What’s Your Outlet IQ?

What’s Your Electrical Outlet IQ? Remember that home inspection you arranged before purchasing your home? The inspector tested electrical outlets and talked about correcting problems. You purchased the home but not have gotten around to correcting the outlet problems. You can perform some basic testing with a simple outlet tester as pictured here. Most have […]

Can Lights? Make Them Green

Can Lights – Make Them Green & Energy Efficient Can lights or recessed ceiling lights are a standard design feature in modern residential construction. They are also common in older custom-built homes. They provide a unique lighting pattern without the glare of a fixture, but they may also waste energy. You have several options when […]

Tune Your Refrigerator for High Performance

Tune Your Refrigerator for High Performance The refrigerator is among the most neglected of household appliances because usually, it runs forever with little repair. However, it often consumes the most electricity in your home’s appliances. You can improve the performance and extend the life of your refrigerator with simple maintenance. The condenser coil of a […]

A Ton of Cooling

A Ton of Cooling – Indoor Air Conditioning Ever hear of a two- or three-ton central air conditioner? Does that mean a two-ton air conditioner weighs 4,000 pounds? Is the term related to cooling capacity, or is it a random term that tech folks use to impress us? When engineer Joe Cool (at least I […]

Fix That Wobbling Ceiling Fan

Fix That Wobbling Ceiling Fan Wobbling ceiling fans are not safe to use. If a ceiling fan in your home shows excessive wobble, stop using it until you can get it fixed. Fans are dangerous if not installed and operated correctly. Many fans wobble because they have loose parts or need to be balanced. Find […]

Squeak, Squeak in the Hardwood Floor

Flooring of all types has the potential for squeaks. Floor framing dries and shrinks, and squeaks occur as fasteners become loose, allowing movement in the subfloor and framing. Hardwood floors are known for this quality as they dry during the winter. Hardwood squeaks have actually been a common problem for five decades — the solution, […]

Water Heater Drip Needs Attention

One fine day, you walk past the water heater, and your foot gets wet. Hmm, that’s strange. You take a look and notice a very slow drip – drip – drip from the tube on the side of the water heater. That can’t be too bad. Just put a bucket under the tube to catch […]

Paint Over That Water Stain

Let’s say there was a leak in the drain for an upstairs bathroom that left a brown stain on the drywall below. No problem – you painted it with latex paint left over from painting the ceiling, and at first, it looked great. But a week later the stain started to bleed through the paint, […]

Clothes Dryer Venting – A Hidden Danger

Each year many home fires are caused by improperly maintained clothes dryers. The dryer and vent pipes can overheat and cause a fire. Vents plugged with lint will compound the problem. Don’t let your home become the next casualty. First, always follow the manufacturer’s requirements for cleaning the dryer lint screen. On most dryers, the […]

Patch the Hole Behind the Door

So the kids had a little shoving match, knocking against the bedroom door, and the doorknob smashed a hole in the drywall. They had done this before but never entirely punctured through the drywall. Those previous dents could be ignored, but the new hole needs to be fixed. Your experience with patching drywall has taught […]