Home Repair & Maintenance

If the hot water coming out of your faucet is cold or only warm, something is preventing the heating elements inside the water heater from doing their job. Troubleshooting the water heater is...

Craftsman is well known for the quality of their products and their exceptional warranty program. With over 80 years in business, you can count on product reliability and excellent customer...

Many older homes were built when there were not as many electrical devices as there are today, resulting in too few outlets in the bathroom. Additional outlets can be added fairly easily if the...

Stainless steel tiles are a great option in the home because they are quite durable, easy to clean and because they provide a fresh, modern look. As with any other type of tile, you'll still need...

Vinyl tile has gained popularity with homeowners because it is easy to maintain and is inexpensive to purchase compared with other types of flooring, such as ceramic tile and marble. Vinyl tiles...

The Dyna-Glo kerosene heater is an economical way to heat your home when the power goes out. The wick soaks up kerosene and evenly heats the room when the wick is lit. Because wicks burn, they...

Clean, polished hardware, including hinges, doorknobs and drawer pulls, adds a luster to older homes and furniture. Depending on how old the piece of furniture is, or the when the home was built,...

Office furniture takes a lot of abuse from workers who slam drawers and cabinet doors, leave ink marks on wood surfaces, and spill beverages and food. You can often find used office furniture for...

Pipe threads are the most common end-connection found in the industry. They are well understood, standardized and relatively simple to make up. A good tapered pipe thread always requires a sealant...

Removing vinyl flooring from cement floors is never fun, but is necessary in preparing for new vinyl. The most important thing to consider is the possible existence of asbestos in the current...

Sometimes having the perfect kitchen means shifting everything around. If you've decided to relocate your kitchen sink, you'll need to first reroute your hot and cold water pipes and the sink's...

A downspout drains water from a gutter to a lower level. Most gutters come with holes for downspouts already in place, but at times you may add an extra downspout to distribute the flow of the...

CCLS is liquid bacteria/enzymes that can be used to treat your septic tank. A CCLS treatment is needed when there is a bacterial deficiency in your septic tank. This treatment is used to break...

Septic tanks come in a variety of sizes and are constructed from a variety of materials, including fiberglass, concrete and steel. In many areas a concrete tank is by far the more popular, but a...

Wire gauge refers to a standard measurement of the diameter of non-ferrous, electrically conducting wire. It is more properly known as American wire gauge (AWG,) although it is sometimes also...

Corroseal Rust Converter is a one-step treatment that paints, primes and restores rusted metal surfaces. It converts rust into magnetite, which is a non-rusting substance, and simultaneously...

Filling in the color on chipped ceramic or porcelain tile is possible if you have the right materials. Stone or synthetic tile such as vinyl or laminate should be replaced because filling in chips...

An AC unit can be a wonderful appliance. It allows you to have a cool, dry refuge from the hot, humid summer. However, as with any appliance, problems eventually can occur. One of the problems...

A bathroom exhaust fan is primarily used to remove hot, humid air from the bathroom during showers and to expel foul air. Over time the fan will accumulate dust, hair and other airborne, household...

Kohler is one of the world's leading producers of bathroom and kitchen quality fixtures. Among the faucets found in many homes, Kohler faucets have two handles, for cold and hot water, and a...

If you're a homeowner, having a deck means hours of fun grilling or relaxing in the cool of the evening. A deck also increases your home's resale value. Because a deck isn't only fun but also a...

A flushometer is a common device that many public organizations use for economical and sanitation purposes. The flushometer sits on the back of the toilet serving as the "tank" that uses minimal...

Your bathtub can be costly to replace if the basin cracks. Luckily, several products can help you mend the broken bathtub and save thousands of dollars. A crack or chip may be repaired in a matter...

Gutter covers are implements that are installed on top of roof gutters to keep out leaves, sticks and other debris that tends to clog them. These covers can be wire screens or solid metal covers...

