Seasonal Home Tips and Tricks: Staying Cozy & Festive

How to Stay Warm if the Power Goes Out

Posted on December 10, 2017 | by The Bosworth Company Kerrville | Leave a Comment

Though many people look forward to snow days, inclement weather can often bring unintended consequences. Being able to stay home from work or school can feel luxurious…unless the power goes offline. The Bosworth Company is sharing several ways on how to stay warm if the power goes out, so you’re prepared for bad weather.

Cold Front: Know How to Stay Warm if the Power Goes Out

Bundle Up

Snuggly blankets and fuzzy socks come in handy when it comes to power outages. Adding multiple layers of clothes can help insulate your body, keeping warmth closer to you. If you have thermal underwear or fleece-lined garments, consider bundling up with those, too.

Build a Fire

If your home is equipped with a wood-burning fireplace and you have dry wood, consider building a fire. Make sure that the flue is open and no fumes can enter your home. Additionally, keep in mind that open flames must be supervised at all times – an open fire shouldn’t be considered a primary source of heat.

Make a Plan

If your power has been off for several hours and you don’t have an alternative heat source, it’s prudent to make a backup plan. Contact a close friend or relative to find out if you can stay overnight, particularly if temperatures continue to drop.

Get Moving

Physical activity naturally warms your body up. Jumping jacks, pushups and other cardio not only invigorate your health – the exercise will help keep you warmer than if you sit still.

Keep in One Room

Cut shut doors to rooms that experience more temperature fluctuations. Also, body heat from multiple people in a single room can help you to stay warm. Seal off any drafty windows or doors with plastic sheeting or old sheets.

Stay Inside

Opening and closing exterior doors constantly will let out the warm air inside of your home. Keep those doors shut as much as possible.

If your furnace problems are something other than a power outage, know that you can depend on the heating professionals at Bosworth. We offer emergency service calls from reliable, professional technicians. We’re worth the call…always.

Holiday Home Decor

Posted on November 27, 2017 | by The Bosworth Company Kerrville | Leave a Comment

Now that it’s after Thanksgiving, we can officially consider the holiday season to be in full swing! One of the most fun family traditions is decorating for Christmas. To get you into the holiday spirit, Bosworth is sharing some popular holiday home decor ideas for you. Tis the season to decorate!

Must-Have Holiday Home Decor Ideas

The Tree Is Key

The Christmas tree is a long-standing centerpiece of the holiday season. If you’re looking for some new ways to trim the tree, try these ideas:

Neutral – Use natural fabrics and neutral beige colors to give a clean, understated look to your tree
Metallic – Shimmering colors such as bronze, gold, and silver always make your firs fabulous! Add pops of deep red or hunter green for seasonal flair.
Bright – Forego traditional colors and decorate with unique ornaments in hot pink, fluorescent purple, bright blue, and neon green. It’s sure to get a big WOW!
Geometric – Add some lines (and definition) to your design with squares, diamonds, stars, and other shapes.

Decorating That Makes Scents

Make sure your home smells fantastic during the season. Scents like pine, cinnamon, apple, gingerbread, or vanilla immediately evoke nostalgic memories. Use wax warmers, (properly supervised) candles, wall oil warmers, or scented pinecones to add immediate holiday cheer to your home.

Welcoming Wreaths

Decking your halls means decking out your front door. Don’t forget to add a welcoming seasonal wreath to greet guests. Whether you opt for the traditional evergreen boughs wrapped in a holiday bow or you can choose decor that matches your Christmas tree, don’t skip out on this Christmas decor tradition.

Mix Old & New

The holidays are about tradition and family. If you want to try a new theme, but can’t quite convince yourself to give up old memories, start small! Choose a smaller tree to decorate with your new idea first. You can also create a tabletop space to showcase some of your favorite older items that deserve a place in the spotlight.

Go Wild

Using natural elements such as evergreen branches, whole spices, pinecones, and fabrics (like burlap) can add a homey, comforting decoration trend. Additionally, many of these items are appropriate to use after Christmas to make your home festive in the winter months.

Is it beginning to look a lot like Christmas at your house? Tell us your favorite holiday decorating tips. Additionally, if you’re concerned your electrical system can’t quite hold up to the amount of electricity you plan to use this holiday season, call us. Our electrical experts can help you get started before the height of the holidays.

