This page contains tips and advice for many of your maintenance and repair questions.
Ice Maker Arm is StuckThis is a page about fixing am ice maker arm that is stuck. Automatic ice makers in your freezer are a great convenience. However, if they get stuck releasing ice cubes it can be difficult to fix.
Leaning a Ladder Against a Roof...This is a page about leaning a ladder against a roof without crushing gutters. When you need to make repairs or clean gutters, your ladder needs to lean on the house often against the gutters.
Whole House Water Filter Tips?When you have a water filtration system for your whole house, it can protect your health as well as your plumbing fixtures. Understanding how it works and where problems may develop will help it run smoother, and keep your water clean.
Repairing a Wobbly Ceiling FanThis is a page about repairing a wobbly ceiling fan. If your ceiling fan is wobbling, there could be several reasons. Fortunately, most causes of a wobbly ceiling fan are easily fixed after some basic troubleshooting.
Plumbing Advice for HomeownersThis is a page about plumbing advice for homeowners. When you are responsible for the plumbing maintenance on your own home, it is important to learn as much as you can to know when you may need to hire a professional.
Troubleshooting Wiring Problems?This page is about troubleshooting wiring problems. When you take on remodeling projects or plan to add new appliances on a electrical circuit, understanding wire size and load requirements is very important.
Swamp Cooler Maintenance TipsThis page contains swamp cooler maintenance tips. Keeping your swamp cooler running efficiently and storing it properly during the off seasons, will assure you it will be ready when you need it.
Saving Money on Home MaintenanceThis page is about saving money on home maintenance. There are things you may need to buy to maintain the equipment of a home that will save you replacement costs.
Repairing a Sagging Floor?This is a page about repairing a sagging floor. Older homes in particular may suffer from sagging floors. This kind of repair can be costly. While not a job for a novice do-it-yourselfer, some home owners may have the ability to undertake this job.
Loosening a Tight Screw?This is a page about loosening a tight screw. Many of us have had the frustrating experience of trying in vain to loosen a tight screw.
Unclogging a ToiletWhen this fixture gets blocked, it's important to determine the cause. This page is about unclogging a toilet.
Preventing RustThis is a page about preventing rust. Many items around your home are susceptible to developing rust.
Fixing a Running ToiletThis page is about fixing a running toilet. A lot of water can be wasted when your toilet is not working properly.
Inspecting Your Home's Crawl SpaceThis page is about inspecting your home's crawl space. One often overlooked area of the home, that can expose potential problems, is the crawl space.
Repairing A DoorThis is a page about repairing a door. Purchasing a new door would be very costly, so you might want to repair your existing one.
Pressure Washing Your HouseThis is a page about pressure washing your house. Pressure washing your house must be done properly to prevent damage.
Maintaining Your Water Heater This is a page about maintaining your water heater. With regular maintenance a water heater can last for many years before it needs to be replaced.
Installing a ToiletThis is a page about installing a toilet. We often have to install a new toilet, maybe the old one can't be repaired, or you want to upgrade to a more water efficient model.
Shoveling SnowThis is a page about shoveling snow. Shoveling snow may never be fun, but it can be done without risking your health and safety.
Saving Money on Home RepairsThis is a page about saving money on home repairs. From putting in a drainage system to replacing your roof, home repairs are never easy or cheap. Saving even a small percentage on the costs can add up to a lot of money.
Homemade Deck Cleaner RecipesOne of the most important steps to keeping a deck from rotting is to clean it with deck cleaner once a year. To save money on deck cleaner make your own. This page contains deck cleaner recipes.
Fixing Squeaky Stairs?This is a page about fixing squeaky stairs. Squeaky stairs can be very common in older homes but sometimes newer construction has them too. They can definitely be a nuisance if they get too loud.
Cleaning Wood SidingThis is a page about cleaning wood siding. If cared for properly your wood siding will look great for years to come. An important part of caring for your wood siding is cleaning it when necessary.
Cleaning Vinyl SidingThis is a page about cleaning vinyl siding. Keeping the outside of your house clean not only extends the life of your siding but also makes it look beautiful for longer.
Cleaning Aluminum Siding?This is a page about cleaning aluminum siding. Aluminum siding is a very durable and low maintenance siding solution. To keep your siding looking great, it does need periodic cleaning.
Prepping Older Kitchen Cabinets for Painting?I need to paint some 60s vintage kitchen cabinets. They are "custom" oak veneer plywood. There has been some delamination on some of the doors and drawer fronts. What would be the best way to fill these damaged areas prior to priming and painting?
Old House Problems: How to Keep Windows from Sticking?We have a very old cottage house, and it has the windows that are so old, they stick so badly. What are some thoughts or ideas from any of you that have dealt with this problem?
Removing Oil Paint from a Wall?How do I remove oil paint from a wall?
Why Would Rain Get Into My Window?Whenever there was a rain storm, rain got into the dining room window at the back of the house which has exterior vinyl siding. The gutter at the front of the house may need to be cleaned. However, the front windows never had any rain problems. Please help.
Paint Recommendations for a Range Hood?When we purchased this home, the kitchen color was still in the 70s. There was an olive green hood blaring at me. I took it outside and sanded the entire thing to the metal. I primed and spray painted it inside and out with Krylon, "stone".
