Our home was built in the 1970s and we were thinking about doing some renovations on our upstairs level. Well, we opened up a wall, and looking at the insulation, I’m worried about what kind it is. How do you tell the difference between cellulose and asbestos insulation?

I had my new dishwasher delivered and it’s wrapped in a blanket. My roommate told me it’s insulation, but I thought it was just for shipping. Is dishwasher insulation necessary?

Our basement was flooded recently after a series of heavy rains in our city. We luckily didn’t lose too much, but there are some repairs we’ll need to make—which our home insurance won’t help with, I just learned. Why would the water damage claim be denied?

After owning my home for a year now, I’ve noticed my house’s crawl space tends to accumulate water. When do you need a crawl space sump pump?

My local HOA can be inconsistent about details from one meeting to the next, so I’d like to be able to record them for myself. I’m not sure if it’s allowed, though. Can you record HOA meetings?

The pilot light on my furnace went out, and I’m not sure why or how to get it back on. How do you light a pilot light on a furnace?

I’m moving to Florida soon to start a new chapter. I’m looking at homes for sale now to try and figure out a budget. What are average HOA fees like in Florida?

I’m looking at houses for sale in my city. Some of the listings’ descriptions will say things like “no HOA.” What does no HOA mean?

I own a couple of properties. My sister suggested I purchase a blanket policy to make things easier. I’ve heard the term thrown around before, but what is blanket coverage home insurance?

As I was touring houses for sale, one of the homes I looked at had a furnace in its crawl space. I’ve never seen that before. Is it okay to have a crawl space furnace?

I went down into my basement to bring some items out of storage, and I noticed a small puddle by my furnace. Why is my furnace leaking water?

My family is planning to move to California as my wife starts a new job. We’re looking at houses and condos in various areas and deciding where we want to live and know that a decent number of our options are going to require HOA fees. What are average HOA fees in California?

It will be time to replace our house’s furnace soon. What option is better: a gas or electric furnace? What are the differences?

My crawl space has moisture problems, and I heard that encapsulation is a process that can help with that. What are some negatives to crawl space encapsulation?

My carbon monoxide detector was chirping, so I’m trying to change the batteries in it, but I can’t figure out how this thing opens! How do you open a carbon monoxide alarm?

I nearly bought shares in a co-op here in New York City, but I changed my mind after doing a double-take at the HOA fees! It would’ve been like paying for a second home. Why are HOA fees so high in NYC?

We have a gas furnace in our house. Lately, after it’s kicked on, there will start to be a faint smell of car exhaust in the house. Should we be worried? Is it normal if your furnace smells like car exhaust?

My husband is putting together plans to build a nice workshed on our property, which is getting expensive! Now we’re looking at places to trim costs. What’s the cheapest way to insulate a metal building?

My realtor recommended that if I end up buying one of the houses I’m interested in, I’ll want to get regular crawl space inspections. What’s involved in a crawl space inspection?

I’ve been house hunting for a couple of months now, and the places I’ve seen have been all over the place quality-wise. One, in particular, checked most of my boxes, but the ceilings had weird brown marks, and I was wondering if that could be water damage. What are some signs of water damage on a ceiling?

A burst water pipe in my upstairs bathroom caused a lot of damage to the dining room ceiling. My contractor says a section of the ceiling needs to be replaced, and then the entire ceiling will need repainting. Will my home insurance cover ceiling damage?

My crawl space on occasion gets a little more water in it than I’m comfortable with. How can I address water in my crawl space?

My husband and I just bought a house together for the first time. It’s part of an HOA, and I’m new to all this stuff. Are there HOA parking rules?