Home Safety
How to Safeguard Your House from Wildfires
Learn how to make your home more resistant to wildfires with This Old House host Kevin O'Connor and fire expert Dan Gorham.
Staying Safe with Natural Gas
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey and host Kevin O’Connor discuss how gas regulators work and how their malfunction caused gas explosions in Lawrence, MA
How To Retrofit a Home for Earthquakes and When To Hire Pros
Read our step-by-step guide on how to retrofit a home for earthquakes so that you can be prepared for this natural disaster. We cover costs, potential savings and more.
A Step by Step Guide To Changing Locks on a New Home
Changing locks on a new home? Learn step-by-step how to upgrade security with new locks, plus get tips on how to install new locks yourself.
3 Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Smoke Alarms
The end of Daylight Saving Time (November 4, this year) serves as an informal reminder to replace smoke-alarm batteries. Changes to fire code mean now’s a good time to consider these Qs, too
How to Install a DIY Security System to Keep a Home Secure
In this DIY Smarts, Ask This Old House home technology expert Ross Trethewey installs a DIY security system.
3 Things to Do Before a Storm
Do these simple tasks before severe weather hits to help minimize or even prevent costly damage to your home
How To Keep Your Basement Mold-Free
Learn top methods to prevent and eliminate mold in your basement. Get tips on moisture control, ventilation, and more from our experts.
How to Select and Use Hearing Protection
Ask This Old House host Kevin O’Connor discusses the importance of hearing protection when working around power tools
Everything You Should Do Before You Leave for Vacation
Learn how to protect your home from intruders, pests, and other pitfalls while you're away on vacation with our step-by-step guide.
Creating a Comfortable Home as You Age
This post originally appeared at mykukun.com
Best Air Purifiers to Get You Through Allergy Season
Some people love the warm weather that comes with spring. But allergy sufferers dread this time of year. Here are a few doctor-approved home air purifiers to help you through the season
Whole-House Battery Backup
Home battery backup systems could be part of our energy future. Learn more about how they work, their cost, and what benefits they bring.
How to Prevent Holiday Fires
Ask This Old House host Kevin O’Connor travels to UL Laboratories to learn about preventing fires from holiday decorations.
How To Monitor a Home With a Smart Phone
In this edition of DIY Smarts, Ask This Old House host Kevin O’Connor shows general contractor Tom Silva a new home monitoring device that works with a smartphone.
How to Create a Drainage Swale
The plant-populated channels can redirect storm water to specific locations
How To Stop Garage Break-Ins by Securing Your Garage
Secure your garage from thieves with our expert tips. Learn about vulnerable areas, upgrade locks, and use smart sensors to protect your home.
A Personal Story on the Dangers of Carbon Monoxide
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shares a personal story on the dangers of carbon monoxide and how an operational CO detector could be the difference between life and death..
Upgrade to a Smart Smoke Detector
Standard-issue detectors have saved countless lives, but those battery-powered sentries can drive you crazy with false alarms and middle-of-the-night chirps ("Help! my battery needs changing . . . now!"). Some new smartphone-connected smoke and carbon monoxide detectors offer fixes for that—and more. Here’s a sampling.
Really Smart Homes
There are a lot of choices these days in the way of connected devices for a safer, more secure, and more convenient home. Maybe too many. To help you figure it out, here are 5 starter kits tailored to 5 very different types of homes and homeowners
How to Install Your Own Security System
Ask This Old House host Kevin O'Connor helps a homeowner install a wireless alarm system.
How to Install a Fire Escape Ladder
Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva helps a homeowner install an emergency escape ladder
How To Safely Get Rid of Unwanted Household Items
Not all items can be thrown out in the trash. This guide covers how to safely get rid of unwanted household items, including hazardous waste.
How To Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Scott Caron, master electrician for Ask This Old House, wires an old house with new smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
How To Build a Storm Shelter to Stay Safe During Disaster
Worried about staying safe at home during storms? Learn all the ins and outs of building a storm shelter with our in-depth guide.
How To Install an Electronic Dead Bolt
This Old House host Kevin O'Connor demonstrates how to install an electronic deadbolt in this video. Plus, find advice for choosing your lock.
How To Choose Hurricane Window Protection for Your Home
Hurricane window protection can protect your home and loved ones from storm surge, high winds, and heavy rainfall. Learn more in our guide.
7 Holiday Fire Hazards
Keep your home and family safe with these important tips
How to Install a Motion-Activated Security Light
Ask This Old House Master Electrician Scott Caron installs a light above a garage to illuminate a dark driveway
How To Hack-Proof Your Smart Home
Follow these tips to protect the smart devices in your home.
Prevent Electrical Fires with Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters
About half of home electrical fires result from shorts, also known as arc faults. An arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) can help stop them.
14 Fast Fall Fixes
Service smoke alarms, drain the water heater, fertilize the lawn, drain and store hoses, PLUS other things you've got to get done before cold weather kicks in for good.
