Explore 1,000+ articles designed to guide you through every stage of your home improvement project.
Solar
Passive Versus Active Solar Hot Water Heaters: Which Is Better?
As a homeowner, having options is great — you wouldn’t want just one paint color to choose from, would you? But it also makes the purchasing process a little bit more complex, especially when it comes to important decisions, like saving energy throughout your home. And when you decide to offset some of your utility…
HVAC
Humidifiers and HVAC: What You Need to Know
Too cold in winter or sticky and uncomfortable in summer? Your thermostat may not be the problem. Indoor humidity (the amount of moisture in the air) can change how your home feels, how hard your HVAC system has to work, and whether you’re more likely to deal with issues like musty odors or dry skin.…
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
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,…
Other Home Projects
Green Your Fireplace with Gas or Woodburning Inserts
According to Punxsutawney Phil, we’re in for a lot more winter weather this year. Luckily for you, that means all the more time you can spend warming yourself by the fireplace. And your time in front of the hearth will be all the more enjoyable when you install a gas or woodburning insert in place…
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…
HVAC
How to Use Your HVAC System During a Fire Advisory
Are wildfires a threat to your home? A majority of scientists believe that climate change has increased the prevalence — and intensity — of forest fires, meaning we could see more of these hazards to come in the future, particularly in the western United States. Their reasoning? Droughts have contributed to drier than usual conditions…
HVAC
How to Replace a Baseboard Heater Cover
A quick DIY way to update your home’s decor is to replace the baseboard heater cover with a new, unblemished model — and it’s easy enough for most homeowners to do by themselves. Replacing the cover gives you a chance to clean the unit inside, so you may see better performance, too. Positioned low to…