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The weather is going to warm up here soon and before we know it, the temperature will be in the 100s. This is a great time to have your air conditioner serviced, making sure it is properly working. It is the worst when it is scorching outside and suddenly your AC is blowing hot air! Here are some things you want to keep up with throughout the year to keep your AC running smoothly.
1.) Regularly clean or replace your filters. Filthy filters can cause airflow restriction. Make sure to change them out every 3-6 months depending on how much you use your unit. When installing a new filter, there is a certain way to place it so watch for the arrows. 2.) Routinely check the condensate drain for any debris that can clog the pipe. You may run distilled white vinegar down the drain to clean it too. 3.) Make sure to clean the evaporator coil on the indoor unit to improve cooling efficiency. Check your thermostat to make sure it is set to the correct temperature. 4.) Don't forget to check the outdoor unit, and remove any debris that is around or on top of the unit. This can get inside the unit and cause issues. You can also check the condenser coils and spray water on them to clean them off gently. If you see any bent fin blades, try and bend them back so they do not restrict airflow. 5.) Lastly, if you notice that your air conditioner is struggling (warm air blowing, weak airflow, loud noises, unusual smells, leaks, or rising energy bills) give us a call and we can take a look at what is going on. We can also take a look and see if you have the correct size unit for your home. Trust me, I was renting a place where the unit was 3 times smaller than what it should be so our house was never able to cool down correctly. That was a nightmare!
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Earlier this month, Trump announced 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, and 10%tariffs on Chinese imports. How does this affect the construction/plumbing industry? A lot, actually.
Several things that go into building, remodeling, etc are imported into the US, from plastic pvc pipes to electrical fixtures. If these tariffs get implemented, these products will go up in price. Here are a few things from each country that would be affected. Canada: sawmill & wood products iron & steel products aluminum veneer, plywood, and engineered wood products hardware construction machinery Mexico: major & small appliances AC/heat & refrigeration products switchgear & switchboards iron & steel wiring devices energy wires & cables plate work & fabricated structural products electrical lighting hardware China: major & small appliances electric lighting AC/heat & refrigeration products saw blades & handtools hardware construction machinery wiring devices Ultimately, these could cause huge price increases for building and remodeling projects. It also could lead homeowners to postpone repairs around the house, which could potentially worsen overtime leading to urgent, costly damages. Before it could get worse, it is a good idea to schedule repairs and maintenance now, before the tariffs take full effect. Always work with reputable contractors that will provide clear pricing and alternative solutions that meet everyone's budget. Don't hesitate to call us today to schedule a visit or get a quote! I hope everyone is having a wonderful New Year so far and sticking to their New Year's resolutions! Each year trends and fads come and go. Here are some of my home trend predictions for 2025.
1.) Tile - I feel that this year, more people will want to use colorful patterned tile for their kitchen. People will move away from the boring white tile walls. They will experiment with hand-painted tile for a bold accent or even a textured, patterned subway tile to go with their paint. 2.) Say goodbye to grey kitchens! Grey kitchens have been plastered all over the country but I feel many people are moving towards color for their kitchens. Here are some of the colors I think will be on the walls and cabinets this year: terracotta, deep green, sandy beige, warm greige, and dusty pink. 3.) Flooring - Brunette flooring will be huge this year from espresso and cinnamon to dark cafe. These can range from warm medium browns to nearly black shades. Darker floors create a cozy, more intimate vibe in the home. 4.) Contrast Trim - For many years, inside trim is always white or whatever color that matches the walls. I think this will become a very popular trend this year where you choose another color to paint all your door/window/wall trim that either pops out or compliments your wall colors. It also makes it where you can still have white walls but with a bit of an accent color! What new trends do you think will emerge this year and what trends do you think will fall off? Please let us know! As always, we are always here to help make your home dreams become a reality. Just give us a call or email us and we can start the planning!! Hope everyone had a great Christmas and Hanukkah. It's that time of year again where we all think of our 2025 New Year's resolutions: our dreams, goals or whatever we want to accomplish this year. As you plan on your personal growth, go ahead and add in some things that you want to improve around your home.
Here are my 2025 Home Improvement Resolutions: 1.) Get all new appliances. I noticed when I moved into my house a few years ago, my appliances were older and would have to get replaced soon. As 4 years approach, I feel this is the year that I should start to replace them little by little. My dishwasher completely broke and will not turn on anymore so that will be the first to fix. 2.) Rip out all my carpet and replace with LVP. The carpet was never in the best condition when I moved in and after having dogs live here, it's only gotten worse. I know replacing the worn carpet with luxury vinyl planking will make my house feel much nicer as well as add to it's value. 3.) My house was built in the 1980s so it has popcorn ceilings, unfortunately. During last year, there was a strip that fell down in my laundry room. I have also noticed other areas where the popcorn is starting to detach from the wall in strips and I am sure it will also come crashing down sometime this year. 4.) I would love to paint each room a different color. My family room came with a lovely olive/baby puke green on the walls which I want to cover up with a light blue color. It always was my dream as a child to paitn every room a different color and make it fun and bright. 5.) Replace the kitchen sink faucet. My kitchen faucet has never had good pressure. I thought originally it was the house water pressure, but realized later on that it is only kitchen sink. 6.) The disposal never worked when I moved in but I did buy a new one. I just never replaced it. This year is the year I finally have it replaced so I can use the disposal again. I hope to achieve at least half of these this year. Your home improvement resolutions can be as little as replacing a faucet or as big as a remodel/addition. Whatever you feel or want to look into, please give us a call and we can talk more about your ideas and how to turn them into reality this year! From our family to yours, hope you have a wonderful and blessed New Years! We wanted to take the time to wish all of our clients a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah. We are so blessed to have all of you in our lives, and we could not keep our doors open without you. Hopefully, everyone is spending the holidays with their loved ones close by. As you are hanging out with family today, look around your house and make notes of what you want to see differently for next year's Christmas or Hanukkah. Maybe a larger living room window for that picture-perfect Christmas tree look, or a large mantle to accommodate all your stockings or your menorah. Whatever you want to change in your home, we can help. Warmest Wishes, All of us at Qualtire  Happy Halloween to all our wonderful clients. Hope you have a wonderful, safe night trick r treatin' or handing out candy!  When planning on remodeling your kitchen or bathroom, there are several different choices for countertops. Each have their pros and cons . Here is a list of 6 different types of countertops used.
