Home Maintenance & Repair

You will need to have some tools handy to complete this installation: a crescent wrench or open end wrench, a large flat blade screw driver, and a pair of pliers. You will need...

Bats in the yard are great natural pest-control; bats in the house become pests themselves. Here's a how-to on keeping bats out of the house.

Your circuit breaker has "tripped" and you have tried to turn the breaker back on... and it will not stay in the 'on' position, but immediately trips again. What to do...

A bat in the house is a common problem with some less common parameters; here's how to get the bat out of your home, safely and humanely.

Resetting a circuit breaker is straightforward, once you locate your electrical service entrance panel in your home. This how-to details how to determine which breaker is tripped...

How to replace a 3-way switch in your home. Details how to determine which switch is bad and how to install a replacement.

Ceramic tiles are durable by nature, but homeowners will find that there are some common problems with this material. Tiles can frequently break and grout will eventually need...

Warning signs that your roof may need to be repaired or replaced. Things to check for and what you can do to fix them.

Powerwashing your home my seem odd but you really need to do it if you plan to paint your home or if you need to remove dirt and any other unwanted debris.

Global warming is scary and can seem extremely overwhelming! However, each of us has a part, however small, in stopping climate change. By reducing your carbon footprint, or...

This article tells you how to unclog a toilet without using a plunger or other device.

You don't have to break the bank to turn your home into an eco-friendly utopia. Skip the complicated and expensive home energy upgrades and follow these simple steps to help you...

Here are some safety considerations for plant care, gardening and botany lessons with children at home or in a school or classroom garden.

In electronics, solder is not used to join things together mechanically; it provides a reliable electrical circuit between components. Learning this skill means you can ensure...

Okay, say you're frying something in a frying pan and your grease catches fire, what should you do? Items to always have on hand:

You may need to kick down a door for many reasons, you locked your keys in a locked room, or your house, and for whatever reason you need to get in and can't utilize or wait for...

This article has information on the different choices involved in plumbing pipe materials you can use with a water heater, including the connections, metal, and plastic materials....

Learn what causes sediment build-up as well as how to control and remove it from your water heater by dissolving and flushing the inside out the drain valve at the bottom.

Installing a chair rail can be a fun experience, and is a great thing for the home handyman to install.

Every water heater has safety features built into it. In this article are descriptions of these features, as well as descriptions of additional precautions to take before working...

How to snap a chalk line for use in multiple projects.

So you want to learn to stucco? I will do my best to show you the quickest and cheapest way to do this. You will need some patience and a few tools that you can pick up at any...

Do you have a loose brick in your step? Not sure how to fix it or who to call? Well I will save you a lot of time and money with this quick and easy fix.

Although you hope you'll never have to use it, a home inventory is something that is important to take. A home inventory is a list of all of your personal possessions and their...

There's no better place in your house on a chilly winter night than in front of your fireplace - but is your fireplace safe? Do the soot stains bother you? The good news...

The article provides an inside look at the water heater industry and anode rods in particular, which are an essential part of every water heater.

The information in this article only applies to tank-type water heaters (gas or electric). It does not include information on solar water heaters or tankless water heaters.

This article contains a discussion of all the different types of drain valves--why some types break easily or leak and which types to use as replacements.

This article is for electric water heater owners only. Many problems can besiege the heating parts in an electric water heater. These problems include sediment build-up, burnout...

Provides helpful information about plastic-lined nipples, both brass and steel and how they relate to a water heater.

This article discusses all the different types of drain valves -- why some types break easily or leak, and which types to replace it with.

This article teaches you how to save money by instituting all the following devices: Electric temperature controls, heat traps, low-flow shower heads, pipe insulation, recirculating...

Includes a discussion extolling the virtues of curved dip tubes. Also talks about the flaws of standard dip tubes and what a broken dip tube will mean for your showers and baths.

There are almost a dozen trouble spots for water heaters when it comes to corrosion. You'll find them on electric elements, anodes, combustion chambers, and vent pipes. Softened...

Describes the temperature controls for both types of water heaters and how to use them.

This article discusses brass pipe nipples and how they can be salvaged or replaced when they become broken or rusted. It also tells how to handle the pipe nipple in the case of...

This article describes what to look for when consumers go looking for a new water heater.

Explains the difference between commercial and residential water heaters. Describes what hatches, multiple flues and powered anodes are. Includes instructions on how to clean...

Describes what anode rods are and how they work. Explains the difference between aluminum, magnesium and zinc anodes as well as combination, link and power anodes. Explains what...

A common and confusing question for many homeowners is 'Do I need to upgrade my electical service?' This first part will explore what a service upgrade really is and help you...

If you insist on doing your own electrical repair, here is advice to help keep you alive and your home in one piece.

Do you know the difference between a Cape Cod and a Tudor? A bi-level from a split-level home? Learn what each has to offer and how they vary.

Turn your home into the space you've always wanted with a few easy changes and steps. There's no place like home but most of us leave it to feel pampered.

Of all the different home improvement projects that homeowners have to deal with in the normal maintenance or remodeling of their homes, the one area that seems to make people...

You should never handle a gun unless you know how it operates.

Are you tired of reporting to your building repairman or housemate that “someone” clogged the toilet? Most of us hate to admit when we clog a toilet, mainly because we fear...

Sump pumps and ejector pumps are very similar - both are installed in a pit to pump water out of it, and most people would not be able to tell them apart by looking at them. But...

There are a two basic types of stainless steel sinks: undermount and self-rimming. The undermount is used in installations where the countertop material is the same all the way...

Sometimes a description just can't ever capture the sheer horror of a particular event. For example, if I were to describe what it's like to step on a cockroach barefoot on the...

You think the in-laws can be tough on a marriage? Try a kitchen remodel. Or better yet, ask the in-laws for advice on your kitchen remodel. Though rumor has it that home renovation...