Mow-mentum: 8 items for your summer home maintenance to-do list

Jun 11 2018 Summer’s for getting away, having fun in the sun, relaxing with a cold beverage. But while it’s nice to take a vacation from home maintenance, methodically tackling a summer to-do list will ensure that your house looks its best, functions properly and... more ›

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Here's how you can keep your cool this summer without having to crank up the A/C

May 14 2018 Closing blinds can lower the temperature by almost 20 degrees. Three-fourths of American homes have air-conditioning, according to the U.S. Department of Energy website, energy.gov. That cooling consumes approximately 6 percent of all energy produced in the... more ›

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Driveway sealing: coal tar or petroleum asphalt

Apr 2 2018 With your paved driveway in need of refreshing, you’re presented with choices: namely, do the work yourself or hire a professional for the job. If you opt for the latter, you also have options: use a traditional coal-tar sealant, or go with a petroleum-... more ›

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After flood waters recede, dangerous mold often is left behind

Sep 18 2017 Hurricane Harvey in August 2017 established itself as the worst rainfall disaster in American history. It dumped some 33 trillion gallons of water along the Gulf of Mexico. The Washington Post illustrated the enormity of the situation, plopping a giant cube... more ›

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Can you dig it? Call 811 before any digging project

Sep 5 2017 It might be as simple as planting a tree or something a little more involved, such as building a deck. Whether you're a homeowner or professional contractor, if you're digging with powered equipment, you first must call 811. It's also not a bad idea (though... more ›

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Here's how to get a healthier lawn with less effort

Jul 10 2017 Like the chirping of birds and the spinning of fan blades, the humming of lawnmower engines is part of the soundtrack of summer. We're a little obsessed with our lawns, yet sometimes to the detriment of their health and our leisure time. Here's a thought:... more ›

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Beware the lint trap: clean regularly to avoid dryer fires

Jun 12 2017 A Google search of "dryer fire" readily yielded three incidents that occurred within one month of each other: In Lock Haven, Pa., a dryer fire destroyed the home of a 34-year-old man who had lived there most of his life; In Newport News, Va., a dryer left... more ›

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Apply these tips when spreading organic mulch

Apr 19 2017 For home improvement return on investment, it's hard to beat the value that mulch delivers. For a little bit of labor and not a lot of money, you can revive your yard and beautify your home for months to come. Not only can mulch be attractive and sweet-... more ›

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Top of mind: When do you need to replace your roof?

Apr 3 2017 In early 1963, The Drifters had a big hit with the song, "Up On The Roof," which began: When this old world starts getting me down
/And people are just too much for me to face/
I climb way up to the top of the stairs
/And all my cares just drift right into... more ›

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One in 15 homes in U.S. has a radon problem: does yours?

Mar 20 2017 In 2014, a home in Lehigh County, Pa., was found to have the highest radon level ever recorded in the United States. The concentration was more than 900 times greater than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's action level of four picocuries per liter.... more ›

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Taking a shine to solar power for your home

Mar 6 2017 The solar power industry announced its presence with blinding authority in 2016. For the first time in history, solar topped gas and wind as the top source of new electricity-generating capacity, which nearly doubled from 2015. The solar industry accounted... more ›

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Lawn mowing is not child's play: 12 safety tips

Apr 18 2016 Just like morning dew and fireflies at night, the whirring of lawn mower blades is a staple of summer (not to mention much of spring and fall). We love our manicured lawns and take great pride in maintaining them. But it's important to consider just how... more ›

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9 spring home-maintenance tips

May 1 2014 Spring is a time of renewal in nature - and for our homes, which can take a beating from the cold and bluster of winter. So in addition to getting outside for leisure pursuits, it's important to set aside time this spring to tend to home-maintenance needs... more ›

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