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Household Improvement, Energy & Security

Improve, power, secure, and maintain your home.

96 resources

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Home Improvement & Repair

Building materials, structural projects, measuring and planning.

17 Resources
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Energy & Power

Electrical, solar, generators, HVAC, backup power, and appliance wattage.

45 Resources
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Home Security

Locks, alarms, lighting, cameras, vacation and everyday security.

16 Resources
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Maintenance & Inventory

Routine upkeep, home inventories, seasonal checklists, utility shutoffs.

18 Resources
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About Household Tools & Guides

PickShack's home tools help you plan projects, size equipment, and stay on top of routine upkeep without guesswork. Whether you're estimating materials for a deck or paint job, figuring out how much electricity an appliance actually costs to run, sizing a generator for a power outage, or tracking what's already in your home for insurance, the calculators and checklists here work with real numbers so you order the right quantity, pay the right price, and keep your property safe. Everything is organized into four areas: improvement and repair projects, energy and power, home security, and routine maintenance and inventory.

Tools 38

Home Improvement & Repair 11

Concrete Calculator Estimate concrete volume in cubic feet and cubic yards based on slab length, width, and depth.
Deck Material Calculator Calculate deck boards, joists, screws, and total material cost from your deck dimensions, board size, and joist spacing.
Fence Material Calculator Calculate how many fence posts, rails, pickets, and bags of concrete you need for any fencing project. Supports wood, chain link, and split rail styles.
Flooring Material Calculator Calculate how much flooring material you need based on room dimensions, flooring type, and waste factor, with an estimated material cost.
Gravel Calculator Estimate gravel volume and tons needed based on length, width, depth, and gravel density.
Greenhouse Size Calculator Estimate greenhouse size from plant counts (leafy, herbs, fruiting, vining) and aisle preference. Outputs total sq ft, m², and recommended hoop, glass, or lean-to dimensions.
Moving Truck Size Calculator Estimate the moving truck size you need from bedrooms, square footage, furnishing density, and heavy items. Picks 10, 15, 17, 20, or 26 ft with a cubic foot estimate.
Paint Coverage Calculator Estimate how many gallons of paint you need based on wall size, coverage, and number of coats.
Roof Material Calculator Calculate roof squares, shingle bundles, underlayment rolls, and total material cost from your home footprint, roof pitch, and material type.
Roof Snow Load Calculator Estimate the weight of snow on your roof to determine if it poses a structural risk to your home.
Square Footage Calculator Calculate square footage, square yards, and square metres based on length and width.

Energy & Power 17

Electricity Cost Calculator Estimate electricity cost based on device wattage, usage time, quantity, and power rate for daily, monthly, and yearly energy spending.
Extension Cord Gauge Calculator Find the minimum AWG gauge for your load and cord length, avoid overheating, fires, and dangerous voltage drop.
Generator Noise Level Comparator Compare generator noise levels in decibels. See how loud your generator sounds at different distances and find quieter alternatives.
Home Appliance Wattage Reference Tool Look up running and startup wattage for common home appliances to size your generator or battery backup correctly.
Home Energy Audit Calculator Estimate your home's annual energy cost and find where you're losing the most money on heating, cooling, and electricity.
Home Insulation R-Value Calculator Get the DOE-recommended insulation R-value for your attic, walls, floors, or basement based on your climate zone, plus thickness by material and bag estimates for blown insulation.
HVAC BTU Sizing Calculator Calculate the BTU capacity needed to heat or cool your room or home, based on square footage, ceiling height, climate zone, insulation, and sun exposure.
HVAC Filter Replacement Schedule Personalized HVAC filter replacement interval and annual cost from MERV rating, household conditions, outdoor air quality, and system runtime, with a MERV 8 vs MERV 13 cost-vs-filtration comparison.
kWh to Cost Calculator Convert kilowatt-hours to electricity cost. Enter kWh used and your rate to see daily, monthly, and annual electricity costs.
Shelter Heat Loss Estimator Estimate how much heat your shelter or room loses per hour based on insulation, wall area, and indoor-outdoor temperature difference.
Solar + Battery System Sizing Calculator Size your off-grid or backup solar panel array and battery bank based on your daily load, peak sun hours, and autonomy days.
Solar Panel Output Calculator Estimate daily solar energy production based on panel wattage, number of panels, and peak sun hours.
Sump Pump Runtime Calculator Calculate sump pump cycle time, cycles per hour, and daily runtime from pump capacity, pit size, switch differential, and water inflow rate.
Transfer Switch Load Calculator Add the circuits you want backed up by your generator and instantly see total running watts, peak surge watts, and whether your generator can handle the load.
Water Heater Recovery Time Calculator Calculate how long your tank water heater takes to fully reheat after use so you can plan showers, laundry, and dishwashing without running out of hot water.
Watts to Amps Converter Convert watts to amps (or amps to watts) for any voltage, ideal for generators, solar systems, appliances, and circuit planning.
Whole-Home Standby Generator Sizing Tool Check off your appliances and get a recommended generator kW size, so you don't buy too small and get stranded, or too large and overpay.

