How to Remove Air Pollution in the Home

We all want homes that are comfortable and energy efficient. But all our efforts to replace drafty windows,...

How Often You Should Change Your Air Filter

Changing your air filter directly impacts your home’s air quality and HVAC system. Regularly replacing the filter will...

What You Need to Know About the Freon Ban

The air conditioning refrigerant Freon has been banned in the U.S. since January 2020, prompting major changes in...

How to Smartify Your Home

Automatic Shades Lutron’s Smart Bridge ($120) triggers the brand’s Serena remote-control shades (from about $349) to open when...

Winter Home Maintenance Tasks

iStock As temperatures drop and winter approaches, you’ll need to prepare your home for the challenges that cold...

Too Much Dust

iStock Q: My mom has a forced-air heating and cooling system, and her home always seems very dusty....

The Basics of Home Heating Systems

Richard Trethewey screws an aluminum track into a joist bay at the TOH TV project house. The tracks...

All About Radiant Floor Heating

These hydronic plywood-over-aluminum panels are thinset-and-tile-ready. | Anthony Tieuli We may be compensated if you purchase through links...

Choosing the Best Firewood to Heat Your Home

iStock The warmth and ambiance of a crackling fire are hard to beat on a cold winter’s night....

Propane vs. Oil Heat: Which Is Best For Home Heating?

iStock The choice between propane and oil for your home’s heating system type can significantly impact your comfort...

How to Cool a Garage

iStock Garages can be a place of refuge for some folks and for others, a place of business....

How To Improve Attic Ventilation

Nancy Andrews Proper attic ventilation is part of creating a comfortable and energy-efficient home. Your attic’s ventilation helps...

Read This Before You Buy Ductless AC

iStock Ductless air conditioning (AC), also known as mini-split systems, is a cooling system that provides a flexible...

Take the edge off your energy bills – meet the heat pump water heater

You probably don’t spend much time thinking about your water heater. And why would you? Maybe you cursed...

What To Do if Your Fridge Stops Cooling

Your refrigerator is perhaps the most important appliance in your home. When it suddenly stops cooling, your groceries...

5 Essential Steps for Window AC Upkeep

iStock Window air conditioning units are a popular and affordable cooling option. They don’t require professional maintenance as...

10 Ways to Warm Up a Nonworking Fireplace

A nonworking fireplace doesn’t have to be a cold, empty space in your home. With a little creativity,...

How To Bleed a Radiator

Linda Pugliese If your home’s radiators aren’t heating up properly, air trapped in the system could be the...

Should Crawl-Space Vents Be Open or Closed?

Building codes generally require that crawl spaces be vented to help air circulate and to prevent moisture buildup....

How to Upgrade to a Heat Pump System

Meg Reinhardt This article appeared in the Summer 2023 issue of This Old House Magazine.  Thinking of adding...

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