Like most Americans who want to help battle back from Hurricane Sandy, Angie's List is gearing up. I've already been warning people about storm chasers and how to avoid them but we thought we could do even more. So we're reaching out to some of the best  service companies we know (graded by your fellow Angie's List members) around the country.

Our hope is that we can match those in need with those who can best deliver on that need. If you need help and can't find it, give us a call and our team will go to work for you to find a highly rated contractor, tree removal, hauler or water damage specialist who can get to you fast.

We're putting our best on the job here to make those connections for our members. They're standing by to help at 1-877-648-2448. 

Take a look at the Angie's List Guide to Hurricane Sandy Recovery for tips on avoiding bad contractors.  Let us know if we're missing something that can help you or your neighbor. If you're going it alone, please take the time to check for license status and to get three estimates. I know it's hard to wait, but trust me: you don't want to be victimized again. We can't keep storms from your door, but together, we can keep storm chasers away.

Angie 

Dear Angie: Some of my physician co-workers in the radiology department at the hospital leave the overhead fluorescent lights on in their administrative offices all day, even though they spend 90 percent of their time away from these offices working with patients, reading scans, etc. I have heard that it uses more energy to turn the lights on and off a few times a day than just to leave them on all day. I find that very hard to believe. I wish they would turn off the lights when they leave their offices. What are your thoughts? – Scott S., Lexington, Ky.

Dear Scott: Tell your co-workers it’s time to turn off the lights. It’s been a longtime urban myth that turning on and off fluorescent lights uses more energy than just leaving them on. In fact, the Electric Power Research Institute debunked the notion with a study that revealed it only makes sense to leave the lights on if someone is only leaving the room for three to five minutes. The reason for this is because the electronic ballasts and lamp combination draw a higher level of current at startup (when you turn the light on), but this additional energy only lasts for a fraction of a second....read more.

Dear Angie: The oven of my gas range takes a really long time to preheat. Sometimes, I’ll leave it on for an hour and it doesn’t heat up at all. Is it unsafe to do that and what could be wrong with my oven? – T.M., No city given

Dear T.M.: The likely issue is a weak or failing oven igniter.  Heat resistance igniters can lose resistance as they get hot over time and won’t send enough resistance to the gas valve to allow the main valve to come on.

This intermittent starting can happen when the igniter is getting weak and before it goes completely out. If it doesn’t draw enough amperage, the igniter won’t send out the gas needed to light the oven. This is a very common problem in ovens and the repair typically costs around $150, though that can vary depending on the type and brand of oven you have...read more.

Dear Angie: What is best way to run air conditioning? Is it better to keep the A/C running all day at, say, 75 degrees? Or should I turn it off all day and then when I come home from work, turn it on? Is one more expensive than the other? – Sandy M., Battlement Mesa, Colo.

Dear Sandy: Air conditioners are designed to maintain a constant temperature in the home, so it’s best to let it run and maintain those even temperatures, than to try to catch up. The cooler you can keep the house, the less the unit has to work...read more.

You wouldn't believe how often we get asked "What is Angie's List?" Probably the only question we get more often is whether or not I, Angie, really exists. Spoiler alert: I do!

Comcast Newsmakers asked me to explain the background, how we got our name and how Angie's List has stayed relevant so I was happy to put a lot of those questions to rest! Check out the video