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Question: The recessed lights in my house are accessible from the attic, but there’s no insulation around them because it says on the fixtures that they need to vent the heat generated by incandescent bulbs. If I replace those bulbs with LEDs, will that reduce the heat enough so I can insulate around the existing lighting cans?—T. J. Guinta, Patchogue, NY Answer: While LEDs run much cooler than incandescents, their electronic components and external heat sinks do get quite hot; you would still need to keep the insulation away from your fixtures....

Top 4 Pencil Sharpeners Best For Classrooms: X-Acto School Pro Classroom Pencil Sharpener Best Color Options: Bostitch Personal Electric Pencil Sharpener Best Vertical Design: JARLINK Electric Pencil Sharpener Best Pocket-Sized Design: Aipker Manual Pencil Sharpeners Best For Classrooms: X-Acto School Pro Classroom Pencil Sharpener This pencil sharpener is designed for classroom use, combining a durable plastic and alloy steel frame with a quiet electrical motor. In addition, this heavy-duty classroom pencil sharpener has a helical steel cutter that gives you rounded points, making it safe for children....

Top 5 Indoor Plants Best For Low Lighting: Plants for Pets Live Snake Plant Best For Medicinal Benefits: Costa Farms Aloe Vera Best Climbing Plant: Hirt’s Gardens Heart Leaf Philodendron Best Floor Plant: Costa Farms Majesty Palm Tree Best For Beginners: Brussel’s Live Hawaiian Umbrella Indoor Bonsai Tree Best For Low Lighting: Plants for Pets Live Snake Plant This plant can adapt to your environment to ensure a long lifespan. It’s able to survive and thrive even in low-light settings, which makes it a good choice for those who don’t have a lot of direct sunlight in their home....

Start with a Ranch From the very first visit, Shayla Adams saw the possibilities for the one-story ranch house on a quiet cul-de-sac in Westerly, Rhode Island, in part because a majestic oak tree in the yard reminded her of her childhood home. Her husband, Scott, however, needed some convincing. He liked the lot—the 1.7-acre property was much larger than the fifth-of-an-acre that surrounded their home at the time. He also liked the location, just a mile from Misquamicut Beach, which he grew up visiting with family friends in Westerly....

You don’t have to be shivering in a sandy swimsuit to appreciate an open-air shower. Even landlocked homeowners—stressed-out townies, gritty green thumbs, suburban soccer dads—are discovering that bathing outdoors is not just practical, it’s downright luxurious. That’s how architect Howard Backen sees his shower. Every morning, he’s out there, lathering up to the sound of birds in his garden and the sight of mountains beyond his home in California’s Napa Valley....

When building a house, what you don’t see matters. Our Fairfield County Farmhouse may look simple and rustic on the outside, but inside its walls and beneath its hardwood floors you’ll find some of the most advanced engineered lumber products available. Structurally superior to standard lumber, these manufactured joists, studs and beams enable longer spans, firmer floors and straighter walls. Read on to learn more. Engineered for Long-lasting Stability The Farmhouse floor framing uses Trus Joist® TJI® Joists manufactured by Weyerhaeuser....

Conclusion While holiday home disasters like fires, burglaries, and damaged water lines can put a damper on your holiday plans, it’s important to take the necessary precautions to keep your home and belongings safe. Sending online orders to a secure package center, using safe and certified Christmas lights, shopping on legitimate e-commerce sites, and keeping your water lines insulated during the colder months are all ways you can remain protected during the holiday season....

A long-lasting patio is a lot like a smooth paint job—it’s all about the prep work. Rush to put pavers down on a faulty base, and it might take only a few seasons for the stones to shift and become a tripping hazard. Walpole, Massachusetts, homeowner Michael Kelleher, along with landscape designer Jennifer Nawada and landscape contractor A. Bonadio & Sons, focused most of the project time for the 18-by-18-foot patio on creating a rock-solid foundation....

Nathan Gilbert heads back to the shop to explain how modern cylindrical locksets differ from mortise sets. He shows Kevin O’Connor how simple these modern locksets are to install and repair. Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time How to Replace a Common Door Lock Start by removing the two screws holding the deadbolt thumb turn onto the door. Remove the thumb turn and pull the deadbolt cylinder out from the front of the door....

