House & Garden 2024, November

Capacitors are devices capable of storing electrical voltage and are used in electronic circuits, such as those found in motors and compressors in cooling or heating systems. There are two main types: electrolytic (which use a vacuum tube and transistor) and non-electrolytic ones which are used to regulate direct overvoltages.

One of the most expensive items on your electricity bill during hot summers is the cost of running a central air conditioner. If the unit doesn't have the right amount of refrigerant, this cost can be even higher. Here are some steps that will help you charge your air conditioner.

If the dishwasher does not drain the water, there may be an obstruction. In addition to causing this kind of problem, traffic jams and stagnant water release bad smells, but fortunately this is an easily solved situation. The first thing to do (and also the simplest) is to clean the appliance filter;

Here's how to wire an existing facility for internet, TV, and more. Steps Step 1. First you need to establish the "route" of the cables through the house Remember that, in most cases, the posts will be positioned vertically, from floor to ceiling.

Take a look at your trusty mousepad. That little piece of foam accommodates your mouse wonderfully, allowing it to rest and move with extreme agility. If it appears gray and dirty it means that it is time for a nice bath, to eliminate all traces of dirt and dead skin cells.

The presence of algae in bird troughs is common, mainly because the spores may have been transferred or deposited in the tray by the wind, from the birds' legs or even from nearby trees. To avoid their formation, which could harm the birds and animals that come to drink, it is necessary to clean the water and the tray regularly.

Liquid compost is a balanced, nutrient-rich fertilizer that you can get by leaving solid compost to infuse into water. You can use it on flowers, vegetables, indoor plants and all kinds to stimulate their growth, flowering and improve the yield.

Carnations are beautiful flowers that last until the cold arrives and need little care. Read on to learn how to plant them in the garden. Steps Method 1 of 4: Starting with the Seeds Step 1. Plant the seeds in the spring For best results, make sure the ground isn't too wet.

You can grow calla lilies indoors in containers or outdoors in your garden. In areas with warmer climates (zones 9 to 11 in the United States), calla lilies grow perpetually all year round. In colder climates, calla lilies can be grown as annuals or extracted in the fall to replant them the following year.

Nobody likes to hear the sound of shoes being shaken by the dryer. Every knock and metallic noise makes you fear that the appliance is destroying the footwear or vice versa. If your shoes can withstand a drying cycle, know that there are several techniques to avoid all this fuss.

Cleaning a printer is a cheaper alternative to replacing it. Regular maintenance prolongs the life of the printer and ensures quality prints. Knowing how to clean a printer may seem difficult, but the process is actually very simple and only takes a few minutes.

Packing your bags for a two-week vacation is difficult, but packing the boxes to move in is a real nightmare. Few people are thrilled with the idea of doing so, although they can't wait to move house. Start collecting boxes at least one month before the expected date.

Moving can be both one of the most exciting adventures and one of the most stressful experiences of your life. The secret to a painless move is to prepare a bombproof strategic plan well in advance and follow it faithfully when the time comes to start.

Onions are very popular with DIY gardeners because they can be used in many different ways, are easy to grow and require little space. Plus, they have a short growing season, which means you can start harvesting them in the spring and then dry and store them for use in the winter.

Dill is a perennial herb that is often used with pickles, soups, sauces, salads and stews. In addition to being delicious, she is easy to grow indoors or in the garden, making her a great addition to any garden. To grow this pungent-tasting herb in no time, all you need is a sunny environment, slightly acidic soil that drains well.

If you're looking for fun ways to cut costs, you can make a large bucket of liquid that can act as a detergent for your washing machine, at a cost of just a few euro cents per load. Steps Method 1 of 3: One Step 1. Finely grate a bar of soap Step 2.

If you have a front or back garden, you can enjoy growing different types of plants and shrubs, such as flowers and trees. Trees, in particular, not only bring moments of joy to you and the whole family, but also bring other benefits, such as cleaner air, oxygen supply, cooler roads, attract wildlife and prevent erosion of the forest.

Excess drainage rainwater is that part of the precipitation that is not absorbed by the soil. It represents one of the greatest risks to the quality of the water present in much of the industrialized world. In fact, the rainwater that flows on the surface, passing on roads, courtyards, parking lots, reaches the sewers and waterways, carrying sediments that obstruct the outflow, reduce the level of oxygenation of the water and allow chemical elements that cause pollution to pene

Seaweed is rich in nutrients and potassium, which makes it a perfect ingredient for mulch, but also for an easy-to-make liquid fertilizer that will greatly benefit the plants in your garden. In fact, the liquid fertilizer obtained from the infusion of seaweed can release up to 60 different nutrients.

In this guide you will find the explanation of one of the most difficult electrical circuits to understand. This is one of the simplest ways to connect a three-way switch. First check out the "Tips" section to see other popular ways to make this type of circuit.

