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Your home’s thermostat works by monitoring the temperature and using that information to regulate when your furnace or air conditioner turns on. That’s great in theory, but note that it only takes account of the temperature immediately surrounding the thermostat. If that area is warmer or colder than the rest of your home, you’ll struggle with uneven temperatures and unnecessarily high utility bills throughout the year. These seemingly illogical temperatures are often called “ghost readings” because they seem to reflect an entirely different reality....

What Causes Rust to Form? Rust wreaks havoc on your bike, shower curtain rod and iron patio furniture. We know that unsightly and often messy reddish- or yellowish-brown flaky coating on some of our favorite metal kitchen, garden and workshop tools and toys all too well. But to really understand it and prevent it, you need to know the science of it. Oxidation Reaction Rust results from a reaction called oxidation, in which iron reacts with water and oxygen to form hydrated iron (III) oxide....

I first heard the word catio from my friend who’s a park ranger. She witnesses firsthand the damage outdoor domestic cats do to ecosystems and endangered species, and sees catios — outside enclosures for cats — as the solution. Cats are the No. 1 threat to birds in the U.S., killing an estimated 2.4 billion every year. That’s 20 percent of the total bird population. Domestic cats allowed to roam outside also kill millions of small mammals, reptiles and amphibians....

When my friends and I bought our off-grid property on California’s Central Coast, we found ourselves simultaneously blessed by a large, steep, south-facing hillside — an ideal location for solar panels — and bedeviled by the disastrously undersized system installed by the previous owners. Five 200-watt panels supplied 16 humungous lead-acid batteries, which in turn fed the main panel through an external inverter. The system included a noisy 10-kilowatt (kW) diesel generator that kept the batteries charged when the panels weren’t doing the job....

With the advent of the anti-lock braking system (ABS) that automatically “pumps” the brakes during a panic stop or normal stopping on slippery roads, brake lock-up has been virtually eliminated. First offered as an option in the 1970s, ABS has been a standard feature on virtually all new cars built since the early 2010s. Still, brakes may still lock up occasionally, significantly increasing stopping distance and greatly reducing directional stability. That’s a problem....

Like many parts of our vehicles, the doors are an integral safety system, providing protection for passengers and security from thieves. However, they are often overlooked. Car doors need to open, remain closed when shut and lock on demand to protect precious cargo — you, your passengers and your belongings. Never forget that vehicles with broken door latches could easily eject someone in an accident, especially if the occupants are not wearing seat belts....

It’s officially cold outside, and with the latest winter storm descending on the country, it’s going to get a lot colder in the days ahead. When the mercury drops and the snow starts flying, the last thing anyone wants is a cold house. But sometimes, you don’t really have that option. With drafty doors, windows and poorly-insulated rooms, the cold can be inevitable. So what’s a homeowner to do? If this is a reality at your house, there are a few simple projects that will help to keep your house warm this winter....

Florian Klaes/Getty Images Most of us notice how gorgeous gardens are when the sun is shining, but how often do we see what a garden looks like at night? Between dusk and dawn, when moonlight illuminates the plants, visitors can enjoy unique insight into a garden’s personality. Why You Should Plant a Moon Garden Night pollinators such as moths, native bees and bats are attracted to plants in a moon garden with white and pale-colored flowers that are intensely fragrant and produce a lot of nectar....

I grew up drinking well water and often find it hard to stomach the musty flavors of city tap water. There’s nothing as refreshing as a cold glass drawn from a mountain well. But having a well also comes with responsibility. Unlike public utility water, well water is not regulated or tested. So it’s up to you to make sure it’s safe. “Checking well water is important because most contaminants have no taste, smell or color, and testing is the only way to ensure it’s safe to drink,” says Rupa Mehta, a home care expert at Angi....

