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Homeowner Resources

Explore 1,000+ articles designed to guide you through every stage of your home improvement project.

hvac costs

HVAC

5 Tips For Negotiating Cost with Air Conditioning Contractors

Installing a new air conditioning unit is a large investment. Especially now, with inflation skyrocketing and long wait times on many home improvement items. Currently, in 2023, HVAC installation costs typically range from $6,423 to $11,800. But homeowners can reduce the cost of a new air conditioning unit by negotiating the contract price and terms…

hvac costs

HVAC

How To Find A Quiet HVAC System For Your Home

Based on the location of your system, as well as its size and features, the sound of your HVAC unit can impact on your quality of life at home. Homeowners want their house to be comfortable but not at the expense of peace and quiet. The right HVAC unit for your home should not drown…

Home being built

HVAC

Energy-Efficient Homes Start at the Foundation

Energy-efficient homes extend beyond appliances and HVAC systems; they fundamentally begin with the home’s structure, particularly the foundation. In this article, we explore how the condition and insulation of a home’s foundation directly impact heating and cooling efficiency. From air sealing issues caused by foundation damage to the role of foundation insulation in energy conservation,…

wood burning fireplace insert

Other Home Projects

Green Your Fireplace with Gas or Woodburning Inserts

According to Punxsutawney Phil, we’re in for a lot more winter weather this year. Luckily for you, that means all the more time you can spend warming yourself by the fireplace. And your time in front of the hearth will be all the more enjoyable when you install a gas or woodburning insert in place…

baseboard heater

HVAC

How to Replace a Baseboard Heater Cover

A quick DIY way to update your home’s decor is to replace the baseboard heater cover with a new, unblemished model — and it’s easy enough for most homeowners to do by themselves. Replacing the cover gives you a chance to clean the unit inside, so you may see better performance, too. Positioned low to…

Wood Floor Vent Cover

HVAC

Heater Covers: What You Need to Know

As much as we love heating equipment here at Modernize, we also understand that it isn’t usually the most attractive thing in a home. Baseboard heaters, radiators, and central heating registers tend to detract from your home’s overall appeal, rather than add to it. But there is one way to cope with these common household…

legend

HVAC

Schematic Diagrams for HVAC Systems: What You Need to Know

Heating and cooling systems are packed with moving parts and electrical components — motors, capacitors, relays, compressors, switches, sensors, and refrigerant lines. HVAC system diagrams (also called schematics) help make sense of how all those pieces connect and work together. HVAC units are a lot like cars: many systems share similar components, but layouts and…

ecoheater

HVAC

What Is an Eco Heater?

Sometimes insulation and air sealing just aren’t enough to prevent temperature fluctuations in your home. Maybe you have an older house, or an addition that just isn’t as well ventilated. Whatever the reason, cold spots in your home can make things mighty uncomfortable when the weather turns wintry. You may be looking for ways to…