The everything fix-it book: from clogged drains and gutters to leaky faucets and toilets--all you need to get the job done

338 Pages·2004·2.6 MB·English

by  Yvonne Jeffery

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HOME REFERENCE THE
TH E
Save money and F
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do it yourself!
X
-
Does a dripping faucet or a leaky toilet Through simple step-by-step I
FIX-IT
send you running for the plumber’s instruction,learn how to: ®
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phone number? Do your repair bills • Repair holes in drywall
resemble the national deficit? Now you can
• Fix clogged and damaged
solve common household repair problems on
gutters
your own—without the hassle! B
• Mend sagging or cracked
The Everything® Fix-It Book walks you
ceilings
through the basics of home repair and pro-
BOOK
• Replace faulty faucets O
vides expert advice for ensuring the safety
and fixtures
and security of your investment. From bro-
ken pipes and leaky roofs to squeaky floors • Free sticky doors and
and faulty outlets, this all-in-one reference windows O
shows you how to identify problems, choose • Make your home more
the proper tools, and get the job done right energy efficient
the first time. K
Packed with professional advice and detailed
illustrations, The Everything® Fix-It Book pro-
Yvonne Jefferyhas extensive experience tackling home vides all you need to tackle any home repair
repair projects and is currently renovating her forty-
challenge.
year-old home in Alberta, Canada. She is the associate
editor of the quarterly City Woman, and has contributed
to National Geographic Traveler, Woman’s Day,and Reader’s
Digest.
THE
FIX-IT ®
BOOK www.everything.com Yvonne Jeffery
JEFFERY
Cover design and illustrations
by Barry Littmann
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The
Fix-It Book
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The Series
®
Editorial
Publishing Director Gary M. Krebs
Managing Editor Kate McBride
Copy Chief Laura MacLaughlin
Acquisitions Editor Eric M. Hall
Development Editor Karen Johnson Jacot
Production Editor Jamie Wielgus
Production
Production Director Susan Beale
Production Manager Michelle Roy Kelly
Series Designers Daria Perreault
Colleen Cunningham
Cover Design Paul Beatrice
Frank Rivera
Layout and Graphics Colleen Cunningham
Rachael Eiben
Michelle Roy Kelly
John Paulhus
Daria Perreault
Erin Ring
Series Cover Artist Barry Littmann
Interior Illustrtations Argosy Publishing
Visit the entire Everything®Series at www.everything.com
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THE
FIX-IT
BOOK
From clogged drains and gutters to
leaky faucets and toilets—all you need
to get the job done
Yvonne Jeffery
Adams Media
Avon, Massachusetts
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To my parents, who always knew Icould
Copyright ©2004, F+W Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced
in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions
are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.
An Everything® Series Book.
Everything® and everything.com® are registered trademarks of F+W Publications, Inc.
Published by Adams Media, an F+W Publications Company
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322 U.S.A.
www.adamsmedia.com
ISBN: 1-59337-046-6
Printed in the United States of America.
J I H G F E D C B
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Jeffery, Yvonne.
The everything fix-it book / Yvonne Jeffery.
p. cm. (An everything series book)
ISBN 1-59337-046-6
1. Dwellings--Maintenance and repair--Amateurs’ manuals.
I. Title.
II. Everything series.
TH4817.3.J44 2004
643'.7--dc22
2003023149
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to
the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged
in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert
assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.
—From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the
American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations
Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are
claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Adams Media was
aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.
Important Safety Notice
Readers are urged to take all appropriate precautions when undertaking any fix-it task. Always
read and follow instructions and safety warnings for all tools and materials, and call in a pro-
fessional if the repair stretches your abilities too far. Although every effort has been made to
provide the best possible information in this book, neither the publisher nor the author are
responsible for accidents, injuries, or damage incurred as a result of repairs undertaken by
readers. This book is not a substitute for professional repair services.
This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases.
For information, call 1-800-872-5627.
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Contents
Top Ten Reasons to Fix It Yourself / x
Introduction / xi
1
Getting Ready for Home Repair / 1
Aim for Energy Efficiency 2 • Why You Need a Home Inspection 2 •
Home Inspection Tips You Can Use 3 • Every Homeowner’s Basic Tool
Kit 7 • When You Need a Building Permit 8
2
Safety First / 11
Identifying Utility Shutoffs 12 • Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
