Living & Home

Carson City – September 21, 2026 -- Property owners in Carson Valley and Reno are being reminded that annual backflow testing is required in most Northern Nevada jurisdictions to prevent contaminated water from entering clean drinking supplies.

Backflow devices stop pollutants from reversing into drinking water lines

A HelloNation article explains that backflow devices are installed to block contaminated water from irrigation systems, fire sprinklers, or industrial equipment from flowing backward into a home's plumbing or the municipal water supply. Internal valves inside these devices can wear out, corrode, or fail over time, often without any visible warning signs.

Oak Brook – September 21, 2026 -- Ace Hardware has named Vantage Point (38B-4), a sophisticated blue hue, as Clark+Kensington's 2027 Color of the Year, now available at participating Ace Hardware stores nationwide and online at The Paint Studio.

The blue tone anchors a full 2027 color collection

Selected by color trend forecasting partner Colour Hive alongside the Clark+Kensington design team, Vantage Point is described as a rich blue softened by subtle undertones. It serves as the focal point of a broader 2027 Clark+Kensington Color Trends collection, joined by two coordinating palettes named Drift and Mellow.

Kim Lefko, Chief Marketing Officer at Ace Hardware, said the color aims to bring warmth and character to interiors while staying versatile enough to feel current in 2027 and lasting for years afterward.

St. Paul, Minn. – September 21, 2026 -- Command Brand has launched the Command DÉCOR Collection, a new line of premium metal fixtures designed to be seen rather than hidden, now available at retailers nationwide and online.

The collection combines real metal construction with the brand's damage-free hanging technology.

Pieces are available in four finishes -- Brushed Brass, Light Beige, Matte Black and Chrome -- and include Large and Small Metal Hooks, a Metal Wall Planter with a removable plastic insert, a Metal Key Rail, a Metal Wall Shelf, and a Large Towel Hook and Small Robe Hook for bathrooms.

Small hooks hold up to 2 pounds while larger hooks and shelves support up to 5 pounds.

Every fixture uses Command Brand's signature technology, letting users hang items without nails, screws or tools and remove them later without leaving marks or holes.

Markham, Ontario – September 21, 2026 -- Enercare, one of Canada's largest home and commercial services companies, has launched a new campaign called "Comfort Days" urging homeowners to schedule furnace maintenance before winter arrives rather than waiting for the first cold snap.

The campaign uses claymation nostalgia to sell furnace checkups

Created with business agency GALE and animation studio Bent Labs, the campaign borrows the visual style of classic holiday television specials. Knitted textures, glowing fireplaces, and cozy slippers appear throughout the animation, which began rolling out across channels the week of September 14.

Rather than pitching furnace maintenance as a chore, the creative focuses on the reward: a warm home waiting for homeowners when temperatures drop. "Comfort Days" reframes the task as the first step toward a cozy season instead of another item on a cold-weather to-do list.

Mankato – September 20, 2026 -- Homeowners who install a radon mitigation system can expect measurable improvement within 24 to 48 hours, but confirming long-term protection requires follow-up testing, according to a HelloNation article featuring Radon Testing Expert Mitch Kelley of Basement Solutions in Mankato, Minnesota.

A fan and gauge system vents radon gas continuously from beneath the home.

Once installed, a certified radon professional's system uses a fan to pull radon from beneath the foundation through pipes and release it outdoors. A small gauge called a manometer is attached to the system to show whether it's operating correctly; a changed reading or no pressure difference can signal a problem.

Ocean View, N.J. – September 20, 2026 -- Homeowners in salt-air regions like Ocean View and Cape May County should service their HVAC systems at least twice a year to prevent premature breakdowns, according to HVAC expert Bob Schmid of Richardson Heating & Cooling, featured in a new HelloNation article.

Coastal humidity and salt exposure accelerate wear on heating and cooling equipment, reducing system efficiency faster than in inland climates. The article recommends one service visit before the cooling season and another before the heating season to catch problems early.

Technicians target salt buildup and corrosion during visits

Routine service includes checking refrigerant levels, cleaning coils, evaluating airflow, and inspecting outdoor units for salt buildup and corrosion -- issues specific to coastal HVAC systems. Skipping these steps can lead to reduced airflow, uneven temperatures, and higher energy bills.

Grass Valley – September 20, 2026 -- Homeowners facing repeated HVAC breakdowns may be spending more on repairs than a replacement system would ultimately cost, according to insights from HVAC expert Jason Baehr of BAEHR Heating & Air in Grass Valley, California.

Frequent service calls signal an aging system nearing the end of its life

Baehr notes that scheduling HVAC repairs several times a year is one of the clearest warning signs that equipment is failing. Beyond the mounting costs, frequent breakdowns create ongoing inconvenience and unpredictable expenses for homeowners.

Older systems quietly drive up utility bills through declining efficiency

Even when an aging HVAC unit appears to run normally, it often consumes more energy than newer models. This steady efficiency loss can push utility bills higher over time, even as homeowners focus mainly on repair costs.

Rowland Heights, Calif. – September 20, 2026 -- Giraffe Tools has launched the GrandFlux Retractable Vacuum Cleaner, a wall-mounted garage system that pushes both suction and electrical power through a single 40-foot retractable hose. More than 1,000 consumers placed paid deposits ahead of launch, according to the company.

Founder Access opens at 12:00 a.m. ET on Sept. 20 and closes at 11:59 p.m. ET on Sept. 21 -- a 48-hour window. During that period, the unit is priced at $399.99, a $150 discount off its $549.99 MSRP.

The vacuum stays mounted while the hose does the work

GrandFlux is built to eliminate the routine of dragging a shop vacuum to a vehicle, hunting for an outlet, and coiling the hose afterward. The system remains installed on a garage wall, and the hose extends to the car, floor or workbench, reducing the process to three steps: pull, clean, retract.

Mount Airy, N.C. – September 19, 2026 -- Homeowners weighing whether to fix an aging furnace or heat pump now have a clearer framework, thanks to insights from Jason Bare of Friendly Heating & Cooling, Inc., published by HelloNation.

Most heating systems hit a turning point around 15 years old

A furnace or heat pump typically lasts between 15 and 20 years, but performance often declines before that mark. Repair frequency, rising energy bills, and overall reliability are the key signals homeowners should track to decide whether replacement makes more financial sense than continued fixes.

Multiple repairs in one season is a red flag

If a system needs several service calls within a single heating season, the cumulative cost of repairs can quickly outweigh the value of keeping the old unit running. Bare recommends homeowners log repair expenses over time to see the real cost trend.

Austin, Texas – September 19, 2026 -- Home energy company dcbel has launched its Ara Core Home Energy Station in Texas, a single system that connects solar panels, home batteries, the public grid and bidirectional EVs to give homeowners up to 85% energy independence and cut utility bills from day one.

Ara Core makes 100 decisions per second to manage power

The station uses an intelligent operating system called Orchestrate OS to decide, up to 100 times a second, whether to consume, store or sell energy. dcbel says this centralized routing cuts power losses and delivers up to 30% more efficiency than conventional, unintegrated home energy setups.