Interestingly, the first ceiling fans were made from palm leaves hung on the ceiling. Electric ceiling fans have been around since 1882. Philip Diehl used a sewing machine motor to power a fan he attached to the ceiling.

No matter where you live, your house needs to have solid insulation in order to keep you (and your family) comfortable. A lack of insulation will make cold intolerable, increase your air conditioning bills, and even cause humidity to potentially harm your furniture and items.

If you’ve ever seen a home that was built since the 1980s, then you probably have seen stairs that had a carpet on top of them. Carpeted stairs are nice, snuggly, and also help cushion falls that you might have. Traditionally, you would need to install carpeting on stairs using tack strips. However, that’s not always the case anymore. There are alternatives you can choose from.

Leather couches are beautiful additions to living rooms and give a classic touch to the aesthetic. If proper maintenance isn’t carried out routinely, leather can wear and tear quite quickly. This material is often prone to large holes and cracks when it’s not regularly conditioned. 

For anyone working an in-0ffice job, lunch is always a looming consideration. Some prefer to eat in an employee cafeteria, while others order out. But these habits can become expensive and even unhealthy. These are a couple of reasons why the concept of meal-prepping has grown more popular.

While ceiling fans are great for keeping your home’s temperatures low in the summer and your cooling costs even lower, they may be noisy, distracting, and unattractive in your living spaces. Not to mention, they can also be incredibly difficult to clean.

Owning a Sentry Safe is essential to safeguard your important and irreplaceable items. Whether it’s your firearm, expensive jewelry, crucial family documents, or any other highly valuable or prized possession, these safes provide people with peace of mind knowing that their belongings are protected. Sentry Safes boast that they can endure a number of adverse conditions such as theft, fire, and flood.

Some people may think that getting laundry detergent in your carpet is a good thing. But it can be a real pain to get it out of the carpet. Especially if you spilled the liquid kind. The granulated detergent can come up with a vacuum, but that liquid spill is going to take a bit more work.

Resin furniture, also known as Polywood, can be an attractive and versatile addition to a patio. Affordable and with a wide variety of styles to choose from, you can furnish your outdoor living space with tables and chairs, which will last for years. However, in common with other materials, unless they are correctly and regularly maintained, they can deteriorate over time. Your furniture can start to look dirty, chalky, and worn. So, how do you clean them when this happens?

Does your heat pump have a buildup of ice or is it having trouble entering defrost mode? Eventually, almost every heat pump will reach a point where it creates ice on its mechanisms. The machine will then enter a mode known as defrosting in order to combat and melt the ice.

Thermostats are excellent pieces of equipment used to keep your home at the desired temperature. You can set the temperature, and the thermostat will do the job for you. If you don’t already have it connect to your AC unit, you might wonder how to do that.

There are all sorts of wood you can chop, season, and burn in your fireplace. The exact varieties all depend on where you live.

Recently, I was watching Fuller House and marveled at how many Tanner-Fuller family members fit into what appeared to be a three-bedroom home in San Francisco. It got me thinking. I’ve heard of dozens of my friends living together in communes or as roommates, but I was not entirely sure how legal some of those living arrangements are. I mean, how many people can normally live in a place before it’s too much?

If you’ve ever gone apartment hunting, then you already know that vaulted ceilings are considered to be a major status symbol. It’s a way to give your room a more elegant look and also offer up some extra vertical storage space. For artists, a vaulted ceiling can also provide a lot of canvas room. But, vaulted ceilings can have their design limitations, and this is especially true when it comes to lighting. For example, the topic of recessed lights on vaulted ceilings can be a hard one to handle.

When a bathtub is installed, there are gaps that are purposely left between the tub itself and the wall that is to be adjoined to. This is what is known as an expansion joint. The purpose of this is to allow for a little movement between the position of the tub and the wall it is adjoining.

Let’s face facts: a toilet is generally a pretty gross thing. Even when they are clean, they serve one purpose and it isn’t a pretty one. With a little bit of care and attention, your toilet at least will not gross you out.

Window boxes fit in perfectly in any home and can liven up your exterior when you fill them with plants. Some window boxes don’t require drilling, but you can get around it with others if you use vinyl siding hangers. Whether it be using vinyl siding hangers or purchasing a special window box, let’s take a look at how you can hang a window box without drilling holes.

Automatic ice makers are great to have! They take the inconvenience out of making ice. No more waiting for the ice to get done; you can grab a few cubes out of the bucket as needed. However, sometimes they will leak water into the bin, causing all the cubes to stick together. You’ll need to take care of this so that your container doesn’t become one big block of ice, but first, you need to know the cause. 

Appliances, like refrigerators and ice makers, have become a necessity, in the world we live in today. It can be frustrating when they break or stop working. We know that pain all too well, so we have come up with some common solutions, for a Samsung ice maker that is not filling with water.

