During the first half of 2019, we received a great deal of rain in the San Francisco Bay Area. What’s more, the rainy season went on longer than expected, with storms hitting as late as mid-May. Despite bringing relief to a long-standing drought, all this extra rainfall has certain consequences, one of which may be a particularly bad mosquito season. Since mosquitoes can breed in as little as a tablespoon of standing water, the moister-than-average conditions could mean a spike in mosquito populations this summer. Read more

Any homeowner in California knows termites are a major concern. Between the native drywood and subterranean species, termites are responsible for millions of dollars’ worth of statewide property damage each year. However, in Northern California, homeowners face an even greater (yet lesser known) pest threat. “The biggest pest problem we currently have in the North Bay Area is the powderpost beetle, which is a wood-boring member of the Lyctinae family,” says Brandy Straub, owner of Redwood Empire Termite & Pest Control in Windsor. “Within the last five years, these beetles are the number one issue I’m finding in homes throughout Sonoma, Marin, Solano and Napa Counties.” Read more

It’s no surprise that the attic is one of the most neglected areas of the home. Being out of sight, it’s understandably out of most homeowners’ minds. What may come as a surprise, however, is the extent to which conditions in the attic can impact a home’s comfort, energy efficiency and air quality. To gain further insight, we’ve asked five Diamond Certified Expert Contributors to talk about three important aspects of the attic: insulation, cleaning and ventilation. Read more

If you think about it, there are a lot of similarities between your body and your home. For example, each contains a network of systems that allow the whole to function as needed. With a little imagination, you can draw parallels between your home’s plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems and your body’s circulatory, nervous, and respiratory systems. Read more