Replacing a ceiling light with a fan is a common weekend project. It is within reach of a careful DIYer, but it combines two risks: household electricity and a heavy, spinning load hanging over your head. Read the fan’s manual, and if your home’s wiring is old or confusing, hire a licensed electrician. Check the … Read more
A dripping faucet wastes more water than most people think. The EPA’s WaterSense program estimates that a faucet dripping once per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons a year (EPA WaterSense). The good news is that most drips are fixed by replacing a small, inexpensive part. First, identify your faucet type The repair depends … Read more
A bathroom is small but complicated: plumbing, electricity, ventilation and waterproofing all meet in a few square feet. Most remodels that go wrong do so because of decisions made (or skipped) before the work starts. 1. Decide what kind of remodel it is A cosmetic update (paint, mirror, lighting, vanity, faucet) keeps the plumbing where … Read more
You do not need a garage full of equipment to start fixing things at home. A small kit of good basic tools covers most jobs: hanging shelves, tightening hinges, assembling furniture, small plumbing fixes. Buy the basics first, then add tools as real projects call for them. The hand tools you will use most The … Read more
A carriage bolt is a fastener with a smooth, domed head and a square section (the neck) just under the head. It is designed mainly for wood. When you tighten the nut, the square neck bites into the wood and stops the bolt from turning, so you only need a wrench on one side. Why … Read more
A 90-degree screwdriver, also called a right-angle screwdriver, lets you drive or remove screws where a straight screwdriver will not fit: inside cabinets, behind appliances, between joists or inside a computer case. The bit sits at a right angle to the handle, so you turn it from the side. The main types Manual offset screwdrivers. … Read more
Most LED strip lights can be cut to length, which is one of the reasons they are so popular for under-cabinet lighting, shelves and TV backlights. The catch is that you can only cut in specific places. Cut anywhere else and the section around the cut will stop working. Where to cut Look closely at … Read more
