Before you buy solar panels, roofing, windows, HVAC, pest control, or other home services. Questions to ask, red flags, and pricing guides.
Whirlpool says 2026 brought its largest price increase in over a decade. Consumer Reports says 30 percent of refrigerators with ice makers have a problem by year five. And a repair visit can take weeks. Here's what to check before you buy.
You hand a contractor tens of thousands of dollars in stages, inside the house you live in. The contract is your main protection. Here's what a remodel really costs, who can put a lien on your home and what you can cancel.
In 13 months, Roomba's maker went through Chapter 11, Neato began shutting down its cloud, and a flaw let one owner see data from about 7,000 DJI robot vacuums. And the most common vacuum failure isn't the motor. It's hair.
The federal window credit ended after 2025. ENERGY STAR's own modeling puts whole-house savings at $253 to $568 a year, so a $12,000 job takes decades to repay in bills. Here's what to put in writing before you sign.
Shingle makers announced 6 to 10 percent increases for June 1, 2026. Texas regulators' own example pays $0 on a 20-year-old roof under an actual cash value policy. And in Texas, Florida and Oklahoma, a roofer who promises to cover your deductible breaks the law.
The federal heat pump credit ended for work finished after 2025. At 2025 average prices a typical heat pump costs about as much to run as an 80 percent gas furnace, and more than a 95 percent one. It wins against oil, propane and electric heat. Here's the math.
The 30 percent homeowner credit ended for installs finished after 2025. At the US average electric rate the default system takes about 11 years to pay for itself, and a dealer fee can add 10 to 30 percent to a financed price. Here's the math and the traps.