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Our home isn’t equipped with central air conditioning, since we have oil and a wood stove that serve as our heat sources. We used window units for a while, but after they caused damage to our beautiful wood windowsills, the hunt was on for a cooling method that was energy efficient and did not cause […]

A good starting point in determining when to pick tomatoes is the number of days to harvest listed on the seed packet or plant tag. With thousands of tomato varieties of all shapes, colors, and sizes, ripening times can vary from as few as 60 days to more than 100 days. The “days to harvest”

Most times, soffit and fascia repairs can be tackled by a roofing contractor. If the gutters also need repairs, a gutter company can repair the soffit and fascia at the same time. A pest control professional may be needed if there are signs of animal or insect infestations. Regardless of the type of professional hired,

The foundation of many furniture projects—like crafty wine racks, whimsical swing chairs, and elegant daybeds—relies on old-fashioned elbow grease and a pile of shipping pallets. Durable, versatile, and affordable, pallets are a must-have in your workshop, should you need to know where to find them. While you can order shipping pallets online, plucky DIYers seeking

In the construction business, a contractor is a person or organization who is hired by a client to complete an element or elements of a building project. There are several types of contractors with various roles and responsibilities, so the type of contractor hired will depend on the nature of the job. Typically speaking, however,

Q: Last night, the power went out and, luckily, came back on only an hour later¡ªsoon enough for the food in the fridge to stay fresh. What causes power outages like this one? Is there anything we should do to ensure it doesn’t happen again? A: An outage, or ¡°blackout,¡± occurs when something interrupts the

It makes the most sense for a professional roofer to handle a home’s roof vent installation, since it’s a job they probably take on often. A roofer is the best choice for installing a new roof-mounted fan, since they’ll need to cut a hole into the roof and seal the area surrounding the fan once

Moving into a new home is an exciting time. The new homeowner can make their house feel more like their own by painting the walls, putting up artwork, or installing new appliances. However, a new gas line installation is a home improvement that’s best not to DIY unless you are a licensed, bonded, and insured

A fuel cell creates electricity through a process that transforms energy created from a chemical reaction between a fuel (usually hydrogen) and an oxidizing agent (typically oxygen). Though fuel cells aren’t used as widely as more traditional power generation sources, such as fossil fuels or lithium-ion batteries, they have a broad range of applications. Although

Q. There are some odd black stains that suddenly appeared on a wall in my basement. Should I be worried that it’s mold? What does black mold look like? A: No homeowner wants to discover black mold. Not only is it unpleasant to look at and smell, but certain varieties of black mold can also