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Air conditioning can transform the comfort level of your home. But to get the most out of your investment, it’s important that you choose the right air conditioner for you. Home Air Conditioning Explained The term “air conditioning” refers to any system designed to control the temperature and humidity. In general, air conditioners can be grouped into either ducted or ductless systems. Ductless air conditioning uses small units scattered throughout the home, while ducted systems consist of a larger unit that distributes that cool air from a central location....

A hot shower invigorates first thing in the morning and soothes aching muscles after a long day. Whether you jump in for five minutes or linger under a luxurious spa shower, the last thing you want to deal with is a gross, smelly shower drain. When I moved into my home, a weird smell greeted me that first day. Easy enough, I thought. I’ll clean the drain. Turns out the previous homeowner grouted the drain cover into the tile....

Security cameras are one of the smartest additions you can make to your home. Besides the increased security, you can also use them to watch the kids or pets from an app on your phone while you make dinner. Or you can catch your teen sneaking in at midnight, or finally get proof your neighbor is trimming your trees without permission. There are so many uses! The question is, what type of security camera best fits your needs?...

Ever wondered how lawn care professionals apply large quantities of liquid lawn care products so quickly? Their secret can make you faster at these jobs, too. Besides experience and practice, lawn care pros are efficient mainly because of lawn sprayers. Learn more about what lawn sprayers do and the types of lawn sprayers available for you to consider. What Is a Lawn Sprayer? A lawn sprayer (AKA a garden sprayer) is a tool that allows you to easily apply lawn care products such as fertilizer, herbicide, fungicide or insecticide, while minimizing contact with these products....

It was previously believed that keeping your car idle, instead of restarting your car, is better for your engine. So if cars are waiting in a line, or simply waiting outside for someone to hop in, the car should stay on and idle. Although this belief was proven to be true back in the day, it actually is no longer true for cars now. Pro tip: Looking to save money with your car?...

When it comes to recreational vehicles, an on-board water system — including working sinks, a toilet and a shower — can make your travels a whole lot more comfortable. If you’re an RV owner or are thinking of purchasing or renting one, understanding how an RV water system work is important. RV water tanks are one of the main components. Did you know RVs have three water storage tanks? Varying in size and location, RV water tanks are usually made of ABS or polyethylene plastic....

When humans first meet, we shake hands, make eye contact and ask questions to get to know each other. This greeting usually gives us enough information to make some safe assumptions about a person’s approximate age, health and current mood. Dogs do the same thing, but in a much more crude way—they get their information by sniffing each other’s butt. Show your dog some love with one of these 40 pet projects....

ErikWestmann/Shutterstock A scroll saw is like a powered, benchtop coping saw and is often pedal operated, for hands-free, adjustable speed control. If you’re a casual DIY enthusiast, you’ve undoubtedly seen one, and most woodworker hobbyists have probably used one. Should you buy one? Read on for help with answering that question. What Does a Scroll Saw Do? The scroll saw isn’t a top-of-the-list purchase for most DIYers or woodworkers, as it’s more of a specialty tool....

Which hammer handle is best? The three most basic handle options are steel, fiberglass, and wood. Hammer handles come in a variety of lengths and most are available in either a straight, curved, or hatchet style configuration. Find out which one is best for you. Photo: Courtesy of Structure Tech Steel handle Steel handles are the strongest of the bunch. It’s tough to beat a solid or welded piece of steel when it comes to overall strength....

Feeling the steering wheel shake when braking can and should make you nervous. It usually indicates a problem with your brakes, one of your car’s most critical safety systems. There are two types of brake systems, disc and drum. Since the 1980s, virtually all vehicles come with front disc brakes as standard equipment. Today, most vehicles are equipped with four-wheel disc brakes. Vibrations from out-of-round brake drums are usually felt in the seat or in the rear of the car — not the steering wheel....

