You can. But you need to understand exactly what you're doing, because this converts unsecured debt into secured debt backed by your home.
A home equity loan or HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit) lets you borrow against the equity you've built in your house. Interest rates are typically 7% to 10% for a home equity loan and variable (starting around 8% to 9%) for a HELOC. Both are significantly lower than credit card rates, and the interest may be tax-deductible if you itemize (consult a tax professional on this).
The potential savings are real. If you owe $30,000 on credit cards at 24% and consolidate into a home equity loan at 8%, you save roughly $4,800 per year in interest. Over a 5-year payoff, total interest savings could exceed $15,000.
The risk you're taking: If you can't make payments on a credit card, the worst that happens is a damaged credit score and potential lawsuit. If you can't make payments on a home equity loan, you can lose your house. Foreclosure is on the table. That's a fundamentally different level of risk.
This strategy makes sense only if: your income is stable and you're confident in your ability to make the payments, you have a plan to avoid running up new credit card debt, and the interest rate savings are substantial enough to justify the risk.
It does not make sense if: your income is uncertain, you have a pattern of running up credit card debt after paying it off, or you're already struggling to make mortgage payments.
Also consider how much equity you're using. Most lenders cap your total borrowing (mortgage plus equity loan) at 80% to 85% of your home's value. If housing prices drop and you've borrowed heavily against your equity, you could end up owing more than your home is worth.
Before going this route, explore unsecured consolidation loans and debt management plans through nonprofit agencies. They address the debt without putting your home on the line.