Thanksgiving Plumbing Tips

Posted on November 19, 2017 | by The Bosworth Company Kerrville | Leave a Comment

It’s hard to believe that it’s almost Thanksgiving. However, it’s just a few days away! The friendly, professional plumbers at the Bosworth Company want to share some Thanksgiving plumbing tips to make your Turkey Day more festive and less fiasco.

Prevention 101: Thanksgiving Plumbing Tips

Toilet Etiquette

When you’ve got a house full of company, your toilets end up being used more frequently. Leave a polite note to guests asking that only toilet paper be flushed and keep a waste basket conveniently available. Additionally, thinner, more water-soluble toilet paper is less likely to cause clogs than quilted, high-end brands. Consider stocking up! Another safe bet is to keep a plunger readily available – just in case!

Garbage Disposal Don’ts

Thanksgiving Plumbing Tips — Say no to putting pumpkin in your disposal!

Your garbage disposal is great for turning some solids into a pulp. However, there is a laundry list of items you should never put in the disposal. Some things aren’t meant to go down the drain, as your disposal isn’t equipped to handle the job.

Grease, fat, or oil (particularly animal fats);
Potato skins, pumpkin, squash, or other fibrous produce;
Large bones;
Coffee grounds.

Keeping these items out of your disposal will also keep you from needing an emergency service call. You should also consider using a sink strainer to keep things from going down the drain.

Set a Shower Schedule

If you’re hosting guests as well as Thanksgiving dinner, have your company wait 10-15 minutes between showers. Not only does this allow the water heater some time to recharge, it gives icky stuff (think hair and skin cells) a chance to make their way down the pipes instead of causing clogs.

Plan Ahead

Homeowners are often aware of quirks in their plumbing system before holiday events. However, instead of instructing guest to “just jiggle the handle” or putting up an “out of order” sign on that wobbly toilet, it’s better to get plumbing issues sorted out before the holidays. If it’s too late to get the Bosworth pros to your house before Thanksgiving, definitely give us a call before Christmas.

The entire team at Bosworth wants to wish you a very happy, full, and joyous Thanksgiving. If you do encounter a plumbing emergency during your holiday event, know that you can count on us to handle the job. We’re available for holiday service calls, as well.

Ways to Reduce Heating Bills

Posted on November 13, 2017 | by The Bosworth Company Kerrville | Leave a Comment

Preparation is critical in the majority of situations – winter weather, included! One the biggest complaints about the chilly temperatures it’s how much it increases monthly bills. However, heating your home is necessary for comfort and safety, but there are ways to minimize your utility costs. The Bosworth Company shares some of our favorite ways to reduce heating bills this winter.

Reduce Heating Bills with These Great Tips

Get a Seasonal Check-Up

Opting to have a Bosworth professional inspect your home before winter sets in is a great option for saving. Our trained technicians are capable of identifying and correcting small problems before they become emergency situations. You can still schedule your fall seasonal check here.

Invest in Quality Window Treatments

Take advantage of the sun’s warming power by using quality windows treatments. During the day, leave sun-facing windows open, which can help warm your home or business naturally. In the evening, use blackout curtains to keep the night’s chill at bay – and prevents the warm air inside from escaping through your windows.

Choose a Programmable Thermostat

Have you heard about our Nest WiFi Thermostats®? They’re just as on the go as you are. With the hustle and bustle of the winter season, it’s tough to know when you’ll be home or out running errands. With a Nest, you’re able to manage your thermostat using an app and your home’s WiFi. You can reduce the heat when you’re away and crank it up before you walk in the door. It’s also proven to save between 10 and 12% on utility bills.

Switch Fan Settings

Do you turn your fans off in the winter? You shouldn’t! Instead switch them to rotate in reverse. The action pushes rising warm air back down, naturally moving heat through your home. Using fans to enhance air circulation in your home or office is a great way to save money on utility bills.

Go Green

If it’s time to update your furnace, talk to a Bosworth team member about EnergyStar® appliances. Equipment with an EnergyStar rating is proven to reduce heating bills. An added bonus is that less wasted energy is better for the environment.

Conduct a Seasonal Swap

When you’re trying to stay warm, call in other seasonal helpers for the winter win. Swap out summery cotton sheets for comfy flannel ones. Add blankets to beds and sitting areas throughout your home. Sip warm beverages instead of cold. Slip on fuzzy socks and warmer clothing blends. When you layer warmth-inducers, you’re less likely to reach for the thermostat – and more likely to see a cost savings on your monthly bill.

