Last Minute Father’s Day Gifts for the DIY Dad

Every year around Father’s Day, somebody asks me what tool they should buy for the dad who has everything. Most guys reach a point where they already own three flashlights, six tape measures, two ladders, and a garage full of things they’re convinced they’ll need someday. Of course, they can never find any of them when they actually need them.

After nearly 50 years in the remodeling business, I’ve accumulated my fair share of tools, gadgets, and things that seemed like a good idea at the time. Some ended up collecting dust on a shelf. Others have become things I reach for every week.

If you’re still looking for a last-minute Father’s Day gift, here are a few that I think just about any homeowner would appreciate.

1. The Headlamp You Didn’t Know You Needed

Every homeowner eventually finds themselves crawling through an attic, looking behind a furnace, or trying to figure out why the circuit breaker tripped.

A rechargeable headlamp keeps both hands free and puts the light exactly where you need it.

Any home improvement store or on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rechargeable+headlamp

2. A Leatherman Multi-Tool

I’ve always appreciated tools that solve multiple problems.

The Leatherman Wave+ includes pliers, knives, screwdrivers, scissors, wire cutters, and about a dozen other functions that seem unnecessary until the exact moment you need them.

Any home improvement store or on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079MJBP21

3. The Magnetic Wristband

This is one of those products I laughed at when I first saw it.

Then I used one.

When you’re on a ladder installing hardware or making repairs, having screws and drill bits attached to your wrist is surprisingly convenient.

Any home improvement store or on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=magnetic+wristband+for+screws

4. A Flashlight That Actually Works

Every house has a junk drawer flashlight.

It usually has dead batteries.

A good rechargeable flashlight is useful during power outages, home repairs, camping trips, and those mysterious noises that always seem to happen after dark.

Any home improvement store or on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=olight+flashlight 

5. A Portable Jump Starter

This may be the smartest item on the list.

Most people don’t think about a dead battery until they’re stranded in a parking lot.

A portable jump starter can get you back on the road in minutes without waiting for help.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015TKUPIC 

6. The Tape Measure That Won’t Stay Lost

I’ve probably owned hundreds of tape measures over the years.

I couldn’t tell you where most of them went.

A quality Stanley FatMax remains one of the most useful tools any homeowner can own.

Any home improvement store or Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stanley+fatmax+tape+measure 

The truth is, none of these gifts are particularly flashy. They’re practical, useful, and they’ll still be getting used long after Father’s Day has come and gone. That’s probably why they make good gifts in the first place. Most dads don’t need another gadget that’ll end up in the back of a drawer. Give them something that helps them tackle a project, solve a problem, or make life a little easier, and it’ll earn a permanent spot in the toolbox.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Leaving for Vacation? Don't Forget These Five Home Checks

After all the planning, packing, and counting down the days, the last thing anyone wants to think about before vacation is home maintenance. But taking a few minutes to prepare your house before you leave can help prevent unpleasant surprises when you return.

Over the years, we've seen homeowners come back from otherwise wonderful vacations to flooded basements, water damage, fallen tree limbs, and overflowing mailboxes advertising to everyone that no one was home. Fortunately, most of these problems can be avoided with a simple pre-vacation checklist.

Before you lock the door and head off to the beach, the mountains, or wherever your summer adventures take you, here are five things worth checking.

1. Turn Off Your Washing Machine Water Supply

This is one of the simplest steps you can take to prevent a potentially expensive disaster. Washing machine supply hoses are under constant pressure. Even newer hoses can fail unexpectedly, and when they do, they can release a surprising amount of water in a very short period of time.

Before leaving for an extended trip, shut off the hot and cold water valves behind the washing machine. It takes less than a minute and could save you from returning to damaged floors, drywall, and belongings. If your supply hoses are more than a few years old, consider upgrading to braided stainless steel versions for additional peace of mind.

2. Pause Deliveries and Ask a Neighbor to Keep an Eye Out

Nothing announces an empty house quite like a pile of newspapers, packages, and mail stacked on the front porch. If you'll be gone for several days, consider placing a temporary hold on your mail and pausing any regular deliveries. If that's not possible, ask a trusted neighbor, friend, or family member to collect packages and keep an eye on things while you're away. It's also helpful to leave emergency contact information with someone nearby in case an issue arises while you're gone.

3. Test Your Sump Pump

Summer thunderstorms can arrive quickly and dump a surprising amount of rain in a short period of time. If your home has a sump pump, take a few minutes to make sure it's working properly before you leave. One simple test is to slowly pour a bucket of water into the sump pit. The float should rise, the pump should activate, and the water should be discharged outside. If the pump doesn't respond, makes unusual noises, or struggles to remove water, it's worth addressing before your trip.

