That outlet is called a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). It’s there to protect YOU from electrical shock! When you look at a normal 120-volt outlet in the United States, there are two vertical slots and then a round hole centered below them. The left slot is slightly larger than the… read more →
Your home may be your castle, but you don’t have to pay a king’s ransom to keep it warm. Here are 6 things you should know about heating your house. Baby, its Cold Outside Sitting in your overcoat with the thermostat at 78 degrees? You could have a problem. If you… read more →
Starting Jan. 1, manufacturers will stop making 60- and 40-watt incandescent light bulbs to comply with new federal energy-efficiency laws. Yet one manufacturer claims only 40 percent of people it surveyed are aware of the changes. With new light-bulb rules taking effect Jan. 1, should you choose halogens, CFL-halogen hybrids or LEDs… read more →
Most home sellers are eager to garner the highest possible price when they put their home on the market. To maximize profits, your home must be in the best possible condition so that buyers compare it favorably to a model home. At the same time, you should minimize the amount… read more →
With the real estate market heating up, it appears that American homeowners are ready to start remodeling again. After years of decline, home-improvement spending increased 9% last year and will probably turn out to have surged by the double digits this year, according to studies. Planning to get in on… read more →
How often do you really use your home phone? It’s a question many families are asking in a day and age when budgets are squeezed tighter and everyone seems to have their own mobile phone. It wasn’t that long ago when the idea of getting rid of your home’s land… read more →
What distinguishes a great neighborhood from the merely so-so? It’s a difficult question, encompassing everything from physical attributes such as good design to the right number of parks and public gathering places. Is it a charming Main Street, good schools or an abundance of interesting shops, restaurants and other diversions?… read more →
October conjures images of falling leaves, Halloween, pumpkin carving, jack-o-lanterns and, of course, pumpkin pie. However, not all pumpkins are alike. In fact, there are dozens of varieties, some of which are delightfully delicious and some that are best used for decoration. Before you hit the patch, there are a… read more →
Selling your home is a real art form these days. The marketing! The staging! Yet there’s one thing that you, Joe or Sally Homeowner, often forget: Would-be buyers don’t care how much you love your pets. And they’re not interested in seeing — or smelling — evidence of Fido or… read more →
If you’re looking for a remodeling project that can amp up your curb appeal this fall, replacing your home’s siding is a good start. Replacing your siding is one of the best ways to improve the look of your home, while also providing a protective barrier against the elements. And… read more →