(BPT) - Vehicles are a big investment for families – usually the second highest valued item in a household after the home itself. While the purchase price for cars, trucks and SUVs keeps going up, the cost of maintenance is holding steady or even dropping for most vehicles. Better materials, sophisticated computers and other advances increase reliability and allow less frequent oil changes, tune-ups and other service.

(BPT) - Warm weather heralds home improvement season. It’s also the season of high electric bills as air conditioners hum to life in response to rising temperatures across the country. When you’re making summer upgrades to your home, improvements that make your house more livable and attractive are even more rewarding when they also help put money back in your pocket.

(NAPSI)—Basic car care is the key to a long-lasting vehicle, and to improving its safety and dependability.

(BPT) - From intense heat to extreme snow, your roof protects your house from the elements all year long. When is the last time you checked to make sure your roof was in good shape? No matter what the seasons are like in your area, now is the time to begin preparation for extreme weather by giving your roof a second look. 

(StatePoint) When the weather heats up, your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system quickly becomes a most valuable player in your home life and stays that way for several months. However, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that more than 3 million HVAC systems fail each year. Do you know if it’s time to maintain, repair or replace your air conditioning system?

(BPT) - Some traditional spring cleaning tasks are easily accomplished on your own, like clearing out clutter or rearranging storage areas. Other important tasks such as cleaning air ducts or your carpets may require professional assistance – and that’s where things can get confusing.

Let us now say a prayer for forced air heating systems. They were good for awhile and kept many homes warm through the years, but let’s now leave these noisy relics in the dust and embrace the wonders of hot water heating systems. To say nothing about the ease of control, hot water heating offers a more evenly held heat and a more palpable heat, seeing as it is based on moisture rather than dry air. Hot water heating makes any home more comforting and welcoming during winter.

The furnaces used in hot water heating can be powered by gas, oil, coal, wood, or electric coil. Typically gravity fed or pumped, the heated water in the boiler travels up to the radiators, and as they disperse the heat, the cooler water travels down to the boiler to be reheated.

HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and there isn’t a residential or commercial building in the nation that doesn’t have some version of HVAC. Without it, we’d be at the whims of Mother Nature all year. At the end of the day, however, the comforts of heating and air conditioning are lesser to the hygienic needs of air circulation HVAC provides. Trust me, if any part of your HVAC system falters, it’s not hard to notice.

Like your neighbors, you should always get to know your HVAC systems. Homeowners know where the thermostat is and can see the vents, but, for most, that’s where their knowledge of HVAC ends. Following the vents will lead you to your heating and cooling systems and knowing how they should be operating will help you prevent malfunctions and identify them. And like most things, some light reading is needed. Central heating/AC systems come with a guidebook and, yeah, I’d rather be reading Elmore Leonard too, but reading it will help you figure out where to find vent entry points and other useful information. In fact, any manufacturer will surely have it available to download via their website. If your unit is outside, you should clear it of any debris as regularly as once a week.

(NAPSI)—A growing number of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) professionals are using ozone to clean out odors from home ductwork. While it can be an effective approach, it is not without its critics.

If you're a homeowner in New York, boiler leaks may be something you'll have to contend with at some point. A leaking boiler is a potentially serious problem that can lead to less efficient heating, water loss and wasted energy. Boiler leaks can also result in major damage that, if not addressed right away, could necessitate total replacement of your boiler. If you suspect a problem with the heating system in your home in New York, boiler leaks can be detected using a few simple methods.

(NAPSI)—As we settle into winter, we look ahead to lower temperatures and spending more time indoors. Whether you live in the North, South, East, West, in the mountains or near the beach, it is important to prepare your home for the winter months. Check out the Winter Prep Checklist below for tips:

(NAPSI)—When it comes to education, where children learn can be as important as what they learn. Why? The physical condition of an actual school building affects the bottom line for every school. Money spent to heat or cool a poorly maintained school building is money that could instead be directed to student needs, such as more books or teachers.

So, you already cleaned the gutters and got the backyard ready for the impending coolness and frost. Your focus has switched from keeping the cold in to keeping it out, and you now want a warm home to host holiday parties and take comfort in the middle of snowstorms. And as in summer, there are a few things you can do to make this transition easier on yourself, your family and your bills.

(BPT) - – Those statistics about indoor air pollution and it’s relation to respiratory problems convinced you it was time to get your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC) cleaned. You were even looking forward to the increased energy efficiency that a clean system can provide. But $49 and one very noisy service call later, you’re still sneezing and you haven’t seen any dip in your energy bill.

July 6, 2012 – The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene today warned New Yorkers of health risks from the dangerously hot weather forecast for tomorrow, following several days of hotter than normal weather. The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat watch for tomorrow, with temperatures forecast to reach near 100 degrees and humidity that will make it feel even hotter. The Health Department urges New Yorkers to take precautions to prevent serious illness that can result from the heat, especially among vulnerable individuals such as seniors and those with chronic health problems or mental disability.