AIR QUALITY

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Allergy Capitals: 29 U.S. Cities With the Worst Allergy Seasons
As spring approaches, millions of Americans will begin to suffer from seasonal allergies. Unfortunately for some, the...
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Does Having an Attached Garage Impact Indoor Air Quality?
In the early 1900s, attached garages started popping up and becoming more commonplace. And why wouldn’t they? This sp...
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This Is Where to Place Air Purifiers in Your Home for Maximum Benefit
Home can be a sanctuary from the hectic world, but if the air indoors triggers allergies and other health problems, i...
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The Hisense Wi-Fi Dehumidifier Created a More Comfortable Home in Our Tests
Like so many other people, I've fallen headlong into the smart-home movement. I like the devices I purchase to tell m...
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How to Lower Humidity in the House
Keeping indoor humidity levels under control is important. As the National Center for Healthy Housing explains, high ...
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Does This Popular Frigidaire Dehumidifier Tackle Humidity With Ease? We Tested It to Find Out!
Upstate New York is no stranger to humid summer weather. As of late, our summers are hotter and more humid than in ye...
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Your Home by the Numbers: The Temperatures, Ratios, and Levels That Every Homeowner Should Know
Whether you own your own home or are renting from a landlord, you have a lot to stay on top of. Among other things, y...
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Solved! What Are Safe Radon Levels for My Home?
Q: I’ve been hearing a lot recently about how dangerous radon gas can be. I purchased a test kit for my home, but I d...
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Solved! Why Is My Carbon Monoxide Detector Beeping?
Q: My carbon monoxide detector keeps beeping over and over again. How do I determine what the beeps mean?A: Your carb...
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8 Myths About Indoor Air Quality and the Facts You Need to Breathe Easy
Indoor air quality. We’ve all heard the term, and most of us think we know what it means. However, much of the inform...
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How Much Does a Whole-House Air Purifier Cost?
Highlights A whole-house air purifier typically costs between $456 and $4,557, with a national average cost of $2,44...
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Ducted vs. Ductless Range Hood: Which Is Best for Your Kitchen?
Gas stoves’ negative effects on health and indoor air quality has come to the forefront in the U. S. , with a Consume...
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The Best Fans of 2023
When the mercury climbs, staying cool is a priority. While an air conditioner is typically best, sometimes a quality ...
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Longer Allergy Season: How to Manage the Extended Exposure
 About 81 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies each year, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation ...
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I Tried the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH04: Is This Machine Worth Its Hefty Price?
Starting as a floor-care brand in 1991, Dyson made a name for itself with its patented cyclone air technology. Since ...
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The Best Whole-House Dehumidifiers of 2023
Whole-house dehumidifiers remove humidity from indoor air, reducing uncomfortable stickiness and mitigating the likel...
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Levoit Air Purifier Review: How Does This Budget-Friendly Air Purifier Perform in Tests?
Breathing fresh air in the home shouldn’t cost a fortune, yet some of the most popular air purifiers on the market to...
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The 10 Best Air Purifiers for Fresh Air, Tested
As consumers become more aware of the airborne pollutants that lurk in their homes, the demand for quality air purifi...
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Dyson Air Purifier Review: We Tested This Popular Air Purifier to See if It's Worth the Money
Offensive odors, fumes, dust, and pollen are common pollutants in many homes, but we don't have to accept dirty air. ...
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The Best Air Humidifiers and Purifiers of 2023
Combination air humidifiers and purifiers add moisture to the air and filter out pollutants at the same time. For hom...
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The Best Ionic Air Purifiers of 2023
Ionic air purifiers use ionizers to clean the air. These ionizers charge airborne particles, which causes them to be ...
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Shark Air Purifier Review: Is This the Best Air Purifier on the Market? We Tested it to Find out!
Heightened awareness of allergens and toxins in the air we breathe has boosted the popularity of air purifiers for ho...
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The Best Air Purifiers for Dust of 2023
Household dust is unavoidable, but it’s easier to keep on top of banishing these dirty fine particles with an air pur...
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How to Test for Radon in Your Home
Do you know if radon gas is present in your home? Radon is a colorless and odorless radioactive gas that is naturally...
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Bob Vila's 10 "Must Do" Projects for December
December is all about friends, family, and food (there, we said it!), which is why this month's tasks focus on keepin...
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Breathe a Little Easier With the hOmeLabs x Popular Science Air Purifier
Everyone’s heard of Popular Science. The esteemed and iconic brand—owned by Recurrent Ventures—recently partnered wit...
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How Much Does a Whole-House Humidifier Cost to Install?
Typical Range: $395 to $753 National Average: $575A whole-house humidifier can dramatically improve the level of m...
