Tag: energy efficiency

5 Summer Energy Saving Tips

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summer energy saving tips

During summer season, the hot temperatures can lead to an increase in electricity usage as you and your family try to stay cool. If you want to prevent a major spike in your energy bill, check out these summer energy saving tips by the pros at Roman Electric. This way, you can lower your electricity bill without sacrificing comfort!

1. Try This Trick with Your Thermostat

According to the Department of Energy, you can save up to 10% on cooling per year by turning up your thermostat 7-10 degrees higher for 8 hours a day. Try this trick on your thermostat and see if you notice on a difference on next month’s energy bill! Keep in mind, that this technique is best tried out using programmable thermostats because they allow daily and weekly temperature scheduling.

2. Switch to LEDs

Another way to save up on your electricity bill during any time of the year is to switch your lights to LEDs. These light bulbs are the most energy-efficient on the market—they use 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and can last 25 times longer. Plus, they don’t radiate heat, making them safer to use and touch.

3. Seal Up Your Home

Having proper insulation and air sealing in your home can save you 20% on your heating and cooling costs and 10% on overall energy costs. That’s why it’s important you inspect your home for any insulation gaps or air leaks. While insulation inspections should be handled by a professional, you can easily inspect for air leaks on your own. Make sure you look around your doors and windows as these are the most common air leak spots. If you notice the caulking or weatherstripping is wearing out, make sure to re-caulk any cracks and gaps and get new weatherstripping material from your nearest home improvement store.

4. Change Your Air Filter

Changing your air filter not only improves your air conditioner’s performance but also reduces its energy consumption by 5 to 15%. Changing your filter only takes a few minutes but can make a world of difference. Ideally, you should change it once every three months.

5. Unplug

Some appliances when left plugged in, even if they are not use, can use energy. This can unnecessarily add to your energy bill. So, make sure you unplug your coffee maker, hair dryer or laptop charger after you are done using them—this can save you up to $100 a year!

Want More Energy Saving Tips? Get in Touch with The Pros at Roman Electric!

Whether you want more energy saving tips for the summer, or need plumbing, electric or HVAC services, the pros at Roman Electric are here to help. Call us today at 414-369-3798 or schedule a service with us on our website! Our team of experts would be more than happy to assist you and provide the high-quality service that you need.

7 Ways to be Eco-Friendlier at Home

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ways to be eco-friendlier at home

If you’re trying to figure out ways to become eco-friendlier and energy-efficient at home, good for you! Becoming eco-friendly is not only good for you and your energy bill but for the world that we live in. Here are some tips from the pros at Roman Electric to help you start your journey to being more environmentally friendly!

1. Check for Leaks

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, household water leaks can lead to 10,000 gallons of water lost per year—that’s a lot of water going to waste. Most of the time these leaks are easy to point out and fix. So if you want to start being more environmentally friendly, start of by dusting off your toolbox and get to work troubleshooting these leaks. They are most commonly found in your toilet, faucet, showerhead and dishwasher.

2. Change Your Air Filter

If you want to save up on your heating and cooling bills while performing maintenance on your HVAC unit then you should change your air filter! Doing this once or twice a month can improve your indoor air quality, prevent your AC from working overtime and reduce your unit’s energy consumption by 5 to 15%!

3. Use LED Bulbs

If you want to save up on your electricity bill, start off by replacing your incandescent bulbs with LEDs! These lights last 25 times longer and use 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs. They are also incredibly versatile, don’t radiate heat and can be compatible with dimmer switches.

4. Switch Outdoor Lights to Solar

Going solar has a lot of benefits, but the greatest one is the burden it takes off your energy bills! Start replacing your outdoor lights with solar lights. They are generally easy to install and can simply be staked into the ground.

5. Ensure You Have Insulation

Insulating your home, specifically in places like your attic, crawlspaces, walls and ceilings can reduce your heating and cooling bills by 20% and overall energy costs by 10%. Sealing up your home can prevent significant energy loss and prevents your HVAC unit from working overtime to provide the cooling or heating that you need.