Home Security 3

Home Security Score Calculator Score your home security from 0 to 100 across doors, windows, lighting, alarms, cameras, and habits, then see a prioritized list of upgrades by budget.
Outdoor Security Lighting Spacing Calculator Calculate the right spacing between motion-sensor security lights from lumens, mounting height, and beam angle. Get coverage radius, illuminance, and fixture count.
Security Camera Coverage Calculator: Camera Count + Blind Spots Calculate property coverage by camera count, field-of-view, and priority zones. Find blind spots, get a recommended camera count, and avoid over- or under-spec.

Maintenance & Inventory 7

Garage & Workshop Tool Inventory Tracker Catalog your garage and workshop tools by category and location, track estimated values, and build an inventory for insurance documentation.
Home Inventory Tracker Track your home contents by category, estimate total replacement value, and build a complete inventory for insurance claims or emergency preparedness.
Pressure Washer Cleaning Time Calculator: How Long Will It Take? Estimate cleaning time, water used, and detergent for a pressure-washer job by surface, area, and machine class. Covers concrete driveways, wood decks, vinyl siding, brick patios, fences, vehicles, and gutters; light electric to heavy gas machine classes; first-time vs experienced operator. Output: minutes, gallons + L, oz + mL detergent. US and Canadian price and unit support.
Pressure Washer Detergent Mixing Calculator: Dilution Ratios + Dwell Times Find the right detergent dilution ratio and surface-specific dwell time for your pressure-washer job, with compatibility warnings for surface and detergent-strength mismatches.
Pressure Washer PSI & GPM Calculator Recommended PSI range, GPM, tip color, detergent need, and cleaning time from cleaning task, surface material, and paint condition. PSI-too-low vs PSI-too-high tradeoff.
Storage Unit Size Estimator Enter your furniture and box counts to get a recommended storage unit size, estimated cubic feet, and common unit footprints (5x5, 5x10, 10x10, 10x15, 10x20, 10x30).
Water Heater Flush Frequency Calculator Recommended water heater flush interval from hardness (gpg or mg/L), heater age, tank vs tankless, and last flush date. Pro vs DIY cost-and-time tradeoff.

Guides 40

Home Improvement & Repair 4

How Much Paint Do You Actually Need? Coverage by Surface A practical answer to how much paint you need: 350 sq ft per gallon for walls, 250 for trim, plus when to add a primer coat and how to convert square footage to gallons.
How to Calculate Flooring Materials Without Overbuying Learn the right waste factor for each flooring type, how to measure odd-shaped rooms, and when transition strips are needed so you buy the right amount of material.
How to Choose a Moving Truck Size: 10, 15, 17, 20, 26 ft Guide A step-by-step procedure for picking a moving truck size from bedroom count and heavy items, with U-Haul, Penske, and Budget capacity tables and a borderline rule of thumb.
How to Plan a Deck Project: Permits, Footings, Materials & Cost Step-by-step guide to planning a deck project: permits, footings, joist span tables, decking material comparison, fastener counts, railing code, and finish schedule.

