Home & Repairs
Fixes, maintenance and how things work around the house and garden.
- How to Fix a Running Toilet: 7 Causes and Easy Fixes
A running toilet is usually a worn flapper, a chain that's too short or a fill valve set too high. Most fixes take under 30 minutes and cost under $25.
- How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies: 7 Steps That Actually Work
Remove what they breed in (ripe fruit, drains, trash), trap adults with vinegar and dish soap, and clean daily for a week or two to break the cycle.
- How to Get Rid of Gnats: 7 Ways to Clear Them for Good
Most indoor gnats are fungus gnats from wet potting soil. Let soil dry, use yellow sticky traps and treat soil with BTI to break their life cycle.
- How to Unclog a Shower Drain: 7 Methods That Work
Most shower clogs are hair. Remove the drain cover, pull the hair out with a barbed tool or pliers, then flush with hot water. Use a snake if it's deeper.
- How to Unclog a Sink: 7 Methods, From Easiest to Hardest
Start with hot water and a cup plunger, then clean the P-trap under the sink. If that fails, use a drain snake. Save chemical cleaners for last.
- How to Unclog a Toilet: 7 Methods, From Plunger to Snake
Use a flange plunger with firm, steady strokes; if that fails, try hot water and dish soap, then a toilet auger. Avoid chemical drain cleaners.
- Can You Paint Aluminum Siding? 7 Steps for a Lasting Finish
Yes. Clean off the chalky residue, prime any bare metal and apply a 100% acrylic exterior paint. Here's how to prep it so the paint lasts for years.
- Can You Paint Over Stained Wood? 7 Steps That Prevent Peeling
Yes. Clean it, scuff-sand the finish and use a bonding or stain-blocking primer before painting. Skip the primer and the paint may peel or bleed.
- Can You Paint Vinyl Windows? 7 Things to Know Before You Try
Yes, with a vinyl-safe paint, careful prep and a color that won't overheat the frames, but painting may void the window warranty. Check that first.
- How Long Do Washing Machines Last? 7 Factors That Decide It
Most washing machines last about 10 to 13 years. How you use and maintain yours, and how fast repairs pile up, decide whether it reaches that age.
- How Much Water Does a Dishwasher Use? 7 Facts to Know
A newer standard dishwasher typically uses about 3 to 5 gallons per cycle, and efficient models use 3.5 or less, far less than washing by hand.
- What Is Normal Humidity in a House? 7 Tips to Get It Right
Normal indoor humidity is about 30% to 50%. Below 30% air feels dry; above 60% mold and dust mites thrive. Here's how to measure and fix it.
- When to Prune Trees: 7 Timing Rules for Healthier Trees
The best time to prune most trees is late winter, while they're dormant. Spring bloomers are pruned after flowering, and dead limbs can go anytime.
- Why Is My Grass Turning Yellow? 8 Causes and Fixes
Grass usually turns yellow from watering problems, low nitrogen or iron, dog urine, pests or disease. Here's how to spot the cause and green it up again.
- Can You Paint Vinyl Siding? 7 Rules Before You Start
Yes, if you use a vinyl-safe acrylic paint, avoid colors much darker than the original, clean it well and paint in mild weather. Here's how to get it right.
- How to Drain a Washing Machine in 6 Simple Steps
Unplug it, shut off the water, then drain through the pump filter (front-loaders) or by lowering the drain hose (top-loaders). Here's how, without a flood.
- Why Is My Freezer Not Freezing? 7 Causes and Fixes
Most often it's blocked vents, dirty condenser coils or a leaky door seal. Here's how to find the cause in minutes and fix it.
- Why Is My Washing Machine Leaking? 8 Common Causes
Usually it's a loose or cracked hose, a clogged drain, too much detergent or a worn door seal. Find where the water comes from, then fix it.