Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and toxic gas. Because it can’t be seen, tasted, or smelled, carbon monoxide begins to affect people before they’re even aware of its presence. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that several thousand people are taken to the emergency room each year because of carbon monoxide poisoning.

During hot, Southern summers, air conditioning is essential for homeowners who want to stay comfortable throughout the day and night. And yet, despite its central importance, many homeowners take their HVAC systems for granted.

There are several types of grass that grow very well in the metro-Atlanta region. The most common are Bermuda, fescue, zoysia, and centipede. Fescue, a cool-season, shade-tolerant grass, remains green through the winter months but can turn brown in the heat of summer.

Aeration involves using a tool or a machine to puncture the soil. By loosening the soil under a lawn, aeration incorporates oxygen into the soil, helps water to penetrate, and improves both drainage and the absorption of nutrients vital for turf growth. Many years ago, home lawn enthusiasts would sometimes wear golf spikes and walk across their lawns to accomplish aeration, but this method is not recommended, as golf spikes are not long enough to accomplish effective aeration.

Even the most diligent efforts to maintain a gorgeous, green lawn can be undone by grass diseases and pests. However, knowing what to look out for can help a homeowner get the jump on things that might be lurking under the surface, waiting to wipe out your investment.

A lawn needs about an inch of water administered weekly year-round to stay healthy, but accurately measuring just how much that is can be puzzling. Dick Bare, owner of Arbor-Nomics Turf, an Atlanta lawn treatment company, suggests setting up an empty tuna can with your sprinkler systems. “Tuna fish cans are about an inch deep. Run the sprinkler system or set up a sprinkler and hose until you’ve filled up that tuna fish can.

To announce the 2012 arrival of our Home Reports and Best Pick Reports publications in metros around the country (including Atlanta, Chicago, Maryland, DC, Northern Virginia, Houston, and Dallas), as well as the introduction of our Best Pick mobile app, we at EBSCO Research are bringing our blog service to even more metros. EBSCO Research’s Vice President and General Manager Greg Robb weighs in on the exciting happenings:

When it comes to using unfamiliar terminology, few home service contractors can outdo roofers. Many homeowners are intimidated by the use of technical jargon and afraid to ask questions, even though they’re entrusting the contractor with their money and their home. Homeowners who are prepared to talk shop with their roofer will have a better understanding of the roofing process and be better able to ask the right questions. With that in mind, we’d like to offer a handy list of important roofing terms for homeowners to consult before talking to a roofer:

With energy costs zapping more and more of homeowners’ budgets, many are looking for ways to reduce their electricity usage. Some of the more popular strategies include unplugging idle electronic devices, turning the thermostat down a few degrees, and purchasing ENERGY STAR-rated appliances. However, there is also a less well-known part of the home that can produce energy savings: the roof...

Mark Ashe, president of Echols Roofing, Siding & Home Improvements, has a warning for homeowners:

“I do not know one local, professional roofer that sends crews of men out to knock on doors. You do not do business with somebody that solicits you first for anything....The people that knock on your door, even if your roof is new and pristine, they’re going to come off that ladder and tell you, ‘Oh, you’ve got storm damage.’”