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I've Tried Dozens of Dyson Products—And These 5 Are Worth Every Dollar
As someone who prioritizes a clean home, I value the importance of utilizing products that keep my house looking and ...
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How Much Does Professional Cigarette Smoke Removal Cost for a House?
Highlights The typical range for professional cigarette smoke odor removal costs is between $200 and $1,000. The mo...
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Evaporative Cooler vs. Air Conditioner: What’s the Difference?
During hot summer months, staying cool and keeping your home comfortable is a top priority. However, choosing the bes...
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How to Keep Wildfire Smoke Out of Your Home: 9 Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality
Wildfire smoke can lead to dangerous air quality both outdoors and indoors, as millions of Americans are learning thi...
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The Best Portable Air Purifiers of 2023
Portable air purifiers filter out pollutants and allergens like their larger counterparts. However, they’re so small ...
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The 8 Worst Houseplants for People with Allergies
Although some houseplants reportedly help clean the air, others can trigger allergy symptoms by adding extra baggage—...
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Here’s Why You Should Crack a Window in Your House Year-Round
Warm weather days are not the only ones that call for an open window. There are plenty of good reasons to crack open ...
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The 10 Coolest Things We Saw at the 2022 International Builders’ Show
Back in action after a 1-year hiatus, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) welcomed enthusiastic exhibito...
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The Best Air Duct Cleaning Services of 2023
Since most of the dust in your home’s ducts tends to stay in the ductwork, air duct cleaning isn’t required regular m...
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How to Test Air Quality in Your Home
Household pollutants can come from a variety of sources including the materials used in your home's construction, and...
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Ultrasonic vs. Evaporative Humidifier: Which is Best for Your Home?
Humidifiers help increase the moisture content in a room. For many people, using a humidifier is a terrific way to to...
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Solved! What Is a CADR Rating?
Q: I’m shopping for a new air purifier for my home and have noticed that many models list a CADR rating. What is CADR...
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7 Types of Fans You Might Need in Your House
When most people think of a fan, the first thing that comes to mind might be a window fan or the old style with butto...
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The Best Dust Collectors to Keep Workspaces Tidy
Wood and metalworking projects can range from entertaining hobbies to necessary professions, like carpentry and auto ...
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This Is How Often To Replace Air Filters In Your Home
Q: How often should I replace the air filters in my home, and what factors would require me to replace them in betwee...
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How Much Does Air Duct Cleaning Cost?
Highlights Homeowners will typically pay between $268 and $492 for air duct cleaning; the national average cost is $...
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The Best Car Air Fresheners
Dusty vents, fast food remnants, spilled coffee, pet dander—all give cars a funky smell, making that commute to and f...
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The Best Crawl Space Dehumidifiers of 2023
Crawl spaces are dark and dusty, and air quality isn’t always at its finest. If the humidity level climbs (which it o...
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The Best Whole House Humidifiers of 2023
Single-room humidifiers are designed to replace dry air in small spaces, but they aren’t able to affect the entire ho...
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The Best Whole-House Fans of 2023
Central air, window air conditioners, and split AC units aren’t the only ways to keep a home comfortable during hotte...
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Solved! Why is My Dehumidifier Not Working?
Q: We live in an area where humidity is high, so we regularly run a dehumidifier to keep the air in our home from fee...
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The Best Air Purifiers for Pets of 2023
According to a recent industry survey, 67 percent of American households—85 million families—have a pet. Unfortunatel...
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The Best Evaporative Humidifiers of 2023
Bloody noses from dry sinuses, annoying shocks from metal doorknobs, dust and pollen allergy symptoms, and even high ...
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The Best Filterless Humidifiers
It can be frustrating and uncomfortable when your living space experiences a decrease in the humidity level. But, a f...
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The 9 Best Air Purifiers for Wildfire Smoke of 2023
Wildfire smoke consists of harmful gases and fine particles from burning plants and other materials. These extremely ...
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The Best Air Purifiers for Mold in 2023
Mold isn’t only unsightly; it can make a home smell unpleasant and, at worst, trigger health issues. Only air purifie...
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The Best Bamboo Charcoal Air Purifier Bags for Clean Air
Stinky gym clothes, beloved pets, and home cooking can all contribute to household odors. Products like air freshener...
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16 Must-Have Home Products for People with Allergies
Don’t suffer in silence; use these items to keep allergens at bay in your home.
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The Best Dust Masks for Woodworking and Other DIY Projects
Creating something with your hands, whether it’s woodworking, painting, renovating, or any other creative pursuit, ca...
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9 Ways Your Home Energy Use Can Combat Climate Change
Your personal battle against climate change takes place one day at a time. The way you use electricity, water, and fossil fuel can lower your carbon footprint and...
