A HelloNation Article Covers Simple Steps Homeowners Can Take to Keep Heating and Cooling Systems Efficient Throughout the Year.

HACKENSACK, N.J., Aug. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — How often should homeowners schedule maintenance for their HVAC system? A HelloNation article answers that question and describes routine steps that keep heating and cooling equipment running smoothly through every season.

The article explains that an HVAC system works continuously to keep a home comfortable in every season and performs best with regular attention. According to the article, preventive HVAC maintenance extends the life of the equipment while helping to lower energy bills over time.

The article notes that replacing air filters on a regular schedule is one of the simplest habits a homeowner can build, since dirty filters force the system to work harder and reduce airflow. Filters should generally be checked monthly and replaced every one to three months, the article states.

Clearing debris away from an outdoor condenser unit is another point covered in the article, since leaves and dirt tend to build up during spring and fall. The article also recommends checking vents inside the home that may be blocked by furniture, rugs, or curtains.

Scheduling professional HVAC maintenance at least once a year is described in the article as one of the most important steps a homeowner can take. During that visit, a technician typically inspects electrical connections, checks refrigerant levels, and cleans coils to confirm the system is working properly.

The article points out that catching worn parts early often prevents costly breakdowns during the hottest or coldest days of the year. It also mentions that installing a UV light inside the unit can reduce mold and bacteria growth, offering benefits for households dealing with allergies.

Programmable thermostats are another detail highlighted in the article, since adjusting temperatures automatically during the day can reduce strain on the system. The article adds that sealing gaps around ductwork and insulating exposed sections in an attic can help reduce energy loss.

The insights featured in the article come from Plumbing and HVAC Expert Scott Wickersheim of Wickersheim & Sons in Hackensack, New Jersey, who serves as the source for this guidance. Plumbing and HVAC Experts often note that small, consistent habits throughout the year add up to real savings and fewer unexpected repairs.

Unusual sounds or smells coming from the system are also worth noting, according to the article, since grinding noises or a burning odor can signal a part that needs attention. Keeping a simple maintenance log of filter changes and service visits can help homeowners track patterns over time, the article suggests.

Homeowners in warmer climates are encouraged by the article to check their system before summer arrives, while those in colder regions should do the same before winter sets in. The article closes by noting that a well maintained system uses less energy, lasts longer, and causes fewer unexpected problems.

How Regular Maintenance Keeps Your HVAC System Running Efficiently features insights from Scott Wickersheim, Plumbing and HVAC Expert of Hackensack, New Jersey, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is America’s Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused digital publications and innovative “edvertising” approach, HelloNation delivers expert-driven, good-news content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

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SOURCE HelloNation

Columbia Homeowners Choosing Between a Deck and a Screen Enclosure Should Consider How Each Option Performs in the Local Climate

COLUMBIA, S.C., Aug. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — When Columbia homeowners are deciding between a deck and a screen enclosure for their outdoor space, which option delivers better value for this particular climate? A HelloNation article addresses that question by drawing on insights from Outdoor Living Expert Steven McCoy to walk through how each option performs and what homeowners in this region should consider before making a decision.

The HelloNation article begins by explaining what separates the two structures. A deck is an open platform, typically built from wood or composite material, that extends from the back of the house and provides space for grilling, entertaining, and relaxing. A screen enclosure surrounds that outdoor area with aluminum framing and screen panels, keeping out insects and debris while creating a more controlled environment. In a deck vs screen enclosure Columbia SC comparison, the core difference comes down to exposure: a deck leaves users fully open to the elements, while a screen enclosure reduces that exposure significantly.

Climate plays a central role in the article’s analysis. Columbia regularly experiences July highs in the mid-90s combined with high humidity, conditions that can make an open deck in full sun uncomfortable and difficult to use during peak summer months. The article notes that a screen enclosure with proper roof coverage and ventilation stays noticeably cooler and remains more functional during the hottest parts of the day. For homeowners who want to use their outdoor space regularly, that difference carries real weight.

Cost and long-term maintenance are also addressed in the article. A basic wood or composite deck is generally less expensive to build upfront, but decks in Columbia require regular sealing, staining, or painting to hold up under the region’s persistent humidity. The HelloNation article notes that a screen enclosure built with aluminum framing and quality materials tends to require less ongoing maintenance. Outdoor Living Experts in this region often point out that the total cost of ownership over time can favor the enclosed option, even when the initial investment is higher.

For homeowners who already have a deck, the article explains that enclosing it with a screen room can be a practical upgrade. The existing structure serves as the foundation, which reduces the amount of new structural work needed to complete the enclosure. A licensed contractor can evaluate whether an existing deck is a suitable candidate for that type of addition.

Intended use is highlighted in the article as one of the most important factors in this choice. Homeowners who want an open area for sunbathing or grilling where weather is not a primary concern may find a deck to be a good fit. Those who plan to use the space more regularly, especially in the mornings and evenings when insects are most active, are likely to get more value from a screen enclosure. A deck vs screen enclosure Columbia SC decision, the article notes, ultimately comes down to how the space will be used and how much of the season the homeowner wants access to it.

Permits are required for both types of additions in Richland and Lexington counties. The article points out that setback requirements and structural standards apply to both structures, and that starting construction without the proper permits can create complications when selling a home or making future improvements. Outdoor Living Experts familiar with local codes can help ensure the project is set up correctly from the beginning.