6. Fix Air Leaks

Air leaks are most commonly found around doors and underneath windows and are usually caused by worn out weatherstripping. If you notice your doors and windows are not properly sealed, be sure to replace old weatherstripping materials with new ones from your nearest home improvement store!

7. Take Shorter Showers

Cutting your showers short can reduce water and time wastage. In addition to taking shorter showers, consider replacing your showerhead with a WaterSense labelled one. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, by simply replacing one showerhead the average family can save 2,900 gallons of water every year.

Want more tips on how you can eco-friendly at home? Get in touch with the pros at Roman Electric! Call us today at 414-369-3798 or schedule a service online!

3 Spring Efficiency Tips for First-Time Homeowners

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spring efficiency for first-time homeowners

If you recently became a homeowner or are going to become one for the first time, congratulations! Owning a home gives you a great deal of independence and autonomy, but it is also a great deal of responsibility. There are many ways you can keep your home in good condition, but one of the most important ways we’re going to talk about today is energy-efficiency. An energy-efficient home costs less to run and maintain, is more comfortable to live in, is better for the environment AND has a higher resale value! If you don’t know what you can do to up the energy savings in your home, don’t worry. The pros at Roman Electric are here to help you out with some great spring efficiency tips for first-time homeowners.

1. Save Up on Heating and Cooling

Your heating and cooling system is one of the heaviest consumers of energy in your home. So, if you want to save up on your energy bill, start with your HVAC unit! There are multiple ways you can save up on cooling this spring:

  • Set Your Thermostat a Few Degrees Higher

According to the Department of Energy, you can save up to 10% on heating and cooling bills by setting your thermostat 7-10 degrees higher for 8 hours a day. Try out this energy-saving method and see if you notice a change in your energy bill. If you have a programmable or smart thermostat, this might be fairly easy to try out.

  • Use Fans

Instead of relying entirely on your HVAC unit to provide cooling, set your thermostat at a bit of a higher temperature and use fans instead. Fans create a wind-chill effect, cooling the person instead of the room.

  • Change Your Air Filter

One of the easiest ways to maintain your HVAC unit is by changing the air filter. Not only will it improve your AC’s efficiency as well as your home’s indoor air quality, it will also reduce your unit’s consumption by 5 to 15%!

2. Use Low-Flow Fixtures

Water conservation comes under the umbrella of energy-efficiency and spring efficiency. So, if you want to save up a little bit on your water bill, try installing low-flow fixtures. A lot of toilets, showerheads and faucets are on the more wasteful side and low-flow fixtures get the same job done without wasting too much water. According to the DOE, low-flow faucets and showerheads can cost up to $20 a piece while saving water by up to 60%.

3. Choose LED Lights

Consider switching to LED lights in your new home. These lights last 25 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs and use at least 75% less energy. By simply replacing 5 of your home’s most frequently used lights with LEDs, you could save $75 a year in energy costs.

Want more energy-efficiency tips for your new home? Get in touch with the pros at Roman Electric! Call us today at 414-369-3798 or schedule a service with us on our website!

4 Ways to Save Energy While Away on Spring Break

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Your Spring Break plans might have been delayed because of the spread of COVID-19 globally. However, once the curve flattens and social distancing orders relax a little, we know you’ll be itching to take a vacation. That’s why the pros at Roman Electric have prepared a helpful list of ways to save energy while away on Spring Break or any vacation. This way, you’ll maintain energy-efficiency even when you’re not at home.

1. Turn Up Your Thermostat

According to the Department of Energy, you can save up to 10% per year on heating and cooling by turning back your thermostat 7-10 degrees from your normal setting for 8 hours a day. That sounds a little more complicated than it needs to, but it’s easy to put into effect. You can easily do this if you happen to have a programmable thermostat, as these types of thermostats have excellent scheduling features. You can also try out this energy-saving method with a smart thermostat, which not only allows scheduling temperature settings, but also wi-fi connectivity and remote temperature control.

In short, if you simply turn up your thermostat a few degrees while you’re away on vacation, you can save a significant amount on your energy bill.

