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The Benefits of a Heat Pump vs. an Electric Furnace for Northern California Homes
I’m a big fan of comic book movies. I’ve always been a little bit of a geek, but in the last 20 years or so, special effects have made it [...]
Merry Christmas from Bell Brothers! Breakfast with Santa and CHiPs for Kids
Christmas is upon us! As we're all scrambling in preparation for the holiday festivities, let's take a moment to remember the reason for the season. 2018 CHiPs for Kids Toy [...]
How to Do an Energy Audit on Your California Home
I was watching a rerun of one of my favorite shows of all-time the other day, Cheers. Now, I don’t mean to give away my age here, but Cheers was [...]
Should I Set My Furnace Fan to ‘On’ or ‘Auto’ in the Winter? Ask an HVAC Expert
Our friend Pat in Sacramento has a question for us today about how best to operate his thermostat during the winter. Pat says: “Hey there, Bell Brothers team! My name [...]
The 2019 Energy Efficient Windows Rebates and Tax Credits for California Homeowners
New custom windows can do a lot of things for your home. They can let in more sunlight, really changing the nature of how you experience your rooms. They can [...]
How to Safely Strap a Water Heater in a Closet to Get It Up to Code
I recently took a trip to Ireland with my family and was stunned by how the rolling hills and big trees they have there were actually pretty similar to what [...]
3 Common Winter Plumbing and Sewer Problems in Northern California
A couple of years ago, we had a rainy winter like I’ve never seen before in my life—and that’s saying a lot because I was born and raised in Northern [...]
California Home Energy Audit FAQs for Earth Conscious Homeowners
I think one of the biggest differences between me now and me when I was just starting out in the world is that, these days, I don’t get overwhelmed by [...]
Checklist for Troubleshooting Gas Furnace Problems
If you have a forced-air furnace, air gets pulled in from the rooms, past a filter, and into the furnace to get heated. A typical forced-air furnace burns either gas [...]
The Best Insulation for Homes in Warm Weather Mediterranean Climates
I have a little seasonal ritual that I go through every year. Each May, I take the umbrellas out of my coat closet and from the back of my car [...]
The 3 Benefits of Installing New Windows You’ve Never Considered—But Should
I recently became aware of something called a life hack. My nephew is always posting pretty interesting stuff that he finds online. Last week, he shared with me one of [...]
The Recommended Baseboard Heater Clearance: Safety Tips for Your HVAC This Winter
I’m just going to come out and say it: most homeowners don’t know some of the most important basic tips for keeping their homes and furnaces safe in the winter. [...]