Steps: Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time If the indoor shutoff valve is not stopping water flow, the local water department has access to a shutoff valve near the street and can be called to shut off water while work is performed. With the water off, open the faucets and showers in the building to drain any water left in the pipes. Use sandpaper to clean the main water line before cutting into it....

Previous episode: S20 E14 | Next episode: S20 E16 In this episode: It’s been 20 years since the first episode of Ask This Old House aired, and the team reflects on the past two decades together. This episode covers it all, from looking at how some of the team members started on the show to insight into working with Tom Silva. First, we meet host Kevin O’Connor, plumbing & heating expert Richard Tretheway, and general contractor Tom Silva in the shop to discuss the show’s origins....

Previous episode: S43 E5 | Next episode: S43 E7 In this episode: The homeowners of the 1880s cape house want the living space to open to the cooking space. To accomplish that, Tom and Charlie Silva install a special beam to carry the second story and roof load. Kevin O’Connor lends a hand as they install a five-layer Flitch beam. Outside, several tree issues need to be addressed before winter arrives....

By clicking on the product links in this article, the editorial team may receive a commission fee at no cost to you, the reader. The 5 Best Saatva Mattress Sales Saatva may be a luxury mattress brand, but that doesn’t mean buyers can’t snag one of their American-made mattresses for a great price. When looking for a new mattress, price is always a consideration, especially if you’re getting a new bed frame or accessories....

This article appeared in the Summer 2021 issue of This Old House Magazine. Click here to learn how to subscribe. When speed of application is paramount, pro painters go for an airless paint sprayer. These sprayers work by pumping coatings through a tiny opening in the gun’s tip. The pressures are so high—up to 3,000 psi—that the paint explodes from the tip into a fine mist. Such pressures also allow these sprayers to work with coatings of any type, from thin stains to pudding-thick latexes, without any need to adjust their consistency....

Steps: Project details Skill Cost Estimated Time Tools & Materials Pipe wrench pliers Basin wrench Adjustable wrench An unvented bathroom sink may have a full S-trap, which may siphon and expose the home to sewer gas. Before doing any plumbing work, turn off the water at the main water supply or at local service valves. Remove the old drain piping. If replacing the faucet, remove that as well. Use plumber’s putty to make a watertight seal on the faucet base plate....

Steps for Updating a Kitchen on a Budget: The simplest way to refresh a kitchen is by replacing the faucet. Most new faucets come with cover plates to hide holes from old hot and cold lines. If there are holes in the sink from an old spray nozzle, they sell soap dispensers and water filters that can fit in those holes as a replacement. Another way to update a kitchen is by changing out the sink....

Top 5 Roach Killers Best Application Tools: Advion Pest Control Gel Best Roach Trap: Hot Shot Ultra-Liquid Roach Bait Best For Small Infestations: Raid Roach Gel Best Roach Fogger: Raid Concentrated Deep-Reach Fogger Best Multipurpose Killer: Ortho Home Defense MAX Insect Killer Spray Best Application Tools: Advion Pest Control Gel This roach killer gel comes in four plunger tubes with several applicator heads, allowing you to line any areas of your home that are susceptible to cockroaches....

Energy bills can skyrocket during the summer. On average, it costs around $280 per year to run air-conditioning at home. Divided over the hottest months of the year—June, July, and August—that’s about $93.33 per month just for air-conditioning, according to Carbonrally.com. Don’t let your increased energy bill keep you from taking that much-needed summer vacation. Here are some easy ways to cut your electric bill this summer so you can stay cool and still have money left over....

Homeowners in Tampa, Florida, have sunny weather all year-round. It makes the city the great place to spend time outdoors enjoying your lawn. However, the summers get very hot, which can harm even the hardiest warm-weather grasses. For the healthiest Tampa lawn possible, Floridians should consider hiring a professional lawn care company. This Old House Reviews Team believes TruGreen is the best option for lawn care in Tampa, with multiple comprehensive plans, a variety of a la carte services, and decades of experience and expertise....

Considering buying a folding multi tool? This Old House ’s Richard Trethewey has carried a Leatherman tool for decades. Clipped to his belt or snugged in a pocket, his Wave style has been a constant companion—until he hits the airport. “In my years of travel, I’ve lost at least a dozen to the TSA,” he says, regretfully. Note to our favorite plumbing and heating expert: The keychain-size Style PS—with pliers, scissors, tweezers, a file, and a bottle opener—meets domestic TSA “no blade” carry-on rules....