2. Inspect Leaks

You can’t be energy-efficient if you don’t attempt to conserve water as well. You can save water by looking for and fixing leaks. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, an average household’s leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year. This number adds up, so make sure that you fix your house leaks before you go on vacation. The most common locations for leaks are toilets, faucets, dishwashers and showerheads—generally, leaks in these areas are a nuisance but also easily fixable.

3. Unplug Before You Go

Make sure you unplug all your devices and appliances before you leave, as you don’t want “energy vampires” sucking away the savings on your energy bill. “Energy vampires” is an interesting term coined for appliances and devices that continue to drain away energy while they are plugged in, even when they are not being used. Make sure to vanquish these energy vampires before you go on to enjoy your vacation.

4. Seal Up Your Home

Air leaks can lead to significant energy losses and other issues such as your AC short cycling and bad indoor air quality. Luckily, fixing and preventing these air leaks is easy. First, make sure the weatherstripping in your windows and doors is up to date. If the stripping is old and worn out, you might need to replace it. You can find various weatherstripping materials like vinyl, foam and even metal at your nearest home improvement store. Next, make sure there are no air leaks in other, smaller areas such as electrical outlets. This might be surprising, but air leaks can be found behind electrical outlets and might be causing energy loss. To fix this issue, you can try adding foam gaskets or aerosol foam behind these outlets.

Want more tips on saving energy while you’re away on vacation? Contact the pros at Roman Electric! Call us today at 414-369-3798 or schedule a service with us online!

Start the New Year Off with Some Energy-Saving Tips!

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new year energy saving tips

The new year is a great time to start making changes to your routine. One way you can make changes to your lifestyle is by finding ways to save energy around your home. By adding energy saving habits to your day-to-day you can decrease your utility bill and become an energy-conscious homeowner. To help you out, the pros at Roman Electric have come up with some effective energy-saving tips.

1. Change Bulbs to LEDs

One of ways you can start saving energy is by changing all your light bulbs from incandescent bulbs to LEDs. LED bulbs can last up to 25 times longer and use up to 75 % less energy. These bulbs are incredibly versatile and are also safe to use since they don’t radiate heat.

2. Change Your Filter

By changing your HVAC unit’s air filter consistently, you can reduce energy consumption between 5 and 15 %. It is ideal to change your air filter once every three months. Replacing your dirty filter with a new one will not only save you money and energy – but it is good for your unit. It prevents issues such as frozen evaporator coils, unhealthy indoor air quality and inconsistent air flow. If you haven’t changed your air filter recently, there is not time like the new year!

3. Seal Up Your Home

If you have any gaps in your insulation or any cracks around your ducts, windows or exterior doors, it’s time to tackle them in 2020. To prevent gaps in your windows and doors, use weatherstripping and caulking. To prevent duct leaks, have your ductwork inspected by professional HVAC technicians. In addition, have your home’s insulation inspected (especially your attic) to ensure you have enough insulation. Air leaks can force your unit to work overtime, ultimately wasting energy.

4. Use Fans in Warmer Months

This energy-saving tip is specific to warmer months. To save up on your HVAC unit’s energy use, increase the temperature on your thermostat by a few degrees and use your fans. While fans don’t exactly cool rooms, they create a wind-chill effect, keeping you or any of the occupants in the room cool and comfortable. Plus, making this change in your thermostat can save energy.

5. Consider Outdoor Solar Lights

If you use outdoor lights, consider going solar with them. Solar pathway lights are very common and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They require no wires or cables and are very easy to install. Going solar is also an excellent way to save money on your utility bill.

Save Energy in 2020 with Roman Electric!

We hope this list of new year energy-saving tips has been helpful. If you want to learn more about how you can reduce your energy consumption and save up a little on your utility bill, get in touch with the pros at Roman Electric. Call us today at 414-369-3798 or schedule a service with us on our website!

Is Your Furnace Prepared for Fall?

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is your furnace prepared for fall

The weather here in Milwaukee has already started inching closer to the cooler, milder temperatures we’re accustomed having later in the year, and it’s only going to get colder from here. While you’re prepping different areas of your home for the fall, it’s crucial to make sure your furnace is ready to handle the changing seasons.

