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How it Works

Get clear explanations of essential home-building and remodeling topics. This ongoing series covers everything you need to be familiar with to build durable, comfortable, high-quality homes, including, framing, insulation, mechanical systems, and more.

How it Works: Simple Wood Beams

March 6, 2016

Beams, defined as elongated members that are loaded perpendicular to their long axis, are critical to the structure of a house.
How it Works: Electrical Breaker Panels

January 6, 2016

The job of the breaker panel is to distribute the incoming power to the separate circuits throughout a home’s electrical system.
Ice Dams

November 11, 2015

Ice dams are not a roofing problem; they’re an air-sealing problem.
Drain-Waste-Vent Systems

September 16, 2015

Although hidden behind walls and in floors and ceilings, the pipes that make up a house’s drain-waste vent system are the balance of the plumbing equation.
How it Works: Wood Rot

July 11, 2015

No wood is completely immune to rot, so it's important to know how it works.
How it Works: Ground-Source Heat Pumps

May 13, 2015

Heating and cooling, courtesy of the earth.
How it Works: Circular Sawblades

March 4, 2015

Despite having no moving parts, circular sawblades are surprisingly complex.
How it Works: Septic Systems

January 7, 2015

The mechanics of your septic system.
How it Works: Paint Failure Troubleshooting Tips

October 31, 2014

Paint failure not only looks bad, but it invites water and weather inside.
How it Works: Household Electricity

September 10, 2014

Electrician Cliff Popejoy explains the ins and outs of household electricity.