Choose your location
Family Handyman
Coleman Camp Stove Review: From a Vanlifer’s Perspective
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. A good—no, an excellent—camp stove is a must-have item for every type of camper. Whether you’re a car camper staying in established campgrounds, a campervan traveler scooping up dry camping spots in National Forests, or a backpacker sleeping in primitive wilderness sites, you need a way to prepare food. Cold-soaked oatmeal and jerky just doesn’t cut it all the time.
With Home Equity Levels Near Record High, Should You Remodel?
If you own a home, chances are it’s worth more now than it was just a few years ago. According to CoreLogic, home equity levels have increased by about $28,000 on average just in the last year. This led my partner and I to consider a home equity loan to build a workshop.
How To Use a Level Over Long Distances
A 2-ft. level works just fine on small projects like installing small sections of wall tile, building closet walls and installing single cabinets. But when you have to quickly and accurately set elevations over long distances for bigger jobs like building decks, digging trenches and setting concrete form boards, this trusty ol’ level is out of its league.
8 Pool Fence Ideas for Your Backyard
If you’re lucky enough to have a pool in your backyard, you might be wondering how to keep it safe. A proper pool fence is the best way to prevent drownings, but not just any fence will do. Your pool fence should be strong, resistant to climbing, and include a lockable gate. We spoke to fence expert Anthony Strianese for further guidance.
7 Best Freeze-Dried Meals for Camping, Tested and Reviewed by an Avid Camper
I'm a full-time van-lifer and outdoor enthusiast. Here are the best freeze-dried meals for backcountry adventures. Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. Learn more. After years of backcountry adventures and a dedicated month-long period of testing freeze-dried camping meals,...
Black+Decker Hedge Trimmer Review: We Tested This High Performance Cordless Tool
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. A quality hedge trimmer is an essential tool in every homeowner’s landscaping arsenal because well-groomed shrubs, bushes, and hedges contribute significantly to curb appeal. Plus, regularly grooming shrubbery eliminates dead, diseased, and overgrown branches, promoting thicker, denser, and more attractive growth and allowing healthier parts of the plant to flourish.
Door Won’t Latch? Here’s an Easy Fix
You shut the door, but it doesn’t latch, or you have to lift the handle to get it to latch. This problem is getting on your nerves—why not spend five minutes fixing it? The first thing you should try is tightening the screws in both the handle and the striker plate. If the door still doesn’t catch, try the following steps.
Intex Above-Ground Pool Review: Installation, Pros and Cons
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. Ever since I moved away from California, I’ve missed having a swimming pool in the backyard. Lounging in the water was my strategy for surviving the sweltering summers. It also created happy memories that I fondly remember today.
Why Is My Sewer Bill So High Right Now? Experts Weight In
I’ve been living on rural properties with well water and septic systems for most of my adult life, so I never wondered: “Why is my sewer bill so high?” In fact, I had no idea what a sewer bill really was until experts Al Ruggie and Josh Rudin of ASAP Restoration in Phoenix and Asif Bux of Calgary-based Comfort Union brought me up to speed.
Remove a Stubborn Oil Filter with This Genius Hack
We’ve all done it — overtightened an oil filter so much that it’s a bear to remove. If you think you can remove it by jamming a long screwdriver through the can and twisting, think again. The screwdriver will just rip the can open, and you’ll be drenched in oil. When you’re done dealing with that mess, the filter will still be stuck, and you’ll be even more frustrated.
6 Best Electric Pruning Shears, Tested and Reviewed
We tested six electric pruning shears to help buyers like you decide what is worth your investment (and what isn't). Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases. Learn more. Electric pruning shears are simply shears that use electrical power instead...
6 Tips for Buying Wood Trim That Will Save Time and Money
Interior trim can add definition and refinement to a room, and wood remains a good choice for material. Today, synthetic trims can sometimes be a better option. Here are a few tips to help you no matter which material you choose. Wood trim, also known as molding or millwork, enhances...
6 Ways to Fix a Flickering Light Bulb
Have a broken light but don't know why it doesn't work? Get to the bottom of it! Follow these tips on how to fix a light that just stopped working. If it’s Halloween, a flickering light bulb is a great decoration, but otherwise, it’s a minor annoyance. There could be several different causes, so while it’s often an easy fix, you need to do some troubleshooting to find the source of the issue. We’ll walk you through some of the most common causes and how to fix them.
8 Ways You Can Help Your Lawn Survive the Heat Wave
Unusual weather events are quickly becoming the new normal. This includes more extreme heat waves that bring days of intense temperatures. Typical lawn care methods won’t cut it during a heat wave, and need to be adjusted. If you’d like to learn ways to protect your grass from heat, read on for pro-tips from Joe Churchill from Reinders and Matt Cameron from CMS Landscaping.
A Guide To Correctly Attaching a New Deck to A House
Out here on California’s Central Coast, it’s rare to find a house without a deck. If you don’t see one in the front of the house, it’s probably in the back, and many of them are attached to the house. That means that builders like my former employer, Are Dann, retired owner of Dann Construction, must be adept at connecting the deck to the building.
Save Money by Insulating Crawl Space Ducts
Crawl space insulation might not be at the forefront of your mind but forgetting about it is an expensive mistake. Uninsulated ducts that run through unconditioned spaces can lose more than 30 percent of their heating or cooling capacity. So you’ll save money by insulating them. The Residential Building Code calls for R-8 insulation for these ducts, but check with your building inspector for local code requirements. Before you insulate, however, plug any air leaks by sealing all the joints with caulk or tape.
Here’s What You Need To Consider Before Buying Laminate Countertop
In this article, we dive into the pros and cons of laminate countertops and offer tips on choosing from the many available colors and patterns. You’ll also find photos and guides on various edge styles and backsplash options to help you make the best choice for your kitchen. What...
Here’s How To Remove Hard Water Stains From Brick
Hard water stains are a pain to clean off brick. However, as much as you may want to put off the chore, they’re an unsightly blemish. So you’re better served cleaning them up. But hard water stains, especially those on bricks, are tricky to clean. They require a lot of scrubbing and specialized cleaners to get the job done right. Start by making sure you’ve got all your supplies handy, and some time set aside to knock the chore out.
Save Money On Your Utility Bills By Filling Gaps Around Electrical Outlets
Electrical outlets and switches on exterior walls can leak a lot of cold outside air into the house. Add up all the outlets in the average house, and you can experience some serious heat loss, which makes it worth spending 10 minutes per outlet plugging the holes. Before you start,...
7 Ways to Fix a Bouncy Floor
Are your floors putting a little too much spring in your step? The only good bouncy floor is the inflatable building at a kid’s birthday party! If you notice a springy bounce when you cross the floor, it’s time to learn about fixing a bouncy floor. I contacted...
Family Handyman
7K+
Posts
137M+
Views
The Family Handyman empowers DIYers to maintain and improve their homes, with inspiring projects, expert advice and clear, step-by-step instructions.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.