Do the job right, on time

How to inspect cords, plugs, and outlets

Walk the house once a season feeling for warm outlets, loose plugs, damaged cords, and extension cords on permanent duty. What to unplug, replace, or report.

30-45 minRead

How to check under-sink plumbing for leaks

A monthly under-sink leak check for every cabinet in the house: what to feel, where drips start, how to tighten a slip nut, and the leaks that need a plumber.

5-10 min per sinkRead

20 min, plus a look after each snowRead

How to care for a heat pump in winter

Hold one temperature, keep the outdoor unit clear of snow, let defrost run, and save emergency heat for a real failure. Which steam and noises are normal.

How to use a space heater safely

Keep a space heater three feet from anything that burns, plug it straight into a wall outlet, set it on a hard level floor, and turn it off when you leave.

30 min plus drying timeRead

How to fix nail pops and small drywall cracks

Drive a screw beside the pop, set the nail, fill with two thin coats, sand, prime, and paint. Which cracks are settling, and which to report to the builder.

1 hr to inspect, 1-2 days to stainRead

How to inspect and stain a wood fence

Walk the fence line for rot, loose posts, and sagging gates first, then clean, dry, and stain it in thin coats. Posts are the part that fails.

How to test AFCI breakers

Press the Test button on each AFCI breaker once a month, confirm it trips, reset it, and note any that fail or trip on their own. What an arc fault is.

How to clean faucet aerators and showerheads

Unscrew the aerator, soak it in vinegar, rinse, and refit; do the showerhead the same way. Why flow drops, how often to clean, and when it is not the aerator.

15-30 minRead

Safety and securityModerate

How to set a thermostat schedule that saves energy

Pick a home temperature, a setback for sleep and away hours, and let the schedule run. What a smart thermostat adds, and why a heat pump gets one setting.

30 minRead

How to use a portable generator safely

Run a portable generator outdoors, at least 20 feet from the house with the exhaust facing away, never in a garage, and connect it through a transfer switch.

How to fix sticking doors and windows

Find where the door or sash rubs, then tighten the hinges, drive a long screw into the framing, move the strike, and plane last. When it is a builder item.

20-45 min per doorRead

1 day to clean, 1 day to sealRead

How to clean and seal a wood deck

Wash the deck, let it dry, confirm water soaks in instead of beading, then apply a penetrating sealer in thin coats. What to probe underneath first.

How to label your electrical panel

Map every breaker to the rooms and appliances it feeds, write a directory a stranger could follow, and keep a photo of it in the home record.

60-90 minRead

How to stop a running toilet

Stop a running toilet in one visit with the dye test, then the chain, float, flapper, and fill valve in the order they fail, and when to call a plumber.

20-40 minRead

How to find and use the main water shutoff

Find the main water shutoff before a leak forces you to, learn how ball and gate valves close, test it once a year, and tag it for the whole household.

20-30 minRead

How to clear and clean the outdoor AC unit

Cut the power, clear an arm's length around the unit, rinse the fins gently from the inside out, and comb bent fins straight. Skip the pressure washer.

45 minRead

How to clean an AC condensate drain line

Pour vinegar into the access port, then pull the slime out of the outdoor end with a wet/dry vac, each cooling season. Why a plugged line floods a ceiling.

30 minRead

10 min to set up, 2 to 90 days to runRead

How to test your home for radon

Test every home for radon at least once, in the lowest lived-in level, with a kit or a certified tester. What the EPA action level means and what to do next.

Plumbing and waterModerate

How to test a water heater's temperature and pressure relief valve

Lift the lever, let water flush through the discharge pipe, and let it snap shut. Once a year, with a bucket and a plan for a valve that keeps dripping.

How to care for a garbage disposal (and fix the common jams)

Run cold water, feed it slowly, keep grease and fibrous scraps out, and clean it monthly with ice. How to clear a jam safely with the hex key and reset button.

Safety and securityModerate

How to clean a range hood filter

Pull the mesh filters, soak them in hot water and degreaser, rinse, dry, and replace, monthly if you cook daily. Why a greasy filter is a fire risk.

20 minRead

How to keep a fireplace and chimney safe for the heating season

Have the chimney inspected every year and swept when it needs it, burn only seasoned wood, keep the damper open, and know the signs of a past chimney fire.

1 hr, plus the pro inspectionRead

Plumbing and waterModerate

How to maintain a whole-house humidifier

Replace the water panel each heating season, clean the tray and drain, set the humidistat by outdoor temperature, and shut the water off in summer.

30 min per seasonRead

Well pump and pressure tank basics for homeowners

Test the water every year, check the pressure tank's air charge, watch the pump's cycling, and keep the wellhead sealed. What a private well needs.

1 hr yearlyRead

Plumbing and waterCall a pro

Septic system basics: what to do, what to keep out, and when to pump

Inspect every three years, pump every three to five, keep grease, wipes, and chemicals out, and protect the drainfield. The EPA's rules, in order.

