Home Improvement Information | Find Home Improvement Contractors » Kitchens

How to Fix Broken Electrical Outlets

Kelli — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:19:06 +0000

Electrical problems come fully equipped with more than their fair share of stress — and with good reason. We all know what electricity on the loose is capable of, so utmost caution should be used whenever approaching a repair situation that involves electrical current. But that doesn’t mean that every electrical crisis needs to be left to the prosÂ—especially at the hefty hourly rate a licensed electrician charges. Many small electrical problems can be easily handled by the homeowner equipped with a modest number of specialized tools and a modicum of sense.

How to Replace a Kitchen Faucet

Kelli — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 01:49:25 +0000

The toughest part of replacing a kitchen faucet is removing the old one. Unexpected problems always pop up—corroded pipes, difficult-to-reach nuts and poor access to fittings. Otherwise, installing a new kitchen faucet isn’t tough at all. Actually, the directions that come with your new faucet are probably all you’ll need to do that part of the job. Barring unforeseen problems, you could be washing up under the faucet in an hour or so. In this article walk you through a basic replacement process and tell you how to get through those tough parts.

How to Test Your Home for Chinese Drywall

Kelli — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:56:55 +0000

Does your home contain contaminated Chinese Drywall? This testing advice from the New York Times can help a homeowner determine if he or she is one of the thousands in over 30 states with the poisonous plasterboard.

Some ways to tell if you have Chinese Drywall in your home:

– Sulfuric smell. (Also a sign that you have descended into the less-favorable Afterworld. It’s best to inspect for fire, brimstone and the tortured souls of the eternally damned to eliminate this possibility)

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How do I know which cleaning products are the most environmentally friendly?

Kelli — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:59:01 +0000

Almost all Americans use household cleaning products — from dish detergents to bathroom cleaners and floor polish to scouring pads. Most of us are exposed to cleaners on a daily basis, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) [source: Davies]. Even if we don’t use cleaners, it’s likely we’re regularly come into contact with them at work, school or elsewhere.

Unfortunately, cleaners often contain harsh chemicals that can be harmful to our health and planet. Health effects associated with cleaning products include asthma, contact dermatitis, burns to the skin and eyes and inflammation or fluid in the lungs. Long-term repercussions may include reproductive problems, cancer, heart disease and other health issues.

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Safe Drinking Water: Testing Your Water

Kelli — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:13:14 +0000

Even if your water is purified by your water company, by the time it comes through your faucet, it may have accumulated bacteria and lead from the pipes through which it is carried.

Some cities, like Boston, still have lead pipes in service lines. Some PVC pipes made before 1977 may leach vinyl chloride, a carcinogen, into water as well, as was discovered in Troy, Kansas in 1998. Within your own home, you may have lead pipes or pipes soldered with lead.

Read this article.

Enjoy Cool Energy Savings with Greener Refrigerators

Kelli — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:21:10 +0000

If you’re looking for simple ways to save energy at home, your refrigerator is a good place to start. That’s because your fridge is one of your home’s single biggest electricity users (other members of this club include your air conditioner and your water heater.) But with a few simple steps you can make your current refrigerator more efficient — and when it’s time to buy a new fridge, these resources can help you make a smart choice.

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15 Green Projects for Under $500

Kelli — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:18:54 +0000

1. Build a clothesline
Next to your refrigerator, your dryer is likely the biggest energy-guzzling appliance in your house. And while we wouldn’t ask you to store your food in a vintage icebox, an old-fashioned clothesline is actually a pretty good idea. (If that sounds too retro, think of it as a “solar dryer” instead.)

You can buy a pulley kit like the one pictured here at the hardware store. Or you can order the components online. But it’s easy to make a traditional clothesline yourself, using 4×4 or 6×6 pressure-treated posts for the uprights and 2×8s for the cross arms (which don’t need to be pressure-treated). Simply notch the posts to receive the cross arms, set them in concrete, and run the lines on eye hooks between them. A 4- or 5-foot cross arm should give you enough room for five lengths of line, nicely spaced.

Lumber: $42
Hardware: $10
100 feet of line + 100 wood clothespins: $17
Total: $69

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Greening the Not-So-New House

Kelli — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:14:27 +0000

There’s a reason so many builders are leaning green these days.
After all, who doesn’t want a home that’s healthier, keeps energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions in check, and doesn’tsquander water and other natural resources? But you don’thave to buildfrom scratch to turn your not-so-newhouse into a dwelling that’s eco-friendly and more economical to run.

Whether you own or rent, the following 45 simple ideas can help you save money (and the planet) today. Read more…

Pest Control

Kelli — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:24:51 +0000

Pest control is a difficult task. Learning how to get rid of fleas, ants, mice, rats, crickets, roaches, and bees is no walk in the park. Even bug zappers offer a false sense of security; do it yourself pest control may not always be the best option, especially when termites have invaded your structure, potentially wrecking the foundation of your home. Learn more about pest control in these articles, and find out how to best find a pest management solution for your own home. Read more…

Tiling a Countertop Backsplash

Kelli — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:58:11 +0000

A new tile backsplash can quickly and beautifully update the look of kitchen countertops. And, if you have never done this job before, you may be happy to learn that it is a relatively easy do-it-yourself project. Because a backsplash does not need to be as impervious to moisture as a kitchen countertop, and does not receive the same level of wear and tear, the tiles can be adhered to the wall with mastic, which is much easier to use than mortar, the typical adhesive for countertop tile. This article explains how to do it.

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