Explore 1,000+ articles designed to guide you through every stage of your home improvement project.
HVAC
Can a Water Heater Blanket Save You Money on Your Energy Bills?
There are hundreds of ways you can save money on your energy bills by making your home more energy efficient. One easy way to save on utilities? Using a water heater blanket. It makes a big difference during the colder months, as you can imagine, but it’s also an effective way to save money year-round.…
Other Home Projects
The internet-of-things has allowed homeowners to integrate a variety of smart home devices throughout their house so they can make their daily routines easier, protect their family, save energy, and more. Here are the best smart home devices to ensure living in and maintaining your house is a breeze. Smart Lights Smart lights are a…
Other Home Projects
Passive Solar Heating Techniques You Can Use in Your Own Home
Want to heat your home without spending a dime on electricity or fuel? It’s definitely possible. We hear a lot about high performance homes that are built with passive solar designs — building structures that capture heat from the sun and use it to keep homes more comfortable naturally, without burning up fuel. In fact,…
HVAC
How to Change the Oil Filter on Your Home Furnace
When it comes to heating repairs, some jobs are definitely better left to the pros. Is your HVAC unit smoking? It’s probably best call in a contractor for that one. But minor maintenance tasks, like changing and cleaning the filter on your oil-burning furnace, can be accomplished by almost anyone with a wrench and a…
Solar
What Kind of Solar Hot Water Heater Is Best for My Climate?
By now, you probably know that hot water heating eats up a big part of your energy budget. In fact, the Department of Energy pegs that number at around 17 percent of a home’s energy expenses—that’s a huge chunk of your utility spending. So how can you get a unit that won’t bulk up your…
HVAC
What Is an ENERGY STAR Verified HVAC Installation?
Whether you realize it or not, there’s a lot going on beneath the hood of your air conditioner — and HVAC systems get even more complicated when you add in your home’s duct system, registers, heating units, and filters. With that much going on in your system, true efficiency is about more than just purchasing…
Solar
Calculating Return on Investment for Solar Panels
Did the quote for your solar energy system just make your heart skip a beat? It’s no wonder—in some cases, the price for new PV unit can cost as much as a brand-new luxury car! But unlike a fancy new sports car, solar panels return your initial investment over time. The energy you offset with…
Windows
Argon, Krypton, and Xenon — What’s the Best Gas-Insulated Window?
You thought krypton was Superman’s home planet, right? We did, too — until we realized it’s also an inert noble gas that can be used to insulate the glass panels in double- and triple-pane windows. Window makers regularly use argon, krypton, and xenon to turn ordinary glazing into draft-defying superglass. It may not be as…