Clear, illustrated answers about the appliances, heating and cooling, water, power and air in your home. Find out what a noise, light or leak means, what to check first and when to call a professional.
Common searches: smoke alarm chirping water heater popping windows sweating
Select a pin to open the most-asked question about that part of the house.
Air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps, thermostats and space heaters.
Water heaters, toilets, faucets, drains, pressure and water quality.
Refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, ovens, stoves and microwaves.
Washing machines, dryers, detergents, cycles and care.
Running costs, outlets, breakers, lighting and smoke and CO alarms.
Humidity, condensation, dehumidifiers, humidifiers and indoor air.
What any appliance costs to run per hour, month and year.
The BTU rating a room needs, using the ENERGY STAR method.
Will your windows sweat tonight? Find the humidity limit for your glass.
Is a repair worth it? Compare cost, age and expected lifespan.
Ice on an air conditioner in July looks backwards, but it follows simple physics. Here is how to thaw the system without damaging it, and how to tell which of seven causes you are dealing with.
Wet windows on a cold morning are a humidity gauge you did not ask for. Here is the physics, the humidity your windows can handle at each outdoor temperature, and what actually works.
Too dry and the air feels harsh and wood cracks. Too damp and mold and musty smells move in. The right number depends on the season, and you can measure it for less than the cost of lunch.
A single chirp is a maintenance message. A loud repeating pattern is an emergency. Knowing the difference, and why the chirping always seems to start at 3 a.m., saves a lot of frustration.
Every plug-in heater turns electricity into heat at the same efficiency, so the only numbers that matter are its wattage, the hours it runs and what you pay per kilowatt-hour.
Ice on an air conditioner in July looks backwards, but it follows simple physics. Here is how to thaw the system without damaging it, and how to tell which of seven causes you are dealing with.
Cold air from the vents in January is alarming, but the cause is often a switch or a filter. Work through these checks from the simplest to the most serious.
Numbers come from manufacturers’ manuals and agencies such as the Department of Energy, ENERGY STAR and the EPA. Every guide lists its sources.
We separate what you can check yourself from work that belongs to a licensed professional, and we say why.
Each guide shows when it was last reviewed. Corrections are welcome and we act on them quickly.