Energy & Power 22

Generac Guardian Series Standby Generators Complete guide to automatic home standby generators, sizing, costs, and when they are worth it.
Generator vs Solar Backup: Which Is Better? Compare fuel generators and solar systems to choose the right solution.
GenerLink vs Generac Compare portable-generator transfer switches and standby systems for cost, convenience, and home backup.
How Much Does a Standby Generator Cost? Full cost breakdown including unit price, installation, and real-world pricing factors.
How Much Solar Battery Do You Need? A simple way to estimate battery storage for backup power and solar setups.
How to Do a DIY Home Energy Audit Walk through your home room by room to find where energy and money are escaping, and learn which upgrades pay for themselves fastest.
How to Maintain Your HVAC System Yourself: Filters, Drains, Coils A homeowner's how-to for HVAC maintenance: monthly filter checks, quarterly condensate drain flushes, annual coil cleaning, thermostat checks, and when to call a pro.
How to Read Your Thermostat Correctly: Setbacks, Smart Modes, Sensor Placement A homeowner walkthrough for residential thermostats: setback schedules in F and C, programmable vs smart (Nest, ecobee, Honeywell), Auto vs On fan settings, sensor placement, and common mistakes.
Inverter vs Conventional Generator Compare noise, fuel efficiency, clean power, and which generator type is best for your needs.
Portable Power Station vs Generator Compare battery power stations and generators for outages, backup power, and preparedness.
Standby vs Portable Generator Compare cost, power, convenience, and which generator type is best for your situation.
What Can a 10,000 Watt Generator Run? See how close a 10,000W generator gets to powering your whole home.
What Can a 2000 Watt Generator Run? See what small portable generators can power for camping, outages, and essentials.
What Can a 3000 Watt Generator Run? See what mid-size generators can power including refrigerators, lights, and essential home backup.
What Can a 3500 Watt Generator Run? See what 3500 watt generators can power for outages, essential circuits, and practical home backup.
What Can a 5000 Watt Generator Run? See what appliances a 5000W generator can power safely.
What Can a 7500 Watt Generator Run? See how much of your home a 7500W generator can power.
What Can a 9000 Watt Generator Run? See what 9000 watt generators can power for larger home backup, pumps, heating systems, and serious outages.
What Can a Generator Run? See what different generator sizes can power and find the right setup for your needs.
What Can a Honda EU2200i Run? See what this popular portable generator can power.
What Is GenerLink? Learn how GenerLink connects your generator directly to your home safely.
What Size Generator Do I Need? Calculate the right generator size based on your real power needs.

Home Security 10

Carbon Monoxide Detector Placement: Where to Install for Coverage A practical placement guide for carbon-monoxide detectors: minimum coverage by floor, distance from fuel-burning appliances, hallway vs bedroom, mounting height, and replacement cadence.
Deadbolt Grade Guide: ANSI Grade 1, 2, and 3 Explained What ANSI Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grade 3 deadbolts actually mean, which grade belongs on exterior doors, and how to choose strike plates, smart locks, and rekeying.
How to Choose a Home Security Camera (Buying Guide) A practical buying guide for home security cameras: wired vs wireless, resolution, field of view, night vision, storage, and the real-world tradeoffs.
How to Do a Home Security Audit (Room-by-Room Walkthrough) A practical room-by-room and exterior-to-interior home security audit. Find weak points, prioritize fixes by budget, and know what to upgrade first.
How to Light Your Home Exterior for Security A practical guide to exterior security lighting: where to mount, how high, beam angles, lumens, and motion vs dusk-to-dawn.
How to Make a House Look Occupied While You're Away Practical ways to make a house look lived-in while you're away: light timers, smart bulbs, mail and delivery holds, varied routines, and social media hygiene.
How to Position Your Security Cameras for Maximum Coverage Field-of-view math, entry-point priorities, lighting pairing, privacy law (PIPEDA and US), and storage choices. Plan camera placement that actually covers what matters.
How to Secure Your Home Before Vacation (Step-by-Step) A practical step-by-step guide to securing your home before a vacation: week-before, day-of, and while-away tasks that actually reduce risk.
Monitored vs Self-Monitored Alarm Systems: Which Should You Choose? A practical comparison of monitored and self-monitored home alarm systems covering cost, response time, reliability, cellular backup, and which fits your situation.
Motion Lights vs Always-On Lights: Which Is Better for Security? A side-by-side comparison of motion sensor lights and always-on (dusk-to-dawn) lights for home security, with a clear decision for each part of the property.

Maintenance & Inventory 4

Gas vs Electric Pressure Washer: Comparison Guide Side-by-side comparison of gas and electric pressure washers across PSI/GPM and the Cleaning Unit (PSI × GPM), power and reach, noise (OSHA and WorkSafeBC 85 dBA), maintenance cadence, lifespan, 5-year cost, and which jobs actually need gas. The 2,000 PSI threshold for deck stripping, driveway oil, and concrete mildew. Common mistakes and a clear pick by use case. US and Canadian price bands.
How to Choose a Pressure Washer: Electric vs Gas, PSI vs GPM, Brand Tiers A pattern guide for residential pressure washer selection: electric vs gas, advertised vs delivered PSI, GPM importance, surface-cleaner attachments, brand tiers (Karcher, Sun Joe, Greenworks, Ryobi, Generac, DeWalt, Simpson).
How to Clean Your Gutters Safely: Tools, Ladder Setup, and Cadence A homeowner walkthrough for cleaning residential gutters safely: ladder setup, debris removal, downspout flush, hardware checks, and a seasonal cadence by region.
How to Inventory Your Garage Tools for Insurance Step-by-step guide to cataloging your workshop and garage tools so you're prepared for insurance claims after theft, fire, or natural disaster.

