Troubleshooting low water pressure is a DIY-friendly process that may help you resolve the problem yourself or simply describe it more accurately when you consult a professional plumber. Low water pressure usually doesn’t become an issue until household pressure drops below about 40 psi. At that point, symptoms such as long fill times for washing machines and toilet tanks, and weak shower function become very noticeable.

The winter storms and humid summers we see in western Massachusetts make good home insulation a wise investment in our area. In many homes, the insulation is just sufficient to meet building codes, but not optimal for keeping you comfortable. Checking specific parts of your home will help you find out where you stand.

If the dropping temperatures are any indication, your Massachusetts home is probably beginning to get cold right about now. If you want to stay safe, save money and prevent problems, you suggest that you follow some of our favorite winter home protection tips:

How concerned should you be if your heat pump freezes over?  Maybe not very—at least, not just yet. If a light coating of frost appears on the heat pump’s external coils, as well as the refrigerant lines that run into the house, it probably just means the outdoor temperature’s dropped to 40 degrees or below and the amount of water vapor in the air is above 70 percent. Since the heat pump coil typically runs about 20 degrees lower than the outdoor temperature, dew forming on the cold coil and refrigerant conduit freezes into a dusty layer of frost.

Although the spring season gets a lot of attention for the proliferation of allergies, the truth is that winter allergies are nothing to -- pardon the pun -- sneeze at. There are a number of elements that can irritate the respiratory system of someone suffering from allergies, and your best defense is learning some of these and how to control them.

Are unusual sounds emanating from the duct work hidden behind your home's air registers? Some duct noises aren't a cause for concern, while others can point to HVAC system issues that impact comfort, indoor air quality and energy efficiency. Here's how to tell what some of the most common ductwork noises mean:

Home heating systems can stop working for a wide range of reasons, and none of them are welcome on a cold winter’s night. Some system breakdowns may be relatively easy to fix yourself. When you can’t fix it, any additional information you can pass on to a qualified service technician may help speed repairs. Start troubleshooting heating in these three primary areas.

Before you install a new furnace in your Massachusetts home, you may have to decide between oil or gas as the fuel source, depending on where you live. Both gas and oil furnaces have advantages and disadvantages, and the following guide will help you determine which option may be best for your home.

Your HVAC system has a very important job, and this is why choosing a high quality service company matters. Since you'll be dealing directly with the company’s service technicians, consider the HVAC customer service they provide. You deserve the best, and the following positive qualities are what you should expect.

Central HVAC units are specially constructed to provide an entire building with heated or cooled air. Why, then, do so many buildings end up with uncomfortable hot or cold spots? In many cases, it boils down to unbalanced airflow in the building.