Are you ready to get warm and toasty? If you’re not sure your furnace is capable of making it through another winter, be sure to call the winter weather experts at Bosworth. We’re worth the call – always!

How To Get Rid Of Cord Clutter

Posted on October 23, 2017 | by The Bosworth Company Kerrville | Leave a Comment

Most of us are familiar with the feeling of being constantly plugged into our devices – phones, tablets, computers and other gadgets are always with us. While technology is great, more electronics mean more wires. With more wires, comes more clutter and eyesores, not to mention potential tripping hazards. The good news is, you can get rid of cord clutter with just a few simple steps. Have a look!

Organize

First, it’s important to organize your cords and correctly pair them with their device. Yes, by organization, we mean getting rid of those cords that you no longer use (i.e. cords that were left behind after devices have been replaced or thrown out). No, you won’t need them again.

Bundle

There are many tools you can use to bundle your cords – from binder clips to zip-ties or even simple twist ties! Take the time to coil your cords tightly, removing excess slack and conserving space.

Label

After the cords are bundled, consider wrapping the bundle in masking tape and writing the name of the cord on the tape. This will help you easily identify the cord and determine what device it belongs to (without having to bring out all your devices and see if the plug fits into the device port)…don’t worry, we’ve all done it.

Store

After you take the time to organize, bundle and label these cords, it’s time to store them appropriately. It’s not always the best idea to have them in a drawer, as they can get jumbled and mixed together with other items. Instead, use a basket or box used specifically for cords. You could even opt for more of a decorative basket or box and use it as a stackable piece used as decoration.

Cover

If you’re looking to hide exposed wires, such as wall-mounted TVs, consider investing in cord covers. These covers can be found at most home maintenance stores and come in several different sizes and lengths. Similar to cord covers, you can also purchase cable sleeves – another easy way to organize and conceal cords.

The best and easiest way to eliminate cord clutter is to never have it in the first place! After you’ve organized and sorted your existing cords, don’t let new cords create new clutter. When you get a new electronic, be sure to properly bundle, label and store the cord with the others.

For more home tips & tricks like these, follow our boards on Pinterest!

Disposal Dos & Don’ts

Posted on October 2, 2017 | by The Bosworth Company Kerrville | 2 Comments

Your disposal works hard so you don’t have to! It’s important to know how to maintain your disposal so that it keeps up the good work. Check out our list of disposal dos and don’ts below!

Disposal Dos

DO Grind With Cold Water – Cold water will cause any grease or oils that may get into the unit to solidify, so that they can be chopped up before reaching the trap.

DO Run It Regularly – Frequent use prevents rust and corrosion. Also, it prevents obstructions from accumulating.

DO Keep Your Disposal Clean – Your disposal deserves a good cleaning, don’t you think? To do this, add 3 large ice cubes and a half tablespoon of salt to your disposal. Next, turn your disposal on, then run hot water down the drain. Then, add in 2 thinly sliced lemons or limes (peel on). Last, run the disposal until the pieces are gone, rinsing with hot water again.

DO Cut Big Pieces Into Smaller Pieces – After cutting into smaller pieces, drop them in a few at a time instead of shoving a large amount in at once.

Disposal Don’ts

DON’T Put Anything In Your Disposal You Wouldn’t Put In Your Body – Non food items can damage both blades and the motor. When in doubt, throw it out!

DON’T Use Hot Water To Grind – Hot water will cause drains to clog as the grease accumulates.

DON’T Use Chemicals – Even though it may seem like a good idea to use chemicals or drain cleaners to clean your disposal or pipes, they can actually do more harm than good.

DON’T Turn Off The Motor Or Water Until Grinding Is Complete – After grinding, turn off the garbage disposal first and let the water continue to run. This will ensure any remaining particles are flushed down.

For other tips and tricks like the ones above, follow our boards on Pinterest!

What You Need To Know About Carbon Monoxide

Posted on September 25, 2017 | by The Bosworth Company Kerrville | Leave a Comment

Known as the “silent killer,” Carbon Monoxide is one of the most prevalent causes of death due to poisoning in America. Without a smell, color, or taste, Carbon Monoxide is dangerous in contained areas, such as your home or garage. To protect your household, there are several things you need to know about Carbon Monoxide. Take a look at the insight below.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless and tasteless poison gas that can be fatal when inhaled. CO can be produced when burning fuels such as gasoline, propane, and it inhibits the blood’s capacity to carry oxygen.

