Home Maintenance

Rats have plagued mankind for centuries. In fact, the rat is the most successful mammal after humans. They are one of the hardest pests to get rid of because of their intelligence, agility and...

Mold is a fungus that thrives in wet (or damp) areas. When a house becomes flooded, it greatly compounds the potential mold problem. When mold grows in a house, it is crucial to treat it...

Displaying house numbers properly is important for receiving deliveries, making it easy for friends and relatives to find your house if they haven't been there before, and for quick response in...

Mold is a kind of fungi that tends to thrive in musty and damp parts of a house, such as attics and basements. Mold forms on a variety of materials, including wood, dry wall, carpeting and paper....

Proper ventilation of the home is important Ventilating the home properly not only saves on energy bills in the summer and winter but can also aid those in the household who suffer from allergies....

Many people use bug foggers to get rid of household pests such as spiders, ants, mosquitoes and fleas. Using a bug fogger is a step you can take to try to get rid of pests before you call an...

Chiggers and fleas alike are both unwanted house pests. They typically start as an infestation on a house pet and reproduce quickly. Before you know it, there is not a single room you can walk...

Even the smallest of house fires--whether you left clothes in front of a heater vent or forgot about something on the stove--can cause a terrible odor that can linger throughout the house....

As energy costs have risen, so too has concern about the effects of global warming caused by energy use and the burning of fossil fuels. This has led people to look for not only ways to generate...

Bats like to roost and build nests in attics and other places in your house where it is dry and safe. Bats don't chew on wood or damage your house, but their waste products will make for a foul...

When you get ready to clean the exterior of your house, you may find an annoying presence on your siding: spiderwebs. Spiders gravitate toward areas such as eaves and around windows and shutters....

Termites can be a serious danger to your home. Organized into colonies, much like ants, termites can build their colonies in mounds in the ground, in nests or underground; most disturbingly,...

Some of the unfortunate Americans have came across the hidden enemy, called termites. You normally cant see them and can't hear them intill you are walking across the floor one day and fall...

This article will tell you how to remove house flies and other pests from your home.

In the day of falling home values, there is one thing you can do to help improve the look and value of your property; give it curb appeal. You can spend thousands of dollars doing this, but I...

Most people are familiar with the Hollywood portrayal of bats as bloodsucking creatures that stalk unsuspecting humans. Though vampire bats do exist in Central and South America and Mexico, the...

The issue of air duct cleaning remains an unsettled debate because while it may appear reasonable to clean air ducts, no one knows for sure what may result from such cleaning. Just about the only...

Bats are beneficial because of the large amounts of insects they eat, but having bats take up residence in an attic is not a desirable situation for most homeowners. There's a small risk of...

Control clutter and keep your house clean by doing a little organizing every day. Make simple lists and cross off activities when they are completed. A daily cleaning schedule will break up...

In this real estate market if you are trying to sell your house you must go the extra mile to make your house attractive to potential buyers. I work with many people and companies to prepare real...

Decay or damage in wooden-frame homes often starts at the base of the structure, or the sill plate. Replacing a rotting or damaged sill plate is not as daunting as you may think. With some...

Waterproofing your house is one of the smartest investments you can make as a homeowner. Water damage can be expensive as well as a health hazard. Use all of your senses to detect and combat water...

Mold is a toxic, smelly fungus that can lower the value of a house and sicken those exposed to it. Mold can be found in any moist area and grows on floors, walls and ceilings. The National...

Since basements are built under the ground, where water is prevalent, it is not surprising that sometimes there are problems with water in basements, but there are ways to prepare your basement to...

Do you have birds crashing through windows and flying out of your fireplace? This might be a scene from Alfred Hitchcock's movie "The Birds," but anyone who has ever had a problem with birds in...

A summer home, beach house or vacation house needs to be winterized and closed for the season. If the house is not properly winterized you run the risk of severely damaging your home. There are a...

In hard times of our economy, this is an easy cheap way to clean the outside of your home. It can be done two to three times a year.

A few easy steps along with the tools you will need to power/pressure wash your house. Very simple.

Many people go straight to the air conditioner when they want to cool down their house. While air conditioners do serve a purpose, there are other things you can do to bring down the temperature...

Though furry and cute, squirrels can cause serious problems if they get inside of your home's attic. Despite the damage the can do, they can also start a house fire by chewing on your electrical...

Winter is always tough as the weather goes south most people turn their thermostat up which costs more money. If you are like me you want to save money and stay warm in the winter. Here is how you...

The fall is a good time to run through a list of things to prepare your house for the fall season. Doing normal maintenance on your house during the different seasons help avoid expensive repairs...

If you winterized your vacation home, before you can relax and enjoy it in the spring, there are a few things you need to do to get it back in order.

Selling your home can be a difficult undertaking, especially if there are many houses on the market. Here are a few things that you can do to make your property more appealing to a potential...

Thank You Mr. Carrier In 1902 Willis Haviland Carrier invented air conditioning for which I, for one, am quite grateful. As a tribute to WHC, please consider the following strategies for helping...

House sidings protect the structural integrity of the home and provide an aesthetic finish. Siding comes in natural and man-made materials, which vary in cost and durability. Professional...

When looking at the wiring of a house, 100 amp wiring refers to the amount of amperage that is available for the entire house in its circuitry. Find out why the breakers on a 100 amp service panel...

When measuring a house's windows for replacements, it's important to get exact measurements to take to the salesperson at a home improvement store. Find out why it's better for a replacement...

Strategic use of fans in your home can reduce the need for air conditioning. The air conditioner in your home is an energy drainer and with the smart use of some fans, you could reduce your...

There's a reality-télé show I often zap upon -- not surprisingly, seeing as how my télé, here in Provence, is equipped with a total of five stations, and I'm violently allergic...

Keeping a home cool in extreme heat can be a challenging task. According to the United States Energy Information Administration, the average energy consumption from air conditioning in the year...

Winter comes and the store shelves are full of resource after resource to help you keep your house warm. Where are all of those products when summer gets here? Besides the fans and air...

With summer coming on there are some things you can do to your home to get it ready. Everything from reducing the lost of cold air to dealing with bugs to being prepared for the kids to come thru...

You have probably heard of winterizing your home in order to save money when the temperatures plummet. But did you know that you can also "summerize" your home to save on sky-rocketing...

Gutters are attached to a house along the eaves of the roof. They are used to catch rain and channel it away from the structure.

A home inspection checks the condition of a house's roof, basement, heating system, water heater, air-conditioning system, structure, plumbing, electrical and interior conditions. Most of the...

I could be talking about controlling your temper, but I'm not. (Though, come to think of it, 100+ degree weather does make people a little cranky at times.) I live in the desert, so I know a...

Termites destroy mores houses on a yearly basis that do house fires. There are two types of termites, subterranean and dry wood. Each can do damage to your home whether you have a crawl space or...

Old house wiring might only be set up to have a 60-amp service, as they were built before the increased electricity demands of modern electronics and appliances. Find out how to figure out the...

Numerous types of mold can be found in a home, and all are typically the result of trapped moisture in a poorly ventilated area. House mold can be a simple issue, or it can be a severe problem...