With these handy tips from the heating experts at Roman Electric, you and your family will be cozy and comfortable when the leaves and temperature both begin dropping. We’ve got a few pointers to help you make the transition as seamless as possible.

Clean the Registers

The warm air you’re going to be needing soon has to enter your home from the registers located around the house, and they accumulate dirt pretty quickly. When you neglect them for too long, the air will knock the buildup of dust off of them, leaving them free to float around your home.

Take just a few minutes to dust off your registers to ensure that your air will be clean and clear when the furnace kicks on!

Replace the Air Filter

Your registers won’t stay clean, however, if the air flowing through them is dirty in the first place. That’s why it’s important to maintain a rigid filter-replacement schedule! You should ideally replace your air filters every 30 days or so, but we recommend giving your furnace a fresh filter to work with when you start cranking up the heat.

Even if you’ve replaced your air filter recently, go ahead and swap it out for a new one when you really start using your furnace more than usual.

Give It a Test Run

If you haven’t begun using your furnace frequently yet, the time will soon come. And whenever that happens, your unit will have some catching up to do. It hasn’t had anything to do for a while, and it will take a bit of time for it to shake off the rust and get in sync.

Should you wait until you need your furnace to switch it on for the first time, then you might not get the performance you’re looking for right away. Instead of holding off until then, run your furnace for a bit while it isn’t required. That way, your furnace will be able to jump right in and heat your home with no issues when it really gets cold out.

Schedule a Tune-Up

The most valuable thing you can do, however, is to schedule a tune-up with a trusted service provider. When they check out your furnace, they’ll identify issues that need to be addressed and recommend the proper steps to fix them. They’ll also tweak a few things here and there to ensure your furnace performs like you need it to!

Roman Electric: Your Milwaukee Furnace Experts

With these tips in mind, your furnace will be ready to tackle the colder weather! When you need a reliable voice and trusted service provider, look no further than Roman Electric! Our team has the experience and knowledge to get your furnace in the best shape it’s ever been in. Give us a call at 414-369-3798 to see how we can help!

Why Everyone Should Have a Backup Generator

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why everyone should have a backup generator

Power outages can quickly turn from a minor inconvenience to a frustrating problem in no time at all. The longer your home is without electricity, the more likely it is to cause an issue that forces you and your family to drastically readjust how you’re living. But with some smart preparation, you won’t have to worry – here’s why everyone should have a backup generator, as told by the pros at Roman Electric!

Peace of Mind During Emergencies

When a storm is raging and the threat of losing power is real, the thought of what to do if everything cuts out at once might be racing through your mind. Where are the candles? Do the flashlights have batteries? What are we going to do if the power is gone and everyone gets hungry?

With a backup generator, though, you don’t have to worry about any of that. Should your power go out, the generator will kick on, ensuring that you don’t experience any of the stress that accompanies a power outage.

It Cuts Down on Unexpected Costs

Sure, power outages are inconvenient, but before long they become much more serious issues. If your home is without electricity for too long, you’ll have to think of what to do in an extended outage. Will you have to get a hotel? And for how long?

And on top of lodging questions, you’ll have to start figuring out what to do with other things you wouldn’t normally have to worry about. The food in the refrigerator and freezer might go bad, and you’ll have to replace all of it. If you’ve got a security system protecting your home, it could go down and leave your home unguarded.

When you’ve got a backup generator helping you out, you can ignore all of these questions and continue on like nothing happened, easing your concerns and saving you money from unexpected costs.

Frozen Pipes Aren’t as Much of a Worry

When the power is out, your home’s heating capabilities are knocked out, leaving your pipes susceptible to freezing. So when you’re already without lights and electricity, you may end up having to deal with a lack of water as well.

Avoiding this compound problem is as easy as installing a backup generator. When your generator activates, you’ll be able to keep on using all your utilities like nothing was wrong!

No Stoppage in Power Supply

Although generators are nice in theory, if they take forever to activate then how helpful are they in reality? That’s why it’s important to make sure that you get one that activates as soon as the power goes out.

Roman Electric: Helping You Enjoy Uninterrupted Electricity

We’ve laid out just a few of the valuable benefits that a backup generator can provide. If you’re in the market for the best one for you and your family – or if you’re just looking for more information – then let us help you out!