Amperage is defined as the amount of electrical current that passes through an electrical component, such as a wire. In particular, the amperage measures the number of electrons that pass from a given point in a certain period of time, taking into account that 1 ampere (or "

In homes, creaking, noises or amplified sounds are often heard. They mostly occur in old, poorly built houses or with wooden floors. There are several ways to muffle floor noises, depending on the characteristics of your building. These methods vary in cost and amount of work, so it's important to choose the right solution for you.

In the United States, a detergent solution of ammonia and soap can be found; the trade name is "Sudsy Ammonia". It is a premixed product widely sold in overseas supermarkets. In Italy it is difficult to find something similar, which we can call "

Bleaching wood often becomes a necessary task when you want to repaint a dark piece of furniture and bring it to a lighter shade. It can also be useful before finishing a stained or uneven colored wooden surface. Follow these steps to whiten it with a biphasic solution or with oxalic acid.

High electricity bills significantly affect the monthly budget of most buildings. However, lowering them requires some simple techniques and minor adjustments. This is possible, if you follow a few simple criteria to operate your appliances that certainly allow you to reduce electricity costs.

Being able to freely dispose of healthy and delicious bananas can be wonderful if you are willing to wait a long time for them to grow. If you live in a warm climate or have a good facility to grow them indoors, read on to learn about the long path it takes to grow banana plants.

Have fruit flies taken over your fruit bowl? Once established, these unwanted guests know how to settle in. Thankfully, there are several easy ways to get rid of them and prevent them from coming back. Steps Method 1 of 6: Trap them with a paper funnel Step 1.

A time-stained silver cutlery set can ruin even the finest of meals. A normal wash cleans the silver, but the most stubborn residues of oil and other deposits can withstand even washing in the dishwasher, with the additional risk that over time detergent or limescale residues can accumulate, especially in the case of cutlery.

Grease stains are among the hardest to remove! It's not enough to simply scrub them or put the garment in the washing machine, but you need to integrate the process with some other, more effective cleaning solution. Learn how to remove grease stains from fabrics and wood surfaces using dish soap, absorbent materials and even an iron!

Potatoes are a fundamental vegetable in the diet of many peoples. Their cultivation is pretty simple - read on to find out more. Steps Part 1 of 2: Choosing the Right Strain Step 1. Choose the type of potato based on the growing season Potatoes are classified according to their ripening time, which can be influenced by the climate.

Sugar cane is one of the most interesting crops to plant, and if you want to become a sugar cane grower you will need to be very patient. The plant can take up to 2 years to grow and be ready for harvest; in some climates even only 6 months, but the average is usually around 1 year.

Are you an independent brewer who wants to make the leap in quality by growing his own hops? Hops, one of the basic ingredients of beer, can grow in all temperate climates. Learn how to plant, care and harvest your hops, so you can enjoy the satisfaction of creating a real home brew.

Oregano is a herb commonly used in Italian cooking. It is an abundant plant that provides beautiful ground cover, as well as its usefulness in the kitchen. It can be grown both indoors and out, which means it doesn't matter where you live - with a little time and attention, you'll be able to enjoy your fresh oregano.

Used in herbal medicine for thousands of years, high quality ginseng roots are still worth hundreds of dollars per kilo and patient growers can harvest large quantities following the "wild-like" culture method. The method described in this tutorial takes seven years to grow before harvest, but produces high quality ginseng and reduces the chances of damage.

The pH scale measures the probability of a substance to release protons (or H ions + ) or receive them. Many molecules, including dyes, change their structure by accepting protons from an acidic environment (one that readily releases them), or by donating them to a basic environment (predisposed to receive them).

Curry is a tasty dish of Indian cuisine prepared with many strong spices, such as turmeric and cumin; however, it can be difficult to remove the very strong smell from the apartment or room, as the spices release fragrant vapors during cooking.

Okra is a plant that lasts all summer. When you harvest one pod, another grows in its place. It belongs to the hibiscus family and produces very similar beautiful flowers. Okra grows in warm climates but, even if you live in a northern region, you can grow it by sprouting the seeds indoors and then transferring the seedlings as soon as the weather conditions allow.

Stoves can be downright unbearable when it comes to cleaning them. But don't be afraid, with this simple method everything will be easier! Steps Step 1. Unplug the electrical outlet and turn off the gas, as you will be moving the burners Step 2.

Sunflowers are annuals that produce large or small yellow flowers in the summer. They are highly prized for their beauty and ease of cultivation. Planting sunflower seeds in the spring can be a fun activity for adults and children. It is enough to have a minimum of time and preparation.

Like many seeds, sunflower seeds can be sprouted to produce a healthy source of nutrients. Proper germination depends on several factors: temperature, water volume and time. The process is simple and can be used to grow sprouts, leaves or germinate seeds.