Picture this: You’re enjoying an afternoon on your patio or porch and, suddenly, hear the telltale buzzing of a hummingbird. But upon closer inspection, you realize it’s not a bird at all — it’s a hummingbird moth.

Meet the Hummingbird Moth

People initially mistake this bug — which the British call the bee hawk-moth, from the Hemaris genus of Sphinx moths — for the hummingbird. That’s because it acts very much like the bird it mimics.

This moth shimmers, sips, hovers and darts and — yes — even hums! Males have a flared tail, just like a hummingbird. And their wings beat faster than the eye can see.

In fact, wing beating is where these moths outshine their namesake. Hummingbirds hover at 50 beats per second, but the hummingbird hawkmoth almost appears motionless, flying at 85 beats per second.

Of course, there are some differences that set these critters apart.

While hummingbird moths don’t have a long beak, they do have a straw-like, long proboscis that unfurls like a garden hose to draw nectar from garden flowers.

And, of course, the hummingbird is a bird, and the hummingbird moth is

Home appliance manufacturer Whirlpool is a familiar name to many households across the country. Whether you are a current owner of Whirlpool products or are considering upgrading to this brand of appliance or system, it’s essential to understand how the warranty works. You should also have a plan in place for the next steps to take once the Whirlpool warranty expires.

A home warranty provides coverage for a variety of systems and appliances, regardless of their age or brand name. Purchasing a policy is a cost-effective way to maintain the equipment you own while protecting your budget from unforeseen expenses. The best home warranties also offer peace of mind that repair costs for the appliances you rely on most are covered.

We’ll explain how Whirlpool’s warranty varies among its appliances, the limitations of coverage, how to make a claim and what customer reviews say. We will also offer our recommendation for a better provider to cover your Whirlpool products: American Home Shield.

To get a free quote from American

Whether it’s spring, summer, fall or winter, an air conditioner can keep you comfortable during every kind of weather. If you don’t know the different types of AC units on the market, here’s a quick guide.

4 Types of Air Conditioners

1. Window Air Conditioner

A window air conditioner is one complete unit mounted on the window. There is no ductwork involved; one part of the unit faces inside and the other faces outside the room.

This single unit has all the components it needs, along with a double-shaft fan motor.

Here are some of a window air conditioner’s outside components:

• Condenser
• Propeller coil
• Condenser coil
• Fan motor

Here are some of its indoor components:

• Cooling coil
• Fan blower
• Capillary tube
• Operation panel
• Filter drier
• Drain pan

A ‘ton’ is how much heat an AC unit can remove in one hour. A window air conditioner, on average, is 1 to 4 tons.

When it comes to your home’s heating and cooling system, you know that replacing it can be expensive.

So, getting the most out of your current system should be your goal to delay a large — upward of $4,000 — replacement cost.

Here are some tips that will allow
you to increase the lifespan of your heating and cooling system.

1. Get Annual Tune-Ups

You need to get tune-ups twice a year (once for heating and once for cooling). Get your furnace checked just before its winter use and your air conditioner checked just before the hot months of summertime.

These maintenance visits will ensure that your system is running optimally. Your tune-up professional will lubricate and inspect all system parts for functionality. They’ll replace filters, clean out drain holes and check your refrigerant levels.

2. Change the Heating and Cooling System’s Filters

Your heating and cooling system has filters that require changing or cleaning every