Cultured Marble – This is fabricated using marble dust and resin to resemble marble. This is ideal for bathroom countertops. It can be customized from the color, to the size, and to the number of sinks. This does not need to be sealed but can easily be scratched. This is a budget-friendly option for people. Marble – It is a natural stone that is quarried from the earth. It is usually very porous and can easily be scratched or chipped. It needs to be sealed when installed, then about every 6 months after that, depending on usage. I do not recommend this for a kitchen countertop. I made the mistake and used this as my countertop in my kitchen. I had to be extremely careful when putting things on it, because it was super easy to scratch, chip and crack. I would recommend this as a bathroom countertop or backsplash. Solid Surface – This is fabricated using different minerals and resin. You can get this in a variety of colors and designs. This is ideal for someone who wants a certain color that is harder to get in a natural stone. It can also be cheaper than granite, marble or quartz. I would recommend this for any countertops or backsplash. Heat can be an issue with this, and you should place a trivet down when placing a hot object or it can bubble and scorch. Granite – This is made from cutting natural stone into slabs. This is harder than marble and less likely to scratch. This is a natural stone that can withstand high heat, but it could still cause it to crack so be careful. Granite is porous and needs to be sealed when first installed, then resealed after that depending on usage. Quartz – This is engineered stone using loose quartz, resins, and pigments. This is harder than granite, but not as hard as natural quartzite. Quartz can withstand heat, but because it still has resin in it, it may warp or melt in heat higher than 300 degrees. You do not need to seal it because it is nonporous and does not soak up liquids, but it still can stain. Quartzite – This is a naturally occurring metamorphic rock. This stone is mined and cut into slabs. This is harder than granite and can withstand heat very well. It must be sealed during installation and resealed every 6 months, depending on usage. Quartzite will usually be higher in price than granite. Pumpkin spiced things have arrived which means Fall is here. This is a gentle reminder that if you are wanting to have a picture-perfect home for the holidays, now is the time to get started. Rip out that outdated carpet and install new luxury vinyl plank flooring, or remove all the old built-in cabinets with that laminate countertop and replace with fresh new cabinets with granite tops. We can make your dream home into a reality. Home projects can take 2-6 weeks depending on what you are wanting to have done. Doing it now gives us time to get it all done right before the festivities begin. Annette has a wonderful talent for finding the right fixture or slab to fit your vision in your price range. Make sure to call us today to get your vision started!
This month your kids went back to school. This means you have extra time to get things done. Take this opportunity to finally make changes to your home.
It can be a small change such as a new light fixture, or it could be a large remodel. I would start a list of ideas that you want done to your home and prioritize them. That way you can get organized and not get overwhelmed. Starting a home project can get overwhelming very quickly, which can end up not finishing the project at all. We don’t want that to happen. I know the holidays are around the corner so you might have perfect timing to get a project done right before. If you have an idea of what you want done, but you don’t know how to make it happen or need help to expand the idea, please contact us and ask for Annette. Annette has exquisite taste in design, and she has been in the business for decades. She always knows the latest trends in tile or finishes and can definitely turn your dream project into a reality. No project is too small for us, so let's get started! Planning is the key when it comes to remodeling your home. Sometimes we get carried away with excitement because we have an idea to make our home better that we jump all over the place.
When picking out new things, you should to take in consideration if it’s in town or has to be shipped, if it’s in stock or if it’s backordered. This can make the project take longer than expected. When you have a detailed plan, you will have a better idea of how long everything takes. If you keep changing your idea as you work through your project, you’re never going to get it completed. This may cause frustration for yourself or others who are helping you. I have seen plenty of people’s homes where they started a home remodel project, got part of it done, then stopped because they were frustrated. Another frustrating thing is unexpected prices. You should always do your research when working on a new project and how much it will cost you. It would be a shame to get started and demo everything, then realize that it costs too much so you have to stop. Shop around to get an idea of what things cost and compare different items. If you are going to hire others to do the project, you will want to set aside extra money for the labor as well. If you have an idea that you want to make happen, we can work with you and plan everything out. We can make sure the products that you want are in stock and we will give you a timeline and updates throughout the remodel. Planning will help you save money, time and frustration. We specialize in kitchen and bathroom remodeling in all of Greater Phoenix including Avondale, Cave Creek, Chandler, Glendale, Gilbert, Guadalupe, Litchfield Park, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sun City, Surprise, & Tempe. |
AuthorAndrew is the son of the owners. He has worked for them throughout his life starting at the age of 14 as a laborer. He now manages the website and blog. Archives
March 2025
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