Removing a Layer of Rubber Between Paint and Concrete on Balcony?I was planning on repainting my balcony floor and expected to simply scrape away the old paint. However, what I found was that the concrete had a layer of rubber between it and the paint. What is this stuff? How can I remove it?
Recontouring Countertops Before Painting?I have Formica countertops in my kitchen and both bathrooms. I am going to paint them to look like granite (thanks to the advice given on here!).
Testing Circuit Breakers?I need help trouble shooting an electrical problem in an older model house trailer (early 1970). Part of one side of trailer has no power. I reset all breakers at the panel, none appeared to be tripped. How do I test the breakers?
Removing Faux Ninelite Plastic Grid on Door Window?The upper part of my metal exterior door is one largish window, having a vinyl/plastic/resin faux framework that creates a 9-pane look in it. I'm about to spray paint the door with Rustoleum and would like to remove this grid, perhaps leaving it off entirely afterwards.
Replace or Repair Plumbing Fixtures?The shower head and faucet in my bathtub are almost coming out from the wall. Will it be worth getting a plumber to fix them and how much would it cost? Would I be better off buying new fixtures?
Unidentified Smell Coming From Bathroom?Help. We live in a doublewide mobile home. About 3 weeks ago, I noticed a funny smell coming from the master-bedroom's bathroom. We have not used it for a few years as it needs remodeling.
Repairing Cat Scratches on Door Molding?I have cat claw damage to various items in my apartment, but the ones I really want to focus on are the claw marks on the moldings around the doors into my bathroom and bedroom. They are pretty deep gauges and about three feet from the floor.
Repairing a Home Radiator?Can burst radiators be repaired? We have an old building for sale along with a house it is attached to. In several of the rooms, the radiators or pipe attached to radiator burst, due to freezing. Can these be fixed or replaced, and if so what would be approximate cost?
Repairing a Split in Wood Before Staining?There is a long narrow split in a wood stair that I am sanding and re-staining. Wood filler does not always stain, therefore could I mix sawdust with glue and fill it in? Or is there something someone can recommend?
Salt Air Damage to Exterior Door?Our house which is only 4 years old, it has a solid mahogany double door and transom inset with leaded glass. The winds hit it directly from the ocean. I want to restore its original rich shine. I can't find any good products. Please help.
Preventing Root Growth in Drain Pipes?How can you prevent root growth in drain pipes?
Removing Moss from Patio Pavers?How do you remove moss from patio blocks?
Check and Replace Washing Machine Hoses"An Ounce of Prevention": As trite as this old adage is, there is so much wisdom in it, as we learned from a "waterfall" which greeted us as we returned to our months old house, after having been out for a few hours one evening.
Rotten Wood Siding?The back of our house is made of composite wood siding and has rotted out from flooding and carpenter ants. It is possible to replace part of the wall (only the bottom is rotted). Can anyone out there give us any suggestions?
Cleaning vs New Liner for Pool?My above ground pool was 'let go' last winter, it was green and slimy. I have been at it for months and am about half way there, should I persevere with chlorinating, scrubbing and vacuuming or get a new liner? Has anyone got any better cleaning tips?
Repairing Driveway Cracks?What is a good economical way to repair driveway cracks?
What Is Behind Vinyl Siding?We have a 9' x 16' area on the back of our house -- 3 sides are vinyl siding and the other side was wood and screen. We replaced the wood and screen with windows and sliding door. This goes out to our deck.
Home Water Maintenance TipsNext time you have a helper on hand, go around your home and turn all the valves under your sinks and toilets off and on several times. You may find that minerals in your water have made the valves difficult (or nearly impossible) to turn.
Inspecting Your FoundationCheck the grading around your house and make sure that the ground is sloping away from your house. Make sure that no plants or dirt comes into contact with the wood siding of your house. Inspect your foundation for cracks and patch any that you find. Also, check the siding of your home for mildew.
Replacing a Carriage On a Garage Door?The question is how to replace the "carriage", and how many of them shall I replace? I think I am able to identify the portion of door that is making the noise.
Cleaning Old Aluminum Siding?How you can clean aluminum siding that is over 50 years old? It's in good condition, but dirty.
Removing Creosote from Vinyl Siding?My daughter added a woodstove to one room in her house this winter. The stovepipe was such that it created a downdraft and caused creosote to get all over her vinyl siding. Does anyone have a solution or product that will work on this?
Chirping Smoke Detector System?My smoke alarm keeps beeping every 20 seconds. The battery cannot be changed for life of product. I have blown it out, but it still beeps, what more can I do?
Chirping Smoke Detector?I have a model 9120B smoke alarm. It chirps about every 1 to 2 hours apart. I have replaced the batteries, checked connections, and even unplugged it from the wall. I took the batteries out and it still chirps. Do you know what's up?
Using Homemade Deck Cleaner Near Plants?Is this solution safe for plants around the deck?
Changing a Light Bulb in a High Ceiling?How do I change a light bulb in a 20 feet ceiling? It has a cover over the bulb that needs to be removed first. Any suggestions?