Category: Uncategorized

We’ve all been there. You’ve been looking forward to taking a long bath or hot shower all day—only to hear someone else start a shower in another bathroom. Or the dishwasher is running. Or the washing machine. Suddenly your dreams of filling the tub are put on hold indefinitely as you wait for the hot water tank to refill. If you live in a household with many competing demands on your hot water system and are tired of getting the cold shoulder, consider asking yourself: is it time to switch to a tankless water heater? In this article, we’ll outline [...]

Does walking through your home feel like a trip through all four seasons? Do high A/C and heating bills have you avoiding your mailbox? Is your HVAC unit over a decade old—and struggling to keep up? If you’re nodding “Yes, yes, and YES!” then it may be time to consider an HVAC zoning system and the whole-home comfort that comes with it! Here in Omaha, this HVAC service is an increasingly popular way to keep your home comfortable and your energy bills affordable all season long. What is HVAC zoning? An HVAC zoning system allows you to divide your home [...]

Dear Burton, I’ve been using liquid drain cleaners for years. But I recently read these chemicals can damage my plumbing! Is that true? Am I actually doing more harm than good? Curiously Clogged Dear Curiously, Thanks for bringing up this question. It’s one we tend to get most often around the holidays, when families are busy cooking and baking. Around that time, more than a few chicken bones and greasy messes wind up clogging kitchen drains across Omaha. This is the perfect time for a little proactive advice—so you can keep your drains clean all season long. At Burton, we [...]

A persistent drip, drip, drip in your kitchen sink. An ever-flowing toilet in your bathroom. A poorly timed irrigation system that runs like clockwork—no matter the weather. These stealthy thieves are notorious for wasting water and inflating your monthly bill. Luckily, they are some of the simplest home and outdoor plumbing repairs you can make. If you notice repeatedly high water bills, here are the first three places you should look—and the three sneaky culprits that could be to blame: Hidden leaks The first place you should look for wasted water is your home fixtures. Did you know the average [...]

How to know if a whole home generator is right for you. When stormy weather comes, do you breathe easy or find yourself crossing your fingers? Occasional power outages are to be expected from time to time, but when the other families on your block are comfortably, eating dinner and watching tv, while you’re silently singing “hello darkness, my old friend” like Simon & Garfunkel—it could be time to consider investing in a whole home generator. Whole home generators have come a long way over the years—they’re smaller, quieter, and easier to use. A typical unit is usually made up [...]

Dear Burton, We just moved into a new home and I’ve heard some conflicting advice… Does it really matter what wattage light bulbs we use in our new can lights and ceiling fans? Our inspector said it’s important, but my neighbor doesn’t seem to think so. Can you ‘enlighten’ us? Bright-Eyed and Curious Dear Bright-Eyed, First off, thanks for shedding some light on this important topic. When it comes to installing new light bulbs, it is important to mind your wattage warnings! Or, at the very least, always stay below the recommended wattage. There are several reasons why our Omaha [...]

Whether you’ve got a small drip or a major flow, plumbing leaks can wreak havoc on your home! Unsightly water damage… dangerous mold growth… ruined floors, walls, and furniture… These are just a few of the most irritating consequences of leaky plumbing. However, many of the plumbing leaks we repair for Omaha homeowners are largely avoidable—with just a bit of foresight, proper maintenance, and timely intervention. Want to safeguard your family’s home, and keep your water where it’s supposed to be? Follow these three simple plumbing tips: Leak Protection Tip #1: Regularly Inspect Your Plumbing Fixtures Judy, a homeowner in [...]

Did your latest air conditioning bill come with a side of sticker shock? You’re not alone! Last summer, the National Energy Assistance Directors Association predicted summer electric bills would spike by 20%! Major heat waves, longer hot spells, and rising energy costs are all contributing to that rising monthly budget hit. But these aren’t the only factors that can push up your summer cooling bill. And while you can’t change the weather or your local electricity rates, the costly culprits we’ll share below are well within your control. Read on to learn the five most common A/C issues that may [...]

What do you pay for daily, think about rarely, but could hardly live a week without? If you said hot water, you’re right! When it comes to home comfort, hot water is probably one of the last luxuries that comes to mind. But the average household spends $400 to $600 every year on water heating alone! That’s a big chunk of your yearly utility budget—spent on a system you only activate a few times a day. That’s why one of the best home upgrades you can make this year is investing in a tankless water heater. While traditional storage tank [...]

Summer is finally here and with it, so is the heat! Sizzling temperatures are great for trips to the pool or picnics at the park, but no one wants to step inside their home after a long, hot summer day and find their thermostat running as high as mother nature. AC systems need annual maintenance to ensure they are in ship shape and ready to perform for the hottest season of the year. Luckily, there are a few simple DIY steps you can take to ensure that your air conditioning is up to the task of keeping you and your [...]

While booking a drain inspection may not be your favorite home service call, it could be one of the most informative. Unlike surface-level home inspections, a comprehensive drain inspection gives your drainage expert visibility into the hundreds of feet of critical plumbing and pipes that lie just below the surface of your yard. Whether you’re buying a new home or experiencing a plumbing issue, your drain inspection can reveal areas of corrosion in your plumbing, blockages caused by clogs or tree roots, and busted pipes that could be leaking wastewater into your yard—long before these small issues become major problems. [...]

These days, it seems like every storm comes with a power surge or outage. Whether it’s an early summer rainstorm or a mid-winter cold snap, Omaha homeowners can hardly go a season without having to dig for flashlights—and reset every clock. If you feel like power surges and power losses are becoming increasingly common during storm seasons, according to the Associated Press, you’re not wrong. Over the past 20 years, the rate of power outages nationwide has doubled! And a full 40 states have experienced longer power outages in recent years. In 2020 alone, households experienced an average of over [...]