Commonly used appliances like refrigerators can last several years before needing to be replaced. Eventually, the day will come where you’ll need to purchase a new fridge. Did you know you shouldn’t immediately put food in a new refrigerator? 

Concrete is considered to be one of the most affordable flooring options, also requiring very little maintenance. If you ever accidentally drip paint onto your concrete floor, it can be a time-consuming endeavor to remove. However, with the proper tools, knowledge, and patience, you’ll have that undesirable paint spill cleaned up in no time.

When moving into a new home, one of the first things most people do is change the locks. You want to feel secure in your new home and changing the locks helps with that. This is the time when a lot of people make a common mistake.

Although easy to forget, window air conditioners do need to be cleaned. Notably, window AC units become less efficient as they get dirty. In fact, they may even contain mold.

Finding a new air conditioning system can be a difficult choice and a major financial investment. It’s important to choose one that has high efficiency as this will end up saving you energy and money in the long run. Many homeowners find themselves asking the question: “How much more efficient is a 16 SEER vs. a 14 SEER?”

If your coffee maker hasn’t been cleaned in a long while, brace yourselves because soon you’ll get coffee that smells horrible and tastes even worse! That’s right. Even if you use a Cuisinart coffee machine, it needs to be cleaned regularly if you want some high-quality coffee daily.

Borax is a naturally occurring mineral, one that’s mainly used to soften water. Water that includes calcium, magnesium, and other particles is classified as hard water, and borax is what turns hard water into soft water by way of exchanging sodium ions.

If you struggle with squirrels running all over your roof, you know how annoying and distracting it can be. With the risk of squirrels chewing through your roof, there are steps you’ll need to take to keep the little critters at bay. Though their fluffy tails may be cute, we don’t want them gnawing their way into our attics. 

Home security is super important; after all, it protects you, your family, and your most significant investment – your house. Nowadays, there are multiple options available on the market to help automate your home’s protection. 

Ninja makes some of the most popular cooking products in the world, especially when it comes to their blenders. Their Ninja Coffee Bar line is quickly becoming a mainstay for people who want to get coffee at the drop of a hat. In fact, if you go to a typical office, you probably will see a Coffee Bar in your rec room. But, how do you clean it, and how often should you?

Smartphones have been a unique and impactful innovation in their own right. But an underrated money-maker is all the accessories that can be applied to those smartphones. Cases in particular have been a huge money-maker.

There are over 51,000 residential electrical fires every year. This results in around 500 deaths, over 1,400 injuries, and $1.3 billion in property damage. One question people often ask is, can an outlet catch fire with nothing plugged in?

Tempered glass is one of the most durable types of glass in the world, which is why it’s often used in convenience store counters, cellphones, as well as commercial furniture. When you first get it, it has a tendency of having a shiny, pristine look that’s not unlike regular glass. As the years pass, though, it starts to become harder to clean and even a little cloudy. Thankfully, if you clean it the right way, you can restore it to its former glory…

Ninja blenders are amazing! They work so diligently to chop up your favorite fruits and blend them into a great tasting smoothie. They can also double as a food processor, chopping up onions or celery to put into your favorite salads. The downside? The cleanup that comes afterward. They’re not fun to wash by hand. 

For baking enthusiasts, convection ovens are a very popular oven choice. They offer the opportunity to bake multiple items at once in a reasonably short time. At one point or another, you may find yourself wondering: “Can you use aluminum foil in a convection oven?”

If you’re installing a Moen showerhead, then you already know that this company has a rep for being great at both temperature and pressure control. Of course, getting the showerhead is only half the battle. In order to complete your installation, you will need to buy the right Moen cartridge valve for your setup. But…which one is the right one for you, anyway?

Staining wood can bring out some of its natural patterns and deep colors like nothing else. If you want to change a wood surface’s color without painting it, staining is a great option. However, stain must be properly applied otherwise it will not dry and still feel sticky and rough hours later.

One of the most important parts of many people’s work clothing is a good pair of steel-toe boots. Not only do the boots protect your feet from falling objects, but they can also support your ankles and arches as you go about your day. Work boots are often subject to water in various ways and come home wet. Many people wonder if you can put your steel toes boots in the clothes dryer.

If you jumped in the shower and could not get any hot water, the pilot light on your water heater may have gone out. As soon as your teeth stop chattering, you need to head down to the water heater and take a look. While it is not typically dangerous for the water heater pilot light to go out, you will need to relight it if you want hot water.

Nothing jolts you awake in the morning like jumping into a cold shower. Along with the frustration of being doused with cold water, you realize that your water heater isn’t working. You may go to troubleshoot and find that the pilot light isn’t on. Then, no matter how hard you try, you just can’t get it to stay lit. What does t his mean? Why won’t the pilot light to your Honeywell water heater light?

Power outages can throw a wrench in your plans and create a potentially dangerous environment at home. Generators can give any homeowner peace of mind when the power goes out to know that you can still run an important appliance. With that said, what will a 1,000-watt generator run?