4. Put Your Lights on a Schedule

A dark house every night for a week can be an obvious sign that no one is home. Using timers or smart plugs to turn lights on and off during the evening can help create the appearance that the house is occupied. Focus on a few commonly used spaces such as a living room, kitchen, or front-facing room. If you have smart home technology, you can even vary the schedule remotely to make it look more natural.

5. Take a Walk Around the Yard

Before leaving, spend ten minutes walking the perimeter of your property. Look for dead tree limbs hanging over the house, driveway, vehicles, or power lines. Summer storms often bring strong winds, and weak branches can come down unexpectedly. While you're outside, secure patio umbrellas, outdoor furniture, and anything else that could become airborne during a storm. A quick inspection today may prevent damage while you're hundreds of miles away.

One More Thing: Don't Rush Out the Door

The hours before a vacation can feel hectic. There are bags to load, kids to wrangle, directions to double-check, and inevitably someone can't find their sunglasses. But before you pull out of the driveway, give yourself an extra fifteen minutes for a final walkthrough. Check windows, lock doors, verify appliances are off, and make sure these five items are covered.

A little preparation can provide a lot of peace of mind, allowing you to focus on what vacations are supposed to be about: relaxing, making memories, and enjoying time away.

Bob O'Donnell is the owner of O'Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O'Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Mastering Mosquitos in Your Yard

Every summer, homeowners across Connecticut dread the time of year when mosquitoes come out to feast. And every year, the same products appear on store shelves promising miracle results. From citronella candles to bug zappers, backyard torches, wristbands, and sonic repellents, there are enough mosquito gadgets to fill an entire aisle at the hardware store. 

The truth is that effective mosquito control is usually much less about gimmicks and much more about understanding why mosquitoes are showing up in the first place. The biggest culprit by far is standing water.

Mosquitoes don’t need ponds or swamps to reproduce. In fact, they can breed in something as small as a bottle cap full of water. Gutters, flower pots, clogged drains, bird baths, kids’ toys, wheelbarrows, tarps, old tires, buckets, and even poorly draining patio furniture covers can all become mosquito breeding grounds surprisingly quickly.

One of the best things homeowners can do is simply walk their property after a rainstorm and look for areas where water collects and lingers. You might be surprised how many small problem areas exist once you start paying attention.

Poor drainage around patios, walkways, and low spots in the yard can also contribute to mosquito activity. If parts of your lawn stay soggy for days after a storm, mosquitoes are probably enjoying it more than you are.

Landscaping also plays a bigger role than many people realize. Mosquitoes love cool, damp, shaded environments. Overgrown shrubs, tall grass, dense groundcover, neglected hedges, and piles of wet leaves create ideal hiding spots during hot summer days. Homeowners often focus entirely on treating mosquitoes while unintentionally creating the perfect environment for them to thrive.

Keeping landscaping trimmed and allowing for better airflow and sunlight can make a noticeable difference, especially around decks, patios, and outdoor seating areas. Even simple pruning can help reduce the damp, shaded conditions mosquitoes prefer.

Professional mosquito treatment services have also become increasingly popular in recent years, particularly for homeowners who want to fully enjoy their outdoor spaces during the summer months. For many properties, especially wooded lots, homes near water, or backyards with dense landscaping, professional treatments can make a very noticeable difference in reducing mosquito activity.

Most reputable services apply targeted treatments to shaded areas where mosquitoes tend to rest during the day, including shrubs, wooded edges, under decks, and dense foliage. Some companies also offer more natural or pollinator-conscious options for homeowners who prefer a lighter approach.

That said, even professional treatment programs tend to work best when paired with basic prevention and maintenance. Eliminating standing water and addressing landscaping issues helps reduce the conditions mosquitoes thrive in to begin with. Think of spraying as one part of the overall strategy, not a complete substitute for backyard upkeep.

Now for the question everyone asks: what actually works for day-to-day mosquito control?

One surprisingly effective tool is something many homeowners already own: fans. Mosquitoes are weak fliers. Outdoor ceiling fans, standing fans, or portable fans on patios and decks can dramatically reduce mosquito activity in seating areas. It’s simple, relatively inexpensive, and often more effective than many heavily marketed products.

Citronella candles can help slightly in smaller areas with little wind, particularly when combined with other measures, but they are usually not enough on their own for a typical backyard gathering. Bug zappers, meanwhile, often kill large numbers of insects that are not mosquitoes while doing relatively little to control the actual mosquito population.

Timing matters too. Mosquitoes are most active during dawn and dusk, especially during humid Connecticut evenings. If you’ve ever wondered why your backyard suddenly becomes unbearable right around dinner time, unfortunately, that’s not your imagination.

At the end of the day, the most effective mosquito strategy is usually a combination approach: eliminate standing water, maintain landscaping, improve airflow, and use targeted treatments where needed.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.