If you are a someone who works with wood or just loves a good DIY, you know that in order for wood to last, it needs to be specially treated. All types of wood must be finished with a special layer of coating for added protection from light, moisture and other elements.

One day you wake up and discover that when you flush your toilet, the kitchen sink starts gurgling. Or maybe the kitchen sink gurgles when the water goes down. Your kitchen sink gets more use than any other faucet in your house, so this is typically where you end up noticing the issue. But the problem may have started somewhere else.

Designing your home is fun and exciting! Laying new carpet, purchasing new furniture, painting the walls— we understand, you’re anxious to see how the finished project looks. However, there is one thing that you should know. You must wait to put your furniture on your new carpet.

Throughout the day the pressure in your boiler fluctuates, but always remains at a level that is not too high and not too low. Proper functionality is indicative of a boiler system that is somewhere between 1 and 1.5 bar. Though, the optimal range may differ slightly depending on your particular boiler.

Garbage disposal cleaners are an essential part of maintaining your garbage disposal. It is harder to keep your system clean and free of built-up residue and grease without them. However, all garbage disposal cleaners are created differently. This is why it’s crucial for you to know the best garbage disposal cleaners on the market.

Kitchens are the centerpiece of many homes, and builder-owners put a lot of time and attention into its design. There are many choices for countertops, such as marble, or quartz, but many builders choose granite for durability and appearance. It is widely known amongst builders and renovators that it is heat resistant, but can you put hot pans on granite?

If you’re a frequent party host, parent to a big family, or simply store many cold beverages at home, you probably have an extra refrigerator in your garage. Often referred to as a “beer fridge,” garage fridges are a handy way to store the overflow from your kitchen fridge or bulk items that you’d like to have cold and ready to pop open. Some people even use garage refrigerators to freeze meat throughout the winter or store frozen meals for days when you don’t feel like cooking.

When I first moved into my current place, we had a door that had a major gap. This gap was so large, leaves would blow in from the outside, and any type of air conditioning would eventually get blown out of our apartment. I knew I had to fix the gap in order to save on my bills and also prevent wildlife from crawling in, I had to get it fixed. Thankfully, this was a relatively easy project to work with.

Marble is a  staple element in the interior design of many homes. As a versatile and elegant material, marble can be used in pillars, backsplashes, flooring, countertops, and more. Unfortunately, marble can become stained with water over time.

Believe it or not, many homeowners don’t realize they need to pump their septic tank regularly. Usually, the tank will back up throughout the house before anyone realizes what’s wrong. For those who live on land with a septic tank, the day will come where you need to pump it. How much will it cost you to do this?

Your home irrigation system consists of a controller which waters your lawn in cycles and sprinklers with adjustable heads. Rain Bird is one of the most trusted and reliable underground sprinkler system brands on the market. More specifically, the Rain Bird 5000 series are rotary sprinkler heads that are ideal for both residential and commercial applications.

A plumbing trap, or P-trap, is a portion of a plumbing pipe that looks like a loop, “J,” or “C.” P-traps are extremely important as they keep gas sewer odors from escaping plumbing fixtures such as sinks, toilets, and drains. When designing a house, it can be hard to determine how far below the drain a P-trap should be.

Bissell has been a leading manufacturer of home cleaning appliances for more than 140 years, and it’s been said that this company even supplied England’s Queen Victoria with sweepers in the 1890s. Since that time, their products have improved substantially, and one can find their sweepers, washers, vacuum cleaners, and bare-floor vacuums being used by not only homeowners but business owners as well.

By now, you’ve probably noticed that we’re big fans of recessed lighting. Recessed lighting never goes out of style, even if it can’t be used in vaulted ceilings. It’s reliable. It’s versatile. And while it may be a splurge compared to other forms of lighting, most people agree that it’s an investment worth every penny. The problem is trying to figure out what size lights you need, isn’t it?

When it comes to renovation projects, there are so many variables in play that any one of them could throw a project off balance. This is because most of them require precise measurements and even surfaces to pull off accurately. Sometimes, you’ll have to deal with uneven walls, but what if you’re installing door trim? How do you install door trim with uneven walls?

Who doesn’t like a good plate of pasta or spaghetti? This culinary classic is not only delicious but super easy to prepare. On top of that, it is an inexpensive meal to boot. For those reasons and more, you would be hard-pressed to find a home that hasn’t enjoyed this Italian delight at some point.

Smart TV technology has become pretty common. Most can enjoy the benefits of a smart TV without having to pay the sky-high prices that originally came with the technology. Still, finding a TV with Chromecast built-in may be out of reach.

The water coming from our faucets may be purified, but that doesn’t mean it is pure. City water often has fluoride in it, and the pipes in your home can put other minerals in your water, too. Sometimes this can cause water discoloration, especially if you turn the water off for a period of time.

