Electrical & Lighting

Soon incandescent light bulbs will be a thing of the past, and their “wattage” rating will become obsolete. In their places will be high efficiency bulbs with a much more accurate “lumens” rating. Read on for a handy guide to help you navigate the changes.

Find out what day to day life is like living in a home powered by alternative solar and wind energy.

Brad asks, “How can I fix the pull chain on my ceiling fan that broke off inside the switch?” With most pull chain fan switches, you’ll need to replace the switch, though on some models you may be able to reattach the chain.

Need a new phone jack in your bedroom or installing speakers for your home theater system? While you could simply string the wires along the floor, it’s best to snake the wires inside walls or under floors. With careful planning, a few special tools, and the right techniques, it can be easier than you may think. Read on to find out how.

You can usually solve a noisy dimmer switch by replacing the bulbs or the dimmer switch itself. Read on to find out more.

The sun's magnetic and sunspot cycles are expected to peak in 2013, bringing a stormy season to our solar system and an increase in sun related damage here on Earth. Read on to find out how to protect your home and electronic gear from damage caused by solar flares and solar storms.

Replacing a wall switch with a programmable timer switch can increase a standard light switch's function. Here are some of the benefits of a timer switch — and a step-by-step guide to installation!

Jim asks, "I have a loud hum in our telephone line. The phone company says it’s inside the house. How can I find the cause of the problem?"

There are a number of things that can cause humming or static in a phone line. Read more to find out how to isolate and repair the problem.

Steve asks, “Is it better to install a bathroom vent fan over the shower or the middle of the room?” If your fan is rated for it, over the shower is the best location for a bathroom vent fan.