100 Things Every Homeowner Must Know: How to Save Money, Solve Problems and Improve Your Home

288 Pages·2015·119.5 MB·English

Table of contents
Preface
1 Understand your plumbing system
2 Understand your heating system
3 Understand your water heater
4 Push a button, save $100
5 Make appliances last
6 Keep your water softener healthy
7 Save water
8 Prevent burst pipes
9 Dry up a wet basement
10 Save on home insurance
11 Make your carpet last
12 Improve your insulation
13 Cut heating costs
14 Clean your air conditioner
15 Cut cooling costs
16 Protect your electronics
17 Understand your electrical system
18 Eliminate ants
19 Get rid of mice
20 Defeat termites
21 Protect against pet damage
22 Don’t kill your lawn mower
Bonus section: Our favorite storage tips
23 Guard against carbon monoxide
24 Radon kills
25 Test for lead paint
26 Stop mold and mildew
27 Prevent home fires
28 Replace smoke alarms
29 Be ready for fire
30 Clean your dryer vent
31 Keep crooks out
32 Burglar-proof your garage
33 Hide your valuables
34 Be ready for blackouts
35 Can you count on your sump pump?
36 Find your shutoff valves
37 Work safely
38 Stay safe in a storm
39 Be prepared for roof damage
Bonus section: Best home hints
40 Remodel without regrets
41 Cut remodeling costs
42 Decorate smart
43 Choose the best flooring
44 Choose the best faucet
45 Move furniture the smart way
46 Hang pictures straight and level
47 Hang a heavy mirror
48 Pick a paint color you’ll love
49 Pick the best paint for the job
50 Prep for a neater paint job
51 Paint like a pro
52 Roll paint right
53 Spray paint perfectly
54 Hire the best roofer
55 Hire the best painting contractor
56 Find your property lines
Bonus section: Greatest goofs
57 Master your drill
58 Drive screws like a pro
59 Master the jigsaw
60 Measure accurately
61 Master the hammer
62 Find a stud
63 Be ready for anything
64 Finish wood flawlessly
65 Caulk like a pro
66 Install wire shelving
67 Connect coax cable right
68 Replace a light fixture
69 Make home chores easier
70 Wash windows like a pro
71 Clean faster, clean better
72 Make yard chores easier
73 Grow a great lawn
74 Mow smarter
75 Sharpen a mower blade
76 Win against weeds
77 Plant a tree
78 Prune like a pro
Bonus section: Best problem solvers
79 Fix a toilet
80 Unplug a toilet
81 Stop leaks under the sink
82 Unclog a sink
83 Fix an outdoor faucet
84 Clean a clogged faucet
85 Fix a loose towel bar—forever!
86 Tune up your cabinets
87 Renew grungy grout
88 Fix a door
89 Tune up closet doors
90 Patch walls perfectly
91 Fix furniture fast
92 Repair concrete
93 Fix appliances yourself—and save
94 Fix your furnace
95 Lube it right
96 Warm up a cold room
97 Cool a hot room
98 Cure condensation
99 Defeat odors
100 Quiet your home
Bonus section: Incredibly easy fixes
Quiz
The first thing every homeowner must
know
When you have questions, The Family Handyman
has answers
Since 1951, The Family Handyman has been dishing out the best do-
it-yourself home advice available. Our recipe is simple: Go straight to
the pros for real-world, field-tested expertise. And then explain the
projects so that anyone can be successful. Our team of more than
1,000 Field Editors includes home experts of every kind, from
contractors and real estate agents to architects and engineers. And
our readers—more than 4 million across North America—are
constantly sharing their tips and experiences with fellow
homeowners. This book contains some of that expertise. But there’s a
whole lot more…
The Family Handyman Magazine
Get North America’s top home improvement magazine at The Home Depot,
Lowe’s and other retailers. Or subscribe and save at FamilyHandyman.com.
FamilyHandyman.com
Get instant access to thousands of home improvement projects, step-by-step
repairs, storage solutions and more!
The Family Handyman for iPad®
Get every issue of The Family Handyman as it’s published, plus extra tips,
articles and videos. Find it at the App Store.
The Family Handyman Newsletters
Get ideas, tips, projects and repairs delivered to your in-box every week—
FREE! Sign up at FamilyHandyman.com.
The Family Handyman Books
Get expert tips and step-by-step instructions for repairs, improvement
projects, organizing and more. Shop at FamilyHandyman.com.
Tip Genius App
More than 300 FREE tips for storage and organizing, simple repairs, easy
improvements and more! Download it at FamilyHandyman.com/diy-tip-genius.