Distorted and curled up shingles are often a sign of insufficient or complete lack of attic ventilation. Attic ventilation is crucial in keeping your home’s roof sound and your interior comfortable. Installing soffit vents will increase the airflow under your roof. This will e ...more
Roof ventilation principles are very straightforward -- a cool attic is a happy attic! You need to create a flow of air that enters the overhang of your roof through soffit vents, then flows straight up through the rafters and out through a ridge vent. To help facilitate airfl ...more
Trafficmaster Allure flooring is a popular option for many remodels because it is waterproof, durable, and easy to install. Find out just how easy by watching this video, which walks you through the process of installing the faux-hardwood version of the versatile flooring in a ...more
Driven creatures undermining the very structure of your life – it might sound like a sci-fi flick, but it's all too real when these pests go after your home. Watch this video to learn how to deal with termites. You Will Need * Elastomeric caulk * 6-mil polyethylene plastic s ...more
In this tutorial, Mat Weber teaches us how to install a basement floor. Start with an insulated subfloor system, top it with cork panels, and then top it with easy to install carpet squares. First, you will install OSB subfloor panels, these will protect against moisture extre ...more
A sump pump is a necessity for most homeowners with basements, and if you've just gotten yourself a Basement Watchdog AC sump pump, this video will show you how to install it. This is a full sump pump, AC-powered, that you can install in your basement, either as a first time s ...more
Learn how to install a power roof vent for your home. Install a power roof vent. Click through to watch this video on househacker.com
Range hoods are a necessity in any kitchen. A properly installed range hood will vent hot air and cooking odors outside as well as help keep kitchen surfaces free of grease. The trickiest part of installing a range hood is determining how to run the ventilation ducts. Dependin ...more
Range hoods are a necessity in any kitchen. A properly installed range hood will vent hot air and cooking odors outside as well as help keep kitchen surfaces free of grease. The trickiest part of installing a range hood is determining how to run the ventilation ducts. Dependin ...more
If you want to make sure your sump pump is always working properly, a backup battery would be a good idea. But Basement Watchdog actually makes a combination sump pump power system that controls you primary (AC) power and has a backup battery (DC) for emergencies. This video s ...more
Paneling is so common among many American basements that we often forget that it can be installed in any part of a home. However, it is frequently used to finish the concrete walls of a basement because of its affordability, durability, and ability to make the downstairs livab ...more
Having a backup sump pump is integral in making sure your basement is always protected from water, and if you have the Basement Watchdog battery backup sump pump system, this video will show you the complete installation procedure. Find out how to build a pipe connection to th ...more
Driving a car without windows attached can be a bad idea, especially for those who have never tried driving like that before. Windows help keep things from hitting people's faces and can help deafen the sound of the car's engine and the wind. So in this tutorial, you'll find o ...more
This video from the magazine Extreme How-To shows you how to install a new insulated basement floor. You'll be using insulated subfloor, tongue-and-groove natural cork panels, and modular carpet tiles. Make sure that you take all necessary precautions. Just follow along with t ...more
Ask the Builder host, Tim Carter, shares a quick lesson to help you out of a tough spot when working with plumbing vent pipe. If you're installing a sink, and need to follow the codes, then just work around it with this trick.
Just like a garage, basements can become areas where you're saying hello cold air, good-bye money! This is because when cold air fills a basement, the floor above it becomes cold and can actually lower the tempature in that room. To avoid this, you need to install proper insul ...more
In this video Bob Schmidt shows you an option available for venting 1/2 baths and water closets during your bathroom renovation/improvement.
