Home Safety How To & DIY
Improve the value of your home by discovering our home safety step-by-step tips & ideas.
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How to Harden Your Home Against Wildfire
General contractor Tom Silva meets with a homeowner and improves her home’s fire resistance with the help of a fire-hardening contractor.
How to Babyproof Your Home
Nathan Gilbert, Mauro Henrique, and Heath Eastman help a homeowner prepare their home for their baby’s future, keeping them safe from serious hazards like poisons, electricity, and falls.
Safety Tips for Home DIY Projects
Doing it yourself should also mean doing it safely. But for folks without a lot of construction experience, knowing how to keep safe while still making progress on a home renovation or repair can be one of the most challenging aspects of the job. Keep these simple precautions in mind while tackling your own projects to increase the odds of staying safe and finishing the project.
How to Get Rid of Smoke Smell in Your House
Whether it’s from a fire in the home or a wildfire nearby, put that scary memory behind you with these effective tricks for removing the odor of smoke. Here’s how.
Creating a Forever Home: Aging in Place
Here’s how you can go about aging in place not just gracefully but gradually—without giving up the house you love.
How to Repair Damage After a House Fire
The job of restoring your home can be physically demanding, dirty, and emotionally exhausting—but it’s doable and well worth the reward of getting your house back.
How to Increase Garage Door Security
Protect your home and everything inside with these simple tips to help make your garage, an easy entry point for burglars, more secure.
How to Choose a Home Security System
There are many factors to consider when choosing a security system for your home, from installation to monitoring and more. Read our guide below to find out all you need to know.
How to Rekey a Lock
To improve your home’s security, you’ll want to change your locks or rekey them. Learn the best time to do either, and how to rekey a lock.
How to Deep Clean Your House
Go beyond the weekly dust swipe-and-sweep and gear up for what pros call a "deep cleaning." Read our tips for deep cleaning your living room, bathroom, kitchen and laundry appliances.
Changing Locks on a New Home
Here’s how to change a door lock on a new house to keep your home safe and secure.
Keep Basements Mold-Free
Planning to create or redo a below-grade living space? Finished basements are vulnerable to damage from storm-water intrusions, leaking pipes and hot-water tanks, or simply high humidity. Lower the risk of mold or mildew taking hold by remodeling with materials made to shake off damp conditions
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 smart phone.
How to Create a Drainage Swale
The plant-populated channels can redirect storm water to specific locations
How to Stop Garage Break-Ins
From a burglar’s point of view, an attached garage can mean access to the entire house, even if an automatic door operator keeps it locked up tight. A whole-house security system is your best safeguard, but these DIY moves can also help defeat intruders at this potential entry point
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 Safely Get Rid of Unwanted Household Items
How to toss or recycle household materials in need of special treatment. Note: Be sure to check your local laws before proceeding
How to Build a Storm Shelter
This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows how to pour a massive concrete storm shelter. Read on to also learn more about design considerations and guidelines to keep you safe from the storm.
How to Choose Hurricane Window Covers
This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shows a homeowner several ways to protect windows during a storm.
How to Add Childproofing to a Home
Ask This Old House Host Kevin O'Connor shows a new mom a few tips to keep her baby safe around the house by using cabinet locks, a baby gate, outlet covers, and securing a television
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 Choose and Use Hearing Protection
This Old House host Kevin O'Connor shares some tips on how to properly use hearing protection
How to Install an Electronic Air Cleaner
Improving indoor air quality with This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey
How to Clean Up Attic Mold
This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shows a professional approach to eliminating dangerous fungus outbreaks in the home
Discover Your Home's Top 10 Danger Zones
Watch these common problem areas to help prevent costly household disasters
How to Handle Household Products Safely
Learn the best way to reduce your use of certain household products, as well as the proper way to dispose of those you no longer need
How to Install a Fire Sprinkler System
In this instructional video, This Old House plumbing and heating contractor Richard Trethewey describes how an in-home sprinkler system works
How to Choose and Use Safety Gear
This Old House host Kevin O'Connor and plumbing and heating contractor Richard Trethewey discuss various types of DIY safety gear
How to Remove a Dangerous Tree
This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook and arborist Matt Foti remove a badly decayed tree.
9 Highly Toxic Old Household Products
If it's been a while since you cleaned out the basement or shed, watch out for these dangerous household chemicals hiding on the back shelves
How to Install a Vintage Lockset
This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shares his tricks of the trade for installing a mortised lockset
Child Safety in the Home
Thousands of kids go to emergency rooms every year as a result of preventable, accidental injuries. Here's how you can lower your youngster's chances of being one of them
Fire Pit Safety: 5 Tips to Consider
Keep your loved ones safe with these fire pit safety tips.