Roman Electric’s team of expert electricians can help answer any questions you may have, and if you decide to invest in a backup generator then we’re there to handle that as well!

Give us a call at 414-369-3798 today for the most reliable service in the Milwaukee area!

Are Your Outlets Safe?

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are your outlets safe

Given that we need outlets at home to do a high number of tasks each day, it would make sense to ensure that yours are all working properly and safe. But it’s not always easy to tell when an outlet poses an electrical hazard. And while we don’t recommend you disassemble your outlets to check the wiring, we do have a few handy tips.

Follow along, and the electrical experts at Roman Electric will help you get a better idea of how to tell when your outlets are safe and when you should give your trusted electrician a call!

Are They Overloaded?

Outlets can generally power a significant amount of devices before they get overloaded, but they’ll still only be able to do so much before they give out. Resist the temptation to stick every plug you own into one outlet in the name of convenience — instead, try to figure out roughly what load your outlets can handle before inserting too many plugs.

After you’ve got an idea of how much your outlets can handle, decide which of your more energy-hungry devices can go on which outlets and move the rest around to other spots. You may need some extension cords, but you’d rather have that than cause an electrical problem!

Replace Cords/Wires

Although extension cords, charging cables and electrical wires are designed to last a long time, they eventually deteriorate and break just like anything else can. The only difference is that with electrical components, you’ll be at risk of suffering a nasty shock if the conditions are right.

Take some time to inspect the cords and wires around your home if you can. Replace any that have become frayed or damaged so you and your family can stay safe and sound!

Do Outlets Need Upgrading?

When you moved into your home, your electrical needs could’ve been very different than what they are currently. Maybe you need more juice to power the ever-increasing number of devices that we have in our homes nowadays, or perhaps you remodeled your home and need something else entirely.

Another thing to check is if the outlets that are near water sources – like in the bathroom and kitchen – and the ones on the exterior of your home are GFCI outlets. These outlets are easily identifiable by their “reset” buttons in the middle of the faceplate. They automatically cut the power when they detect even the smallest chance of a short circuit — after which you’ll have to reset the outlet’s power.

If you don’t have these in the necessary spots, then give your electrician a call immediately!

Roman Electric: Helping Keep Milwaukee Residents Safe Year-Round

No matter what your electrical situation is, you need to make sure your outlets are safe. Whether you’re in the market for a few upgrades or trying to figure out the best way to make sure your devices and appliances are safe, Roman Electric is here to help!

Give us a call at 414-369-3798 to see how our expert team of electricians can help you and your family today!

 

Simple Ways to Reduce HVAC Costs

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ways to reduce hvac costs

What’s the one thing that drives most of our decisions at home? It’s saving money, right? Any time or place we can come up with a way to cut costs without sacrificing too much of our livelihood, we usually take it. But it’s hard to do that with certain things like our home appliances, especially our HVAC unit.

Fear not! It is possible to save a significant amount of money on your heating and cooling costs. The ways to do that don’t require a full-scale overhaul – in fact, they’re pretty simple. Read on, and let the HVAC experts at Roman Electric help you figure out a couple of handy ways to reduce HVAC costs at home!

Make Use of Your Ceiling Fans

The fans that are installed in our rooms do quite a bit to help regulate temperature. In the summer, they help keep us cool, and they cost far less to operate than your AC does. But did you know that they can be just as effective in the winter?

If you reverse the direction that ceiling fans rotate when the weather gets colder, the fans will blow warm air down instead of cold air. But since ceiling fans don’t *actually* affect the temperature of the air – they just blow the existing air over your skin – you only need to run them when you’re in the room.

Seal Leaks Throughout the Home

Over time, your home may spring leaks through certain areas where air flows regularly. Places like your ducts and in the cracks of your doors and windows (which can eventually widen), can help you lose valuable cold (or warm) air.

Make sure to seal these up to prevent any airflow loss. If left unattended, the leaks will force your HVAC system to work significantly harder to achieve your desired temperature, spiking heating and cooling costs.

