FPU Blog

Ah, the holiday season. For many of us, it conjures up the smell of fresh-baked pies, visions of crowded kitchens, and memories made around the fireplace.

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More than 9-out-of-10 chefs prefer cooking with natural gas. So do 75 percent of homebuyers, according to the National Association of Home Builders. And while almost everyone who favors natural gas ranges over electric will tell you it’s all about “performance”, here’s a quick look at what that actually means.  Plus, two additional advantages that even the most unparticular of cooks can appreciate.

While most people don’t think of a new water heater as a “fun” or “preemptive” purchase, replacing your old water heater before it breaks can save you from serious home flooding, spiking expenses and a long list of other undesirable outcomes. So how do you know when it’s time to say “goodbye” to your current water heater, and “hello” to a new unit? Stay on the look out for three common signs that your water heater is on its last leg. (Plus, three great reasons to go natural gas tankless!)

Before you splurge on that over-the-top kitchen or major addition, it’s always wise to know the extent of which your home improvements will pay off. Here are some home upgrades that will be worth your money in terms of re-sale value, as well as other pointers that will help you decide which projects to take on and which to pass up.

Whether it’s cleaning the stovetop after dinner, or removing lint from the dryer’s filter, most people know how to care for their appliances after each use. However, there are also periodical maintenance guidelines you should take in order to keep your home appliances running smoothly and safely as well to increase energy efficiency. The right weekly, monthly and yearly upkeep can even help your appliances last longer. Here are some important reminders to include on your home maintenance checklist.

Remodeling your home is fun and exciting, but as far as rising expenses go, it can be all too easy to get carried away. Even if you take all the right budgeting precautions (like building in a 20% cushion to cover impulse buys, as well as unpleasant surprises), actually sticking to it can prove hard to do.

While there may be a certain nostalgia associated to hanging clothes on the backyard clothesline, as many of us remember our mothers doing, today there’s a faster, more convenient way. These days, most American homes come standard with a clothes dryer. In a market sometimes overwhelmed with questionable consumer buzz and constantly changing bells and whistles, however, the question is: which one is the best fit for you? Here are afew important differentiators between the two most common types of clothes dryers: natural gas and non-gas.

I have the privilege of helping our customers solve the riddles when they feel their utility costs are too high. It is often a challenge to really get to the bottom of a high bill, especially when on first look there is nothing out of the ordinary. I will tell you about three common areas that will cause your utility bills to rise. In each case, you will have some options to counter the impact with a conservation tip.