Ceiling fans are an important part of our homes that often gets overlooked. They keep us cool in summer, warm in the winter, and circulate air when we need it most.

Interior door trim can be adapted to complement any décor and will give the rooms in your home a very classic look. In order to install trim correctly, it’ll take some precision and skill to match professional carpenters.

Log cabins are a part of old school Americana. Lincoln lived in one. Settlers had them. Even today, camping in a log home is considered to be a great way to enjoy a slice of the country. But, log homes aren’t common anymore. Did you ever wonder why that is? Well, it has to do with a lot of the problems that they tend to bring.

Despite their status as one of the more popular brands for power tools, Bosch actually makes far more than that. As a matter of fact, they make a good deal of kitchen appliances as well. That includes dishwashers, which have become a favorite for homeowners.

An unusually high sewer bill can leave us scratching our heads. If you’ve recently had a more expensive sewer bill than expected, don’t fear – there are several common reasons for this. In this article, we will outline why your sewer bill is higher than usual and what you can do to bring the bill down. Thankfully, this problem can be remedied.

As the coldest months of the year are approaching, owning a heated mattress pad becomes a necessity. They are ideal for cuddling up after a long chilly day, as they deliver maximum warmth on days that are so cold that you just want to stay in bed. Not to mention, they can help you remain at a consistent, comfortable temperature overnight thus improving your quality of sleep.

A lot of people still use mothballs to control moths and other pests like snakes and rodents. But having that mothball smell is not pleasant for us humans either. In fact, the chemicals in mothballs are actually dangerous to humans and pets.

A subpanel is a panel that is a secondary circuit breaker. This panel feeds off the main panel. If you are looking to create subpanels in your home, it is crucial to know how many you can have on your service. That way, you don’t overload it and everything will work as it needs to.

A solar cover is a great addition to your heated or non-heated pool. If your pool has a heater, you will have to retain all the heat you can. If it is heated, saving heat with a solar cover is a great way to save money.

Automatic ice makers are great to have! They take the inconvenience out of making ice. No more waiting for the ice to get done; you can grab a few cubes out of the bucket as needed. However, sometimes they will leak water into the bin, causing all the cubes to stick together. You’ll need to take care of this so that your container doesn’t become one big block of ice, but first, you need to know the cause. 

Kids these days have some very odd toys that they play with. Flarp is one of the weirdest. Actually, adults seem to like it too. It is just putty-like Silly Putty, but it makes a farting noise when you play with it. But Flarp is not so much fun when it is stuck in your carpet.

Wood-burning stoves can save you hundreds of dollars every winter. We all know that running the heat can make quite the dent in our wallets. One of the last stages of installation when it comes to a wood stove is putting in the chimney. 

The dishwasher is one of the most helpful household appliances. Instead of devoting significant chunks of your day to cleaning, the aforementioned appliance frees you up to focus on other matters. Also, not having to scrub the dishes yourself is a big plus.

Although some are listed as flushable, it is often a common misconception that baby wipes should not be flushed down the toilet. However, if it has already happened, is there any way to dissolve baby wipes in the septic tank?

Whether you are hanging a picture or installing crown molding, when your walls are plaster, it can be difficult. And if your home is more than 40 years old, plaster is probably what your walls are made of. How can you hang that picture or crown molding? Nail gun or hammer and nails?

Ferrets are cute little animals, but they produce a musky odor that some people find unpleasant. If you keep a ferret in your house as a pet, the entire space could have a strong odor, especially if you fail to keep its cage clean. Failure to wash the animal and its litter box and bedding could also contribute to the musky smell in your house.

Vornado fans are perfect for those with busy lifestyles, they’re safe to use and require less upkeep than many other conventional electric fans.

If you’ve spent a lot of time cultivating a beautiful garden, you don’t want pesky invaders taking over your space. Invasive species like the Virginia creeper steal resources from other plants in the area. This can easily lead to a dead garden.

Few things are more frustrating than stepping on dog poop in your lawn – especially when you don’t have a dog. Not only is dog poop smelly and messy, but it can also carry disease and harm your grass.

Mesh laundry bags are a must-have for washing your most delicate pieces of clothing. However, can you throw the same mesh laundry bag in the dryer afterward?

Kerosene is known for being one of the most pungent types of fuel on the market, and if you are like many people out in the country, you sometimes have to carry it indoors during winter months. The only problem? Kerosene can spill, and when it does, it can reek and also stain your carpet something awful. So, what can you do if you’re faced with a kerosene spill?

Bathroom vanities can prove very useful as a versatile piece of furniture. Use them to stay organized in the bathroom while also touching up your appearance. They even work as a functional piece of bathroom décor.

A home sump pump is meant to remove water from an area, typically a basement that floods during the rainy season. These are usually located in a basement or where the structure’s foundation is lower than the natural water table.