Basement moisture problems range in severity from damp walls smelling of mildew to standing water on the floor, and they all call for action. Even seemingly insignificant moisture can have health consequences for mold-sensitive residents. More severe water problems can render the basement unusable and even undermine the foundation. As you would expect, the cost of basement waterproofing balloons when you have to hire pros. You can often avoid that by doing some simple things yourself, like fixing cracks in concrete walls and applying a waterproof coating to prevent seepage....

via amazon.com Have you ever had a toilet clog so intense that a regular toilet plunger wouldn’t do the trick? A new version of the ol’ standby plunger has hit the market, and it could save you from facing such doom in the future. The ToiletShroom claims to be the ultimate tool to fix a toilet clog in seconds—and in one simple step. The innovative plunger can go where a standard plunger can’t and grab what a drain snake can’t reach....

Here’s What You Can Do Right Now: Familiarize yourself with the kinds of severe weather that can occur in your area. Create a Storm Readiness Kit. Gather your family and talk about where to go for safety. Choose two locations: one outside the home but nearby; the other outside your neighborhood. Consult local emergency management officials for appropriate locations. Choose one emergency contact person. Call this out-of-town friend or relation if your family becomes separated....

What Is a Smart Display? If this sounds similar to your iPad or any other tablet, that’s because it is. The two devices do a lot of the same things. But smart displays are less portable (they generally must remain plugged in) and offer less functionality. Plus, your smart display will likely have better voice commands than a tablet since this is the product’s main function. What Can You Do With a Smart Display?...

I’ve lived in Italy for 13 years, and in that time I’ve become something of an expert on pizza — at least on pizza eating! My Italian husband and mother-in-law are the pizza-making experts. She used to own a pizzeria, and he worked there as a young man. He’s a stonemason and built custom-made pizza ovens for several clients. So between the three of us, we know a thing or two about pizza and pizza ovens....

An ancient species, ants have roamed the Earth for billions of years. Wholly reliant on their evolved social structure (colonies) for survival, ants are fascinating and complex creatures. They can also be a formidable pest, infesting homes, yards and gardens with fervor. The Ant Life Cycle Like other social insects (i.e., bees, wasps and hornets), ants undergo a metamorphosis in four life stages: egg, larvae, pupae and adult. The entire process can take up to 60 days from start to finish....

Got mold in your house? It can be alarming to discover, but remember that mold can be beaten. You just need the right information and the right response. Mucor is one of dozens of types of mold found in homes. The more you know about it, the better you’ll be able to deal with it. What Is Mucor Mold? Mucor is a family of molds that includes about 50 species. It grows quickly in temperatures less than 98º F (37º C)....

From dusty old cellars to finished basement game rooms, if you have a room underground, you have spiders. (You actually have spiders in nearly every room in your house, according to research by North Carolina State University.) The question is, what should you do about them? Whether you need to control them is a subjective question, says Thomas Dobrinska, a board-certified entomologist at Ehrlich Pest Control. “In most cases, spiders are an important part of the ecosystem and actually feed on unwanted pests,” he says....

Maybe a tech-obsessed friend told you to get one. Maybe you’ve seen crazy footage from Russian drivers on YouTube. Regardless of how you stumbled upon the concept of a “dash cam,” here’s a crash course in this relatively new technology, including a look at what dash cams are, how they work, and how they can benefit every driver. fhm/Getty Images What is a Dash Cam? A dash cam is pretty much what the name describes — it’s a camera mounted on your vehicle’s dash or above it, pointing outwards and recording any and everything in range....

And don’t think that just because they’re early deals, they’re not worth your time or money. These bargains are impressive, including discounts on stuff DIYers need: tools, furniture, garden essentials, small kitchen appliances, home décor, robot vacuums and up to 50 percent off smart TVs! via merchant Pop-up gazebo canopy Add some much-needed shade to your outdoor party, campsite, picnic or sporting event with this 10- x 10-ft. pop-up canopy that’s 30 percent off....

Freer/Shutterstock As temperatures drop and winter leaves people craving a quick and comfy supplemental source of warmth, many consider pulling out a trusty space heater or investing in a new one. Before you plug one in, know this: Heating is the second leading cause of house fires (behind cooking), according to the National Safety Council, and in most cases, those fires involve space heaters. Though they look small, they require significant wattage and produce enough heat to require smart planning and precaution when using....