Smart Homeowner

House-hunting for the first time? If you're a new homeowner wondering where to start, check out these 14 tips from people who've been there –…

Want to live in a quieter home? Read this article for some great ideas on how to tone down the hubbub both inside and outside your house. From…

Failsafe ways to dispose of old batteries. Tape exposed contacts to prevent discharge or recycle them.

If you live in an older home, it's a good idea to check for lead paint, especially before remodeling. Start with an inexpensive DIY test,…

Learn about top “handymen” across the country who ply their trade under unusual circumstances or show an inspiring commitment to…

Stop energy-wasting air leaks around entry doors by installing a weatherstripping kit with a foam flange or vinyl bulb. Use a door sweep to…

Before you buy your next light bulb, know when and where halogens are worth the extra money over ordinary incandescent bulbs.

Avoid back injury (and mashed toes!) when moving flagstones, stone steps and other heavy materials. A landscaping pro shows you five ways to…

Reports have linked some types of granite countertops to radon gas. If you're concerned about yours, the simplest way to check is with a DIY…

This DIY rain barrel costs less than $100 and works just as well as the expensive one you can buy. Get complete how-to instructions and start…

After you check a contractor's recommendations and insurance, find out how much they know and what they really plan on doing with the help of…

Kitchen and bath drains that get frequent use are usually full of water, but basement floor drains can dry out, allowing sewer gas in. To slow…

A high-efficiency furnace filter can slow airflow too much, but low-efficiency filters don't filter dust very well. Get a better…

Tankless water heaters can save energy, but at a higher initial cost and they serve hot water one faucet at a time—so someone gets a cold…

Thousands of dryer fires are caused by lint every year, yet they can be easily prevented with a few minutes of cleaning. Learn where lint is,…

We outline the pros and cons of two types of emergency electrical generators—the portable type and the larger standby type—and tell…

Older photocells in outdoor lights often don’t work with compact fluorescent lights, but new technology is available that addresses the problem.…

CO (carbon monoxide) detectors usually wear out in 5-7 years. Replace them with a “fuel-cell electro-chemical” sensor type and with…

High-quality silicone rubber weather stripping permanently seals gaps around exterior doors, increases energy efficiency—and looks better…

Air conditioner compressors and heat exchanger pumps sitting on concrete pads may settle and tip over time, putting strain on coolant lines. One…

Prevent accidents and make your home safer by fixing these five common code violations—bad GFCIs, an improperly located smoke alarm, an…

Follow this expert advice on how to buy, operate and maintain a gas powered electrical generator so that it's safe and ready to go when the…

Use these tools and tips to discover major problems before buying a home, including problems in plumbing, electrical, walls, shingles and…

Bathrooms use more water than any other room in the house, but saving water there is easy with the new generation of low-flow faucets and…

Cans of spray foam have a limited shelf life. Don't stock up. Check expiration dates and use them soon after buying them.

Protect water lines running through crawl spaces or near outside walls with a chase made from rigid polystyrene foam and ventilated with warm…

Make a super-simple hopscotch mat for your children from a cheap carpet runner and a few other inexpensive materials. The only tools you'll need…

Learn to meet home disasters—both big and small—head-on without panic. Take effective action on burst pipes, flooded basements,…

Keep these tools and gadgets on hand to handle large and small emergencies—including a backup generator, duct tape, long burning lanterns,…

Well water and some public water systems may contain tiny bits of sediment. Instead of an expensive filtration system, try a simple whole house…

DIY renovations can put a lot of stress on a marriage. But these six tips will help you complete any renovation project while maintaining a…

Spilled a drink on your cordless phone? Don’t panic yet—these instructions will show you how to clean your phone and restore it to…

Learn how to get rid of household junk, unneeded building materials and other unwanted stuff with these tips and strategies from TFH staff and…

We honor 10 DIYers whose spirit of service to our country, their communities or their neighbors makes us proud. They're all fine examples of…

This article will show you how to add 6 mil plastic sheeting on the ground and insulate the walls in your crawlspace. We use foil-faced rigid…

Few routine chores will pay off more handsomely, both in comfort and in dollars saved, than a simple air-conditioner cleaning. The payoff:…

A storm shelter is a super-strong safe room designed to withstand dangerous high winds, tornadoes and flying debris. You'll remain safe even…

In just a couple of hours, you can seal and insulate your rim joists, which are major sources of heat loss in many homes. This project will…

Small air leaks into uninsulated attic space are a major source of heat loss in many homes. Here's how to locate the leak spots and plug…

Burst hoses can spell big, costly trouble. We'll show you how to replace traditional rubber hoses on wash machines with special no-burst…

Annual central air conditioner maintenance saves you money by increasing its efficiency and preventing breakdowns. You can complete the chore in…

Learn how to remove old, damaged weather stripping around a steel entry door and replace it with new magnetic weather stripping and a new door…

Use airtight recessed lights in a cathedral ceiling to prevent heat loss, moisture problems and roof rot. The fixtures are inexpensive.

Rotting insulation on your outdoor A/C lines can cost you energy. The fix is simple. We show you how to do it and tell you where to get the…

Replace smoke alarms before they fail. It takes only about 10 minutes to replace a hard-wired type safely.

When it comes to home safety, plumbing and electrical problems do a lot more damage than crooks. Here are our top tips for what you can do to…

Warm up a room without using a plug-in electric heater. Consider built-in radiant floor or ceiling heating, duct booster fans, toe-kick heaters,…

Cover your air conditioner condenser with plywood for the winter. If you wrap it with plastic, it'll rust.

CFLs are replacing incandescent bulbs almost everywhere, but before you put one in the garage door opener, be aware there's more to it than just…

Save money on water use by stopping plumbing leaks first. Then move on to replace low cost items like showerheads and toilets with lower water…

Pets—we sure do love them! Dogs, cats, bunnies, birds and many more. They are often our best buddies and we want to treat them right.…

You love your pet, but keeping them healthy and happy can often take a giant bite out of your budget. Here's a great collection of pet care tips…