Author name: Pyvor

First-time homeowners might be surprised at some of the things that they are responsible for maintaining, such as having to clear away snow from the sidewalk in front of their home or mowing the grass in the city’s easement near the street. While duties and ordinances differ between communities, property care practices are generally split […]

Q: Our water heater is on its last legs. I’ve increased the temperature on the tank to its highest setting, but the water coming out just isn’t hot anymore. So, it’s time to buy a new water heater! Our existing tank has a 30-gallon capacity, which was fine when we bought the house 10 years

Q: We’re building a large addition on our house. It will include two bedrooms, a vaulted great room, and two additional bathrooms. Where should smoke detectors be placed in our home for the greatest fire safety? A: Kudos to you for thinking about this small yet crucial detail! There are guidelines for where to place

The ideal humidity level for a home is between 30 and 50 percent. Excess humidity can lead to mold and mildew growth, as well as causing damage like peeling paint. Some potential reasons for a house being too humid include humid conditions outdoors, activities like washing dishes or showering, plumbing leaks, insufficient insulation, moist soil

Q: We’re looking to replace our HVAC system and saw an option to purchase a heat pump instead of an air conditioner and a furnace. What is a heat pump, and how will it work in our home? A: Simply put, a heat pump moves heat from one place to another. It differs from other

While browsing through apartment listings, you’ve likely come across the term ¡°kitchenette.¡± If you’ve ever asked yourself, what is a kitchenette, the answer is actually quite simple. The suffix ¡°ette¡± just means ¡°small,¡± so a kitchenette is basically a small kitchen. But don’t think of it as a standard kitchen crammed into a restricted space¡ªa

“Location, location, location!” may be a well-known real estate rallying cry, but the orientation of a house is important as well. House orientation refers to the position of a structure on its site, and it’s typically described by the cardinal direction that the front facade faces—for example, a home with its main entrance facing north

A system that allows you to design your own configuration is a great option because it allows you to configure and reconfigure your home security plan as your circumstances or concerns change. It does, however, leave the decision of where to place the cameras up to you instead of in the hands of a security

Beyond their conventional use, the remnants of a wood-burning fireplace hold surprising potential. In fact, in the 1700s through the early 1900s, wood ash was used to produce potash (an alkaline potassium compound) for fertilizer and alkali before its value as a raw material declined. From enhancing soil quality to crafting natural cleaning solutions, we’re

Q: I recently moved into a house with gas appliances. I purchased new smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, but I’m not sure what I need to detect gas leaks. What does a gas leak smell like, and what should I do if I notice a gas leak smell or gas leak symptoms? A: An important