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Read on to understand how geothermal heat pumps work, how much they cost and if they’re a smart investment. Are Geothermal Heat Pumps Worth the Money? Super efficient geothermal heat pumps provide clean, quiet heating and cooling while cutting utility bills by up to 70 percent. “With this technology, everybody could be sitting on top of their lifetime energy supply,” says TOH plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey. Geothermal Heat Pump System In principle, a geothermal heat pump functions like a conventional heat pump, by using high-pressure refrigerant to capture and move heat between indoors and out....

After purchasing their first home 24 years ago, Heath and his wife gut-renovated the entire house and began work on the framing. He knew nothing about electrical and plumbing then, but after working with an electrician on the project, his interest in the field was sparked. Heath later became his electrician’s apprentice and earned his license. The two eventually became business partners and have been working together for more than two decades....

As Sue Wadden, director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams, puts it: “In these tumultuous times, we’re all craving a little comfort,­­ and historical hues give us a wonderful sense of familiarity and tradition.” Timeless shades have never been so timely. Antique Paint Colors for Historic Houses Historical Paint Colors to Try Rich Teal Blue With a hint of green and a touch of black, this blue hue from Benjamin Moore’s Williamsburg Collection has both vibrancy and depth....

Richard’s plumbing experience dates back further than most tradespeople. Every summer from around the age of 11, Richard would go to work with his father. He would sweep the floors, cut pipe, or perform other tasks that formed his base knowledge of the trade. Trethewey Bros was one of the largest non-union plumbing shops in the Boston area when a public television channel came calling. Explaining that they couldn’t pay them, Richard’s father still signed on to a project....

“When my dad brought plywood scraps home from job sites, we added them to any of the neighborhood forts we had going,” Kevin says. He built a tree house for his own kids but points out that a simple platform provides plenty of fun: “All they really want to do is climb up, look down, and throw things at each other.” Kevin and TOH general contractor Tom Silva built the platform for the Bicers’ son and daughter out of pressure-treated wood, and supported it with specialty hardware that requires just four holes through the tree’s vital cambium layer....

Instead of the birch used in the original, Tom chose to make the bench out of ipe decking, a dense hardwood that’s prized for its rich hue, knot-free surface, and durability. Its sawdust can irritate nasal passages, so he and Kevin O’Connor hooked up their tools to vacuums when sanding and cutting it. It took them 4 hours to assemble this bench, with $100 in materials. Not a bad investment for a reproduction piece that normally retails for around $1,000....

This trestle-and-slat design from This Old House contributor Christopher Beidel, owner of Pernt, in Brooklyn, New York, should resolve Jean-Guy’s aesthetic quibbles. We hope it works for reader Lisa Emery, who says, “We’re searching for a table that is welcoming and functional. One ready for corn on the cob, potato salad, apple pie, and the Fourth of July.” We’re ready to get you started, but save room for a matching cedar ice chest cooler....

But to function optimally, a bathroom fan must be free of dust and dirt. Generally, it should be cleaned every six months to a year, depending on how much use the bathroom gets and how quickly the cover becomes visibly dirty. (When you see dust gathering on the cover, it’s cleaning time.) A heavy enough buildup of dust and dirt can cause the fan’s motor to burn out—a hazard that should be easily prevented by regular cleaning....

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Expert assistance with this project was provided by Decker’s Landscape and Aquatics, Nawada Landscape Design, and New England Aquatic Landscaping. Tools You may choose to rent an excavator to clear the area. Excavator rental

Overview of How to Paint a Striped Wall Project Timeline Prep Day: Lay out a pattern and create the story stick. Saturday: Tape and paint the first set of stripes. Sunday: Tape and paint the second set of stripes, and touch up the entire wall. Download the layout for this striped wall pattern. Step 1: Clean the surface First, turn off the power, remove any receptacle faceplates, and cover each receptacle with painter’s tape....

Steps for repairing a loose newel post Tools

—Jace Laakso, Missoula, Mont. Tom Silva replies: Spalling, the pits that form in concrete, happen when too much water is used in a concrete mix, weakening it. In the past, when a concrete patio or driveway started to show serious signs of aging, using a jackhammer or bringing in a bulldozer were the only repair options. Today there are more practical alternatives. As long as your walkway isn’t cracked all the way through, you can coat the slab with a concrete resurfacer, a no-shrink blend of Portland cement, sand, and polymer additives that fills divots and makes a uniform finish....

Steps for retrofitting cellulose insulation Tools