Electricity & Energy
What appliances cost to run, why a breaker keeps tripping, why the smoke alarm chirps at 3 a.m., and which electrical jobs you should never do yourself.
Energy use & costs
-
How Much Does It Cost to Run a Space Heater?
Every plug-in heater turns electricity into heat at the same efficiency, so the only numbers that matter are its wattage, the hours it runs and what you pay per kilowatt-hour.
Smoke & CO alarms
-
Why Is My Smoke Detector Chirping? What Every Beep Means
A single chirp is a maintenance message. A loud repeating pattern is an emergency. Knowing the difference, and why the chirping always seems to start at 3 a.m., saves a lot of frustration.
Other parts of the house
- Heating & Cooling Air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps, thermostats and space heaters.
- Water & Plumbing Water heaters, toilets, faucets, drains, pressure and water quality.
- Kitchen Appliances Refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, ovens, stoves and microwaves.
- Laundry Washing machines, dryers, detergents, cycles and care.
- Air & Moisture Humidity, condensation, dehumidifiers, humidifiers and indoor air.