First, the plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) subfloor floats on a corrugated or “cleated” waterproof underlayment, so the wood never actually touches the floor. The underlayment material can be made of Styrofoam or heavy-duty polyethylene, the same material used in corrug ...more
In this series of video clips you’ll learn how to install new flooring in your basement, including tips on how to prepare your existing basement floor for the installation process, the equipment and supplies you’ll need to install your new floor, and the various flooring optio ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to install an instantaneous water heater. Steps: 1 Use template to mark position of vent hole on exterior wall of basement. 2 Bore center pilot hole for vent using a 3/8-inch-diameter masonry bit. 3 Cut vent hole through wall u ...more
About a quarter of a million homes sustain damage from broken pipes every winter. Here's how to avoid a similar fate. Watch this video to learn how to prevent pipes from freezing. You Will Need * A pipe insulator * Caulk Step 1. Attend to outdoor hoses Unhook, drain, and s ...more
It's that time a year when winter storms begin causing havoc across the United States, and when "rotating outages" are common to help sustain the electrical grid during intense cold periods. That means pretty much anybody with snow and ice in their backyard can succumb to powe ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to install a utility sink. Steps: 1. Turn off water 2. Cut section from existing drain pipe and install a new Wye-fitting 3. Assemble PVC pipe and fittings for new drain/vent system 4. Glue drain/vent system to existing vent s ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to install a solar attic fan. Steps: 1 In attic, mark location of solar-powered vent between two roof rafters. 2 Drive nail through center of vent location. 3 Install roof brackets and fall-arrest system to roof. 4 Scribe outl ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to install a radiator thermostat. Steps: 1 Close the valve at base of radiator. 2 Turn off the room's thermostat. 3 Carefully unscrew the existing air vent from side of radiator. 4 Put Teflon tape on threads of new thermostati ...more
Believe it or not, you don't need to hire an electrician to add a few electrical outlets in your home. The only thing you really need to worry about is being safe. This Old House walks you through the entire process of adding receptacles, from cutting the hole in the drywall t ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to vent a bathroom fan. Steps:1. Screw the humidifier to a wall near the furnace. 2. Cut away insulation from the duct using a utility knife. 3. Position the hole-cutting template onto side of duct. 4. Drill pilot hole through ...more
A rocket stove is a "rocket" combustion approach to preparing meals, which provides high combustion efficiency and efficient heat transfer to the cooking pot. Research suggests (through practical experience) that by using a rocket stove, you could save at least 50% of fuelwood ...more
Is your computer's power supply on the fritz? Learn how to install a power supply in a desktop PC with these easy steps.Before we begin, you should know that many brand name PCs use specially designed power supplies. So, make sure you contact them directly before installing a ...more
If you plan on buying a new or used dryer or are already in possession of one, then it's time to install it. But if you don't know how to do so, then this tutorial will be a guide to help you out. In this video, you'll find out about what tools you'll need, where to properly ...more
Tim Carter shows how to install OSB interlocking panels over a concrete floor. This quick and temporary solution provides a great subfloor to help your basement remodeling.
Finding room in the kitchen to store the various bins needed for recycling can take up a lot of valuable cabinet space. Here Danny comes up with an innovative solution to the problem by installing chutes made from standard 4” dryer vent pipe that send cans and plastic bottles ...more
If you already have a dropped ceiling in your basement, but it needs a bit of sprucing up, this tutorial should help. If you're looking to change up the ceiling that might resemble an office, then you can do so easily. This tutorial will show you how to install ceiling panels ...more
Many old water heaters don't meet today's safety standards. Since they are often placed in basements or garages, they are sometimes near combustible items and can start fires. Here is the process for installing a new, safer water heater. Replace your hot water heater. Click th ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to install a sump pump. Steps: 1 Set sump basin upside down on basement floor; mark its outline on floor. 2 Use demolition hammer to chop through concrete floor. 3 Dig hole deep enough to set basin flush with floor. 4 Wrap the ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to install kitchen cabinets. Steps: 1 Mark cabinet layout lines onto the wall. 2 Locate wall studs using hammer and finishing nail. 3 Mark stud locations onto back of cabinet. 4 Drill four holes through back of cabinet, which ...more
Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to install a mini-split air conditioner. Steps: 1. Lay pad on ground, check for level, then set condenser unit on top of pad. 2. Use 1 ½-inch hole saw to drill hole through house for refrigerant line. 3. Feed refrigerant line ...more
It's not too uncommon for your basement to become extraordinarily messy, as that is where unused items tend to migate. Has your basement become the catch-all place for stuff you don’t know what to do with? Take a deep breath, go downstairs, and get the clutter under control o ...more
Learn how to organize your kitchen. You might cook more if your kitchen weren’t so cluttered. Okay, maybe not. But, still—wouldn’t it be nice to have an organized cooking space? You Will Need * An ability to part with things you don’t need * Baskets * Compartmentalized draw ...more
