How to Add a Light Switch to Any Existing Outlet
If you have a room with no overhead light fixture, or one in which the main light switch isn’t convenient, you can solve your problem by adding a switch to…
All the Stuff in Your Home You Should Be Testing for Voltage
If you’ve ever experienced even a mild electrical shock, you know how powerful—and frightening—it can be. There are more than 50,000 electrical fires in the U.S. every year, and close…
The Best Ways to (Safely) Hide Power Outlets
It might be hard to imagine, but there was a time when electricity was a novelty, and no one had power buzzing through their walls. Everyone alive today was born…
The Most Common Home Repair Mistakes Owners Make (and How to Avoid Them)
When the home repair bills start to mount, many people suddenly become passionate about DIY home repairs—and there are certainly plenty of projects around the house that you can do…
The Easiest Ways to Spruce Up an Old Light Fixture
Photo: chatchawin jampapha (Shutterstock) If some of the shine is wearing off your old light fixtures, or if you just want them to match some updated furniture or decor, there…
The Difference Between 2- and 3-Prong Electrical Plugs (and Why It Matters)
Unless you live in an older home with two-prong outlets, you probably don’t put much thought into plugging and unplugging electronic devices and appliances. But at some point, you’ve likely…
Why Your Electrical Stuff Sometimes Stops Working Until You Push the Magic Red Button
I was once this close to buying an entirely new refrigerator when ours stopped working. As I remember it, we had a power outage during a storm, and everything except…
Clever Ways to Manage All Your Cords and Cables
Photo: Octavian Lazar (Shutterstock) With so many devices (and their various accessories) needing to be charged—not to mention the lights, appliances, and other electronics that need to remain plugged in—your…
Hotwire Your Broken Thermostat in a Weather Emergency
Photo: DUO Studio (Shutterstock) Something that’s often neglected, even by proactive folks who actually check on the heat before the first frost, is the humble thermostat. That tiny appliance on…
Watch for These Signs That Your Home’s Wiring Is Unsafe
Photo: ungvar (Shutterstock) A house isn’t just four walls and a roof—it’s a complex system of infrastructure, most of which is hidden away (behind those walls, the floors, and ceilings)…