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David Mello

DIY Home Upgrades

Hands-on guides for DIY home upgrades with real-world results. Coverage spans solar-powered air conditioning, garage improvements, door locks, and energy efficiency projects — with an emphasis on what actually works in practice, not just what looks good on paper.

Topics include:

  • Solar-powered air conditioning and mini split installation
  • Solar panel array setup
  • Garage improvements — insulation, cooling, and organization
  • Energy efficiency — pool pump savings and solar

8 articles

How to Make a Halloween Hologram With a Projector and Tulle

How to Make a Halloween Hologram With a Projector and Tulle

Build a floating ghost hologram for your yard with tulle, scrap wood, and a projector. Real night tests show how bright your projector needs to be, plus 3D pumpkins.
Aiper Experts Duo Review: Worth the Upgrade?

Aiper Experts Duo Review: Worth the Upgrade?

I replaced my Poolvergnuegen suction-side cleaner with the Aiper Experts Duo robotic pool cleaner (Scuba V3 + EcoSurfer S2). Unboxing, first-week results.
Gable Attic Fan Replacement, 3 Years Later

Gable Attic Fan Replacement, 3 Years Later

Replacing a seized gable attic fan: why intake venting matters most, CentricAir vs QuietCool, and three years of real attic temperature and humidity data.
How to Make a Portable AC More Efficient (and Colder)

How to Make a Portable AC More Efficient (and Colder)

How to make a portable AC more efficient and colder: fixes ranked by cost, from the intake hose most skip to FLIR-tested duct insulation and coil cleaning.
DIY Garage Door Insulation: Does EPS Foam Actually Work? (FLIR Proof)

DIY Garage Door Insulation: Does EPS Foam Actually Work? (FLIR Proof)

Added a $138 EPS foam insulation kit to my Florida garage door and tested it with a FLIR thermal camera. Real before-and-after results, weight and spring considerations, and how it changed my mini-split's performance year-round.
DIY Solar Ground Mount IntegraRack Review

DIY Solar Ground Mount IntegraRack Review

Step-by-step DIY solar ground mount installation using the IntegraRack IR-15 and AnchorSpike system — no concrete pad required. Real-world review from South Florida one year later, including wiring in series, shading lessons learned, and hurricane prep.
Airspool Solar Mini-Split AC Garage Install Review

Airspool Solar Mini-Split AC Garage Install Review

Airspool solar mini-split review from a South Florida garage install. DIY installation guide, real performance data, financial payback math, and one year later results.
How to Find Your Variable Speed Pool Pump's Most Efficient Speed Without a Flow Meter

How to Find Your Variable Speed Pool Pump's Most Efficient Speed Without a Flow Meter

How to calculate total dynamic head (TDH) to find your variable speed pool pump's optimal GPM and RPM settings — no flow meter required.