Home fixes & maintenance guides
Plain-English guides for the things homeowners actually run into — what's likely wrong, how to fix it, what it costs, and when to call a pro.
Appliances
- Dishwasher Won't Drain — Causes & Fixes
- Dryer Runs But Won't Heat — Causes & Fixes
- How to Clean a Dryer Vent — Step-by-Step Guide
- Refrigerator Not Cooling — Causes & How to Fix It
- Ice Maker Not Working — Causes & Fixes
- Why Your Oven Heats Unevenly — Causes & Fixes
- Washer Won't Spin or Drain — Causes & Fixes
Electrical
- Why Your Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping — Causes & Fixes
- Outlet Not Working? Why a Dead Receptacle Happens & How to Fix It
- How to Add or Fix Weatherproofing on an Outdoor Outlet (In-Use Bubble Cover + Gasket)
- GFCI Outlet Won't Reset — Causes & Fixes
- Why Your LED Bulbs Buzz or Flicker on a Dimmer — Causes & Fixes
- How to Install an LED-Compatible Dimmer Switch (Including No-Neutral-Wire Options)
- LED Bulbs Flicker or Buzz on an Old Dimmer Switch: How to Fix It
- New LED Bulbs Glow Faintly After the Switch Is Off: Why It Happens and How to Stop It
- How to Replace a Light Switch — Step-by-Step Guide
- How to Replace a Standard Light Switch With a Dimmer (and Why the Wires and Bulbs Trip People Up)
- Why Your Light Switch Gets Warm — Causes & When to Worry
Exterior & Roof
- How to Reseal Gaps Where Pipes and Wires Enter Your House Exterior
- Exterior Caulking & Weatherproofing — Where to Seal, What to Use & How
- How to Seal and Stain a Deck: A Step-by-Step Homeowner Guide
- Why Your Windows Are Drafty — Causes & How to Fix Them
- Foundation Cracks: Which Ones Are Harmless and Which Need a Pro
- How Often to Clean Your Gutters — A Practical Schedule
- Why Your Roof Is Leaking — Causes & Fixes
- Roof Rattling or Banging in the Wind — Causes & Fixes
- How to Stop a Roof Vent or Vent Cap From Rattling and Banging in the Wind
- How to Weatherstrip an Exterior Door to Stop Cold Drafts
Heating & Cooling
- Why Your AC Is Freezing Up (Ice on the Unit) — Causes & Fixes
- AC Running But Not Cooling? Causes & Fixes
- How Often to Change Your HVAC Filter — A Simple Schedule
- Furnace Not Heating? Causes & Fixes Before You Call a Pro
- Why Your Furnace Short Cycles — Causes & Fixes
- Thermostat Not Working? Causes & Fixes Before You Call an HVAC Pro
- Why Some Rooms Are Hotter or Colder Than Others — Causes & Fixes
Interior & Insulation
- How to Stop Cold Drafts Coming In Around Baseboards and Floor Trim
- How to Stop a Cold Draft Coming Down an Unused Fireplace or Flue
- How to Air-Seal Drafty Electrical Outlets and Switches on Exterior Walls
- How to Stop Cold Air Falling From Recessed Can Lights in the Ceiling
- How to Seal Drafts Around Interior Window and Door Trim
- How to Insulate and Weatherstrip a Drafty Attic Hatch or Pull-Down Stairs
- How to Insulate and Stop Drafts on a Cold End-Unit Townhouse Exterior Wall
- How to Insulate a Basement Rim Joist (Band Joist) with Rigid Foam or Spray Foam
- How to Seal Air Gaps for Better Insulation — Causes & Fixes
- How to Remove and Prevent Bathroom Mold — Causes & Fixes
- Condensation and Mold on Cold Exterior Walls and Corners: How to Stop It
- How to Patch a Hole in Drywall — Step-by-Step Repair
- Paint Touch-Ups That Actually Blend — Why Yours Show & How to Fix It
- How to Soundproof a Room — What Actually Works (and What Doesn't)
- Why Your Floor Squeaks — Causes & How to Fix It
- Door Sticks or Won't Latch — Causes & Easy Fixes
- How to Choose the Right Caulk and Seal Interior Gaps for Both Sound and Drafts
- Interior Door Won't Latch or Stay Shut? Fix the Strike-Plate Alignment
- How to Patch Nail Holes and Small Drywall Dings Before Painting (So They Don't Show Through)
- How to Touch Up Paint So It Blends In Without Repainting the Whole Wall
- How to Stop a Squeaky Floor From Above When You Can't Get to the Subfloor
- Interior Door Sticks and Rubs the Frame (Humidity or House Settling)
- How to Soundproof an Existing Interior Wall Without Tearing Out the Drywall
- How to Soundproof a Hollow-Core Interior Door (Seal the Gaps + the Door Itself)
- How to Quiet a Noisy Return-Air Vent or Rattling Register
- How to stop sound coming through electrical outlets on a wall I share with my neighbor
- How to Soundproof Recessed Can Lights So Noise Stops Leaking Between Floors and Rooms
- How to Reduce Echo and Quiet a Sparse, Empty-Sounding Room
- How to Soundproof a Shared Townhouse or Condo Party Wall Without Opening It Up
- How to Reduce Footstep and Impact Noise From the Apartment Unit Upstairs
- How to Reduce Street and Traffic Noise Through Apartment Windows (Renter-Friendly, No Drilling)
Plumbing
- How to Protect Your Pipes from Freezing and Bursting During a Sudden Cold Snap
- How to Find a Slow Hidden Water Leak in Your House Before It Causes Damage
- How to Fix a Toilet That Leaks Water Onto the Floor at Its Base (Wax Ring / Flange)
- How to Stop a Tub or Shower Wall Leak by Recaulking the Joint Correctly
- How to Prevent Leaks at Under-Sink Supply Lines and Shutoff Valves
- How to Prevent a Washing Machine Hose From Bursting (and the 5-Year Replacement Rule)
- How to Install a Water Heater Drip Pan and Leak Alarm
- Slow or Clogged Drain — Causes & How to Fix It
- Garbage Disposal Humming or Jammed — Causes & How to Fix It
- How to Fix or Replace a Sink or Tub Drain Stopper That Won't Hold Water
- Why Your Faucet Drips — Causes & How to Fix It
- Faucet Dripping From the Spout vs. Leaking Around the Handle: How to Tell Them Apart and Fix Each
- How to Flush a Water Heater — Step-by-Step Guide
- My House Water Pressure Is Too High — How to Lower It to Protect Pipes and Appliances
- Leak Under the Sink — Causes and How to Fix It
- Why Your Water Pressure Is Low — Causes & Fixes
- No Hot Water? Causes & Fixes for Gas and Electric Water Heaters
- How to Replace a Toilet Yourself (Even on a Second Floor)
- Toilet Keeps Running: How to Tell if It's the Flapper or the Fill Valve (and Fix It)
- Why Your Toilet Keeps Running — Causes & Easy Fixes
- Toilet Rocks Back and Forth at the Base: Why It Happens and How to Stop It
- How to Stop Banging Pipes (Water Hammer) When the Washer or Dishwasher Valve Shuts Off
- Banging Pipes (Water Hammer) — Causes & How to Stop It
- Why Your Toilet Won't Flush Properly — Causes & Fixes