Welcome to Domestic Disasters, where we examine homeowners’ worst mess-ups and grossest discoveries. We bring these situations to experts to determine how serious the problem is and how costly the repairs can be. A few years ago, Marisa and her husband finished their basement and added a half bath. With four children at home, the … Read more

Believe it or not, leaving your car in a hot garage can cause real damage. Short periods of high heat — a day or two — may produce only minor effects, but sustained exposure in hot climates increases the risk considerably. In some cases insurers may deny claims for damage attributed to prolonged heat exposure … Read more

I run hot. Always have. While others reach for a thin throw, I’m the one asking to turn up the fan. Summer’s long days, playgrounds and outdoor activities with my toddler are wonderful, but humid Midwest afternoons can be brutal. Keeping cool is essential, and after trying many handheld and stroller fans that fell short—too … Read more

When a famous Hollywood estate comes onto the market, film enthusiasts take notice. Even if the asking price is far beyond an ordinary budget, there’s a special thrill in picturing yourself inside a house you recognize from the screen. For fans of classic superhero television, a recent Los Angeles-area offering should be particularly intriguing. The … Read more

America’s highways didn’t build themselves. As car ownership grew, the automobile gave Americans unprecedented freedom to travel whenever and wherever they wanted. States recognized that to keep people and goods moving, they had to replace unpaved, deteriorating roads with modern paved highways. I live in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, home of the nation’s first long-distance … Read more

In my neighborhood, firework safety is a top concern this summer, especially with smoke from western wildfires filling the skies. Even if you don’t live in a high fire-risk area, fireworks still present serious dangers, from house fires to severe injuries. In recent years, thousands of people have required emergency care around the Fourth of … Read more

For most drivers, the routine of filling up a car with gas has become muscle memory. It’s an expensive but necessary task for anyone who drives regularly, and many people believe they have the process down to a T. But there’s a small feature on many fuel flaps that most drivers either overlook or don’t … Read more

If you’ve ever felt your phone vibrate only to find an unwanted spam call or a suspicious text, you’re far from alone. Spam calls and texts have grown more frequent and sophisticated, prompting many people to ignore calls from unknown numbers. Fortunately, you don’t need to change your primary phone number or give up important … Read more

We know that getting a regular, restorative night’s sleep is essential for health, but it can be difficult to achieve. Temperature changes, household noises, screen light, stress from the day, and other interruptions can all interfere with falling and staying asleep. While some research suggests that certain types of nighttime noise can be disruptive, many … Read more

Pet poop laws vary widely across the United States and can differ not only by state but by city, county, and even individual communities. Many owners are surprised to learn that rules can extend beyond simply picking up after a pet. Local regulations often specify where waste must not be left—parks, sidewalks, shared courtyards, a … Read more