No matter how hot it gets in your home this summer, you can bet that it’s even hotter in your attic. All that heat in your attic gets transferred to the ceiling below, which will in turn heat the interior of your house. One way to solve this problem is to cool your attic with ...more
Like your significant other, fine wine deserves to be pampered. Unlike your significant other, it prefers a dark, moist, cool place. Here's how to create the perfect environment for your little pointy-headed loved ones. You Will Need * A dark, moist, naturally cool space * A ...more
In this video, we learn how to improve the air quality in your home with Lowe's. First you need to go through your house and search to see how clean the furnace filter is. Make sure this is clean and replace it if it's dirty. Upgrade it to a high performance model if you are a ...more
Ron Hazelton explains how to protect your foundation or basement wall from being affected by water that is discharged from your downspout. He explains how downspout extenders can be used to carry the water away from the foundation. Ron will show you three variations of downspo ...more
Your attic is the most critical area of your house to be adequately insulated in order to keep you toasty warm in winter and cool as a cucumber in the summer. Since heat rises, a poorly insulated attic allows valuable heat from the living space of your house to escape during t ...more
In this short clip from a remodeling shows you can learn how to install a range hood for in your kitchen. Installing a kitchen range hood can be a daunting task, but with a little patience and some ready the task can get done. Watch this how to video to get tips and hints for ...more
In this online video series, learn from roofing expert Tom Shean how to roof a house using metal roofing tiles. Tom will demonstrate, step by step, how to frame for and install metal roof tiles. Learn from our expert how to install roof battens, how to frame roof valleys, how ...more
The best way to keep rats out is by making it difficult and unappealing for them to come inside. Keep your house clean and free of anything that a rat might want to eat. Rats can fit through very small opening so go on the defensive and keep rats where they belong. Simply put ...more
WhatsApp recently updated their emojis (or emoji, depending on your preference), but it wasn't exactly a welcome change. Many users have complained that the new smilies are just way too big, others aren't too fond of the shinier appearance, and countless folks have been ventin ...more
Have an older car with nowhere to plug in your iPod? Rather than paying to have one installed, you can mount your iPod nano on your car's dash like Redditor hyeinkali did in his 2001 Honda Accord. Normally, there's just a boring digital clock between the air vents, but it's pe ...more
Many guides on Null Byte require using the Secure Shell (SSH) to connect to a remote server. Unfortunately for beginners, learning to use SSH can become a confusing mix of third-party programs and native OS support. For Chrome OS users, using SSH is even more difficult. We'll ...more
With the release of the Pixel 2 XL and the iPhone X, smartphones have hit a new high not just in price, but also raw processing power. These new flagships not only cost more than twice as much as an Xbox One or PlayStation 4, they have also become almost as powerful as far as ...more
Will the predicted apocalyptic date—December 21st, 2012—really be the end of the world? In this ongoing five-part series, we examine what would happen if zombies, nuclear weapons, cyber wars, earthquakes, or aliens actually destroyed our planet—and how you might survive. End ...more
If you made a resolution for 2020 to get healthier, it's essential to concentrate on your mental health just as much as you do on physical fitness. Running and exercising is great, but a sound mind is integral to a healthy and balanced life, and you can improve your emotional ...more
When I review apps, I'll oftentimes end up downloading at least one or two "bad" apps that either lied about their functionality or were riddled with ads. These apps, while not as harmful as malware, can still be a major headache. This got me thinking about the other bad apps ...more
While there are at least five cool things coming in iOS 11.4, they may not be enough to get you to install the iOS 11.4 beta on your iPhone. Since its initial beta release at the start of April, there have been plenty of known issues and user-reported bugs to deal with. While ...more
On June 23, National Geographic will begin welcoming visitors to the world's first outdoor planetarium in Quebec, Canada, where an augmented reality experience overlaid on the night sky will replace the projection systems of traditional facilities. Visitors at Québec's Observ ...more
The high limit thermostat can be found in gas and electric dryers and serves as a safety feature that helps to prevent the dryer from becoming too hot when it’s running. The thermostat is designed to shut off power to the dryer’s heater when the dryer vent is blocked or clogge ...more
The fifth annual Amazon Prime Day is upon us. Starting July 15, Amazon will offer thousands of deals on products across its site, kicking off at 3 a.m. EDT. This year, it will only run for 48 hours, so you have even less time to act. To save you some of that time, we made a li ...more
Surprising? No. Exciting? Absolutely. After a grand introduction by at the Apple event on September 10, 2019, the iPhone 11 is finally here. We may have known nearly everything about this new iOS device ahead of time, thanks to the usual surge of reliable leaks and rumors. Th ...more
Since the Razer Phone's announcement in 2017, we've seen a new subgroup of phones emerge. Gaming phones are now a thing, leading to companies like ASUS creating phones that are thoroughly optimized for the mobile gaming experience. And with their second iteration, they perfect ...more