18 • Fire Extinguishers 21 • Automatic-Stop Garage Door Closers 21•
Ladder Safety 23
3
Quick Fixes for Common Problems / 25
Keeping Showerheads and Faucets Running Free 26 • First Aid for Leaky
Pipes 28 • Silencing Noisy Pipes 29 • Fast and Easy Toilet Fixes 29 •
Clearing Blocked Drains 34 • Freeing Sticky Doors 36
4
Healthy Houses / 41
Water Testing 42 • Reducing Allergy and Asthma Triggers 45 • Man-
aging Mold and Mildew 48 • Getting the Lead Out—Or Not 50 • Radon
Gas 52 • Asbestos 53
v
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THE EVERYTHING FIX-IT BOOK
5
Weather Wise / 55
Fall Maintenance 56 • Spring Maintenance 56 • Exterior Weather-
proofing 58 • Dealing with Frozen Pipes 64 • Putting the Chill on Out-
door Faucets 65 • Eliminating Ice Dams 67 • Natural Disasters 67
6
Energy Savers / 73
Identifying Energy Wasters 74 • Reducing Utility Bills 74 • The Benefits
of Insulation 77 • Easy Insulation Fixes 78 • Interior Weatherproofing
79 • Installing a Programmable Thermostat 83 • Reducing Water Con-
sumption 85
7
The Exterior Envelope / 89
Foundations and Masonry 90 • Caring for Siding 95 • Soffits, Fascia, and
Trim 100 • Maintaining Gutters 100 • Maintaining Roofs 103 • First
Aid for Roofs 104
8
The Great Outdoors / 107
Utility Lines 108 • Clotheslines 109 • Optimizing Water Drainage 110
• Driveways, Patios, and Sidewalks 112 • Decks, Steps, and Fences 117
• Septic Systems 121
9
Pest Control / 123
Pest Removal 124 • General Pest Prevention Measures 125 • Crawling
and Jumping Insects 126 • Flying Insects 128 • Mice, Snakes, and Bats
129 • Larger Unwanted Visitors 130 • The Really Big Pests 131
10
Security Watch / 133
Essential Lighting 134 • The Most Secure Doors 134 • Making Use of
Locks 136 • Peepholes 139 • Windows 139 • Choosing a Home Alarm
System 142
vi
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CONTENTS
11
Down in the Basement / 145
Basement Moisture 146 • Dealing with Leaks 148 • Maintaining Sump
Pumps 150 • Backwater Valves 152 • Insulating Basements 154
12
Fixable Floors / 157
Solutions for Squeaks 158 • Patching Subflooring 161 • Carpet 162 •
Ceramic Tile 164 • Hardwood 167 • Resilient Flooring 169 • Stairs 171
13
Winning Walls / 175
Washing Walls 176 • Anchoring Nails and Screws 177 • Dealing with
Wallboard178•Dealing with Plaster183•Wallpaper Fixes186•Mold-
ings and Panels 188
14
Simply Ceilings / 191
Brightening Dull Ceilings 192 • Ceiling Cracks 192 • Leaking Ceilings
192•Sagging Ceilings194•Damaged Wallboard Ceilings195•Ceiling
Tiles 197 • Ceiling Fans 200
15
Up in the Attic / 203
Identifying Attic Problems 204 • Inspecting Your Attic 204 • Ventilation
Issues 207 • Insulating Ductwork 211 • Installing Attic Insulation 212
16
Durable Doors / 217
Door Handles and Locks 218 • Solving Door Problems 221 • Keeping
Doorbells Ringing 224 • Replacing Door Thresholds 226 • Hollow-Core
Doors 226 • Sliding Doors 227 • Bi-Fold Doors 229 • Storm Doors 230
17
Ways with Windows / 233
Freeing a Stuck Window 234 • Sash Windows 235 • Casement/Awning
Windows 240 • Sliding Windows 241 • Window Screens 242 •
Window Film 245
vii
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THE EVERYTHING FIX-IT BOOK
18
Practical Plumbing / 247
Introduction to Plumbing 248 • Installing Shutoff Valves250 • Repairing
Leaky Faucets 251 • Replacing Faucets 257 • Drain Stoppers and
Strainers 259 • Not-So-Quick Fixes for Toilets 262 • Reseating a Toilet
265
19
Easy Electricity / 267
Problem Signs 268 • Safety Reminders268 • Wire Tips 269 • Your
Home’s Electrical Circuits 270 • Replacing Light Switches 274 •
Replacing Electrical Outlets 277 • Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters 279
• Replacing Plugs 279 • Lamps and Lights 282
20
HVAC Systems / 285
Forced-Air Furnace Maintenance 286 •Replacing and Cleaning Furnace Fil-
ters 287• Ductwork Maintenance 289 • Cleaning Forced-Air Furnace
Humidifiers 289 • Water-Based Heating Systems 293 • Hot-Water Heater
Maintenance 294 • Fireplace, Wood Stove, and Chimney Maintenance 295
• Ventilation System Maintenance 296 • Air Conditioner Maintenance 296
21
When You Can’t Do It Yourself / 299
Knowing When to Say No 300 • Finding Qualified Contractors 301 •
Avoiding the Wrong Contractor 302 • Selecting the Right Contractor 303
• The Job Contract 304 • Working with the Contractor 306 • Resolving
Problems 308
Appendix A • Resources / 309
Appendix B • Maintenance Schedule / 311
Index / 313
viii
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Acknowledgments
There are many people who helped make this book possible, and I
appreciate this opportunity to thank them. First, Dad, for reading every
word . . . and Mum and Dad, my sister Lorraine, and my British
cheerleading contingent, for your unwavering support, love, and
understanding.
I also owe a great deal to my writer colleagues and truly
wonderful friends, Judith, Katharine, Laura, and Linda, who have
laughed and cried (but mostly laughed) with me almost daily—and who
have put me back together more times than I can count.
For technical advice, my gratitude goes to Rocco and Dan, along
with Don and Walter, in Calgary, for sharing both power tools and
expertise.
On the publishing side, many thanks to my agent Barb and all the
folks at Adams Media, including my editor Eric, for your guidance,
enthusiasm, and encouragement.