Home Appliances

The contactor is a fairly simple part of your air conditioner and is really quite easy to repair or replace if it's your problem. Learn how a contactor works, how to check it, and repair or replace it if needed.

The information in this hub will educate you and make you more comfortable with what you're being told by your HVAC service provider.

Get the most out of your A/C this summer. Understand what air conditioning services you should consider and why, whether you perform it yourself or are considering professional service.

Washer overflowing? I explain five ways to fix it: installing a sink, using a lint catcher, regular use of enzymes to keep it clear, using a snake, and changing to a front-loading washer.

Flushing and draining your hot water heater is basic maintenance that's easy to do. Learn how to drain your tank fast and help improve the recovery time and efficiency of your water heater. Save money, get tips, and increase the life of your water tank with these easy to follow instructions.

Air conditioner capacitors are a common cause of A/C breakdowns and very simple to replace. This shows how to diagnose the problem and replace the part.

There are many benefits of a dehumidifier for your home. Health, mold, dust mites, wood, surfaces, and electronics can all be negatively effected by too much moisture in the air. Learn how a dehumidifier can preserve health and home.

A guide to help homeowners test and replace an air-conditioning system's condensate pump.

What factors should you consider before buying a high-efficiency water heater? And how can you make your old water heater more eco-friendly if you can't afford a new one?

Your central air conditioner needs regular maintenance to function at peak performance. Follow these tips to keep your air conditioning unit running efficiently.

A homeowner's guide for troubleshooting and repairing common electric water heater problems. Many repairs do not require a professional plumber.

Your new home is perfect, except that the old dryer cord won't fit the new plug, and no adapter will work. Here are instructions for replacing a 4-prong dryer cord with a 3-prong cord.

I measured the humidifier fan as drawing 60 watts. That won't change - if we run it for eight hours, it will pull nearly half a Killowatt hour. Of course, that doesn't reflect its true operating cost: those filters are expensive and we were using a fair amount of vinegar to clean it.

Replacing your air conditioner fuses is cheap, easy, and fast. Learn what your fuses do, how to get new ones, and how to switch them out.

This article provides details on everything you want to know about your furnace's pressure switch. See how it works and determine if it's your problem as well as why it's there and how to find the correct replacement.

The next time your change filter light illuminates on your refrigerator, consider saving yourself a large chunk of change and wait a few more cycles.

A look at some of the top reasons you should update your air conditioning unit to a high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, or SEER rating, that include lower energy bills and eco-friendliness.

Is your refrigerator aging, or has it expired? Choosing a new one needs some careful consideration.

Generally, the energy or power used by cooking appliances or cooktops in professional and home kitchens is electric and gas. Confusion often reigns because of the various electric technologies: induction, ceramic-glass, electric coils. This article explains the differences in power source and cooktop applications as well as the pros and cons of each.

Learn what your air conditioner is made of and what parts you may very well be able to replace yourself if there is a breakdown. Easy to follow explanations with photos.

An overview for each type of material used to make sinks. And an in-depth look at everyone's favorite sink material, stainless steel sinks!

A water dispenser is great for providing safe drinking water. The Primo Water Dispenser is one of the least expensive units and also dispenses instant hot and cold water.

Owner's review of and experience with this carpet shampoo machine

The temperature/pressure relief valve (T&P) is an important mechanism for safe operation of a water heater. This article shows how to check your T&P valve and replace it if not operating properly.

The DW743 flip over saw is a classic icon on building sites everywhere, this hub is my expert review from a professional owner and daily user. I wrote this hub because I rely on my DW743 every day to earn my living and I love the fact that it...

There are so many different kinds of handheld sander, which is best for the job you have in mind?

Dishes not getting clean? Don't buy a new dishwasher just yet. This guide will show you how to clean and extend the life of your dishwasher and get that cloudy film off your glasses and silverware.

Counter-top Convection oven information and review for inquisitive shoppers. Learn the differences between convection, toaster and range ovens. Then find out why Oster is the best convection oven on the market.

Ten top tips when using a portable generator for home use. Plus what to look for if you want your generator to be an off-grid power source at home ~ full time or for emergencies. Which one is best?

The best handheld planers make working with wood a pleasure. But how do you choose and which models are best for which jobs?

Here's what you need to consider when deciding whether your new wood-burning stove should be a catalytic or non-catalytic model.

Despite the poor economy due to the Great Depression, magazines advertised a host of modern products. Kitchen appliances of 1932 offered clean, safe operation and freed up time for housewives.

This article will provide you with everything you need to know about lighting and maintaining a fire efficiently in a wood-burning stove.

A comparison article of the larger upright vacuum cleaners from Dyson -- the DC33, DC40 and DC41, ultimately determining which offers 'you' the best overall value given its price tag.

