concrete paint and sealer. There are varieties for both walls and floors, so make sure you get the one that addresses your specific issues.

While you’re resealing your concrete, make sure you address any potential leaks too. Things like basement windows, openings for your dryer to vent heat and the like can be entryways for a lot of moisture. This is especially true in rainy regions or during wet times of the year. Make sure to seal these areas well with silicone seals or weather strips. Then, make sure you run a dehumidifier and ventilate the area well.

Address Any Issues with your Gutters

If your gutters have spouts that let out close to your foundation, they could be pouring water into your basement. This can ruin even the best weather-treatment or sealing. To remedy this, make sure the spouts from your gutters let out at least four feet from your home. Additionally, make sure that the water that leaves the spout runs downhill away from your home. It won’t do any good to just have it roll back into your house!

This is better for you home in general, too, not just your basement. The erosion this can cause around your foundation is pretty severe. The value of a home with a compromised foundation is negligible compared to one with a solid foundation! This should be high on your list of considerations if you have gutters that let out near your home.

Air Out Wet Items Outside

If you’ve got wet items from the basement flooding or just general dampness, take them out of the basement. It might seem like a good place to air them out but think about it. If you’re trying to dry the basement out, you really don’t need to have damp items airing out. That’s just going to work against all the hard work you’re doing trying to dry the place!

Instead, take things like wet suitcases or furniture outside to a patio or deck. That way, they’re exposed to open air and sunlight and will dry out much faster. This also ensures that your home isn’t exposed to even more moisture! If the items you’re drying can’t go outside, consider drying them in the garage or a bedroom that is well ventilated.

November 2, 2018
Is Your Home Ready for Winter? Don’t Miss Our Checklist

Winter is coming, and you don’t want to be caught flat-footed! Take steps now to make sure your home is ready for Winter. The last thing you want is to be stuck with a broken heating unit or frozen water pipes in the middle of the season!

Make Sure Your Home is Ready for Winter

Get Your Heating System Checked

This is an easy step that could save you a ton of trouble down the line. Get an HVAC technician to come out and double-check your system. They will be able to make sure everything is clean and in good condition. These “tune-up” style services generally cost around $90 or so. They could potentially save your hundreds or thousands of dollars if a technician identifies a problem before it gets bad.

The other huge upside to being proactive, instead of reactive, is ensuring your home will be comfortable and safe all winter. If your heating system fails in the middle of the coldest night of the year, you’re not going to be very happy. You’ll also be near the back of the line for repairs, as everyone else in town is having the overworked repairman come to fix their heat. Don’t get stuck shivering in the middle of Winter!

Check Your Roof

Make sure that your roof is ready for winter, too. If you can see to your roof, look for any missing or damaged shingles. If you can’t see it from the ground level, get a professional roofing company to come inspect it for you. We advise you don’t go up there yourself, as it could be dangerous!

A professional roofing company can tell you whether any shingles are damaged or missing. Then, they can offer you a quote for repairs. You’d much rather have them be proactive and replace it before winter storms and snow cause leaks into your attic! That kind of damage can be very hard to reverse.

While You’re Up There…

Make sure your gutters are clean and clear. If you don’t have covered gutters, this is a major concern. A lot of leaves and other detritus blocking your gutters can be a major problem in Winter. These blockages can cause major water backup, which is awful for your house and gutters alike. You can even have ice dams form in your gutters from these types of backup.

If you have covered gutters, however, you should be okay! Just have them check to make sure there’s no blockages in there. Ice dams can still form in covered gutters, even though they’re much less likely. You just want to make sure everything is clean and snow and rain has a place to go!

Another important note about gutters: make sure they divert water at least three feet from the foundation. If they don’t, you could get some serious erosion around the base of your house.

General Winter-Proofing

If your home doesn’t have cold-proof outdoor faucets, make sure you shut them off from the main valve in your home. Then, turn them on from the outside and let the excess water flow out of them. That way the water doesn’t freeze in the pipes and burst them! The same goes for any sprinkles or irrigation systems you might have.

If you plan on using your chimney at all this season, make sure you call in a chimney sweep, too! You don’t want to accidentally cause a house fire by setting some detritus ablaze! If you follow these easy tips, your home should be ready for winter!

High Ceilings? Run Your Fans Backwards

If you have very high, vault-style ceilings, you’ve likely learned the hard way that heat rises. Homes with vaulted ceilings and hardwood floors have notoriously cold floors in the winter. The best way to deal with this issue is to reverse the flow of your ceiling fans. If your fan has a reverse option, turn it on and let it run backwards. This will create an updraft, pulling the cold air off of the floor and displacing the hot air near the ceiling.

This turning of air makes your rooms feel more comfortable and can also help your power bill. By having your ceiling fans keep hot air well-distributed, your home will be more comfortable. This will let you keep your heating system a little lower and stay comfortable in your own home!

November 2, 2018