Does Carbon Monoxide Affect Everyone?

While some diseases impact some people more than others, Carbon Monoxide doesn’t discriminate. If you inhale too much of it, CO can be fatal to any person at any age.

Does Electricity Produce Carbon Monoxide?

No. Carbon Monoxide gas is a product of combustion, so unless something is burned, carbon monoxide will not be produced.

What Makes Carbon Monoxide?

Anything that burns will create Carbon Monoxide, as it is a product of incomplete combustion. It is NOT just your appliances that create CO. Here are some other things that produce CO when turned on:

Cars, trucks, boats
Pressure washers
Gas or oil-bearing furnaces
Non-electric space heaters
Tools
Lawnmowers

How Do You Prevent Poisoning?

Always vent gas appliances properly
Check your chimney to ensure proper ventilation
Never burn gas grills or charcoal inside your home
Don’t use your gas stove/oven for heating
Don’t leave the car running with the garage door closed

What Are Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Symptoms?

Similar to the flu, but without a fever, CO poisoning can include dizziness, headaches, nausea, sleepiness, fatigue and disorientation. If any of these symptoms are experienced, it is imperative to seek medical assistance immediately.

How Can You Protect Your Household?

The best way to protect your household is with a Carbon Monoxide detector. Given its importance, it is best for a professional to install your detectors. At Bosworth, our team of expert technicians would be happy to make sure the job is done right. Contact us to find out about our current carbon monoxide detector special – get yours today for just $85!

Bosworth’s Labor Day Plumbing Tips

Posted on August 28, 2017 | by The Bosworth Company Kerrville | 2 Comments

While Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer, it’s still a reason to celebrate. You may decide to pay homage to the workforce with a backyard barbecue, as Labor Day is one of the most popular grilling holidays of the year. As you spend time off of work with your family and friends, here are a few tips to keep your plumbing in good (working) shape. After all, it doesn’t get the day off on Labor Day! Check out our Labor Day plumbing tips.

Keep the bathroom clutter free. Small bathroom essentials, like Q-tips, cotton balls, or Kleenex, could possibly cause a clog if dropped into the toilet. It’s smart to keep your bathroom clutter free, especially with people going in and out of the bathroom.
Know where your toilet shut off valve is. If your toilet does overflow, you need to know where your toilet shut off valve is. This emergency option is typically located under the toilet tank.
Watch what your put down your disposal. Starchy, stringy and fibrous foods can clog the drain or damage the disposal blades. So as you might guess, many BBQ foods are NOT safe to put down your garbage disposal. Keep macaroni salads, corn on the cob, and BBQ meats out of the disposal.
Avoid pouring grease, oil, and fat down the drain. These oils can solidify to the walls of the drain, restricting water flow. Instead, let fats that solidify do so. Once solid, pitch them in your regular garbage. If you need grease to harden up, put it in the fridge. For ones that don’t solidify, pour them into a sealable bottle, and throw the whole container away with your regular garbage
Freshen up your garbage disposal. Once your Labor Day celebrations are done, throw a few citrus peels in your disposal. The peels will clean the blades and freshen up the smell.

Spending time with family and friends on Labor Day is meant to be fun, so don’t let a plumbing problem pulverize your party! If plumbing problems occur, The Bosworth Company is here to help – even on holidays. Just call 432-570-5233!

Hey Wait!

One more thing! With Labor Day being the unofficial end of summer, that reminds us…are your systems ready for the fall weather ahead? Contact us to find out about our Fall Clean & Check – only $109! Let us check your systems to be sure they’re prepared for cooler temperatures and will keep your home cozy & comfortable!

6 Plumbing Don’ts

Posted on August 21, 2017 | by The Bosworth Company Kerrville | Leave a Comment

While unexpected plumbing emergencies do happen, a lot of plumbing problems can be easily prevented. In fact, most homeowners don’t realize just how precious their plumbing is until it stops working. Check out these 6 plumbing don’ts to properly maintain your plumbing and prevent costly repairs!

1. Consider relocating your trashcan – A lot of people put their trashcan under their kitchen sink. While this seems like a good place because it’s out of the way, it’s a place that can also damage your under cabinet plumbing with a simple knock or bump.