1 hr (pro pumping)Read

15 min monthly, 1 hr yearlyRead

How to care for a water softener

Keep the brine tank a third to half full of salt, break up salt bridges, clean the tank once a year, and set the hardness correctly. When to call for service.

How to clean a bathroom exhaust fan and check that it vents outside

A tissue test tells you if the fan moves air; a look in the attic tells you where it goes. How to clean the grille and blades.

30 minRead

HVAC and climateModerate

How to check attic ventilation and insulation

A yearly attic check with a flashlight: are the soffit vents open, is the insulation even and dry, and is anything venting moist air into the attic.

How to test a sump pump (and why you want a backup)

Pour water into the pit until the float lifts, watch the pump run, and check where the discharge goes. Do it each spring and before every big storm.

20 minRead

How to test a garage door opener's safety reverse

Put a 2x4 flat under the door and close it. If the door does not reverse, disconnect the opener until it is fixed. The monthly check, the photo-eye test.

HVAC and climateCall a pro

What an annual HVAC tune-up should include

Book cooling service in spring and heating service in fall. What a real tune-up covers, what to ask the technician, and what to write down before they leave.

2-3 hrs (pro)Read

How to care for hardwood floors

Dry dust often, damp mop rarely, and keep water and grit off the finish. Daily habits, the monthly clean, what never to use, and when a floor needs refinishing.

20-30 min weeklyRead

Exterior and groundsEasy

How to caulk and weatherstrip a house

Caulk seals gaps that do not move; weatherstripping seals doors and windows that do. Where to look, the smoke test, and which product goes where.

2-4 hrsRead

HVAC and climateCall a pro

How to check a home fire extinguisher

A monthly look at the gauge, the pin, and the path to it. Which extinguisher a home needs, where to mount it, the PASS method, and when to leave instead.

5 minRead

Do your air ducts need cleaning? Usually not, and when they do

The EPA does not recommend routine duct cleaning. The three conditions that justify it, how to check for them, and how to hire the work if you need it.

3-5 hrs (pro)Read

How to clean a dishwasher filter

Most dishwashers have a filter you twist out and rinse. A monthly clean stops gritty glasses and the smell; the same session covers the spray arms and gasket.

15-20 minRead

How to keep drains clear without chemical cleaners

Monthly habits and a quarterly cleaning that keep sinks, tubs, and showers draining: strainers, hair catchers, hot water, a plunger, and a drain snake.

15-30 minRead

AppliancesModerate

How to clean a dryer vent

Clean the lint filter every load and the vent duct at least once a year. Signs of a clogged vent, the brush-and-vacuum method, and why plastic duct has to go.

How to clean gutters and downspouts (and how often)

Clean gutters at least twice a year, after leaf drop and before spring rain. Ladder safety, the scoop-and-flush method, and where downspouts should discharge.

1-3 hrsRead

Interior surfacesModerate

How to clean refrigerator coils

Find the condenser coils, unplug, brush and vacuum the dust off, and repeat every six to twelve months. Why dusty coils shorten a refrigerator's life.

20-30 minRead

How to deep clean tile and grout (and keep it clean)

A grout deep clean with an alkaline cleaner, a stiff brush, and patience, then a sealer so it stays clean. When to recaulk, and when to regrout.

2-3 hrsRead

Plumbing and waterModerate

How to flush a tank water heater

Drain sediment from a tank water heater once a year or a quart every quarter. Shutoff steps for gas and electric, the hose setup, and when to call a plumber.

30-45 minRead

1-2 hrs to check, a day to fixRead

How to check grading and drainage around your foundation

Water should flow away from the house, not toward it. How to check the slope, where downspouts should end, how to fix low spots, and when to call a pro.

How to inspect your roof once a year without climbing on it

A yearly roof check you can do with binoculars, a ladder, and a flashlight in the attic. What to look for, what it means, and when to call a roofer.

10 min daily, 1 hr to sealRead

How to clean and maintain quartz and granite countertops

Quartz never needs sealing; granite usually does. Daily cleaning for both, what stains and etches them, the water test for granite, and how to reseal.

How to pressure wash a house without damaging it

Low pressure, the right nozzle, and a bottom-up rinse. How to wash siding, concrete, and decks once a year, what never to spray, and when to hire it out.

3-4 hrsRead

1-2 hrs before first freezeRead

How to keep pipes from freezing (and what to do if they do)

Before a freeze, insulate exposed pipes, drip faucets, open cabinets, and hold the thermostat. If one freezes, how to thaw it without a flame.

How to replace your HVAC filter (and how often)

Check the filter every month and change it at least every three months. The size to buy, which MERV rating fits your system, and the five-minute swap.

How to reset a tripped breaker (and when not to)

Find the breaker in the middle position, switch it fully off, then on. If it trips again, stop and find the cause. What never to touch in the panel.

5 minRead

How to test GFCI outlets (and what to do when one fails)

Press Test, watch the light go out, press Reset. The monthly GFCI check takes a minute per outlet, and a failed test means the outlet is not protecting anyone.

How to test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Test every alarm monthly, change batteries yearly, replace smoke alarms at ten years and CO alarms at five. Where they go and what the chirps mean.