Home Appliances

A flashlight's a flashlight, right? Not so fast. Nowadays, manufacturers are making flashlights with laser pointers, tools, stun guns and all kinds of other gizmos to make your life easier. Now you just have to choose which one to buy.

By Nathan Chandler

Layering is the best way to dress for unpredictable outdoor weather. 3-in-1 jackets combine waterproofing and insulation to provide the best protection against wetness and cold.

By Linda C. Brinson

You could fork over the cash for a regular monthly gym membership to get in shape, but would you really use it? You could tone up with your own all-in-one system at home.

By Josh Briggs

If you unplug any appliance in your house, there's a 98 percent chance than the two flat prongs have holes in them. Find out the reasons for these holes.

Low-flow toilets have improved since the 1990s. Not only do they save tons of water, they can flush your waste with as little as a gallon of water.

By Barbara Boughton

In today's economy, with rising fuel prices and dwindling resources, homeowners are looking for ways to save money wherever they can. And some are taking a lesson from the 1970s and turning to solar power to heat their homes.

By Heather Kolich

Humidity is bad enough when it's outdoors. When it seeps into your home, that moisture-filled air can make you uncomfortable or even ill, as well as cause damage to your home. How can a dehumidifier prevent this?

By Nina Holmberg

A three-way bulb has two filaments, which allows the light to be turned on at different light levels. Learn about a three-way bulb.

Solar panels sit atop buildings, homes and tents, and power any number of gadgets and appliances -- including refrigerators. But can the sun still power a fridge without the panels?

By Julia Layton

Your refrigerator keeps your milk cold, your veggies crisp and your leftovers ready to see a new day. Why would someone want to unplug that boxy center of the kitchen?

By Julia Layton

About 17 percent of a home's energy usage stems from its water heater. Hybrid water heaters could save the average family hundreds — possibly even thousands — each year.

By Sarah Siddons

If your basement feels damp or smells musty, you may need a sump pump. How does a sump pump get the moisture that's inside your basement out?

By Murray Anderson

For a time, toilets were called necessaries, one in a long line of euphemisms used to describe the business end of handling a simple biological process. And now it's necessary to do what we can to conserve water. Enter the dual flush toilet.

By Sara Elliott

In a pinch, you could probably do without most of the appliances in your home -- but would you want to? Life would certainly be different without these 10.

By Sara Elliott

A levitating lounger, a toilet seat that rises to greet you, a fold-out balcony. Some of these household gadgets are useful, and some are absolute fluff. Which ones are the wackiest?

By Jennifer Pocock

We know which is greener when it comes to gas and electric cars. But which is greener when it comes to stoves: gas or electric? There's more than one way to save energy when you cook.

By Cristen Conger

We've all heard of a potty break, but have you ever heard of a potty breaking the bank? What's the most expensive toilet in the world made of?

By Josh Clark

It's either too cold or too hot in your house. So, you turn a dial, press a button or move a lever -- do you know what happens after that? Look inside a home thermostat and see how it controls your indoor climate.

By Karim Nice, Patrick Brothers & Emilie Sennebogen

Give your home lighting a stylish and inexpensive update with these easy instructions for making a table lamp, building a stovepipe lamp, or covering a lamp shade for a brand new look.

By Editors of Consumer Guide

Aside from burning cleaner, gas furnaces have the advantage of being relatively easy to maintain. Most problems will involve the pilot light or thermocouple. Learn how to repair your gas furnace.

By Fix-It Club

Every morning you scoop in the coffee, add the water and turn it on, but have you ever wondered what is happening inside your coffee maker? Find out how that precious gadget delivers your wake-up dose.

By Marshall Brain & Jessika Toothman

Appliances are the workhorses of your kitchen. While features and performance are important considerations, how they'll look in your kitchen probably matters to you, too.

By Mary Wynn Ryan

Because washing machines do so many things, they may be harder to diagnose than they are to repair. But diagnosis is possible: All it takes is some patience. Learn how to repair a washing machine.

By Fix-It Club & Lance Looper

A dryer is a large drum into which wet laundry is loaded. Air heated by a gas heater or electric heating element is blown through the drum to dry clothes. Learn to repair a dryer.

By Fix-It Club

A refrigerator is one of the few appliances in your home that runs continuously. On the rare occasion your refrigerator does stop working, you may face a high repair. Learn how to repair a refrigerator.

By Fix-It Club