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The Best Humidifiers for Plants of 2023
Indoor plants offer an aesthetic appeal, plus they can remove allergens from the air and oxygenate the space. The key...
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The Best Dehumidifiers
Not only does excess humidity make you feel sticky and uncomfortable, but it also increases the risk of mold growth i...
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The Best Air Quality Monitors to Keep Your Family Safe and Healthy, Tested
Breathing easy at home should be simple enough. Unfortunately, some gases, such as radon and carbon monoxide, are col...
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The Best Ozone Generators of 2023
When standard household cleaners won’t improve air quality, it’s time to bring in the big guns with the power of an o...
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The Best Dyson Black Friday Deals 2020: The Best Deals and Sales on Vacuums, Humidifiers, Hair Dryers, and More
Black Friday, which is just a couple of days away, traditionally marks the kickoff to the holiday shopping season, bu...
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Breathe Easy With the Best Air Purifiers for Smoke, Tested
Having smoke indoors is nothing to play around with, so to help protect you and your family, we meticulously tested f...
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10 Low-Maintenance Houseplants to Keep Indoor Air Fresh
Can houseplants clean the air inside your home? Learn about the research behind this health benefit and see the low-maintenance plants that will give your home a ...
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The Best Respirators for Safety in the Workshop
Some DIY activities can send irritating particles or vapors into the air. Having to work around airborne particulates...
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The Best Room Humidifiers to Up the Moisture in Your Home
Heating and air conditioning strip a home’s indoor air of its natural humidity. The result of uncomfortable dryness l...
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The Best Bathroom Fans of 2023
There’s the potential for structural and surface-level damage if a bathroom isn’t properly ventilated. Excess humidit...
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The Best Air Purifiers for Allergies of 2023
Our homes are loaded with dust mites, pet dander, pollen, and other indoor air pollutants. Poor ventilation and the u...
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Solved! Do Air Purifiers Really Work?
Q: I suffer from seasonal allergies, and a friend suggested I buy an air purifier for my home. What does an air purif...
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14 Easy Ways to Increase Humidity in a Dry House
Q: In winter, the central heating in our home makes the air very dry. I also suspect that the lower temperatures and ...
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How to Clean a Humidifier
A hardworking room humidifier is a lifesaver during the dry, cold months of winter. Its dedicated function—adding moi...
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Solved! This Is Your Home’s Ideal Indoor Humidity Level
Q: My husband and I just moved from Reno, Nevada, to Baytown, Texas, and the humidity here is high, even indoors. Wha...
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The One Tool You’re Probably Not Bringing to a Paint Job—But Should
Nothing refreshes a room and improves its ambience quite like a new coat of paint. If you’re like most DIYers, you ha...
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The Cleanest (and Dirtiest) Cities in America
If you're looking for a new city to call home—or even just choosing a holiday destination—you’ll want to read this list first! Our collection of the cleanest and ...
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The Dark, Dirty Truth About Household Mold (And How to Rid Yourself of It)
There are few homeowner problems more terrifying than mold. While thousands of molds are part of the natural environment, ghastly examples of it can be lurking in...
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Solved! How to Get Smoke Smell Out of Your House
Q: I recently inherited a beautiful chair from my grandparents. Unfortunately, they were heavy smokers, and the cigar...
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8 Things Homeowners Should Know About HEPA Filters
Few things are as important as the air we breathe. One of the most popular products available in the ongoing quest fo...
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5 Things to Know Before Cleaning Your Home's Air Ducts
If your goal is indoor air that’s as fresh and healthy as possible, you may think about hiring a firm to clean your h...
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Combat Dry Winter Air with 15 Tips and Tricks
With temperatures low across the country, heating systems on full blast, and houses buttoned up against the cold, the air in your home can pretty dry this time of...
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8 Clever Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality Without a Humidifier
Winter doesn’t just bring colder temperatures outdoors; in most areas, it also means bone-dry air inside your home, a...
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Clear the Air: 10 Natural Ways to Cure Household Odors
Pull the clothespin off your nose and instead try these 10 common household items to deodorize every nook and cranny of your abode.
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7 Health Hazards Lurking in Your Basement
Basements were once used solely as utility rooms that housed furnaces, laundry areas, and overflow storage for seasonal items, tools, and sometimes even root vege...
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How to Test for Mold in Your Home in 6 Steps
Damp rooms, such as a bathroom, are prime breeding grounds for mold and mildew. Some of the most common signs of a mo...
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How to Clean an Air Conditioner Filter in 4 Easy Steps
Though often overlooked, air conditioner filters are responsible for a mighty important job: keeping dust, dirt, and ...
