Description
Take the intimidation out of common home repair jobs
Home Maintenance For Dummies gives you the know-how you need to inspect, tune up, and make repairs to every room of your house. Learn how to stop drafty windows and doors, fix roof leaks, unclog pipes, silence squeaky floors, test your water pressure, fix a dripping faucet, and beyond. Plus, learn tricks of the trade to stop wasting energy, lower energy bills, and improve the comfort of your home. Some home maintenance jobs are easy to ignore, but you'll save thousands in repair costs if you keep things running properly. And when things do break, you can save even more money with DIY repairs. You'll be amazed how easy it is to do many common upkeep tasks yourself. With step-by-step guides, detailed diagrams, and instructions for every room of the home, you'll finally be able to fix those little problems that have been nagging at you. This updated edition covers the latest heating and cooling systems, tankless water heaters, LED lighting, solar power, and all the other newfangled stuff in your house.
- Learn how to conduct routine inspections, keep major appliances running efficiently, and avoid costly mistakes
- Make a list for the must-have tools in your toolbox
- Recognize the difference between an easy DIY repair and something an expert should handle
- Protect your home from long-term problems and secure the value of your asset
First-time homeowners looking for a guide to keep their dream home in tip-top shape, as well as homeowners who aren't familiar with common home repairs, will love this beginner-friendly Dummies guide.
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Part 1: Home Maintenance and You 7
Chapter 1: Home Maintenance: What It Is and Why It Matters 9
Chapter 2: Getting to Know Your House and Its Systems 17
Chapter 3: Creating Your Home Maintenance Plan 33
Part 2: The Energy Envelope 51
Chapter 4: Foundation and Floor Frame Fundamentals 53
Chapter 5: Roofing and Siding 85
Chapter 6: Windows, Exterior Doors, and Insulation 109
Part 3: Key Systems — Plumbing and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) 135
Chapter 7: Plumbing, Part I: Pipes, Water Heaters, Water Softeners, and More 137
Chapter 8: Plumbing, Part II: Fixtures 161
Chapter 9: Plumbing, Part III: Sewer and Septic Systems 189
Chapter 10: Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning Systems 203
Part 4: Inside Home Sweet Home 227
Chapter 11: Walls and Ceilings 229
Chapter 12: Floors and Interior Doors 251
Chapter 13: Cabinets and Countertops 269
Chapter 14: Appliances 279
Chapter 15: Don’t Get Burned: Fireplaces 299
Chapter 16: Maintaining Your Home-Safety Systems 311
Part 5: Out in the Great Wide Open 323
Chapter 17: Walkways, Patios, and Driveways 325
Chapter 18: Decks, Fences, and Retaining Walls 343
Chapter 19: And Then There Was Rust 359
Part 6: The Part of Tens 367
Chapter 20: Ten Cleaning Solutions You Can Make at Home 369
Chapter 21: Ten (or so) Maintenance Skills You Need 377
Chapter 22: Ten Smart Home Products to Revolutionize Your Living Space 387
Index 393