Printables 18

Home Improvement & Repair 2

Project Material Planner Printable planner for project measurements, material estimates, quantities, costs, and supply tracking.
Room Measurement Sheet A printable worksheet for recording room dimensions, sketching floor plans, and noting obstacles before ordering flooring, paint, or other materials.

Energy & Power 6

Battery Inventory & Test Log Track battery types, quantities, voltage tests, and replacement schedules so you always have charged batteries on hand.
Generator Maintenance Log Printable generator maintenance log for tracking oil changes, filter replacements, load tests, and service history.
Home HVAC Maintenance Log Printable HVAC maintenance log: 24 monthly filter rows, 8 quarterly maintenance rows, and 5 annual professional service rows for two years of homeowner tracking on one document.
Room-by-Room Energy Audit Checklist Print this checklist and walk through your home to identify drafts, insulation gaps, and energy waste in every room.
Room-by-Room Home Energy Audit Checklist A free printable room-by-room home energy audit checklist covering attic, windows, insulation, HVAC, water heater, appliances, and more to find and fix energy waste.
Solar System Maintenance Log Printable solar system maintenance log for tracking panel cleaning, battery checks, inverter inspections, and system performance.

Home Security 3

Home Security Audit Checklist A comprehensive checklist to audit and improve your home security.
Security Camera Placement Worksheet A printable worksheet to plan a home security camera install: property sketch grid, 8-camera planning log, coverage-zone checklist, cable-run planner, and maintenance log.
Vacation Home Security Checklist A printable pre-travel checklist for home security: mail hold, lights, locks, neighbors, valuables, garage, and digital precautions. Clipboard-ready for any trip.

Maintenance & Inventory 7

Garage & Workshop Tool Inventory Worksheet Printable worksheet for cataloging garage and workshop tools by storage location with space for brand, model, condition, and estimated value.
Home Inventory Tracker Printable home inventory tracker for documenting valuables, appliances, electronics, and furniture by room. Essential for insurance claims.
Home Maintenance Log & Seasonal Checklist Track home maintenance tasks year-round with a seasonal checklist covering spring, summer, fall, and winter upkeep for every part of your home.
Pressure Washer Maintenance Log (Printable) A printable log for pressure-washer maintenance. Machine snapshot (make, model, type, rated PSI/GPM, purchase). 12-month monthly checks grid for oil level, air filter, spark plug, pump-saver flush, hose and wand inspection, trigger gun seals, quick-connect cleanliness. Maintenance events log with date, type, hours, and cost. Seasonal spring start-up and fall shutdown checklists. Quick reference card with intervals (50-hour oil change on gas, electric just rinse) and Canadian retailer notes (Canadian Tire, Princess Auto, Home Hardware).
Pressure Washer Task Pressure Reference Printable reference card with recommended PSI / GPM / tip color / detergent / time per 100 sq ft for 18 surfaces and tasks. Field-sheet table format.
Utility Shutoff Reference Card Printable utility shutoff reference card for gas, electric, and water with valve locations, shutoff steps, and emergency contacts.
Water Filter Replacement Log Printable water filter replacement log for tracking filter changes, expiration dates, and maintenance across all household water filtration systems.

Frequently asked questions

Are PickShack's home calculators free to use?

Yes. Every calculator, guide, and printable on PickShack is free and runs directly in your browser. No sign-up, no email required.

How accurate are the material estimates?

The calculators use standard coverage rates and industry rules of thumb, like board feet per linear foot of decking, or square feet per gallon of paint. They produce reliable estimates for planning and budgeting, but always cross-check with your supplier for final orders, since exact coverage depends on surface texture, waste, and product brand.

Do I need to know the exact watts or BTUs of my appliances?

Not always. Most calculators accept either measured values from the nameplate or an energy monitor, or typical ranges. Use measured numbers when you can find them, and use the defaults when you can't.

What if my project doesn't fit any of the preset categories?

Start with the closest calculator and use the square footage or volume tools as building blocks. Our guides walk through how to handle odd-shaped rooms, pitched roofs, and mixed material jobs.

Can I print the results or inventory lists?

Yes. The printables section includes clean, printer-friendly sheets for home inventory, project planning, and seasonal maintenance. Calculator results can be captured with your browser's print function or a screenshot.