High moisture levels in a home can lead to potentially serious health issues, including asthma, allergies, and various other respiratory illnesses that are triggered by mold, dust mites, peeling lead paint, and pests. If you’ve noticed water leaks or stains, rotting woods, musty odors, rusting or corrosion, and excessive condensation, understanding how to lower humidity in a house is crucial. Learn about ways to reduce high humidity levels.
Installing basement wall insulation and basement ceiling insulation as part of a basement finishing project can help walls keep heat in a basement during cold months and prevent heat from entering a basement in warmer months. Before insulating basement walls, there are important tasks that should be completed and considerations that can prevent future damage to your finished basement. Learn about basement insulation types and considerations when installing insulation materials.
Older homes are known to be less energy efficient than newer models, however, there are several home repairs and renovations that can be made to older homes to make them more energy efficient. Learn about these repairs that can reduce energy consumption and monthly utility bills.
Insulating expanding foam sealant can reduce sound transfer, stabilize a wobbly showerhead, or even secure fragile items for shipping. However, it shouldn't be used for all DIY projects and can be more troublesome than helpful. Learn about this innovative product and proper use.
When you're switching out a bathtub, insulate underneath the new one to increase heat-retaining properties. Bathtub materials vary in their heat-retaining properties, and it’s easy and inexpensive to increase any bathtub’s ability to retain heat with insulation.
Proper insulation equals greater energy efficiency, and those smaller or oft-forgotten spaces around the house that are particularly vulnerable to air leaks have an outsize effect on energy bills and household comfort.
This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shows how to warm up a chilly concrete wall.
Formed into blankets, batts, or boards, mineral-wool fibers block both sound and temperature exchange through walls.
Homeowners expect to get a bill from their utility company each month, but opening one for a particularly expensive month can be a real shocker. If your bills seem consistently higher than what they should be, it’s time to look for hidden energy drains and consider some changes that can make a huge difference.
If you live in an older home, understanding what pads your walls is essential to keeping your family safe.