2. Be careful with your garbage disposal – Keep out certain things such as fibrous food peels, coffee grounds and eggs shells as well as flour and rice that can gunk up the disposal and clog your drain. Remember that garbage disposals aren’t a cure all for your food-related waste.

3. The un-flushables – Flushing un-flushable items can ultimately halt all plumbing by blocking your main plumbing drain. One of the biggest un-flushable culprits? Cleaning materials such as paper towels or disinfecting wipes. Trash them instead!

4. Leaving the hose connected during the winter – When you leave the hose connected to the outdoor faucet all year, you risk the faucet and even the water supply pipe, to freeze. Don’t take the risk and disconnect the hose before the onset of freezing temperatures.

5. Using chemicals in your drains – While it may seem like a good idea, using chemicals in your drains can potentially cause two problems: 1) using bleach and other anti-bacterial chemicals in your drain, you are stopping the helpful microbes that eat away your sewage in your septic system. 2) it can ruin your pipes and eventually eat them away.

6. DIY Plumbing – Trying to tackle blocked drains, leaking pipes, or water heater pressure on your own will likely lead to bigger (more expensive) problems. Plumbing is complex and should only be handled by a professional.

Worth The Call

While avoiding the above things can potentially help avoid costly repairs, if you do experience plumbing problems, contact the plumbing experts at The Bosworth Company! We’re worth the call. For other tips like these, be sure to follow our boards on Pinterest!

Back to school graphic featuring a home maintenance checklist, scissors, and geometric shapes, representing The Bosworth Company's seasonal home care tips.

Back To School Home Maintenance Checklist

Posted on July 31, 2017 | by The Bosworth Company Kerrville | Leave a Comment

We say it every year. Summer flies by and it’s time to begin a new school year once again! It seems like just yesterday we were giving you ways to prepare for summer and tips to beat the heat. This time of year is the perfect time to get your home back in order to prepare for not only a new school year, but also a new season! Take a look at our back to school home maintenance checklist below.

Garage Clean Up

Your garage has been doing double duty lately – with bicycles coming in and out and pool toys thrown around from days spent at the pool. Take an afternoon to put away summer toys in totes and bins that are labeled accordingly. If you’re in the attic putting away summer toys, you may consider saving yourself a trip later and bring down fall decor. While you’re in the garage, check the weather stripping on the bottom of the door. If it looks worn away, reapply to prepare for cooler weather to come.

Inspect Your Roof

After the storms we had this summer, it’s more important than ever to check your roof. Inspect for missing or lose shingles and repair where necessary. If it looks like a replacement might be in order, or if you’ve noticed your neighbors getting new roofs, then it could be time to call in to the insurance company. It’s best to proactively deal with repairs at the end of summer/beginning of fall than to discover a problem in the winter!

Prepare The Porch

Your outdoor furniture may have seen its’ fair share of a good time this season, so it’s time to clean it up! Spray down the furniture itself to get rid of any rust, cobwebs, or dust. Take a microfiber cloth to the cushions and clean off any dirt or stains. After cleaning, make any necessary repairs. Cover outdoor furniture and barbecue grills, and store them in a protected area ready to use next year!

Appliances

Now is a good time to clean out your refrigerator, dishwasher, and oven.

Refrigerator – Make room for school lunches! Get rid of any expired foods or condiments. Sort the items in your fridge into sections, like you would your pantry. Also, be sure to vacuum your condenser coils to make your refrigerator extra efficient!

Dishwasher – A mixture of baking soda and vinegar is the perfect solution for a good dishwasher cleaning. Mix equal parts and put onto a rag or sponge. Clean the walls and racks of the interior and the buttons and front of the exterior.

Oven – Use the self cleaning feature of your oven.

Fall Clean & Check

It’s important to make sure all the electrical and heating systems and devices in your home are working properly when you get back into the school routine. Our licensed electricians can help with anything you need, including the following heating and electrical services:

Adjusting any necessary connections
Replacing filters
Checking heat exchanger & thermostats
Lubricating motors

Back To School

Hopefully, these back to school home maintenance tasks will help you prepare your home for back to school! The kids have a couple of weeks before homework, so why not make it a family event? (Wishful thinking?)

If you need help preparing your home for fall and winter, schedule our service today!