When my girlfriend bought her new home, one of the changes she wanted to make was removing the pony wall by the front door. I’d never heard the term pony wall before, so I confirmed what she was referring to. Then I decided to learn more about the term and where these half walls are … Read More
What is a Swamp Cooler?
Have you ever asked the question, what is a swamp cooler? The term refers to evaporative coolers that offer an alternative to the typical air conditioning system. Swamp coolers lower temperature using evaporative cooling versus vapor-compression refrigeration. It’s a strange nickname as these coolers don’t work in places with lots of swamps, like Florida. The name … Read More
Installing Wood Floors: DIY Mistakes
There’s nothing more wonderful or luxurious than wood flooring in a home. The look is classic and, if treated properly, your wood floor will probably be the last flooring choice you will ever have to make. But there are more than a few hazards to selecting the right flooring and flooring installers. Here are a … Read More
How to Buy & Replace A Bathroom Fan
Addressing water/humidity problems should be a top homeowner priority. That’s because moisture supports the growth of mold and mildew. This can make family members sick and cause extensive damage to your house if ignored. So the purpose of a bathroom fan is to remove the moisture from the air after you take a shower or bath … so don’t … Read More
Getting Started with Home Maintenance Basics
While not as exciting as remodeling or decorating your home, it’s important to get into a routine of regular home maintenance. For new homeowners and those who haven’t spent much time maintaining a home, here are the home maintenance basics you want to be aware of so you can protect the investment you’ve made in … Read More
Want a House with No Electric Bill?
It seems like we’re adding a new gadget to our homes every few months (these wires represent half of those around my desk), and most of them will contribute to a higher electric bill. You might never think about that when you buy an Amazon Echo or a garage door opener. And you probably don’t realize how your … Read More
How to Clean a Dryer Vent
It’s winter, we’ve had the house in Arizona for two years now so it was time to clean the dryer vent. What should have been an easy project has turned into a mess and I’m not happy about it. All I had planned to write about in this blog post was how to clean a … Read More
Buying Appliances: When & Where
We spend a lot of time in our kitchens. That means we’re constantly looking at our appliances, big and small. So when do we buy new appliances? And how many homeowners know where to get the best deal when buying appliances? One of your appliances fails and repair costs are so high that it makes more sense … Read More
Surprising Ways LEDs are Changing Lighting
As LEDs change the lighting landscape, the role of lighting in our home is expanding. In addition to lighting up our homes by flipping a light switch, LED technology is enabling lights to alter our moods and protect our houses. LEDs (light-emitting diodes) have entered the residential market slowly due to higher purchase costs than the CFLs (compact … Read More
Handyman Repair Stories for Common Door Problems
We take our homes for granted and homeowners will often ignore door problems until they demand attention. Sometimes it’s a sticky door that can’t be locked. More often, fixing door problems is part of a longer punch list given to a handyman before company arrives or to prepare a house for sale. When running my handyman … Read More
