Expert Advice for your Lawn & Garden TV Host of Today's Homeowner^® and home expert for The Weather Channel

Power or voltage surges are very short periods of high voltage that happen in the blink of an eye. An extremely high voltage surge can damage major appliance motors and totally destroy sensitive electronic equipment.

Homeowners are often puzzled about why their clothes dryer takes longer to finish a load than it used to. The answer is usually a simple one, but it has some pretty serious implications. A build-up of lint in the dryer or its vent pipe can not only reduce the efficiency of the dryer but it can also be a fire hazard.

Creating a kitchen that’s attractive but easy to keep clean is a goal for most homeowners but it’s especially hard for parents of young children. Kids seem to find away to get fingerprints on every appliance you own.

The “Old World” look of natural stone is more popular than ever in kitchens today, but people often ask how they can create this look on a budget. The answer may be in a new generation of laminate countertops that mimic the look of stone surfaces at a much lower price.

One of the first questions people often ask at the start of a kitchen renovation is “can I get granite countertops on my budget?” The answer to that question is yes a lot more often now than it once was because Granite has become more affordable.

I’m often asked why some brands of pre-fabricated cabinets are so expensive when they are made of particle board. Most quality cabinets use a material that does resemble a low-grade particle board but is actually much more durable.

Homeowners are always looking for easy, economical ways to reduce their monthly heating and cooling costs. If your home heats up in the summertime the solution may be as simple as a little shade. Rooms with windows that get direct sunlight will heat up quickly in warm weather putting a strain on your cooling system but there are some things you can do to help ease that load.

With energy costs constantly on the rise there are tons of gimmicks out there that say they will save you money. People always want to know what’s for real and what’s not.

Homeowners ask me all the time how they can control their monthly utility bills. Many have resigned themselves to paying high bills because they think that’s just the price you have to pay to be comfortable and that’s certainly a factor.

People who have recently received a homeowner’s insurance settlement often ask why the amount was lower than they expected. What most don’t realize is that their policy had coverage limits for some of the items lost. For example, a $1000 limit for combined losses of jewelry, furs or related items is not uncommon.