Home Loans Specialist and Mortgage Planner

5 tips for virtual home schooling It’s September and that means children around the country are back to school, but not all are present in the physical sense. Whether your children have a mix of in-person and virtual or full-time remote learning, online home schooling has become the new normal in these challenging times. However your children are connecting to the classroom, you can help prepare and set them up for virtual success with these five tips. 1. Have a designated wo...Continue reading

Your Monthly Maintenance Minute Over time, minerals suspended in your incoming household water supply can settle to the bottom of your water heater and build up quite an accumulation. The harder your water, the more quickly this can happen. For gas water heaters, in particular, with burners on the bottom, this accumulated layer of deposits can act as an insulation blanket, cutting down the burner's efficiency, increasing energy costs and, in some cases, lead to premature fa...ilure of the tank itself. Sediment can also get stirred up by incoming water and carried to faucet aerators, shower heads and washing machine filters. It can clog these fittings causing stuttering, spurting and, in some cases, severe restriction of water flow. Annually draining your water heater can greatly reduce the risk of damage caused by sediment and prolong the life of your water heater. A licensed plumber can do the job for you or you can follow the steps below to easily drain the water heater yourself. Turn off the Water Supply - If you have an electric water heater, turn off the power at the breaker-box. If yours is a gas heater, turn the thermostat to the "pilot" setting. Connect a hose to the drain valve located close to the thermostat, but don't open the valve yet. Turn off the cold-water supply that feeds the water-heater. Drain the Hot Water - Inside your house, open up one of the hot-water faucets in one of your sinks or tubs. This will prevent a vacuum from forming in the lines. Go back to the water-heater, and open the drain valve to drain the hot water out of the tank. Make sure the far end of the hose is draining somewhere that won't be harmed by hot water. An outside driveway is ideal. Flush out the Remaining Sediment - Once the water stops flowing out of the far end of the hose, turn the water supply back on. This will flush out any remaining sediment left behind in the heater. Once the water runs clear from the end of the hose, close the DRAIN valve. Don't forget to turn the hot-water faucet inside your house back off. The heating element could possibly blow if there is no water in the tank. Some tanks may need to be completely full in order to prevent damage. When in doubt, always read the warnings and instructions on the tank label carefully because each tank may vary! Test the Pressure-Release Valve - Turn the power-supply to the water heater back on at the breaker box (or the thermostat), after the tank has filled with water. Once the water temperature has been brought back up, test the pressure-relief valve according to the manufacturer's instructions. This safety device is designed to prevent excess pressure build-up or overheating inside the tank. If it's faulty, you may need to have it replaced by a licensed plumber.

Time to Plant a Tree! It's August. That means fall tree-planting time will soon be here. If you plan ahead you can choose some trees that will not only offer cool shade and a home for squirrels and birds, but also bright colors. Trees make a world of difference. They make our cities and neighborhoods more livable. They create quiet places to enjoy, give wildlife a home, and increase our property values.... It was in 1872 that J. Sterline Morton proposed the first Arbor Day to point out the value of planting and saving trees for the benefit of all. In 1872, planting trees was a good idea. In 2020, it's an even better one. For one thing, we know about the energy-saving qualities of trees. The shade of a mature tree keeps homes cooler in summer and provides a windbreak in winter. Trees do even more. They help to keep the air we breathe cleaner. That's a matter we're all concerned with today. Planting a tree can be a milestone event. In years to come, each time you look at the tree, you will remember how things were in 1997. Your children will be able to say things to their children like, "See this big tree? Your grandfather and I planted it when I was only six years old." Now is the time to select the location for this new addition to your landscape, to think about what type of tree would be best, and to set a date for the big event. Birds and squirrels will thank you for your efforts.

Your home has secrets known to few From tiny holes in the siding to wainscoting or the drawer under the oven, your house may include a number of features that serve a purpose even the most attentive of homeowners wasn't aware of. No, a woodpecker didn't figure out how to hammer into your siding. If you spot some tiny holes, they're most likely "weep holes" that allow water to escape rather than make its way inside; vinyl siding is designed to allow for ventilation and for con...densation to drain out. Think a chimney cap is meant just to keep debris from falling in? Think again. It also helps wayward embers from escaping up and then damaging your roof or starting a chimney fire, says Best Life Online, which offered some other fun "secret" house features: * Wainscoting, that charming decorative wall paneling that typically reaches chair rail height, was originally intended to provide more insulation. * A toe kick, the indented strip of wood between the bottom of your cabinets and the floor, actually serves an anti-toe kick purpose: they make it possible for you to open the cabinet doors without hitting your feet and to work closer to the counter. * Ever notice that the backs of your oven knobs have screws? Once they're loosened, you can calibrate the knob with a thermometer to get a more accurate temperature reading. A how-to from GE Appliances says each notch on the back of the knob changes the temperature by 10 degrees. * That junk drawer at the bottom of your oven? Go figure - it's not a junk drawer. That space can serve as a warming drawer or a broiler, depending on your appliance, and can help you keep a dish hot while waiting for the rest of your food to cook. Remember this come Thanksgiving.