Garage Door Safety

Garage door torsion spring and opener mechanism mounted above a sectional door, showing the black mounting bracket and safety cable installation.

Garage Door Safety and Maintenance: What You Need to Know Modern elegance: a sleek black garage door framed by lush greenery on a stylish stone driveway. Your garage door is the largest and heaviest moving object in your home, making regular safety checks and maintenance crucial to prevent accidents and ensure smooth operation. Following a few […]

Thump, It’s the Water Heater

Maintenance professional in red cap and overalls gives OK sign while standing next to water heater system in utility room

Fixing a Noisy Water Heater Modern bathroom with a sleek water heater, round mirror, and stylish shower enclosure. If your water heater is making thumping, popping, or hissing noises, you’re not alone—this is a common issue. While the sounds may be annoying, they’re usually not harmful to the water heater itself. These noises are most […]

An Easy Fix for a Nasty Water Problem

A flooded basement with water pooling on the concrete floor.

The Impact of Water on Your Home and How to Protect Your Foundation A cracked foundation exposes the vulnerability of a brick wall, surrounded by lush green grass. Water is one of the most destructive forces your home will face. Whether it seeps in below ground or pools around your foundation, water can lead to […]

The Crafty Way to Outwit Window Drafts

Sealing out the cold—weatherproofing in progress!

Ventilating Your Home on Cold, Sunny Days A hand reaches towards the sunlight streaming through a window, embracing the warmth of a new day. On chilly, sunny days, it’s tempting to air out your home without introducing an uncomfortably cold draft. Whether you’re dealing with lingering cooking smells (like bacon) or simply want fresh air, […]

My Concrete Has Cracked

A weathered wall with a prominent crack, revealing the passage of time.

Why Concrete Cracks and How Control and Expansion Joints Help Cracks in the concrete reveal the passage of time and the wear of elements. One universal truth about concrete: it will crack. This inevitability is due to the material’s natural tendency to shrink as it cures. Understanding why concrete cracks and the role of control and […]

Why Use Primer When Painting?

Painting the walls to refresh the space with a new coat of color.

Why You Should Use Primer When Painting A construction worker in a high-visibility vest and hard hat paints the ceiling, standing on a ladder. When painting your home, using a primer is often an essential step. While primer might seem like an unnecessary extra expense and effort, it has a significant role in ensuring that your paint […]

Is It Plumb, Level, or Square?

A carpenter carefully levels a surface with a spirit level in a bright workshop.

Understanding “Plumb,” “Level,” and “Square” in Construction A worker carefully levels a window frame with a spirit level, ensuring precision in the installation. When working on any building or carpentry project, it’s essential to check whether something is plumb, level, or square. These terms describe the orientation and relationship of surfaces, and ensuring accuracy in these […]

Get Smart About Exterior Electrical Safety

Man plugging in green extension cord outside.

Staying Safe Around Residential Electrical Wires Electrician at work installing wiring in a new residential construction site, ensuring safe and efficient power systems. High-voltage electrical wires are widely known to be dangerous, but don’t overlook the electrical wiring that feeds your home—it poses risks too. Whether your home is served by overhead or underground wiring, […]

Should You Insulate Your Attic?

Installing fiberglass insulation in the attic for a warmer, energy-efficient home.

Save Energy and Stay Comfortable: Boosting Your Attic Insulation Installing insulation for a warmer, energy-efficient home. Improving your attic insulation is one of the simplest and most effective ways to save energy while making your home more comfortable. Since warm air naturally rises, your attic is often the source of major energy losses in your […]

Why Is the Toilet Flushing Itself?

A clean toilet bowl with water swirling as it flushes, next to a toilet brush holder.

Solving the Mystery of a Toilet “Flushing Itself” A swirling farewell—down the drain it goes! Hearing your toilet fill up in the middle of the night when no one is around can be unsettling, but don’t worry—it’s likely not a ghost. Instead, this phenomenon, often called a “ghost flush,” is caused by water slowly leaking […]