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Nothing zaps the fun out of homeownership faster than a faulty electric panel, flickering lights, or an electrical fire. Yet, millions of homes across the country have old wiring, improper electrical distribution, and dangerous lighting equipment— triggering nearly 50,000 home fires a year. Whether your home is a charming old build with less-than-quaint electrical quirks, or a new construction with up-to-date wiring, these five basic electrical safety tips can go a long way towards protecting your home and family. Don’t make your outlets work double-time! It seems like every home has one—a single power strip that supplies electricity to four, [...]

Hi Burton, In the last big storm, our power was knocked out for several hours. That got me thinking, should we consider getting a whole house generator? If we only have a couple of storms a year, is it really worth the price? Amped Up Anthony Dear Anthony, That’s a great question. Seems like every time a big storm rolls through Omaha or Council Bluffs, we have a number of customers ask about whole house generators! Especially if it was a snowstorm that left them out in the cold. In some of our service areas, customers have been without power [...]

One of the fastest (and easiest!) ways to give your home an instant update is to modernize your electrical systems. And no… we’re not talking about putting in a flatscreen TV that drops down into a bookcase, or installing heated floors! While these kinds of system upgrades are luxurious, they’re less than practical for most homeowners. Instead, today’s homeowner hack includes five simple electrical upgrades that can fit almost any homeowner’s renovation budget— and make your home more efficient in the process. So whether you’re a DIYer looking for inspiration, or just curious how Burton can support your next renovation [...]

When it comes to major leaks, early detection is key. That’s why, here in Omaha, we install an HVAC leak detection system for free every time we replace a customer’s HVAC unit. And for at-risk plumbing and appliances (like washing machines and ice makers) we always recommend customers place a small leak alarm in hard-to-see leak zones. The benefit of these leak alarms is that you’re alerted the moment your leak detector senses moisture before water floods your floors or seeps into the walls. And instead of noticing damp walls and a moldy odor hours or days after a slow [...]

Chances are, you haven’t lost a wink of sleep worrying about flushing your water heater. And you’re not alone! Most homeowners don’t think about the health of their water heater—or the nasty sediment buildup—until their bubble bath becomes a polar plunge. But as sediment and minerals accumulate on the bottom of your water heater, two problems occur: your tank will become corroded, and your water heater will require more energy to maintain heat. As minerals cake on the bottom of your system, slowly rusting through your tank, your heating elements will have to use more gas or electricity to heat [...]

A tripped circuit breaker is one of the most common electrical issues homeowners face. But the good news is, it’s often one of the easiest problems to fix. For today’s Burton Homeowner Hack, we’ll teach you how to reset a tripped breaker— and when you should call in the experts for backup. What is a tripped breaker? Each area of your home is on a small electric circuit. You probably have a dozen or more circuits, each controlling an individual room or appliance in your home. When there’s an issue with one of those circuits, the associated switch in your [...]

What’s in your plumbing toolbox? For simple plumbing repairs around the house, these 5 tools will help you do the job right: 1. Plungers. As in, more than one. Did you know plungers come in multiple shapes and sizes for different applications? You’re probably familiar with the classic, flat-bottomed cup plunger. This tool is best used for sink clogs. For toilet problems, you’ll want to use a flange plunger. It has a longer handle and a smaller cup that extends past the main dome of the plunger. This tool is ideal for creating a suction over curved drains. 2. Tongue [...]

If your basement sump pump fails when you need it most, you’ve got a major emergency plumbing repair on your hands. Or maybe two, depending on the water source. But with just a little annual maintenance, you can ensure your sump pump is ready to spring into action at the first sign of moisture. Keep the sump pump area clean Your sump pump is in the middle of a pit so that all the surrounding water drains quickly. While that’s great for water removal, it also makes the pit a collection area for dirt, gravel, and debris. Periodically give your [...]

As many of the plumbers in Omaha will attest, the hard water here can really wreak havoc on your pipes and appliances. Overtime, it stains clothing, porcelain, and anything your water sprinklers hit. The scaling left behind is not just unsightly; it can also be costly. What exactly is it? The problem is caused by minerals like limestone, magnesium, and calcium. When a substantial amount of these small minerals makes their way into your water, the water can feel slimy or filmy. It also makes it difficult to work up a luxurious soapy lather in your evening bubble bath. Specific [...]