Home Maintenance

Is your furnace staying on too long or not long enough. Having your furnace calibrated right can save energy and money. Here is a step by step guide on how to adjust your furnace thermostat.

Do not insulate your home! At least not until you avoid these mistakes.

We were able to put this repair technique to the test when our rocking chair broke last winter. My husband was going to rock our colicky baby, but when he sat down hard on the wicker, the seating...

Nair is a hair remover generally used by women to remove hair from their legs and underarms. But Nair also is among a variety of household remedies that can be used to clear a clogged drain. Nair...

After eight years in the high-pressure cleaning industry, I have seen many home owners clean and seal their wood decks in a variety of ways. Many of these do-it-yourself enthusiasts were...

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...

Corian® countertops are a solid surface material that resists scratching, is nearly impervious to staining and can be designed to fit nearly any shape or kitchen or bathroom application....

While technically you can use just about any kind of interior paint on baseboard heaters, certain types of paint last longer, are more heat-resistant and simply look better. Regardless of the type...

European starlings are considered an invasive species in the United States. They adapt easily and can be found throughout the United States. They compete with native birds for food and nest sites....

A termite inspection is generally initiated for two reasons: the homeowner either suspects an infestation or an inspection is required due to a home transaction. When a homeowner suspects that his...

Ant infestation is a major source of concern home homeowners throughout North America. According to the pest control specialists Orkin, ants are the No. 1 problem insect in the United States....

Taking a pool cover off of a pool is easier than putting it on. It is the first necessary step in opening your pool up for the summer and it can be done in a small amount of time. After removing...

The soot buildup on the face of your stone fireplace detracts from its beauty and poses a fire hazard. You can restore the masonry by cleaning it with acid wash. The process involves a moderate...

One of the best environments for growing mold is a humid, damp, dark area, and there is nowhere in the house that fits that description better than a bathroom shower. Once mold has started to...

Furnace filters become dirty during the heating or cooling season as air is pulled through the furnace for circulating through the house. A dirty furnace filter can cause parts to wear out on the...

Bird nests can be beautiful additions to a lawn or wooded area, but become problematic when they are built in dryer vents and other man-made structures. State and federal laws protect many...

A screw is a type of fastener that binds objects together. The screw head is located at the top where the screwdriver is inserted; the thread is the raised part that binds the objects together.

Marble is used in flooring, furniture, countertops and a variety of other objects as a durable and attractive building stone. However, because of the porous characteristics of marble, sealer is...

A rat or mouse infestation in your house can be a disgusting problem, and the use of glue traps to remove the offending animals from your house is a viable option. Unfortunately, if proper care...

Thinking of moving heavy furniture? Just had the floor refinished? Discovering a gouge in that shiny, new hardwood floor churns the stomach. Over time, such accidents are inevitable; just don't...

Granite vanity tops are timeless and elegant and give your dressing room or bathroom an especially rich look. Yet over time, hard water deposits, make-up spills, and other beauty mishaps can...

First introduced in 1967 by the DuPont Corporation, Corian is a synthetic acrylic material filled with aluminum trihydride. At first, it was used only in vanity tops and sheets; over the years,...

Wild birds can be beautiful and enjoyable to watch. However, during their mating season they can become territorial and destructive. Blackbirds will dive-bomb and geese will boldly charge at those...

Mace is a substance that is used to ward off an attack. It stings the eyes, mouth and nose. When Mace gets onto a surface like glass, it can also stain. There are several strategies that you can...

Excess glue from a window frame repair or window sticker can leave an unsightly mark on the glass. Glue removal can be a frustrating experience if it's attempted improperly. But with the proper...

Bruce hardwood flooring is produced by the Armstrong Corporation and sold at Home Depot and other home improvement stores. It is available in two basic varieties, each of which requires different...

Loctite is a brand of adhesives and threadlockers that are designed to hold bolts and screws in place. These prevent jarring and loosening during rigorous activity or under stress. Due to the...

Over the years tension springs on a garage door can stretch out of place. If you have an automatic garage door opener, this can throw off the sensors at the bottom of the door frame and cause the...

Finding a cockroach infestation is a surefire way to ruin a day. But before you panic and reach for the exterminator's number, there are a few things you can do to get rid of the little buggers on...

A gas fireplace is a convenient way to lower heating bills without dealing with the mess of logs, but just as with any appliance, you must maintain gas logs. When dealing with ventless logs, you...

Air filters in home vents can improve air quality. However, they can also restrict air flow and decrease the efficiency of the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Choose...

Every once in a while the switch breaks in your favorite table lamp. There’s no need to throw out the lamp, all you need to do is put in a new socket. Here’s how:

Updating the look of the exterior of your home can be as simple as changing the hardware to your front door. Changing the doorknob and adding a kick-plate to the bottom of the front door can...

Are you having trouble keeping your garage door close? Does it immediately pop back up when it should be going down? If this is the case then maybe your garage door sensors are due for a cleaning....

Kohler creates a line of shower faucets based on ceramic cartridges that control the water pressure and flow. Ceramic cartridges don't need replacing until they break down, usually after 10 or...

Insulation on the perimeter of a slab is a requirement in most building codes as a means of moisture and temperature control. If you did not place the insulation at the time of your slab pour you...

Today, much kitchen waste is sent down the drain to be pulverized in the waste disposer and then washed down the drain. A round disk in the bottom of the container section of a disposer has blades...

Using foam insulation in the ceiling of your house is a good idea. Whether it is installed in spray or rigid board form, you will see a noticeable difference in heating and cooling costs.

Wood windows are decorative elements to a house. Caring for the wood and glass separately will make the windows last longer. Weather, pets, children and living in general can cause damage that may...

Using paint lacquer often leads to some of it getting on areas that you had not intended it to. Lacquer is by design difficult to remove, as it is intended to be durable and to protect surfaces....

Home security is something that should be taken seriously. Most new homeowners automatically re-key the locks on a new home, but few remember to reset the garage door openers and keyless entry...

Attic mold results from attics becoming rich with the conditions that mold needs to thrive. Dark, dusty spaces are prone to mold and the addition of humidity will cause the spores to grow quickly....

Kitchen drawers beautify a home. The cabinets hold many items that people need instant access to. Drawers can also determine the quality of the look in the kitchen. They can be stained, painted or...

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...

When Tom Sawyer's aunt wanted to preserve her fence, she had Tom paint it with a coat of whitewash. Today she might have had him use a fencing preservative or water seal product. Although today's...

Pinch-pleated drapes are an elegant addition to any window. Often made of delicate fabric, they should not be dropped into the washing machine. These drapes can be dry-cleaned if necessary, but...

Both halogen and incandescent light bulbs have a tungsten filament, but halogen gas in the halogen bulb filament helps lengthen the life of the bulb. Halogen light also uses less energy and...

If you have porcelain or ceramic tile in your shower you are probably hesitant to damage it any way while putting up a shower curtain rod, yet without a rod, you risk having a mini flood in your...

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...

Moss is a regular plant growth fed, like all plants, by a combination of light, water, nutrients and carbon dioxide. It tends to prefer moist, shady environments and commonly can be mistaken for...