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How to Get Rid of Black Mold in Your Home
Knowing how to get rid of a black mold is a skill set every DIYer and homeowner should have in their know-how arsenal...
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11 Bathroom Hazards That Harm Your Home and Health
Your bathroom may be your spot to relax in the tub after a long day, but with all that plumbing, humidity, and other business going on in there, the location’s fu...
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How To: Test for Asbestos
For a century, the naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral asbestos was a mainstay of the building industry, use...
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5 Easy Ways to Improve Kitchen Ventilation
In most homes, the kitchen is where the action is: It’s where we congregate, and prepare meals in ovens and on cookto...
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Why There’s Condensation on Windows in Your Home—and What to Do About It
Q: When it’s cold outside, there’s frequently condensation on windows inside my home. I wipe them down, but the moist...
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7 Reasons Indoor Air Isn’t as Pure as You Think
Warmer temperatures invite us to throw up the blinds and open a window. But good weather isn't the only reason to let the fresh air in. Even the cleanest homes ca...
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10 Shortcuts to a Not-So-Scary Basement
If you have an unfinished basement, you probably don’t want to spend a ton of time down there. The air is musty, the floors are damp, and it feels just a tiny bit...
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3 Fixes for Bathroom Odor
Bathroom odors rank as some of the most unpleasant household scents you can encounter, and they are definitely not on...
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Achieve Lower Bills and Cleaner Air with One Simple Replacement
Believe it or not, in one fell swoop you can lower your energy bills and improve the air quality in your home. The se...
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The 26 Best Plants for Bathroom Decor
Some prefer bright light and others like low light, but all of these indoor plants thrive in bathrooms’ high humidity and will add a spa-like quality to your space.
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How to Choose a Dehumidifier That’s Right for Your Home
Air quality can suffer in myriad ways. Excess humidity ranks among the least desirable effects. Left unchecked, moist...
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How To: Get Rid of Mildew Odor
Among household odors, mildew undoubtedly ranks among the worst. And unfortunately, it's all too common, lurking in t...
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To Breathe Easy at Home, Install an Air Cleaner
The air in your home may not be as fresh as you think it is. If you're not careful, indoor air can harbor not only be...
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11 Home Hazards to Know and Avoid
If you ask most people where they feel the safest, chances are the answer will be in their own home. But home safety depends on a variety of factors, and potentia...
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Breathe Deep: 5 Ways to Improve Your Home's Air Quality for Better Health
Deep breathing has been shown to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and even improve digestion. But if the air you’...
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Keep Your Home Cool, Dry, and Energy-Efficient With a Dehumidifier
Hot and muggy summer weather outside can mean excess moisture inside. Mold and mildew, musty odors, condensation, war...
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My House Contains Asbestos: Now What?
Many older houses incorporate construction materials that contain asbestos. Usually its presence is uncovered during ...
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All You Need to Know About Whole House Humidifiers
As the days are getting colder, the air is getting drier. While lotion coupons are at the forefront of the Sunday pap...
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Touring a Designer Showhouse and Baby's Bathroom
In West Palm Beach, FL, the American Lung Association has sponsored a designer showhouse that highlights a healthy home. Bob’s house tour focuses on the baby’s ba...
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Tour an Affordable Green Apartment Building
Bob visits the South Bronx, NY, where Habitat for Humanity has partnered with private developer Les Bluestone to create a green oasis for low-income families that...
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Revising the Landscaping Plan
Bob talks with landscape architect Rick Lamb about revisions to the plan. Bob points out the redesigned parking area and the plan for magically melting the snow.
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Restoring Old Double-Hung Windows using Spring-Loaded Balances
Bob meets with architect Gregory Rochlin and expert carpenter Danny Ruffini to restore old double-hung windows and replace lead sash weights with new spring-loade...
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Placing Windows on a Home's Facade
A double window is installed in the kitchen, which will let in a lot of sunlight and give a view of the back yard.
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Installing and Explaining a Basement HVAC System
Bob meets with the installer of the new HVAC system to discuss how it filters air and reduces energy costs.
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HVAC System Installation
Bob discusses the SpacePak HVAC system that's being installed to provide heating and cooling in the house and barn. The SpacePak system is well-suited to projects...
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Blowing In Cellulose Insulation
Bob joins Joe Sheridan (from Energy Guard) to learn more about the US Greenfiber Cocoon cellulose insulation being used in the barn.
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Encapsulating Lead Paint
Cole Stanton (from Fiberlock) joins Bob to talk about Child Guard, an encapsulating coating for lead-based paint.
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Asbestos Removal
Demolition continues with removal of asbestos from the attic.
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