If you have a lingering odor in the kitchen, it may be the refrigerator. This article demonstrates how to clean your refrigerator and offers a couple of tips and tid bits that you may not have considered when doing this chore in the past.

Some of the many important signs that homeowners should know if their heat pump must be checked out by an air conditioning service professional.

We've all had the pilot light on our water heater go out, but do you know how to get it lit again? Here are a few different techniques to re-light it, whether it's open or sealed combustion.

With the cost of electricity on the increase, an energy monitoring adapter is a useful device which can measure and track the energy consumption of a home appliance. Costing about $15, the adapter can be plugged into a standard wall socket and can display several parameters about the appliance connected to it.

A review of both the slide in electric range with downdraft options on the market and an added review of an alternative electric cooktop with downdraft after listening to you, my readers.

Learn the pros and cons of using an outdoor woodburner to heat your home and your water.

Eventually your hot water heater will need help - learn how to troubleshoot and replace thermostats and heating elements.

What does a flame sensor do? How can I clean a flame sensor? A dirty flame sensor can cause furnace problems, including a furnace that won't stay on. This simple repair tip could save you $100-$150.

Learn 2 simple, effective, and cheap ways to seal your own leaking ductwork that will hold up over time and help get the air to where it's supposed to be in your home.

Cleaning your furnace fan thoroughly may not be as hard as you think. The dirt in it however may be much more than you think. See step by step, how to access, clean and re-install your blower motor and squirrel cage.

Handy dishwasher troubleshooting chart on common problems. Easy "Dishwasher Timer switch repair" lesson, and maintaining your dishwasher tips.

That flashing light on your furnace is trying to help. This article will help you understand what it's saying.

For DIY projects requiring stone tiles or stone veneer, you will definitely need a Wet Saw. There are a few styles of Wet Saws to choose from. Wet Saws are easy to use and here are some basic guidelines.

I think I'm fairly qualified to tell you what's wrong with the Champion 3800 Watt portable generator, having owned and used one for over a year now both for my business and for home use.

If you wake up in a blizzard and find yourself without heat as I did this morning, there are a few things that you might want to try before you give up and call for repair. Even if you can't fix the problem yourself, you may be able to determine at least some information about what is causing the malfunction and that information can sometimes be very useful to the people who will ultimately come to fix it.

Learn how to sharpen a lawn mower blade or blades, intended for the homeowner. Lawn mower blade sharpening is not difficult and can be done by most homeowners without much effort.

I had so much trouble with my new LG dishwasher that I returned it after one week and got a different brand. What went wrong with my LG dishwasher and which model is better than LG?

Cleaning your condenser (air conditioner) yourself is easy, free and increases the efficiency of the system. These few simple steps will tell you how to clean the condenser simply and quickly.

Weather your running an electric or gas water heater you should consider this water heater essential.

Having a wood stove in the home has so many benefits. From lowering the electric bill to releasing stress, the wood stove should be an important consideration when considering the type of heating you would like to use for your home.

If your water heater is leaking, what do you do? How do you know where it's leaking from? Learn how to locate the leak, decide if it's something you can fix and ways to extend the life of your water tank here in this hub.

Is the red light on your Lysol No-Touch Soap Dispenser blinking? Is the dispenser not pumping any soap? Follow these easy tips to fix it. If the dispenser is defective you may be able to get coupons for free products.

Cleaning your air conditioning coils doesn't just make the unit look better. This easy to perform maintenance will save you money, extend the life of your condensor and help to prevent the breakdown of air conditioner parts often caused by overheating. Do it yourself in just a few easy to follow steps.

Is your furnace fan running but there's no heat? Learn what a limit switch is, where it is, and how to replace it. Simple to follow instructions.

The aim of this article is to guide you in finding the best heat pump water heater. Here, you will find information and tips on hybrid water heaters in general as well as reviews and recommendations.

In this review, I explain why the Madoats Mini Portable Air Conditioner is the best personal cooling fan and humidifier for the summer.

These are step by step instructions to figure out how much money you spend on heating, how much is wasted, and how much a new furnace can save on your gas bill. You'll feel more confident about choosing your new furnace and knowing what to expect from it.

Replacing the gasket on your refrigerator is easy. This simple repair can offer many benefits for little cost and in little time. These step by step instructions will tell you what you need, how to do it and how to check if it needs done.

If you want to install solar panels and are concerned about the cost, consider a DIY solar panel kit. They include solar panels, inverter and charge controller - everything you need to go solar and can be installed by the average homeowner. Solar panel kits are excellent for RVs, boats, pools, shops/garages and more.

No matter how I cleaned my front-loading washer, the mildew smell kept coming back. Then, I found a quick, easy way to solve the problem for good.

It is much less difficult to change a fridge door water filter than many people think. Here's how it works for the Samsung RS265TDRS.

Guide for how to troubleshoot and fix a Bosch dishwasher that won't drain in three quick steps.

