You Can Find Out What Your ‘Check Engine’ Light Means for Free
Photo: virgmos (Shutterstock) A car’s “check engine” light is so mysterious. “Something is wrong!” it visually screams. What is wrong? Is my engine about to explode? Or did I just…
You Need to Know Your Roof’s ‘Snow Load’
Photo: Shawn Hamilton (Shutterstock) Most roofs constructed after modern regulations were passed in the U.S. in 1988 are built to withstand a certain amount of extra weight in the form…
How to Fix a Sump Pump That Never Stops Running
Photo: Lost_in_the_Midwest (Shutterstock) A sump pump is an incredibly useful item to have in your basement: Unsophisticated but essential. It’s basically motorized pump in a bucket, buried below the floor…
How to Prepare Your House Now for the Next Bad Winter Storm
Photo: ND700 (Shutterstock) Winter weather increasingly includes high-speed windstorms as well as precipitation in many parts of the U.S. Wind can wreck things in a hurry, causing damage to housing,…
The Key to Warming Up Your Home’s Frigid Floors Is in the Basement
Photo: ASTA Concept (Shutterstock) Cold floors are no fun. No matter how warm and cozy you manage to make the rest of your house, there’s almost always that one room…
Avoid These Mistakes When Running a Generator
Photo: J.J. Gouin (Shutterstock) Last week’s winter storm left hundreds of thousands of people across the United States without power, as it hit the country less than a week into…
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…
How to (Safely) Shovel Snow Off Your Roof
Photo: Parilov (Shutterstock) If you live in an area that gets blessed by snow every winter, you’re probably pretty used to it. But no matter how experienced you are with…
Stop Putting Dryer Sheets in Your Vents
Photo: Mike Fig Photo (Shutterstock) While dryer sheets are often touted as being versatile odor absorbers, they really only belong in the dryer. It might seem like a simple and…
You Need a Home Maintenance Binder (and What to Put in It)?
Photo: Kitawit Jitaton (Shutterstock) Keeping track of interior and exterior home maintenance schedules, landscaping, and emergency contacts for repairs can be overwhelming, especially for new homeowners. Even for experienced owners,…