Use a Smart/Programmable Thermostat

Depending on the season, our thermostats can account for a massive portion of our energy bill. If you like to leave these on for a big part of the day, then you will pay the price. But with a programmable (or smart) thermostat, you can save a ton.

They allow you to adjust the temperature based on when you’ll be using it the most. Meaning, if you’re not home for the majority of the day, then you can set the thermostat to shut off until you usually return home. You’ll avoid running up the cost of heating or cooling a home you aren’t there to enjoy, and that saves you quite a bit as it adds up.

Account for Extra Heat Sources

If your home is situated in such a place where it absorbs natural sunlight more than usual, then you probably overcompensate with your HVAC unit to combat the excess heat. But this isn’t efficient. It means you pay more in the long run to fight the heat, costs that pile up quicker than you realize.

To naturally avoid this problem, invest in some blackout curtains for rooms that endure direct sunlight, and be sure to always close your blinds/curtains when you can. Also, avoid doing or using anything that will add more heat to the interior of your home throughout the day.

 

Saving money on heating and cooling costs doesn’t need to be difficult! With these tips, you’ll be on the path to enjoying a lower energy bill without sacrificing your comfort level at home. And for more comprehensive strategies, just ask Roman Electric!

Give us a call at 414-369-3798 to speak to a heating and cooling expert today, and we’ll work with you to ensure you’re staying comfortable year-round.

How to Avoid Standby Energy Loss

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how to avoid standby energy loss

We’re all in the business of trying to save money — especially by reducing the amount of energy we use, if only so the energy bill comes out to be a little lower every month. So it makes sense to try and find ways to cut costs where we can. One way a lot of us do that is by going out of our way to turn off appliances and devices when we aren’t using them.

And this is good! Leaving appliances on definitely uses up excess energy that we could be saving. But did you know that turning something off doesn’t completely cut off the amount of power it’s using? Because of something called standby energy, we aren’t saving all we could be. Here’s a quick rundown from the electrical experts at Roman Electric on what standby energy is, and how you can avoid it at home!

What Is Standby Energy Loss?

 This is a name given to the power that your appliance, device or power strip still uses even when it’s been turned off. Even though the device isn’t actively using electricity to operate, some of them need to stay connected, even at a minimum level.

Passive energy allows devices to update, but it also exists because a device has to stay *slightly* connected so it can receive a signal to activate when you do turn it on. Passive energy, also known as “vampire energy,” sucks electricity without you knowing it.

Some appliances that suffer from standby energy loss include:

  • TVs
  • Microwaves
  • Video game consoles
  • Cable boxes
  • Digital clocks
  • AC units

How Do You Avoid It? 

Standby energy is aggravating. It can account for a few hundred dollars in average energy costs over the course of a year, which drives home just how much energy these devices are actually using when they’ve been switched off!

The only surefire way to ensure you don’t suffer from standby energy loss is by unplugging your appliances or devices when you’re not using them. However, this isn’t really all that practical for a lot of us. We have dozens of devices that are plugged in at any one time, and going through your home to unplug every. single. one. is tedious and oftentimes isn’t worth the savings you may receive.

But you can still make a difference! The easiest way to combat standby energy loss is by consolidating several devices into a power strip. That way, you can switch off several of your electronics with the flip of a switch instead of going one-by-one.

Other ways to fight it include:

  • Unplugging appliances that you don’t use as often, and plugging them in only when you’re about to use them specifically (like blenders, printers or microwaves).
  • Invest in a watt-reader to understand just how much energy you’re actually using.
  • Keep an eye out for Energy Star-certified appliances when you go shopping. These adhere to a rigorous set of criteria created by the EPA to ensure they are energy-efficient.

Roman Electric: Your Energy-Efficiency Experts

Hopefully these tips have made fighting standby energy loss a less intimidating task. It can seem daunting, but through a few minor adjustments you can cut down on the amount of energy you use.

Roman Electric’s goal is to make sure our Milwaukee neighbors have the most energy-efficient electrical solutions around. Whether you’re hoping for a whole-home revamp or just need some pointers, we’re here to help! Give us a call at 414-369-3798 for more information today!