Deck or Screen Enclosure in Columbia, SC: Which Is Better for Your Home? features insights from Steven McCoy, Outdoor Living Expert of Columbia, South Carolina, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative “edvertising” approach that blends educational content with storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven, good-news articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

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SOURCE HelloNation

Kevin Wessell shares the lessons from starting a bank that ultimately failed, costing him millions, leading to years of litigation, and reshaping how he approaches business, risk, and asset protection.

The founder and CEO of Asset Protection Planners, known to his 180,000+ subscribers as “The Business Guy,” shares how a years-long IRS document dispute was resolved — and the lessons every business owner should know about compliance, recordkeeping, and staying an open book

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Aug. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Kevin Wessell, founder and CEO of Asset Protection Planners, is speaking publicly about a multi-year records dispute with the Internal Revenue Service that has since been fully resolved — choosing transparency over silence in the face of a situation he says could easily have been misrepresented by competitors and online commentators if he hadn’t addressed it himself first.

“I got sued by the federal government,” Wessell says, opening the account. “That got people’s attention. So let me tell you exactly what happened, and what to do if it ever happens to you.”

A Knock at the Door

In late 2018, Wessell was served with a formal request for business records covering a several-year period. The request was not a tax dispute — Wessell and his companies have always been fully tax compliant — but rather a records inquiry aimed at verifying that his customers were meeting their own tax obligations.

On his CPA’s advice, Wessell retained outside counsel and instructed his team to grant the law firm complete, unrestricted access to every system, database, login credential, and document connected to the request. “I held absolutely nothing back,” Wessell said. “Everything they asked for, they got.” In fact, the IRS told my legal team in writing, “Stop all production of documents.”

What followed was roughly two years of document production between his legal team and the government, including a period in which production was paused at the government’s own request. Wessell believed the matter had been fully resolved once production was complete.

A Second Chapter

Years later, after the COVID crisis, a civil petition surfaced alleging that the production had been incomplete — that some records appeared to be missing or mismatched against the customer list Wessell’s company had provided. Wessell emphasizes that this was a civil records matter, not a criminal case and not a dispute over unpaid taxes.

Rather than treat the allegations as an attack, Wessell says he went back through the specific examples cited and found straightforward explanations for each one — the kind that come up naturally in a records-intensive business spanning many years and formation types. Among the most common:

Orders placed by a third party. A spouse, attorney, accountant, or consultant frequently places an order on behalf of the actual beneficial owner — the same way someone might buy furniture online for a family member. The order and the ultimate owner of record don’t always match name-for-name, and that’s expected, not evidence of concealment.Name conflicts at filing. When a requested company name is already taken, an alternate name is chosen at filing — and older records under the original working name aren’t always cross-referenced automatically.Orders that were never fulfilled. Some customers don’t pass a background check, or don’t complete required due diligence (notarized ID, proof of address, reference letters), so no company documents are ever created for that order in the first place.Stock issued in blank, per law. By law, issued stock certificates are provided blank, with the purchaser filling in the ultimate owner’s name — meaning company records won’t always show a final owner’s identity.Simple human error. In a business processing large volumes of formation documents, occasional scanning or filing oversights happen, despite standard procedures designed to prevent them.

Wessell met directly with government personnel to walk through these explanations. “They were genuinely good people doing their jobs,” he said. “They don’t run my business day-to-day, so naturally they don’t see it from the inside the way I do. My job isn’t to tell them what to do — it’s to comply with what the law requires, fully and honestly.”

The matter has since been fully resolved.

Why Wessell Chose to Go Public

With more than three decades in the asset protection and business formation industry, Wessell says he’s seen how quickly incomplete information spreads once it becomes public record. Publicly filed legal documents are often mined by websites and commentators looking to generate attention — and people frequently form opinions based on those secondhand accounts rather than asking the person directly involved.

“People don’t come up and ask you about it,” Wessell said. “They just talk to everyone but you, and the story runs ahead of the facts. The way to get in front of that is to be an open book and talk about it yourself, before someone else tells a version of it for you.”

The Takeaway for Business Owners

Wessell says the experience reinforced a philosophy he’s held since founding his company in 1991: obey the law first, profit second. He points to a few practical lessons for any business owner facing a government inquiry:

Cooperate fully and immediately. Full, unrestricted transparency with counsel and regulators removes ambiguity and builds credibility.Don’t panic at the sight of a formal notice. A civil records request is not the same as a criminal case or a tax dispute — understanding exactly what’s being asked matters before reacting.Keep clean, well-documented records. Recordkeeping gaps are usually the result of ordinary business friction, not wrongdoing — but they’re far easier to explain when documentation habits are strong from the start.Address it publicly, on your own terms. Silence invites speculation. Getting ahead of a public record with a clear, honest account protects both reputation and relationships.

About Kevin Wessell and Asset Protection Planners

Kevin Wessell is the founder and CEO of Asset Protection Planners (AssetProtectionPlanners.com), a firm whose attorneys and advisors have 35 years of experience structuring Cook Islands trusts and offshore asset protection plans for business owners, physicians, and investors nationwide. Widely recognized under his “Business Guy” brand across YouTube and social media, Wessell is a sought-after voice on asset protection, business compliance, and lawsuit prevention strategy.

To learn more about protecting your business and personal assets before a crisis strikes, visit AssetProtectionPlanners.com.

Media Contact

Kevin Wessell, Lawyers Limited, 1 9544001050, inquiry@lawyerslimited.com, Lawyers Limited

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SOURCE Asset Protection Planners