Home Maintenance

Downspout diverters are used to divert water away from the foundation of your home or to divert water to landscaped areas of your yard. All diverters attach to your existing downspout, and the...

Clothes dryers are a handy household convenience, but they can also be dangerous. In 1998, dryers caused 15,600 fires, 20 deaths and 370 injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety...

The extreme pressure created by pressure washers is very useful for cleaning the siding of your house, your driveway or many other things. Pressure washers come in two forms: gas or electric....

Your washing machine's drain hose is not immune from clogs. Washing machine hoses clog for a variety of reasons, including a build up of detergent, thread from garments and lint from towels. The...

Mold is a fungi that grows on just about anything, including stone. Mold thrives in areas that are damp, humid and sheltered from sunlight. Mold can particularly thrive on the underneath side of...

When you are cleaning the exterior of your home, it can be difficult to focus on just one area. For instance, if you are cleaning the aluminum siding on the side of your house, you may begin to...

Dryvit is the brand name for an exterior insulation and finish system It's a home siding that looks like stucco but also functions as insulation. The manufacturer estimates that one in every 11...

Protecting your home's exterior from winter's frigid damage is vital to the life of your outdoor appliances. Winterizing your water heater conserves energy and lessens the possibility of frozen...

Cleaning the gutters is not an activity most people look forward to. It is messy and if you happen to be afraid of heights, more than a little scary. However, it can be done quickly with the...

Most people would rather spend a weekend afternoon watching football than cleaning leaves from the gutter. Avoiding the task can cause the gutters to become clogged, preventing rainwater from...

Weather can wreak havoc on your home. Dirt and debris slam against the house, creating a large mess. You garage door is helpful for keep filth, water and rubbish from entering the garage....

The Shop-Vac is one of the handiest pieces of clean-up equipment that you have in your workshop. Despite its rugged construction, you may develop a problem that requires you to remove and replace...

Shop Vacs are designed to be easy to drain, no matter the model, and the process is simple. Once the tank is full, unplug the machine and bring it to where you are going to dispose of the...

The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that in 1998 there were approximately 15,000 house fires associated with clothes dryers. These fires resulted in 370 injuries and 20 deaths. Heat...

The sole responsibility of a gutter is to route water away from the home, which protects the home's siding, landscaping, foundation and, if applicable, the basement. Gutters frequently become...

It is important to flush a hot water tank at least once a year to clear sediment from the unit. The sediment that builds up is grit, sand, gravel or dirt. When the sediment builds up in the hot...

Wood siding requires a certain amount of care to keep it looking good. Mold is a particular problem, especially in shady areas of your house. With the proper type of sealer, you can greatly reduce...

Draining a hot water tank once every couple of years will remove sediment and debris that could be inhibiting the efficiency of the tank. Sediment buildup in a hot water tank forces it to work...

If you're ripping out a wall for a remodeling project and you come across old loose cellulose insulation inside, it will turn a somewhat dirty job into a horrendously filthy one. As you rip out...

With the proper power washing equipment many cleaning projects can be less time consuming and labor intensive. The right equipment can add efficiency and effectiveness for both professional...

Need to winterize your sprinkler system but want to save some money at the same time, well it does not take much if you have a few handy tools around.

Well water that has the unpleasant odor of rotten eggs and a bitter taste contains sulfur. While sulfur is not harmful to humans at low levels, ingesting it can have side effects which may be more...

Because the water that fills your electric water heater contains minerals, when the water heats up, these minerals break down into sediment. When sediment builds up, it coats the lower heating...

Cleaning surfaces with a power washer can be made easier with some frequently used power washing supplies. Some are necessary to operate the power washer and other supplies allow homeowners and...

Cleaning your gutters is important to maintaining your home. Here are some tips on how to clean your gutters.

Wooden structures at your home can be made of many kinds of wood: cedar, redwood, pine and pressure-treated wood. No matter what kind of wood has been used, you must keep it clean if it's going to...

Though often neglected in home care, your home's siding is highly important in the curb appeal of your residence. In dry climates, dust builds up. In wet climates, algae and mold may takes hold....

To increase the durability of an asphalt driveway it is important to keep your driveway clean. All oil stains and other spills should be cleaned up immediately. The longer the chemicals remain on...

Do You Have A Stained Sidewalk,But No Powerwasher? Why Pay Someone To Clean It When You Can Do It For Only A Small Portion Of What It Would Cost You For A Professional.

Cleaning concrete walks is never much fun, but often has to be done. While there are several ways you can clean concrete, this is the method I used. This was done on very old concrete, which was...

Home air compressors are used for a variety of household tasks. Filling up the car's tire saves a trip to a gas station. Using the compressed air to run power tools or spray painting a project....

Jetters are a lot like pressure washers. They can be attached to nearly any source of water, and propel water out of a hose at high velocities. Generally, you will use a jetter to clean something...

One little oil leak in your car can stay with you forever on your driveway. But it doesn't have to. Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to get most if not all of an oil stain out of...

Anyone who has ever had to do dirty dishes by hand knows that the modern dishwasher is a true time saver. Unfortunately, after time, the little bits of food and grease that remain on the dishes...

I am a 63-year-old widow, and believe me when I say that cleaning the exterior windows of my home couldn't be easier, even though I have a two story home. No ladder required.

Even the cleanest house often has filthy furnace ducts. It is an easy chore to overlook, since the dirt and dust are hidden from sight. However, the furnace will gradually kick that filth up into...

Dirty air ducts can let dust and dirt spread throughout your house, along with odors, pollen and bacteria. A good furnace filter helps, but ducts should be regularly cleaned as well. There are...

Turning on the hot water faucet and expecting the water to be hot is something we all take for granted. Rarely are we concerned about hot water, until it fails to come. In most cases when this...

Figuring out how to save water around your home and yard can save many thousands of gallons, as well as hundreds of dollars annually. People on city or town water systems have to be especially...

Who among us hasn't tried in vain to drain a waterbed, sucking on the end of the hose, wondering why the water won't start flowing? When approached correctly, draining your waterbed can be an...

Wet and dry vacuums clean up dust, spills and messes around the home, in the garage, as well as in the shop, store and other commercial locations. Once the machine is powered on, the strong...

It is not the cleaning of gutters that is hard. The difficult part of maintaining your gutters is getting to them. If you are not steady on a ladder or roof or you are afraid of heights, then it...

Just as you should clean your swimming pool weekly during the summer swim season, you should also clean the swimming pool's filter cartridge. Cleaning the cartridge is not a difficult or...

Gutters channel water away from your house, helping to prevent ice dams in the winter, as well as water damage to your home's foundation. Gutters can collect debris, becoming so clogged that water...

Many cycles of dirt, detergent, water and heat pass through home dryers over their lifetimes. To ensure operating efficiency and effectiveness, proper maintenance needs to be routinely performed....

Photovoltaic panels are a green energy source used to power homes and businesses. Unlike regular solar panels, which only provide heat, photovoltaic panels can power many types of electrical...

Depending on the area you live in, your gutter may need to be cleaned as frequently as once a month. While the downspout--the part of the gutter that leads from the roof to the ground--tends to...

With summer comes watering the lawn, flowers, filling birdbaths, the list goes on. That gives the garden hose a workout. As the hose gets dragged and wrapped and rewrapped, and run over with the...

We all know that cleaning out the gutters is one of the worst jobs that a home owner has to face if you have trees on your property! Gutters should be cleaned at least two times a year, and it is...

Powerwashing a deck is one of the fastest and easiest ways to get it ready for the outdoor season, or a new coat of paint. Powerwashing requires no toxic chemicals, no scrubbing and no prep work.