Air circulation is a key element in home comfort during both hot and cold weather. Metrowest Boston residents can use ceiling fans to increase energy savings and enhance the performance of their heating and cooling equipment year-round.

It seems that everywhere you look, there's something new in home automation. Lighting is a fun place to start because the systems can be simple but have dramatic results. Even better, most of it is DIY friendly.

What a marvel electricity is, but what a disaster when your wiring is unsafe or doesn't suit your needs. Most homes go through at least one rewiring eventually. The National Electric Code and local code update periodically to keep up with the times and address newly discovered safety issues. And although homes are grandfathered in, which means you aren't required to rewire except under certain situations, it's a smart idea both for safety and performance.

Aeroseal might sound like some kind of gadget, but it can help you get the most out of your HVAC system. Most houses have quirks that rankle the most patient of homeowners. Maybe yours has uneven temperatures and allergens that you can't quite get under control. Or maybe you're tired of paying high energy bills but aren't quite sure what to do about it. Aeroseal was designed to help.

Aeroseal resolves high energy bills and leaky air ducts without adding pollutants that affect indoor air quality. The more people become aware of chemicals and hazards that pollute the air, the more they think about the materials and products used in and around the home. That's why Aeroseal is a perfect, safe solution to leaky ducts; it won't create a brand new problem.

If your ceiling fan isn't doing its job, it might be time to upgrade to something that looks and performs much better. This summer's incredible heat is certainly putting household ceiling fans through their paces. They might not extract humidity like air conditioning does, but they keep air flowing. And that helps make the people in the room feel more comfortable.

The weather this summer is hot. And your home may be making it difficult to stay comfortable inside. Is your Holliston home ready for the summer? Knowing how to prepare your Holliston home for hot weather will keep you comfortable this summer.

If you occasionally hear noises in your home's attic, you may comfort yourself, thinking, "Oh, it's just the house settling or air moving through ducts." While these excuses could be actual causes, a more likely source of attic noise is critters.

No matter how efficiently your furnace and air conditioner operate, a home's heating and cooling system can only reach top efficiency when air ducts are in good condition. Staying on top of duct maintenance helps you stay comfortable and control your energy bills throughout Massachusetts' snowy winters and humid summers.

Programmable thermostats offer a convenient way to maximize comfort and energy savings through pre-programmed temperature changes. But they must be installed and used correctly to enjoy the benefits. Use these tips to learn how to make the best of your new or current programmable thermostat.