Even if you aren’t a plumber by trade, you’ve likely seen the u-shaped section of piping underneath your bathroom or kitchen sink. This specific piece of plumbing equipment is referred to as a P-trap and is considered a vital part of your home’s plumbing system. If a P-trap is improperly installed or maintained it can cause a number of issues for the sink it services, as well as other universal problems.

True story: my mom once destroyed the Thanksgiving turkey by leaving it to thaw in the refrigerator for a week or two. By the time we opened it, we had unleashed a major stinkbomb upon our home. It was a disaster, and that was the year we had a Thanksgiving meatloaf. Since then, I have made a point of knowing how long a thawed turkey can stay in the fridge.

When you are feeling chilly and turn to your heating system, you expect warmth and comfort. The last thing anyone wants to experience when the heat kicks on is a terrible smell. Unfortunately, it is not that uncommon for a sewer smell to invade your home with your heating system.

It’s something we all have dreamed about; perfectly painted walls. Maybe even a gorgeous mural to really make the dining room stand out. But what do you do when it comes to washing them? Don’t worry! We will tell you how to clean them without removing any of the paint.

If you own a LiftMaster garage door opener, then you will know one of the most essential features is the keypad. This keypad allows anyone with the passcode to enter and is a secure method to obtain access to your garage.

If you bake often, your KitchenAid mixer likely sees a lot of use. Although a KitchenAid mixer is a major investment, with the proper maintenance and cleaning, it can last pretty much forever. Since you can’t simply soak your mixer in your kitchen sink, it requires more specialized care.

As a kitchen fan, there are few things as terrifying to me as seeing a kitchen sink that’s clogged. It’s an issue that can wreck a day of cooking and also cause severe damage to your favorite room. Sometimes, though, clogs aren’t just clogs. For example, sometimes, the sink might only drain when the garbage disposal is on. What gives? And more importantly, how do you fix it?

Bath mats are an essential part of every bathroom and come in all different shapes, sizes, and materials. What they’re made of dictates how they should be cared for. Can you put bath mats in the dryer?

There simply is no substitute for 100% pure maple syrup. Many companies and brilliant minds have tried to replicate the nuanced sweetness that originates from maple tree sap, but you just can’t recreate nature. This is why pure maple syrup is commonly found in so many refrigerators. But if you only eat pancakes once in a great while, like around the holidays, you might wonder if your old opened bottle of sweet sappy syrup is still edible. After all, how long can maple syrup last in a fridge before it spoils?

Have you ever had mice activity in your home? If so, you know that their urine can leave an unpleasant odor behind. Mice can set up shop in just a few days, and they leave their droppings wherever they go. Not only can the smell be offensive, but their urine can also pose a health hazard to humans.

Vinyl siding is a great choice for your home’s exterior. It’s durable, colorful, stylish…and it also tends to be a magnet for glue residues. This can be pretty bad if you need to tape something to the side of your house. After all, no one wants to spend their afternoon scrubbing away at tape residue, right? Thankfully, you don’t have to. There are tape options that won’t mark up your vinyl siding.

These days, it’s not unheard of to experience power outages, which can take days or even weeks to repair. In this case, it’s always a good idea to have a backup stove. But which would you choose? Propane or Butane?

Adding a neutral wire can be a little daunting, especially if you’re dealing with a light switch that you’ve had for years. A neutral wire makes smart home creation easier and also better completes your electrical circuits. If you are adding a smart home switch box to your place, chances are that you might need to add a neutral wire to your current setup.

Summers seem to be getting hotter every year. It’s hard to imagine sitting in a mobile home that is baking in the sun all summer, unless you are sitting in a mobile home baking in the sun all summer. Air conditioning is essential for summer comfort in your mobile home just about anywhere in the USA.

Shark is one of the hottest vacuum companies on the market right now, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have their problems. With the Shark Navigator, the most common issue is having a roller brush that just won’t spin. When this happens, your vacuum ends up being unable to handle its regular load. So, what do you do when you’re confronted with a “locked brush?”

Imagine the following scenario:  you are known for conserving water, and for as long as you lived in town, your water bills were $30 or so. Recently, a new family moved in. They have a pool, sprinklers, and everything else watery under the sun. The next month, you notice that your water bill shot up to $900. You look at your neighbors, who don’t make eye contact with you anymore. Could it be them?

One of the joys of completing home improvement projects is finishing them. There is something satisfying about checking it off the to-do list, and enjoying the updates. Joy associated with the job is diminished when small flaws show up. Most projects end well. But one recurring problem is ceilings that look patchy after painting.

There are all sorts of wood you can chop, season, and burn in your fireplace. The exact varieties all depend on where you live.

One of the most unfortunate parts about cooking is the cleanup process after the fact. When it comes to cleaning your blender, for convenience sake, you may be wondering: “Are blenders dishwasher safe?” Of course, every brand of blender is different, which means that each manufacturer has specific guidelines when it comes to washing.