When water is backing up out of your basement floor drain, it could be the result of many different issues. However, it usually isn’t the fault of the floor drain itself. A common time for back-ups is during heavy rain, but why is your basement floor drain backing up when it rains?

If you’re a new pool owner, you might be wondering how to properly maintain your pool while keeping your family safe. When you fill up your pool for the first time, there are specific steps you have to take to make sure the water is ready for recreational use. So, what exactly do you do right after you fill your pool with water?

Is your dishwasher not draining properly? Too much water in your dishwasher’s bottom could be a sign that something is wrong. Luckily, you can fix it with a few easy steps.

For those of us who like to change things up every so often, Pottery Barn offers a variety of couch slipcovers. They have a wide range of materials, colors, and textures to suit any style. And here’s some great news: Pottery Barn couch covers are so easy to wash and maintain!

Mr. Clean’s Magic Eraser really does live up to its name, and any cleaning guru will agree. Magic Eraser can remove nicotine stains from walls, clean up stubborn stains on tables, and even remove Gorilla Glue. It’s safe to say that most people use Magic Eraser as a go-to product for all things cleaning related, but grout’s a little different. It can be demanding. So, can Magic Eraser tackle grout problems too?

If you’ve ever wondered if mice can get into your refrigerator, you may be surprised at the answer. While refrigerators are made from metal and can successfully ward off many different types of critters, mice are clever and can find a way in.

Keurig’s have become a common household appliance. They are a great way to make a cup of coffee or other hot beverage with minimal time and effort involved. And like any other household appliance, it needs to be cleaned thoroughly from time to time.

Renting out a basement is complicated. The first step is to make sure your basement is legal for occupancy. If your basement does not meet living standards, and you decide to rent it out anyway, you could face serious legal ramifications. Though basement apartments seem like a convenient situation for landlords and renters, the reality is that many issues can arise if you handle the situation carelessly. 

Window mounted refrigerated air conditioning units are popular when a bit of extra cooling power is needed. Window mounted air conditioners are easy to install and economical. But, what if there is no window in the space you want to cool?  Can you install a window air conditioner unit through a wall sleeve?

Pecan pie is a beautiful fall treat that many people enjoy eating following a hearty meal. This nut and egg-based pie is quite famous and can be in high demand. But, many people struggle with how to store the pie after it has been made.

When it comes to building high-quality tools, few companies have as big a name as DeWalt. This is a company that built its entire name on being as all-American as apple pie, beer, and the 4th of July. Lately, much of the tool manufacturing world has been switching its factory locations from the US to other countries. Is DeWalt buckling to that pressure, though?

There are few things as satisfying as giving worn-out wooden furniture a crisp new finish. Unfortunately, we all know it can be a fairly messy endeavor. Even if you’re usually pretty persnickety about your wood staining use, it’s likely that you will end up with it on your hands. This can be a mess, especially if you have an event that night. So, how do you get this stain off your hands safely?

How many times have you caught yourself getting ready to set that hot pan on your laminate countertop? And you probably have cringed every time you see one of your kids do exactly that. Even though you tell them not to. While laminate is a nice and inexpensive countertop material, it is not known for being the strongest one.

The term ‘Auger’ refers to a device that consists of a reduction gearbox and an electric motor. These work the motor by turning the auger shaft at a rate that’s predetermined inside of a pellet stove. It helps to deliver the fuel into the burn pot from the hopper. While auger motors are great, they still have times where they malfunction. So, how do you test an auger motor to see if you need a new one?

When you’re redoing your kitchen, you may be presented with some minor problems when it comes to figuring out the layout. Once in a while, you end up with a gap that’s just difficult to work with. For many of us with a “row-style” kitchen, this gap area is between the stove and the refrigerator. So, what can you put there to make things easier for people who are cooking in your kitchen?

Roofing work is no easy task, but some projects, such as tying into existing roof shingles is easier than it sounds. It is an easy project if you take safety precautions and install trusses that meet at the eave of your roof. Whether it be the tools for the job, working time, or costs involved, let’s take a look at how you can tie into existing roof shingles.

Fireplaces are a great centerpiece, that adds ambiance, and warmth, to any room. Since the fireplace is a focal point, you should try to keep the fireplace glass, as clean as possible. We have an unusual method for cleaning it, which makes it easy!

Your furnace is a fairly complicated piece of equipment. While the heating process may seem relatively straightforward, there are actually many components that go into it all. Understanding what each of them does can be the key to troubleshooting issues down the line.

There is nothing easy about selling your home. Often times, when selling a home, you are in the midst of buying or building a new home yourself. Because of that, it can be overwhelming tying together loose ends with the house you are selling.

Having children in the home means that there are bound to be some accidents; in fact, accidents become a part of your daily life. Chalk and markers have been loved by children throughout the decades and are still highly used by children today! This means that you will find yourself trying to get ink or chalk out of your carpet at some time or another. You may already know the remedies for ink, so what about chalk?