Home & Garden

Articles Index

Heating - Seasonal Heating Needs - Furnaces

Here's a look at different types of heating options in your home and tips to connect them properly.

How To Install an Over-The-Range Microwave Oven

This is a complete step-by-step guide to installing an over-the-range microwave oven.

Steps to Choosing the Right Fan For Your Home

When you are trying to decide which fan is needed where in your home, this article will give you the insight you need.

How To Wire and Install an Outlet

Learn all the steps involved in installing an outlet. These steps include stripping the wire, making proper connections and which wire goes where. Outlet installation is made easy and safe in this tutorial.

Checking For Incorrect Electrical Wiring

Inspecting electrical connections to terminals, devices, and other wires takes only a few minutes, but the benefit could be saving your home from damage. Checking the wiring in your home should be done from time to time. Unsafe wiring can show up where outlets and switches are connected, where wires are spiced together in junction boxes, or just in areas where the wires are exposed.

Door Chime Installation

Door chimes, sometimes called door bells, are a convenient way of having notification that someone is at one of your doors. Sometimes having someone knocking doesn't alert you to visitors, but having a centrally locted door chime to alert you can have its benefits.

Door Bell Troubleshooting

A doorbell, or a door chime as they are often called, is a convenient way for a visitor to alert you that they are at your front door. By simply pushing a button, a bell or chime is rung and you know there is someone either at the front or back door of your home. But what do you do when the button is pushed and it doesn't ring or chime?

Calculating Subpanel Loads

Learn how to calculate subpanel loads.

How To Check Single-pole Switches

Learn how you can check single-pole switches to see if they are still functional and in good working order.

How To Wire And Install Single-pole Switches

Installing and wiring a single-pole switch couldn't be easier than with this step-by-step guide from About.com's electrical guide, Timothy Thiele.

How To Convert Electric Clothes Dryer Cords From 4-Prong To 3-Prong

Newer homes are now being equipped with 4-prong dryer cord plugs, but if you are moving into an older home, you may need to convert your dryer cord to a 3-prong configuration.

How To Change An Electric Dryer Cord From 3-Prong To 4-Prong Cords

Newer homes are now being equipped with 4-prong dryer cord plugs. This is the new standard and is required under Article 550.16(A)(2) of the National Electrical Code (NEC) 2008. Connections of electrical clothes dryers shall be made with a 4-conductor cord and 3-pole, 4-wire, grounding-type plugs or by Type AC cable.

How To Wire A Dryer Outlet

Follow these simple step-by-step instructions in order to wire a dryer outlet. They take you from stripping the wire to making the electrical connections.

How to Wire Electric Range Receptacles

Learn how to wire electric range receptacles with this easy step-by-step guide.

Anatomy of a Three-Way Switch

A three-way switch may put fear in the eyes of homeowners who attempt do-it-yourself projects. By knowing what each part of the switch is, what wire to use, and how to connect it, the mystery of hooking up three-way switches disappears.

How an Electrical System Works

We all use electricity in our homes every day, but how does it get there and how is it distributed throughout the home? The electrical system is comprised of many different devices from the power lines to your switches and outlets. See how the power flows in your electrical system with this informative step-by-step article.

How to Wire a Telephone Jack

Learn how easy it is to wire a telephone jack by following these simple steps.

How to Combine Gangable Boxes

Learn how to combine two or more gangable boxes together in order to add another switch or outlet.

How to Install Junction Boxes

Learn how to install junction boxes where wires are spliced together without them.

Ballast Gone Ballistic?

Fluorescent lighting is cool, soft lighting that works well in kitchens and utility rooms. If you’ve ever had one of these lights turn itself on and off, you may have a bad ballast. Sometimes it will seep a tar-like substance into the cover of your light. Either way, it is time to change the ballast.

Ballast Gone Ballistic? - Reassembly

After disassembling a ballast from a fixture, these step will make reassembling a snap.

Lights Out! Be Weather Ready!

The dog days of summer bring hot, humid days and severe weather right on along with them. These storms can produce high winds, tornadoes and hurricanes. Severe storms have a way of causing power outages and can leave you in the dark if you’re not prepared. It’s time to plan ahead for the worst case scenario. Find out how battery backup lighting and portable generators can save the day. Don't be left out in the dark!

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