Homeschooling. Virtual school. Distance learning. Whatever it’s called in your part of the country, if your children are among the millions of students who will be attending school during the pandemic from home rather than taking in-person classes, they’re in for an unusual and likely challenging school year. Adapting to a challenge and staying healthy during school are good skills to learn, but it might take some practice. These tips for homeschooling can help make studying from home a positive, successful venture for you and your kids....

When color expert and standard-bearer Pantone began releasing a Color of the Year in 2000, the world sat up and took notice. Other color-focused companies followed suit, and these colors of the year have become a quick way for DIYers and others to learn what’s hot and what’s not. Paint companies are advising on color, too. And after years of bright and bold choices, Behr delivered what some considered a curveball by choosing a white, Blank Canvas, as its 2023 Color of the Year....

What is Spontaneous Combustion? Spontaneous combustion is a chemical reaction that occurs in certain materials which causes them to burst into flame spontaneously. Spontaneous combustion can occur when hay, sawdust, coal, compost, oil-based products and other everyday materials are stored improperly and—in simple terms—the internal heat that is generated isn’t allowed to escape. The scenario DIYers need to be very cognizant of is the one dealing with oily rags. A pile of oil-laden rags not given enough elbow room for the oils to dissipate can be a disaster waiting to happen....

Unless oil soluble dyes are added to change its color for identification purposes, all lubricating oils can look and feel the same. This can be a problem. When I first started working at a car repair shop (in 1969!), we stored motor oil in 55-gallon drums. We hand-pumped it into oil dispensing funnels, then added it to an engine after an oil change. This was fine until a drum filled with hydraulic oil was mislabeled as 10W-30 motor oil....

J5M/Shutterstock What is Paver Base? When you look out over your patio, what you see (hopefully) are nice solid patio stones or pavers laid in a neat pattern. But there’s a lot that goes on below; exactly what goes on varies from region to region and builder to builder—but here are the basics. Once the area has been dug out and flattened, the paver base is installed. This paver base normally consists of a 3- to 6-inch layer of aggregate material—often limestone— containing crushed rock that ranges in size from about 3/4 inch down to dust-sized particles....

evgenii mitroshin/Shutterstock Cleaning oil-based paint out of your brushes leaves you with a murky pool of paint thinner or other solvent that you must somehow dispose of. Dumping it down the drain or tossing it in the trash is unsafe and often illegal, since thinner and mineral spirits contain VOCs (volatile organic compounds), toxic chemicals that are dangerous to humans and the environment. Try this tip to help you skip the trip to your nearest hazardous waste facility—plus the one to your local home center for more paint thinner....

Many of us have experienced the baffling feeling of finding a feature in our homes that we’re unfamiliar with. If you live in an older home, the chances of you finding home features that you don’t know how to use are even higher. This is because many antique houses have features that aren’t useful anymore. Encountering one of these leaves a modern-day homeowner scratching their head in confusion. However, some of these are still practical decades later—like the stainless steel soap bar....

Has the annual ritual of hauling leaves to the curb lost its appeal? Or maybe you’re considering starting a compost bin? Either way, it’s a great time to invest in a leaf mulcher. What Is a Leaf Mulcher? A leaf mulcher is a standalone or handheld device that sucks in leaves and tears them into small pieces. This makes it far easier to take leaves to the trash. It also shreds them finely enough they can be reused as mulch for the lawn or a compost bin....

Norseman Jobber 29-Piece Drill Set It looks like a coffee thermos but the Norseman Jobber 29-piece drill set is one of the best ways to keep track of your drill bits and keep them safe. What’s Inside the Norseman Jobber 29-piece Drill Set It’s a waterproof case that holds bits from 1/16 to 1/2 in 64th increments. The included bits are high speed steel with a gold oxide finish made and they’re heat-treated....

Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial kickoff to summer. It’s also one of the best times of year to score a deep discount on big ticket items like appliances, electronics and mattresses! You really should replace your mattress more often than every seven years. And here’s everything you need to know about buying a mattress in a box. Ready to save? Here are the 30 best Memorial Day mattress sales. Don’t hit the snooze button!...