Diamond Certified Blog

From wildfire smoke to COVID-19, Californians have faced numerous airborne contamination threats in 2020. And while staying indoors can mitigate these threats, they sometimes still manage to breach our domestic borders. Perhaps you’ve had guests in your home (expected or otherwise), or maybe your home isn’t well-insulated from the outside air. In either case, it’s possible that the air quality in your home has (or will) become compromised.

One measure you can take to mitigate this risk is utilizing an air purification device, whether a portable unit or an add-on to your home’s HVAC system. However, when it comes to choosing an air purifier, it can be difficult to know which is the right fit. Read more

Do you have trouble sleeping? You’re not alone. According to the CDC, one-third of U.S. adults say they usually get less than the recommended amount of sleep (at least seven hours). While a variety of factors can cause poor sleep (sleep apnea, excessive screen time, etc.), one of the most basic is a lack of comfort. If you aren’t comfortable on your current mattress, you may have difficulty sleeping regardless of your bedtime routine.

If you’re thinking about replacing your mattress, plan to make a well-informed and carefully considered purchase. After all, with the sheer variety of mattress styles and features nowadays, it can be difficult to determine which is the right fit for your particular needs. Read more

It’s easy to get complacent when we’re all so distracted by what’s going on in the world. Unfortunately, distracted people can be easy targets for all kinds of scams, especially online scams. Here’s a case in point.

About three weeks ago, I received an email from an acquaintance asking me if I had an Amazon account (red flag). Nancy said she was having trouble with her credit card and wanted to buy a $200 Sephora gift certificate on Amazon to surprise her niece for her birthday, which was the next day (red flag). Read more

Due to restrictions related to COVID-19, more people are working from home than ever before, and some Bay Area companies have asked their employees to telecommute for months to come. At the same time, most of the region’s school districts are holding classes online. Suddenly, the must-have feature of every home is a well-organized home office or classroom. Creating a space that allows for complete concentration takes some planning, but it can be a key factor to success for both employees and students. Read more

When your furnace, dryer or garbage disposal stops working, your first instinct may be to call a professional. In some cases, however, all it takes is a little troubleshooting to avoid an expensive service call. We asked five Diamond Certified Expert Contributors to share their home troubleshooting tips. Read more

The Bay Area has already seen numerous destructive wildfires in 2020, and there are still several weeks of hot, dry weather ahead of us. As wildfires become an increasingly common threat to the region, many homeowners are turning to “firescaping,” which is the coordinated use of fire-resistant plants and building materials around the home. With the right plants and hardscaping features, you can make it harder for wildfire to take hold and spread. Firescaping is a type of landscaping, which means you still have many options to create a garden that reflects your personal style. Aside from improving safety and adding beauty, firescaping can increase the value of your home. Read more

Did you know you can get Helpful Expertise® in your social media feed? We post daily on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, sharing everything from quick consumer tips to the latest Diamond Certified Blog articles and much more. Read more

Known for their excessive water consumption, grass lawns tend to get a bad rap these days. However, this judgment isn’t entirely fair. The truth is most turf grasses only need about one inch of water per week to maintain their color and active growth. So, why the bad reputation? Perhaps it’s time to shift the blame from the lawns themselves to those responsible for watering them. After all, a lot of home and property owners waste water by not following efficient irrigation practices. To ensure you’re doing all you can to conserve water with your lawn, read these helpful guidelines: Read more

With William R. Hummer, DDS

While most dental practices were closed or operating on a limited basis during the height of the COVID-19 shelter-in-place mandates, as of mid-summer, most are open for regular business again. However, it will likely be some time before things return to business as usual. We spoke to San Leandro-based dentist Dr. William Hummer to learn how the pandemic has impacted dental practices’ daily operations and what patients should expect regarding scheduling and care. Read more

I’m happy to be writing for the Diamond Certified Consumer Report again after a short hiatus. Since March, so much has happened to all of us (I was in a scary car accident, my husband had foot surgery and I broke my leg to boot!) that I don’t really know what getting back to “normal” means right now. But let me share a few observations.

Most of us are beginning to resume some activities, albeit with many adaptations. I’ve continued having groceries delivered, but now I make brief forays into stores that have best practices. Read more