Paul

As a homeowner, I am constantly experimenting with making the structure of my house more energy-efficient, eliminating pests, and taking on DIY home improvement projects. Over the past two decades, my family has rehabbed houses and contracted new home builds and I've learned a lot along the way. I share my hard-learned lessons so that you can save time and money by not repeating my mistakes.

When picking insulation, you want one that has high R-values and is safe. Flammability is an important consideration—after all, nobody wants to install insulation that can catch fire. So, is fiberglass insulation flammable? Fiberglass insulation cannot catch fire, but at high enough temperatures, it can melt. However, the brown paper that is often attached to …

If you are thinking about insulating your attic, there are several options. The trendy one is spray-in foam, but that can be costly and is not a DIY project. Foam board is cheaper, but can it be safely used in an attic? You can use foam board in the attic. It is an excellent installation …

A noisy furnace is annoying, but it can signify that something in your furnace is starting to fail. If you are wondering why your furnace is buzzing, we have the answers. The most common sources of a buzzing sound from a furnace include: The blower fan Motor bearings The draft inducer The Belt (certain models), …

Maybe you have noticed drafts in your home in the wintertime, or simply feel like you are spending more to heat your home than necessary. Often, the problem lies in air leaks around the home. A good way to prevent air leaks is to insulate your attic space, but how do you insulate around a …

When choosing insulation for your home, one of the most important factors to consider is whether it’s flammable. If you are considering batts, you must be wondering whether they are combustible. Batt insulation made from fiberglass isn’t flammable, but the fiberglass will melt if the fire gets too hot. If the batt is covered with …

Finding a puddle of water at the bottom of your refrigerator or on the floor is unexpected and alarming. You obviously want to know why that happened and what you can do about it. The most common causes of a refrigerator drain pull being full of water include: A clogged drain system Malfunctioning ice maker …

Air conditioners, like all electronics, can really be a pain when they don’t work correctly. If your air conditioner is blowing out water, here’s what is likely causing it: An air conditioner will blow out water if there’s a problem with the condensation drain. The water comes from the Freon coils in your AC unit. …

A common debate is whether to use OSB or sheetrock in a garage. With the exception of some fire rating necessities, it really boils down to personal preference. Both OSB and Sheetrock can be used to cover the walls in a garage. Fire-Rated OSB and sheetrock each meet the fire code requirements for attached and …

I’ve been looking at the possibility of installing a tankless water heater for my pool. They take up significantly less space than traditional water heaters and can be incredibly energy-efficient. But I had to do some research to determine whether or not I could install one outdoors. A tankless water heater can be installed outside …

Fiberglass is one of the most common household insulation methods. It’s easy to use, long-lasting, and budget-friendly. There are a few drawbacks to using fiberglass insulation, but all of them can be limited or completely prevented by following the proper installation procedures. Fiberglass insulation can touch HVAC ductwork provided the ducts are not leaking or …