Guides
Plain-English guides to electrical, heating and cooling, and DIY projects — written to help you plan and know when to call a pro.
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DIY or Call an Electrician? How to Decide Safely
Which electrical jobs homeowners commonly handle, which ones should go to a licensed electrician, and the warning signs that mean you should stop and…
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How Much Paint Do I Need for a Room? Step-by-Step
Measure your room, subtract doors and windows, and work out exactly how many gallons and quarts of paint to buy, with tips to avoid…
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How Many BTU Do I Need? Sizing a Room Air Conditioner
How to size a window, portable or mini-split air conditioner for a room: the square-footage rule, adjustments for sun, people and kitchens, and why…
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What Size Wire Do I Need? A Plain-English Guide to AWG
How wire gauge (AWG) works, which wire matches 15, 20, 30, 40 and 50 amp breakers, and when a long run needs a bigger…
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How to Fix Drafty Windows and Doors: Weatherstripping and Caulk
Find air leaks around windows and doors and seal them with weatherstripping, caulk and door sweeps, one of the cheapest ways to cut heating…
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How Much Flooring Do I Need? Laminate, Vinyl and Hardwood
Measure your rooms, add the right waste factor, convert to boxes and avoid the planning mistakes that leave you short of laminate, vinyl or…
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How to Read an EnergyGuide Label (and Compare Appliances)
What the yellow EnergyGuide label on appliances tells you, how to use it to compare models, and how to adjust its estimate to your…
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How Many Outlets Can Be on a 15 or 20 Amp Circuit?
What the electrical code says about outlets per circuit in homes, why the real limit is the load you plug in, and which rooms…
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Watts, Kilowatt-Hours and Your Bill: How to Calculate Appliance Energy Use
Watts vs. kilowatt-hours explained simply, how to calculate what any appliance uses, and how to find the biggest energy users in your home.
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How to Prep Walls for Painting: 7 Steps for a Smooth Finish
Good paint jobs are made in the prep. Seven steps, from clearing the room to priming patches, plus a safety check for older homes.