Home Repair & Maintenance

Window insulation is intended to prevent weather conditions from affecting the inside of a home. Insulation may come in several forms, such as rubber seals or window inserts. No matter the method,...

Without insulation, air moving through duct work will warm up or cool down depending on the application. Warm air coming from a furnace will significantly cool down, and cool air coming from an...

If your home feels cold and drafty in the winter time and will not stay quite cool enough in the summer it's time to insulate the attic. Not only can you keep the heat in during the winter and the...

Insulating a home's PVC pipes may not be enough to stop them from freezing in cold weather. Heat tape, though, does prevent pipes from freezing. Wrap this tape around a pipe and then plug the tape...

Attic mold can be treated naturally with a solution of boric acid. It is inexpensive and safe to the environment, but highly effective against mold. Attic mold is usually less urgent than mold...

Insulating plumbing hot water pipes will keep the water two to four degrees hotter than water traveling through uninsulated pipes, according to the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE). Insulating...

Taking samples of building materials to specialized laboratories for testing is the best way to kcheck for asbestos. The Asbestos Network website states, "Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) and...

Aluminum siding is fairly low-maintenance and, like vinyl, comes in nearly any color, size and style. Some companies even offer aluminum siding that resembles wood siding, making the possibilities...

Some lamps, especially very expensive or sentimental ones, are perfect candidates for cord repair in the event of a broken wire. Considering the alternative is disposing of the lamp, repairing a...

Vermiculite is a popular material used in attic insulation. It has a pebble-like appearance, is a pour-in material, and is light brown to gold in color. Vermiculite mining in America resulted in...

If you recently purchased or own an older home, you may notice that the ductwork in the home is inadequate. Improperly installed ductwork is highly inefficient and will cost you a significant...

Attic insulation is critical for separating the conditioned (heated or cooled) air of your living spaces from the unconditioned air of the attic. Ventilation helps regulate the temperature...

Most copper wire, whether solid or standard filament, is only available with pre-wrapped rubber insulation. This is to protect the internal wire from damage and also protect users from exposed and...

Energy efficiency is an important homeowner consideration. Many people go to great lengths to block drafts with caulk, plastic sheeting and foam insulating materials. But there is a source of air...

Forced-air heating and cooling systems often make a kind of ticking and popping sound when you turn them on and off---noises caused by the natural expansion and contraction of the metal duct. A...

Making a home more energy efficient is of interest to most modern homeowners. Energy savings, lower utility bills and reduced maintenance costs often occur after adding insulation to a home where...

Forced air heating and cooling systems are popular in many buildings and homes. A single blower forces the air through a series of air ducts to the separate rooms. Air ducts, because of the way...

Installing a water heater blanket not only saves money but also is good for the environment. Unless your water heater's storage tank already has a high R-value of insulation (at least R-24),...

Gas furnaces already have high efficiency over most other furnaces, but they are just as inefficient as all the others due to one limiting factor: the ducting. The ducts transmit the heated air...

If your crawl space and pipes are not ready for freezing temperatures, crawling under your house through ice-cold water and mud to fix a burst water pipe could become a regular sport for you or...

Knowing how to insulate around the electrical outlets in your home can not only help to save energy but can also save you money by minimizing the loss of heat and air conditioning. The process is...

An unsealed entranceway can allow outside air to enter your home, leading to uncomfortable drafts. These air leaks also reduce your home's energy efficiency and may lead to increased heating and...

Sometimes after years of use, electrical plugs can wear down. They may not stay securely in a socket, or loose wires in the plug may cause your device to turn on and off erratically. Instead of...

Roof rafters should always be insulated, especially if the area directly beneath the rafters is usable space. Failure to properly insulate your roof rafters will result in hot and cold air...

Most homeowners start thinking about how well their home is insulated two times a year. In autumn with winter approaching and early summer when the heat begins to build signaling its just a...

Insulation is the most important material when discussing the energy efficiency and comfort of your home. It helps keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Although a well...

For a cozier house, it's well worth the time and expense to insulate crawl space walls. Uninsulated crawl spaces are one of the worst culprits when it comes to drafts and consistently drive...

If your attic has hardwood floors and you want to insulate it, all hope is not lost. Luckily, there is a way to insulate without removing the entire floor. If you are planning on insulating your...

The average garage serves as both a storage spot and a workshop area for home improvement projects. Whatever the uses, a warm garage makes work more tolerable during the cold months. An unfinished...

Wire splicing is an essential part of installing lights, switches and receptacles in your home. "Splicing" electrical wire means joining the bare ends of two or more separate pieces of wire by...

Vaulted or cathedral ceilings can be a challenge to insulate. The lack of air space between the finished ceiling and the roof's decking material is only a matter of inches. There must be room...

Proper attic ventilation is an important aspect of a roofing system. A constant flow of air underneath a roof eliminates moisture buildup, maintains better temperature control in the living area,...

Do-it-yourself window sill insulation can improve energy efficiency and lower your energy bills by keeping out cold air in the winter and keeping the heat out in the summer. Your options to...

Trapped moisture in a home can rapidly result in the growth of harmful mold and mildew. The crawl space of your home usually is located either above or below the living spaces, and is a prime...

Well as we all know winter if fast approaching and what does that mean? High Heat Bills. Here are some ways to keep those bills lower and save energy in these cold months ahead.

A crawl space in your home is typically used for storing random objects you may use a few times a year, such as Christmas decorations. However, moisture from your home can seep into the crawl...

Few people realize that insulating a hot water heater can save between 4 to 9 percent of the energy costs of heating hot water. Homeowners can quickly recoup the costs of insulating their hot...

Baseboard heaters heat by convection. This means that when hot air rises, cold air falls towards the heater, and is then heated. Eventually, the circulation of air will be such that most of the...

Mold is believed to play a part in numerous health problems, including allergy symptoms like watery eyes and skin rashes, disorientation, dizziness, respiratory conditions and headaches. When mold...

Whether you want to protect your house from insects and rodents, or you want to keep it extra insulated and prevent heat from escaping in the winter, sealing a crawlspace can be extremely...

If you live in a climate that suffer from extremely cold winters like I do, you may have difficulty paying the high heat bills. There are a few ways that you can save money on your heat bill by...

The male power plug is, for many electrical devices, the component that fails first, long before the appliance is no longer serviceable. The plug is the part of a lamp or appliance that often...

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...

Many homeowners and builders whose houses have basements are faced with the problem of whether basement insulation is necessary. At first consideration, it seems like a no-brainer; doesn't...

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...

Baseboard heaters are a good way to heat individual rooms, if you have the right size heater. As with other types of heaters, too small of a heater won't be able to heat the room to the...

With newer homes being build more airtight than ever and with an increased awareness of energy-saving and green living, alternatives to air conditioning are being considered by more homeowners....

Insulating pipes prevents temperature extremes from escaping, thus keeping hot water hot and cold water cold. Insulation also prevent pipes in colder areas from freezing---especially those that...

Having problems with your water pipes freezing in the winter? Frozen pipes can cut off your water supply and damage your plumbing. Here is a step by step guide on how to insulate your water pipes...

Electricity can jump from wires to nearby people, metal or other conductors. To prevent this, a nonconductive material must be used to guard against short circuits, shocks and fires. Insulation...