Everyone dreads the frustration of a clogged toilet. You can spend a lot of money buying commercial drain cleaners that may or may not work. You can also spend much more than that calling a...

Plaster of Paris is a compound of gypsum, a sedimentary rock, and water, that when heated can be cast into a strong mold. Because of its fast-drying properties, it is a popular choice for home...

Mildew can grow pretty much anywhere, but certain conditions are ideal for mildew growth. Poor ventilation, cool to warm temperatures, and a lot of moisture can contribute to a mildew infestation....

Most light fixtures are designed to last for many years before needing to be replaced. When they develop problems, one of the most common failures is that of the socket. Over time, the wire...

Exposure to radon has a destructive effect on our genes. Fortunately, you can control your exposure to it, unlike most other natural forms of radiation. Radon, the heaviest noble gas, builds up in...

Cleaning paint from antique window glass requires persistence and patience, but can be accomplished with preparation and the proper cleaning supplies. Cleaning paint from antique window glass...

Whether you are in need of a strong, hot shower or just trying to rinse some dishes, low water pressure can be an annoyance. There are several possible causes of low water pressure in your home,...

If you have unwanted water gathering in your basement or crawl space, a sump pump is one of your best options. These systems are cost effective, low maintenance and activate automatically to...

Remodeling often brings with it the need to add electrical outlets or lighting. Working with preexisting walls can make the project more challenging, however using the right equipment and...

Residential cooktop grates get damaged by everyday use and may need to be replaced. These grates can often be replaced with identical ones from the manufacturer. You could also choose to change...

Fluidmaster produces a line of fill valves for toilet tanks. When the toilet is flushed, the water in the tank will empty into the toilet. As the level of the water in the tank drops, a float will...

Treadmills that are used regularly also require regular maintenance. The tread belts are subject to wear from being walked on and from rubbing against the treadmill deck. Likewise, the drive belt...

While having a floor drain is very convenient at times, there are some products and chemicals that should never go down the drain. According to a list compiled by the University of California, San...

Restoring the seal on your window frames can help keep your heater and air conditioner from working overtime, thereby lowering your utility bills and making your home more energy efficient. Many...

Detecting an air leak in a pipe can be done in about 20 minutes or less depending on the size of the pipe. The easiest way to do it is to make a salve to coat the pipe with. The salve makes...

People choose cedar siding because it has an attractive straight grain and is durable. It is naturally more moisture and insect resistant than other woods and resists cupping, swelling and...

Window blinds are an ingenious invention that permits owners to customize the overall height to meet their needs. Removing slats from window blinds allows the height and string length to be...

Butyl caulk is one of the most durable sealants on the market. It is intended for filling spaces larger than typical household joints, such as those found in bathrooms and kitchens. Butyl caulk is...

Nail guns are extremely efficient labor-saving devices, exchanging the stressful and exhausting swinging of a hammer for the press of a button. To be as efficient as possible in your construction...

Tamper-proof screws prevent the wrong people from removing them. You can find them in a number of different places, including on manhole covers, park benches, nuclear power plants, outdoor...

Wallpaper liner comes in a variety of weights to use for a variety of reasons. Its main use is to absorb excess moisture and control the expansion/contraction of new wallpaper during the drying...

A sump pump sits inside a sump pit and removes unwanted water from basements, crawl spaces and other areas. There are pedestal style pumps as well as submersible pumps. Regardless of which type of...

Caulking, when installed and maintained properly, can keep winter out. Using caulking on double windows can advance your first line of defense from the elements. Airtight windows sealed with caulk...

If you don't want to share your home with pests, but don't necessarily want to kill them, there are ways to humanely remove them. You can use live traps to catch pests that come into your home,...

Most of the time, mice are harmless creatures that serve as more of an annoyance than a danger. However, there is the possibility that a mouse can have transmittable diseases. For that reason,...

Wire gauge and wire amperage are very different terms. A convenient way to understand the difference between gauge and amperage is to use the metaphor of a garden hose: water is the electric...