Omaha Area Homeowner Hacks: How to Find Your Home’s Water Shut Off Valve
If you own a home here in the Omaha metro, you don’t have to be Handy Andy, capable of fixing every leak, creak, and clog that disrupts your household. But there are a handful of homeowner hacks you absolutely need to know about to protect your home from a serious emergency situation. Today, we’ll teach you one of the most important homeowner hacks everyone should know: How to shut off the main water supply to your home! Why should every homeowner (and renters, too!) know how to turn off a water heater and how to shut off their [...]
Hunger Action Month: It’s Time for Happy Homes and Fed Families
September is Hunger Action Month— our opportunity to unite in the fight against hunger. Hunger Action Month is an initiative launched by Feeding America, the largest hunger-relief organization in the nation. Every September, Feeding America partners with hundreds of food banks and thousands of Americans to restock pantries nationwide, just in time for winter. At Burton, we take every opportunity we can get to serve and support this local community. And Hunger Action Month is no different. That’s why we’re bringing back our annual hunger-fighting special for the 4th year in a row: This September, a $55 Furnace Inspection and [...]
Electric or Gas Furnace? It’s a Hot Topic!
When it’s time to replace your furnace, you’ve got a big decision on your hands. Go with a low-impact, easy-to-install electric furnace? Or opt for a high-efficiency, higher cost gas furnace? Once you’ve narrowed down the type of furnace, who do you call to install it? Before you make up your mind (and make that service call), read this quick comparison between gas vs electric furnaces. Furnace technology has improved significantly over the past decade, and the best choice for your family now may be different than you think! Gas vs Electric Furnaces: What's the Better Heating System? 1. Electric [...]
Home Furnace on the Fritz? Try these 3 Tips!
Feel that chill in the Omaha air? Around here, that means it’s time for two things— Husker football and furnace tuneups! And while the Huskers never disappoint, sometimes our home furnace can let us down when we need them most…. If your furnace just won’t fire up this fall, we’ve got three quick tips any home handyperson can try to get it back up and running. (Or you can save yourself the hassle and just call the furnace repair team at Burton!) If you try your hand at these tips, with a bit of luck and a little elbow grease, [...]
Homeowner Hacks: Top Tips for a Clean and Clear Garbage Disposal
In a perfect world, your garbage disposal is a mean, clean, grinding machine. But without proper maintenance, over time, it’s likely to become your kitchen’s #1 source of noxious odors. If a stenchy (or subpar!) garbage disposal is doing your kitchen dirty, today’s Homeowner Hack is for you! We’ll be covering: How to fight even the worst disposal stench How to prolong the life of your disposal Three things to try when it just won’t turn on https://youtu.be/R9wR4uCNKqE Ready to DIY your garbage disposal like a Homeowner Hero? Let’s get to the hacks! As you use your disposal, all [...]
3 Signs Your Thermostat and A/C are Out of Sync
It’s a hot, sunny, Omaha afternoon. Your A/C has been running all day, but your home is feeling more and more like your own personal dry sauna…. You know something isn’t working right. But before you go blaming your air conditioner, take a closer look at your thermostat. If your home can’t keep its cool, watch for these three signs that your thermostat and HVAC system aren’t talking: 1. Your thermostat won’t turn on If your thermostat’s display has gone dark, it’s not telling your HVAC system when to turn on and off. Typically, a fresh set of batteries will [...]
How To Instantly Improve Your Air Conditioner’s Performance
Air conditioners are the true MVPs of summer. To keep your air conditioner's performance running like a star athlete (and to lower your summer energy bills!), follow this easy checklist to optimize your system’s performance: Get a full system inspection and tune-up. A system inspection will reveal any leaks, cracks, or inefficiencies that could be costing you a pretty penny this summer. And the quick tune-up will take care of any minor repairs or replacements needed to improve your unit’s performance— before you’ve got a major fix on your hands. Clean your condenser unit. If your branches, bushes, or landscaping [...]
How to Choose the Right Air Conditioning System
On a hot Omaha day, there’s nothing like the refreshingly cool, perfectly crisp breeze of an air conditioning system operating at peak performance. To keep your home comfortable all summer long, it’s important to choose the right size and type of A/C system. You know the phrase “one size fits all?” Well when it comes to your A/C, that couldn’t be further from the truth. If you’re building a new home or replacing your existing A/C system, here’s what you need to know about air conditioners: Permanent A/C systems come in three main types Central air conditioning: This system uses [...]
5 Signs You Need an A/C Repair – Before the Heat Wave Hits!
Nothing interrupts your carefree, sunny fun like a broken A/C during the dog days of summer. It’s time to dust off that A/C unit, flip to the cool side of the thermostat, and do a quick at-home inspection of your system— before the real heat wave hits! Related: 3 Signs Your Thermostat and A/C are Out of Sync Here are five easily-recognizable signs that it’s time for an A/C repair: You’ve got a water leak. If you notice a puddle around your A/C unit, call a repair tech right away. Moisture and condensation are normal, but in a properly functioning [...]
9 Ideas to Help You Save Money on Utility Bills This Winter
Winter is coming and with it comes the cost of heating your home. The internet is full of ideas for saving money on energy costs, but they can be expensive. Many major renovation projects are not worth the expense to make a home more energy efficient. However, there are other ways to lower your heating costs. You can save money on your energy bills without the costs skyrocketing. Here are our top 9 tips to say goodbye to shocking heating bills. Bundle up Wear warm clothes, put on socks and plush slippers. Wearing warm clothes indoors doesn't cost you anything [...]
Everything You Need to Know about Water Heater Replacement
Water heaters are a crucial part of every household. They give you warm and hot water whenever you want.. But what happens if something goes awry you need a replacement? Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about water heater replacement. How Long do Water Heaters Last? Traditional water heaters with tanks should last up to 8-12 years and tankless water heaters can last over 20 years. Manufacturers generally suggest a water heater replacement every 12 years for traditional heaters and every 20 years for tankless water heaters. However, these estimations are not guaranteed. Water heaters may last [...]
4 Surprising Reasons to Use Your Ceiling Fans During Omaha Area Winters
In the middle of a hot Omaha summer, your ceiling fans are probably on full blast—racing to beat the heat and generate a cool indoor breeze. But did you know your ceiling fan can be just as effective at improving your indoor comfort in the cold of winter, too? It sounds counterintuitive, but switching your fan direction in the winter is one of the ways you can warm up your rooms—without having to crank up the heat. Read on to learn how changing your winter fan rotation can reduce your energy bills and keep your family warm all season long! [...]