Home Maintenance for Dummies

3rd Auflage
ISBN: 978-1-394-24107-1
Verlag: Wiley

Buch, Englisch, 432 Seiten, Format (B × H): 188 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 576 g

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.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Kraeutler, Tom

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Sport | Tourismus | Freizeit Heimwerken

Inhaltsverzeichnis

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

Über Autor(innen)

Tom Kraeutler is a home improvement broadcast journalist and the host of The Money Pit, America’s largest syndicated home improvement radio show. He also hosts The Money Pit Podcast and is an accomplished author, columnist, and blogger. Tom has appeared on FOX, CNN, MSNBC, The History Channel, HGTV, and the DIY Network, helping millions gain the knowledge and confidence to make their homes the best they can be.