Lately I have noticed a large number of low-priced miniature robotic vacuums available for sale. I decided to pick up one and run it through some tests. My choice, the Clean Robot, is sometimes referred to as the Sweep Robot.

A how-to with photos and discussion, showing how to use a wringer washing machine - a good solution when limited water, power, or other resources are available.

Designing an HVAC system properly is important to the comfort of your home. Know more about your system and its design when buying a new system or building a home. Understand your contractor better.

While an inverter generator isn't always an economical option, it may save you money in the long-run through efficiency and by protecting your sensitive electronic equipment.

It is possible to reduce colds, allergies, and dry skin with an affordable ultrasonic humidifier. Here are some tips for choosing and using one of these appliances.

One of the simplest problems to diagnose and fix is the hot surface ignitor (or igniter). Here are easy to follow directions from an HVAC professional.

The best way to make any significant purchase is with sufficient knowledge. Get a basic understanding of an A/C system so you aren't taken advantage of when going to buy one. Plus get tips on how to maintain your new air conditioning unit.

Reviews and tips for using non-electric space heaters. Be prepared for a power outage or disaster. Great source of heat when off grid.

There is "To be or not to be". There is "Wherefore art thou Romeo". Then there is "How often should I replace my furnace's air filter?" While I'm not sure where Romeo is or if one should be or not, I can help with the answer to the latter.

How to select the right wireless security system. Plus I'm included tips from the installation and coding process to make it easier for you. Cheers!

Replacing a water heater can be one of the more costly items a homeowner is faced with. Here is step by step how I replaced mine and decide for yourself if it's something you can do too.

Counter-depth refrigerators save space and can create a cleaner, more appealing appearance in your kitchen. Most major manufacturers offer counter-depth models.

When the two washing machines in my life both quit, and it turned out to be the same problem with each, it seemed a clear message from the cosmos: write a Hub about this inexpensive DIY fix. Find out if it is the solution to your washer blues!

Alarm keypads and remote controls can eventually become unresponsive after years of use. You can use aluminum foil, conductive silver ink or replacement rubber pads to give them a new lease of life

Instead of spending a lot of money on a new air conditioner, learn how to make one yourself! It's simple and easy to make.

Understand the proper working order of a furnace, so that you can pinpoint problems and repair them, or know what to tell the people who will. Understand what all those parts in your furnace are for.

Is your electric water heater broken? Don't call the plumber! Here are step-by-step instructions for how to troubleshoot and repair it yourself.

Video and step-by-step guide to fixing your home's heating system. Here's how you can solve your own furnace trouble.

Ceiling fans can cut your energy bill by 10 to 40 percent, depending on your individual heating and cooling habits. That statistic alone should be enough to convince you to purchase a ceiling fan – or two. But how do you go about finding the best one for your home? This article will show you how. Just think, can be saving money in no time!

This article will explain how to troubleshoot your furnace when the heat stops working and you see 3 blinking lights on your furnace. There are a few ways to check and fix this problem.

If your house gets damp in cold weather or you have condensation problems then you need a domestic dehumidifier! All about humidity problems and what to look for when chosing a dehumidifier.

Is your window air conditioner installed properly? These tips will help you know what is needed to correctly install your unit as well as how to store it and locate the best place to install it to maximize your cooling ability.

The most popular low to medium budget range hoods from trustworthy brands with excellent customer support are reviewed and compared. Check it out now.

Does your furnace make more noise than you care to hear? Here I'll help you diagnose noises common to residential furnaces. The problems are often simple and cheap to fix.

The colorful Artifit N9 Mini Portable Fan is rechargeable, small, and doesn't require batteries to work. It can run for hours and it's the quickest way to cool off no matter where you are.

Detailed instructions on replacing an ordinary light switch with a motion sensor switch to turn the lights on automatically when a room is occupied.

One of our complaints about the GE was that it didn't seem to wash very well. We happen to be big water drinkers and we filter our tap water rather than contributing to more pollution with bottled water. We had noticed with the GE that we'd see little soap bubbles if we didn't rinse our glasses before using them. We could also taste it - we wouldn't have noticed it with milk or juice, but it s

You've moved into your new home, but the dryer plug doesn't fit. Step-by-step instructions (with photos) for how to change out a 3 prong dryer plug for a new 4 prong cord.

The serial number of your furnace and air conditioner is the key to answering if your HVAC equipment is still under warranty. Your HVAC warranty should have started from the date of installation.

Recommendations and tips for choosing a cordless screwdriver. There are many possibilities, but which is right for you?

Dishwashers have become more efficient in the way they use water and electricity, but how can you tell the good from the bad? This article explores the nature of dishwashers to help you choose.

Window air conditioners need a regular spring cleaning to keep them in working order. Read on to find out how to clean your window air conditioning unit.